OCTOBER 2018 Kitsap Audubon Society – Since 1972 KingfisherTHE Oct. 11, 2018, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Poulsbo Library Live Raptors - All Ages family program Docents from West Sound Wildlife Shelter will once again bring us a couple of their charming wildlife ambassadors for an informative family-friendly program: this time a Red-tailed Hawk and a Western Screech Owl. These “live raptor” programs appeal to all ages, and especially children. So bring the whole family! When injured or orphaned wildlife are brought to the shelter, they are treated, rehabilitated and released back into the wild whenever possible. But sometimes they are too impaired to survive in the wild and become special ambassadors for the shelter’s fascinating educational outreach programs. The programs reach out to people of all ages to encourage responsible actions toward wildlife and their habitat, and develop the wildlife stewards of tomorrow. The purpose of these programs is to create a direct connection with wildlife that will help educate the public about protecting wild animals and their habitats, and how to coexist peacefully with the Red-tailed Hawk photo local wildlife. Our adult-oriented programs also by Don Willott. provide information and advice about humanely resolving conflicts with nuisance wildlife. Western Screech Owl To learn more about these programs, photo by Gene Bullock contact West Sound Wildlife Shelter at [email protected]. Thank you One Call For All We are especially grateful to our 300+ members and friends on Bainbridge Island who each year designate Kitsap Audubon for a generous portion of their ONE CALL FOR ALL donation. Kitsap Audubon Society President’s Letter - Diane Bachen President: Diane Bachen, 360-649- With the cooler 6903, [email protected] Vice President: Gene Bullock, 360-394- temperatures and rain (fingers 5635; [email protected] crossed), it certainly feels like Treasurer: Sandy Bullock; 360-394-5635 summer has passed. Now is a [email protected] Secretary: Connie Bickerton, 206-200- great time to refurbish gardens 8425, [email protected] with shrubs and trees, especially Immed. Past Pres: Sandy Bullock; 360- with some of our native plants 394-5635; [email protected] that support our feathered At-Large Board of Directors: friends. Bainbridge Island Land Ray Coleburg, 360-535-4105 Trust is having a native plant Sharron Ham, 360-779-5458, sale on Saturday, October 6 [email protected] Janine Schutt; 360-830-4446; jeschutt@ from 9 am to 12 pm. For more hotmail.com information, look for “Events” Alan Westphal, 206-780-7844, on www.bi-landtrust.org. Many [email protected] Judy Willott; 206-842-6939 of our local nurseries also carry a [email protected] variety of native plants. Did you Lynn Willmott, 360-613-0044, know that several studies showed [email protected] that listening to birds singing Standing Committee Chairs: and calling can help improve a Field Trips: Alan Westphal, 206-780-7844, [email protected] person’s mood and attention? conservation in several areas Another great reason to plant Conservation Chair: Don Willott of Kitsap County. The board 206-842-6939, [email protected] bird friendly shrubs and trees! welcomes proposals from our Education Chair: Gene Bullock, To start another Audubon general membership to be 360-394-5635; [email protected] year off, we have purchased a considered for possible projects Greeters: Milly Bellemere & Bob brand new, up-to-date sound to be financed from this fund. Schumacher. 360-830-4231, rbellemere@ system. This will greatly We just received an update wavecable.com facilitate the audio portions of from the Marbled Murrelet Membership Administrator: Sara Kane our programs and ensure that 297-2716, [email protected] Survival Coalition that the revised everyone will be able to hear. Programs: Vic Ulsh Draft Environmental Impact 360-479-6900, [email protected] Thank you to Gene and Sandy Statement on the Marbled Publicity: Gene Bullock, 360-394-5635; Bullock for securing this system Murrelet Long-Term Conservation [email protected] for KAS. Strategy has been completed. Refreshment Chair: Lynn Willmott, 360- Our annual financial report Please see more information 613-0044, [email protected] was published in our last about this important document Purple Martins: Sandy Pavey, newsletter and that included on page 9 of this newsletter. 