Black Hills Audubon Society

Upcoming Field Trips and Events in 2010
(Everyone is welcome to participate with Field Trips and Events...you don't have to be a member!)

Two ways to view the
List of Field Trips and Events:

or....

See
Calendar of Events and Field Trips

 

 

Short list:

------------------------2011------------------

Back to Top

Field Trip and Event Details

  • September 16th, Thursday, 7-9pm
    Event: Monthly Program Meeting
    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.

Back to Top

  • 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

    This will be the 4th annual Patrick Sullivan Memorial Walk. Nisqually is not at it’s most active at this time of year, but this is close to the anniversary of Patrick’s death, and Patrick loved to bird at Nisqually. It is fitting then, that we gather together in his memory, as we have in past years, to enjoy Nisqually NWR.

    We will meet at the Visitor’s Center overlook at 8:00 am, and amble through the refuge to enjoy the refuge and remember Patrick. Nisqually is wonderful at all times of the year. Call Kristin Stewart at 360-456-5098 if you have questions.

Back to Top

  • September 25th, Saturday, 8 am - end of the day.
    Field Trip:  Tokeland
    Leader: Phil Kelley

    Meet at Mud Bay Park & Ride at 8:00 AM. We will carpool to Tokeland for large shorebirds and anything else of note in the area.

    In addition to Tokeland, home of the Marbled Godwits, we will stop at Midway Beach, Wash Away Beach, John's Landing, and Bottle Beach.

    Target birds are large shorebirds on fall migration but we will see passerines and small shorebirds as well.

    Trip will last all day. Bring food, water and dress for     weather. Call Phil Kelley at 360-459-1499 to reserve a spot.

Back to Top

  • October 2nd, Saturday, 9am to 3pm
    Event:  Fall Bird Feeder Cleaning
    Location: Wild Birds Unlimited
                  Cooper Point Marketplace, Suite 304
                  1200 Cooper Point Rd. SW
                  Olympia, WA 98502

     Let Us Clean Your Bird Feeder!

    Get your feeders cleaned so your birds remain healthy and happy! Drop off your feeders at Wild Birds Unlimited at Cooper Point Marketplace (address below) and we will scrub them for you for $5.00 each (slightly more if unusually large or dirty).

    All proceeds go to further the chapter’s conservation and education work. If you have time and want to volunteer to help us clean, we would greatly appreciate the help. Call or email Debbie Nickerson to sign up to be part of the cleaning crew. Debbie’s phone number is 754-5397 and her email is debranick@gmail.com.

    Thank you, and Thanks to Wild Birds Unlimited and Ruth Pagel for again hosting the BHAS feeder cleaning!

Back to Top

  • October 9th, Saturday, 7:00 a.m until late afternoon
    Field Trip:  Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge
    Leader:  Scott Morrison

    Ridgefield always holds a potential for unusual bird species. We’ll begin with a walk on the trail at the Carty Unit and finish with the (mostly driving) tour of the River “S” Unit. White-breasted Nuthatch is regular and abundant waterfowl. We are likely to see good numbers of Sandhill Cranes, also. Red-shouldered Hawk has been recorded Ridgefield.

    Meet in the south parking lot of the Labor and Industries Building at 7:00 a.m. Trip is limited to three cars- 12 to 14 people. This is a fairly long day (~ 1.5 hours drive each way) so bring adequate food and beverage. Call Scott Morrison at (360) 412-1260 to reserve space. Please indicate whether you’re willing to drive.

Back to Top

  • Oct. 11th, Class starts: 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

Back to Top

  • 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

    We will learn to identify many of the more common mushroom species associated with conifer and deciduous forest. With luck, chanterelles and other edible species will be found. I plan to discuss the ecological value of fungi to the overall health of a forest. Be prepared to walk through damp undergrowth and kneeling on wet ground. Bring brownbag lunch and water. Bring a basket if you plan to take any specimens home. Plan to look for forest birds and amphibians as well.

    Meet at Martin Way Park & Ride at 9:00 am. This trip is limited to 5 cars. Call the BHAS office at 360-352-7299 to register.

