JAS Program Meetings
April 28 -- David Seibel: BIRDING BY EAR and Other Tips on Bird Identification
Just in time for the Birdathon and all the glories of spring birding, Professor David Seibel will share his techniques for identifying those
frustrating birds that tantalize with song but just won't come out in the open and patiently pose while you focus your binoculars.
He will demonstrate methods and tools for auditory birding, explain the biology and theory of avian vocalization and give us some hints
on how to learn bird calls.
In addition to this wealth of useful information, David plans to show photographs he has "captured through the judicious use of
recorded songs and calls." If you haven't joined the KSBIRDS listserv where David often shares his incredibly sharp, incredibly intimate
bird photos, visit www.davidseibel.com for a sample of his portfolio.
Dinner with David Seibel will be at 5:30 p.m. at Marisco's Restaurant, located at SE corner of 6th & Wakarusa in Lawrence.
Refreshments will be served and there is ample parking east of the church. Programs are held at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church,
245 New Hampshire, Lawrence, and are free and open to the public.
May 19 -- (Date changed due to Memorial Day Holiday May 26) Program TBA. Check your newsletter for details.
JAS Birdathon 2008 Fundraiser May 3-4
Who's up for Warbler Neck???
One never feels comfortable summoning help on bended knee, but once again JAS has lost another Birdathon field participant. Monica Higgins,
who has regularly added three to five species seen by no one else to the JAS Chapter list for the past four years, has taken a position in Florida
to "green" up one of that state's many golf courses. Thus from Birdathon headquarters the plea goes out to any and all to set aside the first
weekend in May (5/3 and 5/4) to participate in Birdathon '08 by counting birds and enlisting sponsors. You can download a copy of the pledge
form from our site.
Just designate a 24 hour period during that weekend and fill it with as many bird species as you are able to see or hear. Truly dedicated participants
like Gerry Parkinson observe both days compiling two lists; he then submits the best day's list. As of this writing we don't know if expert birders other
than myself will be willing to take neo-birdathoners on the weekend adventure.
Personally I do not hear well and would welcome the company of anyone who has a repertoire of bird songs and calls or birders of any level of ability
with the desire to learn more about habitat and birding sites. Last year due to a lingering squall, I spent most of my day at Baker Haskell Wetlands.
This year I do expect to cover more territory and log many more road miles. Please don't be shy. Let me introduce you to pleasurable birding for a
good cause. Call me anytime to register your intention to join the JAS Birdathon team this spring.
-Richard Bean (785) 979-2649
Birdathon Basics:
WHAT: JAS major fundraiser. Supports Wakarusa Wetland Learners field trips for 6th graders, Eagles Day, Natural History Museum Summer
Camp scholarships, Monarch Tagging Day with JAS and Monarch Watch at the Wetlands, out-of-town speakers, allows JAS to pay for
brochures for the Wetlands and assist with projects like the new pergola.
WHEN: Any 24 hours during the weekend of May 3 to 4.
WHERE: Wherever you want to bird. You don't have to be in Lawrence or even Kansas. You could be at the KOS Spring meeting in
Goodland or in Timbuktu as long as there are birds to count.
HOW: It works just like any other "Thon": You call Richard and sign up to bird. Then you ask some friends and co-workers to pledge in
support of your effort: no pledge is too small OR too large. We are grateful for any amount you raise. ALL the money contributed to
JAS is used locally for our education and conservation projects. We have no administrative overhead. Then on the 3rd or 4th, you go
out and count species -- NOT individual birds but just species -- as many as possible. Send your list to Richard for compilation. Most
years the chapter has a Birdathon list of around 160 species.
WHY: For the fun of the birding and the competition to see who has the biggest list. Most of all to ensure the continuance of the
useful work of the Jayhawk Audubon Society.