heron herald may 2017 - rainier audubonrainieraudubon.org/hhmay2017.pdf · 2017-04-21 · rainier...
TRANSCRIPT
The
Rainier Audubon Society May 2017
Rainier Audubon programs are held at 7:00 PM at the
Federal Way United Methodist Church29645 - 51st Ave. So. 98001 (in unincorporated Auburn)
Rainier Audubon MembershipMeeting
7:00 PM May 15, 2017
Have you ever dreamed of traveling the world insearch of beautiful birds? If so, Ecuadorshould be one of the first countries you visit. The
Northwest Slopes of the Ecuadorean Andes Mountainsboast a spectacular Choco-Andean bioregion that offersextraordinary diversity and unsurpassed endemic birdspecies. It also has the greatest hummingbird, antpittaand tanager show on earth!
Cheryl, Pat, Barbara and Marie explored and enjoyed thisarea with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) inNovember of 2015. We stayed at lovely Septimo ParaisoLodge in the cloud forest which provided great access toprime birding locales in this diverse region.
Besides experiencing the fabulous birds there, we sawfirsthand how many of the local people, native and non-native, are working hard to reforest or save large sectionsof the jungle from “big agriculture and oil interests” andfoster a culture of ecotourism.
Two important pioneers in this effort are Paul Greenfield,illustrator of the “Birds of Ecuador”, and his friend and
business partner, Juan Veintimilla. Paul served as one ofour outstanding tour guides and Juan was the trip’s“ground operator” who made sure we made all of ourconnections and kept things running smoothly. Togetherthey founded the Mindo Cloud Forest Foundation andover the years have reforested and preserved thousandsof acres of jungle. The Foundation now owns andoperates six forest reserves at different altitudinal levelsfor conservation and ecotourism.
It was fascinating birding with them every day andmeeting all kinds of amazing people who are workingindustriously to save bird and wildlife habitat in Ecuador.It was truly inspirational!
Please join us as we share photos of some of thefantastic birds we saw and tell stories about some of theawesome people we met.
Join us at 6:30 for conversation and refreshments.
Cheryl, Pat, Marie, & Barbara
RAS Mission StatementTo conserve and restore natural ecosystems and protectbirds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity andbiological diversity in South King County and the worldwe live in.
Rainier Audubon Society Page 2
May 2017
Position Name Board Member Phone emailPresident Heather Gibson Yes 253-856-9812 [email protected] President Jay Galvin Yes 253-939-3094 [email protected] OpenTreasurer Laura Lavington Yes 253-941-7372 [email protected] Chair Pat Toth Yes 206-767-4944 [email protected] Chair Cindy Flanagan Yes 253-941-3933 [email protected] Chair Dale Meland No 253-946-1637 [email protected] Trip Chair Barbara Petersen Yes 253 389 3204 [email protected] Chair Jay Galvin Yes 253-939-3094 [email protected] Habitat Chair Marie West-Johnson Yes 206-817-8754 [email protected] Chair Dan Streiffert No 253-796-2203 [email protected] Editor Dan Streiffert No 253-796-2203 [email protected] Treesa Hertzel No 253-255-1808 [email protected] at Large Stephen Feldman Yes 360-802-5211 [email protected] Sandra Embrey No 253-517-3633 [email protected] Debra Russell No 425 829 4008 [email protected] Members Max Prinsen Yes 425-432-9965Lifetime Members Erin Wojewodski-Prinsen Yes 425-432-9965
Rainier Audubon Society Directory
New Rainier AudubonGoogle Group / email list
We are combining the old Rainier Leadersemail list with the ras-activities list into a newRainierAudubon google group.
The [ras-activities] group has been renamedto [RainierAudubon]. So if you werepreviously a member of this list, then you arestill a member of the renamed group. Theonly difference being that when you send anemail to this group, the address [email protected]
If you did not get an invitation, you mayrequest to join the group by going togroups.google.com and searching for “RainierAudubon”. You can then request to join thegroup.
Alternatively, you can sign up on theRainierAudubon.org website.
