The Many Faces of Seattle Audubon

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF SEATTLE AUDUBON

February 2007

The Many Faces of Seattle Audubon by Lorraine Hartmann, Volunteer Program Director Compelling though an organization’s vision and mission may be, its effectiveness depends on the quality and commitment of its people. Our 5500 members, 800 volunteers, hundreds of Seattle Public Schools FUN parent and grandparent volunteers, Nature Shop supporters, Nature Campers and their families, shade coffee companies, our Board and staff, and many generous donors comprise a passionate, diverse Seattle Audubon family of supporters. This year’s first issue ofEarthcare Northwest highlights six among the many thousands of Seattle Auduboners. Spanning in age from an eight-year-old artist to I n s i d e

a centenarian naturalist, they all love birds and Seattle Audubon 2 work to protect them. Turn to page 8 to read For Birds about these dedicated people. Seabirds on Puget Sound in Winter 4 To find out how you, too, can Appreciation 5 help protect birds and nature, And Nature Climate Change: contact Seattle Audubon and Are growers ready? 6 volunteer! Feature The Many Faces of P r o g r a m Seattle Audubon 8 Field Trips 10 Classes 12 Volunteer Activities 13 Appreciation Good Deals 14 Evening Thursday, February 15, 2007, 6:30PM Center for Urban Horticulture In the Company of Crows and Ravens Doors open at 6:30PM John Marzluff, Professor, UW, Speaker with Nature Shop selec- Join us for a lecture about crows, ravens, tions and displays. The and people by John Marzluff, author Center for Urban Horticulture is located and Professor of Wildlife Science at the at 3501 NE 41st Street in the Laurelhurst University of Washington. He’ll speak neighborhood. From NE 45th Street, about the natural history, taxonomy, tool turn south on Mary Gates Memorial Way use, communication, and human interac- to NE 41st Street. Buses #25 and #30 tion of these bold, boisterous, adaptable stop at NE 45th and Mary Gates Memo- Vol.48 No.5 and inspirational birds. This will also be rial Drive. our Volunteer Appreciation evening and Free and open to the public! cake will be served. S e a t t l e

