june 2008 warbler newsletter portland audubon society

8/9/2019 June 2008 Warbler Newsletter Portland Audubon Society

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Audubon SocietyofPortland5151 NW Cornell RoadPortland, Oregon 97210

Page 2 ......................From the Director

...................................... Free Trips

Page 3 ......................Calendar of Events

Page 4 & 5 ...............................Conservation

Page 6 & 7 ........... ... Trips & Tours & Camps

Page 8 ......Nature Store & Sanctuaries

Page 9 ...................................Field Notes

.....................................Volunteers

Page 10 ........... ............ .Birding Weekends

Page 11 .......................Bird of the Month

Page 12 ................. Map/Hours/Sponsors

Inside this issue

WarblerAUDUBON SOCIETYof PORTLAND

JUNE 2008Volume 72 Number 6

Have your say about Urban and Rural Reserves. See page 4

In this issue...Bird the Blue

Mountains

See page 6

Summer CampsBegin!

See page 7

Urban CoyotesPresentation

See page 4

Each year since the Portland City Council adopted theGreat Blue Heron as the official city bird in 1986,the City of Portland and the metropolitan region

have celebrated the heron as an icon for access to naturein the heart of the city. Creation of Portland Parks andRecreations City Nature Program, passage of Metros$227.4 million bond measure, adoption of progressivewatershed and urban forest management plans for theCity of Portland, and the citys Grey to Green program allrepresent successes toward integrating the built and natural

environments and creating a more ecologically sustainablemetropolitan region.

This year our Wild in the City field trips will highlight theregions Connecting Green initiative, which seeks to createthe greatest parks, trails, and natural areas system for thePortland-Vancouver metropolitan region. We also celebratethe launching of a Connecting Green Alliance, spearheadedby Portland Audubon, Trust for Public Land, Metro, andthe Urban Greenspaces Institute. The Alliance will bringtogether a coalition of nonprofits, government agencies,businesses, and park and greenspace advocates to bringincreased funding for the acquisition and maintenance ofthe regions parks, trails, and natural areas; to promoteconstruction of a regional network of recreational trails;and to restore the regions natural areas.

Climb into a kayak, hop on a bike, or come along with uson a nature hike to celebrate this Great Blue Heron Weekand launching of the Connecting Green Alliance. See Wildin the City: Connecting Green field trips for listing of our fieldtours. For a complete listing of Great Blue Heron Weekactivities and field trips, visit www.audubonportland.org,where full trip descriptions are available. All trips are free,unless otherwise specified. Descriptions for May 2831trips are available in the May Warblerand at the website.

No one has better articulated the significance of the heronin our life and culture than the late poet William Stafford,who wrote Spirit of Place to commemorate the heronsplace in our region.

Sunday, June 1st

Sunday, June 1st, 4pm6pmSternwheeler The Rose, Ross Island Cruise

(see Connecting Green trip description on page 2 for details)

Sunday, June 1st, 8am10amHillsboro Public Library Heron Watch

Join volunteer naturalist Max Smith for a great view ofa heron colony and other birds near the new HillsboroPublic Library. Max will lead a morning bird walk aroundthe surrounding wetlands to observe the behavior ofherons and other water birds, and we will also view hawks,waterfowl, an Acorn Woodpecker colony, and a varietyof nesting songbirds. Max then will remain at the libraryto help patrons view the heron colony and discuss thenatural history of these fascinating birds. Contact Maxat 503-720-9730 or [email protected] for moreinformation. Meet at 8am in the librar y parking lot at 2850NE Brookwood Parkway, Hillsboro.

Sunday, June 1st, 9am1pmThree Creeks Natural Area

Tour Americas favorite wetland and upland oak forestwith the all-volunteer Tsunami Crew! This will be a nicestroll through 89 acres of 400-year-old White Oaks, soggybottoms, grasslands, duck ponds, heron hideaways, andyears worth of serious habitat restoration. SurroundingMt. Scott Creek, this land was once filled with garbage,campers, and a vigorous weed di splay. The Three Creeksarea has improved dramatically since work began in thelate 1990s. The tour will look at salmon habitat, restorationtechniques, birds, and peaceful tranquility right next tomajor roads and industrial areas. This rare oak habitat isthreatened by major road expansion and new road building.Meet at the North Clackamas Aquatic Park at 7300 SEHarmony Road (near the intersection of 82nd Ave andSunnyside Rd by Clackamas Town Center). Contact ChrisRunyard to RSVP at [email protected] or 503-239-5844.

Monday, June 2nd

Monday, June 2nd, 8am10amOaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge Walk

(see Connecting Green trip description on page 2 for details)

Monday, June 2nd, 5pm7pmWatch Herons Nesting at South Waterfront

Visitors to South Waterfront and residents alike have aringside seat from which to watch nesting Great Blue Heronsat the South Waterfront condominiums from the WillametteGreenway, just a short stroll from the OHSU Tram andPortland Streetcar. Join Mike Houck, Director of the UrbanGreenspaces Institute, and Bob Sallinger, Audubon Societyof Portlands Conservation Director, who will have spottingscopes on hand for close-up views of herons in their nests.Please bring your own binoculars and spotting scopes ifyou have them. The herons start their courtship and nestbuilding in mid to late February, lay eggs in early April, andthe young are ready to leave their nests in early to mid-June.These spring and early summer nest-viewing sessions willprovide a great opportunity to track the Ross Island heronsfrom egg laying, feeding young, and young trying out theirwings, and finally observing first flight from their nestingcolony. All heron nest watches are free and open to thepublic, and no pre-registration is required. Nest watcheswill go on rain or shine. Directions: The viewing area is justeast of the Meriwether Condominiums on the temporarygreenway path at the east end of SW Curry, and is served byPortland Streetcar and TriMet buses.

Great Blu e Hero n Week22nd Annual

continued on page 12

Spirit of Place

Out of their loneliness for each othertwo reeds, or maybe two shadows, lurch

forward and become suddenly a lifelifted from the dawn to the rain. It isthe wilderness come back again, a lagoonwith our city reflected in its eye.We live by faith in such presences.

It is a test for us, that thinbut real, undulating figure that promises,If you keep the faith I will existat the edge, where your vision joinsthe sunlight and the rain: heads in the light,

feet that go down in the mud where the truth is.

William Stafford, Oregon Poet LaureateGreat Blue Heron Week, 1987

Connecting Green: Celebrating Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas

Wednesday, May 28 Sunday, June 8

PhotosM

ikeHouckandJimC

ruce


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From the Executive Director

June 21 (Saturday), 8am11amOaks Bottom Wildlife RefugeJoin us on the 3rd Saturday walk co-sponsored by AudubonSociety of Portland and Backyard Bird Shop. Well have aleisurely walk around the lake and surrounding woodlandsof Portlands first wildlife refuge. Scope for waterfowl,raptors, and others. Bring binoculars. Call BackyardBird Shop (503-496-0908) for info and to reserve a spot.Beginners welcome!

June 22 (Sunday), 8am11amPowell Butte Nature ParkJoin leader Ron Escano for a walk exploring the uniquehabitats of Powell Butte. Should be great to see nestingLazuli Buntings. Meet at 8am at the top of the butteparking lot at the end of SE 162nd Ave. Turn south on SE

162nd Ave off Powell Blvd and drive to the top of the butte.Bring binoculars, dress for the weather; beginners welcome.

Field TripsCarpooling is encouraged for conservationand sociability. For information, call us at

503-292-6855 ext.119.

Cycle, Paddle, and Walk the regions parks, trails, and natural areas. Connecting Green is all about access to naturein the city. Connecting Green field trips will introduce you to some of the regions most scenic and wildlife-richnatural areas and parks and the ever-growing regional trails network.

Late May and the first week of June marks the 22nd Annual Great Blue Heron Week. Several Connecting Green:Wild in the Citytrips will be featured as part of Great Blue Heron Week events. Trips are free unless otherwisenoted. Trip enrollment is limited, so sign up early.Register at www.audubonportland.org/trips_classes_camps/adult_programs/wildcity . If you dont have internet access, call 503-292-6855 ext.116 to register. Bring your ownequipment for all bicycle and paddle trips helmets and life jackets are required. Canoe and kayak rentals canbe arranged through Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe (www.aldercreek.com, 503-285-0464) or Portland Kayak Company(www.portlandrivercompany.com, 503-459-4050). Directions and other details will be emailed to registrants.

Connecting GreenWild in the City Field Trips

June

Sunday, June 1st, 4pm6pmSternwheeler The Rose, Ross Island Cruise

Join Portland Audubon and the Urban GreenspacesInstitute on a family-oriented two-hour cruise aroundRoss Island. If you dont canoeor kayak, this is the time for youand your family to see Great BlueHeron, Osprey, and Bald Eaglenests. Well cruise through theHolgate Channel and circumnavigateRoss, Hardtack, and East Islands.Leaders: Bob Sallinger (PortlandAudubon), Mike Houck (UrbanGreenspaces Institute), and MichaelMontgomery (River Renaissance).Fee: $20 per person (children 5 andunder free) to cover the cost of the boat rental.

Monday, June 2nd, 8am10amOaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Join Mike Houck for a stroll around the 160-acre OaksBottom Wildlife Refuge. Spring migrants will be back atOaks Bottom, and well get great views of nesting Purple

Martins and Osprey. The riparian forest adjacent toHolgate Channel will be full of warblers, grosbeaks, andother neotropical migrants. This trip is appropriate forfamilies. The walk is a two-mile loop on both paved anduneven dirt paths, with two moderate hills.

Tuesday, June 3rd, Noon4pmExplore the 40-Mile Loop from SouthWaterfront to OHSU

Mike Houck will lead a walking tour along theWillamette River Greenway to Willamette Park and upthrough George Himes Park and Terwilliger Parkwayto OHSU. From there its all downhill via the PortlandAerial Tram (its free going downhill!) back to South

Waterfront. This is a great opportunity for new residents ofSouth Waterfront to explore the green connections to pillhill. This is a 5.5-mile walk, with lots of uphill walking, sobe in shape and wear sturdy walking gear. Weve allowedplenty of time for a leisurely hike, with time for lunch andthe ride back on the tram.

