07-2010 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society

8/9/2019 07-2010 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society

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In this issue:25 Years Ago page 8

BirdSongs page 8

Calendar page 12

Education page 4

Environment Matters page 3

Executive Director's corner page 2

Field trips page 5

New Members page 11

Wenas Recap page 9

Published by the Tahoma Audubon Society: Connecting people with nature since 1969. Vol. 41 No. 7 July/August 2010

By Cami Kesinger - Development Coordinator

THANK YOU SO ENOURMOUSLY! As of

this writing, we have received many generous

Birdathon pledges and the donations are rolling in.However, we still have a long way to go in making

our goal of $40,000. Can you help us reach our

goal? Even if it is $10 or $20 it adds up fast!

The money raised from Birdathon supports our

Conservation and Education Programs and helps

with the printing of this newsletter. If you have

already made a pledge or donation this year, thank

you! If not, it is certainly not too late. Just make

your check out to Tahoma Audubon Society and

note Birdathon somewhere on the check. Then,

send it to us at 2917 Morrison Road West,

University Place, WA 98466. You will help us in

more ways than you can imagine. Be a part of our

success! This is YOUR Tahoma Audubon!

We will have a full Birdathon 2010 report in theSeptember issue of the Towhee. There, we will

announce our totals and our Birdathon winners,

including most species seen or heard and our

Rookie of the Year! Jim Ullrich from Wild Birds

Unlimited in Gig Harbor has generously donated

gift certificates for our winners! Thank you Jim!

Check out some of the Birdathon Trip Reports

on page 7. If you arent already a birder, think about

going on a field trip next year. I can tell you from

first-hand experience (this was my first time as a

birder, and I

went on three

B i r da t hon

Field Trips)

this is FUN! Iam just learning

about birds, and

going on these

trips was a learning experience.

In addition, being surrounded by the THE BEST

people and our gorgeous outdoors, and knowing

the efforts help Tahoma Audubon succeed is a good

feeling all around. I couldnt have enjoyed this May

any more! Thanks to everyone who made it so

much fun!

Tahoma Audubon Birdathon 2010 Update

theGreatGrayGhostKnown for their secluded boreal haunts and their ability toslip silently through stands of tamarack, spruce, and aspen

on wings that span nearly five feet, Great Gray Owls havebeen aptly called the phantoms of the northern forest.

Frances Backhouse, Audubon Magazine

In search of

By Diane Yorgason-Quinn

The new Advanced Birding Class taught by Ken Brown went far afield for its first season, taking

us over the border into that far country named Oregon in search of Great Gray Owls! We were lucky

enough to have Kevin and Emily Schoenfelder in class this time, as Kevin has a brother, Tim, in La

Grande, Oregon, who has been monitoring Great Grays nearby there in Spring Creek. The advance

reports were that it was an excellent year with three successful nest boxes! We took four days over

Memorial Day weekend and saw ALL the sights (all the birds, anyway!) as we worked our way in

that direction.

A highlight of day one, Friday, May 28, was a visit to the famous yard of Tom Lamb near Dixie,

Washington (near Walla Walla). Toms yard has been featured on television and is well known in the

birding world as the best hummingbird yard north of Arizona! He has dozens of feeders up and as

many as a hundred hummers at once, Calliopes, Black-Chinned, and Rufous. Several of us had the

sublime experience of having hummingbirds alight on our hands!

Next morning, we went past Toms place up Biscuit Ridge after the Green-tailed Towheea very

local bird in Washington. When we got to the one spot they could be expected, it was very coldand exceedingly windy, so hearts were sinking. However, when we played their tune, there was an

answer! We kept up the duet and eventually met the bird! It was hard work, but such sweet earnings!

... and a nemesis is conquered

See "Great Gray Owl" on page 6Photo/Melissa Sherwood

Digiscoped view of The Owl!

Winners fromthe 11th Annual

Bird DrawingContest - Page 5

Went to a garden party ...Friends like Kathleen LeGreid, who was at Helen Engle's BigBackyard Picnic on June 24th, snappin' a bunch of pictures.

You can see a slideshow of these by clicking here.

ee

e e

to reminisce with my old friends ...
http://gallery.me.com/robert_kelton#100214http://gallery.me.com/robert_kelton#100214


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Trees and transportation are the theme of the 2010

Priorities for a Livable Pierce County! Each year,members of the Pierce County Sustainability

Coalitionincluding Tahoma Audubonwork togeth-

er to select three or four local priorities to make theTacoma-Pierce County area a better place to live for

people and for wildlife. This year, while we were alittle slow in getting started, weve already seen two

successes! But first, what are our priorities, you ask?Here they are:

1. Pass and fund Tacomas first Urban Forest

Policy element, and fund the citys Open SpaceHabitat and Recreation Plan

2. Pass and fund Tacomas Mobility Master Plan3. Begin to develop a Comprehensive Transit

Plan for the City of Tacoma

4. Pierce Transit: Keep busiest routes, allow vot-ers to decide funding

Trees and Open Space

Managing our urban forests, planting street trees, and

improving guidelines for tree planting and pruning willhelp make Tacoma a more beautiful and healthier place

to live, work and play. Through years of neglect and

misuse, our urban natural areas are not healthy. Manyareas are infested with invasive plants like English Ivy,

Himalayan Blackberry and Scotch Broom. Theseaggressive plants are outgrowing many native plants,

which is causing a loss of understory plants and pre-

venting the next generation of trees from growing up.Without these trees, we will continue to lose our forest

canopy, biodiversity and natural functions like stormwater retention.

Members from Tahoma Audubon, Cascade LandConservancy, community gardens advocates and oth-

ers turned out for a Public Hearing on May 25 to speak

in favor of the proposed policy. On Tuesday, June 15,the Tacoma City Council unanimously adopted the

Urban Forest Policy Element as a new element in thecitys Comprehensive Plan. One of the outcomes of

this new policy will be the creation of a Citizens

Advisory Council to review progress and guide imple-mentation of both the urban forest policy and the citys

Open Space Habitat and Recreation Plan (adopted late2008). Tahoma Audubon and the coalition members

will continue to work with the city this summer toensure these programs are a success by allocating

money in next years budget to implement it. If you

live in Tacoma, be sure to thank your council memberfor adopting the Urban Forest Policy Element.

Pedestrians, Bicyclists and Public Transit

Since the rise of the automobile in the early twentiethcentury, our transportation system has been built with

the paramount idea that everyone should and can havea personal vehicleand cars are the primary form of

transportation. Consequently, our street designs, plan-

ning, and highways were constructed with this in mindand not much else. Safe access for bicyclists and

pedestrians was not a consideration.In the twenty-first century, that is changing. The ris-

ing cost of gasoline, car repairs, road repair and main-tenance has made our car-based road systems expen-

sive for taxpayers and car owners, and unaffordable for

many people. The aging infrastructure, increasedpopulation and density in urban and suburban areas,

and air pollution from burning fossil fuels have alladded to the noise, congestion and poor air quality in

the region. The design of a Mobility Master Plan

which changes the way we prioritize transportation byemphasizing alternatives like bicycling, walking, and

public transit over carswill solve or reduce some ofthese problems. It will also make our roads safer for

bicyclists and pedestrians by designating and addingbicycle lanes and routes where appropriate, and by

improving sidewalks and crosswalks.

That is why the coalition made this a priority, andwhy the council unanimously passed the Mobility

Master Plan on June 15, 2010. Members of theTacoma Wheelmans Club, Cascade Land Conservancy,

Transportation Choices Coalition and others turned out

in force for the May 25 public hearing in favor of notonly adopting the plan, but they also urging the council

to speed up the timeline and secure the funding neededto do so.

While public transit is addressed in the MobilityMaster Plan, a more comprehensive plan looking spe-

cifically at the urban

transit system isneeded. Coalition

members will con-

tinue to work withthe city council this

summer and fall toencourage them to

take steps towarddeveloping a com-

prehensive transit

plan for Tacoma.On a similar note,

all across Pierce County public transportation is in jeopardy. Pierce Transit is facing budget shortfalls

like many public agencies. This summer Pierce

Transit is asking citizens and users to speak up and letthem know how they can best deal with the situation.

