Published by the Tahoma Audubon Society www.tahomaaudubon.org September 2007 Vol. 38 No.7

Riding the geoduck rollercoasterLast fall, Tahoma Audubon

joined a coalition of environ-mental and shoreline property owner groups, including Save Our Shoreline! and Citizen’s for a Healthy Bay. Working together , we sought to protect Pierce County’s portion of our vast Puget Sound shorelines by promoting the rational idea that geoduck aquaculture should be subject to at least some regula-tions that take into consider-ation the impacts of geoduck farming on the immediate and nearby habitat, as well as on nearby homes. With half a dozen new geoduck farm per-mits pending, and not wanting to wait for the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) update to be

complete in 2009, we pushed for strong interim geoduck aquaculture regulations at the Pierce County Community Devel-opment Committee level.

While we were busy researching the science and regulations, and testifying at public meetings, we also worked with Rep. Patricia Lantz (D-Gig Harbor), to get a bill passed in the state legisla-ture that would both fund inde-pendent peer-reviewed scien-tific research on environmental impacts, as well as create a stakeholder body that would review current regulations, and make recommendations to the Department of Ecology on the

By Diane Yorgason-QuinnMalheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon is a legendary

birding oasis, drawing hordes of birders from early spring to early sum-mer. However, nobody goes there in the high heat of summer, maybe because of that high heat (and those bugs!). But if the reason you haven’t gone is because you think the birding is not as good then think again!

The Willettes (a band of birding women born at Tahoma Audubon) managed to get together all of our group plus reinforcements for a total of TEN who were willing to try a different season and take our chances. Steen’s Mountain was the impetus for our off-season foray. Winter road closures, often lasting until almost Independence Day, had prevented our ascent in previous years, and now we were rarin’ to go.

The Washington contingent birded their way over following the Washington side of the Columbia River, leaving on July 14th. We had the worst heat of our trip on this road. Stopping at Rock Creek, the ther-mometer in my vehicle registered 108 degrees! A lone Ash-throated

It is August 15, September Towhee dead-line, and we have $41,840 in pledges turned in. There are still some outstanding pledges and a few birders still not heard from. Expenses were low as usual with a total of only $423.39 being spent because indi-vidual birders contributed their own stamps, printing, phone calls, gas, etc. for their own cam-paigns.

• Marcus Roening and Heather Ballash brought in the most dollars, $2228.50.

• The most birds, 121, were identified by Rosanne Becker and Joann Sims.

• Rookie of the year was Tom Gergen, who brought in $522.

• Total number of birds identified in this Birdathon in Washington was 211.

A great big thank-you to Jim Ullrich, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gig Harbor for his donation of gift certificates to the winners!

Trips similar to Birdathons, but different in that they were out of state and most took more than 24 hours were done in Alaska, the prairie states, and Arizona. Reports of these are avail-able if you are interested.

Thank-you Birders! You are all appreciated so very much. You

are the backbone of this Birdathon campaign. Most birders recruited at least five sponsors, took a trip, sent reports to sponsors, and turned in their collected pledges. We have heard from 68 of you. Heather Ballash and Marcus Roening, Ken and Nell Batker, Betty Beal, Rosanne Becker, Susan Boynton, Joyce Bramsche, Carol Breedlove and Nina Gayle, Jerry Broadus and Clarice Clark, Walt Burdsall, Trudy Bussinger, Kristi Ceder, Terry Conner, Patti Coolsen, Renee and Steve Copeland,

Vera Cragin, Connie Decker, Diana Dodd, Helen Engle, Kathleen Franz, John Garner, Steven Garrett, Tom Gergen, Roxy and Bill Giddings, Thelma Gilmur, Al Gray, Charles

Griffin, Faye McAdams Hands, Joanne Iverson, Al Hultengren, Sally

Jacky, Betty Jones, Anna Lisa and George Kanick, Bill and Sharon Kaufmann, Byrna Klavano, Barbara Kvamme, Joe

McGuire, Annie Meyer, Nora Miller, Bob Myrick, Gary Nestegard, Gabriel Newton, Jim

O'Donnell, Carolyn Orwiler, Nancy Pawlicki, Greg Pluth, Patience and Dale Powell, Anne and Jeff Puckett, Ed and Kay Pullen, Kris Quinn, Gerald and Joan Rapp, Marilyn Reynolds, Mary Siegenthaler, Joann Sims, Robert Smith, June Summerville, Mel Urschel.

Thank-you Leaders of Trips! We could not have had a successful

Birdathon without you providing trips for many of our 68 Birders. Thanks to Ken and Nell Batker, Robert Smith, Betty Jones, Rosanne Becker and Joann Sims, Heather Ballash and Marcus Roening, Paul Hickey, Ruth and Patrick Sullivan, Jim Lynch, Rolan Nelson, Charlie Wright, Bob and Natalie McNair-Huff.

Thank-you to over 1100 wonderful gener-ous Sponsors!

This is proof of it all and we appreciate it so much.

Dave Adams, Leslie Ann Rose, LaWanna Ahrendt, George Alber, Kent and Suzanne Alcorn, Kenneth and Dee Aldridge, Angelia Alexander, James and Jeannette Allphin,

How the Willettes spent their summer vacation

The unmistakable silhouette of a White-Faced Ibis

Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn

Birdathon 2007 report

See "Flight" on page 8

By Krystal Kyer

see “Geoduck” on page 3

see “Thank-you” on page 6 Photo/Laurie BrauneisFreshly harvested geoducks await shipment to Asian markets here and overseas.

Tahoma Audubon Staff

Flint, Bryan Executive Director bryanflint@tahomaaudubon.org 253-565-9129

Kyer, Krystal Conservation Coordinator kkyer@tahomaaudubon.org 253-232-9978

Newton, Gabriel Education Coordinatorgnewton@tahomaaudubon.org 253-565-5479

Tahoma Audubon Board of Directors

Brosius, Jane Membership

Carkner, Dick Garner, John Gilmur, Thelma Membership Hukari, Molly Past President Jordon, Al Larson, Sally Larson, Wayne LeGreid, Kathleen Publication kaleditor@mindspring.com Matthaei, Fred McNair-Huff, Rob Conservation Roening, Marcus Sloat, Sally Administration (contact) Shea, Margie Education Sullivan,Brian Volunteer bwsullivan@mindspring.com

September 2007Page 2

The Towhee is a publication of the Tahoma Audubon Society. The Tahoma Audubon Society was chartered in 1969. TAS advocates for the protection of wildlife and promotes conservation through educa-tion and activities that enrich its member’s experiences in and with the natural world.

The Towhee is published monthly, nine times a year, with a com-bined Jul/Aug and Dec/Jan issue. Submissions of articles and photo-graphs of birds, bird lore, natural history, conservation, and environ-mental 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: robert_kelton@mac.com Printing: Consolidated Press

Printed on recycled newsprint

www.tahomaaudubon.org

There is an old proverb “The only thing constant in the universe is change.”

As you pick up the Towhee you will notice one thing: change. There are a number of changes to the look and feel of the way Tahoma

Audubon communicates with the world. Change is never easy, as established patterns and

familiar things give way to the new and the unknown. One of the strengths of Tahoma Audubon are the traditions that have developed over the years and the strong ownership by the membership. Any kind of change must be in line with those traditions.

The changes you see in the Towhee are a result of a number of things: The need to be relevant in a media savvy world; the knowledge that we have a message to deliver and a desire to deliver it to the widest audience; and a desire to freshen things up. Many of these changes are the result of the vision of our wonderful editor Kathleen LeGreid to make a great publication, and facilitated by the hiring of a talented and creative desktop publisher, Robert Kelton.

Some of the Changes you will notice are:MASTHEAD:

We have lightened up the top of the front page of the Towhee with a new masthead. We give a big thank you to artist Dale Thompson for providing us with the beautiful masthead we have been using for the last decade. The new one honors that design by keeping the mountain and uses Dale Thompson’s representa-tion of the Towhee, perched playfully on the letter ‘e’.LAYOUT:

The first thing you will notice is the calendar on the back page. In the past it has been hard to know where to find events that Tahoma Audubon is hosting. Now everything with a date will be found on the back page. The important work of our education, field trip, and conservation committees will be found in the same location in each issue. We have also added a volunteer and membership section. NEW LOGO:

All of our printed material will have a new logo.

Thanks to Chris Cowen, a graphic designer at Labor Ready, and co-worker to past board member Natalie McNair-Huff, for creating a beautiful and profession-

ally looking new logo using our namesake the Towhee.

LETTERHEAD:We have adopted design standards for our printed correspondence so that we will

have a more consistent presence in the commu-nity.WEB PAGE:

Along with this issue of the Towhee we are launch-ing a new web page. On it you will be able to reg-ister for field trips, see a calendar of events, make a donation, sign up for membership, and view a

blog with reports about events. The new web site will also allow us to make updates more quickly.CREDIT CARDS:

We are now accepting credit cards at the book store at the Adriana Hess for purchases, member-ships and donations. Your support of Audubon is much appreciated and we want to make it as easy as possible.

execuTive DirecTor’S CornerexecuTive DirecTor’S Corner

The Pierce County Chapter of The National Audubon SocietyLocated in University Place's Adriana Hess Wetland Park

2917 Morrison Rd W University Place, WA 98466Office hours 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Front desk 253-565-9278

e-mail: contact@TahomaAudubon.org

Will you remember Tahoma Audubon?

Change is in the air at Tahoma Audubon

“The changes you see in the Towhee are a result of a number

of things: The need to be relevant in a media savvy world; the know-ledge that we have a message to deliver and a desire to deliver it to the widest audience; and a desire

to freshen things up.”

As a long time member of Tahoma Audubon, I have helped out at a few meetings and made a small mountain of phone calls looking for pledges of support for Birdathon. But the thing I am happiest about is the fact that I have remembered Tahoma Audubon in my will. If some of my investments pan out the way I think they will, I’ll be happy and Tahoma Audubon will be stronger and able to fight for all of us and a better environment.

Won’t you do yourself and your heirs the favor of leaving a will?Please consider naming Tahoma Audubon Society, the Pierce County

chapter of the Audubon Society in your will. Funds will be placed in an endowment fund held with the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation for the express purpose of helping Tahoma Audubon connect people with nature for generations to come.

Thank you,David Hirst

SMP updates that will be occurring region-wide in the next several years.

As it happens, compromise bill HB 2220 became a reality a lot faster than did any interim geoduck regula-tions. The bill passed with broad support, was fully funded at $700,000, and was signed into law by Governor Gregoire in April. In July, the Shellfish Aquaculture Regulatory Committee (SARC) was created, members appointed, and the first meeting occurred. As Tahoma Audubon’s Conservation Coordinator, I was appointed to this committee as one of two committee members repre-senting environmental interests. The SARC committee will meet over the course of the next year and a half to develop a clear understanding of shellfish regulation issues, and to make recommendations on improvements to the Department of Ecology. All meetings are open to the public. Information on SARC meetings, minutes, an ials is available online at: http://www. ecy.wa.gov/pro-grams/sea/shellfishcommittee/index.html

On August 13th, committee members went on a field trip at low tide to Totten Inlet in Thurston County to see a Taylor Shellfish growing operation that included geoducks and oysters, and to view a demonstration of their geoduck harvesting technique of using high pressure water jet hoses to liquefy the substrate and extract the geoducks.

Unfortunately, success hasn’t come yet at the county level. The proposed interim geoduck regulations (No.R2007-34s) went through a series of public meetings and testimony through the winter and spring. At the June

Community Development Committee meeting it received a unanimous vote of approval from committee members, despite testimony against the regulations from many in the shellfish industry. The resolution was sent to the full Pierce County Council for a vote in August, where it was expected to pass.

However, that was not the case. After an hour and a half of testimony, the council voted 5-1 against passing the

interim regulations (Only Terry Lee voted for). Industry was elated. We were shocked. Was a year’s worth of work dead? It seemed that way as we went home.

We learned later that the sentiment amongst council members was that the regulations failed because they were linked to interim piers and docks regulations, which received heavy negative testimony from upset property owners that day.

At the following Pierce County Council meeting on August 14th, Councilman Shawn Bunney raised the issue once more. The interim regulations were unani-mously sent back to the Community Development Committee for reconsideration, where they will likely be separated from the piers and docks issue. Therefore, our shorelines still stand a chance! We expect this issue to be before the full council again this fall.

In the meantime, please contact the Pierce County Council and let them know that you support passing interim geoduck regulations that protect our shorelines and sensitive habitat essential to shorebirds, salmon, and other wildlife. Better yet, attend the CDC meeting on Monday, September 10th at 1:00pm in the council cham-bers (10th floor, 930 Tacoma Ave S., Tacoma), and show your support for protecting our shorelines by asking the council to pass interim geoduck aquaculture regulations. We cannot wait for the SMP update to occur, because by then the geoduck farms will already operating without good regulations that protect our environment.

September 2007 Page 3

The Cross-Base Highway, that infamous proposed new road that would connect I-5 in Lakewood to 176th, has been the subject of, literally, years and years of debate, argument, and frustration for Tahoma Audubon members. Finally, on the last day of May the Cross Base Highway Coalition achieved success many of us never truly thought possible: we got the proposed road removed from the Regional Transformation Investment District (RTID) roads package.

