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 1,100+ 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 closely with the state Audubon office (Audubon Washington).  Please note that the  Audubon Washington office is now located in Seattle and the Olympia office has been closed.      Have you found an injured bird or other wildlife? Is the bird REALLY hurt? Just because a bird is sitting on the ground beneath a tree or a nest does not mean it is hurt. Young birds out of the nest are not necessarily abandoned. If the bird is not limping, dragging its wing, or falling over - Leave it alone! However, keep an eye out for cats or other predators who might be looking for an easy meal. Check the Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife site for: When NOT to "rescue" a wild animal List of licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators

BHAS Alerts Receive notices about birding classes, new field trips, changes to  classes or events, calls to action on conservation issues, requests for volunteers. Sign up for Alerts.  Next Monthly Program Meeting:  September 16th (Thurs.), 7-9 pm.  Presentation: Amazing New Zealand Former Audubon Washington office manager Jamie Morgan spent a month travelling around New Zealand last year. She’ll be sharing her vacation photos, which happen to include many shots of New Zealand’s nifty birds, amazing landscapes, and kooky tourist activities. Jamie is an expert on many topics – unfortunately, ornithology is not one of them – and will take you along for a (budget-conscious) ride that covers the beautiful island nation of New Zealand from the tip of Cape Reinga to Milford Sound. Kia Ora! BHAS membership meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month (exceptions: no March, July, or August meetings) at the Capitol Museum Coach House, 211 W. 21st Street, in Olympia. Social hour is at 7pm, with programs beginning promptly at 7:30 pm. Driving directions from Olympia: From I-5, take exit 105 following the “State Capitol/City Center route. Go straight, through the tunnel. At the light (Capitol Way) turn left (south). After 7 blocks, turn right onto 21st Street. The Museum is two blocks down on the left. The Coach House meeting room and parking are south of and behind the Museum.   May - June 2010 Echo newsletter (870 kb PDF). Please note that the deadline for submitting articles for the next Echo (for the November-December 2010 issue) is September 29th, 2010.  The Great Washington State Birding Trail maps.  Six maps are now available from Audubon Washington, including the newest, Palouse to Pines Loop Map Upcoming Field Trips and Events in 2009 (more details on each field trip or event can be found on the Field Trips and Events Details Web page or by clicking the link inside each event's description): 2010 (Click the link inside each listing to see details) September 16th, Thursday, 7-9pm Event: Monthly Program Meeting Presentation:  Amazing New Zealand September 19th, Sunday, 8:00 am to around noon Event: Patrick Sullivan Memorial Walk at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Leader: Those of us who loved and admired Patrick Sullivan September 25th, Saturday, 8 am - end of the day. Field Trip:  Tokeland Leader: Phil Kelley October 2nd, Saturday, 9am to 3pm Event:  Fall Bird Feeder Cleaning Location: Wild Birds Unlimited, Olympia October 9th, Saturday, 7:00 a.m until late afternoon Field Trip:  Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge Leader:  Scott Morrison Oct. 11th, Class starts: Class:  Beginning Birding Class    Four Mondays in class, 6:30 - 8:30pm:      October 11th, 18th, 25th, Nov. 1st ,    Two Sunday field trips:      Oct. 31st and Nov. 7th Location:  Downtown Olympia October 16th, Saturday, 9:00 am to early afternoon (Note: this date is tentative. It may be pushed forward or backward within the month of October depending on wetness of season.) Field Trip: Millersvania Mushroom Foray Leader: Jim Pruske October 21st, Thursday, 7-9pm Event: Monthly Program Meeting Presentation:  Northwest Bats: Regional Conservation Issues and Local Observations October 23rd, Saturday, 7:00 am to late afternoon Field Trip:  Westport to Tokeland Leaders: Ruth Sullivan and Phil Kelley ----------------2011---------------- January 2011, Thursday evening class followed by Sunday field trip. Birding Class: Gulls need love, too. Leader:  Matt Pike January 29th, 2011, 8:30 am - about 12:30 pm Field Trip:  Nisqually NWR - End of Hunting Season Leader: Phil Kelley Location: Nisqually NWR February 5th, 2011, Saturday, 6:50 a.m. for a 7:00 departure. Field Trip: Samish and Skagit Flats Leader:  Scott Morrison

How to Contact Us:

Mailing Address:
Black Hills Audubon Society
PO Box 2524
Olympia, WA 98507

Phone: (360) 352-7299
Messages are welcome!

Email Links:

General BHAS Information

BHAS President Sam Merrill

BHAS Treasurer Susan Markey

BHAS Co-Vice President Kris Schoyen

BHAS Co-Vice President Whittier Johnson

BHAS Webmaster/Echo Editor Debra Jaqua

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!)

Echo Newsletter

Echo is the newsletter of the Black Hills Audubon Society. It contains the Refrigerator Pages, which provides a calendar of upcoming program meetings, field trips, and other events.
You will need to download the Adobe Acrobat reader if you don't already have it.

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Conservation

Local Conservation efforts in Lewis, Mason, or Thurston counties.  (See also the Jack Davis Conservationist of the Year Award.)

State Conservation efforts.  Read about issues involving birds, other wildlife, and their habitats at the state level.  This site is sponsored by the Policy Office of Audubon Washington in Olympia.  Read the Legislative Newsletter, Birds Eye View, and keep informed or get involved. 

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!

Jack Davis Conservationist of the Year Award.  The Jack Davis Conservationist of the Year Award is normally presented yearly.

Education Programs

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.

Learn more....

Book Store

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.

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"Beautiful River" Prayer Flags

Honor the Black River in western Thurston County, the Deschutes, the Nisqually, other Pacific Northwest rivers, or rivers around the world with this special creation.  
 

 Wildlife Checklists

Butterflies in Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties (30Kb Word file).

Wildlife and Habitat info for Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, including:

• Bird species list

• Reptile species list

• Mammal species list

• Fish species list

COASST Training.

COASST 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 other COASST trainings in the near future (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.

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