See the full

count from
the CBC on
pages 6 & 7.

Published by the Tahoma Audubon Society: Connecting people with nature since 1969. Vol. 39 No.1 February 2008

Elizabeth Rando Beer Melissa Paulson Ione Clagett Darby Veeck Peggy L. Kopf Kathleen Nelson

Let’s meet our TAS board member candidates

Each year at the annual membership ban-
quet new board members are elected for a
three year term. This year we will be intro-
ducing 6 new candidates. It is an embar-
rassment of riches. Their energy, excite-
ment and experience will bring fresh new
ideas and help shape the future of Tahoma
Audubon. Lets meet them....
Elizabeth Rando Beer
Elizabeth was born in Tacoma and has
lived here the majority of her life, aside from
the years spent attending Eastern
Washington University in Cheney,
Washington. She has a degree in Art
History, with minors in world history and
African American studies. She and her hus-
band own a home very close to Point
Defiance, and they are the proud care tak-
ers of Maggie, their black lab. She is cur-
rently training to become a resource analyst
for McFarland Cascade. She also volunteers
for MLK Ballet, and spends time as a theme
reader for Stadium High School.
“Joining the Tahoma Audubon Society and
becoming a board member holds a special
place in my heart, as my grandmother
Dorothy dedicated many years to this orga-
nization,” says Elizabeth. “Following in her
footsteps, I plan on being an active member
dedicated to our cause.”
Melissa Paulson
A lifelong Pacific Northwest resident,
Melissa grew up in Enumclaw and attended
Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland. She
lives in an old arts-and-crafts bungalow in
Tacoma’s Central 6th Avenue neighborhood
with her husband, Jamie, and their two
(indoor only!) cats. When not working on
house projects, Melissa enjoys hiking, snow-
shoeing, gardening, learning about the birds
in her tiny yard, and participating in various
musical groups, including the Bremerton
Symphony Chorale, where she serves as the
chorale accompanist.
Melissa has a deep interest in habitat con-
servation and natural resource manage-
ment. She currently works for Pierce County
Water Programs, where she divides her
time between the watershed councils and
local salmon recovery efforts. Melissa is
convinced that collaboration and education
are essential to making both good policy
and good strides toward a better environ-
ment. She fundamentally believes in the
mission of the Tahoma Audubon Society
and is very much looking forward to learning
See "Board" on page 4

Thank you! Northern Flicker

By Paul Webster
For a CBC well done! It’s hard to miss this familiar but unusual woodpecker of woodland areas and urban
By Faye McAdams Hands greenbelts because of its large size, reddish underwings and tail, and white rump
patch that shows in flight. Other woodpeckers forage in trees, but the flicker locates
Thank you all for participating in our Christmas
food mostly on the ground, and its spotted front and brownish back with irregular
Bird Count again this year. To each and every one
black bars help conceal it as it pursues the ants that make up most of its diet.
of you……out in the early morning cold…. and
A flicker always seems to have something to say: prominent in the
rain…. and wind! We worked hard this year, in a
impressive vocal array are the loud peah calls, which probably serve to
year of adversity!
identify individuals.
Special Thanks to Chris Chappell
The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) breeds in various wood-
for flying back from his new home
land habitats across North America from the tree line south to
in New Mexico to cover Area #5,
Nicaragua. In Washington, flickers are mostly the “Red-
and pass the reigns onto Rolan
shafted” variety, with bright salmon-colored shafts of wing and tail f e a t h -
Nelson. And to Marcus Roening
ers, displayed in flight, or flashed at other flickers during courtship or territorial
for arranging for coverage in Area
defense. The malar (moustache) stripe of the males is the only plumage difference
#6 when he was out-of-state….and
between the sexes. The Yellow-shafted Flicker is found mostly east of the Rocky
to Sue Summers & Wayne Sladek for
Mountains, and there is a long, narrow zone just east of the Rockies where the two
providing that coverage. And to Art Wang for step-
subspecies hybridize, and these hybrids show a variable mixture of Red- and Yellow-
ping in for Area #1, and to Ruth Sullivan for simply
shafted plumage. Each winter, many hybrid and some Yellow-shafted migrants from
carrying on without her – and our - beloved Patrick
the boreal forests north of us stop off in Washington, and their numbers in the lowlands
in Area #8. And Thanks also to Captain Robin
are augmented by altitudinal migrants from our own mountain forests.
Paterson, who looks forward to joining us in
Every spring, local Audubon chapters field dozens of calls from homeowners
December 08 with Tugboat Joe. We missed you this
about flickers’ loud territorial drumming on their trees and homes, especially reso-
year! And to Bruce LaBar, who pushed us on with-
nant features like metal downspouts. And if the home has soft wood siding like
out a boat to try to get what we could from various
cedar, a flicker sometimes tests its suitability as a nesting spot, though homeowners
shore line views throughout our Count Circle.
tend to intervene at this point. Breeding season begins with pair formation, marked
The most noticeable changes from past years are
by the “long call”, often described as a rapid, repeated wik-wik-wik that lasts from
in the decreased numbers of waterbirds. Wow!
5 to 10 seconds or longer. Territorial defense features stylized “dances” between
See "Christmas Bird Count" on page 6
See "Flicker" on page 4
 executive Director’s Corner
Members of Tahoma Audubon unite!
Dear Member; bership in addition to the National membership.
Have you ever We did. Only problem is that we have been giv- Your support of Tahoma Audubon
been confused ing you two memberships, one for National and one is very much appreciated. Two
about when your for Tahoma Audubon. All fine and good until thirds of our financial support
membership someone’s expiration date for National Audubon is comes from individual contribu-
expires? So have different from their Tahoma Audubon expiration tions. That is a tremendous state-
we. In December date. Which date is the actual date of expira- ment of grassroots support.
the Tahoma tion? Good question.
Audubon Board New Policy: Your membership in Tahoma Audubon ship with a donation of $50 or more. We will send
adopted a new is what makes us the successful organization that the $20 for your National membership onto National
chapter member- we are. The new policy creates a stand alone chap- Audubon.
ship policy. The purpose is to simplify our current ter membership in Tahoma Audubon. It is renew- If you are a new member you can join both
situation, serve you better, and generate more mem- able each year by making a generous contribution National and the Chapter for an introductory rate of
bership revenue at the chapter level to support our of $30 to Tahoma Audubon. $20. That is a real bargain.
work to conserve habitat and educate the next gen- To start off fresh we will reset your membership Your support of Tahoma Audubon is very much
eration of conservation leaders. expiration date. Your expiration date will be the appreciated. Two thirds of our financial support
History: In the past, membership in National later of your current National or current Chapter comes from individual contributions. That is a tre-
Audubon Society came with an automatic member- membership. (For example if you currently have a mendous statement of grassroots support.
ship in the local chapter. A portion of those mem- Chapter membership that expires in May and a Membership dues are one way of supporting
bership funds were passed onto the chapter to help National Membership that expires in September Tahoma Audubon, as well as contributing to
support local efforts. your expiration date will be September.) In the Birdathon, our annual banquet or fall breakfast, or
With the rise in the cost of direct mail National month of that expiration date we will send you a including us in your planned giving.
Audubon has decided to no longer send a portion of letter asking you to renew. We will not stuff your Focusing on the desire to support our mission we
each member’s dues to the chapter. Each year mailbox all year long with solicitations to renew seek to keep the process as simple and straightfor-
Tahoma Audubon receives financial assistance your membership. ward as possible. We also seek to keep our cost
from National Audubon but it is no longer tied to At renewal time you can renew your Chapter down so that more of your support can go directly
your membership. In fact, National Audubon has membership with a donation of $30 or more, or you to our mission. With that support we can do great
been encouraging chapters to seek their own mem- can renew your Chapter AND National member- things together. Thank you.

