APRIL 2019 Kitsap Audubon Society – Since 1972 KingfisherTHE
April 11, 2019, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Poulsbo Library Wood Warblers of North America Photographer Robert Howson Our presenter, will focus on wood warblers from his Robert Howson, photographic collection of more than developed an early 500 North American, tropical and interest in birds while European bird species. still in grade school. The wood-warblers of North This interest continued America present a challenge to the throughout high school birders across our country. Even and into college where though they are a colorful group, he graduated with a identification can be a challenge. Not triple major in biology, only do certain members of the group history, and religion. make themselves difficult to see as He earned a Masters in they flit among the highest branches of history and worked on our tallest trees, but especially in fall, a Doctorate in religious their plumages can be confusing. They education. He has make up one of our largest families, taught on various levels, outnumbering plovers and sandpipers including elementary, combined. The same is true if you secondary, and college combine gulls and terns into a single ranks. Most recently he unit. Warbler species even outnumber was the chairman of the the total number of sparrow species history department at Townsend’s Warbler by found on our continent. We invite you Cedar Park Christian School in Bothell, Robert Howson. to attend a photographic presentation Washington. which deals with this delightful family. He and his wife Carolyn have Bring your identification skill along lived in Kirkland for the last 40 years. The Kingfisher is printed on with you and see how many of these recycled paper by Blue Sky you can identify. You may find you Printing and mailed by Olympic come away with a better understanding Presort, both family-owned local businesses. and appreciation of this challenging confederation of species. Kitsap Great Give www.KitsapGreatGive.org All online donations Tuesday, April 23rd will be partially matched Kitsap Audubon Society President’s Letter - Diane Bachen President: Diane Bachen, 206-855- It’s that time of year again! 1667, [email protected] Vice President: Gene Bullock, 360-394- Birds are returning and nesting 5635; [email protected] and KAS will be holding the Treasurer: Sandy Bullock; 360-394-5635 election of next year’s Board [email protected] Secretary: Connie Bickerton, 206-200- officers at our April 11 general 8425, [email protected] membership meeting. The slate Immed. Past Pres: Sandy Bullock; 360- of officers for 2019-2020 was 394-5635; [email protected] presented by the Nominating At-Large Board of Directors: Committee at our March Ray Coleburg, 360-535-4105 Sharron Ham, 360-779-5458, general membership meeting. [email protected] This year’s recommended slate Janine Schutt; 360-830-4446; jeschutt@ includes Gene Bullock-President; hotmail.com Lynn Willmott-Vice President; Jennifer Standish; 206-293-9320; [email protected] Secretary-Connie Bickerton. As locations for either Red-Breasted Alan Westphal, 206-780-7844, you can see, we are in great need Nuthatches and/or Western [email protected] of a treasurer. We have made Judy Willott; 206-842-6939 Bluebirds. If interested or for [email protected] great changes in this position and more information please contact Lynn Willmott, 360-613-0044, the bookkeeping duties will be [email protected] me. contracted out. These changes We have also been asked Standing Committee Chairs: were outlined in the March by Great Peninsula Conservancy Field Trips: Alan Westphal, newsletter. If you think that you 206-780-7844, [email protected] for a volunteer to identify local might have an interest in this KAS species on an April 20th Earth Day Conservation Chair: Don Willott board position, please contact 206-842-6939, [email protected] Beach Walk to the new Cohoe Sandy Bullock. Education Chair: Gene Bullock, Beach property, south of Point 360-394-5635; [email protected] Ray Coleberg, one of our No Point. If interested, please Greeters: Milly Bellemere & Bob founding members and the very contact me. Schumacher. 360-830-4231, rbellemere@ first president of KAS, has been Members of the Kitsap wavecable.com appointed to a newly created Audubon Board attended a Membership Administrator: Sara Kane honorary position as “Board 297-2716, [email protected] regional meeting in Sequim on Member Emeritus.” This leaves March 22 at the Dungeness Programs: Vic Ulsh an additional “at-large” position 360-479-6900, [email protected] River Center. Our three regional available on our Board. There Publicity: Gene Bullock, 360-394-5635; chapters, KAS, Olympic Audubon [email protected] are also volunteer opportunities and Admiralty Audubon, met Refreshment Chair: Lynn Willmott, 360- on our committees. Committee with the Audubon Washington 613-0044, [email protected] Chairs can be contacted staff to share information Purple Martins: Sandy Pavey, for information about these and provide input on state 360-930-0807, [email protected] activities. Kitsap Audubon conservation goals and priorities. Raffle Coordinator: Dawn Hansen; is a vibrant and dedicated Happy Spring! Happy organization and volunteers are Wildlife Sightings: Janine Schutt Birding ! 360-830-4446; [email protected] what make it run. Please think Scholarship Chair: Sandy Bullock about playing a part in this great REMINDER: Kitsap Audubon 360-394-5635, [email protected] organization. has a continuing need for yarn Social Media Chair/Facebook Editor: Toby Ross, Seattle donations. Donated yarn is Connie Bickerton Audubon’s Science Manager and [email protected] used by volunteers at the State Coordinator for National women’s prison in Purdy to knit Webmaster: Mike Szerlog, Audubon’s Climate Watch, is 360-881-0470, [email protected], hats and scarves for our Holiday www.kitsapaudubon.org seeking volunteers interested in Mitten Tree. Contact Diane being a part of Climate Watch Kingfisher Editor: Bachen or Sharron Ham to learn Gene Bullock, 360-394-5635 Program. Briefly, this would more. [email protected] involve twice a year surveys at 12
Kitsap Audubon Society meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, September through June, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., on the lower level of the Poulsbo Library, 700 NE Lincoln Rd. Programs free, open to the public.