If that was so, why did we accept a compromise on a project that crosses the Fort Lewis Important Bird Area, Audubon Springs, and Spanaway Marsh? Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, unwilling to accept our suc-cess, threatened to resign from his position of Sound Transit board chair, and veto the entire roads and transit package if cross-base was not included. Executive Ladenburg is a skilled, tenacious, and stubborn politician. By the time it came to a final vote at the RTID Planning Committee meeting on June 8th, it was apparent that the political will was gone, and potentially our victory .

Instead, we faced the very real threat of seeing cross-base returned to the package, fully funded, and built. This was not an option we could stand for. Through

our hard work over the past year’s RTID open-houses and testimony, letters to the editors, the RTID board and Pierce County Council could not deny that we were a force to be reckoned with, and a real threat to the chances of this package passing in November. This fact put RTID in a compromised position, and therefore they initiated a negotiation process with environmental groups in the wee hours the night before the final vote. Reality P: We had two options:

A) Walk away and deal with a roads package that included funding for cross-base highway and end up campaigning against the otherwise good transportation package (60% of money will be spent on mass transit, not roads!), and file a second costly lawsuit, or

B) Negotiate a deal that is in our favor: a mediation process set to begin in 2009 when Ladenburg is out of office, keep all options on the table for solving this trans-portation corridor problem, and have the real opportunity to prevent this environmentally destructive highway from ever being built. And we still have, in our back pocket, the right to pursue a fully-funded lawsuit after negotiations start.

Obviously, we took option B. Yes, there is funding

for cross-base in the package, but no, it isn’t enough to complete the project. Furthermore, none of the money ear-marked for cross-base highway can be spent on it until after a suc-cessful mediation pro-cess occurs (and if we agree that building that road in that location is the best solution).

The difficult thing in explaining our rationale, is that the media and the county executive can claim victory on the face of it (because cross-base is in the package), but looking at the details reveals that the highway is far from a done deal. Tahoma Audubon has fought to pro-tect the wetlands and oak-woodland prairie habitat on Fort Lewis for over a decade, and you can be assured we aren’t about to stop now!

Straight talk on the Cross-Base HighwayenvironmenT MattersenvironmenT Matters

Geoduck ...

no, a geoduck is not a bird!According to Audubon Washington’s State

of the Birds 2004 report, birds that utilize coastal habitats, including intertidal areas, face substantial “risks from shoreline develop-ment, pollution, and disturbance from com-mercial and recreational activities” (pg.8). Agriculture and urban development have altered more than 800 miles of Puget Sound shorelines. Of those 800 miles, 200 miles are in the intertidal areas (pg.9). Migratory birds are often dependent on our shore-lines for food sources. Loss of food sources through agriculture, development, and now geoduck aquaculture, plays a role in the chances of survival for many shorebirds.

Among the birds associated with coastal areas in Washington identified as Species of Immediate Concern are the Snowy Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Red Knot, and Marbled Murrelet. Species of High Concern include the Western Grebe, Trumpeter Swan, Caspian Tern, and Purple Martin. Thirty more birds are listed as Early Warning Species.

Photo/Krystal KyerTaylor Shellfish aquaculture operation on Totten Inlet includes geoduck and oysters in the intertidal beach zone.

See more Evironment matters on page 11.Photo/Laurie Brauneis

The Conservation Committee meets on a regular basis.Contact Krystal for details. 253-232-9978 or e-mail her kkyer@tahomaaudubon.org

continued from page 1

The world’s largest bivalve and Puget Sound native: Geoduck (Panopea abrupta)

www.tahomaaudubon.org

September 2007Page 4 www.tahomaaudubon.org

eDucATion and ClasseseDucATion and Classes1919 South Tyler Street,

Tacoma WA 98338253-591-6439 www.metroparkstacoma.org

Open Tues. – Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.& Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

2917 Morrison Road W.,University Pl. WA 98466

253-565-9278www.TahomaAudubon.org

Open Mon – Sat. 10a.m.-1p.m.

There is a growing trend in Washington for people to take an active role as stewards of the natural world. Adventuring in nature, observ-ing backyard

birds, and enhancing wildlife habitat are all part of this trend. The NatureMapping program offers a way for people of all ages to get involved.

This program builds the link between schools, citizens and researchers in creating hands-on experiences in nature. The goal of the NatureMapping program is to keep common animals common. Doing this can help to main-tain a quality of life from which we all benefit. Observing and experiencing wildlife helps to build a greater appreci-ation and understanding of our natural world. Recording and sharing wildlife information is the key to the NatureMapping program. Shared information becomes a public database which helps us to learn more about the dynamics of the wildlife that live near us.

In partnership with Tahoma Audubon, the Tacoma Nature Center is a certified NatureMapping Learning Center. These learning centers are the backbone of a citizen science net-work across the state. Learning Centers provide materials, skill building workshops, technology tools, and guidance with project development. A regular slate of NatureMapping workshops

is available throughout the year. The next workshop for citi-zens and families is on September 21 & 22, with a December 1 & 8 workshop scheduled for educators.

In addition, the education partnership of Tahoma Audubon and the Tacoma Nature Center offer opportunities for families and adult learners to further their natural history knowledge throughout the year. The Beginning Birding workshop starting September 24 is a great opportunity to build your knowledge of local birds. Details for the birding class and the workshops can be found in the calen-dar section.

For those that prefer the self-guided approach, you can get started Nature-Mapping on your own by visiting the website http://depts.washington.edu/

natmap. In addition to a step-by-step guide, there is a great deal of information on the website about wildlife and habitats. This is a great resource for educators, students and life-long learners.

We invite you to take the next step in stew-ardship and become a NatureMapper!

Beginning Birding Class Adults 18 and up, $50 per personNo experience necessary in order to learn to identify birds. Learn common sense methods to use in the field or in the back yard that make it easy to build your knowledge of bird species. Participants will learn to use field guides, binoculars and their wits. Two, one-day field trips will be scheduled by class participants. This class meets at the Adriana Hess Audubon Center in University Place. Call 253-591-6439 to register.Mondays, September 24 – October 15 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

naturemapping in Washington State

NatureMapping WorkshopsMoving from activities to field research, NatureMapping is a tool for students and citizens to use to help determine a healthy future for fish and wildlife through the use of sound scientific techniques. Classroom and field work will include the use of maps, wildlife identification tips, habitat coding, building a search image, track-ing and data collection procedures.NatureMapping – Data Collection & Monitoring WorkshopAdults and children ages 8 and up, $70 per person, extra family members freeThis two session workshop is for citizens interested in using the NatureMapping process to keep track of wildlife in their backyard, local parks and forests, or any other natural area. This hands-on environmental learning workshop helps people take the next step after learning to enjoy wildlife.September 21 6:00 – 9:00 p.m andSeptember 22 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Adriana Hess Day Camp Director Brianna Charbonnel, and some of her campers. Come be part of the fun!Photo/Marjorie Shea

Tahoma Audubon Book Club The Tahoma Audubon Book Club will meet Monday, September 10th at 7:00 pm to discuss “Condor: To the Brink and Back” by John Nielsen. Join us at Adriana Hess to discuss this wonderful book. If you have questions please call Alan Ferguson at 253-460-5569, or by e-mail at N7OMS@MSN.COM

The goal of the NatureMapping Program is to keep common animals common.

Tacoma Nature Center Art ExhibitsAs part of the changing art gallery at the Tacoma Nature Center, please join us in enjoying the following exhibits. Gallery available most open hours. Call ahead to ensure availability.

Bruce Benson, September 8 – October 31Nature PhotographerArtist Reception – September 8, 6:00 -8:00 p.m.Artist Statement: Growing up in the shadows of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, it is natural that Bruce Benson would become an outdoor photographer. He comes from a long line of hunters and fisherman and Bruce is keeping up the family tradition with his own style of shooting, digital camera style. After a career of teaching in the Tacoma Schools, Bruce has become a fulltime nature pho-tographer traveling from Yellowstone to Alaska and Florida to New Mexico captur-ing the beauty and wonder of wildlife through his lens. He doesn’t just want a picture of something; he wants a picture that puts you in touch with the scene in front of you. He likes to think of himself as a bridge between the wildlife world and the hundreds of people who will not ever have the opportunity of fishing with grizzlies or hiding in a burrow to catch a glimpse of baby owls.

Photos/Bruce Benson

Learning how to read a map ata NatureMapping workshop

September 2007 Page 5www.tahomaaudubon.org

fielD TripS and eventsfielD TripS and events

Trogon Tours Trip To Thailand January 13-27, 2008 Nate Chappell and his wife, Angie will lead a 2 week trip to Central and Northern Thailand next January. Nate is a long time Tahoma Audubon member and very accomplished wildlife photographer. We will also have 1 to 2 Thai nature guides with us the entire trip. The trip is focused on seeing and photographing the birds and mammals of Thailand. We will travel from Bangkok to Unesco World Heritage site Khao Yai National Park, Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary and Doi Inthanon National Park in Northern Thailand. You will have a chance to see and photograph many beautiful species of birds and animals. Thailand is rich in many bird families including giant hornbills, beautiful trogons and colorful kingfishers. We also have a good chance of seeing many mammals including gibbons, deer, monkeys and many others. Cost: 3,400 includes all hotels, meals, transportation, park fees and guiding. Does not include the cost of airfare to/from the US to Thailand.

Call Nate Chappell at 512-1060 for more information. Trogon Tours, Inc's website is www.trogontours.net.

Trogon Tours Trip To Ecuador December 8-16, 2007. Nate Chappell and his Ecuadorian wife, Angie, will lead a trip to the mountains and western slope of the Andes. These are some of the best birding areas in the world. Elevations will range from 2,000 to 14,000 feet. We will stay at hotels in Quito, the Tandaypa Valley and Mindo on this trip. Quality viewing and pho-tography of Ecuador's birds will be the focus of the trip. Spectacular species which participants have an excel-lent chance of seeing include Andean Cock of the Rock, 3 species of Antpittas, Andean Condor and many species of beautiful hummingbird and tanager. Cost: $1,700 includes all hotels, meals, transportation, park fees and guiding. Does not include cost of airfare between the US and Ecuador. Call Nate Chappell at 512-1060 for more information. Trogon Tours, Inc's website is www.trogontours.net.

Trogon Tours trips to ecuador and Thailand

Adriana Hess Wetland ParkSecond Monday--Sept. 10, 12:00 to 1:00--Bird Walk with Ruth and Patrick Sullivan.Third Monday--Sept. 17, 12:00 to 1:00--Plant Walk with Richard Van Deman.

Point Defiance nature walk16 Sep & 21 Oct. Third Sunday Nature Walk at Point Defiance led by Rob McNair-Huff (rob@whiterabbits.com). The 4.5-mile walk starts at 8 a.m. in the back of the zoo park-ing lot and takes about three hours, depending on what we find to look at along the way.

Titlow Park field trip26 Sep. 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Field Trip to Titlow and sur-rounding areas, easy walking . Meet at the parking area near-est to the old dock. Leader Vera Cragin.

Beginning Birding Class Age 18Y – 99Y Min: 5 Max: 12No experience necessary in order to learn to identify birds. Learn common sense methods to use in the field or in the back yard that make it easy to build your knowledge of bird species. Participants will learn to use field guides, binoculars and their wits. Two one-day field trips will be scheduled by class participants.Adriana Hess Audubon Center Fee: $50Sep 24 to Oct.15 Mon. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Taught by Molly Hukari

Intermediate Birding classAge: 18+Want to sharpen your bird identification skills? What to enjoy the good company of other while doing it? Want to learn form someone who has been identifying birds for decades? Then the Intermediate birding class is for you. This class is for those who have a good background in bird identification. The fall class has an emphasis on shorebirds, winter ducks and hawks. In addition to the Tuesday evening classes, there are four fields from the coast to Eastern Washington. Participants will be responsible for their own gas, food, and lodging during field trips.

Monthly bird walk at Morse Wildlife Preserve will begin again in the spring of 2008.

ruleS1) Call TAS to register (253-565-9278). Some trips are people limited out of necessity.2) Notify TAS 24 hours in advance if you cannot come. Field trip leaders 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 opportunity to participate.3) Arrive at the meeting place early.4) No pets are allowed.5) Be prepared for seasonal weather.6) Bring lunch, drinks and snacks if the field trip is sched-uled past mid-day.7) All passengers divide total carpooling expenses. Current guidelines are 20 cents a mile per car, not including driver.8) Beginners are always wel-come.9) Have fun.

Weekly Bird Walks at NisquallyThursdays 8:15 AM to 12:30 PM Leader: Phil KelleyJoin Phil on his weekly bird walk as he counts the birds at Nisqually NWR. On the first Thursday of the month, the group walks fairly quickly around the full loop, a distance of over five miles. Other weeks, the trip is shorter; walking out to McAllister Creek, back to the visitor center, then out to the Twin Barns and the Ring Dike Trail, totaling about four miles. Bring: Good walk-ing shoes or boots, raingear, water, snacks, and $3. entry fee unless you have a pass. Scopes are welcome. Meet at the Visitor's Center.Directions: Take I-5 south from Tacoma and exit to Nisqually NWR at exit114. Take a right at the light.Sign-up: Call or email Phil Kelley to confirm details. Phil Kelley, Lacey, 360 459-1499, scrubjay323@aol.com.

