Spring Admiralty Programs

from Jo Yount, Program Chair

March 20, Thursday, 7 PM Birding in Ecuador

Hear and see our own Jo and George Yount tell about their Ecuador trip. Travels and birds from a very different ecosystem, as seen through the eyes of Northwest birders.

April 17, Thursday, 7 PM A Surprise!

Jo Yount will say only to watch the newspaper to find out about what she has planned.

All meetings are held at the the Pt. Townsend Community Center, which has recently purchased a quality sound system, including head sets and a wireless microphone. This will make it much easier for the hearing impaired, such as myself, to hear our programs. So if you have trouble hearing even with the microphone amplification, do not hesitate to ask for a headset.

And don’t forget the REFRESHMENTS: Do you like having a snack? Want to do your part in making it possible? Are YOU up for March, April, or other spring months? Call Jo at 385-0456 to volunteer. Thanks.

Admiralty Field Trips for Mar-Apr.

Ken Wilson, Field Trip Chair

Saturday March 8 - 9 AM - Sea and Shore Birds with David Gluckman. This class will help identify birds on the salt water including gulls, cormorants, loons, grebes, murres and mureletts. Enter Fort Worden and follow the blue signs to the meeting site. Dress warmly. Pre-register with David at 379-0360 or cgluckman@aol.com.

Saturday March 22 - 9 AM - Ducks, Geese and Swans with David Gluckman. Learn to identify ducks, geese and swans, and rails. Dress warmly. Pre-register with David at 379-0360 or cgluckman@aol.com.

Saturday April 5 - 9 AM - Woodland and Field Birds. David will help us identify warblers, hawks, owls and everything left over we haven’t talked about. Pre-register with David at 379-0360 or cgluckman@aol.com

Sat, April 19: Whidbey Island. Meet at Pt. Townsend ferry terminal with walk-on boarding pass at 9:15 AM for the 9:30 departure, returning on the 1:30 PM departure from Keystone. (Individuals may also opt to take the earlier 12:00 ferry, especially if weather is unfavorable). From Keystone, we will explore the excellent birding around Fort Casey, and the extensive lagoon behind the Keystone ferry terminal. Please pre-register with Ken: (email: kenw@cablespeed.com or 360-821-1101).

Tues, April 29: Marrowstone Island, including Fort Flagler.  Meet 8am at Safeway Park and Ride. We will finish up at about noon or 1 PM. Please pre-register with Ken Wilson (email: kenw@cablespeed.com or 360-821-1101). Expect a wide variety of songbirds, including recent spring arrivals.

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President’s Corner

Rosemary Sikes, President

January 31 the Admiralty Audubon board voted unanimously to oppose the siting of a 40,000 sq.ft. aquatic center in the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park. The reasons are many. Loss of habitat and open space are major factors. In December of 2007 the City of Port Townsend and the Port of Port Townsend began negotiations to determine the fate of the 20 acres of Port land on the south shore of the Kah Tai Lagoon. This land, in the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park, is owned by the Port and leased to the City until 2012. It seems very premature to carve off 1.5 acres of the land under question and give it to Make Waves for an aquatic center. We are proposing a comprehensive plan of all public land around Kah Tai Lagoon be made before any structures are allowed to be built. There will be a town meeting to discuss the issue at a time to be announced. It will be critical that those who want Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park to remain a quiet place for wildlife and people to walk, ride their bikes, feed the ducks, and play fetch on the play field. Show up at the town meetings and be heard. Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park will be preserved only if the people of our community make it clear they want it to happen.

Audubon Partners with Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board

Admiralty Audubon and the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board will be working together to remove Scotch Broom at the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park to improve wildlife habitat. Beginning March 12 workparties will run for 6 weeks every Wednesday and Saturday. Wednesday times will be 9-11:30 and 1:30-3:30. Saturday times will be 1-4:30. The last work party will be Saturday April 19. Weed pullers will be provided. I am also seeking volunteers to provide snacks and drinks for workers. For more information call me at 385-0307 or email rosemarysikes@olympus.net

Rosemary Sikes, President, Admiralty Audubon

Ph: 360 385 0307 E-mail: rosemarysikes@olympus.net

First Birding Class a Big Success!

The first of 4 birding classes on February 23 drew a capacity crowd of over 80 participants to hear David Gluckman talk about beginning birding and backyard birds in Port Townsend. His PowerPoint presentation and the following field trips lead by 6 club members was well received by all. Admiralty Audubon and Fort Worden State Park will continue their sponsorship of these classes with the next one starting 9 am on Saturday, March 8th at a location in the park. Those attending should follow the blue signs saying “Bird Class” with a directional arrow upon entering the Park. The March 8 classroom session will last around an hour and cover sea and shorebirds usually seen in this area. Many of the photographs to be shown were taken by Gluckman and Bob Whitney, who is completing his year-long study of birds seen from Pt. Wilson. The two hour field trip after the class will cover the best places to find sea and shorebirds in the area. Be prepared to car pool to the various locations. All classes and field trips are open to the public without charge on a first come basis. Participants should dress for the weather; waterproof footware may be helpful. Children must be accompanied by an adult. See schedule-1st page.

