BLACK HILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY (BHAS) is a chapter of the
National Audubon Society, representing Lewis, Mason, and
Thurston counties in the state of Washington. It is a
volunteer-based, non-profit organization whose 1,300+ members
share interests in birds and other wildlife, their habitats, and
natural history. Our goals are to promote environmental
education and recreation and to maintain and protect our
ecosystems for future generations. We work with the
state Audubon office (Audubon
Washington).
Next Monthly Program Meeting is November 14th (Thurs.). 7 pm.
BHAS Monthly Program Meeting
Presentation:
Christmas Bird Count:
From There to Here
This year, for the
114th time, 93%
of all Audubon chapters across the country will brave snow, wind or
rain to conduct their Christmas
Bird Count (CBC).
Recently at the Fall Audubon Council meeting, we learned just how
valuable data from counts is to agencies. Each participant makes an
enormous contribution to conservation through this longest-running
wildlife census. These citizen scientists help assess the health of
bird populations, predict trends, and guide conservation action.
Come join us in hearing a bit of the history of this great citizen
science success, and get inspired to participate in our own local
event on December 15 (Sunday)!
(Everyone is welcome to participate
with Field Trips and Events...
you don't have to be a member!)
Some field trips to public lands may
require an entrance fee. See how to purchase the
Washington Discover Pass.
Regular/Recurring
Field Trips:
Every Wednesday, 8:00 am
—
11:00 am, Field Trip:
Phil Kelley leads a Birding
Walk at Nisqually NWR. Meet at the Nisqually Visitor
Center.
First Saturday Birding and Breakfast -
First
Saturday of each month, different location each time within
Lewis, Mason, or Thurston County.
For more information, contact Leslie Lynam at 360- 402-9513
or Deb Nickerson at 360-754-5397.
Third Monday of each month at
4:30 pm, Event:
Birds and Beer
Gather with birders at the Fish Tale Brewpub on the
third Monday of each month. People will share their “best
birding spots in our area.”
Come ready to share where
and why you go birding in a particular spot. People new to
our area will benefit from your knowledge. We will
gather at the couches in the back. Location: Fish Tale Brewpub,
515 Jefferson St. SE, Olympia
Third Thursday of each month: Field Trip:
Birding at
Eagle’s Pride Golf
Course
at JBLM
This trip,
at the Joint Base Lewis McChord golf course, will be from
1-3 miles long on relatively level ground. It will explore
forest, water, and open area species. No security passes are required. Trip starts promptly
at 8:00 a.m. at the golf course driving range parking lot.
Location: Exit 116 (Mounts Road), turn north, turn
right into Eagle’s Pride Golf Course clubhouse parking area,
go down ramp and make an immediate, hard left onto driving
range access road (narrow road). Proceed to driving range
parking area.
First Saturday Birding and Breakfast
Birding near Tumwater Historical Park
Want to get a head start on your weekend? Join us for Birding and Breakfast
at 7:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. Bird with us, and then enjoy
breakfast at 9:00 a.m. at a local restaurant. Or,
if you’re a late riser, just join us for breakfast and we’ll give you the run
down on what birds are in the area. Beginning birders are welcome. Share what
you know, connect, enjoy. No expert guide.
For Dec. 7:
Meet at
Tumwater Historical Park at 7:30 A.M
Go north from Falls Terrace Restaurant towards Olympia on Deschutes Parkway
for about .2 miles and take the
unmarked road between Henderson
House Museum and Crosby Road, down to the river.
(777 Simmons Ln SW, Tumwater, WA 98501)
Breakfast at RiversEdge Restaurant at the Tumwater Golf Course at
9:00 a.m.
(4611 Tumwater Valley Drive Southeast, Tumwater.)
For more information, contact Leslie Lynam at 360- 402-9513
or Deb Nickerson at 360-754-5397.
Dec. 12 (Thurs.)
7-9 pm
Event:
BHAS Monthly Program Meeting
Presentation:
Christmas Bird Count - From
There to Here
This
year, for the 114th time, 93% of all Audubon chapters across the
country will brave snow, wind or rain to conduct their Christmas
Bird Count (CBC).
Recently at the Fall Audubon
Council meeting, we learned just how valuable data from counts is to
agencies. Each participant makes an enormous contribution to
conservation through this longest-running wildlife census. These
citizen scientists help assess the health of bird populations,
predict trends, and guide conservation action.
Come join us in hearing a bit of
the history of this great citizen science success, and get inspired
to participate in our own local event on December 15 (Sunday)!
First Christian Church
701 Franklin Street SE
Olympia, WA 98507
Arrive at 7:00 pm to socialize –
the program will begin promptly
at 7:30 pm.
Dec. 14 (Sat.)
9:00 A.M – 12:00 noon
Field Trip:
Downtown Ducks at Capital Lake
Leader: Burt Guttman
This trip is a reprise of the November Downtown Ducks quest; the
birds downtown are always changing and different.
Burt's Downtown Ducks quests are a
beloved tradition in Olympia. Many different ducks, geese, grebes,
and the occasional loon or swan, as well as passerines in the trees
and shrubs, are possible at Capital Lake in late fall and winter.
