06-2009 towhee newsletter tahoma audubon society

8/9/2019 06-2009 Towhee Newsletter Tahoma Audubon Society

1/11

By Cami Kesinger

Ah, Spring! Its that time of year and many species

of birds are arriving in full, bright breeding plumage

for their annual migration north. As usual, the north-

west weather is unpredictable in May, but one thing

that we can always count on is Birdathon! As of this

writing, Birdathon is in full swing!

Here are a couple of highlights: Nell & Kim

Batkers trip on Apr. 25 started out bitter and cold

with temperatures in the 30s. However, the number

of birds they spotted at Nisqually NWR and Ocean

Shores made the day worthwhile. Members of the

trip saw 90 species of birds including big flocks of

shorebirds at the ocean.

The Green River Watershed trip on May 9 led by

Greg Volkhardt and Rolan Nelson had just the oppo-

site weather: Warm and sunny! The birders ven-

tured to the headwaters

of the restricted Green

River watershed where

they took their time to

observe nature in action.

Many species of birds were

seen, and the group even saw a young black bear

Published by the Tahoma Audubon Society: Connecting people with nature since 1969. Vol. 40 No. 5 Jun 2009

Birdathon 2009 update

See "little Big Twitch" on page 6

See "Birdathon 2009 on page 10

25 years ago page 8

Birdathon pages 1, 3

BirdSongs page 9

Calendar page 12

Education page 4

Executive Directors column page 2

Field trips page 5

New members page 2

Quizical Owl page 8

Volunteer recognition page 3

In this issue:

When I pledged my Birdathon bucks to Faye McAdams

Hands, I knew I was in for another crazy ride. This year, the

Willettes were in Texas for the American Birding Associations(ABA) 40th Anniversary convention (a good year to turn 40,

right Tahoma Audubon?). There were ten of us this time, up

from the original four Willettes who all met many years ago

in Ken Browns Tahoma Audubon birding class. And yes,

some of us are still taking that class!Faye always chooses some impossibly birdy place or event

for Birdathon each year, doing it her own way and in a big

way. This year at ABA we were treated to a great after-dinner

speech at our first evening in Corpus Christi by Alan Davies

and Ruth Miller from Wales. They had just completed the

Biggest Twitch, (www.thebiggesttwitch.com) breaking the

The little

Big TwitchBirdathon

By Diane Yorgason-Quinn

Abv: Indigo Bunting. Right: Magnicent Frigatebird spooking the locals at Port Aransas Photos/Diane Yorgason-Quinn

DevelopmenT newS

Dnat t th Tahma Audubn Scity

Cmmn birds at risk, shar dcin f sa birds in pugt Sund,Gba arming ffcts n habitat, and nar xtinctin fr thSttd o. Ths ar sm f th rcnt hadins that addurgncy t ur rk t rsrv habitat fr idif and humans.

Yur dnatin is critica t th succss f ur imrtant rk.Dnat tday! Yur dnatin is tax dductib.

Cickhr t g t ur dnatin bag.
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/Default.aspx?pageId=30314&wstepNo=1&wctxId=49a8c37233684fd6a81ce174993f93f5http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/Default.aspx?pageId=30314&wstepNo=1&wctxId=49a8c37233684fd6a81ce174993f93f5http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/


2/11

The world of

news and media is

rapidly changing.

Print newspapers

are imploding.

Every week itseems my copy of

the News Tribune

gets thinner and

thinner. And no

one seems to know

what is coming next.

What do these changes mean for how we, as a

chapter, communicate with our members and the

public at large? What kind of new media are better

for communication among our membership?

We have a web site, like most organizations do.

For a while we updated a blog on a regular basis.

Our event calendar is on our web site and gets

updated all the time. We do have a Facebookgroup, which any user can be find simply by

searching for Tahoma Audubon. We use email

listserves (old school) and have yet to get into

Twitter (the bomb!).

The verdict is still out on Twitter; is it better then

sliced bread or just a high-tech Chia Pet? I would

like to see birders experiment with it. On a field

trip, someone can text message Tweets aboutbirds being seen on the trip. Birders back home

could have instant updates and those on the trip

have instant bragging rights. Plus, dont you think

birding should be all about Tweets and Twitters?

Like many chapters our newsletter started long

before the Internet as a primary way of building

the organization and communicating with like-

minded people. It was limited, however, to being

a one-way form of communication. Today, com-

munication is more like a web of interactive and

interconnected people and the people who need to

know about an event may receive an email or get

information on facebook two weeks before our

newsletter is published.Yet, the experience our newsletter gives people

each month is personal and purposeful. The focus

it demands each month in putting it together helps

make sure all the parts of the organization cometogether. There are no plans to end the newsletter,

but it is important to touch base on how we com-

municate.

So, we want to hear from you. Is the Towhee

valuable to you? What do you get out of it? What

do you wish it did more of? What information is

missing?

How would you prefer to receive your informa-

tion? Are there electronic versions of the Towhee

you would use regularly like blogs, e-newsletters

or social network sites?

Please take a few moments to go to our website

and take a very short survey about the newsletter.

You can also fill out the enclosed survey andreturn it to us. Doing so just may help us see the

future. Thank you.

Page 2 www.tahomaaudubon.org June 2009

executive directorsCorner

The Towhee is a publication of the Tahoma Audubon Society.

The Tahoma Audubon Society was chartered in 1969. TASadvocates for the protectionof wildlife and promotes conservation through education and activities that enrich its mem-

bers experiences in and with the natural world.

The Towhee is published monthly, ten times a year, with a combined Jul/Aug and Dec/Jan

issue. Submissions of articles and photographs of birds, bird lore, natural history, conserva-

tion, and environmental education are reviewed and considered for inclusion by the editor.

Copy is due by the 15th of the month and may be sent by e-mail, disk, or typed.

Editor: David Cohn: [email protected]

Mailing: Vera & John Cragin and Winfield Giddings

Design & Layout: Robert Kelton: E-mail: robert_kelton@ mac.com

Printing: Consolidated PressPrinted on recycled newsprint

The media frontier

welcometo New and Returning Members

April 16, 2009 to May 15, 2009

Taha Audub Staff

Fit, Brya Executive [email protected] 253-565-9129

Kyr, Krysta Conservation [email protected] 253-232-9978

Sai, Sthai Education [email protected] 253-327-9480

Kssigr, Cai Development [email protected] 253-565-9129

Tayr, Graha Volunteer 253-565-1884Krriga, Jui Coordinator [email protected] [email protected]

Taha Audub Bard officrs

John Garner President

Marjorie Shea Vice President

Jane Brosius Secretary

Kathleen Nelson Treasurer

Taha Audub Bard mbrs 2009

Thelma Gilmur

Dick Carkner

Marcus Roening

Peggy L. Kopf

Darby Veeck

Loren Webster

Th pirc Cuty Chatr f Th natia Audub Scitylcatd i Uirsity pac's Adriaa Hss wtad park

2917 mrris Rd w Uirsity pac, wA 98466offic hurs 10 a.. - 1 .. Frt dsk 253-565-9278

Ione Clagett

Melissa Paulson

Bill Smith

Tanja Scott

Charles Griffin

Chapter New and Renewing:

Dennis & Joyce Anderson, Ken &

Judy Austin, Edith M Brewer,

Barbara Crowell, Jack and EvelynGallagher, Linda Guerrero, Mr

& Mrs John Herzog, Alvin

Kageler, Georgene Kunz,

Faulene Main, Kay Olson,

Carolyn Orwiler, Shelley Parker,

Richard Perdue, Gail Rinehart, Ron

& Helen Robinson, Selinda

Sheridan, Brian Sullivan & Anna

Leon-Guerrero.

Chapter Joint with National

Joining here at Tahoma Audubon:

Jerry Broadus, Ronald & Trusilla

Bussinger, Kathy Chappell,

Gretchen Engle, Richard Moe, KrisQuinn, Isabel Ragland, Louiza

Rettko, Jim & Lari Ryan, Jan

Stirling, Gail & Michael Venuto,

Laurissa Wallace, Lewis Wallon,

Eunice Werner, Dennis & Joy

White.

Introductory, Recruited

through Tahoma Audubon:

Albert & Linda Bird, Ann Mabry,

Laurie Martinez, Valerie Nosky-

Webb, Allen & Carol Smith, Karen

Webb.

Introductory, Recruited

through National Audubon:

Carla Ball, Richard Brown, Ellen

Beall, Douglas V Beck, Micki

Boyle, Jenny Call, Jerry Carlisle,

Jeff Chamberlin, Cena Codega,

Susan Colvin, Johanna Cotter, Anne

Dodge, Lisa Field, Cathy Florenzen,

Kathleen Harris, Doris Hartman,Judy Hopkins, Shilo Howland,

Burney Huff, Gary L Hughes,

Robert Isaacson, Peggy Johnson,

Babbette Kunkle, Thomas E

MacDonald, J E Nelson, Richards-

Gappa Family, Paul Roberts, Ursula

Scott, Fred H Smith, Mary E Smith,

Mike Smitten, Lavon Warfield, June

L Warwick, Ted Werner, Janet

Willis.

htt://.facbk.cm/gru.h?gid=26604003716&rf=ts

Th rdict is sti ut Tittr;

is it bttr th sicd brad

r just a high-tch Chia pt?
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


3/11

June 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 3

Spring has

attracted volunteers

to the park like the

Flowering Red

Currant attracts

hummingbi rds .Students, avid gar-

deners, and church

groups have

flocked to Adriana

Hess Wetland Park, offering their weeding, pruning,

and beautification expertise. They come to meet a

class requirement, to find religious fulfillment or to

show their love of the parks native plants.

The dedicated effort of the Adriana Hess Wetland

Park Committee and the volunteers it attracts indi-cates a deep community love for this restored natu-

ral area. The wildlife and birds respond to the com-

munitys affection, as illustrated by the 30 different

species volunteers counted for our May 11 Birdathon.

Volunteers chirp happily about a

Virginia Rail family that responded

loudly to the audio tape they played

to mimic its call. Additionally, there

have been accounts of a Spotted

Sandpiper moseying around the

water basin on the east side of

Adriana Hess.

The birds and wildlife of the park

deciding to nest and raise theiryoung here have revealed a certain

trust in the Tahoma Audubon Society. As evidence

of this, Rosanne Beckers discovery of a Killdeer

nest full of eggs is encouraging, reaffirming our

efforts here in the park. Just like the wildlife, parents

of human youngsters have entrusted Tahoma

Audubon to take care of their little ones by dropping

off their children, ages five to seven, here to encour-

age them to learn about birds, nature and enrolling

them in after-school classes that focus on the envi-ronment and natural sciences.

The park has become more than a place of leisure

and peace; it has become a sanctuary for life to

grow and develop. It has flowered into a place that

encourages certain mindfulness, instilling the sort

of serenity one can only find in nature. Although the

April showers have invaded the month of May, the

park will soon have additional shelter. Tahoma

Audubons very own Julie Kerrigan is expecting the

outdoor educational shelter to be finished by the end

of the month; allowing children, educators and vol-

unteers a space for environmental education, social-

ization and staying dry.

On behalf of the Tahoma Audubon Society I mustthank Adriana Hess Committee member Janet Bent

and her husband Rick Pinkley for building

this new shelter. Tahoma Audubon would

also like to thank Jim Stimach for his con-

struction expertise, and Conservation

Committee leader Dixie Harris and Team

Insurance for paying for the materials to build

the shelter. It is the Audubon members and

volunteers like these who help make Adriana

Hess a vibrant place for life to blossom.

Not many people know about Oak Tree

Park and its claim to having the last remaining

oak tree forest in Pierce County. In fact, from

the road a passerby would have no idea that a

park was nestled at the back of the dead end.

Fortunately, some people do know about the

park and are taking active steps such as removing

invasive species and re-planting native plants to

maintain and restore the park.

April 25 at Oak Tree Park proved to be a very

productive day of invasive species removal. Over

forty volunteers from a variety of organizations

came out to help clean up Oak Tree Park. Most of

the volunteers were students from Tacoma School

of the Arts who have been taking care of this park

for several years through various work parties.

Ken Luthy, science teacher at SOTA, organizes

the student work parties and has been involved with

restoration plans for the park. Ken does not waste

time while at the park. He immediately goes to the

area in most need of restoration and gets right to it.

His students follow without question and get right

to work. These students cleared large areas filled

with massive blackberry bushes and trash laden

underbrush. Several boys climbed up an invasive

tree and worked at sawing off limbs and pulling out

saplings from below it. Some volunteers dug up

rusty old car parts, food wrappers and an assortment

of other garbage.

