ADMIRALTY AUDUBON FALL PROGRAMS Thursdays 7 PM

From Jo Yount, Program Chair

at Port Townsend Community Center, Lawrence & Tyler Streets

September 16: Hazel Wolf's BIOGRAPHER Susan Starbuck presents TRACKING THE LIFE OF A LEGENDARY AUDUBON ACTIVIST

The handful of us who heard Susan at the Audubon Council of Washington (ACOW) conference in 2002 will be happy for a opportunity to hear her again. Her story is engaging and she is a compelling presenter. Join us to hear Susan’s stories of writing the book and her many years of interviews with this indefatigable activist, who proved over and over again that one person can make a difference – sometimes a really big difference.

Hazel’s history didn’t include environmental issues until more than half way through her 101 years. Born in 1898 in Victoria, she immigrated to Seattle in 1923, a legal secretary and a single mother. During the Depression of the 1930s, Wolf joined the Communist Party to help organize unemployed workers.  From 1949 - 1963, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) of the U.S. Justice Department tried unsuccessfully to deport her to Canada as an "alien subversive."  With the American Committee to Protect the Foreign Born, Wolf organized to protect the civil rights of all those attacked by the anti-Communist hysteria. After fourteen years of persecution, the INS had nothing to show for its efforts. After fourteen years of resistance, Hazel Wolf had been transformed from a naturally talented grassroots activist into a seasoned leader, aware of her power as a member of a community to challenge the mighty US government and even to change it.

Next her organizing talents turned to the environment. She became secretary of the Seattle Audubon Society – a position she held for 35 years. Come hear Susan tell some of the tales of Hazel’s techniques for “making a difference.”

A special invitation: Susan will be joining the Menzies cruise to Protection Island at 9 am on Friday morning after our meeting. If you want to take advantage of a cruise before the end of their season, find information on page 2 to make your reservation.. 

October 21: this, and several programs are still pending. Whatever we decide on will be another winner. Save the date, and if you want an update on the program, please check the newspaper or the website on the week prior for details!

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FIELD TRIPS and EVENTS

Ken Wilson, Field Trip Chair, 379-6630 or kenw@cablespeed.com

AA=Admiralty Audubon, OPAS=Olympic Audubon

MSC=Marine Science Center (MSC members $3, non-members $5)

Saturday, September 18, 8AM (AA)—Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park

See migrant shorebirds as well as songbirds and water fowl.. Bring binoculars, scopes and tripods (if you have one). Wear warm clothes. Meet next to the picnic shelter. Leader: Ron Sikes at 385-0307.

Sunday, September 26, 2:30PM (MSC)—Attracting Birds to your Yard.

Bob Morse, co-author of Birds of the Puget Sound Region, will describe ways that people can use different feeders and seeds to be most successful. Marine Science Center Natural History Building

Friday, October 15, 9AM-11AM (AA)—Fort Worden

Meet in front of the Marine Science Center Natural History Building. Leader: Ken Wilson

Saturday,October 30 (AA)—Marrowstone and Indian Islands.

Contact Leader Jesse Stewart for details. 437-8103

Saturday, November 20, 8AM-mid afternoon (AA)—Dungeness and vicinity for some of

the best birding in Western Washington. Meet at the Port Townsend Safeway parking lot or contact leader for meeting in the Dungeness area. Leader: Ken Wilson

Saturday, December 18—Christmas Bird Count (AA).

Details in the November newsletter. Leader: Dick Johnson 385-5418

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER DEADLINE---OCTOBER 25

ADS IN OUR NEWSLETTER

Ads for the November newsletter should be submitted to Ron Sikes by October 28 for consideration by the Admiralty Audubon board. Ads will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the board. The cost for future ads will be set by the board at its September board meeting. Ads must be business card size ( 2 inches by 3.5 inches).

BIRDS, DOGS and PEOPLE on OUR BEACHES

From Len Mandelbaum, Conservation Chair

An Admiralty Audubon educational strategy to protect declining species of shorebirds in the area is moving to the action stage. The strategy consists of a series of attractive beach signs promoting understanding of the need to keep people and dogs a reasonable distance from shorebirds (particularly oystercatchers, brandts and Hermann’s gulls) especially during the migratory seasons.

The Committee, chaired by Len Mandelbaum, believes that this aggressive educational program has more immediate prospect of success than political pressure to enforce leash laws. There is also the value of directing attention to human interference with shorebird foraging during the sensitive migratory season.

On September 1, the Parks Advisory Committee will consider a proposal developed with County Parks Director Warren Steurer to locate two attractive, illustrative educational signs at North Beach. The Committee has also developed an educational sign plan for the Point Hudson area (inspired by Bud Kanenberg’s photos), the Larry Scott trail area and Fort Flagler, as well as Kah Tai. Larry Eifert, a professional naturalist artist, has been working with the committee. Others who have participated include Ron Sikes who initiated the process and co-chair Wendy Beall.

