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.
Program
KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY
Tues. May 7, 2013 - 7:00PM
Kern Supt of Schools - 17th L Sts.
( Parking garage 18th & K Sts.)
Doug Dodd, Associate Professor of History, CSUB
"National Monuments: The Antiquities Act and the Preservation of America's Heritage"
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For over 100 years, the 1906 Antiquities Act has empowered American presidents--from Theodore Roosevelt to Barack Obama--to create national monuments to protect and preserve America's natural and cultural heritage. The illustrated talk will discuss the origins of the preservation ideal, the conservation movemment, and the development of America's system of national monuments.
Douglas Dodd is an Associate Professor of History at CSU Bakersfield, where he teaches U.S. history, environmental history, and the history of the American West. His work focuses on the history of the federal public land management policy. His current research project is on the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in California's national parks, 1933-1942.
Two national monuments in Kern county are the Carrizo Plain and the Giant Sequoia National Monuments. Come find out the most recent national monument near Bakersfield dedicated last year!
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Past Programs
KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY
Tues. April 2, 2013 - 7:00PM
Note: We will be meeting at
Valley Oaks Charter School
3501 Chester Ave. (between the Ice House &
Kern County Museum)
"COLOMBIA: LAND OF BIRDS"
Chris Calonje, Birdwatch Tours & Photography
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The program consists of a photographic tour of Colombia and its birds, with information on Colombian geography, its cuisine, culture, and people. Chris will talk about the increasingly better security situation; the Colombian government, at all levels, has made great strides in bringing peace and prosperity to Colombia. Colombia boasts the world's longest list of birds, now over 1890 species (more than North America and Europe combined). Much of this diversity is due to the country's complex topography, which includes three Andean ranges and the valleys between these ranges, Atlantic and Pacific coasts, vast grasslands bordering Venezuela and a large portion of the Amazon Basin. Birding in Colombia promotes responsible environmental and social ecotourism and provides an opportunity of a lifetime for birdwatchers.
Christopher Calonje was born and raised in Cali, Colombia, and earned a degree from Humboldt State University in Natural Resources Planning. He has been conducting birding tours (Colombia Birdwatch) in his native Colombia for many years, and has had the pleasure to travel throughout the entire country photographing its amazing avian diversity.
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KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY
Tues.. March 5, 2013 - 7:00PM
Kern Supt of Schools - 17th & L Sts.
( Parking garage 18th & K Sts.)
"Partnerships Protect California Natives:
Dairy Farms and Tricolored Blackbirds"
Keiller Kyle, Audubon CA
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Audubon California has been involved with Tricolored Blackbird conservation for the past decade, but recently, has begun to develop new methods to protect this species of special concern, which nests in large colonies. Audubon CA's Tricolored Blackbird Conservation Director, KEILLER KYLE, has been engaging Central Valley farmers and wetland managers in developing co-beneficial management of farm fields and marshes that protect breeding Tricolored Blackbird colonies and food resources they rely on. Last year was an eventful one with 20% of the global population of Tricolored Blackbirds being protected through a USDA program developed for Tricolors nesting in crop fields. Kyle will be detailing current Tricolor conservation work being done by Audubon and numerous partners, the successes and opportunities for future work with this personable and fascinating colonial breeder in the San Joaquin Valley.
Keiller Kyle joined Audubon California two year ago and has been working extensively with the dairy industry and individual dairymen to establish on-farm wildlife habitat that benefits birds as well as improves water quality and pest control. He grew up on a dairy farm in Central New York, received his Master's in Ecology from Purdue University and had also done extensive avian fieldwork prior to joining Audubon California in 2010.
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KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY
Tues. February 5, 2013 - 7:00PM
Kern Supt of Schools - 17th & L Sts.
"A Bucket List Filled:
Experiencing Nature
in All 50 States on a Budget"
Alison Sheehey, Speaker
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Join us for an evening program on Nature Ali's (Ali Sheehey) adventure driving to every drivable state and being gifted a ticket to the last state that she couldn't drive to. Since 2009, Ali has pursued visiting every state in the union and completed this goal in October 2012. The program will be a pictorial essay of wildlife and places encountered along the way.
Ali Sheehey, aka Nature Ali, is a remarkable birder and nature photographer and a "naturalized member" of the Kern County fauna. Her introduction to this land began in 1976 with her permanent migration to the Southern San Joaquin Valley in 1980. She joined Audubon in 1985 and became a member of the Kern Audubon board in 1987. She has a lifelong love of nature and looks forward to sharing her deep appreciation for all life with the Kern Audubon community.
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KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY
Tues. JAN. 8, 2013 - 7:00PM
Reider Education Center - 20th & K Sts.