I continue to be impressed with their work ethic

and dedication to the park. Staff members from

Tacoma Goodwill came out to help as well and

were very enthusiastic and fun to be around.

Washington Native Plant Societys Natural Area

Habitat Steward, Albert Styers, was one of the

people responsible for making this work party such

a success. He helped with set-up, providing

instructions and planning which area would be tack-

led for its invasive species. Some of his fellow

Natural Area Habitat Stewards, Dan

Fear and Trish Willebrand also came to

help out at the work party. Ralph Klose,

a member of Rotary 8 has been the driv-

ing force for maintaining Oak Tree Park

and organizing annual work parties. His

hard work and dedication does not go

unnoticed.

Interview with Natural Area Habitat

Steward Albert Styers

JK: Why did you choose to work at Oak Tree

Park?

AS: I chose Oak Tree Park because it is one of the

last of the oak tree forest sites in the Puget Sound.

Although it is in the Metro Park System and not

slated for development, it has been neglected for

many years and in need of help to restore it back to

a more natural condition. This would include

removal of the invasive species like ivy, scotch

broom and blackberry, and the removal a number of

trees (Douglas fir, non-native Cherry, and the

Chestnut trees). There are other non-native plants

there that will be dealt with on a case-by-case

basis.

JK: How do you think the April 25 work party

went?

A.S.:I thought the work party on the twenty-fifth

went really well. We had 40 volunteers participate;

half of those came from School of the Arts (SOTA).

We were split into three groups. One small group

worked on taking out ivy and blackberry that had

sprouted from a couple years ago. One large group

worked under a large Chestnut tree. They cleaned

out the Chestnut

sprouts and a large

patch of blackber-

ries. They must

have cleared and

area of about

30-35 wide by

60-70 long. The

third group worked

up on the bluff

above the gravel pit

removing Scotch

broom and black-

berry.

JK: Are there any upcoming events at the

park?

AS:On Saturday Jun. 20from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.

we will be having another work party at Oak Tree

Park. We will be focused on spreading wood chips

and invasive species removal.

For more information or to sign-up

call Julie Kerrigan (253) 223-0039

or [email protected]

volunteerRecognition

Work party at

Oak Tree Park

Its Spring at Adriana Hess!

Photos/Julie Kerrigan
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


4/11

Thank you to

the Education

Volunteer

Interns this

Spring!

I want to give abig hearty

THANKS to the

three amazing

interns that have

helped keep our

programs running

this Spring.

Rikkianne Cox

and Rachel Montgomery had the immense task

of organizing our 10th Annual Bird Drawing

Contest. They have contacted schools, designed

posters and other marketing materials, managed a

huge mailing to the schools and have been keeping

up with their schoolwork to boot! Without their

help, the students in Pierce County would be in the

dark about the Bird Drawing Contest. Thank

you!

Eddie Holbrook is the Osprey Club educator

for our newest site at Fort Lewis. He has been

instrumental in organizing the first short session of

Osprey Club, which began in mid-April. He hasdesigned the curriculum, encouraged the students

to sign up, fearlessly led meetings of the Club and

has been the on-post liaison for the staff at Teen

Zone. We have had seven fun and educational

Club meetings because of his dedication to the

success of this program at Fort Lewis. Thank

you!

I want to thank Brianna Charbonnel for her

dedication leading the Osprey Club in Tacoma and

Fife since February. She has led the programs at

McIlvaigh and Mason Middle Schools and

Columbia Junior high. Over 50 students have par-

ticipated in her programs and she has helped them

to explore West Hylebos Wetland Park, the lowerHylebos Creek, Titlow Beach, the Puyallup Fish

Hatchery and the Tacoma Nature Center as well as

the parks close to their schools. Thanks Brianna!

Narrows View Osprey Club in University

Place completes their restoration project

at Kobayashi Park

On Thursday, May 14 the Osprey Club plantednative plants at Kobayashi Preserve in University

Place. The students have been stewards of the park

this school year through a generous grant from the

Puyallup/ Chambers-Clover Small Grants Program.

The students have cleared ivy, tested the quality of

the creeks and planted native vegetation to improve

the habitat for the two creeks that flow through the

property and for the wildlife that live there. We

would like to thank Melissa Buckingham from the

Pierce County Stream Team for designing a plan for

our project and for shar-

ing her tools and exper-

tise. We would also like to

thank Anna Thurston of

the Washington Native

Plant Society for donating

a number of plants to our

project.

June Membership

Meeting will be a

Celebration of Birds

and Youth ArtistsBring the family to the

June Membership

Meeting!

The Education

Committee will host the

June TAS membership

meeting at Tacoma Nature Center and is planning

an engaging evening for kids and adults. Be there

to meet and congratulate the winners of the 10th

Annual Bird Drawing Contest. All are welcome.

Date: Friday June 12

Time: 6:30 pm Reception to view winning

pictures of Bird Drawing Contest, meet the youngartists, and enjoy refreshments.

7 pm Award ceremony followed by a friendly

game of JeoBirdy! Bring your knowledge of birds

with you!

The monthly membership meetings will be on

summer break until September.


educationMatters

2917 Morrison Road W.,

University Pl. WA 98466

253-565-9278

www.TahomaAudubon.org

Open Mon Sat. 10a.m.-1p.m.

1919 South Tyler Street,

Tacoma WA 98338

253-591-6439 www.metroparkstacoma.org

Open Tues. Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

& Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

stephanieSwAImeducati Crdiatr

Call Steph @ 253-565-5479. Or

[email protected]

Check our websites for latest class listings and times.

Education highlights and updates envirnmnta educatrAmriCrs sitin n!

Are you a recent graduate? Do you

love to teach in and about nature? Do

you wish to play a part in building a gen-

eration of environmental stewards? If

you said yes to everything above, check

out the Environmental Educator position

at the Tahoma Audubon Society. The

Environmental Educator will be coordi-

nating the Osprey Club after-school pro-

gram for Middle-and High-school youth

in the Tacoma, Fife, University Place

school districts and at the Teen Zone at

Fort Lewis. It is a yearlong AmeriCorps

position designed to give you real-life job

skills in your preferred field! So if you

have an interest in environmental and

outdoor education, science, youth men-torship, or ecology this could be the job

for you!

