Nature Store Events AUDUBON SOCIETY of PORTLAND — see page 9 Black-throated MARCH/APRIL 2015 Gray Warbler Volume 79 Numbers 3&4 arbler W Native Plant Sale WCC’s Online Auction ALASKA! In this issue... ends March 5th June 7–21 & 21–23 April 11–12 See page 5 See page 6 See page 9 U.S. Army Corps Announces Plans to Slaughter Double-crested Cormorants on East Sand Island — Portland Audubon Plans to Litigate by Audubon Conservation Raven Maniacs © Program Staff Arlen Snyder Birdathon 2015 Millennial Falcons © Tinsley Hunsdorfer n February 6th, the U.S. Army Corps of Counting Birds Because Registration begins OEngineers released a March 15th! Final Environmental Impact Birds Count! Statement (FEIS) indicating its intent to move forward during oin the Biggest, Baddest Birdathon this side of the To participate, register for one of our many exciting the spring of 2015 with a four- Mississippi! Be part of the fun — enjoy some of our Audubon-guided teams (listed here and on our website) year plan to kill nearly 11,000 region’s birding hotspots, AND help raise money to and invite your friends and family to come along or support Double-crested Cormorants Double-crested J Cormorant © Jim Cruce protect birds and habitat across Oregon! Birding experience you with a donation! Be eligible to receive great prizes for and destroy more than 26,000 isn’t necessary — you’ll have a great time, as each team is led your efforts including the most species seen, most pledges Double-crested Cormorant nests on East Sand Island in by one or more of our expert birding leaders. received, most money raised, best photo, and more. the Columbia River Estuary. The proposed lethal take of Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $35 in adult cormorants represents 15% of the entire Double- Now in its 35th year, Birdathon is the Audubon way to raise pledges unless otherwise indicated. crested Cormorant population west of the Rocky funds for its conservation and education programs. It’s like Mountains. The birds would be killed using shotguns a walkathon, but instead of counting miles, we count birds! over water and at close range with rifles as they tend to their active nests on East Sand Island. In addition to Birdathon 2015 Teams the killing of adult birds, the Corps would also destroy Here is a partial list and a synopsis of Half-Day, Full-Day, and Gonzo Trips (2+ days). Continued on page 5 Visit audubonportland.org for additional trips and more details. The Lone Birders — our new Virtual Team! Millennial Falcons: May 16 (Sat) NEW TRIP! Jackson Bottom Ramblers: Do you enjoy birding and love to share your adventures Calling all young adult birders! If you are between 21 and 35 May 30 (Sat), 7am–12pm online complete with dramatic photos and pithy posts? years of age, join Brandon Lampkin and Robin Juskowiak, Join Steve Engel, Hillsboro’s Nature Program Supervisor If the answer is YES!, join our virtual team! Count birds professional bird geeks and naturalists, for a casual half-day and Audubon’s former Adult Education Programs and use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, or Instagram of birding at the newly renovated Fernhill Wetlands. Fernhill Manager, for a morning at Jackson Bottom Wetlands account to reach out to your followers, build awareness, is a proven hotspot for migrating warblers, flycatchers, and Preserve. Designated an “Important Bird Area” (IBA), over and raise funds for Portland Audubon. We will provide you shorebirds. We end at a pub to celebrate a day well spent — 150 species of birds are expected annually. We’ll bird its with ideas for sponsor challenges and ready-to-post updates raising funds to help these places thrive! quiet open waters, rolling meadows, and upland ash and fir to send to your friends and followers. woodlands, watch for nesting eagle activity, and see what’s NEW TRIP! The Bountifowls: happening at the heron rookery. Half-Day Trips: May 16 (Sat), 9:45am–1pm Clackamas Creepers: May 9 (Sat), 8am–3pm This trip for birding foodies gets you a back-stage pass to Great Big Sit: Date TBD, 8am–12pm Bird Clackamas County sites with Portland Audubon one of the metro area’s premier Organic farms: Our Table The perfect Birdathon experience for beginning birders! educator and long-time local birder Dan van den Broek. We Cooperative. Enjoy special access to hot birding habitat Give your legs a rest and spend a leisurely morning in your check out some of the best Willamette floodplain wetlands areas on this 58-acre farm, including riparian woodlands lawn chair at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Sit for Cinnamon Teal, oak woodlands for migrating Warblers and open water. Team leader Barb Grover will help birders back with your thermos amidst great company and relax as and Flycatchers, and the Cascade foothills for Bluebird and of all levels spot and identify