Kalmiopsis Audubon -- UPCOMING EVENTS

Come join the Kalmiopsis Audubon Society on our monthly "Let's Go Birding" bird-watching outings and see some of the amazing variety of birds in our local area.

Next outings:

Aug 14 Rogue River Estuary

Sept. 11 Lake Earl

For more information, check out the Let's Go Birding page.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

August New River Programs
The BLM’s Ellen Waring Learning Center at New River is offering a series of great programs this summer. On Aug. 13, at 7pm Liz Kelly and Madeleine Vander Heyden of the U.S. F&WS will give a presentation about the Western Lily, our most endangered local wildflower. On Aug. 20 at 8pm, Jerrod Bowman of BLM will call in owls and bats on a special night hike. And on Aug 21 at 9am, Celeste Massacano of the Xerces Society will bring her big net to show and tell about the importance of Tiger beetles.

All programs are free. New River is located about 20 miles north of Port Orford, west of Hwy 101. To reserve a space or for more info, call 541-756-0100.

August 27-29, 2010 --24th Oregon Shorebird Festival

Experience the wonder of shorebird migration along the scenic Oregon coast at the 24th Oregon Shorebird Festival to be held August 27-29, 2010. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Cape Arago Audubon Society, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and many other sponsors has a full weekend of activities planned for birders of all skill levels. The festival will be headquartered at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston, OR. Activities include field trips to Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Millicoma Marsh, and other sites in the greater Coos Bay area. For those who want to experience birding on the water, The Bird Guide, Inc. will offer a five hour pelagic trip on Saturday, where you might be able to add Black-footed Albatross, Parasitic Jaeger, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Sooty & Pink-footed Shearwater, Pomarine Jaeger, Red-necked Phalarope, Cassin's Auklets, and more, to your life list. Evening programs on birds will feature presentations by Ram Papish: "The Great American Bird Quiz," and Peter Moore: “Saving the Chatham Island Oystercatcher.”

Bring your best pair of binoculars and join us for a weekend of birding fun and challenges. To register for the festival or for more information please visit our website at www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/shorebirdfestival.htm or contact Dawn Grafe at 541-867-4550.

August 26-28 --Trans-Kalmiopsis Wilderness Trailwork Project, Part II

This summer, wilderness enthusiast Gabe Howe organized a team of volunteers –called the Siskiyou Mountain Club--to clear and reopen a trail through the heart of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Renowned for its unique geology and plant diversity, the Kalmiopsis Oregon’s third largest wilderness area, and perhaps the least visited. While always considered remote, in the wake of the Biscuit Fire, tail access to the Kalmiopsis’ interior became nearly impossible for most wilderness users because of downed trees, brush, and lack of signage.

In June, a 6-person team worked for 9 days to restore the route from Babyfoot Lake to the mouth of Carter Creek at the Chetco River. Their hard work was rewarded by Kalmiopsis leachiana in profuse bloom and also swims in the crystal clear Chetco. You can read more about their adventures and hard labors at http://siskiyoumountainclub.blogspot.com/

By restoring the trail, which is all part of USFS trail system, the volunteer team intends to open up safe access for hikers and to restore the opportunity for wilderness lovers to hike all the way through Oregon’s most diverse wild landscape.

Starting on August 26, the team will work on the route on our side of the mountains starting at Vulcan Lake. This terrific project has been sponsored by the Rogue Sierra Club. Kalmiopsis Audubon will also help to provide support for the volunteer trail crew. Anyone who wants to volunteer on this extraordinary project should contact Gabe Howe at 503-545-4911.

Even if you can’t do heavy trail work, there may be need for volunteers to help shuttle the trail crew to the trailhead or to provide other support. If you can assist with this important task, please contact Al Collinet, President of the Curry Section of the Rogue Sierra Club and KAS member, at 541-412-8444.

Last updated July 12, 2010