Carol Gates, after 14 years of leading the Tehachapi Audubon Group, stepped down for a well deserved reprieve. It takes two to replace her! Wanting to support our local group, Joan Cote and Cindy Marble stepped in, learning quickly that it takes a village to run an Audubon meeting. At our January 28, 2025 meeting Bob Barnes visited from Ridgecrest and taught us the ins and outs of the eBird application.

The next day Bob led a birding walk around Tom Sawyer Lake and used that application to call in a rarely seen Virginia Rail he spotted. Many were able to add that elusive bird to their repertoire of sightings! Bob warned against excessive use of recorded calls. When birds make sounds, they use energy that may be needed for something else.

Bob teaches birding “by careful observation.” Take time when identifying a bird. Observe the details of it physically, the sounds it makes, behavior and location. Does the duck dive or does it feed at the surface? Have a yellow bill? A white bill? Size? Eye color? Any other special identifiers?

Fishing Line Disposal Receptacle.

The bird walk was a highlight of the experience of putting together our first program as well as enlisting the help of so many willing to make it happen.

Also present at the January meeting were Kern Audubon Society (KAS) past president Harry Love and current president Mike Lahorgue who discussed a fishing line disposal system that KAS can supply free of charge. The Tehachapi Audubon group will be working with local lake officials to get these placed.