|
|
|
|
|
Prothonotary Warbler Box Successes
|
|
The first reports have come in from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources regarding the 100 nest tubes CKAS made and donated. We are pleased to report that several have been accepted by PROWs!
All of the nest boxes were deployed this year, though some went up later than they had hoped due to lack of personnel. WMA managers have been asked to check the boxes twice this year. KDFWR has gotten reports back from WMA managers for 64 out of the 100 nest tubes. Of these, fourteen contained nests with eggs or chicks, a fifteenth tube contained a "dummy nest," and several (primarily the tubes deployed at the Peabody WMA) had been taken over by wasps (whose nests will be removed at year's end in the hopes that these tubes get PROWs next nesting season). These results indicate at least a 22% acceptance rate by Prothonotary Warblers, with a likelihood that the numbers are even better as data for the remaining 36 tubes is received. Loren Taylor, who is managing the project for KDFWR, admits to being amazed how quickly the tubes have been accepted by the warblers. She expects even higher acceptance rates on this year's second check. Additionally, Prothonotary Warblers exhibit high site fidelity, so many of these pairs--and possibly even their offspring--will likely return for next year's breeding season.
Prothonotary Warbler eggs found in one of our recenlty-deployed nest tubes.
Prothonotary chicks found in another. Fourteen active nests were reported.
|
|
Birds, Words & Wine Update
|
|
We've had several members express interest in our inaugural Birds, Words, & Wine discussion group, where we'll dive into the short story which spawned Hitchcock's The Birds. We've even had a few suggestions for future bird-themed readings. Here's how to join the flock: To participate, first read a copy of du Maurier's short story The Birds ( a copy can be downloaded and printed via this link). Second, RSVP to Birds, Words & Wine. Third, procure a bottle of wine (or other beverage/snack) with a bird on it -- admission to the evening requires both having read the story and producing your bird-embossed bottle/snack. Fourth, show up at the Braun household (1022 Richmond Rd) at 7:00 pm (note time change) on July 16th ready to have a good discussion about the story. Fifth (optional), join us the 7:15 movie at the Kentucky Theater on the 20th and join us for dinner, drinks, and discussion after the show.
 Hitchock's 1963 movie The Birds is loosely based on a short story of the same name
by the British writer Daphne du Maurier, first published in her 1952 collection The Apple Tree. The story is set in du Maurier's native Cornwall shortly after the end of World War II.
|
|
Good Food & Great Birding at Annual Picnic
|
|
We thought the most exciting thing about this year's picnic would be the beautiful weather -- sunny and cool, a few puffy white clouds in the sky. But then CKAS picnic attendees were pleasantly surprised by an American Kestrel which could be clearly spotted hovering in the fields near our picnic pavilion. Later, we were again surprised by a Baltimore Oriole swooping into the trees right next to our tables. Though CKAS has been conducting bird surveys at Masterson Station Park for almost a year, these were species we had not yet found there. Maybe we should not have been surprised later during our post-dinner bird walk when we spotted even more new-to-our-park-survey birds: a female Indigo Bunting and a male Orchard Oriole singing his heart out. Who knew we'd be in for such sweet desserts?
Oh yeah -- the food was great too! But let's face it: we're all about the birds.
|
|
Upcoming CKAS (& Other) Events
These and other events can be found on our CKAS Web Calendar. Know of a bird-themed event we missed? Please send details to calendar@CKAS.org to get them added to our web & Facebook pages.
|
|
July 7th (Thu.) 6:30pm-9:00pm Stream Buffer Restoration Assessment (w/ Wild Ones) Millcreek Elementary 1212 Riva Ridge Way, Lexington. Join Wild Ones for a walk along the 2009 stream restoration project at Millcreek Elementary which converted eroded turf lawn banks to two acres of stream buffer. Rain or shine; come prepared for “wild and wooly” conditions (pants, mud boots, bug spray, hats, etc.).
July 8th (Fri.) 4:00pm Birdhouse Entry Forms Due! The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. Interested in entering a birdhouse for the 13th Birdhouse Display & Silent Auction to be held July 13th to 31st? Well, you're in luck: Entry forms (available in the Visitor Center) due today. Fees: $10 adults, $5 under 12.
July 9th (Sat.) 7:30am-1:00pm: Bird Walk Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill 3501 Lexington Road, Harrodsburg KY. Join CKAS for a guided walk at Shaker Village. Carpools leaving from the parking lot of Palomar Center near Wild Eggs at 7:30 prompt. DO NOT BE LATE! Or meet at 8:15 at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in the parking area immediately to the left of the entrance by the pond.