Two options emerge: Cut transit service, routes, andhours or ask voters for a tax increase to pay for con-

tinued and expanded services. At the public hearingon June 14, 2010, there was overwhelming vocal sup-

port by citizens for not only preserving routes and

service frequency, but also to increase them ratherthan cut them. The coalition is working to let the

Pierce Transit Board know that we support the oppor-tunity for voters to decide the course of action by

going to a public vote on this issue either in the late

fall or early 2011.Next Steps

Weve had great success with two of our prioritiesalready, but there is still more work to do. We need to

let council members know that we also want to see theUrban Forestry and the Mobility Master Plan receive

adequate funding in next years budget so that they can

be implemented. Citizens also need to speak up in sup-port of public transit options for Tacoma and for Pierce

Transit. With your help, we can achieve all of thesepriorities this year!

More information on these topics can be found

online:Mobility Master Plan:

http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=12894

Urban Forestry Policy:

http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=9219

Pierce Transit budget decisions:

http://www.pttomorrow.org/compare.aspx

How many of uswould like to say

we individuallymade a difference?

How many of usfeel we have, or are

we still working on

that?I can attest to you

that Ken Bentonand Graham Taylor

have made a differ-

ence. For the last 10 months they are worked withTahoma Audubon as part of the AmeriCorps program.

We are profoundly thankful for all they have done forus in the short time they have been with us.

By reading through the Towhee, you can see thewonderful contributions that Ken (page 4) and Graham

(page 10) have made to the health and growth of

Tahoma Audubon over the last year.Most importantly, Ken and Graham are two great

guys who have been fun to work with. They have

helped to makeTahoma Audubon a

joy to work and vol-unteer at. They have

become part of thefamily. They will be

missed, but we also

wish them well on thenext leg of their

adventure.Tahoma Audubon

has been lucky to be

part of theAmeriCorps program

for the last three years.Ameri-Corps members commit to 10 and months of

full time work for a non-profit. In exchange they getreal world work experience, a small stipend with health

coverage and a monetary award they can use towards

higher education. Starting in September we will bewelcome an education member for our fourth year with

the program.

Page 2 www.tahomaaudubon.org July/August 2010

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSCorner

July/August 2010 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 3

Contact Krystal at 253-232-9978.

Or [email protected]

ENVIRONMENTMatters

The Towheeis a publication of the Tahoma Audubon Society.

The Tahoma Audubon Society was chartered in 1969. TAS advo-

cates for the protection of wildlife and promotes conservation through

education and activities that enrich its members experiences in and

with the natural world.

The Towhee is published monthly, ten times a year, with combined

Jul/Aug and Dec/Jan issues. Submissions of articles and photographs

of birds, bird lore, natural history, conservation, and environmental

education are reviewed and considered for inclusion by the editor.

Copy is due by the 15th of the month and may be sent by e-mail,

disk, or typed. E-mail submissions to [email protected].

Editors: David Cohn, David Lev

Mailing: Vera & John Cragin and Winfield Giddings

Design & Layout: Robert Kelton: robert_kelton@ mac.com

Printing: Consolidated Press

A big "thank you" to Ken and Graham Trees & transportation: What do they have in common?

QUIZ: which plant is pictured?

a) Dull Oregon grape

b) Holly

c) Tall Oregon grape

Make a designation to support TahomaAudubon for generations to come

Do you like seabirds? Would you like to help identify

birds sitting on waters of Puget Sound this winter?Seattle Audubon and Tahoma Audubon are teaming

up to conduct the fourth season of the Puget SoundSeabird Survey in King, Pierce, Kitsap and Snohomish

counties. It is the only land-based monthly survey in the

south sound area conducted by volunteers like y ou!Results from last year can be found online at www.

seabirdsurvey.orgSurvey sites in Pierce County include Purdy Spit,

Kopachuck Park, Narrows Park, Gig Harbor Spit,

Sunrise Beach County Park, Joemma Park, HeronIsland Ferry Terminal and more!

Bring a partner or buddy out and have fun identifyingseabirds one Saturday a month between October and

April. A mandatory short survey protocol training willoccur this September in Tacoma for new volunteers.

Date and location TBD.

Contact Krystal Kyer, Conservation Coordinator tovolunteer or with questions at 253-232-9978 or kkyer@

tahomaaudubon.org

Point Defiance Native PlantGarden Walk & Potluck

July 28, 20106pm-8pm

Volunteers sought for wintertime

Puget Sound Seabird Survey

Please bring a dish toshare if you wish toattend the potluck.

For more information,volunteer events, andtrainings, please visit:

www.greentacoma.org

(Answer=a)

Tahoma Audubon Staff

Bryan Flint Executive Director

[email protected] 253-565-9129

Krystal Kyer Conservation Coordinator


Stephanie Swaim Education Coordinator


Cami Kesinger Development [email protected] 253-565-9129

Graham Taylor Volunteer Coordinator 253-565-1884

[email protected]

Ken Benton Education Intern


Tahoma Audubon Board Officers

Margie Shea Co-President

Tanja Scott Co-President

Darby Veeck Vice President

Jane Brosius Secretary

Kathleen Nelson Treasurer

Tahoma Audubon Board of Directors

John Garner

Thelma Gilmur

Bill Smith

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

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

Dan Sherman

Melissa Paulson

Ione Clagett

Dick Carkner

Charles Griffin

Peggy Kopf

We are pleased to honor o ur visionaries who have named Tahoma Audubonin their estate plans making them members of the Feathered Nest Circle.

Thank you current members as of June 15, 2010:

Tahoma Audubon Society's

Feathered Nest Circle

Anonymous (3)

Jane BrosiusHelen Engle

Bryan FlintThomas Galdabini

John Garner & Caroline HarrisThelma and Chuck Gilmur

Marjorie Griffin*

Noel & Bill HagensFrances Heidner*

David R. HirstCami Kesinger

Peggy Kopf & Pat Mail

John & Pat Lantz

Diane J. MaloneJean McCord

Guy and Cecile MontgomeryGary and Sharon Nestegard

Melissa and Jamie PaulsonDonna Cooper Pepos*

Barbara Petersen

Sarah C. SloatBeatrice E. Thompson*

Darby Veeck & Kristin Lynett

*Deceased

And a big

welcome to our

new PresidentMargie Shea,

seen here with

Thelma Gilmur.

Ken Benton Graham Taylor

One of the easiest ways support themission of Tahoma Audubon through

your estate is to make a designation of

beneficiary to your IRA, pension plan,life insurance, or other accounts you

currently hold. Just request andsign your institutions form that

states how you want yourmoney distributed when you

pass on. These designations

can be split among familymembers and other chari-

ties based on percentages.The distribution of your

generously is made at the

time of your death beforeyour will and estate go

into probate. Such gifts ofestate go to Tahoma

Audubons endowment forthe long term sustainability of

the organization and support

our important work to protect

habitat. While not necessary, if youinform us in writing you become a

member of the Feathered Nest Circle.
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=12894http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=12894http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=9219http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=9219http://www.pttomorrow.org/compare.aspxhttp://www.pttomorrow.org/compare.aspxmailto:[email protected]://www.seabirdsurvey.org/http://www.seabirdsurvey.org/http://www.seabirdsurvey.org/http://www.seabirdsurvey.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.greentacoma.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.greentacoma.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.seabirdsurvey.org/http://www.seabirdsurvey.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.pttomorrow.org/compare.aspxhttp://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=9219http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=12894


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Weekly Bird Walks at Nisqually

7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Bird watching has been good at Nisqually. There is a new dike

out past the Twin Barns. It is over 1/2 mile long, and goes

toward McAllister Creek, but not quite to it.Join Phil Kelley on his weekly bird walks as he counts the

birds at Nisqually NWR. The group walks over to the new

area near the visitors center to view the entry road estuary, and

then takes the boardwalk/trail loop out to the Twin Barns, and

the Nisqually overlook area. From there, the group walks the

new dike, and back to the Riparian Forest. The walk totals

about 2 miles. Bring: Good walking shoes or boots, raingear,

water, snacks, and $3 for entry fee unless you have a pass.

