News

February 11, 2025 – MI DNR The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has recently sampled dead wild birds suspected to be positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza at multiple locations across Lower Michigan. The DNR’s ongoing disease surveillance indicates that HPAI is widespread in wild bird populations throughout the state. HPAI is a highly contagious … Read more

If you were unable to join us for the ASK Annual Members Meeting on Monday, May 20th, you can view the draft Meeting Minutes here and the PPT here. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out through our Contact Form.

Please follow this link to view the April presentation.

We have heard from some people who are having difficulty accessing the Kalamazoo falcon nest cam. We have not been able to duplicate the problem so are offering some suggestions and a request for information in order to try and sort things out. Try to access the cam from the website home page (https://www.kalamazoofalcons.com/) and … Read more

At the Annual Meeting in May, the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo will elect its officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) for their one-year terms and a one-year at-large position and the second year of a three-year position. We are accepting nominations for all of the above officers and board members. The deadline for nominations is … Read more

Please follow this link to view the March presentation

Many ASK members and friends in the community enjoy and follow the Kalamazoo Peregrine Falcon Cam every year during nesting season. The website went live in 2015 thanks to donations from our members, the community, and sponsors. The site’s purpose was (and is) to provide a platform for education and a vehicle to host the … Read more

Please follow this link to view the February presentation

By Susan Schneider – February’s Beginning Birding Walk (BBW) was like January’s in that about 30 participants braved winter weather and enjoyed about 30 bird species. But there were some notable differences, too. Waterfowl were in, after January’s cold spell had iced up many local lakes. (Some of the hatchery’s ponds are always kept open.) … Read more

By Kent Martin – We had eleven energetic, motivated birders in caravan on a snowy Saturday afternoon, January 20, including a young grade-schooler from the Richland area who had done her homework and brought her parents along with a wish-liist of bird species. The group spanned a wide range in age and experience levels; several … Read more

Founded in 2011, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WMU offers high quality non-credit programs for mature adults in the greater Kalamazoo community. This volunteer organization works with WMU emeriti, faculty, and staff to offer courses, events, and trips year-round. More information and registration can be found at their website https://wmich.edu/olli. Here are the OLLI courses being taught … Read more

Please follow this link to view the January presentation.

By Russ Shipper – First, I want to thank everyone who participated in this, the 76th Kalamazoo Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Almost all were experienced observers and they are critical to the count. But, I hope that next year some new participants will try out attending a count. It was 124 years ago when the first … Read more

There are many ways to be involved with Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. Below are some opportunities that we hope you will consider! Please email ask@nullkalamazooaudubon.org, specifying the opportunity or role in which you are interested. Birds and Blooms, Saturday, February 17, Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery ASK will be tabling at the Birds and Blooms event at … Read more

A video recommendation! ASK member Julie Richardson has found this YouTube video helpful in trying to learn warblers: Listening to Warblers. Enjoy!

Treasurer: ASK is looking for a volunteer to serve as Treasurer effective January 31, 2024. This person will serve as an officer and director of ASK and, with the assistance of the Board, will perform various duties to help ensure the continued strong financial position of the organization. Please contact our President, Donna Keller, at askpresident@nullgmail.com for additional details.   Nominating Committee … Read more

By Donna Keller – To reduce bird mortality, ASK recommends maintaining bird feeding stations only where window collision mitigation strategies are in place. Such strategies include, but are not limited to, netting or screens on exteriors of windows or exterior application of tempera paint or film designed to mitigate collisions, ideally with patterns 2 inches … Read more

By Joyce Leppard – It’s time again to buy your Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp — known by most as a “duck stamp.” This program was begun in 1934, and the money from the sale of the stamps has put over 6.5 million acres of wetlands into National Wildlife Refuges. The vast majority of purchasers … Read more

ASK held its Annual Meeting on Monday, May 15th at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery. The members present enjoyed socializing and the tasty baked goods provided. The meeting was held in the auditorium with six board members and approximately 30 members present. Once again, we want to thank our friends at Wolf Lake, especially Shana … Read more

By Donna Keller – It’s May, so it must be time for Southwest Michigan Team Birdathon! Again this year, Kent Martin, Joanna Sblendorio, Mike Dreibelbis, and Donna Keller will comprise ASK’s team and will arrive at their first Berrien County stop before dawn. With a combination of skill and luck, we hope to exceed last … Read more

By Gail Walter, ASK Board Member – Bird populations are in trouble. A ground-breaking study published by Rosenberg et al. in the journal Science in 2019 was the first to undertake an accounting of the net population changes across a total of 529 breeding bird species in the United States and Canada. The data included … Read more

By Susan Schneider – As we move toward the Spring Equinox, thoughts turn to the big greening ahead, and gardening becomes more than wishful winter fantasizing. How can we garden with climate change in mind? One way is to replace at least part of any lawn you might have. Putting in native plants, for example, … Read more

By Sue Creager – The IRA is bringing the clean energy future to America’s doorsteps today. Nearly three quarters of America’s buildings use fossil fuels to heat space or water and cook food. Is your home one of them? If so, you can electrify your home and make it more energy efficient, which will save … Read more