May-June Admiralty
Programs
May 22nd: FOURTH Thursday at 7 pm, Pt. Townsend Community Center
**Note date change
for May**
ÒIn summer the Arctic tundra is a thin blanket of life atop 300 meters of permafrost. In winter this thin blanket freezes solid, as do all the plants and cold blooded animals that live here. Birds and mammals that stay the winter must extract their living from this deep freeze. One would think that life here is desperate. The opposite is true. Tundra plants though small in stature are rich in nutrition. Birds migrate from as far away as Asia and South America to feast on summerÕs bounty. Where the Dempster Highway crosses from Yukon Territory into the Northwest Territories,water runs westward across Alaska, via the Porcupine and Yukon rivers. During the last great glaciation this drainage was largely ice free. It was populated by mammoths, ground sloths, lions, and other great beasts; the mega-fauna of Beringia. To the east and south, half of North America was covered by miles of ice. The Mackenzie Valley, in front of us, was the route down which some of this ice ground its way north to the Arctic Ocean. The GwitchÕin People who are the landlords of this natural and political divide have posted a sign that reads: ÔThe Northwest Territories is a land of ancient trails woven through a landscape of incredible natural beauty and diverse geography. We are a place rich in culture with strong links to the natural rhythms of the land. We thank our ancestors who traveled before us on these trails; whose gentle footprints remain to guide us safely on our journey. We honor those who show humility and walk softly on our land. We welcome you to explore the beauty of our Territory.Õ Ó
June Potluck--June 19th, 5
pm
Besides our wonderful field trips, we like to take one meeting a year outdoors and June is it for our annual POTLUCK SOCIAL. This year we're going a little farther afield, which will make it closer for some of you. We'll be enjoying the views, the birds and the greenery at Lion's Park on Indian Island. It's the first right turn after you cross the bridge to the island.
Come as early as you can -- we're suggesting 5 pm for short walks and socializing. Then we will eat about 6 with Admiralty providing both hot drinks and juice. Afterwards we'll continue to enjoy the ambience of the place. We are counting on sun and very little wind!
And donÕt forget
the REFRESHMENTS:
Do you like having a snack?
Want to do your part in making it possible? Are YOU up for May or Sept, or other months? Call Jo at 385-0456 to volunteer. Thanks.
May- June Admiralty Field
Trips
Ken Wilson, Field Trip Chair kenw@cablespeed.com
Thursday
May 15 7-9 AM - CappyÕs Trails.
This is an area of reich and diverse forest, only 15 minutes from Port Townsend, with many singing birds and great walking in a serene environment. Meet 7 AM at the south end of Bell Street where it dead-ends (Bell St is off Cook Avenue, just before it ends at 53rd St, west of North Beach).
Sunday
June 1 7-10 AM - Anderson
Lake State Park Plan on
walking around Anderson Lake, observing the diversity of plants and birds. Meet
at 7 AM at the Anderson Lake parking lot. Those interested in carpooling from
the Safeway park & ride, email Ken Wilson and I will put those individuals
in contact with each other. Ending time is variable, depending on weather and
birds.
PresidentÕs
Corner
Rosemary Sikes, President
Volunteers have been busy at the
Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park with work parties twice a week for 6 weeks beginning
March 12. Saturday April 19 volunteers from Jefferson Weed Board,
Admiralty Audubon, and Kah Tai 2012 coalition finished pulling Scotch
broom at the Kah Tai Park. This was a two year effort with over 500 volunteer
hours. A team of volunteers also picked up trash. There must have been 20 huge
bags of trash picked up Saturday. The parks crew hauled the trash away on
Sunday April 20.
Without the Scotch broom the red flowering currents are much more noticeable and the hummingbird love them too. It was so encouraging to see all the native plants coming up among the Scotch broom; Oregon grape, snow berry, Douglas firs, red flowering current. The park looks great. If you have not been through the park in a while take a walk. It is truly one of Port Townsend's treasures.
A coalition has been formed to
preserve and protect Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park: Kah Tai 2012.