Room 204
“Partners in Habitat Restoration”
US Fish & Wildlife - Kern Nat’l Refuge
Jacob Byers, Wildlife Biologist
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white faced ibis
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“Partners for Fish & Wildlife” is sponsored by the US Fish &Wildlife Service through the National Wildlife Refuge system with the goal of increasing habitat resotration on private lands throughout the state. Jacob Byers is a private lands specialist working with land owners in Kern, Kings and Tulare counties to preserve habitat for the benefit of federal trust species such as migratory birds (waterfowl and songbirds), including those with “threatened” or endangered species status. Jacob is stationed at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge and is employed by USFWS and will present a program about this exciting partnership. He has been with KNWR for the past two years and previously worked with the California Waterfowl Association. Join us on Tues. January 8th at the Reider Education Center, 20th & K, Bakersfield! |
Western Screech Owl -- by Mary Dufrain
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Kern Audubon
ANNUAL HOLIDAY GATHERING & POTLUCK
Tues. DEC 4, 2012 -*6:30PM
*University Square - 20th & K Sts.
(*Note the change in location & time!!)
Kern Audubon is planning an evening of holiday fun, good food, fund-raising and a special program....join us!!
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BIRDS OF TEHACHAPI
Mary Dufrain, Photographer
A note from Mary: About ten years ago I noticed a white hummingbird that had come to one of my feeders in the Tehachapi's. I believe she had been blown in on a summer storm front the day before. I thought she was so amazing. I decided to call the only bird club I could find in the phonebook (Tehachapi Mountain Bird Club) and see if they would also be amazed. I was hooked! I started paying attention to every bird I saw. Over the years I started submitting my photos to the TMBC web-site where others could view them and also vote on them. I thought it was great way to share the variety of birds that have visited my Tehachapi Home. I've lived in the Tehachapi Mountains for over twenty years. I'll present a short slide show of some of the birds I have photographed during that time.
Mary is a new member of Kern Audubon and a very talented photographer!
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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! Joe Bugni and Heather Ellison are the auction coordinators this year. If you have Items you'd like to donate to the auction, please email a brief description and a suggested starting bid so that bidding sheets can be prepared in advance or give one of them a call.
Bird or birding-related items are welcome as are other gift items, such as artwork, wreaths, homemade jams, quilts, etc. If you will be unable to attend but have an item you'd like to donate, Joe Bugni will arrange to pick up donations ahead of time.
JOE BUGNI (831-6806) - Jbugni@unwiredbb.com HEATHER ELLISON (319-4721) - hk_ellison@yahoo.com
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
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Titouse by Mary Dufrain
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Kern Audubon Society
TUESDAY November 6 , 2012 - 7:00PM
Kern Supt of Schools, 17th & L Sts.
Parking on street or garage at 18th & K Sts.
"On the Bluebird Recovery Trail"
Karen Pestana, Bluebird Trail Coordinator
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The Tehachapi Bluebird Recovery Project was started in 1999 by Tehachapi area birders and recently made the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's list of "Top 20 NestWatch All Stars" for the number of nests monitored. This was national recognition of this project which in 2011 monitored over 90 nestboxes by a dedicated team of 10 volunteers. Karen's presentation will be visual as well as telling stories about the experience of providing homes for this bird who suffers from loss of habitat and nesting cavities in the wild. Kern Audubon now sponsors this project through our new sub-chapter, Kern Auduobn-Tehachapi, so come and learn about how Audubon continues to make a difference!
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Bluebird feeding fledgling |
Bluebird fledglings |
Volunteers checking bluebird boxes |
Past Speakers
Barnes & Wilson on Birds, Binocs & Birding Hotspots, 9/4/12, ---"California & the West - A Photographic Journey",Dave Schindler, Photographer & Naturalist 10/2/12
The Annual Audubon Picnic, Marlene Hensley-Barton, FACT's Program Coordinator, FACT bird rehab, Rod Lee on Piano, 6/5/12
Dave Schindler, naturalist & wildlife photographer, "Wind Wolves Preserve...Link in the Chain of Wilderness Conservation", 5/1/12
Bill Moffat, Backyard Birds and Bugs: Familiar "Faces" and Fun Facts, 4/3/12
Reed Tollefson, Preserve Manager, "Audubon's Kern River Preserve: Jewel of the Southern Sierra", 3/6/12
Bob Steele, "Midway and its Sea Birds",2/7/12
Dr. Gitte McDonald,"Emperors of the Ice" the Emperor Penguins of Antartica, 1/10/12
Felix Adamo, Chief Photographer Bakersfield Californian,"Wildlife between Assignments", 12/6/11
Steve Laymon, Atwell Island Project Manager,The Atwell Island Project: Restoring a Portion of the Tulare Basin
John Eigenauer, Professor of Philosophy at Taft College and Adventurer, "Birding in Panama", 10/4/11
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.
“Partners for Fish & Wildlife” is sponsored by the US Fish &Wildlife Service through the National Wildlife Refuge system with the goal of increasing habitat resotration on private lands throughout the state. Jacob Byers is a private lands specialist working with land owners in Kern, Kings and Tulare counties to preserve habitat for the benefit of federal trust species such as migratory birds (waterfowl and songbirds), including those with “threatened” or endangered species status. Jacob is stationed at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge and is employed by USFWS and will present a program about this exciting partnership. He has been with KNWR for the past two years and previously worked with the California Waterfowl Association. Join us on Tues. January 8th at the Reider Education Center, 20th & K, Bakersfield!