Rainier Audubon Society April, 2012

Rainier Audubon Membership Program

April 16, 2012 7:00 P.M.

Federal Way United Methodist Church

Murrelet Madness Maria Ruth

T he Marbled Murrelet is a small, web-footed seabird that makes its

home in the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest. Though the

murrelet is relatively easy to spot on the water, this strange

species managed to keep its nesting site and breeding behavior

hidden from the naturalists, ornithologists, and birders for some 200 years.

How could it take so long to find a bird nest? This question caught the

imagination of the author who spent five years piecing together the story of the

last, great ornithological mystery in North America. In an illustrated talk, Maria

will unravel the mystery and share her adventures of learning first-hand how

scientists study this elusive and now endangered bird.

Maria grew up in and around Washington DC, graduated from college with a B.A. in English during the last days of onion-skin

paper and manual typewriters. From 1983-1990, she worked at the National Geographic Society's TRAVELER magazine as a

researcher and then as a regional editor for the Pacific Coast states. In 1990, she began working fulltime as a freelance writer of

non-fiction natural history books. She has written more than a dozen books for children and young-adult readers on subjects such

as butterflies, beetles, snakes, owls, and North American ecosystems. She moved from Virginia to California in 2001 to write Rare

Bird: Pursuing the Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet, a book

"Birders World" called "a fascinating and inspiring detective

story." In 2006, Maria moved with her family to Olympia,

Washington, where she is currently working on a book about

the natural history of clouds--which, she says, are much easier

to find than marbled murrelets, but infinitely more mysterious.

Join us at 6:30 for coffee and conversation.

RAS Mission Statement

To conserve and restore natural ecosystems and protect birds

and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and biological

diversity in South King County and the world we live in.

Rainier Audubon programs are held at

Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 - 51st Ave.

So. 98001 (in unincorporated Auburn)

Directions: In Federal Way, take 320th St. EAST past The

Commons, crossing over I-5 and Military Rd.

At 321st St, turn left. Stay on 321st as it becomes 51st Ave.

So. Follow 51st Ave. to 296th. Church will be on your left.

Paul Harris Jones © 1991

Paul Harris Jones © 2001

April 2012

Rainier Audubon Society Page 2

President’s Message by ???

RAINIER AUDUBON OFFICERS

President Open

Vice President Steve Feldman* 360-802-5211

Treasurer Jim Tooley* 253-854-3070

Secretary Heather Gibson* 253-856-9812

Program Chair Dale Meland* 253-946-1637

Field Trip Chair Carol Schulz 206-824-7618

Membership Chair Pat Toth* 206-767-4944

Backyard Habitat Chair Carol Stoner* 253-854-3207

Conservation Chair Dan Streiffert* 253-796-2203

Mailing Chair Debra Russel 425-271-0682

Hospitality Sandra Embry

Newsletter Editor Dan Streiffert 253-796-2203

Webmaster Treesa Hertzel 253-255-1808

Ivy Eradication Coordinator Bernedine Lund 253-839-3729

Education Chair Annette Tabor* 253-927-3208

Christmas Bird Count Coordinator Nancy Streiffert 253-796-2203

Board Member Max Prinsen* 425-432-9965

Board Member Erin Wojewodski-Prinsen* 425-432-9965

Board Member Alex Juchems* 253-529-8996

Publicity Tom Sernka 253-529-8970

*Also serves as Board Member.

Board meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the church conference room and are open to all members.

Volunteers Needed! Please contact a Board Member

Backyard Habitat Chair—Carol

Stoner is leaving us!

Field Trip Chair—Carol Schultz is

retiring from this position!

Door Greeters for Membership

Meetings

Articles for Heron Herald—send to

dan_streiffert#hotmail.com

Basic Birding Skills Workshop

Series

T his spring Rainier Audubon will offer a “Basic

Birding Skills Workshop Series” with Adele

Freeland, Cheryl White and Barbara Petersen. If

you are new to birding or just wish to sharpen

your skills, please join us.