To find out more and how to apply,

please call Steph at 253-327-9480, or

email [email protected].

Abv: Students plant native plants along the banks ofChambers Creek.B: Students clear English Ivy from Kobayashi onMarch 19.

Photos/Stephanie Swaim
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


5/11

Adriana Hess Wetland Park Bird Walk2917 Morrison Rd W in University Place.

When: Monday, June 8, noon to 1:00pm

Leader: Ruth Sullivan

Morse Wildlife Preserve Bird WalkWhen: Saturday, June 13, 9:00am to 11am

Leader: Betty Jones

Call: 253-565-9278 for signup and directions

Morse Wildlife PreserveOpen Trails

When: Sunday, June 14, 12:00 noon until

4:00pm

Call: 253-565-9278 for directions. No signup

required.

Adriana Hess Wetland Park Plant WalkWhen: Monday, June 15, 12:00noon to 1:00pm

Leader: Richard Van Deman

No signup needed

Family Walkat Adriana Hess Wetland ParkWhen: Sunday June 28 @ 4:00p.m.

Come for an afternoon filled with nature.

Childrens activites available.

Leader: Tanja Scott

Weekly Bird Walks at NisquallyWhen: Wednesdays 8:00 am to 11:30 am

Leader: Phil Kelley

Birdwalk hikes are now changed! The board-

walk loop, including the twin barns and

riparian overlook, are the only areas open to the

public due to construction related

to dike removal. Even so, bird watching has

been quite good!Join Phil on his weekly bird walks as he counts

the birds at Nisqually NWR. The

group takes the boardwalk/trail loop out to the

Twin Barns, the Nisqually overlook area, and the

riparian area, totaling about 2 miles.

Bring: Good walking shoes or boots, raingear,

water, snacks, and $3 for entry fee

unless you have a pass. Scopes are welcome.

Meet: At the Visitors Center.

Directions: Take I-5 south from Tacoma and

exit to Nisqually NWR at exit

114. Take a right at the light.

Sign-up: Call or email Phil Kelley to confirm

details.(Start time may change to 7:30 am.)

Phil Kelley, Lacey, (360) 459-1499, or e-mail at

[email protected].

Nisqually NWR has started a 3-4 year estuary

reconstruction project. For more information

about trail closures for the dike

removal and reconstruction project, go to http://

www.fws.gov/nisqually/ and click on Events and

News. During the reconstruction, some trails

will be closed.

field trips and Events


Call TAS to register (253-565-9278). Some trips are

people limited out of necessity.

Notify TAS 24 hours in advance if you cannot come.

Field trip leaders put in a lot of time and planning and

no-shows disrupt field trips. More than 3 no-shows a

year can result in revoking opportunity to participate.

Arrive at the meeting place early.

No pets are allowed.

Be prepared for seasonal weather.

Bring lunch, drinks and snacks if the field trip is

scheduled past mid-day.

All passengers divide total carpooling expenses.

Current guidelines are 20 cents a mile per car, not

including driver.

Beginners are always welcome.

Have fun.

rules

n Saturday, May 9, the nine birders of the Raucous

Ravens counted 130 scis, setting a B irdathon

record for both Pierce County and P-to-P. Our route

started at the Purdy spit around 5:15 a.m. and fin-

ished at Puget Park in Tacoma at 10 p.m.! During the

day we visited Titlow Park, Point Defiance Park, Ruston Way, Dock

street, tide flats, Marine View Drive, Military road and 176th street in

Spanaway, Fort Lewis prairies, Krager Lake, Paradise at Mount Rainier

National Park, back down to the Longmire area, stopped at Mashel

Creek and had a last-gasp stop at Puget Park in Tacoma.

The weather was perfect for our count, with plenty of sunshine, no

wind and wonderful views of the mountain. Charlie Wright and I werethe co-leaders with the following fellow raven participants: Tom

Schooley from Olympia, Wayne Sladek, Peter Wimberger, Wynne

Brown, Annie Meyer, Anna Thurston and Alex Harper visiting Charlie

from Miami, Florida.

After missing American Dipper at several locales in the National Park

and with the time getting late at 6:30 p.m., we decided to tally our

day list. We ended at 128 species, which was already a new record.

After bidding good-byes to three of our party, Wynne mentioned that

we should at least try for 130 on our way back! We crossed Mashel

Creek and I remembered that dippers are sometimes found there.

Alex needed it for a life bird, so we turned around and hiked down to

the creek. Wynne found a pair that were nesting right

under the bridge and were actively feeding the

young back and forth from the creek!

Now, how to get the last bird? Peter mentioned a Barred Owl

that he hears from the canyon at Puget Park. Everyone was

game to give a last try even though it was close to 9:30 p.m.

After much who-cooks-for-you hooting, a few heard the

response from way down the canyon. The final tally was 130 with

high-fives all around!

Highlights, not including a snow ball fight at Paradise, were:

A pair of Cinnamon Teal at Krager Lake.

A Sooty Grouse on the side of the road approaching the National

Park that was trying to attack cars as they sped by!

Eared Grebe at Purdy.

Northern Harrier at Krager Lake. Peregrine Falcon at the 11th street bridge in Tacoma.

Bonapartes Gull seen at a distance from the ferry dock area at

Point Defiance.

Five Marbled Murrelets at Titlow Park.

Our first ever Dusky Flycatcher at the lake area off of l76 street.

Gray Jays landing on Alex and Annie at Paradise, looking for

handouts.

A Nashville Warbler at Point Defiance.

A gorgeous pure Hermit Warbler at Longmire!

An unbelievable migration of Western Tanagers from 30th and

Stevens streets in Tacoma all the way to Point Defiance Park. In

one tree alone, Charlie counted 20! We probably had over 100

tanagers pass by within an hours time!

Many thanks to all for this wonderful record setting day!

From

highlights of our 2009 trip

Purdy Paradiseo

to

-By Bruc laBar
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fws.gov/nisqually/http://www.fws.gov/nisqually/http://www.fws.gov/nisqually/http://www.fws.gov/nisqually/http://www.fws.gov/nisqually/mailto:[email protected]


6/11

previous record for the most species seen onEarth in one year with 4341 species in 2008 (pre-

vious world record was 3662 in 1989). Imagine

the Willettes glee to find that Alan and Ruth

were our guides on our Port Aransas field trip on

Apr. 30! A good omen for a Birdathon if ever

there was one. These two are the best spotters

in the world!

