by Lottie Bushmann

Happy New Year!

It was a busy year last year for CAS and there is plenty to be grateful for and reflect upon.

Our Christmas Bird Count went off this year without a hitch and with surprisingly nice weather. While the species count wasn’t especially high (91 species) the enthusiasm expressed by folks that attended the chili supper that evening was contagious. Over 45 birders enjoyed sharing a meal and stories from the day, before compiling our list of species by area.

Our CoMoGives campaign is wrapping up as I write this. We are thrilled to have raised over $12,000 donated by over 88 donors who believe in our mission and are encouraging us to keep going. A big shoutout to Lisa Schenker, Eric Seaman and Allison Vaughn for heading this up.

Many hours went into volunteer work either at our properties or at events like the 2^nd grade Band with Nature trip. Many birders attended a monthly First Friday walk or a weekend birding trip. We also began hosting happy hours at Logboat Brewing Company. They were well attended, and it’s a fun way to meet other birders who are just as passionate about nature as you are!

The year ahead holds more field trips and speakers to teach us. We’ll also be watching the Peregrine Falcon box on the NW corner of the campus power plant (corner of Stewart and Providence Roads).  It has been installed, and now we wait to see if a falcon finds it!

I would like to encourage each of you to attend a field trip, a meeting, or join a sub-committee.  Consider this my invitation to you to become more involved. We have an education committee that stays very busy and always needs more hands on deck. Our land management Nature Areas committee manages 3 different properties and would love some more folks to join in. Learning how to take care of these properties is important work, and we need the next generation of caretakers to join in. Whatever your interests and time constraints are, there is room for everyone within our Audubon family.  There’s never been a better or more important time to help care for our piece of the earth.

Happy new year and good birding to you all!

Lottie Bushmann