Newsletter - Whidbey Audubon Society

Shorelines
Newsletter of the Whidbey Audubon Society
March 2015
Whidbey Audubon Society is dedicated to the understanding, appreciation and conservation of birds, other wildlife and
their habitats on Whidbey Island and in surrounding waters.
Whidbey Audubon Society meets Thursday, March 12 in Freeland
Forest Niches for Small Birds with Rob Sandelin
W
Photo by Craig Johnson
Pacific Wren
e live in an amazing and complex forest environment, designed by nature over thousands of years. Come and meet the cast of characters and
roles they play in keeping the forest functioning
to its original instructions. Find out how bacteJoin Us!
ria uses Pileated Woodpeckers to make a home
for termites, how a forest grows gardens in its
Thursday evening
canopy and how the tiny Pacific Wren shapes
March 12
the world it lives in.
Unitarian Universalist
Naturalist, writer and teacher Rob Sandelin
Congregation on
has
wandered the Northwest forests since early
State Route 525,
childhood, poking under logs, climbing to the
north of Freeland
tops of 270-foot Douglas firs, following deer
7:00 socializing
and elk around to see what they do and just
sitting and watching. His email column, This
7:15 brief meeting
Week in the Woods, is a monthly exploration of
7:30 program begins
the everyday nature around us.
Upcoming Field Trips
Wednesday, March 18: BOUNDARY BAY AND REIFEL
REFUGE. Join Ann Casey for an all day trip to a top birding
site in southeast British Columbia — about two hours north of
Whidbey. There is a small entrance fee to the refuge ($5 adult,
$3 senior), and carpool riders should expect to chip in for gas.
Participants must have a valid passport or enhanced driver’s
license. Bring a lunch (note: some things can’t cross the border.) Meet at Trinity Lutheran at 8 a.m.; the Coupeville Prairie
Station Transit Park, 201 South Main Street (behind Whidbey
dermatology), at 8:30; and at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor at the end of South Beeksma Drive at 8:50 to form carpools. Email Ann Casey (click on red to email Ann) for details
or call 360-331-4679.
Tuesday, March 31: MEERKERK GARDENS IN GREENBANK. Spend a morning birding along the trails amid blooming
rhododendrons and azaleas. This is a wonderful, quiet spot to see
and hear forest birds. Admission to the garden is $5 per person.
Meet in the parking lot at 9:30 a.m. for a two-hour (or so) stroll.
The address is 3531 Meerkerk Lane, Greenbank. The trip leader
is Kim Shepard, click red text to email or call 360-720-1711.
Saturday, April 25: PROTECTION ISLAND BIRD MIGRATION CRUISE. Come enjoy a cruise of the Protection
Island National Wildlife Refuge hosted by the Port Townsend
Marine Science Center. Did you know that the largest colony
of nesting Rhinoceros Auklets in the world nest on Protection Island? Join me, Ruth Scrivner, for a three-hour spring
bird migration cruise around this local treasure. Plan to meet
at the Coupeville Ferry Dock at 11:30 a.m. and we will walk
onto the 11: 45 a.m. ferry. We can spend a little time in Port
Townsend prior to arriving at the Point Hudson Marina at
12:45 p.m. The cruise is from 1 to 4 p.m. I am planning to
return to Coupeville on the 5:15 ferry. Space on the cruise
boat is limited, so please make your own reservations soon
by calling 360-385-5582, extension 104 or 1-800-566-3932 or
book online at Puget Sound Express. Once at the website, click
on “Tour Information” and scroll down to “Protection Island
Upcoming Field Trips, see page 3
SHORELINES
2
I
March 2015
President’s Column: The Sixth Extinction
have written before about my love of mysteries but I do try other classifications. For three
months I went to the library to check out, return and renew the
book, The Sixth Extinction, An Unnatural History by Elizabeth
Kolbert. In this book, Kolbert explains previous extinctions and
considers us to be in the sixth extinction. She explores a few of
the little-known studies going on around the world. Kolbert’s
concluding paragraph reads:
Obviously, the fate of our own species concerns us disproportionately. But at the risk of sounding anti-human — some of
my best friends are humans! — I will say that it is not, in the
end, what’s most worth attending to. Right now, in the amazing moment that to us counts as the present, we are deciding,
without quite meaning to, which evolutionary pathways will
remain open and which will forever be closed. No other creature has ever managed this, and it will, unfortunately, be our
most enduring legacy. The Sixth Extinction will continue to
determine the course of life long after everything people have
written and painted and built has been ground into dust and
giant rats have — or have not — inherited the earth.