Seattle Audubon Of Note Memorial Gifts Shop (phone: 206-523-4483) Garth Olson recently gave a generous Staff (phone: 206-523-8243) • Next new volunteer orientations will be gift in memory of Charlene Olson. His Fax (206-528-7779) on Tuesdays, February 20 and March 20 gift to our Finding Urban Nature Ex- Executive Director from 7-8:45PM. Call Lorraine to register at Shawn Cantrell, x15 plorers elementary school program is a Bookkeeper 206-523-8243, x12. lovely and meaningful way to honor his Lois Woolwine, x17 • Thank you to: mother’s dedication to education and Conservation Director Alex Morgan, 206-985-6581 —Carol Richardson, Kathy and Arn birds. Thank you. Education/Nature Camp Director Slettebak and Carleen and Neil Zimmer- We also thank Keith R. Geller, Susan Tallarico, 206-985-6993 man, Nov. 18 Richmond Beach Alternative who made a gift to Seattle Audubon in Elem. School Program Manager Giving Fair booth. /Nature Camp Asst. Director memory of his mother, Lillian Geller. Kintea Bryant, x19 —David Shettleroe, Shop SKUs for Bird- Keith also requested that his contribu- Fund Development Manager Note shows and Nature Reserves research. tion be directed to the FUN program. Monya Noelke, x 37 —Andrew Engstrom, Gina Lozier, Open High School Program Manager Emily Sprong, 206-985-6832 House kids’ activities, Dianne Edmonds, selling, packing, wrapping and hauling during Development Associate Jennifer Kauffman, Teri Martin, gift wrap- the record-setting sales month in December, Karyn McKelvey, x14 ping; Andrea Briggs, coordinator, Harvey and many working additional shifts: Karen Adair, Nature Shop Assistant Linda Carroll, Dennis Hartmann, and Neil Justine Busse, x13 Chris Altwegg, Laurinda Anglin, Diana Nature Shop Manager and Carleen Zimmerman, Holiday Potluck. Aubin de Paradis, Melissa Boscolo, Jenny Russ Steele, x10 —Colene McKee, Susan Stillman, Cynthia Buening, Marilyn Busher, Linda Carroll, Science and BirdNote Associate Wilson, CBC registrars, Christine Chan, Adam Sedgley, x36 Kathy Cooper, Steve Dang, Theres Fillmore, Shade Coffee Organizer CBC Potluck organizer, Karen Adair, Chris- Hans de Grys, Dianne Edmonds, Rebecca Kristen Kosidowski, 206-523-6757 tine Chan, Barbara Clark, Dianne Edmonds, Evans, Barb Faville, Al Ferkovich, Francie Urban Habitat Program Director Lucienne Guyot, Dan Kiehnle, Colene Galbraith, Carol Gard, Virginia Harris, Hel- Matt Mega 206-985-6841 McKee, Pam Pogemiller, Mary Rogers, Su- Volunteer Program Director en Hawley, George Johnson, Brad Justin, Lorraine Hartmann, x12 san Stillman, Amy Walgamott and Cynthia Charlie Kahle, Jennifer Kauffman, Penny SIGHTINGS HOTLINE Wilson, soup makers; Lee Barnes, Count lead- Koyama, Anita and Gene Lagerberg, Rachel WOS Birdbox 206-281-9172 ers organizer, Gene Hunn, CBC compiler, and Lawson, Carol Leenstra, Gina Lozier, Ama- WEB SITES http://www.seattleaudubon.org Count leaders: Tom Aversa, Lee Barnes, Jan lia Magaret, Teri Martin, Paul Metzner, Jean http://www.birdweb.org Bragg, Marv Breece, Art Campbell, Carolee Mills, Scott Moore, Walter Oelwein, Eldon Earthcare Northwest, the official Colter, Steve Dang, Denis DeSilvis, George Olson, Suzanne Peterson, Cathy Pfarr, newsletter of Seattle Audubon, is Gerdts, Dan Harville, Gene Hunn, David Roberta Roberts, Jud Scovill, Jane Sepede, published monthly except January and August. Hutchinson, Hugh Jennings, Vicki King, David Shettleroe, Karen Stephens, Ingvil Editor, Sharon Sneddon, x7 Neal Komedal, Brendan McGarry, Martin Syverson, Cheryl Teague, Sue Thompson, Publisher pro tem, Jane Hedberg Muller, Hal Opperman, Wayne Palsson, Mary Anne Thorbeck, Pat Tilden, Connie Design and Layout, Sandy Welch Shiva Parameswaran, Judy Roan, Adam VanDeventer, Tim Walsh, Cynthia Wang, Proofing, Hanna Atkins Advertising, Lisa Vogel, 206-263-3428 Sedgley, David Swayne, Tom Weir, Sandra Barbara and Paul Webster, JoAnn Whetsell, Production, Chris Altwegg Woods, Richard Youel and Neil Zimmer- Ethel Williams, Nancy Wilson, Marilyn Submissions and address changes man, and all Counters. Wittenmyer, Ann Marie Wood, Melinda should be sent to Editor at Seattle —Rob Faucett, host of monthly Bird- Woodard, Alison Wysong, Carleen Zimmer- Audubon, or e-mail earthcare@seattl eaudubon.org by the 8th of the month Watch meetings at the Burke Museum. man, and especially Virginia Morrison. preceding publication. Submissions —Greg Hickman, Shade Coffee graphic • Correction: The drawing on the front will be edited and published at the design; Alan Humphrey and Chris Maden, editor’s discretion. cover of the December 2006/January 2007 © Seattle Audubon, 2007 web and technology support. issue should have had the following attribu- —Nature Shop volunteers who helped tion:  Martin Muller.