Kent Ponds and Boeing PondsSaturday, September 22 8:00 AM to Mid AfternoonLeader: Carol Schulz. Take a birdwalk in the Kent Valley where the birds gather in the early fall. We will go inside the gate at Kent Ponds to an area normally closed to the

public. The ponds should have migrating waterfowl, war-blers, hawks, and more. We will also view birds and wildlife from two of the Green River Natural Resources Area (Kent Ponds) viewing towers. We will then travel north about 1 mile to Boeing Ponds. We will walk on level trails up to 1 1/2 miles total. Bring walking shoes or boots, warm clothes, water, and a lunch. Scopes are wel-come. Meet: At Wendy's Restaurant at the corner of S 212th St, and 64th Ave S in north Kent at 8:00 AM. (Restaurant now opens for breakfast.) Directions: From I-5, take exit 152, Orillia Road. Turn east to go down into the Kent Valley. In the valley Orillia becomes S 212th St. Continue east on 212th about 1 mile. Wendy's is on the right at the corner of 64th Ave S. From I-167, take the S 212th St exit north of Kent, and turn west. Travel west across the valley on S 212th about 1.5 miles. Turn left on 64th Ave S, and take a right into Wendy's.Sign-up: Call or email Carol Schulz, linusq@att.net, 206-824-7618. Email is preferred.

Bottle Beach to TokelandSaturday, September 29 7:00 AM to Late AfternoonLeader: Carol Schulz. Join Carol on a coastal trip to areas

in Grays Harbor and farther south. We'll visit Bottle Beach and Tokeland. Other possible spots for birding include Brady Loop, Westport, and Midway Beach. If any good bird sightings are reported between now and then, we'll try to see them also! Bring lunch and snacks, and be prepared for fall weather. Scopes are very wel-come. We'll be back late afternoon or early evening. Meet: McDonalds in Fife. Take I-5 south to exit 137. Turn right, and get into the left lane. Turn left (go toward. Tacoma) and go 2 blocks on Hwy.. 99. Turn left at the light and drive about 1/2 block to McD's.Sign Up: Call or e-mail Carol Schulz, linusq@att.net, 206-824-7618. Email is preferred.

ruleS

Like the headline says, not a field trip! Just an invitation. Diane Yorgason-Quinn and

friends will be at the biggest Swift Chimney in the state in Monroe,

Washington, just before sunset on September 8th.

See thousands of Vaux Swifts fun-nel into the chimney of the old

school! If you would like to join us, feel free to e-mail Diane for directions at Avosetta@hotmail.com.

Not a field trip!

BIRDSONGS by Phil Buly

And here are some field trips with our friends at Rainier Audubon ...

September 2007Page 6 www.tahomaaudubon.org

Charles and Sue Allyn, Louise Andersen, Barbara Anderson, Bruce Anderson, Christine Anderson, Julie Anderson, Meg Anderson, Robert Clyde Anderson, Mr and Mrs Arthur Ando, Lynn Andrews, Milt Andrews, Robert and Dorothy Annon, Several Anonymous Donations from The Kids Program, from Birders Becker, Car-Pooler, and Flint, Donna Arbaugh, John Arndt, Ralph Arnett, Nora Arnold, Robert Arnold, Marlene and Walt Arthur, Greg Astin, Carol Auping, Ken and Judy Austin, Jeannette Axtel, Kathleen Ayers, Randall and Linsey Babich, Mary Backous, James Backus, M Ilene Baker, Sandra Baker, Heather Ballash and Marcus Roening, John Bargren, Robert Barker, Jill and Dan Barkley, T and R Barnett, Toni Barnhart, Heidi Barrett, Susan and Christopher Barry, Carolyn Barry, Peter Bartels, Nadine Bassett, Shasta Bates, Dave Batker and Isabel del a Torre, Ken and Nell Batker, Leonard Bauer, Ann Baxter, William Baxter, Laure Bayer, Ernest Bay, Betty Beal, Corinne Beaudoin-Hall, Barbara Beaver, Dr and Mrs. Leslie Becker, Rosanne Becker, Maureen Beckstead, Ruth and Ronald Beck, Al and Linda Bednarczyk, Elizabeth Beer, Jean Bekey, Leo Bellarts, Hannah Bellefontaine, Frances Bentley, Laurie Bergman, John Bergvall, Peter Berle, Jenny Berlin, Jean Berning, Lisa Berntsen, Edgar and Karen Beverly, Cathy Beyer, Steve Biddle, Cheryle Bigelow, Jean and Phil Birkeland, Nels and Winnie Bjarke, Judy Blackmer, Frances Blair, Sylvia Blair, Sara and John Blakeslee, Marian and James Blanchard, Judy Blatt, Frances Blewer, T M Bocott, Elizabeth Bodine, Sandra and David Boe, Gail Bohannon, Connie Bond, Sylvia Boomer, Chandra Barnheimer, Troy and Nita Born, Cathy Bostwick, Mary Ann Boulanger, Geraldine Bowles-Hobbs, Janie Bowman, Sally Boyle, Jacqueline Boynton, Susan Boynton, Joyce and David Bramsche, Ron Bramsche, Katherine Brands, Larry and Markreta Brandt, Carol Breedlove, Rusty and Nancy Brennan-Dubbs, Mary Joy Breton, Edith Brewer, Don Brittain, Jerry Broadus and Clarice Clark, Charles and Gail Bronson, Michael and Gillian Brooks, Jane Brosius, Bert Brown, Jack and Billie Brown, Margaret Brown, Michael Brown and Laurie Patoff, Patricia Brown, Richard Brown, Shawn Brown, Suzanne Brown, Thomas and Elaine Brown, Doris Bucher, Marlene Buffington, Duke M Bui, Bill Bulley, Janine Bural, Jennifer Burklund, Ted and Kay Burns, Robert Burton, Marguerite Buselmeier, Scott Bussinger, Tara Bussinger, Trusilla and Don Bussinger, Jack Butcher, Bunnie Butterfield and Bob Sotak, Judith Caffarel, Kathy Callahan, Ed Callaway, Howard Campbell, Don and Joan Campion, Scott Candler, Sarah and Robert Cantwell, Rene Canzler, Jane Carden, David Carino and Gail Fitz, Terry Carkner, Dorothy Carlson, Joyce Carlson, Nancy Carmody, Ken and Robin Carnahan, Miriam Carpmail, Zinita Carrell, Nina Carter and Tom Rainey, Elsie Casebolt, James and Frances Cash, Laura Rene Catalano, Bob and Anne Caughey, Kristi Ceder, Warren Chandlet, Sharon Charbonnel, Jim and Shirley Charette, Givin and Nancy Chase, Carolee Cheney, Joann and Dale Chesnut, Loretta Chivers, Phyllis Christian, Ted and Peggy Christian, Jim Christopherson, Mary Ellen and Don Church, Tom and Susan Cicchinelt, Ione and John Clagett, Glenice Clark, Elly Claus-McGahan, Don and Patricia Clifford, Carol Clingan, Katharine Coghill, Andrea Coker-Arden, Deborah Cole, Margaret Cole, Delores Collins, Marilyn Collins, June Coloff, Jim Colson and Theresa Olsen, Kate and John Comis, Andy Comstock, Annie and Colin Conant, Sarah Connelly, Terry Conner, Cassandra and Patrick Cook, Patti Coolsen, Peter Coomes, Mary Jane Cooper, Pearl Cooprider, Brian Copeland, Connie Copeland, Renee and Steve Copeland, Robert Corbett, Luann Corso, Arthur and Magdalena Constantino, Doreen Covich, Nickie Cownie, Candice Cox-Blann, Patti Cox, Shandra Cox, Dan Cragin, Mary Cragin, Rose and Doug Cragin, Richard and Linda Craig, Heidi Crawford, Mike Crayton, Crockett, Shane Crockett, Denice Crotto, Corinne Cruver, Jean Cunningham, Lois Currie, David Dahl, Bailey Dahms, Pamela Darland, Nancy Daugherty, Ruth Daugherty, Jane Davison, Heather Davis, Patricia Davis, Virginia De Costa, Betty Decker, Connie Decker, Marcella Decker, Dorothy Dedrick, Bruce Dees and Associates, Richard Dehling, Care de Leeuw, Deborah Denison, Margaret Deturk, John and Linda De Vore, B Dickinson, Robert Dieckmann, Rhona Diehl, Helena and Clifford Dillon, Kazumi Divens-Cogez, Marion Doan, Jerrold and Jacqueline Dock, Diana and Joel Dodd, Donna Dolge, Michael Dollinger, Kathleen Donehower, Diane Doss, Kit Dougton,

Donna Douglass, Dean Kirk Douglas, Hal Dowdy, Diane Dumond, Patsy Dunnington, Mary Durand, Ronald Dyson, Kathy Easton, Cathy Ebbert, Russ and Denise Eckington,

Diane and Larry Edison, Molly Edman, Danielle Edmonds, Steve and Donna Egge, Molly Egly, Naomi and Carl Elam, Kathy Elling, Janis Elliott, Anne and David Ellison, Ann Elliston, Gloria Ellis, Luana and Ron Ellis, Margaret Ellis, Susan and Gerry Elston, Holly Endersby, Chris and Diane Engle, David and Margaret Engle, George Engle, Gretchen Engle, Helen Engle, Grace Eubanks, Melisa Evangelos and James Sylvanos, Beverly and Mervyn Evans, Wendy Evans, Kathryn Eytcheson, Tim Farrell, Robert and Donna Ferguson, Willena Ferguson, Eleanor Ficca, Warren and Dorothy Finch, Mary Jean Finnegan, Donna Fleming, Mary and Paul Fleming, Steve Floor, Geraldine Fordice, Cam and Dave Foreman, Mike and Marjorie Forseth, Marlo Foss, Jean Francis, Rosa Franklin, Franz-West, June Franz, Kathleen Franz, Nancy and Stewart Fraser, Philip and Dawn Frazer, Richard Frederick, Bob and Donna Fredricks, Beverly Freiday, Betty and John Frey, Kathy Fridovich, John and Nancy Fullinwider, Cindy Fulton, Jean and Douglas Funk, Henry Gabel, Kim Cantwell and Dave Gab, Linda and Robert Gaines, Jack and Susanne Gakstatler, Tom Galdabini, Jack Gallagher, Dorothy Gannon, Gael Gann, Jack Gardner, John and Carolyn Garner, Frank Garratt, Steven and Susan Garrett, Dana and Amy Garrigan, Myrta Garrison, Donald Garwood, Gary and Debbie Geddes, Mary Sue Gee, Arthur Gee, Amy Geer, Rosalie George, Lisa and Patrick Gergen, Tom Gergen, Edith Geske, Patti and Al Ghezzi, Cecelia Giddings, Laura Giddings, Roxy and Bill Giddings, Alice Gilliland, Georgine Gillispie, Jean Gillmer, Lorri Gilmur-Dillman, Thelma and Chuck Gilmur, Marcia Gjerstad, Linda Glein, Gretchen Glew, Margaret Glover, Susan Goering, Calvin Goings, Bill and Dorrie Golding, Nancy Goodwin, Martin and Karen Graham, Ken Grassi, Elin Gratton, Shirley Graves, Verity Graves, Harold Gray, Luanne Green, Mary Green, Charles Griffin, Maj Todd Griffin, Marjorie Griffin, Mary Griffith, Gisela Groenwald, Deborah Grondahl, Mark and Nancy Grubb, John Guadnola, Milt and Myrtle Guhr, Barbara Guller, J W Gurley, Carol Guzy, Karen and Patrick Haas, Dr P Hageman, William and Noel Hagens, Mary Haire, Kelly Hale, Marion Hale, Ron Hale, Steve and Cecelia Hallstrom, Ursula Hall, Marvin and Shirley Halverson, Mona and Lew Hammond, Peter Hampl, Wade Hands, Fern Hansen, Rhonda Hansen, Martha Hanson, Jim Harber, Kris Harkness, Danielle Harrington, Ralph and Teresa Harrison, E C Harris, Ruby Harr, JoAnn Hart, Karyn and Allen Hart, Diane Hathaway, Torval and Marilyn Haugen, Martin and Sharon Hauptman, Phyllis Hayes, Mary Hemier, Norman and Jacqueline Heimgartner, Yolanda Heitman, Connie Hellyer, Nancy Hellyer, Kathy Hemion, Gail Hemphill, James Henderson, M Hendrix, Mye Hever, John Herzog, George Hess, Paul Hickey, Valerie Higgins, Michael and Barbara Hill, Modean Hill, Sally Hill, Carole Hinde, Nancy Hirsh, Dave Hirst, Millard and Rebecca Hixson, Priscilla Hoback, Heidi Hoeltry, Christine Hoey, Pam Hogan, R V and Adelaide Hogan, Deb and Chuck Holland, Dee Dee and Bruce Holser, Lon and Lynn Hoover, Audrey Hori, Nancy Hori, Grant Hosford, Helen Howat, Charles and Sharon Hubbell, Priscilla Huber, Dr Jurgen and Susan Huck, Pam Hudson, Laurence and Bonny Huestis, Clair Hull, Dave and Gretchen Hull, Steve Hunter, Carla Hurlburt, Patti Hurlbut, Patrick and Nancy Hurley, Dorothy Husband, Robert Husted, Deborah Hyde and Richard Hennings, Mrs Charles Hyde, Sidney Hyde, Nancy Iams, Mr and Mrs Indrebo, Johnnie Ingalls, Judy Irwin, Dr Nichol and Joanne Iverson, Sally Jacky, Anne and Paul Jacobson, Barbara Jacobson, Frank Jacobs, G Jayser, Steve Jenkins, Larry and Karen Jerdal, Arline Johnson Hart, Ann Johnson, Burt and Doris Johnson, Howard and Doreen Johnson, Jeff Johnson and Kathryn Johansen, Kim Johnson, Steven Johnson, Tracy Johnson, Vern and Nita Johnson, Yaul Johnson, Betty Jones, David and Cynthia Jones, Jo Ann Jones, Kevin and Anne Jones, Verna Mooney Jones, Al Jordan, Bill Jowders, Jim Julich, Beth Jurgensen, Alvin Kageler, Joe Kane, Anna Lisa and George Kanick, Helen and Albert Kanich, Christine Karczewski, Ole Karlsen, Phil Karr, William and Sharon Kaufman, Bill and Judy Kelly, Danny Kendal, Mary and James Kenney, George and Mary Lou Kenny, Margaret Kent, Diane Kerlin, Marjorie and James Kilborn, Sherrie and Kenneth Kilborn, Roberta Kilgore, Jodi Kimizuka, Soosan Kirbawy, Deborah Kirby, Elsie Kitchens, Lori Klatt, Byrna and Bob Klavano, Barbara and Herman Kleiner, Ralph Klose, Debbie Klosowski, Dagmar and Wayne Knight, Phyllis Knopp, Merlyn Knudson, Steven and Susan Kohler, Peggy Kopf, Irene Korich, Deborah Kotus, Carol Kovanda, Margaret Kraft, Patricia Krick, Doris Krilich, Judith Krill, Mardy Krusemark, Barbara and Bob Kvamme, Bruce Labar, Walter Lachnit, Thelma Laird, Kyong Lane,

