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<\/a>Conservation Program Manager Rebecca Schwartz stood in line with others on the plaza to get a plate of tacos with frijoles, rice and guacamole. She spoke about the importance of the organization\u2019s volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t do what we do without our volunteers. They allow us to have a presence in the community and they are a major player in the education,\u201d Schwartz said.Schwartz turned to the woman standing behind her. \u201cLike Lisa Heinz. Having volunteers like her is like having many extra staff people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Heinz smiled and shrugged. \u201cI just do whatever needs to be done,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s always a need for the front desk help in answering the phone, opening the door to people. People call in to ask where to see birds or to report where they\u2019ve found an unusual bird.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople also call about habitat cleanup. The Audubon Society is not just a bird organization. There\u2019s about understanding and getting involved with protecting and conserving habitats,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Long-time member Mel Hinton nodded in agreement. He pointed out to the moonlit parkland behind the visitor center.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout healthy habitat, we don\u2019t have birds or other animals. I\u2019m glad that the rain we\u2019ve had recently has helped green it up out there. I can hardly wait to go hiking out in the park again,\u201d Hinton said.<\/p>\n Along with the other partygoers, Schwartz, Heinz and Hinton admired the rehabbed birds of prey that folks from the Raptor Institute had brought in. A Harris\u2019s Hawk, impressive with its sharp talons and beak, took everyone\u2019s breath away when he flew within the visitor center, swooping low just over people\u2019s heads. The bird landed on the trainer\u2019s arm for his treat of food.<\/p>\n Then it was time for Chris Redfern to give recognition and honor to some of their special volunteers.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, I want to thank all the volunteers. We need all of you. You are all the foundation of the Audubon Society,\u201d Redfern said. \u201cWe find all of you inspiring. You make us better as an organization.\u201d<\/p>\n The first volunteer to be honored was Bill Whiteside. Schwartz handed him the Conservation Service Award for his work with habitat conservation for Least Terns.<\/p>\n For the Volunteer of the Year, everyone was pleased when Redfern and Schwartz presented Heinz with the award.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s done fundraising, taken over the sales at the Bird Festival and a whole lot more. She does it all,\u201d Redfern said.<\/p>\n \u201cIncluding vacuuming the office,\u201d Heinz said, smiling, holding her award high.<\/p>\n For the Lifetime Achievement Award, Wayne Harmon was the winner. Hinton is a past president, past vice president and continues to serve on the board.<\/p>\n \u201cRemember the Cedar Fire in 2003? Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary was wiped out. Wayne was at the helm helping to get us back on track with the sanctuary and establishing relationships with valuable donors,\u201d Redfern said.<\/p>\n Redfern announced the final winner of a volunteer award for the evening.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the Fledgling Conservation Award, we are proud to present this to Emma Hobschard, who started last year when she was 16 years old as an intern,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Hobschard beamed upon receiving the award from Schwartz, who hugged her.<\/p>\n \u201cAmong the many great things she has done this year, she read all of the letters to and from the organization, summarizing them all and helping us to understand people\u2019s opinions. That is invaluable,\u201d Schwartz said.<\/p>\n Hobschard said that she knew she wanted to be an environmentalist and saw that volunteering with SDAS was a good way to get training.<\/p>\n After the volunteer honor ceremony, it was time for Mike Matherly\u2019s bird identification game. He said a few statements to clue people into what the bird was, then played a short audio clip of each bird\u2019s song.<\/p>\n Nearly everyone shouted out \u201cMockingbird\u201d as soon as Matherly played a few notes by a bird in San Diego County that sings loudly at night.<\/p>\n Matherly then talked about a bird in San Diego County whose call is often edited into Western movies. As soon as that clip was played, Ronnie Kleinhen, the bookkeeper for SDAS, surprised herself when she gave the right answer: \u201cRed-Tailed Hawk.\u201d<\/p>\n The evening then drew to a close as the Audubon Society finished celebrating its accomplishments, and the many volunteers that made it possible. For more information about volunteering and membership in the San Diego Audubon Society, go to sandiegoaudubon.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>
(Foto por Cynthia Robertson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n