ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
The phrase “for the birds” often has a negative connotation, but for Audubon of Kansas (AOK) Director Dr. Jackie Augustine, the phrase has a more positive point of view.
Earlier this summer, Augustine visited libraries throughout the Sunflower State, including Kismet Public Library, to talk to young people about birds and bird watching.
Augustine’s visit to KPL included a fun migration game and a reading of the book “Ruby’s Birds,” and participants also paid a visit to some of Kismet’s outdoors to look for some feathered friends in the neighborhood.
Later that day, Augustine visited Kismet Senior Center to talk to seniors about hummingbirds and what makes them interesting.
AOK is an independent grassroots non-profit organization that promotes appreciation and stewardship of natural ecosystems in Kansas and the central Great Plains, with special emphasis on conservation of prairies, birds and other wildlife. It is neither funded nor administered by the National Audubon Society.
“Audubon of Kansas works all over the state, and we go wherever there’s an audience that wants to learn more about birds,” Augustine said.
The mission of AOK is to promote the enjoyment, understanding, protection and restoration of the state’s natural ecosystems with a focus on birds, other wildlife and their habitat for the benefit of humanity and the planet’s biological diversity, all the while establishing a culture of conservation and an environmental ethic in the central Great Plains.
“We feel it’s really important people know about the nature around them because we know they won’t protect what they don’t understand,” Augustine said. “We’re trying to get people to know more about nature and encourage them to go out and experience nature.”
Dr. Augustine has studied prairie chickens and their breeding behaviors for more than 15 years, and she is pleased to continue the success of AOK and engage in conservation issues throughout the state.
“I love birds personally, and it’s great to share that hobby and passion with others,” she said.
Augustine said her visit to KPL and other libraries in the state have gone great.
“I love meeting with local people, and seeing what they’re seeing helps me understand what’s happening throughout the state and makes me a better advocate for wildlife conservation,” she said.
Augustine said she considers the work she does for AOK her passion.
“I enjoy nature and conserving wildlife,” she said. “I’ve observed birds and other wildlife disappearing through my lifetime, and I want to do everything I can to help protect them. By doing this and letting others know what I’m seeing and hearing about they’re seeing, that helps more people become interested in wildlife and be a better voice for wildlife when decisions are being made.”
Augustine’s expectations for those who come to her events is simply for people to get something out of what they see.
“I hope people learn something they didn’t know about nature,” she said. “I hope they learn and get the skills to appreciate nature in their own backyards, and I hope in the future, they’ll be the voice for wildlife when there’s a concern for wildlife in their area.”
While she enjoys all birds, Augustine said she loves western kingbirds, and on a cloudy day such as the one she spent in Kismet, the species’s bright yellow bellies can be seen rather well.
“They’re so much fun to watch,” she said. “They have fun antics.”
This is just one species Augustine likes to watch. Others include the western meadowlark, bobwhite quail and grasshopper sparrows, and she even appreciates grackles.
“There were some gray-tailed grackles right outside the door, and they have some really interesting vocalizations,” she said. “I appreciate all the birds.”
As a hobby, Augustine said bird watching is growing, and many people now identify as being viewers of feathered friends. She said those who watch do so for a wide variety of reasons.
“Bird watchers are on the gamut from people just watch birds in their own backyards to those who travel the country to see the diversity of birds, and most people fall somewhere in between,” she said. “It’s a great hobby because it doesn’t take much equipment. It only takes binoculars and a field guide to go identify things. It’s not that important to identify things. A lot of people enjoy that, but all you need is binoculars, patience and just appreciating nature.”
This is why AOK has been putting backpacks into libraries all over Kismet through its Nature Adventurepacks program.
“In Kismet and at other local libraries, you can check out a backpack with adult and children’s binoculars, foldout field guides to birds, butterflies and the moon and a map of your county showing natural areas you can go visit,” Augustine said. “It’s an easy hobby, and people of all abilities can do it.”
Nature Adventurepacks serve more than 45 public libraries in 25 Kansas counties, and the program is expanding across the state.
Augustine said her programs have had a great impact, especially when it comes to getting people to appreciate nature and getting them outside.
“I really appreciate the diversity throughout the state,” she said. “I love the sand sage prairies in this corner. I love the tall grass prairies out east and the wetlands in the middle of the state. Kansas has so much to offer, and it’s great. I love this job and being able to see all the different parts of Kansas.”
In addition to some quiet solitude, Augustine said birds can have quite the effect on a person’s health.
“We’re finding people who spend more time in nature have better physical and mental well being,” she said. “Just going out and being an observer of everything around you can help with your anxiety. It can relieve all the stresses of the week, and it’s a great activity all around.”