New Rainier AudubonFacebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/rainieraudubonsociety/
Backyard 'n BirdsBy Marie West-Johnson
Spring is blooming all around us. Migrating birds are returning and it istime to get outside. PowellsWood Garden in Federal Way is a perfectplace to do just that. To help you get going, Kristine Dillinger ofPowellsWood Garden is again offering 1/2 price membership to allRainier Audubon Society members. This means individual yearlymemberships to the garden are $15.00 and a family yearly membership is$22.50. A few trips to the garden pays for the yearly membership. (Withthe membership is included a reciprocal membership to other gardens allacross the United States. Last November I went to the Phoenix BotanicalGarden three times for free.) PowellsWood is beautiful and wild, a greatplace to go birding. Please consider a membership and support this localtreasure. For more information the website is: http://powellswood.org/
www.RainierAudubon.org Page 3
May 2017
June 19th MembershipMeeting and Potluck
Join us for a great mealand review of theBirdathon Results
6:30 PM
Calen is an 18 year old birder entering his sixth year writing the Seen and Heard. Currently attending Highline College, Calenenjoys birding in south King County and around Ithaca, New York.
Spring migration is in full force,with numerous species sweepingup the Pacific and Atlantic coasts
and the Great Plains. Since I did notreceive any reports in the last two months,here are some of my recent sightings fromthis migration season.
Recent Bird Sightings:March 16th While driving back home alongWest Valley Highway, I glimpsed a loneSnow Goose amongst a flock of Cacklers.
March 23rd Out on an adventure at DesMoines Marina, I ran into Carol Schulz andher sister on the pier. After watching aBonaparte’s Gull, Carol advised me tokeep an eye out for Hutton’s Vireo on thecreek trail. Carol’s words proved wise andsure enough, a trio of Hutton’s greeted meon the trail.
March 24th For the March edition of theRainier Audubon Youth Naturalists fieldtrip, we headed south, to Nisqually NWRin Thurston County. After recalling the
story of Helen Engle’s great efforts toprotect the wildlife reserve, we venturedout on the loop to spot some birds. Thehighlight of the walk was a Great HornedOwl perched tight against a snag soeveryone got to practice peering throughbinoculars to spot its “horned” ear tufts.Other highlights from the trip includedthe first of the year CommonYellowthroat, NorthernHarrier, and Lincoln’sSparrow.
March 30th My Mom and Iventured up to MagnussonPark along the shores of Lake Washingtonin Seattle and on a muddy day, the birdsdid not disappoint, especially the Yellow-rumped Warblers. A mix of Myrtle’s andAudubon’s greeted us throughout thepark, nest building along the lake andflitting through the marsh. We spotted aHorned Grebe, three CommonGoldeneyes, and a pair of CommonMergansers out on Lake Washington.However, the highlight of the afternoonwas the Northern Flickers. In a line oftrees a battle between two male flickerswas occurring. One appeared to bechallenging the other, but every time hemade a move to posture his way past, theother would chase him to a branch onanother tree. The reason for theircompetition? A female was perched in atree at the end of the line, sitting pretty asshe watched the two males compete forher. After twenty minutes another male
flew in to check out the female,spotted the two other males, and
decided a mate wasn’t worth all thetrouble and rapidly flew off. It was quitethe entertainment for the afternoon!
March 31st I glimpsed a pair of WoodDucks at Lake Fenwick. I did not spy theirnest around the lake. If anyone knows of apossible Wood Duck nest at LakeFenwick, please contact me!
April 8th In April, I ventured down to MStreet, behind Emerald Downs to checkfor any early season migrating shorebirds.In the ponds on the north side of the farm,I spotted a pair of Greater Yellowlegs,walking past a couple Killdeer. In thebushes near the Interurban Trail severalMarsh Wrens were singing.
