Tonight marks the next meeting of the Clarkston Area Backyard Birders Club.
The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Wint Nature Center inside Independence Oaks County Park, located at 9501 Sashabaw Road.
“Our May meeting featured bats and the buzz afterwards was that perhaps we had more to learn about bees, an another important and fascinating flying creature,” said Bill Haney, president of the club. “Bees, after all, both compete in some ways with birds as well as becoming meals for certain birds. For the next couple of weeks, bees, at least at my feeders, will gorge themselves on the grape jelly put out for Baltimore orioles. And some bees are main courses for scarlet and summer tanagers, and once in a while for purple martins, which are in sharp decline and need all the sweet flying food they can find.”
Judy Schmaltz will speak on bees at tonight’s meeting.
“Join us on June 28 to hear Judy and to enjoy our customary extras: reports on sightings and other notable developments, with A.J. O’Neil back with his complimentary Detroit Bold coffee, supplemented with Mary’s Marvelous Munchies, direct from Mary Kraut’s oven,” Haney said. “We’ll also have a report on the sold-out June 10 Garden Party Brunch at Clarkston Family Farm, where substantial funds were raised for Wally Scholarships for young girls and boys in the area.”
All club meetings are free of charge and reservations are not needed. Casual dress asked.
“The May meeting also included a preview of our upcoming July 26 meeting, which will feature our Debbie Jackson on butterflies,” noted Haney. “This will be a highly visual and fascinating presentation on an important life form, as well as a significant food source for many birds.”
For more information and to be added to the club’s monthly newsletter, email cabbclub@gmail.com.
— Matt Mackinder