02-2008 towhee newsletter tahoma audubon society

8/9/2019 02-2008 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society

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Published by the Tahoma Audubon Society: Connecting people with nature since 1969. Vol. 39 No.1 February 2008

Northern Flicker

See the fullcount fromthe CBC on

pages 6 & 7.

By Paul Webster

Its hard to miss this familiar but unusual woodpecker of woodland areas and urbangreenbelts because of its large size, reddish underwings and tail, and white rump

patch that shows in flight. Other woodpeckers forage in trees, but the flicker locates

food mostly on the ground, and its spotted front and brownish back with irregular

black bars help conceal it as it pursues the ants that make up most of its diet.

A flicker always seems to have something to say: prominent in the

impressive vocal array are the loudpeah calls, which probably serve to

identify individuals.

The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) breeds in various wood-

land habitats across North America from the tree line south to

Nicaragua. In Washington, flickers are mostly the Red-

shafted variety, with bright salmon-colored shafts of wing and tail fe a th-

ers, displayed in flight, or flashed at other flickers during courtship or territorial

defense. The malar (moustache) stripe of the males is the only plumage difference

between the sexes. The Yellow-shafted Flicker is found mostly east of the RockyMountains, and there is a long, narrow zone just east of the Rockies where the two

subspecies hybridize, and these hybrids show a variable mixture of Red- and Yellow-

shafted plumage. Each winter, many hybrid and some Yellow-shafted migrants from

the boreal forests north of us stop off in Washington, and their numbers in the lowlands

are augmented by altitudinal migrants from our own mountain forests.

Every spring, local Audubon chapters field dozens of calls from homeowners

about flickers loud territorial drumming on their trees and homes, especially reso-

nant features like metal downspouts. And if the home has soft wood siding like

cedar, a flicker sometimes tests its suitability as a nesting spot, though homeowners

tend to intervene at this point. Breeding season begins with pair formation, marked

by the long call, often described as a rapid, repeated wik-wik-wikthat lasts from

5 to 10 seconds or longer. Territorial defense features stylized dances between

By Faye McAdams Hands

Thank you all for participating in our ChristmasBird Count again this year. To each and every oneof youout in the early morning cold. andrain. and wind! We worked hard this year, in ayear of adversity!

Special Thanks to Chris Chappellfor flying back from his new homein New Mexico to cover Area #5,and pass the reigns onto RolanNelson. And to Marcus Roeningfor arranging for coverage in Area#6 when he was out-of-state.andto Sue Summers & Wayne Sladek forproviding that coverage. And to Art Wang for step-ping in for Area #1, and to Ruth Sullivan for simplycarrying on without her and our - beloved Patrickin Area #8. And Thanks also to Captain RobinPaterson, who looks forward to joining us inDecember 08 with Tugboat Joe. We missed you thisyear! And to Bruce LaBar, who pushed us on with-out a boat to try to get what we could from variousshore line views throughout our Count Circle.

The most noticeable changes from past years arein the decreased numbers of waterbirds. Wow!

Lets meet our TAS board member candidates

Thank you!

Darby VeeckElizabeth Rando Beer Ione Clagett Kathleen NelsonMelissa Paulson Peggy L. Kopf

Each year at the annual membership ban-quet new board members are elected for athree year term. This year we will be intro-ducing 6 new candidates. It is an embar-rassment of riches. Their energy, excite-ment and experience will bring fresh newideas and help shape the future of Tahoma

Audubon. Lets meet them....

Elizabeth Rando Beer

Elizabeth was born in Tacoma and haslived here the majority of her life, aside fromthe years spent attending Eastern

Washington University in Cheney,Washington. She has a degree in ArtHistory, with minors in world history and

African American studies. She and her hus-band own a home very close to PointDefiance, and they are the proud care tak-ers of Maggie, their black lab. She is cur-

rently training to become a resource analystfor McFarland Cascade. She also volunteersfor MLK Ballet, and spends time as a themereader for Stadium High School.Joining the Tahoma Audubon Society and

becoming a board member holds a specialplace in my heart, as my grandmotherDorothy dedicated many years to this orga-nization, says Elizabeth. Following in herfootsteps, I plan on being an active memberdedicated to our cause.

Melissa Paulson

A lifelong Pacific Northwest resident,Melissa grew up in Enumclaw and attendedPacific Lutheran University in Parkland. Shelives in an old arts-and-crafts bungalow inTacomas Central 6th Avenue neighborhoodwith her husband, Jamie, and their two(indoor only!) cats. When not working on

house projects, Melissa enjoys hiking, snow-shoeing, gardening, learning about the birdsin her tiny yard, and participating in variousmusical groups, including the BremertonSymphony Chorale, where she serves as thechorale accompanist.

Melissa has a deep interest in habitat con-servation and natural resource manage-ment. She currently works for Pierce CountyWater Programs, where she divides hertime between the watershed councils andlocal salmon recovery efforts. Melissa isconvinced that collaboration and educationare essential to making both good policyand good strides toward a better environ-ment. She fundamentally believes in themission of the Tahoma Audubon Societyand is very much looking forward to learning

See "Board" on page 4

See "Flicker" on page 4

See "Christmas Bird Count" on page 6

For a CBC well done!


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executive Directors Corner

tahoma Audubon saff

Flint, Bryan Executive Director

[email protected] 253-565-9129

Kyer, Krystal Conservation Coordinator


Swaim, Stephanie Education Coordinator


Kerrigan, Julie Volunteer Coordinator 253-565-1884

[email protected]

tahoma Audubon Board of Direcor

Brosius, Jane Secretary

Carkner, Dick

Garner, John

Gilmur, Thelma Membership

Jordon, Al

Larson, Sally

Larson, Wayne President

LeGreid, Kathleen Publication [email protected]

McNair-Huff, Rob Field Trip Chair

Roening, Marcus

Shea, Margie Treasurer, Education

Sullivan,Brian Volunteer [email protected]

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

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

e-mail: [email protected]

The Towhee is a publication of the Tahoma Audubon Society.The Tahoma Audubon Society was chartered in 1969. TASadvocates for the protectionof wildlife and promotes conservation through education and activities that enrich its mem-

bers experiences in and with the natural world.

The Towhee is published monthly, nine times a year, with a combined Jul/Aug and Dec/

Jan issue. Submissions of articles and photographs of birds, bird lore, natural history, con-servation, and environmental education are reviewed and considered for inclusion by the

editor. Copy is due by the 15th of the month and may be sent by e-mail, disk, or typed.

Editor: Kathleen Ann LeGreid: phone 360-458-1483E-mail:kaleditor@ mindspring.com

Mailing: Vera & John Cragin and Winfield Giddings

Design & Layout: Robert Kelton: E-mail: [email protected]

Printing: Consolidated PressPrinted on recycled newsprint

Page 2 www.tahomaaudubon.org February 2008

Members of Tahoma Audubon unite!Dear Member;

Have you ever

been confused

about when your

m e m b e r s h i p

expires? So havewe. In December

the Tahoma

Audubon Board

adopted a new

chapter member-

ship policy. The purpose is to simplify our current

situation, serve you better, and generate more mem-

bership revenue at the chapter level to support our

work to conserve habitat and educate the next gen-

eration of conservation leaders.

History: In the past, membership in National

Audubon Society came with an automatic member-

ship in the local chapter. A portion of those mem-

bership funds were passed onto the chapter to helpsupport local efforts.

With the rise in the cost of direct mail National

Audubon has decided to no longer send a portion of

each members dues to the chapter. Each year

Tahoma Audubon receives financial assistance

from National Audubon but it is no longer tied to

your membership. In fact, National Audubon has

been encouraging chapters to seek their own mem-

bership in addition to the National membership.

We did. Only problem is that we have been giv-

ing you two memberships, one for National and one

for Tahoma Audubon. All fine and good until

someones expiration date for National Audubon is

different from their Tahoma Audubon expirationdate. Which date is the actual date of expira-

tion? Good question.

New Policy:Your membership in Tahoma Audubon

is what makes us the successful organization that

we are. The new policy creates a stand alone chap-

ter membership in Tahoma Audubon. It is renew-

able each year by making a generous contribution

of $30 to Tahoma Audubon.

To start off fresh we will reset your membership

expiration date. Your expiration date will be the

later of your current National or current Chapter

membership. (For example if you currently have a

Chapter membership that expires in May and a

National Membership that expires in September your expiration date will be September.) In the

month of that expiration date we will send you a

letter asking you to renew. We will not stuff your

mailbox all year long with solicitations to renew

your membership.

At renewal time you can renew your Chapter

membership with a donation of $30 or more, or you

can renew your Chapter AND National member-

ship with a donation of $50 or more. We will send

the $20 for your National membership onto National

Audubon.

If you are a new member you can join both

National and the Chapter for an introductory rate of

$20. That is a real bargain.