Send your sightings/hearings [email protected]
Seen & Heard by Calen Randall
Rainier Audubon Society Page 4
May 2017
Weekly Birdwalks atNisqually
Wednesdays 8 am to 11 amLeader: Phil Kelley
Join Phil Kelley on his weekly bird walksas he counts the birds at NisquallyNWR. The group walks over to an areanear the visitor's center to view the entryroad estuary, and then takes theboardwalk/trail loop out to the TwinBarns, and the Nisqually overlook area.From there, the group walks the dike,and back to the Riparian Forest.
Bring: Good walking shoes or boots,rain gear, water, snacks, and $3 forentry fee unless you have a pass.Scopes are welcome.
Meet: At the Visitor's Center PondOverlook.
Directions: Take I-5 south from Tacomaand exit to Nisqually NWR at exit 114.Take a right at the light.
Sign-up is not necessary. Call or emailPhil Kelley if you have questions.Phil Kelley, Lacey, (360) 459 1499,[email protected]
Tukwila BackyardWildlife Festival andBird Walk in the Park
Saturday, May 13, 2017Time: 10am - 3pm
Bird walk 10:15 am
A bird walk in the park and along theriver will be offered on Migratory
Bird Day. Programs and activities foradults and children will be presented.
RAS and Seattle Audubon, retail stores,and nature groups will be there.
This is a fun, educational, local festival!The website is
http://backyardwildlifefestival.org/
Bird walk starts near main door at 10:15.Last year our bird walk saw two
Green Herons flying and calling rightacross the river.
Speakers include Composting for HealthySoil, 11:00AM by Rowan May Lang.
Give Beauty & Bees a Chance, 12:00 byMarianne Benetti. Garden Talk, 1:30PMby Cisco Morris.
Tukwila Community Ctr. 12424 - 42nd S.Tukwila, 98168.
Yakima River CanyonBird FestMay 12-14, 2017
Mark your calendars! May 12th - 14th,Kittitas Environmental Education Network(KEEN) is hosting a new birding festival,Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest. Eventsinclude guided field trips, workshops(photography, birding by ear, birdillustration), family-oriented activities, akids’ day camp, keynote speaker (PaulBannick, on owls), with a banquet at Red’sYakima River Canyon Resort, an owlprowl, self-guided field trips (mapsprovided), and more! You can get all theinformation on the website:
www.ycic.org/yakima-river-canyon-bird-fest
SHADOW Lake NaturePreserve Events
Please note, all events are free butdonations of $10 to $15 per participant aresuggested. SHADOW Lake NaturePreserve is run off of the generousdonations of private individuals. All agesare welcome, but children under 13 mustcome accompanied by an adult guardian(exception – summer camps do notrequire an adult guardian).
Friday, May 12th: 10 – 11 amGuided Nature Hike: Tour of
the Upland ForestBlurb: Explore the beauty of our trails witha guide to lead you through the diverseecology represented at SHADOW LakeNature Preserve. Guided Nature Walksare outdoor explorations that take placerain or shine. Come with weatherappropriate clothes and shoes formoderate levels of walking – inclines oruneven ground may be encountered onthis walk.
This month, explore the upland forest ofthe Nature Preserve. See forest
succession in action, discover what "anoctopus tree" could be, and feel likeyou're walking back in time!
Register here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-nature-walk-tour-of-the-upland-forest-tickets-32905748981
Grays HarborShorebird Festival
May 5 - 7, 2017
Celebrating Nature and the SpringMigration of Shorebirds in Grays Harbor
County
EACH SPRING, hundreds of thousandsof shorebirds stop to rest and feed inGrays Harbor estuary on their migrationnorthward. Coming from as far south asArgentina, these Arctic-boundshorebirds are among the world'sgreatest migrants. Some birds travelover 15,000 miles round trip! Tens ofthousands of shorebirds feed on theopen mudflats in the estuary. Thisconcentration of birds offers people agreat chance to view a number ofshorebird species, and with luck, to seethe birds fly together in beautifulformations while trying to escape thefastest creature on earth, the PeregrineFalcon.
Leavenworth SpringBird FestivalMay 18th - 21st, 2017
http://www.leavenworthspringbirdfest.org/
Field Trips - Barbara Petersen
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May 2017
Birding at theStreiffert'sSaturday, May 20
7:00 to NoonBirdathon Donation - $15.
