Monthly Meeting Cancellation Policy
If the weather is questionable, please check the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo’s website (www.kalamazooaudubon.org) or the ASK Facebook page for a cancellation announcement of our monthly meetings.
Field Trip Cancellation Policy
Field trips and bird counts are held rain or shine; they are only cancelled in severe weather. Contact the leader listed or check the ASK Facebook page if conditions are questionable.
Events in October 2026
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September 27, 2026
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September 28, 2026
(1 event)
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Nate Fuller, Sarett Nature Center Executive Director, will share the dynamic story of bird diversity at the nature center as habitats and climate conditions change. Sarett owns over 1,000 acres in southwest Michigan that includes a wide range of habitats from wet to dry and forested to open grassland. Sarett staff and volunteers have been documenting its wildlife diversity, especially birds, for over 50 years. Learn how fluctuating water levels are impacting prothonotary warblers while habitat restoration is helping American kestrels and Eastern bluebirds. Sarett staff are witnessing northern range shifts of historically southern species like yellow-breasted chats, white-eyed vireos, and blue grosbeaks while species like common ravens and red-shouldered hawks recover historic breeding ranges. And what is the deal with fish crows? Nate Fuller is the Executive Director of Sarett Nature Center. He first worked at Sarett as a naturalist from 1995 to 2001 before returning as director in 2019. In between times working at Sarett he was the Conservation and Stewardship Director for Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. In that role he worked to establish public natural areas and restore wildlife habitat across nine counties of southwest Michigan. Nate received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin and a master’s degree in geography with an emphasis in environmental and resource analysis from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. |
September 29, 2026
(1 event)
– Continuing the years-long tradition of Tuesday morning trail walks, our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in September and October, starting September 1. We will meet and start at the trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. A few of us walk 2.5 miles to the usually very birdy marsh at 8th Street and then back for a total of 5 miles, but anyone can cut that short and turn around at any time. There will be no “leader,” although someone will keep a species list. No spotting or shuttling of cars will be available unless you arrange your own. The Kal-Haven Trail walks are handicap accessible. If you would like to be in an email group to be notified of the latest status of the walks or to discuss weather conditions, please send an email to Donna Keller at donna@kalamazooaudubon.org. Kal-Haven Trailhead
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September 30, 2026
(1 event)
– 1 billion birds in the U.S. die each year due to window collisions, but it can be prevented. Discover how you can implement preventive and effective methods to contribute to the long-term conservation of birds. Sign up here ➡️ https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=qGlSf0-BZESwXsKF2TAlJo6vhR7lrWBIrUx8r08hLXNUOEFNQUZKVFJNQlZDM0VSOTQ1WEdDUkVKTy4u&origin=QRCode Arthur Washington Jr. Crosstown Center
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October 1, 2026
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October 2, 2026
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October 3, 2026
(1 event)
– Led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. Free and open to the public. Meet at the first parking lot (instead of the usual second) at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, on County Road 652, just south off of M-43. All skill levels are welcome. We enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, and tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. For further information, see www.kalamazooaudubon.org. Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery
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October 4, 2026
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October 5, 2026
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October 6, 2026
(1 event)
– Continuing the years-long tradition of Tuesday morning trail walks, our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in September and October, starting September 1. We will meet and start at the trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. A few of us walk 2.5 miles to the usually very birdy marsh at 8th Street and then back for a total of 5 miles, but anyone can cut that short and turn around at any time. There will be no “leader,” although someone will keep a species list. No spotting or shuttling of cars will be available unless you arrange your own. The Kal-Haven Trail walks are handicap accessible. If you would like to be in an email group to be notified of the latest status of the walks or to discuss weather conditions, please send an email to Donna Keller at donna@kalamazooaudubon.org. Kal-Haven Trailhead
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October 7, 2026
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October 8, 2026
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October 9, 2026
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October 10, 2026
(1 event)
– As a follow-up to our September ASK program about Sarett Nature Center, we will visit and bird the trails of Sarett, looking for fall migrants and resident species. This Berrien County preserve occupies a mix of prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats attractive to a wide variety of species and scenery. A Sarett representative will be present to introduce us to the preserve. Meet at the Oakland Dr./I-94 park & ride (2500 Vincent Ave, Portage, MI 49024) at 9:00am for caravan arrangements, or at the Sarett Nature Center (2300 N. Benton Center Road, Benton Center, MI 49022 ) at 10:00am. Leaders: Kent Martin (256) 751-3358, Susan Creager (269) 716-7988 Sarett Nature Center
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October 11, 2026