Instructors: Classes are being organized by David Gluckman, an Admiralty Audubon Society field trip leader, 40 year birder and noted bird photographer who will be assisted by numerous other local expert birders.

For more information contact David Gluckman at cgluckman@aol.com or call 379-0360.

NW Bird Festivals: Sequim & N. California

Olympic Bird Fest, Sequim April 4---6 Visit the rain shadow of the Olympic Peninsula to discover the birds of the coastal Pacific Northwest—Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklets, Harlequin Ducks, dippers, Black Oystercatchers, Long-tailed Ducks, and more. Guided field trips, a boat cruise in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, silent auction, and a salmon banquet with our partner, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

New this year: A three-day, two-night birding cruise of the San Juan Islands, April 6-8, 2008, immediately following BirdFest. The festival with the most spectacular setting! Contact: Dungeness River Audubon Center, P.O. Box 2450, Sequim, WA 98382; 360-681-4076; email: info@olympicbirdfest.org ; or go online at www.olympicbirdfest.org

March-April 2008 Cut-Out Calendar of Birding Events
March	3 OPAS intro birding class 9-11 $60	4	5	6 Intermediate birding class RiverCntr $60 Sequim9-11:30	7	8 AAS Birding Class 9 AM Fort Worden: shore birds
9	10 OPAS intro birding class 9-11	11	12	13 Intermediate birding class RiverCntr $60 Sequim9-11:30	14	15
16	17 OPAS intro birding class 9-11	18	19	20 AAS mtg; PT Comm Cntr 7 PM Birds of Ecuador	21	22 AAS Birding Class 9 AM Fort Worden Ducks, Geese, Swans, Rails
23	24 OPAS intro birding class 9-11	25	26	27 Intermediate birding class RiverCntr $60 Sequim9-11:30	Aleutian Goose Festival, Crescent City, CA	29 Goose Festival
30 Goose Festival	31 OPAS intro birding class 9-11
April		1	2	3 Intermediate birding class RiverCntr $60 Sequim9-11:30	4 Olympic Bird Fest, Sequim	5 AAS Birding Class 9 AM Fort Worden Woodland & field birds
6 Olympic Bird Fest, Sequim	7 OPAS intro birding class 9-11	8	9	10 Intermediate birding class RiverCntr $60 Sequim9-11:30	11 ACOW in Leavenworth	ACOW in Leavenworth
ACOW in Leavenworth	14	15	16	17 AAS mtg PT Comm. Cntr A surprise from JO	18	19 AAS Field Trip to Whidbey Is. Leave 9:15 from PT ferry
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29AAS field trip to Marrowstone. Lv. 8 AM Park & Ride	30

Other RiverCenter & OPAS Birding Events for March and April

Contact the River Center to sign up and for more information: 681-4076 or rivercenter@olympus.net

Two 6-wk birding classes; Introductory on Mondays, from March 3rd; Intermediate on Thursdays, from March 6. Field trips after class lecture. 9 AM at RiverCenter. $60 for non-members.

March.8--Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge  Dave Jackson, Judy Mullally, leaders

Apr.4-6--BirdFest ( also 3-day cruise in the San Juan Islands with other enthused birders from 6-8

April 19; 8:30 AM- 4:00 PM See the birds of Kitsap with a resident expert! The trip will cover some key spots on Bainbridge Island and also a few spots in north Kitsap County. In addition to the remaining wintering water birds, early migrant shorebirds and warblers are good possibilities. Contact leaders Doug & Pipper Watkins evenings 206 842 7131 or email him at dougnpip@aol.com

ACOW at Sleeping Lady, Leavenworth, April 11th through April 13th

The annual Audubon Council of Washington meeting will be at Sleeping Lady in Leavenworth. Lisa Paribello of the State Audubon writes: “We would like to invite you to attend this year’s Spring ACOW at Sleeping Lady in Leavenworth. As far back as anyone can remember, we have not had someone from each of the 26 chapters. We would like to bring together the entire Audubon family this spring!” Jo Yount adds “I have been to Sleeping Lady for several conferences and it is truly a TREAT!  I encourage anyone to go!  Think carefully about whether you can make it, because you will not regret it!!”, Audubon Washington has chosen the Sleeping Lady Mountain retreat, located in the foothills of the Cascade mountain range outside Leavenworth, Washington. The Sleeping Lady creates an atmosphere that blends seamlessly with nature and the surrounding natural landscape, and provides an environment that fosters creative interaction. This all-inclusive retreat is also a leader in environmentally conscious industry; with conservation a primary concern from it’s construction through daily operations.

