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New Meeting Location: Lucky's Market (+ Big Plans)
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After being thwarted the last few meetings with scheduling issues and not-quite-what-was-promised spaces, we're trying another location for this next CKAS general meeting: Lucky's Market on Broadway. They have a sizable community room we can use for free, so we're meeting at 7:00pm this Wednesday, April 4th, to discuss a whole lot of topics: National Audubon's new $1,000 to $25,000 "Audubon in Action" chapter grant opportunity, our most recent PROW Nest Tube project finish paint & distribution, potential Barn Owl boxes and recent winery interest, the ever-looming MOTUS Station, the upcoming Bluegrass Birding Festival, & possible native plant/park sign projects. We could use your input regarding planning & logistics so hope to see you there.
Most Wanted: Kentucky's Breeding Warblers with Conservation Concern Scores of 13+
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KDFWR Approves Sandhill Crane Hunt Increase
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CKAS took a stand at last month's Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Full Commission Meeting against the proposed Sandhill Crane Hunt expansions (increasing the hunt duration from 30 to 56 days and increasing the potential take from 400 birds to the federal limit, which varies annually but will be just under 1,400 birds for 2018-19). The meeting ran long, with the Committee first debating deer hunting quotas in various Kentucky regions; it was clear from the discussions that this Committee is much more concerned about careful population management than the Committee that first approved the Sandhill Crane hunt in 2011. This was clear from the crane vote, too, which only passed 5-3 (last time the vote was unanimous). Our objections to expanding the hunt were not based on fears of a 1,000 bird increase affecting the population so much as a belief that the solitary focus on providing additional hunting opportunities as opposed to promoting viewing opportunities misses a potentially significant economic driver for the rural areas where the cranes alight. Our neighboring states have Sandhill Crane Festivals that attract several thousand annual visitors; the closest Kentucky comes to a 'Crane Festival' is Barren River State Park offering two Nature Walk Weekends in January where for $45 you can take a shuttle bus to a neighboring farm field to watch the cranes. Yet even the USFWS admits that birdwatching can contribute significantly to local economies. We're not convinced that increasing hunting quotas (which have never come close to being met) and doubling the hunting season length are the best use of our natural resources. We continue to advocate instead for increased eco-tourism.
If you missed your chance to voice your opinion regarding the crane hunt expansion, a public comment period will begin May 1st when the Legislative Research Committee publishes the amended regulation. Everyone then will have until the end of May to provide written comments. Watch for more info in next month's newsletter.
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Upcoming Cool Bird Stuff
More info about these and other events can be found on our CKAS Web Page Calendar and in our CKAS Facebook Calendar. Know of any bird-themed events we missed? Submit an event here.
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Apr 4th (Wed) 7:00pm-8:30pm: CKAS Meeting Lucky's Market Community Room 1030 S. Broadway, Lexington. New location! All members welcome! We usually do dinner after.
Apr 7th (Sat) 9:00am-3:00pm: Barn Owl Box Build (tentative date) Keep the date free. (tentatively) We hope to gather somewhere to build some Barn Owl boxes. OR **NOTE**: At the April 4th meeting, we will discuss using this day INSTEAD to put up some Prothonotary Warbler tubes for those who have expressed interest. We had inquiries for Barn Owl boxes from a few wineries on the Tasting for the Springs tour, but we need to decide what designs are best before moving forward.
Apr 8th (Sun) 5:00pm-8:00pm: Bhatt Farewell Party Floracliffe Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington KY. Join central Kentucky's entire environmental community for a party honoring Suzanne and Ramesh and all their tireless efforts and leadership on behalf of nature. Bring a vegetarian dish to pass. Please RSVP.
Apr 9th (Mon) 4:30pm Birdhouse Entry Forms Due! The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. Want to enter a birdhouse for the 15th Birdhouse & Birdfeeder (new this year!) Exhibit (April 18th to May 6th) & Silent Auction? More info here. Entry forms available in the Visitor Center and due today. $10 adults, $5 students under 12.