continued from page 1

...Thank-you to more than

September 2007 Page 7www.tahomaaudubon.org

Vernon and Catherine Lange, Patricia Lantz, Theresa Lanzon, Diane Larson, Sally and Wayne Larson, Bonnie Latham, Liz and Bob Lathrop, Mariam Lauren, John Lavin, Bob Lawrence, Lee Lazelle, Susan and Lawrence Lee, Gil LeFrancois, Kathleen LeGreid, Suzanne Leichman, Charlyn Leitch, Rosemary and Robert Lenigan, Ann and Jim Leslie, Elayne Levensky-Vogel, Judy Lewis, Marion Leyrer, Sarah Lien, Doreen Ligrano, Joel Ligrano, Michael Ligrano, Alison Lilley, Lois Lindt, Lin Livingston, Bonnie Long, Jean Loomis, Ruth Looney, Cynthia Lorch, Dian Lord, Katherine Loveless, Marjorie Lovrak, Ellen Lowrie, Verdell and Ellen Low, Roz Lueck Mammen, Joyce Lundberg, Chris Lunn, Ellen Mabie, Terry Mace, Carol Mackinnon, Mary Madden, Penelope Magelssen, Marilyn Mahoney, Bill Mahr, Betty Main, John Main, Mary Manning, Judy Manza, Stephen Marek, Judy Margrath-Huge, Henry and Elaine Maros, Francine Marsh, Ardine Martinelli, Paula and Archer Martinson, Lynne Martinson, Rena Martin, Jennie Marx, Kathy Mason, Romona Mason, Carol Masters, Dwayne Matchette, Shirley Mathis, Susan Mattern, Fred Mathaei, Jeannette Matthews, Nancy Maulding,Keith Maxwell, Terry McBride, Joe and Carolyn McCarthy, Denise McCluskey, Sue McCluskey, Jean McConnell, Kelly McDonald, John McGilliard, Richard McGinnis, Marjorie McGlenn, Joe and Alberta McGuire, Joseph and Allison McGuire, Lynn McGuire, Michael and Debra McGuire, Deborah McLaughlin, Agnes McLin, Matthew McQuitkin, Howie Meadowcroft, Barbara Mead, Mary Means, Janet Medcalf, Ryan Mello, Andy Menck, Rosanna Menck, Marie and Roosevelt Mercer, Roosevelt Mercer, Sybil Mercer, Joanne Merrill and Wally Croshaw, Ruth Meshriy, Mike and Marcella Messersmith, Keith Messer, Paula Meyer, Mae Lynn Mickelson, Denise Mulimonka, Ruth Ann Mikels, Julie Milasich, Heidi Miles, Norma Millen, Georgianna Miller, Joyce and John Miller, Katherine Miller, Loyd Miller, Nora and Mike Miller, Paul Miller, Rod and Barbara Miller, Cara Milles, Pam Mills, Jean Milton, Frank Milward and Annette Calder, Mary Pat Minor, Cindy Mish, Mimi Miskovsky, Bill and Susan Mitchell, Carolyn and John Mitchell, Cheryl Miyoner, Mr and Mrs Richard Moe, ob Molinck, Dolly Monaghan, Cecile Montgomery, Frank and Kathleen Morgan, Barbara Morris, Don and Virginia Morris, Robert Morrow, Elaine Morse, Lloyd Morse, Neil Mullen and Yolanda Duralde, Kay Murland, Helen and Donald Murphy, Patrick Murphy, Virginia Murphy, William and Reitha Muse, Randall Myers and Sooz Myrdal, Richard Myking, Bob Myrick, Martha Nahs, Pat Nechals, Martin and Mary Ellen Nelson, Mike Nelson, Sally and Donald Nesheim, Marlys Nesset, Gary Nestegard, Sharon Newcomer, Herman Nickel, Daphne Nolte, Anne Norman, Claire Norris, Tracey Norris, Donald and Katharine O'Brien, Jim O'Donnell Jr, Jim O'Donnell, Mike O'Donnell, Sam O'Donnell, Selene O'Donnell Elva Oakes, Mary Ochs, Leif Oksenvaag, Linda Olarte, Gerhild and William Old, Shirley Oliver, Reba Olsen, Oivind Olson Boger and Kirsten, David and Kathryn Olson, David Olson, Diane T Olson, Pat Olson, Ray and Dee Olson, Helga Omero, Bob Orlando, Janice and Uriah Orr, Karen and Jack Orr, Carolyn Orwiler, Charles Orwiler, Frederick Orwiler and Karen Binder, Rob Ory and Karen Holdner, Diane Overby, Mary Pachek and Carl Buckholz, Claudia Page, James Palmer, David and Christine Parent, John and Karen Parks, Alan Park, Christina Parrott, Elsie Parrott, Karen and Miles Parrott, Larry and Diane Parsons, Tony Passanante, Mary Jane Patnode, Carolyn Patterson, Arthur Pavey, Nancy Pawlicki, Nancy Gayle Peach, Claude and Helen Pearson, Don and Nancy Pearson, Harold Pearson, C L and Patty Pecchenino, Dale Pedersen, Henry and Beth Pedersen, Arlo Pelela, Aron Pelela, Sheila Pelz, Donna Pepos, Linda Petersen and Michael Mitchell, Luverne Petersen, Bill and Mignonne Peterson, James D Peterson, Bonnie Petrequin, PFC Griffin, Frank and Alice Phelps, Lesley Phillips, Warren Picha, Shelli Pilner, Wesley Pollock, Kitty Porter, Monica Porter, James Posey, Betsy and Dave Potts, Patience and Dale Powell, Virginia Primm, Kathleen Prosch, Don and Joan Pruett, Marcia Prunty, Anne and Jeff Puckett, Ivan and Phyllis Puckett, Ed and Kay Pullen, Terry and Debby Puskas, Ronda Putney, Joe Quaintance, Verna Quam, Kenneth Query, Joe Quinn, Steve and Lora Raeder, Randy Rohn, Nicholas and Melinda Rajacich, Lenora Rakas, James Ramsdall, Charles Rance, Gerald and Joan Rapp, Steven Rapp and Seong Yeon, Penny Rarick Mueller, Neva Rasmussen, Georgia Rawson, Philip Ray, Jennifer Recco, Annabelle Reed, Irene Reed from Tacoma, Irene Reed from Graham, Stephen and Kathleen Reed, Debbie Regala, Julie and Paul Rehberger, James Reinsvold, Linda Reiter, Connie Reitzug, Sheila Renton, Lillian Reseck, Gary Reynolds, Marilyn Reynolds, Michael Reynolds, Patty and Robert

Reynolds, Richard Rhine, Alan Richards and Ann Musche, Lillian Rich, Tedd Riggs, Gail Rinehart, Inez Ritchey, D Ann Robbins, Charles Roberson, Dolphine Roberson, Bruce Roberts, Hazel Robinson, Ron and Helen Robinson, Virginia Robinson, Mary and Donald Roening, Charles and Marilyn Roe, Betsy Rogers, Janet Roller, Monica Roller, Wilma Rosenow, Kandy and Marv Rose, Edward and Marcine Rosko, Josephine Ross, Sharon Ross, Sue Ross, Joyce Rousseau, Judy Rucker, Sylvia Russell and Brian Wester, Jim Ryan, Robyn Ryan, Thelma and John Sacklin, Dawn Sage, Barbara and Edward Sahlin, Ed Sakai, Linda Salazar, JoAnn Savitz, Thomas Sawyer, William and Judith Scheer, Katherine Schimke, Joan Schlegel, Kevin and Emily Schoenfelder, Catherine Scholz, Kris Schoyen, Grace and Andrew Schroedel, Mike Schroeder, Judih Schuler, Dave and Betsy Schultz, Paul and Donna Schultz, Fred and Louise Schumock, Keith Schwyhart and Betty Bruce, David Scott and Aviva Limberger, Gary Scott, Tanja Scott, David Seago, Buel and Luana Sever, Patricia Shaddix, Jerry Shahan, Jan Sharkey, Maurice and Bonnie Sharp, Sally Sharrad, Patricia Sheffield, Ben Sherwood, Melisa and Dennis Sherwood, Edith Shirley, Harriet Shull, Leah Siegenthaler, Mary and Leo Siegenthaler, Jean Simmons, Carolyn Simonson, Brian Simpson, Joann Sims, Tom Sims and Gloria Ho, Arthur Six, Ken and Melinda Skaught, Wayne and Marjorie Sladek, Sara Slater, Mr and Mrs Edgar Sliffe, Rhonda Sloan, Sarah Sloat, Betty Smith, Bill Smith, Douglas and Jo Smith, Robert and Marjorie Smith, Linda and Willits Smull, Jody Snyder, Harold Solberg, Steve and Bobby Soran, Soroptimist International of Tacoma, Ramona Soule, George Sovie, Elayne Spangler, Pat Spears, John Spehar, Barbara Spruel, Corey Spry, Mari Spry, Audrey Stacey, Gloria Stancich and Donna Douglass, Lois and David Stark, Lee and LaVonne Steele, Bruce and Gloria Steel, Kimberly Steiner, Robert Steiner, Patti and Brad Steinfeld, Adele Stevens, Richard and Candy Stewart, Bonnie Stiff, Marjorie Stockford, Margaret Stolarik, Sandra and Ed Stonebreak, Richard Stoner, Gail Storrs, Bob Studebaker, Barbara Sullivan, Brian Sullivan and Anna Leon Guerrero, Beckie Summers, Sue Summers and Al Ferguson, June Summerville, Vernal and Jeanie Sumner, Evelyn Svendsen, Cindy Swanberg, John and Dorothy Swanberg, Lin Swanson, Louise Swanson, Sharon Swearingen, Hayes Swinney, Linda Tatlock, Marilyn Tausend, Audra Taylor, Azella Taylor, Bonnie Taylor, Della Taylor, Shelagh Taylor, Richard Templeton, J W TerLouw, Joan Thomas, Adelaide Thompson, Beatrice Thompson, Berta Thompson, Dale and Hannah Thompson, John Thompson, John and Yolanda Thompson, Paula Thrall, Anna Thurston, Bill Tiglar, Ann Tjhung, Fred and Dorothy Tobiason, Dick Tomko, Daniel and Linda Tompkins, Sheri Tonn, Lynn and Jon Torgerson, Martha Torres, Karen Trail, Winnie Trippel, Tim Trohimovich, Jean Trucco, Robert Willard Tschida, Bill Tudor, Dolores Tuell, Les and Diane Uhrich, Gerard Urling, Heather Urschel and Michael Spier, Irene Urschel, Mel and Judy Urschel, Charlotte Valbert, Richard Van Deman, Elaine Van Eycke, Colleen Van, Edna Vandenheuvel, Lynn Verkler, Mariam Vimont, Carla Vincent, Louise Wackerle, Jon and Kay Wagner, Walt Waisath, Kathleen Walker, Lanny Walker, Patricia Larissa Wallace, Lynn Wallon, C C Walters, Jeanne Walters, Bob Walter, George Walter, Peggy Walther, Ruth and Richard Waltman, Steve Wamback, Jennifer Wamboldt, Art Wang, Ann Wanwig, Fletcher Ward, Robert Warfield, Carolyn Washburn, Bev Webber, Bill Weber, Dennis and Donnie Weeks, Frank and Janice Weihs, Katrina Weihs, Barbara Weikert, Osciola Weingard, Dolores Weisgerber, Rita Westling, Dennis and Joy White, Nancy Jean White, Helen Whitney, William Whitney, Jan Wieser, Ryan D Wiese, Barbara Wightman, Wild Birds Unlimited, Barbara Williams, Lauren Williams, Elizabeth and Dale Willis, Dorine Wimbles, Winegar Dental Lab, Jeanne and Kurt Winje, Mary Winkler, Charles and Vera Wiseman, Nancy Wittenberg, Joan and George Wolfe, Tom Womeldorff, Luella Wong, Warren and Mary Woodard, John Woodman, Art Woods, Ken Woolery, E Ann Woolnough, Eugenia Woo, Michael and Frances Wotton, Eric Wuersten, Diane Yorgason Quinn, Lucille and Tommy Young, Monika Young, Jae Zabotel, Alex Zaffee, Donna Zaugg, R Ivan Zbaraschuk, Linda Zender, Clare Zimmerman, Donna and Alan Zimmerschied, Mary Zimmer, Kathryn Zimm, David Zink, Yvonne Zubalik, Elizabeth Zubitis, Allen and Ellen Zulauf, Kim Zumwalt. We have tried to do a very accurate listing. If we've missed anyone, please let us know. Any contributions that come in after the Towhee deadline will receive our thanks in the October Towhee.

