January/February 2015
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Summer Camp AUDUBON SOCIETY of PORTLAND insert included! JANUARY/ Black-throated FEBRUARY 2015 Gray Warbler Volume 79 Numbers 1&2 arbler Spring & Summer W Camp Registration Call of the Wild Volunteering at Audubon: In this issue... Online Auction Fun and Rewarding! begins Jan 8 at 8am See page 5 See page 8 See Insert & page 7 Anna’s Hummingbird © Mark McBearty Bald Eagle © Scott Carpenter American Kestrel © Jim Cruce Red-tailed Hawk © Scott Carpenter Got 15 minutes to count birds? Great Backyard Bird Count February 13–16 he Great Backyard Bird Count is a 4-day Photo © Jill Nelson-Debord Northern Harrier Photo © Jill Nelson-Debord © Scott Carpenter Tcount held each February with the goal of Come Celebrate Birds of Prey at the Saturday, February 7 getting a snapshot of bird numbers and distribution 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 10th Annual Raptor Road Trip across the globe. As a participant, you commit to xplore Sauvie Island in search of the magnificent Bald and families are welcome. Three of the sites — Howell count birds anywhere for Eagles, hawks, and falcons that spend the winter on Territorial Park, Coon Point, and the Wildlife Viewing at least 15 minutes on one the island. On this special day devoted to raptors, Platform — are wheelchair accessible. While you don’t or more of the 4 count E days. Tally the number of experienced naturalists and hawk experts will host activities have to be an ‘early bird’ and get up at the crack of dawn individuals of each species White-breasted Nuthatch and answer your questions at four locations around the to see these birds of prey, you should allow approximately © Steve Berliner island. Enjoy guided bird viewing, meet live raptors up three hours to visit all four locations. you see, and enter your close, and sharpen your hawk identification skills. Hot totals at birdsource.org/gbbc. drinks and donuts are available in the morning to keep you What will you see? warm while you breakfast with the birds. It all depends on what nature has in store. Frequently The GBBC helps scientists sighted raptor species at the three viewing stations include determine trends and identify How does the road trip work? Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, and long-term declines that may call Begin at Kruger’s Farm Market where you’ll pick up an Northern Harrier. With a little luck you might spot a for conservation attention and event map and illustrated raptor identification guide. The Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Rough-legged Hawk, or require further study. Citizen event fee is $10 per vehicle, cash only, and includes a one- Cooper’s Hawk. Spectacular Sandhill Cranes, Snow Scientists can make crucial day Sauvie Island Wildlife Area parking permit. To reach Geese, and Great Blue Herons are also commonly seen observations and contribute to a Kruger’s, turn right off Hwy 30 northbound, cross the at this time of year. At Howell Territorial Park you are dataset the magnitude of which Sauvie Island Bridge, and continue straight 1.5 miles (past guaranteed sightings of Portland Audubon’s Education no team of scientists could Howell Territorial Park) to the farm entrance on your right. Birds as well as fun activities for all. achieve alone! Song Sparrow. Carpooling is encouraged. Photo: stevevoght No registration is required. For more information, visit Last year more than 144,000 Spotting scopes and a crash course in raptor identification audubonportland.org/local-birding/raptor-trip. checklists were submitted from over 100 countries, will be provided at three island viewing locations, along with nearly 4,300 species observed. So join tens of with naturalists to help spot the birds. Bring binoculars and Sponsored by Metro, Audubon Society of Portland, and Oregon thousands of other bird lovers across the Portland field guides if you have them, and dress for the weather. Department of Fish and Wildlife. area and around the globe by participating in this The road trip is suitable for birders of all skill levels year’s count. Go to birdsource.org/gbbc for more information. 2014 Wild Arts Festival: A Record-breaking Year — See page 10 Inside this issue Page 2 .................From the Interim Director Audubon Society of Portland Page 3 ..................................Audubon Outings 5151 NW Cornell Road ........................................Nature Nights Portland, Oregon 97210 Page 4 & 5 .........................................Conservation ...........................Wildlife Care Center Page 6 & 7 ...........................Trips, Tours & Classes Page 8 .....................Field Notes & Volunteers Page 9 ................Nature Store & Sanctuaries Page 10 ....................................................Tributes Page 11 ....Benefit Show for Portland Audubon Page 12 ..............Map/Hours/Business Alliance View this Warbler and many past issues in full