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).
No March Monthly Program
Meeting because of the Annual Dinner on March 1st
Next Monthly Program Meeting is April 13th (Thurs.), 7 pm.
Presentation:
The Truth about Jaws
Sharks are
among the most fascinating and feared animals
in the world. Their predatory role in marine ecosystems
is vital to the health of the other marine life that share their
home, yet many shark populations are in decline, due to over harvest
and habitat degradation.
Join Point
Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s Education Specialist, Cathleen McConnell,
to learn about the unique biology
of these incredible fish and the challenges shark populations
face in the oceans today. The program concludes with an opportunity
for hands-on exploration of shark skin and jaws from a variety of
species.
Every
year an estimated 100 million sharks are killed; 38 million of those
are killed just for their fins.
BHAS Program meetings are held on the second Thursday of the
month (exceptions: no March, July, or
August meetings).
(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.
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Third Monday of each month at
4:30 pm, Event:
Birds and Beer (Olympia)
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
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Last Wednesday of each month at
4:30 pm, Event:
Birds and Beer
(Shelton)
Meet other birders from Mason County or those who happen to
be in the area. Discuss good places to bird and the
interesting birds you have sighted recently. Have a beverage
and or a bite to eat with us.
Come ready to share where
and why you go birding in a particular spot. People new to
our area will benefit from your knowledge. Location: Smoking Mo's Kitchen
203 W Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA. See
map.
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.
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, or
515 Jefferson St. SE, Olympia
For questions, please contact Deb Nickerson at 360-754-5397
or
debranick@gmail.com.
March 26 (Wed.)
4:30 pm
BHAS Event:
Last Wednesday of each month at
4:30 pm
Birds and Beer
(Shelton)
Meet other birders from Mason County or those who happen to
be in the area. Discuss good places to bird and the
interesting birds you have sighted recently. Have a beverage
and or a bite to eat with us.
Come ready to share where
and why you go birding in a particular spot. People new to
our area will benefit from your knowledge.
Location: Smoking Mo's Kitchen
203 W Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA. See
map.
Who
is interested in being part of an organized carpool to the Othello Crane
Festival to be held March 28-30, 2014?
BHAS is going to Othello the weekend of March 28th/29th for their Crane
Festival. We have 6 rooms reserved under our name at the Best Western
(509-488-5671) for Friday and Saturday nights. If you prefer to get one on your own,
we encourage you to reserve early.
Othello motel lodging goes fast.
On Friday evening our chapter is holding a reception from 8pm to 10pm in the
Breakfast Room at the Best Western. Join us to learn who is there and what we
will be doing that weekend. Drinks and snacks provided by BHAS.
Go to
www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org for more information,
although the festival's full schedule of events has not been finalized yet.
However, you can count on well-run field trips, classes, lectures, a bike tour,
and other activities. The town of Othello truly puts itself out for visitors to
the festival. It is definitely worth going to if you've never been.
Contact Deb Nickerson or call the BHAS phone line at 352-7299 to leave a message
indicating your interest in carpooling. Thanks!
April 2-6 (Wed. - Sun.)
Event:
Olympic Peninsula BirdFest
Sponsored by Olympic Peninsula Audubon
Society
Location: Sequim, WA
The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society will
conduct its 11th annual Olympic BirdFest on April 2nd
through April 6th 2014. This festival provides participants the
opportunity to view a wide variety of birds normally seen on the Olympic
Peninsula. New:
Olympic BirdFest Offers New Two-day Opportunity to Bird by Land and Sea
Field trips are planned for Sequim Bay, Port
Angeles Harbor, Ediz Hook, Dungeness Spit, the Elwha River, Salt Creek and at
Neah Bay as well as trips through wooded areas to view songbirds and see owls in
the evening. Boat trips to Protection Island are also planned. The North Olympic
Peninsula is widely known as a great place for birdwatching. The date of the
Olympic BirdFest is timed to overlap wintering birds and the beginning of spring
migration.
Field Trip and Event:
First Saturday Birding and Breakfast
Birding at McLane
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 April 5:
7:30 A.M. Birding
at Olympia's
McLane Nature Area Trail (DNR) onDelphi Road. (Directions: From I-5: take the exit to Hwy 101. Take the Black Lake exit and head
south-west on
Black Lake Blvd. to Delphi Rd. Take a right and follow for 2 miles to
McLane Creek Nature Trail on left. From Shelton and Hwy 101: take the Delphi Road exit, and head
south to McLane Nature Area). Meet at trailhead parking area.
Speaker: Cathleen McConnell, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Sharks are among the most
fascinating and feared animals in the world. Their predatory role in marine
ecosystems is vital to the health of the other marine life that share their
home, yet many shark populations are in decline, due to over harvest and habitat
degradation.
Join Point Defiance Zoo &
Aquarium’s Education Specialist, Cathleen McConnell, to learn about the unique
biology of these incredible fish and the challenges shark populations face in
the oceans today. The program concludes with an opportunity for hands-on
exploration of shark skin and jaws from a variety of species.
Every
year an estimated 100 million sharks are killed; 38 million of those
are killed just for their fins.
BHAS Program meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month
(exceptions: no March, July, or August meetings).
Meeting
Location
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.
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 
birding classes, helping schools get students out into nature with the Board the
Bus grant, and promoting Audubon Adventures.