One of the themes is migration and the ability to find food,
shelter and a safe place to raise young. Early humans followed
Potluck Pics, Please!
S
11 meeting.
pring is around the
corner and June will
be upon us before too
long. In the waning days
of winter, please take
some time to go through
the photos that you
would like to share at
our potluck at the June
Robin Llewellyn and I will create a slide show commemorating the members and events of the Whidbey Audubon
Society over the past two years. Photos of birds, of course,
are welcome, but we are really more interested in people at
Whidbey Audubon events. If you don’t have any, it’s not
too late to start taking them at field trips, meetings or other
bird-related events.
Our deadline is April 30. That will give us plenty of time
to put together the slide show. Please include the name of the
photographer and any people who are in the shot, and where
the photo was taken as well as any other interesting information. Prizes will be awarded in different categories that may or
may not be revealed in April (editor’s prerogative).
Send photos to me, Jenny.
— Jenny Brown
mammoths and mastodons for these reasons. When territory is
limited, diminished or destroyed, something changes and creatures move to a new area where there is safety and food. Some
are not able to change and may become food for those who
stay or they become extinct. (It is much more complicated than
this, but you get the idea.)
Our opportunity is now to pay attention to our habitat for
us as humans and all the beauty we enjoy living with, including
the birds who migrate through or are regulars in our forests,
marshes, fields and waters.
The Sixth Extinction is not a mystery;
it is a real story we are a part of and one
where there are pathways open to keep
our habitat healthy for us all to enjoy.
Mysteries are great escapes; this book got
me thinking long after the final paragraph
and the book returned to the library. I am
grateful that Whidbey Audubon Society
continues to focus on supporting healthy
habitat for all of the creatures on the Island.
— Anna Swartz, President
Whidbey Audubon 20th
Annual Birdathon
O
n May 2 and 3, enjoy Whidbey Island’s peak birding season
and help raise funds for Whidbey Audubon’s scholarship
program and general fund. The birdathon is the primary fundraiser for our scholarship program. Last year’s pledges and donations exceeded $6,500, of which approximately $4,700 was designated for the scholarship fund and $1,800 for the general fund.
Teams record all species observed in a single day in May (the
earlier the better, such as May 2 or 3). Team members collect
pledges from donors who can contribute a lump sum or an
amount per species observed. You may participate by making a
donation, by collecting pledges for a team or by forming your
own team to collect pledges and count birds. Business sponsors
will be honored in our newsletter and on
our website.
The team observing the most species will obtain possession of the fabulous
Golden Binoculars Trophy for the next
year. Last year five teams participated with
a combined result of 141 species. The coveted Golden Binoculars
Trophy went to the All-for-Knot team who spotted 127 species.
Birdathon coordinator Linda Perry Dwight will answer questions at the March meeting. For additional information, email
Linda (click red text) or call 360-678-5255.
— Linda Perry Dwight, Birdathon Chair
SHORELINES3
March 2015
Conservation Column
Alternatives for Private Forests
W
hen you look around at your 10 or 40 forested acres,
what do you see? Bird shelter, water retention, air purifier, two-by-fours, houses, money? There are really alternatives
to clear-cutting. The Whidbey Camano Land Trust and the
Whidbey Conservation District offer expert advice on forest
and open space management, including conservation easements and long-term approaches to economically sustainable
logging. They can often point landowners to State and Federal
financial assistance to achieve conservation goals.
Whidbey Audubon Society is studying the issue of logging
from a local perspective, in order to encourage links between
private forests and our existing wildlife corridors. The goal of
our project is to bring timely, practical information to landowners who are considering logging and developing their properties.
­— Susan Bennett, Conservation Chair
12th Annual Olympic Birdfest
April 10 to 12 in Sequim
A
bird watching vacation for beginners
to experts, from leisurely
strolls to active hikes.
