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The Hooter Kittitas Audubon December 2015
All Audubon meetings, held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Hal Holmes Center next to the Library, September through May (except December), are open to the public. Please come and meet with us. A brief business session precedes the program. Stay afterwards for juice, treats, and conversation.
Many thanks to the Ellensburg Public Library for sponsoring our meetings here!
No Membership Meeting/Program in December!! BUT you can join in this annual event on December 19th:
The 116th Christmas Bird Count is almost here! Since the Christmas
Bird Count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteer “citizen scientists”. In other words, it all starts with you!
On Saturday, December 19th, 2015, Kittitas Audubon will mark its 37th year of participating in the longest citizen science survey in the world, the Christmas Bird Count, known more commonly as the CBC. The very first count occurred 116 years ago this December with 27 people in 25 different locations. It was begun as an alternative ac-tivity to over-harvesting of birds such as egrets, herons, and sea-birds which were being killed for their feathers, mainly to adorn women’s hats, but also birds that were killed for eating. Today more than 2400 counts come in from all over the Western Hemisphere with 72,000 individuals participating. (2300 are from the US and Canada.) Critical data indicates species population trends ~ even more important as the climate changes. Data is showing some spe-cies are doing well, while others are struggling.
In Ellensburg, small teams of volunteers, covering their appointed territory, attempt to count every bird in the 15-mile designated circle centered at the junction of I-90 and I-82. At the end of the day, we gather for a potluck at 5:00 at the home of Steve and Linda Hall where, after a well-earned sumptuous feast, counts are tallied. In the January Hooter, an article by Phil Mattocks, who has organized and tallied our counts for decades, w ill again summarize the results of Kittitas Audubon’s 2015 CBC.
Some areas require a fair amount of walking, but much counting will be done from car windows as the roads are slowly traveled. If you have never before participated and would like to—or if you have participated and cannot do it this year, please call Gloria Baldi @ 933-1558 as soon as pos-sible.
Additionally, if you reside in the circle and would rather count birds at your feeder from the comfort of your home, your tal-ly is just as important ~ and most welcome. Please email your results right away to Phil at [email protected]. Come join us for this festive day out in the winter weather with the birds!
NOTE: This year the Cle Elum CBC is Monday, December 14th. People should contact Michael Hobbs if they wish to participate: [email protected], 425-301-1032.
Ellensburg Christmas Bird Count
Peregrine Falcon
2012 CBC
Lee Barnes Photo
Winter birding! Try it! You’ll like it!!!
Page 2 The Hooter
Board Notes by Gloria Baldi
From the November 5th meeting: Christi Norman from Audubon Washington in Seattle
attended the meeting. She reported on an initiative to work with Colombia (SA) to help direct its economy to nature tourism.
A donation from Yakima Audubon for a Climate Change presentation by Board members, Barry Brunson and Judy Hallisey, was gratefully accepted.
Ellensburg Public Library and the Cle Elum Library each will receive six years of BirdWatcher’s Digest maga-zine from Kittitas Audubon.
Steve Moore still is looking for leaders to help with Field Trips.
Judy Hallisey is having a booth entitled Night Bird Mi-gration at CWU’s Nature of Night for children on No-vember 21st.
A letter of thanks is being sent to Congressman Reichert for his support of the Land and Water Conser-vation Fund which provides grants to states for cultural heritage and recreational sites.
Judy Hallisey has been selected by National Audubon to attend a conference in Philadelphia on landscaping with native plants.
Barry Brunson described the Community Climate Walk and Rally scheduled for November 22nd, which will be followed by the guest speaker, Steve Ghan from Pacific NW National Laboratory.
KAS w ill present the science program on Decem-ber 1st at Cornerstone Pie (D&M Pizza) at 7:00pm. The title is Birds on the Brink, present-ed by Steve Moore, Jan Demorest, & Jim Briggs.
KAS’s Annual Report has been submitted to National Audubon. Many thanks to Judy Hallisey!
Christi Norman reported (a.) that the Sagebrush Song-bird Survey is being accompanied by a BLM plan for shrub steppe conservation; and (b) Arid Lands Initia-tive is a group of state agencies that is working to find connectivity corridors in sage lands for sage species.
KAS will have a booth at E3 on January 30th at Hal Holmes. Jan Demorest will lead.
Anyone is welcome at the monthly board meetings. Please consider joining us for lively discussion followed by fine dining!
Send in your sto-
ries & photos!