Wednesday, June 4th, 5pm8pmOaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

(see June 2nd trip for details)

Thursday, June 5th, 8am10amRock Creek Herons and NormThompson Campus

Join Mike Houck on a hike alongHillsboros Rock Creek Greenway andexplore the wetlands and riparian habitatat the Norm Thompson corporateheadquarters. We will also get closeup views

of two Great Blue Heron nesting colonies at Rock Creek.

Friday, June 6th, 7am9amEarly Birding Bike Ride along Columbia Slough

Join Jim Labbe (Portland Audubon) and Barb Grover(Events Planner with the Bike Gallery) for a morning ridealong the Columbia S lough Trail. Well take a leisurely, pre-

commute bike ride along the Lower Columbia Slough Trailand enjoy the lively birdlife to be encountered on a springmorning. Well also learn about future extensions of theColumbia Slough Trail and how citizens can get involved inprotecting and restoringthe slough. You areresponsible for bringingand maintaining yourown bicycle; pumps andpatch kits recommended.Helmets are absolutelyrequired.

Sandy River DeltaJune 5 (Thursday), 8amNoonJoin leader Ron Spencer for our annual hike aroundthe Sandy River Delta. At this time of year, the area ishome to a wide variety of species, many of which are

nesting. This outing requires more hi king than mostMagpie trips. From I-84 eastbound, take Exit 18, turnright at the bottom of the exit, loop around under thefreeway, keep right and look for the gravel parking lotand the gate. For more information, contact Ron at 503-656-5170 or [email protected].

Sisters, OregonJune 1618 (Monday 8amWednesday 5pm)This trip will be based in Sisters in Central Oregon andis limited to 15 people. Call Ann Pickar at 503-246-8629 to register and for further information.

Mt. Hood LakesJune 19 (Thursday), 8am4pmJoin the Magpies for a trip to three locations on the

Oregon Cascades Birding Trail. We will be visitingWildwood Recreation Area, Trillium Lake, and LittleCrater Lake Meadows. Meet Denny Graham at theOlive Garden Restaurant on SE Sunnyside Rd acrossfrom Clackamas Town Center. We will leave the parkinglot at 8am. Bring water, a lunch, sunscreen, insectrepellent, binoculars, and a scope if you have one. Formore information, call Denny at 503-659-1245.

...love to go birding during the weekdays.We start a little later, go a little slower,

and try to keep a restroom in sight.

MAGPIES

Is it time for a 21st centuryenvironmental movement?According to Paul Hawkins, such

a movement is already well underway. In his most recent book,BlessedUnrest, he describes hundreds ofthousands of ordinary people from

around the world who are proactively changing the waytheir lives are governed and their personal prosperity ismeasured. Most of these locally based actions are lowcost, sitting squarely at one end of a grassroots continuumregardless of whether its environmental or social justiceand whether its occurring in Gujarat, India or in LittleCreek, Virginia.

Meryl Redisch

The Audubon Society of Portland is a member of EarthShare of Oregon. For more information, contact EarthShare of Oregon at 503-223-9015 or on the web atwww.earthshare-oregon.org.

Not exactly our backyards and not exactly on our dailyradar screen.

At the other end of the spectrum is a $300 millioncampaign financed by Al Gore that is aimed at mobilizingAmericans to get more directly involved in the policiesbehind reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Its called the

We campaign and implores all of us to become partof a movement that will shape our countrys energy andenvironmental policies as we address the greatest crisis ofour generation: climate change. Big and bold, this well-funded initiative may be centered i n America but mustreach well beyond us. No doubt that with a six-figure-plusbudget, this campaign will be on our daily monitor screen.

What ishappening in our backyards, having gainedmomentum over the last 20 years, is a movement calledConnecting Green. Its more closely aligned with whatHawkins pitches low key, low cost, and brought about bythousands of people who have a stake in making our regionmore environmentally and economically sustainable.

Connecting Green got off the ground a few months

ago with a commitment by Portland Audubon, UrbanGreenspaces Institute, Trust for Public Land, and Metroto share best practices and pool resources for the goal ofbuilding the best parks system in the world. This vision,first articulated by Metro President David Bragdon duringa parks summit last year, laid out the reasons why ourregion is uniquely positioned to achieve this ambitious

Will you be part of the Connecting Green movement?

goal. Its as straightforward as this: our region possesses aremarkable natural heritage and an even greater potential forbuilding a significantly larger system of parks, trails, and openspaces that is well beyond what we have today.

To progress from what we now have on paper and virtualmaps to the reality of moving people and wildlife through

neighborhoods, past district boundaries, and across statelines will take a creative, disciplined, and far-reachingapproach. It will require uniting many of the distinctprojects already under way in the areas of restoration,acquisition, trails, and conservation education to build andsustain this parks system.

I was present during the launch of Connecting Green afew weeks ago at the Bridgeport Brew Pub. Over 150 peoplegathered to celebrate the cumulative work that has broughtus to where we are today. And I was not surprised to seePortland Audubons name appear frequently on the greentimeline. After all, our Society has been a driving forcebehind many of the nature-based initiatives that has putPortland, Oregon high on the national sustainability andlivability indices.

It was clear that everyone in that room was ready totake the next step: pledge support to be part of theConnecting Green movement. Will you? You can be partof this movement by joining Portland Audubon on theConnecting Green Wild in the City Field Trips andby going to www.audubonportland.org/issues-actions/metro/.

Birding Oaks Bottom. Mike Houck

Mike Houck (with binoculars) leads lastyears Sternwheeler cruise. Mike Faha

2 JUNE 2008 www.audubonportland.org


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JUNE Calendar of EventsMON TUE WEDSUN FRI SATTHUR

NOTE: An electronic version of this issue and past Warblers is available on our website, www.audubonportland.org.

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Woodpeckers ofOregon Class,7pm (p.7)

No Nature NightPresentation

GBH: Ross Island andHolgate ChannelRegatta with Friends ofRoss Island, 8am (p.12)

Birding by Ear Field Trip,7am (May Warbler)

Ross Island Kayak Trip,7am (p.3)

Woodpeckers ofOregon Field Tripbegins (p.7)

Birding Weekend (p.10)

General VolunteerTraining, 9am

Magpies visitMt.Hood Lakes,8am (p.2)

Board Meeting 7pmHeron Hall

= Bird Song Walk, 7am (p. 10)

GBH: Birding Bike Ridealong Columbia Slough,7am (p.12)

GBH: Tideman-Johnson

Park Walk, 4pm (p.12)

GBH: Oaks BottomWalk, 8am (p.12)

GBH: Heron Nest Watch,Noon (p.12)

GBH: Legacy Lands III Tour,8:30am (p.12)

Birding Weekend(p.10)

Independence Day: AdminOffice and Nature Storeclosed; no Summer Camp

Birding Weekend(p.10)

Magpies begin trip toSisters, OR, 8am (p.2)

Oaks Bottom WildlifeRefuge Walk, 6pm (p.3)

Birding by Ear Class, 7pm(May Warbler)

Birding by Ear Field Trip,7am (May Warbler)

Powell Butte Nature ParkField Trip, 8am (p.2)

B the Blue Mountainstrip begins (p.6)

Oaks Bottom WildlifeRefuge, 8am (p.3)

521 3 4

GBH: Hillsboro LibraryHerons, 8am (p.1)

GBH: Three Creeks Walk,9am (p.1)

GBH: Sternwheeler RossIsland Cruise, 4pm (p.1)

GBH: Oaks BottomWalk, 8am (p.1)

GBH: Heron Nest Watch,5pm (p.1)

Birding by Ear Class,7pm (May Warbler)

GBH: S.Waterfront toOHSU, Noon (p.1)

GBH: Working River &Wildlife, 6pm (p.12)

Birders Night 7:30pmHeron Hall

GBH: Jackson Bottom,Noon (p.12)

GBH: Oaks Bottom Walk,5pm (p.12)

GBH: 2 Rivers & SloughHike, 6pm (p.12)

GBH: Rock CreekHerons, 8am (p.12)

Magpies visit Sandy RiverDelta, 8am (p.2)

GBH: Willamette Rest.Paddle, 6pm (p.12)

Birding by Ear FieldTrip, 7am(May Warbler)

Birding Weekend (p.10)

Summer Solstice Walk,Oaks Bottom WildlifeRefuge, 8am (p.3)

Oaks Bottom WildlifeRefuge Field Trip, 8am(p.2)

Birders Night 7:30pmHeron Hall

Summer Camp: Creepy Crawlers, Jr. Wildlife Vet 101, Stayin Alive, Birding 101

Summer Camp: Biodiversity Art, Backyard Birds, Waterfallers, Coastal Explorers

Saturday, June 7th, 8am11amOaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge


Sunday, June 8th, 8am11amRoss Island and Holgate Channel Regattawith Friends of Ross Island

Participate in a colorful flotilla of canoes and kayaks on thisthree-hour paddle around Ross Island to view Great BlueHerons, Osprey, and Bald Eagles on their nests. The youngherons are large and raucous this time of year. Well see andhear numerous summer birds such as Swainsons Thrushes,Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Spotted Sandpipers as weply the shallow waters between Hardtack and East Islands.Leaders include Bob Sallinger, Director of AudubonSociety of Portlands Urban Conservation Program; TravisWilliams, Director of the Willamette Riverkeeper; Mike

Houck, Director of the Urban Greenspaces Institute; andDonna Matrazzo, Sauvie Island Conservancy. CaptainPeter Wilcox of RiversWest will provide safety boats andother assistance.