Meet at the Marathon Park parking lot at Capital Lake. Depending on
the birds' locations, you may wander to Tumwater Historical Park,
Percival Cove, and/or lower Budd Inlet. Dress for the weather. Bring
snacks and water as needed. This trip is especially oriented toward
beginning birders, but all interested folks are welcome.
Dec. 15 (Sun.)
From dawn to dusk, and anywhere in between!
Field Trip and Event:
114th Christmas
Bird Count (CBC)
and
Chili Feed
This year’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
will be on
Sunday, December 15. During this event, sponsored
by BHAS, volunteers spend the day (or part of the
day) in the field counting birds in their group’s assigned
count area. Folks new to birding, or those
who prefer working with a more
experienced birder, will be partnered with veteran
group leaders.
This is a serious commitment,
as well as a
whole lot of fun, and
it’s also a great way for
amateurs to become
familiar with our local
birds.
Our count is part of the
National Audubon Society’s 114th Annual CBC. These
events are important on an
international scale, because
the results are used as tools to
monitor the status and distribution
of bird populations across the
western hemisphere. The longest
running Citizen Science survey in the
world, the CBC provides critical data on population
trends. Tens of thousands of participants gather to
cooperatively count birds in over 2000 count circles
nation-wide. Incidentally, almost every year the
Olympia Count Circle has the national high count
for Golden-crowned Kinglet and, in some years,
Pacific Wren.
The day will conclude with the traditional post-count
chili dinner at 5 p.m. at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE,
Olympia, the corner of 8th and Washington in downtown
Olympia. After a wintery
day spent counting
birds, this is a wonderful
and welcome opportunity
to sit down, warm up,
and share your group’s
count numbers. The
cookies and cornbread
are also always excellent
and plentiful.
To join in,
contact Count Coordinator
Bill Shelmerdine at
georn1@hotmail.com or call
Bill at 360-866-9106.
For more information about the annual
Christmas Bird Count, and to explore historical
count data, visit www.birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count.
-- 2014
---
Feb. 13 – 17, 2014
Event:
Winter Wings Festival
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Save
these dates in the new year! The annual Winter Wings Festival in
Klamath Falls, Oregon, the oldest birding festival in the USA, is
considered one of the premier birding hotspots on the West Coast.
Organizers will release a full schedule in November, and open
registration will begin in December. See www.winterwingsfest.org
for more details and information.
Publications Chair & Webmaster:
Deb Jaqua ................................ 360-491-3325 Webmaster
Sign
up for BHAS Alerts by sending an email to the
Webmaster.
We will then send you an invitation that you will need to confirm (so that
someone else doesn't "accidentally" sign you up!)
State Conservation
efforts. Read about issues involving birds, other wildlife, and
their habitats at the state level.
National Action Alerts.
The National Audubon Society has set up this special Web site to give you an
easy and convenient way to communicate with your lawmakers and newspapers on
national conservation issues that impact birds, wildlife and our shared
environment. Remember, your letters will make a difference -- so take action
today!
The Education Committee has been busy creating
well-attended
birding classes, helping schools get students out into nature with the Board the
Bus grant, and promoting Audubon Adventures.
In 2009, BHAS awarded its first Dave McNett Environmental Educator of the Year
Award., honoring long-time volunteer Dave McNett.
Black Hills Audubon Society receives 4% of every purchase from this page to support our conservation program and other goals. Our prices are exactly the same as Amazon.com! All purchases are managed by Amazon.com. Use the search link below to make all of your Amazon.com purchases, or
go to our book store page for selected items.
Ever see a dead bird on a beach and
wonder why it succumbed? Would you like to help scientists
find out why?
COASST (Coastal
Observation and Seabird Survey Team) is a citizen science project based at the
University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences in partnership
with local community and environmental organizations, and state and federal
agencies. COASST volunteers collect data on beach-cast carcasses of marine birds
on a monthly basis to establish the baseline, or 'normal' pattern of beached
bird mortality on North Pacific beaches. Baselines are crucial for assessing the
impacts of oil spills, fisheries, and climate change. Data collection by COASST
volunteers helps address important marine conservation issues and protects
marine resources.
Lists of COASST trainings and more information about COASST
are posted on their website at
http://www.coasst.org.
From the main page, click on What's New. Then click on the Training Sessions
tab.
BLACK HILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY 
Recently at the Fall Audubon Council meeting, we learned just how
valuable data from counts is to agencies. Each participant makes an
enormous contribution to conservation through this longest-running
wildlife census. These citizen scientists help assess the health of
bird populations, predict trends, and guide conservation action. 
This year’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
will be on
Sunday, December 15. During this event, sponsored
by BHAS, volunteers spend the day (or part of the
day) in the field counting birds in their group’s assigned
count area. Folks new to birding, or those
who prefer working with a more 
This is a serious commitment,
as well as a
whole lot of fun, and
it’s also a great way for
amateurs to become
familiar with our local
birding classes, helping schools get students out into nature with the Board the
Bus grant, and promoting Audubon Adventures.