Vol 53, 2001 - Northern State University

...~PRESIDENT'S PAGEThe September meeting inPierre was the best fall meeting Ihave had the pleasure of attending.Few of us are aware of the significantamount of nongame avian researchbeing conducted in South Dakota.For those unfamiliar withSDOU fall meetings, they consist offield trips in the morning, followedby paper sessions in the late morningand afternoon. SDOU is an organizationof both birders and professionalornithologists. The fall meetingsare a time for our professionalornithologists to show off the workthey have been doing. Birders whohave not been exposed to technicalpapers may feel that this informationis out of their league. I would like todispel this impression.At the fall meeting, the topicspresented varied from sageland birdsto the use of torpor by Whip-poor-will's. Papers were presented on the use ofwoodlots and shelterbelts by migratory and nesting birds and the field work ofthe Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory in the Black Hills. No matter what part ofSouth Dakota a birder is from, there was a paper presented that related directlyto their area. Ornithologist and birder alike found themselves interested in theresults. These studies answered questions such as where to find birds in SouthDakota and also how birds utilize the ecosystem of our state. If you were a birderwho has hesitated to attend fall meetings, thinking that they are for professionals,I would ask you to reconsider. I believe anyone interested in birding wouldfind our fall meeting fun.I would also like to second Dan Tallman's invitation to attend SDOU meetings.In conjunction with the North Dakota Birding Society, we have a greatmeetingplannedfor 17-18 May 2002at the SandLakeNationalWildlifeRefuge.All the meetings will be at the refuge, and a block of rooms has been reservedat the Ramkota Inn at Aberdeen (605 229-4040). I think it will be ameeting to remember. I like to think of Sand Lake as a bit of Florida in SouthDakota, with many egrets and herons. Sand Lake also promises large numbers ofshorebirds, something that Florida cannot boast. I hope to see you there.SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES 53(4): 71 DECEMBER 2001