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Weldon, CA. - In 1997, The Nature Conservancy was looking for the right
organization to take over ownership
of the Kern River Preserve. After
interviewing several land stewardship organizations, Audubon
won the privilege to hold the preserve. In March 1997,
Reed Tollefson transferred to
Audubon from the Nature Conservancy
in anticipation of the transfer of the deed.
Escrow closed and the deed to the 1,127-acre Kern River
Preserve was
transferred from The Nature Conservancy to the National Audubon Society on November 25,
1998.
The Nature Conservancy has never regretted
transferring the preserve to Audubon and with Reed
remaining at the helm, the preserve
has just gotten bigger and better. Since
taking over the preserve each year we have celebrated our
volunteers and donors contributions to keeping our outreach
programs going.
On Saturday and Sunday, October 27-28, 2007,
thirty-three
members of Audubon Kern River Preserve joined our
annual Donor Appreciation Weekend to learn about
recent happenings at the preserve
and to celebrate Reed and the preserve's tenth anniversary
with Audubon.
We started the day with a continental
breakfast at the preserve headquarters and a nature walk led
by Reed. After the walk, the group convened at our Sprague
Ranch building for lunch and awards. Dan Taylor, Audubon California's State Policy
Director, presented Reed with a Certificate from Audubon
thanking him for his ten years of excellent
service in managing the Kern River Preserve.
Every few years either a volunteer or staff
member is recognized for their contribution to the preserve.
This year we recognized the husband
and wife team of Bill and Birdie Foster as our
Volunteers of the Year. Birdie is
the organizer of the preserve's bird
feeding team and performs so many vital functions that many of
the outreach functions at the preserve would languish without
her solid dedication. Her husband, Bill is one of our top
volunteers in his own right. He leads the Pond Turtle
headstart project and helps with many of the landscaping
projects around the preserve. Bill and Birdie were presented
with a beautiful engraved crystal award, some items from
Audubon and a gift certificate.
After the luncheon, Bill Foster gave the
group a tour of the turtle enclosure he and the turtle team
built this year. He then gave a demonstration on how to mark
and record data on a live turtle. Everyone was really
fascinated in the efforts of our terrific turtle team (read
and see photos of their efforts on our turtle pages).
A walk to one of the preserve's Native
American village sites was the next order of the day. Fifteen
people hiked to Ytiamup, a Tubatulabal village used until they
were forcefully displaced by settlers and the California
Cavalry in the late 1800's. Don Storm, archeologist for the
BLM in Ridgecrest helped to interpret some of the bedrock
mortars, metates, pestles, and other flakes of the living
past.
A no-host dinner followed with 15 people
attending at Sierra Vista Restaurant.
The next day, guests were given two
options. A driving visit to various Audubon properties and
recently acquired lands by our cooperators with Reed Tollefson
or a birding trip around the Kern River Valley, led by Susan
Steele and Alison Sheehey. The result of the birding trip was
a county-bird for Susan, which was quite a thrill for all in
attendance (Glaucous-winged Gull).
Thanks to the following people for helping make the
10th Anniversary Celebration
special: Katie Alheim, Darrell Barnes, Lucy Clark, Birdie
Foster, Bill Foster, Barbara Coley, Roger Coley, Bill Cooper, Chana Cortez,
Cal French, Lettie French, Bruce Garlinger, Ron Gillentine,
Clyde Golden, CleoBell Heiple-Tice, Jeff
King, Denise LaBerteaux, Bob Lowe, Marya Miller, Jacqueline
Morgan, Don Morrison, Rich O'Neil, Nancy Robinson, Rob Robinson,
Ellen Schafhauser, Alison Sheehey, Holly Sorenson, Sheri
Spiegal, Bob Steele, Susan Steele, Don Storm, Dan Taylor, Pam
Taylor, Sid Tice, Reed Tollefson,
and Sandra Wieser.
The success we have enjoyed is a result of
Audubon California's generous members. Our continued support will depend on the
members of Audubon Kern River Preserve's ability to attract a similar level of support from
people like you. Please consider becoming part of our history by
becoming a member of the
Audubon Kern River Preserve. The preserve is open to the public every day of the
year, including holidays, from dawn until dusk. Thank you.
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