BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Prairie Hills Audubon Society - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://phas-wsd.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Prairie Hills Audubon Society REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Denver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20220313T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20221106T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20230312T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20231105T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20240310T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20241103T080000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230515T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230615T235900 DTSTAMP:20260414T030336 CREATED:20230502T060106Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230510T215332Z UID:7107-1684108800-1686873540@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Climate Watch - Spring Season - May 15th-June 15th DESCRIPTION:Climate Watch – Spring Season – May 15th-June 15th \nClimate Watch – The summer and winter seasons repeat each year.\nClimate Watch is sponsored by the National Audubon Society (NAS) & takes place during two distinct seasons—winter (January 15-February 15) and summer (May 15-June 15). Below is the alert about summer 2023\, the latest season . \nMay 15th- June 15th\, 2023 \nLike the Christmas bird count this is a chance to help create “citizen science” for birds. Climate Watch focuses on these target species: Eastern Bluebird\, Mountain Bluebird\, Western Bluebird\, White-breasted Nuthatch\, Red-breasted Nuthatch\, Brown-headed Nuthatch\, Pygmy Nuthatch\, American Goldfinch\, Lesser Goldfinch\, Painted Bunting\, Eastern Towhee\, and Spotted Towhee. \nThese birds are easy to identify\, have an enthusiastic constituency\, and Audubon’s climate models for these species offer strong predictions for range shifts for us to test. In future years\, Climate Watch may include additional target species threatened by climate change. We believe that western bluebird and painted bunting are not normally in SD. All the other birds occur in all or parts of SD. \nVisit this page to see where these birds are in SD\, and which are near you: \nhttps://www.sdakotabirds.com/species_main.htm\nLocation Climate Watch focuses on areas of predicted change for these 12 species at each location across the continent. Audubon provides volunteers with online mapping tools with a grid of 10 km x 10 km squares showing species-specific predictions for each square based on the climate models. A Climate Watch Coordinator can help select your location and survey square. If you are participating on your own\, use the online maps to decide in which square to do your surveys. You will be able to see which squares are already “claimed”. \nHow to count Volunteers should first make sure to read through all of the materials including the full protocol manual. The Climate Watch protocol is different than any other birding program. Then using the planning done with the online maps\, volunteers survey appropriate habitat for the target species within a square and conduct 12 point counts of five minutes each within one morning\, then record the number and species of all birds seen or heard within 100 meters. Participants send the data to the National Audubon Society. \nHow data will be used  Audubon’s 2019 climate change report\, ‘Survival By Degrees\, – https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees – reveals that up to two-thirds of North American birds are vulnerable to extinction due to climate change. For example\, the beautiful Mountain Bluebird is vulnerable because in the vast majority of its summer range\, the climate conditions that this bird needs—temperature\, amount of rainfall\, and other environmental factors—will shift northward and eastward. This bird may be able to move into new areas over time\, or it may struggle to adapt. To test the report’s predictions\, Audubon has developed Climate Watch\, which aims to document species’ responses to climate change and test Audubon’s climate models by having volunteers in the field look for birds where Audubon’s climate models predict they will be in the 2020s. This information helps Audubon target our conservation work to protect birds. See the Climate Watch results page here to see our early reports and results from the data received by Climate Watch volunteers so far! \nLink to the Climate-watch program on the National Audubon Society web page \nhttps://www.audubon.org/conservation/climate-watch \nClimate watch instructions for participants \nhttps://www.audubon.org/news/participant-resources-climate-watch\nClimate watch for beginners webinar\, – this has much of the same info as our November meeting \nhttps://audubon.zoom.us/rec/share/xe9NAZTe6WVOf7fz2kbRAYAQMI66eaa8hCFL_fNZn0k3a8uNjHkvp4-EZzq7vlq_?startTime=1588186808000\n\nYou can call  or e-mail Nancy Hilding\, President of Prairie Hills Audubon Society for help with creating maps of the squares where you want to bird.  605-787-6466 (LL) or phas.wsd@rapidnet.com\n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/climate-watch-spring-season-may-15th-june-15th/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230608T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230608T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T030336 CREATED:20230602T193012Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230617T000104Z UID:7724-1686213000-1686243600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting - cougar hunting rules reviewed DESCRIPTION:  \nUPDATE – In Montana\, the commission authorized a 40% cut in lion populations over 6 years in one large area\, and significant reductions elsewhere. The long timeline means there’s an opportunity to revisit this decision in coming years\, but they seem firmly committed to reducing populations. The 40% reduction means nearly doubling quotas (86% up). Full meeting recording: https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/june-2023-meeting and media coverage: https://missoulian.com/mt-to-increase-mountain-lion-quotas/article_1cf08ff3-2822-5fbe-b6eb-85a8ff1e2508.html \nThey may be revisiting at the August meeting –  issues of female sub-limits or how to increase hunting activity so more quotas/limits are met . \n=================== \nHELENA – Montana Fish and Wildlife & Parks Commission met on June 8th at the MFWP headquarters in Helena\, with them meeting starting at 8:30 am. The formal comment period was open through May 11 up till just before midnight.  Commissioners at their individual e-mails\, and they may read them until the day before the Commission meeting. \n\nFor information about the meeting and a place to submit on-line comments: \nhttps://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/june-2023-meeting \nFor discussion of proposed rule: \nhttps://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/commission/2023/jun/mountain-lion-quotas/cs-mountain-lion-quotas-final.pdf  \nChanges to rule \n\n  https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/commission/2023/jun/mountain-lion-quotas/mountain-lion-regulation-changes.pdf \nPotential quotas\, \nhttps://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/commission/2023/jun/mountain-lion-quotas/potential-quotas-by-lmu-combined.pdf \n\nMontana Alternatives \n\nThe first alternative is the status quo\, which includes all aspects of the 12.5 percent reduction in the Northwest Ecoregion as adopted by the commission in 2022.