The Hooter is the
newsletter of Kit-
titas Audubon,
published monthly
except for July.
~~~~~~~
Submissions from members & other readers are most wel-
come and encouraged! The editor reserves the right to edit
for space, grammar, and/or suita-
bility. Email text and/or photos to
[email protected] or snail mail
to Jan Demorest, Hooter Editor,
712 E 2nd Ave, Ellensburg, WA
98926. Submissions deadline is the
20th of the preceding month.
KAS BOARD MEMBERS President –Tom Gauron 968-3175 Vice President – Judy Hallisey 674-6858 Secretary – Jim Briggs 933-2231 Treasurer – Sharon Lumsden 968-3889 Conservation- Board members Education – Judy Hallisey 674-6858 Field Trips – Steve Moore 933-1179 Historian – Gloria Lindstrom 925-1807 Programs – Jeb Baldi 933-1558 Publicity – Gerry Sorenson 968-4857 Scholarship – Gloria Baldi 933-1558 Climate Change – Barry Brunson 674-6858 Past President – Jim Briggs 933-2231 *Newsletter – Jan Demorest 933-1179 *Membership – Tuck Forsythe 925-2356 *Wildlife Habitat – Joe Meuchel 933-3011 *Bluebird boxes – Jan Demorest 933-1179 *Social Greeter – Kay Forsythe 925-2356 *Christmas Bird Count–Phil Mattocks 899-3370
*non-voting members
KAS Board Meetings are held at 4:30
PM on the 1st Thursday of each
month in the PUD meeting room,
1400 Vantage Highway. These meet-
ings are open to the public and all
Audubon members; please come and
join in the discussions. Meetings ad-
journ by 6:00 or 6:30, after which we
all go out for a sociable dinner ~ NO
business discussion allowed!
** Snowy Owl painting by Louis Agassiz Fuertes (Page 1)
First Saturday Birdwalk, November
7. Five birders logged 18 species on our walk beside the river, a partly cloudy day in the 40’s. Waterfowl offerings were still meager, with shy Mallard females in Reecer Creek and some Canada Geese about. A pair of Belted Kingfishers were interacting over the river as if it were spring. Bewick’s Wrens were also vocal and we got a good visual. A Bald Eagle flew by upriver. Others included our win-ter regulars: the hardy Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, Song Sparrow, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a few American Goldfinches.
For “listers” who like to know ALL the details, here’s a complete list of bird species seen:
1 American Goldfinch 2 Bald Eagle (flying upriver) 3 Black Billed Magpie 4 Belted Kingfisher (pair interacting over river) 5 Bewick's Wren (vocal; good look) 6 Black-capped Chickadee
7 Canada Goose 8 Common Raven 9 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Downy Woodpecker 11 European Starling 12 House Finch 13 Mallard (females in Reecer Cr) 14 Northern Flicker 15 Red-tailed Hawk 16 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
17 Song Sparrow 18 Steller's Jay
~~~~~~~~~~~~
There were no other field trips in November, but a few sightings of interest and one birder’s report on a Thanksgiving Day Bird Count…(see Page 4)
Field Trip Reports Page 3 The Hooter
“Rare bird in Boise! Anyone want a road trip?”
Message sent from Judy Hallisey’s cell phone on November 13
Hooded Warbler in southern Idaho!!!
When I checked the mail this evening, I noticed this Great Horned Owl above my bird feeders. I took these (photos) 4 feet out my front door.
~ Doug Kuehn, 11-7-15
Bewick’s Wren
PINE SISKINS ~ from Gloria Baldi
Several people have reported this year that large numbers of Pine Siskins are covering their thistle feeders. It appears to be what is called an ‘irruption year’ for this species. Accord-ing to the Cornell Lab of Ornithol-ogy, flocks of these tiny birds will monopolize your feeder one winter and be absent the next. This no-madic finch ranges in response to seed crops. Suited to clinging to branch tips or a seed sack, these
brown-streaked acrobats flash yellow wing markings as they flut-ter while feeding or explode into flight. They are definitely fun to watch.
Editor’s note: While we were staying at the Oregon coast near Florence,
OR, we put out our feeders about 10 days before Thanksgiving, so the
birds were flocking all over the deck railings and boards, as well as the
feeders. The morning of the day before Thanksgiving, I counted 30 or
more Pine Siskins covering every surface, gobbling seeds and defending
their little “turf”. So I thought I’d have a bonanza for the Thanksgiving
Day Bird Count. I miscalculated my day (we actually decided to go for a
hike, since the sun was shining), and didn’t get to my count until late
afternoon (still a beautiful calm cloudless day to be sitting out watching
birds at pretty close quarters, in the glowing colors of dusk…). Not a
single siskin, but a few gems: Spotted Towhees, Chestnut-backed
Chickadees, adult and juvenile White-crowned Sparrows, Fox and Song
Sparrows. I finished just as the sun was approaching the horizon.
Page 4 Hooter Bird Tidbits
Birding Magazine Available at Local Libraries!
Kittitas Audubon has renewed sub-scriptions to BirdWatchers’ Digest at both Ellensburg Public Library and the Cle Elum Library. These are a
great resource for birding information as well as interesting stories, histories, artwork, and photographs. Visit your local library and cozy up with a cur-rent or past edition!
Check the “Periodicals” section or
ask your librarian.
Greater Sage Grouse Not Listed Page 5 The Hooter
The long-awaited decision on listing the Greater Sage Grouse under the Endangered Species Act has been made and the birds didn’t make it. But if I may quote the late Yogi Berra, (“It’s not over until it’s over”), it may not be over for these icons of the West.
A decade ago, the National Audubon Society (NAS) Central Flyway Policy Advisor, Brian Rutledge, began working with the Governor of Wyoming to protect 15 million acres of the best sage grouse range in the state, which has the largest population of the birds. After the non-list ruling, the Bureau of Land Management will expand this 15-million-acre ref-uge to 65 million acres across the states with sage grouse popula-tions. Efforts are also under way to protect the sagebrush habitat on the 40% of grouse range that re-mains in private ownership.
NAS President David Yarnold said, in a recent news release, that listing can have adverse effects in a politi-cally-charged climate. “Putting the bird on the Endangered Species List is the most extreme measure the federal government can take. That triggers an avalanche of regulations about how almost any plot of land will be used for decades to come. It drives landowners into hiding and ends any conversation aimed at serving mutual interests. And it would have a chilling effect on western state economies that would cause a massive backlash against both sage-grouse protections and the Endangered Species Act itself.”
It's possible that the threat of list-ing under the En-dangered Species Act is what is driv-ing efforts to res-cue these magnifi-cent birds. Here is an example that I observed first hand: the upper Hudson River in the Adirondacks had a booming white water rafting industry. The resulting environmental strain (trash, too much traffic, muddy roads, disturbing wildlife) caused the state Department of Environ-mental Conservation to threaten regulation of the industry. Miraculously (almost overnight!) the outfitters began picking up each other’s
trash and self-policing to the point that the state kept out of it. I think the same thing is happening here. There is a cloud hanging over the sageland users - including ranching and especially en-ergy explorers and exploi-ters - dark and threatening enough that they will do everything they can to limit impacts of their activities on the grouse in order to pre-vent that cloud from open-ing up.
We know what it will take to protect the grouse. They are extremely sensitive to
habitat disruption and will leave an area if tall structures like power lines, wind turbines, and drilling towers appear. During breeding season, they can be routed from their leks by late night
activity, so that has to be lim-ited. Wildfire and the cheat grass that fuels it need to be controlled. It takes decades for sage to recover after a fire.
The Yakima Herald-Republic re-ported that our local population of 250 sage grouse on the Ya-kima Training Center is pretty well protected. The Army tries to avoid the best areas of habi-tat for high impact activities like temporary bases. Also they limit exercises between mid-night and 9:00 a.m. during
breeding season.
By protecting the habitat for sage grouse, we will
be protecting the homes of 350 other species.
~ Jim Briggs
Page 6 Hooter “It may be winter here, but it’s nesting season somewhere…!”
Wisdom was banded in 1956 as she incubated her egg—she was thought to be around 5 years old. She left the island after mating, but is expected to return soon to lay and incubate her egg.
Laysan Albatross mate for life, but Wisdom has most likely had more than one mate over the years dur-ing which she reared 36 chicks. She is the world’s oldest known bird.
Both parents spend six months rearing and feed-ing their one chick. Since they fly long distances to find the proper diet for themselves and the chick (squid, fish, crustaceans and flying fish eggs), wildlife managers estimate that she has flown over six million miles foraging!
Wildlife Biologists have noted a 70% decrease in seabird populations worldwide, so Wisdom has become “a symbol of hope and inspiration.”
"We are a part of the fate of Wisdom and it is gratifying to see her return because of the dec-ades of hard work conducted to manage and protect albatross nesting habitat."
