03-2008 towhee newsletter tahoma audubon society
TRANSCRIPT
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Published by the Tahoma Audubon Society: Connecting people with nature since 1969. Vol. 39 No.2 March 2008
Harlequin Duck
See "Duck" on page 4
A Groundhog Day birding pentathlon
By Paul Webster
Where waves crash on Washington’s rocky shores or in fast-moving
mountain streams birders look for a bizarre little duck that thrives where it
might well be dashed to death. Beneath the water the Harlequin Duck finds
a varied diet of amphipods, snails, small crabs, barnacles, and other food
items. “Harlequin” derives from the clown of Italian street comedy,
Arlecchino, who wore a multicolored costume. From October to June the
male Harlequin Duck ( Histrionicus histrionicus) is slate-blue with chestnut
sides and sharply-defined white markings on face, back, and neck. The
female is gray-brown with white patches at the face and ear. In flight, gener-
ally low over the water, the Harlequins’ longish tail feathers and the male’s
white neck bars are helpful field marks.
Atlantic coast Harlequins winter from Newfoundland south to Cape Cod,
but number perhaps no more than 1500 birds. Most “Harleys” live around
Story and photos by Diane Yorgason-Quinn
It looked pretty cloudy when we left Tacoma in the
dark on the morning of Groundhog Day, 2008, so
we were confident that no critters would see shad-
ows, and we would get relief from this miserable
winter. However, when leader Bruce LaBar met the
group up north, the sun was coming up and it looked
iffy on shadows. We were heading northwards for
the annual winter tradition of birding the Skagit!
Almost as soon as we passed over the Skagit
county line, we started seeing groups of swans in thefields. Bruce didn’t stop for them, though, heading
over to Fir Island, a fabled area for Snow Geese. We
found a huge flock of them looking like a snow-
covered field in the distance. We strained our eyes
to get a better look through our optics when, all of a
sudden, the air was filled with a melodious roar. A
raptor had buzzed the flock and sent a contingent
right over to us. In spite of the extremely friendly
farm dog that had joined our group, about fifty Snow
Snow Geese highlight a landmark church in Skagit Valley. Below, a huge ock of Snow Geese ll the air.
Photo/Karl King
See "Groundhog Day” on page 6
By Candi Ziegert
The Tahoma Audubon Society is changing gears toplace extra focus on citizen science, a plan it hopesto be the vessel that will carry the organization intoa productive future. The TAS intends to play to oneof its greatest strengths—our cadre of committedvolunteers—to collect valuable information on localbirds. Citizen science programs enable the averageJane and Joe to make observations, take measure-ments, and perform other scientific tasks in lieu of
credentialed, but few and far between, scientists.Even with minimal scientific training, birders and
volunteers of all ages are absolutely able to effectpositive change and make a difference in the worldaround them when they participate in citizen sci-ence.Some examples of relevant citizen scienceprograms include the Puget Sound Seabird Survey,eBird, Nature Mapping, Bird-a-thon, and theChristmas Bird Count. The Christmas Bird Count
Citizen sciencetakes Audubonto new heights
See "Citizen science" on page 8
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executive Director’s Corner
tahoma Audubon saff
Flint, Bryan Executive Director
[email protected] 253-565-9129
Kyer, Krystal Conservation Coordinator [email protected] 253-232-9978
Swaim, Stephanie Education Coordinator
[email protected] 253-565-5479
Kerrigan, Julie Volunteer Coordinator 253-565-1884
tahoma Audubon Board of Direcor
Brosius, Jane Secretary
Carkner, Dick
Garner, John
Gilmur, Thelma Membership Jordon, Al
Larson, Sally
Larson, Wayne President
LeGreid, Kathleen Publication [email protected]
McNair-Huff, Rob Field Trip Chair
Roening, Marcus
Shea, Margie Treasurer, Education
Sullivan,Brian Volunteer [email protected]
The Pierce County Chapter of The National Audubon SocietyLocated in University Place's Adriana Hess Wetland Park
2917 Morrison Rd W University Place, WA 98466
Office hours 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Front desk 253-565-9278e-mail: [email protected]
The Towhee is a publication of the Tahoma Audubon Society .The Tahoma Audubon Society was chartered in 1969. TAS advocates for the protectionof wildlife and promotes conservation through education and activities that enrich its mem-
ber’s experiences in and with the natural world.
The Towhee is published monthly, nine times a year, with a combined Jul/Aug and Dec/
Jan issue. Submissions of articles and photographs of birds, bird lore, natural history, con-servation, and environmental education are reviewed and considered for inclusion by the
editor. Copy is due by the 15th of the month and may be sent by e-mail, disk, or typed.
Editor: Kathleen Ann LeGreid: phone 360-458-1483E-mail:kaleditor@ mindspring.com
Mailing: Vera & John Cragin and Winfield Giddings
Design & Layout: Robert Kelton: E-mail: [email protected]
Printing: Consolidated PressPrinted on recycled newsprint
Page 2 www.tahomaaudubon.org March 2008
The importance of Audubon participationFor more then
three decades,
Tahoma Audubon
members have been
counting birds and
keeping records.Through weekend
field trips, Christmas
Bird Counts, and
Great Backyard Bird
Counts, we have
been recording the number and species of birds we
have seen through our scopes. During those years the
population of Pierce County has bal-
looned. Development on our shorelines and in our
rural areas has significantly reduced wildlife habitat
throughout the county. The staggering loss of farm
land has also reduced the habitat available to many bird
species. Year after year, new highways have helped
push development closer to Mt. Rainier; leaving forestlands increasingly at risk of being lost forever.
Last year, the National Audubon Society released
Watchlist 2007. This list of 178 birds that are in need
of immediate conservation help includes forty-nine
species of birds found in Washington State. Included
in the Watchlist are the Snowy Plover, the Marbled
Murrelet, and the Rufous Hummingbird.
National Audubon also identified 20 birds on the
national ‘Common Birds in Decline’ list: species that
have lost at least half their populations in just four
decades. The Evening Grosbeak, the Purple Finch,
and the Western Meadowlark are species on this list
that are found in Pierce County.
The reality is we know very little about what ishappening to birds here at home in Pierce
County. Despite decades of data in our possession,
we have no way of seeing the trends. That is why our
conservation, education, field trip, and program com-
mittees are coming together to put our data together,
take a look at it, and use the results to plan our future
efforts to protect and restore Pierce County’s ecosys-
tem. Though the year look for updates on our prog-
ress and ways that you can participate.
Welcome new Education Coordinator As soon as our education coordinator Gabriel
Newton announced that he was leaving us to pursue
his masters in education, we immediately felt theloss. A dynamic and engaging educator, Gabriel is
well loved by parents, volunteers, and his fellow
staff. We knew it would be hard to replace him. He
was fun around the office, great with students, and
was instrumental in building our education program
to reach more people.
When it came time to interview to fill the position
of education coordinator it became clear that there
where many qualified individuals. The challenge
was making a tough choice among so many qualified
candidates.
We are very grateful to Anita Born and Renee
Wagener, two home school parents, for participating
in our hiring process. Not only did they participatein interviewing candidates, but their children partici-
pated in 20 minute field trips that each of the finalist
conducted. These real life scenarios allowed us to see
each one of the candidates in action and under pres-
sure, a much better way to judge their skills then the
traditional interview.
If you have not gotten an opportunity to meet
Stephanie Swaim, who started as our new education
coordinator in mid January, I encourage you to take
the opportunity. She is a wonderful addition to our
team.
