Rainier Audubon Society June 2009

Summer BreakFor the next three months, Rainier

Audubon volunteers will be taking a summer break from organizing and producing monthly programs and newsletters. You will be able to attend programs and begin receiving your Heron Herald again in September. Meanwhile, please check our always-up-to-date website for what we might be up to (www.RainierAudubon.org)

— and much is going on with Rainier over the summer. For instance, we have a field trip on June 6 to Flaming Geyser Park (see Field Trips, page 5), and we be will staffing a table at the Covington Water-wise Garden Faire on June 20. In August, the board will meet for a marathon retreat, to plan for the upcoming year. All members are welcome to attend the retreat and help us plan. For details of time and place, contact VP Steve Feldman, at stephanfeldman@gmail.com.

Twice a year, the state Audubon office (Washington Audubon) offers an all-chapter get-together and conference (known as ACOW for Audubon Council of Washington). For this fall’s ACOW gathering on October 9-11, Pilchuck Audubon is host and the location will be in Everett — but Rainier will have hospitality responsibilities, and we would love some help planning and organizing this. If you can help, please let us know!

And next year, 2010, RAINIER WILL BE HOST! Our turn comes only once every 10 or 11 years, so we are very much looking forward to welcoming Audubon members from around the state to our beautiful neck of the woods. If you have any spare time and would like to help us plan and organize this conference, your help would be much appreciated. Please contact Nancy Streiffert atNancy_Streiffert@hotmail.com if you can help. Thank you! Have a good summer.

2009 Birdathon Field Tripby Jim Tooley

A group of seven birders met in Auburn on May 16 for the 2009 Birdathon field

trip across Snoqualmie Pass

to Vantage. As in past years, we planned to follow I-90 and the Vantage Highway (Old US 10) to the Columbia River.

The trip showed promise right from the beginning, when the first bird found as a group was a Western Tanager in the Safeway parking lot in downtown Auburn. Nice start!

The weather was warm and sunny with little wind. Even the summit of the Pass was comfortable at 7:00 AM, where we looked for swallows, crows, ravens, and Rufous and Anna’s hummingbirds. Gold Creek at Hyak was quiet, but the next stop at Crystal Springs Campground was very active. Highlights there included American Dipper, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Bald Eagle, and a variety of flycatchers and warblers.

A stop at the wetlands along Bullfrog Road near Cle Elum was productive. We saw Common Yellowthroat, nuthatches, Great Blue Heron, warblers, and Chipping Sparrow.

Continued on page 4

Summertime sighting: Pacific Fritillary butterflyPhoto by Joseph Higbee

JUNE 2009 - PAGE 2

----------NaNcy Streiffert----------------------Steve feldmaN*------------------------Jim tooley *----------------------------dale melaNd*-------------------------carol Schulz---------------------------carol StoNer*-------------------------Pat toth---------------------------------daN Streiffert-------------------------debra ruSSell--------------------------JaNe GardNer --------------------------NaNcy hertzel------------------------aNNette tabor*-----------------------NaNcy Streiffert----------------------max PriNSeN----------------------------eriN WoJeWodSki-PriNSeN

raiNier auduboN SocietyPO Box 778. Auburn WA 98071. (253) 796-2203

website: www.RainierAudubon.orgemail: info@RainierAudubon.org

PreSideNt

vice PreSideNt

treaSurer

ProGram chair

field triP chair

backyard habitat chair

memberShiP chair

coNServatioN chair

mailiNG chair

hoSPitality

NeWSletter editor

educatioN chair

chriStmaS bird couNt coordiNator

board member

board member

----(253) 796-2203----(360) 802-5211----(253) 854-3070----(253) 946-1637----(206) 824-7618----(253) 854-3207----(206) 767-4944----(253) 796-2203----(425) 271-0682----(253) 631-3105----(253) 255-1808----(253) 927-3208----(253) 796-2203----(425) 432-9965----(425) 432-9965

OFFICERS

*Also serves as Board member

President’s Message — by Nancy Streiffert

Happy summer - or whatever season the

weather is bringing you when you receive this! This is our last newsletter until fall. We start meeting again in September. Having only been president for a few months, I am

grateful to many and impressed by

the people I’ve worked with and gotten to know.