Friday evening will kick off with a reception and art show, including Wildlife Biologist and nature artist Heather A. Wallis Murphy, photographer Teri Pieper, a book display, and book signing by Brian Bell, author of Birds of Washington State. Friday evening we will also have our first guest speaker, Dr. Nalini M. Nadkarni, professor at Evergreen State College and at the forefront of canopy studies. Dr. Nadkarni has made a name for herself as “the Queen of the Forest Canopy” through numerous scientific articles and documentaries as well as two books and has also become well known for promoting conversation between the scientific community and the general public.

Saturday will be dedicated to workshops and breakouts on advocacy, leadership/board development, and fundraising. Saturday evening will usher in our keynote speaker, Dr. Terry L. Root, a Senior Fellow and University faculty at the Woods Institute for the Environment and Professor in Biological Sciences at Stanford University. Dr. Root has worked extensively in the research of climate change. Dr. Root has won several honors, most recently, lead authorship of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Sunday will be dedicated to field trips, conveniently leaving from Sleeping Lady. Options for field trips include: Chelan-Douglass Land Trust trip, Barn Beach Reserve and Blackbird island trip, Rocky Reach Dam and Visitor Center, Horan Natural Area and a biking and birding excursion.

For more information and registration visit the Audubon WA website at wa.audubon.org.

Admiralty Audubon Society Minutes for January 16, 2008

Ron Sikes, Secretary

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM. Present were Rosemary Sikes, president; Dan Waggoner, vice president; Curt Danielson, treasurer; Jo Yount, program chair; Clara Mason, education chair; and secretary, Ron Sikes.

Old Business: During the November meeting the board ask Curt to inquire about finding better interest rates for Chapter funds not needed for annual expenses. He described interest rates and penalties for early withdrawals offered by local banks. He requested changes not be made if they would complicate filing the Annual Report of Finances required by National Audubon since every cent has to accounted in the report. After further discussion Curt moved the board approve combining the Habitat Protection Account with the Edward Jones Money Market Account in order to receive a better interest rate. Jo seconded the motion. All approved.

Rosemary reported on developments to get the preservation of Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park on the City of Pt Townsend and Port of Pt Townsend's 2008 agenda. Three of our board spoke at the Jan 7 City Council meeting and two at the Jan 9 Port meeting. Also Rosemary met with the City manager, David Timmons, Jan 15. He outlined a proposal he would present to the Port manager concerning the trade of land between the Port and City and creation of a new segment of the Larry Scott Memorial Trail to a different parking area. His proposal if approved would achieve the City having ownership of the developed part of the Kha Tai Lagoon Nature Park and the lands within the Shoreline Master Program - 200 foot conservancy zone on the south side of the lagoon. Rosemary suggested we monitor progress in these negotiations but not take further action at this time. Rosemary presented a resolution. “Admiralty Audubon Society strongly support negotiations between the City and Port to protect the Port land in the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park as a nature park in perpetuity.” Dan moved the resolution be approved, Jo seconded. It was unanimously approved.

New Business: The private nonprofit group called “Make Waves” proposal to put an aquatic center in KTLNP was discussed. The proposed 40,000 sq ft building will cover the southwest corner of the present developed park. Removal of berms and their 22 year old conifer trees will be necessary to accommodate the building. The building will intrude into the park literally and visually. Discussion followed about the 10 million dollar cost of the structure and how likely the “Make Waves” group could raise sufficient funds. Dan said he thought at this early stage there was no benefit for the board to take a position opposing the aquatic center at the park. Clara also recommended we wait for more detailed plans from “Make Waves” before coming out against their proposal.

Rosemary brought up the issues around transients camping in the park. She has talked to a couple different women who expressed fear in using the KTLNP because of the transients living in the park. Also mentioned was the garbage they leave at their campsites and along the trail and shore of the lagoon. Ron mentioned the disturbance to wildlife due to the campers being in the park at night. Rosemary suggested anyone who is interested attend the Jan 22 City Council Meeting to speak about a proposed no camping ordinance for city parks.

By the efforts of member David Gluckman, Admiralty Audubon Society and the Fort Worden State Park are planning a series of birding classes. The first class will be at 10 AM on February 23rd and will be immediately followed by a one hour field trip in Fort Worden Park. Three more classes are planned in March and April.

David’s classes will require approximately 50 Quimper Peninsula Bird List and Bird Maps. Ron’s program for the Cape George Club will require about twenty five. Dan took a copy to review for any needed changes before we have 500 printed.