Date post: | 29-May-2018 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | tahoma-audubon-society |
View: | 218 times |
Download: | 0 times |
of 12
8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
1/12
Published by the Tahoma Audubon Society: Connecting people with nature since 1969. Vol. 40 No. 9November2009
Announcements page 11
BirdSongs page 8
Calendar page 12
Education page 4
Environment Matters page 3
Executive Directors column page 2
Field trips page 5
New members page 11
Quizzical Owl page 8
Volunteer recognition page 10
Inthisissue:
By Diane Yorgason-Quinn
A lovely fall walk around Wapato Park
and Wapato Lake on a balmy fall morning
sounded like such a good idea! So thought
George Schonhard, who scheduled himself
to lead such a bird walk on the morning of
October 17, 2009. As you know, all of
George's plans were suddenly canceled by
the fates (see accompanying obituary on
page 6), but his eld trip was still held to
honor his vision because he would have
wanted it thus. Ken and Nell Batker gra-
ciously agreed to step in as leaders of the
bird walk, and it was a good way to remem-ber George and enjoy the things he enjoyed.
The morning turned out very wet, and
again we thought of George, as he had the
right gear for every occasion.
As we were donning our wet-weather
garb, a Great Blue Heron was seen posing
over the water on a horizontal tree branch,
an artists vision. We set off to walk around
the lake, sure that the rain would let up
soon. It was a warm tropical kind of rain to
begin with. A flock of Cackling Geese, the
... and a day trip becomes a tributeOn a Wapato Park
walk, we remember
George Schonhard
Photo/Diane Yorgason-QuinnWapato Parks signature pergola, with its Doric columns, welcomes visitors.
Ruth Sullivan on George Schonhard:George was my best birder and never missed a meet-
ing. I went to his Memorial. His son showed photos of
him and his many hobbies. He died too soon; he was
only 70 years old. I am going to miss him. He was a gi-
ant of a man in so many ways and was involved in many
activities. He climbed mountains, was an experienced
sherman, collected butteries, and knew his trees and
plants well. And he liked to photograph the many things
he did.
We are all going to miss George.
SeeGeorgesobituaryonpage6
See"Wapatoonpage6
Editors Note: it is with sadness that we say good
bye to a friend and volunteer of Tahoma Audubon,
George Schonhard. George was scheduled to lead
our trip at Wapato Park, a place he visited often.
Our successful Early Bird Breakfast eventwas held October 22nd.At right, Board Member Melissa Paulson sits
with husband Jamie Paulson. Melissa present-ed Tahoma Audubons ve year membershipgoals at the event, looking to increase mem-bership by 50% by 2014!
See page 7 for more photos.
DonatetotheTahomaAudubonSocietyCommon birds at risk, sharp decline of sea
birds in Puget Sound, Global warming ef-
fects on habitat, and near extinction for the
Spotted Owl. These are some of the recent
headlines that add urgency to our work to
preserve habitat for wildlife and humans.
Your donation is critical to the success of
our important work. Donate today!
Your donation is tax deductible. Clickhere
to go to our donation webpage. Photo/Robert Kelton
http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/Default.aspx?pageId=30314&wstepNo=1&wctxId=fe4dc6ea2e20434fb88177133037f089http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/Default.aspx?pageId=30314&wstepNo=1&wctxId=fe4dc6ea2e20434fb88177133037f0898/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
2/12
By the year 2030,
Pierce County is
expected to grow by
almost 250,000
people. This
population growth
is larger than thenumber of people
who live in the city
of Tacoma today.
Far too many adults
and children are
already removed
from nature, and this
disconnect is likely to grow as the population increases.
The challenges of climate change, increased suburban
and rural development, and shrinking public dollars
mean that the work to protect wildlife habitat in Pierce
County will be especially daunting in the coming
decades.
2009 is Tahoma Audubon Societys 40th anniversary.
As we enter our fifth decade, Tahoma Audubon isfostering a new generation of leaders while celebrating
the conservation victories of our founding generation.
This new generation of leadership will ensure that there
continues to be a voice of habitat conservation in Pierce
County.
The strength of Tahoma Audubon has been and will
continue to be our strong base of volunteer leadership.
Tahoma Audubon will advance a culture of conservation
through our work in advocacy, stewardship, and
education, connecting the next generation with nature.
Tahoma Audubon has ambitious goals:
Conservation: Influence public policy to conserve,
protect, and restore the more than 267,000 acres of
connected open space indentified in Pierce County. Conserve or restore important habitats and
ecosystems through partnerships and the Important
Bird Area campaign.
Empower citizens to protect and preserve
ecosystems and habitat in their communities and
neighborhoods.
Education: Expand education programs throughout
Pierce County to serve more than 40,000 children and
adults annually by 2014.
Membership: Increase membership 50% by 2014.
How will we accomplish these goals?
We will achieve our Conservation goals by
expanding our citizen science efforts such as the
Seabird Survey, 24 Hour BioBlitz, and Christmas BirdCount. We will take a lead on the newly created Open
Space Task Force to seek new ways to fund open space
acquisition. We will take Audubon into the community
to connect our members and others with the rich
biodiversity in their neighborhoods.
To increase oureducationprograms we are developing
a Volunteer Stewards Training beginning in January. We
will be training volunteers to deliver our programming
throughout the community. We will be expanding
partnerships with Schools districts, community groups
and institutions in all parts of the County.
Membership in Tahoma Audubon gives folks the
local face to the larger Audubon family. We will be
organizing quarterly membership orientation meetings
to better introduce ourselves to new members. There
are a tremendous number of ways we connect people
with nature, and expanding our membership brings thatto so many more in the community.
These are ambitious goals indeed. As I have seen
time and time again, the volunteers and staff of
Audubon are able to accomplish anything they put their
mind to. We will need everyones help to achieve these
goals and ensure that Audubon is around to protect the
environment for the next generation.
Page 2 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009
executive directorsCorner
The Towhee is a publication of the Tahoma Audubon Society.
The Tahoma Audubon Society was chartered in 1969. TASadvocates for the protec-
tion 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 a combined Jul/Aug and Dec/
Jan issue. 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.
Editor: David Lev: [email protected]
Mailing: Vera & John Cragin and Winfield Giddings
Design & Layout: Robert Kelton: E-mail: robert_kelton@ mac.com
Printing: Consolidated Press
Printed on recycled newsprint
Contact Bryan at 253-565-9129.