\nThe second alternative would achieve a 10 percent reduction statewide within six years if the quota were achieved\, although all quotas are not met currently. The quotas provided under the second alternative would have no numerical difference in the Northwest Ecoregion from the status quo alternative.\nThe third alternative would achieve a 20 percent reduction statewide within six years\nFourth alternative would achieve a 40 percent reduction statewide within six years.\n\nTheir justifications for these potential harvest increases are not well supported by science and are often just value statements – such as improving hunter satisfaction. \nHere is Mountain Lion Foundation’s alert on Montana season proposals: \nIt is a pre-fab letter and you can edit it\, or just hit send: Montana – Mountain Lion Foundation \nThey also wrote a blogpost on the issue: Breaking the Cycle – Mountain Lion Foundation \nIMPORTANCE TO SD \nThe management of lions in SE Montana is important to SD as we  have had at times  breeding populations and/or long term resident lions at the Custer National Forest lands or nearby state/private lands.  However with SD’s 365 day hunting seasons with hounds on the prairie in SD\, such populations likely won’t last well on the SD side. \nCuster National Forest exists in Montana and SD. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/montana-fish-and-wildlife-commission-meeting-cougar-hunting-rules-reviewed/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230608T115000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230608T235900 DTSTAMP:20260414T030336 CREATED:20230513T040716Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230609T022717Z UID:7267-1686225000-1686268740@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Comments due - Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) - Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project. DESCRIPTION:Comments on Draft EA are due by June 8\, 2023 11:59 PM MST \nSolitario Zinc\, a Colorado company\, has proposed their Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project\, located along the west side of Spearfish Canyon from well south of Cheyenne Crossing to north of Bridal Veil Falls. \nThis project includes up to 25 core drilling sites for gold mineralization\, access road maintenance (as needed)\, and reclamation activities. One staging area would be used to store equipment and supplies. Drill sites are primarily located in previously disturbed sites along existing roads and trails. No new road or trail construction is proposed. No mining\, milling\, or processing is proposed as part of the project. The project would entail approximately 27 months of active drilling not including inactive periods\, over a total of 5 calendar years. \n\n\n\n\nThe Draft EA is available upon request and on-line at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62590. The easiest and most efficient way to submit comments is by going to the project webpage and clicking on the “Comment/Object on Project” link on the right side of the page:          https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=62590 \nComments may also be submitted by mail at: USDA Forest Service\, ATTN: Steve Kozel\, 2014 N. Main St.\, Spearfish\, SD 57783; telephone at: 605-642- 4622; fax at: 605-642-4156\, or comments can be hand delivered to the Northern Hills Ranger District office\, Monday – Friday\, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Mountain time\, excluding federal holidays. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comments-due-draft-environmental-assessment-ea-golden-crest-exploration-drilling-project/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2023-06-08-at-8.25.08-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230608T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230609T230000 DTSTAMP:20260414T030336 CREATED:20230415T200245Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230606T200158Z UID:6737-1686225600-1686351600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:SD Game\, Fish and Parks Commission Meeting - June 2023 DESCRIPTION:SD Game\, Fish and Parks Commission Meeting at Good Earth State Park- June 8th-9th 2023 \nThe SDGFP Commission meeting will be a hybrid meeting held in Sioux Falls and on Zoom\, \nMore information about the meeting including the agenda & proposals/petitions has been   posted here:   https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/\nThe agenda: https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/June_2023_Agenda_(Public_Copy).pdf\nRules for river otter hunting/trapping\,  greater sage grouse hunting & rules for drawings for antelope & turkey licenses  will be proposed. (no hunting of sage grouse is proposed).\nSee links below to proposals.  PHAS has always objected to the otter season.\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/PRO_623_River_Otter.pdf\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/PRO_623_Sage_Grouse.pdf\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/PRO_623_Turkey_and_Antelope_Draw.pdf\n\nSDGFP meetings are normally on the afternoon of the 1st Thursday and Friday in the month\, unless holidays preempt that. They skip August meetings.  Details about Commission meetings\, hyperlinks and contacts can be found in previous posts on Commission meetings for previous months. \nWritten Comments are due by midnight CT the Sunday before the meeting. \nWritten comments can be submitted at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/. To be included in the public record of the next meeting\, comments must include your complete name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of seventy–two hours before the meeting (not including the day of the meeting) (Usually Sunday night before midnight CT or MT depending on time zone of physical meeting)  If you miss that deadline it goes to record of the next meeting.  Unless you want to send directly to each Commissioner (no deadline)  –  https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/  \n“Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us” \, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” \,  “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” \, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” \, “Juliea.Bartling@state.sd.us” \, “charles.spring@state.sd.us”  \, and david.cull@state.sd.us\, and Jim White – whose e-mail might be jim.white@state.sd.us or james.white@state.sd.us\, \n  \nYou can testify in person or by Zoom at about 2 pm CT on Thursday\, it is suggested you let GFP know you want to testify in advance (but they allow folks who did  register to testify).. Open forum is for speaking on any topic\, the public hearing is just for rules up for finalization. \nTo conduct the public hearing and/or open forum as efficiently as possible GFP  asks those wishing to testify to register by 1:00 pm CT by email to Liz.Kierl@state.sd.us. Testifiers should provide their full names\, whom they are representing\, city of residence\, and which proposed topic they will be addressing. However the hearing examiner normally allows for people who didn’t register to speak at the end – he calls for folks who did not register. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-game-fish-and-parks-commission-meeting-june-2023/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR