december 2008 heron herald newsletter rainier audubon society

8/8/2019 December 2008 Heron Herald Newsletter Rainier Audubon Society

1/8

For all o you birdwatchers out there who see a gull and

say, Oh, its just a gull, without even trying to narrow

it down to species, this is the perect program or you!

Fourteen species o gulls are ound in Washington,

and right now (November through February) is prime

gull-viewing time. Mike Donahues program will review

identifcation o our common wintering species.

Mike grew up in Seattle and started birding at age 7. He has birded

over much o the United States, as well as in Asia, Central and South

America, and Australia. He teaches gull ID classes or Seattle Audubonand is a regular lecturer with the Washington Ornithological Society.

So take a much-deserved break rom holiday

preparations and join us or a un night o Finding

the Gull o Your Dreams!

PLUS:

OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY COOKIE EXCHANGE!

Rainier Audubon Society December 2008

Monday, December 15, 7:00 PM

Getting Started in Gull Identifcation:

How to Find the Gull o Your Dreamswith Mike Donahue

Federal Way United Methodist Church

29645 - 51st Ave. So.

(in unincorporated Auburn) 98001

Directions: In Federal Way, take 320th St. EAST past The Commons, crossing over I-5 and Military Rd.

At 321st St, turn let. Stay on 321st as it becomes 51st Ave. So. Follow 51st Ave. to 296th. Church will

be on your let at 296th.


2/8

RainieR audubon SocietyPo bx 778. ar Wa 98071

www.Rra.rg

OFFICERS

Presdent OPEN

Vce Presdent Steve Feldman (360) 802-5211

Treasrer Jm Tooley (253) 854-3070

Backyard Habtat Char Carol Stoner (253) 854-3207

Chrstmas Brd Cont Coordnator Nancy Streffert (253) 796-2203

Program Char Dale Meland (253) 946-1637

Membershp Char Pat Toth (206) 767-4944

Feld Trp Char Carol Schlz (206) 824-7618

Edcaton Char Annette Tabor (253) 927-3208

Conservaton Char Dan Streffert (253) 796-2203

Newsletter Edtor Nancy Hertzel (253) 255-1808

Malng Crew Debra Rssell (425) 271-0682

Hosptalty Jane Gardner (253) 631-3105

Board Member Max Prnsen (425) 432-9965

Board Member Ern Wojewodsk-Prnsen (425) 432-9965

Board Member Trca MacLaren (360) 802-0304

DECEMBER 2008 - PAGE 2

Volunteer Opportunity

Rainier Audubon is looking for a volunteer to handlepublicity for our programs and events. We have a list of local

newspapers where we like to publish our notices, so yourjob would be to send out notices to these newspapers by thedeadline each month. If you are interested, please call SteveFeldman at (360) 802-5211 or Carol Stoner at (253) 854-3207.

Thank you!

Make a Button at our December Program!Looking for a personalized gift or accessory for the holidays? Come

to our December program (see page 1) and bring a picture of

yourself, your children, your pet - well turn it

into a professional button for $1. Or choose

a picture from our huge collection of birds,fowers, and animals. You are limited only by

your imagination! These personalized buttons are

great as stocking stuffers, package adornments,

and name tags!


3/8

Christmas Bird Count is sunday, deCemBer 28

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aw, Fl W u m Cc,

w w p plck ,

, ll b c pc . t

g Cll Lb olg, w

pv c b cz

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Pl cll nc s (253) 796-2203 l [email protected]

g p.


Looking for New Optics?

Our November program featured optics expert Jim Danzenbaker

and Gig Harbor Wild Birds Unlimited store owner Jim Ullrich. They had

a wide variety of optics on display for our members to try out. If you are

in the market for new binoculars or spotting scope, Jim Ullrich has nowmade a generous offer to Rainier members -- If you buy KOWA optics from the Gig Harbor Wild Birds

Unlimited store, Jim will give you a binocular strap and lens pen free, and will also donate 5% of the

purchase price to Rainier Audubon!

Wild Birds Unlimited

3120 - 1/2 Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor

(800) 851-2575


4/8

Feld Trps by Carol Schlz

Weekly Brd Walks

at NsqallyWednesdays

8:00 AM to 11:00 AMLeader: Phl Kelley

Bg changes are happenng at Nsqally NWR!

Jon Phl on hs weekly brd walk as he conts the

brds at Nsqally NWR. The grop walks ot to

McAllster Creek, then takes the boardwalk/tral loop

ot to the Twn Barns, the Nsqally overlook area, and

the rparan area, totalng abot three mles.

BRiNG: Good walkng shoes or boots, rangear,water, snacks, and $3 entry fee nless yo have a pass.

Scopes are welcome.

MEET: At the Vstors Center.

DiRECTiONS: Take i-5 soth from Tacoma and ext

to Nsqally NWR at ext 114. Take a rght at the lght.

