About Us
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| COPYRIGHT 2007 PAYNE COUNTY AUDUBON SOCIETY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |
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| CHAPTER HISTORY |
1977
The National Audubon Society’s local representative asked John Couch and Helen Miller to organize a chapter of
the NAS. The organization then became more formal with constitution and bylaws. Presidents were elected for 2-
year terms.
Here is a list of past presidents: Helen Miller, John Couch, Scott Shalaway, Billy Teels, Helen Jordan, Freddy
Miller, Linda Bryant, John Dole, John Couch, Pat Jaynes, Jerry Wilhm, and our present president, Susan
Walker, who in 2009/2010 is beginning her second year. many of these individuals served as president far longer
than their proscribed two-year terms. Birders tend to be busy people; it is not always easy to find someone to
take on the responsibilities of president.
Scott Shalaway was in the OSU Zoology Dept when he was president but left OK to live on a farm in W.VA, where
he makes his living writing a nature column carried by a dozen or so newspapers, hosting a nature-oriented TV
show and radio program, and, with a Canadian company, marketing high-quality wild bird food. Scott also found
time to write and publish several natural history books. Billy Teels and John Dole have also gone to jobs outside
of Stillwater. John Dole also published a book: Butterflies of Oklahoma, Kansas, and North Texas.
1979
Ann Redelfs began putting out a Chapter newsletter—Feathers. Subsequent editors included Carl Wisk, Susan
Walker, Coetta Lamp, and a succession of paid individuals not associated with the Chapter. Susan Walker is
again (since 2005) putting out Feathers and Pinfeathers.
1982
PCAS gave its first scholarship for bird research.
1983
PCAS began a savings account to accumulate money for a Nature Center.
1984
Mike Carter, an OSU graduate student and PCAS member, was given a scholarship to survey the birds of Payne
County. His 3-year study resulted in the “Payne County Bird Checklist,” published by the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation. In 2008, 24 years later, Tim O'Connell, OSU professor, began the process of updating the
checklist.
Dolly Warden developed and published the first Pinfeathers page in Feathers.
1985
PCAS began to buy equipment for a future Nature Center. The first purchase was a “Spacemaster” spotting scope
and tripod.
1986
Helen Jordan was nominated PCAS for an award as part of the national Take Pride in America Program—listing
numerous community activities of the Chapter—and we won. Helen Jordan and Helen Miller attended an awards
ceremony in the State Capitol Building and were given a certificate by then governor George Nigh.
Cathy King was awarded a PCAS scholarship for work on “A Behavioral Study of Captive Maguari Storks in the U.
S.” Cathy went on to do work in the international arena, married Koen Brouwer, a Dutch scientist working with
storks, and now curates and does research at the Amsterdam Zoo in the Netherlands.
The National Audubon Society awarded a framed certificate to PCAS member Elaine Stebler for having obtained
the most sponsors and for raising the most funds in the West Central Region* during Birdathon that year.
1987
NAS presented PCAS with a framed certificate in appreciation of its having the largest number of Birdathon
participants in the West Central Region
The ODWC awarded Rod Soper, an OSU Zoology graduate student a contract and $156 for the construction of 14
bluebird houses to be placed “in a segment of Highway 51 between Stillwater and I-35.” Rod had to monitor the
trail during the breeding season for 5 years and then “his responsibility may be transferred to the Student
Chapter of the Wildlife Society or other group with the Department’s approval.” Several different PCAS members,
including Helen Miller, Kate Hellgren, and Olin Thomas have taken a turn at monitoring the trail since 1991 when
Rod Soper relinquished responsibility. In 2007, a full 20 years later, OSU student, Hailey Deslauriers, took on the
Bluebird Trail Monitoring responsibilities.
1988, 1989, and 1990
PCAS donated a number of bird and environmental children’s books and bird videos to the Stillwater Public Library.
1989
Elaine Stebler recruited Carolyn Hunger to help with Birdathon, and in 1990 the two coordinated it together.
They went to both the Tulsa Audubon Society and Oklahoma City Audubon Society in February of 1990 to give
presentations on “Successful Birdathon Fundraisers – Tricks of the Trade.”
Elaine Stebler won the following awards before relinquishing her direction of Birdathon in 1991:
- 1986 -- National Audubon Society's Birdathon Award for Most Sponsors and Most Funds Raised, West
Central Region - 1987 -- National Audubon Society's Birdathon Award for Most Species Counted, West Central Region
- 1990 -- Payne County Audubon Society Award for Unselfish Devotion of Time and Effort towards Birdathon
Under Elaine Stebler's and Carolyn’s dual leadership, the amount of money the chapter raised won PCAS first
place among chapters in the state and West Central Region, as well as second place in the nation for chapters of
its size.