Stephanie received her Masters in Oceanography
with a focus in K-12 education. She has worked
almost exclusively in nature centers and zoosand aquariums as a naturalist and educator. She was
a Naturalist at the Conservancy of Southwest
Florida. There she worked with 15 schools and 80
teachers to reach 5,800 students in an education pro-
gram called the JASON project.
Welcome Stephanie! We are glad you are with us
and look forward to working with you to education
the future generations.
The Endangered Species
Act: An essential safety net The strongest federal safeguard against the extinction of bird species in
the United States is the Endangered Species Act.
Enacted in 1973, the ESA has helped save some of America’s most criti-
cally imperiled birds and wildlife, including species like the Bald Eagle, the
Peregrine Falcon, the Gray Wolf, the Grizzly Bear, and the Whooping Crane.
Despite its success, Congress in recent years has seriously considered pro-
posals that would gut the fundamental protections this bedrock environmen-
tal law provides to America’s most endangered birds. The changes in Con-
gressional leadership that
resulted from the 2006
elections are expected
to restore balance to the
debate about protect-ing our endangered and
threatened species. One
very positive sign is that the Bush administration proposed early in 2007 to
list the polar bear as ‘threatened’ under the ESA, as a result global warming.
Audubon’s Public Policy Ofce is working aggressively to educate key
members of Congress, mobilize activists, and dispel Endangered Species
Act myths in order to help ensure the survival of America’s most vulnerable
birds and wildlife.
Information from National Audubon’s Issues & Action > Endangered
Species Act (ESA)
http://www.audubon.org/campaign/esa/index.html
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March 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 3
eNviroNMeNt Matters
From Audubon Alaska
Audubon Alaska joined with other conserva-tion and Alaska Native groups to le a lawsuittoday in federal district court in Juneau to chal-lenge an oil and gas lease sale in the ChukchiSea. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Min-erals Management Service (MMS) has plannedthe sale for February 6. Nearly 30 million acresof essential Arctic marine and ice habitats forpolar bear, walrus, four species of seals (e.g.,
bearded, ringed), bowhead and beluga whales,and millions of migratory birds are at stake. “The Chukchi Sea is an ecologically rich fron-
tier environment, and it is changing rapidly dueto global warming,” said Stan Senner, Audubon
Alaska executive director. “We barely know thischanging seascape, and this is not the time tomove forward with a massive lease sale.” According to Senner, much of the information
about wildlife populations in the Chukchi Sea isdecades out of date. The MMS should not sellleases in the area without solid evidence about
the possible cost to wildlife, theenvironment, and the peoplewho live there, he said. “The MMS has an obligation
under law to fully assess anddisclose impacts to wildlifeand the human environment,including cumulative effects,” Senner said. “By presentingoutdated and conicting infor-mation, the agency fails that fundamental test
miserably.” Audubon Alaska has identied 18 “Impor-
tant Bird Areas” (IBAs) on the U.S. side of theChukchi Sea, and six more IBAs on the Russianside. Included among these are marine feed-ing areas for Northern Fulmars and Short-tailedShearwaters, nesting and feeding areas forhuge nesting colonies of Common Murres andThick-billed Murres, and marine molting areasfor Spectacled Eiders, a threatened species. Inaddition, at least 15 species of birds on Audu-bon Alaska’s WatchList use marine and coastal
habitats in the Chukchi Sea. The WatchList iden-tiesdeclining and vulnerable species and popu-lations of birds. Besides the threatened Steller¹sand Spectacled Eiders, WatchList species usingthe Chukchi Sea include Yellow-billed Loonsand Red-throated Loons, both of which wereimpacted by the recent oil spill off the coast of South Korea. Audubon Alaska in Anchorage isthe Alaska State Ofce of the National AudubonSociety. Audubon has six chapters and about2,400 members in Alaska.
In bringing this lawsuit, Native Village of Point v. Kempthorne, Secretary of the Inte-rior, the public-interest law rm Earthjusticeis representing Audubon and 13 other clients,including: The Native Village Of Point Hope, The City Of Point Hope, Inupiat Community Of The Arctic Slope, Alaska Wilderness League,Center For Biological Diversity, National Audu-bon Society (Audubon Alaska), Natural Re-sources Defense Council, Northern Alaska Envi-ronmental Center, Oceana, Pacic Environment,Redoil, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society.
Candi
Greetings TAS members! My
name is Candi Ziegert and I am
the newly appointed Citizen
Science Intern for the Tahoma
Audubon Society. I am a senior
Environmental Studies major
and German minor at Pacific
Lutheran University. My hob-
bies include crafting and gardening, and my favor-
ite bird is the Runner Duck. I moved to Washington
State three years ago from the east coast, and I
hope to use my diverse past experiences to help
build a brighter future for the Audubon Society. I
look forward to meeting you over the course of the
next few months! (read Candi’s article on page 1)
Natalie
Hello Audubon Society! My
name is Natalie Fish and I am
the new Global Warming Intern.
I am a senior at the University
of Puget Sound, majoring in
International Political Economy.
Global Warming is a very seri-
ous issue facing the interna-
tional community, yet it seems the path for change
is through local grassroots’ and states’ move-
ments.
I am very excited to be working with the Audubon
team on their environmental projects and coali-
tions, especially now at this exciting time when
many events are happening at once. Audubon is a
leader in local measures to combat the effects of
Global Warming; I hope I will be of use to this
dedicated and energetic team. I look forward to
meeting TAS members at events and in the
office!
Nicolette
My name is Nicolette Todd
and I’m a senior at The University
of Washington, Tacoma study-
ing communications. This win-
ter I have been doing a market-
ing internship through The
Tahoma Audubon Society for
The Green Tacoma Partnership.
I have always been passionate about animals and
their habitat. I volunteer as a foster parent with The
Seattle Animal Shelter along with being a full time
student and working two jobs. It’s wonderful to
have an internship with an organization full of
dedicated volunteers who I respect and admire.
After I graduate this spring, I plan to work in the
marketing field doing PR writing and/or advertis-
ing. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity The
Tahoma Audubon has given me. I feel that the
skills I have learned during my internship here will
help me to succeed in the professional world.
The true story of a Washington lobbyist
Audubon joins suit challenging Chukchi Sea lease sale
TAS welcomes
talented interns
By Greg Cook
As I waited at Senator Patty Murray’s office to meet
with one of her legislative staff, I wondered what in the
world I was doing. I was in D.C. this past January as
one of 15 people selected by National Audubon to
learn about threats to the Alaskan Arctic and then lobby
members of Congress. I reminded myself that I had a
mission to speak up on behalf of polar bears, caribou,
and millions of birds.
When I joined Audubon last fall, I had no inkling I
would be enlisted in a lobbying campaign. I simply
wanted to join a group that cared about wildlife and the
environment. I signed up for the e-mail alerts from
National Audubon and one of them mentioned an
opportunity to advocate on behalf of public lands in
Alaska. Although I thought I had only a slight chance
to be selected, I applied anyway. I was quite surprised
to get a call just after Christmas from Sean Saville at
Audubon’s D.C. office.
National Audubon paid our way there, put us up in a
hotel, and fed us. We paid $150 to help defray the costs
and to indicate we were serious about this project. My
roommate there was Matt Mega, Conservation Director
at Seattle Audubon. My co-participants were from
across the U.S., and many had lived or worked in
Alaska.