TahomaAudubonStaff
Flint,Bryan Executive [email protected] 253-565-9129
Kyer,Krystal Conservation [email protected] 253-232-9978
Swaim,Stephanie Education Coordinator
[email protected] 253-327-9480
Kesinger,Cami Development [email protected] 253-565-9129
Taylor,GrahamVolunteer 253-565-1884Kerrigan,JulieCoordinators [email protected] [email protected]
Benton,Ken Education [email protected] 253-565-1884
TahomaAudubonBoardOfficers
John Garner President
Marjorie Shea Vice PresidentJane Brosius Secretary
Kathleen Nelson Treasurer
TahomaAudubonBoardMembers2009
Thelma Gilmur
Dick Carkner
Marcus Roening
Peggy L. Kopf
Darby Veeck
ThePierceCountyChapterofTheNationalAudubonSocietyLocatedinUniversityPlace'sAdrianaHessWetlandPark
2917MorrisonRdWUniversityPlace,WA98466Officehours10a.m.-1p.m.Frontdesk253-565-9278
Ione Clagett
Melissa Paulson
Bill Smith
Tanja Scott
Charles Griffin
As we enter our fifth
decade, Tahoma
Audubon is fostering a
new generation of leaders
while celebrating the
conservation victories of
our founding generation.
Ambitious goals for the future
Introducing the Towhee's
newest editor, David LevHello all, my name is David Lev,
and Ill be the editor for The Towheefor this issue and the next one. Ima senior English major and Historyminor at the University of PugetSound, and Ive worked as a writerfor several publications for a whilenow, but this is one of my firstexperiences editing.
Im originally from Corvallis,Oregon, and Ive always loved thewild (which probably comesfrom growing up in ahouse in the middle of theforest).
Ive previously volun-teered for an organic com-munity garden, but aside fromthat I havent really doneall that much workfor environmental-ist groups, so Ifigured I might as
well start now.
My other passions include LGBTrights and fostering local arts andculture in the community.
Ive lived in a diversity of places,including France and New Zealand,and Ive seen a lot of cool placeson this planet Earth, so I know all
about the importance ofpreserving our wilder-
nesses. Im look-ing forwardto this job,and I hopeyou all like
my results!
David Lev
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
3/12
Fall is upon us, and so is the season for Citizen
Science projects volunteer opportunities that connect
people to nature AND contribute to scientific knowledge
and decision-making. National Audubon and Tahoma
Audubon have a long history of these types of volunteer
opportunities. The December Christmas Bird Count is
the longest continuous running citizen science projectanywhere, now in its 110th year! The Great Backyard
Bird Count is another winter project that occurs every
February.
Last year, Tahoma Audubon expanded our citizen
science projects in a conscious effort to engage members
in activities they love, like bird watching and nature
walks, with the goal of gaining more local knowledge as
to what is happening with our local birds and habitats.
This knowledge will be used to then engage the wider
community in support of our conservation goals.
For example, collecting baseline data on all types of
species (plants, animals, birds, bugs) in the Ohop
Valley this past year in collaboration with Northwest
Trek Wildlife Park will help us better evaluate the
success of a major stream restoration project that gotunderway this summer. The last field trip was in
October, and more are being scheduled for 2010 to
discover what species are returning to the newly
restored valley.
In 2008, we began participating in three more new or
existing citizen science projects, and the great
enthusiasm and interest for these programs has led us
to continue to offer them once again. Heres what we
are doing in 2009-10:
PUGET SOUND SEABIRD SURVEY
Lucky for you, you dont have to wait until
Decembers Christmas
Bird Count to get
involved. In October, we
launched the secondseason of the Puget Sound
Seabird Survey, in
collaboration with Seattle
Audubon, adding eleven
new sites and a dozen new volunteers in Pierce County.
The PSSS survey is done by volunteers standing on the
shorelines of Puget Sound from as far north as Everett
and as far south as Olympia. The survey gives us a
snapshot in time of all wintering seabirds in the central
and south Puget Sound area. Both returning and new
volunteers stormed the shorelines on October 3rd for thefirst of seven monthly surveys. You can learn more
about the survey and results from previous years by
visiting www.seabirdsurvey.org.
PROJECT FEEDERWATCH
If cold windy
winter days arent
your cup of tea,
consider watching
winter birds from
the comfort of the
Adriana Hess
Wetland Park and
Audubon Center in
University Place.
Starting inNovember, we will be observing wintering birds that
come to our feeders, stream, and pond, just outside our
windows. Volunteers are needed to help make a list of
species seen and count them on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays between mid-November and early April.
Come in and volunteer for a shift, and well even
make you a cup of tea! Or, if you would
like to participate in Project
FeederWatch from the comfort of your
own home, you can sign up online and
learn more at: http://www.birds.cornell.
edu/pfw/. If you would like to help at our
office contact Graham Taylor, AmeriCorps
Volunteer Coordinator, to sign up at 253-
565-1884.WINTER BIRDS OF ROY;
a NATUREMAPPING field trip
Last May we conducted a BioBlitz in the
Nisqually area, near the City of Roy, just east
of Fort Lewis. Over
80 volunteers came
out in one 24-hour
period to collect as
much data as
possible on the
species found in thebiologically diverse
area. The area
includes streams,
wetlands, oak
woodlands and
remnant prairies.
We found 468 species, including spiders, birds, plants,
butterflies, bats, frogs, plants and much more. This gave
us a great picture of the areas biodiversity, but as
birders know, migratory birds seen in May arent
necessarily going to be the same ones found in the
wintertime. Therefore, we are offering a field trip on
December 5th to explore the area once again, and
capture more bird species. A trained NatureTracker
volunteer will be on hand to record the data in niftyhand-held computers. University of Puget Sounds Dr.
Gary Shugart and members Nel and Ken Batker will
lead the trip through some of the areas covered during
the BioBlitz, including a rail line walk, the Roy City
Park, and some private property. To sign up, for this field
trip, call our office at 253-565-9278 between 10am-
1pm Mon-Sat. You can also learn more about
NatureMapping and the Roy BioBlitz by visiting:
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/bioblitz/roy/
Last, but not least, well have
more information in next months
Towhee about Christmas Bird
Count in mid-December. Learn
more at: http://www.audubon.org/
Bird/cbc/Want more information? If you
have questions about any of these
projects please contact Krystal Kyer,
Conservation Coordinator, at 253-232-9978.
November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 3
Contact Krystal at 253-232-9978.
eNviroNMeNtMatters
Citizen Science opportunities abound
ByCarterRubin
From Portland, ME to Port Angeles,
WA independent family shermen have relied on
generations of accumulated experience and local
knowledge to bring fresh seafood to our dinner ta-
bles and jobs to our coastal communities. But likeso many other areas of commerce in this country
agriculture, manufacturing, etc. a handful of large
corporations have risen to dominate commercial
shing, leaving behind a
wake of environmental
and social destruction.