We will meet indoors on two Thursday evenings, March 29 and

April 25, 6:30 to 9:00, to view slides and discuss basic aspects of

birding and identification skills. The location for both meetings

will be the Federal Way Regional Library (34200 1st Way

South Federal Way, WA 98003 ). These indoor workshops will

touch on basics of birding in the field, identification of bird

species common to our state, basics of birding in the field, use

of binoculars, bird songs, and backyard bird habitats. Thanks in

advance to Dan Streiffert for the use of his excellent photos!

We’ll meet for the Saturday field trips at 8:30 on March 31, April

7 and April 28, rain or shine, in order to put our new skills into

practice.

These trips will

last four to six

hours

depending on

that day’s

destination.

We’re asking

for a $10

donation per

person to help

with the cost

of printed

materials to be

shared with

workshop

participants.

For more information or to reserve a spot in the class, contact Adele at free2nap@comcast.net or Cheryl at CMWonthewing@comcast.net or phone Barbara at (253)941-4055. Space is limited so sign up early.

April 2012

Web: www.RainierAudubon.org Page 3 email: info@RainierAudubon.org

Seen and Heard by Calen Randall

Bio: Calen is a 13 year old birder. He enjoys birding around Lake Fenwick and Boeing Ponds—especially with Charlie Wright. Calen

is thrilled to revive Charlie’s ‘Seen and Heard’. When not birding, Calen can be seen flying up and down the ice at Kent Valley Ice

Center.

N esting season has arrived! It`s the

perfect time to observe nesting

behavior because the leaves have

not shot out yet, and you can

easily see the birds in their nests. In early

March, I played hockey in Simi Valley,

California, and of course, I went birding. One

of the first things that caught my ear was the

percussion of crows snapping off Oak tree

branches for their nests. Throughout the trip,

the sound of snapping branches seemed to

follow me. In Ventura, California, I went to a

water treatment plant and saw two pairs of

Black-Crowned Night Herons nesting! That was

a first time sighting for

me.

The highlight of the

birding trip was Malibu

Lagoon, also known as

Surfrider Beach. Most

people go to Malibu to

search for Hollywood

stars, but I went there

to search for birds.

Malibu Lagoon is an

estuary where Malibu

Creek meets the Pacific

Ocean. It is a year-round

home for many birds,

other wildlife, and rare

plants. As well, it`s a

migratory resting

ground along the Pacific Flyway for numerous

birds and the Monarch Butterfly.

At the moment, Malibu Lagoon is an area of

great controversy. Malibu Lagoon is plagued

by poor water quality and low oxygen levels.

Much of this is caused by pollution that flows

from Malibu Creek, sediment buildup, and

nonnative plants that are choking the lagoon.

Supporters of the Malibu Lagoon Project want

to drain and bulldoze the 12 acres to reshape

the lagoon and improve water circulation.

Opponents to the Malibu Lagoon Project

object to the use of bulldozers saying that it is

too drastic and will kill wildlife in the lagoon.

Two of the endangered species of particular

concern are the Snowy Plover and the rare

plant Malibu baccharis, which is a flowering

plant in the aster family endemic to Los

Angeles County. What is the best solution—to

leave the lagoon as is and risk die off from

pollution, or to excavate and replenish the

land and hope those at risk survive the

changes? There is no easy answer.

On my hike around the lagoon, I saw about

fifty Brown Pelicans congregated on a sandy

island in the center of the lagoon, flashing

their bright red breeding pouches for all to

see. Snowy and Great Egrets lurked along the

sides of the lagoon, searching for food. Farther

along the Lagoon, I stumbled upon a Snowy

Plover nestled in the sand. It

was like a trick of the eye, a

trompe l`oeil; the longer I

stared at the blanket of

sand, the more plovers

popped up. Instantly, I

understood how easily their

homes could be destroyed

because they are so hard to

see.

Along the West Coast,

Snowy Plovers have become

endangered. Much of their

habitat has been lost.