I believe we were all engrossed on the first day by
presentations from Taldi Walter, Audubon’s Alaska
Outreach Coordinator, and Pat Pourchot, Audubon’s
Senior Policy Representative for Alaska. We learned
about three critical areas in particular: the Chukchi Sea
Outer Continental Shelf (home of significant numbers
of polar bears), Teshekpuk Lake (major bird area), and
the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge (ANWR), an area
crucial to thousands of caribou. As an added
reinforcement to what we learned, we were treated to
the movie “Being Caribou,” a documentary by two
Canadian conservationists. The filmmakers followed
the herd on foot from the Yukon to the Arctic coastal
plain.
On Tuesday we were briefed on threats to the
Tongass Rain Forest. After that we got advice on the
nuts and bolts of lobbying, and got to practice our
responses to questions we might get from congressional
staffers. It was a good way to have a little fun before
heading out for the real thing!
Wednesday began with a constituent coffee at
Senator Murray’s office. Then I had appointments with
staff from the offices of Senators Murray and Cantwell
and Congressman Norm Dicks. All the staffers were
pleasant, and I had 15 minutes or so to present
Audubon’s message and leave them with a packet of
information. The whole process encouraged me.
There are many Audubon supporters spread across this
country, working to save birds, other wildlife, and
habitat. Congress does listen, though there are many
competing interests.
So the next time you hear the word “lobbyist,” don’t
forget that any of us can speak up on behalf of the
environment. It’s not all about shady deals and money
changing hands. It’s about standing up for what you
believe.
meets on a regular basis.
Contact Krystal for details:253-232-9978 or e-mail [email protected]
Stan Senner
Candi Ziegert
Natalie Fish Nicolette Todd
The Conservation Committee
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Page 4 www.tahomaaudubon.org March 2008
eDucAtioN Page
I may not have
any sort of birding
“certifications”
but I assure you
it’s in my blood. I
grew up in Mas-sachusetts in the
little coastal town
of Gloucester.
The winters there
are bitter and
wet, and they last
forever. But the summers are unbelievable: clear,
warm, blue and sandy is what I remember since
my brother and I spent most days at the beach cot-
tage that my grandparents owned and in which my
father grew up. Binoculars sat on the windowsill
of the front room of the cottage, in case anything
interesting should y into view. You see, my grand-
mother was a Birder.
I grew up with the culture of birding in my ver-
nacular. Grandma went birding with a group of
women known to us as The Birders. While on a
birding excursion, my dad or grandpa would say
she was “out with The Birders.” Occasionally
they got together and didn’t bird, in which case
we were told she was “having lunch with The
Birders.” When we met her friends, they were as-
sumed to be The Birders.
I’m not sure when the binoculars appeared in
my parents house. My father always owned them
because my grandmother passed her interests on
to him. But at some point in
my teenage years a pair of
binoculars appeared on the
windowsill of my parent’s
house, just inside from where
our feeders were hung from adecrepit pear tree. I saw ev-
ery bird that could possibly
come to feeder in New Eng-
land in winter. My favorites
were the Tufted Titmice and
the Evening Grosbeaks. The
seasons were dened by the
birds that arrived in our yard.
Spring arrived with the songs
of the Redwing Blackbirds
and the Woodcocks. Sum-
mer evenings were punctu-
ated by the call of the Whip-
poorwills and the bustle of the Black-Crowned
Night Herons.
I was overjoyed to hear the Redwing Blackbirds
at Adriana Hess when I arrived my rst few days.
It’s lovely to hear a familiar sound, and one with so
many meanings to me in a place that is so far away
from where I grew up. I look forward to becom-
ing familiar with the seasonal changes around our
pond and in our neighborhood.
Thank you to all who have welcomed me into
your organization. I look forward to building
our educational programs in the coming years.
Cheers!
2917 Morrison Road W.,
University Pl. WA 98466
253-565-9278
www.TahomaAudubon.org
Open Mon – Sat. 10a.m.-1p.m.
1919 South Tyler Street,
Tacoma WA 98338
253-591-6439 www.metroparkstacoma.org
Open Tues. – Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
& Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
For class times and dates, please check the Calendar listing on the back page of the Towhee or on our website, www.tahomaaudubon.org
Stephanie Swaim,
Tahoma Audubon Society Education Coordinator
253-565-5479 [email protected]
Upcoming Education Events:Discovery Walks 3/15 10:00 to 11:30 LowerWhite RiverBudding Scientists: 3/5 10:30 and 3/12 3:15
“Riding the Wave” 3/19 10:30 and 3/26 3:15 “Sea Monsters” Nature Storytime 3/28 “Big Blue Planet” Puget Sound Seabird Workshop 3/22 and 3/29Slater Museum of Natural History at UPS
A variety of birds ocked to the feeders that hung from this decrepit pear tree.
Hi! I’m your new Education Coordinator
the North Pacific, from Japan and Washington north to the Aleutians;rough estimates for the Pacific population range from 150,000 to300,000. Our Harlequins represent the “overflow” from the Strait of Georgia, the winter home for some 12,000 to 15,000 Harleys. We think of rocky ocean shorelines as classic Harlequin habitat, but many alsowinter in the more protected waters of northern Puget Sound.
Some Harlequins nest on islands in marine estuaries; others choosefast-moving streams in the mountains – some as far away as Albertaand Montana, though most find spots closer to the coast. WashingtonHarlequins nest on more than 100 streams, mostly in the Olympics andCascades. After the nests are established and the eggs laid, the drakesreturn to the coast to molt. Since females tend their five to seven eggsalone, they cannot re-nest if martens or other predators drive themaway. The eggs hatch in about four weeks, and the ducklings can flywhen they’re about four weeks old.
Until recently not much was known about the natural history of Harlequins, but research in the last decade has drawn an unsettlingpicture. Harlequins share the tendency of other sea ducks to skip breed-
ing seasons, and males generally don’t breed until their third year – twofactors that limit the species’ ability to recover from disastrous events,like the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. Harleys’ irregular breeding also meansthat hunting may have a disproportionate impact. Other concerns arefishing nets, silt in streams due to logging, and polluting discharges fromships. And Harleys show what science calls “site fidelity” – they returnto specific molting and nesting sites, even when these become degrad-ed. This is a problem in the Strait of Georgia, for example, where recre-ation and development pressures are strong. And, as if all that weren’tenough, even the rough water Harlequins frequent is risky; studies haveshown that for all their swimming agility many have had brokenbones.
In most of North America the Harlequin Duck is a rare bird. We’refortunate to have these clowns of rough water nearby, in their winterhabitats of marine waters and their breeding space in fast-moving
streams. If these places remain more or less undisturbed we’ll be privi -leged to enjoy the continuing presence of these beautiful little ducks.
... Duck from page 1
Photo/Karl King
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Swan Creek Park and Chief Leschi
School walk with Ed PullenWhen: Sat, Mar 8, 8:30am – 12:00pm
Where: Swan Creek Park in Tacoma
Description: Join Ed and Kay Pullen for a hike
down the Swan Creek canyon and to explore the
Chief Leschi School grounds. We will meet at the
Swan Creek County Park lot near the Tacoma endof Pioneer Way at 8:30 AM, and carpool to the
upper end of the creek canyon. Then we’ll hike
down the canyon, looking for American Dipper,
Belted Kingfisher, and winter passerines. The creek
is beautiful, and the hike mostly downhill. The
walk is slippery but not difficult. We will then car-
pool back to pick up the cars at the top of the can-
yon, and continue on to Chief Leschi school,
Where: we have a barn owl that is pretty depend-
able, and should see more birds of open areas. We
will be done before noon. Discover a place you
could return to for a great summer picnic hot-rock-
ing on the creek bed, or a nice spring walk to look
for migrants. I like it in the winter though, when theWinter Wrens, kinglets, and creepers are usually
easier to see. To register for this free field trip, call
the Tahoma Audubon office at (253) 565-9278.