Bird for a few hours, or
all day; from the dawn
chorus to the evening owl
prowl. Enjoy guided birding trips, boat tours, silent
auction, gala banquet,
and more. Our featured
speaker: Lynsy Smithson
Stanley, Climate Change as a ‘Bird Issue’.
Join the BirdFest Pretrip on April 8 to 9; two days exploring
northwest coastal Washington, a region rarely seen by birders.
BirdFest program information and registration can be found
on the Olympic Peninsula BirdFest website.
Also this year, stay on for a three-day, two-night birding/
sightseeing cruise of the San Juan Islands, April 12 to 14. Register separately with Puget Sound Express (click red text).
Dates to Remember
MARCH
12: Whidbey Audubon Program, Forest Niches for Small
Birds with Rob Sandelin
18: Field Trip, George C. Reifel Migratory Sanctuary, British Columbia
28: Oiled Wildlife Training, Everett
31: Field Trip, Meerkerk Gardens in Greenbank
More dates, see page 4
Upcoming Field Trips, from page 1
Bird Migration Cruises,” Go to “Book Now”and if you are an
Audubon member select ptmsc Members and choose the April
25 date. It is easy sailing from there on. The cost of the cruise
is $50 plus tax, per person for Audubon members, or $55 for
nonmembers. Plan to bring a sack lunch that you can enjoy
onboard while we listen and learn about Protection Island from
a trained naturalist. There is indoor seating and the cruise will
go even in the rain (strong wind could cancel the trip). If you
need more information or are planning to join us, please email
me, Ruth Scrivner, or call 360-679-0397. Remember you will
need a Discover Pass to park your car in the Coupeville Ferry
Dock parking lot.
Check for updates on the Whidbey Audubon Society website
and select the button “Upcoming Events”.
Field Trip Checklist
DD Field trips are free and open to anyone interested in
birding or conservation. Bring your friends!
DD Beginners are very welcome
DD Carpooling is encouraged and even required for
some sites with limited parking
DD Dress for the weather and in layers.
DD Very bad weather cancels a trip. Check with the trip leader.
DD If you have them, bring binoculars, scope and field guides.
DD If you might need them, bring a drink and snack.
Avian Flu Update
A
lthough the quarantines have been lifted on domestic fowl
in Washington State, the threat of avian flu to wild raptors
remains.
According to the Falcon Research Group (frg) Winter Bulletin, a Cooper’s Hawk and two Red-tailed Hawks have succumbed to the disease.
“This sobering report indicates that the virus is now in the
wild and killing an unknown number of raptors over a broad
geographical area of Washington. The difficulty is in determining how many raptors are actually dying,” states the frg.
How can you help?
•Report any dead raptors you or others find to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at 800-606-8768
or 360-466-4345.
•The Falcon Research Group is beginning a new study to
learn about how this virus may be impacting wild populations of raptors. “We will be monitoring wild raptor nests
this spring/summer to see if we can detect any changes in
occupancy. If you know of any Bald Eagle and/or Redtailed Hawk nest and are willing to check for occupancy
this spring, please email the Falcon Research Group or call
360-757-1911.”
4
SHORELINES
March 2015
Sightings Sightings Sightings Sightings Sightings
January 24: I just received a
reliable report of a very early
(or late) Turkey Vulture feeding on a duck in a field at the
corner of Scenic Heights and
Balda Roads, Oak Harbor.
— Dave Parent
February 7: One Short-eared
Owl at Keystone Spit.
— Emma and Frank Ruggiero
February 8: Over 150 swans
(sp.) in the field next to the
fruit stand at Dugualla Bay.
We have never seen that many
before on Whidbey Island.
— Susan Bennett
Corrections
In the February 2015 Shorelines, “Sightings”: on January
3, Toni Piazzon reported an
Orange-crowned Warbler
at her feeder, not a Goldencrowned. It is still hanging
around as of early February.
The photographer of the
Scrub Jay is Sharon Gauthier.
February 14: Saw an unusual
male Mallard late this afternoon at Ewing Road Marsh.