Stay tuned for updates on Wisdom’s not-so-private life!
~ from SkyNews online article written by the SkyNews US Team
Populations of Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) in East Antarctica are growing as glaciers retreat, exposing more breeding
sites, according to a recent study.
Adelie penguins nest on rocky shorelines so they can be close to the sea where they forage for krill to feed themselves and their chicks. Retreating glaciers means more rocky shorelines are exposed. So, more nesting areas = more chicks. More chicks = more food needed. Sea ice is also reced-ing. This means the adults don’t have to travel so far to get krill. BUT, (here comes the “web of life”) krill eat algae, and algae live on the underside of the sea ice. SO, less sea ice = less algae = less krill = less food for more chicks…
Complicated, huh? Well, this is based on a very long-term study (19,000 years to now!), so scien-tists are looking at trends over millennia. What it all means in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, good news for the Adelies!
Sources: “Nature News” and “The Scientist” magazines online editions ~ Jan Demorest
Thanks to Marte Fallshore for the reference!
Photo by Wendy Pyper
64-yr-old Laysan Albatross “Wisdom” returned to Mid-way Atoll with her mate on
November 19th.
Photo by Kiah Walker, USFWS
Whispering sweet nothings….
Page 7 Hooter Membership & other news! GET “THE HOOTER”
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Darling Bird Studios, ©2007 UNA
BECOME A KITTITAS AUDUBON MEMBER!! (Or renew your membership)
Receive The Hooter ~ help support education and conservation activities and projects!
Two options are available:
OPTION 1: Membership in National Audubon includes a subscription to the magazine, Audubon, membership in the local chapter (KAS), and KAS monthly newsletter, THE HOOTER
____ Join as a new National Audubon member $20 (includes KAS membership)
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Make check payable to: National Audubon Society Include this form and mail to: Membership Data Center, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235
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OPTION 2: Membership in only the local chapter, KAS, includes the monthly newsletter, THE HOOTER
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Make check payable to KAS and mail to: KAS, P.O. Box 1443, Ellensburg, WA 98926
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Kittitas Audubon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization. All memberships and donations are tax-deductible.
Membership forms are also available on our Web site: Kittitasaudubon.org.
For membership information contact Membership Chair, Tuck Forsythe ~ [email protected]
See The Hooter in COLOR on our website ~ http://www.kittitasaudubon.org
Thanks for renewing your membership!
Bonalyn Bricker-Smith
Susan Bangs
Upcoming KAS Field Trips & Events DECEMBER
5th ~ Saturday ~ First Saturday BirdWalk, Rinehart Park. Waterfowl are pushing the ice aside on the ponds. Someone may bring a scope along for close-up looks. Sparrows & snipes are trying to keep warm. Dress for the weather and meet at the Irene Rinehart riverside parking lot off of Umptanum Rd at 8 AM. Tom Gauron and Diane Bullock will lead.
19th ~ Saturday ~ Christmas Bird Count. Join a team and help count birds on a wintry day, then share a fabulous potluck! See Page 1 for de-tails.
JANUARY
2nd, Saturday ~ First Saturday BirdWalk, Irene Rinehart Park. Continuing a January tradition: we’ll meet at Irene Rinehart parking lot at 8 AM, head for breakfast at the Bar 14 Res-
taurant, and re-assemble afterward at 9 am, back at Irene Rinehart parking lot, for a 2½ -hour walk. Winter wonderland specialties to look for are waterfowl on the ponds, Brown Creeper, dipper, and eagles. Frosty foliage and riverside icicles are frequent photogenic sidelights. Dress for the New Year weather! Leaders TBA.
FEBRUARY
6th, Saturday ~ First Saturday BirdWalk, Irene Rinehart Park. Meet at 8 AM at Rine-hart parking lot at the river’s edge. More info in January Hooter.
Kittitas Audubon
P.O. Box 1443
Ellensburg WA 98926
The Hooter ~ December 2015 The Newsletter of Kittitas Audubon - http://www.kittitasaudubon.org
THANKS TO KITTITAS COUNTY BUSINESSES SUPPORTING KAS!
Inland Internet, Roslyn ~ donates Internet service for our Website: http://www.kittitasaudubon.org
Old Mill Country Store, Ellensburg ~ Provides a discount on bird seed to KAS members. Get your bird seed here!
The mission of Kittitas Audubon is to develop an appreciation of nature
through education and conservation, with a focus on birds.