After the signs are displayed there will be an opportunity for informal compliance observation and even personal education contact.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR MONTHLY BEACH SURVEYS at FORT FLAGLER

From Al Standish

Surveys provide long-term baseline data on seabird beaching for The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) project jointly sponsored by NOAA and the University of Washington. The volunteer will learn from, and work with Admiralty Audubon member Al Standish who received formal training at the Pt Townsend Marine Science Center. Surveying must be done when the tide is relatively low and takes about two hours plus travel time.   Mutually agreeable times can be worked out.

Reporting or recording consists of annotating a standard form with climatic conditions and measurements of any dead birds found during the survey.  One of the two surveyors also photographs the specimen.  COASST provides the camera. Using COASST provided identification keys, the measurements plus other field marks one can usually identify any specimen.  After field recording, the data is transcribed via a web based form to COASST for compilation and analysis.

AA members Jesse Stewart and Dick Johnson have enjoyed surveying Indian Island beaches for several years although they’ve found just a few specimens. It is a great way to observe other birds and just explore the local beachfront.

For more information, call project coordinator Mary Sue Brancato at (360) 457-6622, ext 20 or e-mail mary.sue.brancato@noaa..gov or Fort Flagler volunteer Al Standish at  437-7789 or kastandish@mail.waypoint.com

KAH TAI LAGOON — Fall Feast for Birds and Birders

Kah Tai Lagoon, its shorebird visitors, its feast of swarming insects, and one of its dedicated protectors, Admiralty Audubon president Ron Sikes, were featured on the front page of the Peninsula Daily News. The article highlighted characteristics that make the lagoon a seasonal banquet for birds and birders. With little rain or runoff, evaporation drops the water level. In the wake of retreating shorelines, mud flats appear along with scattered human discards poking above the shallows.

The scene may look unsavory but it favors shorebird fodder, especially the midges that hover close to the water and develop in the mud flats. These midges resemble mosquitoes but don’t bite. The warm brackish water probably discourages both mosquitoes and plants like cattail and canary grass that might fill in the lagoon and eliminate shorebird habitat. Breeding ducks and feeding herons suggest that the water is relatively clean.

(Emily Mandelbaum—from a feature by Jennifer Jackson in the Peninsula Daily News, August 23,2004)

A STILT SANDPIPER traveled thousands of miles to stop at Kah Tai Lagoon, arriving in mid August 2004. It is a member of the shorebird tribe the Calidridines aka. "beachpipers." This sandpiper breeds in the arctic tundra of Alaska and Canada. The majority of individuals migrate south to southern South America, keeping east of the Rocky Mountains. Some juveniles (no surprise) go off on their on and fly down the Pacific coast. Such was the bird seen on 16 August 2004. It was feeding and resting with lesser and greater yellowlegs. It is slightly smaller than the lesser yellowlegs and has been described as looking like a cross between a yellowlegs and a dowitcher.

The juveniles have beautiful plumage edged in buffy white on the back and wings with glints of rufous on the scapulars and primaries. It has a long bill (1-l/4 length of head) with a droop at the end and long dull yellow legs. It feeds by wading nearly belly deep and probing full bill length. When it flies it shows plain wings and a white rump. Although it looks and feeds somewhat like a dowitcher it is noticeably smaller and slimmer. Our chapter has no prior record of seeing this bird in our area. Earlier there was a sighting over near the 3 Crab Restaurant on Sequim Bay. The natural history reference for this article is "Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest" by Dennis Paulson, 1993, Univ. of Wa. Press.

………………..From Ron Sikes

IF YOU FIND A DEAD BIRD IN YOUR YARD……..

From Sally Robbins

When I found a dead crow in the yard by my house, I was concerned about West Nile virus. It didn't look like it was injured in any way; more like it had just dropped out of the sky. When I called Environmental Health at the Jefferson County Health Department, they gave suggestions for anyone finding a dead bird in their yard.

Crows, Ravens, Jays and Magpies who contract West Nile virus tend to become sick and die from the disease. An increasing number of dead birds may indicate West Nile Virus could be in our community.

If the bird has died recently and is still fresh, double wrap the body in plastic wrap, being careful not to touch with your bare hands.. Then take the body to the Jefferson County Health Department which is located at 615 Sheridan, in the Castle Hill Mall. Dead birds will be monitored for West Nile virus. They will not take birds that have been dead for some time.

Unfortunately, the bird in my yard had not died in the last few days. In fact, I discovered that the neighborhood kids had been moving it around the yard. So, it’s a good idea to tell children not to handle any dead animals but to inform their parents right away

Remember too, that bird baths that are not cleaned and sanitized frequently may encourage the growth of Salmonella which will also kill birds. A good rule is to wash your hands and the bird bath frequently to help stem the spread of any of these diseases!