06/15/2026
Last Thursday, nearly 80 members and guests joined us for our annual June Meeting and Party—an evening filled with great food, lively conversation, silent auction shopping, and beautiful photography and stories shared by fellow members. Rod Higbie's photo of a Brown Pelican was selected as the winner of the "Birds Preening" Photo Challenge.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2026 Flock Leader Award to Scott Marnoy in recognition of his outstanding service to our chapter. Under Scott's leadership, our field trip program has expanded in both size and variety, introducing more people to the joy of birding. His writing and photography have enriched The Chaparral Naturalist newsletter, and he's even embraced the challenges of technology, learning social media and website management to keep our field trip information current and accessible.
We also celebrated the retirement of Vice President Seth Thompson after 12 years of dedicated service on the Board of Directors. Seth's contributions are too numerous to count. From helping create the Thompson Creek Bird Oasis and supporting Burrowing Owl habitat restoration efforts to serving as our webmaster and tackling countless behind-the-scenes tasks, Seth has quietly and consistently kept our organization running smoothly. His leadership, dedication, and willingness to step in wherever needed have left a lasting mark on our chapter.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of friendship, celebration, and appreciation for the volunteers who help make our organization thrive.
