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Upcoming Events   ANNUAL MEETING AND SPRING POTLUCK: NEW LOCATION This year, for a change of pace and place, we'll have our annual meeting and spring potluck at Spruce Lodge at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary (KBS), at 6:00 PM on Monday, May 19. To reach KBS from Kalamazoo, go east from Richland on M-89 to 40th Street. Turn north on 40th to C Avenue. Turn west on C Avenue and the Bird Sanctuary is soon on your right or north side of the street. The winding drive takes you to the visitor center. Instead of parking in the main lot here where you would if you were going to visit Wintergreen Lake, turn right where a sign points to Spruce Lodge. There is a gate that will open as you approach in your car. After some more winding drive, you'll come to the two parking areas for the lodge. Unfortunately, there is currently no wheelchair access to the lodge. Please bring a dish to share, your own drink, and table service. Since there is sure to be no rain, after our meal, annual meeting, and election of officers for the 2008-2009 year, we'll be able to walk an area at the east end of the lake where the public does not normally have access. Guests and the general public are welcome to attend. Please join us.    Important Information on Field Trips Please note that our field trips now include the phone number of the leader. It is our policy that the leader will go to the meeting point even if the weather is poor. This does not mean the leader will go to the meeting point if it is dangerous to do so or if the roads are so bad, i.e. deep snow, that travel is not recommended. The phone numbers are provided for cases where the conditions are questionable, so that you can call the leader to see if the trip will be held. Please realize that we still hold our trips rain, snow, or shine, but we now leave it up to the leader to decide what is just plain unsuitable weather. Reminder: We still attempt to start trips at or very near the appointed time, so please don't be late. If you have any general questions about the policy, please call Russ Schipper at 375-7210.   MAY 2008 FIELD TRIPS Field trips leave promptly at the listed times. Thursday, May 15, 6:30 PM, Migrants at Asylum Lake Preserve, Leader: Russ Schipper (375-7210) Meet at the lower parking lot near the woods on Drake Road, a quarter mile south of Stadium Drive, not at the parking lot up by the field. We'll spend some time both in the woods and in the grassland looking for such species as Olive-sided Flycatcher, thrushes, Blackpoll Warbler, and Eastern Meadowlark. Some of the trails are on the rough side so caution and sturdy footwear are advised; insect repellent may also be handy. The trip will be about 2-3 hours. Monday, May 19, 8:00 AM, Spring Migrants on the Portage Creek Pathway, Leader: Jan Shillito (349-3272) Meet at the Portage Creek Bicentennial Park parking lot on the south side of Milham Road, just west of Lovers Lane. We will walk the pathway along the Portage Creek either north or south from Milham Road for one to two miles.  The distance walked depends on the weather and the sights and sounds along the way.  We'll be looking for songbirds that are migrating into our area or passing through on their way north. Possibilities include thrushes, vireos, orioles, tanagers, warblers, and many others.  The walking will be easy, although one boardwalk to the creek may have some standing water if we've had a lot of rain, so waterproof footwear would be a good idea.  Bring binoculars, a field guide if you have one, and insect repellent.  Dress for the weather.  Plan to be back by 10:00 at the latest. Monday, May 26, 7:00 AM, Grassland Birds and More at the Allegan State Game Area, Leader: Russ Schipper (375-7210) Meet at the US 131/D Avenue commuter parking lot before 7:00 AM.   The Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area (ASGA) is an excellent place to find a variety of grassland birds. We will stop at a few roadside locations to look for such species as Upland Sandpiper, Bobolink, Sedge Wren, meadowlark, Henslow's Sparrow, and Orchard Oriole. Then we will check out other locations for species like Bald Eagle, Black Tern, Pine Warbler, and Brown Thrasher. There may be up to a mile or so of walking involved and some of it may be over rougher or steep terrain. The ASGA is one of the premier birding sites in southern Michigan. Things to bring: field guide, mosquito repellent, sturdy footwear, sunscreen, hat, water, and a lunch. We do not plan on returning until early afternoon. Weekly Kal-Haven Trail Walks Our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 8:00 AM in May, starting at the Trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. We walk about 5 miles roundtrip in 2-4 hours depending on the weather and the sights and sounds along the way. Anyone with a time crunch can turn around and walk back on their own. There is a user fee, so don't forget your season pass or be prepared to pay the daily fee. Season passes can be obtained by downloading an order form from the Van Buren County Road Commission website and mailing it (www.vbco.org/government0129.asp).   WOLF LAKE FISH HATCHERY OFFERS SUMMER 2008 GARDEN TOURS Learn about native plants and how you can attract birds, butterflies, and more to your garden. Tour the recently created butterfly garden and certified Monarch Way Station with over 40 species of native flowers and grasses. Tours will be offered at 6:30 PM on June 10 and 25, July 10 and 30, and August 5 and 20, lasting approximately one hour. This program is offered free of charge. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. Call to register a special group at 269-668-2876. This event is a collaborative effort with ASK.