Admiralty Audubon has joined with other organizations and individuals. The coalitionÕs mission statement is "...to protect and preserve the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park as wildlife
habitat for present and future generations." Kah Tai 2012 has a website www.kah-tai.blogspot.com. Check it out. Rosemary
Sikes, President, Admiralty Audubon
Ph: 360 385 0307 E-mail: rosemarysikes@olympus.net
Climate Change at ACOW
Rosemary and Ron Sikes
Two members, Rosemary and Ron Sikes, participated in the Spring Audubon Conference of Washington held near Leavenworth, WA at the Sleeping Lady Conference Center. The theme was Climate Change: Over 80 percent of Americans believe climate change is human caused and are looking for solutions.
The U.S. and Europe have put the majority of Carbon emissions into the atmosphere during our industrial revolution. Now our emissions are being exceeding by China and India. The U.S. and Europe need to lead the way to slow global climate change by reducing our emissions by 80 percent in the next 40 years. In addition we need to share the technology with the rest of the developing world. While making these changes will be difficult, the alternative is really bad. Conservation is currently the cheapest and most effective way to reduce our carbon emissions. As individuals or families we can reduce our carbon output by burning less fossil fuels particularly in our transpor- tation. Next of importance is conservation of the use of electricity and water. Electricity produced from coal (mostly carbon) releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Even reservoirs for hydro electric power and irrigation emit methane, another green house gas. Once the people and politicians in the U.S. are committed to correcting this problem dramatic change will occur. States such as California, Oregon, and Washington have already acted to reduce carbon emissions. Some positive effects predicted are the creation of new job opportunities, Washington state is expected to have 186,000 new "green" jobs from initiatives currently underway. Lower carbon emissions will mean cleaner air. Increased forest protection and replanting will protect and improve water quality and wildlife habitat. For more information visit climatesolutions.org.
Elections at May 22nd Meeting:
Nominees (all unopposed at present):
President: Rosemary Sikes
Vice President: Dan Waggoner
Treasurer: Curt Danielson
Secretary: Ron Sikes
You Are Invited to the WENAS Campout over Memorial Day May 23-26
For over three decades Audubon families have been camping over Memorial Day weekend at the Wenas Creek Campground officially named the Hazel Wolf Wenas Creek Bird Sanctuary. The location, SW of Ellensburg, is now in an ÒImportant Bird AreaÓ which has been protected by a land swap.
The free, ÒprimitiveÓ campground along the north fork of Wenas Creek has exceptional opportunities for birding, botanizing and enjoying spring in the eastern foothills of the Cascades.
* The campground is about 2,500' elevation, can be cold at night, hot during day.
* Bring water for drinking (the creek is beautiful and bountiful but not potable).
* We set up tents or Òpick-upÓ type campers.
* We all share a 4-day rental of portable toilets.
* Bicycles and Frisbees are fun, telescopes and cameras standard gear.
* Please leave pets at home.
* There are organized field trips throughout the Wenas drainage and WA DF&W management areas and some on allowed private property.
* In camp we have natural history workshops with some of the state's top birders, WNPS botanists, entomologists etc.
*There will be an old-fashioned campfire in our new ÒapprovedÓ firepit device each night. We sing, tell stories, and recap bird sightings. Please visit the beautiful Wenas Website, by Webmaster Michael Hobbs, to see Hazel WolfÕs familiar smiling face and get lots of downloadable information about our campout.
www.wenasaudubon.org. There's a bird checklist, wildflower checklist, outline of field trips/ program, directions to the campground, photos. If you donÕt do websites, contact me and IÕll send you printed information: Helen Engle at hengle@iinet.com, 253-564-3112.
Tarboo-Dabob Bay
Conservation:
The Northwest Watershed Institute, Jefferson Land Trust, and
The Nature Conservancy are partnering to secure long-term protection of
Tarboo-Dabob Bay. Threatened by landslides and sediment from development,
logging, and road building, shellfish habitats and tidelands have been destroyed.
The partners need your help to either expand the existing Natural Area Preserve
or form a new Natural Resources Conservation Area. For more information, and officials to influence with
letters, contact Heidi Eisnehour of Jefferson Land Trust at ed@saveland.org
or 360-379-9501
Other RiverCenter
& OPAS Birding Events for May & Summer
Contact the River Center to sign up and for more
information: 681-4076 or rivercenter@olympus.net
Birdwalks every Wednesday at the River Center on Hendrickson Rd in Sequim: 8:30 to 10:30 AM
Natural Science Study & Discussion Group 2nd Monday of every month: 10 AM
Introduction to Birds and
Birding: Six Tuesday evenings, May 6 to Jun. 10; Time: 7 to 9 p.m. Cost: River Center Partners: $40;
non-members $60.. Designed for beginning birders and new resident to the
Olympic Peninsula.Bird identification, bird feeders and houses, field guides,
and birding optics.
International Migratory Bird Day/Clallam County Birdathon: Date:
Sat., May 10; Time: Midnight to midnight.
How many birds can we count in Clallam Co. in one 24-hour period? Sign
up first.
Late Spring Migrant Birds of the Olympic Peninsula: Date: Five
Thursdays, May 22 to Jun. 19. Time: 9 – 11:30 a.m. (some classes will
occur earlier). Cost: $40 for River Center Partners, $60 for non-members.Ó May
and June bring Neotropical migrants, songbirds that spends winters from Mexico
to South America. These are the jewels of our forest - tanagers, warblers,
vireos, and flycatchers - and theyÕre only here from May until August. Field
trips to local habitats.Ó
Walkathon/Bikathon for the Dungeness River Audubon Center:Date: Sat., June
7th: Time: 1 – 4 p.m North Olympic Discovery Trail Marathon: Date: Sun.,
June 8; Time: 9 a.m.
Admiralty Audubon Board Meeting Minutes for March, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 PM by President Sikes. Minutes from last meeting were approved.
Unfinished
Business: The board discussed remodeling and improving AdmiraltyÕs website.
Art Carpenter and Sandra Stowell (the current volunteer webmaster) have met
with the Board and made suggestions. A website improvement committee of Dan
Waggoner, Clara Mason, Ron Sikes, and David Gluckman was formed to look into
funding and examine other chapter sites, and no action was taken at this time.
The Make Waves Sport Complex is undergoing a feasibility study for the
Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park site. Before the Jefferson Transit Board or
the Port Townsend City Council will consider the KTLNP/Park & Ride approval
they requested this study,
George reported the Jefferson County Critical Ordinance Update was
unanimously approved by the Jefferson County Commissioners. He thanked those
who came to the hearing to support the update which he expects to be litigated by both property rights
and environmental activists who have 60 days to appeal. The next county environmental
struggle is over the Shoreline Master Plan update.
New Business:
ACOW, April 11 -13 is at Sleeping Lady
Conference Center on Icicle Creek near Leavenworth, WA. Clara was the
only board member interested. Ron mentioned that although he and
Rosemary would be in eastern WA they had attended a conference there before and
thought it would be best for someone new to attend. The cost would be $200 per
person for lodging, meals, and registration. Curt moved the board approve
funding for one board member; unanimously
approved.
Rosemary wants to sell the Olympic Bird Trail Maps during the Birding
Classes at Fort Worden . She said they would be good to sell at April
Earth Day Last year they were free. Rosemary
asked Dan to preside over the April 17
chapter meeting so she could attend Port TownsendÕs second Town
Meeting. She said the last Town Meeting had data showing that the natural
environment was second only to community identity in importance for issues
presented by the city. The meeting was well attended and included Younts
and Sikes.
Kah Tai 2012 is a new organization composed of those interested in permanent preservation of the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park. Daniel and Dena Bugel-Shunra created the name after the Port of PT and Jefferson Transit Meetings concerning KTLNP. Rosemary has been working with Dena and Daniel to create a PowerPoint presentation about the park to show the public to enlist their support. Andrew Redding, Daniel Bugel, and Ron have contributed images Clara moved to have Admiralty Audubon join the organization. Approved.
Ron asked for
an award for the long-time volunteer webmaster. He suggested a plaque.
Rosemary ask about a gift certificate to a restaurant. Most of the
board thought a book would be better appreciated than a plaque. Clara made a
motion to sponsor a book. This passed unanimously. Ron will pick it
out.
Chapter Reports: Curt reported the
current status of the chapter funds. Because the Federal Reserve has
lowered interest rates, the chapter is receiving less than inflation rate. Education Chr Clara Mason
reported a $120 profit on sales of the natural history books.
Program Chair Jo Yount reported future program plans,
Conservation
Chr George said the Partners of Puget Sound and The Hood Canal Coalition were
continuing with efforts to save Puget Sound from ecological collapse.
Curt moved for
adjournment. Meeting adjourned at
8:50 PM.