Scopes are welcome.

Meet: At the Visitors Center Pond Overlook.

Directions: Take I-5 south from Tacoma and exit to Nisqually

NWR at exit

114. Take a right at the light.

Sign-up: Call or email Phil Kelley to confirm details. Phil

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

Nisqually NWR has been doing a 3-4 year estuary reconstruc-

tion project. For more information, go to http://www.fws.gov/

nisqually/ and click on Events and News.

Tiptoe Through the Tidepools at Titlow

Sun Jul 11, 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Location: Titlow Beach. Free, all ages. Bring your family to

explore the beach, learn about tide pool life and have lots of

fun during one of the lowest tides of the year!

Low tide of -3.4will be at 11:30 a.m.

Morse Wildlife Preserve Open Trails

Sun Jul 11, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Morse Wildlife Preserve

Explore this natural treasure as you walk the trails and dis-

cover the beauty of the five habitat zones in the preserve.

Located in Graham, the preserve has the following special

open dates. Call 253-591-6439 for more information.

Ohop Creek Field Trip

Sun Jul 25, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Where: Ohpp Creek

Join volunteers on a field trip to a site undergoing major habi-

tat restoration on Ohop Creek, near E atonville, WA. Volunteers

will share their species identification skills and collect data

using NatureMapping. No training required, but helpful.

Registration is available by calling 360-832-7166 or emailing

[email protected]

Birdwalk at Homestead Park: Gig Harbor

Tue Aug 3, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Location: Homestead Park: Gig Harbor

Join Melissa Sherwood as she leads an evening monthly bird-

walk through the new Homestead Park in Gig Harbor. Wearappropriate clothing and waterproof shoes or boots as you

may cross creeks. Maybe yo u will spot some owls!

Directions: Off Hwy 16 in Gig Harbor take Burnham Drive

Exit heading West until you get to a T which is Sehmel

Drive continue straight until you get to 78th Ave and turn left,

you will come to the park. Go in and toward the back/south-

side of the park. Meet in the Meadow area. Call Melissa if

you have questions 851-7230. Call Tahoma Audubon for

more details and to sign up, 565-9278.

Evening Birdwalk at Homestead Park

Wed Aug 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: Homestead Park.

Join Melissa Sherwood as she leads an evening monthly bird-

walk through the new Homestead Park in Gig Harbor. Wear

appropriate clothing and waterproof shoes or boots as you

may cross creeks. Maybe you will spot some owls! Directions:

Off Hwy in Gig Harbor take Burnham Drive Exit heading

West until you get to a T which is Sehnel Drive continue

straight until you get to 78th Ave and turn left, you will come

to the park. Go in and toward the back/southside of the park.

Meet in the Meadow area. Call Melissa if you have questions

851-7230. Call 565-9278 for more details and to sign up, .


Sun Aug 8, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Morse Wildlife Preserve. Explore this natural trea-

sure as you walk the trails and discover the beauty of the five

habitat zones in the preserve. Located in Graham, the preserve

has the following special open dates. Call 253-591-6439 for

more information.

For the past year,

Ken Benton hasbeen a key member

of the staff atTahoma Audubon.

He single-handedlytook over the reigns

of the OSPREY

after-school envi-ronmental clubs and

the 11th Annual BirdDrawing Contest.

He was instrumental

in building a nativeplant garden at Surprise Lake Middle School, and he

partnered with Pierce County Environmental Educators,teachers, the PTA and Stewardship Partners in the

simultaneous installation of the Narrowsview

Intermediate School rain garden

and Environmental Fair. In addi-tion to his service to the youth of

Pierce County, he also participatedas a birder for his first Bird-a-thon

with us, identifying 93 species

between 5 a.m. and 11:53 p.m. Atracking enthusiast, Ken led two

snowshoe tracking hikes forMetroParks Tacoma Outdoor Adventures and the

Volunteer Naturalists Training and lists them as hisfavorite activities in which he participated this year.

From here, Ken will travel back East where he will

become both a husband and a student. He begins hisHamlin University M. Ed. Program in Natural Sciences

and Environmental Education this fall, while workingand living in New Hampshire. So if you see him

between now and his last day, July 15, please wish him

luck, and thank him wholeheartedly for the amazingjob he has done this year.

THANKS, KEN!

Gearing-up for Fall Classes

Mark your calendars! On July 20,

registration opens for fall classes

through MetroParks Tacoma! All class-es are first-come, first-served so please

remember to register early as many ofour programs fill fast - especially our

adult birding classes and homeschoolscience classes.

Birding Basics with Rolan Nelson

begins September 13 and is held onMonday nights through October 4 at the

Tacoma Nature Center. This is a classfor adult beginning birders, and topics

will include binoculars, field guide use,

and the birds you will commonly see inyour backyards and nearby parks.

Please, register beginning July 20 bycalling the Tacoma Nature Center, 253-

591-6439, or by signing-up online atwww.metroparkstacoma.org .

Plea for Summer Camp Scholarship Donations

Dear Members, Friends and Neighbors,The Tacoma Nature Center and Tahoma Audubon

Society provide outstanding environmental camps foryouth in our community throughout the summer. These

camps not only provide hands-on nature experiences

that enrich the lives of our campers, but draw a numberof caring teenage volunteers to help with camps as they

discover their own passions and career paths. We aregrateful for the generous donations of our members over

the past years who have supported our scholarship fund,

which helps the youth of Pierce County participate in ourfee-based programs, such as school programs and

camps. This summer we have had a surge in familiesrequesting scholarship money to help them pay for their

childs week at camp. We find that our scholarship fundis running low, and so we are asking for continued dona-

tions to our scholarship fund so that we can help these

families send their children to camp this summer. If youwould like to make a donation, it would be greatly appre-

ciated. Please send checks to Tahoma Audubon, withscholarship fund in the memo line. The campers, their

families, and the education staff thank you!

FIELD TRIPS and Events


EDUCATIONMatters

Call Steph @ 253-327-9480. Or

[email protected]


stephanieSWAIMEducation Coordinator

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

Notify TAS 24 hours in advance if you cannot come. Field trip leaders put ina lot of time and planning and no-shows disrupt field trips. More than 3no-shows a year can result in revoking opportunity to participate.

Arrive at the meeting place early.

No pets are allowed.

Be prepared for seasonal weather.

Bring lunch, drinks and snacks if the field trip is scheduled past mid-day.

All passengers divide total carpooling expenses. Current guidelines are20 cents a mile per car, not including driver.

Beginners are always welcome.

Have fun.

RULES

Education highlights

July August

Please see Calendar on

back page for exact dates

Thanks and Farewell to Ken Benton,

AmeriCorps Environmental Educator

Ken Benton

Congratulations Bird Drawing Contest Winners!By Ken Benton

With 115 fantastic entries from schools all over

Pierce County, the contestant pool for our 11 th

Annual Bird Drawing Contest was as strong as ever.

Our panel of judges (made up of biologists, artists

and birders) expressed great difficulty in selecting a

top three for each age category. We would like to

congratulate our winners and thank everyone who

submitted their great pictures of American Kestrels,

Clarks Nutcrackers and Red-necked Grebes.

And the winners are:

2nd/3rd Grade

1st Place: Emma Lee Beck

2nd Place: Madison Allen

3rd Place tie: Caleb Scheib and Tahra Menon

4th/5th Grade

1st Place: Jenny Hagle

2nd Place: Maddy Medley

3rd Place: Tristan Grant

6th/7th Grade

1st Place: Tova Beck

2nd Place: Kaitlyn Unger

3rd Place: Marin Malich (not pictured)

Tova Beck

Kaitlyn Unger

Caleb Scheib

Jenny Hagle

Maddy Medley

Tahra Menon

Emma Lee Beck

Madison Allen

Tristan Grant

Bring your family and join us on one of the lowest tides of the yearto explore the beach, learn about tidepool life and have lots of fun!