It is always dangerous to start thanking people because some names inevitably get missed and feelings get hurt. And there are many people who do things out of sight - Carol Schultz and her husband repaired the canopy that we use at outdoor events. Carol also leads many bird

walks for Rainier and her walk was a star attraction at the Tukwila Wildlife Fair. Ed Stanton and Carol Stoner represented us to a large group of Federal Way students at an Earth Week Event at Saltwater Park. Carol also staffs our table at the ACES events (Association of South King County Environmental Stewards). Jane Gardner sets up and provides the treats and goodies at our meetings. Ross and Annette Tabor pick up our coffee! Nancy Hertzel designs and edits our newsletter. Bernedine Lund leads intrepid warriors, come rain or shine, against invasive ivy at Dash Point Park. Vern Sumner builds our swallow and chickadee birdhouses. Rainier Board members Annette Tabor, Carol Stoner, Pat Toth, Jim Tooley, Dale Meland, and Steve Feldman attend monthly meetings to plan and implement the many parts of the organization that keep us interesting and vital to your birding world! Alex Gitman, our administrative assistant, is catching on quickly to work with us on events and other planning. I am sure I’ve missed many worthy people. Please know you are valued! Have a wonderful summer of birding and enjoying our great northwest. See you in the fall.

JUNE 2009 - PAGE 3

The 2009 Tukwila Backyard Wildlife Festival, held on May 9, International Migratory Bird Day, was a blazing success! Blazing because, after so much rain and unpredictable, often unpleasant weather recently, we had a very sunny, almost warm day! Many people took advantage of it to attend this family-friendly outdoor event at the community center in Tukwila. Many organizations that promote enjoyment, education, and conservation of our

I led a bird tour at the Tukwila Backyard Wildlife Festival, and the birds were there! It is the best year for warbler sightings that we have ever had on any of our walks around the Tukwila Community Center Park! This year was the 9th annual festival, and the fourth year that Rainier has led a bird walk there. The weather was sunny, and there was no wind. Over 25 people including several children showed up for the walk. Our booth is next to the wall overlooking the Duwamish River, and the group met there. I explained that migrant birds fly along the river because it flows north/south and makes a perfect corridor for migrating birds in the spring. The willows and trees that are planted at the park are a great attraction for the songbirds.

natural resources, both plants and animals, were represented with colorful booths and interesting presentations. Alex Gitman, our administrative assistant, had a roster of volunteers for our Rainier booth: Jane Gardner, Terri Thurber, Cathea Stanley, and Carol Stoner, as well as Alex herself, who helped answer questions, make colorful buttons, and stamp kids’ passports when they could answer our wildlife question: Which ducks

quack? (Mallards and Goldeneyes) Carol Schulz led a bird walk along the Duwamish River - people were lining up way early and saying they come for the bird walk every year! If you missed it this year, you can look forward to it next year! I enjoy the various community festivals — especially those that emphasize the natural environment and the beauty all around us! I hope you do, too.

2009 Tukwila Backyard Wildlife Festivalby Nancy Streiffert

People gather at the river overlook for Carol’s bird walk.

Our group headed to the left, above the river trail, and right away, people started seeing a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER flitting in the willows. We then walked quickly down the steps to the paved path along the river, and headed slowly upriver to what I am now calling, “Warbler Corner” at the upriver end of the park. Wow! The kids and adults started seeing the warblers that

I was hearing. Warbler viewing is very tricky, because these small “jewels of the forest” move so fast. But a lot of the folks got to see some of the approximately 10 Yellow-rumps among the willows. Then we started hearing WILSON’S WARBLERS. Many of the people got to see one of the two or three beautiful male Wilson’s Warblers that were present during the

tour. They are bright yellow, and have a black cap. As we watched these two kinds of warblers, a third warbler, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, flew through the willows and perched briefly over the trail ahead of us. Several people got to see it before it flew back into the willows. I heard

Tukwila Festival Bird Walkby Carol Schulz

Continued on page 7

JUNE 2009 - PAGE 4

When you return to our meetings in the fall, you will be hearing about A Cow - that is how the acronym for Audubon Council of Washington is pronounced! It is a twice-yearly conference for Audubon members from all the different chapters of Audubon throughout Washington state. Each spring and fall, a different chapter hosts the event in a different part of the state. A second chapter is responsible for hospitality for the event — providing snacks.

ACOW is a great opportunity to hear interesting speakers, check out what other chapters are doing, learn about issues such as education and conservation, share ideas with like-minded folks, visit another part of our state and get to know their birding hotspots, and enjoy food, fun, and fellowship with other birders.

The most recent ACOW was held in early May in Leavenworth and was hosted by Spokane Audubon. Rainier was represented by Annette and Ross Tabor. The next ACOW will be October 9-11 - put it on your calendar now. It is being hosted by the Pilchuk chapter and takes place in Everett. Rainier will provide hospitality. Then next spring, May, 2010, WE will be hosts! Needless to say, inviting lots of folks to our area for an event that lasts from Friday evening through Sunday noon is a huge undertaking! We look forward to your ideas and participation in the planning and execution of a successful ACOW. In the meantime, plan to attend the Fall ACOW in Everett to see what it is like! All Audubon members are welcome. Information will be on the Pilchuck website (www.pilchuckaudubon.org). Thank you.