The factory trawler
boats used extensively in
large-scale shing indis-
criminately haul in thou-
sands of pounds of sh in
one fell swoop of their nets, killing not only many of
the sh they intended to catch, but also those they
did not including other sh species, sea mam-mals, birds, and invertebrates. The practice of
bottom trawling in particular effectively clear-cuts
everything living on the ocean oor...using large,
heavy nets kept open by doors, weighing as much
as several tons each, that drag across large areas of
seaoor to catch sh that live on or near the ocean
oor (http://oceana.org/north-america/what-we-
do/stop-destructive-trawling/about/).
A plan is underway to radically change the way
we manage our public ocean resources, and it's
only going to make things worse. Under the guiseof conservation, a system known as catch share
would cap the amount of a sh that can be re-
moved from the ocean and allocate those shares of
the catch to shermen. While this sounds promis-
ing on paper, in practice the rights to sh will only
be given out to those who have shed the hardest,fastest, and least sustainably over a period of ve
years, a.k.a. the large corporate shing operations.
Not only would this increase the already severe
threat to our ocean ecosystems, it would force
small-scale shermen out of business by privatizing
our public ocean resources. To continue shing, a
local sherman would have to lease the right to sh
from the corporation at extortion prices. Already,
similar policies in Canada have ravaged the liveli-
hoods of shing families and communities
in Nova Scotia and British Colombia, while
hastening the ascent of factory shing.
However, in the United States we can take action
now to prevent further privatization of our sheries.
This fall, the consumer action non-prot, Food &
Water Watch, is building a grassroots movement ineight cities, including Tacoma, to add citizen power
to its Fair Fish Campaign. Community groups are
raising awareness and putting pressure on key
members of Con-
gress to take deci-
sive action in order
to protect our ocean
ecosystems, pro-
vide consumer ac-
cess to sustainable
seafood, and ensure
the vitality of our coastal shing communities.
In October, the Conservation Committee of Ta-
homa Audubon unanimously agreed to sign onto a letter to Sen. Maria Cantwell expressing our
concerns over the unfair catch share policy. We
encourage you to get involved by signing the online
petition right now or contacting Tacoma Fair Fish
Organizer, Carter Rubin at 310.200.1088 or Cart-
[email protected] for more information.
You can learn more about this campaign online
at: http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/campaign.
jsp?campaign_KEY=27754&track=hp-090209-main
isNotFair
CatchShare
http://www.seabirdsurvey.org/http://www.seabirdsurvey.org/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/bioblitz/roy/http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/bioblitz/roy/http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27754&track=hp-090209-mainhttp://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27754&track=hp-090209-mainhttp://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27754&track=hp-090209-mainhttp://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27754&track=hp-090209-mainhttp://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/bioblitz/roy/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/http://www.seabirdsurvey.org/8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
4/12
Page 4 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009
educatioNMatters
Call Steph @ 253-327-9480. Or
2917 Morrison Road W.,
University Pl. WA 98466
253-565-9278
www.TahomaAudubon.org
Open Mon Sat. 10a.m.-1p.m.
1919 South Tyler Street,
Tacoma WA 98338
253-591-6439 www.metroparkstacoma.org
Open Tues. Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
& Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
See class schedule on next page, or check our websites for the latest updates.
stephanieSWAIMEducationCoordinator
Help us foster a sense of
wonder about the natural
world.
With expert instructors, andknowledgeable staff you will
learn to guide youth and their
families to see nature as a
place to treasure.
Classes are forming, call for
more information: 253-327-
9480, or email: Naturalist@
TahomaAudubon.org.
Become a Volunteer Naturalist!
We are passionate about this because nature is becoming a foreign place. Each year our environ-
mental educators teach about the habitats and wildlife of Puget Sound. We teach outdoors andin classrooms. We teach in kayaks and on hikes! We teach this because we love it.
Fun Classesbeginin January2010: Introduction to Interpretation,Forests, Birds, Wetlands, Tidepools, & Mammals.Fun Workshops: Wildlife Tracking, Wild Edibles, Kayak EcoTours,and much more!Perfect for Recent Retirees, College Students, Homeschool
Parents, and Teens aged 16+. It's more than fun; it's rewarding!
We are grateful for a second year of
funding from TogetherGreen.org for the
continuation of our Prairie Restoration
Project at the Morse Wildlife Preserve, a
collaboration between Tahoma Audubon Society, Cascade Land Con-
servancy and the 4th and 5th graders at Rocky Ridge Elementary
School in Graham, Washington.
Learn more about the exciting things happening at the Morse Wild-
life Preserve on page9.
At Morse Wildlife Preserve, students collect data, learn about water
quality testing with Mrs. Case, and plant 5 x 5 plots.
Morseisaneducationalforce
Connect others to nature
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
5/12
8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
6/12
Page 6 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009
George Philip Schonhard of Tacoma passed away on
September 23, 2009, at the age of 70.
George was born on August 2, 1939, in Bremerton,
WA. He graduated from Everett High School and the
University of Washington. George married Judith Ann
Clinkingbeard in 1962, and they had one son, David.
George was a retired chemist, and is survived by
his wife of 46+ years, Judy, son David Schonhard and
daughter-in-law Nancie, grandchildren Michael, Rachel,
and Jill, sister Judy Lee Schonhard, and many other
relatives and friends. Donations may be made to the
Tahoma Audubon Society.
George Philip Schonhard} }
smaller relatives of Canada Geese, swam right
up to us with the usual Mallards and park
ducks, showing how similar in size these little
geese are to ducks. A pair of Pied-Billed
Grebes actually became airborne by about one
inch as they were suddenly startled. Im not
sure Ive ever seen a P-B Grebe fly, and thisprobably wouldnt qualify! Wood Ducks were
wending their way between Coots, putting
those drab fowl to shame. A huge long-necked
white goose (domestic x Chinese goose?)
swam for shore and ran up the hill, making us
chase it a bit to be sure it wasnt an early
Swan! Suddenly, an intrusion put all the
waterfowl on alert!! A Bald Eagle swooped in,
giving the scare to all and strafing the waters
surface with a line of white foam, but coming
up empty-taloned to a nearby conifer to recon-
noiter.
Wapato Park is truly an urban gem. Police
sirens screamed by several times, reminding us
just how urban it is, but otherwise one might
imagine themselves in an idealized country-
side far away in place and time. Paths veer off
from the main lake walk, where you can peer
into the swift-running streams and ponds, allof which were finally brimming with water
again on this wet morning after a dry summer.
