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@gmail.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

By Susan Schneider – Climate change threatens birds as well as people and other living things, of course, and National Audubon has recognized this for some time. As a long-time climate activist, I was delighted when its fall 2019 magazine was entirely devoted to climate change and climate action. The climate action webpage that was … Read more

In 1990, at age 25, James Hautman became the youngest ever to win the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Contest. The 2022-2023 Federal Duck Stamp Contest marks his sixth win. James also won the contest in 1990, 1995, 1999, 2010, and 2016. In addition to his five Federal Duck Stamp wins, he has painted more than … Read more