Low tide of -3.4' will be at 11:30 am

Self-guided tide pool exploration with naturalists available for questions

Guided bird walk in Titlow Park

Create a craft and take part in other activities

For more info, call 253-591-6439

Tiptoe through

TidepoolsSunday, July 11 @ Titlow Beach

10 am - 1 pm - FREE!

Adriana HessAudubon Center2917 Morrison Rd. W., University Place

For Ages 4-6Mon-Wed, 9 am - 1 pm $90 per camper

Little Explorers Nature CampsYoung explorers will nd this small nature parkin University Place just the right size for outdoordiscovery and play while learning about nature in theirown backyards.

LE: Fantastic ForestsBeat the heat in the shade of the forest while looking forsquirrels, rabbits and other tree dwellers.# 54441 June 21-June 23

LE: Hoo Lives Here?This camp is for the birds! Get better acquainted withrobins, nches, owls & other feathered friends.# 54442 June 28-30

LE: Tiptoe Through the TidepoolsExplore the creatures that hide in tidepools: sea stars,shore crabs, moon snails & octopus!# 54443 July 12-14

LE: Winter WonderlandIts winter in July as we cool off with animals that live atthe poles or know how to stay warm in cold weather.# 54444 July 19-21

LE: Small WondersUse microscopes & magniers to discover the smallestwildlife that live in our backyards.# 54445 July 26-28

LE: Wild About WetlandsFrom frogs to craysh, minnows to ducks, learn how wet-land animals live deep in the muck.# 54446 August 2-4

Tacoma Nature Center1919 S. Tyler St., Tacoma

For Ages 5-11Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm $150 per camperOff-site eld trip included for 8-11 yr. old campers

Nature DetectivesFind fascinating ways that wildlife survives and thriveshere in the Pacic Northwest. Learn to identify animalsand their behaviors with nature hikes, games, crafts,science lab, sketching and journaling.# 54434 June 28-July 2 Ages 8-11# 54435 July 5-9 Ages 5-7

Sea to ShoreGet the underwater scoop on amazing creatures of theponds, creeks, rivers, tides and ocean. Hikes, games,crafts, stories and a science lab will bring you into thiswet and wild world. Play an important role in protectingthe nurseries of turtles, tadpoles and butteries.# 54436 July 12-16 Ages 8-11# 54437 July 19-23 Ages 5-7

Wild ExpressionsPlay and connect with nature and be inspired to createunique artwork, stories, plays, music and whatever yourimagination can dream up!# 54438 Aug 16-20 Ages 8-11# 54439 Aug 2-6 Ages 5-7

For Ages 12-14Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm$225 per camper

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4/7

www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 7Page 6 www.tahomaaudubon.org July/August 2010

Birdathontrip Reports

Birdathon: A way to help birds, other wildlife and sup-port Tahoma Audubon programs. Each year TahomaAudubon Society coordinates Birdathon. It is our largestand most successful fundraiser of the year. It is also a wayto celebrate the importance of birds and other wildlife andraise funds for Tahoma Audubon. Thank you to all the tripleaders, hosts and donors! You are what makes TahomaAudubons Birdathon so special.

Please enjoy a few of the many Birdathon Reports Ihave received. If you would like to read them all, come onby our office and sit in our conference room and readthem while watching our bird feeders!

The first report is by Rookie Birdathon Birders KenBenton and Graham Taylor. They are our fabulous andtalented Americorps Staff members here at TahomaAudubon. Sadly, their terms end on July 15! Come saygoodbye to them if you have time. We will miss them and

wish them good luck on their next endeavors!From Ken Benton & Graham Taylor:Monday May 17, was a day that shook the birding com-

munity. While most of the world was fast asleep in bed,two intrepid young men set out on a mission. Both ama-teurs, one a native of the eastern United States, their goalof finding over 80 species in just 24 hours was an ambi-tious one. However, these were no ordinary young men.They were armed with vision rivaling that of an eagle,reflexes of a jungle cat, an iron will and high moral forti-tude. Yes, Ken Benton and Graham Taylor, two relativelyunknowns would soon take the birding world by storm.

Under the cover of darkness, they began their epicjourney that would take them from the pristine habitat ofthe Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge to the busy urbanwoodlands and beaches of Tacoma. At 5:00 a.m., theygot their first three species: American Robin, SpottedTowhee and American Crow. By noon their list expandedto 62. At 6:45 p.m. they parted ways with 89 species.However, with several major misses, Ken Benton was notabout to stand by and watch the remaining hours slipbetween his fingers. Revisiting several locations fromearlier in the day, he was able to knock off three of thetroublesome birds: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Buffleheadand Huttons Vireo. With his conscience finally cleared,Ken finally retired at 8:30 p.m. But as those close to himknow, the mind of Ken Benton is never far from his favor-ite quarry. At 11:30 p.m., he awoke from a dead sleep tothe soft hooting of a Western Screech Owl.

The final total for the day was a whopping 93 species.From Art Wang:

Ten of us in three cars enjoyed perfect weather and hada great trip on Saturday, May 15. We started at 5:15 a.m.at Theas Park in Tacoma and ended at 8:00 p.m. in MosesLake. In between, I saw 124 species of birds and thegroup as a whole saw 126 species. (I told you we wouldexpect 125.) Marcus Roening has been doing this routefor many years of Birdathon and knew exactly what toexpect at every location on his detailed itinerary.

I learned some sensational new places to see birds.One was the West Hylebos Park in Federal Way, originallydonated land from one of Tahoma Audubons pioneersthat became a state park during my tenure in theLegislature. Somehow I had never been therebefore, but it is a wonderful nugget of habitatpreserved in the heart of Federal Way. Another new location was just outside

Emerald Downs, where we had a pond withGreen-winged, Blue-winged and CinnamonTeal swimming together. Then there was thehouse at Hyak with fifteen or so humming-bird feeders hanging from every eave and withat least two Rufous Hummingbirds for everyfeeder, all glinting their brilliant reds in the sun-shine. Near Stampede Pass I saw a NorthernGoshawk pass overhead, although none of theothers in the group got to see it. Then there wasSwauk Cemetery above the Teanaway Valley,

where we picked up mountain specialties such asMountain Chickadee and Cassins Finch and the delightfulNorthern Pacific ponds by South Cle Elum. But the mostsensational spot of all was Frenchmans Coulee near theGorge in George, where towering basalt cliffs rise straight

up on one side of the road and plummet to the valley flooron the other where Rock Wrens sing on the cliffs whileWhite-throated Swifts scream through the air in dizzyingwonder.

Most unusual birds of the day were possibly two out-of-range and out-of-habitat Huttons Vireos by the PetrifiedGingko Forest in Vantage. But my favorites were probablya sensationally-plumaged Mountain Bluebird, glowingelectric blue in the sunlight near Vantage, and breeding-plumaged American Avocets near the Potholes.

The two birds I missedwhich others sawwere BankSwallows (which flew by as I was looking elsewhere) andGolden-crowned Kinglets (whose voices are somehow nolonger in my hearing range). My explanation is that Ithink they have evolved in the last few years to develophigher-pitched songs!From Roxy Giddings:

Weather couldnt have been better for the fourteen ofus with Ken and Nell Batker at the Nisqually Delta NationalWildlife Refuge on May 8. We were greeted by gagglesof gregarious gadwall and the cacophony of cantankerousCanada geese. Most memorable was an AmericanBittern, who puffed out his chest and posed forson Winfield to take pictures; twice more during the morn-ing a bittern flew by us. The frogs ribbited with impeccablediction. We saw 23 species before we even left the naturecenter area! The remnants of the former great-horned owlnest tree were clearly identifiable, having fallen across thenow-repaired boardwalk. Although much of the Delta isnow inaccessible and former dry land flooded, 63 specieswere still identified. The new boardwalk is not finished yet

but soon we will have access to even more habitats. Around noon, nine of us carpooled and headed

west. Seen along the road were Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, which hadnt been seen at the Delta.Sightings at Bowerman Basin sewage ponds included anAlbino herring gull (a white gull with a black bill), and a

river otter was chasing birds away. Continui ng on past theponds to the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, wewalked out on the boardwalk there. Flocks of shore-birds were flashing on the distant tide line.