Titlow Park bird walkWhen: Wed, Mar 12, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Where: Titlow Park in Tacoma
Description: Join Vera Cragin for a walk along the
shoreline and through the wooded portions of
Titlow Park. Birds you could see along the way
include cormorants, grebes, a variety of duck spe-
cies and woodland birds such as Pileated
Woodpecker. To register for the trip, call the
Tahoma Audubon office at (253) 565-9278.
Nature walk
at Pt. Defiance Park in TacomaWhen: Sun, Mar 16, 8am – 11am
Where: Point Defiance Park in Tacoma
Description: Join author Rob McNair-Huff for a
5-mile walk through the forests at Point Defiance
Park. The trip starts at the back of the parking lot for
the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Come pre-
pared for a healthy walk through the park in change-
able weather conditions. Winter bird highlights can
include waterfowl, Bald Eagles and forest birds. For
more information, e-mail [email protected].
Discovery walkWhen: Sat, Mar 15, 10:00am – 11:30am
Where: Lower White River, Pacific
Description: Discovery walks are designed for
families and friends of all ages. Discover a new
location each month as you explore the site with an
experienced nature guide. Recommended for fami-
lies with children age 4 and up. Call (253) 591-6439
to register and get directions. Free to members, $5/
person non-members. Pre-registration is required.
Birdathon birder kickoff When: Mar 19, 7:00 to 8:30p.m..
Where: 4011 Alameda W, the
University Place home of Stan
and Helen Engle.
Description: You are important in
helping us ensure the best in conservation and
education programs for TAS. Say “Yes” to being
a birder and gathering pledges for the Birdathon.
Special trips will be offered to aid you. A BIRDER
DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW ANY BIRDS.
We have master birders to help you.
Key Peninsula with Rolan NelsonWhen: Sat, Mar 22, 7:30am Limit: 11 birders.
Where: Secluded coves, open salt water, beaches
and more around Key Peninsula
Description: Meet at the Purdy Park and Ride at7:30 AM Plan to be out all day. Bring lunch, cloth-
ing for the weather, and a scope if you have one.
We will explore the Key Peninsula and view
secluded coves, open salt water, rocky beaches,
woodlands and lakes. There may be some lingering
winter birds starting to show their breeding plum-
age as well as some early arriving migrants. Come
enjoy this close-to-home treasure. We often find
between 50 and 70 species at this time of year.
Discovery walkWhen: Sat, Apr 12, 10:00am – 11:30am
Where: Naches Trail, Frederickson
Description: Discovery walks are designed for
families and friends of all ages. Discover a new
location each month as you explore the site with
an experienced nature guide. Recommended for
families with children age 4 and up. Call (253)
591-6439 to register and get directions.
Free to members, $5/person for non-members.
Pre-registration is required.
Morse Preserve Open TrailsWhen: Sun, Apr 13, 12pm – 4pm
Where: Morse Wildlife Preserve, Graham
Description: Explore this natural treasure located
in Graham during Open Trail days. Walk the trailsand discover the beauty of the five habitat zones in
the preserve. All ages. Free
Tokeland bird trip
with Nate ChappellWhen: Sat, Apr 19, 8am – 4pm
Where: To Tokeland back after meeting at the 512
Park & Ride at 8 a.m.
Description: Wildlife photographer and TAS
member Nate Chappell will lead a bird photogra-
phy field trip to Tokeland, WA. This is at theheight of shorebird migration and we should have
good opportunities to see and photograph many
species, including godwits and willets. If you want
to learn more about bird photography Nate will be
available to answer any of your questions and
explain some of his shooting techniques. Meet at
the 512 Park and Ride near the McDonalds at 8
am. Limit 10 participants. Call the Tahoma
Audubon office at (253) 565-9278 to register.
Morse bird walkWhen: Apr 25, 10am – 12pm
Where: Morse Wildlife Preserve. Graham WA
Description: Field Trip leader Betty Jones willlead a walk at Morse Wildlife Preserve. Call
253-565-9278 to register and for directions.
Tokeland birding trip
with Ruth SullivanWhen: Sat, Apr 26, 6am – 5pm
Where: Meet at Park and Ride lot near McDonald’s
at intersection of I-5 and Hwy. 512
Description: Join Ruth Sullivan for a coastal birding
trip with visits to Brady Loop and Tokeland, with a
side trip to Raymond to explore waterfowl and the
Raymond Airport for possible sightings of White-
tailed Kite. Up to seven birders can sign up for this joint trip that will also include birders from the Black
Hills Audubon Society. The trip will include looking
at Bottle Beach for Red Knots, Golden Plovers,
Dunlin, Western and Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated
Plovers, Black-bellied Plovers, dowitchers, Ruddy
Turnstone, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Peregrine
Falcon and many duck species. You are advised to
bring rain gear and rubber boots. Call the Tahoma
Audubon office at (253) 565-9278 to sign up.
Field trip leaders;To volunteer to lead a field trip contact Rob at e-mail
[email protected]. Or connect with him duringhis monthly walk: Nature Walk at Pt. Defiance Park
in Tacoma, Sun, Mar 16, 8am – 11am.
fielD trips and Events
March 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 5
Call TAS to register (253-565-9278). Some trips are people
limited out of necessity.
Notify TAS 24 hours in advance if you cannot come. Field trip lead-
ers put in a lot of time and planning and no-shows disrupt field trips.
More than three no-shows a year can result in revoking the oppor-
tunity to participate.
Arrive at the meeting place early.
No pets are allowed.
Be prepared for seasonal weather.
Bring lunch, drinks and snacks if the field trip is scheduled past
mid-day.
All passengers divide total carpooling expenses. Current guide-
lines are 20 cents a mile per car, not including driver.
Beginners are always welcome.
Have fun.
rules
Wildlife photographer and TAS member Nate Chappell and his Ecuadorian wife, Angie areoffering some exciting adventures, please check their website for details, www.trogontours.net
Eastern Ecuador November 10-22, 2008Tour covers the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains and the Western edge of the Amazon lowlandforests. Spectacular species that we have a good chance of seeing and/or photographing includeHarpy Eagle, 3 species of Antpittas, Andean Condor, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Crested Owl,Torrent Duck Great, Andean and Rufous Potoos and dozens of species of beautiful tanagers anddazzling hummingbirds.
Western Ecuador December 6-14, 2008Tour of the Western slope of the Andes and some of the Western lowlands. Spectacular species thatwe have a good chance of seeing and/or photographing include Andean Cock of theRock, Giant and Yellow-breasted Antpittas, Andean Condor, Sword-billed Hum-mingbird and many species of dazzling tanagers and beautiful hummingbirds.
