KOS Spring Meeting 2021
Virtual
May 7 - 9, 2021

Jeff Calhoun - jeffcalhoun11@gmail.com
Jenn Rader - jennrader34@gmail.com
Chuck Otte - cotte@twinvalley.net

Contact Jeff, Jenn, or Chuck for the Zoom link to these events.

The Kansas Ornithological Society’s annual Spring Meeting is going to be digital again this year. For your birding field trips that weekend, KOS is challenging birders to visit our state’s federal reservoirs or state parks and report their results!

We have identified 31 eligible locations for bird sightings to be included in our weekend compilation, and an ambitious goal is to have each and every one of them visited by at least one birder sometime during the weekend! These general locations include the named reservoir or state park and any adjacent wildlife areas or recreation areas.

Jeff Calhoun is maintaining a spreadsheet of the locations included in this challenge and encourage birders to check it out and share your plans and contributions. If you plan to go birding at one of these locations between noon Friday, May 7 and noon Sunday, May 9, please consider letting Jeff know so he can document it as being covered for the weekend. Please note that the same spreadsheet also shows that some birders are willing to host socially distant birding trips at these locations. Interested birders can contact these voluntary leaders if they want to join them for their efforts! This sheet will be updated frequently as people sign up with Jeff, so be sure to keep checking back!

The KOS Birding Field Trip Spreadsheet can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/3fVdUBY

Given that this is a new and different thing, here are a few preemptively answered questions that hopefully clarify things:

Q: Can I go birding at other locations that weekend?

A: Of course you can go birding wherever you want! However, to contribute to the KOS species compilation for the weekend, the sightings should be from these locations or the adjacent public wildlife areas or recreation areas associated with them.

Q: If someone is already signed up for my preferred location, can I still go birding there?

A: Yes. The more eyes the better! You do not have to go birding with the people signed up for the same location, but you can if you are comfortable doing so.

Q: Do I have to sign up with Jeff on the spreadsheet to participate?

A: No you do not need to share your birding plans with Jeff. However, it would be great if you would! This will enable participants to see which locations are being covered throughout the state that weekend, with our ambitious goal to have all 31 locations sampled on a single weekend! Perhaps you want to challenge yourself to visit a Kansas reservoir that no other birder is visiting that weekend!

Q: If I sign up to cover a certain location for the KOS Birding Challenge, do I have to lead a field trip?

A: No. Not everyone is comfortable or able to bird in groups, and some people want a relaxing, flexible weekend away from it all. All of these scenarios are acceptable and there is no pressure to meet up with others. If you are willing to host a socially distant field trip, though, notify Jeff and he can publish your contact information on the sheet in case someone would like to join a more experienced birder at a specific location, mimicking a traditional KOS “Field Trip” in these bizarre times.

Q: Can I cover more than one location?

A: Yes. During KOS weekend, you can cover 1 location or 31 locations. You can spend less than an hour birding or go for a forty-eight hour birding marathon. Choose your own adventure! All sightings from these areas are welcomed.

Q: Do I have to be a KOS member to participate?

A: Nope! But if you’re not a KOS member, what are you waiting for :) ?


Please feel free to contact Jeff with any questions about the KOS Birding Challenge or to sign up to cover a designated location during the KOS Spring Meeting! Again, the field trip sign-up sheet can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3fVdUBY

Jeff Calhoun, jeffcalhoun11@gmail.com  Dodge City, KS