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Keeping you informed about cool bird stuff in & near central Kentucky.

Endow the Bluegrass Challenge Raises $825 
A huge thanks to everyone who helped make November 20th's Endow the Bluegrass Challenge such a big success. In that one day, a dozen generous donors gave a total of $550 to the Central Kentucky Audubon Society Endowment Fund through the BGFC GoodGiving Guide Challenge. We're happy to report that every one of those donations was matched fifty cents on the dollar, bringing the total amount added to our Endowment Fund to $825!  CKAS can take up to 6% from this fund per year to use for important projects aimed at helping birds in central Kentucky (or we can reinvest earnings in the fund; the more this fund grows, the more good work we can do in the future) so your donations really have done some lasting good. Thanks again to everyone who chipped in to help CKAS take advantage of this great opportunity! If you missed the first few chances to have your donation matched, the next and last match day is Thursday, December 11th, starting at noon. Don't miss it!

Thursday, December 4th, is GoodFoods Giving Day
GoodFoods Giving Day is better if you put a bird on it!

OnThursday, December 4th, the Good Foods Co-Op will be donating 25% of the entire day's sales to the GoodGiving Guide Challenge. What a great day to visit the Good Foods Market and Cafe for breakfast, lunch, and then again for dinner! The support of local businesses like Good Foods and the generosity of people like you have already raised over $1 million in donations for local charities during this year's Challenge. The Blue Grass Community Foundation hopes the grand total of all Challenge donations will be $2 million by the end of next week. If you haven't yet done so, check out the Challenge homepage. There's a whole lot of good happening there! Donations made online to GoodGiving Guide participating charities (including CKAS)  are fully tax deductible, and donating $50 or more gets you some wonderful Thank You gifts. You still have plenty of time for you to get involved and make a year-end donation!
Upcoming CKAS (& Other) Events    
Dec. 7th (Sun.): Owl House Dedication & Wine Tasting The previously scheduled Barn Owl House dedication at Chrisman Mill Winery has been cancelled/postponed due to scheduling conflicts. Sorry. We're working on a reschedule and will keep you posted.
Dec. 9th (Tue.) 1:-3:00pm: Bluegrass Birding Festival Planning Meeting: Bell House conference room, 545 Sayre Ave. If you would like to help plan the 2nd Annual Bluegrass Birding Festival, here's your chance. Bring your great ideas! Can't make the meeting but want to help? Contact Nic Patton to get added to the e-mail list.
Dec. 11th (Thur.) 11:59am+: GoodGiving Guide Challenge: The Buzzer Beater Challenge starts at 11:59am. All $10 to $500 contributions from noon on will be matched fifty cents on the dollar until Mitchell Family Foundation's generous pledge of $100,000 is exhausted. A great day (and almost your last chance) to donate to CKAS during the GoodGiving Guide Challenge! This pool goes somewhat quickly so be online and ready at the noon buzzer.
Dec. 12th (Fri.) 11:59pm: GoodGiving Guide Challenge grand finale. TODAY is your LAST CHANCE to join in the Challenge! If we all dig deep, BGCF can make their $2 million goal!
Dec. 13th (Sat.) 10:00am: Live Birds of Prey Wild Birds Unlimited 152 N. Locust Hill, Lexington. Doris Mager, the "Eagle Lady" of S.O.A.R., brings live raptors and shares interesting facts about rehabbing Bald Eagles, crested Caracaras, and other birds of prey.
Dec. 14th (Sun.) 1:00pm-4:30pm: Bird Walk (w/ASK) Lake Ellerslie: Reservoir #4 Meet in the outside parking lot of Lakeside Golf Course 3725 Richmond Road (Coys Drive) for a 1:00 PM DEPARTURE. The gate at the fishing club will be locked once we gain access, so don't be late!!!
Dec. 20th (Sat.) early+: X-Mas Bird Count. Multiple groups, varied locations. Please contact David Lang to be assigned to a group.
Dec. 20th (Sat.) 10:00am: Winter Wildlife Treats McConnell Springs Park 416 Rebmann Lane, Lexington. Junior Naturalist event for youth K through 5th grade. Please call to register: 859-225-4073.
Dec. 24th (Wed.) Christmas Eve. Need a last-minute meaningful gift? How about protecting some hummingbird habitat?
Jan. 1st (Thur.) 9:00am-11:30am+/-: Bird Walk (w/ASK) Lexington Cemetery 833 W. Main St., Lexington. Meet/park around the first right turn after coming in the gate. Do NOT park in the gatehouse spaces!
Jan. 1st (Thur.) 11:30am+/- -3:00pm: Bird Walk (w/ASK) Maine Chance Farm (Spindletop) 2099 Newtown Pike, Lexington. At some point in the morning, the group from the Lexington Cemetery walk will migrate and regroup at the McDonald's at Newtown Pike & I-64 to continue birdwatching at Maine Chance. If 9:00 was too early for you but you'd like to catch this half of the morning's walk, please e-mail David before the walk so we can call you when we leave the cemetery and you can meet up with us in the McD's parking lot.
Jan. 5th (Mon.) All day: National Bird Day. A day not only to appreciate the native wild birds flying free outside our windows, but also to reflect on how we treat the native birds of other countries and to "think outside the cage." Support efforts to protect birds in their natural habitat like those undertaken by the World Parrot Trust.
Jan. 7th (Wed.) 7-9:00pm: CKAS General Meeting Good Foods Co-Op: Rochdale Room 455 Southland, Lexington. It's not all business so please attend! Planned topics: Swift Tower and Barn Owl Box progress, American Kestrel & Eastern Bluebird Trail possibilities, Bluegrass Earth Movie Series & Bluegrass Birding Festival involvement and planning. All members and curious non-members are welcome.
Jan. 10th (Sat.) 8:00am-2:00pm: Winter Seed Sale Southern States Co-Op 2570 Palumbo, Lexington. Do you have enough bird seed to make it through the rest of the winter? Now's the time to stock up at the Audubon Winter Bird Seed Sale. You can take your stock with you or leave it at Southern States to pick up as you need. NOTE: All stored seed must be picked up within twelve months! A portion of the proceeds goes to supporting CKAS. We need volunteers! Shifts run from 8-11 & 11-2. To volunteer, e-mail seedsale@centralkentuckyaudubon.org.
Jan. 11th (Sun.) 9:00am: Bird Walk & Barn Owl Box Check/ Kestrel Box Cleaning Talon Winery 7086 Tates Creek, Lexington. Meet in the parking area near the silo. Walk first, cleaning second. Come watch us try out our new ladder!
Jan. 17th (Sat.) 8:00am-2:00pm: Winter Seed Sale Southern States Co-Op 2570 Palumbo, Lexington. Missed us last week? Here's a second chance to stock up. You can take your stock with you or leave it at Southern States to pick up as you need. NOTE: All stored seed must be picked up within twelve months. A portion of the proceeds goes to supporting CKAS. We need volunteers! Shifts run from 8-11 & 11-2. To volunteer, e-mail seedsale@centralkentuckyaudubon.org.
Jan. 24th (Sat.) 9:00am-1:00pm: Bird Walk (w/ASK) Lake Ellerslie: Reservoir #4 Meet in the outside parking lot of Lakeside Golf Course 3725 Richmond Road (Coys Drive) for a 9:00 AM DEPARTURE. The gate at the fishing club will be locked once we gain access, so don't be late!!!
 
