June's Volunteer Shout-Out

Meet these stellar Tucson Audubon volunteers!

By Kara Kaczmarzyk and Jennie MacFarland 

Soon after Jim Chumbley moved to Arizona from Alaska, Jim contacted the Important Bird Area program at Tucson Audubon looking for ways to get involved. Luckily there was an IBA training session coming right up, which Jim attended and then he was off! Jim has helped in almost every IBA survey event this season and then volunteered to help with a regularly surveyed route in Tanque Verde Wash! His tenacity, willingness to help and excellent hiking abilities have made him a huge asset to the IBA program. Way to make a splash Jim! We are so happy to have you as part of the IBA volunteer family!

Scott Olmstead is a professional bird tour leader and a volunteer at Tucson Audubon. Recently, he led an All-Star Birdathon team to see 118 species in one Big Day. His stunning, colorful photos of birds from all over the Americas are frequently projected onto the screen at Sky Bar during Tucson Audubon’s monthly Birds & Beer social. He has been heavily involved in youth birding activities (and now has a full-time career teaching Spanish in a Tucson high school). Always a fountain of knowledge and a friendly face, you will see him around Tucson Audubon events a lot. In fact, next week he leads a group of Tucson Audubon members in the special birding trip to Ecuador. Thanks Scott!

Carol Palmer joined the Tucson Audubon volunteer team two years ago and has lent much expertise on plant ID and care to the 20 acres of ironwood saguaro habitat at our Mason Center. She comes out regularly to make sure the hummingbird and butterfly gardens are prospering, watches over the heritage grapefruit tree, and transitions in new volunteers to help maintain the property. This spring, she’s been working with Habitat Program Manager Kendall Kroesen and a group of Tortolita Middle School students led by Kathleen Neighbors to install plant ID signs around the Mason Center trail. Look for pictures of the finished project this summer, and learn about some native plants this fall when the Mason Center bird walks resume or during the Harvest Festival and Mesquite Milling.

Bird image credit Doris Evans