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National Audubon Society Educational Program

Kern River Preserve VOLUNTEER work day

On Saturday, June 20th from 8 a.m. to noon, there will be a volunteer day on the Kern River Preserve. Wear foot wear that is foxtail and water resistant, weather appropriate clothing, a hat, bring gloves, sunscreen, and enthusiasm. Drinks and snacks provided. Please RSVP to our Land Steward, Sean Rowe.

A Letter from a New Fan of KRP

Just wanted to thank you and your organization for providing such an amazing place to appreciate birds and other wildlife. I went to the Kern Valley for the first time last week in search of the South Fork Wilderness Area. I missed the turnoff and literally stumbled upon the Audubon Preserve, which is an amazingly magical place. Birds were just dripping from the trees everywhere I looked. The information signs and visitors center were exceptional and generous. I'm relatively new to birding - about a year and a half, so it was easy to add several new birds to my "life list".

Thanks again for a surprisingly special treat! Bo Criss

HERE ARE A FEW OF THE PHOTOS TAKEN BY BO THAT DAY

Monthly Educational Events

Join us in congratulating Friend of the Kern River Preserve, Chana Cortez for stepping up to the plate and becoming our Volunteer Monthly Event Coordinator. It is a great day when an appeal for volunteers is granted.

She has lined up an interesting and varied array of speakers. See our monthly events page for full details and then come on out an learn something new.

Monthly educational events are held on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Kern River Preserve headquarters, 18747 Highway 178, Weldon.

Kern Valley Hummingbird Celebration

Celebrate the Hummingbird Migration Capital of California.

Migrating hummingbirds stop by for a drink at the Kern River Preserve between mid-July and late August.

Each year we celebrate the phenomenon with a little get together. We will have workshops on bird feeding, hummingbird identification, and hummingbird gardening.

Join the Kern River Preserve staff and volunteers on August 1st from 8am to 2pm at the Kern River Preserve headquarters, 18747 Highway 178, Weldon.

California Amphibian & Reptile Celebration recap

Another beautiful day in paradise... almost 200 fans of reptiles and amphibians gathered at the Kern River Preserve on Saturday, June 13th.

Thanks go to HerpEcology, Reptile Rescue and the Friends of the Kern River Preserve for putting together another fun event.

Open pipes are bird deathtraps

More than seven feet of bird carcasses were found in just one open pipe. (click on the image for a larger view)

Our friend and neighbor Keith Axelson recently brought our attention to the disturbing potential hazards of open vertical pipes. Cavity nesting birds apparently when looking for nesting places go into these pipes and are unable to get out. As a result, they starve and die. These pipes are found throughout the state and particularly in rural areas. Typically they are from survey markers, fence posts and abandoned irrigation systems.

Keith published the following update in the September 2008 Santa Monica Bay Audubon Chapter newsletter:

... found 11 more standing 4” pipes on public land about a mile from the initial discoveries … These pipes contained 15 birds which we could identify. Surprising was the first victim pulled out - an American Kestrel! - then one House Finch, 8 Cactus Wrens and five migratory Ash-throated Flycatchers. The count may not be complete because of decomposition of the other trapped birds. The above summary brings the total to 38 birds, all within one square mile.

You can read the article on the initial discovery of this problem in the online edition of the September 2007 SMBAS newsletter.

Click on the image for a close-up of the gross wildlife cemetery that exists in these pipes.

After hearing about this problem, Kern River Preserve staff have begun removal or capping of any problem pipes identified on land we have permission to access. We hope our friends will look into potential problem pipes on their own property and take action to help the birds before nesting season gets underway.

The Southern Sierra Research Station have volunteered to help identify the remains in some of the pipes. We hope to find funding to help research this horrible situation and quickly solve it before more birds have to suffer this tragic fate.

A few of the bird skulls picked off the surface of the mass of carcasses found in just one pipe! This is a serious problem.

Kelso Creek land protected

While we haven't closed on all of the land in escrow, we are close to finalizing permanent protection of 601-acres adjacent to Sequoia National Forest and the BLM Bright Star Wilderness. As soon as title is transferred Audubon will transfer the land to the Bureau of Land Management to be included in the Bright Star Wilderness. We do this to protect the land in perpetuity while eliminating the administrative costs that for lack of a permanent endowment, Audubon cannot afford.

Visit the Kern River Preserve in Weldon, California. Open every day of the year from dawn to dusk.