Audubon's Kern Audubon Society Programs

Kern Audubon Society usually meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7PM. After a short period for announcements, introductions, etc., a program is presented by an outstanding person(s) in the field of conservation, ornithology,ecology, history, or biology. Generally, the programs are accompanied by Powerpoint, slide, or other media and there is usually a lively discussion and question and answer period. A list of past speakers is given at the end of this page.

After the program, there are refreshments, and winning raffle tickets are drawn for prizes such as bird guides, photographs or posters, nature games, and other items donated by our members. In addition to a fun time, the raffles are important to our treasury as we re-build our Chapter.

Unless noted otherwise, meetings will be in the Kern Superintendent of Schools Office at 17th and L Streets. There is free parking on the street or in the parking structure north of the building. Meetings are open to the public and there is no admission charge.

Home Contact Information Program Schedule Field Trip Schedule Membership Information Links Library Newsletters

February Program

Kern Audubon Society
Tuesday Feb. 7, 2012
** 7:00 p.m.**
Location: Kern Sup't of Schools
17th & L Sts., Bakersfield
(Street parking or the KSS lot at 18th & K)

"Midway and its Sea Birds "

Bob Steele, Professional Wildlife Photographer

Midway Atoll (mid-way between the U.S. mainland and Japan) is important for many historical and biological reasons. Today it is part of three federal designations - Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument, and the Battle of Midway National Memorial. Well over a million seabirds use the three tiny islands in the atoll to breed each season, including over half of the world's population of Laysan Albatross. Join professional wildlife photographer Bob Steele as we explore the human and natural history of this unique and fascinating place.

 

Past Programs

KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY
Tues. JANUARY 10, 2012
(We will be meeting the second Tues. due to the holidays.)
7:00pm - University Square (temporary location)
20th & K Sts.


"Emperors of the Ice"
The Emperor Penguins of Antarctica
Dr. Gitte McDonald, speaking

Emperor penguins are the premier avian diver, regularly diving to depths of 1500 feet while holding their breaths for over 10 minutes. Dr. McDonald will be talking about the ecology of emperor penguins and the recent field season at the Cape Washington (Antarctica) Emperor penguin colonywhere studies were conducted on the foraging ecology and diving physiology of Emperor penguins. Physiological data loggers were deployed that will improve understanding about how they are able
to perform such extreme dives. In collaboration with National Geographic, small cameras were attached to some penguins to learn more about what they eat and see when they are diving. Dr. McDonald is doing postdoctoral work at the Scripps Institiute of Oceonagraphy in San Diego. Join us for a fascinating look at these iconic birds as we began the year 2012!

 


Felix Adamo

Kern Audubon

ANNUAL HOLIDAY GATHERING & POTLUCK

Tues. DEC 6, 2011 - 6:30PM

University Square - 20th & K Sts.
(Note the change in location & time!!)

"WILDLIFE BETWEEN ASSIGNMENTS"

Felix Adamo, Chief Photographer

Bakesfield Californian


Photos by Felix Adamo

Felix Adamo's work reflects his 30 years as a photojournalist in California's Central Valley. Whether still life or portraits, his images are never constructed but rather are captured as they "construct themselves" during the natural events of everyday life. Adamo's work has been published in Life, Newsweek, Time, Sports Illustrated, the LATimes, SF Chronicle, Rolling Stone and other publications throughout the US and world via Associated Press and Zuma Press. In addition to his work as Chief Photographer for the Bakersfield Californian, Adamo owns adamopictures, a company which contracts out for documentary work with a focus on the arts. Mr. Adamo will discuss and show examples of his work during this program he calls: "Wildlife Between Assignments"

 

Bring a POTLUCK ITEM to share:

main dish (serving 8-10), salad or dessert

Table service & drinks provided

There will also be an AUCTION, both live & silent! These are some of the items you can bid on: American Game Birds plate collection by artist Jim Killen, 17"X24" Giant book: Birds of the World (National Geographic), Massage Gift Certificates, Art Deco flamingo figurines, Duck family figures (carved resin), Atlas of Bird Migration

 Contact Donna & Dick if you have items to donate: 321-9527

Bring cash or checkbook as we don't do credit

Remember : We will NOT be meeting at Kern Supt of Schools!

Join us at University Square, 20th & K at 6:30pm

Dr. Steve Laymon, restoration field

KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY

Tues. November 4, 2011

7:00pm - Kern Supt of Schools

17th & L Sts. (parking garage 18th & K)

The Atwell Island Project:

Restoring a Portion of the Tulare Basin

Dr. Steve Laymon, Project Manager

 

Least Sandpiper, Atwell Island

Over the past 10 years Steve Laymon has managed the Atwell Island Project for the Bureau of Land Management. Located in the southwestern corner of Tulare Co. and adjoining Kings Co., this project has taken 8,000 acres of marginal farmland out of agricultural production and restored it to native upland and wetland habitats. Steve will describe what the Tulare Basin was like prior to European settlement, which included Tulare Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Steve will talk about the restoration process at Atwell Island including the project successes and how it has benefited wildlife as well as future plans for the project. A special treat will be the photographs of habitats, flowers, insects, and birds that Steve has taken at the project over his tenure as project manager.

