The first day of Spring is officially March 19. Come on, Spring!

Janet Tice and Dave Cooney are starting to plan for this year’s Beginning Birders’ Workshop. The first planning meeting will be before our next General Meeting, on Monday, March 11. Come early – at 6 PM – if you would like to help at the workshop.

Member Bob Keener will share his experiences with the March 11 program Galapagos: A Model of Conservation. The program will be available in person at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church or via Zoom. Bob will present from a remote location via Zoom, starting at 7 PM.

At our April 8 meeting, we will vote for officers, new directors, and changes to our Constitution and By-laws. Stay tuned for a special “Election” email in mid-March. Visit the latest Naturally for a preview.

Conservation Chair John Greer has a word about this year’s theme of stopping plastic pollution. The word is “pre-cycle.” Pre-cycling is about making choices that support environmentally responsible products and packaging. Pre-cycling makes recycling easier and cuts down on the amount of garbage thrown away. Some tips:

• Buy large single containers and put what you need for everyday use into smaller containers.
• Pass on Styrofoam. For example, look for egg cartons made of recycled newsprint.  
• For paper boxes, if the unprinted side is gray and not white, the box is made of recycled material.
• Avoid over-packaged products. Compare the size of the package to the size of the product.
• And don’t forget to shop with reusable bags!

With the change of seasons, we have more activities scheduled. Check out the calendar. Some of the events involve the opportunity for volunteering. Unless stated otherwise, please contact Terri Kochert to sign up as a volunteer. Contact the field trip leader to go on a field trip. Good birding!