As our bus headed north from Corpus Christi

that morning, we drove into gale-force winds.

We knew it wasnt hurricane season, but did

Mother Nature know that? It was difficult to

identify anything at Indian Point Park through

binoculars and impossible to use scopes, but

Terns, Avocets, and Willets (!) were easily enjoyed

in spite of the nasty conditions.

Luckily, our next stop at the LeonaBelle Turnbull

Birding Center was more sheltered and the board-

walk there provided maximum 360-degree birding!

Not only were there ducks (Shovelers, Blue-Winged

Teal, Ruddy and Mottled Ducks) in the water, but

Avocets showed off their swimming skills, Roseate

Spoonbills lazily drifted overhead and just about

every species of heron and egret struck poses on all

sides, not noticing or caring about the hominids

whom they knew were confined to the boardwalk.

Just as we were marveling at the usually hard-to-

spot Sora that was perched on top of a large turtle at

waters edge, the end of the world was signaled!

Every bird that could fly or scream did so at once!

Even the humans usually suppressed fight-or-flight

instincts were momentarily sparked before we real-

ized it was all caused by one giant bird swooping

down like a primordial pterosaur: The Magnificent

Frigatebird! With its 7-foot wingspan and unmis-

takable threatening shape, it called all the shots until

it stole its booty and swept out again after five min-

utes, allowing life to gradually return to normal in

the wetland.

An interesting bird was seen strutting in shallow

water along the reedy periphery and, after much

discussion, Alan and a local expert who was on hand

weighed in that this was a King Rail rather than the

also-expected Clapper Rail. Much joy was heard inBirdathon Land, as this was a life bird for Faye (me

too!), so because of her own arcane Birdathon rules,

she got to charge her subscribers triple for seeing this

bird! This amazing Rail was still circumnavigating

its pond when we reluctantly were dragged away.

Not reluctant for long! While lunching at Pier A,

we proved to be magnets for Laughing Gulls who

closely watched us eat our lunches, and a Sanderling

was actually learning to beg for food! It would have

been as ominous as The Birds if the gulls werent

all laughing as they made their forays! And yes, all

were rewarded! Purple Martins, Cave Swallows,

and Chimney Swifts were patrolling the ether now

that the winds had abated.

The famed Paradise Pond near Corpus Christi was

doing its best to capture neotropic migrants as they

arrived from the south, including Blackpoll, Parula,

Yellowthroats, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow,

Tennessee, Nashville, and Black and White Warblers,

not to mention Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds.

Citrus fruits stuck onto the trees lining the edge of

the drought-dry big pond were literally dripping with

Orioles! As many as a dozen (Orchard, Baltimore,

and even a Bullocks) Orioles could be seen at once,

and intermixed with them were Painted and Indigo

Buntings and a Summer Tanager. Quite the laser

light show when the sun came out suddenly!

Then a new bird secretively made its way to one

of the water features and birding senses were pricked

as the brownish newcomer tried to stay anonymous

and in the background. He didnt know who he was

dealing with, though, as dozens of birder eyes fig-

ured out this was a Gray-Cheeked Thrush!! He

stuck around long enough to allow definitive identi-

fication by everyone present; a life bird for all ten of

us and triple money to Birdathon again!

On the bus drive back, our relaxation was short-

lived as a soaring bird over the right side of the bus

caught the eyes of those sitting on that side an

unmistakable Swallow-Tailed Kite! Faye had seen

this bird in Central America, but

never in North America so this one

merited double Birdathon money!!Back at ABA headquarters in Corpus,

Birdathon numbers were totted up and I

am now dealing with a big bill to pay to

Tahoma Audubon! Turns out we had

some even bigger birding days while in

Texas with huge trip totals, but certainly

none so memorable as that day in the Port

Aransas area. Total 102 species for the

day, with two lifers at triple price and one

ABA-area bird at double price; an accoun-

tants nightmare!

So next year, plan your Birdathon like

Faye does: Take the best spotters you

know, go to a very birdy place (such as

Pierce County), charge a premium to

your subscribers for life birds or out-

of-area birds and make those birders

work for it by pledging per bird

rather than a block amount. It does

add spice to the birding day! Im

already looking forward to (or

dreading) next year.

twitch

Page 6 www.tahomaaudubon.org June 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 7

1) Ten Willettes in matching Avocet

shirts with ABA Port Aransas trip lead-ers. Faye is pictured right under theP. Big Twitch trip leaders are Alan

Davies (left rear) and Ruth Miller (right

front, kneeling). (Photo/Tyler Bell)2) Faye McAdams Hands at Leona-

Belle Turnbull Birding Center, TX: Itsmy Birdathon, and Ill do it my way!

(Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn)

3) King Rail, another lifer for Faye,sneaks up on a Shoveler and a Dow-itcher! (Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn)

4)Alligator: Not something we have tocontend with in local birdathons. (Pho-to/Diane Yorgason-Quinn)

5)The swimming shorebirds, Avocets, atPort Aransas (Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn)6) Roseate Spoonbills patrol the skies.


7)Forsters Tern fshing at Port Aransas(Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn)

8) Blackpoll Warbler helping our warblercount at Paradise Pond. (Photo/DianeYorgason-Quinn)

9) GrayCheek: A Ka-Ching Bird! Lifer for

all TEN of us!!! Triple money to Birdathon!(Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn)

10) The Birds!!! Willettes Rhio Reigh, Faye

Hands, Melissa Sherwood, and Wendy Peter-son being attacked by Laughing Gulls in Texas


11) Rhio Reigh, Dorothy Husband, Louise Foun-tain, and Diane Kerlin at Paradise Pond, TX (Photo/

Diane Yorgason-Quinn)

- And fnally, needing no number to announce itspresence, a Tricolored Heron getting too close forOUR comfort. (Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn)

Bigfrom page 1

1 2 3 4

5

6

7

1011

8

9

... little


7/11

1. What songbird is a resident in Oregon but not in Washington?

2. This small Owl lives up to its name in far northern forests of Canada.

3. What high-flying goose has been recorded at 29,000 feet?

4. Name the only two predatory songbirds in North America.

5. Clarks Nutcracker belongs to what family of birds?wl

quizzical

the

By Thais Bck


Just the other day... Tahoma Audubon back in June 1984

(Answers below.)