Your support of Tahoma Audubon is very much

appreciated. Two thirds of our financial support

comes from individual contributions. That is a tre-

mendous statement of grassroots support.

Membership dues are one way of supporting

Tahoma Audubon, as well as contributing toBirdathon, our annual banquet or fall breakfast, or

including us in your planned giving.

Focusing on the desire to support our mission we

seek to keep the process as simple and straightfor-

ward as possible. We also seek to keep our cost

down so that more of your support can go directly

to our mission. With that support we can do great

things together. Thank you.

Your support of Tahoma Audubonis very much appreciated. Twothirds of our financial supportcomes from individual contribu-

tions. That is a tremendous state-ment of grassroots support.

Starting January 1, 2008 Tahoma Audubon will extend a one year ChapterMembership benefits to all individuals who contribute $30 or more for thatpurpose.

New Members:New members will be given the opportunity to join both National

Audubon (NAS) and Tahoma Audubon (TAS) with a $20 IntroductoryMembership.New NAS members will be given a complimentary one yearIntroductory Chapter Membership.

Anyone making a donation of $30 or more for the first time will begiven a one year Introductory Chapter Membership.

Renewing Membership:Starting on January 1, 2008 all NAS members and TAS will begrandfathered in with a single Chapter Membership that expires on

the latest date of either their current National or ChapterMembership.Upon each members renewal date TAS will invite that member torenew their chapter membership at the $30 level. A mailing withour brochure will give the member the option to:

Renew their chapter membership only at $30.oRenew their joint membership with NAS and TAS at theo$50 level. We will send $20 to National for that portion ofthe membership

A renewal through NAS without a $30 or greater contribution toTAS does not constitute a renewal of a Chapter Membership.

Approved by Board of Directors December 13, 2007

Chapter Membership Policy


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February 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 3

eNviroNMeNtMatters

Here at Tahoma Audubon, we like to think of our-

selves as the heart of environmental movements in

Pierce County. We stand tall, defend habitats at risk

from new roads, housing developments, resorts, com-

mercial strips, dumps, airports you name it. In the

past weve responded to this that and the other, and

often times we may have been the only group of con-

cerned citizens standing up for the birds, wildlife, and

habitats that we cherish. We will certainly never accu-

rately capture the number of activities that Tahoma

Audubons conservation efforts have saved forests,

streams, wetlands, prairies, and shorelines of Pierce

County.

After nearly 40 years of hard work by hundreds of

dedicated volunteers, and as population pressures

mount, we realize and accept that we cannot continue

to react to every threat. There simply are too many.

We are lucky today, in that there are a good number of

active environmental groups working to protect

Pierce Countys diverse wild-

life and habitats. We arentalone anymore. Now, many

voices speak for those crea-

tures and plants and entire

ecosystems that have no voice

of their own.

For those of us who listen to

their voices their calls at

dawn, the croaking dusk, the

howling moon or gusting win-

ter winds for those of us who

listen, we must speak up, and

tell the rest.

And so we do. But, as the

pressures mount and change, somust we. With old and new

allies like the Sierra Club,

Cascade Land Conservancy,

Futurewise, Friends of Pierce

County, Transportation Choices Coalition, Pierce

County Biodiversity Alliance, Citizens for a Healthy

Bay, Green Tacoma Partnership, ForeverGreen

Council, Conservation Northwest, Native Plant

Society, three watershed councils, and dozens of

friends of groups, our voices are stronger than ever,

and never solo.

With the strength of the chorus on our side, we can

choose to sing our song in the pitch we choose, con-

tributing a unique element that both adds to and com-

pliments what we all do. What is our voice?

Audubon is known as a birding organization, and

birds are our strength. The Audubon Society was

formed more than a century ago to protect birds.

Tahoma Audubon was formed nearly 40 years ago,

and we have 39 years of field trip records, public com-

ments, letters, educational programs, and outreach to

prove it.

We are the bird experts in Pierce County!

And that is where we find our voice our focus:

birds. With dozens of field trip leaders and avid bird-

ers and, literally, over a thousand field trips and 38

Christmas Bird Counts under our belt, we should

know whats happening to birds in Pierce County.

Unfortunately, a lot of what we know is anecdotal.

What are the birds really doing? Which species need

our help the most? And what

habitats are at greatest risk?

Answering these questionswill help us decide where

we should be focusing our

conservation efforts for the

coming years.

National Audubon and

Audubon Washington

released two startling

reports this past summer,

the Common Birds in

Decline and the Birds at

Risk. These reports give

us a general picture of

what is happening to

birds nationally and inWashington State. They

do not tell us what is hap-

pening to birds right here,

in our own backyards.

However, we have the answers!

All of our field trip data will be entered into the

Cornell Lab of Ornithologys online citizen science

database called eBird. This program, co-sponsored

by National Audubon Society, is the largest online data

collection site in North America designed specifically

for birds. Thousands of records are added each month

by birders and organizations from coast to coast.

The eBird pro-

gram is easy to use,

and self-explanato-

ry, and available for

anyone and any

birding skill level.

You can track all of

your personal data

and run reports spe-cifically on your

data. Your data will

also be combined

with other data so

that the combined

efforts and knowl-

edge will give everyone a better picture of birds in

Pierce County, in the Puget Sound trough, and in the

Pacific Flyway.

The more data the better. So, if you have bird lists,

and especially count data, from your own birding

explorations that hasnt been captured by Tahoma

Audubon, please consider this a request for copies of

your lists. You can bring them by the office or mail

them in or e-mail them, whatever works best for you.

Or, even better, you can enter your data into eBird

yourself!

By the summer we should have a clear picture of

what we do and dont know. At that time we will

invite Tahoma Audubon members and the citizens to

partake in a dialogue to help identify and set our con-

servation goals for the next few years, based on the

analysis of that data.

Next month Ill write more about our efforts to

embed citizen science into our field trips, educational

programming, and conservation goals. In the mean-

time, join us for the Great Backyard Bird Count on

February 15-19, 2008. Participate in this nation-

wide citizen science program for yourself, and youllget hooked!

Resources:

The eBird database can be found at:

www.ebird.org

Common Birds in Decline report:

http://stateofthebirds.audubon.org/cbid/

Birds at Risk report:

http://web1.audubon.org/science/species/watchlist/

The Conservation Committee meets on a regular basis.Contact Krystal for details: 253-232-9978 or e-mail [email protected]

Treble Point on Anderson Island will not beused for a geoduck farm after all. Followingmore than a month of intensive letter writ-ing, phone calls, petitions and a public meet-ing with shellfish industry and state aquacul-ture staffers, the Department of NaturalResources (DNR) has decided to find anoth-er state beach to site a geoduck aquaculturemonitoring lease in the south sound.

Islanders had protested with multiple rea-sons why Treble Point was inappropriate for

this lease. Close to an island park, and richwith natural populations of clams, forage fishand birds, the point is used heavily by beachwalkers, kayakers, and other water recre-ationists. It is low bank, with several homes,and has no land access. In these and otherrespects, the site did not meet DNRs owncriteria for siting leases.

Credit for helping dissuade DNR goes toSenator Mike Carrell with additional supportfrom Representatives Troy Kelley and Tami

Green. Senator Carrell asked somehard questions of the agency andshellfish representatives, and is nowproposing legislation that will providemore detailed criteria and take a closerlook at the impacts of geoduck moni-toring sites wherever they are locat-ed.

Concern from citizens, shorelineproperty owners, and environmental groups,including Tahoma Audubon, with the leader-

ship of Representative Patricia Lantz, led tolegislation being passed in the spring of 2007(HB 2220) that limits the number of acres ofpublic tidelands that can be leased for geo-duck aquaculture until there is better scienceto understand how this industry affectsPuget Sound shorelines and waters. Thestate DNR will lease two-acre sites to privateshellfish growers under conditions that allowclose monitoring by department specialists.

Meanwhile, other scientific study will be

done by the University of WashingtonSea Grant program, with a report backto the legislature due in 2014. Thelegislation also created and funded aShellfish Aquaculture RegulatoryCommittee (SARC) that is in the pro-cess of making recommendations tothe Department of Ecology on regula-tions for shellfish aquaculture and

geoduck aquaculture, in particular. Our ownKrystal Kyer is one of two representatives of

environmental groups on the SARC, whichmeets monthly in Olympia.

Information on the committee can befound at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shellfishcommittee/index.html

Check out Anderson Islands beaches foryourself by registering for the Saturday,February 16th Discovery Walk by calling253-591-6439 for details and directions.

Nancy Pearson 253-582-3543(Treble Point homeowner)

Community action saves a pristine beach

Conservation keyword: Focus

Youllfndthispageatwww.ebird.org

SenatorMike Carrell


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2917 Morrison Road W.,

University Pl. WA 98466

253-565-9278

www.TahomaAudubon.org

Open Mon Sat. 10a.m.-1p.m.

