november 2008 heron herald newsletter rainier audubon society

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

1/8

Monday November 17, 7:00 PM

Rainier Audubon Presents

All About Opticswith Jim Danzenbaker and Jim Ullrich

Interpupillary distance ... Eye relief ... Exit pupil ... Diopter ... If these termsmake your head start to spin, attend this informative workshop which will

cover the how-tos and whys of optics. We will discuss the questions you

need to ask yourself about your own optics usage, delve into the technical

terms used in the optics world, and finally, learn the best ways to test optics.

After this workshop, you will be armed with the information that you need

to make an informed optics purchase and to more

effectively use the optics that you have.

Jim Danzenbaker is the Sales Manager at Kowa

Optimed, Inc. and has been in the optics industry for

over five years. He has presented this workshop at many different venues

across the country. He is also a lifelong birder and a bird tour leader

since 1990. Accompanying Jim will be Jim Ullrich, owner of Wild Birds

Unlimited in Gig Harbor and past president of the Kitsap Audubon

Society. He will be bringing a wide variety of optics, such as binoculars

and spotting scopes, that are especially useful to birders, and which we can try out. Please join

Rainier Audubon as we welcome these optical experts.

Refreshments are available before and during the program, while conversation is available

always.

THIS PROGRAM IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL

Federal Way United Methodist Church

29645 - 51st Ave. So.

(Actually in Auburn) 98001

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

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

Rainier Audubon Society November 2008


2/8

Rainier Audubon Society. PO Box 778. Auburn WA 98071

(253) 796-2203

www.RainierAudubon.org

Our Mission

To conserve and restore natural ecosystems and protect birds and other wildlife for the benefit of hu-manity and biological diversity in South King County and the world we live in.

RAINIER AUDUBON OFFICERS

President OPEN

Vice President Steve Feldman (360) 802-5211

Treasurer Jim Tooley (253) 854-3070

Backyard Habitat Chair Carol Stoner (253) 854-3207

Christmas Bird Count Coordinator Nancy Streiffert (253) 796-2203

Program Chair Dale Meland (253) 946-1637

Membership Chair Pat Toth (206) 767-4944

Field Trip Chair Carol Schulz (206) 824-7618

Education Chair Annette Tabor (253) 927-3208

Conservation Chair Dan Streiffert (253) 796-2203

Newsletter Editor Nancy Hertzel (253) 255-1808

Mailing Crew Debra Russell (425) 271-0682

Board Member Max Prinsen (425) 432-9965

Board Member Erin Wojewodski-Prinsen (425) 432-9965

Board Member Tricia MacLaren (360) 802-0304

Waste Free Holidays Program

Its November - and that means its time for many

of us to start thinking about holiday gifts for our

nearest and dearest. This year, instead of buying

and wrapping gifts, consider the Waste Free Holidays

Program. There are so many reasons to get on

board with King, Kitsap, and Thurston counties

Waste Free Holidays Program and give experiencesinstead of stuff during the holidays!

First, its a joy for your loved ones to have a special

activity to look forward to during the dark days of

winter, especially one that someone else has been

kind enough to organize.

Second, experiences are good for the planet.

Consider this: Trash increases by 25% between

Thanksgiving and New Years Day every year!

Finally, its not only easy on your pocketbook, but good

for local businesses.

Through the Waste Free Holidays program, you can

receive a discount of between 15% and 50% on the

price of a wide variety of activities, entertainment, and

services.

Because we are putting this newsletter together in

mid-October, the Waste Free Holidays Program has not

yet posted its business partners for 2008. But you can

check the program website at http://Your.KingCounty.

gov/solidwaste/WasteFreeHolidays/index.asp in November

to see what the program will be offering this year.


3/8

NOVEMBER 2008 - PAGE 3

Brown Bag Rafe at OurNovember Program

We are delighted to announce that at ourNovember program (Monday, November 17,at 7:00 PM), we will also be having ourannual Brown Bag Rafe!

As you arrive at the church that evening orour wonderul program, you will see a displayo nature-related gits and goodies lining the

tables against the walls. (Last year, amongother things, there were two now-amoushomemade apple pies, a basket o chocolate

treats, and original oilpaintings!) You canpurchase as many ticketsas you want, just $1 each.Write your name on allthe tickets and drop theminto the brown bags next

to any items you cant livewithout. At the end o theevening, we will draw one

ticket out o each bagand the winner gets totake the item home.

This year, we are alsoadding a silent auctionto the Rafe. You canwrite your bid on the

auction sheet beside theitem and take the item home i you are thehighest bidder.

Come early and browse the rafe items. Anddont orget, the holidays are coming up andits time to think about git-giving!


4/8

Fld Trps by Carl Schlz

Wkly Brd Walks at Nsqally

Wdnsdays

7:30 AM t 11:00 AM

Ladr: Phl Klly

B chans ar happnn at Nsqally NWR!