Chapter Membership Policy

Starting January 1, 2008 Tahoma Audubon will extend a one year Chapter
Membership benefits to all individuals who contribute $30 or more for that
purpose.

New Members: The Pierce County Chapter of The National Audubon Society
Located in University Place's Adriana Hess Wetland Park
Ø New members will be given the opportunity to join both National 2917 Morrison Rd W University Place, WA 98466
Audubon (NAS) and Tahoma Audubon (TAS) with a $20 Introductory Office hours 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Front desk 253-565-9278
Membership. e-mail: contact@TahomaAudubon.org
Ø New NAS members will be given a complimentary one year
Introductory Chapter Membership.
Ø Anyone making a donation of $30 or more for the first time will be tahoma Audubon staff
given a one year Introductory Chapter Membership.
Flint, Bryan Executive Director
Renewing Membership:
Ø Starting on January 1, 2008 all NAS members and TAS will be
bryanflint@tahomaaudubon.org 253-565-9129
grandfathered in with a single Chapter Membership that expires on Kyer, Krystal Conservation Coordinator
the latest date of either their current National or Chapter kkyer@tahomaaudubon.org 253-232-9978
Membership.
Ø Upon each members renewal date TAS will invite that member to Swaim, Stephanie Education Coordinator
renew their chapter membership at the $30 level. A mailing with StephSwaim@tahomaaudubon.org 253-565-5479
our brochure will give the member the option to:
o Renew their chapter membership only at $30. Kerrigan, Julie Volunteer Coordinator 253-565-1884
o Renew their joint membership with NAS and TAS at the jkerrigan@tahomaaudubon.org
$50 level. We will send $20 to National for that portion of
the membership tahoma Audubon Board of Directors
Ø A renewal through NAS without a $30 or greater contribution to
TAS does not constitute a renewal of a Chapter Membership. Brosius, Jane Secretary
Approved by Board of Directors December 13, 2007 Carkner, Dick
Garner, John
The Towhee is a publication of the Tahoma Audubon Society. Gilmur, Thelma Membership
The Tahoma Audubon Society was chartered in 1969. TAS advocates for the protection Jordon, Al
of wildlife and promotes conservation through education and activities that enrich its mem-
ber’s experiences in and with the natural world. Larson, Sally
The Towhee is published monthly, nine times a year, with a combined Jul/Aug and Dec/
Larson, Wayne President
Jan issue. Submissions of articles and photographs of birds, bird lore, natural history, con-
servation, and environmental education are reviewed and considered for inclusion by the LeGreid, Kathleen Publication kaleditor@mindspring.com
editor. Copy is due by the 15th of the month and may be sent by e-mail, disk, or typed.
McNair-Huff, Rob Field Trip Chair
Editor: Kathleen Ann LeGreid: phone 360-458-1483 Roening, Marcus
E-mail:kaleditor@ mindspring.com
Mailing: Vera & John Cragin and Winfield Giddings Shea, Margie Treasurer, Education
Design & Layout: Robert Kelton: E-mail: robert_kelton@mac.com Sullivan,Brian Volunteer bwsullivan@mindspring.com
Printing: Consolidated Press
Printed on recycled newsprint

Page 2 www.tahomaaudubon.org February 2008

 eNviroNMeNt Matters
Conservation keyword: Focus
Here at Tahoma Audubon, we like to think of our-
selves as the ‘heart’ of environmental movements in
Pierce County. We stand tall, defend habitats at risk
from new roads, housing developments, resorts, com-
mercial strips, dumps, airports… you name it. In the
past we’ve responded to this that and the other, and
often times we may have been the only group of con-
cerned citizens standing up for the birds, wildlife, and
habitats that we cherish. We will certainly never accu-
rately capture the number of activities that Tahoma
Audubon’s conservation efforts have saved – forests,
streams, wetlands, prairies, and shorelines of Pierce
County.
After nearly 40 years of hard work by hundreds of
dedicated volunteers, and as population pressures
mount, we realize and accept that we cannot continue
to react to every threat. There simply are too many.
We are lucky today, in that there are a good number of
active environmental groups working to protect
Pierce County’s diverse wild-
life and habitats. We aren’t
alone anymore. Now, many
voices speak for those crea-
tures and plants and entire
ecosystems that have no voice
of their own.
For those of us who listen to
their voices – their calls at
dawn, the croaking dusk, the
howling moon or gusting win--
ter winds – for those of us who
listen, we must speak up, and
tell the rest.
And so we do. But, as the
pressures mount and change, so
must we. With old and new
allies like the Sierra Club,
ge at www.ebird.org
Cascade Land Conservancy, You ’ll fin d thi s pa
Futurewise, Friends of Pierce
County, Transportation Choices Coalition, Pierce
County Biodiversity Alliance, Citizens for a Healthy
Bay, Green Tacoma Partnership, ForeverGreen
Council, Conservation Northwest, Native Plant
Society, three watershed councils, and dozens of
‘friends of’ groups, our voices are stronger than ever,
and never solo.
With the strength of the chorus on our side, we can
choose to sing our song in the pitch we choose, con-
tributing a unique element that both adds to and com-
pliments what we all do. What is our voice?
Audubon is known as a birding organization, and
birds are our strength. The Audubon Society was
formed more than a century ago to protect birds.
Tahoma Audubon was formed nearly 40 years ago,
and we have 39 years of field trip records, public com-
ments, letters, educational programs, and outreach to
prove it.
We are the bird experts in Pierce County!
And that is where we find our voice – our focus:
birds. With dozens of field trip leaders and avid bird-
ers and, literally, over a thousand field trips and 38
Christmas Bird Counts under our belt, we should
know what’s happening to birds in Pierce County.
Unfortunately, a lot of what we know is anecdotal.
What are the birds really doing? Which species need
our help the most? And what
habitats are at greatest risk?
Answering these questions
will help us decide where
we should be focusing our
conservation efforts for the
coming years.
National Audubon and
Audubon Washington
released two startling
reports this past summer,
the “Common Birds in
Decline” and the “Birds at
Risk”. These reports give
us a general picture of
what is happening to
birds nationally and in
Washington State. They
do not tell us what is hap
hap-
pening to birds right here,
in our own backyards.
However, we have the answers!
All of our field trip data will be entered into the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s online citizen science
database called ‘eBird.’ This program, co-sponsored
by National Audubon Society, is the largest online data
collection site in North America designed specifically
for birds. Thousands of records are added each month
by birders and organizations from coast to coast.
The eBird pro-
gram is easy to use,
and self-explanato-
ry, and available for
anyone and any
birding skill level.
You can track all of
your personal data
and run reports spe-
cifically on your
data. Your data will
also be combined
with other data so
that the combined
efforts and knowl-
edge will give everyone a better picture of birds in
Pierce County, in the Puget Sound trough, and in the
Pacific Flyway.
The more data the better. So, if you have bird lists,
and especially count data, from your own birding
explorations that hasn’t been captured by Tahoma
Audubon, please consider this a request for copies of
your lists. You can bring them by the office or mail
them in or e-mail them, whatever works best for you.
Or, even better, you can enter your data into eBird
yourself!
By the summer we should have a clear picture of
what we do and don’t know. At that time we will
invite Tahoma Audubon members and the citizens to
partake in a dialogue to help identify and set our con-
servation goals for the next few years, based on the
analysis of that data.
Next month I’ll write more about our efforts to
embed citizen science into our field trips, educational
programming, and conservation goals. In the mean-
time, join us for the Great Backyard Bird Count on
February 15-19, 2008. Participate in this nation-
wide citizen science program for yourself, and you’ll
get hooked!
Resources:
The eBird database can be found at:
www.ebird.org
Common Birds in Decline report:
http://stateofthebirds.audubon.org/cbid/
Birds at Risk report:
http://web1.audubon.org/science/species/watchlist/
The Conservation Committee meets on a regular basis.
Contact Krystal for details: 253-232-9978 or e-mail her
kkyer@tahomaaudubon.org

Community action saves a pristine beach

Treble Point on Anderson Island will not be
used for a geoduck farm after all. Following
more than a month of intensive letter writ-
ing, phone calls, petitions and a public meet-
ing with shellfish industry and state aquacul-
ture staffers, the Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) has decided to find anoth-
er state beach to site a geoduck aquaculture
monitoring lease in the south sound.
Islanders had protested with multiple rea-
sons why Treble Point was inappropriate for
this lease. Close to an island park, and rich
with natural populations of clams, forage fish
and birds, the point is used heavily by beach
walkers, kayakers, and other water recre-
ationists. It is low bank, with several homes,
and has no land access. In these and other
respects, the site did not meet DNR’s own
criteria for siting leases.
Credit for helping dissuade DNR goes to
Senator Mike Carrell with additional support
from Representatives Troy Kelley and Tami
Green. Senator Carrell asked some
hard questions of the agency and
shellfish representatives, and is now
proposing legislation that will provide
more detailed criteria and take a closer
look at the impacts of geoduck moni-
toring sites wherever they are locat- Senator
ed. Mike Carrell the Department of Ecology on regula-
Concern from citizens, shoreline
property owners, and environmental groups,
including Tahoma Audubon, with the leader-
ship of Representative Patricia Lantz, led to
legislation being passed in the spring of 2007
(HB 2220) that limits the number of acres of
public tidelands that can be leased for geo-
duck aquaculture until there is better science
to understand how this industry affects
Puget Sound shorelines and waters. The
state DNR will lease two-acre sites to private
shellfish growers under conditions that allow
close monitoring by department specialists.
Meanwhile, other scientific study will be
done by the University of Washington
Sea Grant program, with a report back
to the legislature due in 2014. The
legislation also created and funded a
Shellfish Aquaculture Regulatory
Committee (SARC) that is in the pro-
cess of making recommendations to
tions for shellfish aquaculture and
geoduck aquaculture, in particular. Our own
Krystal Kyer is one of two representatives of
environmental groups on the SARC, which
meets monthly in Olympia.
Information on the committee can be
found at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/
sea/shellfishcommittee/index.html
Check out Anderson Island’s beaches for
yourself by registering for the Saturday,
February 16th Discovery Walk by calling
253-591-6439 for details and directions.
Nancy Pearson 253-582-3543
(Treble Point homeowner)

February 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 3

 ... Board from page 1
the ins and outs of the organization and con-
tributing to its continued success.
Ione Clagett
Ione Clagett grew up in the
Spokane area, where her
parents still reside. Magpies,
the pine woods and the high
prairies are a part of coming
home for her. Ione’s travels
have taken her to Russia, first
Ione Clagett
as a graduate student and
later as an ecotourist.
As project director for a fledgling Citizens for
a Healthy Bay, she was inspired by an Ecology
conference which introduced the concept of
“watershed as address”--as important in deter-
mining where you are in relation to the rest of
the world as street or zip code. Ever since the
first round of Conservation Futures funding
preserved the four acres known as Parkland
Prairie, Ione has been part of a community
team effort to maintain wildlife habitat along
Clover Creek.
She is currently active as a Cascade Land
Conservancy trustee, is a member and past
secretary of the Chambers-Clover Watershed
Council, and serves as International Chair for
the American Association of University Women-
Washington State.
Ione and her husband John moved to
Spanaway some twenty-nine years ago, and
enjoy the wildlife which flies in, swims in, or
otherwise passes along the remaining green
corridors connecting nearby Ft. Lewis.
Darby Veeck
Darby Veeck was raised in suburban Chicago,
and after brief stops in Alaska and Boston
settled in Tacoma ten years ago. He subse-
quently persuaded his parents, from whom he
learned to appreciate the birds
frequenting the backyard feed-
ers of his youth, to follow him
to Tacoma. This was mainly
due to the beautiful natural
landscape and fine weather.
Surprisingly, no grandchildren Darby Veeck
were involved.
Darby and his wife Kristi Lynett are active run-
ners, bikers, swimmers, backpackers, cross
country skiers, concert-goers...and they’ve had
the pleasure of going on bird-watching excur-
sions in the various areas they’ve lived or trav-
eled: memorable trips from the Alaska Range
south to the Petén of Guatemala, and from the
coastlines of Maine and the Carolinas west to
Kaua’i and beyond, into the South Pacific.
He has participated in, and volunteered
with, various organizations in western
Washington and Pierce County, particularly
those involved in the usual mix of ‘environ-
mental’ issues: land use, local food, alternative
energy, sustainability, habitat protection, clean-
up, etc. His college education began with
physics, and continued in Environmental
Engineering, but he was disappointed that the
emphasis was (for him) too much on the
‘Engineering’, not enough on the ‘Environmental’.
He has since found a pleasing balance, which
professionally comes through using Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) to receive his pay-
check from the Department of Ecology.
Peggy L. Kopf
Peggy Kopf , a native of
Washington State, was born in
Olympia. A graduate of
Tacoma General Hospital
School of Nursing (RN), the
University of Washington
(BSN), and University of Peggy L. Kopf
Minnesota (MPH), Peggy
worked for the Tacoma-Pierce
County Health Department for many years.
She served as a public health nurse, health
educator, and health planner. She served as
Director of the Pierce County Health council.
Peggy sojourned for several years in Maryland,
where she was a Staff Educator for the
Rockville Nursing Home.
Peggy has been active in professional orga-
nizations and has an abiding interest in preser-
vation and appreciation of our environment.
While living in Federal Way, she learned about
waterfowl that passed through Washington on
their way to Canada or Mexico. She is living in
Tacoma’s north end and is looking forward to
working with local Audubon members.
Kathleen Nelson
Born in California, Kathleen
moved to Washington twelve
years ago from Georgia when
she was recruited for a job for
BlueCross BlueShield. She
had spent most of her adult
career in Montgomery, Kathleen
Alabama. Currently she is Nelson
Regional Applications Manager
for IT at Franciscan Health Systems. She is a
registered nurse with a degree in Health
Sciences. She currently lives in Fircrest with
her husband Rolan. They have five children
and four grandsons: one daughter and two
grandchildren live in Bremerton.
In addition to reading, Kathleen loves birding
- an activity that runs deep in the family. Her
husband, Rolan is a well known field trip
leader. A few of her grandchildren are involved
as well. She volunteers for the Heart Walk,
Autumn Health festival and at Harmony Hill
Cancer Retreats. She looks forward to contrib-
uting to the board in a positive way and mak-
ing everyone one in Tahoma Audubon feel that
they are represented. She also believes this is
a great time to get young people involved in
the organization as there is a growing aware-
ness of environmental issues.

... Flicker from page 1

birds of the same sex, who face each other giving
wicka calls, bills held at an upward angle, heads
moving in a figure-eight pattern, tails spread, and
wing colors flashing. Nest construction takes two
weeks or more, both sexes share the excavating.
The nest typically contains six or seven eggs, and
both parents have incubation duty that starts a day
or so before the last egg is laid. Hatching is in
about eleven days, and the young birds fledge at
about three-and-half weeks. Even the helpless
nestlings can vocalize: they make a defensive
buzzing to discourage predators that sounds like a
swarm of angry bees.
As cavity nesters, flickers compete with star-
lings for space, and numerous reports of starlings
evicting Yellow-shafted Flickers from their nests
help explain the 50% decline of eastern flickers
since the mid-1960s. Red-shafted populations
have declined about 20% in the west, though
flicker numbers in Washington currently seem
stable. Snag removal in logging operations, and
clean-up of snags and dead limbs in city parks and
residential areas could increase flicker-starling
competition for nesting space. This is an impor-
tant concern, because flickers are the “builders”
of nest cavities for many secondary cavity-nesting
birds, like Violet-Green Swallows, Bewick’s
Wrens, and chickadees, so their ability to repro-
duce depends on these unconventional, but attrac-
tive – and often noisy woodpeckers, who don’t
seem to mind sharing their space with us.
Page 4
Fielding Dreams
Our January program invited field trip partakers and trip
leaders to share their experiences with an eye to developing
future trips. Rob McNair-Huff is seeking field trip leaders to
schedule additional trips in 2008. Contact him at rob@white-
rabbits.com. Please go to www.tahomaaudubon.org to check
the Tahoma Audubon calendar page for trips and announce-
ments. Late additions and new trips are being added outside
of the publication schedule of the Towhee.
Photos/Diane Yorgason-Quinn
Above: Bryan Flint gets field trip ideas
from long-time field people, the To-
biasons. Left: Katrina Weihs and Vera
Cragin discuss the infinite possibilities
of field trips!
No Education page this month
But there’s always our website! For class times and dates, please check the Calendar
listing on the back page of the Towhee or on our website, www.tahomaaudubon.org
2917 Morrison Road W., 1919 South Tyler Street,
University Pl. WA 98466 Tacoma WA 98338 253-591-6439
253-565-9278 www.metroparkstacoma.org
www.TahomaAudubon.org
Open Tues. – Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Open Mon – Sat. 10a.m.-1p.m. & Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
www.tahomaaudubon.org February 2008
 fielD trips and Events
What: Decoursey Park birding with Ed Pullen
When: Sat Feb 9, 9 am – 12 pm
Where: Decoursey Park
Description: Join Ed and Kay Pullen for a birding walk
Puyallup’s DeCoursey Park. Start with the duck pond, walk
along Clark’s creek, and then on a delightful wooded trail
that ends up fording the upper end of the creek by the fish
hatchery. ..too late for the chum salmon run, which can be
spectacular in Dec-Jan, but we should see a good variety of
puddle ducks, winter passerines, and show you a great hike
to take with children/grandchildren on a winter day. Meet
at the DeCoursey Park parking lot on 7th Street by the ball-
field at 9 AM. We will be done by lunchtime. Wear water-
proof boots, dress for the weather. Footing can be slippery
but the hike is not difficult.
What: Birdwalk
When: Mon Feb 11, 12pm – Mon Feb 11 1pm (Monthly at
12pm on the second Monday)
Where: Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Description: Find out which of our avian friends call
Adriana Hess their home...
What: Great Backyard Bird Count
When: Fri Feb 15 – Sun Feb 17
Where: Great backyards around the sound.
Description: During Presidents’ Day Weekend, people
across the North American continent are urged to look at
the birds in their backyards and report them as part of the
Great Backyard Bird Count, one of the world’s largest
volunteer efforts of its kind. This count allows people to
celebrate their birds and help track the populations. Tahoma
Audubon will be coordinating four bird counts, and all are
welcome to attend. Each will take place at a local backyard
or park and will include a free meal! Call 253-565-5479
for further details. (Fri., Feb. 15, TNC led by Michele
Cardinaux at 10:00; Sat., Feb. 16, Adriana Hess Audubon
Center in UP at 10:00; Sun., Feb. 17, north-end home of
Art Wang; Mon., Feb. 18 University Place home of Helen
and Stan Engle, 10:00.)
What: Discovery Walk
When: Sat Feb 16, 10 am –11:30 am
Where: Anderson Island
Description: Discovery walks are designed for families and
friends of all ages. Discover a new location each month as
you explore the site with an experienced nature guide.
Recommended for families with children age 4 and up.
Call (253) 591-6439 to register and get directions. Free to
members, $5/person non-members. Pre-registration is
required.
What: Pt. Defiance Nature Walk
When: Sun Feb 17, 8 am – 11 am
Where: Point Defiance Park in Tacoma
Description: Join author Rob McNair-Huff for a 5-mile
walk through the forests at Point Defiance Park. The trip
starts at the back of the parking lot for the Point Defiance
Zoo and Aquarium. Come prepared for a healthy walk
through the park in changeable weather conditions. Winter
bird highlights can include waterfowl, Bald Eagles and
forest birds. For more information, e-mail rob@whiterab-
bits.com.
What: Plant Walk
When: Mon Feb 18, 12 pm – 1 pm (Monthly at 12pm on
the third Monday)
Where: Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Description: Learn about and identify the many native
plants of Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
What: Swan Creek Canyon
When: Sat Mar 8, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Swan Creek Park in Tacoma
Description Join Ed and Kay Pullen for a hike down the
Swan Creek canyon and to explore the Chief Leschi School
grounds. We will meet at the Swan Creek County Park lot
near the Tacoma end of Pioneer Way at 8:30 AM, and
carpool to the upper end of the creek canyon. Then we’ll
hike down the canyon, looking for American Dipper,
Belted Kingfisher, and winter passerines. The creek is
beautiful, and the hike mostly downhill. The walk is slip-
pery but not difficult. We will then carpool back to pick up
the cars at the top of the canyon, and continue on to Chief
Leschi school, where we have a barn owl that is pretty
dependable, and should see more birds of open areas. We
rules
Call TAS to register (253-565-9278). Some trips are people
limited out of necessity.
Notify TAS 24 hours in advance if you cannot come. Field trip lead-
ers put in a lot of time and planning and no-shows disrupt field trips.
More than three no-shows a year can result in revoking the oppor-
tunity to participate.
Arrive at the meeting place early.
No pets are allowed.
Be prepared for seasonal weather.
Bring lunch, drinks and snacks if the field trip is scheduled past
mid-day.
All passengers divide total carpooling expenses. Current guide-
lines are 20 cents a mile per car, not including driver.
Beginners are always welcome.
Have fun.
will be done before noon. Discover a place you could
return to for a great summer picnic hot-rocking on the
creekbed, or a nice spring walk to look for migrants. I like
it in the winter though, when the winter wrens, kinglets, and
creepers are usually easier to see.
What: Weekly Bird Walks at Nisqually
When: Thursdays 8:15 AM to 12:30 PM
Where: Nisqually NWR
Description: Join Leader Phil Kelley on his weekly bird
walk as he counts the birds at Nisqually NWR. On the first
Thursday of the month, the group walks fairly quickly
around the full loop, a distance of over five miles. Other
weeks, the trip is shorter; walking out to McAllister Creek,
back to the visitor center, then out to the Twin Barns and the
Ring Dike Trail, totaling about four miles. Bring: Good
walking shoes or boots, raingear, water, snacks, and $3.
entry fee unless you have a pass. Scopes are welcome.
Meet: At the Visitor’s Center. Directions: Take I-5 south
from Tacoma and exit to Nisqually NWR at exit 114. Take
a right at the light. Sign-up: Call or email Phil Kelley to
confirm details. Phil Kelley, Lacey, 360-459-1499, scrub-
jay323@aol.com.