Thailand, January 4-18, 2009TAS members Nate and Angie Chappell will lead a wonderful tripto Central and Northern Thailand next January. We will seeand photograph a wide variety of both birds and mammalsand experience Thai culture as well by visiting ruins andtemples. A variety of hornbills, sunbirds, trogons andbarbets are among the many species of birds that
we will see. Cost is $3,600 per person, singlesupplement 500. See our website atwww.trogontours.net or call Nate at 253-512-1060. T
r o g o n
T o u r s
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Geese landed just on the other side of the narrow road we werestanding on. I’m guessing that dog had already learned not to mess
around with geese! Wayne Jackson, our assigned counter, estimated30,000 geese. In the meantime, what should fly over our heads but a
Peregrine Falcon!!! Our first of several for the day! As we drove on, getting closer to the geese, the day warmed up, coats came
off, shadows were cast, and we practically had to beat off the Bald Eagles. Inaddition to the huge number of wintering eagles, there were the residents, whostood out by “guarding” their nests from any interlopers. We saw these family
groups of eagles at two different huge nests. By the end of the day, everyone hadlost count of eagles, but there were dozens and dozens. A female kestrel on a wire surprised us, as we were still in the Skagit Valley and
not northwards into the Samish Flats area where we would expect to see them.Then just north of Highway 20, we were surprised to see a Merlin fly by! Excitementwas starting to mount because we had seen three different falcons now (Peregrine,Kestrel, and Merlin), which would be a very good falcon count here or anywhere.However, we were in Skagit County, perhaps the only spot in the country where fivespecies of falcons can possibly be seen on the same day (we still lacked Gyrfalconand Prairie Falcon). So pulses were building at the thought of a 4- or 5-falcon day!
After all, it was still before lunch. We had hours left!Besides the obligatory Bald Eagles, many Red-tailed Hawks in several color
morphs and ages, all variations of Northern Harriers, and a stunning dark-morphRough-legged Hawk were easily seen as we continued up toward the SamishFlats. We got to the famous “West 90” (named for the bend in the road whereSamish Island Road starts), but it was a bit early yet for our target species there,the Short-eared Owls (they prefer to hunt at dawn and dusk on nice days like ourday had turned into). But on the way there, we spotted a distant raptor in a treeand were arguing about what it could be while setting up scopes. Charlie Wright,
who is fast growing into The Guy to Pay Attention To, suddenly declared it was aGyrfalcon! It took some long scope looks for each of us to be convinced, but wefinally agreed just as the bird took off and showed the in-flight field marks to cinchthe deal! This is one stunning bird even if you’re not on a falcon quest. Washingtonhas been lucky enough to have a Gyr or two most winters come down, but notevery winter by any means. Tough tundra animals almost too massively built tobe falcons; they have no one to fear. We were thrilled with our 4-Falcon day!!!
No one had heard of a Prairie Falcon this winter, so we thought we had had thepeak experience for the day. But then, at the East 90, we ran into a group from
the Falcon Research Group (www.frg.org) led by Bud Anderson the famous falconguy. He told us that a Prairie had been seen in the Samish Island area, so natu-rally that’s where we went! In the meantime, we were seeing lots of the moreusual raptors and even a few Meadowlarks! We came back from Samish Islandempty handed for falcons, but added lots of ducks. Upon arriving back at the West90, the Short-eared Owls were flying! Between them and the dozen or more har-riers, low-flying craft were everywhere! But wait!!! What’s this?? A falcon!! Andit landed! Scopes never swiveled so fast! Yes! A Prairie!! We hit the jackpot!!Won the pentathlon!! A Five-Falcon Day! For some of us, it was the first ever,and the second for me and fellow Willette, Faye. It was also thrilling to see all thebirders out there enjoying this spectacle. Dennis Paulson brought a group of Master Birders just as we were leaving. It’s a nice feeling to know everyone is abirder, or so it seems.
I shall have to revise my ironclad Law of Birding: That the best bird days are theworst weather days and vice versa. We had been shedding layers all day, enjoyingone of the most beautiful and warm days ever on the Skagit and Samish flats. Gladto have such an exception to that rule, which I suspect will still work most of thetime. And if we have to pay for the nice weather by 6 more weeks of winte r, that’sa small price to pay for such a day. We had the last laugh on the groundhog!
Story and photos by Diane Yorgason-Quinn
from page 1
... Groundhog Day
The formally-dressed, resident muskrat atBreazeale Interpretative Center on Padilla Bay cameout to have lunch with our group and check his shadow.
Finally, a Trumpeter Swan shows off that famous “V” between his eyes, one of the eld marks neverillustrated in eld guides.
Our group at the famous “West 90:” Diane, Jean, Bruce LaBar (leader), Charlie, Wayne, Patti, Jean, Faye.
Top: A dark morph Rough-Legged Hawk on the
Sammish Flats. Above: a Snow Goose in ight.Trumpeter Swans.
Bald Eagles in the Skagit Valley seem
more numerous than Starlings!
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March 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 9
ANNouNceMeNts
April 25 - May 31
Please think about ways you can help
Birdathon is our largest, mostsuccessful fundraiser and the
world’s biggest birdwatching
competition. Expenses are
around 1%. Sounds too good
to be true, doesn’t it?
Anyone can do a Birdathon.
And if you can’t tell a goose from a grouse, we can
teach you how, or simply sign you up as a sponsor.
Each year, participants nationwide gather pledges
from sponsors, helping to fund our mission of
environmental conservation, education, and advocacy.
It’s the most fun you’ll ever have saving the planet!
You are important in helping us ensure the best
in conservation and education programs for TAS.Say “Yes” to being a birder and gathering pledges
for the Birdathon. Special trips will be offered to
aid you. A BIRDER DOES NOT NEED TO
KNOW ANY BIRDS. We have master birders
who will let you know what birds you are seeing
or hearing.
Many, many of you have helped by pledging in
other Birdathons. You can multiply that amount as
much as you’d like by deciding to gather pledges.
Remember, if you can’t take a trip, you can gather
sponsors for some of our other birders. It takes a
lot of us working together to keep all our
conservation and education programs going.You can call for a packet or you can come to a
Birder kickoff on March 19, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at
4011 Alameda W, the University Place home of
Stan and Helen Engle. Another kickoff will be
offered in April. We’re just getting the trips lined
up; watch for the April Towhee for a fuller listing.
Ocean Shores to Tacoma, Pullens, April 25—
Nisqually River and Nisqually Land Trust Lands,
Robert Smith, April 26—
Nisqually and/or Ocean Shores, Your Choice,
Batkers, May 10—
Purdy to Paradise, Bruce LaBar, May 10---
Tacoma to Potholes (overnight), Marcus Roening
& Heather Ballash, May 10---Fort Lewis, Jim Lynch, May 14—
Lake Waughop and Spanaway Marsh, Betty Jones,
May17—
Morse Preserve, Betty Jones, May 23—
Green River Watershed, Tyler Patterson and master
birder, May 24.
There will be others listed next month and all will
have full descriptions.
Less waste, more green. Reusable bags made of strong, washable nylon thatopen to 18” X 18” are now available at the Tahoma Audubon office!
Did you know the average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags
per year?• If everyone in the United States tied their annual consumption of plasticbags together in a giant chain, the chain would reach around the Earth notonce, but 760 times!• According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999 the U.S.alone used 10 billion paper grocery bags, requiring 14 million trees to be cutdown.• Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photo-degrade—breaking down intosmall toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food-chain when mistaken for zooplankton or jellyfish.
Rosanne Becker, instructor
Tues., Mar. 4 & Wed., Mar. 12---6:30-9:00 p.m.
Adriana Hess Nature Center.
Cost: $10.00 (to be paid the night of each class)
Fill spring shapes with colorful strips of paper that
spiral to the center or iris. Leave class with at
least two cards and patterns to make your own.
Supplies: small craft scissors, Scotch magic tape
(green plaid dispenser), small craft mat (if you
have one).
When: Fri Apr 11 – Sun Apr 13Where: Sleeping Lady Resort, Leavenworth, WABi-annual conference of the Audubon Council of Washington.
Audubon members from across the state are invited to attend andparticipate in meetings, fieldtrips, birding, workshops, & socializing.
Iris folded Spring/
Easter card classes
Birdathon 2008
is coming soon!
ChicoBags are Here!
