NEW AT KAS

New KAS website now online
We are pleased to report that the new KAS website is now up and online. Last fall, we applied for a small grant from National Audubon to revamp our website with more information about local birding. We knew that our website could be a terrific resource for local residents and for visitors interested in watching birds, and now--just in time for migration and summer visitors--it is. The website will give more people the chance to learn what we do. And it will give us a way to post more up-to-date information about new programs and outings, pressing conservation alerts, and volunteer opportunities. With the grant money, we hired local website consultant Alicia Billings to create the new space. Local photographers Lois Miller and Tim Palmer donated use of their photos, and several other KAS members read draft content and offered input. Thanks to all who helped.

Trees & Forests program a success
In early March, Tim Palmer gave his Trees and Forests of America slide presentation to an interested crowd at the Chetco Library in Brookings. A big thank you to Ted and Betty Bezzerides for helping to organize a very successful event.

KAS makes donation to Azalea School to support birding field trips
In March, Azalea Middle School teacher Diane Cavaness approached us with a problem that we turned into an opportunity. School budget cuts meant no field trips for the students in her elective birding class. The KAS board unanimously agreed to provide funds to allow for 3 field trips for the enthusiastic middle school birding students. According to Diane, the class continues to be a great success, and these students are really engaged and excited to learn about birds. And if you know Diane, she is a remarkably talented and inspiring teacher. We are delighted to be able to support her excellent educational efforts.

New Curry County Birding Checklist now available
This spring, we also reprinted the Curry County Birding Checklist, a very helpful booklet for local birding. Don and Karen Munson updated the bird data by consulting with other knowledgeable local birders, including Terry Wahl and Jim Rogers, and Diane Cavaness painstakingly reconfigured the new data into updated charts. We had the new booklet printed locally at the Downtown Fun Zone. Thanks to everyone for helping with this project. The big news is that over the past 5 years, 20 new birds have been seen in Curry County, bringing our total species up to 396. The Checklist features charts based on local sighting data that indicate what time of year each bird species is seen most frequently. The Checklist also features a guide to good birding sites in Curry County.  You can pick up a new checklist, free of charge, at any of the local visitor’s centers or at True Value in Port Orford. You can also request one from Karen Munson for a small charge to cover shipping (email her at dkmunson at wildblue.net). Or you can directly go to the Local Resources page on this website and find a link to view it.

KAS Annual meeting- a great time and a new tradition
In early April, we had the KAS annual meeting and potluck. We recognized long-time board member Alice Pfand for her 20 years of dedicated service on the Kalmiopsis Audubon board. We shared an excellent meal, including the highlight of fresh trout from Garrison Lake (brought by Paula Cracas). And after dinner, we enjoyed sharing photos. Some highlights included Tim Palmer showing images of the new Copper-Salmon wilderness, Diane Cavaness sharing photos of her enthusiastic 8th grade birding class, Lois Miller sharing stellar bird shots, and Gary Neuchterlein showing photos of grebe courtship; and there were more, too, including great shots of many different sandpipers and even an erotic tree. The evening was such fun that I think that all would agree we should make it an annual tradition--so start taking pictures to share next year!

Storm Petrel now quarterly
At the start of 2009, the KAS board decided to send out our award-winning newsletter, the Storm Petrel, on a quarterly rather than a bi-monthly basis. This decision was made to economize on time and money. If you miss getting local conservation news 6 times a year, come and check back in on this website, which will be updated on a regular basis as need be.