AnSweRS:1.Wrentit2.BorealOwl3.Bar-headedGoose4.LoggerheadandNorthernShrikes5.Crows

Helen Englefrom days of yore.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service (F&WS) has

employed three sets of consultants to draw up the

plan for the Nisqually NWR: CH2M Hill, EDAW, and

Beak, Inc. The consultants first showing of their

conceptual plan dismayed many of us who had

been working for a NWR on the Delta since 1964.

We had participated in a public meeting specifically

called by F&WS to share our suggestions for a masterplan for our long-sought refuge with representatives

of the consulting firms.

Representing the TAS at the October 27, 1977

meeting, Tahoma Audubons board-endorsed

statement was as follows:

Thank you for the invitation to reiterate in a five-

minute statement what weve been saying for years

wed like the NWR to be like in the long-term

future.

Historically the National Audubon Society has taken

a lead role in the preservation of our countrys wildlife

by working for land acquisition by land management

agencies whose chief concern was stewardship of thehabitat. The formation of the Tahoma Audubon

Society, Pierce Countys Chapter of National, was

prompted in large part by the need for a strong

conservation voice and organized leadership within

our county in the struggle to see the Nisqually delta

designated as some form of refuge or sanctuary.

In 1959 we joined forces in the long series of

activities aimed at discouraging the Port of Tacomas

planned deep draft terminal facility in the Nisqually

estuary and encouraging by acquisition, legislative

proclamation, or whatever means, a protected status

for this benchmark river mouth.

In May 1970, at the National Audubon Societys 65th

Annual Convention, President Stahr announced the

purchase of 2.5 acres at the mouth of the Nisqually

River, an evidence of NAS concern for the area.

Members of Tahoma Audubon participated in the

preparation of the Puget Sound League of Women

Voters nisquay i Cofict, a definitive piece of

resource material published October 1970 in the

attempt to work toward the solution of the conflict.

Our chapter published its own position document

by Robert W. Ramsey, prosctus to Rtai ad

ehac th nisquay Dta as a natura

Bioogica laboratory ad widif Rfug in

January 1971. We were represented on the Nisqually

River Task Force during the long sessions developing

Th nisquay pa: From Raiir to th Sa,

with strong support of Governor Dan Evans and his

administration.

Two of us were on hand at Sea-Tac Airport inJanuary 1974 when the money changed

hands for the purchase of the Brown

Farm for the National Wildlife Refuge

system by the then Bureau of Sports

Fisheries and Wildlife.

As founding president of Tahoma

Audubon, I was spokesman in dozens of

public hearings over the years, and presented

have a slide-lecture regularly for schools and citizen

groups throughout the region on this important

wildlife resource, delta complex, and river system.

Succeeding presidents have continued our speaking,

correspondence, availability to those in whose handsour refuge rests.

Our regular and varied trips to the Refuge, by land

and water, have been supplemented with regular

flyovers to photograph the piece of geography so

many of us have come to be associated with. Our

birding, botanizing, ecology and outdoor education

work for every age level and credit opportunity -

has profited from our involved fieldwork here.

Optimism for this natural island in the megalopolis of

the future has always included acceptance of our

plan.

Having confirmed the Audubon position, which

was developed originally by the most qualified

naturalists and creative planners, almost a decade

ago, and has seen little change, we wait for the

opportunity to help make it happen.

Then as now, we asked for controlled public use of

a fragile complex of ecosystems. We asked that

there be provision for an outdoor biological laboratory,

an area for preservation of baseline niches. We

envisioned grasslands ecology in the historic

agricultural areas, a concern for the old fruit trees,

the maintenance of the sounder dairy buildings for

visitor center-museum-classroom-lab facilities.

We suggested public pullout points, vistas for

stopping with easy I-5 access/egress, overlooking

McAllister Creek on the Thurston side, and on

Hoffman Hill on the Pierce County side. Interpretation

panels here would satisfy a large percentage of

tourist interest, in a less fragile place able to handle

higher intensive use than the lower areas.Our trail system included a short, interpreted

loop trail and a more rugged- 5-mile dike

circuit around the Brown Farm plus

trails along the bordering hillsides on

both sides with views of the Sound

and the floodplain. We saw at least

one observation tower; a floatable bird

blind barge on the NAS acreage for serious

study of shore and waterbirds; a water gauge and

fish viewing station on the Nisqually and a scientific

station on Red Salmon creek; involvement of the

Nisqually Tribe in a Nisqually House and the

incorporation of both bluffs and some uplands with aMcBride Trail and a Braget Trail.

We hoped for protection of something like the

familiar atmosphere and character of that place

including the minimal maintenance and operation of

the minimal dike systems, which have produced such

a wide variety of ecological niches.

We chose to dedicate some of our lives and times

to preservation of perhaps not the richest delta

system, but one unique in many ways. Many

members of Tahoma Audubon sacrificed something

of themselves for the peace of knowing the deltas

heritage was alive and well. Most of us were content

with that and have not contemplated the pressures

of the proposed plans on the horizon for maximizing,

intensifying and developing a capital-intensive project

that will commit us to a greater maintenance and

operation expense at the sacrifice of programs and

services.

May the ultimate plan include a little benign

neglect; a lot of letting it be.

Feedback, comments and reminiscences welcome,

253-564-3112, [email protected].

By Hn eng

The founders of Tahoma Audubon

were united in their resolve to Save

Nisqually.

Our earliest agenda items, board

meetings, field trips, professional

advisers and the delightful learning-

all-we-could-about-estuaries werealways directed to the Nisqually in

particular.

Now in 2009 we see a breaching of

the Brown Farm Dike, which was built

in the early 1900s using a Fresno

scraper kind of earthmover powered

by horses. The tidal waters of Puget

Sound will inundate the former farmand freshwater marshy areas as we

think about our 40 years of history in

that place.

In 1978 a complex management

plan was taking shape that included

dog trials, intensive human use and

many things we saw as incompatible

with the refuge idea. The following isa Towhee page from April 1978.

maagt a fr th nisquay natia widif Rfug (nwR)


8/11


BIRDSONGS by Phil Buly

The Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop is a

3 day action-packed introductory course consist-

ing of presentations, specimen study, eld mist-

netting, banding, and processing under the direction of

Derek Matthews, Master Bander and Bander-in-charge

at the Vancouver Avian Research Centre.