Photos/Sleeping Lady Resort
Sleeping Lady Mountain retreat, in the foothills of the Cascades outside Leavenworth, Washington,provides an environment that fosters creativeinteraction in an atmosphere that blends seamlesslywith nature and the surrounding natural landscape.This all-inclusive retreat is also an environmentallyconscious leader in the hospitality industry.ACOWwill kick off Friday evening with a reception and artshow, featuring Wildlife Biologist and nature artistHeather A. Wallis Murphy, photographer Teri Pieper,a book display by A Book for All Seasons and a
book-signing by Brian Bell, author of Birds of Washington State. Friday evening we will alsohave our first guest speaker, Dr. Nalini M.Nadkarni, a professor at EvergreenState. Dr. Nadkarni has made a namefor herself as “the Queen of theForest Canopy” through numerousscientific articles and documentaryappearances, as well as two books.Saturday will be dedicated to workshops
and breakouts on advocacy, leadership/boarddevelopment, and fundraising. Saturday eveningwill usher in our keynote speaker, Dr. Terry L. Root.Dr. Root is a Senior Fellow and faculty member atthe Woods Institute for the Environment andProfessor-by-courtesy in Biological Sciences atStanford University. Dr. Root has worked extensivelyin the research of climate change, and he has wonseveral honors, most recently lead authorship of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,which was co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace
Prize.Sunday will be devoted to field trips,conveniently leaving from Sleeping Lady. These
trips will include a Chelan-Douglass LandTrust trip, as well as Barn Beach
Reserve and Blackbird Island tripsand a trip to Rocky Reach Dam and Visitor Center.Stay tuned for moreinformation on Spring ACOW 2008. Visit the Audubon Washington
website at wa.audubon.org.
Please sign and return this coupon or call and say you will help,Thelma Gilmur, 253-564-8210.
BIRDATHON 2008Mail to Tahoma Audubon, 2917 Morrison Road West, University Place, WA 98466.
_______I will get at least 5 pledges and do a Birdathon for TAS.
_______I will make a donation.
NAME____________________________________PHONE____________________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________ZIP_______________________
WE NEED YOU!
ACOW conference
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Page 10 www.tahomaaudubon.org March 2008
L
ast month my wife Angie and I had the
privilege of leading TAS members John and
Kate Comis, Dennis and Melissa Sherwoodand Carole Breedlove on a weeklong birding and bird
photography tour of Ecuador. My friend and bird pho-
tographer John Maynard joined us as well. We saw and
photographed many beautiful and spectacular species.
After introductions at the Quito airport and a night in
the Akros Hotel, the birding started in earnest the next
morning. While I was still having breakfast Melissa
Sherwood informed me she had already been out birding
and that there was a hummingbird with a very long tail
in the garden next door, along with several other species.
I accompanied Carole and Melissa to the lot down the
street from the hotel where we viewed some of the com-
mon city birds of Quito, Great Thrush, Rufous-collared
Sparrow and Eared Dove. We didn’t get a good look at
the hummer, probably a Trainbearer. We had a lot of birding to do on the way to Mindo and we needed to get
the show on the road. Our best stop on the way to Mindo
was at the LaPahuma Reserve. Highlights here included
views of a female Cock of the Rock on her nest and a
White-Tailed Hillstar hummingbird. Later that after-
noon, we stopped for lunch at Los Colibris and enjoyed
many species of hummingbirds including White-necked
Jacobins and White-whiskered Hermits whirling about
the feeders as we enjoyed our fresh trout and chicken.
We then went and settled into our hotel, Septimo Paraiso
for the night. At dinner, we did the daily bird list.
The next morning we had to be at breakfast at
4am because we were going to a Cock of the
Rock lek in the morning and we had to be in the blind by
dawn. Our early rise and hike through the darkness wererewarded with several brilliant males displaying in the
forest below the blind. John Maynard managed some
excellent photos of them. After the males left the lek we
walked to a different spot in the forest and the guide and
owner of the property, Angel
Paz, began to call out venga,
venga (come, come) he had
trained a female Giant Antpitta
to come for a meal of earth-
worms when called. This
allowed us up close and personal
views and photos of this usually
secretive and elusive species. A troop of Dark-backed
Wood Quail another shy forest dweller also came in for
a feed from Angel. Later we trekked to a different partof the forest and found the Yellow-breasted Antpitta.
After some tea and a snack we headed to another lodge
to view hummingbirds. At Sachatamia Lodge they had
the usual hummingbird feeders but they also had some
feeders stocked with bananas. We were excited to see
Golden and Golden-naped Tanagers and then thrilled
when a Toucan Barbet came in for a feed.
The next couple of days we birded Rio Silanche, a
lowland forest reserve and Rio Milpe, a foothills reserve
at about 4,000 feet. On the
entry road at Rio Silanche a
Laughing Falcon landed on alimb right next to the van,
allowing me some close pho-
tos. We climbed the tower at
Silanche and were rewarded
with views of Guayaquil
Woodpecker, a large black,
white and red species and
Bronze-winged and Red-lored
Amazon parrots. Melissa
tried to convince the rest of us
that a pointy spike on a distant
tree was a potoo, but it was a
tough sell. The next day at
Rio Milpe we watched Club-
winged Manakins dancing ontheir lek and there was a Buff-
fronted Foliage-Gleaner feed-
ing on the warden’s house.
A fter 3 days of bird-
ing the lowlands
and foothills of Mindo on the
fourth day we drove up to
Bellavista, a lodge at the top
of the Tandaypa Valley locat-
ed at 7,500 feet. That afternoon Carole, Melissa and I
birded the entrance road above the lodge and were
rewarded with many species including Grass-green
Tanager and the signature bird of Bellavista, Plate-billed
Mountain Toucan. Kate Comis was supposed to join us
but took a wrong turn and while birding on her ownmanaged to find an Occellated Tapaculo, a spectacular
and elusive species with white dots all over a chestnut
body. The rest of us went for a small walk into the forest
and found a group of 3 Andean Guans. These large,
turkey-like birds are becoming quite rare due to hunting
and the guide had only seen them 3 times in that area.
That evening a Common Potoo enchanted us by feedingright next to the lodge on the insects that were attracted
to the floodlights.
The next morning the guide, Gabriel helped us
find many species including the rare White-
faced Nunbird. He also helped John Comis identify
some of the spectacular cloud forest plants and flowers.
Back at the lodge later that day Kate had a Rufous
Antpitta walk up to her at the feeders. In 2 days she had
seen 2 rare species that had both eluded me. That eve-
ning we drove to Quito and got ready for some
higher altitude birding.
The Yanacocha Reserve on the flanks of the
Pichincha Volcano was our destination the next
morning. On the hike into the main humming-
bird feeders we had some nice birds includingthe spectacular Hooded Mountain Tanager and
a very tame, wren-like White-browed Spinetail.
At the main group of feeders, we decided to
have lunch and wait to see what came in. A
brilliant blue Masked Flowerpiercer joined a
few of the more common hummingbird species
to start the show. A bit later the incredible
Sword-billed Hummingbird, its bill longer than
its body, showed itself to our delight. Soon after
that a small hummingbird caught my eye at the
feeder farthest from me. It had all the field
marks of the Black-breasted Puffleg, a rare
hummingbird that lives only on this one mountain in
Ecuador. It flew off quickly after I got a brief look at it.
I was quite sure of the ID but wanted to speak with Kate,
she of the great birding luck, who of course was right
next to the feeder. We looked at the field guide and
confirmed all the field marks together. She was certainthat was the species as well. After a hike back to the car
we drove back to Quito and did a bit of shopping in one
of the public markets.
