Tehachapi Group of the Kern Audubon Society, birding & events

At the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Tehachapi on July 25, the club welcomed Carol Gates, a member of the Tehachapi Group of the Kern Audubon Society.

The Kern Audubon Society was founded in 1973, and since there were so many members from Tehachapi, the Tehachapi Group of the Kern Audubon Society was created in 2009.

Carol's interest in birds began early, as her father was a founding member of the Kern Audubon Society in 1973. Their mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. Birding, as it is called, is the hobby of observing birds in their natural habitats. Birding is one of the top hobbies enjoyed by people all over the world.

Carol shared that Kern County has many wonderful areas to go birding, and there are over 280 species of birds in the Tehachapi area alone. The group holds field trips and events throughout the year to support people interested in birding. The only equipment needed is a pair of binoculars, and the Audubon Society has some extras to use at their events. Several of the best birding hot spots around Tehachapi include Tom Sawyer Lake, Brite Lake and the Cesar Chavez Monument in Keene.

The local Tehachapi Group is excited about an event coming up on Saturday, Sept. 14, "Birding at La Paz." As La Paz is a National Monument, the event is a collaboration between the Kern Audubon Society, the National Park Service and the National Chavez Center, where all birders, experienced or novice, can join in a morning of bird watching. The event runs from 8 to 10:30 a.m., and attendees should wear closed-toed shoes, dress in layers and bring reuseable water bottles, as well as binoculars if available.

Carol also highlighted the Western Bluebird Nest Box Program, which has been running for over 24 years under Karen Pestana. The program engages a number of local volunteers to monitor and record status on over 60 nest boxes located within private property on Indian Hill Ranch and also at Brite Lake. The volunteers hike the area, check the nest boxes, record what they find and all the data is turned into Cornell University as part of a nationwide program.

There was also lively discussion about California condors and the hummingbirds in the Tehachapi area, a favorite among many of the Rotarians. Carol said that hummingbirds are amazing birds, as they can fly 3,000 miles without stopping. Their impressive stamina allows them to even fly across the Gulf of Mexico while migrating.

For people who might want to get started birding, or are just curious as to what birds they see in their area, Carol said there are several good apps for your phone that can help. The first is Merlin Bird ID, which is an amazing app that helps one to identify and learn about local birds from a database of over 10,000 birds worldwide. However, it's most exciting feature is Sound ID, which uses artificial intelligence to listen to bird calls, identify the birds and provide information in real time. Rotary Club members shared their positive experiences using the app, and how they were truly amazed at the variety of birds right in their yards! She also suggested eBird, which allows the user to get information about local birds. The best news is that both apps are free!

The Tehachapi Group of the Kern Audubon Society meets quarterly, on the last Tuesday of the month, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Golden Hills Elementary School. Their next meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The meetings are open to everyone, so one does not need to be a member to attend. More information on the Tehachapi Group of the Kern Audubon Society can be found at http://www.kernaudubonsociety.org/tehachapi-group-2/.

To thank Carol Gates for her presentation, President Jennifer Palakiko presented her with a certificate and a donation was made to the Rotary Foundation in her honor.

The Tehachapi Rotary Club meets at noon every Thursday at Kelcy's. Rotary is committed to "Service Above Self," and devotes time and resources to projects in the local community, scholarships for college-bound high school seniors, and supporting global efforts for polio eradication. For more information about the Rotary Club, you can visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofTehachapi/.