Penrose Point State Park

“First Signs of Spring”
Spring has already arrived in the woods by the first week of February. We will see what
is already flowering, find early plants coming up, and identify the plants we find. Come
and find the first signs of spring in the woods at Penrose Point State Park. We will also
find out what local birds are starting to sing. We will meet on Saturday the 9th of Febru-
ary from 1PM to 3PM. The first 15 people who call to register will be taken. There is no
charge. Call 253-884-2514 to register, and ask for Dan Christian.
“Eat Stinging Nettles!”
Come and stick Stinging Nettles in your mouth at Penrose Point! Enjoy identifying some of
the early spring life. Stinging Nettles will be up and we will catch them, cook them, and eat
them. They are one of the most nutritious early spring wild edible plants around. We will look
at other early plants coming up and find what out what is edible and what is not. We will meet
on Saturday the 23rd of February from 1PM to 3PM. The first 15 people who call to register will We have interpretive walks coming up in February.
be taken. There is no charge. Call 253-884-2514 to register, and ask for Dan Christian. The Stinging Nettles will be especially fun.

Think, think, think! Trogon Tours trips for 2008

Birdathon, our biggest fundraiser,
is coming! April 26 - May 31 Start planning now for trips in November and December
Wildlife photographer and TAS member Nate Chappell and his Ecuadorian
Want to have lots of fun, learn a whole lot about birds,
wife, Angie will lead two trips to Ecuador later this year.
meet people with the same interests as you have?
Okay, join Birdathon as a Birder/Counter! All our trips In November, from the 10th to the 22nd, they will lead a tour to Eastern
will have experts to help you and tell you what you see.
Photo/Nate Chappell

And remember, if you give $10. or $100. or more, you can
increase that and help TAS so much more by being a Birder.
Some one just told me last Friday at our general meeting
that she had usually given $50. but was so pleased that last
year she increased that 4-fold by being a Birder and asking
friends and relatives to pledge to her Birdathon.
Soooooooooo, put those dates on your calendar and plan
for a fun Birdathon. We will give you all you need to know in
the next 2-3 Towhees. Thanks for thinking about helping.
Thelma Gilmur, who has led this Birdathon for at least 25
years, needs so many of you to come forward this year.
Ecuador that will cover the eastern slope of the Andes mountains and the
western edge of the Amazon lowland forests. Cost is $2,900. For more
info go to www.trogontours.net or call Nate at 253.512.1060.
In December, from the 6th to the 14th, Nate and Angie
will lead a tour to Western Ecuador that will cover the
western slope of the Andes and some of the western
lowlands. Cost is $1,800. For more info go to
www.trogontours.net or call Nate
at 253.512.1060.
A Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

February 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 5

 ... christmas bird count 2007 Short-eared Owl

Photo/Wayne Jackson
No. Saw-whet Owl
Barred Owl 1 1
Anna's Hummingbird 13 13 17 4 2 1 5 55
Belted Kingfisher 1 8 3 4 2 2 20
from page 1 The “Father of the Tahoma CBC,” now “Father Christmas,” Jim O’Donnell at Wild Birds Unlimited in Gig Harbor Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 1 2
Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Boat Total on count day telling Diane Yorgason-Quinn that she will get everything she wants for this Christmas count.
Tugboat Joe REALLY makes a difference in Species sapsucker sp.
counting up loons, and grebes and alcids! Oh Red-throated Loon 3 5 2 10 Downy Woodpecker 11 3 6 1 21
my! Pacific Loon 23 1 5 29 Hairy Woodpecker 1 1
Our most unexpected bird this year was a Common Loon 1 7 4 12 Northern Flicker (red sh.) 8 11 22 44 31 4 22 12 154
Caspian Tern, who apparently lingered in its loon sp. (yellow shafted/int.) 1 1
annual migration pattern simply to be counted. Pied-billed Grebe 10 11 12 2 2 37 Pileated Woodpecker 3 2 2 7
Anna’s Hummingbird numbers were quite Horned Grebe 15 24 34 5 9 2 15 104 *Tree Swallow
comparable to our 2006 high of 54 – with 55 Red-necked Grebe 10 3 10 5 18 11 57 swallow species
counted this year. And, they were seen in 7 of Eared Grebe 1 1 Horned Lark
our 8 Areas – an expansion in range. We had the Western Grebe 10 560 70 81 1 41 763 Steller's Jay 7 18 6 57 5 5 4 102
highest count for all years that I have records for Clark's Grebe Western Scrub-Jay 2 1 1 16 19 1 2 42
of immature Bald Eagles – 18, with 33 adults, for Dbl-crested Cormorant 53 44 143 38 13 75 1 28 162 557 American Crow 205 340 364 411 680 146 435 434 3015
a total of 51. Our highest Eagle count ever was Brandt's Cormorant 59 9 48 20 136 Common Raven 1 2 1 4
in 2005 (62 total), but even then we only had 8 Pelagic Cormorant 21 9 10 19 20 79 Black-capped Chickadee 71 84 69 130 38 22 24 35 473
immatures. The first year of our TAS CBC in 1972 cormorant sp. Chestnut-bk.Chickadee 6 55 58 27 16 1 5 168
counted 1 Bald Eagle only……we’ve definitely American Bittern Bushtit 58 18 35 77 35 10 27 260

Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn
come a long way. Great Blue Heron 6 14 13 1 11 2 1 7 55 Red-breasted Nuthatch 7 7 16 28 10 1 2 71
See you next year, and think Good Weather Trumpeter Swan Brown Creeper 1 4 6 5 1 17
Thoughts! Tundra Swan Bewick's Wren 3 6 2 5 3 4 1 5 29
Canada Goose 100 140 89 204 320 178 120 46 1197 Winter Wren 28 6 12 10 17 4 1 4 82
2007 CBC Participants Cackling Goose 8 350 230 588 Marsh Wren 3 1 9 7 20
AREA 1: Art Wang, Ken Brown, Alex Greene, Greater Wh.Fronted Goose wren sp.
A Great Blue Heron stands sentinel at the mouth of Gig Harbor, December 15, 2007.
Carol Johnson, Rob McNair-Huff, Polly Rasar. Wood Duck 2 11 19 4 36 American Dipper
AREA 2: Carol Schulz, Joe & Ruth Terlouw, Green-winged Teal 47 17 19 83 Virginia Rail 2 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 60 58 13 80 40 4 16 2 273
Roger Orness, Patti Coolsen, Kris Erickson, Nancy Mallard 58 70 58 264 156 132 134 127 5 1004 Sora Ruby-crowned Kinglet 13 14 18 24 21 5 4 15 114
Hertzel, Adele Freeland, Barbara & Curt Petersen, Northern Pintail 1 3 4 American Coot 1 6 79 11 1743 1 1 1842 Townsend's Solitaire CW
Cheryl White. AREA 3: Diane Yorgason-Quinn, Cinnamon Teal Black-bellied Plover Hermit Thrush 4 1 5
Wayne Jackson, Ashlee Jackson, Carol Smith, Northern Shoveler 6 6 19 6 184 4 6 231 Killdeer 1 27 17 3 1 49 American Robin 65 882 459 347 117 29 108 189 2196
Jody Hess, David Estroff, Ben Estroff, Betty Main, Gadwall 5 12 71 3 91 Greater Yellowlegs Varied Thrush 6 3 2 2 2 2 17
Jeff Feagin, Dr. Terry Mace, Emily & Kevin Eurasian Wigeon 2 1 2 5 Spotted Sandpiper 1 1 2 American Pipit
Schoenfelder, Dr. Phillip Craven, Barbara & Arvid American Wigeon 250 194 192 76 126 127 132 209 3 1309 Ruddy Turnstone Cedar Waxwing 29 19 11 59
Anderson, Dale & Patience Powell. AREA 4: Canvasback 12 12 Black Turnstone 25 67 92 Northern Shrike
Roxy & Winfield Giddings, Ken & Nell Batker, Redhead Sanderling European Starling 140 1298 534 1085 199 162 302 1308 5028
Donna & Richard LaCasse. Fred & Dorothy Ring-necked Duck 25 10 12 19 848 4 13 931 Western Sandpiper Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Boat Total
Tobiason. AREA 5: Chris Chappell, Rolan Nelson, Greater Scaup 3 10 1 14 Least Sandpiper Species
John English, Kristin Stewart, Ann Barry. AREA Lesser Scaup 5 13 398 416 Dunlin Hutton's Vireo
6: Sue Summers & Alan Ferguson, Wayne & scaup sp. 4 4 calidris sp. Orange-crowned Warbler 1 1 2
Margie Sladek, Byron Blount, Aaron & Anna Harlequin Duck 6 6 Long-billed Dowitcher Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 30 1 18 2 2 54
Petersen, Ian Kaminsky, Laurel Cain. AREA 7: Long-tailed Duck 14 14 dowitcher sp. …..Audubon's subsp. 30 10 2
Stan & Sharon Johnson, Ed Pullen, Shelley Black Scoter Wilson's (Common) Snipe 32 32 …..Myrtle's subsp. 1
Parker. Area 8: Ruth Sullivan, Rosanne Becker, Surf Scoter 30 15 113 26 35 3 12 234 Townsend's Warbler 1 2 1 1 5
sandpiper sp.
Joann Simms, Sally. BOATLESS-BOAT: Bruce White-winged Scoter 2 2 4 warbler sp.
Parasitic Jaeger
LaBar, Faye McAdams Hands. Spotted Towhee 6 24 29 31 8 4 6 7 115
scoter sp. Little Gull
Common Goldeneye 6 35 43 64 106 5 16 17 292 Bonaparte's Gull 100 1 114 215 *American Tree Sparrow

The CBC and the Barrow's Goldeneye

goldeneye sp.
40 132 20
1
31 12 8 243 Heermann's Gull
Mew Gull 50 132 23 34 41 15
16
16 12
16
323
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow 3 13 1 13 18 3 1 7 59