A COW!? I Thought Audubon Was About Birds!by Nancy Streiffert

ACOW birders Photo courtesy of Audubon WA

Carol Schulz then showed us a new attraction on the Roslyn-Cle Elum Road — a home with a large, shaded yard has dozens of feeders installed in and under the trees, a magnet for the seedeaters. All three of the red-headed finches were present – House, Cassin’s and Purple finches – a very unusual occurrence. There were many Pine Siskins and Evening Grosbeaks also. It is a truly remarkable sight (site?).

Next was the Fish Hatchery in Cle Elum and the adjacent Northern Pacific Railroad Ponds with ducks, more nuthatches, Black-headed Grosbeaks, hummers, and a first for this trip, Pygmy Nuthatch, a bird normally seen at somewhat higher elevations. It made for an unusual 3-nuthatch day.

A brief, “cursory” stop at the Teanaway River wetlands proved to be another highlight. Carol tried playing a Virginia Rail tape, and it roused a very territorial bird. We think it might have attacked if she had played the tape again. It came right to the base of the bank at road’s edge – less than 10 feet away.

Two to three brief stops between Teanaway and Vantage gave us Eurasian Collared-Dove, the last of our five swallows, and California Quail. Although Vantage was mostly quiet, we did get a rare look (for most of us Puget Sounders) at a Horned Grebe in full breeding plumage. Usually we get to see most of the grebes only in their black-and-white-and-gray winter plumage.

My personal list for the day included 77 species, but the group as a whole saw 80-85 species, a pretty good day. I want to say thanks to Carol Schulz for helping to lead the trip and her expertise in identifying all those mystery birds and their calls.

Birdathon Field Trip(Continued from page 1)

Field Trips and Things to Do

JUNE 2009 - PAGE 5

Weekly bird WalkS

at NiSqually

Wednesdays8:00 AM to 11:30 AMLeader: Phil Kelley

Birdwalks have now changed! The boardwalk loop, including the Twin Barns and riparian overlook, are the only areas open to the public due to construction related to dike removal. Even so, bird wtaching has been quite good!

Join Phil on his weekly bird walk as he counts the birds at Nisqually NWR. The group takes the boardwalk/trail loop out to the Twin Barns, the Nisqually overlook area, and the riparian area, totaling about two 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.

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 to confirm details: (360) 459-1499, or scrubjay323@aol.com.

Nisqually NWR has begun a 3-4 year estuary reconstruction project. For more information about trail closures during the dike removal and reconstruction project, go to www.fws.gov/nisqually and click on Events and News.

Water-WiSe GardeN faire

Saturday, June 201 PM to 4 PM

Covington Water District18631 SE 300th Pl, Covington

Come tour a botanical oasis filled with a wide variety of drought tolerant plants, all identified. Enjoy a guided tour led by a WSU Master Gardener. Printed plant guides will be available, which identify hundreds of species, both native and non-native, that thrive in this area.

Tours, speakers, demonstrations, door prizes, and more! With over 50% of residential summer water use being applied to landscapes, this fair will give you practical ways to reduce your water usage and save money!

GaraGe Sale at ShadoW

Sat-SuN, JuNe 6-7Sat-SuN, JuNe 13-14

SHADOW, an organization on Shadow Lake in Renton which was formed to preserve Shadow Lake Bog (letters stand for Save Habiat and Diversity of Wetlands) will be having a fund-raising garage sale the first two weekends of June. Donations are welcome! And if you can help staff the sale any time during those two weekends, that would be wonderful, too. If you can help or have items to donate, please contact Erin:

Email: info@shadowhabitat.orgPhone: (425) 432-9965

Thank you!

flamiNG GeySer Park

Saturday, June 6, 20098:00 AM to Early Afternoon

Leader: Steve Johnson

In June, the summer birds should be on their territory in the beautiful Green Valley east of Auburn. We’ll visit Academy Drive, Green Valley Road, and Flaming Geyser State Park. We may see warblers, thrushes, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Red-eyed Vireos, flycatchers, rails, and dippers. We may walk up to one mile on trails, but those who don’t want to walk should be able to see and hear birds near the cars. People who bring their own cars, and want to leave early may do so.

BRING: Lunch, snacks, drinks, hiking shoes. Scopes welcome.