Apr 14th (Sat) 9:00am-1:00pm: Reforest the Bluegrass Veterans Park 650 Southpoint Dr., Lexington. Join Reforest the Bluegrass and help replant the pre-settlement forests once common in central Kentucky. Stop by our table. Volunteers needed: e-mail CKAS to help.
Apr 14th (Sat) 9:30am-11:00am: Hummingbird Talk Wild Birds Unlimited 152 N. Locust Hill, Lexington. Join WBU's 2nd Saturday Series for a talk about the do's and don't's of attracting hummingbirds. Please RSVP: 859-268-0114.
Apr 14th (Sat) 1:00pm-2:30pm: Watercolor Hummingbirds Wild Birds Unlimited 152 N. Locust Hill, Lexington. Join WBU in welcoming Barbara Bromley for a lesson on watercolor techniques and how to paint hummingbirds. $10 each. Must RSVP: 859-268-0114.
Apr 21st (Sat) 2:00pm-3:30pm: Spring is for the Bird(s!) Walk The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. Join CKAS for a guided hike through the Arboretum. Suggested Donation: $3/person or $5/family
Apr 22nd (Sun) 8:00am-11:30pm: Earth Day Bird Walk 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!.
Apr 27th to 29th (Fri-Sun) Kentucky Ornithological Society Spring Meeting Barren River State Park, Lucas, KY. Join KOS for their Spring Meeting. Keynote speaker: Bill Thompson III of Birdwatching Magazine. More info at birdky.org.
Apr 28th (Sat.) 10:00am-2:00pm: Arbor Day @ The Arboretum The Arboretum Alumni Drive, Lexington. Come celebrate the 27th anniversary of Arbor Day. More info here. Volunteers needed for our display table: e-mail CKAS to help.
Apr 28th (Sat) 8:00pm-9:30pm: Owl Prowl Veterans Park 650 Southpoint Dr., Lexington. Not going to the KOS meeting? Join CKAS for a romp at dusk looking for owls—a little late in the year so we come to naught, but it's worth a try. Meet in the parking lot at the end of Rockbridge Road. Bring a flashlight & dress for the weather.
Apr 29th (Sun) 4:00pm-6:00pm: Free Play: Sisters of the Mother Forest Central Public Library's Farish Theater 140 East Main St., Lexington. Join the Sierra Club and Wild Ones for a free showing of Sister of the Mother Forest, a play about the Braun sisters and their influence on ecological science and environmental conservation.
May 5th (Sat) 8:00am-12:00pm: Bird Walk Veterans Park 650 Southpoint Dr., Lexington. Join CKAS for a guided bird walk through Veterans Park. Meet in the parking lot at the end of Rockbridge Road.
May 6th (Sun) 2:00pm-3:30pm Birdhouse & Birdfeeder Reception The Arboretum 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington. Join the Arboretum for the final B&B exhibit and your last chance to bid in the silent auction.
May 12th & 13th (Sat-Sun): Bluegrass Birding Festival McConnell Spring 416 Rebmann Lane, Lexington. Two day festival dedicated to all things birdy: guided walks, arts and crafts, vendors, presenters and more. More information in next month's news or at the Festival's Web or Facebook pages. Volunteers likely needed; stay tuned.
May 19th (Sat) 7:30am-2:00pm: Bird Walk Berea Woods Big Hill Rd, Hwy 21E, Berea. Carpools leaving from the outside parking lot of Lakeside Golf Course 3725 Richmond Road (Coys Drive) at 7:30 prompt. Bring lunch. Or meet at the old Indian Fort Theater (2047 Big Hill, Berea) at 8:00am.
May 26th (Sat) 7:30am-3:00pm: Bird Walk Red River Gorge Daniel Boone National Forest. Carpools leaving from the parking lot at Eastland Shopping Center (near the Rite Aid) at 7:30 prompt. DO NOT BE LATE! Bring lunch.
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