It was hanging out with some
other mallards. It looked similar to this bird [referenced
“Domestic or Manky Mallards” on the 10,000 Birds
website, but was a little lighter
on the back, looking reddish
with the sun low in the sky,
but clearly much darker than
the usual mallard on the back.
— George Heleker
February 17: The Mallard
mentioned above is definitely
a domestic Mallard cross. The
described plumage type is generally produced by crossing a
mallard with a Blue Swedish
or a Khaki Campbell with a
Blue Swedish.
— Emma Ruggiero
February 18: Rufous Hummingbird at our feeder. The
first for us this season.
— John Schuster, Goss Ridge
Road, Freeland
February 19: Yes, the Rufous
is back. Saw my first gorgeous
(cognate with gorget!) male
today.
— Linda Bainbridge,
Greenbank
February 20: Eurasian Wigeon in Freeland Park near the
boat ramp. — Martha Hollis
Photo by Mary Hollis
Eurasian Wigeon
February 21: Lincoln’s Sparrow, seen with four Song
Sparrows and a single Fox
Sparrow in tall bushes at the
Southwest corner of the property, Freund March.
— Jay Adams
February 24: I’m thinking
I saw a Merlin perched on a
telephone pole on State Route
20 going toward Keystone
Spit. It was small-ish, dark
back, tail had three stripes that
I could see. — Marie Shaw
Note: Sightings should be on
Whidbey Island or relate in
some way to Whidbey Audubon. Postings should refer to
birds or other wildlife that
are not commonly seen here.
Alternatively, they may refer
to migratory birds that arrive
outside their normal seasons.
Please post to the Whidbey
Audubon website, there are
now designated spaces to submit your information, such as,
what you saw, where you saw
it and the date and approximate time. These changes are
meant to enhance the sightings reports and will be helpful for our readers. Although
we are asking those who post
to leave a phone number or
email address with your sighting, was will not include this
information on the actual
sightings page. Thank you!
Birding in Neighborhoods North: Birding at Swan Lake
February 11: The forecasted fog was a no-show, giving our
group a nice morning of birding at the beach at Joseph Whidbey State Park and Swan Lake. We saw both Double-crested
and Pelagic Cormorants perching together on a submerged
log, and both Horned and Red-necked Grebes. A single
Common Loon floated near several Surf Scoters and pairs of
Buffleheads and Red-breasted Mergansers. Swan Lake was
full of Northern Pintails, Mallards, Wigeons and a Ruddy
Birding in Neighborhoods South
February 4: Rain and wind kept birds and birders under shelter.
February 19: We had a grand morning at Crockett Lake.
Highlights were a small flock of Western Meadowlarks, Shorteared Owls in flight and a Rough-legged Hawk perched on a
post. We saw 39 species before the rains came. — Phyllis Kind
Birding in Neighborhoods South meets every other Thursday.
The time varies depending on the season. Email Phyllis Kind
or call 360-331-6337.
Duck. We also added a new gull to our always listed GlaucousWinged, the Herring Gull! Thanks, Ruth. In all, we saw 27
species of birds. — Marcia Lazoff
Birding in Neighborhoods North meets the second Wednesday of the month. Email Marcia Lazoff to be added to the
email list.
More dates, from page 3
APRIL
9: Whidbey Audubon Program: Not So Secret Life of Herons with Dennis Paulson
10–12: Olympic Peninsula Birdfest
12: Birding by Ear, 8 a.m. to noon, Padilla Bay Interpretive
Center
25: Field Trip, Protection Island Bird Migration Cruise,
Port Townsend, see page 1
25: Earth and Ocean Celebration, Greenbank Farm, 1 to 6 p.m.
30: Deadline for Potluck photos
SHORELINES5
March 2015
Field Trip Reports
Red-throated Loons Field Trip at Deception Pass
T
he annual Deception Pass Loon Field Trip must be scheduled when the tide turns at Deception Pass around 9 to 10
a.m. This year the right conditions fell on Tuesday, January 27.
About sixteen people showed up for a beautiful morning —
mild, partly cloudy with occasional sun breaks and no wind.
The first treat was sighting about 50 Black Oystercatchers
along with gulls and a couple Harlequin Ducks on the small
rock island off the parking lot.