1919 South Tyler Street,

Tacoma WA 98338 253-591-6439

www.metroparkstacoma.org

Open Tues. Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

& Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

But theres always our website! For class times and dates, please check the Calendarlisting on the back page of the Towhee or on our website, www.tahomaaudubon.org

birds of the same sex, who face each other giving

wicka calls, bills held at an upward angle, heads

moving in a figure-eight pattern, tails spread, and

wing colors flashing. Nest construction takes two

weeks or more, both sexes share the excavating.The nest typically contains six or seven eggs, and

both parents have incubation duty that starts a day

or so before the last egg is laid. Hatching is in

about eleven days, and the young birds fledge at

about three-and-half weeks. Even the helpless

nestlings can vocalize: they make a defensive

buzzing to discourage predators that sounds like a

swarm of angry bees.

As cavity nesters, flickers compete with star-

lings for space, and numerous reports of starlings

evicting Yellow-shafted Flickers from their nests

help explain the 50% decline of eastern flickers

since the mid-1960s. Red-shafted populations

have declined about 20% in the west, though

flicker numbers in Washington currently seem

stable. Snag removal in logging operations, and

clean-up of snags and dead limbs in city parks and

residential areas could increase flicker-starling

competition for nesting space. This is an impor-

tant concern, because flickers are the builders

of nest cavities for many secondary cavity-nesting

birds, like Violet-Green Swallows, Bewicks

Wrens, and chickadees, so their ability to repro-

duce depends on these unconventional, but attrac-

tive and often noisy woodpeckers, who dont

seem to mind sharing their space with us.

Our January program invited field trip partakers and tripleaders to share their experiences with an eye to developingfuture trips. Rob McNair-Huff is seeking field trip leaders toschedule additional trips in 2008. Contact him at rob@white-

rabbits.com. Please go to www.tahomaaudubon.org to checkthe Tahoma Audubon calendar page for trips and announce-ments. Late additions and new trips are being added outsideof the publication schedule of the Towhee.

... Board from page 1

... Flicker from page 1

No Education page this month

the ins and outs of the organization and con-tributing to its continued success.

Ione Clagett

Ione Clagett grew up in theSpokane area, where herparents still reside. Magpies,

the pine woods and the highprairies are a part of cominghome for her. Iones travelshave taken her to Russia, firstas a graduate student andlater as an ecotourist.As project director for a fledgling Citizens for

a Healthy Bay, she was inspired by an Ecologyconference which introduced the concept of

watershed as address--as important in deter-mining where you are in relation to the rest ofthe world as street or zip code. Ever since thefirst round of Conservation Futures fundingpreserved the four acres known as ParklandPrairie, Ione has been part of a community

team effort to maintain wildlife habitat alongClover Creek.

She is currently active as a Cascade LandConservancy trustee, is a member and pastsecretary of the Chambers-Clover WatershedCouncil, and serves as International Chair forthe American Association of University Women-Washington State.

Ione and her husband John moved toSpanaway some twenty-nine years ago, andenjoy the wildlife which flies in, swims in, orotherwise passes along the remaining greencorridors connecting nearby Ft. Lewis.

Darby VeeckDarby Veeck was raised in suburban Chicago,

and after brief stops in Alaska and Bostonsettled in Tacoma ten years ago. He subse-quently persuaded his parents, from whom he

learned to appreciate the birdsfrequenting the backyard feed-ers of his youth, to follow himto Tacoma. This was mainlydue to the beautiful naturallandscape and fine weather.Surprisingly, no grandchildrenwere involved.

Darby and his wife Kristi Lynett are active run-ners, bikers, swimmers, backpackers, cross

country skiers, concert-goers...and theyve hadthe pleasure of going on bird-watching excur-sions in the various areas theyve lived or trav-eled: memorable trips from the Alaska Rangesouth to the Petn of Guatemala, and from thecoastlines of Maine and the Carolinas west toKauai and beyond, into the South Pacific.

He has participated in, and volunteeredwith, various organizations in westernWashington and Pierce County, particularlythose involved in the usual mix of environ-mental issues: land use, local food, alternativeenergy, sustainability, habitat protection, clean-up, etc. His college education began withphysics, and continued in Environmental

Engineering, but he was disappointed that theemphasis was (for him) too much on the

Engineering, not enough on the Environmental.He has since found a pleasing balance, whichprofessionally comes through using GeographicInformation Systems (GIS) to receive his pay-check from the Department of Ecology.

Peggy L. Kopf

Peggy Kopf , a native ofWashington State, was born inOlympia. A graduate ofTacoma General HospitalSchool of Nursing (RN), the

University of Washington(BSN), and University ofMinnesota (MPH), Peggyworked for the Tacoma-PierceCounty Health Department for many years.

She served as a public health nurse, healtheducator, and health planner. She served asDirector of the Pierce County Health council.Peggy sojourned for several years in Maryland,where she was a Staff Educator for theRockville Nursing Home.

Peggy has been active in professional orga-nizations and has an abiding interest in preser-vation and appreciation of our environment.While living in Federal Way, she learned about

waterfowl that passed through Washington ontheir way to Canada or Mexico. She is living inTacomas north end and is looking forward toworking with local Audubon members.

Kathleen Nelson

Born in California, Kathleenmoved to Washington twelveyears ago from Georgia whenshe was recruited for a job forBlueCross BlueShield. Shehad spent most of her adultcareer in Montgomery,

Alabama. Currently she isRegional Applications Manager

for IT at Franciscan Health Systems. She is aregistered nurse with a degree in HealthSciences. She currently lives in Fircrest withher husband Rolan. They have five childrenand four grandsons: one daughter and twograndchildren live in Bremerton.

In addition to reading, Kathleen loves birding- an activity that runs deep in the family. Herhusband, Rolan is a well known field tripleader. A few of her grandchildren are involvedas well. She volunteers for the Heart Walk,

Autumn Health festival and at Harmony HillCancer Retreats. She looks forward to contrib-uting to the board in a positive way and mak-

ing everyone one in Tahoma Audubon feel thatthey are represented. She also believes this isa great time to get young people involved inthe organization as there is a growing aware-ness of environmental issues.

Ione Clagett

Darby Veeck

KathleenNelson

Peggy L. Kopf

Fielding Dreams

Above: Bryan Flint gets eld trip ideasfrom long-time eld people, the To-biasons. Left: Katrina Weihs and VeraCragin discuss the innite possibilities

of eld trips!

Photos/Diane Yorgason-Quinn


5/11

fielD trips and Events


Want to have lots of fun, learn a whole lot about birds,

meet people with the same interests as you have?

Okay, join Birdathon as a Birder/Counter! All our trips

will have experts to help you and tell you what you see.And remember, if you give $10. or $100. or more, you can

increase that and help TAS so much more by being a Birder.

Some one just told me last Friday at our general meeting

that she had usually given $50. but was so pleased that last

year she increased that 4-fold by being a Birder and asking

friends and relatives to pledge to her Birdathon.

Soooooooooo, put those dates on your calendar and plan

for a fun Birdathon. We will give you all you need to know in

the next 2-3 Towhees. Thanks for thinking about helping.

Thelma Gilmur, who has led this Birdathon for at least 25

years, needs so many of you to come forward this year.

What: Decoursey Park birding with Ed PullenWhen: Sat Feb 9, 9 am 12 pm

Where: Decoursey Park

Description: Join Ed and Kay Pullen for a birding walk

Puyallups DeCoursey Park. Start with the duck pond, walkalong Clarks creek, and then on a delightful wooded trail

that ends up fording the upper end of the creek by the fish

hatchery. ..too late for the chum salmon run, which can be

spectacular in Dec-Jan, but we should see a good variety of

puddle ducks, winter passerines, and show you a great hiketo take with children/grandchildren on a winter day. Meet

at the DeCoursey Park parking lot on 7th Street by the ball-

field at 9 AM. We will be done by lunchtime. Wear water-proof boots, dress for the weather. Footing can be slippery

but the hike is not difficult.

What: Birdwalk

When: Mon Feb 11, 12pm Mon Feb 11 1pm (Monthly at

12pm on the second Monday)

Where: Adriana Hess Audubon Center

Description: Find out which of our avian friends callAdriana Hess their home...

What: Great Backyard Bird Count

When: Fri Feb 15 Sun Feb 17

Where: Great backyards around the sound.Description: During Presidents Day Weekend, people

across the North American continent are urged to look at

the birds in their backyards and report them as part of theGreat Backyard Bird Count, one of the worlds largest

volunteer efforts of its kind. This count allows people to

celebrate their birds and help track the populations. Tahoma

Audubon will be coordinating four bird counts, and all arewelcome to attend. Each will take place at a local backyard

or park and will include a free meal! Call 253-565-5479

for further details. (Fri., Feb. 15, TNC led by Michele

Cardinaux at 10:00; Sat., Feb. 16, Adriana HessAudubonCenter in UP at 10:00; Sun., Feb. 17, north-end home of

Art Wang; Mon., Feb. 18 University Place home ofHelen

and Stan Engle, 10:00.)

