Weldon, CA – Want to know what Audubon staff and volunteers accomplish over a year? Well here is a compilation of Audubon Kern River Preserve 2011 Volunteer Activities.

Volunteer Stewardship Projects

Turtle Project - volunteers census, measure and mark population on Audubon Kern River Preserve. Collect eggs (permitted through California Dept. of Fish & Game), incubate, care for hatchlings, feed for up to three years in protected enclosure before releasing to the wild. 12 volunteers, 2 staff

Fence Repair - volunteers help staff as needed. Several at risk youth from local schools have assisted. up to 30 volunteers, 3 staff.

Water Conveyance Repair - volunteers from local ranching community along with staff repair canal systems destroyed or damaged during last winters storm. 4 volunteers, 4 staff

Alternative Energy pumps - volunteers from local ranching community along with staff repair installed donated wind and solar pumps to use for irrigation in perennial pasture and restoration sites. 5 volunteers, 2 staff

Upland Restoration - projects include planting, raising from seed and cuttings in greenhouse, harvesting seed and cuttings, weeding projects. Conducted year-round. 18 volunteers, 5 staff

Trail Maintenance and Creation - volunteers and staff created several trails, mother nature destroyed a few, volunteers and staff go out and fix trails, weeding, mowing and signing. The effort has been ongoing throughout the spring and summer. 34 volunteers and 5 staff.

Monthly Work Parties - third Saturday of each month September through May. Planting, trail maintenance, weeding, litter cleanup, fence repair, seed collection, leaf raking.

Kern Valley Pride Day - each third Saturday a team from the Kern River Preserve cleans up the South Fork Valley as part of a valley wide effort on Public Lands Day. ~15 volunteers each year but varies from a low of 8 to a high of 35 on our team

OUTREACH PROGRAM EVENTS

Activities All Free with the exception of bird and butterfly counts which a fee is sent to Audubon and North American Butterfly Association to participate.

School Programs:
Wallace Middle School - entire 5th grade class given tour of the Fay Creek part of the preserve including the upland restoration project, turtle project, binocular lesson and lesson in riparian versus desert ecosystems. 2 June. 85 students, 3 teachers, 2 chaperones, 4 staff.

South Fork Elementary School - entire student body explored Bartolas Restoration site, 27 May. 100 students, 1 staff

Kern High School District - at risk youth from the Greater Bakersfield area work on projects around the preserve, this year they worked on fences, defensible space around buildings from fire, invasive weeds, and restoration projects. 18 students, 2 teachers, 3 staff.

Riparian Restoration - projects include planting, raising from seed and cuttings in greenhouse, harvesting seed and cuttings, weeding projects. Generally done in fall through early spring. up to 30 volunteers, 5 staff.

Monthly Nature Explorations - first Saturday of each month, participation has varied. Topics include: Wildflowers, Spring Birds,
Backyard Bird Count - Saturday activity teaching participants about the Great Backyard Bird Count - 12 February, 4 participants, 1 staff

Field Trips

Native Plant Society Trips to Preserve - Bristlecone Chapter of CNPS - given tour of preserve on 26 March. 15 participants, 1 staff

Audubon Chapter trips to Preserve - Buena Vista Audubon Society, Kern Audubon Society, Kerncrest Audubon Society, Fresno Audubon Society. Spring through summer. Up to 20 participants per group, 1 staff.

Research

Staff Participate in Regional Bird Censuses - Tejon Ranch CBC, Owens Lake spring and fall bird counts, Curlew Surveys, Mountain Plover Surveys, Tricolored Blackbird surveys. 1 staff.

BioBlitz - Professional - high level amateur specialists spend morning in field - return to share findings with public during afternoon session. 8 volunteers, conducted June 4

Butterfly Counts - volunteers pay $3 fee to NABA, spend entire day in field cataloging butterfly diversity and population in 15 sq. mi predetermined area. ~12 people at each of 5 counts conducted April 30, May 1, June 5, July 2, July 3

Bird Counts - volunteers pay $5 fee to NAS, spend entire day in field cataloging bird diversity and population in 15 sq. mi predetermined area. 30 volunteers South Fork CBC, Dec 30, 25 volunteers Kern Valley CBC, Jan 1

Festivals

Spring Festival - volunteers help set-up, lead trips, professional musicians donate time, children's activities, workshops, keynote speeches. ~300 people attended... 30 volunteers, 5 staff.

Reptile Festival - volunteers help set-up, professional musicians donate time, children's activities, conduct workshops. ~85 people attended... 15 volunteers... 3 staff.

Hummingbird Festival - volunteers help set-up, professional musicians donate time, children's activities, conduct workshops. 265 people attended. 20 volunteers, 2 staff.

Vulture Festival - volunteers help set-up, lead trips, professional musicians donate time, children's activities, conduct workshops. 285 people attended, 30 volunteers, 4 staff.

Volunteer Outreach Projects

Bird Feeding - volunteers fill bird feeders on daily basis at preserve headquarters for pleasure of visiting public. 12 volunteers, 1 staff

About Audubon Kern River Preserve

The Kern River Preserve is managed by Audubon California for the preservation of one of California’s largest contiguous cottonwood-willow riparian forests and the wildlife it supports.

Audubon Kern River Preserve supporters provide financial and volunteer support for Preserve outreach, education, wildlife habitat protection & stewardship.