Our last day of the tour we birded the Antisana
Volcano, a windswept landscape of
high elevation open grassland and lakes.
On the way up the mountain 2 large
birds of prey flew up from the roadside.
Black-chested Buzzard Eagle I yelled
out as I bolted from the car. We ran
across the road to get a view of the can-
yon below and were rewarded with a
nice flight view of one of the eagles soaring down the
canyon. We visited the shepherd’s house on top where
the Ecudorian Hillstar, a high altitude hummingbirdcame to feeders. After about 30 minutes there I noticed
that Dennis, a veteran of 18 Mt. Rainier ascents and John
had climbed to the top of a nearby hill. I called to them
to return to the car before they decided to try and summit
the 19,000 foot volcano. We had more birds to find. We
did quite well on waterbirds at the large lake there, tally-
ing Silvery Grebe, Andean Ruddy Duck and Yellow-
billed Pintail among others. A couple of more hours of
searching in vain for the Andean Condors turned up a
nice Aplomado Falcon. Then it was time to return to
Quito for the final night of the tour.
A t our final bird tally of the trip Melissa
informed me that she had seen 195 lifers
while Carole, who has over 4,000 species on her
world list, told me she had seen about 120 new spe-cies that trip. I had a great time leading the trip, we
saw a lot of great birds and it was an enthusiastic
group of birders and photographers. For Dennis and
Melissa and John and Kate it was on to the Galapagos,
while John and Carole returned home. I had another
2 weeks of birding, photography and holidays with
Angie’s family. All in all I had 52 lifers for my 4
weeks there. I had a great couple of days at Rio
Palenque, that included the rarely seen Lanceolated
Monklet, a small puffbird, and a beautiful Collared
Trogon that posed nicely for photos. I’m looking
forward to our next tour in Ecuador this November.
With members of Tahoma Audubon
On a weeklong birding and bird photography
tour of Ecuador, we saw and photographed
many beautiful and spectacular species.
Birding in Ecuador
Toucan Barbet
Bluewinged Mountain Tanager
Story and photos by Nate Chappell
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March 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 11
Tahoma Audubon is the Pierce County chapter of National Audubon. As
an Introductory member of Tahoma Audubon you also receive a National
Audubon membership and Audubon Magazine for one year. Renewing
your Chapter Membership ensures that we can continue to do our work in
Pierce County. Chapter membership includes: Towhee newsletter sub-
scription, free family events, birding trip invitations, class & book dis-
counts, conservation activities, annual celebrations and more. Joint TAS/
National Audubon membership includes: Chapter membership, National
membership, annual Audubon Magazine subscription, and support of
Important Bird Areas (IBA) and state and national conservation agendas. C h e c k s p a y a b l e t o : T a h o m a A u d u b o n 2 9
1 7 M o r r i s o n
R d .
W .
U n i v e r s i t y P l a c e , 9 8 4 6 6 T a h o m
a A u d u b o n
S o c i e t y , e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 9 6 9 ,
i s a 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) n o n p r o f i t
o r g a n i z a t i o n .
D o n a t i o n s a r e t a x d e d u c t i b
l e .
Membership Fee:
___ Introductory (first year) $20
___ Joint National/Tahoma Audubon $50
___ Chapter member renewal $30
___ Other Contributions _____________
Member(s) Name: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
City______________________________ Zip__________________
Phone: home ___________________business _________________
e-mail: ________________________________________________
Member #: _______________________________ (office use only)
Membership
voluNteer Recognition
Volunteer at Adriana Hess Wetland Park
Please see the new board approved Chapter Membership Policy in the annual review, a separate PDF.
Joann Simms and Mary Siegenthaler are just a few of the amazing
people who help out at the front desk as office receptionists. They
help with answering phone calls, taking care of sales in the book-
store, collecting mail, signing people up for field trips and helping
with small jobs that need to get done. Some of our office reception-
ists also help with various data entry projects. We truly appreciatetheir dedication, friendly faces and willingness to help out.
Here are a few questions with Joann Simms:
Julie: How did you get involved at the front desk?
Joann: Sally asked me to be second in command to help run the desk
and I was looking to move out of the Education Chair position.
Julie: How long have you been working at the desk?
Joann: About five years now
Julie: Why do you enjoy working at the front desk?
Joann: I like talking to people about questions. I love to help people with bird problems like how to
get flickers to stop pounding into houses and if I can’t answer a question I like hooking people up with
people who can.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Audubon
2917 Morrison Rd.. W. in University Place All Fridays. Come at 9:00 a.m. for a light breakfast and stay to weed until11:00 a.m.If you wish to help on your own time, we now have a book with entiregrounds marked off and pictured in small segments. You can choose yourportion of the grounds, and at your own convenience, keep it looking likethe picture. Thanks for considering this great way of helping out.
welcoMe to New and Returning Members
January 16, 2008 to February 15, 2008Chapter New and Renewing:
Sally Boyle, Elaine Brown, Wynne Brown &
Peter Wimberger, Loretta Chivers, Patricia
Coolsen, Alyce & Bruce Demarais, Anne Ellison,
Adele & Mark Freeland, Bryan Hanson, Christine
Hoey, Frank Jacobs, Wayne & Sally Larson,
Rosemary Lenigan, Doreen Ligrano, Terrence
Mace & Anne Wood, Betty Main, Mary Manning,
Sally Nesheim, Jim & Jeanne O’Donnell, Terry
Puskas, Martha Robbins, David Schultz, Joe
TerLouw, Colleen Waterhouse, Denise Wilkes,
Marsha Williams, Nancy Wittenberg.
Joint Chapter and National:
Chuck Bergman, Peter Bartels, Mark Carlson, Jane
Davison, Anne Ellison, Craig Geyer, Bud & Dixie
Harris, Katharine Hemion, Penelope & Dave
Magelsson, Cecile & Guy Montgomery, Melissa &
Jamie Paulson, Edgar & Phyllis Potts, David &
Anne Seago, Julie Smith, Bonnie Stiff, Richard &
Eunice Werner, Dennis & Joy White.
Introductory:
(Recruited through TAS.)
Doug Abel, Martha Humphreys,
Aurora Lau, Brandi Manning,
Joyce & Bruce Murray, Robin Reich,
Kelli Stave. (Recruited through NAS, several
returning after a 6 month lapse, and our TAS
recruited members confirmed by NAS.) Walter
Adams, Andrea Alexander, Ramiro Alonso, Tim &
Pam Moon, C & C Tashi, Sherrie & Cindy, Jennifer
Andreas, Laurie Austin, Tom & Amy Bettesworth,Anthony Blake, Karen & Stan Bloustine, Jay
Bollman, Mr & Mrs Brian Born, June Camp,
Robert Chamberlain, Valerie Chapin, Katherine
Chappell, Githens Chiropractic, Michael Cramer,
Heather Dumas, Jan Elliott, Lindsay Fuller, Laurel
Gorder, Pam Hicks, Barbetta Hofstedt, Katherine
Holloway, Mr & Ms Joe Schultz, Kelly Johnston,
Jerry Licari, Toni Magelssen, Douglas Mandt,
Mitzi Mc Cart, Bonnie Mc Donough, William Mc
Evoy, Colleen Mishier, Mike Mowat, Jack Osborn,
Stephen Page, Barbara Parsons, Renee Pelletier,
Sarah Spivey Family, Carmen Sterba, Joel Stumph,
Elaine Sumey,Marian Warner, Helen Willis.
