Riverside State Park
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Volume 23 Issue 5 January 2016 Field Trip Edition January 13th Program: Spokane Audubon Society Riverside State Park: Spokane’s Backyard Jewel Field Trips featuring Spokane Audubon’s Kim Thorburn The following list shows field trips planned by the Spokane Audubon Society. Trips may be added with short notice so check the website often. Trips also may be canceled at any time due to bad weather, too few participants, or the lack of a leader. Contact the leader for more information and to reserve a spot. If you are unable to register before the schedule deadline but want to at- tend, be sure that you check with the leader to make sure that the trip is still on. Leaders are club volunteers and are not compensated. Field trips are free. However, if you carpool with someone, you will be expected to compensate the driver for your share of gas and vehicle use. You are also responsible for any iverside State Park, right in Spokane’s backyard, offers outstanding year- park entry fees, camping fees, or motel th Rround bird watching. Join us on January 13 for Spokane Audubon member bills. Starting times published below are Kim Thorburn’s presentation about the park’s diverse ecosystems and the birding when we leave, so arrive earlier than the opportunities they afford. posted hour. Kim is a frequent park visitor who has developed a list of more than 150 bird Participants need to provide their own species sightings, including several on the state’s watch list. In addition to many binoculars, food and drink, adequate wonderful recreational activities, Riverside State Park provides important habitat clothing, and transportation unless you conservation for wildlife. Kim expects that many of you may be surprised at find somebody with whom to carpool. some of the bird sightings. No dogs please. Kim is a former president of Spokane Audubon Society who leads several field Our 2016 Field Trip list can be down- trips and participates in other activities to promote bird watching and wildlife loaded from http://spokaneaudubon.org, conservation. She assists Gary Blevins with Spokane Audubon’s “Learn to Bird” but be sure to check back or call the workshops held in conjunction with International Migratory Bird Day. She is a trip leader for last-minute changes. member of the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission. Photo courtesy of Kim Thorburn. Field Trip Levels The January program will be held at the We provide a variety of trips that ac- Riverview Retirement Community, Village Community Building commodate many birding skill levels. (Directions on page 8.) Birders of all levels are welcome on all trips. However, please bear in mind that Please join us at 7 p.m. for refreshments and friendly conversation. some beginners may get frustrated or The program will begin at about 7:30 p.m., after announcements. continued on page 3 The Pygmy Owl Announcements Volume 23, Issue 5 ~ January 2016 Turnbull NWR Photo Contest The Pygmy Owl, the newsletter of the Spokane Audubon Turnbull is seeking photos from amateur photographers Society, is published monthly, September through June. showcasing the wildlife and habitats found on the refuge. Spokane Audubon Society P.O. Box 9820 Contest Dates: 11/1/2015 - 10/31/2016 Spokane, WA 99209-9820 For complete rules, go to www.fws.gov/refuge/turnbull Owl illustrations on pg. 1 and pg. 8 © Jan Reynolds. The winning photo will be featured on the face of the 2017 annual refuge pass. Officers President Call for Volunteers: Waterfowl Survey Tom Light [email protected] Ducks Unlimited, Turnbull NWR and WDFW are starting Vice President a Channelled Scablands Spring Waterfowl Survey effort to Open finally put some numbers on how important the Scablands Treasurer are to migrating waterfowl. The current plan involves both Lindell Haggin [email protected] aerial and ground surveys from mid-February through Secretary mid-April. Aerial surveys will be done every two weeks, and Ed Reynolds [email protected] ground surveys every week to catch any pulses of birds that Elected Board of Directors might be missed between aerial surveys. Spokane Audubon Joyce Alonso [email protected] will be assisting with the ground surveys in Reardan. This Ann Brinly [email protected] Bob Cashen [email protected] information will be important for future planning and it’s Marlene Cashen [email protected] a great way to give purpose to your birding outings! Please Bea Harrison [email protected] contact Lindell Haggin ([email protected]) to help Jim Harrison [email protected] with this project. Gary Lee [email protected] Jan Reynolds [email protected] Committee Chairs Field Trips Open Programs Gary Lee [email protected] Education Joyce Alonso [email protected] Lindell Haggin [email protected] Conservation Greg Gordon [email protected] Hospitality Jan Strobeck [email protected] Membership Dave Plemons [email protected] Publication John English [email protected] Publicity Oroville (the OLC’s Sparred(?) Owl), by Ashley Karsh* Kim Thorburn [email protected] Pygmy Owl Saturday January 30th, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Carmen Yount [email protected] West Valley Outdoor Learning Center Open House Volunteer Coordinator 8706 E Upriver Dr, Spokane Valley, WA Joyce Alonso [email protected] Celebrate the OLC’s Superb Owls (and other critters) the Website week before the big game, and get ready for The Great Alan McCoy spokaneaudubon.org Backyard Bird Count! (*Ashley is the OLC’s Americorps volunteer.) 2 (cont. from pg 1) bored on trips Spokane’s Coeur d’Alene Park at 7:30 April 16, 2016, Saturday designed for advanced birders, where a.m. Contact Fran at 484-8666, or bird- Sprague Lake Field Trip much of the birding is done by ear and [email protected] by January 31 if you Leader: Fran Haywood the pace is very fast. Some advanced plan to attend. birders might find the trips geared This is a half-day trip to the Sprague toward beginning birders too basic Target Species: Rough-legged and Lake area, open to all birders. We will and slow-paced. Some trips last five or Red-tailed Hawks, Prairie Falcon, look for migrating and early resident six hours; some are 12 hours or longer. Snowy Owl, Short-eared Owl, North- species, especially ducks. We may drive Read the trip descriptions carefully to ern Shrike, Snow Buntings, Lapland through Miller Ranch, stop at Sprague see if a trip is right for you. Longspur, Gray Partridge Cemetery, and Cow Lake. We hope 2016 Field Trip Schedule March 19, 2016, Saturday to find Swainson’s Hawks, American Bluebird Trip White Pelicans, and if we get lucky, January 23, 2016, Saturday Leader: Marian Frobe Long-billed Curlew. We will meet at Spokane’s Coeur d’Alene Park at 6:30 LC Valley Banana Belt Trip This is a family friendly half-day trip Leader: Keith Carlson a.m. Contact Fran Haywood (484- and a great way to greet spring. We’ll 8666, [email protected]) by April This all-day trip is geared toward drive a route on Paradise Prairie to see 10 if you plan to attend. all levels of birders. The Lewiston/ returning favorite birds. We prob- Clarkston (LC) Valley often has slightly ably will finish at Turnbull National Target Species: Migrant ducks and more moderate temperatures in winter, Wildlife Refuge. The trip usually ends geese, American White Pelican, which can make for some great winter around 2 p.m. We will meet at Spo- Swainson’s Hawk, American Avocet, birding. We will meet Walmart in kane’s Coeur d’Alene Park at 7:00 a.m. Black-necked Stilt, Caspian Tern, Pullman at 8:00 a.m. Come prepared Call leader Marian Frobe at 328-0621 Say’s Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, for winter weather, bring snacks, by March 15, if you plan to attend. White-crowned and Savannah Spar- rows, and Long-billed Curlew water, and lunch. Contact Tom Light Target Species: Migrant ducks and at [email protected] or by phone at geese, raptors, woodpeckers, Say’s April 21-26, 2016, 509-638-2274 by January 20 to register Phoebe, Western Bluebird Thursday-Tuesday for the trip. Point Reyes, California Field Trip March 26, 2016, Saturday Note: This trip will be dependent on Leader: Kim Thorburn Turnbull NWR Limit: 6 Birders weather and road conditions. Beginning Birder Basics Trip Target Species: A variety of waterfowl Leader: Fran Haywood This six-day trip is for intermediate (hopeful target: Long-tailed Duck), and advanced birders. Kim Thorburn This is a half-day driving and walk- will provide lodging for up to six winter gulls, including hopeful Lesser ing trip for all levels of birders, and is Black-backed and Thayer’s, Black- participants and lead field trips on family oriented. It is early in the season Bolinas Lagoon and beach, Point Reyes crowned Night-Herons, chaseable for many species, but always exciting to Snowy Owl and/or Gyrfalcon (if re- Bird Observatory, Point Reyes National see what has arrived. Meet at the refuge Seashore, Mt. Tamalpais State Park, ported), wintering warblers, sparrows, headquarters near Cheney at 7 a.m. and finches and the Marin Headlands. This region Contact leader Fran Haywood, 484- is a year-round birding hot spot, site of February 6, 2016, Saturday 8666, [email protected] by March the filming of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Snowy Owl Trip 20 if you plan to attend. Birds,” and home of elite birder and Leaders: Fran and Brad Haywood Note: We will have a group pass to artist Keith Hansen. There is a variety This trip is geared toward all levels of cover the refuge entrance fee. of pelagic and other waterfowl, migrat- birders.