You're almost out of time to get in on the Challenge! At midnight on December 12th (next week Friday), the 2014 BGCF GoodGiving Guide Challenge will come to an end. That's right: if you want to take part in this year's Challenge, you had better act soon! We recommend planning to donate to CKAS December 11th during the Buzzer Beater Challenge, which starts at 11:59am and lasts until the $100,000 of matching funds from the Mitchell Family Foundation run out. During the Buzzer Beater, donations up to $500 will be matched fifty cents on the dollar and all donations and matching funds go into our operating budget. The CKAS Board has earmarked all donations on December 11th for Barn Owl nest box materials and mounting. So if you've been waiting for "just the right time" to make a year-end tax-deductible donation to CKAS, it's about that time...
 
 
 
 

 
WALK ETIQUETTE
 
What to wear? What to wear? It's best to dress in muted colors when you attend a bird walk. Browns and grays blend in with the surroundings, and the birds will be less likely to notice you moving about. Avoid wearing white clothing, white coats, or white hats, even white gloves since white is a danger signal to birds. Avoid wearing your shiny new tennis shoes. Avoid reds and other bright colors as well. Wear the opposite of the clothing you'd wear for a quick jog! The goal when you're dressing for a bird walk is to wear clothing that helps you not be easily seen.

With winter fast upon us, it's important to dress warmly for your time outdoors. A bird walk can last several hours, sometimes in the wind or the rain. Staying warm can be a challenge. Consider long johns and more than one pairs of socks. Wear multiple shirts so you can remove layers if it gets too hot. Don't be afraid of keeping hand warmers in your coat pockets. But if your only thick winter coat is a bit too colorfully vibrant for a bird walk, you might plan to ask for a warm but drab coat for the holidays!

CKAS has been added to the list of Kroger's Community Rewards® Program charities. Kroger is committed to giving back to the community; each year, Kroger gives millions of dollars to Kentucky non-profits with the Rewards® Program. If you do your shopping at Kroger and have a Kroger Rewards® card, you help us qualify for these funds by logging on at Kroger.com and linking your Kroger card to Central Kentucky Audubon Society under the Community Rewards section of your Account Settings. This will not affect the way you accrue points in any way; you still keep all your rewards and gas savings. But your points will also count as our points, helping us to a bigger share of Kroger's charitable donations.


 
                                                
Want to keep up with
what CKAS is doing?
These and other events
can be found on our
CKAS Events Calendar.
 
                                             


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You have received this e-mail because you are a member of the National Audubon Society (and its local chapter, the Central Kentucky Audubon Society, formerly the Buckley Hills Audubon Society) or because at some point in the past you have expressed interest in keeping informed about the goings-on of our chapter. If you have received this post in error and/or no longer wish to receive information about the Central Kentucky Audubon Society, please let us know and we'll strike you from the list; conversely, if you know anyone who would appreciate getting these updates, feel free to forward this to them and have them let us know as we'd be glad to add them!  
 
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