Admiralty Audubon, your local chapter, really needs your support.

The National Society has cut back on the percentage of dues they share with us.

So, that makes it more difficult for us to carry out our programs.

Please consider a contribution, which is tax deductible.

Become a more active member.

Get involved! Meet new people!

Enjoy!

ADMIRALTY AUDUBON CHAPTER CALENDAR

All General-Program meetings are at Port Townsend Community Center every third Thursday beginning at 7 PM.

Come see the beautiful owls and hawks that Jaye Moore will bring from the Northwest Raptor Center. She will talk about each bird, its history, natural habitat, and how it came to be in captivity. School age children, as well as adults, will enjoy it. Don’t miss this wonderful experience! How often does one get to be within two or three feet of a raptor? Help the environment by bringing your own cup to the meetings.

Nature Park at Kah Tai Lagoon Needs Help

September 29th, a Saturday, 9 AM. Meet at the picnic shelter. Please bring water, a lunch, gloves, and tools. We will be removing Scotchbroom along the main trail in preparation for an October planting. Useful tools to have are loppers and pruning saws. We will also have several Scotchbroom pullers. For information call 385-0307.

ARCHIVES IN DISARRAY

If you would be interested in sorting out the written history of Admiralty Audubon, we could use your help. There is extraneous paperwork, mixed in with the pertinent facts, that needs to be sorted out, and the chapter record needs to be put in order. Call 385-0307 if you would like to help.

INFORMATION FOR LOCALAUDUBON EVENTS

We sometimes have additional activities, such as field trips, but are unable to get them in a newsletter. If you want this information, send your e-mail address to sikes@olympus.net

Saturday, October 27, 2001, 8:30 AM. Join us for a guided tour of Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island. This lovely reserve is packed with flora & fauna of all kinds, and the fall colors should be glorious! We will car pool from the Port Townsend Park & Ride. Bring lunch, binocs, scopes, field guides & dress for the weather. This is a reservation only trip, $6/per or $4/senior — first come, first served. 25 person max., deadline Sept 30th — Call 360-379-0401. Suzanne DeMasso will be leading the trip.

Beginning with this issue of the newsletter, we will be publishing the events of the OPAS Chapter in order to enable attendance of their Programs and Field Trips. OPAS is located in Sequim.

Sept. 19, Wednesday, 6:00 PM, Potluck Dinner, Dungeness River Audubon Center at Railroad Bridge Park. Speaker: Bob Boekelheide — "Seabirds of the Farallons." Bob Boekelheide cut his eyeteeth on birds at the Farallon Islands, where he worked as a biologist for Point Reyes Bird Observatory in the 1970s and 1980s. The information collected during this time inspired a book, The Seabirds of the Farallon Islands, which he co-authored with his colleagues at PRBO in 1990. He now lives with his wife Barb, and sons Eric and Isaac, in Sequim where he is a teacher. He has recently been named the new/first Director/Education Coordinator of the Dungeness River Audubon Center.


September 29-30, Ocean Shores Weekend. This can be a weekend or a Saturday-only trip, as you prefer. We will gather at 8:30 AM Saturday at the Marina and will probably do Ocean Shores on Saturday and the Hoquiam Sewage Ponds, Westport Jetty, Middle Beach and Tokeland on Sunday. There are frequently rarities in Ocean Shores at this time of the year, and the schedule will be changed to chase such good birds. Many motels are available in Ocean Shores. The Sands Resort (1-800-841-4001) is the least expensive that I’ve found. The oceanfront units are more expensive, but they have a separate building across the street available at less than $40 a night before taxes. Campers can stay at the Marina RV Park. Call Judy Mullally at 360 417-2628 (evenings) to register for the trip or to get more details.

Oct. 17, Wednesday, 7:00 PM, Dungeness River Audubon Center. Speaker: Dr. Jim Kinney -- "Birds and Wildlife of Latin America." Dr. Kinney is a retired radiologist. He lives in Gig Harbor and has traveled and photographed birds across the New World over the past 12 years. His journey to Bolivia this September will be his 18th trip to Latin America.