Little islands of dense marshland and dark
woodlands provide diverse habitats for birds
and birders alike. In the rain, songbirds were
scarce, but those reliable Song Sparrows came
through as usual, as well as some Golden-
Crowned Kinglets and Black-Capped
Chickadees calling out incantations for the rain
to stop. Our only shorebird was an American
Crow, doing its best to fill that niche and many
others. A Red-Tailed Hawk flew overhead,
and I believe he shook water off his feathers
onto us.
As the morning progressed, the rain increased,
the skies grew darker, and the temperature
dropped. Luckily we were only scheduled for
a couple of hours, but due to finding some
paths becoming slippery with mud and autumnleaves, we found ourselves actually finishing a
little early for a change. The skies were con-
tinuing to weep copiously as we paddled our
cars away in the darkening morning, weeping
with needed rain after our dry spell, but also
weeping for George and others not there to
enjoy what we experienced that morning.
... Wapatofrompage1
Top: Cackling Goose surrounded by raindrops on Wapato Lake. Below: Double-Crested
Cormorants having fun with sh. Right: Our soggy group taking cover under a picnic
shelter at Wapato Park: Adam Trent, Leaders Ken and Nell Batker, Diane Yorgason-Quinn,
and Beverly Webber. Photos/DianeYorgason-Quinn
8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
7/12
November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 7
ByDianeYorgason-Quinn
This fall has been terrific for rare birds seen in Pierce County and surround-
ing areas. The sightings have been exciting enough to cause the most agree-
able of birders to become a chaser. As an example, Melissa Sherwood has
successfully chased three rare birds, all lifers, in two weeks, and shes not
done yet! She went down to Tokeland in early October and found the Bar-
Tailed Godwit hiding amongst the hundreds of Marbled Godwits, then scooted
up Kent a week later and saw two Sharp-Tailed Sandpipers, followed two days
later by successfully observing the Black-Tailed Gull off of Marine View Drive
in Tacoma, found the previous day by our own Charlie Wright. Others have
also been flocking to Browns Point to see a remarkably tame Lapland
Longspur. Melissa is locked and loaded for the next rarity and might even find
it herself and report it to the world.
How can you get in on the excitement? Theres a new feature available
from Tweeters, the Northwests e-mail birding group, called Tweeters Alerts,
which is just for reporting and reading about desired birds. For more informa-
tion on Tweeters and Tweeters Alerts, please see their web page: http://
www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/tweet.html. Many of us would like to extend a
thank-you to the Burke Museum at the University of Washington for hosting
Tweeters on the internet.
Although we all love to just go out and see whats around, sometimes hav-
ing a specific goal bird adds an element of excitement and motivation like
nothing else can, plus it gets you out of the house!
SpecialtyBird
HuntingPhoto/Melissa Sherwood
Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper, center, Kent, WA
Photo/Diane Yorgason-QuinnBar-Tailed Godwit, Tokeland, Oct 09
WayneandSallyLarson
PeggyKopfandPatMail
Thankstoourpresentingsponsor:
Thankstooursponsors:
Former board member Terry Conner (center) talks with Lara Her-rmann (left) and David Hirst (right)
Volunteer Coordinator Graham Taylor thanks our Table Captains byoffering them complimentary Tahoma Audubon Calendars.
Table Captain David Seabrook (center) and his wife Vergia (left) chatwith Tahoma Audubon President John Garner (right) at the Early BirdGets the Worm Breakfast.
Audubon board member Margie Shea (left) andTacoma Nature Center intern Daisy Garcia (right)spoke to the audience about the success and im-portance of the Tacoma Nature Centers paid in-ternship.
Knute Berger signs books as volunteers RyllaGoldberg (back left), Karen Bloustine and MonicaWeidman (sitting, table) try desperately to keepup with the demand, selling 60 of the 50 bookson hand!
Judith Krill, Steve Wyant and Don Dresser of the Nisqually DeltaAssociation.
AndthankyouTableCaptains!American Leadership Forum, Ken & Nell Batker,CalPortland, Richard Carkner, John Garner, GaryGeddes, Kristy Gledhill, Debby Hyde, KathrynKravit-Smith, Ryan Mello, Ian Morrison, Cindy
Niemi, Nisqually Delta Association, MelissaPaulson, Nancy Pearson, Port Of Tacoma, Da-vid Seabrook, Margie Shea, Bill Smith TacomaPublic Utilities, Darby Veeck, Brian Ziegler.
Photos/BillWhite
http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/tweet.htmlhttp://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/tweet.htmlhttp://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/tweet.htmlhttp://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/tweet.html8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
8/12
1. At one time this colorful bird was a popular caged bird.
2. What common species was formerly known as the Winter Finch?
3. How many species of penguin are in the southern hemisphere?
4. What owl can detect movement up to 2 ft. under snow?
5. Nesting in "seabird cities", the world's most numerous gull species is the ____________.
wlquizzical
the
ByThaisBock
Page 8 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009
BIRDSONGS
byPhilBul
y
Let'srenewourdedicationtotheNisquallyRefuge
(Answers below.)
ByHelenEngle
Tahoma Audubons involvement with the Nisqually
River estuary is a big part of our history. Our field
work produced flora and fauna data to add to the
growing bank of information about this last undevel-
oped major river estuary on Puget Sound. Audubons
respected advocacy voice joined in the chorus toSave Nisqually. With our allied organizations, such
as Nisqually Delta Association, League of Women
Voters, Black Hills Audubon, Washington
Environmental Council, The Nisqually Tribe and hunt-
ing and fishing groups, we returned to the legislature
every session for years to pass bills to protect the
Delta.
The 100-year old network of dikes built to create
pasture and farmland, had shut off seven sloughs of
Puget sound marine waters . Early in the 1970s this
area, then known as the Brown Farm Duck Club was
for sale and our lobbying efforts were diverted to
obtain federal funding to purchase what we knewwould be an outstanding National Wildlife Refuge.
For decades Auduboners have loved the 5.5-mile
trail on the perimeter dike and scheduled year-round
field trips to count the diverse birds and animals that
thrived in the combination or saltwater and freshwa-
ter habitat. Although not advertised along I-5, the
Refuge drew 180,000 visitors a year. Loss of the
popular Brown Farm Dike Trail will be softened in
part by construction next year of a mile-long board-
walk extending out over the estuary to the mouth of
McAllister Creek.
Meanwhile some 80 percent of Puget Sounds
estuarine habitat has disappeared diked, filled and
developed. Restoring wetland habitat is the corner-
stone of many of our salmon recovery plans.
Estuaries provide places for young salmon to hide,
rest and feed as they leave their rivers and enter themarine waters.
Audubon supported the 12-year, $12 million proj-
ect to restore the estuary on the 3,000-acre Nisqually
National Wildlife Refuge. In 2008 we watched as the
new, exterior dike was built across the refuge. And
it was with some pangs and feelings of dj vu this
summer when we saw 4 miles of the old dike exca-
vated -- more than
350,000 cubic yards of
dirt and rock.