This is much more than a "Backyard"field trip. The Streiffert's yard on the hillin south Kent is very large, and theirwoods drops all the way down to theGreen River. Their area is a migrantwonderland during May. Look forwarblers and other birds in the bushesand feeders, in various habitats in theyard, and in the neighbor's pasture.Warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and morecan be seen and heard down on thetrails in the woods. Learn some springbird song with us! Maybe get some newspecies for the year!
Cost is $15. donation to Birdathon.Includes a light lunch.
Please RSVP and/or fill out a sponsorform so we know how many to plan for.
Call or email Dan and Nancy
Streiffert, [email protected],253-796-2203 to sign up and getdirections.
Green Valley inEarly
SummerSaturday, June 10th
8:00 AM to Early AfternoonLeader: Steve Johnson
In June, the migrant birds should besinging on their territory near Auburnand in the beautiful Green Valley east ofAuburn. We'll visit Academy Drive,Green Valley Road, and Flaming GeyserState Park. We may see and hearwarblers, thrushes, vireos, Red-breastedSapsuckers, Virginia Rail, flycatchers, andmore. We may walk up to 2 miles on trailsand roads.
People who bring their own cars, andwant to leave early may do so.
Bring: Lunch, snacks, drinks, hikingshoes. Scopes welcome.
Meet: Auburn Safeway at Auburn Ave &Main at 8:00 AM.
Directions: Take hwy 18 to Auburn, andexit at Auburn Ave (hwy 164). Turn north(right) on Auburn Way and drive 3blocks north. Safeway sign and gasstation is on the left. Park in the lot justbeyond the gas station straight out fromthe right entry door at Safeway at 8:00am.
Sign-up: Call or email Steve Johnson,253- 941-9852. [email protected]
Audubon WenasCreek Campout
Washington State Audubon Campout
The Hazel Wolf Bird Sanctuary at theWenas Creek Campground
Memorial Day Weekend
May 26-29, 2017
http://www.wenasaudubon.org/
Spectacular Swiftsin Selleck
Just a reminder, May is the month theVaux's Swifts return to the OldSchoolhouse in Selleck. A half hourbefore sunset on a dry evening is agreat time to watch several hundredswifts assemble and swirl into thechimney. We are fortunate to have suchan important roosting site in our area. Ihope you take the opportunity to enjoythe spectacle.
PUGET SOUND BIRDFEST
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2017
(Edmonds, WA) Mark yourcalendars for the return of a belovedfall tradition for nature loversthroughout the Northwest: PugetSound Bird Fest returns the weekendof September 15-17th, 2017, inEdmonds. Acclaimed as one of theSeattle area’s best events onwww.events12.com, this annual 3-dayfestival celebrates birds and natureon the beautiful shores of PugetSound with speakers, guided walksand field trips, Puget Sound boattours, exhibits, and educationalactivities for children and adults.
www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org
Rainier Audubon Society Page 6
May 2017
Bird of the Month: Western TanagerReprint Courtesy of Wild Birds Unlimited, Burien
Save Weyerhaeuser CampusUpdate
State House Capital Budget Includes $250,000 forWeyerhaeuser Campus
Good news! The Washington State House of Representativesapproved appropriation of $250,000 from the 2017-19 StateCapital Budget for Weyerhaeuser Land Preservation in FederalWay. Key to getting the money in the budget were StateRepresentatives Mike Pellicciotti and Kristine Reeves of District30. The money would be used for planning, development,acquisition and other activities for pursuing open spaceconservation strategies for the historic Weyerhaeuser Campus.
This property is a gem that holds regional significance —economically, historically, culturally, and environmentally. Ayear ago, Industrial Realty Group (IRG) purchased the 430-acre campus and currently plans to develop approximately 120-acres of forested land into industrial warehousing.
A powerful coalition of citizens, organizations and governmentofficials (local, county and state) are working to conserve keyareas of the campus, efforts that will preserve and protect thenatural features and character of this special property. Time isof the essence — IRG’s warehouse development plansproceed, and without immediate action, access to landacquisition may be eliminated.