Pelagic and Brandt’s), and three mergansers (Red-breasted,
Common and Hooded).
From the north shore of West Beach we enjoyed a wonderful showing of Red-throated Loons flying in by the hundreds
past Deception Island to feed on fish in the outflowing tide.
Also seen were a few Common Loons and a couple of us spotted a Pacific Loon among the hundreds and hundreds of Redthroateds. Other highlights were three grebes (Horned, Rednecked and Pied-billed), three cormorants (Double-crested,
The half-day field trip produced 44 species and was probably the most comfortable weather we’ve yet had on this annual
trip. On the return to Oak Harbor, several carpools stopped
at Dugualla farm stand to look at a field full of Trumpeter
Swans, then to Dike Road for the final trip highlight — four
Canvasback Ducks.
Pigeon Guillemots were present in varying shades of plumage from winter white-and-gray to summer black-and-white. A
lineup of about a dozen gave us a great look at the color gradations as they molt. At Cranberry Lake, close viewing gave us
a good comparison of a Lesser Scaup swimming with several
Greater Scaup, and some of us spotted a swimming beaver.
— Sarah Schmidt and Joe Sheldon, Trip Leaders.
Winter Birding on the Samish/Skagit Flats and Fir Island
T
he February 14 trip was a high five by all accounts. We
had great weather and a great group of 20 excited birders.
The final tally for the day was 56 species! We began at Dugualla Pond for
duck species and the Canvasback in
particular. Ducks were abundant, but
no Canvasbacks. Hunting there may
have significantly reduced the regular 12 to 20 Canvasbacks of previous
years. About 150 Trumpeter Swan
were present on the water and near
the vegetable stand on State Route
Photo by Mike Stropki
20. Once we reached the mainland
Northern Harrier
and the flats, both species of swan
(Trumpeter and Tundra) posed for discriminating views. Sev-
eral thousand Snow Geese provided
both auditory and visual candy for our
enjoyment. A highlight was one blue
phase Snow Goose fraternizing with its
white siblings. Since all the snow geese
wintering on the flats hatched on WranPhoto by Mike Stropki
gel Island, Russia we listened for some
goose-like Russian accent, but none Rough-legged Hawk
was discerned. The day provided great
looks at Rough-legged Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Merlin and
Northern Shrike. We ended the afternoon at Deception Pass
for loons, grebes and alcids. It just was not right to end the day
with only 49 species. Thanks to all who participated in making
this a special day of birding.
— Joe Sheldon, Trip Leader
Sunnyside Cemetery, Ebey’s Bluff
and Crockett Lake
F
ebruary 28 was a beautiful sunny
morning We had a large group
of birders and cooperative birds!
Twenty-seven of us got to start the
morning with a perched Merlin,
which sat near us for almost half an
hour. We saw eagles and hawks, and
Photos by Emory Lindgard finished the morning with a look at
Ducks seen on Crockett Lake February 28 are a a Short-eared Owl. Thirty species
pair of Scaup (top and bottom left) and a Buffle- were spotted.
head (right). The female Scaup is the near one.
— Kim Shepard, Trip Leader
Bald Eagle at Crockett Lake
SHORELINES
6
March 2015
It’s Time to Clean Nest Boxes and Maybe Not Clean the Yard!
from Off the Rails, #128 My Joyous Winter Project, check it out for the full story and more photos
othing makes the heart sing like
babies.
N
So in the coming weeks and months,
when the earliest cavity-nesting birds
look for a place to raise young in our
yard, Sue and I will be ready. Our recent
60-degree days convinced me t he season
will be early. Every morning now I hear
a [Pacific] Wren singing its long, convoluted song. And the first Rufous Hummingbirds from Mexico will come riproaring into our lives in just a week or
two! Then watch the courtship take off.
That’s why I’m fixing up my nest boxes. Hummingbirds won’t use them but
other birds will. Last week I landed on Craig and Joy
Johnsons’ doorstep for a second opinion
on two new cedar boxes built by a kind
friend, Larry, in his home workshop.
“Look at those!” Craig exclaimed with
a big grin as I came in the door. “Larry
built those? He’s gone online and done
some research.”