Currently, there are four

recovery units in

Washington State, set up to

preserve the land where

they live: Damon Point/Oyhut Wildlife Area,

Midway Beach, Copalis Spit, and Leadbetter

Point/Gunpowder Sands.

This trip has strengthened my understanding

about how unique, but how similar each area

is: unique in habitat and inhabitants, but

similar in controversies stemming from human

influence. In our backyard, we have our own

precious places and challenges: Lake Fenwick

and its poor water quality; the heron rookery

near Kent golf course (that is home to about

20 herons and their nests) and its

sustainability; and Boeing Pond and its

surrounding marshland areas and the

encroachment of housing developments. I am

sure we all wish that these wildlife areas could

remain pristine and untouched. However, that

is Utopian thinking.

Like the Malibu

Lagoon controversy,

both sides believe

their solution is for

betterment. Usually, the result is a

compromise. What I grapple with most is that

the ones who are affected the most—the birds

and the wildlife—have no voice.

Recent Sightings The reporters for this month are Etta Cosey

(EC), Barbra Peterson (BP), Dan Streiffert (DS),

Lisa Mesplay (LM), Bob Bartlett (BB), and Linda

Bartlett (LB). I had an amazing flurry of reports,

with seven of them in a day and a half!

Common Birds Seen & Heard this month

Golden Crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned

Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Purple

Finches, House Finches P, Fox Sparrows, Gold-

crowned Sparrows, Pine Siskins P, Dark-eyed

Juncos P, Black-Capped Chickadees, Chestnut-

Backed Chickadees, Red-Winged Blackbirds,

Spotted Towhees, American Robins, Varied

Thrush, Red Breasted Sapsuckers, Northern

Flickers (red shafted), Ring-Necked Duck,

American Wigeon, Mallards, Green-Winged

Teal, Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swans, Pied-

Billed Grebe, American Coots, Bald Eagle,

Anna`s Hummingbird

P indicates mating pair

Special Sightings Here is a list of this month`s special sightings:

Ring-Necked Pheasant (LB in Kent

3/14/12)

Mourning Dove (LB in Kent 3/14/12)

Evening Grosbeaks (LB in Kent 3/14/12)

Red Crossbill (BP in Kent 3/15/12)

Townsend`s Warbler (BP in Kent 3/15/12)

Pileated Woodpeckers, mating pair (BP in

KENT 3/15/12)

Female Slate-Coloured Junco (BP in Kent

3/15/12)

Saw-Whet Owl (BB Owl Prowl in Kent,

late Feb)

(Continued on page 9)

April 2012

Rainier Audubon Society Page 4

Field Trips by Carol Schulz

Weekly Birdwalks at Nisqually

Wednesdays 8:00 am to Noon

Leader: Phil Kelley

Join Phil Kelley on his weekly bird walks

as he counts the birds at Nisqually NWR.

The group walks over to an area near the

visitor's center to view the entry road

estuary, and then takes the boardwalk/

trail loop out to the Twin Barns, and the

Nisqually overlook area. From there, the

group walks the dike, and back to the

Riparian Forest. Some may choose to

continue on the new boardwalk

extension which goes out toward the

mouth of McAlister Creek. It has benches

and covered viewing areas. The walk

totals 2.0 miles roundtrip to the

boardwalk extension. The extension

adds an additional 2.0 miles total, so the

whole walk including the boardwalk

extension is now 4.0 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 Visitor's Center Pond

Overlook.

Directions: Take I-5 south from Tacoma

and exit to Nisqually NWR at exit 114.

Take a right at the light.

Sign-up is not necessary. Call or email

Phil Kelley if you have questions. Phil

Kelley, Lacey, (360) 459-1499,

scrubjay323@aol.com.

Snoqualmie Valley in the Spring

Saturday, April 28

7:30 to mid-afternoon

Leader: Amy Schillinger-Powell

Amy has been continuing to explore

Snoqualmie Valley! We will visit areas

north of Fall City in and near the

Snoqualmie Valley. Areas could in-

clude fields and woods near the Carna-

tion area, Stillwater Wildlife Area (a

great birding spot), and areas north of

Stillwater. We will seek spring mi-

grants, woodpeckers, hawks, warblers,

and listen to wonderful bird song.