Monday, June 16th, 6pm9pmOaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge


Saturday, June 21st, 8am11amSummer Solstice Walk, Oaks BottomWildlife Refuge


Wednesday, June 25th, 8am11amOaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge


Saturday, June 28th, 7am10amRoss Island Kayak Trip

Join Mike Houck on a leisurely three-hour paddlearound Ross Island. This early bird outing will get us onthe river long before the power boats and jet skis startkicking up wakes, and in time for the dawn chorus ofbird song in the quiet Holgate Channel. Well paddleinto the Ross Island lagoon to get close looks at herons,eagles, and if we are lucky a river otter or two.

Watch Herons Nesting atSouth Waterfront

Visitors to South Waterfront and residents alike have a ringside seatfrom which to watch nesting Great Blue Herons at the S outh Waterfrontcondominiums from the Willamette Greenway, just a short stroll fromthe OHSU Tram and Portland Streetcar. Join co-leaders Mike Houck andBob Sallinger, who will have spotting scopes on hand for close-up viewsof herons in their nests. No pre-registration is required.

Directions: From the Tram station at OHSU Center, walk east on SWWhitaker and take a right (south) along SW River Parkway to SW Curry. Turn left (east) on Curry and walk to theend of the street, past the Meriwether Condominiums to the greenway trail.

Monday, June 2nd, 5pm7pm Saturday, June 7th, Noon3pm

Great Blue Herons in nest. Mike Houck

Enjoying a Ross Island kayak paddle. Mike Houck

Oregon WildSummer 2008

Visit the places you wantto see with the people whoknow them best!

Join Oregon Wild and Audubon Society of Portlandvolunteer Don Jacobson to enjoy Oregons wildernessgems and old-growth forests this summer. The free and

guided hikes, campouts, and fishing trips start on June21st and run through September 21st. Many outings willtake groups to proposed wilderness in the Lewis and ClarkMt. Hood Wilderness Area. Well provide participants anopportunity to learn more and take action in the campaignto protect Oregons wild places.

Whether you are looking for a short family-friendly hikeor a more rugged trek to an amazing vista or waterfall, wehave a hike planned for you! For more information and toregister, please visit www.oregonwild.org after June 1st, orcall Margaret De Bona at 503-283-6343 ext.210.

Photo by Wendell Wood, courtesy Oregon Wild

3JUNE 2008www.audubonportland.org


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Conservation

Citizens of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitanregion have until July 1, 2008, to comment on adraft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a

proposed replacement for the existing I-5 bridge betweenPortland and Vancouver. The Columbia River Crossing(CRC) is a $4.2 billion proposed freeway expansion projectalong a five-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between NorthPortland and Vancouver, WA. Audubon Society of Portlandencourages its members to submit comments urgingdecision-makers to reject all five of the alternativescontained in the draft EIS. The reason is simple: All fivealternatives accept and perpetuate the assumption thatautomobile traffic will increase over time. In fact even themost conservative option contained in the DEIS createscapacity for a 40% increase in vehicle miles traveled.

Audubon is instead supporting a Climate SmartAlternative being promoted by the Coalition for aLivable Future. CLF is a coalition of more than 80 localorganizations (including Audubon) that are committed

to building an equitable and sustainable community. ThePortland metropolitan area is known nationally for ourforward-thinking land use and transportation, and for beingan innovator in sustainable planning. We can and shouldseize this moment and capitalize on our sustainability know-how to be at the forefront of making transportation projectspart of the global warming solution. There is no betterplace to begin this challenging work than with the biggesttransportation project in our history the CRC.

A Climate Smart CRC would reduce global warmingpollution to conform to Oregons and Washingtonsclimate change goals. To get there, the CRC project mustbe dramatically modified to give users the ability to driveless, which is the key to minimizing the projects carbonfootprint. A Climate Smart CRC would reduce all pollutants,re-green the corridor, and give people more transportationchoices offering numerous health benefits, and creatinga more secure future for all of us. To reach a Climate Smart

CRC, the project must be dramaticallymodified and scaled appropriately toreducefuture vehicle miles traveled(VMT) at or below todays level.

The key elements of a ClimateSmart CRC are as follows:

Implement congested-based tolling ofthe current I-5 bridge or both the I-5 and I-205 bridgesstarting immediately, as a strategy for managing demandas well as a funding mechanism. Use proceeds to fundtransit improvements, while adopting pricing mitigationmeasures for low-income users, such as rebates or income-based exemptions.

Build light rail in the crossing by first focusing onextending MAX to Hayden Island and then to Vancouver.This will dramatically increase the convenience of publictransit on both sides of the river for all users, especially

those most dependent on it, b y making it quicker, morefrequent, and more comfortable.

Maintain or reduce the existing number of lanes.According to research by Sightline Institute, every extraone-mile stretch of lane added to a congested highwaywill increase climate-warming CO2 emissions more than100,000 tons over 50 years.

Reallocate a lane for shared transit/freight/carpool useand invest in fixing the current railroad bridge to addressexisting river navigation issues and increase shipping bytrain.

Create world-class bicycle and pedestrian facilities in thecrossing, including dramatic improvements to facilitieslinking riders and walkers to and from the crossing with

the existing network of bike/ped routes both within andbeyond the 5-mile projects study area.

Dramatically increase funding for programs andinfrastructure that help businesses support theiremployees to reduce demand on the transportationsystem through carpools, vanpools, public transit, flextime, telecommuting, etc.

Sequester carbon by planting trees and shrubs in thefreeway impact zone (within one-half mile on either sideof the freeway), and by investing in preservation and

expansion of our urban forest regionwide.

Establish a fund of at least 1% of the total project cost forcommunity enhancements (natural resource protectionand restoration, health facilities, ventilation systemsin most impacted homes, air pollution monitoring,landbanking for affordable housing where needed,etc.) in communities adjacent to the freeway, especiallythose within a half mile on either side to mitigate for thedisproportionate negative health impacts caused by thefreeway.

For more information on the Climate Smart CRC Proposal,go to www.clfuture.org.

To comment on the Columbia River Crossing DraftEnvironmental Impact Statement, go to ww w.

columbiarivercrossing.org/.

The Interstate Bridge spans the Columbia River betweenPortland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. Bob Sallinger

Columbia River Crossing: Supportthe Climate Smart Alternative(Adapted from Coalition for a Livable Future Position Statements)

Decisions will shape regional growth for decades anddetermine the fate of some of the regions criticalbiodiversity lands and surrounding farmland.

Should Metro expand the Urban GrowthBoundary (UGB) south of the Willamette River?

Should additional urban development be allowedon the west flank of Forest Park?

Should we allow urban growth to consumeecologically rich bottomlands and high-valueagricultural areas in Washington County?

Or should these natural and working landscapesthat powerfully define our regions sense of placeand quality of life be put off-limits to new urbandevelopment the next 40 to 50 years?

These are some of the questions the region will grapplewith over the coming year as Metro and Multnomah,

Clackamas, and Washington Counties embark on aplanning process that will guide future expansions of theUGB and determine the shape of the region fordecades to come.

Under a new state law passed by the 2007Legislature, Metro and the Counties cansimultaneously designate long-term (40 to50 years) urban and rural reserves. Urbanreserves will identify lands where Metrowill expand the UGB as currently requiredby state law over the next 40 to 50 years.Rural reserves, conversely, will designatelands off-limits to UGB expansion over thesame time period.

Metro and the Counties must designate urban andrural reserves simultaneously and in coordination.In doing so they must consider a variety of factors.Rural reserveswill be designated based largely onthe quality and location of high-value farm, forest,and natural areas outside the UGB that is vulnerableto future urbanization. The designation of urbanreservesmust consider the suitability of the land forurbanization; the ability to protect important naturallandscape features such as steep slopes, floodplains,stream corridors, and wildlife habitat; and whetherurbanization would displace high-value farmland andbiodiversity lands.

All this is a new approach, especially in consideringimpacts to natural areas. For the first time,the value of rural lands for fish, wildlife, cleanwater, and sense of place will be consideredequally with commercial forestry and farmingvalues in deciding where and when the region

expands the urban growth boundary.

In the past, state law has generallyrequired cities to avoid high-valueagricultural soils first in determiningwhich lands to urbanize. As a result,cities are often forced to expand ontothe most sensitive natural resourcelands. As precious as farmland is, weneed a better balance. Agriculturaland natural landscapes should betreated as an integrated whole, equalparts of a holistic landscape mosaicin future rural reserves.

To inform the designation of urban and rural reservedecisions, Metro brought together natural resource

professionals and regional experts to map the naturallandscape features that ecologically and culturallydefine the region. The inventory extended from Marionand Yamhill Counties in the south to Clark County(Washington) in the north, and from the Coast Range tothe Cascade foothills. Natural landscape features near theexisting UGB include the Clackamas River Corridor, theWillamette River, Willamette Narrows, the Sandy RiverGorge, Tonquin Geologic Area, the Chehalem Mountains,Forest Park, and Sauvie Island. A subsequent publicworkshop hosted by Metro found that citizens identifiedthese same geographic features as critical to the regionssense of place and natural heritage.

Metro and Counties Prepare to DesignateLong-term Urban and Rural Reservesby Jim Labbe, Urban Conservationist

???

? Washington County Farmland and Riparian Corridors: In ruralWashington County, high-value agricultural lands and riparian corridorsintersect in a mosaic of working and natural landscapes. Audubon Society ofPortland and others believe these lands are among the top candidates forlong-term rural reserves. Mike Houck

continued on page 10

For the first time,

the value of rural

lands for fish,

wildlife, clean water,

and sense of place

will be considered

equally with

commercial forestry

and farming values.