Saturday, October 20, 9 AM -- Return of the winter resident waterbirds. Bring a non-birding friend. We would like you to consider bringing interested but not actively birding friends. We meet at the south end of John Wayne Marina. If the attention span of your guests is short, John Wayne Marina can be the end of the trip. Of course, if there is sufficient interest, we will go farther so you might consider bringing a lunch.

ADMIRALTY AUDUBON DOES THE COUNTY FAIR by Suzanne DeMasso

This year the Jefferson County Fair booth was a great success! We raffled a donated print of Anna’s Hummingbirds by Larry Eifert which brought in $100. The lucky winner was Michael O’Hanlon of Port Townsend. A special thanks to Larry for his generous contribution.

The bird identification corner was a huge hit. We had photos of local birds to identify including our state bird, which was the bonus question. A puffin stamp on the hand was the prize for those who gave it try.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped design, set-up, take down and staff the booth! Thank you Barbara Baird, Alex Bradley, Curt Danielson, Larry Eifert, Nancy Eifert, Dick Johnson, Bob Kinchen, Brenda McMillan, Diane Mulholland, Hazel Murphy, Michael Pruitt, Sally Robbins, Ron Sikes, Rose Sikes, Jesse Stewart, Sandra Stowell and Jo Yount.

The newly published "Checklist of Birds" had its debut at the Audubon booth at the recent Jefferson County Fair. A wonderful addition to local birding, this little brochure has been designed to tuck neatly into your favorite field guide so it will always be with you. See a bird you’re not sure of? If you know what it MIGHT be, first check the list and see if it’s ever been here. Not sure which gull or which tern you’re seeing? The list will eliminate what’s NOT here.

The area covered by the checklist is the Quimper Peninsula and surrounding waters of Puget Sound. This includes Port Townsend, Protection Island NWR, Fort Worden State Park, Fort Flagler State Park, Oak Bay, Discovery Bay and areas down past Mats Mats bay to Port Ludlow. It also includes Hood Head and Shine Beach. Having to limit the scope of this publication was difficult, but we drew a line across the Quimper Peninsula to Crocker Lake to Discovery Bay. It’s an arbitrary line, of course, because the list could be used over most of the Puget Sound lowlands with good effect.

An informational sidebar reads: This checklist represents 221 species of birds sighted in and around the Quimper Peninsula. Located on the Pacific Flyway at the convergence of the Strait of Juan De Fuca and Puget Sound, it includes both open and sheltered ocean areas, freshwater lakes and streams, riparian and young upland forests. Nearby are two important wildlife habitats, Olympic National Park with almost a million acres of primeval landscape, and Protection Island, one of the largest wildlife breeding grounds in the Pacific Northwest. These factors create excellent birding year-round.

Each species is divided into how common it is during Spring Migration months of March, April, May; Summer months of June, July, August; Fall Migration during September and

October; and Winter months of November, December, January and February.

It also lists if each bird is common (seen every year); uncommon (usually present but not easily seen); occasional (birds not present every year); or rare (birds present but Quimper Peninsula totals are in single digits). This proved to be an arbitrary list for some species, as the birding is vastly different in Port Townsend compared to Port Ludlow. For instance, Marbled Murrelets and Purple Martins are fairly common in Ludlow Bay in late summer, while California Quail are easily seen in Port Townsend. The reverse certainly is NOT true. About a dozen other species have been seen here but have only single records, or a few totally, so these were excluded.

The new checklist was produced by Larry Eifert, with help from Hazel Murphy, Dick Johnson, Ron Sikes, Diane Mulholland, Eleanor Stopps, Suzanne DeMasso and Nancy Eifert. It is an effort in progress, and we’re sure future editions will include other birds we missed. Get your checklist when you attend the September 20 meeting.

Larry Eifert

Our local Audubon now has a new website -- thanks to Sandra Stowell and Michael Pruitt, Port Townsend WEB developers and longtime birders and Audubon members. Working with Larry Eifert, Jo Yount and Hazel Murphy, they have the testing site up and running. Even though it’s still under development, you will soon be able to access meeting and event schedules, the newsletter, the new bird checklist and a host of other information. There are also plans to include a map of hot birding spots on the Quimper Peninsula, something not seen here before in either print OR electronic form.