1100 Birdathon sponsors!

Flycatcher, our target bird at this stop, was beeping lackadaisically, along with both king-birds. Nothing else moved in this heat except us, and we stayed strictly in the shade. Another target bird at Maryhill State Park where we took our lunch was the Lesser Goldfinch, and they were in numbers! Further along, we had to stop the cars for fear of running over a family of Dusky Grouse (formerly Blue Grouse, eastern subspecies). Mom and five large chicks crossed the road once, twice, thrice, four times before letting us move on! Remains of one of their siblings squashed on the road nearby should have warned them to be more careful. Evening brought us to the Walla Walla area where we visited the famous Hummingbird Crossing of Waitsburg, the yard of Tom Lamb who graciously let us swarm over his dozens of feeders and three species of Hummers. We ran into the local bird expert there, Mike Denny, who gave us great tips for special birds over the next few days.

The next morning, per Mike’s directions, we stopped by Pilot Rock, which had a huge Bank Swallow colony on one side of the road and across the street in a vertical slit in the cliff – a family of Barn Owls! Up to four owls at a time lined up to gawk at the humans. Finally, a mule deer doe exploded with her fawn right below us, so we decided to leave the avifauna and other fauna to their business.

Lots more stops, but then Burns! Our home away from home! We met the rest of our group there – three Californians and Louise Fountain who had come separately with her husband, Dale, in their RV. This was one of their stops during their current homeless

travel existence. It was great to get all together again, but we didn’t waste much time! Unfortunately, Burns was living down to the connotations of its name, as several large wildfires were burning in the distance. Every motel and campground was filled with firefighters brought in from all over. With the long desert vistas, we could monitor smoke plumes from any high point. Sometimes we watched helicopters fill large buckets and wondered just how much good they could do.

But now we headed for Malheur, stopping at the first good bird pond before you get to the refuge and had our first WILLET and first AVOCET!! Unfortunately, or maybe for-tunately, there was also a dead cow in the pond, which just seemed to make it even more attractive to the Canada Geese and phalaropes. During our week in the area, we passed this pond once or twice every day, and the number and variety of birds did in fact decline once the farmer removed the carcass from Dead Cow Pond. A little bit past the pond was The Narrows of Malheur, a fabled hot spot. In the spring, it is packed with birders, but in July, we owned it! No one but Willettes to enjoy a birding spectacle that was every bit as good as any other season, albeit different. White Pelicans still did their aerial drills, but now the big horns on their bills were gone, making them appear more streamlined. Clark’s and Western Grebes were in family groups with young of every age, including a few who were still riding on their parents’ backs (okay, it was pretty cute, if you were wondering). For anyone who has ever struggled with how to tell the difference between Clark’s and Western, it was so easy at this time and place! Just look at the kids! Clark’s young are pure white!! Westerns look like little versions of their folks. And noisy! I don’t usually think of noise when I think of Grebes, but from now on, I shall. A Peregrine Falcon was seen on two different days, looking very well fed, but I don’t want to think on what.

Off to Malheur headquarters! California Quail and dozens of their young of all ages and sizes teemed the grounds! Rufous Hummers and Yellow-Headed Blackbirds kept the volunteers busy keep-

ing feeders going. The famous Great Horned Owl who is always there was in fact there! Great Blue Heron fledglings fought for the branches of the old dead trees by the water, looking prehistoric in their awkwardness on those flimsy branches. Pygmy rabbits forgot to hide and were hopping all over. We also visited the Malheur Field Station where we have stayed in past years, and saw Nighthawks galore along with jackrabbits, and a Says Phoebe probably on her 3rd clutch who flew out of her nest right over the door as soon as we opened it. The ranger said that phoebe puts up with the disruptions because the night light there attracts so many bugs that are easy pickings for her and her young.

Over the next few days we did the complete auto tour of Malheur. It looked a lot dif-ferent in July with far less water, but lots of diversity. A huge hatch of Western White butterflies everywhere, pronghorns, coyotes, two badgers, several different squirrel spe-cies, Yellow-Bellied Marmots, muskrats, deer, and mustangs rounded out the birding, which included lots of Sage Thrashers, Mountain Bluebirds, Vesper Sparrows (the default brown job), Lark Sparrows, kestrels, Prairie Falcons, Loggerhead Shrikes, Golden Eagles, some very different color morphs of Redtails, Great and Snowy Egrets, White-Faced Ibis, Black-Necked Stilts, baby coots, Cassin’s Finch, Gray Flycatchers, Sandhill Cranes, and many more. During one 10-mile stretch, we had the company of six Black-Crowned Night Heron juveniles who were our constant companions. They’d fly up and land ahead, then fly up again when we got there, mile after mile. We were obviously pawns in some game too arcane for human minds to grasp.

Our day on Steen’s Mountain will never be forgotten, and not just because of the dead

battery and shredded tire. This mountain looks more like a mesa from below, not what we think of when the word “mountain” is uttered. But once you get up there (and quite a climb it was according to Carol Smith’s GPS which showed us nearing the top at 9500 feet), you definitely know you are on a mountain. There are snow banks, and mountain wildflowers are just popping up in mid-July. A glider flew close over our heads. Ravens ruled here and allowed us to share their unbelievable vistas. Kiger Gorge took my breath away, but the effect is something you just cannot get from photographs. It is one of sev-eral U-shaped gorges on Steen’s, such perfect examples of which are found nowhere else on earth. Our geology lessons continued on in the week as we visited the Diamond Craters and learned what “bombs” really are (molten lava burps that hardened in flight).

On the drive home, we took the Oregon route At Lost Lake, where we saw the target breeding Barrow’s Goldeneyes and Ospreys fishing, we found hundreds of thousands of tiny Western Toads (thanks, Carol, for researching the species) hopping around our feet! This was one of the weirdest sights any of us had ever seen. They were about an inch long, just past tadpole stage, and they were stampeding in their hip-hop fashion. The jizz was that of a field of grasshoppers or crickets. The numbers were straight out of some cheap horror film, unbelievable to us even as we stepped around them. A biblical plague, though without the nasty implications.

We partied every night while putting our day lists together, celebrated birthdays, dined at the famous Diamond Hotel, stopped and soaked up several desert sunsets, and hob-nobbed with artists who were painting the wildflowers and, later, the vistas. We met the same people over and over again and became friends, as there really weren’t that many people about. In fact, if there is one highlight, it is that we had greater Malheur to our-selves. Truly an undiscovered country in deep summer, after the tourists and before the hunters.

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The Willettes and Friends at Malheur in July 2007: Bottom: Wendy Peterson, Diane Kerlin, Louise Fountain, Diane Yorgason-Quinn, Dorothy Husband. Top: Melissa Sherwood, Janet Bosshard, Carol Smith, Faye McAdams Hands, Rhio Reigh.

Flight to Malheur ...continued from page 1

Story and photos by Diane Yorgason-Quinn

Common Nighthawk in daytime nap

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel moves into larger quarters.

Great Egret Female Rufous Hummer at Malheur Headquarters American White Pelicans patrolling the skies at Malheur Narrows Our Namesake! Willet seen by the Willettes at Dead Cow Pond Lark Sparrow near Malheur

Family of Barn Owls in cliff at Pilot Rock

One of the immature Western Toads at Lost Lake, Oregon

Excerpted by Thelma GilmurJim Lynch of the Fish and Wildlife Service met our

Birdathon group at the Roy Y. We birded Fort Lewis with him. Treats of the day were Yellow-headed Blackbird, Western Kingbird and Western Bluebird.

Information that we learned: 86,000 total number of acres in Ft. Lewis, 20,000 acres of grass and prairies, 4,000 acres in wetlands. Carolyn Orwiler

Great looks of this Mexican sub-species on the S Fork of Cave Creek near Portal, AZ. We heard it first and moved a ways up canyon to call for Whiskered Screech since only 2-3 of us had seen the first one. Suddenly we had an owl fly over and then heard barking and laughing right there. When we turned on a flashlight it was the Spotted Owl perched on a branch just yards away. We had been hearing Whiskered Screech but were delighted with this sighting. At one point we were hearing Elf, Whiskered Screech, and Spotted Owls from 3 different directions. Melissa Sherwood at the Owls and Trogons Workshop in SE Arizona.

The Turtle Mountains were about as cold as we thought it could get. The wind blew, and the thermometer may have reached 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the mid afternoon. We did have fun seeing a few "eastern specialties" at this location on the far western edge of the migratory and nest-ing path of many eastern species. We added Northern Waterthrush and saw many nesting Red-necked Grebes at the Peace Arch. While we were waiting for a tour, we hit a shorebird bonanza. We got a fly-by-look at a Hudsonian Godwit and great looks at the Common Stilt, Semi-palmated, Least, and White-rumped, Spotted, Pectoral, and Upland sandpipers. The truly rare find of the trip was a single Sharp-tailed sandpiper. We had close-up scope views for maybe 20 minutes of this bird that maybe a first for North Dakota, a record. Who would have thought we would see 26 species of shorebirds on this trip? Ed and Kay Pullen with Ken Brown, and Vera Cragin on a long awaited prairie birding adventure.

New Life List birds: Rusty Blackbird, Bluethroat, Boreal Chickadee, Red-faced Cormorant, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Spectacled Eider, Bar-tailed Godwit, Spruce Grouse, Glaucous Gull, Rough-legged Hawk, Long-tailed Jaeger, Lapland Longspur, Arctic Loon, Red-throated Loon, Thick-billed Murre, Red-necked Phalarope, Red-throated Pipit, Rock Ptarmigan, Willow Ptarmigan, Horned Puffin, Tufted Puffin, Hoary Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Red-necked Stint, Wandering Tattler, Aleutian Tern, Arctic Tern, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Yellow Wagtail, Arctic Warbler, Northern Wheatear. Rolan Nelson and John English on an Alaska trip.

Lucky you if you pledged to support my Birdathon based on number of species of birds! How can a birder rack up a big total of birds if the field trip does not include grasslands, riparian zones, mixed forest, wetland, or agri-cultural areas? Our birding trip was from 7,000-foot elevation Park City to 4,000-foot Great Salt Lake's south end. The most exciting bird was the Long-billed Curlew-- pair with young, up close and calling loudly! Helen Engle's Birdathon while at the National Audubon Society workshop on Global Warming.

We birded North Kitsap County, stopping at Point No Point, Foulweather Bluff, and Buck Lake Park for a total of 63 species. Nora Miller

8:00 a.m. finds a small band of Birdathoners in the Tacoma Public Utilities parking lot preparing to board a van that will take them into the Green River Watershed. A trip at anytime into the Green River Watershed (Tacoma's source of drinking water) is a rare treat, since it is usually reserved for those who work with Tacoma Water. A side trip takes us up an old logging road to Eagle Lake. The beautiful views overlooking the watershed make up for the lack of birds. On the return trip, our last stop is a mitigated wetland along the Green River called Auburn Meadows. The area is alive with yellow spots of American Goldfinch which are flitting about calling "potato-chip-potato-chip.” Flying with the many swallows are a num-ber of Vaux's Swifts. Paul Hickey's trip as driver and guide, and Rosanne Becker as official bird identifier came up with 48 species.