5/12

Wildlife Care Center

Efforts to pass federal legislation to make i t a felonyto intentionally kill protected bird species received ahuge boost during the month of May. Long articles in

BackpackerandAudubon magazines as well as short articles

in a variety of other national publications has helped raisenationwide awareness of the recent roller pigeon cases inOregon and Washington, in which clubs that raise pigeonsfor hobby deliberately targeted and killed thousands offederally protected Peregrine Falcons, Coopers Hawks, andRed-tailed Hawks.

Portland Audubon was featured in both of these articlesand we have been receivi ng calls and emails from across thenation from people wanting to know how they can h elp.The outrage is fueled not only by the heinousness of thesecrimes, but also by the fact that the perpetrators escapedwith little more than a hard slap on the wrist. The problemis that current law simply does not provide for significantpenalties even for the most egregious bird crimes.

Congressman Peter DeFazio has

introduced a bill into Congress toincrease the penalties available forintentionally killing a protected birdspecies from the current misdemeanorto felony status. The Migratory BirdPenalty and Enforcement Act of 2007(HR 4093) would update the nearlycentury-old Migratory Bird Treaty Actof 1918 to allow courts and prosecutorsto treat intentional killing of protectedbirds with the seriousness that thesecrimes deserve.

We need your help! In order to move this legislation, weneed to get representatives from other states to sign on ascosponsors. Please contact friends and relatives outside

Your Help Is StillNeeded to SendRaptor Killers to Jailby Bob Sallinger,Conservation Director

Oregon and ask them to encourage their representatives tosupport the Migratory Bird Penalty and Enforcement Act.We will be making a large nationwide push during June,

and support from outside Oregon is critical.

Portland Audubon is teaming with the NationalAudubon Society on this effort. Go to thefollowing National Audubon link for a quickand easy format for contacting representativeson this issue: http://audubonaction.org/campaign/hr4093?rk=pdsW%5fjM1bvUVE.

Fremont BridgePeregrines FledgeFour Young duringSpring 2008

The Peregrine Falcons that have nested on theFremont Bridge since 1994 fledged four young thisyear, bringing their 15-year total to 47 fledglings!

This peregrine nest site in themiddle of downtown Portlandis believed to have fledged moreyoung than any other peregrinenest site in the entire state of

Oregon. These pictures weretaken when Audubon staffentered the nest site to bandthe nestlings and collect bloodand eggshell samples. Audubonhas monitored the Fremont nest site since it was firstestablished.

This Red-tailed Hawk came into the Wildlife Care Center inmid-February from the Beaverton area. The hawk had a frac-tured right wing and X-rays revealed multiple shots in the wingand body. This Red-tailed Hawk is recovering from its injuriesand is scheduled to be released shortly.

For three years, animal-lover Pam H. has enjoyedwatching a pair of Canada Geese nest near a pond byher Clackamas workplace. The first spring the pair

raised goslings, but last year the eggs washed away. Thisyear Pam was excited as hatching time neared for the fiveeggs in the nest. However, everything changed for the geesewhen the female was injured in mid-April.

On the morning of April 17, the Wildlife Care Centerreceived a call from Clackamas about a Canada Goose injuredby two teenage boys. According to a witness, the two 14-year-old boys repeatedly threw rocks at the goose and evenpunted her into the pond. The female goose was injuredbadly enough that she was unable to get to her nest of eggs.

Wildlife Care Center Volunteer Mandy Sims and OregonState Police Officer Christopher Allori captured the injuredgoose and brought her to the Care Center for assessment andmedical care. Her right upper eyelid was ripped open, therewas a laceration across the top of her head, and there wassevere soft tissue swelling of most of her head. She was offbalance, stumbling and falling over when she tried to walk.Wildlife Care Center veterinarians diagnosed traumatic headinjury and started immediate treatment with fluid therapy,anti-inflammatories, pain relief, and antibiotics.

Over the past 50 years coyotes have successfullyestablished themselves in cities across NorthAmerica. They have proven adaptable to

even the most urban environments, and the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan region is no exception. Thepresence of the animal that Navajo sheepherders oncecalled Gods Dog in our local neighborhoods hasevoked responses ranging from fascination to fear.

Audubon now offers a 90-minute presentation forcommunities interested in learning how to live withtheir wild neighbors. The presentation covers thebiology and ecology of urban coyotes, strategies for

reducing conflicts, and the realities of coyote control.The presentation is based on a model urban coyotemanagement policy developed by Portland Audubonand natural resource agencies from across our regionand reviewed by nationally recognized experts on urbancoyotes.

Please contact Audubon Urban Wildlife Specialist KarenMunday if you would like to request a presentation onurban coyotes: [email protected].

For more information on urban coyotes, go to www.audubonportland.org/livingwithwildlife/coyotes/.

Living with Coyotes

Presentations Availableby Bob Sallinger,Conservation Director

Coyote pup at Skyline Heightsconstruction area Bob Sallinger

Dr. Sheaffer examines injured Canada Goose with assistance fromvolunteer veterinarian Dr. Mary Dickerson. Portland Audubon

Once stabilized, the goose had to be fed through a tubebecause she was unable to eat. Se veral days passed beforeshe was able to walk at all, and many more before shecould walk a straight line. After ab out 2 weeks the woundshad healed, she was eating on her own, and the goose hadimproved enough to be moved to a large cage where shecould swim and rebuild her coordination and strength.

Meanwhile, back at the pond, the male goose was waiting.Pam reported he would stand over the nest and call for her.On May 16, one month after the abuse, the female goose wasstrong and healthy. Pam and Officer Allori watched as shewas released and flew over the pond that she called her homeevery spring. Unfortunately, the eggs didnt survive.

The two 14-year-olds are charged with Animal Abuse andHarassment of Wildlife, both misdemeanors.

Teenagers Chargedwith Injuring NestingCanada Gooseby Deb Sheaffer, Wildlife Care CenterOperations Manager

This Osprey was found in Salem, thin and unable to stand. X-raysrevealed multiple shots in the raptors neck and body. WildlifeCare Center veterinarians diagnosed the Osprey with permanentparalysis and it was humanely euthanized.

Photos Portland Audubon

Photos of peregrine chicks and parent Bob Sallinger



6/12

Educational Trips & Tours These trips are popular. We recommendthat you book early.

June 2227, 2008

Come with Portland Audubon on a trip to the wild and rugged mountainsof Northeastern Oregon. We will spend three nights at Wallowa LakeLodge, which situates us perfectly to bi rd the nearby mountain trails

and open grasslands in search of Three-toed Woodpeckers, Gray Jays, andGolden Eagles. Next we will stay in La Grande, where we will search for NEOregon specialties such as the Gray Catbird and Veery. Nearby Ladd Marshis one of OregonsImportant Bird Areas , and here we should find Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, and Black-crowned Night-Heron. We will visit the John Day area as well, in hope of spotting the Calliope Hummingbird,UplandSandpiper, and Flammulated Owl. Interspersed with mountains and valleys, this region is full of scenicbeauty. Contact Steve Engel to sign up or for more information at 971-222-6119 or [email protected].

What is included: Transportation by van from Portland, 5 nights double-occupancy lodging, all meals except dinners, andthe services of your leaders. A portion of your fee is a tax-deductible contribution to the Audubon Society of Portland.

Cost: $645 members / $670 non-membersDeposit: $200 required to secure your placeLeaders: Steve Robertson, Education Director, and Dan van den Broek, Master Birder Coordinator

Clarks Nutcracker Jim Cruce

Birding the Blue Mountains

Galapagos Islands: November 514, 2008

Join the Audubon Society of Portland on a journey to one of the most fascinatingnatural areas in the world, the islands that Darwin first made famous with his

historic work, The Origin of Species. See for yourself the many finch species thatinspired his theories of adaptation and evolution. Those who make this journey willexperience wildlife as they never have before fearless of humans because large landpredators never evolved here.

While on the islands we should see a great number of the endemic island birds includingGalapagos Hawk, Galapagos Dove, Galapagos Mockingbird, and GalapagosFlycatcher, as well as the famous Galapagos Finches. Marine Iguanas, LandIguanas, Galapagos Fur Seals, and a chance to see the Galapagos Tortoise alsoawait us. Well stay 7 nights on a small (16-passenger) boat anchored offshore, andby day will visit the islands on foot. We will go to

seabird colonieswhere we maysee Red-footed,Blue-footed, andNazca Boobies,Tropicbirds, andthe endemic Lava

Gull. While at seawell watch forpelagic species such

as Elliots Storm-Petrel, GalapagosShearwater,and Galapagos Petrel, as well as dolphins and largerwhales. Our route will take us to see the unusualFlightless Cormorant and the Galapagos Penguin,and we will have oppor tunities to snorkel so that wemay experience the magnificent reefs that fringe theislands and the unique life they support.

The Amazon:November 1419, 2008

Extend your South American adventure and join us aswe explore the Amazon Basin of Ecuador. We will stay 5

days at a comfortable jungle lodge near the Yasuni NationalPark (a UNESCO biosphere reserve). Our lodge, set off themain river and located on a quiet lake, is reached after ashort flight, a boat ride down one of the largest Amazontributaries (the Rio Napo), and finally by canoe to thelodge. This ride will give us our first opportunity to see themany bird species including the strange prehistoric-lookingHoatzin, a bird that still has claws on its wings.

From our lodge we will make excursions tonearby locations such as a parrot clay lickwhere, from a blind, we will look for Mealy,Blue-headed, Yellow-crowned , Orange-winged, and Orange-cheeked Parrots amidstthe hundreds of Cobalt-winged Parakeets. Atone clay lick we even have a chance for ScarletMacaw. These parrots flock to eat clay that is

believed to absorb the toxic alkaloids ingestedwhen they eat certain nuts and fruits. We willvisit a few riparian islands that host their ownvariety of unique birds and a great canopy towerwhere one can watch birds at eye level includingraptors perching above the canopy and flocks ofbrightly colored tanagers, toucans, aracaris, andmany more. We will always be on the lookout forthe many species of mammals that can be foundhere too, including Red Howler Monkeys andGiant River Otter.