One of Audubon’s constant and continuing tasks is to inform its members, and potential visitors, about the high-quality birding experiences here. This new website should go a very long way to improving that interpretive gateway. Bookmark the site address today, and watch our changes take place at www.admiraltyaudubon.org.

Larry Eifert

RAPTOR CLASS NEEDS TEN MORE PEOPLE

Great Blue Heron Colonies

Two years ago, many heron colonies throughout the Puget Sound area were abandoned during the spring and early summer. As a consequence, there were no young herons fledgling from these colonies that year. The reason for this abandonment is not known but may have been due to the cool wet spring weather, a lack of adequate food supply to feed the young, harassment by eagles, a combination of these factors, or some other cause. Last year things seemed to be back to normal, although eagle harassment continued. If colony abandonment occurs several years in a row, it would have a negative impact on the heron population.

An ongoing project is the location of heron colonies so that they can be monitored. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains a database with the location of each colony. Herons will move the location of their colonies. Updating colony information will help keep track of heron reproductive success and help identify reasons for population decline.

Herons usually nest in colonies from a few to hundreds of nests. They nest high in the treetops, preferably in secluded areas. The nests are large collections of branches. They nest during the spring and early summer.

If you have any information on heron colonies, please call Trudy Davis at (360) 732-4084 or email at Olympic_herons@hotmail.com or trudy@olympus.net

HANDFUL OF SENATORS WILL CAST DECIDING VOTE IN ARCTIC DRILLING

On August 1, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling, and all its associated industrial development. Our Congressman Norm Dicks voted against the measure, and we appreciate that vote. The fate of this pristine refuge — America’s greatest frontier — now lies in the hands of the U.S.Senate.

Right now, the Bush Administration and pro-oil drilling forces are using every ounce of their political power and influence to convince the Senate to open the Arctic Refuge to drilling. Audubon and our partners in conservation are doing everything we can to stop them ... but it isn’t easy! As of today, there are a handful of Senators who are "on-the-fence" — still
not committed to either drilling the Arctic or protecting the Arctic. Those Senators will determine the fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And it’s those lawmakers who must hear opposition to drilling from their
constituents if those same lawmakers are going to stand strong against the politically powerful pro-drilling forces.

Drilling in the Arctic Refuge will not lower gas prices or respond to the electricity problems in California. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge will not bring us closer to energy independence. Drilling will not serve as a long-term solution for our supposed energy crisis. Ruining the wilderness character of the Arctic Refuge forever would equate to less than a 180-day supply of oil, and it would take a full 10 years before any oil began to flow. And remember, there is no such thing as a wilderness oil field.

Don’t let our two U.S. Senators fall victim to misleading claims of those who want to drill in the Arctic Refuge. We believe Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell currently oppose opening up ANWR to drilling. However,

they will be under a lot of pressure to change their minds, and we need to let them know we support them. It’s important for you to ask
friends and family in other parts of the country to contact their senators, too!

The Arctic Refuge is America’s last truly pristine wilderness, a natural treasure that we must protect in order to preserve our nation’s
wildlife heritage, as well as the people, birds and wildlife that call the Arctic home. Help us protect it - here’s how!

1. CONTACT OUR SENATORS AND URGE THEM TO PROTECT THE ARCTIC REFUGE FROM OIL AND GAS DRILLING. Use this site http://www.protectthearctic.com/ to instantly send a letter, fax or e-mail to U.S. Senators free of charge.

2. ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GET INVOLVED. The more constituents senators hear from, the better chance there is that they will oppose drilling in the Arctic — so encourage others to contact their two senators as well.

3. GET THE FACTS! Find out what’s really involved with the House-passed "2,000 acres," jobs and other facts surrounding drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Call toll-free 1-800-659-2622, or e-mail
audubonaction@audubon.org for your free "fact pack" today.