The beaches at Ocean Shores were much the same aslast year; we added 29 more species there. Some of

our group climbed on the dike to check on the deepwater side for diving fish eaters, like grebes, whileothers scan for Long-billed Dowitchers that fol-low the tide line edges probing like little sew-ing machines. Brown pelicans are fun towatch flying in a line low over the water. Awonderful bird is the pelican. His bill will holdmore than his belican. He can take in his

beak Food enough for a week, But Im damnedif I see how the helican. [We thought this wasOgden Nash, but Bartlett quotes it from DixonLanier Merritt (1879-1972) in 1910.]

Although not as many shore bird specieswere found as usual, the list added up to a cred-

itable total of 92 species.

Avery desired bird in this state!

As we warmed up in the cars and birded our way

along the ridge, all of a sudden a large gray ghostswooped by the last three cars in our caravan and

landed momentarily on a stump. A Great Gray Owl!Leader Ken in car number one missed it and hardly

believed us, but luckily Sue Taylor had snapped aphoto, confirming the ID! Wow! We tracked it, and

later it whooshed through one last time so that every-

one got a glimpse. Just glimpses, but very diagnos-tic.

The next days were full ofadventures. Wildflowers were

everywhere. We saw so many

Tanagers and MacGillivraysWarblers that they almost became

cheap eye candy! And yes, we cansing back to these species quite adequately now!

Some of our group saw a bear at Field Springs. Wereported it to a ranger, and when we came down from

the trail, we met him with a very goal-directed appear-

ing bloodhound. Theyd been looking for that bearfor some time. They were ready to tranquilize it and

give it a new home, as it had been harassing the pic-nickers. We had wondered why the campground was

almost empty on Memorial Day weekend!

Thanks to the friendlier members of our group, we

managed to get invited into the kitchen of one of therangers who was raising Chukars for release, and wemet some large Chukar chicks in a plumage we had

never seen before! Mountain Chickadees wereeverywhere! Sue finally got her life Mountain

Chickadee, hurray! Flycatchers were still setting up

territories, and we heard not just the calls, but the fullsongs of several species!

Finally Memorial Day rolled around, and we metTim Schoenfelder in La Grande and tootled up

Spring Creek. Driving the muddy road, we were

prepared to go to great lengths, but didnt have to!Tim rolled to a stop. We all got out expecting a trek,

but no! Just a few hundred yards, and there was the

nest box of a Great Gray Owl with two Owlets!

Soon, a parent (daddy?) swooped silently in, uncar-ing of all the bipeds who had been stunned into a

reverent silence. We watched him hunt, watched thechicks take a nap, wake up, get some stretching

exercise, and just basically had the best show ever.Sapsuckers, Pygmy Nuthatches, and Western

Bluebirds provided a normalizing background effect,

but the Great Gray Owls were greatest! Timexplained that three of the many nest box/ledges

erected for the convenience of the owls were suc-cessful this spring including one which had fledged

the previous week and two, including this one, still

with Owlets.They say the best way to conquer your nemesis is

to choose the right Master. Since the Great GrayOwl has been the nemesis bird for both Faye

McAdams Hands and for me for years, we finallyattached ourselves to the right combination of mas-

ters this time, Ken Brown and Tim Schoenfelder!

This trip added that prize to both our Washingtonand Oregon lists as well!

We were a long way from home, but managed afew more birding stops. Then we chose to try out

Highway 410 over Chinook Pass, which we heard

had just opened for the season. It was open, but SOsnowy. What an experience! Massive white walls

lined the roadway. We stopped at a restroom to which

a snow tunnel had literally been dug, but of course noelectricity, so the door had to be propped open. Soonto become just another birderstall tale!

This four-day busy trip netted 136 species!

Overall, the new Advanced Birding Class started outwith a bang, totaling well over 200 species in four

field trips to most habitat types in the state (and alittle into Oregon!).

Signup for this class is happening any minute, and

it fills up fast. But have no fearthe adult beginningand intermediate classes will soon be offered as

well! There will be a class for you! Prepare your listsof most-wanted birds!

...Great Gray Owlfrom page 1

Our TARGET! Grea t Gray Owl. Photo/Ed Pullen

Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn

At the Great Gray Owl Site with our guide! Diane, Ken, Jody, Kay, Mike, Kathryn, Ryan, Vera,Shelley, Carol, Carolyn, Betty, Sue (front), Tim (our guide!), Melissa, Ed, Faye, Wayne.

Two Owl chicks in the nest box. Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn A family of Mountain Goats in the Blues. Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn

Western Tanager. Why did the Turkeys cross the road? Photos/Diane Yorgason-Quinn

Green tailed Towhee. MacGillivray's Warbler

Photos/Diane Yorgason-QuinnAbove: Western kingbirds turned up every-where. Below: A Lewis Woodpecker gets tothe core of things

Photos/Diane Yorgason-QuinnWhere do baby Chukars come from? The ranger's kitchen!Below left: Yellow Warbler claiming to be "Sweet SweetSweet!" Below right: Mountain Chickadee peers from her box.


5/7

The morning of May 27, five victims were found

near a parking lot at Titlow Park. The victims: A family

of Killdeer including two breeding and one chick withits head blown off, a Mourning Dove and a Bullocks

Oriole, all piled together. The weapon: A pellet gun.The motive: Something unfathomable to anyone

belonging to the Audubon Society. A passer-by brought

them into the Slater Museum of Natural History at theUniversity of Puget Sound, where the director, Dr. Peter

Wimberger, alerted the birding community via theTweeters internet list and attempted to piece together

the story. The Tacoma Police Department reported thata state agency was responsible for the killing and the

mess. No state or federal agency would take respon-

sibility, and it seems unlikely any bird collecting or

culling process would have included these species or

would have mandated abandoning the carcasses in apublic park.

So be careful out there, no matter what species youare. Dr. Wimberger, thanks for alerting the community

and doing the detective work.

Certainly any birds found dead in good condition canbe used at the Slater Museum in their collections or for

teaching purposes, and these victims will live on in thatway. Information can be found on their website,

including fascinating photographs of their definitivecollection of bird wings: http://www.pugetsound.edu/

academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/?

Bill Giddings wrote a masterfulreview of the Northwest GroundwaterConference. Do we know how thingsare with our groundwater 25 yearslater? Here are his opening paragraphsfrom the July/August Towhee, 1985: Even here in Tacoma and Pierce County

people are beginning realize that water runs downhill,not only aboveground as surface water, but downthrough the ground to recharge the aquifers supplyinggroundwater. Although 90% of Tacomas average useof 80 million gallons per day comes form the greenRiver, at peak times as much as 60 million gallons ofgroundwater per day is drawn from the Tacoma WellField. Fortunately, the South Tacoma Channel underly-ing the 13 wells is rapidly recharged; unfortunatelywater running down through the site of an abandonedTime Oil facility, where used motor oil was reprocessed,threatens the purity of the entire groundwater supply.So far, over a million dollars has been spent for the fivestripping towers that attendees of the groundwater

conference visited on June 13; operational costs are$60,000 per year. Other notable local sites seen on thetour included similar stripping towers with similar costsused to blow solvents from the groundwater into theair at Lakewood Water District wells near PondersCorner; the source of the problem there was traced to

one dry cleaning establishment. Resident ofAmerican Lake Gardens must drink bottled

water.Janet Anthony of FOBB (Friends of

Bowerman Basin) reported on the sec-ond annual Festival of Shorebirds where

hundreds of thousands of shorebirdsstopped off to refuel on their long migration

to Alaska breeding grounds. She urged participa-tion in the efforts to protect Bowerman Basin by creat-ing an estuarine sanctuary.