SEATTLE AUDUBON BOARD OF DIRECTORS Members at Large Officers Chairs President, Marina Skumanich Conservation, Karen Shea Nature Reserves, open Lauren Braden Tom Riley Vice President, Randy Robinson Development, Renée Klein Past President, Jane Hedberg Charlie Kahle Cynthia Wang Secretary , Mary Anne Thorbeck Education, Eric Harlow Science Chair, Richard Groomer Shiva Parameswaran Richard Youel Treasurer, Richard Lintermans Legal Advisor, John Lundin Tom Rohrer Neil Zimmerman

2 February 2007 3 A u d u b o n

Spotlight on Raising to safeguard Foster Island and Marsh Island in the Arboretum. Staff Public Awareness Seattle Audubon’s annual Christmas by Shawn Cantrell, Executive Director Bird Count was also prominently fea- Seattle Audubon’s conservation programs tured in the Seattle Times, highlighting have garnered significant media coverage this great program over many decades. in recent weeks. Our campaign to protect On a separate note, our Nature Shop the Northern Spotted Owl was featured had a record month in December, serv- in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, ing more customers than ever before Seattle Times, and on KUOW radio. Our and generating retail sales totaling over work to defend bird habitat in the urban $113,000 for the month! Congratula- Karyn McKelvey joined environment was also recognized with tions to all the volunteers and staff who Seattle Audubon’s staff in local media coverage for our efforts made this possible! December 2006 as Develop- ment Associate. A graduate of Gonzaga University with Christmas eared Owl, showed up the following day. Bachelor’s degrees in French Total number of individual birds counted and Sociology, she has over Bird Count Wrap Up was slightly above average, but we found four years of experience with by Eugene Hunn, non-profit organizations. Karyn record numbers of Anna’s Humming- Master Birder and CBC List Compiler worked for the Museum of birds (267) and Yellow-rumped Warblers Fine Arts, Boston, where she One hundred and eighty observers (187). On the other hand, we had only provided training, supervi- participated in Seattle Audubon’s 80th three Ruddy Ducks this year versus a sion, and scheduling support annual Christmas Bird Count on De- 30-year average of 464. Special visitors: for over 100 volunteers. She cember 30, 2006. The accommodating Rock Sandpiper, Townsend’s Solitaire, also worked for two years as weather encouraged a record high count Common Redpoll (1st CBC record), a counselor and advocate on of 129 species (previous record was 127, and Pine Grosbeak (2nd CBC record). homelessness issues for the with an average of 120). Two additional Complete results of the CBC are posted St. Francis House Day Shelter species, Northern Harrier and Long- at www.seattleaudubon.org. in Boston. A native of the Seattle area, Karyn is excited to pur- sue a career in development George Johnson Honored and event planning within the George Johnson’s 23 years of local non-profit community. volunteering for Seattle Audubon She has participated in the were honored by having the Nature Northwest Development Shop space named the George Officers Association and recently completed a course Johnson Birding Resource Center on grant-writing. Karyn in a ceremony December 6, 2006. enjoys travel, the arts and George was the first manager of the George Johnson, fourth from left, pictured with current culture, speaking French, Nature Shop. His many volunteer and past Seattle Audubon Board presidents at the event and, whenever possible, naming the George Johnson Birding Resource Center. contributions were chronicled in exploring the outdoors. Pictured from left, Marina Skumanich, Bob Sieh, Jane the December 2006/January 2007 Hedb erg, George Johnson, Dick Butler, Idie Ulsh, issue of Earthcare Northwest. Steve Hallstrom, and Richard Youel.

SEATTLE AUDUBON MISSION STATEMENT Seattle Audubon cultivates and leads a community Invest in the Future—Make a SEATTLE AUDUBON CENTER that values and protects birds and the natural Bequest to Seattle Audubon and NATURE SHOP environment. Hours: Mon-Sat 10AM to 5PM Shawn Cantrell 8050 35th Ave. NE Seattle Audubon is a non-profit 501(c)(3) 206-523-8243, x15 Seattle WA 98115 organization. [email protected] 206-523-4483 2 February 2007 3 F o r B i r d s