Back to Top

  • October 21st, Thursday, 7-9pm
    Event: Monthly Program Meeting
    Presentation:  Northwest Bats: Regional Conservation Issues and Local Observations

    Greg Falxa, a bat researcher working out of Cascadia Research, has spent the past 8 years studying bat behavior and life history strategies in Washington, Oregon, and California, with an emphasis on western Washington.

    Bats receive little attention from the public or even the research community, and management of bats as wildlife has typically been haphazard. There are areas of South Sound that are rich with bats, and Greg will talk about these, and about how much of the new information about the bats in this area have come from citizens rather than formal studies. Plenty of time will be reserved for questions.

    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.

    Back to Top

  • October 23rd, Saturday, 7:00 am to late afternoon
    Field Trip:  Westport to Tokeland
    Leaders: Ruth Sullivan and Phil Kelley

    Last year, we had ocean field trips about a month apart, and the difference in the birds was quite amazing and interesting. We are trying that again this year as well, and will stop at most spots mentioned on the September 25th trip. Ruth loves shorebirds so is always willing to search for them.

    Shorebird species migrate at different times of the year, stretching from about July to the end of October and age classes of many shorebirds also migrate at different times. Phil will have led the earlier trip, so will be able to point out the changes. There are often gulls of various types in the fall, and the passerines continue to move through or settle in for the winter.

    Meet at the Mud Bay Park-and-Ride to carpool. Dress for the weather, which certainly can be wet, and bring food and water for the day. Limit of 3 cars. Call Phil at 360-459-1499 to sign up.

2011

  • January 2011, Thursday evening class followed by Sunday field trip.
    Birding Class:  Gulls Need Love, Too.
    Leader:  Matt Pike

    Birding-basics instructor Matt Pike will teach a gull identification basics class geared toward beginning to sort out the treacherous montage of gull species present in western Washington each winter. Classroom instruction focuses on learning gull molt cycle and its influence on gull appearance, the differences in molt cycles between gulls that mature at different ages, and the basics of Washington’s regularly occurring gulls. The field trip location is bird dependant, but could include locations as far west as the Westport Marina, as far north as the Cedar River mouth on Lake Washington, and any number of places in between. The field trip will focus on field application of the knowledge gained in the classroom, as well as some just plain fun birding. Contact Matt at hoodedcrow3b@yahoo.com  for more information. Cost: $15 to support the BHAS Education Committee.

Back to Top

  • January 29th, 2011, 8:30 am - about 12:30 pm
    Field Trip:  Nisqually NWR - End of Hunting Season
    Leader: Phil Kelley
    Location: Nisqually NWR

    Lots of ducks and geese on the refuge at this time of year, raptors, too.

    Meet at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge visitor center at 8:00 am. Figure about 4 hours. Bring food, water and dress for weather.  Call Phil at 360-459-1499

Back to Top

  • February 5th, 2011, Saturday,
    6:50 a.m. for a 7:00 departure.
    Field Trip: Samish and Skagit Flats
    Leader:  Scott Morrison

    WESTERN WASHINGTON RAPTOR CENTRAL is the nickname for these delta areas. It’s a locality which often produces all five falcon species which regularly occur in the state. There are also plenty of Bald Eagles in all plumages, Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Short-eared Owls, and Northern Harriers. Flocks of Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, and numerous species of ducks are typical. Many rarities have been recorded in these areas, however the trip is focused on wintering raptors. The trip is limited to three vehicles -12 to 14 people. Call Scott Morrison at (360) 412-1260 to reserve a place on the trip. Please indicate your willingness to drive. Vehicles must hold a minimum of four people and we will convoy to the beginning of the field trip in Skagit County. This is a very long day with quite a bit of driving. Meet at the Hawks Prairie Home Depot parking lot near the Cutter’s Point coffee shop at 6:50 a.m. for a 7:00 departure.

 

How to Contact Us:

 

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

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

 

Back to Top

 

For questions about BHAS, please send email to: Information. 
For comments or questions about this Web site, please send email to: Webmaster.

Home  |  Bird-a-thon  |  Conservation  |  Contacts   | Echo  |  Education |
Field Trips/Events |  Links |  Membership |  Poetry |  Volunteer Opportunities

Mailing Address:  PO Box 2524
Olympia, WA 98507
------------
(360) 352-7299
Messages are welcome!

Copyright 2005 - 2010, All Rights Reserved