Brian Morelan described the development inChambers Creek Canyon for which Robert M. Davisis seeking permits. The developer is in violationbecause he has already clear-cut a large area, andconstructed a road. While the project is on hold, ero-sion control is being done by the Dept. of NaturalResources and the WA Fisheries Dept. to protect thisvitally important salmon-spawning stream.

The summer months were really busy ones forTahoma Audubon. We attended hearings -- theSuperfund meeting at the Tacoma-Pierce CountyHealth Department; Chambers Creek development

hearing at the County-City Building. There was theMidsummer Potluck picnic on July 10 at the Englegarden; the hugely successful annual Rummage Saleon July 20 at The Snake Lake Nature Center (nowTacoma Nature Center), chaired by Nell Batker; KenBrown led a birding trip to Summerland (Mt Rainier

NP); Thais Bock led in July and Joe Terlow inAugust for the monthly census at Nisqually; we wentto Lake Tapps with Fred Tobiason; Sunrise/BurroughsMountain (Mt Rainier) with Bob Ramsey; FortSteilacoom/Waughop Lake with Walt Adams; PackForest withAnnVisChansky; Bear Park (Mt Rainier)with Jeff Goulden; and Anderson Island withThelma Gilmur assisted by Hazel Heckman(author of popular books Island in the Sound andIsland Year). Thelma also led a parent/child outing atOhanapecosh (Mt Rainier).

The non-game program of the Game Departmentwas seeking information from Audubon on severaluncommon Washington breeding birds. DougWechsler,habitat Preservation Biologist at the Dept.asked us for help in acquiring information on the fol-lowing birds: Common Loon,Horned Grebe, Red-neckedGrebe, Great Egret, Black-necked Stilt, FlammulatedOwl, Black Swift, Black-backedWoodpecker, Ash-throatedFlycatcher, Purple Martin and

Western Bluebird. We won-der, How are these specialbirds doing now in 2010?

July/August 2010 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 9Page 8 www.tahomaaudubon.org July/August 2010

BIRDSONGS by Phil Buly

Just the other day...Tahoma Audubon in July 1985By Helen Engle

Feedback, comments and reminiscences welcome,

253-564-3112, [email protected].

Helen Englefrom days of yore.

rimitive camping does not

have the allure that it oncedid. And as the population

ages, sliding between cleansheets after a long hot showerthat caps off a day of birding is a

nice thought. But there are no motels atWenas (although there are some within rea-sonable driving distance)!

For over 47 years, Audubon has invadedWenas during Memorial day. Even though wegot a scare a few years ago when this BoiseCascade campground was bought by a devel-oper with visions of 5 acre ranchettes, intrepidAuduboners helped to get it safely into stateownership. While not guaranteed safe since itis DNR Trust Land (and will be selectivelylogged), it is still the birders mecca that it wasyears ago when Bea Buzzetti, Ruth Andersonand Hazel Wolf wandered into the WenasCreek area on a Memorial Day camping trip.

The road is a little dicey in places, but, inaddition to the intrepid tent camping contin-gent, people hauling trailers and driving camp-ers and motor homes made it in. My grand-daughter yelled the whole way so she couldhear the reverberation in her voice as webounced over the rocky road. The creek this

year is in the hands of engineers of the dam-

building clan of native beaver. Sand has over-flowed and flooded the road. I shut my eyesas I drove through, but I was amazed thateven low-slung Honda Preludes can make it.A wet Spring made for an incredible display

of wildflowers and had migrating birds unsureof what the agenda was. Breeding seemed tobe late. I am a novice birder, I come toWenas to sit by the tent with a good bookto read, death camas at my feet, andbinoculars by my side to glance up atbirds that come amazingly close. Bolsteredby Don Knokes incredible flower boards,I am always amazed by what I see andlearn about this area on the dry side ofour state.

During our evening campfire, DonKnokes 90th birthday was announced.Typically, campfires are not permitted afterApril 15 on DNR land. The first night wemade do with a propane fire, but becauseof the wet season, we received DNR per-mission to have real evening campfires andthey even brought us wood! I am afraid thatone day we will have to have virtual campfireswith a projector and a screen, such as theChristmas Yuletide fires shown on television.

The bats were as confused as the birds by

the weather, even trying to locate them withsophisticated electronic equipment was noteasy. However, Michelle Noes love and knowl-

edge of bats made the search fun and educa-

tional. Michelle is President of Bats Northwest.(More info at: www.batsnorthwest.org.)

Field trips were led throughout the valleyand the bird list is still being tallied. The creekoffers an opportunity to sit and to just beamazed at the colorful birds that we canobserve at this time of year.

Seattle Audubon brought educational birdskins (and a couple of pink flamingos). This upclose look at birds was very helpful in our naturesketching class. On the log-in sheet for Wenas,there were 111 individual names listed and anofficial count at the campfire circle was over 100.

There were more people there than signed in,and many that just came up for the day. Willyour name be on the list for next year?

"Over the years, scores of different species have appeared in my dreams. Songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors - many bird families have been represent-ed. And perhaps not surprisingly, they have oftentimes been species I had yet to actually see - the lifers that still eluded me in the tangible world outdoors.Indeed, I sometimes think I have observed more rarities while asleep than awake. To this day, there are vagrant species I have only dreamed of and have givenup all hope of ever truly seeing". Randy Horvath - Birder Watcher's Digest, Jan/Feb 2010

A MurderMystery

Top left corner: Cassin's Finch; Top right corner:White-Breasted Nuthatch;Above: Western Tanager.

How cold is the water? Educational flower boards at Larrison Tree.

Story and photos by Kathleen A. LeGreid

In 1963, Bea Buzzetti, Ruth Anderson and Hazel Wolf wandered serendipitously into the Wenas Creek area on a Memorial Day campingtrip. They were so impressed with the variety of wildlife that they convinced owners Boise Cascade to make the campground available

to Audubon campers on Memorial Day. This was the beginning of an annual Audubon tradition. wenasaudubon.org
http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/http://www.batsnorthwest.org/http://wenasaudubon.org/http://wenasaudubon.org/http://www.batsnorthwest.org/http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/


6/7

Chapter New & Returning:

Hal & Kate Amundson, Christine Karczewski, Pamela

Mayer, Barbara Weikert, Jo Ann Savitz, Ann Waldo,

Adele & Mark Freeland, Joyce Lundberg, Willliam Holt,

R Nelson, Allan F Avery, Charlotte Pierce, Harlan Sethe

Joint Chapter & National Renewals, Recruited through

Tahoma Audubon Society:

Captain Horst D. Albrecht, Mary Ellen Church, EleanorBlock, Steven & Susan Garrett, Stella B. Jones, Robert

& Barbara Kvamme, Don & Nancy C. Pearson, Arthur

& Janis Smith, Howard & Suzanne Leichman, Doreen

Aiken, Dennis P. Anderson, Henry Bernard

Introductory, Recruited through

Tahoma Audubon Society

Scott Davis, Herman Robalino

Introductory, Recruited through

National Audubon Society

D. Dewitt, Jean Rojas, Renee Schrenk,

Nancy Wheeler, D Abel, Joan M

James, Sally McHugh, R. Nelson,

Allan Avery, Charlotte Pierce,

Harlan Sethe

When renewal time comes: Amonth before your membership expires we will send

you a reminder to renew. Please renew through us, not

through National Audubon. They do not give us a share

of renewal dues; hence we are unable to support a

membership that includes providing you with a copy of

our newsletter, the Towhee. You will not get a Towhee

Newsletter if you renew through the National Audubon

Society. National will send you packs of renewal

noticesignore them! We ask you to renew here

through us for a Chapter Only membership or a Joint

membership which includes a Chapter Membership

and a National Audubon Membership. If you have

questions, call Thelma Gilmur, Membership Chair,

253-564-8210.

On July 15 the

Tahoma Audubon

Society will say its

goodbyes to

AmeriCorps staff

members Ken Benton

and Graham Taylor.

While it is tough to

say farewell, it is so

easy to say thank you

for the transforma-

tional experience

Tahoma Audubon

has offered us over the past two years. I am certain that

I will always look back on my time with Tahoma

Audubon fondly, remembering both the work and the

people with the utmost favor and respect.

As the volunteer coordinator, I have been particu-

larly blessed to work with such a thoughtful and

kindhearted group of volunteers and staff. To show upat work and be joined by volunteers is a special expe-

rience. Although one might think that working daily

with the unpaid would be a drag, it is exactly the

opposite; their positive energy is a buoy that keeps the

whole office afloat. Frankly, the days at Audubon

when volunteers are not scheduled are the days that

seem to drag on.

Before my experience at Audubon, I did not really

grasp the phenomenon of volunteering. Generationally

speaking, I must concede that it has not been a pri-

mary focus of my fellow millennials. I did not

understand what motivated volunteers and, quite hon-

estly, I was confused by their decision to donate their

valuable time. I have since come a long way toward

understanding.

While we know that Audubons volunteers partici-

pate because of their passion for conservation, what is

often left unstated is their love of their fellow human

being, their neighbor, who is ultimately their friend.

Volunteers demonstrate their passion through compas-

sion, giving up their most valuable possession their

time to work for the community they love. As mytime with Audubon comes to a close, I cannot think of

anything more basic, straightforward or reasonable

than volunteering.

Besides providing a wonderful family of staff and

volunteers to work with, Audubon supplied me with a

solid occupational framework that has empowered me

to accomplish so many things. My time with Audubon

has led me to work with volunteers to coordinate and

maintain: restoration efforts, issue-driven political

campaigns, newsletter articles, membership and devel-

opment practices, community outreach, volunteer and

event scheduling, the website, and most exhilarating of

all, it offered me the chance to shoot, write, direct, and

edit a film. And it wasnt just any film; it was the cel-

ebratory 40th anniversary film that would dbut at

Tahoma Audubons 40th birthday party on February

28th 2009. It was a project that I will treasure in my

memories forever.

In actuality, Audubon has offered me so much more

than what I have listed. Simply put, I cannot vocalize

or literate on how much this experience has meant to

me. I can, however, profusely thank everyone that hasbeen a part of this experience. Together we changed the

world. Thank you!


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

an Introductory member of Tahoma Audubon you also receive a National

Audubon membership and Audubon Magazine for one year. Renewing

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

Pierce County. Chapter membership includes: Towhee newsletter sub-

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

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

National Audubon membership includes: Chapter membership, National

membership, annual Audubon Magazine subscription, and support of

Important Bird Areas (IBA) and state and national conservation agendas. Checkspayableto:TahomaAudubon2917Morrison

Rd.W.

UniversityPlace,

98466TahomaAudubon

Society,establishedin1969,

isa501(c)(3)nonprofit

organization.Donationsaretaxdeductible.

Membership Fee:

___ Introductory (first year) $20

___ Joint National/ Tahoma Audubon $50

___ Chapter member renewal $30

___ Other Contribut ions _____________

Member(s) Name: _______________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

City______________________________ Zip__________________

Phone: home ___________________business _________________

e-mail: ________________________________________________

Member #: _______________________________ (office use only)

Membership


C9ZY020Z

[email protected]

or (253) 565-1884

VOLUNTEERRecognition

Thank you and farewell to my Audubon family

By Diane Yorgason-Quinn

On June 1, Christi Norman of Washington Audubon visited our

Advanced Birding Class with an exciting proposal for Tahoma

Audubon. Youve all seen the great maps that have been coming out

over the last few years with recommended birding sites in our fabu-

lously diverse and birdable state: The Great Washington State Birding

Trail maps! Well, were now down the wire with just one left to pro-

duceand its OUR area! The Puget Sound trough (or suggest a

better name now!) area will be the final map, and then the entire state will be available

to birders from all over! Eventually, site signs will be erected when funding is available

advising visitors to check their map details for information on the spot where they are

standing. These maps are the best in a universe of 36 states who have now hopped

onto the birding trail caravan! Birders from out of state buy these maps when they

plan their trips to the Northwest, and we are using them locally more and more as well.

Tahoma Audubon is one of several Audubon chapters who look out on the Puget

Sound, and we now have a committee to process suggestions for sites to be included

on the map that are within the vision of our chapt er. Our committee is headed by Rob

and Natalie McNair-Huff, past co-presidents of Tahoma Audubon and authors ofBirding

Washington. The committee hopes by the end of the summer to have our HUGE list

of Pierce County hot spots pared down to a reasonable number to submit to the map

makers. So send in your suggestions NOW! You can download a nomination form

from Washington Audubons Great Birding Trail webpage or contact Rob and Natalie

right away if you want your voice heard!

The website with the nomination forms and other info on this project is:

http://wa.audubon.org/birds_GreatWABirdingTrail_PugetLoop.html .

You can also check out the already published maps in the series and download them,

even use them as computer wallpaper!

Rob and Natalies contact info:

Rob McNair-Huff [email protected] [email protected]

Natalie McNair-Huff [email protected]

Lets inundate em with all our best birding sites!! And NOWbefore summers end!

May 16, 2010 to June 15, 2010

WELCOMEto New and Returning Members

Save theDate

July 13thfrom 6pm-8pm.

Event: Summer Volunteer Appreciation Potluck

When: 7/13/2010 6pm-8pm

Where: Adriana Hess Wetland Park

What: Potluck & Socializing

Who: ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Why: Because we love you!

All Tahoma Audubon volunteers are invited to comecelebrate their service at our Summer Volunteer Ap-preciation Potluck. Whether you are a receptionist,a eld trip leader, a Towhee writer, editor, a restora-tion volunteer or a data enterer, you are invited tocome join us for an evening of food and socializing!Please bring at least 1 entre, or dessert to sharewith the group! See you there!

The Great Washington State Birding Trail needs you!

Christi Norman

Photo/Harry Folster

Frightened seagulls drop excess ballast as they wing their way to safety. Taken at Willapa NationalWildlife Refuge on Long Beach Peninsula.

Look out below!

Each year the Society of Profes-

sional Journalists holds the Excel-lence in Journalism Contest to hon-

or the very best in journalism.This year the 2009 contest

brought in 2,500 entries from Re-

gion 10, including entries fromAlaska, Oregon, Washington,

Idaho and Montana. The entrieswere submitted online for the

rst time this year, and

judged online as wellby journalists around

the country.The Towhee and

Robert Kelton placed

second for page design for non-

daily newspapers.

Towhee recognized in NW Excellence in Journalism Contest

... Dale Thompson!

Tahoma Audubon founding

member and wildlife artist,

Dale Thompson, will be at

Paradise lodge on Mt Rain-

ier, Fridays and Saturdays

throughout the summer.

Visit with ...
mailto:[email protected]://wa.audubon.org/birds_GreatWABirdingTrail_PugetLoop.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://wa.audubon.org/birds_GreatWABirdingTrail_PugetLoop.htmlmailto:[email protected]


7/7

For additional information:Tahoma Audubon - 253-565-9278; or www.tahomaaudubon.org Or The Tacoma Nature Center:253-591-6439 or www.metroparkstacoma.org

Calendar

Nature Detectives camp

@ TNC for 8-11 year-olds

Thu July 1, or Fri July 2, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Location: Tacoma Nature Center. See Education

Page for description.

TGIF Restoration Activity

Fri July 2, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Adriana Hess Wetland ParkCome enjoy the outdoors and help beautify the

grounds at Adriana Hess Wetland Park!

Nature Detectives camp


Offered July 5, July 6, July 7, July 8, or July 9,8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Location: Tacoma Nature Center. See Education

Page for description.

Adriana Hess Park Photography Class

Mon July 5, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.An adult program encouraging people to

appreciate nature and how they can incorporateit into their photography. Call Dixie Harris for

details 564-6373.


Wed July 7, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. See Field

Trips for more information.Join Phil Kelley on his weekly bird walks as he

counts the birds at Nisqually NWR. Call oremail Phil to confirm details. Phil, in Lacey,

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

TAS Board MeetingThu Jul 8, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center.

Monthly Meeting of the Tahoma AudubonBoard. Guests Welcome, please call ahead at

(253) 565-9278.


Fri July 9, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Come enjoy the outdoors and help beautify thegrounds at Adriana Hess Wetland Park!

Tiptoe Through the Tidepools at Titlow

Sun Jul 11, 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location:Titlow Beach. See Field Trips for details.


Sun Jul 11, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location:

Morse Wildlife Preserve. Page 5 for details.

Sea to Shore Camp

@ TNC for 8-11 year-olds Mon July 12, 8:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See above description.

Little Explorers Camp:

Tiptoe Through the Tidepools

Mon Jul 12, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Location: Adriana Hess. Ages 4-6. $90 percamper (includes $30 non-refundable deposit)

Register by calling the Nature Center, 253-591-6439. Explore the creatures in the tidepools.

Bird Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Mon July 12, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.Enjoy a guided bird walk through the park!

Sea to Shore Camp

@ TNC for 8-11 year-oldsTue July 13, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location:

Tacoma Nature Center. More details page 4.


Tiptoe Through the Tidepools

Tue Jul 13, or Wed July 14, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m. See Field Trips for details.

Volunteer Appreciation Potluck

Tue July 13, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location:

Adriana Hess Wetland Park. All TahomaAudubon volunteers are invited to come cele-

brate their service at our Summer VolunteerAppreciation Potluck. Whether you are a

receptionist, a field trip leader, a Towhee writer,editor, a restoration volunteer or a data enterer,

you are invited to come join us for an evening

of food and socializing! Please bring at least 1entre, or dessert to share with the group!

Volunteer Work Party DaysLocation: Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Wed July 14, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.


Wed July 14, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.Leader: Phil Kelley. See earlier description.

Sea to Shore Camp


Wed July 14, or Thu July 15, or Fri July16, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: Tacoma

Nature Center. See Education Page for details.


Fri July 16 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park


Sea to Shore Camp

@ TNC for 5-7 year-olds Mon July 19, 8:30

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: Tacoma NatureCenter. See Education Page for details.


Winter Wonderland Mon Jul 19, or Tue July20, or Wed July 21 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

See Education Page for details.

Plant Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Mon July 19, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Enjoy a guided plant walk through the park!

Sea to Shore Cam @ TNC for 5-7 year-olds

Tue July 20, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.See Education Page for details.


Wed July 21 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

Leader: Phil Kelley. See earlier description.

Sea to Shore Camp@ TNC for 5-7 year-olds

Wed July 21, Thu July 22, or Fri July 23, 8:30

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See earlier description.

Nature Storytime

Caterpillar and Butterfly

Thu July 22 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.


Fri July 23 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park


Nature Storytime Bug Life

Fri Jul 23, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.


Volunteer Work Party Days

Location: Adriana Hess Wetland ParkSat July 24, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Dog-A-Thon

Sat July 24, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location:Ft. Steilacoom Park. Invitees: Tahoma

Audubon Society Come see us at our booth atthe 20th Annual Dog-A-Thon, to benefit Pierce

County Humane Society! Ft. Steilacoom Park!Bring your dog and stop and see us!

Ohop Creek Field Trip

Sun Jul 25, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

See Field Trips for details.

Family Walk at Adriana Hess Park

Sun Jul 25, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.A family program to encourage families to

appreciate the park by providing informationand opportunities with a guided walking tour.

Call Dixie Harris for details 564-6373

Little Explorers Camp: Small Wonders

Mon Jul 26, Tue July 27, or Wed Jul 28, 9:00

a.m. to 1:00 p.m.See Education Page for details.


Wed July 28, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.Leader: Phil Kelley. See earlier description.


Fri July 30 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.



Wild Expressions Camp


Offered Aug 2, Aug 3, Aug 4, Aug 5, or Aug 6,

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.See Education Page for details.

Little Explorers Camp:Wild About Wetlands

Mon Aug 2, Tue Aug 3, or Wed Aug 4, 9:00a.m. to 1:00 p.m. See page 4 for details.

Adriana Hess Park Photography Class

Mon Aug 2 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. An adult

program encouraging people to appreciatenature and how they can incorporate it into

their photography. Call Dixie Harris 564-6373.

Birdwalk at Homestead Park: Gig Harbor

Tue Aug 3, 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

See Field Trips for details.


Wed Aug 4, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.


Evening Birdwalk at Homestead ParkWed Aug 4, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.See Field Trips for details


Fri Aug 6, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park



Sun Aug 8, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

See Field Trips for details

Eco-Explorers Camp

for Young Teens at TNC

Mon Aug 9, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

See Education Page for details

Bird Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Mon Aug 9, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.Enjoy a guided bird walk through the park!

Eco-Explorers Camp

for Young Teens at TNC

Offered Aug 10, Aug 11, Aug 12, or Aug

13, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.See Education Page for details.


Wed Aug 11, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.Leader: Phil Kelley.

See earlier description.

Volunteer Work Party DaysLocation: Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Thu Aug 12, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.




Plant Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Mon Aug, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Enjoy a guided plant walk through the park!

Wild Expressions Camp


Offered Aug 16, Aug 17, Aug 18, Aug 19, orAug 20, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.



Wed Aug 18, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

Leader: Phil Kelley. See earlier description.TGIF Restoration Activity

Fri Aug 20, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.



Family Walk at Adriana Hess Park

Sun Aug 22 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Adriana Hess ParkA family program to encourage families to

appreciate the park by providing informationand opportunities with a guided walking tour.

Call Dixie Harris for details 564-6373.


Wed Aug 25, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

Leader: Phil Kelley.See earlier description.

Nature Storytime Pond Wonders

Thu August 26, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.




Nature Storytime Bug Life

Fri Aug 27, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.


Volunteer Work Party Days

Location: Adriana Hess Wetland ParkSat Aug 28, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Evening Birdwalk at Homestead Park

Tue Aug 31, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.See Field Trips for details.


Wed Sept 1, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.



Fri Sept 3, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park


Adriana Hess Park Photography class

Mon Sept 6, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Park. An adult pro-

gram encouraging people to appreciate natureand how they can incorporate it into their pho-

tography. Call Dixie Harris; 564-6373.

SWIFTS!Mon Sept 6, Evening

We will go see Swifts do their chimney trick!!We have several potential chimneys and will

decide which one closer to the date, and par-ticipants may help decide. This will be a very

late afternoon/evening event with no walkingexcept to get your lawn chair and picnic out of

the car and settle down to watch the show!Please contact the trip leader so you can be kept

updated on the plans as the date approaches:

Diane Yorgason-Quinn, (253) 857-3367,[email protected]


Wed Sept 8, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.Leader: Phil Kelley. See earlier description.

TAS Board Meeting

Thu Sept 9, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center.Monthly Meeting of the Tahoma Audubon

Board. Guest Welcome, please call ahead at(253) 565-9278.


Fri Sept 10, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park

Come enjoy the outdoors and help beautify the


Conservation Committee

Fri Sept 10, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center

Help Audubon achieve our 5 year goals forconserving, protecting, and restoring habitats

in Pierce County.

Membership Meeting

Fri Sept 10 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location: Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S. TylerStreet. Monthly membership meeting of

Tahoma Audubon. All welcome. Check website for program - www.TahomaAudubon.org.

Call (253) 565-9278.

Unless otherwise stated -To register for eld trips, call (253)565-9278 To register for educationclasses, call (253) 591-6439See further descriptions inside.Check out our calendar online athttp://www.TahomaAudubon.org

for more information and updates

No regular monthly membershipmeetings for July or August. Be sure tocheck our online calendar to find outwhat's in store for the Septembermeeting: TahomaAudubon.org

Or call the office at (253) 565-927

MONTHLY PROGRAM

JULY 2010

AUGUST 2010

SEPT. 2010
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.tahomaaudubon.org/http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Documents

07-2010 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society