What: Discovery WalkWhen: Sat Feb 16, 10 am 11:30 am

Where: Anderson IslandDescription: Discovery walks are designed for families and

friends of all ages. Discover a new location each month as

you explore the site with an experienced nature guide.

Recommended for families with children age 4 and up.Call (253) 591-6439 to register and get directions. Free to

members, $5/person non-members. Pre-registration is

required.

What: Pt. Defiance Nature WalkWhen: Sun Feb 17, 8 am 11 am

Where: Point Defiance Park in Tacoma

Description: Join author Rob McNair-Huff for a 5-milewalk through the forests at Point Defiance Park. The trip

starts at the back of the parking lot for the Point Defiance

Zoo and Aquarium. Come prepared for a healthy walk

through the park in changeable weather conditions. Winterbird highlights can include waterfowl, Bald Eagles and

forest birds. For more information, e-mail rob@whiterab-

bits.com.

What: Plant Walk

When: Mon Feb 18, 12 pm 1 pm (Monthly at 12pm on

the third Monday)

Where: Adriana Hess Audubon Center

Description: Learn about and identify the many nativeplants of Adriana Hess Wetland Park.

What: Swan Creek Canyon

When: Sat Mar 8, 8:30 am 12:00 pm

Where: Swan Creek Park in Tacoma

Description Join Ed and Kay Pullen for a hike down the

Swan Creek canyon and to explore the Chief Leschi Schoolgrounds. We will meet at the Swan Creek County Park lot

near the Tacoma end of Pioneer Way at 8:30 AM, and

carpool to the upper end of the creek canyon. Then well

hike down the canyon, looking for American Dipper,Belted Kingfisher, and winter passerines. The creek is

beautiful, and the hike mostly downhill. The walk is slip-

pery but not difficult. We will then carpool back to pick up

the cars at the top of the canyon, and continue on to Chief

Leschi school, where we have a barn owl that is prettydependable, and should see more birds of open areas. We

will be done before noon. Discover a place you could

return to for a great summer picnic hot-rocking on thecreekbed, or a nice spring walk to look for migrants. I like

it in the winter though, when the winter wrens, kinglets, and

creepers are usually easier to see.

What: Weekly Bird Walks at Nisqually

When: Thursdays 8:15 AM to 12:30 PM

Where: Nisqually NWR

Description: Join Leader Phil Kelley on his weekly birdwalk 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

walking shoes or boots, raingear, water, snacks, and $3.

entry fee unless you have a pass. Scopes are welcome.Meet: At the Visitors Center. Directions: Take I-5 south

from Tacoma and exit to Nisqually NWR at exit 114. Take

a right at the light. Sign-up: Call or email Phil Kelley to

confirm details. Phil Kelley, Lacey, 360-459-1499, [email protected].

Call TAS to register (253-565-9278). Some trips are people

limited out of necessity.

Notify TAS 24 hours in advance if you cannot come. Field trip lead-

ers put in a lot of time and planning and no-shows disrupt field trips.

More than three no-shows a year can result in revoking the oppor-

tunity to participate.

Arrive at the meeting place early.

No pets are allowed.

Be prepared for seasonal weather.

Bring lunch, drinks and snacks if the field trip is scheduled past

mid-day.

All passengers divide total carpooling expenses. Current guide-

lines are 20 cents a mile per car, not including driver.

Beginners are always welcome.

Have fun.

rules

Think, think, think!

First Signs of SpringSpring has already arrived in the woods by the rst week of February. We will see whatis already owering, nd early plants coming up, and identify the plants we nd. Comeand nd the rst signs of spring in the woods at Penrose Point State Park. We will alsond out what local birds are starting to sing. We will meet on Saturday the 9th of Febru-ary from 1PM to 3PM. The rst 15 people who call to register will be taken. There is nocharge. Call 253-884-2514 to register, and ask for Dan Christian.

Eat Stinging Nettles!Come and stick Stinging Nettles in your mouth at Penrose Point! Enjoy identifying some ofthe early spring life. Stinging Nettles will be up and we will catch them, cook them, and eat

them. They are one of the most nutritious early spring wild edible plants around. We will lookat other early plants coming up and nd what out what is edible and what is not. We will meeton Saturday the 23rd of February from 1PM to 3PM. The rst 15 people who call to register willbe taken. There is no charge. Call 253-884-2514 to register, and ask for Dan Christian.

We have interpretive walks coming up in February.The Stinging Nettles will be especially fun.

Penrose Point State Park

Birdathon, our biggest fundraiser,

is coming! April 26 - May 31

Trogon Tours trips for 2008

Wildlife photographer and TAS member Nate Chappell and his Ecuadorianwife, Angie will lead two trips to Ecuador later this year.

In November, from the 10th to the 22nd, they will lead a tour to Eastern

Ecuador that will cover the eastern slope of the Andes mountains and thewestern edge of the Amazon lowland forests. Cost is $2,900. For moreinfo go to www.trogontours.net or call Nate at 253.512.1060.

In December, from the 6th to the 14th, Nate and Angiewill lead a tour to Western Ecuador that will cover thewestern slope of the Andes and some of the westernlowlands. Cost is $1,800. For more info go towww.trogontours.net or call Nateat 253.512.1060.

Photo/Nate

Chappe

ll

Start planning now for trips in November and December

A Blue-winged Mountain Tanager


6/11

Page 6 www.tahomaaudubon.org February 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 7

Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Boat Total

Species

Red-throated Loon 3 5 2 10

Pacic Loon 23 1 5 29

Common Loon 1 7 4 12

loon sp.

Pied-billed Grebe 10 11 12 2 2 37

Horned Grebe 15 24 34 5 9 2 15 104

Red-necked Grebe 10 3 10 5 18 11 57

Eared Grebe 1 1

Western Grebe 10 560 70 81 1 41 763

Clark's Grebe

Dbl-crested C ormorant 53 44 143 38 13 75 1 28 162 557

Brandt's Cormorant 59 9 48 20 136

Pelagic Cormorant 21 9 10 19 20 79

cormorant sp.

American Bittern

Great Blue Heron 6 14 13 1 11 2 1 7 55

Trumpeter Swan

Tundra Swan

Canada Goose 100 140 89 204 320 178 120 46 1197

Cackling Goose 8 350 230 588

Greater Wh.Fronted Goose

Wood Duck 2 11 19 4 36

Green-winged Teal 47 17 19 83

Mallard 58 70 58 264 156 132 134 127 5 1004

Northern Pintail 1 3 4

Cinnamon Teal

Northern Shoveler 6 6 19 6 184 4 6 231

Gadwall 5 12 71 3 91

Eurasian Wigeon 2 1 2 5

American Wigeon 250 194 192 76 126 127 132 209 3 1309

Canvasback 12 12

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck 25 10 12 19 848 4 13 931

Greater Scaup 3 10 1 14

Lesser Scaup 5 13 398 416

scaup sp. 4 4

Harlequin Duck 6 6

Long-tailed Duck 14 14

Black Scoter

Surf Scoter 30 15 113 26 35 3 12 234

White-winged Scoter 2 2 4

scoter sp.

Common Goldeneye 6 35 43 64 106 5 16 17 292

Barrow's Goldeneye 40 132 20 31 12 8 243

goldeneye sp. 1

Bufehead 2 44 79 99 22 67 23 11 347

Hooded Merganser 1 7 11 6 6 12 7 9 5 64

Common Merganser 4 152 9 44 209 2 420

Red-breast. Merganser 3 29 23 1 9 16 2 83

merganser sp.

Ruddy Duck 14 28 42


Species

Bald Eagle, adult 5 5 12 2 3 4 2 33

Bald Eagle, immature 1 1 16 18

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 2 4 1 2 14

Cooper's Hawk 2 1 2 2 1 8

Accipiter sp. 2 2

Red-tailed Hawk 3 11 2 9 8 6 4 1 44

Rough-legged Hawk

American Kestrel 1 1 2

Merlin 2 1 3

Peregrine Falcon 2 2 1 5

Ring-necked Pheasant 5 1 6

Ruffed Grouse

California Quail 3 13 16

Virginia Rail 2 2

Sora

American Coot 1 6 79 11 1743 1 1 1842

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer 1 27 17 3 1 49

Greater Yellowlegs

Spotted Sandpiper 1 1 2

Ruddy Turnstone

Black Turnstone 25 67 92

Sanderling

Western Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Dunlin

calidris sp.

Long-billed Dowitcher

dowitcher sp.