Across Snoqualmie Pass to Gold Creek we watched a pair of Dippers actively feeding their nestlings under the bridge. On toward the Cle Elum Airport we added Mountain Chickadee, Townsend's Solitaire, Western Pewee, and Dusky Flycatcher. In Moses Lake, after we officially stopped birding, we attempted to secure lodging

for the evening. I do not believe that even Mary and Joseph could have found a spot to lay their heads. Every room was booked. The annual Spring Festival, complete with baseball tournament, carnival and parade, plus a con-cert at the Gorge. So we headed to Ellensburg which produced the same results. No room at the inn, the motel or the barn out back. We returned to Tacoma at 1:30 a.m. traveling a total of 517.8 miles in the specified 24 hours timeframe. Carole Breedlove with daughter, Nina Gayle to eastern Washington.

For this year's Birdathon we visited the Morse Wildlife Preserve, a 98-acre tract in the Graham area. The original 53 acres was a donation of Lloyd and Maxine Morse in 1995. The tour itself covered a variety of terrain, plants, and birds, and demonstrated the interdependence of vary-ing conditions and land use. There is a large bird-viewing tower. In addition to a profusion of blooming wildflowers (including a tiny native orchid, the Coral root), grasses and trees, foot-high anthills, and miscellaneous insects, we identified almost 30 different species of birds. Steve and Renee Copeland

Our 4th annual Birdathon is now complete. Joan trav-eled to the Nisqually Land Trust out of McKenna hosted by an Audubon birder, Robert Smith, who has lived there for 15 years. The land trust is situated near the Nisqually River in an area that I've never experienced. We traveled through old growth forest, huge maple expanses, along the river, into a meadow, old apple orchard area, and finally a good look at the Nisqually as it made a major turn with all kinds of debris to hide away the birds. Restoration of trees was evident in part of the trust land. Fifty-two species total included 5 in our yard. Joan Rapp

The day was overcast and I could not positively iden-tify the falcon species I saw chasing a group of Tree and Violet Green Swallows. It is my falcon species for the day! I enjoyed see-ing the bird swoop and dive, trying to catch a swallow for breakfast. Catching a swallow on the wing would not be easy! My favorite duck sighting was a female Mallard with eleven "older" ducklings. It is not easy to keep that many ducklings safe from predators! Kris Quinn on a solo trip to Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.

Several of us agreed that it was the first time we had ever seen an American Bittern in flight. Most mystifying was the sight of a yard-wide clump of tall grass charging across a pond without visible means of locomotion. From the boardwalk at Bowerman Basin we saw a Canada Goose, a Snow Goose, and a Greater White-fronted Goose sitting companionably side by side. Although it is not a record, our total of 87 species was gratifying. Bill and Roxy Giddings visits to Nisqually WR, Bowerman Basin, and Ocean Shores.

We birded from Purdy Park & Ride north to Point No Point. The group saw and/or heard about 70 species. …laid my eyes on 38--adding 7 to my life list! We had great weather and a fun time with interesting people and places. Byrna Klavano

I counted species on Washington State Hospital cam-pus. I headed into the apple orchard and west across slope on the trail above the old pig stalls. There was a Steller's Jay harassing a pair of Bushtits at the beginning of the trail. I cut up the trail leading to the top of the ridge just west of water towers, where I found the biggest surprise of the day, a Lazuli Bunting. Tom Gergen

Warbler songs are heard as the birds stay hidden: Black-throated Gray Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler. On the other hand, many silent Yellow-rumped Warblers are seen flitting among the branches. Also heard but not seen, are Hutton's and Warbling Vireos. On some of the pilings, Purple Martins can be seen near some nest-

ing boxes. The largest member of the swallow family, this bird's warbling call sounds much like an echo. Also on the pilings are several Pigeon Guillemots and a Canada Goose sitting on its nest that is a depression on top of a piling. A few remaining Double-crested Cormorants are seen dry-ing their spread-out wings. Most of these cormies migrate east of the mountains to breed. Rosanne Becker and Joann Sims on a special Titlow Bird count for other bird-ers.

At the Northern Pacific ponds in Cle Elum, we found the Nashville Warbler, a colorful male Western Tanager, and a Barrow's Goldeneye with ducklings. A Hooded Merganser was tending her young in the marsh at the Teanaway Bridge. We pulled out an American Dipper from the bridge on Masterson Road, and a Calliope Hummingbird at a feeder. Hidden Valley Road was hiding a number of surprises. White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches were both nesting near the road. A pair of Red Crossbills flew in and landed on the feeder below us. The Say's Phoebe was flycatching from her perch on the fence. Marcus Roening and Heather Ballash.

I can't believe I almost skipped Birdathon this year, thinking I was too busy or tired or something. If not for a conversation with a friend about an unidentified duck, I would not have issued the invitation that committed me to a day trip, and I would have missed what the friend, Carol Thomas, called "the perfect birdwatching trip." We're still iffy about which duck it was we watched from her front window, but we are richer for the land and life we entered and observed last month and the company of both experts and novices we shared. Roland's willingness to speak to our greenhorn status made the trip especially educational for Carol and me. The sites were incredible treasures of the Kitsap peninsula, easily accessible and all within a few miles. The Nature Conservancy forest is carefully pro-tected and the beach at the end of the trail is pristine. We were quite taken by all of it; Carol even dragged her hus-band back the next weekend for just a little bit more. I am so grateful to Tahoma Audubon and the trip leaders for making this possible, and I thank my donors for adding their contributions to the ongoing efforts of Audubon to educate and preserve. Kristi Ceder

My choice of the Morse Wildlife Preserve for Birdathon was based on becoming more familiar with the varied habitats offered by the area and the fact that it is protected by Audubon and the Cascade Land Conservancy. It is a good example of stewardship of land and preserving or restoring precious resources in our county. Marilyn

ReynoldsA Vaux's Swift flew around and around the tower, giving us quite a show. We

got dizzy watching its swift, bat-like flight overhead. Traveling on into the wooded area, we heard a Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Raven, Bewick's Wren, House Finch, Towhee and Solitary Vireo. When I got home

there was a family of six Red-breasted Nuthatches at the suet feeder. Diana Dodd at the Morse Wildlife Preserve on her birthday.

I wish to thank our patient and knowledgeable leader, Betty Jones, for an informative and exciting time at Lake Waughop at Fort Steilacoom Park where we identified 47 birds. Sally Jacky

The real treat for me was on McManamon Road. And I saw it first!!! A Yellow-breasted Chat!! I can never again say I haven't seen one. What a thrill! We also got to see the rather rare Tri-colored Blackbird. On the Umptanum Road came the next thrill. A Wilson's Snipe. Further up the road we heard a rare Grasshopper Sparrow and a beau-tiful blue Lazuli Bunting. Joann Sims

Evening advances as we head to Tacoma. In the front pond at Titlow is a stunning Hooded Merganser. As we hear the call of the resident Belted Kingfisher, we notice a Band-tailed Pigeon in a fir tree. On power lines near the old ferry dock are at least a dozen Purple Martins which nest in boxes on the old pilings. A Pigeon Guillemot swims toward the pilings where it has a nest in a hole. A few Glaucous-winged Gulls occupy the tops of the pil-ings. A Bewick's Wren scolds as we leave the area. In the waning light we see the expected Bald Eagle at its nest above Chambers Creek. Large flotillas of lingering Common Mergansers are fishing the creek. At the old Simpson Kraft mill, we look for and spot one of the Peregrine Falcons seen earlier in the week. This is a fitting species with which to finish this year's Birdathon. Rosanne Becker

Interesting and informational

from our Birdathon birders

www.tahomaaudubon.orgPage 10 September 2007

environmenT MattersenvironmenT Matters

Pierce and King County have come together to endorse community efforts to protect the natural diver-sity of the lower White River between Sumner and Buckley and designate that section of the river as the Lower White River Biodiversity Management Area. In a proclamation issued today, Executive John W. Ladenburg says the county will "recognize, and as appropriate, protect the natural diversity in the Lower White River through planning actions, technical consul-tations, voluntary conservation and tax incentives and coordinated strategic lands purchases."

The designated area has been identified as one of 16 unique places in the South Sound that sustains healthy populations of fish, mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and plants. Collectively, these areas define a network of biologically important habi-tats that conserve wildlife and meet human needs, such as providing sources of clean water.

The biodiversity network was defined in 2000 by Pierce Planning and Land Services, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the University of Washington and includes biologically important areas within Pierce County watersheds and adjacent coun-ties. The network is a non-regulatory approach to conservation and stewardship. The Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance formed to support the implementation of biologi-cal surveys and encourage the involve-ment of citizens in conservation action.

A community organization called the Friends of the Lower White River is now being formed to work for the biodiversity and health of the Lower White River basin and its communities. Residents of the Buckley, Sumner and Lake Tapps areas are invited to get involved. More information about the Friends of the Lower White River can be obtained by contacting Jeanne Fancher at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.net.

The Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance has brought

together scientists, educators, and volunteers for the conservation and stewardship effort. Participants rep-resent the University of Washington, Tahoma Audubon, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Tacoma Nature Center, Pierce Conservation District, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Wildlife Federation, and Pierce and King county governments. Funding support is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington Biodiversity Council, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. The project is a joint effort of the Puyallup River Watershed Council and the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance.

CONTACT: John Garner, Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance, 253-229-5966 or johng@tacomaparks.com

www.tahomaaudubon.orgSeptember 2007

lower White river conservation efforts endorsed

Page 11

Restore and Protect – ACOW’s Conference Theme

Tidepools, shorelines, bays, the outer coast, wildlife refuges, old growth forests, wild and scenic rivers, glaciers, wildflower meadows, and many of the areas in between…what do these diverse habitats have in common? Answer: The need to protect these ecosystems for future generations to enjoy and appreciate, and for the sustainability of our planet. Restoration of degraded or misused areas is necessary too.

That is why the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society (OPAS) has selected “Restoration and Protection of Washington’s Natural Areas” as the theme for the upcoming Audubon Council of Washington’s (ACOW) semi-annual conference. This three-day event will be held at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center in Blyn on October 19, 20, and 21. More than 100 leaders from the 26 Audubon chapters in our state, along with National Audubon’s Washington State office staff, will share what’s being protected and restored in their region. And global warming is, of course, very high on Audubon’s agenda – both nationally and locally.

During the conference, participants will have the chance to visit one of three special places to see outstanding examples: the restored Jimmy-comelately Estuary; the Dungeness River engineered logjam installation; or the future Elwha River double-dam removal project.

Each Audubon chapter has been asked to bring a portable display showcasing an important conservation project in their region. Sometimes we become so isolated or busy within our

own region that we forget that all areas are connected (bird migratory routes, for example) and we frequently need to work together when protecting ecosystems.

That is what ACOW’s esteemed feature speaker is doing – bring-ing together a partnership of many entities to accomplish a huge goal for our state: Cleaning up Puget Sound. Nationally renowned William D. Ruckelshaus, appointed by Governor Gregoire as chair-man of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council, will

speak at the conference’s Saturday night salmon BBQ banquet. This Puget Sound cleanup effort will go a long

way towards “Restoring and Protecting Washington’s Natural Areas.”

Please visit www.olympicpenin-sulaaudubon.org for more confer-ence information.

Purple Martins in a nest box project being documented by OPAS in Dungeness Bay.Photo/Sue Chickman

Dramatic decline in seabird polpulations A recent study by Dr. John Bower at Western Washington University found that seabirds in north Puget Sound have declined dramatically since the late 1970's. But what about wintering seabirds in central and south Puget Sound? Well, we honestly don't know and the volunteer Science Commitee at Seattle Audubon has declared it a priority to find out. We have established the framework for a citizen science project to take place this winter and for winters to come. That's why we need your help. Might you be the birder we are looking for with a couple hours to spare every fourth Saturday this winter? WHO: A dedicated team of talented citizen scientists!WHAT: Wintering Seabird SurveyWHEN: The first Saturday of every month, October through April. Count to take place within two hours on either side of high tide (4-hour win-dow). Only 15 minutes per site. WHERE: Central Puget Sound (eastern shoreline) from Edmonds Ferry Terminal south to Dash Point (south Federal Way). 28 survey locations have been mapped out, at least one mile apart.** Would you like to help but live outside the Seattle area? Please con-tact Adam Sedgley at adams@seattleaudubon.org to learn more. The Seattle Audubon Science Committee is very interested in conducting surveys throughout central and southern Puget Sound. Take this pro-tocol, find a site, visit it monthly over the winter and send us your data. It's that easy. To learn more or to download the protocol, please visit http://seattle-audubon.org/science.cfm?id=1168 In field training with members of Seattle Audubon Science Committee, two possible dates:Wednesday, September 19th, 6-8pm (at Golden Gardens in Seattle.)Saturday, September 22nd, 10am-12pm (at Golden Gardens.)Please let me know if you are interested in this survey and if so, which sites would you be able to visit, your birding ability and which training session you will be able to attend. We would really appreciate your help.