This workshop has been developed for people with lit-

tle or no bird banding or bird in the hand experience and

provides a fantastic opportunity to see birds up close and

personal, to learn about their plumages, molt sequences,

and life habits.

By participating in established banding programs, you

can contribute in a direct way to their conservation. Imag-

ine capturing a bird such as a

Swainsons Thrush or Wil-

sons Warbler and knowing

that it traveled to Latin Amer-

ica or Mexico and returned

to the exact location where

you banded it the previous

year. Holding and releasing

birds like this is a unique ex-

perience and one which lasts

a lifetime. The experience

gained and skills acquired from this course can be used

for a variety of avian research and conservation projects

including the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survi-

vorship Program (MAPS) and the Canadian Mi-

gration Monitoring Network (CMMN).

But most of all the workshop is designed to

be a fun and interesting experience and a way to

take your interest in birds and the environment

to the next level.

The cost is $315 ($300 + GST) per par-

ticipant with a $25 reduction for students -

$288.75 ($275 + GST). All course material is

provided. Space is limited, so please be sure to

book early!

Things to bring and things to wear!

Warm clothing for the eld sessions

Rubber boots this is a must

as the Burnaby Lake banding site

is located along the marsh edge

at Burnaby Lake and trails can

be underwater especially during

spring run off!

Binoculars

Camera

Water / snacks for eld ses-

sions (Pizza is provided for the

Friday evening session)

For more information and to register,

please go to http://www.birdvancouver.

com/registration.html

The Everett Sewage Ponds has hosted approximately 200 species, whichis more than 40% of the species recorded in Washington. The real emblemof the Everett Sewage Ponds, however, is the Bonapartes Gull, named afterNapoleons nephew. This small elegant gull can occur here in numbers ex-

ceeding 10,000. The odor wafting about you is easily forgotten as hundredsof Bonapartes Gulls swoop through the air after airborne insects.

From: http://birdfellow.com/The strange places birders visit Steve Mlodi-now | March 13, 2009

Bird Monitoring &

Banding Workshop

Thiswasanabsolutelywonderfulcoursethatopenedmyeyestotheincredibleknowledgethatbirdbanderspossess.Ihavealreadyspokentosomeofmyfriendsaboutmyexperiences,andtheyareinterestedinpossiblyparticipatinginthisforthem-selves. AnysuggestionsformarketingthisclassthatIcouldpossiblycomeupwith,youhavelikelyalreadyheardof,butthemostpowerfuladvertisementiswordofmouth.Thankyousomuchforyourpatienceandintro-ducingmetosuchawonderfulnewworld. ImtrulygratefulfortheexperienceandIhopeIhavethechancetoseeyouatBurnabyforsomebandingweekends-Thankyou!

-ErinOConnorBCITStudent

At the vancouer Aian Research Centre

Bird photos by Derek Mathews. (For a beautiful slideshow of these and many other birds, please go to http://birdvancouver.com/gallery/index.html
http://www.birdvancouver.com/registration.htmlhttp://www.birdvancouver.com/registration.htmlhttp://www.birdvancouver.com/registration.htmlhttp://birdfellow.com/The%20strange%20places%20birders%20visit%20Steve%20Mlodinowhttp://birdfellow.com/The%20strange%20places%20birders%20visit%20Steve%20Mlodinowhttp://birdvancouver.com/gallery/index.htmlhttp://birdvancouver.com/gallery/index.htmlhttp://birdfellow.com/The%20strange%20places%20birders%20visit%20Steve%20Mlodinowhttp://birdfellow.com/The%20strange%20places%20birders%20visit%20Steve%20Mlodinowhttp://www.birdvancouver.com/registration.htmlhttp://www.birdvancouver.com/registration.html


9/11


cub. Mom was nowhere in sight, but they didnt

spend too much time investigating her where-

abouts!The Titlow Park trip lead by Rosanne Becker

and Joann Sims was a rainy, soggy and windy

one! A few of us brave souls trudged through the

damp park and, while it wasnt the best weather

for us or the birds, we still managed to spot or hear

over 20 species.

Thanks to everyone for their dedication to thisimportant event for Tahoma Audubon. We couldnt

do it without our field trip leaders, master birders,

Birdathon birders and our volunteers who make all

the phone calls. Thank you again for your support

and super enthusiasm, and we are still gladly accept-

ing Birdathon donations.

There will be more updates and a final report in theJuly/August Towhee, so stay tuned!

Cami Kesinger

Development Coordinator

[email protected] or 253-565-9129

from page 1

... Birdathon 2009

A Birdathon trip to the Green River Watershed was a bigsuccess; warm and sunny plus a glimpse of a black bear cub.

Photos/Bryan Flint

We invite you to join us for the 2009 Great Peninsula Future Festival in Port Gamble August

1st and 2nd. You will delight in world class entertainment, educational exhibits on sustain-

ability and the green economy, music, childrens activities, great food, arts and crafts and surprises

everyday. We bring together citizens, environmentalists, public ofcials, educators, green busi-

ness leaders, entertainers, and musicians, in a festival atmosphere to talk about how our culture,

economy and environment can become more sustainable. Families come for the fun and leave with

a heightened awareness of how their day to day decisions and habits affect the future health of our

community, our economy and our environment. Who knew learning could be this much fun.

Youll experience eco-friendly, lifestyle-changing family fun in historic Port Gamble -- the green-

est town around during this two-day midsummer festival!

2009August 1st and 2nd in historic port Gamble

Sunday 10am - 5mSaturday 10am - 7m

Building a sustainable future together!


10/11


Tahoma Audubon is the Pierce County chapter of National Audubon. As

an Introductory member of Tahoma Audubon you also receive a National

Audubon membership and Audubon Magazine for one year. Renewing

your Chapter Membership ensures that we can continue to do our work in

Pierce County. Chapter membership includes: Towhee newsletter sub-

scription, free family events, birding trip invitations, class & book dis-

counts, conservation activities, annual celebrations and more. Joint TAS/

National Audubon membership includes: Chapter membership, National

membership, annual Audubon Magazine subscription, and support of

Important Bird Areas (IBA) and state and national conservation agendas. Checkspayableto:TahomaAudubon2

917Morrison

Rd.

W.