Wilson's (Common) Snipe 32 32

sandpiper sp.

Parasitic Jaeger

Little Gull

Bonaparte's Gull 100 1 114 215

Heermann's Gull 16 16

Mew Gull 50 132 23 34 41 15 16 12 323

Ring-billed Gull 25 59 6 1 2 93

California Gull 1 4 5

Herring Gull 6 6

Thayer's Gull 500 1 501

Western Gull 1 1 3 2 7

Glaucous-winged Gull 213 3095 131 74 65 41 500 220 176 4515

W. X Glaucous-winged 400 144 27 18 589

gull species 40 268 23 63 394

Common Murre 2 18 4 24

Pigeon Guillemot 4 2 9 1 1 5 22

Ancient Murrelet

Marbled Murrelet

Rhinocerous Auklet 1 4 2 28 35

CASPIAN TERN 1 1


Species

Rock Pigeon 195 64 175 344 110 167 164 486 1705

Band-tailed Pigeon 13 7 7 27

Mourning Dove 4 7 22 33

Barn Owl

Western Screech-Owl 2 1 3

Great Horned Owl 3 3

Short-eared Owl

No. Saw-whet Owl

Barred Owl 1 1

Anna's Hummingbird 13 13 17 4 2 1 5 55

Belted Kingsher 1 8 3 4 2 2 20

Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 1 2

sapsucker sp.

Downy Woodpecker 11 3 6 1 21

Hairy Woodpecker 1 1

Northern Flicker (red sh.) 8 11 22 44 31 4 22 12 154

(yellow shafted/int.) 1 1

Pileated Woodpecker 3 2 2 7

*Tree Swallow

swallow species

Horned Lark

Steller's Jay 7 18 6 57 5 5 4 102

Western Scrub-Jay 2 1 1 16 19 1 2 42

American Crow 205 340 364 411 680 146 435 434 3015

Common Raven 1 2 1 4

Black-capped Chickadee 71 84 69 130 38 22 24 35 473

Chestnut-bk.Chickadee 6 55 58 27 16 1 5 168

Bushtit 58 18 35 77 35 10 27 260

Red-breasted Nuthatch 7 7 16 28 10 1 2 71

Brown Creeper 1 4 6 5 1 17

Bewick's Wren 3 6 2 5 3 4 1 5 29

Winter Wren 28 6 12 10 17 4 1 4 82

Marsh Wren 3 1 9 7 20

wren sp.

American Dipper

Golden-crowned Kinglet 60 58 13 80 40 4 16 2 273

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 13 14 18 24 21 5 4 15 114

To wn se nd 's S ol it ai re C W

Hermit Thrush 4 1 5

American Robin 65 882 459 347 117 29 108 189 2196

Varied Thrush 6 3 2 2 2 2 17

American Pipit

Cedar Waxwing 29 19 11 59

Northern Shrike

European Starling 140 1298 534 1085 199 162 302 1308 5028


Species

Hutton's Vireo

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 1 2

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 30 1 18 2 2 54

..Audubon's subsp. 30 10 2

..Myrtle's subsp. 1

Townsend's Warbler 1 2 1 1 5

warbler sp.

Spotted Towhee 6 24 29 31 8 4 6 7 115

*American Tree Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Fox Sparrow 3 13 1 13 18 3 1 7 59

Song Sparrow 25 71 10 73 46 5 29 22 281

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 5 6

*Swamp Sparrow

*White-throated Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 15 7 64 46 12 2 7 154

White-crowned Sparrow 5 12 2 3 4 8 34

Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 66 97 291 208 60 25 43 109 899

.. slate-colored subsp.

Red-winged Blackbird 100 25 18 14 25 182

Western Meadowlark

Brewer's Blackbird 60 40 43 143

blackbird sp.

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch 1 9 2 12

House Finch 31 67 52 74 80 22 68 394

Red Crossbill 15 21 36

Pine Siskin 125 62 185 106 28 331 120 957

American Goldnch 1 26 9 19 6 1 62

Evening Grosbeak

nch sp.

House Sparrow 37 22 18 76 17 4 20 102 296

Total 2275 8604 4898 4561 3314 5123 2724 3949 680 36128

... christmas bird count 2007from page 1 The Father of the Tahoma CBC, now Father Christmas, Jim ODonnell at Wild Birds Unlimited in Gig Harbor

on count day telling Diane Yorgason-Quinn that she will get everything she wants for this Christmas count.

Photo/WayneJackson

A Great Blue Heron stands sentinel at the mouth of Gig Harbor, December 15, 2007.

Photo/DianeYorgaso

n-Quinn

Tugboat Joe REALLY makes a difference incounting up loons, and grebes and alcids! Ohmy!

Our most unexpected bird this year was aCaspian Tern, who apparently lingered in itsannual migration pattern simply to be counted. Annas Hummingbird numbers were quite

comparable to our 2006 high of 54 with 55counted this year. And, they were seen in 7 ofour 8 Areas an expansion in range. We had thehighest count for all years that I have records forof immature Bald Eagles 18, with 33 adults, fora total of 51. Our highest Eagle count ever wasin 2005 (62 total), but even then we only had 8immatures. The first year of our TAS CBC in 1972counted 1 Bald Eagle onlyweve definitelycome a long way.

See you next year, and think Good WeatherThoughts!

2007 CBC ParticipantsAREA 1: Art Wang, Ken Brown, Alex Greene,

Carol Johnson, Rob McNair-Huff, Polly Rasar. AREA 2: Carol Schulz, Joe & Ruth Terlouw,Roger Orness, Patti Coolsen, Kris Erickson, NancyHertzel, Adele Freeland, Barbara & Curt Petersen,Cheryl White.AREA 3: Diane Yorgason-Quinn,Wayne Jackson, Ashlee Jackson, Carol Smith,Jody Hess, David Estroff, Ben Estroff, Betty Main,Jeff Feagin, Dr. Terry Mace, Emily & KevinSchoenfelder, Dr. Phillip Craven, Barbara & Arvid

Anderson, Dale & Patience Powell. AREA 4:Roxy & Winfield Giddings, Ken & Nell Batker,Donna & Richard LaCasse. Fred & DorothyTobiason.AREA 5: Chris Chappell, Rolan Nelson,John English, Kristin Stewart, Ann Barry. AREA6: Sue Summers & Alan Ferguson, Wayne &Margie Sladek, Byron Blount, Aaron & AnnaPetersen, Ian Kaminsky, Laurel Cain. AREA 7:Stan & Sharon Johnson, Ed Pullen, ShelleyParker.Area 8: Ruth Sullivan, Rosanne Becker,Joann Simms, Sally. BOATLESS-BOAT: BruceLaBar, Faye McAdams Hands.

By Diane Yorgason-Quinn

Fame must have gone to our heads.We performed VERY well, tying ourrecord for number of species (79) in

Area 3 this year on the Gig HarborPeninsula.

The Tacoma News Tribune chose someof our team to follow around that morn-ing of December 15th in order to tell theworld of our good work! (See TNT,Sunday December 16, page 2A abovethe fold! There is a link to it on the TASwebsite at www.tahomaaudubon.org).Ace reporter Joe Turner met us at the

Jerisich Park pier on the harbor. Famousnews photographer Dean Koepfler (fam-ous because he was doing our story onthe way to a book signing for his quite

The CBC and thefamous Area 3!

See "CBC - Area 3" on page 11


7/11


Just the other day...Heres what TAS was doing in Feb., 1983By Helen Engle

TOWHEE Editor CharlesBergman was in Europe andCarla Hansmann was guest edi-tor for this issue. She likedpoetry. Heres a ShakespeareWinter Song from Loves LabooursLost.

Ken Brown reported on the 1982 ChristmasBird Count results. There were 56 observerswho counted 113 species, 1 hybrid, and 1additional race for a total of 70,223 individu-als. The only count higher up until 1982 was1979 with 77,143 individuals.

Horned Grebes, Western Grebes,Double-crested Cormorants,Common Mergansers, MewGulls, Bonapartes Gulls,Common Murres, Rock Doves,

Robins and Starlings were all upsignificantly. Birds on the decline

were Eared Grebes, Mallards, RuddyDucks. Woodpeckers were scarce with noPileated, Red-breasted or Hairy. Pine Siskinsdown from 3,428 the year before to 123.

Sightings of interest were Marsh Hawk,Ruddy Turnstone, 9 Ancient Murrelets, 8 RedCrossbills (new count record) and 2 White-throated Sparrows (a count first).

The TAS annual banquet was at theSherwood Inn with a program by writer andphotographer Dr. Robert Kothenbeutel. Theprice for the event was $10, including tips andtaxes.

Field trips included exploring Whidbey

Island with Jim Scearce and Fox Islandwith Marge Goodman. A Family fieldtrip did the Historical Society Museumand went all along City Waterway withJohn Slipp.