Steve Laymon is a restoration ecologist and ornithologist with a PhD in Wildland Resource Science from UC Berkeley and a MS in Biogeography from Cal State University, Chico. He has conducted research on several endangered species, including the Spotted Owl, Willow Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

 

 

KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY

Tues. OCTOBER 4, 2011

7:00pm - Kern Supt of Schools

17th & L Sts. (parking garage 18th & K)

"Birding in Panama"

The topic of John Eigenauer's October 4 th presentation is "Birding in Panama". John and his wife, Cece, traveled to Panama this summer and have also birded in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. His program will cover birds as well as "how-to's" of birding in these countries, such as travel, guides, lodging, birding spots, etc. John loves to travel, see & photograph birds and hopes to inspire others to visit Panama to bird. John is a professor of Philosophy at Taft College and Cece is a student at CSUB. They are new members of Kern Audubon!

 

Past Speakers

Ralph Paonessa, Nature Photographer, "Flying Jewels--Hummingbirds", 9/6/11
End of the Year Gathering, June 7,2011, Jastro Park Barbecue, Dave Ogden, guitar -- Debby Kroeger and Squeak the red-tailed hawk
John Schmitt,Internationally known Bird Artist and Ornithological Illustrator, topic "birds of a feather",5/3/11
Dr. Mike White, Purple Martins on Tejon Ranch and Conservancy update, Tejon Ranch Conservancy Science Director, 4/5/11
Bob Steele,stunning photos of "Birds, wildlife & scenery of the Southern Ocean" , professional bird photographer
Casey Christie,"Capturing Kerns Wildlife...in Pictures!", Photojournalist--Bakersfield Californian
Kathy and Harry Love, "A Glimpse of Peru"
Bob Barnes, "Kern County Birds and Birding "
Audubon Deep Pit Barbecue, FACT and Desert Tortoise Enclosure tours, Rod Lee on Piano
Burleigh Lockwood, Fresno Zoo Director of Education, "What a Hoot!" a hands on consideration of owls and hawks.
Mike Prather, Birder, Conservationist, "Owens Lake hero", "Wind, Solar, Dust, at Owens Lake...add water and stir",
Greg Warrick, Preserves Manager, "Nature Preserves of Kern County"
Tom Maloney, The Tejon Ranch Conservancy, Executive Director
Kelli Levinson, Kern County coordinator for "North American Birds", Birding Ecuador: A Summer's Journey
Jon Hammond, Tehachapi Mountain Birding Club, Journalist for Tehachapi News, Kawaiisu Indian Language teacher
Jordan Wellwood, Conservation Coordinator Audubon CA,"Protecting California's Birds"
David Pereksta, "Between Science and Magic...The Continuing Searchfor the Ivory-billed Woodpecker"
Barbara Reifel and Ginny Dallas, "Wildlife Destination: The Galapagos"
Kern Audubon Deep Pit Barbecue by Western Kitchen, Music by guitarist Dave Ogden
Dr. Robert Meese, UC Davis research associate, Tri-Colored Blackbirds
Reed Tollefson, Audubon CA manager, Kern River Preserve
Dave Clendenon, preserve ecologist, Wind Wolves Preserve
Josh Bradley, wildlife photographer,"Where the Viewfinder Takers Me"
Dr. Ted Murphy, Co-Chair Kern Audubon, "The San Joaquin Kit Fox"
Kevin Malamaa, an environmental consultant and avid nature photographer."Wildlife in Bolivia"
Alison Sheehey, Nature Ali, "The Big Picture in a Small Frame: the Natural History of Kern County"
Peter Bloom, raptor biologist, "California Condor Conservation and the Tejon Ranch."
Graham Chisolm,CA Audubon Dir. of Conservation, chair Tejon Ranch Conservancy
Kern Audubon Barbecue and Potluck at FACT, Richard Noel " the Cordeen man" entertained us.
Birgette McDonald, "Birds and Pinipeds of Cape Sheriff, Antartic"
Scott Frazier, "Birding in Peru"
Bob Steele, "Birds of Tropical Australia"
Rob Hansen, environmental consultant, instructor at College of the Sequoias: "Sharing a Vision of the Tulare Lake Basin"
"Kern National Wildlife Refuge" -- Jihadda Govan, refuge biologist
Dr. John Wilson, Wintering Birds of Kern County
Karen Pestana, Bluebird Trail Coordinator for the Tehachapi Birding Club
Bill Moffat, Park Ranger and Preserve Manager: Tule Elk Reserve, Allensworth, and Tejon State Historical Parks.
Mojave Desert SP
             Andrea Jones, IBA Program Coordinator Audubon California.
          Don Williams, president, Bakersfield chapter of the Turtle and Tortoise Club.
         John Lindsay, Kern Superintendent of Schools Office.
          Sanford "Sandy" Wilbur, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (ret.)
          Dr. Steve Laymon, Bureau of Land Management.
          Mr. Greg Warrick, Center for Natural Lands Management.
          Dave Hardt, Manager of Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges.
        Reed Tollefson, Manager of the Kern River Preserve in Weldon, CA.
         Dr. Maynard Moe, Professor of Biology at California State University, Bakersfield.
        Glenn Olson, Audubon California Executive Director.
          Larry Saslaw, Bureau of Land Management.

Contact Information Program Schedule Field Trip Schedule Membership Information Links Home Library Newsletters