We're changing our name.
The board of directors of Jayhawk Audubon Society has voted to change the name of our chapter to better reflect our values as an inclusive and welcoming group dedicated to birds and the habitats on which they depend. A process to choose a new name is underway and we will invite participation from our members and the wider community.
Welcome!
Jayhawk Audubon is the chapter of the National Audubon Society serving Lawrence, Douglas County, and surrounding communities in eastern Kansas.
Our mission is to provide opportunities for greater understanding and appreciation of birds and other wildlife, to encourage sustainable practices, and to advocate for actions and policies which result in protection and preservation of intact ecosystems.
Join us! All of our resources are available to the public free of charge and our meetings and field trips are always open to the public. If you would like to become a member, the cost is just $20 per year for an individual membership. Click here for more membership information.
Eastern Bluebird female photo by Jim Bresnahan.
Upcoming Events
All events are free and open to everyone. All levels of interest and experience are invited. A few extra binoculars will be available for loan.
FIELD TRIPS
September 13, 2023 (Wednesday) | Rice Woods and Douglas State Lake | 8:00 am
Park at intersection of N 500 and E 1750 Rd. (2 miles N of Baldwin and one-half mile E). We will walk on E 1750 Rd about a quarter mile south and back. It’s easy walking on county roads along the woods. Expect a variety of woodpeckers (Red-headed, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Pileated, and Flicker), Carolina Wren, creeper, nuthatches, kinglets, possibly Red-tailed, Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned, and Red-shouldered Hawks. Some migrant flycatchers, warblers, and thrushes are likely. We will then travel to Douglas State Lake less than two miles east. Here we should expect various waterfowl and possibly kingfishers, ospreys or eagles.
Educational Presentation:
September 25: Box Turtles | Benjamin Reed
Benjamin Reed has a PhD at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Biology with an emphasis in physiological and behavioral ecology. Ben’s PhD research focused on terrestrial ectotherm ecology, with an emphasis on ornate box turtles, and he currently has research collaborations with UNL, Baker Wetlands through Baker University, Coe College in Iowa, the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, amongst others.
Golden-crowned Kinglet by Gary Robinette/Audubon Photography Awards
Box Turtle by Joshua J. Cotten
FAQs
One of our main purposes is to share helpful information to our community that will help the birds and wildlife in our area thrive. If you have a question that we don't answer below, please feel free to email us.
What do I do if I find an abandoned baby bird (nestling)?
In most cases, worry not. If you see a baby bird hopping on the ground with parents fluttering nearby, it is a fledgling and does not need help from humans. If you see a baby bird only partially feathered and unable to walk or fly, it may indeed need help. Your first choice should be to locate the nest it fell from and, if possible, place it back in.
It’s a myth that a bird will reject a baby touched by humans, and a baby bird stands the best chance of recovery being raised by its parents. If the nest is on the ground, you have another opportunity to keep it in the care of its parents. You can replace the nest with a small plastic tub with holes about the diameter of a pencil cut in its bottom for drainage, put the babies back inside, and secure it back in the tree in the general vicinity. Watch closely; it’s very likely the parents will accept the new nest and continue to raise their babies in it.
If these attempts have failed, it’s possible you’ll need to take the orphaned birds to one of three local wildlife rehabilitation shelters or drop-off locations. In appreciation for their work to save such orphaned and/or injured birds, Jayhawk Audubon has recently made gifts of $500 each to the following local organizations: Operation Wildlife, Northeast Kansas Wildlife Rescue, and Prairie Park Nature Center. We hope you will support them, too!
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Jayhawk Audubon Society
Jayhawk Audubon Society welcomes anyone without discrimination into our organization as a member or to partner with us to enhance our work dedicated to birds, other wildlife, and healthy ecosystems.
We are deeply committed to maintaining and promoting an inclusive environment for our chapter’s members, supporters, and our community at large. Everyone is always invited to attend our free educational programs, birding field trips, and community outreach events.
We respect individuals’ values, experiences, abilities, and perspectives and recognize that a diverse membership engaged in a participatory, welcoming environment will ensure our organization is as strong as it should be to achieve our mission.
Click here to read National Audubon Society’s full statement on equity, diversity and inclusion.
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Stay informed about upcoming Jayhawk Audubon events, learn more about the species in your area, and find opportunities to get involved.
Photo by Jarett Thurman - LeConte's Sparrow - Clinton Lake
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Birding Guide for Northeastern Kansas 2023
This is the digital version of the birding guide put out by Jayhawk Audubon. We hope you find it a helpful resource.
Plants for Birds
Support the birds and pollinators in your backyard by planting native plants. The Jayhawk Audubon Society has joined with National Audubon to promote Plants for Birds, a nationwide effort to get 1 million native plants planted within five years
THREE TENETS OF GARDENING FOR BIRDS
1) Grow trees, shrubs, vines and flowers
2) Lots of them
3) Mostly native
Native Flowers
Statement on Avian Influenza
Avian influenza, or bird flu, appears to present minimal risk to humans. As of April 22, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported zero cases of bird flu in humans. Risk to songbirds (common visitors to bird feeders) also appears very low according to Dr. Julianna Lenoch, who directs the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (USDA APHIS) National Wildlife Disease Program. There has been no official recommendation that people should take down bird feeders unless they also keep domestic poultry. If you have a backyard poultry flock, keep their food and water inaccessible to wild birds and take down bird feeders. All people feeding birds should clean their feeders and birdbaths on a weekly basis, and, as always, avoid direct contact with wild birds.
On April 26, 2022 Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Disease Biologist Shane Hesting provided the following statement concerning Avian Influenza and bird feeders: “At this time in Kansas, the risk to songbirds is low because most waterfowl have moved north in their migration and because of the ecological niche separation between songbirds and waterfowl. Make sure to thoroughly clean your bird feeders with a 10 percent bleach solution every two weeks to prevent other pathogens from affecting birds. The virus may return in the fall when the migrations to the south begin; stay tuned as more information becomes available.”
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Guidelines