Jn Phl n hs wkly brd walk as h cnts th

brds at Nsqally NWR. Th rp may walk t

t McAllstr Crk f that tral s pn, thn tak

th bardwalk/tral lp t t th Twn Barns, th

Nsqally vrlk ara, and th rparan ara, ttaln

abt thr mls.

BRiNg: gd walkn shs r bts, ranar, watr,snacks, and $3 ntry f nlss y hav a pass. Scps

ar wlcm.

MeeT: At th Vstrs Cntr.

DiReCTioNS: Tak i-5 sth frm Tacma and xt

t Nsqally NWR at xt 114. Tak a rht at th lht.

SigN-uP: Call or email Phil to conrm details

(spcally drn th tral cnstrctn prd): (360)

459-1499, [email protected].

[Cnstrctn has bn n sm f th trals, drn

a 3-4 yar stary rcnstrctn prjct. Fr mr

nfrmatn abt tral clsrs fr th dk rmval

and rcnstrctn prjct, t http://www.fws.v/

nsqally/ and clck n evnts and Nws.] Drn th

rcnstrctn, sm trals may b clsd tmprarly.


Wht-tald Kts n th Fall

Snday, Nvmbr 16

7:30 AM t Lat Aftrnn

Ladr: Rr ornss

Wht-tald Kts ar nt knwn t mrat, bt

th dsprsal f th yn and th pssblty f lat

nstn pars can b fnd n fall. or trp wll tak

s thrh svral vallys whr kts nstd n th

past, and w wll als sk kts n nw aras. or

man tart brd wll b a frsh plmad jvnl.

W als shld s d nmbrs f thr raptrs.

Ths trp s lmtd t svn ppl and tw vhcls,

s sn p arly t scr a spt.

BRiNg: Scps, bnclars, lnch, and snacks. B

prpard fr a ln drv and a ln day, rtrnn t

Tacma n lat aftrnn.

MeeT: At th McDnalds Rstarant at th Hwy.

512 Park & Rd at 7:30 AM. Dpart prmptly.

DiReCTioNS: Tak i-5 t Hwy. 512 sth f

Tacma. Trn rht and tak an mmdat lft n

Sth Tacma Way. Travl sth n blck, and trn

lft nt th Park & Rd. Mt nar McDnalds.

SigN-uP: Call r mal Rr ornss,

(253) 922-7516, r at [email protected]

Make a Button at Our November Meeting!

Looking for a unique personalized gift or accessory? We have been

offering professional-looking buttons at our outreach events such

as the Tukwila Backyard Wildlife Festival and King County Fair.

Now, we have decided to offer these same buttons to our valued

members at our monthly programs! Come and browse through more than a hundred

pictures of birds, owers, and animals, and select your favorite picture to turn into a

button. Or bring in a favorite photo of your grandkids, pet, or anything else, and we

will turn it into a 2-inch laminated button! $1 per button for our members.


5/8

Fld Trps, cnt.

olympa Ara Brdn

Satrday, Nvmbr 29

8:30 AM t Md Aftrnn

Ladr: Carl Schlz

Aftr Thanksvn Walk-off-Th-Calrs Trp

Fall s a nc tm t vst olympa and srrndn

aras. or stats captal ffrs a varty f watrbrds

bth n saltwatr and at Captl Lak. Ths wknd

trp aftr Thanksvn fatrs sm walks t war

ff th calrs and s sm d brds, t. Sm

flks call ths r Dt Trp! W wll walk abt tw

miles or so. Our rst stop will be on the way. Well

stp at th Nsqally Vstrs Cntr, and walk tt th Twn Barns n sarch f hawks and dcks. W

may t t s sm f th stary rcnstrctn

prjct. Thn w wll travl t olympa t walk a

prtn f th Captl Lak Tral at th wtland, and

at thr tral vwpnts. Thr s a nc vw f th

Captl bldn frm th lak. W wll als vst

sm favrt saltwatr vwpnts n olympa. W

wll b lkn fr dvn dcks, rbs, lns, and

thr brds and dcks at th lak and n saltwatr.

BRiNg: Warm clths, lnch (trky sandwchs?),

ht drnks, snacks, and watr. Scps ar wlcm.

MeeT: 8:30 AM at th Hwy. 512 Park & Rd n

Tacma.

DiReCTioNS: Tak i-5 sth thrh Tacma

t xt 127 (th Hwy. 512 xt). Trn rht and

mmdatly t nt th lft lan. Trn lft nt S.

Tacma Way. Travl 1/2 blck sth, and trn lft

nt th Park & Rd. Mt nar McDnalds.

SigN-uP: Call r mal Carl Schlz at (206)

824-7618, [email protected]. emal s prfrrd.