Thank you.Adam SedgleyScience Associate for Seattle Audubon206-523-8243 ext. 36adams@seattleaudubon.orgwww.birdweb.orgArticle about the marine bird population decline can be found athttp://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/138470.html .

www.tahomaaudubon.orgPage 12 September 2007

We were out in the field all summer and into September!

Bus trip to Sunrise and lakes around Burroughs Mt., Mt. Rainier NP, led by Elmer Price; Bus trip to Chinook Pass with The Mountaineers; and Elmer’s bus trip to White Pass. Mary Jane Cooper took us bird-ing at Indian Henry’s Hunting Grounds, MRNP; Point Defiance Park walk with Walt Adams; Nisqually NWR August census with Georgia Ramsey and early September birding the dike walk with Carla Hansmann. The pelagic trip out of Westport, a Terry Wahl specialty, was done twice. Friends of Chambers Creek Chairman Art Peterson led us from the Boise-Cascade plant up the canyon for a look at what kind of development was being proposed.

Charter TAS member Dale Thompson, Ranger-Naturalist-Artist at Mt Rainier NP led us to Van Trump Park to see alpine flowers at their peak, Comet Falls, Christine Falls, and mar-mots sunning themselves. Woods, meadow & lake at 192nd Street, Margaret Stolarick; Ocean Shores, Ken Brown; and Parent/Child Nature experience with Jim Valley in the Engle garden and with Mildred Hoffman at Titlow.

We sponsored good nature programs.Thelma Gilmur was selling tickets for the

TAS/PLU co-sponsored Wildlife Film Series at

PLU’s Chris Knutzen Hall. Programs offered this season

were “Coastline California, Roaming the Coast Range,” Albert Wool; “Footloose in Newfoundland,” Thomas Sterling; “Romance of the

West,” Allen King; Inside Passage to Alaska,” Norm

Wakeman.The monthly meeting featured the Royal

Society for the Protection of Birds with a slide lecture by Robert Ernest Scott on “Reserves Around Britain.”

We were serious about the issues.Even then we were wondering how many

lakes have to die, and looking at acid rain. An in-depth item was written by a TAS charter member, Sheri Tonn, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry at PLU. Sheri alerted TAS mem-bers to the impacts of emissions from coal-fired power plants such as ASARCO in Tacoma and Centralia’s low-grade coal plant near Bucoda. She could give us an even more serious talk on that subject now as acidification of our marine waters is upsetting so many natural systems in the climate change phenomenon.

TAS participated in The Evergreen State College two day “Energy and the Environment in the PNW -- Choices for the 1980’s.”

Paul Webster did a last minute update on legislation creating the Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument. The Washington

Congressional delegation is pushing for 110,000 acres in and adjacent to, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to be managed to keep the area in as natural a state as possible while allowing public access.

Other news from the nation’s capitol was the report that the Endangered Species Act was re-authorized by Congress for another three years. Environmental organizations coalesced to defeat efforts by President Ronald Reagan’s administration, forest products industry, electric power, mining, and western water interests to weaken the law.

Going into the fall season with a full agenda of activities, classes, the Puyallup Fair Booth, and more, TAS had an energetic and accom-plished board and committee roster. Here’s the Board of Directors and some key members in September 1982:

President Walt Adams, Treasurer John Whitmer, Secretary Evelyn Patton, Education chair Thelma Gilmur, Program Chair Ken Batker, Directors: Charles Bergman, Henry Kyle, Kay Samuels, Nancy Thomas, Mary McKeever, Peter Andrews, Cindy McIntyre, Sally Sloat, Fred Stoermer; Past President Mike McCulley. Membership Chair Leota Moore. TOWHEE Editor Charles Bergman, Assistants Paul Webster, Peter Andrews. Directors on the National Audubon Society Board were Judd Day and Helen Engle.

By Helen Engle

Here’s what TAS was doing back in 1982

Feedback, comments and reminiscences wel-come, 253-564-3112, Hengle@iinet.com.

By Paul Webster

Barn SwallowWith its long wings and distinctive forked tail this

low-flying summer resident is easy to spot in open areas. Originally a nester in caves and rock crevices, the Barn Swallow today builds its nests almost exclu-sively on or in human-made structures. A legend that Barn Swallows consoled Christ on the cross is one sign of the species’ long-term association with humans. And it figured in the American conservation move-ment: instead of the more famous egrets, it was the killing of Barn Swallows for feathers in women’s fashions that prompted Field and Stream editor George Bird Grinnell’s 1886 public appeal to protect birds and to found the original Audubon Society.

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) occurs through-out much of the world. Our New World subspecies is erythrogaster, a Greek name describing its chestnut-reddish belly. Barn Swallows range from Alaska to Labrador and south to central Mexico, except for southern Florida and the desert southwest; most winter in South America. In our state, they’re rare winter visitors in Western Washington; they appear in large numbers about the beginning of April and most leave again by mid-September. They forage in open areas like fields or meadows near a water source that pro-vides mud for nest construction, and near buildings or bridges for nesting sites. Some Barn Swallows in the San Juan Islands and on the outer coast still nest in natural habitats, others have spread into ski areas in the Cascades, and still others have built nests on the ferries of Washington and British Columbia.

On the breeding grounds males attract females with song flights and spread tail feathers. Research shows that greater length and symmetry of the males’ tails correlate with at-tractiveness to females and with breeding success. Barn Swallows build their nests with mud-balls, between 750 and 1400 of them, usu-ally mixed with grass for strength. The female has the more active construction role, especially in shaping the nest. Building sites on horizontal surfaces are pre-ferred for good support if available, but many nests are simply attached to verti-cal walls by their sides. The female usually lays four or five eggs that hatch in

about 14 days; both parents share incubating duty, though the female typi-cally spends more time at it. The young are ready to fly at about three weeks of age, and second broods are common.

We’ve had nesting Barn Swallows on the porch for two years now, and we’ve enjoyed watching the industrious parents and the development of the babies. We noticed this year that more than two adults were feeding “our” first bunch of five nestlings. This is called “cooperative breeding” and is poorly understood. Some helpers may be late arrivals to the breeding grounds, and single adults sometimes try to replace one of the breeders. Other helpers may be pairs hoping to use the nest themselves when the young have fledged.

The Barn Swallows’ habit of feeding almost exclusively on flying insects has made them welcome in most places, and some think they bring good luck to those who allow them nesting space. This attractive species has thrived and will likely continue to spread in association with humans.

Karl King Photography

Just the other day...

Page 13September 2007 www.tahomaaudubon.org

We are part of the National Audubon Society, the largest con-servation education organization in the U.S. We envision a world where humankind accepts the obli-gation of being part of nature, especially the obligation of stew-ardship. We seek to shape a cul-ture in which the violation of nature is socially, politically, and morally unacceptable. In short, we seek a culture of conservation and an environmental ethic.

Come see our books and posters that are for sale. Have your chil-dren participate in our Bird Beaks game and see what is going on in the Hands-On Arena in our build-ing. Kids and others can pick up passports in the building, number 37, that is south of the Blue Gate

and just before the Paulhamus Arena. The sign above the build-ing (tent) says, "Northwest Outdoors, Go Play Outside."

TAS at the puyallup

There are slots open to volun-teer at the Tahoma Audubon booth. Please contact Thelma Gilmur, 253-564-8210, to let TAS know that you will help. A free all-day ticket is given for each day's four-hour work session.

A warm TAS welcome to Julie Kerrigan On September 17, 2007 Julie Kerrigan will be joining us volunteer coordinator. This is an Ame-riCorps Position and will be full time for 10 -1/2 months. Julie will be working to recruit new volunteers and to work with our current crew to get the im-portant work of Tahoma Audubon accomplished. A big part of that will be working with everyone on the front desk. Julie will be working closely with Sally and everyone on improving the front desk experience. An introduction and greeting from Julie: I love cooking, pottery, scrap booking, photography, I love kids, I speak Spanish, I love to travel and ex-perience different cultures. My family consists of me, my sister, my dad and my 3 birds (2 cockatiels

and an African grey parrot). I grew up in New Mexico and moved to Oregon for high school and then came to PLU for my undergraduate. I got my bachelors in sociology with a minor in Spanish and I've traveled to Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Bolivia. Julie is creative and energetic and will bring skills and ideas to the work. Here is some of what she has accomplished:• Received the Rieke Leadership Award for the Di-versity Center of PLU • Organized and facilitated a Halloween Party at Hilltop People’s Center for low income youth through the Students for Peace club • Planned and led a Sustainable Foods Fair with Grass Roots Environmental Action Now

(GREAN) • Worked on a GREAN committee to bring health-ier, local and more organic food to the PLU dining hall • Built houses for low income families in Tijuana and Tecate, Mexico for four spring breaks • Helped lead and facilitate a women’s support group through Centro Latino • Organized a Vegetarian/Vegan awareness pro-gram open to the public that incorporated a panel of faculty and staff So, Welcome Julie! The AmeriCorps position-only pays a stipend to participants, so Julie will be living off of nothing. A great way to get tot know her and keep her going is to invite her over for a home cooked meal.

www.tahomaaudubon.org September 2007Page 14

volunTeer RecognitionvolunTeer Recognition

Around the Tahoma Audubon office Janet Bent goes by the handle “Fifth Friday”. That is because she volunteers on the fifth Monday and Friday, when there is one. When there isn’t she may be off singing in a Rock ’n Roll band, playing the bassoon, or relaxing at her log cabin in the Capital Forest.

Living with her husband, Rick Pinckly, just seven blocks away from the office, Janet is one of the many new faces volunteering for Tahoma Audubon. The proximity makes it easy for her to come by and volunteer for a shift at the front desk. But that is not the real reason she does it.

Raised to be actively involved in the outdoors, her deepest passion and compassion is for environ-

mental causes. She feels we all have to contribute or the things we all value will disappear, eaten up by mankind’s appetite for freeways and shopping malls.

She understands the importance of grassroots organizations to protect the natural areas that are part of our neighborhoods. She was involved with Black Hills Audubon and was impressed by their political clout to address developments impact on the environment. She also likes the educational aspect of Audubon, feeling that people won’t learn to value nature unless they are exposed to it.

If you share any of these passions we invite you to come and volunteer with Audubon in our mis-sion to connect people with nature.

Between June 16 and August 15 we have been fortunate to have faithful workers helping with weeding, spreading chips. amd watering. Big thank-yous go to Earline C Luco McQueen, Berta Thompson and Eric, Lee Trotter, Tom Gergen, Charlie Gilmur, Katie Gilmur, Dixie Hrris, Bud Harris, Alannah Raitt, Roxy Giddings, and Mary Henry.

Every Friday, come join us for a light breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and then help until 11:00 a.m.with

park projects needing our care.

Adriana Hess Wetland Park2917 Morrison Road West,

University Place

Rockin’ and Rollin’ on the 5th Fridays

New TAS volunteer Janet Bent.

Roxy Giddings, Dixie Harris and Mary Henry take a break during a recent weeding party at the Adriana Hess Audubon Center

Summer volunteersare appreciated

September 2007 www. tahomaaudubon.org Page 15

New and Returning: Ronald Adkins, Ruby Armstrong, Maria Barnowl, Jill Baum, Alvina Benson, Katie Beyers, Jerry Calhoon, Raymond Correa, David Cowell, Victoria Creighton, Naomi Davidson, Judith Davis, Laird Desmond, Frans Doelman, Jeanne Dryfoos, Melisa Evangelos, Linda Farmer, Mary Fuhrmeister, Jacqueline Fuller, Rhonda Gray, Mike Grindle, Ron & Anne Havniear, Peter Hayes, Margaret Hellyer, Lottie Hemore, Jeanne Hoskins, Dorothy Hughes, Janek Irene Gregolinsk, Amy N Iverson, Catherine Jackson, Shelly Kealy, Tammera Kelly, Katherine Kelly, Richard Koon, Holly Lienhard, Pat Lyle, Bill & Theresa Mahr, Ernesta Mock, Bliss Moore, Ruby Myron, Morris Nainoa, Majbritt Ortengren, Iva Oshaunesy, Richard Perkins, John Petersen, Fran Phelan, William Pitts, Chidori Ray, Justin Richards, Joann Savitz, Bob Schwartzler, Sandra Sieber, William Stallard, Tom & Sue Stewart, Virginia Strandberg, Dan Westmark, Dennis White, Shannon Whittaker, Mary E Williams, John Brewer, Arthur Castle, Sharon & Tom Charbonnel, Christine Wood, Margaret Colman, Kathryn Deuster, Lenore Ericson, Michael Henderson, Jean & James Hoard, Lorna Hrvatin, Keith Messer, Karen

Owens Ewing, Marjorie Parish, Sheri Dotson Parker, Dr Don & Nancy Pearson, Daphne Stannard, Lanny Walker, Mr Briggs.

INTRODUCTORY: (Joining through TAS as new and will appear in New and Returning at a later date.) Elizabeth Beer, Bob Dieckmann, Lauretta Lucien, Mrs. John Maisel, Tim Schoenfelder, Dave Seabrook, Carter Taylor, Carol Thomas.