Bring: Lunch, snacks, and drinks. Dress

for the weather, as we hope to walk

up to a mile or two to see the birds.

Bring a scope if you have

one.

Meet: At Issaquah Burger King on high-

way 900 (near the park and ride). Take

I-90 to exit 15. Turn right and travel 1

block. Turn right on Gilman Rd to enter

Burger King parking lot. We'd like to

limit the number of cars if possible, so

be prepared to carpool.

Sign Up: Contact Amy Schillinger-

Powell,

schillingera@hotmail.com,

425-243-2269

2012 Grays Harbor Shorebird

Festival

May 4 - 6

Many field trips long and short are

offered at this festival in Hoquiam. More

details at 360-289-5048 or

www.shorebirdfestival.com. Sign up

early for some of the most popular field

trips.

Website includes best shorebird viewing

times which start April 21. [Viewing is

best from 2 hours before to 2 hours

after high tide.]

Tukwila Backyard Wildlife Festi-

val and Bird Walk in the Park

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Bird walk 9:30am

Festival open 9am - 3pm

A bird walk in the park and along the

river will be offered on Migratory Bird

Day. Programs and activities will be pre-

sented by several groups at this festival.

RAS, Seattle Audubon, retail stores, and

nature groups will be there. This is a fun,

local festival! Birdwalk starts near Audu-

bon Booth at 9:30.

More info and directions at http://

backyardwildlifefair.org

Upcoming Events May 21—Gary Luhm—”Adventures in Bird Photography”. Rescheduled

due cancellation of Jan.. 2012 meeting.

April 12—15 - John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival, Burns, Oregon,

http://www.migratorybirdfestival.com/

Board Elections—May Meeting. See Ballot Insert in this

newsletter.

April 2012

Web: www.RainierAudubon.org Page 5 email: info@RainierAudubon.org

BIRD OF THE MONTH: NORTHERN FLICKER

Reprint Courtesy of Wild Birds Unlimited, Burien

The Northern Flicker is a large woodpeck-er with beautiful black-scalloped plum-age. It has a black V-mark on its breast and the male has a red "mustache".

The Northern Flicker is often found on the ground foraging for ants and beetles. In fact, it spends about seventy-five per cent of its time doing this. Flickers will disturb ant hills to eat the ants or insert their long, barbed sticky tongues into ant burrows.

When the red-shafted Northern Flicker flies, which is the bird we have here in the west, you'll see a flash of brilliant red-orange color under the wings and tail and bright white on the rump. When the east-ern bird, the yellow-shafted Northern Flicker flies, it displays a beautiful sun-shine yellow under its wings and tail.

The Northern Flicker is one of the few

North American woodpeckers that is strongly migratory. Flickers in the north-ern part of the range move south for the winter while a few often stay far north.

Flickers gener-ally nest in holes in trees and some-times will use the previous year's nesting cavity. Occa-sionally, they can be found in old, earth-en burrows formerly used by Belted King-fishers or Bank Swallows. They will use a nesting box fixed to a pole among shrubs.

The Northern Flicker nests from March until June usually having one

brood. The female will lay five to ten white eggs and both parents will help with incubation, the male sitting on the eggs during the night. The eggs will hatch in eleven to twelve days and the chicks will fledge in twenty-three days.

There are over a hundred common names for the Northern Flicker including yellow-hammer, clape, gaffer woodpecker, har-rywicket, heigh-ho, wake-up, walk-up, wick-up, yarrup and gawker bird.

The oldest red-shafted Northern Flicker lived to be eight years, nine months old.

The Northern Flicker will drum on objects as a form of communication and territory defense. It tries to make the loudest noise possible and that's why it will drum on metal. One flicker in Wyoming was drum-ming on a tractor and could be heard a half mile away!

At times this drumming behavior can be prob-lematic. If a Northern Flicker is drumming on your house or property, listed below are sever-al things you can do to try and deter it.