On the Pierce County
side of the river the
Nisqually Tribes restora-tion project on the for-
mer Braget Dairy farm
has been successful. All
this work on the
Nisqually estuary has
boosted the total south
sound estuary habitat
by 55 percent. Fisheries
scientists predict this
will double survival of the rivers Chinook salmon
population a stock that was federally listed as
threatened in 1999.
Auduboners, do go to the Nisqually National
Wildlife Refuge. Refresh your sense of ownership of
this sacred place where the life of the water and the
life of the land converge in a biological blur.
Help renew our collective dedication to this placein its new incarnation. Join our friend Jean Takekawa,
US Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge Manager, as she
marvels at the tides moving into the sloughs and
reassures us, This is all for the good of Tahoma
Audubons special refuge.
Feedback, comments and reminiscences welcome,
253-564-3112, [email protected].
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceFourmilesoftheolddikewereexcavatedthissummer.
ANSWERS:1.PaintedBunting2.HouseFinch3.Seventeen4.GreatGrayOwl5.Black-leggedKittiwake
8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
9/12
November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 9
The Morse Wildlife Preserve is a green jewel in
eastern Pierce County that exists as a credit to the
dedication and hard work of many Tacoma
Audubon Society (TAS) members and community
volunteers. That dedication is now focused on an
enhancement that will help protect and restore
wildlife on the property and for the Preserve to
better serve as one of the premier open-airenvironmental education centers in the region.
Planning for this BoardwalkandTrailProject
began about two years ago and is now at a critical
fundraising stage.
A bit of history: Lloyd and Maxine Morse
deeded the original 53 acres to the local land trust
(now Cascade Land Conservancy) in 1994. That
group and TAS immediately created a joint
operating agreement and created the Morse
Force to manage the property. In the 15
intervening years TAS and CLC have overseen the
development of a trail system and educational
curriculum, the addition of 185 wooded acres, theconstruction of a beautiful observation tower,
restoration of the historic barn, and several
projects at the on-site caretakers residence. The
Preserve is one of two Monitoring Avian Productivity
and Survivorship (MAPS) sites in the region at
which the vitality of bird populations is studied
over decades. Last year we tallied nearly 1,000
hours of education provided on the property and
about 1,350 hours of volunteer activity devoted to
the Preserve, including restoration of critical
habitat zones. A total of 119 bird species and over
250 plant species have been identified on the
original parcel.The Boardwalk and Trail Project will open up
about 75 acres of unique habitat that have not
been accessible before now. The results will be
the creation of new education and restoration
activities for the growing number of visiting
students, better ecological stewardship of the
property, and the opportunity to discretely
observe wetland and aquatic species at close
range. TAS will remain as the gatekeeper,
coordinating access to the Preserve and
overseeing all educational
events and programs.
The project to date: The
Morse Force has made
considerable progress so far
The locations of the
boardwalk, bridges, and
trails have been specified. The numerous county
permits and sign-offs have
been purchased and granted.
The construction
system has been designed,
specifically adapted for this
site, especially to minimize
the environmental impact on
the land. A scale model was
fabricated to demonstrate its
unique interlocking modular design.
Detailed construction management plans
have been made, covering such aspects asbringing power to the site, transporting materials,
creating jigs, and locating staging areas along
the route.
Individual donors have funded the project
to this level and slightly beyond.
The overall price tag will be about $150,000a
relative bargain at todays construction costs.
Securing the first $50,000 will trigger the ordering
of materials and first-phase construction. All
available avenues for funding will be pursued
during the building period, but help is needed now
to kick start the work. We are currently $12,000
shy of placing the first materials order. CLC (253-
274-4955 or 206-292-5907) has set up an account
for donations or these can be directed through the
TAS office.
Further details concerning construction or
funding can be obtained from Tom Galdabini
Tom Galdabini
Chair, Morse Force
New wetland and forest access at Morse Wildlife Preserve
Thesephotosdepictthetypeofboardwalkconstructionthatisenvisioned.Belowisamapofwheretheboardwalkwillbe.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
10/12
voluNteerRecognition
Page 10 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009
A tribute to Tahoma Audubons front desk volunteers and leadershipTahoma Audubons
front desk volunteers
have served as a core
volunteer force within
the organization.
They are an effective
team, sharing anenormous workload
of about 93 hours a
month among the 17
of them. While
Audubon does not
have specific numbers
on volunteer retention,
observation shows
that our front desk volunteers have the highest retention
rate of all our volunteers, with at least nine of them
serving in their positions for over eight years each. In a
world where people change paid positions regularly, one
might wonder why and how Tahoma Audubon has had
such a high retention rate with these volunteers. One
reason in particular stands out: Sally Sloat.As a past president of Tahoma Audubon and
Administrative Chair since 1990, Sally has been deeply
committed to her team and Audubons mission. Although
her first work with Audubon was focused on direct
conservation efforts in the 1980s, her interest narrowed
as she specialized in Administrative Service. Sally
recognized Audubons need to present a refined, yet
simultaneously wise face to the world. She has met this
need by meticulously recruiting, training, and advising
her unique volunteer force. However, Sallys constructive
intentions and positive influence did not begin with
Audubon.
As a trained psychologist, Sally ran a full gambit in her
own working life, starting her first job in a mentalhospital and ending her psychology career years later,
working in a state prison. It is perhaps then that she was
prepared for the responsibility at Audubons front desk;
her first job offering her talents to deal with callers and
her last job ensuring her a certain understanding of how
to manage volunteers. In fact, Sally Sloat was one of the
first female psychologists to work in a Washington State
mens prison facility. Although her friends say that her
work there changed her lexicon, it did not alter her
determination to help others. Altogether, Sallys work
with Audubon and elsewhere has been a major success.
Since Audubon has lived at Adriana Hess Wetland
Park, Sally has made sure that Audubon has fulfilled its
lease agreement: to staff the office six days a week for
three hours each day. When someone cannot come in,Sally does (or finds someone). When a new volunteer is
interested in serving at the front desk, Sally trained them.
This has been going on for almost 20 years!
It is with all of this in mind, that Tahoma Audubon
regretfully accepts Sallys decision to step down as
Administrative Chair. We are comforted in knowing that
she will not wander far, promising to continue
volunteering at Audubon in a
more relaxed role. We are
hopeful that her continued
support will ensure some
needed continuity with the
operation of our front desk.
Altogether, Audubon istremendously grateful for
Sallys outstanding service
and for her continued
dedication to the process of
connecting people with nature.