Remembering Legendary Washington Audubon Icon Helen Engle Helen Engle, a legendary icon board of the National of the Washington Audubon Audubon Society, and Washington environmental and she received a community, died on March 11 lifetime achievement at the age of 93. Helen inspired award from Audubon generations of environmental at the 2013 Audubon activists, and played a leading Convention. Helen’s role in the founding of most own chapter, Washington Audubon chapters Tahoma Audubon, over the last 50 years. She was a just celebrated its co-founder and the first President 50th anniversary in of Tahoma Audubon, and was one February. of the founders of Washington Kind wishes can Environmental Council and be sent to Helen’s People for Puget Sound. She family care of: helped lead efforts to create the Gretchen Engle Photo of Kitsap Audubon Nisqually Wildlife Refuge and the 8502 43rd Street West founder Joan Carson (left) Protection Island Wildlife Refuge, University Place, WA 98466 with Helen Engle at Kitsap and was a powerful influence in The Engle family is planning a Audubon’s 40th Anniversary the Washington environmental public celebration of her life later Founders Dinner in 2013. community. this spring. Photo by Gene Bullock Helen Engle served on the Ray Coleberg appointed Board Member Emeritus Ray Coleberg has been appointed to the honorary position of Kitsap Audubon Board Member Emeritus. Ray was a founding member of Kitsap Audubon and served as its very first President in 1973. Ray rejoined the Kitsap Audubon Board in 2014 as an “at-large” Board Member, and helped update and revise our By-Laws. His appointment leaves an “at-large” vacancy on the Board. A change in the By-Laws has also made additional “at large” positions available on the Kitsap Audubon Board. Kitsap Audubon recruiting Board Members Kitsap Audubon is recruiting partnerships. breakfast room of the Poulsbo additional board members for The treasurer will oversee the Inn on Route 305 in Poulsbo. 2019-2020. We seek individuals financial affairs of Kitsap Audubon who have time and energy for and serve as the Board’s primary Election of Officers at April 11 our all-volunteer chapter. Kitsap liaison with outside bookkeeping General Meeting Audubon’s focus is birds and the and fund management services. The Nominating Committee protection and restoration of Accounting skills are welcome, has announced the following wildlife habitat. but not required if we employ a recommended slate of officers: We’re seeking a treasurer as full-charge bookkeepeing service. Gene Bullock-President; Lynn well as board members to engage The Kitsap Audubon Board Wilmott-Vice President; Connie the next generation of birders, meets from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Bickerton - Secretary. We do build chapter membership, the first Tuesday of each month, not yet have a candidate for and strengthen our community except July and August, in the Treasurer. Meet Board Member Jennifer Standish Jennifer Standish is Kitsap Bird Count in 2013, and quickly Audubon’s newest board became a big fan of citizen member. Her interest in birding science. She has participated began in 2010 when she and her every year since then, and is the family moved to Oahu. Curiosity compiler for the Port Gamble about the different birds in her count circle which was reinstated yard led to the purchase of her in 2017. Compiling the count is first field guide and binoculars. almost as much fun as getting out Soon she was looking for birds and counting birds. It’s exciting everywhere she went on the to see all the different species island. Her favorite memories of birds that can be found in include hiking to see the Laysan just a single day within a portion Albatross nesting area at Kaena of Kitsap County. Over time, Point, and seeing the Bristle- the data will be an important thighed Curlew from a golf indicator of how bird populations course that bordered refuge land. and ranges are changing. encourages participants to find The people in the pro shop were In 2016, Jennifer joined species of birds that summer so used to seeing birders come Seattle Audubon’s Puget Sound in the arctic. Jennifer and her in and ask for permission to walk Seabird Survey. Volunteers 5 teammates had the honor of the course that they just pointed for the survey go out once a placing first in the Lower 48 and said “don’t get hit by a golf month (October through April) category in 2017 and 2018. ball.” and record any birds seen on Last year, she also challenged In 2013, the Standish family the water using the distance herself to see as many species in moved back to Washington and sampling method. Sometimes Kitsap County as she could, and suddenly there were so many getting a compass