360-930-0807, [email protected] information about the Ann New board members Raffle Coordinator: Dawn Hansen; Sleight Memorial Fund. At our are needed! Our secretary Wildlife Sightings: Janine Schutt September board meeting we position is still vacant. Although 360-830-4446; [email protected] approved the donation of $5,000 Connie Bickerton has graciously Scholarship Chair: Sandy Bullock to the Bainbridge Land Trust continued to take notes, she is 360-394-5635, [email protected] Stand For the Land Campaign, also busy as our social media Social Media Chair/Facebook Editor: which will go to preserve key Connie Bickerton chair. Sandy Bullock, our treasurer, [email protected] natural habitat on Bainbridge will be stepping down at the end Island. Webmaster: Mike Szerlog, of this year, so we will need to fill 360-881-0470, [email protected], The Ann Sleight Memorial that position. Sandy has said that www.kitsapaudubon.org Fund is available for projects she will mentor the new board Kingfisher Editor: that fit our mission, and has been member who offers to take this Gene Bullock, 360-394-5635 used for educational scholarships on. Please talk to any board [email protected] and for land acquisition and member for more information 1968 NE Lind Ct., Poulsbo WA 98370 Kitsap Audubon Society meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, September through May, 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. Audubon Council of Washington (ACOW) October 13, 2018; Brightwater Center, Woodinville WA The Audubon Council of Washington (ACOW) is an annual state-wide conference that brings together the Audubon Washington staff and members from Audubon Chapters across Washington State for a day of information sharing, knowledge gathering, and fellowship. This year’s ACOW will be held Saturday, October 13, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Brightwater Center, 22505 State Route 9 SE, Woodinville WA 98072. It will be hosted by Eastside Audubon and King County chapters. Details are available online at http://wa.audubon.org/events/audubon-council-washington-1 New Kitsap Audubon Patches Our new Kitsap Audubon patches will be available for sale at our monthly meetings. The patches are $5.00 each if you purchase them at the meeting. Add $1.00 for postage and handling if you order via our website or by mail. These three- inch-diameter patches are designed to be ironed on or sewn on hats, sweatshirts, shirts, jackets, camera bags, backpacks, etc. You can order patches online at http://www.kitsapaudubon.org/store/ Save these dates for Christmas Bird Count Kitsap County Christmas Bird Count - Saturday, December. 15, 2018 Port Gamble/Hansville/NK CBC - Saturday, December 22, 2018 Pre-CBC Orientaton & Warm-up - Saturday, December 8, 2018, at Point No Point County Park in Hansville (9 a.m.). Kitsap Audubon pledges $5,000 to Bainbridge Land Trust “Stand for the Land” Campaign Donation will be matched. Wildlife Watching Soars in Popularity Forty-five million people went pastime and birding topped the watchers contributed nearly $76 birding in 2016! list of animals to watch! Birders billion to the economy, mostly A study published last winter spent a lot of time on their hobby through equipment expenses. by the US Fish and Wildlife (almost 100 days), mostly around Seventeen million birders traveled Service summarized the results their homes. Collectively, wildlife away from home to watch birds. of a 2016 survey The number of wildlife- on outdoor watchers increased recreation. Their 20% between 2016 and results show that 2011, the year of the last over 101 million survey. people - 40% of You can read the survey the US population at - participated in https://wsfrprograms. wildlife-related fws.gov/subpages/ activities in 2016, nationalsurvey/nat_ including hunting, survey2016.pdf fishing, and (of course) bird- Photo by Jay Wiggs watching. Wildlife- watching was the most popular Field Trips & Festivals - Al & Andrew Westphal Birdfest and Bluegrass (Ridgefield, WA): October Field Trip 5 – 7. Check the website for details and schedule Report of events: https:// Point No Point/Hansville, ridgefieldfriends.org/ September 15. Sixteen of us birdfest-bluegrass/ gathered for a terrific morning Other Birding Festivals: A at Point No Point. With the more complete summary of tide rising and a nice rip events statewide may be shaping up around the point, found at the Washington conditions were just right parking lot by the visitor center at State Audubon site: http:// to bring seabirds close enough 8:30 a.m. wa.audubon.org/bird-festivals-0 to shore for easy watching and Owl Prowl with Jamie Acker: identification. The highlight Billy Frank - Nisqually National Sunday, October 28th, 5:00 this time of year is the show Wildlife Refuge: Saturday, a.m. Jamie’s early morning Owl put on by the Parasitic Jaegers October 20. Al & Andrew Prowls on Bainbridge Island are a harassing smaller birds and taking Westphal, leaders: westphalac@ unique experience. He knows all their catch, and they did not aol.com, 206-780-7844 (e-mail of the owl spots and will call them disappoint. At least four jaegers preferred). One of the best right into your view. Because went after the many hundreds of locations in our area to observe of his long-term studies of the Bonaparte’s and other gulls right an array of migrating and over- Bainbridge owl population, he is before our eyes.