As Sallys era of front desk leadership draws to a
close, Audubon is excited to announce that front desk
volunteer and former conservation coordinator Kris
Quinn has agreed to step forward and take responsibility
for training new front desk volunteers and retraining
veteran volunteers. Kriss decision to take on this
important task illustrates the familiar mind-set at
Audubon. As one volunteer steps down to rest, another
stands up to serve. Tahoma Audubon greatly appreciates
this attitude that is so deeply rooted in our membership.It is this willingness to serve that allows Audubon to
continue to offer the community such excellent
environmental advice, education and advocacy. From
the hearts of all of us at Audubon, we offer a special
thank you to Sally, Kris, and all the rest of our front desk
volunteers that make this organization such an
environmental beacon in the cloudy Pacific Northwest.
GreenTacomaDay
Over 381 people from all
over Tacoma came out to
celebrate the Green Tacoma
Partnership's 2nd annual
Green Tacoma Day and
National Public Lands Day
on Saturday, Sept. 26th.
At Titlow Park opening
remarks were made by Cityof Tacoma Mayor Bill
Baarsma, U.S. Representative Norm Dicks' District
Manager Clark Mather, and Metro Parks Board
Member Ryan Mello. Each spoke to the importance
of open spaces and the communitys work to restore
them.
Green Tacoma Day hosted a variety of activities
encouraging community members to explore, tour,
and help restore Tacoma's natural areas. Natural
areas that hosted events were Julias Gulch, Swan
Creek, First Creek, Puget
Creek, Blueberry Park,
Meadow Park Golf Course,
Oak Tree Park, University
of Puget Sound, Wapato
Hills, Point Defiance,
Wright Park, Tacoma
Community College, The
Tacoma Nature Center
and Titlow Beach Park.Individuals, families and
community groups participated in the event.
Over 130 freshmen from Tacomas new Science
and Math Institute helped remove English ivy from
Point Defiance Park. After the event site sponsor
volunteers were thanked and honored with a free
barbeque lunch at Titlow Beach Park. Thank you to
everyone who made Green Tacoma Day possible.
GreenTacomaPartnershipHabitatSteward
TrainingReflection
On Saturday October 10th nine dedicated
volunteers attended the Green Tacoma Partnerships
first ever Free Habitat Steward Training at Point
Defiance Lodge. These volunteerswill be stewards of local natural areas,
parks and private property. They will
work to restore areas to their natural
habitat by removing invasive species
and trash as well as replanting native
plants. The training focused on site
management, plant identification, a
powerpoint presentation about the
history of Tacoma and the Green
Tacoma Partnership and how to
organize a volunteer event. Upon completion of thetraining participants received a comprehensive field
guide with lots of tips & Best Management Practices
and will receive continued support from the Green
Tacoma Partnership in their restoration efforts.
HabitatStewardSpotlight
Our very own Cami Kesinger plans on being a
Habitat Steward for Titlow Beach Park. She and her
son are frequent visitors of Titlow and enjoy
exploring the beach and the forested areas. Through
leading volunteer work parties focused on invasive
species removal and other habitat restoration
projects Cami will be instrumental in preserving this
park for generations to come.
SallySloat
The Green Tacoma Partnership works to engage the Tacoma community in the restoration and maintenance of viable,
healthy natural spaces by connecting stewardship groups, providing resources and training, and organizing public outreach.
eNviroNMeNtMatters
These volunteers will be stewards of local natural areas.
Green Tacoma
8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
11/12
November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 11
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:TahomaAudubon2
917Morrison
Rd.
W.
UniversityPlace,
98466Taho
maAudubon
Society,establishedin1969,
isa501(c
)(3)nonprofit
organization.
Donationsaretaxdeductible.
Membership Fee:
___ Introductory (first year) $20
___ Joint National/Tahoma Audubon $50
___ Chapter member renewal $30
___ Other Contributions _____________
Member(s) Name: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
City______________________________ Zip__________________
Phone: home ___________________business _________________
e-mail: ________________________________________________
Member #: _______________________________ (office use only)
Membership
C9ZY020Z
aNNouNceMeNts
welcoMeto New and Returning Members
Chapter New and Renewing:
Mike & Carolyn Barry, Robert & Anne Caughey, An-
drew Clarke, Greg Cook, Joyce & Colin Ehli, Gerry &
Susan Elston, Grace T Eubanks, Cam & Dave Fore-
man, Phil Kennedy, Cami Kesinger, Margaret Kraft,
Dorothy Leyden, Marilyn T Mahoney, Scott Markow-
itz, Franky Marsh, Diana & Jim Noviello, D Pederson,
William & Berrit Price, Victoria Ray, David Rich-
ardson, Phil Schneider, Dennis & Melissa Sherwood,
Morry & Mary Stafford, Norita Stewart, Ruth Sullivan,
Dorothy & John Swanberg, Della Taylor, Steve & Julie
Thomas, Linda Van Nest, Warren & Mary Woodard,
Alex Zaffee.
Chapter Joint with National,
Recruited through Tahoma Audubon Society:
Lynn Andrews, Lois Currie, Jo Egan, Carol Gould-
Harris, Bob Hennings & Debby Hyde, Jean Jacobson,
Kathleen LeGreid, Janice Pittman, Kenneth Query, Ed
Sakai, Tom Sawyer, Carol Smith, Margaret Sullivan &
David Schutt, Audra Taylor, Dale Thompson.
Introductory,
Recruited through Tahoma Audubon Society:
Phil & Liann Arnold, Rob & Michelle Baird, Will Car-
huff, Eric & Lisa Ellis, Jennifer Federighi, Karen Kon-
rad, Verona Lunsford, Monty & Kelley Manseld, Da-
vid Miller, Candy Nigretto, Jennifer Pasquier, Nancy
Paxton, John W Ratko, Lynette Schimming, Lorraine
Simpers, James Tran, Cate Tschannen, Ingrid Wachtler,
Cheryl White, Candy Wies, Ken Zugner.
Introductory, Recruited through
National Audubon Society:
In September we received these new, trans-
fering-in, and returning members---Robert
Billington, Allan Warner, Karen Ander-
son, Bobbie Bayda, Thomas Biuur, Bon-
ney Boyd, Dana Boyer, Bob Brand, Mary
Cogger, Valerie Cordova, Eric Dahl, Mar-
jorie Dickson, Family Quigley, Johnny Foster, Janet
Frind, Mike Grant, Ann Green, James Hilderbrand,
Lita Hodges, Lila Howe, Judith Kinslow, Sharon Ko-
rtright, Charles Larsen, Patricia McGill, Masu Mue-
hike, Marti O'Connor, Ted Sanford, Mark Sinclair,
Patty Smallwood, Joleen Sorenson, Cathy Thompson,
Maridee Wildermuth, Cindy Williams, Rosemarie Wil-
liams, Helene Wingren, Gary
Witherspoon, Dave Zink, Lynn Boldenow, John &
Cynthia Dillon, Jean Elmer, Mary Lou Ferguson, Mary
Fox, Tokio Hayashi, Rowena Jackson, Kenneth E
Jones, Guisevin Kayihan, Lila F Keiler, Dianne Raw-
lins, Karen Ries, Deborah Rodriguez, Tammi Stewart,
Jeannie Walker, Bill Widener, William A Zindt.