Destinations: grebes, loons, alcids and gulls. Migrating Parasitic Jaegers and Sooty Shearwaters Seabirds on Puget Sound show up occasionally, well offshore. Nearby and easier access are Alki in Winter Beach/Point or the Edmonds fishing pier by Herb Curl at the north end of the marina, and the Although a lot of folks put their binocu- ferry terminal. Sea ducks and cormorants lars away for the winter, there’s no need are abundant. to just because the summer migrants are Take the Edmonds ferry to Kingston gone. Instead, think ducks, geese, grebes, and check out Point No Point off Hans- and the occasional jaeger, oh my! Go on ville Rd. for gulls, alcids, and loons. Off your own or register for one of the field Hansville Rd., take Little Boston Rd. west trips in this newsletter that emphasize through the Port Gamble Indian Reser- seabirds. The following suggested places to vation to a beach on Port Gamble Bay. view seabirds might leave off some favorite Here, during strong south winds, there spot of yours, but you might find a new will be a huge assemblage of ducks. one on it as well. Farther to the north there are some There are some general guidelines and excellent spots on Camano Island. specific locations that will enhance your Although beach access is mostly private, experience. Eight or ten power binoculars Iverson Spit County Park and the head of or a higher power scope are very helpful. Livingston Bay off Fox Trot Way provide The scope needn’t be over 20X, as higher great views of large numbers of ducks. powers magnify turbulent “heat waves” Remember to dress for the weather, over the water. Good resolution is more because you’ll have to get out of your car important than magnification. A high to enjoy most of these spots! lookout, such as from a ferry or a head- Detailed driving directions and men- land, helps. Ferry slips seem very attractive tion of other nearby birding spots are to seabirds. Wind plays a big part in where found in the essential ABA Birder’s Guide seabirds hang out. During high winds, say to Washington by Hal Opperman and over 10mph, most birds concentrate in available at the SAS Nature Shop. embayments and behind large spits. Here are just a few examples of places to visit this winter. Herb Curl is the former Seattle For Seattle birders, West Point at Audubon Science Advisor Discovery Park is at the top of the list. The North Beach Trail is excellent for sea ducks, Brant,