Whether taken together or separately, these will be unforgettable trips!Be sure to contact Steve Robertson at 503-292-6855 ext.118 [email protected] to sign up or for more information.

What is included: All lodging, all ground transportation, all meals exceptdinners, guide fees, and the internal round-trip airfare from the city ofQuito, Ecuador, to the Galapagos and Quito to the Amazon Basin. Airfarefrom U.S. to Ecuador and return are not included. A portion of your fee isa tax-deductible contribution to the Audubon Society of Portland.

Galapagos: Cost: ~$3275 members / ~$3495 non-membersDeposit: $1500 required to secure your placeGroup size: 14 participants

Amazon: Cost: ~$1595 members / ~$1795 non-members Deposit: $500 required to secure your place Group size: 14 participants

Leaders: Steve Robertson and Dan van den Broek

AMAZONANDTHEGALAPAGOS

Hoatzin Dan van den Broek

Swallow-tailed Gull Dan van den Broek

July 2327, 2008

Spend five days exploring Steens Mountain, oneof the most spectacular natural areas in Oregon.Study the botanical and bird life of the high desert

environment. At Steens East Rim Overlook well scan forthe rare Black Rosy-Finch, and if were lucky, will lookdown on the backs of soaring Golden Eagles and PrairieFalcons from our vantage point a dizzying ver tical mileabove the Alvord Desert. Unique plants i nclude two rarespecies of Spring Beauty (Sierran and Alpine) andSteershead Bleeding Heart at Fish Lake. Along theway well search for larger animals like Pronghorn and

Bighorn Sheep. Visits to Malheur NWR and Mann Lakeprovide a chance to observe a variety of breeding birds.Accommodations are at the charming Frenchglen Hotel.Naturalist Steve Engel and botanist Sherry Spencer areexcited to co-lead this trip once again.

What is included: Transportation by van from Portland, 4nights double-occupancy lodging, all meals exceptdinnersand first day lunch, and the services of your leaders. Aportion of your fee is a tax-deductible contribution to theAudubon Society of Portland.

Cost: $585 members / $625 non-membersDeposit: $300 required to secure your placeEnrollment limited: 9

Steens Mountain from the east BLM

Join experienced naturalists from Portland Audubon on this 12-day adventure toBelize, one of the most remarkable countries in the world. Youll bird vast wetlandsand tropical forests, snorkel coral reefs, and visit Mayan ruins, all in a country about

1/10 the size of Oregon! Well team up with local experts for the first week to birdsome of the countrys finest hotspots, including the famous Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Belize boasts an

amazing 540+ species of birds, and well keep our eyes peeled for the Tody Mot-Mot, the Roseate Spoonbill,and the American Pygmy Kingfisher, just to name a few. Well have the opportunity to bird a variety of habitatsand biomes, so were sure to build a healthy species list. But this is more than just a birding trip! Belize is also theLand of the Maya, and on this trek well explore two of the countrys most impressive ancient cities, Altun Ha, andCaracol, where the Mayan clan that defeated the community of mighty Tikal once lived. Caracol is a vast complexof structures located well off the beaten path of most travelers. Its main building, Caana, was only cleared ofvegetation in 2003, and is one of the tallest structures in all of Belize, ancient or modern.

The last 4 days well be based out of the coastal village of Placencia, our launching pad for several daily excursions.Well spend a magical day snorkeling the pristine coral reefs in the warm blue waters surrounding Laughing BirdCaye. The Magnificent Frigate Birds overhead and the unbelievable array of sea life below ensure this day willbe one for the memory books. Well also take an early morning boat ride up the Monkey River, known for theBlack Howler Monkeys and array of birds that inhabit its forests. Finally, there will be a day to hike the trails ofthe Cockscombs Jaguar Preserve, home to one of the healthiest populations of Jaguars in the world. Though

STEENS

MOUNTAIN

Wildflowers and Birds of

Belize! January 718, 2009

Magnificent Frigatebird Craig Mar



7/12

Trips & ClassesHOW TO REGISTER

Contact: Steve Engel, AdultEducation Coordinator

Email: [email protected]: 971-222-6119

Credit Card Payment: We accept VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. A 3%processing fee is added to each transaction. Include card number, expirationdate, and billing zip code, or call Steve Engel and pay over the phone.

Adult Classes1. Phone or email with your contactinformation and the classes in which you wishto reserve one or more spaces.2.Mail in your payment right away. Makechecks payable to Audubon Society of Portland.3. Well contact you w ith confirmation ofpayment and class details.

Educational Trips & Tours1. Phone or email to request a registrationpacket for the trips of interest.2. Complete and sign the Registration / WaiverForm and return it with the required deposit.3. Well contact you with confirmation ofpayment and further details.

Mail: Audubon Society of Portland5151 NW Cornell Rd.Portland, OR 97210

JUNE

Exciting camps for kids entering 1st12th grades!To reserve your spot, please call 971-222-6120.

Summer Camp 2008

For a complete listing of camps, please visit us at www.audubonportland.org.

For kids entering 6th-8th grade:

well likely only encounter the tracks of this elusivepredator, one never knows! Well also be sure to buildin plenty of free time so you can relax and enjoy thetrip! If you would like more information, please callSteve Robertson at 503-292-6855 ext.118. Your deposit

secures your place on the trip.

What is included: All lodging, ground transportation,all meals except dinners, all guide fees, park fees, andplanned group activities such as birding, snorkeling,etc. Not included: airfare to and from Portland, tips forlocal guides. A portion of your fee is a tax-deductiblecontribution to the Audubon Society of Portland.

Cost: $2,685 members / $2,800 non-membersDeposit: $1,200Leaders: Steve Robertson, Education Director, and

Steve Engel, Adult Education Coordinator

Here are just a few of thissummers great camps!

ham

A fall shorebird outingis in the works!We are planning an overnight excursion in August, and the focus will be thereturning adult shorebirds in their worn plumages and the sparkling new2008 models with just a few thousand miles of wear and tear on their firstcoat of feathers. Call Steve Engel if you are interested in more information.

Flycatchers of the NorthwestJuly 15 (Tuesday), 7pm9pm, Heron Hall

What are flycatchers? Are they bigger or smaller thangnatcatchers? Come and find out! These small songbirdsmigrate long distances from the tropics to the Northwesteach year. Once here they set up a territory, raise young,and head right back to Central and South America!

Flycatchers are feisty little songbirds that occur in a widevariety of habitats across the Pacific Northwest, and they arenotoriously difficult for birders to identify. Tonight HarryNehls, local expert and author ofFamiliar Birds of the PacificNorthwestandBirds of the Willamette Valley, will enlightenus on where to find flycatchers and share his tips on how torecognize them. Attend this class then seek out flycatchersthis summer equipped with your new skills and knowledge.

Cost: $10 members / $15 non-membersThis class is FREE for volunteers.Pre-registration is required.

Wildflowersof Mt. HoodField TripJuly 19 (Saturday),8am4pm

Once more the ample rain and snowfall this year promisesa great season for the mountain floral display. This classwill emphasize family characteristics as well as wildfloweridentification, with both common and scientific names.A major focus of the class will be on how you can learn

wildflower names. The hiking will consist of about 5 milesround trip and 600800 feet of elevation gain. The pacewill be slow with numerous stops for identification, andhandouts including a reference list will be provided. Acarpool location will be available in southeast Portland.Your instructor will be Don Jacobson, well-knownPortland-area botanist and photographer.

Cost: $25 members / $35 non-membersEnrollment limited: 12 participantsPre-registration is required.

Volcanology 101Spend a week exploring our own world-famous volcanoesand the effects they have had on our land. During thisamazing adventure you will find yourself in the middleof some of the Northwests most dramatic landscapesincluding Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Larch Mountainand the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. The n, spendtwo nights up at our ver y own rustic Marmot Cabin onMt. Hood sharing stories around the campfire and youwill even get an introduction to navigating around thesky. Youll learn to use a large tel escope to locate celestialobjects. The experience will be a fun and interestingintroduction to amateur astronomy. This camp is sure toblow you away!Dates: August 11-15 (overnight Wednesday - Friday)Fee: $375 members/$390 non-members

Animal TrackingBlack Bear, Bobcat and Cougars are all in the forests thatsurround Portland, but we rarely see them. Learn to readanimal tracks in the mud, sand and soil. Get down anddirty as we read and interpret the signs animals leavebehind. Tracking will enable you to learn all about thelives of wild animals, without ever seeing or hearingthem. Build basic tracking skills the first three days as westudy the animals that live in Audubons Sanctuary andthe animals that live out on the Sandy Rivers floodplains.Take it to the next level as we spend the night at MarmotCabin and track in the Miller Wildlife Sanctuary on thelast night of camp.Dates: July 7-11 (overnight Thursday - Friday)Fee: $285 members/$300 non-members

Woodpeckers of OregonJune 12 (Thursday), 7pm9pm: ClassJune 1415 (Sat.Sun.): Field Trip

Learn about the 12 species of woodpeckers that can befound in Oregon as we cover many of the unique qualities

of this remarkable group of birds.Many woodpecker species are veryhabitat specific, and we will review thebest places in Oregon to find them.We will discuss the identification ofmales, females, and young, as well

as hybrids, and will learn to identifywoodpeckers by calls and drummingpatterns. Not all woodpeckers behavealike; some sally for insects and othersstore food in granaries. So if youvealways wanted to learn more aboutthe habitats, habits, identification,

hybridization, and sounds of woodpeckers, and where tofind them, you will want to take this class.

Well have a classroom session in Audubons Heron Halland an overnight trip to Bend. The Bend area is one ofonly a few places in the world with such high woodpeckerdiversity that we stand a good chance of seeing up to 11species. Dan van den Broek, Audubons Master BirderProgram coordinator, leads this trip.

Cost: $145 members / $165 non-membersEnrollment limited: 14 participantsPre-registration is required.