reading and it was a great experience. She new birds to learn about. Jennifer distance measurement on a really enjoyed finding new places attended a Kitsap Audubon field diving duck, loon, or grebe can to bird, meeting other local trip to Point No Point, and was be quite challenging! birders, and seeing some new thrilled to find that the trip leader Jennifer is also excited to birds. Her favorite Kitsap bird for and other participants were so start volunteering for Project the year was the Semipalmated eager to share their knowledge WafLS (Western Asio Flammeus Sandpiper. It was a bird she’d and experience. Even after Landscape Study) this spring, never seen before, and she attending many field trips, she doing Short-eared Owl surveys in learned a lot about shorebird always learns something new eastern Washington. identification while searching for each time. Observing a new field Another favorite spring it! mark or a new behavior is just as activity is participating in Alaska Jennifer lives on Bainbridge exciting as seeing a new species. Audubon’s Great American Island with her husband and son, Jennifer first volunteered for Arctic Birding Challenge. This and works part-time at a local the Kitsap Aububon Christmas challenge runs for 3 months, and animal hospital. Kitsap Audubon to co-host author Tim Dee and his new book: Landfill - Notes on Gull Watching and Trash Picking in the Anthropocene
May 8, 6:30 p.m. Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Island Field Trips & Festivals - Al and Andrew Westphal Washington State Birding day after early morning fog Festivals listed at http:// burned off. We covered a lot wa.audubon.org/bird- of ground from Stanwood to festivals-0 the Bow area and accumulated a nice list of 58 species. Those Olympic BirdFest 2019 included a fantastic sun-lit (Clallam County): April 12 close-up look at a very large - 14. Annual event based flock of Snow Geese (with a at the Dungeness River handful of “Blue” Geese and Audubon Center. Extend a couple of Cacklers scattered your Birdfest weekend with in), a nice leisurely observation the Neah Bay post-trip, of a mixed flock of Trumpeter April 14-16, 2019: two and and Tundra Swans, six different one-half days exploring NW raptor species (highlighted coastal Washington. Call 360- by a Peregrine Falcon getting 681-4076 or e-mail: info@ flushed by a Northern olympicbirdfest.org; More info Wetlands Nature Center. It is on Harrier!), and lots of waterfowl at: olympicbirdfest.org Highway 3 at the 2nd red light, just south of Belfair in Mason and passerines. Bonus for the Seattle’s Montlake Fill: County. day was a long look at the Black Saturday, April 20 (half-day). Phoebe that’s spent the winter at Al & Andrew Westphal, leaders, the Wylie Slough Wildlife Area. [email protected], 206-780- Field Trip Reports 7844 (e-mail preferred). The Port Washington Narrows/ Montlake Fill is an extraordinary Bremerton Parks, February 23, Photos below by Barb Chan natural area adjacent to UW and 2019. Gene Bullock, leader. John show wintering Snow Geese Lake Washington’s Union Bay, and Karla Bouck, co-leaders. and Kitsap Audubon group and it should be full of spring 15 birders enjoyed a rain-free from Skagit/Samish Flats birds, waterfowl, and others by morning that began with finger- birding trip. late-April. Meet at the birders’ numbing cold, but became kiosk at the west end of the pleasantly warm when we Center for Urban Horticulture, moved from Lion’s Field to 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle Evergreen Park. We finished 98105. Parking is free. (About birding at Lower Rota Vista, 15 min. from Seattle Ferry or a pocket park situated 30 min. from Edmonds ferry beneath the Warren Ave. terminal). Meeting time about Bridge and its unique colony 8 a.m. (Take 7:05 ferry from of Pelagic Cormorants. We Bainbridge or Kingston.) tallied 36 species. Highlights included seven Long-tailed Theler Wetlands (Belfair): Ducks, four California Saturday, May 11 (half-day). Al Scrub Jays and half a dozen & Andrew Westphal, Leaders: Eurasian Wigeons among 206-780-7844 or westphalac@ several hundred American aol.com (e-mail preferred) to Wigeons. We had lunch register. An annual favorite. at McCloud’s Grill in East Lots of spring arrivals should be Bremerton. present, especially big numbers and a nice variety of swallows. Skagit/Samish Flats Area: Maybe a few good warblers too. Saturday, March 9. Al We encourage families to bring Westphal, leader. Seven children, 3rd grade and above. of us assembled for what Meet 8:30 a.m. at the Theler turned out to be quite a nice Wildlife Sightings - Janine Schutt On March 3, Ray Schreiber Lincoln’s sparrow spotted several black turnstones Feb. 25 at Point No feeding along the shore at Point (Hansville): 1 various spots around Port northern harrier Orchard and South Colby. He has March 2 at also been seeing white-crowned, Restoration Point golden-crowned, white-throated, (Bainbridge Island): song, and fox sparrows at his 10 black scoters, 42 feeding station near Manchester. black turnstones, 12 On March 5, Alyce Daniels surfbirds, 1 merlin, 1 saw a pair of Harlequin ducks hermit thrush and a female yellow-rumped March 2 in Dyes Inlet warbler along Beach Drive in near Tracyton: 3 March 9 on Yukon Harbor (near Port Orchard. Send me your tundra swans Southworth): 5 Harlequin ducks, 1 interesting sightings at jeschutt@ March 3 in Hansville: 4 trumpeter Iceland gull, 1 Harris’s sparrow hotmail.com. Please put “Wildlife swans flying over March 10 near Wicks Lake (South Sightings” in the subject line. March 5 on Bainbridge Island: 22 Kitsap): 2 mountain quails Notable Kitsap Bird Sightings wood ducks, 2 white-throated March 13 near Keyport: 3 snow from www.eBird.org: sparrows geese Feb. 21 at Point Julia (near Port March 5 in Suquamish: 1 northern Gamble): 1 northern goshawk pygmy-owl Photo of Black Tuirnstones by Feb. 23 on Minder Road near March 9 on Long Lake (near Port Ray Schreiber. Kingston: 1 northern shrike, 1 Orchard): 1 canvasback Bird of the Month: Marbled Murrelet - Janine Schutt A great mystery of the avian its flipper-like world was solved in 1974 when wings to catch a marbled murrelet nest was fish. discovered high in the canopy of • Pairs lay a an old-growth forest. Federally single egg on listed as threatened and listed a large, mossy in Washington as endangered, limb high in this robin-sized seabird faces an old-growth a twofold battle: needing conifer up to 50 diminishing old-growth forests miles inland. for nesting and unpolluted • Only member saltwater full of forage fish to eat. of the alcid Conservation groups, including family to nest in Audubon, are working hard trees. to save this unique icon of the • Eggs and one of the state’s most reliable Pacific Northwest. nestlings are sometimes preyed spots for seeing them as they Here are some fascinating upon by ravens and Steller’s jays forage and fly low and fast over facts about the marbled murrelet: as forest fragmentation leads the water. • Resident of inland waters and these predators further into old- • Breeding plumage is brown and the outer coast from Alaska to growth forests. non-breeding plumage is dark California. • Parents take turns incubating gray and white. • Usually forages within 500m the egg and flying to and from • Population has declined by 30% of shore in search of multiple the nearest saltwater to provide since 1992 (per Conservation species of forage fish. fish for the chick, taking most of Northwest). • Rapidly propels its football- these flights at dawn and dusk. shaped body underwater with • Point No Point in Hansville is Photo by Janine Schutt NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Kitsap Audubon Society SILVERDALE WA PERMIT NO. 111 P.O. 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The Kingfisher is the newsletter of the Kitsap Audubon Society, P.O. Box 961, Poulsbo, WA 98370. It is published ten times a year, September to June. Submissions from readers are welcome. We reserve the right to edit for space, grammar or legal reasons. Email text or photographs to genebullock@comcast. net or mail to Gene Bullock, 1968 NE Lind Ct., Poulsbo WA 98370. Our deadline is the 15th of the preceding month.
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Kitsap Audubon Society - Membership Renewal Join/Renew online at http:/www.kitsapaudubon.org/membership or make check payable to KAS and mail to KAS, PO Box 961, Poulsbo, WA 98370 Name______Phone______Address______City______State______Zip______Email Address:______Check here to receive your Kingfisher via Email and save us the expense of printing and mailing. Members receive ten issues of the Kingfisher newsletter each year. Select Category Of Membership: Individual Annual Membership $20 Individual LIFE Membership $300 Family Annual Membership $30 Family LIFE Membership $500 Contributing Annual Membership $50 Supporting Annual Membership $100 Sustaining Annual Membership $75 (Contact KAS Treasurer for LIFE Membership payment options Additional donation: Scholarships $______Audubon Adventures $ ______Other $______The Kitsap Audubon Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible. Your contact information is not sold, disclosed or shared with any entity outside KAS. The mission of the Kitsap Audubon Society is to preserve the natural world through education, environmental study and habitat protection, and to promote awareness and enjoyment of local and regional natural areas. Visit our website at www.kitsapaudubon.org