4 February 2007 5 Appreciation

Volunteer Service Norman, Thero North, Don *Alan Grenon, Ellen Gryj-Ruben- Nick Gregoric, Brent Grisim, Ostrow, *Suzanne Peterson, stein, Jean Haigh, *D. Eric Harlow, Mara Grunbaum, Rebecca Awards 2006 Genevieve Reckamp, Judith Pat Hitchens, Michael Hobbs, Guiao, *Virginia Harris, Tosten Total 1996-2006 Hours Roan, Alan Roedell, Marilyn *Scott Hoskin, Gene Hunn, Dean Haugerud, Lyanda Haupt, Dana Sandall, Stephanie Smith, *Bob Irwin, Courtenay Jackson, *Mark Heller, Patrick Herda, Eva Seattle Audubon will grate- Soldwedel, David Swayne, Paul Johnston, *Peter Klein, Bharati Hershaw, Carol Holmstrom, fully award service pins to Webster, Cynthia Wilson Konnur, Russell Kurtz, Beth Malina Hubler, Nancy Hunn, high-serving volunteers at 750 hours+ Lagerberg, Cinda Langjhar, Carol Barbara & John Jensen, Bruce Leenstra, Robin Lewis, *Patricia Jones, Sigrid Reinhardt Jones, our Volunteer Appreciation *Diana Aubin de Paradis, Ma- rissa Benavente, *Marilyn Bush- Lott, Loretta Mandra, Teri Martin, Kraig Kemper, *Tyler Kipling, Evening , Thursday, Febru- er, Carol Gard, *Keith Geller, Cheryl McCoubrey, Brendan Mary Klein, *Renee Klein, Dick ary 15, 7PM at the Center Raelene Gold, Ken Jacobsen, McGarry, Reiko Myers, Marilynn Koerker, Jennifer Leach, Heath- for Urban Horticulture. An *Tom Kelly, *Rachel Lawson, Miller, Briony Nguyen, *Eldon Ol- er Lee, Estella Leopold, Kevin Jane Lundin, Phyllis Pirzadeh, son, Dennis Paulson, Tom Perigo, Li, Sandy Lindsay, Ilon Logan, asterisk indicates a newly Cathy Pfarr, Barbara Retzlaff, Patty Lott, *Gina Lozier, Donna awarded service recognition Roberta Roberts, Tom Rohrer, Pat Ryan, Richard Sanders, Helen Ross Pitts, Margery Robi- Luce, *Megan Lyden, *Ama- in that category. Congratu- *Robert Sieh, Dan Suiter, Rob- son, *Jane Sepede, *Karen Shea, lia Magaret, S. Anna Martin, lations and thank you to ert Sundstrom, *Martha Taylor, *David Shettleroe, Ian Shives, Jim *Karen Matsumoto, Jennifer all our volunteers. Dick Weber, Sandra West, Ethel Simpkins, Netta Smith, Sharon McDonald, Susan McDougall, Williams, Isadora & Kendrick Sneddon, Emily Sprong, Keith *Michael McMullin, Alan 6500 hours+ Wong, *Alison Wysong, Neil Stamm, Kate Stenberg, Stephanie Mendoza, Deni Mensing, *Patty *Charles Kahle Zimmerman Sykes, Lisa Syravong, Diana Thay- Michaud, Lois Miller, Norma er, Kathleen & Robert Thode, Liz Milliman, *Marianne Moon, 6000 hours+ 500 hours+ Thomas, Colin Thoreen, Roger Mark Moon, Claudia Morgan, *Richard Youel *Nancy Alden, *Helle Biele- Tilton, Myrna Torrie, Lisa Vogel, *Julie Morgan, *Karen Morse, 5500 hours+ feldt-Ohmann, Joanne Davis, Linda Wakeman, *Cynthia Wang, Marlo Mytty, *Nick Neely, *Ju- George Johnson Carolyn Eagan, Ivan Ellis, *Barbara Webster, Eli Weinberger, lia Nordsieck, Danny O’Keefe, *Rebecca Evans, Al Ferkov- 5000+ *Tom Weir, *John Michael West, Joan O’Sullivan, Scott Olmsted, ich, John Friars, Steve Gers- *Miriam Williams Jan Wilson, *Nancy Wilson, Eldon Olson, Roger Olstad, Jen- tle, *Alan Humphrey, David 4500 hours+ *Marilyn Wittenmyer, Ann Marie nee Osburn, Joan O’Sullivan, Hutchinson, Vicki King, Ardell *Hanna Atkins, *Idie Ulsh Wood, Bunny Wood, Francie Jane Owen, Lakshmi Padala, Kuchenbecker, Laurie Linde- Wood, Martha Wood, Sam Woods, Kelley Palmer-McCarty, Ashley 4000 hours+ man, *Richard Lintermans, *Carleen Zimmerman Parkinson, Scott Percival, Sarah *Suzanne Krom, *Hal Opperman Teri Martin, Marilyn Milberger, Perigo, Linda Pomeroy, Toni *Bonnie Miller, Susan Murphy, 100 hours+ 3500 hours+ Potter, *Melinda Ranklin, Lorie Anne Passarelli, Robert Robins, Joyce Adachi-Kirkland, Morgan *Chris Altwegg, *Gene Lagerberg Ransom, Madhuritha Reddy, Randy Robinson, *Penny Rose, Ahouse, Noel Angell, Frances 3000 hours+ Gene Revelas, Juliet Rhodes, Connie Sidles, Phyllis Stark, Applegate, Alice Arnold, *Susan Carolee Colter, *Steve Dang, Sherry Rind, Joyce Roether, *Kristin Stewart, *Cheryl Barnes, *Matthew Bartels, *Mar- Connie VanDeventer Linda Rogers, Mary Rogers, Teague, Patricia Vivian, Timo- ian Black, *Marvin Breece, Esther 2500 hours+ Dan Roller, Ilene Samowitz, thy Walsh, Sarah Webb-Otten, Brolin Bailey, Judy Baskey, Cathy Brian Bell, Ellen Blackstone, Jackie Saunders, Stephen Sax, Japhy Whalen, Francis Wood Bell, Bill Bogue, Mamie Bolender, *Shiva Parameswaran, Brenda *Emory Bundy, *Justine Busse, *Brad Shaffer, Paul Schloemer, 250 hours+ Senturia, *Marina Skumanich Arthur Campbell, Nora Carr, Barbara & Randy Schnabel, Kevin Aanerud, *Karen Adair, Victoria Shum, Ron Simons, 2000 hours+ Christine Chan, *Simone Chavez, Judy Allen, Marti Anderson, Lynn Ferguson, *John Lundin, Praveen Reddy Chettypally, Arn and Kathy Slettebak, Ca- Laurinda Anglin, Shannon *Walter Oelwein, Tom Riley, Belinda Chin, Kavitha Chinta, mille Sperry, Emily States, Anna Bailey, Carol Baker, Katie Mary Anne Thorbeck Morea Christenson, Kay Cook, Steele, Karen Stephens, Susan Barndt, Lee Barnes, Julia Bent, Maureen Corlas, Kelly Crimmins, Stillman, Ed Swan, Barbara 1500 hours+ Becky & Bob Benton, MaryAnn Liang Cui, Carol Dale, Tyler Davis, Tari, Radosveta Tashev, Nancy *Terry Adams, *Linda Anchondo, Berrie, Linda Bosshart, Lauren Hans & Kristi de Grys, Anne Thomson, M. Sue Trevathan, Jan Bragg, Herb Curl, Jr., Jane Hed- Braden, *Lorine Brakken, Carol Doherty, Gary & Judy DuVall, Bert Shang-fan Tu, Sonia Vallabh, berg, *Jerry Joyce, *Chuck Lennox, Brittnacher, *Eileen Bryant, & Laurie Ann Dudley, Tom Eckert, Justine Vega, *Marie Vila, *Eric *Joe Miles, Virginia Morrison Gro Buer, Nicole Burk, Pam Dianne Edmonds, JoLynn Edwards, Ward, John Waterman, Kate Cahn, Linda Carroll, Danielle 1000 hours+ Dianah Esperas, Diane DiLuck Weinberger, Heidi Whalley, Chicoye, Sara Clark, *Amy Charles Adams, *Tom Aversa, El- Fathi, *Barbara Faville, Michael Woody Wheeler, Joan Whiley, Cole, Joe Conforti, Nancy eanore Baxendale, Georgia Conti, Fleming, *Jim Flynn, Francie Katie Whitney, Shannon Coomer, *Endre Dale, *Barb Steve Hallstrom, Helen Hawley, Galbraith, Tracee Geernaert, Gail Whitney, *Patrick Woolford, Deihl, Denis DeSilvis, Ed Deal, Jeffrey Young, Liz Young, Elysse Jennifer Kauffman, *Penny Koya- Gensler, George Gerdts, James Michael Donahue, Stephanie Zelenko, Diana & Willa Zhou, ma, Kathy Lantz, *Colene McKee, Gough, Kristi Gray, *Miriam Gray, Forbes, Edward Freedman, Erica Zwick Jean Mills, *Martin Muller, Julie Michael Green, Catherine Greer, Myers, *Martha Nester, Don 4 February 2007 5 A n d N a t u r e