MEET: Auburn Safeway at Auburn Ave & Main at 8:00 AM.

Directions: Take Hwy 18 to Auburn, and exit at Auburn Ave (hwy 164). Turn north (right) on Auburn Way and drive 3 blocks north. Safeway sign and gas station is on the left. Park in the lot just beyond the gas station straight out from the right entry door at Safeway at 8:00 AM.

SIGN-UP: Call Steve at (253) 941-9852 or email him at johnsonsj5@msn.com.

Legislative Updateby Dan Streiffert, Conservation Chair

2009 Priorities for a Healthy Washington results — Cap and Invest did not pass the State Legislature. Efficiency First passed. Transit-oriented Communities did not pass. Invest in Clean Water did not pass. (See below for definitions.)

Pilchuck Audubon received $100,000 for Wagner Elementary Chimney restoration (Vaux’s Swifts).

Thanks to the Washington Trails Association and others, Washington State Parks will remain open this summer. This announcement assumes new revenue sources from a $5 fee attached to motor vehicle tab renewals (with a possibility of users opting out) will provide $23 million to state parks. The Legislature also transferred $19 million from the Non Highway and Off Road Vehicle Activities and Boating Facilities Programs to keep the parks open. With the failure of Cap and Invest at the local level, it is important that we seek solutions to climate change at the national level.

JUNE 2009 - PAGE 6

Definitions

Cap and Invest — Cap and Invest requires polluters to have permits to pollute and to reduce their emissions over time. Ultimately, the program must require polluters to pay for these permits.

Efficiency First (PASSED) — Energy efficiency is the cheapest, quickest, and cleanest way to meet rising energy needs, confront climate change, and boost our economy. More than 30% of Washington’s greenhouse-gas emissions come from energy use in buildings. Making homes, businesses, and public institutions more energy-efficient will save money, create good local jobs, enhance energy security, slash global-warming pollution and speed economic recovery while reducing the need to invest in costly new generation.

Transit-Oriented Communities — Transit-Oriented Communities would revise the state’s transportation and land-use planning framework to assist local jurisdictions to plan for growth in a sustainable and climate-friendly way. The bill will provide incentives for cities and developers to create affordable, livable, transit-oriented development, increasing transportation choices.

Invest in Clean Water — Fossil fuel combustion, leaking oil and grease, and degrading asphalt materials emit hydrocarbons, zinc, arsenic and other toxic substances. Every time it rains, these pollutants are flushed into the stormwater which flows into our lakes and streams. This bill would have imposed a per-barrel fee on petroleum products that contribute to stormwater pollution (gasoline, diesel, lubricants, industrial fuels and asphalt and road oils.)

more at WWW.eNviroNmeNtalPrioritieS.orG

JUNE 2009 - PAGE 7

The Auburn Environmental Park began as an innovative project seeking to create open space in an urbanized area while offering opportunities for economic development, water quality improvement, stormwater detention and flood control, fish and wildlife enhancement, public education, and recreation, including hiking trails

later that after the walk, several people went back to the upstream corner of the trail, and saw more warblers.From the river trail, we walked up into the grass and ballpark and viewed BARN and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. As usual, the children, with their good eyes, picked out some details of color as the swiftly flying birds flew by.

At the baseball diamond, we watched a HOUSE SPARROW take a dust bath! As we continued the walk, we saw a

beautiful adult BALD EAGLE soaring in the blue sky. As we walked past the building, we got to see a very close WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW

perched up in a small tree. At the bridge we saw ROCK

PIGEON (formerly called Rock Dove), and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. These

are the highlights of some of the birds

that we saw. Everyone on the walk had a great time, and especially enjoyed the warbler show.

After the walk, folks in our area saw several other birds flying up or down

Tukwila Festival Bird WalkContinued from page 3

Auburn Environmental Park Update

and bird viewing amenities. Located between 167, West main, and the Interurban Trail, the city has completed construction on one birdwatching tower (photo below), with more planned, and an extensive trail system is also under way. The park is now scheduled to open around the first of June. There are also nest boxes

and bat boxes set up near the tower. Native plants are ready to be planted, but waiting for water levels to fall a bit. Trails will be added in the future. A copy of the Master Plan along with historical information and maps can be found at: www.auburnwa.gov/Assets/IS/AuburnWA/Docs/AEPMasterPlan.pdf

the river in front of the booths. An OSPREY flew by, a GREEN HERON flew down-river, and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and a lemon-yellow AMERICAN GOLDFINCH flew in the area.

It was a great day for migratory birds on International Migratory Bird Day!

Photo at left: Wilson’s Warblerby Joseph Higbee

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