But the gears were already turning. “Do you have a ruler, honey?” Craig
asked, turning to Joy. “The opening on
the square house looks a little big.
“Yeah, this is inch-and-a-half. Needs
to be inch-and-a-quarter. I have a way to
fix that. “He explained the solution is to
drill a 1¼” opening in a square of wood
and attach it on top of the too-large
opening.
“I like the hinged clean-out panel.
And these saw-cuts he scored on the
Quasi “Bushtit” house at center.
Chickadee house right.
Off the Rails
with Dan Pedersen
Off the Rails is a blog published
every Saturday morning. To
subscribe, send Dan Petersen
an email.
inside will make it easier for baby Ballet! A Violet-green Swallow feeds its
birds to climb up to get fed. I love nestlings in our yard last July. They chose
this overhang. Seepage won’t get in my gaudiest box, arghhh!
even if it rains at an angle. All the
Nest boxes, see page 7
7
Nest boxes, from page 6
SHORELINES
Welcome New and
Renewing Members
way around this is a good little house, definitely a Chickadee
or House Wren house.”
Size of the entrance hole is critical to protect the young. If
it’s too large, predators or aggressive bully birds such as House
Sparrows will raid a box, take over, or discourage the targetspecies from using it. If the opening isn’t reinforced or built of
thick wood, squirrels or woodpeckers might chisel a larger one.
[See more on Dan’s blog; he concludes with the following tips.]
Birds are adaptive and you can break a lot of rules and still
attract them. Nevertheless, here are some tips to improve the
odds you’ll be a landlord to a bird family this spring.
Nest Box Tips
• Opening of 1¼-inch diameter
• Easy clean-out panel, preferably hinged
• Remove old nests, spiders, yellow jackets before the season
• No perch or peg
• Rough, unpainted surface if possible, such as cedar
• This box gets shade in afternoon heat.
Placement Tips
• Partial shade so the box doesn’t overheat in summer sun
• On a post or wall, 8 - 10 feet high
• Near a bush or tree so birds can watch before approaching
• Near grass pile, brush, dead flowers for nesting material
• Don’t clean your yard compulsively -- leave native habitat
• Near a clean bird bath for drinking and bathing water
March 2015
New Members
Suzanne LaChasse
Eileen Ryan
Cathi Bower
Sharon and Craig Reide
Lou Ann Shellenberger
Judy Wolfe
Candy and Robin Charlwood (Scholarship Fund)
Renewing Members
Liz and Pete Berg
Val and Joe Hillers
Merilyn Ohlson
Ferra Sherlock
Anna Swartz (Spotted Towhee) Clint and Merrilee Kaiser
Todd and Chris Peterson
John and Barbara Schuster
Barbara Paul
Robert Craig
Arlene Stebbins
Dan Pederson
Avery Wilson
Paul Begelow
Donald H Allen
Arlene Diamond
Randy Cowart and Bonnie Thie (Spotted Towhee)
Mary Woodbury (Spotted Towhee)
Sandra and Martin Albert (Spotted Towhee)
Jane Langenes and Marilyn Chambers (Spotted Towhee)
Check the address label for the month of your expiration.
For electronic copies, I will email you a reminder.
— Linda Bainbridge, Membership Chair
Whidbey Audubon Society Membership
Please make your check payable to WHIDBEY AUDUBON SOCIETY (WAS)
Mail to: Linda Bainbridge, 4459 Towhee Lane, Greenbank, WA 98253
Name__________________________________________________________________________________ C5ZY200Z
Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________ Email (optional)______________________________________________________
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______Individual Annual Membership $20 ______Pigeon Guillemot $75
______Household Annual Membership $30 ______Red-tailed Hawk $100
______Spotted Towhee $50 ______Osprey $________
$__________Additional Donation to be used for Scholarships
All memberships include 9 issues of Shorelines annually, a WAS window decal, discounts and early
registration in our educational classes.
______ SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY MEMBERSHIP for first year National Members only.
Receive a joint membership in National and Whidbey Audubon for one year for only $35.
Make check payable to National Audubon.
The Whidbey Audubon Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.
It is Whidbey Audubon policy to never share our membership and subscription information with other groups.