Green Options: Climate Change: Action Steps Are growers ready? for a Healthy by James Di Properzio Environment There’s a coffee mug you may have seen. by Matt Mega, It illustrates global warming by showing a Director of Urban Habitat map of the world, and its picture changes when hot coffee warms the mug to show Welcome to Seattle how the rising ocean levels will inundate Audubon’s environmental the world’s coastlines. This is about as far tip corner. Beginning in this as most people in the coffee world have issue, we will bring you tips gotten in considering the intersection of to combat the decline of our coffee and climate change. environment. Our first tip “Nobody in the tropics is doing is to help us all be “green” consumers. Whether you anything about it,” says Dean Cycon of are buying a new car, Dean’s Beans, who maintains relation- replacing an old washing ships with growers, and regularly travels machine, or remodeling a to discuss coffee and environmental issues kitchen, buying “green” with them. depends on being an Scientists understand very well how informed consumer. Make global temperature changes of just one sure you do your homework degree Fahrenheit have already changed and find the best green climates in many areas very noticeably, alternative. By purchasing One thing that many growers across with corresponding effects on agriculture. green products, such as the tropics can do for themselves is plant Forest Stewardship Council In many of the regions with the best grow- trees. In the past several decades, roughly Lumber, shade-grown ing conditions, from the tropics and even half of the world’s coffee plantations have coffee, and energy-efficient through places like California, another cut down their trees, or cut down forest to appliances, we not only couple of degrees are forecast to result plant unshaded coffee. This decreases the help the environment, in drought, invasive pests, and extreme ability of vegetation to counteract global but foster our connection weather conditions like the hurricanes warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, and to the earth. Start your and monsoons seen over the past couple green consuming effort by it also raises local temperature. So these of years. Coffee-growing areas are among growers are themselves part of the problem. researching the following those most vulnerable to these condi- web sites. If growers worldwide appreciate the danger tions, and the small changes thought to be First, find out what your to their business, they can start by replant- impact on the environment inevitable in the next decade or two could ing trees and returning to shade growing. is by visiting render traditional growing areas unsuit- www.earthday.net/ able for the cultivation of coffee. Excerpted from Fresh Cup Magazine, Footprint/index.asp Awareness of the problem among October 2006 To find local green growers is very slight. Many small local consumer options, visit growers have no access to information www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/ that global warming exists, and most of swd/ecodeals/index.asp or the first-worlders in the industry who Seattle Audubon’s NW Shade www.environmentalhome might be concerned about it on the global Coffee Campaign supports growers in center.com level haven’t begun to strategize about the being part of the solution, but they And make sure you coming changes. need our help. Buy shade-grown coffee, check out Seattle Audubon’s visit shadecoffee.org to learn more, and www.shadecoffee.org and pick up a Global Warming mug in the www.forestfriendlylumber. Nature Shop. com/ for more information.