famous Area 3! Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser
2
1
44
7
79
11
99
6
22
6
67
12 7
23
9
11
5
347
64
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
25
1
59
4
6 1 2 93
5
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
25 71 10 73
1
46
5
5 29 22 281
6
By Diane Yorgason-Quinn Common Merganser 4 152 9 44 209 2 420 Herring Gull 6 6 *Swamp Sparrow
Red-breast. Merganser 3 29 23 1 9 16 2 83 Thayer's Gull 500 1 501 *White-throated Sparrow
Fame must have gone to our heads.
merganser sp. Western Gull 1 1 3 2 7 Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 15 7 64 46 12 2 7 154
We performed VERY well, tying our
Ruddy Duck 14 28 42 Glaucous-winged Gull 213 3095 131 74 65 41 500 220 176 4515 White-crowned Sparrow 5 12 2 3 4 8 34
record for number of species (79) in
Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Boat Total Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 66 97 291 208 60 25 43 109 899
Area 3 this year on the Gig Harbor W. X Glaucous-winged 400 144 27 18 589
….. slate-colored subsp.
Peninsula. Species gull species 40 268 23 63 394
Red-winged Blackbird 100 25 18 14 25 182
The Tacoma News Tribune chose some Bald Eagle, adult 5 5 12 2 3 4 2 33 Common Murre 2 18 4 24
Western Meadowlark
of our team to follow around that morn- Bald Eagle, immature 1 1 16 18 Pigeon Guillemot 4 2 9 1 1 5 22
Brewer's Blackbird 60 40 43 143
ing of December 15th in order to tell the Northern Harrier Ancient Murrelet
blackbird sp.
world of our good work! (See TNT, Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 2 4 1 2 14 Marbled Murrelet
Brown-headed Cowbird
Sunday December 16, page 2A above Cooper's Hawk 2 1 2 2 1 8 Rhinocerous Auklet 1 4 2 28 35
Purple Finch 1 9 2 12
the fold! There is a link to it on the TAS Accipiter sp. 2 2 CASPIAN TERN 1 1
House Finch 31 67 52 74 80 22 68 394
website at www.tahomaaudubon.org). Red-tailed Hawk 3 11 2 9 8 6 4 1 44 Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Boat Total
Red Crossbill 15 21 36
Ace reporter Joe Turner met us at the Rough-legged Hawk Species
Pine Siskin 125 62 185 106 28 331 120 957
Jerisich Park pier on the harbor. Famous American Kestrel 1 1 2 Rock Pigeon 195 64 175 344 110 167 164 486 1705
American Goldfinch 1 26 9 19 6 1 62
news photographer Dean Koepfler (fam- Merlin 2 1 3 Band-tailed Pigeon 13 7 7 27
Evening Grosbeak
ous because he was doing our story on Peregrine Falcon 2 2 1 5 Mourning Dove 4 7 22 33
finch sp.
the way to a book signing for his quite Ring-necked Pheasant 5 1 6 Barn Owl
Ruffed Grouse Western Screech-Owl 2 1 3 House Sparrow 37 22 18 76 17 4 20 102 296
See "CBC - Area 3" on page 11
California Quail 3 13 16 Great Horned Owl 3 3 Total 2275 8604 4898 4561 3314 5123 2724 3949 680 36128

Page 6 www.tahomaaudubon.org February 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 7