- hang foil strips or reflective tape long enough to hang freely and blow in the breeze

- hang CD's on fishing line same as above

- hang up windsocks

- put up scare-eye balloons

- put up terror-eye balloons from Bird-X Co. These bounce from a spring and the holographic eyes appear to follow the bird

- put up attack spiders. These are battery operated motion detecting spiders that drop down when a bird comes near

- use a sound deterrent. The Bird-XPellent Pro produces a woodpecker distress call followed by the call of a predator such as a hawk

- mount a movement detector that makes noise

-attach nylon or plastic netting from the eave to the siding leaving at least three inches between the net and siding

- put up aluminum flashing to cover where the drumming is occurring or to protect the siding

- put up a nesting box where the drumming is occurring

- put up a suet feeder which may distract the bird We hope some of this information is

helpful to you!

April 2012

Rainier Audubon Society Page 6

T wenty-nine. That’s the number

of snags that were originally

installed during construction of

the Green River Natural Re-

sources Area (GRNRA), or Kent Ponds.

Snags provide vertical habitat that is cru-

cial to a healthy environment and im-

portant to raptors. During the last 15

years, all but a handful of these snags

have succumbed to rot and windstorms

and the existing forests need many more

years before natural snags are present

again. Faced with few other options, sev-

eral of us with Rainier Audubon have

partnered with the City of Kent to create

temporary artificial snags until natural

snags are created.

In 1996, the GRNRA was constructed. It

consists of 304 acres and its purpose is to

treat storm water runoff as well as to

provide a natural area for wildlife. The

multi-use site consists of primarily wet

meadow as well as upland forest, open

water, and riparian habitat. There are

three viewing towers (named the North,

Middle, and South) on the meadows side

that allow for wildlife and bird watching.

Rainier Audubon as well as many other

local birders, including myself, participate

in a monthly bird census. The data col-

lected on the bird counts helps the site

maintain its regulatory requirements and

funding. The census takes place on the

third Sunday of every month with one

team on the

‘meadows’ side and

the other on the

‘ponds’ side. A couple

of years ago, the idea

of creating artificial

snags was proposed

using a concrete an-

chor and metal piping

for the base and a

portion of a real tree

inserted at the top.

Our hope was that

raptors and other

birds would be able to

use these ‘snags’ until

nature created its own

natural ones.

Last year I began volunteering as a Kent

Green Steward and several times a year it

is my responsibility as a steward to or-

ganize work parties to clear invasive spe-

cies and plant native plants. Early last fall,

I was fortunate to have the opportunity

to apply for and receive a small grant

from the Cascade Land Conservancy (now

called Forterra). It was decided that this

was our chance to put our artificial snag

prototype plan into action. With co-

operation from Matt Knox, the Environ-

mental Ecologist with the City of Kent,

and several volunteers, two artificial

snags were put in place near the Middle

Tower. The materials were purchased

with the grant money and a contribution

from the City of Kent and installation was

organized through a work party in late

fall.

I recently applied for an additional grant

with King County and if it is approved, we

have plans for six additional artificial

snags, with two on the Lagoon island,

two near the North Tower, and two in the

Constructed Wetlands.

More than 165 species of birds have been

seen at the Green River Natural Re-

sources Area along with many mammal

and reptile species. The site truly is an

island surrounded by industry and it is

vital that it be nurtured and maintained.

Much of it is closed to the public except

for the viewing areas accessed from the

towers in the meadow, but our census

team, as well as myself, have been given

keys to the gates to gain access to the off

-limits areas for work parties and bird

counts. If you would like to participate in

the monthly bird census or help with my

Kent Stewardship work parties, please

email me and I will let you know of any

upcoming events. I can be reached at

schillingera@hotmail.com

—Amy Schillinger

Snag—Photos by Matt Knox and Roger Orness

New Snags for Kent Ponds

April 2012

Web: www.RainierAudubon.org Page 7 email: info@RainierAudubon.org

Mewsings from Millie

Hello and welcome back to my meandering musings!