Red-breasted Sapsucker Jim Cruce

Beargrass Don Jacobson

Western Kingbird Jim Cruce

Least Sandpiper Rob Robinson

JULYDragonfliesJuly 23 (Wednesday),7pm9pm, Heron Hall

Ever wonder how many speciesof dragonflies frequent yourlocal wetland, or how they spend their days? Interest andknowledge of these fascinating creatures has been steadilygrowing over recent years. Did you know that some species

undergo migrations just like many birds? Join Jim Johnsonfor an evening class on the Odonates (dragonflies anddamselflies) to learn about various aspects of dragonflylife, and especially field identification of the more commonlocal species. Includes slides, handouts, and discussion.

Cost: $10 members / $15 non membersFREE for volunteers.Pre-registration is required.

Pachydiplax longipennis Jim Johnson



8/12

For Education:

Powerpoint projector Flat screen monitorLaptop computer

For Sanctuary:Loppers Hand saws Work gloves

Watering wand hose attachment

For Wildlife Care Center:Chicken baby food

Science Diet kitten foodBleach Camper/trailer

If you can donate these items, please firstcontact Audubon Society of Portland at

503-292-6855 ext.102, MonFri, to arrangea time for delivery/pick-up.

Thank youto:

Wish List & Thank yous

Our Wish List:

Ann P. Littlewood for plants for the Native Plant Sale. Alan Locklear for 4 Swordferns and 1 Western Red

Cedar. Ian McMahon for kitten food, chicken baby food, and

bleach for the Wildlife Care Center.

Audubon SocietyofPortland

gratefully acknowledges these

thoughtful gifts:

You can honor a special person with a gift to AudubonSociety of Portland. Your gift will help fund a future

of inspiring people to love and protect nature.You can make an Honor or Memorial gift online

at www.audubonportland.org or by calling971-222-6129. A songbird card acknowledging yourthoughtful gift will be sent to the honoree or family.

In Memory

Carol ShillittoAnthony Daniels

Marilyn C. Buckhalter

Diana and Charles Kreider

Lucia E. Warren-PowersW. Charles and Cathy Long

Edward L. Marchbank

Judith Jensen

Clare WojtynekMarilyn Jarrell

In Honor

Wink GrossTeresa Fuhrman

Kathy BroadwaterKathy Bryant

Nature Store Highlightsby Sally Loomis & Nancy Mattson, Nature Store Staff

June is a great month for bird-loving techies. At the NatureStore we are bringing in fun new gadgets to enhance howwe observe, enjoy, and learn about wildlife.

Digital Photos & VideosEver wonder who visits your feeders, birdbaths, or nestboxes while you are away? The weatherproof, motion-activated, and easy-to-use Wingscapes BirdCam captures

digital photos and videos of your unseen backyard visitors.Using an infrared sensor to detect birds or small animals,it then automatically takes photos or videos in stunningcolor and detail. The images are easily viewed on any TV oryou can download to a computer for printing, email, video-sharing, and posting to the web.

Digital AudioThe newest technology in portablebird song recordings is the iflyer. Bysimply pressing a button and scanninga barcode, the iflyerplays a high-qualitydigital recording of a birds song. Witheach iflyer, you receive 206 bird and 10frog songs. Scanning labels come in theirown portable scanbook. A second set

can be added to your field guides or birdbooks. Take it along on your bird walksusing the included wrist lanyard, handy h olsterwith belt loop, and carrying case.

Wishing you could hear more bird songs athome? The Nature Store is bringing back agreat selection of Solitudes Nature SoundsCDs with or without music. Solitudes CDsoffer a variety of lush ambient nature soundsand bird songs. If you enjoy your naturepaired with music, you can also choose CDswith carefully arranged musical scores thatenhance and complement the natural sounds.Instrumentation includes flute, clarinet, oboe, English

horn, harmonica, piano, guitar, andpercussion. These CDs are greatfor stress relief, sleeping assistance,meditation, or just an enjoyablesoundtrack for your everyday life.

Nature DVDsOur DVD collection continues to

expand. Our newest offering isStill Wild at Heart, a compellingfilm by Melissa Peabody, which chronicles the return ofcoyotes to urban San Francisco. It explores the complexity,conflicts, and richness of the fertile interface between ourhuman landscapes and wild nature.

Multi-Media Field GuidesReaders familiar with Donald KroodsmasSinging Life of Birdswill enjoy his new work.The Backyard Birdsong Guide: Western NorthAmericacomes with an electronic module

loaded with common vocalizations of 75species. Another hot forthcoming title is

the Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds ofNorth America, which includes 1500 digital

photographs and downloadable recordings ofover 500 bird songs. The 11th edition ofBirds ofNorth America(Peterson Field Guidesseries), duein August, will combine eastern and western guidesinto one volume. Rangemaps are now convenientlylocated right on the pagewith the bird description.The book also comes withaccess to nearly three hoursof video podcasts.

Sanctuaries

As I write this we are busy finalizing preparationsfor our 12th Annual Native Plant Sale; by the timeyou read this youll undoubtedly be hearing me talk

about how successful this years sale was. Id like to take abrief moment to thank all of the dedicated volunteers whoput their time into organizing and running this wonderfulevent, in particular Ann Littlewood, Gregg Everhart, KyleSpinks, Brian Vaughn, and Bonnie S hoffner. Thank you allfor the impressive efforts you put into making this sale asuccess year after year.

As you may know, native plants arethe primary building block for healthyhabitat for birds and other wildlifespecies. Beyond all the funds raised byour Plant Sale, it is exciting to considerthat each plant sold is also enhancingthe habitat value of our backyardlandscapes. While we put a tremendouseffort into maintaining and enhancingthe habitat value of our Sanctuaries,we know that wildlife do not recognizeproperty lines. It is encouraging to see thecommunity doing their part by plantingnatives. Thank you all for going native!

On the other side of the coin, I have beenkeeping busy the past month trying to getmore information into the communityabout invasive plant species. PortlandAudubon recently hosted a WeedWatchers workshop organized b y TheNature Conservancy and the West Multnomah Soil andWater Conservation District. The workshop focused on theEarly Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) of invasivespecies that are beginning to appear in the WillametteValley. Information about species covered and an onlineform for reporting the presence of invasives can be foundat www.westerninvasivesnetwork.org. There is also anonline forum to discuss invasives issues with others in thecommunity who are working hard to stop the invasion.

Go Native and Report InvasivesTom Costello, Sanctuaries Director

Portland Audubonalso contributed tothe publication ofthe Garden SmartOregon booklet,which was releasedin conjunction withthe recent broadcastof OPBs documentary, The Silent Invasion. This booklethighlights 25 of the most prolific and potentially damaging

invasive plant species in Oregon while suggesting severalnative and non-invasive ornamental species to plant in li euof invasives. Copies of this booklet are available at Portland

Audubon, and they are free! If you areinterested, pick up a copy the next time youare visiting the Sanctuaries.

Last but definitely not least, I am very excitedto announce that the Metro Council justapproved a grant award to the AudubonSociety of Portland for $46,500 to restore,enhance, and protect habitat in ourSanctuaries. Grant money will primarily beused to bring in AmeriCorps crews to removetargeted invasive species and to purchasenative plants for volunteer plantings nextwinter. We are elated to have this influx ofresources to complement the hard workof our sanctuary volunteers and staff.Combined with our recent $35,000 grantfrom the Portland Bureau of EnvironmentalServices Watershed Investment Fund, we

now have the resources in hand to make huge strides in ourrestoration plan for the coming year.

Miners Lettuce, a Pacific Northwestnative. Marilyn Stinnett

Oregon Grape, our state flower. Marilyn Stinnett

An online form for reportingthe presence of invasivescan be found atwww.westerninvasivesnetwork.org.

iflyerBirdSongScanning Wand

COMINGIN LATEJUNE

The Audubon Nature Store is pleased to announcethat we will be receiving the new Leica UltravidHD binoculars in late June. With an excitingarray of redesigned features including fluoritelenses, AquaDuraTM coating, and an improvedfocusing mechanism, these all-new Leicas will makeexperiencing nature more fascinating than ever.



9/12

by Harry NehlsField Notes

SightingsCold unsettled weather this spring has interrupted andslowed bird movements. Eventually they will return to theirnesting sites, but probably will be in rather poor conditionfrom lack of ready food. The early nesting period willprobably produce few young birds.

A number of out-of-place and unusual birds are beingreported, including sightings of a possible Frigatebirdalong the Columbia River. On April 12 Lynn Withers saw avery large, long-winged bird over the Columbia River nearMultnomah Falls. On checking bird guides she ide ntifiedit as a Frigatebird . Several Fish and Wildlife Servicebiologists at a meeting in Skamania April 17 glimpsed a

bird they thought was a Frigatebird. On April 24 there wasa report of a Frigatebird flying downriver near Vancouver.None of the observers had good detailed looks at the bird.

Chris Warren reports thathe observed a distinctivePlumbeous Vireo among themigrant birds on Mt. TaborApril 28. Kasey Church reporteda Broad-tailed HummingbirdApril 13 on Sauvie Island. HenryHorvat, checking the sparrowflocks in Scappoose BottomsApril 12, saw a bright BrewersSparrow. Migrant sparrowswere very noticeable during

April, and Orange-crownedand Yellow-rumped Warblers were also very conspicuousduring the month.

The Tualatin River NWR has been good this spring. BobFlores spotted a Eurasian Teal there April 15 and Bjorn

Fredrickson photographed a Long-billed Curlew thereApril 13. On April 10 Carol Karlen watched a Long-billedCurlew at the Yellow-headed Blackbird marsh along

Briedwell Road near Amity. On April 13 WilsonCady found a flock of 12 Black-necked Stilts atthe mouth of the Klickitat River in the ColumbiaGorge. Mike Marsh spotted one April 18 nearChinook Landing in Troutdale. While lookingfor the stilt April 19, Andy Frank did not see itbut did see an early Western Kingbird.

