Birdathon
The Beckham Bird Club conducts an annual Birdathon to raise funds that are disbursed to organizations that have applied for grants to fund activities that support bird conservation through habitat preservation and improvement, environmental education and public advocacy.
BBC members are contacted to give to each year’s Birdathon. You will be asked to make a pledge. This pledge can be done in two ways – pledging an amount for every bird seen or a set amount. After the Birdathon which will be held in May you will be contacted by the person you made your pledge to. That person will send you a description of their day of birding and how to send in your pledge. Should you not be contacted we hope you will still contribute to our Birdathon by either 1) making a check out to Beckham Bird Club and please indicate on your check 2022 Birdathon and mail to Beckham Bird Club, PO Box 5301, Louisville, KY 40255-0301 or 2) use PayPal at beckhambirdclub.org and click on activities or membership. You can also use your credit card at the PayPal site.
INFORMATION ABOUT PAST BIRDATHON GRANTS MAY BE FOUND IN THE BBC NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES. IN GENERAL, GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ANNOUNCED IN THE APRIL ISSUE AND THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANTS IS ANNOUNCED IN THE NOVEMBER ISSUE.
Below are the organizations that the BBC board approved for grants for 2022 from the funds raised.
KY Natural Lands Trust, Inc.
Last year KNLT added nearly 500 acres to our Warbler Ridge Preserve. We are positioned to protect more than a thousand additional acres along Pine Mountain in the coming year. Pine Mountain is within one of the most biodiverse temperate zone regions on Earth. It provides forest habitat for numerous plants and animals and is home to nearly 100 species that are considered rare; some species on Pine Mountain are found nowhere else on the planet. Acquiring and conserving adjacent tracts along the mountain supports KNLT’s mission of protecting this incredible biodiversity, sustaining a climate resilient landscape, and advancing a just economic transition within the region.
Funds will be used to advance KNLT’s efforts to protect, connect and restore the Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor.
Jefferson Memorial Forest
Our project involves promoting bird education in our ECHO (Engaging Children Outdoors) programs at our partner, Portland Community Center. We will be converting a grassy area to native plants that will increase excitement and teach children and adults about native birds and how they can participate in citizen science to help the conservation of birds. This will not only encourage the enjoyment of birds but also introduce the benefit of native plant species.
Josephine Sculpture Park
Since 2018, We have placed particular emphasis on managing land to create habitat to attract birds and creating opportunities for the public to observe birds and discover their connection to beneficial insects, native plants, and land management. We request funds to support our following ongoing initiatives to benefit birds. We categorize these initiatives as Habitat Restoration and Bird education.
Surrey Hills Nature Preserve, Inc.
The overall plan is to preserve a majority of Surrey Hills Farm as green space. Grant money from 2020 and 2021 will be used to supplement purchase of approximately 40 acres of additional shares (land) from family members. This year's grant will assist in invasive species removal. I cannot do this work by myself and plan to pay laborers $15.00/hr. to assist. This will allow me to hire assistance for about 25 days during the year to remove invasive species.
Sunnyside Master Gardeners Bluebird Team
Funds will be used to construct boxes and install trails for Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Tree Swallows, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Tufted Titmouse, and others. We will also gift boxes to youth master gardeners, new interns for master gardeners and others.
KY Resources Council
In the coming fiscal year, we will work on several cases in this program that support bird conservation.
Kentucky Conservation Committee
This year we are continuing to work on public education and policies relating to species and habitat protection in three primary areas:
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
We plan to build on the success of Bernheim’s Golden Eagle Tracking project by expanding the tracking project with a third Golden Eagle. Working with Dr. Trish Miller of Conservation Science Global, Inc., we will build upon the success of the project and affix a transmitter to another Golden Eagle during 2022. We hope to find the female, Athena, begin to associate with another Golden Eagle that may be tracked to see how she behaves with another mate.
If another mate could not be identified, we would trap and track another suitable adult Golden Eagle that was available. Funds would go towards the purchase of a third transmitter for a Golden Eagle.
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
We plan to have live streaming cameras in various locations. Two will be in bluebird houses, one kestrel house, and one at a bird feeder outside of the Nature Center. The videos will stream directly into our web site and will be available 24/7.
We also plan to replace the microphone in the Wildlife Habitat Garden at the Nature Center, as the one we have now has gone bad and is crackly sounding. This is used for the display inside the bird blind. Note that the new microphone we would like to purchase can be used on boats, so it should be hardier.
Please note, any labor involved with installing the cameras will be done by employees of Creasey Mahan.
Raptor Rehab
Due to the increasing Bald Eagle population in Kentucky, we will need to construct an entire new flight enclosure that is 60 ft. In length and 20 ft. In height to accommodate the number of eagles coming in for rehabilitation. Funds would be used to purchase the lumber needed to build this flight enclosure.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BIRDATHON GRANT APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS
The application for 2023 grants will be available later this year.
In order to be considered for grants in 2023, recipients of 2022 grants must fill out a report and submit it to the BBC in March 2023. The form is here.
BBC members are contacted to give to each year’s Birdathon. You will be asked to make a pledge. This pledge can be done in two ways – pledging an amount for every bird seen or a set amount. After the Birdathon which will be held in May you will be contacted by the person you made your pledge to. That person will send you a description of their day of birding and how to send in your pledge. Should you not be contacted we hope you will still contribute to our Birdathon by either 1) making a check out to Beckham Bird Club and please indicate on your check 2022 Birdathon and mail to Beckham Bird Club, PO Box 5301, Louisville, KY 40255-0301 or 2) use PayPal at beckhambirdclub.org and click on activities or membership. You can also use your credit card at the PayPal site.