Ktttas Cnty Brdn n Wntr

Snday, Dcmbr 7

6:30 AM t evnn

C-Ladrs: Charl Wrht and Rr ornss

Cm njy a day f wntr-sasn brdn n cntral

Washntn. W wll vntr vr Snqalm Pass

and vst aras ncldn Swak Prar and Sth

Cl elm aln r rt. Lar nmbrs f raptrs

ncldn Rh-ld Hawks and Prar Falcns

are seen wintering in the open snow-covered elds of

Ktttas. Prcdn ast, w wll rach th Clmba

Rvr at Vanta, whr watrfwl ar smtms

prsnt n vast nmbrs.

Sm tart spcs wllncld nsal lns,

dcks, Amrcan Wht

Plcans, and pssbly

rar lls. Chkar ar

ccasnally sn n

th basalt tcrppns

hr. Sn p arly;

spac s lmtd.

BRiNg: Many layrs

f clthn fr cld

wathr cndtns,a lnch, and snacks.

Scps ar wlcm.

MeeT: At 6:30 AM at Abrn Safway, at Abrn Way

and Man St.

DiReCTioNS: Tak Hwy. 18 t Abrn and xt

at Abrn Way (Hwy. 164). Trn nrth (rht) nt

Abrn Way and drv thr blcks nrth. Safway

sn and as statn wll b n th lft. Park n th

Safway lt jst bynd th as statn and straht

t frm th Safway dr. W wll mt and carpl

prmptly frm thr.

SigN-uP: Cntact Rr ornss (r.rnss@cmcast.

nt) r by phn at (253) 922-7516. emal s prfrrd.



6/8


Nisqually Wildlie Reuge Estuary Restoration UpdateOctober 16, 2008

By Merlin Wiese

I you have been to Nisqually National Wildlie Reuge any time in the last ew months, you couldnt help butnotice all the digging, plowing, and rearranging that is going on. Construction or this year is almost completed andshould cease by the end o October.

The new inner dike that encloses both the Visitor Center and 250 acres o reshwater wetlands has beencompleted. Grooming and hydro-seeding o the dikes anks,as well as the placing o water control fxtures inside the dike,are still in progress. A one- to two-oot cap or the dike will beadded next year ater the dike has settled; that work shouldcommence next spring or early summer. Removal o the outerdike is scheduled to start next summer, which means it will beclosed permanently.

Presently, the outer dike trail is closed or the winter duck-hunting season; it will remain closed until January 26. I and

how long it may be open ater that is dependent on the utureconstruction work.

The trail to McAllister Creek will remain open during thehunting season, as will the boardwalk and trail along theNisqually River. The McAllister Trail has been groomed toremove damage caused by the heavy construction equipment

and the crushed rock that was added on the ramp over the new dike. Ponds and standing water are not evidentbecause the marshes have been drained to acilitate the construction process. Winter rains should restore someponds and Reuge Management is discussing with the project engineers the possibility o ooding some areas,particularly inside the new dike, to acilitate waterowl viewing. On the River Trail, the gate that was previously

at the north end o the ring dike has been moved urther north to a point just south o the Primitive Trail. Thisshould provide a quarter mile or so o additional trail during the hunting season. Although the ring dike itsel hasbeen removed, the pond is still there and will not be flled in until next year.

Because construction plans are always in a state o ux, it is wise to check witht the reuge beore visiting. This canbe done by visiting their website at www.ws.gov/Nisqually or by calling (360) 753-0467.

Upcoming RainieR pRogRams

DecembeR 2008: gett started wth gull idetfato: How to Fd the gull o Your Dreamk Dhu

JanUaRY 2009: nature ad brd photorahypul bk

FebRUaRY 2009: Wahto not-so-coo Loogr gu d Dl plhk, Jr

apRiL 2009: Towed shearwater o ila sorroa, mexoptr Hdu


7/8NOVEMBER - PAGE 7

PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO

Friends of Hylebos Wetlands

West Milton Tree PlantingNovember 8, 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM

West Milton Nature Preserve

West Hylebos Wetlands Tree PlantingNovember 15, 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM

West Hylebos Wetlands

Contact: Hillary Kleeb at (253) [email protected]

SIERRA CLUB, SOUTH KING COUNTY CHAPTER

Alaskas Arctic LandsNovember 11, Tuesday, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Wesley Gardens815 So. 216th St, Des Moines

Contact: Mark at (253) 639-3862

Please join us for a presentation on Alaskas North Slope, a vast wild and unique area

containing millions of acres of ecological resources unlike anywhere else on earth. We willdiscuss a balanced land management approach for the North Slope including permanentwilderness protection for the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Joint Meeting of Sierra Club and Rainier Audubon: Setting Legislative Priorities

November 19, Wednesday, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PMKent Senior Center

600 E. Smith St, KentContact: Dan Streiffert at (253) 796-2203

Speakers include: Peter Orth, Chair of the Cascade Chapters Legislative Committee, andState Representative Dave Upthegrove, 33rd Legislative District. Following the speakers,

there will be an open discussion of what we would like to focus on and how we might bestmeet our goals.


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 _______________________________________________________________________________

november 2008 heron herald newsletter rainier audubon society

Documents