TAS, Seattle Audubon and WAEnvironmental Council enthusiasticallysupported Governor John Spellmansproposal for the state to purchaseMcNeil Island from the federal govern-ment, assigning 100 acres to be occu-pied by the Department of Corrections andthe rest of the island administered by the

Department of Game(now Dept. of Fishand Wildlife), as awildlife preserve.

Major landowners,Weyerhaeuser, StRegis, BurlingtonNorthern and othershave asked thecounty to re-desig-nate the naturalshoreline areas ofthe Carbon, Mashel and Nisqually Rivers inorder to allow logging closer to the water.Pierce County only has 18 miles of designatedNatural Environment calling for a 200-footbuffer (18 miles out of more than 400 milesof freshwater shoreline). The landownersclaim they are being denied the right to usethis property as they see fit, that it is a tak-ing. They propose to log within fifty fee of

the water on very steep slopes usingstandard clearcutting procedures,monoculture replanting and chemi-cal enhancement. The countyExecutive has appointed a 19-mem-ber task force to replace the oldShoreline Citizen Advisory Committee.They will make recommendationsfor changes in the Countys ShorelineMaster Program.John Spellman

Helen Engle from days ofyore.

BIRDSONGS by Phil Buly All about Bird Trails-from the American Birding Assoc. website.

Scattered across North America like individualstrings of pearls are birding trails. Birding andnature trails are essentially driving-routes link-ing prime birding locations. The growth of bird-

ing trails combines Americans love of the au-tomobile with the increasing interest in birds,creating access and opportunities. Formaltrails are relatively new, having begun in Texasin 1996, when the rst of three segments ofthe Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, the brain-child of Ted Eubanks and Madge Lindsay, wereopened. The rest, as they say, is history, withsimilar trails popping up across North America.Most of these birding trails have detailed ac-companying maps, providing guidance to thesites and to the birds (and usually other wild-life) to be found along the trails.

Feedback, comments and reminiscences

welcome, 253-564-3112, [email protected].

Whenicicleshangbythe wall,

AndDicktheshepherdblowshisnail,

AndTombearslogsintothehall,

Andmilkcomesfrozen homeinpail,

Whenbloodisnippd,andwaybefoul,

Thennightly singsthestaringowl,

Tu-whit;Tu-who,a merrynote.

Whenall aloud thewinddoth blow,

Andcoughingdrownstheparsonssaw,

And birds sitbroodinginthesnow,

AndMariansnoselooks redandraw,

Whenroastedappleshissinthe bowl,

Thennightlysingsthestaringowl,

Tu-whit;Tu-who,amerrynote.

By Helen Engle

Judd Day was a Puget Sound native, served as a

Navy officer on a destroyer during WWII and

graduated from College of Puget Sound (now UPS)

and Harvard Business School. He taught econom-

ics at UPS and once taught a quickie Economics

101 for TAS and the Tacoma-Pierce County League

of Women Voters to help us as we studied issues.

Judd and his brother Hollis headed one of

Tacomas premier family businesses, the remark-

able Days Tailor-D Clothing. The downtown plant

made work clothes, casual and dress clothing and

Edelweiss sportswear.

Judd was a competitive tennis player, ascended all

of the northwests major peaks (Mt. Rainier four

times), and Mexicos three highest mountains on a

joint expedition with TAS and the Tacoma

Mountaineers (most of us birded while in Mexico).

He was a charter member of TAS, and although

he was active in many of Tacomas business and

civic organizations he took time to do things with

and for Audubon. Judd served on TAS board of

directors and hosted board meetings in his home.

He chaired our Conservation Committee for many

years, attracting up to 20 active members who

enjoyed committee meetings at Judds business

downtown, complete with his secretary to keep the

committees minutes. He assisted TAS growing

pains supplying us with office equipment, filing

cabinets and in 1970 a most-up-to-date electric

typewriter!

Judd and Betty loved our TAS field trips, the

Wenas Campout, the regional and national confer-

ences, and NAS field trips and special excursions

abroad. They studied natural sciences wherever

they traveled and were always interested, interesting

and sociable. In 1976 he was elected to the National

Audubon Society Board of Directors, serving on the

finance committee. During his second term of

office he became treasurer of the society to 1985.

After his marriage to Sally, Judd brought her with

him as he continued his friendly relationship with

the NAS board.

The last member of his generation of the family,

Judd was preceded in death by his wife Betty, and is

survived by his second wife, Sally of London, his

four children, Mike (Debbie); TASers Sara & John

Blakeslee, a past director of TAS; Frank (Ikuko);

and Elizabeth; and eight grandchildren. A memorial

service will be set for a later date.

Judd Day: June 8, 1919 December 25, 2007 a charter member passes


8/11


ANNouNceMeNts

welcoMe to New and Returning Members

November 16, 2007 to January 15, 2008Chapter New and Renew: Mr. & Mrs. Arthur

Ando, Donna Arbaugh, Rosanne Becker, Steve &Theresa Biscarret, Mark & Peggy Bubenik, Richard

Carkner, Don Clifford, Rhona Diehl, Mike Erkinen &

Rev. Mardi Krusemark, William Giddings, MarjorieGriffin, Nancy Hall, Gail Hemphill, Robert Husted,

Anne & Paul Jacobson, Howard & Doreen Johnson,Peggy Kopf & Pat Mail, Robin Little, Rebecca Long,

Julie & David Lucos, David Marshall, Susan Mattern,Norma Millen, Cindy Mish, Bill & Susan Mitchell,

Gabriel Newton, Annette Pinkerton, Kenneth Query,Victoria Ray, Ed Sakai, Brian Sullivan & Anna Leon

Guerrero, June Summerville, Evelyn Svendsen, FernSvendsen, Louise Wackerle, Michael & Jodi Walker.

Joint Chapter and National: (Joining through

TAS) Nels & Winnifred Bjarke, Kristi Ceder, L TerryConner, Mrs. Robert Elliston, Barbara Guller, Roger

Indrebo, Mr. Jonathan Kemp, Diane Kerlin, Emmalou

Lyle, Mary Pat Minor, Joann Sims, Judith Stephens,Jean Trucco, Darby Veeck & Kristi Lynett, Dorothy

Walker, Joel & Lucinda Wingard.

Intro: (Received by TAS) Sharon Bell, Tom & AmyBettesworth, Stan & Karen Bloustine, Kathleen

Figetakis, Sue McCluskey, Connie Reitzug, CarmenSterba, David & Barbara Uberuaga.

Some Additions Directly From National: Kathleen

Harris, Lavonne Carr, Musky Ridge, Verna Hanrahan,Selma Sloth, Linda Gough, Paula Hultgren Ruff

(returning), Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Giske, TheodoreHutton, Terie Jean Carney, Carl Allen, Holly Bisenius,

Susan Mason, George Houston (returning), Sandy

Sieber (returning), Lillian Jacobs, Melvin Anderson,David Dykeman (returning), Kay F Scott, Katrina

Bowden, Ray Gomulinski, Michael Boynton, Jesse& Melissa Nigretti, Jacque Sefton, Marjorie Post,

Claude Pearson, Allan Orr, Nathan Stewart, SandraCampbell, Eveline Smith, Sharon Pierson, Louise

Boyd, Fredrica Rostad, Mr. & Mrs. Benno De Jong,

Herman Nickel, Bruce Carpenter (returning),Stephen Baldes, Harold Koenig (returning),

Frank Senecal, Mr. & Mrs. Jose Rey-M

Manaois, John Gordhamer, Renee Lyons,Stephen Brklycica (returning), Trusilla

Bussinger (returning).