Amy Sexton reports that on April 26 she spotteda White-tailed Kite hovering over an openfield off Hwy 14 just east of Washougal. JimboBeckmann saw a very early Black Swift April24 flying low over Washington Park. On April

17 Adam Baggs saw a bright breeding-plumagedBlack-bellied Plover in the grassy fields at the westernedge of the Portland Airport.

The Calliope Hummingbird is one of the mostinteresting of Oregon birds. It is one of the smallestbirds in the world, so small its a wonder that it exists

at all. It is also highly migratory, traveling over 3,000 milesbetween winter and summer ranges. Traveling at 3040miles per hour, where does it store its fuel reserves, and howoften does it stop to refuel? Th ese are only two questions

regarding this spectacular species.

Calliope Hummingbirds migrate individually so Oregonobservers seldom see more than one at a time. It is thoughtthat males migrate about a week before the females andyoung birds. Although females outnumber males five toone, most of the spring sightings are of males. Later in theseason females are regularly seen.

Keep an Eye Out for Calliope Hummers

Super Volunteers!

Of course, all of Audubons volunteers aresuper, but there are those who have receivedspecial recognition this past year for their efforts

on behalf of Audubon. Please join us in thanking these

individuals for their commitment and dedication toAudubon.

Education Volunteers with at least...

100 hours of service: Pat Crane, Phil Hubert, KermaMurphy, and Jill Nelson-DeBord200 hours of service: Laura Whittemore500 hours of service: Lois Bode, Luanne Bye, andSharon Coggswell

Nature Store Volunteers with at least...

400 hours of service: Fran Daggett, Anne Eakin, MikePeroni, Jane Smith, and Carolyn Snegoski

Membership Volunteer with at least...

400 hours of service: Alan Locklear

Receptionist Volunteers with at least...400 hours of service: Harriet Anderson, GinnieAstrue, Susan Bexton, Diane Field, Marcia Marvin,Ginnie Ross, Cathy Schar, Betty Stevens, CelesteVaughters, and Dean Wilson

Sanctuaries Volunteers with at least...

400 hours of service: Ann Littlewood, Lloyd Rhoades,and Bonnie Shoffner

Thank you all for supporting Audubon by giving of yourtime and enthusiasm.

During the spring migration small numbersmigrate northward through WesternOregon. In some years many individualsare observed, in others only a few. Goodnumbers were reported during the springof 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2007. Withseveral sightings in the Portland area, 2008

is another good year. On April 27 SandyLeaptrott was able to obtain very goodphotos of a bird at her northeast Portlandfeeders, and others were reported byGerard Lillie, Judy Kolias, Don Moore, SethReams, Chuck Holmes, and Bob Flores.

The female Calliope Hummingbird is quitesimilar to female Rufous Hummers andis often mis-identified. They are smallerand shorter billed than Rufous, but thatis seldom noticed in the field. One obvious field point isthat Calliope females have noticeably short tails. Whe n theCalliope is perched, its wing tips extend well beyond theend of the tail.

Lois Bode has been a volunteer with Audubon Societyof Portland off and on since 1991. She originally hada once-weekly receptionist shift, but has since moved

on to the Education Department. She estimates that she has

been volunteering in the Education Department for aboutnine years, during which she has done every kind of officejob that needs doing. Lois has also assisted with field trips,camps, and the Wild Arts Festival.

Lois has worked special events, stuffed hundreds ofpackets, and lately has been the copier, filer, and sender ofinvoices. The Education Department conducts hundredsof kids programs every year, and each program requiresthat an invoice be copied, filed, and sent to a school. Thistakes hours of work, and Lois is the perfect person for thisessential job. She works behind the scenes and the job isnot glamorous, but without it we would have to spend moretime in the office and less time outside teaching kids.

Mike, Ian, and I appreciate how committed Lois is to theEducation Department and how seriously she takes herduties. Shes a stickler for detail, and as new staff membershave come on, Lois has been great about making sure thateveryone knows exactly what an invoice should be. Wealways love to see her at Lunch and Learn, of which she isa loyal attendee. She is also known for br inging hilariouswhite elephant gifts to our annual education volunteerholiday party. Lois says that she loves being able to help outand get to know all of the great people that have workedhere over the years. Thank you, Lois, for your many yearsof vital service to Audubon!

Volunteer of the Month:

Lois Bodeby Sarah Swanson, Camp Director/Onsite Program Specialist

Black-necked Stilt www.BjornFredrickson.com

Donations Needed forWAF Silent Auction

Items are needed for the Silent Auction for the 2008Wildlife Arts Festival, to be held November 22 and 23at Montgomery Park. We are currently accepting gift

certificates for services or facilitie s such as vacation stays,art or collectibles (wildlife- or nature-related, please),and nature-related books. If you have an item that youwould like to donate, go to www.audubonportland.org,click on the fundraising events link, and go to WildlifeArts Festival. There you will find a form to submit online .

For further information or to discuss a possibledonation, call Bob Fields, auction coordinator, at 503-645-3510 or email Bob at [email protected]. Youcan also call the Wildlife Arts Festival phone number(971-222-6132) and le ave a message. The Silent Auctionis an important part of the Festival. Your generousdonations will make it successful again this year.

Calliope Hummingbirds are mountainbirds that overlap the range of the RufousHummingbird over most of its breedingrange. In Oregon the Calliope breedsfrom the east slopes of the Cascadeseastward and in Southwest Oregonnorthward to the Umpqua River. There

have been numerous summer sightingsin the Coast Range in recent years,especially at Saddle Mountain State Parkeast of Seaside, indicating some nesting.

Breeding habitat for the CalliopeHummingbird is in mountainous areasmainly in fairly open brushlands,and in riparian areas along streamsides.They mainly favor old clearcuts andburns that have transitioned into

shrublands. Higher elevation open areas north and westof the Portland metro area could harbor nesting CalliopeHummers, making this another species to look for whilebirding these areas.

Male Calliope Hummingbird BillSchmoker (www.schmoker.org/BirdPics)

A birds-eye view from the atrium sky bridge overlookingsome of the artists booths at last years WAF. Susan Bexton

Long-billed Curlew www.BjornFredrickson.com



10/12

This popular program willcontinue for another year. Asbefore, it intends to bring birders

together from around the state to enjoybirds, see new locations, and maybe addto their lists. We aim to help ever yonesee most of the birds. The pace ismoderate, and corny jokes may happenfrom time to time.

Paul Sullivan

Audubon Birding Weekends 2008 a portal to birding Oregon

June 1415 Klamath County

We will visit this county to look forYellow Rails, White Pelicans, Red-necked and Clarks Grebes, Forstersand Black Terns, plus shorebirds,raptors, and waterfowl on UpperKlamath and Agency Lakes, as well asforest species. Base: Klamath Falls.

July 46 Wallowa County

We will look for nesting songbirds,migrant shorebirds, and the raptorsof the Zumwalt prairie while weenjoy the beauty of the Wallowas.Base: Enterprise.

August 910 Lake County

We will visit southern Lake County:Lake Abert, Hart Mountain NWR,and the Warner Valley, to see thediverse array of migrant shorebirds,as well as waterfowl and forest birds.We may find the Juniper Titmouse.Base: Lakeview.

Registration

Registration for Audubon Birding Weekends is$35 per person for each weekend. Separate checks arepreferred. Please make your check payable to the AudubonSociety of Portland.

You must register b y the Tuesday before the weekend youplan to attend. The following registration information isneeded for each weekend you wish to attend: name address phone email trip you wish to join number of attendees amount enclosed.

Upcoming Audubon Birding Weekends 2008

What you can expect

About 10 days before each trip, I will provide a letterto registered participants that will give motel options,schedule, possible birds, and the meeting place. I willalso help with arranging carpooling. We meet forSaturday breakfast and carpool from there. Participantsare responsible for their own transportation, food, and

lodging. Participants are also responsible for their owncomfort: snacks, warm clothing, rain gear, insect repellant,sunscreen, etc. Participants should get gas and lunchesahead of time.

Questions?

Contact Paul at [email protected] or503-646-7889, or go to www.audubonportland.org/trips_classes_camps/adult_programs/birding_weekendsfolder/index_html.

Please send the registration to:

Paul T. Sullivan4470 SW Murray Blvd. #26

Beaverton, OR 97005

Welcome, New Members!Portland Audubon is a force in regional conservation thanks to its strength in membership, standing together since1902. We appreciate each and every one of our members and celebrate our membership by welcoming our newmembers monthly. Thank you for joining our vibrant and growing community!

Lance Bailey

Lois King

Alex and Sarah Gardner

Teri Wadsworth

Cynthia Aumann

Nick Viele

Florence Fukushima

Karen Fukushima

David Argast

Nancy and Jorge Alfaro

Joline Miller

Johanna Khan

Ian Read

Sharon Fontenot

Adina and Chad Hunsucker

Reggie Snyder

Barb Seatter

Denise Salmon

Karin and Robert Webb

Jon and Mary Campbell

Teacher Brandis 2nd Grade Class

Andrea Vannelli

Meredith Johnstone

Daniel Hawken

Richard Brown

Katherine Brevik

Rob and Janet Barnes

Carol Otis and Roger Goldingay

Karen Staats

Sally Jacobs

Virginia Sponsler

Robert Wood

Morris Kinser

Catherine Cleveland

Eric Lindstrom

Kurt Wehbring and Donna

Dermond

Boel Stoddard

Sarah Sterner

Catherine Tcher

Lucy Dougherty

Sallie Jones

Daniel Miller

Jill Kashiwagi

John Matzka

Shane Cline

Pam and Rick Meyers

Marya Ferris

Sharon Genasci

Donald Wardwell

Rand Schenck

Diane Burns

Jan Houck

Don Rossi

Gary and Susan Winkler

Earl Snyder

Janeen Johnson

Yvonne Lyles

Timothy Mullikin

Michael Dennis

Elouise Binns

Holly and Salvez Nelson-Dodd

Andy Nelson

Cynthia Withee

Cynthia Gerdes

Bill Stoller

Alecia Juber

Gene Zimmerman

Jonny Polivka

Sarah Cogswell

Pamela Lloyd

Crystal Schock

Vikki De Gaa

James Hein

Ron and Joyce Ayers

Heather Gough

Prue Ruby

Gretchen Moline

William Griffiths

Catherine and William Sheppard

Teresa Fuhrman

Jill Johansen

Dave and Margie Beckett

Erik and Barbara Paulsen

Elizabeth Fewel

April

If you would like to join us or h ave any questions about membership, please contact Catherine [email protected] or 503-292-6855.