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October 12, 2026
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October 13, 2026
(1 event)
– Continuing the years-long tradition of Tuesday morning trail walks, our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in September and October, starting September 1. We will meet and start at the trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. A few of us walk 2.5 miles to the usually very birdy marsh at 8th Street and then back for a total of 5 miles, but anyone can cut that short and turn around at any time. There will be no “leader,” although someone will keep a species list. No spotting or shuttling of cars will be available unless you arrange your own. The Kal-Haven Trail walks are handicap accessible. If you would like to be in an email group to be notified of the latest status of the walks or to discuss weather conditions, please send an email to Donna Keller at donna@kalamazooaudubon.org. Kal-Haven Trailhead
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October 14, 2026
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October 15, 2026
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October 16, 2026
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October 17, 2026
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October 18, 2026
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October 19, 2026
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October 20, 2026
(1 event)
– Continuing the years-long tradition of Tuesday morning trail walks, our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in September and October, starting September 1. We will meet and start at the trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. A few of us walk 2.5 miles to the usually very birdy marsh at 8th Street and then back for a total of 5 miles, but anyone can cut that short and turn around at any time. There will be no “leader,” although someone will keep a species list. No spotting or shuttling of cars will be available unless you arrange your own. The Kal-Haven Trail walks are handicap accessible. If you would like to be in an email group to be notified of the latest status of the walks or to discuss weather conditions, please send an email to Donna Keller at donna@kalamazooaudubon.org. Kal-Haven Trailhead
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October 21, 2026
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October 22, 2026
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October 23, 2026
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October 24, 2026
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October 25, 2026
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October 26, 2026
(1 event)
– Please join us on Monday, October 26th as we explore the importance of nighttime and the vital role darkness plays in healthy ecosystems. From bats and moths to birds, frogs, insects, and nocturnal plants, countless living things depend on natural darkness to feed, navigate, reproduce, rest, and survive. Participants will learn how excessive artificial light can disrupt wildlife, change natural behaviors, and affect the delicate relationships that connect nighttime species. Birds are an important part of this story. Millions of migratory birds travel at night, using natural cues such as the stars, moon, and Earth's magnetic field to navigate. Bright lights can attract and disorient migrating birds, increasing the risk of collisions with buildings and exhausting birds already on a long, difficult journey. We will discuss the international dark sky movement, which is an effort to reduce light pollution by promoting responsible outdoor lighting and protecting naturally dark night skies. Protecting dark skies preserves star visibility, supports wildlife, and reduces unnecessary energy use from excessive artificial light. We'll then zoom in to local movements such as the Lights Out campaign launched by ASK this fall. Jessica Hagen is a local science teacher at The Montessori School and a nature enthusiast passionate about preserving nighttime ecology. She will be joined by a few students from the Super Epic Earth Defender (SEED) student group. Gail Walter is the current ASK president and an advocate for reducing threats to birds, including window collisions and artificial light at night. We hope you'll join us on Monday, Oct 26th, at People's Church, 1758 North 10th Street, Kalamazoo. This program is geared to all audiences, and we enthusiastically invite families and nature lovers of any age to join us! Come at 6:30 PM (new time) for some refreshments and socializing. Snacks and beverages will be provided. It's helpful if you bring your own cup. The one-hour program will start at 7:00 PM. Handicap parking and access is at either the front or the rear entrance of the building. We will have a simultaneous Zoom link to the meeting for those who can’t make it or feel uncomfortable attending in person. The link will be available in the ASK newsletter. We will also be recording the meeting for later viewing.
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October 27, 2026
(1 event)
– Continuing the years-long tradition of Tuesday morning trail walks, our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in September and October, starting September 1. We will meet and start at the trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. A few of us walk 2.5 miles to the usually very birdy marsh at 8th Street and then back for a total of 5 miles, but anyone can cut that short and turn around at any time. There will be no “leader,” although someone will keep a species list. No spotting or shuttling of cars will be available unless you arrange your own. The Kal-Haven Trail walks are handicap accessible. If you would like to be in an email group to be notified of the latest status of the walks or to discuss weather conditions, please send an email to Donna Keller at donna@kalamazooaudubon.org. Kal-Haven Trailhead
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October 28, 2026
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October 29, 2026
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October 30, 2026
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October 31, 2026
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