From Our President: Thank Yous

Lane Audubon sends a very big Thank You to Kathy Wilson, who for the past 14 years was our recording secretary at Board meetings! Kathy and her husband, Bruce, have been members and worked on various volunteer projects since the mid-1970s. They and other family members have helped on other projects when needed as well. The Wilsons are among some of the earliest Lane Audubon members who have continued to support and actively participate with our organization. We will miss Kathy at Board meetings, but hope to see her at some of our activities in the future. While we sincerely thank Kathy for her past volunteer efforts, we also are happy for her, knowing she will have more free time in the New Year for traveling and spending time with family.

Thank you also to Dick Lamster, Vjera Thompson, and Marcia Maffei for their outstanding organization, implementation, and completion of the Eugene Christmas Bird Count for 2022! Their Count data and articles are found in this issue of The Quail. Dick is the overall Count Coordinator, Vjera is the Species Compiler, and Marcia is the Home Count Coordinator. Each does an integral and terrific job, both leading up to the count day and afterwards, pulling all the data together to submit to National Audubon.

We received several comments from Team Leaders and participants who experienced and appreciated the efforts of our organizers. One new participant said, “What a fabulously run Christmas Bird Count!!!!!” Another person said, “Thanks for organizing and getting us all fired up!! You did great!” Finally this comment: “You create such a positive, respectful, inclusive spirit for our Eugene Count, and a tangible joie de vivre!  Many many thanks.”

Looking Forward

In 2023, we are reviving some of our outreach activities. We are well along in planning for a Bike Path Cleanup in the spring. Once we have a date, we will post that so folks can get signed up to join in the satisfying work of a cleanup out along the bike path in West Eugene. This year, we look forward to having logistical support from the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) employees. At our last Bike Path Clean up in 2021, we had 24 volunteers helping. And of course we can look for birds along the way as we work! Stay tuned for more activities in 2023!