In October we gained these new or returning members-
--Will Betz, Betty Dowie, Arden & Julie Johnson,
Charles Jones, Jr, Jungle Fever Exotics, Muriel Sch-
ramm, Erika & Daniel Sprague, Rebecca Stonestreet,
Jennifer Wasankari, Gayne & Ann Mar Williams,
James A Barnhart, Melvin Bill, Mary A Black, Alice
Certo, Constance Childs, James Clark, Sharon Collins,
Virginia Colyer, Roy Crouch, Carol Drysdale, Carol
Eckrom, Janis Elias, Janis Endsley, Eulalie Fisher,
Kenneth Graves, Wanda Gustafson, Diana Hamilton,
Dani Hart, Thomas Hayes, Kathy Higbee, Mary Hunt,
Cynthia Iies, Winogene Ivins, Jeff Jennings, Al Kehr,
Dena Kinzer, M G Messersmith, Moore, Caroline Mul-
lins, Dorothy Nelson, Margaret Oliver, Terry & Shelley
Petersen, Judie Price, Jose Rivera, Kris Ross, Blake E
Smith, Mary Voigt, Debra Watson, Al & Nancy Weaver,
Eddie West, Michael Bailey Long, Brynn Doyle, Ma-
mie Jackson, Jeff Lundbeck, Melba McGinnis, Colleen
Mishler, Agnes Nussie, J Opferman, Wesley Pollock, S
Pond, Georgia Pope, Jeanette M Smith, Muriel Taylor,
Germaine Wells, Mary P Bates, Ervin Boehl, Joan El-
dredge, Robert Haggard, Kate Packard, Ellen Vickrey.
All introductory members please take note:
When renewal time comes, you must renew through
TAS. We'll send you a renewal form a month before
your membership expires. You may get several re-
newal forms from NAS that you should ignore because
renewing through NAS will not give you our Towhee
newsletter.
Glad to have you with us. Hope to see you get involved!
Thelma Gilmur, Membership Chair
Thank Goodness Its Friday(TGIF) Restoration Fridays in November from 10:00
AM to 12:00 PM - Nov 13th, 20th, 27th, at Adriana
Hess Wetland Park. Come enjoy the outdoors and help
beautify the grounds at Adriana Hess Wetland Park!
Mark your calendars
for Saturday, Feburary 6th
, 2010!The 2010 membership banquet is right around the
corner! Last years 40th Anniversary celebration was a
huge success and we want to repeat the fun for this
years event as well. But to make it great, we need your
help on two important pieces of this party:
1)We need auction items! Please consider donating
something to this years silent auction. Most donations
are tax deductible and all proceeds go to support our
endowment. Donations large and small are appreciated.
Ideas from past auctions include art, books, tickets to
museums or sporting events, homemade goodies, guided
birding trips and other fun experiences. Please call the
TAS office for more ideas or to make a donation.
2) We need party planners! This is the biggest
single event of the TAS calendar year and it takes lots
of people to make it run smoothly. If you are interested
in helping out with the banquet in any way, please
contact Melissa at [email protected] or
(253)306-0037. Well need people to help with the
program, decorations, materials and day-of logistics.
With your help, we can put together a great event to
celebrate Tahoma Audubons fantastic members and
activities. We look forward to seeing you at the 2010
banquet!
Just a reminder for youto save the date for
this fun holiday tradi-tion.Join Audubon Chapters
across the country incounting birds on this 110thannual event. Stay tuned for more news inthe December/January issue on Areas tosign up for, who to call, etc..or if youcant wait, call or e-mail the CBC Compilernow! Faye McAdams Hands 253-942-9233,or [email protected].
And on December 27th, VashonAudubon will hold their CBC. ContactDiane Yorgason-Quinn, 253-857-3367,[email protected].
ChristmasBirdCountiscomingDecember19th.Savethedate!
September 16, 2009 to October 15, 2009
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]8/9/2019 11-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society
12/12
Foradditionalinformation:TahomaAudubon-253-565-9278;orwww.tahomaaudubon.orgOrTheTacomaNatureCenter:253-591-6439orwww.metroparkstacoma.org
CalendarNoveMber prograM
Fri, November 13, 7pm 9pm at Tacoma Nature Center,
1919 S. Tylor Street
Monthly membership meeting of Tahoma Audubon. All are
welcome. Celebrate our veterans this week! This month's
program will feature Mark Fischer from the WashingtonState Veterans Conservation Corps. Learn how this im-
portant WA State Department of Veterans Affairs program
helps protect and restore wilderness throughout our region,
while providing valuable volunteer opportunities for our vet-
erans. Learn how to get involved. Call (253) 565-927
Adriana Hess Park Photography Class.
Mon Nov 2 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Location: Adriana Hess
Park. Call Dixie Harris for details 564-6373.
Beginning Birding: Winter Birds.
Mon Nov 2 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM.
Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 18+. $45 Audubon Member, $55
non-Member. This class is designed for beginners to learn
basic skills needed to start discovering avian inhabitants of our
area. Local Field trips on Sat. Nov 7, 9:00 to noon and on Sat.
Nov 14, 9:00 to noon. Call 253-591-6439.
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually.
Weds Nov 4 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
Beginning Homeschool ScienceNov 5 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Nov 6 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Bird Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Mon Nov 9 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
Enjoy a guided bird walk through the park!
Beginning Birding: Winter Birds.
Mon Nov 9 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM. Tacoma Nature Center.
Conservation Committee.
Tues Nov 10 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
Location: Pacific Lutheran University, Reike 112, Parkland.
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually.
Weds Nov 11 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
Budding Scientists "Washington Wildlife."
Weds Nov 11 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Ages 5-7, $9.00 per
student. Register at least two days prior. 253-591-6439.
Budding Scientists "Washington Wildlife."
Weds Nov 11 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM. .
Intermediate Homeschool Science "Evergreen State"
Thu Nov 12, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with
questions or for more information at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com. Ages 10-12, $12 per student.
TAS Board Meeting.