An "endangered species" is a native species that faces significant risk of extinction in the near future through out all or a significant portion of its range. Having learned this definition, I got musing about what birds are possibly endangered or close to being endangered and why.

The National Audubon Society has issued a list of the top ten North American birds whose populations are in decline and what is threatening them. I would like to share this with you.

1. Northern Bobwhite. Were 31 million, now 5.5 million. The Northern Bobwhite is threatened by loss of habitat due to large-scale agriculture, pine plantation forestry development. Also, predators including fire ants, attack nests prompting people to spray pesticides.

2. Evening Grosbeak. Were 17 million, now 3.8 million. Evening Grosbeaks are threatened by logging, mining, drilling, global warming, acid rain and development for transportation and

housing.

3. Northern Pintail. Were 16 million, now 3.6 million. The spread and intensification of agriculture threatens these ducks. Northern Pintails nest earlier than most ducks and suffer high nest losses when fields are cultivated in the spring.

4. Greater Scaup. Were 2 million, now 506,000. Greater Scaup are threatened by global warming affecting their tundra breeding grounds, by zebra mussels in the Great Lake, and oil spills and other water quality issues on the coasts.

5. Boreal Chickadee. Were 19.5 million, now 5.2 million. Global warming, logging, drilling and mining are all threats to this delightful bird.

6. Eastern Meadowlark. Were 24 million, now 7 million. Changes in farming, primarily converting its habitat to cornfields because of the demand for ethanol and other biofuels.

7. Common Tern. Managed colonies have improved to 300,000 individual birds. Unmanaged colonies have declined from 100,000 to 30,000 birds. Human development, pollution, and sea levels rising due to global warming threaten the Common Tern. In South America, the terns are illegally hunted during non-breeding season.

8. Loggerhead Shrike. Were 10 million, now 3 million. Farmlands being abandoned and reverting to forest or converted to suburbs and human development or farmland being used intensely lessening habitat for grassland loving birds.

9, Field Sparrow. Were 18 million, now 5.8

million. Field Sparrows are threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture, forestry and building.

10. Grasshopper Sparrow. Were 31 million, now 11 million. This little sparrow is threatened by the conversion of grasslands to cropland in the Great Plains, woody vegetation is penetrating grasslands in the East and hayfields and other managed grasslands are often mowed down during breeding season.

So what can you do to help these feathered friends?

- preserve farmlands

- save grasslands

- conserve wetlands

- halt global warming

- support sustainable forests

- stop invasive species

- patrol beaches

- monitor feeders

- get out and count (the Christmas Bird Count and Great Backyard Bird Count)

- support your local Audubon chapter and center

And now a little humor to lighten things up: What birds spend all their time on their knees?

Birds of prey!

Until next time,

Millie

The Muse of Mews

Sign up for our new Google

Group!

We have recently created a new group

to serve as an email list server for Raini-

er Audubon. The intent of this site is to

assist in publicizing our activities mem-

bers and the general public relating to

our club activities. Anyone may join or

leave the group at any time. You may

sign up on our website or at:

http://groups.google.com/group/ras-

activites?hl=en

Birding Trail’s Puget Loop For Sale $4.95 Delight your favorite birders with the newest – the seventh and final –

map of the Great Washington State Birding Trail: the Puget Loop. Hot off

the press, this signature route features 220 of our 346 annually recorded

bird species around Puget Sound from Seattle to Mt. Rainier, plus Lake

Washington, Kitsap Peninsula; and Vashon, Bainbridge, Whidbey and San

Juan islands. .

On Sale at our January Membership Meeting and at Wild Birds

Unlimited (Burien Store http://www.southseattle.wbu.com/ ).

All proceeds go to Rainier Audubon.

April 2012

Rainier Audubon Society Page 8

The Month of May is

BIRDATHONBIRDATHON

W hat is it? It’s

“birding for

dollars!”