We are so pleased to have you all be a part of
Tahoma Audubon. Hope to see you at some of
our events. Follow the news about our Birdathon
and come join us for a fun birding trip in late April
or May. Check the June Towhee to learn about our
annual picnic.
Joann Simms and Mary Siegenthaler helping out.
Photo/Julie Kerrigan
8/9/2019 03-2008 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
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Tahoma Audubon Society YO2
2917 Morrison Road West
University Place, WA 98466
Address service requested
Nonprofit Org
U.S. Postage
Tacoma, WA
Permit No. 177
PAID 25 years ago page 8
Annual review separate PDF
Birding in Ecuador page 10
BirdSongs page 8
Bryan Flint column page 2
Environment matters page 3
Field trips page 5
New members page 11
Paul Webster page 1
Volunteer recognition page 11
In this issue:
owhee
The March 2008
T
For additional information on education programs contact Tahoma Audubon at 253-565-9278; on the web at www.tahomaaudubon.org
Or The Tacoma Nature Center at 253-591-6439 or on the web at www.metroparkstacoma.org
Fri, Mar (all) 9:00am, light breakfast, then volunteer
weeding at Adriana Hess Wetland Park until
11:00am.V
Sat, Mar 8, 8:30am – 5:00pm, Photo Fest, TacomaNature Center, the photography of Tacoma
Photographic Society, first slide-digital show at
9:00am, $5 per person, $10 per family.
Sat, Mar 8, 8:30am – 12:00pm, Swan Creek Park &
Chief Leschi School walk with Ed Pullen.f
Tue, Mar 11, 2pm – 4pm, Conservation Committee,
Adriana Hess Wetland Park.m
Wed, Mar 12, 9:30am – 12:00pm, Titlow Park Bird
Walk, join Vera Cragin for a walk along the shoreline
and through the wooded portions of Titlow Park.f
Wed, Mar 12, 3:15pm – 4:45pm, Budding Scientists
- Riding the Wave, Adriana Hess Audubon Center,
ages 5-7.
Thu, Mar 13, 9:30am – 11:30am, Beginning Home
School Science - Surf’s Up, Tacoma Nature Center,
ages 8-10.
Thu, Mar 13, 1pm – 3pm Beginning Home School
Science - Surf’s Up, Tacoma Nature Center, ages
8-10.
Thu, Mar 13, 3:00pm – 4:30pm, Osprey Club at
NV, Narrows View.
Thu, Mar 13, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, TAS Board
Meeting, Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Guest
Welcome, please call ahead at (253) 565-9278.
Fri, Mar 14, 6pm – 9pm,NatureMapping Workshop, Tacoma Nature Center.
Fri, Mar 14, 7pm – 9pm , Membership Program,
Tacoma Nature Center, Check web site for program.
Sat, Mar 15, 9am – 5pm, NatureMapping
Workshop, Tacoma Nature Center.
Sat, Mar 15, 10:00am – 11:30am, Discovery Walk,
Lower White River, for families with children age
4 and up.f
Sun, Mar 16, 8am – 11am Nature Walk at Pt.
Defiance Park in Tacoma.f
Tue, Mar 18, 1:30pm – 2:30pm Nature Alphabet
- N is for Nuts, Tacoma Nature Center.
Wed, Mar 19, 10:30am – 12:00pm, Budding
Scientists - Sea Monsters!, Adriana Hess Audubon
Center.
Wed, Mar 19, 7:00 to 8:30pm, Birdathon Birder
Kickoff at 4011 Alameda W, the University Place
home of Stan and Helen Engle. Say “Yes” to being a
birder and gathering pledges for the Birdathon. f
Thu, Mar 20, 1pm – 3pm, Intermediate Home School
Science - Deep Waters.
Thu, Mar 20, 3:00pm – 4:30pm, Osprey Club at
NV, Narrows View.
Mar 22, 2008, Seabird Workshop, UPS - Slater
Natural History Museum.
Sat, Mar 22, 7:30am, Key Peninsula with RolanNelson. Limit to 11 birders.f
Wed, Mar 26, 3:15pm – 4:45pm, Budding Scientists
- Sea Monsters, Adriana Hess Audubon Center, ages
5-7.
Thu, Mar 27, 1pm – 3pm, Advanced Home School
Science – Oceanography,
Tacoma Nature Center ages 12-15.
Thu, Mar 27, 3:00pm – 4:30pm, Osprey Club at
NV, Narrows View.
Fri, Mar 28, 10:30am – 11:30am, Nature Story
Time - Big Blue Planet, Adriana Hess Audubon
Center, good grandparent/grandchild activity.
Fri, Mar 28, 1pm – 4pm, Advanced Home School
Science Lab – Oceanography, Tacoma Nature
Center ages 12-15.
Tue, Apr 1, 10:30am – 11:30am, Nature Alphabet -
O is for Owl, Tacoma Nature Centerchildren under four require an adult present.
Thu, Apr 3, 3:00pm – 4:30pm, Osprey Club at NV,
Narrows View.
Tue, Apr 8, 2pm – 4pm, Conservation Committee,
Adriana Hess Wetland Park.m
Wed, Apr 9, 10:30am – 12:00pm, Budding Scientists
- Weather Report, Adriana Hess Audubon Center.
Thu, Apr 10, 9:30am – 11:30am, Thu, Apr 10, 1pm
– 3pm Beginning Home School Science - Head in
the Clouds, Tacoma Nature Center, ages 8-10.
Thu, Apr 10, 3:00pm – 4:30pm, Osprey Club at NV,
Narrows View.
Thu, Apr 10, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, TAS Board Meeting,
Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Guest Welcome, please call ahead at (253)
565-9278.
Fri, Apr 11, 7pm – 9pm, Membership Meeting,
Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S. Tyler Street. Check
web site for program - www.TahomaAudubon.org or
call (253) 565-9278.
Apr 11 – 13 2008 ACOW Conference, Sleeping
Lady Resort, Leavenworth, WA. a (page 8.)
Sat, Apr 12, 10:00am – 11:30am, Discovery Walk,
Naches Trail, Frederickson, for families with childrenage 4 and up, register by calling 253-591-6439.f
Calendar
tAhoMA AuDuBoN ProgramsThe public is invited to attend membershipmeetings of Tahoma Audubon Society! When: Friday, March 14th 2008Where: Tacoma Nature Center, l9l9 South TylerWho: Photographer Nate ChappellTime: Refreshments @ 7:00 p.m. Meeting @ 7:30 p.m.Wildlife photographer and longtime Tahoma AudubonSociety member Nate Chappell will present an eveningof bird and wildlife photography from Ecuador, Argentinaand Malaysia. Nate and his wife Angie lead birdwatch-
ing and nature photography trips to Ecuador, Thailandand other exotic locations. He is currently the aviangallery moderator for Naturephotographers.net, one of the top rated websites for nature photography. Images
will be shown from several trips to Ecuador. Many beau-tiful species of hummingbirds and tangers will be dis-played during this section. Additionally, he will show birdand wildlife photos from a trip to Argentina whichincluded stops at Iguassu Falls and the Ibera Marsheswhich is one of the 3 most important wetlands in South
America. Lastly he will present images from Malaysiaincluding birds, Orangutans and Probocis Monkeys. If you would like to visit his website, it is www.trogontours.net. Join us for an exciting evening.Mark your calendars: April program April 11!
Recommendations for future programs can be sent toKatrina Weihs at [email protected], or253-304-6422, include contacts, topics, and best timeto reach you.
f Field Trip Page
v Volunteer page
m Environment Matters Page
a Related article in The Towhee
E Education Page
Key to letter symbolsMArch 2008
April 2008
Not applicable on the internets