About Kern Audubon Society
Tehachapi Group
The Kern Audubon Society has many members in the Tehachapi area. Thus the Tehachapi Group of the KAS was created in 2009. It conducts programs and outings. Members are very involved with the Western Blue Bird Nest Watch Program. It inspects nest boxes in the spring to determine success of bird nests.
Meetings
The Tehachapi Group meets four times a year in the Golden Hills Elementary School cafeteria, 20215 Park Ave. from 7 to 9 pm.
Future meeting dates are:
- Oct. 25, 2022
- Jan. 31, 2023
- April 25, 2023
Refreshments and a raffle are added bonuses.
Outings are intermittent throughout the year. See event section for updates.
April 2023 Meeting
Western Bluebird Nest Box Program: A Tehachapi Citizen Scientist Project Since 2000
Presented by Karen Pestana
Karen Pestana will present Tehachapi Audubon’s on-going, 23-year Western Bluebird Nest Box program, including instructions on how to become a Citizen Science Nest Box Monitor and set up a nest box in your yard.
Her talk will included a 10-minute nest-cam video that captures western bluebirds in the nest box from laying eggs to young birds fledging. Secondly, she will give a presentation about western bluebirds and other local birds that use the nest boxes and how to join her group of volunteers as a nest box monitor.
Since 2000 Karen has coordinated volunteers to maintain and monitor 60+ Tehachapi bluebird nest boxes and report the findings to Cornell University Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch program. She is a wildlife biologist formerly at Edwards Air Force Base and held positions with California Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service.
Golden Hills Elementary School
20215 Park Road in Tehachapi
Tuesday, April 25 at 7 pm
Raffle and Refreshments included.
Information
For more details or questions contact:
Carol Gates
661-300-1429 or carol.gates18@gmail.com
2022 Western Bluebird Nest Box Program Results
A total of 68 nest boxes monitored
- Western bluebirds fledged = 176 (average = 170)
- First egg of season = 21 March (average = 1 April)
- Success rate = 56% (average = 69%)
- Other species fledged:
oak titmouse = 7; violet-green swallow = 4; ash-throated flycatcher = 3
Total western bluebirds fledged for 23-year program = 3,649