SiGN-uP: Call or email Phil to conrm details

(especally drng the tral constrcton perod):

(360) 459-1499, [email protected].

[Constrcton has begn on some of the trals, drng

a 3-4 year estary reconstrcton project. For more

nformaton abot tral closres, go to www.fws.gov/

nsqally/ and clck on Events and News. Drng

the reconstrcton perod, some trals may be closed

temporarly.]


Ktttas Conty Brdng n WnterSnday, December 7

6:30 AM to Evenng

Co-Leaders: Charle Wrght and Roger Orness

Come enjoy a day of wnter-season brdng n central

Washngton. We wll ventre over Snoqalme

Pass and vst areas ncldng Swak Prare and

Soth Cle Elm along or rote. Large nmbers of

raptors ncldng Rogh-legged Hawks and Prare

Falcons are seen wnterng n the open snow-covered

elds of Kittitas. Proceeding east, we will reach the

Colmba Rver at Vantage, where waterfowl are

sometmes present n vast nmbers. Some target

speces wll nclde nsal loons, dcks, Amercan

Whte Pelcans, and possbly rare glls. Chkar areoccasonally seen n the basalt otcroppngs here. Sgn

p early; space s lmted.

BRiNG: Many layers of clothng for cold weather

condtons, a lnch, and snacks. Scopes are welcome.

MEET: At 6:30 AM at Abrn Safeway, at Abrn

Way and Man St.

DiRECTiONS: Take Hwy. 18 to Abrn Way ext

(Hwy. 164). Trn north (rght) onto Abrn Way and

drve three blocks. Safeway /gas staton wll be on the

left. Park n the Safeway lot jst beyond the gas staton

and straght ot from the Safeway door. We wll meet

and carpool promptly from there.

SiGN-uP: Contact Roger Orness (r.orness@comcast.

net) or by phone at (253) 922-7516. Emal s preferred.

Chrstmas Brd Cont OpportntesSatrday, December 20 (for Tahoma Adbon)Snday, December 28 (for Raner Adbon)

The rst trip is for the Tahoma chapter CBC, but is in our area (Fife elds,

Commencement Bay areas, Browns Pont, and Dash Pont areas). Call Carol Schlz at

(206) 824-7618 to sgn p.

The second trp s for the Raner chapter CBC. (See page 3.) Call Nancy Streffert at (253) 852-8394 to sgn p.

On both of these trps, yo wll learn A LOT abot brds, as yo travel wth an experenced brder. Yo dont have to

know all the brds, bt yo wll be asked to help the leader. Ths s yor opportnty to help a good case and go on a

brdng trp, too!


5/8

Feld Trps, cont.


Renton Parks and BeachesSatrday, Janary 24, 2009

8:00 AM to Md-Afternoon

Leader: Amy Schllnger

Late Janary s a perfect tme of year to vst parks

and beaches n the Renton area. The water brds are

back, and there mght be some srprse brds, too! if

some folks want to leave early, they can brng ther

own cars. Dependng on where the brds are, we may

vst Kennydale Beach, Colon Park, the moth of the

Cedar Rver, and Ron Regs Park. We may walk abot

one mle.

BRiNG: Warm clothes, hkng boots or shoes for wet

grass, lnch, drnks, and snacks.

MEET: At i-405, ext 9, the Newcastle Park & Rde.

DiRECTiONS: Take i-405 north from Renton to ext

9. Go 1/2 block phll. The P & R wll be on yor left.

Do NOT go down the freeway entrance ramp.

SiGN-uP: Call or emal Amy at (425) 443-6931, or

[email protected].

Skagt and Samsh FlatsSnday, Febrary 8, 2009

7:00 AM to Late Afternoon

Leader: Carol Schlz

We havent done a Skagt trp for a few years, and we

want to see all those wonderfl brds agan! Or target

brds are raptors, Snow Geese, swans, and Short-

eared Owls. We are hopng for good looks at falcons.

Rogh-legged Hawks shold be hntng and perchng

n these areas. A WA Fsh & Wldlfe Vehcle use

Permt s reqred f yo are takng a car. Lmt 8. We

wll carpool.

BRiNG: VERY warm and waterproof clothes. it can

be cold and windy on the ats. Also bring lunch,drnks, and waterproof boots or shoes. We wll walk

p to one mle. Scopes are very welcome.

MEET: Des Mones Park and Rde by 7:00 AM.

Leave promptly at 7:05!

DiRECTiONS: Take i-5 to ext 149. Trn east

abot one block to Mltary Rd. Trn north (left) on

Mltary. Park & Rde s on the left.

SiGN-uP: Call or emal Carol at (206) 824-7618,

[email protected]. Emal s preferred.

Jon Frends of Soos Creek Park volnteers Joe and Lz Mles for ths late nght program and walk explorng the

world of owls. Well start indoors for the rst hour, learning their calls, ID, and info about our local owl species, then

ventre otdoors to prowl for owls. Grop sze s lmted to 15 and reservatons are reqred. Best for adlts and

chldren over 13 years. The owls program s sponsored by Kent Cty Recreaton Dept.

