BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Prairie Hills Audubon Society - ECPv6.17.3//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:20240310T090000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:MST
DTSTART:20241103T080000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:MDT
DTSTART:20250309T090000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:MST
DTSTART:20251102T080000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:MDT
DTSTART:20260308T090000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:MST
DTSTART:20261101T080000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250515T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250615T235900
DTSTAMP:20250407T204536Z
CREATED:20250407T204536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250407T204536Z
UID:18215-1747267200-1750031940@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Climate Watch Spring Season
DESCRIPTION:Climate Watch Spring Season \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 for any season (winter or summer) . \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\n\nOur web page on community science efforts: \n https://phas-wsd.org/citizen-science/ \n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/climate-watch-spring-season/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250519T215000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250519T215900
DTSTAMP:20250409T115629Z
CREATED:20250403T150613Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250409T115629Z
UID:18169-1747691400-1747691940@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline for extended comment period on Monarch Butterfly's ESA listing proposal
DESCRIPTION:Deadline for an extended comment period on Monarch Butterfly’s ESA listing proposal \n  \nDeadline of new comment period on monarch butterfly proposed listing\, is May 19th\, \nOn March 18th\, the USFWS extended the previous comment period for another  60 days. \nOfficials say the proposed rule includes species-specific protections and flexibilities to encourage conservation of the butterfly under section 4(d) of the ESA. \nGo back to our post on the previous March  12th\, 2025 deadline this spring for more details \nhttps://phas-wsd.org/events-alerts/2025-03-12/ \nThe proposed rule\, was published on December 12\, 2024. \nComments that were previously submitted do not need to be resubmitted as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final listing determination. \nThreats include use of herbicides\, use of pesticides\, climate change and logging in the overwintering sites. \nFish and Wildlife Society quote \n“The reopening of the public comment period for the monarch butterfly will publish in the Federal Register Reading Room today [3/18/25]. A reopened 60-day comment period will open on March 19\, 2025\, and will close on May 19\, 2025. Information about how to submit comments can be found on regulations.gov by searching for docket number FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137. \nEveryone can play a role in saving the monarch butterfly. Because of the species’ general habitat use and wide distribution\, all sectors of society have an opportunity to participate in a broad range of conservation efforts throughout the butterfly’s range. Learn more about the monarch butterfly\, the monarch listing proposal\, and how to help conserve monarch butterflies.”
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-for-extended-comment-period-on-monarch-butterflys-esa-listing-proposal/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250519T215000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250519T215900
DTSTAMP:20250518T163404Z
CREATED:20250508T060835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250518T163404Z
UID:18661-1747691400-1747691940@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Corrected Deadline to comment on definition of "harm"
DESCRIPTION:We had posted that the deadline to comment on rescinding  the definition of “harm” for ESA was May 17th\, that was a mistake\, — it is really Monday\, May 19th. \nThis is the link to the sign on letter that the National Audubon Society offers.\n(You go on-line and submit a pre-fab letter)\n\nhttps://act.audubon.org/a/protect-esa-2025\n\nThis is the link to the federal register where people can submit individual comments.\n\nhttps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06746/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act\n\nNancy Hilding can e-mail details of a sign on letter for groups (not individuals). The deadline to sign on is sometime on Monday the 19th. This is only for groups\, not individuals. Contact Nancy – phas.wsd@rapidnet.com 605-7872806 cell for more informationl\n\nThe link below has the definition of harm.  By getting rid of the definition\, that destruction of the species’ habitat will cease to be “take” prohibited by the\nESA. This will have terrible impact on our at-risk species.\n\nhttps://www.fws.gov/media/section-7-consultation-technical-assistance-glossary-terms\n\n\n\n\nThe proposed rule would rescind the regulatory definition of ‘harm\,’ defined as any significant habitat modification or degradation that kills or injures wildlife\, effectively rescinding widespread habitat protections for species protected under the ESA. This proposal would be absolutely devastating. \n\n\n\nFor more than 40 years\, the harm definition has protected endangered species by prohibiting acts that result in significant habitat modification or degradation that results in actual death or injury to a species. This prohibition has been absolutely critical to saving species from extinction. It has prevented cutting of old-growth forests where spotted owls nest\, stopped development in Florida panther habitat\, and so much more because the largest driver of extinction — both in the United States and around the world — continues to be human-caused habitat destruction and degradation.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \nGo to our post on May 17th for details\, just use  May 19th as deadline date – A link to that post: \nDeadline (5/17/25) to comment on USFWS rule change on Endangered Species \n \nRescinding the Definition of “Harm” under the Endangered Species Act AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\, Interior; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\, Commerce \nFor Federal Register Notice \nhttps://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-06746.pdf \nThis is the link to the federal register where people can submit individual comments.\n\nhttps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06746/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act\nThis is the link to an Audubon Society sign on letter.\n\nhttps://act.audubon.org/a/protect-esa-2025\n\nThe link below has the definition of harm. Kristal Stoner will  go over this in the ESDC presentation on May 16th eve\n\nhttps://www.fws.gov/media/section-7-consultation-technical-assistance-glossary-terms
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/corrected-deadline-to-comment-on-definition-of-harm/
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR