April meeting - Lights Out, Louisville!
The excessive or inappropriate use of artificial light at night—also known as light pollution—negatively impacts a multitude of Earth’s species, including sea turtles, bats, birds, and us humans. Light pollution is a human-made issue, and it’s increasing in both intensity and scale as a result of the built environment. But there’s good news: This problem is a solvable one, and we’re not powerless against it.
Join Mary Beth Nevulis—Louisville Audubon Society Vice President and Program Chair and Co-Founder of Lights Out Louisville, a local conservation program sponsored by Louisville Audubon—to learn:
The negative effects of light pollution on the natural world as well as on humans
● Why reducing artificial light at night, especially during spring and fall migration seasons, is critical for protecting migratory birds,
● The small individual actions that can prevent needless bird deaths and injuries—and that collectively add up to big wins for birds and the natural world
● Easy ways to become an advocate for birds and participate in Lights Out Louisville
Our meeting is on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2822 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206, 38.254256, -85.689458. St. Mark’s is at the corner of Frankfort Avenue and Kennedy Ave. Please enter by way of the back door near the parking lot.
Join Mary Beth Nevulis—Louisville Audubon Society Vice President and Program Chair and Co-Founder of Lights Out Louisville, a local conservation program sponsored by Louisville Audubon—to learn:
The negative effects of light pollution on the natural world as well as on humans
● Why reducing artificial light at night, especially during spring and fall migration seasons, is critical for protecting migratory birds,
● The small individual actions that can prevent needless bird deaths and injuries—and that collectively add up to big wins for birds and the natural world
● Easy ways to become an advocate for birds and participate in Lights Out Louisville
Our meeting is on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2822 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206, 38.254256, -85.689458. St. Mark’s is at the corner of Frankfort Avenue and Kennedy Ave. Please enter by way of the back door near the parking lot.
FOLLOW THE BECKHAM BIRD CLUB ON DISCORD.
Follow this link to join our Discord server. You will be able to receive updates on club activities, including field trips, and join conversations about birds and birding.
Follow this link to join our Discord server. You will be able to receive updates on club activities, including field trips, and join conversations about birds and birding.
Membership Renewals - Please Help
The Beckham Bird Club (BBC) is thrilled to have many members renew their memberships year after year. Our members are at the heart of everything we do. But a recent trend has been making administrative work more time consuming for BBC volunteers.
Many members have been paying dues, but not providing updated membership level and contact information at the time they pay. When we receive dues payments without the needed information, we don’t know their desired membership level, or if we have the correct contact information in our records. That forces our volunteers to spend time contacting those members.
Would you like to help make things easier for BBC volunteers? A great way to do that is to provide the needed information each time you renew. Here’s what we need:
1. Your desired membership level, even if it’s the same as last year. Our membership levels are Individual, Individual Contributing, Family, Family Contributing, Life, and Student.
2. Your contact information, even if it’s the same as last year. We need your name, address, phone number(s) and email address(es). If you don’t want to provide all three, please include at least one of those contact methods.
If you renew online via our website and PayPal, please send an email with that information to
[email protected]. If you mail us a check, please include a written membership form or a
note with the needed information.
Thank you for being a member, and for your continued support!
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ON JOINING BBC OR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP, INCLUDING PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS, SEE BELOW.
Many members have been paying dues, but not providing updated membership level and contact information at the time they pay. When we receive dues payments without the needed information, we don’t know their desired membership level, or if we have the correct contact information in our records. That forces our volunteers to spend time contacting those members.
Would you like to help make things easier for BBC volunteers? A great way to do that is to provide the needed information each time you renew. Here’s what we need:
1. Your desired membership level, even if it’s the same as last year. Our membership levels are Individual, Individual Contributing, Family, Family Contributing, Life, and Student.
2. Your contact information, even if it’s the same as last year. We need your name, address, phone number(s) and email address(es). If you don’t want to provide all three, please include at least one of those contact methods.
If you renew online via our website and PayPal, please send an email with that information to
[email protected]. If you mail us a check, please include a written membership form or a
note with the needed information.
Thank you for being a member, and for your continued support!
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ON JOINING BBC OR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP, INCLUDING PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS, SEE BELOW.
BBC hats for sale!
A perfect gift for your favorite birder. The BBC board has purchased baseball caps with the BBC logo embroidered on them. The initial purchase included 50 hats (25 khaki and 25 gray), and they have been selling quickly. So get yours soon. The hats are available at BBC meetings for the low price of $30.00, with the (modest) profits going to Birdathon.
|
|
Stay connected with the BBC
FOLLOW THE BECKHAM BIRD CLUB ON FACEBOOK
The Beckham Bird Club Facebook page includes news about local birds and birding. It is also a great way to share your birding adventures or your best bird photos. You can also get help with bird identification or just join in the discussion on a variety of bird-related topics. Check it out!
JOIN THE BECKHAM BIRD CLUB DISCORD GROUP
The Beckham Bird Club recently established a discussion group on the Discord app, which is best used on a mobile device. Follow this link to join our Discord and become part of our server. As a member, you will receive updates on club activities, including field trips and other club matters, join conversations about birds and birding, receive reports of rare or otherwise notable local birds, bird photos, places to bird, and just everyday birding chit-chat. All the channels except the official club communications are open for all group members to post. If you go on field trips, chase rarities or just want the most up-to-date local birding news, you should join the BBC on Discord.
The Beckham Bird Club Facebook page includes news about local birds and birding. It is also a great way to share your birding adventures or your best bird photos. You can also get help with bird identification or just join in the discussion on a variety of bird-related topics. Check it out!
JOIN THE BECKHAM BIRD CLUB DISCORD GROUP
The Beckham Bird Club recently established a discussion group on the Discord app, which is best used on a mobile device. Follow this link to join our Discord and become part of our server. As a member, you will receive updates on club activities, including field trips and other club matters, join conversations about birds and birding, receive reports of rare or otherwise notable local birds, bird photos, places to bird, and just everyday birding chit-chat. All the channels except the official club communications are open for all group members to post. If you go on field trips, chase rarities or just want the most up-to-date local birding news, you should join the BBC on Discord.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BECKHAM BIRD CLUB
Here are the Top Five Reasons to become a BBC member for 2025 (and every year thereafter):
1. Support BBC programming. Your dues pay for our meeting venues, speaker fees and support BBC activities such as the picnic and annual dinner.
2. Stay informed about what the BBC will be doing in 2025. Renewing your membership means you will continue receiving the newsletter and other updates.
3. Your dues help BBC remain visible in the community by paying the costs of the BBC website.
4. Your dues pay for printing the BBC membership directory and allow us to periodically update our technology (laptop, projector, etc.).
5. MOST IMPORTANT REASON: You reap the psychic reward of being a part of and supporting a great organization.
TOP TWO REASONS TO JOIN OR RENEW IMMEDIATELY:
1. It helps the BBC budget.
2. It's good for the environment.
Here's a handy guide to the renewing or restoring or starting your membership in the Beckham Bird Club.
Memberships are for the calendar year and dues are due by January 1. However, if you are joining for the first time or rejoining after a lapse in membership, paying your dues after October 1 also gets you a membership for the following year.
You may join either directly through this website using PayPal or credit card or, if you want to pay by check, by downloading, printing and sending in the membership form, which is also on the website.
Here are the details:
BBC MEMBERSHIP FORM DOWNLOAD LINK
The BBC board encourages you to renew early and hopes that you will encourage non-member birders or bird lovers of your acquaintance to join.
1. Support BBC programming. Your dues pay for our meeting venues, speaker fees and support BBC activities such as the picnic and annual dinner.
2. Stay informed about what the BBC will be doing in 2025. Renewing your membership means you will continue receiving the newsletter and other updates.
3. Your dues help BBC remain visible in the community by paying the costs of the BBC website.
4. Your dues pay for printing the BBC membership directory and allow us to periodically update our technology (laptop, projector, etc.).
5. MOST IMPORTANT REASON: You reap the psychic reward of being a part of and supporting a great organization.
TOP TWO REASONS TO JOIN OR RENEW IMMEDIATELY:
1. It helps the BBC budget.
2. It's good for the environment.
Here's a handy guide to the renewing or restoring or starting your membership in the Beckham Bird Club.
Memberships are for the calendar year and dues are due by January 1. However, if you are joining for the first time or rejoining after a lapse in membership, paying your dues after October 1 also gets you a membership for the following year.
You may join either directly through this website using PayPal or credit card or, if you want to pay by check, by downloading, printing and sending in the membership form, which is also on the website.
Here are the details:
- Go the membership tab at the top of this page.
- You will see a list of membership categories, with the dues for each and a yellow button that says “Donate.”
- Click on the button. It will take you to PayPal.
- Enter the amount you wish to pay (we encourage you to renew at the highest level you can) and then DESIGNATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION FOR MEMBERSHIP (this is the default choice). THIS IS SO WE KNOW YOU ARE PAYING DUES, RATHER THAN MAKING A DONATION.
- IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Dues payments in excess of the amount for the membership category specified will be deposited into the general fund unless otherwise designated by the member making the payment. In other words, if you sign up as a contributing member at the $30 dues level, but pay $50, the extra $20 will go to the general fund, unless you designate for another purpose, such as Birdathon. SINCE PAYPAL TAKES A CUT OF YOUR DUES AS A PROCESSING FEE, PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING AN EXTRA 5% TO YOUR DUES PAYMENT TO OFFSET THE FEE.
- Select payment either through your PayPal account, if you have one, or by credit card.
- If you select credit card payment, you will be asked for credit card information, including your name and address, (don’t worry, it’s a secure site) and then be asked to create a PayPal account. Doing so will simplify the process next time. (Just remember to write down your password and save it where it can be relocated.)
- IF YOU HAVE BEEN A MEMBER BEFORE AND HAVE NEW CONTACT INFORMATION (ADDRESS, EMAIL, PHONE), YOU CAN ADD A NOTE LETTING US KNOW. PLEASE DO SO.
- YOU ALSO MAY SHARE YOUR ADDRESS WITH BBC BY CHECKING THE BOX THAT SENDS IT TO US TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GIFT.
- Complete the transaction by following the PayPal prompts. You will get an email confirmation of your payment.
- AND JUST IN CASE, please take the following IMPORTANT STEP: Please email your name, address, email and telephone number to [email protected] so we can keep our membership roster up to date.
BBC MEMBERSHIP FORM DOWNLOAD LINK
The BBC board encourages you to renew early and hopes that you will encourage non-member birders or bird lovers of your acquaintance to join.
A MESSAGE FROM THE BBC BOARD
In response to member concerns and after careful consideration, the Beckham Bird Club board has determined that field trips will now be no-smoking and no-vaping events. The current policy of asking participants who smoke and vape to step away from the main group has proven both ineffective and unworkable. Therefore, effective immediately, participants are asked to refrain from smoking or vaping for the duration of the field trip. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
In response to member concerns and after careful consideration, the Beckham Bird Club board has determined that field trips will now be no-smoking and no-vaping events. The current policy of asking participants who smoke and vape to step away from the main group has proven both ineffective and unworkable. Therefore, effective immediately, participants are asked to refrain from smoking or vaping for the duration of the field trip. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
How to Get Involved With Birds and Birding
- Attend Beckham Bird Club meetings, especially if you have never been to one.
- Come along on a Beckham Bird Club field trip, especially if you have never been on one.
- After doing the first two things on this list, join the Beckham Bird Club. It's easy to do on this website from the Membership tab
- Obtain a good pair of binoculars and both a hard copy and phone app field guide. Use them frequently.
- Join the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's eBird and Merlin sites. They're free and easy to use, and they are a great way to record your bird observations and find and identify birds.
- If you have a yard, research how to make it bird friendly by adding native plants, feeders and water sources.
- Make your home bird safe by turning off unneeded indoor and outside lights, especially during migration, closing blinds, and applying decals to make windows more visible to birds to reduce collisions.
- Join the Kentucky Ornithological Society (KOS).
- Subscribe to the birdKY listserv via KOS. It's a great way to know what's going on with birds in Kentucky.
- Attend one of the KOS meetings in April or September.
- Donate to the BBC Birdathon.
- Familiarize yourself with the American Birding Association's Code of Birding Ethics (see Birding Ethics under the Conservation tab above) and adhere to it when birding.
- Get out and bird in one of Kentucky's least-birded counties. Kentucky has a substantial portion of the counties with the fewest eBird checklists. You can help fix that.
- Attend a birding festival in Kentucky or elsewhere.
- Take a child birding.
- Donate your old/unused binoculars and scopes to nature centers, school groups interested in birding.
- Bird, bird, and bird some more.