birds. Conclude the morning the birds come to you; 35–50 species frequent this idyllic Solitaire. A minimum of $50 in pledges is requested. with a special farm lunch to celebrate our birding success! setting! Soggy Bottom Birders: May 15 (Fri), 9am–4pm Whittemore’s Whatzits: A Song in the Morning: Join Portland Audubon Education staff Ian Abraham, May 17 (Sun) 8am–1pm Date TBD (Wed), 7am–9am Tim Donner, and Laura Newton for an exclusive birding Popular ‘Beginning Birding’ and ‘Birding By Ear’ instructor Spend the morning with Gerard Lillie, Mt Tabor’s tour of wetlands of the Greater Columbia River Basin. Laura Whittemore, and Birdathon Coordinator Mark renowned bird song expert, and work on an impressive list We’ll stop at Smith and Bybee Lakes, Ridgefield NWR and, Fitzsimons, will guide this Steigerwald Lake NWR trip. of residents and spring migrants by identifying their songs if time allows, Steigerwald Lake NWR. Ideal for people Songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl abound — we expect to and calls! Join this special “Birdathon Edition” of Audubon’s of all ages who appreciate birding in a relaxed and fun see 50 species! A minimum of $50 in pledges is requested. spring series of weekday morning Bird Song Walks. atmosphere. Transportation is provided. A minimum of Continued on page 12 $50 in pledges is requested. Inside this issue Page 2 .................From the Interim Director Audubon Society Page 3 ..................................Audubon Outings of Portland .....................................Bird Song Walks 5151 NW Cornell Road Page 4 & 5 .........................................Conservation Portland, Oregon 97210 ...........................Wildlife Care Center Page 6 & 7 ...........................Trips, Tours & Classes Page 8 .....................Field Notes & Volunteers Page 9 ................Nature Store & Sanctuaries Page 10 ...............Board of Directors Election Page 11 ........................... Thank You, Volunteers! 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 FREE EVENT! Executive Director Welcome Back Appreciation: Wink Gross’s Leadership Vulture Day of the Portland Christmas Bird Count is coming to Leach he Christmas Bird Count of Portland, approached Wink Botanical Garden! (CBC) is the longest-running about taking on this volunteer Wink Gross © Portland Audubon Saturday, Tcitizen science bird project in role. At the time, a mere 28 March 21, 2015 the country, and it has produced an people had participated in Portland’s most recent CBC. Ruby the Turkey Vulture Liz Field, Interim E.D. extraordinary data set that supports Linda saw in Wink an outstanding birder and long-time Noon – 3 p.m. © Tinsley Hunsdorfer photo: Tom Schmid studies on bird populations and member of the Audubon community who could energize Leach Botanical Garden helps shape conservation strategies. Now an international this event, build participation, and provide the leadership 6704 SE 122nd, Portland, OR 97236 program of the National Audubon Society, the count was and organizational skills needed in the Compiler role. Parking is limited. Please carpool if possible. created 115 years ago by ornithologist Frank Chapman id you notice you as an alternative to Christmas side-hunts, during which During the intervening years, Wink and his team rallied see Turkey Vultures “sportsmen” competed to kill the most birds and other game. a high of more than 400 volunteers to participate in in the metropolitan Portland’s CBC. From Wink’s perspective, the CBC Area D area only in the spring and The first Christmas Bird Count, conducted in 1900, Leaders (most recently Tony DeFalco, Lori Hennings, Lynn summer? That’s because they involved 27 bird counters in 25 locations in North America. Herring, Dan Strong, and Eric Scheuering) have been as migrate to warmer climates in The tradition took root and has grown exponentially since responsible if not more so than he has been for the growth the winter, but it’s time to welcome them back. We’re its inauguration: The 2014 CBC included more than 70,000 of the Count. Wink’s greatest sense of accomplishment in lucky to still have good populations of Turkey Vultures volunteer counters in more than 20 countries. In total, this his CBC leadership role has come from seeing engagement in Oregon. Around the world vultures are facing year’s volunteers counted more than 66 million birds! grow and, with it, excitement for birds. This is at the heart hazards in the wild and their numbers are dwindling. of the 115-year-old CBC tradition. As “Nature’s Recyclers,” they play an important role in Wink Gross, who has played a role in this growth, is a reducing disease — and it’s up to us to help save them. hard act to follow. For the past 11 years, Wink has led the This year, as in the past 89 years of the Portland CBC, Portland installment of the CBC as its Compiler.