Members of RRAS went on a field trip to experience birds, wildlife and beautiful scenery that Alaska has to offer. The trip was organized by Bird Las Vegas, a local tour company spearheaded by local birding experts Justin Streit, Brandon Miller, Ben Zyla and Alex Harper, that specializes in birding adventures. Doug and Nancy Chang, Tom Clay, Jennifer Dudek, Lucy Wu and Jimmy Alexander along with Justin, Brandon and Ben went on this incredible journey. Justin, Brandon and Ben were excellent guides and their preparation and knowledge of birding in Alaska added so much to the experience.

Recently, as Red Rock Audubon was considering its future direction and projects during a Board meeting, a question was raised as to how we came to be where we are today. It quickly became evident that our predecessors had forged a path and built a foundation that has enabled RRAS to thrive and grow. Three names that stood out were Je Anne Blackman, Rita Schlageter, and Carolyn Titus.

As a token of our appreciation for their contributions, it was decided to honor them with a presentation at a recent general meeting. Some of their contributions were described to the audience at that meeting.

Je Anne Blackman has been birding for over 40 years. She has volunteered with RRAS as Education Chair, Treasurer, Vice President, and Interim President during a recent transition. She also was the Whittell Fund Chair, the Field Trip Chair, and a Field Trip Leader. She has written three articles for Birding World (previously Birdwatching) and recently wrote an essay that was included in the book Dead in Good Company (about wildlife at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts). Her essay was selected to be included among those written by a number of birding experts and writers who are very well established, including a Pulitzer prize winner.

Rita Schlageter has volunteered at RRAS for many years. She has been the Hospitality Chair, managed the RRAS phone line when we had only an answering machine, conducted monthly bird walks at Floyd Lamb Park, lead Birds in the Garden at the old Water Authority garden (across Alta Drive from the new Springs Preserve), and participated in Scout and School programs. If anyone has an excuse for being too busy to do anything else, it’s Rita. In her spare time, she raised four kids, provides fantastic seamstress work for casinos (uniforms), makes custom wedding dresses, and keeps the books for her family business.

Carolyn Titus has a Master’s Degree in Chemistry and has taught chemistry at UNLV. She is the author of most of the bird lists in Nevada, including Southern Nevada Birds, and A Seekers Guide published Dec. 1, 1998 by RRAS. The guides distributed at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve were authored by Carolyn. She has also been cited as a source of Nevada birding information in such publications as Peterson’s birding guides and other well-known guides to birding. Carolyn has significantly elevated our knowledge of birds in Nevada.

​We greatly appreciate the contributions of Je Anne, Rita, and Carolyn, and look forward to many more years of their continuing participation in the Red Rock Audubon Society.

Terracycle and Tom's of Maine have partnered to collect certain personal care items for recycling:

toothpaste tubes and caps
floss containers
mouthwash bottles and caps
toothbrushes
deodorant containers and caps

Red Rock Audubon will happily collect these items from you at our regular meetings and ship them to the recycling program. The items do not have to be Tom's products. They accept any brand of the above items.

​PLEASE rinse and dry bottles. Clean toothpaste off tubes and toothbrushes

What better way to escape the summer heat of the Las Vegas Valley than to head for the hills of Arizona? Seventeen Red Rock Audubon members and guests did just that the weekend of August 16th to 18th.

The group gathered at Jay's Bird Barn on Friday afternoon to check in. The shop has a great selection of binoculars, spotting scopes, bird feeders and accessories. Eric Moore, the owner, took time to explain the features of binoculars and what a buyer should consider when purchasing a pair. Then we were off to the Willow Bend Environmental Education Center for a little urban birding. Group dinner followed at Fratelli's Pizza.

​During the month of July Clark County Wetlands Park visitors were treated to a display of stunning photographs from the 2018 Audubon Photography Award winners. The exhibit sponsored by Red Rock Audubon featured photographs taken by amateurs, youths and professionals.

Each photograph was accompanied by a description by the photographer, completing the story of the bird and photographer. What could go wrong while wearing your waders approaching a Wood Duck in a frigid pond during a light snow? How does a huge Great Gray Owl balance itself on a tiny branch?

Visiting Mount Charleston in the summer is always a good Idea. You can see many birds and plants, take in some fresh mountain air and enjoy noticeable relief from the Vegas valley heat.

Visiting Mt. Charleston in the company of John Hiatt, Red Rock Audubon's Conservation Chair, takes that experience to a different level. John graciously led 22 members and guests on a memorable walk through the lower part of the Mary Jane Falls trailhead and along Deer Creek on July 13th. You learn a lot about natural and human history any time you are around John.