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Spotlight on Forest has noticed secondary benefits of certi- GreenDisk and fication. The biggest improvements and Stewardship Council requirements on the ground are: Seattle Audubon: • Herbicides are used only as a last resort Wrap-up (FSC) Certified Lumber and not as a routine forest practice. by Alex Morgan, Conservation Director by Adam Sedgley, • The “clearcuts” permitted under FSC are Science Associate Approximately four million acres of for- much smaller than typical industrial clear We sent out a plea for Seattle estland in Washington are owned by small cuts and far more trees are left standing. Audubon members to donate forest landowners and about one million • The social component of FSC assures their Technotrash in the of these acres are located in transition consumers that the company and its September issue of Earthcare areas adjacent to rapidly growing urban contractors are paying reasonable wages, as well as the Nature Shop and suburban areas. These forestlands are hiring locally, and treating employees and Fall Mailer. And wow, did you critical to the future of working forests in contractors appropriately. respond! our foothills as well as to the critters that • Wood is tracked by a chain of custody, More than 100 people call these four million acres home. so that OPC can tell its buyers where the dropped off 411 pounds of tree was growing that produced each 2x4. CDs, computer batteries, printer cartridges, PDAs, • OPC tracks downed wood and snags for cell phones, and laptops. It their wildlife value in addition to potential makes us feel great to know board feet of timber for economic value. that so much trash was All these factors contribute to better recycled. But we can still on-the-ground management, resulting in do more: approximately 40 better practices for birds, other wildlife, million pounds a year end up and people, although these practices may in landfills across the nation. also mean higher prices for consumers. You can tackle this problem The O’Neill Pine Company and many in your home or business Seattle Audubon file photo Weyerhaeuser clearcut other certified producers are betting that by contacting GreenDisk, a local non-profit devoted consumers will go the extra step to sup- The O’Neill Pine Company (OPC) is to addressing this growing a small, third-generation family logging port sustainable practices for birds and problem in an accountable business in Lewis and Thurston Coun- people alike. and environmentally safe ties. The company plans its logging manner. GreenDisk offers activities in terms of family generations its Technotrash Can: a large and maintains a 120-year harvest plan, cardboard trash bin that compared to the 40-year plans of many can hold up to 70 lbs of computer media, supplies, large, industrial companies. Within that and accessories. Once it’s plan OPC harvests about one million filled, fold it up and ship it board feet a year or enough wood to build off (the postage is included). about 60 houses. For more information Six years ago, OPC pursued FSC on GreenDisk, visit certification for its lands, as the principles www.greendisk.com. and guidelines of FSC meshed well with its overall management philosophy. OPC maintains an inventory of FSC-certified lumber in Chehalis, and sells lumber directly by the semi load or even by the pickup load at www.opineco.com. By choosing FSC certification, O’Neill Pine has had to make some photo by Ian Hanna changes in its management practices, and FSC forestry O’Neill Pine Company