Thu Nov 12, 2009 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Guests Welcome, please call
ahead at (253) 565-9278.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Nov 13 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Adriana Hess Wetland Park. Come enjoy the outdoors and
help beautify the grounds at Adriana Hess Wetland Park!
Membership Meeting at Tacoma Nature Center
Fri Nov 13 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
See box in upper left corner for details.
White-tailed Kites in the Fall
Sun Nov 15 7:30 AM to Late Afternoon
Leader: Roger Orness Bring: Scopes, binos, lunch, and
snacks. Be prepared for a long drive, and a long day returning
to Tacoma in the late afternoon. Meet: At the McDonald's
Restaurant at the Hwy 512 P&R at 7:30. Depart promptly.
Directions: Take I-5 to Hwy 512 south of Tacoma. Turn right
and take an immediate left on South Tacoma Way. Travel
south one block, and turn left into the P&R. Meet near
McDonalds. Sign-Up: Call or email Roger Orness, 253-922-
7516, [email protected]
Plant Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Mon Nov 16 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Beginning Birding: Winter Birds.
Mon Nov 16 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM. Tacoma Nature Center.
Snake Lake Science Club
Tues Nov 17 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 10-14, no charge for
club meetings, $10 per student to join the club. Call The
Nature Center to register 591-6439.
Intermediate Birder's Class
Tues Nov 17 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Continuation, see Nov 3.
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually.
Weds Nov 18 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
Homeschool Advanced Science "Pacific NW Ecology"
Thu Nov 19 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with
questions or for more information at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com. Ages 12-15, $15 per student.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Nov 20 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Adriana Hess Wetland Park. Come enjoy the outdoors and
help beautify the grounds at Adriana Hess Wetland Park!
Nature Storytime Raccoon and Friends.
Fri Nov 20 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Adriana Hess Center, Ages 2-6, $6 per child, $3 Audubon
member, free to adults and U.P residents. Space is limited to
the first 20 registered guests (adults and children). call 253-
591-6439 to register.
Homeschool Adv. Science LAB "Pacific NW Ecology"
Fri Nov 20, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with questions or formore information at 591-6439 or marjories@tacomaparks.
com. Ages 12-15, $15 per student.
Nature Alphabet P is for Pumpkin.
Fri Nov 20, 2009 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 3-6, $6 per child. Adult
participation is recommended, children under four require an
adult present. Register by the Saturday before the program.
Call 591-6439 to register.
Family Walk at Adriana Hess Park.
Sun Nov 22, 2009 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Call Dixie Harris for details 564-6373
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually.
Weds Nov 24 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Nov 27 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Adriana Hess Park.
Kent to East Lake Washington
(After Thanksgiving Walk-Off-The-Calories trip)
Sat Nov 28 8:30 AM to Mid Afternoon
Leader: Carol SchulzBring: Warm clothes, lunch (turkey
sandwiches?), hot drinks, snacks, and water. Scopes are
welcome.Meet: 8:30 AM at the Kent-Des Moines
P&R. (People who wish to leave early may bring their own
cars.)Directions: Take I-5 to exit 149. Go east on Kent-Des
Moines Rd. approx. one block. Turn left (north) 1/2 block on
Military Rd. The P&R is on the left. Sign-Up: Call or email
Carol Schulz, 206-824-7618, [email protected].
Weekly Bird Walks at Nisqually
Weds Dec 2 7:30 AM to 11:00 AMLocation: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Phil Kelley 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 Visitor's 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 Kelley to confirm details. Phil Kelley, Lacey, (360)
459-1499, [email protected]. Nisqually NWR has started
a 3-4 year estuary reconstruction project. For more information
about trail closures for the dike removal and reconstruction
project, go to ttp://www.fws.gov/nisqually/ and click on
Events and News.
Beginning Homeschool Science Planet Earth
Thu Dec 3 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 8-10, $12 per student.
ContactMargie with questions or for more information at 591-
6439 or [email protected].
Beginning science students should be able to add and subtract
numbers.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Dec 4 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Adriana Hess Park.
Nature Alphabet Q is for Queens
Fri Dec 4 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 3-6, $6 per child.
Register by the Sat. before the program. Call 591-6439.
Winter Birding in Roy
Sat Dec 5 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Roy, WA. We will be carpooling from University of
Puget Sound's Thompson parking lot off of Union & N. 14th
at 7:15am - we will depart at that time. If not carpooling, meet
at Roy City Park at 8:00am. Call 565-9278 to sign up or for
driving directions.
Adriana Hess Park Photography Class
Mon Dec 7 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Park. Call Dixie Harris 564-6373.
Christmas Irisfolding Card Class
Mon Dec 7 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Cost $12 per personto be paid at class. Call Adriana Hess Audubon Center @ 565-
9278 to reserve your spot. For more details, call Rosanne
Becker @ 564-7115.
Conservation Committee
Tues Dec 8 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Location: Pacific Lutheran University, Reike 112, Parkland.
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually
Weds Dec 9 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Leader: Phil
Kelley.
Budding Scientists World of Wonder
Weds Dec 9 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Ages 5-7, $9.00 per
student. Register at least two days prior. 253-591-6439.
Budding Scientists World Of WonderWeds Dec 9 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM
Intermediate Homeschool Science
Think Globally, Act Locally
Thu Dec 10 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with
questions or for more information at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com. Ages 10-12, $12 per student. Intermediate
Science Students should be able to multiply and divide
numbers, add and subtract fractions.
TAS Board Meeting
Thu Dec 10 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Guests Welcome,
please call ahead at (253) 565-9278.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Dec 11 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Membership Meeting
Fri Dec 11 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S. Tyler Street.
Monthly membership meeting of Tahoma Audubon. All
welcome. Call (253) 565-9278.
Bird Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park
Mon Dec 14, 2009 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
Snake Lake Science club
Tues Dec 15 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 10-14, no charge for
club meetings, $10 per student to join the club.Pre-registration
for each program is required as space is limited. Call The
Nature Center to register 591-6439.
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually
Weds Dec 16 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Leader: Phil
Kelley.
Homeschool Advanced Science The Ecosphere
Thu Dec 17 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with
questions or for more information at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com. Ages 12-15, $15 per student. To participate
in this class, students should be able to calculate averages,
percentages, and solve simple equations.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Dec 18 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Unless otherwise stated -
To register for eld trips can (253) 565-9129
To register for all education classes call (253) 591-6439
See further descriptions inside the Towhee
Check out our calendar at www.TahomaAudubon.org
for more information and updates
deceMber 2009
NoveMber 2009
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fws.gov/nisqually/http://www.fws.gov/nisqually/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.tahomaaudubon.org/http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fws.gov/nisqually/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]