Next step—Washington State final capital budget
The next step is to reconcile House and State capital budgets,to come to agreement on a final capital budget. District 30’sSenator Mark Miloscia has pledged his full support for theWeyerhaeuser Campus Preservation and will advocate to makesure money for Weyerhaeuser Land Preservation is included inthe final state capital budget.
● Approving the $250,000 Capital Budget funds in the finalstate budget will enable the city of Federal Way and itspartner, land conservancy group Forterra, to quickly takeinitial steps in these conservation efforts:
● Purchase of nearly 54 acres of the western shoreline areaof North Lake, headwaters of the salmon-bearing EastHylebos Creek.
● Securing the future of the world-renowned RhododendronSpecies Botanical Garden, a key player in scientific studyand preservation of species rhododendrons from aroundthe world.
● Protecting the Pacific Bonsai Museum, which draws morethan 30,000 visitors annually from the U.S. and overseas.
● Trails that have been used by people from throughout theregion for more than 40 years.
The 2017-19 State Capital Budget should be finalized by theend of April.
The Western Tanageris a medium-sizedAmerican songbird.
Adults have pale stoutpointed bills, yellowunderparts and light wingbars. Adult males have abright red face and a yellownape, shoulder and rump,with black upper back,wings and tail. Femaleshave a yellow head and areolive on the back with darkwings and tail.
Their breeding habitat is coniferous ormixed woods across western NorthAmerica from the Mexico-U.S. border asfar north as southern Alaska. This makesthem the northernmost-breeding tanager.
Western Tanagers migrate alone or insmall flocks arriving at their breedinggrounds in spring. Breeding primarilyoccurs from the beginning of May intoJuly.
The Western Tanager builds a flimsy cupnest on a horizontal tree branch. The nest
is made of twigs, rootlets, grasses andpine needles.
The clutch size is typically 3 - 5 eggs. Thefemale incubates the eggs for about 13days. The young are fed by both parentsand usually fledge 11 - 15 days afterhatching.
Western Tanagers eat insects, fruit andberries. They typically don't come to birdfeeders but you can attract them to youryard with moving water.
Western Tanagers can live for severalyears. A banded wild Western Tanagerhas been documented at 7 years, 11months old.
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May 2017
NOTICE OF ANNUAL ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERSVote to be held at our May 15, 2017 Membership Meeting
Or VOTE BY MAIL_IN BALLOT BELOW
In accordance with our bylaws, Rainier Audubon hereby announces the upcoming Board of Directorselection to be held at our Monday, May 15, 2017 Membership Meeting at 7:00 PM at the Federal WayUnited Methodist Church, 29645—51st Ave. So., in unincorporated Auburn, WA.
If you cannot make it to our May program to vote in person, please take the time to do so now.
Mail in BallotYou may vote for as many individuals as you wish.Check the box beside the name of the individual(s) you wish to vote for.
□ Heather Gibson: Heather has been a casual birdwatcher for a while. She especially enjoys the fieldtrips seeing the colorful birds like lazuli buntings. She is currently serving as President of the Board.She appreciates being a member of Rainier Audubon and wants to help as much as she can.
□ Laura Lavington: Laura is currently Rainier Audubon's treasurer and has been on the board forthree years. The Bewick's wren is Laura's favorite species of bird. Laura is a freelance copyeditor.
□ Steve Feldman: Steve has been a Board member for over 10 years, and still enjoys meeting with theBoard to help direct Rainier Audubon's plans and policies. He attended the National AudubonConvention when it was held in 2013 at the Skamania Lodge, and still feels the momentum from thatvery positive experience. He is making plans to attend the next one in Salt Lake City this year.
□ Write-in ________________________________________________________
Voter Signature ______________________________________________
Rainier Audubon Society Page 8
May 2017
Rainier AudubonPO Box 778Auburn, WA 98071
Affixpostage
here
www.RainierAudubon.org Page 9
May 2017
Hello and welcome again to mymusings!