Alex Bradley

by Sally Robbins

First there were just a few Great Blue Herons. Then there were 14 and then 17. Another day there were 21 and last evening, in the middle of August, there were 30 Herons sitting on the north edge of Chinese Garden Pond, right off the front of my deck. What a sight, to see all of these birds, sitting like stoic old creatures with their capes wrapped around their shoulders.

Last month I moved into an apartment a block from North Beach Park. It’s more than "just an apartment" because of its setting. The front door opens onto a large deck that overlooks the Strait as well as Fort Worden and Chinese Gardens. When I sit on the deck, eating lunch and watching the ships go by, I feel like I’m in a story about outdoor living that’s featured in a magazine!

But, it’s the animals that intrigue me. My new home is directly across from the eagle’s nest at the Fort. I moved here in time to see the eaglet fledge and to watch mom and dad help it on its way.

There are two young River Otters who frequent the pond, and two Belted Kingfishers who sit and fish off the siphon box.

The coyotes keep me entertained too. Occasionally a small pack moves under my deck just at dusk, calling to their family up in the woods. I did see an unusual encounter one evening. I had heard the coyotes barking and was watching to see if they would come out on the field. Two people walked out from the trees and started toward North Beach. When they heard the barking, they sat down in the field and were very quiet. Then, I saw a coyote came out of the bushes and walk down towards the pond, all the time, watching the couple. The people didn’t make any movement. Finally curiosity got the best of the animal, and it slowly walked over to within a few feet of the couple, barking all the time. The couple didn’t appear to be threatened by the animal and stayed absolutely still until it walked off into the bushes.

Last night I sat on the deck at midnight to watch the Perseid meteor shower and was serenaded by the Herons talking in their sleep down at the pond.

BIRD SIGHTINGS

They’re out there. We went down to Port Ludlow for an overnite on Sea Witch and saw lots of Bonaparte’s, Common Terns, family groups of Common Murres, Rhinos and a few Mew Gulls from "the cut" all the way to Ludlow Bay (mostly south of Oak Bay). Closer to my backyard, the Chimacum Creek Estuary has a group of about 100 Widgeons, proving Fall is already here.

FALL AUDUBON COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON--WALLA WALLA

September 21-23, 2001 - "Windpower"

Anyone interested in the Agenda, call 385-0307. Blocks of rooms have been reserved at Hojos and Travelodge. For more info. call 360-786-8020. wa.audubon.org.

DISCUSSION GROUP STIRS UP QUESTIONS by Suzanne DeMasso

Recently I was involved with a discussion group by the Northwest Earth Institute called Voluntary Simplicity. Ten of us from Port Townsend took part in an eight week session meeting once a week to discuss readings from a syllabus about living life simply.

At first I did not know what I was getting myself into. I knew some of the people in the group and others I met for the first time. We were to read a couple of pages a week before we met and then discuss questions about what we read. There was no official "teacher", we all took turns in facilitating and hosting the group, we were there to all learn together and from each other.

Well the results started right away and continue...I have made 9 new friends within my community/neighborhood, I have begun to ask myself questions like... do I have enough? how much is enough? am I spending my time wisely? am I a good steward to the planet? do I recycle? do I precycle? what is precycling? am I addicted to consuming? and the list of questions go on...as well as the results I am sure that will follow from trying to answer questions like these.

So what does this mean to you? Well you too can join one of these question stirring, friendship making, neighborhood building discussion groups. Other topics include Discovering a Sense of Place, Choices for Sustainable Living, Deep Ecology and Related Topics, and Voluntary Simplicity. Want more information? Check out their website www.nwei.com or call one of our community coordinators Judy Alexander 385.4211 or Helen Kolff 379.485

THE PRICE OF WASHING MY DISHES

by Suzanne DeMasso

One of the results from participating in the Voluntary Simplicity discussion group by the Northwest Earth Institute is questioning my purchases. Today I questioned the price I pay for washing my dishes...what’s in the detergents, how are they manufactured and what are the environmental consequences...so I did a little research at our local library...