Modified From National (Including renewals,change of address, etc.) Susan Eidenschink, Richard

Ory, Robert Ory, Mr. & Mrs. Ligrano, Martha Keogh,Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Berwick, Alison Robb, Marianne

Larson, Gerald Ritz, Mignonette Anderson, MaryZimmer, Trula Thompson, Sevey Williams, Nicolas

Fogata, Maureen Robak, Dorothy Walker, ShellyKealy, John Lantz, Walter Lachnit, Patricia Berger,

Dr. Jerman Rose, Colin Conant, Mark & Inez Ritchey,Isabel Campbell, Josh Stuart, Rutherford, Ann Waldo,

Carolyn Wright, Janet Shonk, Betty Larson, Phillip &

Joyce Schneider, Judy Stirling, Jean Trucco, SueKnight, Wilbur Johnson, Anne & Paul Jacobson,

Robert Arnold, Meri Kessler, Diane Kerlin, GalenStark, Ken Yunc, Walt & Marlene Arthur, Kathleen

Franz, Byrna Klavano, David Chase, Luanne Green,Blaine Pearman, Janet Pool, Eugene Parsons, Millard

Hixson, Nancy Witkowski, Lao Ladene, P Fortiner,Glenn Lampman, Vivian Jacqmin, Vicki King, Mary

Jane Cooper, Beatrice Thompson, Kathryn Buckner,Melody Wedlund, Lin Livingston, Randy Crape,

Mark Carlson DDS, Charles Crittenden, Stella Jones,Bernice Youtz, Bruce Demarais, Kim Jenseningram,

Sharon Babcock, Bonnie Stiff, Ferdinand Kollar, WB Blackett, Ruth Daugherty, Linda Napier, Anne

Seago, Richard Dehlinger, Randy Van Nortwick,

Anne Ragin, Maude Valentine, J & D Swanberg,Barbara Crowell, James Whorton, Diane Malone,

Mary Ann Iseri, Richard Carkner, Robert Jones, MikeBaunach, Donna Arbaugh, Leslie Williams, Gloria

Gates, Barbara Spruell, R Lueck Mammen, LaurissaWallace, Carol Kovanda, Wayne Pieper, Sandra

Perrine, Ray Smith, Cecile Montgomery, RichardRhine, John & Karen Parks, Mary Henry, Thomas

Fitzgerald, Frank Senecal, James Reinsvold, Dr

Edmond B Dennery, Barbara Sullivan, MarjoryRobinson, Norita Stewart, Penelope Magelssen,

Richard Perkins, Floyd Exeter, Teresa Clabots, DrMurray Nelson, Russell Aaron, Charles Roe, Gael

Gann, Dennis Weeks, Linda Guerrero, B L Caswell,Peter Liljengren. (Several renewals were sent to TAS

thank-you and are now being confirmed by NAS.Thank-you to several of you who have also taken out

the Chapter Support membership.

Thank-you all so much for joining and renewing.From Audubons Ethic, A Culture of Conservation:

To preserve the Earths biological diversity--whichis humanitys ecological inheritance and will be the

legacy we pass forward to future generations--

conservation must be a conviction common to allpeople. Environmental values must be elevated to the

top of the hierarchy of ethics that govern civilized

behavior.

Audubon envisions a world in which humankindaccepts the obligations of being a part of nature,

especially the obligation of stewardship. We foresee

a culture in which public policy and individual

choice are framed by environmental consciousness.

We are committed to working toward a future when

exploitation of nature is socially, politically, and

morally unacceptable--when the environment is a

common, not a special interest, and when the

environmental ethic takes its place beside liberty

and equality as central cultural values.

Mark the Date for Tahoma Audubons2008 Bring-a-Friend Banquet

Looking Upward and Outward with a View of the

Pacific Flyway from the Forest Canopy Featuring

Dr. Nalini Nadkarnis program, CRITICAL

CONNECTIONS: Ecological Interactions in

Tropical and Temperate Forest Canopies.

Banquet Details:

When: Friday, February 22, with no host bar and

silent auction starting at 5:30 pm. Silent auction

closes and dinner will be served at 7:00 pm.

Where: Tacoma Elks Lodge No. 174, 1965 South

Union Ave, Tacoma

Cost: $35 Banquet Supporter includes a $10

donation for Audubon programs or you may elect

to pay $25 per person to just pay for dinner. All

tickets include gratuity.

Deadline: Registration must be received by

Monday, February 11th. Send to Tahoma Audubon

Banquet, 2917 Morrison Rd W, University Place,

WA 98466.

Please drop off donations for the Silent Auction tobe held at our Banquet on Friday, February 22nd.

Items can be dropped off at the office. Call Sue

Goehring at 253-564-2205 with any questions.

Thank you in advance for your

donations, proceeds benefit

Tahoma Audubons many

programs.

Join us for Spring ACOWFor Spring ACOW 2008, being held April 11th

through April 13th, Audubon Washington has cho-

sen the Sleeping Lady Mountain retreat, located in

the foothills of the Cascade mountain range out-

side Leavenworth, Washington. The Sleeping

Lady creates an atmosphere that blends seamlessly

with nature and the surrounding natural landscape,and provides an environment that fosters creative

interaction. This all inclusive retreat is also a leader

in environmentally conscious industry; with con-

servation a primary concern from its construction

through daily operations.

For more information on Spring ACOW 2008,

visit the Audubon Washington website at wa.audu-

bon.org where online registration is expected to be

available by Wednesday, February 13th.

Program manager neededHarbor WildWatch, a Gig Harbor-based non-

profit organization is searching for an Environmental

Education / Beach Program Manager for mid-

May-August (with 4 days of training in late April

and early May).

The closing date for this outdoor summertime

position is March 15. HWW is looking for a can-didate that can demonstrate reliability, sound judg-

ment, leadership, and initiative in organizing and

managing our existing interpretive beach program

for the public and school groups on local area

beaches.

For a detailed job description contact d2holser@

yahoo.com. For additional information contact

Bruce Holser: [email protected] /

253.514.0187.

Our office needs a vacuum and a digitalcamera. If you can help Tahoma Audubonout please contact Julie Kerrigan.

Thank you!Julie Kerrigan,

Volunteer Coordinator, 253-565-1884

Donations needed for Tahoma Audubon ofce


9/11

voluNteer Recognition


All Fridays. Come at 9:00 a.m. for a lightbreakfast and stay to weed until 11:00 a.m.If you wish to help on your own time, we nowhave a book with entire grounds marked off andpictured in small segments. You can chooseyour portion of the grounds, and at your ownconvenience, keep it looking like the picture.

Thanks for considering this great way ofhelping out.

Volunteer at Adriana Hess Wetland Park

From the News Tribune

Published: January 9th, 2008

Even though Sara Siemens-Luthy is ageneral-education teacher, she is a self-professed nature lover. For three decades,she and her husband were ranger natural-ists at Yosemite National Park in California.They would lead visitors on walks andpoint out the beauty of the parks TuolumneMeadows area every summer. Twoyears ago, Siemens-Luthy met withGabriel Newton, educator with theTahoma Audubon Society. Together,they came up with the idea of creat-ing an after-school nature club at

Narrows View, where shes taughtsome 13 years. We wanted toshow kids whats intheir neighborhood,Siemens-Luthy said. Kids nowadays,

they think of the out-doors as a foreignspot. About 30 kidssigned up for theonce-a-week class thefirst year. They went on

nature walks, pointed out different speciesof birds and did other activities that stu-dents cant get do indoors. This year, thestudents in the Osprey Club are working inthe schools play area. Theyve installedbird feeders, put in plants, even placed alog as landscaping.

In October, the Tahoma Audubon Societyrecognized Siemens-Luthy for her effortswith the club at its annual breakfast event.

Siemens-Luthy says shes flatteredfor the recognition, but the clubs

success is reflected in its studentsand the community. It is reallywhat I think teaching is allabout, she said. Its about

helping kids find just thoselittle things to stop and take

a look at.

Brent Champaco, The News Tribune

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/249712.html

In the coming months Adriana Hess Wetland Park will be

developing an Outdoor Nature Education Area next to the of-

ce of Tahoma Audubon. The new area will have a covered

shelter to be used for outdoor classes and events. The area

will also include a demonstration on how to compost yard and

home waste. Local and recycled art will be displayed and the

site will be open for the public to enjoy.

We need your help with this project. Every Friday from

9:00am-11:00am we have work parties to help weed, prune,

transplant, and, eventually, construct the covered shelter. Any

help is greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in volunteering please call Julie Kerrig-

an 253-565-1884 or email at [email protected].

Although it was incredibly wet and cold during Winter

Fest we had about 46 people come out to Morse Wildlife

Preserve to participate in nature walks, story time, natural-

ist discussions and warming up with hot chocolate. My

sincerest gratitude goes out to all the wonderful volunteerswho helped make the event possible. Thank you for

toughing out the weather and having great attitudes

throughout the day. Thank you to all the guests that came

out to the event as well. We truly appreciate your partici-

pation and attendance.

Betty Main and Donna Pietras (she rst signed on as of-ce staff in 1993) need to step away from the front desk po-

sition due to health problems. Tahoma Audubon would like

to thank them for their invaluable help, we will miss them.

Their long service shows that this position is both rewardingand enjoyable. We need volunteers to ll in for them. There

are other vacancies in the front desk schedule too. Call SallySloat at 253-564-0655 or leave a message for her at the ofce,

253-565-9278

Teachers love of nature inspires club

Volunteers needed for the ofce!

Outdoor education

area coming soon

Sara Siemens-Luthy getsa truly deserving reward atthe Early bird Gets the Wormbreakfast event in October,2007.

Photo/Kyle Duba

Please considermaking a planned gift to

Tahoma Audubon society in

the form of a bequest, a gift

of appreciated stock, or

charitable gift annuities.