UniversityPlace,

98466Taho

maAudubon

Society,establishedin1969,

isa501(c

)(3)nonprofit

organization.

Donationsaretaxdeductible.

Membership Fee:

___ Introductory (first year) $20

___ Joint National/Tahoma Audubon $50

___ Chapter member renewal $30

___ Other Contributions _____________

Member(s) Name: _______________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

City______________________________ Zip__________________

Phone: home ___________________business _________________

e-mail: ________________________________________________

Member #: _______________________________ (office use only)

mebership

C9ZY020Z

StewardshipPartners

ChamberClovers

WatershedCouncil

PierceStream

Team

PuyallupRiver

WatershedCouncil

Pierce CountyPublic Works

WSU/NativePlant Salvage

LeMay Inc.

By pggy KfCo-Chair Development Committee

Looking for ways to advise and guide anyoneinterested in planning and giving support,Tahoma Audubon has hired Jean McCord,President of McCord and Associates to help

those interesting in reviewing their financialhealth or seeking ways to reduce their tax bur-den.

There is joy in supporting activities and orga-nizations that you believe in and I was inter-ested in doing more for Tahoma Audubon,despite my somewhat limited resources. I

made an appointment with Jean and, over cof-fee in my home, we reviewed my assets, liabil-ities and discussed ways I can give to Tahoma

Audubon without reducing my needs for dailyliving.

Jean reviewed with me a variety of options,explaining the pros and cons of each. Her easy

manner and thoughtful guidance were a plea-sure. She helped me consider a variety ofmeasures, from taking out insurance namingTahoma Audubon as the beneficiary to signingover an IRA or giving appreciated securities. Inthe end, I settled on a Charitable Gift Annuitythat would be administered by the Greater

T a c o m aCommunityFoundation.This will pro-vide me witha higher rateof return on CDs and, on my death, Tahoma

Audubon gets the full amount of the gift. Theconsultation took about an hour and cost menothing.

If you have been wondering how you canoffer support and help ensure the future ofTahoma Audubon, get in touch with Jean andreview your situation to see what you can do.

The Joy of GivingJean McCord

is President

of McCordand Associates.

Help us build rain gardens at these dates and locations.Join our hands-on workshop where you will learn all you

need to design and install a beautiful rain garden at home.

Pierce County rain garden installation workshops

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day

Hand tools and refreshments will be provided, but bring your favorite.

Plan on dressing for rainy weather, and bring gloves and boots!

Help us build community.

Contact Pierce Stream Team to sign up. Email [email protected] or call (253) 845-2973.

We value your participation--ask to be notied if your choice nishes on the rst day.


11/11

Tue June 2 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Intermediate

Birding. Adriana Hess Audubon Center.

Continuation.

Wed June 3 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Weekly

Bird Walks at Nisqually.

Fri June 5 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. TGIF

Work Party at Adriana Hess Wetland Park.

Sat June 6 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Board &

Staff Retreat. Location: Pack Forest.

Mon June 8 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Bird

Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park.

Tue June 9 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.Conservation

Committee. Adriana Hess Wetland Park,

2917 Morrison Road W, University Place,

WA 98466.

Tue June 9 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Intermediate Birding. Adriana Hess

Audubon Center. Continuation.



Thu June 11 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. TAS

Board Meeting. Adriana Hess Audubon

Center. Monthly Meeting of the TahomaAudubon Board. Guests Welcome, please

call ahead at (253) 565-9278.



Fri June 12 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.Membership

Meeting at Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S.

Tylor Street.

Sat June 13, 9:00 AM to 11 AM. Morse

Wildlife Preserve Bird Walk. Leader: Betty

Jones. Call: 253-565-9278 for signup and

directions.

Sat June 13 Ohop Widlife Survey & eld

trip.

Sun June 14, 12:00 PM until 4:00 PM. Morse

Wildlife Preserve. Open Trails. Call: 253-

565-9278 for directions. No signup

required.

Mon June 15 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Plant





Work Party at Adriana Hess Wetland

Park.





Sun June 28 @ 4:00PM. Family Walk at

Adriana Hess Wetland Park. Come for an

afternoon filled with nature. Childrens

activites available. Lead by Tanja Scott.

Weds July 1 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Weekly


Fri July 3 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. TGIF

Work Party at Adriana Hess Wetland Park!



Thu July 9 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.TAS Board

Meeting. Location: Adriana Hess Audubon

Center. Monthly Meeting of the Tahoma

Audubon Board. Guests welcome. Please

call ahead at (253) 565-9278.

Fri July 10, 2009 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

TGIF Work Party at Adriana Hess Wetland

Park.

Fri July 10 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.Membership

Meeting. Location: Tacoma Nature Center,

1919 S. Tylor Street. Monthly membership

meeting of Tahoma Audubon. All welcome.

See box above or check web site for updated

information - www.TahomaAudubon.org

and click on Calendar. Or give us a call at

(253) 565-9278.

Mon July 13 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Bird


Tue July 14 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

Conservation Committee.



Fri July 17, 2009 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.


Park.

Mon July 20, 2009 from 12:00 PM to 1:00

PM. Plant Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland

Park.



Fri July 24, 2009 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.


Park.



Fri July 31, 2009 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.


Park.

Fr additial ifrmati:Tahma Audub - 253-565-9278; r www.tahmaaudub.rg or The Tacma nature Ceter:253-591-6439 r www.metrparkstacma.rg

Calendar

june program

july 2009

june 2009

Tahma Audubn prgrams

FRee t mmbrs and nn-mmbrs!

whn: Friday,June 12, 2009

whr: Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 South Tyler.Tim: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 pm.

Bring the family to the June Membership Meeting!

The Education Committee will host the June TAS

membership meeting at Tacoma Nature Center

and is planning an engaging evening for kids and

adults. Be there to meet and congratulate the win-

ners of the 10th Annual Bird Drawing Contest. All

are welcome.

Friday June

12 Time:

6:30 pm Re-

ception to view win-ning pictures of Bird

Drawing Contest,

meet the young artists,

and enjoy refreshments.

The monthly membership meetings

will be on summer break until Sep-

tember. Check web site for updated

information - www.TahomaAudubon.

org. Or call (253) 565-9278

(Images from last years contest)
http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/http://www.tahomaaudubon.org/

06-2009 towhee newsletter tahoma audubon society

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