Ah, the much maligned Mallard. Prettyenough to look at, the male with itsiridescent green head and bright yellowbill and both sexes sporting a beautifulwhite-bordered blue patch on their wings.
The poor things. There are just too manyof them. People consider them "pondpigeons" which is unfair - they are justtrying to survive like the rest of us andsince there ARE so many of them,obviously they've done a good job!
And there's another reason to show thesedabbling ducks a little more respect andappreciation. A new study out of Europehas found that Mallards play a key role inkeeping wetland communities diverse andhealthy.
In the fall and winter, Mallards all over theworld stick to a predictable daily routine.They forage at night, flying from one patchof wetland habitat to another be it aroadside ditch, a swampy spot near acornfield, the shore of a lake, looking forseeds, stems, and roots. Come daylight,they return to a communal roost tosocialize and rest.
These everyday wanderings are invisibleto most people but not to two ecologistsfrom Utrecht University in theNetherlands.
Erik Kleyheeg and Merel Soon wonderedif these daily treks might spread the seedsof wetland plants and because Mallardsare so numerous they also wondered ifthey might have an unusually powerfuleffect on local plant communities.
To find out, the twoscientists luredmore than 300Mallards into trapson ponds andoutfitted them withtiny backpackswith GPS loggersin order to recordthe birds'movements. Theloggers were notlinked to satellites,so a few weekslater they had totrap the ducksagain to downloadthe data manuallywhich was easier
said than done. As Kleyheeg said,"Catching a duck is not as difficult as re-capturing a duck. People think thatMallards are stupid, but I think in factthey've become quite smart due tocenturies of hunting pressure."
Kleyheeg and Soons combined the GPS-generated record of the ducks' dailywanderings with data on how long it takesfor a seed to make its way through aMallard's digestive tract. This resulted in amathematical model of how Mallardsspread seeds across the landscape and itshows that they play an important role inmaintaining connections between wetlandhabitats.
To Mallards, the landscape is one giganticbuffet table. By eating seeds in one spotand depositing them in another -sometimes as far as five miles away - theyknit together islands of habitat that wouldotherwise be cut off from one another.Without Mallards and other ducks makingtheir rounds, plant seeds from one areawouldn't be able to reach the next, leavingthese fragments of wetland isolated andvulnerable to extinction.
Mallards also create new areas of plantbiodiversity. After a night of foraging, theyreturn to their roosts to "rest" whichmeans preening, socializing, sleeping anddepositing more seeds that they ateearlier. Researchers found that one-thirdof the seeds deposited by Mallards endsup back at the roost. Given good growingconditions, those seeds will sprout andgrow into new plant communities.
So, Mallards unintentionally plantminiature botanical gardens which containa cross section of local plants at theirroost sites. These "wild seed banks"maintain a vault of genetic diversity to
ensure that plant populations can bereplenished as the landscape changesaround them.
So, next time you see a Mallard, show alittle appreciation. If it's a male, tell him helooks good in green and thank both sexesfor making the planet's wetlands healthierand increasing their biodiversity for thebenefit of all birds and wildlife.
Until next time,
Millie, the Muse of Mews
Mewsings from MillieReprint Courtesy of Wild Birds Unlimited, Burien
Rainier Audubon Membership Subscription or Renewal Form
One-year Membership in Rainier Audubon$25—Individual Membership / $30—Family Membership
Circle one New / RenewalFor new members: How did you hear about Rainier Audubon Society? _________________________________________
To join or renew, mail this application with your payment to:Rainier Audubon Society - MembershipPO Box 778Auburn, WA 98071
Name:_______________________________________________________________________Address ______________________________________________________________________City ______________________________________ State ______________ Zip _____________Email __________________________________________________ Phone________________
RAS Chapter membership includes 9 issues of the Heron Herald annually but does not include AUDUBON magazine.
The
Rainier Audubon SocietyPO Box 778Auburn, WA 98071
Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage PaidKent, WA 98031Permit No. 441
“You cannot get through a single day without havingan impact on the world around you. What you domakes a difference, and you have to decide whatkind of difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall