Seldom-seen photos by Kitsap Audubon Photographers
Transcription
Seldom-seen photos by Kitsap Audubon Photographers
september 2013 The Kitsap Audubon Society – Since 1972 Kingfisher September 12, 2013 Program Seldom-seen photos by Kitsap Audubon Photographers Kitsap Audubon photographers Janine Schutt, Randena Walsh and Don Willott will share some of the great photos and video they have taken to support habitat conservation in Kitsap County. Kitsap Audubon actively supports the Kitsap Forest and Bay Project to conserve almost 7000 acres and 1.5 miles of shoreline surrounding Port Gamble Bay. As confirmed by the recent KAS/ Pt. Gamble S’Klallam Tribe Bird Survey of Port Gamble Bay, it is a key stopover in the Pacific Flyway. Janine will lead off with her photos of birds in Kitsap County that migrate along the Pacific Flyway and highlight some of the flyway issues presented at the Mitten Tree Yarn National Audubon Convention this past summer. Judy Willott will share key parts of her image-intense presentation at the national convention, showing the habitat we are working to preserve. Randena will show native orchids in a unique forest area of the “Divide Block.” Don will share photos and video from the “Hansville Block,” and from vantage points around Pt. Gamble Bay that feature the “Shoreline Block” and “Uplands/ Watershed Block.” This is a great chance to view the remarkable trees, ponds, orchids, land, beaches and wildlife seldom seen by the general public. Photo of Bald Eagle by Janine Schutt. The Kingfisher is printed on recycled paper by Blue Sky Printing in Poulsbo and mailed by Olympic Presort in Bremerton, both family owned local businesses. Women at the corrections center in Purdy are turning donated yarn into clothing items for our December Mitten Tree. Donations of surplus or newly purchased yarn are welcome. Bring yarn to any Kitsap Audubon meeting and Sara Kane will see that it gets to the women in Purdy. You may also call for pick-up at 360-297-2716. Kitsap Audubon Society President: Janine Schutt 360-830-4446, [email protected] Vice President: Judy Willott 206-842-6939, [email protected] Treasurer: Sandy Bullock 360-394-5635; roadrunner1957@ comcast.net Secretary: Jessica Klinkert 360-517-2647; jklinkert_2000@yahoo. com Jim Ullrich: Immediate Past President 360-692-4869, [email protected] At-Large Board of Directors: Diane Bachen, 206-855-1667, [email protected] Gene Bullock, 360-394-5635, genebullock@ comcast.net Daniel Froehlich, 360-5982305, [email protected] Sharron Ham, 360-779-5458, shabobham@ comcast.net Byron Kane, 360-620-1367, bk4all@ centurytel.net Alan Westphal, 206-780-7844, westphalac@ aol.com Standing Committee Chairs: Conservation/Kingfisher/Christmas Bird Count: Gene Bullock, 360-394-5635, [email protected] Education Chair: Chazz Hesselein 360-633-0486, [email protected] Field Trips: Alan Westphal, 206-780-7844, [email protected] Hospitality: Milly Bellemere & Bob Schumacher. 360-830-4231, rbellemere@ wavecable.com Programs: Vic Ulsh 360-479-6900, [email protected] Publicity: Barbara Wilhite 360-692-8180, [email protected] Refreshment Chair: Sharron Ham 360-779-5458, [email protected] Membership Administrator: Sara Kane 360-297-2716, membership@kitsapaudubon. org Purple Martins: Sandy Pavey & Paul Carson Sandy - 360-930-0807, [email protected] Paul - 360-779-2612 Raffle Coordinator: Dawn Hansen, Roberta Heath Sightings: Joan Carson [email protected] or 360-779-2612 Scholarship Chair: Sandy Bullock 360-394-5635, [email protected] Webmaster: Mike Szerlog, 360-881-0470, [email protected], www.kitsapaudubon.org Kingfisher Editor: Gene Bullock, 360-394-5635; [email protected] Register now for Fall ACOW Register now for the 2013 annual meeting of Audubon Council of Washington (ACOW), hosted by Eastside Audubon and the King County Chapters. This one-day meeting will be held on Saturday, October 5th, at Bellevue College, just off I-90 in Bellevue. Kathy Dale, Director of Citizen Science for National Audubon Society, will be our key note speaker. Her presentation will focus on the role of citizen science in the Audubon network, including the Christmas Bird Count, the Great Backyard Bird Count and eBird. She’ll also talk about the new Climate Modeling Project being revealed in October. Afternoon workshops will provide tips, tricks, and best practices on a variety of chapter challenges including capacity building, grassroots advocacy, social media, education engagement, fundraising, and more. Meeting details, including the agenda, accommodations, and map may be found on the Audubon Washington website at http://wa.audubon.org/events/ audubon-council-washington-2013. The annual ACOW brings together leaders and members from the 25 Washington State Audubon chapters and Audubon Washington staff for workshops and presentations on a host of topics of interest to Audubon members throughout the state. There will be regional breakout sessions to exchange information and review progress at the state and chapter level. Additional events are planned for those arriving on Friday or staying through Sunday, including a meeting of conservation chairs to discuss shared priorities for the upcoming legislative session, a presentation on the plight of the Marbled Murrelet, and a birding field trip on Sunday. Registration is now open at http://acow.brownpapertickets. com/. Registration cost is $40 and includes morning and afternoon snacks, plus a boxed lunch. To register by check, contact Joseph Manson at (206) 652-2444 x100 or [email protected]. Questions may be directed to Jen Syrowitz (206) 652-2444 x108 or jsyrowitz@ audubon.org. Reminder to our National Audubon members Your membership in National Audubon includes a membership in your local chapter, the Kitsap Audubon Society. But you should know that the share of your national dues we receive doesn’t begin to cover the cost of printing and mailing the Kingfisher newsletter to you eight times a year. We want to keep you up to date on our programs and activities, and hope you will consider becoming a dues-paying member of our chapter. Memberships begin at a modest $15 for an individual membership and the money goes a long way in helping to pay for the costs of the newsletter as well as the informative programs offered at our monthly meetings. Please consider joining. Also, please consider furnishing your email address so you can receive the Kingfisher electronically and save not only the costs of printing and mailing, but the cost to the environment as well. Send your email address to our membership administrator at [email protected]. President’s Letter - Janine Schutt Welcome all to the 20132014 year! Kitsap Audubon Society is an all-volunteer organization with a team of dedicated individuals who are passionate about birds and the preservation of the environment. I would like to acknowledge some of our hardest working members. First of all, I’d like to thank Jim Ullrich, who served as president for the past two years. Jim spearheaded the hosting committee for the Poulsbo ACOW (Audubon Council of Washington) meeting last October. He was also instrumental in planning the 40th anniversary banquet. In the past, Jim has also served as an at-large board member, vicepresident, membership chair, and as president in 2004-2005. Jim owns Wild Birds Unlimited in Gig Harbor and for many years has donated raffle items and a portion of purchases by Kitsap Audubon members. A special thank you to John and Dee Finkbeiner. For more than 12 years, the name Finkbeiner has been a fixture on the Kingfisher’s list of board members and committee chairs. Dee has spent most of the last decade as our dedicated treasurer. She has also served as a board member-at-large. John has served as vice-president, conservation chair, board member-at-large, and was field David Yarnold, President of National Audubon, with Janine Schutt, President of Kitsap Audubon. trip chair from 2005-2012. Thank you John and Dee for all you have done for Kitsap Audubon. Thank you also to Sharron Ham for organizing the delicious 40th anniversary BBQ banquet. And finally, many thanks to all who have agreed to serve in board positions and standing committees. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Gene Bullock, who works tirelessly as our conservation chair and Kingfisher editor. Vic Ulsh, who never runs out of ideas, has brought us our exciting programs since 2006. And Michael Szerlog has worked behind the scenes as our webmaster since 2001. Visit www.kitsapaudubon.org to view his work. In July, a few of us attended the National Audubon Convention in Stevenson, Washington. It was an opportunity to connect with Audubon leaders from around the state and beyond. We attended workshops on bird friendly communities, working lands, citizen science projects, and bird surveys. There was also a session on what Audubon is doing to help migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. Judy and Don Willott attracted a lot of interest to their Kitsap Forest and Bay Project display and were part of a panel discussion on land management and conservation. Helen Engle, past president of Tahoma Audubon Society and one of our chapter’s founders, received a lifetime achievement award. The convention was a wonderful experience and we’ll be sharing what we learned as the year progresses. Kitsap Audubon Honors Founders at 40th Birthday Celebration Kitsap Audubon transformed the Community Room at the Poulsbo Library into a banquet hall to honor those who founded the organization 40 years ago. In the photo at right: Standing: Dale Spoor, Don Davidson, Ray Coleburg, Marilyn Davidson. Sitting: Regina Spoor, Sylvia Nelson), Tage Blytmann, Charlotte Blytmann. Below left is a photo of Joan Carson, the original editor of the Kitsap Audubon Kingfisher, with Helen Engle, who recently received a lifetime achievement award from National Audubon for her role in helping found Tahoma Audubon and mentor Audubon chapters throughout Washington State. Joan created the Kingfisher and was editor for 26 years. Photo lower right shows Sharron Ham who led the planning and organization of the birthday dinner. KAS Awards $5,000 in Scholarships Kitsap Audubon awarded a total of $5,000 in scholarships to seven 2013 graduating Kitsap high school seniors. The awards were presented by Scholarship Chair Sandy Bullock at our May meeting to Kyle Leader, Bainbridge High School; Carolyn Hartman, Bremerton High School; Heidi Johnson and Lydia Leach, North Kitsap High School; Chad Matchell, Central Kitsap High School; Allison Vargas and Darby Womack, South Kitsap High School. New Kitsap Audubon Birdwatcher Class Remember that messy nest you found in your yard one summer, wondering whose it is and whether it’s ok to remove it? What about that woodpecker— WHY is he knocking on your flashing at such ungodly hours? And how to make sense of all those pages of birds in your bird guide? Too shy to join birding field trips because there are so many basics about birds and binoculars you just don’t understand? In a society increasingly insulated from the raw cycles of water and blood—seasons and wildlife—people seek new ways to connect with sentience. Birds— ubiquitous and with seasonal migrations and charming lifestyle antics—are a natural choice for this geography of the soul. Watching for feathered neighbors, noting their daily habits, and understanding the context of their lives draws away the veil of overcivilization, helping us to make the most of our brief tenure among the animals. This fall, Kitsap Audubon, in collaboration with OrnithoLogistics, is launching a new class for community members who want to kick-start their birding adventures. Taught by Dan Froehlich, ornithologist, tour guide and proprietor of OrnithoLogistics, the class will combine five evening talks with three guided field trips from mid-October to early November. Think of the evening sessions as a mini-course in ornithology where avian diversity, the annual life cycle, and behavior will be addressed in an evolutionary context, while the field trips will focus on birding skills by addressing optics, field marks, habitat and behavior—both the birds’ and ours! Whether you’re a beginning birder or consider yourself intermediate, join us for this new venture, become sensitized to the birds around us, and bring all your questions! Introduction to Ornithology: A Serious Person’s Guide to Bird-watching Schedule Evening sessions: Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., Oct 17, 24, 31, Nov 7 (6:30-9 p.m.), and Oct. 14 (5:30-7 p.m., preceding Kitsap Audubon monthly meeting). Field Trips: Saturdays, Oct 19, 8-11 a.m.; Oct 26, 8 a.m.-noon; Nov 2, dawndusk. Locations: To be finalized, planned for North Kitsap, Poulsbo-Silverdale corridor or nearby. Oct. 14 evening session at Poulsbo Public Library and Saturday, Nov 2, field trip probably to Neah Bay. Fees: $100 for 5 evening classes and 3 field trips; $125 for non-members (limited to 12 participants) $60 for 5 evening classes only; $60 for non-members (limited to 8 additional participants) 10% of receipts support Kitsap Audubon Teacher bio: Daniel Froehlich is an ornithologist with research and birding experience from the Great Barrier Reef to the Peruvian Amazon and from the Siberian Arctic to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He teaches field classes on research techniques and serves as an international tour guide. Currently, he is developing a new company, OrnithoLogistics. Registration A check for the appropriate fee reserves your spot in the class. Checks will be cashed after the refundable date. Refunds minus $15 handling fee will be issued for cancellations before October 1. Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________________________ Current Kitsap Audubon Chapter Member (not National Audubon): Yes: _____ No: _____ I’d like to attend (circle one): 5 evening class sessions plus 3 Saturday field trips: KAS chapter member: $100 5 evening class sessions only: KAS chapter member: $60 Not KAS chapter member $125 Not KAS chapter member $75 If my selection is at capacity, sign me up for the 5 evening sessions only or waitlist me: Waitlisted participants will be notified promptly after October 1. Questions? [email protected] or 206-595-2305; please be patient for responses. Please make check out to Daniel Froehlich and send with registration information to 47555 Lamm’s Lane, Poulsbo WA 98370 Field Trip Guidelines Field trip guidelines can vary according to leader preferences and the nature of the trip. Trip leaders try to keep some slots open to new people. 1. Trips are limited to 12 participants unless otherwise specified. 2. Children 12 and under are welcome only on designated family trips or with permission of the leader. All children should be accompanied by a parent or adult designated by the parent. 3. Some receive their Kingfisher earlier than others (email versus regular mail, for example). To be fair, please do not call for a reservation before the date specified by the leader. 4. If the weather is questionable, call the leader the morning of the trip to confirm that it has not been cancelled. If you must cancel, do so as soon as possible because others may be on a waiting list. 5. Dress for the weather. Please refrain from wearing white or bright colored clothing. 6. Bring binoculars and cash for ride-sharing (see below), and bring a lunch for all-day trips. Field Trip Transportation Carpooling is encouraged to reduce costs and limit the parking spaces required. Passengers are asked to share expenses with the driver. A contribution to the driver of $5 for shorter trips and $10 for overnight trips is suggested, with any additional expenses, such as tolls, parking fees, etc. divided equally among driver and passengers. On longer trips, shared expenses may be based on mileage. Alan Westphal, 206-780-7844 [email protected] Field Trips & Festivals Puget Sound Bird Fest: Edmonds, WA, September 6-8. The Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds, Washington is a yearly celebration of the birds and of nature found on the beautiful shores of Puget Sound. Our three-day events include speakers, guided walks, land and water-based field trips, exhibits, and educational activities for children and adults. For details: http://www.pugetsoundbirdfest. com/ Chelan Ridge Hawk Migration Festival 2013: Pateros, WA (City Park), Saturday, September 14, 2013; 8:00 am – 3:00 p.m. Join the Methow Valley Ranger District, North Central Washington Audubon Society, and HawkWatch International this fall for the fourth annual Chelan Ridge Hawk Migration Festival! This family event combines free activities in Pateros Memorial Park with trips to the Chelan Ridge site to learn about and celebrate raptors as they journey to winter territories. The festival takes place in Pateros Memorial Park and will have vendors, live raptors, birding field trips and projects for kids. The trip to and from Chelan Ridge lasts 4 hours and includes seeing raptors as they are banded and released. Pre-registration is required. More information and on-line registration at www.ncwaudubon.org. Hansville/Point No Point: Saturday, September 21. Al Westphal, Leader, [email protected], 206-780-7844 (e-mail preferred). We should see some fall migrants plus the usual exciting birds of this Important Bird Area which is Location # 32 on the new “Puget Sound Loop” of the Great Washington State Birding Trail map. We will also bird Norwegian Point Park in “downtown” Hansville. This will be a half-day trip. Bring a scope if you have one. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Lighthouse parking lot. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge: Saturday, October 19. Al Westphal, Leader, [email protected], 206-780-7844 (e-mail preferred). One of the best locations in our area to observe an array of migrating and over-wintering waterfowl along with many other birds. We will walk the forest and barn trails and as far out on the boardwalk as we care to go. There is a good option for lunch after birding at Norma’s just outside the refuge. Watch weather forecasts and dress accordingly! Meet at the parking lot by the visitor center at 8:30. a.m. Field Trip Reports Family Birding, Theler Wetlands, May 18. Ten of us gathered for several hours of good birding on a pleasant morning. Highlights were the many swallows and a pair of Caspian Terns, but especially the numerous active and very visible Common Yellowthroats. Also of note was failure to spot even a single Great Blue Heron, maybe a first for this time of year. Total species identified was 35. Continued bottom of next page. Wildlife Sightings-Joan Carson Report wildlife sightings to [email protected]; or 360-779-2612). Yes, summer is drawing to a close but hope you had a great one and that you also had some interesting bird sightings to report. Our yard was overrun with birds for most of the summer and one memorable visitor was a hybrid Northern flicker on July 25. It had the combined markings of both the red-shafted and yellowshafted varieties. A day trip on August 14 took us to the top of Mount Walker where the gray jays did their usual “mobbing” entertainment. A blue (sooty) grouse on the drive down was another welcome sight. August 20, Doug Fogle, south end of Gamble Bay, reported success from his efforts to attract purple martins to his nest boxes. On that date, the one used box had the young fledge. August 21, Debbie Sutherland, Hansville (Norwegian Park) counted over twenty blackbellied plovers near a mixed group of Bonaparte’s gulls, common terns, Heermann’s gulls and glaucous-winged gulls. August 14, Ian Paulsen along with Brad Waggoner had an eared grebe in worn breeding plumage on Murden Cove, Bainbridge. August 14, Don & Judy Willott noted a purple martin in the water at the head of Liberty Bay in Poulsbo. It did a breaststroke for about 30 feet in order to reach the shore. Don got some excellent photos of the purple martins nesting at the Oyster Plant Park on Liberty Bay. August 8, Gene and Linda Daniels, Keyport, reported that after 3-4 years of trying, they finally had purple martins nest in one of their boxes and the young ere almost ready to fledge. Wonder if these are related to birds from Poulsbo’s Oyster Plant Park group. Hope so. August 6, Janine Schutt, Wildlife Lake area, reported having a varied thrush still feeding in their yard until June 8. Couldn’t find any signs of nesting activity. August 2-5, they had their first brown-headed cowbird youngster. Its foster parents were juncos. July 28, Ian Paulsen and Brad Waggoner saw a Cassin’s auklet offshore of Lynwood Center, Bainbridge. It appeared sickly and had bare areas on its swollen head. Ian noted this is the first Cassin’s on his Bainbridge list of birds. July 28, Elaine Aponte reported that the osprey that nest on the light standard at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds had young in the nest that were about to fledge. July 16, Regina Spoor, Gazzam Lake, Bainbirdge, saw pied-billed grebe with young as well as a female Northern shoveler with young. Migration is in full swing so we’re looking forward to your reports of some interesting birds in the coming weeks. END Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, June 12. A goodsized group of 18 assembled for a leisurely search through the riparian woodland, all the way out toward the dike trail lookout, and back past the twin barns. Highlights were the many nesting birds including the Cliff Swallows at the visitor center, but also tree cavity nests of Downy Woodpeckers and Tree Swallows out along the trails. Had good looks at a few Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats, but heard many others calling. While overall numbers of waterfowl were way down from winter populations, the diversity was surprisingly good, and many participants got their “first ever” looks at birds like Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers (at the visitor center pond) as well as Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teals, Northern Shovelers, and Gadwalls out in the ponds on the flats. Were also eventually successful at locating a single Yellow-headed Blackbird out in the marsh. “Spot of the Day Award” goes to young Andrew Westphal who picked out a Spotted Sandpiper that 18 KAS members and 28 others from Tahoma Audubon had overlooked! All in all a very good day with 45 species observed. Kitsap Audubon birders at Theler Wetlands, led by Alan Westphal. NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID SILVERDALE WA PERMIT NO. 111 Kitsap Audubon Society P.O. Box 961, Poulsbo, WA 98370 Address Service Requested The Kingfisher is the newsletter of the Kitsap Audubon Society, P.O. Box 961, Poulsbo, WA 98370. It is published eight times a year, September to May. Submissions from readers are welcome. We reserve the right to edit for space, grammar or legal reasons. Email text or photographs to genebullock@ comcast.net or mail to Gene Bullock, 1968 NE Lind Ct., Poulsbo WA 98370. Our deadline is the 15th of the preceding month. To receive your Kingfisher via email and save us the expense of printing and mailing, send your request to [email protected]. Kitsap Audubon Society — Membership Renewal Make check payable to KAS and mail to KAS, PO Box 961, Poulsbo, WA 98370 Name________________________________________________________________________ Phone_________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City_____________________________________________________________________State________________Zip______________________ Email Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Check here to receive your Kingfisher newsletter via Email and save us the expense of printing and mailing. Select Category Of Membership: Individual Annual Membership $15 Individual LIFE Membership $300 Family Annual Membership $25 Family LIFE Membership $500 Contributing Annual Membership $50 Supporting Annual Membership $100 Sustaining Annual Membership $75 (Contact KAS Treasurer for LIFE Membership payment options) $_______________________________Additional donation for scholarships and/or Audubon Adventures (designate). The Kitsap Audubon Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible. The mission of the Kitsap Audubon Society is to preserve the natural world through education, environmental study and habitat protection, and to promote awareness and enjoyment of local and regional natural areas. Visit our website at www.kitsapaudubon.org
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