Text Box: River Bluffs Audubon Society is offering members the opportunity to order Jim Rathert’s new calendar, “Wondrous Water Birds –2007”-- and make money for the chapter. Jim Rathert is a River Bluffs member and long-time wildlife photographer. His excellent photos have been in many publications and now grace a calendar. A description of the calendar from Rathert says, “Enjoy the year round beauty and color of a diverse selection of water-loving birds. This premium quality 12” x 12” calendar was printed in the USA. “Bold and contemporary design with plenty of writing space. It features not just waterfowl, Text Box: herons or shorebirds but a delightful grouping all bird species that like wet feet.” The calendar will sell in many Missouri locations for $12.99, and that is also the cost for River Bluffs members. However, River Bluffs Audu- bon Society will receive a discount on the purchase price so that the chapter makes money on all orders placed Text Box: through RBAS. If you would like to order a calendar (or more than one) send a check for $12.99 per calendar to: Celeste Koon, 1017 Holly Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Make checks payable to the River Bluffs Audubon Society. The deadline for orders is October 31, 2006. Calendars will be delivered in mid-Text Box: Purchase of Water Bird Calendar Benefits Chapter Text Box: Multitudes of purple martins swooped through skies over McKay Park and the corner of Missouri and W. Stadium Text Box: Blvds. this summer thanks to the efforts of several RBAS members. One purple martin nest box was erected overlooking Sunset Lake at McKay Park by Todd Eichholz using a portion of the Dorothy Bushman memorial funds. The site had everything martins love - open area near water and people. That was confirmed after Todd, Jim and Julie Lundsted banded 28 young birds in July. A second box went up at an entirely different site - one of the busiest city intersections. It was chosen by Steve and Regina Garr after they noticed purple martins circling a construction Text Box: Jefferson City Purple Martin Population Swells Text Box: site. The birds were looking for a long-standing nesting site that was removed during work on a restaurant. Steve got permission from Wal-Mart to erect a new house on their property just across the street from the old site. The new box was quickly occupied and nesting residents re-paid the Garrs with their aerial antics. Steve erected a telescope in the window of his store, Birds-I-View, so shoppers could view the colony. By departure time in mid-summer, five pairs of purple martins successfully raised 25 fledglings. - Barbara Yates Text Box: Photo 4-B Text Box: Photo 4-A Text Box: Todd Eichholz checks the purple martin nest site at McKay Park.