Ask us how! (253) 565-9278

Winter Fest 2007


10/11


Tahoma Audubon is the Pierce County chapter of National Audubon. As

an Introductory member of Tahoma Audubon you also receive a National

Audubon membership and Audubon Magazine for one year. Renewing

your Chapter Membership ensures that we can continue to do our work in

Pierce County. Chapter membership includes: Towhee newsletter sub-

scription, free family events, birding trip invitations, class & book dis-

counts, conservation activities, annual celebrations and more. Joint TAS/

National Audubon membership includes: Chapter membership, National

membership, annual Audubon Magazine subscription, and support of

Important Bird Areas (IBA) and state and national conservation agendas. Checkspayableto:TahomaAudubon2

917Morrison

Rd.

W.

UniversityPlace,

98466Taho

maAudubon

Society,establishedin1969,

isa501(c

)(3)nonprofit

organization.

Donationsaretaxdeductible.

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

photo/Diane Yorgason-QuinnBirders Bruce LaBar and Faye McAdams Hands, being interviewed by Joe Turner of the TNT (far right), whileDean Koeper scopes out birds.

The Hoody everyone was trying to photograph for the CBC. Folks enjoying the Christmas Bird Count dinner.

For those doubters, there really was a ock of 5 pheasants at the Gig Harbor Golf Course!

impressive tome about bridging the Narrows, Masters of Suspension)

was following around our 3-man team on Fox Island; he arrived after a bit

as well. It was a nasty morning, which was deeply satisfying to us hard-core

birders, who are, after all, used to it. We watched as the media shivered

trying to see the birds we were looking at and attempting to photograph

birds in the wind and spray!

We had a number of interesting birds out in the harbor, but those press guys

seemed to only turn their eyes towards the Big and Bad (raptors) or the Cute

and Little (Hoodies). Reporter Turner interviewed Count Coordinator Faye

McAdams Hands in depth, distracting her pair of famous spotting eyes from

their primary job, but all eyes looked up when we had seven Bald Eagles over

our heads at one time. Later, her interview looked very

official in the newspaper, except for the mention of

Double-Breasted Cormorants, which she claims she

never said, but one wonders if she might have been try-

ing to get something over on nonbirders.... It was fun to

show these guys a few birds. Lets hope they come out

as bird counters next year! Well take em in Area 3!

We now send 5 teams out in Area 3 and are recruit-

ing to send 6 teams next year if possible! A far cry

from those yesteryears when I took over this area from

Nell and Ken Batker--yes, there were few birders onthe peninsula at that time! For years I went out with

Norris Cone, who pretty much taught me the lay of the

land. When Norris decided to retire, somehow I got

the job of running a count in this backwater. But a

backwater no more! As a dedicated cadre of birders

has become loyal to this event, we have watched this

landscape change tremendously in these past few

years. The more things change, the more they stay the

same, and that is true of these birders who stand up to

be counted while counting every December.

Thanks to the Area 3 crew! Thanks most to Jim

ODonnell, who didnt count this time because he was

playing Santa for a good cause at Wild Birds Unlimited

in Gig Harbor, conveniently located in our count zone.Jim was the guy 30+ years ago who drew that big circle

for Tahoma Audubon and said, Hey, lets start a CBC!

We had a great turnout including Ashlee Jackson who

was doing her tenth count, and shes only 15! The rest

of the crew really turned out, and we have the numbers

to prove it! Thanks to all!

... CBC - Area 3 from page 6

Please see the new board approved Chapter Membership Policy on page 2.


11/11

Tahoma Audubon Society YO2

2917 Morrison Road West

University Place, WA 98466

Address service requested

Nonprofit Org

U.S. Postage

Tacoma, WA

Permit No. 177

PAID 25 years ago page 8BirdSongs page 8

Bryan Flint column page 2

Christmas Bird Count pages 1, 6, 7, 11

Environment matters page 3

Field trips page 5

New members page 9

Paul Webster page 1

TAS programs page 12

Volunteer recognition page 10

In this issue:

owhee

The February 2008

feBruAry 2008

Calendar

T

f Field Trip Page

v Volunteer page

m Environmental Matters Pagea Related article in The Towhee

E Education Page

Key to letter symbols For additional information on educa-tion programs contact Tahoma Audu-bon at 253-565-9278; on the web atwww.tahomaaudubon.org

Or The Tacoma Nature Center at253-591-6439 or on the web atwww.metroparkstacoma.org

Fri. Feb 8 9 am Breakfast and Work Party -

Adriana Hess Audubon Center

Sat. Feb 9 8 am Decoursey Park birding with

Ed Pullenf

Mon. Feb 11 12 pm Birdwalk - Adriana Hess

Audubon Center f

Tue. Feb 12 2 pm Conservation Committee -

Adriana Hess Wetland Park, 2917 Morrison

Road W, University Place, WA 98466

Wed. Feb 13 3:15 pm Budding Scientists -

Dirt? - Adriana Hess Audubon Center

Thu. Feb 14 9:30 am Beginning Home School

Science - Beneath Your Feet - Tacoma NatureCenter

Thu. Feb 14 1 pm Beginning Home School

Science - Beneath Your Feet - Tacoma Nature

Center

Thu. Feb 14 6:30 pm TAS Board Meeting -

Adriana Hess Audubon Center

Fri. Feb 15 Great Backyard Bird Count

Fri. Feb 15 9 am Breakfast and Work Party

- Adriana Hess Audubon Center

Sat. Feb 16 Great Backyard Bird Count

Sat. Feb 16 10 am Discovery Walk - AndersonIsland f

Sat. Feb 16 Great Backyard Bird Count

Sun. Feb 17 Great Backyard Bird Count

Sun. Feb 17 8 am Pt. Defiance Nature Walk -

Point Defiance Park in Tacomaf

Mon. Feb 18 12 pm Plant Walk - Adriana Hess

Audubon Center f

Tue. Feb 19 1:30 pm Nature Alphabet - L is for

Licorice - Tacoma Nature CenterWed. Feb 20 10:30 am Budding Scientists -

Lets Compost... - Adriana Hess Audubon

Center

Thu. Feb 21 1 pm Intermediate Home School

Science - Whats Down Under? - Tacoma

Nature Center

Fri. Feb 22 9 am Breakfast and Work Party


Fri. Feb 22 10:30 am Nature Story Time -

Dirty Rotten Fun - Adriana Hess Audubon

CenterFri. Feb 22 6pm Membership Banquet and

Auction - Elks Club, Tacoma

Sat. Feb 23 Seabird Workshop - Slater

Museum, UPS

Wed. Feb 27 3:15 pm Budding Scientists -

Lets Compost... - Adriana Hess Audubon

Center

Thu. Feb 28 1 pm Advanced Home School

Science - Soil Science - Tacoma Nature CenterFri. Feb 29 9 am Breakfast and Work Party


Fri. Feb 29 1 pm Advanced Home School

Science Lab - Soil Science - Tacoma Nature

Center

Sat. Mar 1 Seabird Workshop - University of

Puget Sound, Slater Natural History Museum

Sat. Mar 1 Snake Lake Science Fair - TacomaNature Center

Tue. Mar 4 10:30 am Nature Alphabet - M is

for Mountain Goat - Tacoma Nature Center

Wed. Mar 5 10:30 am Budding Scientists -

Riding the Wave - Adriana Hess Audubon

Center

Sat. Mar 8 8:30 am Photo Fest - Tacoma Nature

Center

Tue. Mar 11 2 pm Conservation Committee -

Adriana Hess Wetland Park, 2917 Morrison

Road W, University Place, WA 98466Wed. Mar 12 3:15 pm Budding Scientists -

Riding the Wave - Adriana Hess Audubon

Center

tAhoMA AuDuBoNPrograms

MArch 2008

Join your friends at Tahomas annual banquetin February. Tahoma Audubon has its annualmembership meeting and banquet in place of theFebruary Program . February 11 is the deadlinefor reservations for the February 22 banquet tobe held at the Tacoma Elks Lodge featuring Dr.Nalini M. Nadkarni. Helen Engle raves that Dr. Na-dkarnis program is the best Ive ever heard and

inspiring, humorous. $35 Banquet Supporterincludes a $10 donation for Audubon programs

or you may elect to pay $25 per person to justpay for dinner. All tickets include gratuity. Send toTahoma Audubon Banquet, 2917 Morrison Rd W,University Place, WA 98466. (Silent Auction itemsgratefully accepted at the ofce.)

March 14th - Membership ProgramJoin Nate Chappell for an evening of incredible

photography of birds from tropical corners of theworld ~ Ecuador, Argentina, Thailand, and Ma-laysia. Nate, longtime TASmember and owner ofTrogon Tours, comeswell versed in wildlifephotography and in-cludes instruction on

his tours.Currently he is the Avi-

an Gallery moderator forNaturePhotographers.net.

Blue GrayTanager

photo/Nate Chappell

Not applicable on the internets

02-2008 towhee newsletter tahoma audubon society

Documents