July 9th (Sat.) 11:00am-12:30pm: 2nd Saturday Seminar: Painting Bluebirds with Watercolor Wild Birds Unlimited 152 N. Locust Hill, Lexington KY. Join Lexington artist Barbara Bromley (www.artfulpassages.com) as she demonstrates how to paint a bluebird. You can learn the secrets, color combinations, and tricks of the trade to create your own watercolor paintings. Supplies provided.
July 13th to 31st: The 314 Final Product The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. Remember those bird squares? Well we've collected 592 of them! Come see the final banner on display in the Visitor Center, the first of it's art tour stops.
July 13th to 31st: 13th Birdhouse Display & Silent Auction The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. Come see the birdhouse display. See one you like? Bid on it in the Visitor Center. Proceeds benefit The Arboretum.
July 13th (Wed.) 7:00pm-9:30pm: CKAS Board Budget & Planning Meeting The Plantory 501 W. Sixth Street #201, Lexington Ky. This will be a budget and planning meeting, likely discussing revisions to the Constitution and our overall purpose statement and direction. A good chance to help shape CKAS's future.
July 15th (Fri.) 8:00am-10:30am: Bird Walk The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. Join Carey Tichenor, retired Kentucky State Naturalist, as we look at birdhouse sites and bird activity throughout The Arboretum. Limited to 30. Cost: $1. Call (859) 257-6955 to register.
July 15th (Fri.) 9:00pm-10:30pm: Creatures of the Night Hike Raven Run Nature Sanctuary 3990 Raven Run Way, Lexington. Join Raven Run naturalists to learn about the habits and folklore of animals active at night (like owls!). Please preregister: (859) 272-6105.
July 16th (Sat.) *NOTE TIME CHANGE* 7:00pm-?: Birds, Words & Wine--A Literary Evening The Braun Residence 1022 Richmond Road, Lexington. Join CKAS for our first ever "book club" where we'll be discussing Daphne du Maurier's short story The Birds (a copy can be downloaded and printed via this link). Must bring a bottle of wine (or other beverage/snack) with a bird on it. Please RSVP.
July 16th (Sat.) 9:00pm-10:00pm: Night Creatures Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill 3501 Lexington Road, Harrodsburg KY. Join Shaker Village naturalists to explore the world of creatures that arise just as you're going to bed. Meet on the steps of the Trustees Office.
July 20th (Wed.) 7:15pm-9:30pm: Movie Night: The Birds The Kentucky Theater 214 East Main St., Lexington. Join CKAS as we descend upon The Kentucky Theater for Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 film The Birds. Movie trailer here. Tickets $6 each available here.
July 23rd (Sat.) 8:00am-11:30am: Bird Walk The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. Join CKAS for a guided walk of the birds and birdhouses of The Arboretum—both those exhibited for the Birdhouse Display and the permanent birdhouses (which we'll assess for current use and needed repairs). Meet in the main parking lot.
July 31st (Sun.) 2:00pm-4:00pm: Birdhouse Exhibit Reception The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. It's you last chance to see and bid on the birdhouses. Join the Friends of the Arboretum for the final exhibit reception in the Visitor Center.
Aug. 13th (Sat.) 11:00am-12:30pm: 2nd Saturday Seminar: TBA Wild Birds Unlimited 152 N. Locust Hill, Lexington KY. Always something educational and exciting!
Aug. 14th (Sun.) 6:30pm-9:00pm: Swift Night Out Kentucky Native Cafe, 417 E. Maxwell St., Lexington (parking at 446 East High Street next to Poage Engineers). Join us for dinner followed by the first of two A Swift Night Out Chimney Swift counts. Please RSVP to president@CKAS.org so we can let the restaurant know our head count.
Aug. 16th (Tue.) All Day: Centennial of the Signing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Everywhere. The MBTA was one of the National Audubon Society’s first major victories in wildlife protection. In honor of this important legislature, please take a moment to call your representatives and encourage them to continue to support this important piece of legislation.
Aug. 23rd (Tue.) 11:00am-3:30pm: UK FUSION Location and activity TDB. For the past two years, CKAS has sponsored a KWeek Fusion Event. Two years ago we folded passenger pigeon origami, last year we made bluebird houses for Raven Run. What will we be up to this year? Check back in August to see.
Aug. 27th (Sat.) 8:00am-11:30am: Bird Walk Hisle Park 3601 Briar Hill Rd, Lexington. Join CKAS for a guided walk through Hisle Park. Meet in the parking area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