6 February 2007 7 F e a t u r e The Many Faces of Seattle Audubon

Liz Reynolds Thomas Here are just a few of the dedi- Liz Reynolds Thomas of the Greater cated members of the Seattle Seattle Chapter of The Links has been a Audubon family who help us Seattle Audubon volunteer since 2001. work toward our goal of protect- She volunteers at the African ing birds and nature. Come join American Academy for “Audu- us and volunteer! bon Day at the Arboretum” and also for an essay contest honor- ing John James Audubon. Liz enjoys watching the students’ delight as they discover birds and other creatures. “They are connecting with nature and each other in a special way for the first time. These experiences serve as a catalyst for a passion that continues my interest in exposing urban youth to the value of birds, the natural environment, and protecting bird habitats.”

Patricia Lott Patricia S. Lott, Master Birder and Tom Weir former wheel- Semi-retired physician and Master chair user, suffers Birder Tom Weir exemplifies the from scleroderma. versatility of leadership on which She credits bird- Seattle Audubon’s success is built. He watching for her co-leads our Seward Park Neighbor- improved health. hood Bird Census. In 2006, he taught “Perhaps those of a Birding 101 class for Seattle Audu- us who feel uncom- bon, led a Stanwood-to-Samish Island fortably earth- field trip, and lent his knowledge of bound can take heart by hearing the songs Wood Duck habitat to the Cascade of those who soar above us. The birds Land Conservancy at the Hazel Wolf call me out and up to greater heights and Wetlands Preserve. Each year since breadths than I imagined I could go.” 1970 he has led a Christmas Bird In 2002 Patricia added Accessible Field Count group. He and his wife Kristi Trips to our roster of field trips. “I volunteer are longtime generous supporters of to lead these trips in order to help bring many of our programs. others closer to the healing power of nature through the special magic of birds.”

8 February 2007 9 F e a t u r e

Anasophia McLain Smith To help the birds she loves, eight-year-old artist Anasophia McLain Smith created “For Wild Birds Everywhere,” a 2007 Calendar of her artwork available in the Ben Burkhalter Nature Shop. Proceeds Ben Burkhalter, a UW senior, is currently from its sale benefit Seattle Audubon. a Shade Coffee Campaign intern and an Born in China’s Hunan Province, she alum of our BirdWatch program for high lives with her family in Seattle and at- school students. After he learned about tends The Valley School. She has studied our Shade Coffee Campaign, it captivat- art in China with a master and is an ed his attention for several years. While apprentice to Janet Fagan-Smith, Seattle doing research at the UW on fair trade artist and teacher. Young, passionate, systems in various countries, he found inspired conservationists like Anasophia that he “longed to be involved in a fair give us all reason to be optimistic and to trade coffee campaign again. Shade Cof- work harder to ensure the birds will be fee was a natural choice because of how here when she’s an adult. much Seattle Audubon has done for me with the BirdWatch program. I also like the environmental sustainability aspect of Shade Coffee.”

Victor Scheffer Dr. Victor Scheffer received his PhD in zoology from the Univer- sity of Washington in 1936. As a professional mammalogist and naturalist, he has authored 14 books including, The Year of the Whale, a seminal piece that inspired the marine mammal conservation movement of the sixties. “I joined [Seattle Audubon] in 1934 and I suspect that it was partly to meet some wholesome girls. I didn’t know much about birds and wasn’t awfully interested in them at first. I was looking for kindred spirits and I certainly found them in the Audubon Society.” “I can’t imagine the Northwest without an Audubon Society. [The Society] stands for study and preservation of nature, and has a wonderful reputation for goodness when it comes to the environment.” Victor celebrated his 100th birthday in November of 2006.

8 February 2007 9