SPECIAL SUPPORT, CHAPTER NEW AND RENEWING: (Joining through TAS.) Bob & Sue Drury, Lynda Flanagan, Goings Family, Gene Hall, JoAnne Hart, Nancy Hogan, LaVone M Holzborn, Barbara & Herman Kleiner, Mariam Lauren, Robert Mack, Sandra Martin, William Nerin, Georgia Ramsey, Gail Rinehart, Dolphine Roberson, Keith Schwyhart & Betty Bruce, Judy Irwin Summers, Leslie Williams.

SPECIAL SUPPORT, JOINT TAS AND NAS: (Renewing done through TAS.) Bryan Flint, Dana & Amy Garrigan, Winnie Henry, Sue Hines, Priscilla Huber, Dr Burton Johnson, Pam Mc Gee & Dale Leggett, Arthur Pavey, Soroptimist Intl-Tacoma, Debbie Young, Kim Zumwalt.

RENEWALS: (List is from NAS including earlier listings under Joint TAS and NAS in our monthly reports.) Vernon Baldwin, Jane Brosius, Dorothy Burkhart, Ed Burrough, Tara Chambless, Denice Crotto, Joan C Dimler, Karen Fischer, Gretchen Glew, Mr & Mrs William Haire, Melvin Hand, James F Henriot, David Hirst, Dee & Bruce Holser, Alan Hultengren, Ralph Joesten, Fred Johnstone, Joann M Jones, Greg & Kathy Waters, Sharon Kaufmann, Martha Keogh, Ralph Klose, Irene Korich, Ken Luthy, C Mas, Shane McWilliams, Jo Ann Moore, Richard Myking, Barbara Newman, Annette Pinkerton, Wesley Pollock, Ann Post, Kenneth Query, Kris Quinn, Robert & Marie Robinson, Wilma Rosenow, Ursula Scott, Robert Smith, Gary Sogard, Barbara Sovern, Susan Sporl, Audrey Stacy, Gloria Steel, Harvard Stith, Margaret Ulrich, Katherine Undis, Robert Vogel, Greg Von Arx, Carter Wells, Pamela Wik, Dave Worthen,

Mr & Mrs Les Becker, Jim Beckley, Marie & Bent Blichfeldt, Lawrence Bradley, Cleve W Bronsema, Alan Campbell, Teresa Clabots, Ron Coleman, Bill Conlen, Barbara Copley, Joan C Dimler, Wallace Emmons, Gretchen Engle, Carolyn Ernst, Clair Ervin, Willena Ferguson, Liane Finch, Joanne Flom, Mr & Mrs Cam Foreman, Arthur Foxford, Mary Fuhrmeister, Calvin Goings, Harold Gray, Mary Hake, Dorothy Harrison, Mary Henry, Linda Hofstad, Rita Hummel, Abbie Johnson, Jonathan Kemp, Sherrie Kilborn, Phyllis Knopp, Joyce Landrum, Deandra Lord, William Lovall, Patricia Lynch, Michelle Mauck, Faye McAdams, Chris Miller, Daryl Morris, John Parrish, J Perry, Greg Pyke, Janice Reeder, Stew Renn, Dolphine Roberson, David Salge, Mr & Mrs Tom Sawyer, Katherine Schimke, Dennis Scholl, Selinda Sheridan, Sarah Sloat, Harold Solberg, Larry Sorenson, Vernal Sumner, Katherine Undis, Marian M Vimont.

TAhomA AuDuBon ProgramsTAhomA AuDuBon Programs

Welcome to new and returning membersWelcome to new and returning members

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 subscription, free

family events, birding trip invitations, class & book discounts, conservation activities, annual celebrations and more. Joint TAS/National Audubon membership includes: Chapter mem-bership, National membership, annual Audubon Magazine subscription, and support of Important Bird Areas (IBA) and state and national conservation agendas. C

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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

Birding Papua, New Guinea and New BritainWhen: September 14, 2007Where: Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 South Tyler, TacomaWho: Carole Breedlove assisted by her daughter, NinagayleTime: Refreshments at 7:00 P.M. Meeting at 7:30 P.M.

Fall brings the welcome return of Audubon

programs. Plan on joining us the second Friday of each month for fun, interesting nature pro-grams, and good refreshments. Your friends, neighbors, and kids are always welcome to come along with you.

Our first program of the season features

Carole Breedlove, one of our members noted for outstanding birding ability. Carol joined Audubon and started birding in 1998. Then she bought a birding magazine and found out that birders travel all over the world trying to spot that elu-sive next species they have never seen before. With binoculars in hand she has traversed the planet extensively since then.

In June of 2006 Carol spent a month in Papua

New Guinea and New Britain. She saw about 386 species including 20 species of King Fishers. The area she visited is noted for more endemic birds than anywhere else in the world.

If you have been waiting for a program solid with pictures of birds we never see, this is the one for you. Carol has her slides labeled and prom-ises this program will be fast paced. We will save most of the questions for the end so that we can see as much of this computer program as can be fitted into an hour.

Carol will also share a little information about the culture of a group of people called the Yellow Faced Wigman of the Hulu Tribe.

Come on out and join us.

June 16 to August 15, 2007

Tahoma Audubon Society welcomes the public to attend our extremely short monthly membership meeting. A wonderful program follows the meeting.

Tahoma Audubon Society YO22917 Morrison Road WestUniversity Place, WA 98466

Address service requested

Nonprofit OrgU.S. Postage

Tacoma, WAPermit No. 177

PAIDIN THIS ISSUE: 25 years ago page 12

Birdathon pages 1, 6, 7, & 10

BirdSongs page 5

Bryan Flint column page 2

Education page 4

Environment matters pages 3 & 11

Field trips page 5

New members page 15

Paul Webster column page 12

TAS programs page 15

Volunteer recognition page 14

cAlenDAr

CE4 Sep. 10:30-11:30 a.m. $6/child Ages 3-6 Nature Alphabet – A is for Anthill. Preschoolers explore different nature topics through stories, hands-on activities, nature walks and crafts at the Tacoma Nature Center. Adult participation is recommended, children under 4 require adult present. Call 253-591-6439.

F 8 Sep. Not a field trip! Just an invitation. Diane Yorgason-Quinn and friends will be at the biggest Swift Chimney in the state in Monroe, Washington, just before sunset on September 8th. See thousands of Vaux Swifts funnel into the chimney of the old school! If you would like to join us, feel free to e-mail Diane for directions at Avosetta@hotmail.com.

CE 9 Sep. 12:00-4:00 p.m. No fee for Audubon members All ages Morse Wildlife Preserve Open Trails Walk the trails and discover the beauty of the five habitat zones in the preserve. Call 253-591-6439.

CE Sep. 10 7:00 p.m. The Tahoma Audubon Book Club will discuss “Condor: To the Brink and Back” by John Nielsen at Adriana Hess, contact Alan Ferguson at 253-460-5569 or e-mail at N7OMS@MSN.COM.

F 10 Sep.-Mon. 12:00-1:00 p.m. Bird Walk with Ruth and Patrick Sullivan at Hess.

CV12 to 13 Sep. Watchable Wildlife Conference “Pathways to Nature” Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. Contact Chuck Gibilisco, gibilcjg@dfw.wa.gov, ph 360-902-2364.

CE 13 Sep. 1:00-3:00 p.m. $10/student Ages 8-10 Beginning Science: Let’s Talk Science To participate in this class at Tacoma Nature Center, students should be able to add and subtract. Call 253-591-6439.

C Sep. 14 7:00 p.m. refreshments-7:30 p.m. meeting- TAS monthly program. Birding Papua, New Guinea and New Britain with Carole Breedlove assisted by her daughter, Ninagayle at Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 South Tyler, Tacoma.CE 15 Sep. 10:00-11:30 a.m. $5.00, Audubon mem-bers free All Ages Discovery Walk at the Maxine Morse Sanctuary in Graham Discover this unique

spot as you explore the site with an experienced nature guide. Pre-registration is required. Call 253-591-6439.

F 16 Sep. & 21 Oct Third Sunday Nature Walk at Point Defiance led by Rob McNair-Huff (rob@whiterabbits.com.) The 4.5-mile walk starts at 8 a.m. in the back of the zoo parking lot and takes about three hours, depending on what we find to look at along the way.

F 17 Sep.-3rd Mon. 12:00-1:00 p.m. Plant Walk with Richard Van Deman.at Hess.

C 17 Sep. 6:00-9:00 p.m. $75. RSVP Transportation Choices Coalition Annual Celebration and Auction at the Triple Door Venue and Lounge (216 2nd Avenue, Seattle) Enjoy dinner and drinks and support Washington's only advocacy group dedicated to trans-portation. RSVP, contact shefali@transportation-choices.org or 206-329-2336.

CE 18 Sep. 1:30-2:30 p.m. $6/child Ages 3-6 Nature Alphabet – B is for Barnacle Preschoolers explore different nature topics through stories, hands-on activities, nature walks and crafts at the Tacoma Nature Center. Adult participation is recommended, children under four require an adult present. Call 253-591-6439.

CE 19 Sep. 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. $8.00/child Ages 5-7 Budding Scientists – I am a Scientist Young homeschoolers and other children begin science and nature exploration through games, walks, and crafts at the Adriana Hess Audubon Center in University Place. Register at least two days prior to the session. Call 253-591-6439.

CE 20 Sep. 1:00-3:00 p.m. $10/student Ages 10-12 Intermediate Science: Scientific Investigation To participate in this class at the Tacoma Nature Center, students should be able to multiply and divide num-bers, add and subtract fractions. Call 253-591-6439.

M 21 Sep. 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Please join us in giv-ing back to our community as we do trail work and prep the site for a new native plant garden at Blueberry Park, S. 72nd & E. D St, Tacoma. www.greentacoma.org

E 24 Sep. – 15 Oct (Mondays) 6:30-8:30 p.m. $50/person Age 18+ Beginning Birding Class Learn common sense methods to use in the field or in the back yard that make it easy to build your knowledge of bird species. Participants will learn to use field guides, binoculars and their wits. Two, one-day field trips will be scheduled by class participants. This class meets at the Adriana Hess Audubon Center in University Place. Call 253-591-6439.

F 26 Sep. 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Field Trip to Titlow and surrounding areas, easy walking . Meet at the park-ing area nearest to the old dock. Leader Vera Cragin.CE 26 Sep. 3:15-4:45 p.m. $8.00/child Ages 5-7 Budding Scientists – I am a Scientist Young home-schoolers and other children begin science and nature

exploration through games, walks, and crafts at the Adriana Hess Audubon Center in University Place. Register at least two days prior to the session. Call 253-591-6439.

CE 27 Sep. 1:00-3:00 p.m. $12/student Ages 12-15 Advanced Science: Scientific Method & Inquiry Older homeschool students will continue their science studies with challenging and engaging experiments and activities. To participate in this class at the Tacoma Nature Center, students should be able to cal-culate averages, percentages and solve simple equa-tions. Call 253-591-6439.

CE 28 Sep. 1:00-4:00 p.m. $12/student Ages 12-15 Advanced Science Lab: Scientific Method An inte-grated laboratory session at the Tacoma Nature Center as an extension of the two hour classroom ses-sion. Students get greater in-depth investigation of the monthly topic, practice in problem-solving and research skills and hands-on experimentation. Must be registered for class session to register for lab ses-sion. Call 253-591-6439.

CE 28 Sep. 10:30-11:00 a.m. $5.00/child, free to Audubon members and U.P. residents Best for ages 2-6 Nature Story Time – Over the Sea Join us as we explore the park at the Adriana Hess Audubon Center in University Place with nature stories based on the current theme. Adults are welcome with the children. Call 253-591-6439

CE 29 Sep. 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. No fee for Audubon members Best for ages 2 and up Morse Wildlife Preserve Community Program Explore this natural treasure located in Graham while enjoying a guided hike and activities focusing on the Mixed Forest habitat. Call 253-591-6439

E Oct 9, 16, 23, 30 & Nov 6, 13, 20, & 27 7:00-9:00 p.m.$55 for members. Intermediate Birding class at Hess with field trips Oct. 13 & 14, Nov 10, Dec 1, 3 day trip in January, led by Kenneth Brown. Age: 18+

A 19, 20, 21 Oct Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society (OPAS) hosts semi-annual ACOW confer-ence focusing on “Restoration and Protection of Washington’s Natural Areas” at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center in Blyn. Please visit us on the web at www.olympicpeninsulaaudubon.org for more conference information..

F 21 Oct Third Sunday Nature Walk at Point Defiance led by Rob McNair-Huff (rob@whiterab-bits.com). The 4.5-mile walk starts at 8 a.m. in the back of the zoo parking lot and takes about three hours, depending on what we find to look at along the way.

V Every Friday, light breakfast at 9:00 a.m. followed by work party at Hess.

SepTemBer '07

ocT. & nov. '07

Key to letter symbols:E Education (if this notation is there, more information in this section)F Field Trip (if this notation is there, more information in this section)V Volunteer (if this notation is there, more information in this section)A Related Article or Flyer in The TowheeM Environment Matters pageC Calendar (if this notation is combined with the section ID this is the only place in The Towhee to find the infor-mation)

check for calendar updates anytime at www.tahomaaudubon.org