1991
Carolyn Hunger took over Birdathon and won the National Audubon Society’s William Dutcher Award for her work
as a Birdathon fundraiser. Carolyn became a Birdathon ambassador for the NAS, making presentations to other
chapters and at national and regional conferences.
1992-2004
The PCAS participated in establishing Heinrich’s Park, in saving Gallagher Woods from development, in protecting
the area north of Boomer Lake from development, in trying to get a prairie preserve established in Oklahoma, and
in improving the natural areas at Sanborn Park and Lake McMurtry.
Late 1990s-early 2000s
Because a physical Nature Center was not possible at the time, Linda Bryant, then PCAS President, established
Nature Camp and Nature Day, and the PCAS Board voted to hire Kate Hellgren to be our paid Nature Educator
and the coordinator of these two programs. Kate's commitment to the quality and integrity of PCAS programs was
unparalleled, and her Nature Days and Nature Camps set the bar for the continued success of PCAS's education
efforts.
2004-2008
Our participation in the Cornell University Great Backyard Bird Count increased significantly due to the
encouragement of Pat Jaynes and the student counters pressed into service by Tim O'Connell. In three of those
four years, PCAS led the state in participation.
2005
Susan Walker became editor-in-chief again of the PCAS newsletter, Feathers. Due to Susan's publishing
knowledge and today's computer technology, the publication generated new and renewed interest in PCAS.
2006
The PCAS began to work with others in Oklahoma to establish an IBA (Important Bird Area).
The Chapter received the first of two grants for Audubon Nature Camp from the Ligon family’s Delta Foundation.
2007
Birdathon began to return to the competitive and rewarding event that in the late '80s and '90s saw PCAS reach
national acclaim. Five teams participated -- Tim O'Connell's Team Timmy's Tyrannid Targeters sighting a record 131
species! Tim and his students have become a very important part of the Stillwater area bird census. Another
'Thoner who deserves special recognition is Edwin Glover. Ed consistently raises the most funds year after year. In
fact, Ed often raises more money than all the other participants combined. In 2007 Ed raised $2500 -- a full $500
of that being his own generous contribution.
Jim Ownby retired as website director and our .org site expired. Susan Walker created this new .com website
and serves as its webmistress.
Over 400 people attended Nature Day, then coordinated by Crystal Cork.
Paul van Els, a graduate student from the Netherlands, Les Imboden, and Tim O'Connell instituted regular
Saturday morning Nature Hikes in and about Stillwater.
2008
At the chapter's opening picnic in September, the new slate of officers for 2009-2010 was installed: Susan
Walker, President, Freddy Miller, Vice president, Tim O'Connell, Secretary, and Les Imboden, Treasurer.
In October we went on an overnight camping field trip to the Great Salt Plains.
2009
In the spring we went on an overnight field trip to Red Slough.
We increased Audubon Nature Camp to two, one-week sessions, each with 50 campers.
In September, the executive board stayed the same but four new members were nominated to two-year board of
directors terms: Jim Cowley, Sarah Kimball, Michael Harvey, and Ryan Helmer, replacing Leslie Elmore, Andy
George, and Lu Skillern who stepped down. Jim Cowley volunteered to be our PR person; Sarah Kimball
volunteered to lead the charge in fundraising activities, including Birdathon; Michael Harvey volunteered to
spearhead our field trips for 2010-2011, and the Board as a whole decided to brainstorm and schedule our 2010-
2011 programs.
In October, Crystal Cork resigned from the Board and from her position as Nature Programs Director. A search
committee, headed by Elaine Stebler, began the search for her replacement.
In November we switched from a paper to an electronic newsletter and from a quarterly to a monthly. We put out
our first e-Feathers and e-Pinfeathers.
2010
Our September opening meeting took place in room 119 of the Stillwater Public Library. The program was
presented by Jen Grindstaff on Bluebirds. Participants enjoyed a potluck meal and after the program put together
a bluebird house to take home.
A planned October overnight field trip to Cheyenne Bottoms was cancelled due to lack of interest.
In February, PCAS hired Dani Thompson--an Ag Communications major at OSU--to be our new Nature Programs
Director.
On February 27, PCAS held its first of what we hope will be an annual Audubon Garage Sale. We set up at the
Expo Center's Community Center on Friday and accepted donations from 4-8 pm that evening. We conducted the
sale from 9-1 pm the next day. Response was good both in item donations and buyers.
*At the time, the West Central Region was comprised of eight states: North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas
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