INFORMATION ABOUT PAST BIRDATHON GRANTS MAY BE FOUND IN THE BBC NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES. IN GENERAL, GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ANNOUNCED IN THE APRIL ISSUE AND THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANTS IS ANNOUNCED IN THE NOVEMBER ISSUE.
Below are the organizations that the BBC board approved for grants for 2022 from the funds raised.
KY Natural Lands Trust, Inc.
Last year KNLT added nearly 500 acres to our Warbler Ridge Preserve. We are positioned to protect more than a thousand additional acres along Pine Mountain in the coming year. Pine Mountain is within one of the most biodiverse temperate zone regions on Earth. It provides forest habitat for numerous plants and animals and is home to nearly 100 species that are considered rare; some species on Pine Mountain are found nowhere else on the planet. Acquiring and conserving adjacent tracts along the mountain supports KNLT’s mission of protecting this incredible biodiversity, sustaining a climate resilient landscape, and advancing a just economic transition within the region.
Funds will be used to advance KNLT’s efforts to protect, connect and restore the Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor.
Jefferson Memorial Forest
Our project involves promoting bird education in our ECHO (Engaging Children Outdoors) programs at our partner, Portland Community Center. We will be converting a grassy area to native plants that will increase excitement and teach children and adults about native birds and how they can participate in citizen science to help the conservation of birds. This will not only encourage the enjoyment of birds but also introduce the benefit of native plant species.
Josephine Sculpture Park
Since 2018, We have placed particular emphasis on managing land to create habitat to attract birds and creating opportunities for the public to observe birds and discover their connection to beneficial insects, native plants, and land management. We request funds to support our following ongoing initiatives to benefit birds. We categorize these initiatives as Habitat Restoration and Bird education.
- Habitat Restoration
- Installing, maintaining, and monitoring an 11-box Bluebird Trail.
- Managing vegetation throughout the park, including removal of invasive plants, management of habitat at the pond, Reforesting then maintaining select park areas with saplings.
- Installing and maintaining 3 native plant meadows, each at different stages.
- Bird Education
- Environmental education programs focused on KY birds
- Training volunteers to monitor bluebird trail.
- Installing and maintaining bird feeding stations, as well as, installing bird education signage.
- Partnering with birding-related organizations and businesses to offer birding opportunities and increased community outreach.
Surrey Hills Nature Preserve, Inc.
The overall plan is to preserve a majority of Surrey Hills Farm as green space. Grant money from 2020 and 2021 will be used to supplement purchase of approximately 40 acres of additional shares (land) from family members. This year's grant will assist in invasive species removal. I cannot do this work by myself and plan to pay laborers $15.00/hr. to assist. This will allow me to hire assistance for about 25 days during the year to remove invasive species.
Sunnyside Master Gardeners Bluebird Team
Funds will be used to construct boxes and install trails for Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Tree Swallows, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Tufted Titmouse, and others. We will also gift boxes to youth master gardeners, new interns for master gardeners and others.
KY Resources Council
In the coming fiscal year, we will work on several cases in this program that support bird conservation.
- We will continue to represent Bernheim Forest, both in court and before the Office of Administrative Hearings, in its effort to prevent LG&E from running a gas pipeline through its Cedar Grove wildlife corridor.
- We will also be working to strengthen Kentucky’s new regional haze plan, a draft of which will likely be published in April 2022. This is a once in a decade opportunity to increase emission controls on some of the state's heaviest polluters. A strong haze plan from Kentucky would have direct, positive impacts on both air quality and visibility in Kentucky, including for bird conservation and bird watching.
- We will also continue to advocate for wildlife and bird conservation as part of our legal work, as those issues arise.
Kentucky Conservation Committee
This year we are continuing to work on public education and policies relating to species and habitat protection in three primary areas:
- Impacts of birds and wildlife with relation to clean energy development:
- We plan to continue our work on educating the public about habitat impacts and clean energy projects.
- Continuing work on wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity:
- We are continuing our education work this year on migration corridors and how they work alongside good transportation planning.
- Sustainable funding for land conservation:
- We are continuing our work to preserve and hopefully expand the agency funding for Kentucky's Heritage Land Conservation Fund. The Heritage Land Fund protects state areas that are habitat for rare and endangered species and areas important to migratory birds.
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
We plan to build on the success of Bernheim’s Golden Eagle Tracking project by expanding the tracking project with a third Golden Eagle. Working with Dr. Trish Miller of Conservation Science Global, Inc., we will build upon the success of the project and affix a transmitter to another Golden Eagle during 2022. We hope to find the female, Athena, begin to associate with another Golden Eagle that may be tracked to see how she behaves with another mate.
If another mate could not be identified, we would trap and track another suitable adult Golden Eagle that was available. Funds would go towards the purchase of a third transmitter for a Golden Eagle.
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
We plan to have live streaming cameras in various locations. Two will be in bluebird houses, one kestrel house, and one at a bird feeder outside of the Nature Center. The videos will stream directly into our web site and will be available 24/7.
We also plan to replace the microphone in the Wildlife Habitat Garden at the Nature Center, as the one we have now has gone bad and is crackly sounding. This is used for the display inside the bird blind. Note that the new microphone we would like to purchase can be used on boats, so it should be hardier.
Please note, any labor involved with installing the cameras will be done by employees of Creasey Mahan.
Raptor Rehab
Due to the increasing Bald Eagle population in Kentucky, we will need to construct an entire new flight enclosure that is 60 ft. In length and 20 ft. In height to accommodate the number of eagles coming in for rehabilitation. Funds would be used to purchase the lumber needed to build this flight enclosure.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BIRDATHON GRANT APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS
The application for 2023 grants will be available later this year.
In order to be considered for grants in 2023, recipients of 2022 grants must fill out a report and submit it to the BBC in March 2023. The form is here.