MEET: Soos Creek Park Mantenance Shop. Soos Creek Park/Tral, 24810 - 148th Ave. SE n Kent.

DiRECTiONS: Take James St. east from Kent. To reach James St, ext 167 at Wlls, trn east to Central and north

to James. Go east on James as t becomes SE 240th St. Travel abot 4 mles, as 240th dps and trns downhll. Trn

rght on 148th at the bottom of the hll. The Soos Creek mantenance yard wll be down the road abot 1/4 mle on

the left at a barn and chanlnk-fenced parkng lot.

SiGN-uP: Call Kent Commons at (253) 856-5000. These trps FiLL EARLY. For frther nformaton, emal or call

Joe Mles at (253) 629-0123 or at [email protected]. Joe can answer yor qestons, bt cannot arrange the sgn-ps.

Soos Creek Owl ProwlsSatrday Nght, Febrary 7, 2009

Satrday Nght, March 7, 2009

10:30 PM to 1:30 AM

Leaders: Joe and Lz Mles


6/8DECEMBER 2008 - PAGE 6

If you are inspired by Mike Donahues presentation on gull identification at our Decemberprogram (see page 1) and want to go out looking for gulls, there are several reliable spots

in south King County where you could go. Here is a tour of five ofthem that will surely yield enough variety of bill sizes, leg colors, andplumages to test your skills and patience.

foster golf course in tukwila(1)Heading northbound on I-5, take the 405 Bellevue/Renton exit, stay inthe right lane, and exit at West Valley Highway. At the bottom of theramp, go left onto West Valley, cross under 405 and continue north asWest Valley becomes Interurban. In about a mile, the Foster Golf LinksClubhouse will be on your right. Often, dozens of gulls are loafing onthe roof, and the parking lot is a safe, convenient place to sit back andcompare field marks.

g rv a P (2)Turn right out of the parking lot and continue under I-5 toGateway Drive. Turn right and drive toward BECU. Turn right intothe parking lot for the 13075 building, and look for an unmarkedparking spce. You can access the Green River Trail here and lookat a favorite gull-bathing spot at a bend in the river. You can alsocheck the roof of the Yellow Trucking Co. building (on your right as you face the river), afavorite resting area.

cd fm P(3)Return to Gateway Drive and go back to Interurban. Turn right on Interurban and cross theriver on the 42nd Ave. bridge. Turn right on So. 124th St. and follow it as it angles right andbecomes 50th Pl. So. Codiga Farms Park is on the right. This is a new park, recently plantedwith native species, and developed to provide habitat for juvenile salmon. If you walk tothe left, you will follow the construction/maintenance road that will give you views into theprotected lagoon and lead you past the osprey nesting platform to the river itself, whereyou will see gulls moving back and forth from bathing in the river to the roof of the truckingcompany.

Mh h cd rv(4)Leaving Codiga Park, continue on 50th across the overpass and up the hill on So. 129thSt. At the top of the hill, turn right on MLK Way; follow it (SR 900) to the intersection withRainier Ave. Turn left onto Rainier and in less than a half-mile, turn right onto Airport Way.Follow Airport Way as it angles left and becomes Logan Ave. No. Turn left at the light at No.6th and right at the river, Nishiwaki Lane. Follow this to the end and park. Walk out on theplatform where the kayak company is based, and you will see gulls loafing on the logs andgravel at the mouth of the river. The gull population increases significantly as dusk

Where to See Gulls in South King County

By Carol Stoner


7/8DECEMBER 2008 - PAGE 7

Where to See Gulls (cont. from page 6)

approaches; after 4:00 PM is the best viewing time. The other wonderful feature of this siteis the canopy (available for gull-watchers after kayak business hours) that keeps birdersalmost dry, even in wet weather.

g c P(5)Drive back to the intersection of Logan and No. 6th. Turn left onto Logan and follow itthrough the new shopping area until you come to the light at Garden Ave. Turn left ontoLake WA Blvd. No. and left again into Coulon Park. The best gull-watching spot is the logboom at the north end of the park.

According to Kathy Andrich, the gulls most commonly seen at all of these sites are Glaucouswinged, Thayers, Herring, Mew, Ring-billed, California, and the occasional Bonapartes;however, both Coulon Park and the mouth of the Cedar River have hosted rarities also.

These sites in Tukwila and Renton are used by tens, hundreds, and even thousands of gullsduring the winter. If you want to improve your gull identification skills, these are some very

good locations, close to home, that will give you lots of practice.


8/8

Rainier Audubon Membership Subscription Form

One-year Membership in Rainier Audubon $15

To join, mail this application with your payment to:

Rainier Audubon Society - MembershipPO Box 778

Auburn, WA 98071

Name _______________________________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________________

City ____________________________________________ State ______________ Zip ______________

Email _______________________________________________________________________________

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