color on our website! Go to audubonportland.org/about/ newsletter and enhance your enjoyment of our popular newsletter! From the Interim Executive Director Audubon Kids Day Field Notes Saturday, January 10 10am–3pm | Free Event joined the Audubon Society populations, and this aspiration resonates deeply with me. of Portland in July as Interim My first job, at age 17, was as a counselor at a wilderness ome join Audubon staff as I Executive Director. My role is to summer camp for inner-city kids. I’ve seen how life- we host a day just for kids. lead operations during the transition changing such an experience can be. CWe’ll have activities and to the next Executive Director, projects based on many of our following the departure of long- In addition to being a place for laughter and exploration, most popular Summer Camp serving Executive Director Meryl Portland Audubon is a hub for serious conservation policy programs, including Animal Liz Field, Interim E.D. Redisch. debate and advocacy initiatives. My colleagues, working Tracking, Archery, and many other © Tinsley Hunsdorfer with partners, carry on this organization’s legacy of nature-based Art Activities. Come join the fun! While I’ve been an Interim Director at a number of protecting native birds and wild places — often against Pre-registration is required for the Archery organizations, I was especially excited to take on this great odds. I am full of gratitude for their efforts and demonstration and is highly recommended. assignment. I wanted to get to know Portland Audubon hard-won accomplishments, which benefit us now and for Registration opens Tues, Dec 16 at 9am on our website, from the inside and give back in some way to an generations to come. or call 971-222-6120. organization that has been such a special place for my family and me. It’s a place we’ve come often over the years Each time I walk through Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Get a jump on Summer Camp registration: Audubon Kids Day to wander the trails, check in on the Education Birds, and Care Center, I am reminded of the fragility and resilience of participants can register for our Summer Camp programs. look for crawdads and salamanders in the creek. It’s where birds. Community members come to our center daily with my son first went to camp and, more recently, where he injured birds and animals in need of care. One of many helped feed baby birds in the Wildlife Care Center. such animals was a Bald Eagle found in Camas, which was suffering from severe gunshot wounds. Wildlife Care Center After several months on the job at Portland Audubon, the staff and volunteers worked tirelessly over several months days are beginning to fall into a rhythm, although there is to nurture and rehabilitate this bird. On a sunny Sunday in FREE EVENT! still some element of surprise almost daily. This was true August, a group of us gathered at Sandy River Delta Park from my first meeting at the organization. This gathering to watch with awe as this majestic bird was released and Welcome Back of about 20 people ground to a halt midway through as all soared away into the wild. eyes turned to the window to watch birds at a feeder. This Vulture Day was a professional first for me. While the meeting wasn’t One of the joys of working at Portland Audubon is that about birds, they are always a priority here — and this I can walk to work on trails through Forest Park. I don’t is coming to Leach Botanical enthusiasm for birds is contagious. have to cross any streets, but instead cross a creek on a Garden! footbridge on my way to the office. How many people get to Saturday, Our setting at Portland Audubon is tranquil yet vibrant. see a Pileated Woodpecker on their morning commute? When I joined the organization, summer camps were in March 21, 2015 full swing. The Nature Sanctuary was filled with children’s At the Audubon Society of Portland, I continue to marvel Noon – 3 p.m. laughter and the excitement of discovery. For some of the at the beauty of our setting — and at the talent, energy, and Leach Botanical Garden kids, such as those in our Explorador community camp, the commitment of our staff and volunteers. I’m proud to be 6704 SE 122nd experience was their first in nature. Portland Audubon is part of the team, supporting this remarkable organization Portland, OR 97236 striving to increase opportunities in nature for underserved during its transition to new leadership. Parking is limited. Please carpool if possible. id you notice you see Turkey Vultures Calendar at a Glance For the latest information, visit audubonportland.org. Din the metropolitan January area only in the spring and 1 Thur —— Happy New Year! Admin & Nature Store closed summer? That’s because 2 Fri Various Winter Break Classes for Kids (see website) they migrate to warmer 3 Sat Various Portland Christmas Bird Count (see website) climates in the winter, but 4 Sun 12:30pm Bluegrass Jam, Heron Hall it’s time to welcome them back.