Audubon Society of Portland is proud to sponsorthe 2008 season of weekday morning Bird SongWalks! From beginners to advanced birders,

anyone who is fascinated by the sounds of birds shouldtake advantage of these guided walks to the metro areasprime spring migration hotspots.

All walks begin at 7am, are free of charge, and lastfrom one to two hours. Walkers leave whenever theyneed to for work. No pre-registration is required.Leaders include Paul Sullivan, Gerard Lillie, andother Audubon naturalists. Bring your binoculars and

field guide and be sure to dress properly for the weather;spring mornings can be surprisingly chilly. Try takingthe bus (routes and phone numbers are given below).For natural history information, maps, and directions forany of these natural areas, see Wild in the City: A Guideto Portlands Natural Areas, available at the PortlandAudubon Nature Store.

Bird Song Walks

Tualatin Hills Nature Park

Directions: From the Westside MAX [www.trimet.org]get off at Merlo Road Station and walk down the trailinto the preserve to the Interpretive Center. By car, takeMurray Blvd south from Hwy 26 to Millikan Blvd. Turnright onto Millikan; the park is at 15655 SW Millikan,just past the second railroad tracks. Walks start at 7am.

May 27 & June 3

Wednesdays May 28 & June 4Mt. Tabor

Directions: From SE Belmont, go south on SE 69th twoshort blocks. Just into the park, turn right and drive as faras possible to the gate. Park along the street. M t. TaborPark is closed to vehicle traffic on Wednesdays, so be sureto use this entrance. [Mt. Tabor TriMet Bus #15 stopsat SE 69th & Yamhill; call 503-231-3215 or check www.trimet.org]. Walks start at 7am.

Tuesdays

Thursdays May 29 & June 5

The Nature ConservancysCamassia Preserve

Directions: Take Exit 8 off I-205 and turn towardOregon City (but dont cross the river). At the 76 gasstation, turn right then left to follow Willamette Falls Dr.

Turn right on Sunset, cross I-205, and i mmediately turnright on Walnut St. The preserve is at the end of WalnutSt. Walks start at 7am.

Fridays May 30 & June 6Pittock Mansion

Directions: Follow W Burnside about 1.2 miles west ofNW 23rd and turn right onto NW Barnes Rd. Follow thewell-marked signs through the neighborhood for another0.7 mile; meet in the Pittock Mansion parking l ot [WestBurnside TriMet Bus #20 stops at the bottom of the hill;call 503-231-3220 or check www.trimet.org]. Walks startat 7am.

Long-term Urban and Rural Reservescontinued from page 4

But will urban and rural reserve designation support thelong-term protection of these natural features? It is tooearly to tell, but listed below are a number of questionscitizens should be asking:

How much land will Metro need to bring into theUGB and how large should the urban reserves be?

Will Metro base its land needs on how we have grown

in the past in an era of highways and low-densitysprawl or on how we know we should grow in

the future in order to meet the challenges of globalclimate change, peak oil, and the imperatives for greener,smarter, and more pedestrian- and transit-oriented urbancommunities?

Will Metro avoid urbanization of the most importantfeatures that could be lost or irreparably jeopardizedby future UGB expansions?

How will Metro and the Counties ensure that naturalfeatures brought into the UGB are adequatelyprotected, restored, and managed in designing and

developing vibrant new urban communities?

Will rural reserves include the highest-value naturallandscape features with the highest-value forest andfarmlands?

The Audubon Society of Portland believes working andnatural landscapes are complementary elements of theregions sense of place and ecological sustainability.Rural reserves should include those high-value naturalfeatures and agricultural lands that would be irre parably

lost or jeopardized by urbanization. Those natural featuresincluded in the UGB must be protected and restored aspart of a more livable and more walkable urban landscape.Keeping nature nearby is a critical ingredient to a regionalgrowth strategy that fosters more compact, livable urbancommunities and reduces the need to expand the UGB inthe future.

This spring Metro and the Counties will be taking a firstround of public input in the process to designate ruraland urban reserves. Audubon Society of Portlandencourages you to get involved in these importantdecisions and ask hard questions. This is your region,and your voice should be heard i n making these criticallong-term decisions about where and how we grow.

Check the Portland Audubon Conservation web page toget more information and find out how you can getinvolved, or contact Jim Labbe at 503-292-6855 ext.112.

More of this? Recent urban growth boundary expansions inWashington County have encroached on unprotected wildlifehabitat on Forest Parks west flank, including the Rock Creekheadwaters (shown here) that provide clear, cold water to theTualatin River. Bruce Forester

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Bird of the Month

Great Blue HeronArdea herodias

ReferencesBirds of California, Vol. IV(William Dawson)Birds of Oregon: A General Reference (Marshall, Hunter, Contreras)The Sibley Guide to Birds (David Allen Sibley)

by Steve Engel, Adult Education Coordinator

IdentificationThe Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in NorthAmerica, standing four feet tall and with a wingspan of sixfeet. It is gray in color, tinged in blue, and it has bold whitecheeks and crown set apart by broad, black eye-stripesthat end in plumes. The yellow, dagger-like bill is up to sixinches long. Elegant gray plumes grow from the chest, neck,and back during the breeding season. A rusty shoulderpatch, rusty thighs, and fine black markings border ing thewhite throat complete this herons outfit.

HabitatGreat Blue Herons frequent a variety of wetland habitatssuch as estuaries, fresh-water marshes, and the shores ofoceans, lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. They may also beseen in wet meadows and dry fields.

BehaviorIn flight the heron is distinguished from cranes by theway its neck is folded so that i ts head seems to rest on itsshoulders. Cranes fly with their necks straight, somethingthe Great Blue Heron only does when taking off and beforelanding. It flaps with a slow, stately wingbeat and the wingshave a distinctive arch, each one like flying parentheses,when seen head-on. Its call is a loud guttural croak.

Great Blue Herons hunt a wide variety of prey. Fish,amphibians, reptiles, aquatic invertebrates, birds, andmammals are all on their menu. Th eir long necks aredesigned to deliver a lightning-quick thrust, and prey iseither speared through or pincered by the bill. They arevery adaptable and may even be seen hunting rodents alongfreeway medians.

NestingGreat Blue Herons typically build a bulky platform-nest ofsticks in a grove of trees near good foraging habitat. They arecolonial nesters, forming rookeries of a dozen to hundredsof pairs. Courtship may begin as early as January followed bypair formation and egg laying in February and March.

ConservationLoss of foraging and nesting habitat is the biggest threatto Great Blue Herons in Oregon. Disturbance of coloniesduring early nesting may result in the birds abandoningthe rookery. Statewide their population has not shownsignificant decreases in the last 30 years, but the re are signsof fragmentation of historic rookeries.

Great Blue Heron Jim Cruce

Audubon Society of Portlands Nature Store isthe headquarters for naturalists in the Portland-Vancouver metro area. We feature nature books,

hiking and field guides, birding software, CDs, DVDs,binoculars and spotting scopes, birdfeeders and seed, plusgifts and toys for adults and children, all with a naturetheme. Portland Audubon members receive a 10%discount off regular prices.

Rising Birdseed PricesA common question at the store recently is, Why is the priceof birdseed getting so high? The short answer is that risingretail prices are a reflection of skyrocketing wholesale costs.

To find out the basics, lets take a look at the components ofour most popular blend. Merry Mix is a tasty combinationof millet, wheat, corn, and sunflower seeds, guaranteed toplease a wide range of discriminating palates. This April,commodity prices of wheat doubled, while corn priceshad tripled over the previous year. Shortages of wheat arenow being referred to as the Worldwide Wheat Crisis bynational media. The extreme price jumps are being blamedprimarily on commodity market speculators rather thanfarmers. Rising prices are also linked to increased demand

for use of basic food stocks as fuel byour growing bio-fuel industry. This hasespecially increased demand on cornsupplies, which promotes the continuingconversion of diversified farmland to cornproduction. Thus the cost and availabilityof millet may be affected as well. Withinthe food industry, increased use ofsunflower oil by major processed-foodsuppliers switching from trans fats to the

use of sunflower oil is keeping the price ofsunflower seeds at an all-time high.

Portland AudubonsResponseWe are responding to the continuing wholesale price hikesby lowering our store margins on birdseed. While thisunfortunately reduces revenues used for our programs,we are striving to keep seed affordable. We hope thatnature lovers will continue to feed the birds and supportAudubon through purchases of birdseed at the NatureStore. We promise to do our best to keep seed pricesreasonable while maintaining the hi gh quality that NatureStore shoppers have come to expect.

Members Receive a Discountat the Nature Store!

Take one of PortlandAudubons Wild Thingsunder your wing!

Our non-releasable educational birds includeFinnegan, the Peregrine Falcon; Hazel, theNorthern Spotted Owl; Jack Sparrowhawk, the

American Kestrel; Julio, the Great Horned Owl; Ruby,the Turkey Vulture; and Syd, the Red-tailed Hawk.

Our wild things are vie

june 2008 warbler newsletter portland audubon society

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