Count as

many bird species in one day

as you can! Choose any day

in May. Get friends to

sponsor you, then go

birding! Afterwards, send

them a list of what birds you

saw, and they will donate X

amount for each species you

saw (i.e. 25 cents). Or they

can just donate a flat fee.

100% of the proceeds

support Rainier Audubon

activities in south King

County.

If you prefer, you can conduct your Birdathon birding on one of our

field trips. Earn money for chapter activities while enjoying a great field

trip led by an expert birder. Or be lazy — stay at home and bird at your

feeder. Or be creative and come up with your own Birdathon

experience! (see Backyard Birding at the Streifferts on page 9.)

Sponsors are happy to support your efforts, and many look forward to

being asked again the following year. They especially enjoy your list of

bird species seen. We will provide helpful hints, examples of solicitation

and report letters, prizes for birders, thank-you gifts for sponsors, and

one-on-one help as needed.

Why do it? We need the money! The portion of your membership dues

that our Rainier chapter receives does not even pay the total cost of

preparing and sending out your newsletter. Birdathon is our largest

fundraiser, and we depend on it to provide a stable funding base for our

many activities. Funds raised go for services and activities such as: our

wonderful newsletter, postage and PO box, printing materials,

envelopes, programs (speaker fees), environmental education activities,

conservation committee activities, etc., We wouldn’t want to have to

cut back on any of our activities!

Our goal for Birdathon 2012 is $5,000, which is attainable but only if

everyone helps!

Stay tuned for prize announcements! First time birder, Most species

seen, Most money raised.

Sponsor sheets available at our Membership Meetings.

Contact: Ross Tabor,

Rainier Audubon Birdathon Chair

Phone: (253) 927-3208

Email: rarailfan@aol.com

Thank you!

Bird-a-Thon Sponsor Form Duplicate as needed

I am happy to support the 2012 Rainier Audubon Bird-a-Thon!

I am happy to pledge $____________ per species

I prefer to make a flat donation of $_____________

I would like ____ tickets to Birding at the Streiffert’s at $15 / individual or $20 / family for a total of $__________

My Check is enclosed, payable to Rainier Audubon Society (Donations are Tax Deductible!!!)

Name______________________________________

Address____________________________________

City_______________State_______Zip___________

Are you a member of National Audubon? Yes___ No___

Mail Pledge to:

Ross Tabor

1004 S 323rd St.

Federal Way, WA 98003-5929

253-927-3208

April 2012

Web: www.RainierAudubon.org Page 9 email: info@RainierAudubon.org

California Seen and Heard I wasn`t the only one who was in California this

month—so was Etta Cosey. Here is what we

saw:

Black Skimmers (EC) San Pedro late

Feb/12

American Vultures (CR) Long Beach

3/7/12

Brown Pelicans (CR) Santa Monica,

Ventura, Malibu 3/7/12

Ferringous Hawks (CR) Santa Monica,

Malibu 3/7/12

Green-Winged Teal (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

American Coots (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Allen`s Hummingbird (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Black Phoebe (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Snowy Plover (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Great Egret (CR) Simi Valley, Malibu

3/9/12

Killdeer (CR) Malibu. Ventura 3/8/12

Western Gull (CR) Long Beach, Malibu,

Simi Valley, Ventura 3/8/12

Black-Crowned Night Heron (CR) Ventura

3/11/12

Double Crested Cormorants (CR) Malibu

3/11/12

American Avocet (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Snowy Egrets (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Great Blue Heron (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Whimbrel (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Mourning Doves (CR) Simi Valley 3/11/12

Elegant Tern (CR) Malibu 3/8/12

Mystery Bird of the Month Congratulations to Dan Streiffert! After several

months of placing runner up, Dan has finally

won Bird of the Month. Dan saw this bird in

the Kent area. This month`s runner up is Linda

Bartlett for the Ring-Necked Pheasant she

spotted in her backyard. I wonder if her

surprise was Mother Nature`s early April Fool’s

trick. Here is Dan’s mystery bird:

Who am I?

I`m yet another one of America`s birds.

A group of me is known as a “Grove” of

sparrows.

Ironically, I nest on the ground, unlike my

name says.

I am in the Genus Spizella.

I don`t just sing during mating season.

I`m not Chipping.

My mark of distinction is the spot on my

chest.

Send your sightings/hearings to

calenbirds@hotmail.com I love reading your

reports!

Seen and Heard (Continued from page 3)

Answer: American Tree Sparrow Backyard Birding at the

Streiffert’s

Saturday May 5, 2012

7:00 AM—Noon

H ere is an easy way for

you to participate in

Rainier Audubon’s May

Birdathon. The

Streiffert’s invite you to spend the

morning setting a record species

count for their backyard. Habitats

include Nancy’s herb garden, a rap-

idly expanding native garden, vege-

table garden, chicken yard, in-

progress marsh garden, small or-

chard, and a hiking trail through our woods. The

neighbor’s cow pasture offers further possibilities.

There are good chances for viewing Hairy and Pileat-

ed Woodpeckers which frequent our suet feeders.

Cost is $15 per person and includes a light brunch.

Come for an hour or spend the whole morning.

All proceeds go to the RAS Birdathon.

Please RSVP and/or fill out a sponsor form so we

know how many to plan for.

Dan & Nancy Streiffert

253-796-2203

A sample from Streiffert’s backyard

Rainier Audubon Membership Subscription or Renewal Form

One-year Membership in Rainier Audubon

$20—Individual Membership

$25—Family Membership

To join or renew, mail this application with your payment to: Rainier Audubon Society - Membership

PO Box 778 Auburn, WA 98071

Or go to http://www.rainieraudubon.org/ to enroll online.

Name:_______________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________

City ______________________________________ State ______________ Zip _____________

Email ________________________________________________________________________

RAS Chapter membership includes 9 issues of the Heron Herald annually but does not include AUDUBON

magazine.

"Don't lеt whаt уоu can't dо stop уоu frоm whаt уоu саn do." (John Wooden)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS

Vote to be held at our May 21, 2012 Membership Meeting

Or VOTE BY MAIL_IN BALLOT BELOW

In accordance with our bylaws, Rainier Audubon hereby announces the upcoming Board of Directors election

to be held at our Monday, May 16, 2012 Membership Meeting at 7:00 PM at the Federal Way United Meth-

odist Church, 29645—51st Ave. So., in unincorporated Auburn, WA.

If you cannot make it to our May program to vote in person, please take the time to do so now.

Mail in Ballot You may vote for as many individuals as you wish. There are three open positions.

Check the box beside the name of the individual(s) you wish to vote for.

Lisa Mesplay – Lisa is a life-long resident of the West Hill. She is currently the executive assistant

to the managing director of a local venture capital firm. Lisa has 30 years of administrative experi-

ence in corporate America and brings a fresh perspective to the challenges and opportunities that

Rainier Audubon faces. She is new enough to the world of birding to still get excited about chicka-

dees.

Ed Stanton—Ed Stanton has been a Rainier Audubon Society member for over a dozen years, since

moving from Whidbey Island (where he was a member of Whidbey Audubon). For a couple of years

he wrote personality profiles of RAS members for the Heron Herald. He has also been a member of

the Anchorage Audubon Society during the five years he lived there. His birding experience began in

high school when Bird Study was his first Boy Scout merit badge. Ed is a retired United Methodist

pastor and now lives with his wife, Blythe, at Wesley Homes in Des Moines.

Terry Thurber—Terry has been a member of RAS since 2006, when she moved to Kent from Nor-

mandy Park. She is a life-long birder and has helped out at the Tukwila Wildlife Fair, the Christmas

Bird Count, and last year did the Birdathon. She also participates in the GRNRA monthly bird census

when possible. She is a full time Physical Therapist with Outpatient Physical Therapy in Kent. She

enjoys jogging, biking, hiking, snowshoe, and cross country skiing.

Write-in ________________________________________________________

Voter Signature ______________________________________________

Rainier Audubon

PO Box 778

Auburn, WA 98071

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