 Just the other day... Here’s what TAS was doing in Feb., 1983
By Helen Engle
TOWHEE Editor Charles
Bergman was in Europe and
Carla Hansmann was guest edi-
tor for this issue. She liked
poetry. Here’s a Shakespeare
“Winter Song” from Love’s Laboour’s
Lost.
When icicles hang by the wall,
,
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail
And Tom bears logs into the hall,
, Crossbills (new count record) and 2 White-
And milk comes frozen home in pail
l,
When blood is nipp’d, and way be fou
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
Tu-whit; Tu-who, a merry note.
When all aloud the wind doth blow,
saw,
And coughing drowns the parson’s
And birds sit brooding in the snow,
,
And Marian’s nose looks red and raw
l,
When roasted apples hiss in the bow
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
Tu-whit; Tu-who, a merry note.
Ken Brown reported on the 1982 Christmas
Bird Count results. There were 56 observers
who counted 113 species, 1 hybrid, and 1
additional race for a total of 70,223 individu-
als. The only count higher up until 1982 was
1979 with 77,143 individuals.
Judd Day: June 8, 1919 – December 25, 2007– a charter member passes
By Helen Engle
Judd Day was a Puget Sound native, served as a
Navy officer on a destroyer during WWII and
graduated from College of Puget Sound (now UPS)
and Harvard Business School. He taught econom-
ics at UPS and once taught a “quickie” Economics
101 for TAS and the Tacoma-Pierce County League
of Women Voters to help us as we studied issues.
Judd and his brother Hollis headed one of
Tacoma’s premier family businesses, the remark-
able Day’s Tailor-D Clothing. The downtown plant
made work clothes, casual and dress clothing and
Edelweiss sportswear.
Judd was a competitive tennis player, ascended all
of the northwest’s major peaks (Mt. Rainier four
times), and Mexico’s three highest mountains on a
BIRDSONGS by Phil Buly
Page 8 www.tahomaaudubon.org February 2008
Horned Grebes, Western Grebes,
Double-crested Cormorants, (now Dept. of Fish
Common Mergansers, Mew
Gulls, Bonaparte’s Gulls,
Common Murres, Rock Doves,
Robins and Starlings were all up
significantly. Birds on the decline
were Eared Grebes, Mallards, Ruddy
Ducks. Woodpeckers were scarce with no
Pileated, Red-breasted or Hairy. Pine Siskins
down from 3,428 the year before to 123.
Sightings of interest were Marsh Hawk,
Ruddy Turnstone, 9 Ancient Murrelets, 8 Red
throated Sparrows (a count first).
The TAS annual banquet was at the
Sherwood Inn with a program by writer and
photographer Dr. Robert Kothenbeutel. The
price for the event was $10, including tips and
taxes.
Field trips included exploring Whidbey
Island with Jim Scearce and Fox Island
with Marge Goodman. A Family field
trip did the Historical Society Museum
and went all along City Waterway with
John Slipp.
TAS, Seattle Audubon and WA
Environmental Council enthusiastically
supported Governor John Spellman’s
proposal for the state to purchase
McNeil Island from the federal govern- John Spellman
ment, assigning 100 acres to be occu-
pied by the Department of Corrections and
the rest of the island administered by the
joint expedition with TAS and the Tacoma
Mountaineers (most of us birded while in Mexico).
He was a charter member of TAS, and although
he was active in many of Tacoma’s business and
civic organizations he took time to do things with
and for Audubon. Judd served on TAS’ board of
directors and hosted board meetings in his home.
He chaired our Conservation Committee for many
years, attracting up to 20 active members who
enjoyed committee meetings at Judd’s business
downtown, complete with his secretary to keep the
committee’s minutes. He assisted TAS’ “growing
pains” supplying us with office equipment, filing
cabinets and in 1970 a most-up-to-date electric
typewriter!
Judd and Betty loved our TAS field trips, the
Wenas Campout, the regional and national confer-
Department of Game
and Wildlife), as a
wildlife preserve.
Major landowners,
Weyerhaeuser, St
Regis, Burlington
Northern and others
have asked the
county to re-desig- Helen Engle from days of
nate the natural yore.
shoreline areas of
the Carbon, Mashel and Nisqually Rivers in
order to allow logging closer to the water.
Pierce County only has 18 miles of designated
Natural Environment calling for a 200-foot
buffer (18 miles out of more than 400 miles
of freshwater shoreline). The landowners
claim they are being denied the right to use
this property as they see fit, that it is a “tak-
ing.” They propose to log within fifty fee of
the water on very steep slopes using
standard clearcutting procedures,
monoculture replanting and chemi-
cal enhancement. The county
Executive has appointed a 19-mem-
ber task force to replace the old
Shoreline Citizen Advisory Committee.
They will make recommendations
for changes in the County’s Shoreline
Master Program.
Feedback, comments and reminiscences
welcome, 253-564-3112, Hengle@iinet.com.
ences, and NAS’ field trips and special excursions
abroad. They studied natural sciences wherever
they traveled and were always interested, interesting
and sociable. In 1976 he was elected to the National
Audubon Society Board of Directors, serving on the
finance committee. During his second term of
office he became treasurer of the society to 1985.
After his marriage to Sally, Judd brought her with
him as he continued his friendly relationship with
the NAS board.
The last member of his generation of the family,
Judd was preceded in death by his wife Betty, and is
survived by his second wife, Sally of London, his
four children, Mike (Debbie); TASers Sara & John
Blakeslee, a past director of TAS; Frank (Ikuko);
and Elizabeth; and eight grandchildren. A memorial
service will be set for a later date.
All about Bird Trails
-from the American Birding Assoc. website.
Scattered across North America like individual
strings of pearls are birding trails. Birding and
nature trails are essentially driving-routes link-
ing prime birding locations. The growth of bird-
ing trails combines Americans’ love of the au-
tomobile with the increasing interest in birds,
creating access and opportunities. Formal
trails are relatively new, having begun in Texas
in 1996, when the first of three segments of
the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, the brain-
child of Ted Eubanks and Madge Lindsay, were
opened. The rest, as they say, is history, with
similar trails popping up across North America.
Most of these birding trails have detailed ac-
companying maps, providing guidance to the
sites and to the birds (and usually other wild-
life) to be found along the trails.
 ANNouNceMeNts
Mark the Date for Tahoma Audubon’s
2008 Bring-a-Friend Banquet
Looking Upward and Outward with a View of the
Pacific Flyway from the Forest Canopy Featuring
Dr. Nalini Nadkarni’s program, CRITICAL
CONNECTIONS: Ecological Interactions in
Tropical and Temperate Forest Canopies.
Banquet Details:
When: Friday, February 22, with no host bar and
silent auction starting at 5:30 pm. Silent auction
closes and dinner will be served at 7:00 pm.
Where: Tacoma Elks Lodge No. 174, 1965 South
Union Ave, Tacoma
Cost: $35 Banquet Supporter includes a $10
donation for Audubon programs or you may elect
to pay $25 per person to just pay for dinner. All
tickets include gratuity.
Deadline: Registration must be received by
Monday, February 11th. Send to Tahoma Audubon
Banquet, 2917 Morrison Rd W, University Place,
WA 98466.
Please drop off donations for the Silent Auction to
be held at our Banquet on Friday, February 22nd.
Items can be dropped off at the office. Call Sue
Goehring at 253-564-2205 with any questions.
Thank you in advance for your
donations, proceeds benefit
Tahoma Audubon’s many
programs.
welcoMe to New and Returning Members
November 16, 2007 to January 15, 2008
Chapter New and Renew: Mr. & Mrs. Arthur
Ando, Donna Arbaugh, Rosanne Becker, Steve &
Theresa Biscarret, Mark & Peggy Bubenik, Richard
Carkner, Don Clifford, Rhona Diehl, Mike Erkinen &
Rev. Mardi Krusemark, William Giddings, Marjorie
Griffin, Nancy Hall, Gail Hemphill, Robert Husted,
Anne & Paul Jacobson, Howard & Doreen Johnson,
Peggy Kopf & Pat Mail, Robin Little, Rebecca Long,
Julie & David Lucos, David Marshall, Susan Mattern,
Norma Millen, Cindy Mish, Bill & Susan Mitchell,
Gabriel Newton, Annette Pinkerton, Kenneth Query,
Victoria Ray, Ed Sakai, Brian Sullivan & Anna Leon
Guerrero, June Summerville, Evelyn Svendsen, Fern
Svendsen, Louise Wackerle, Michael & Jodi Walker.
Joint Chapter and National: (Joining through
TAS) Nels & Winnifred Bjarke, Kristi Ceder, L Terry
Conner, Mrs. Robert Elliston, Barbara Guller, Roger
Indrebo, Mr. Jonathan Kemp, Diane Kerlin, Emmalou
Lyle, Mary Pat Minor, Joann Sims, Judith Stephens,
Jean Trucco, Darby Veeck & Kristi Lynett, Dorothy
Walker, Joel & Lucinda Wingard.
Intro: (Received by TAS) Sharon Bell, Tom & Amy
Bettesworth, Stan & Karen Bloustine, Kathleen
Figetakis, Sue McCluskey, Connie Reitzug, Carmen
Sterba, David & Barbara Uberuaga.
Some Additions Directly From National: Kathleen
Harris, Lavonne Carr, Musky Ridge, Verna Hanrahan,
Selma Sloth, Linda Gough, Paula Hultgren Ruff
(returning), Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Giske, Theodore
Hutton, Terie Jean Carney, Carl Allen, Holly Bisenius,
Susan Mason, George Houston (returning), Sandy
Sieber (returning), Lillian Jacobs, Melvin Anderson,
David Dykeman (returning), Kay F Scott, Katrina
Bowden, Ray Gomulinski, Michael Boynton, Jesse
& Melissa Nigretti, Jacque Sefton, Marjorie Post,
Claude Pearson, Allan Orr, Nathan Stewart, Sandra
Campbell, Eveline Smith, Sharon Pierson, Louise
February 2008
Donations needed for Tahoma Audubon office
Our office needs a vacuum and a digital
camera. If you can help Tahoma Audubon
out please contact Julie Kerrigan.
Thank you!
Julie Kerrigan,
Volunteer Coordinator, 253-565-1884
Join us for Spring ACOW
For Spring ACOW 2008, being held April 11 th
through April 13th, Audubon Washington has cho-
sen the Sleeping Lady Mountain retreat, located in
the foothills of the Cascade mountain range out-
side Leavenworth, Washington. The Sleeping
Lady creates an atmosphere that blends seamlessly
with nature and the surrounding natural landscape,
and provides an environment that fosters creative
interaction. This all inclusive retreat is also a leader
in environmentally conscious industry; with con-
servation a primary concern from it’s construction
through daily operations.
For more information on Spring ACOW 2008,
visit the Audubon Washington website at wa.audu-
bon.org where online registration is expected to be
available by Wednesday, February 13th.
Boyd, Fredrica Rostad, Mr. & Mrs. Benno De Jong,
Herman Nickel, Bruce Carpenter (returning),
Stephen Baldes, Harold Koenig (returning),
Frank Senecal, Mr. & Mrs. Jose Rey-M
Manaois, John Gordhamer, Renee Lyons,
Stephen Brklycica (returning), Trusilla
Bussinger (returning).
Modified From National (Including renewals,
change of address, etc.) Susan Eidenschink, Richard
Ory, Robert Ory, Mr. & Mrs. Ligrano, Martha Keogh,
Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Berwick, Alison Robb, Marianne
Larson, Gerald Ritz, Mignonette Anderson, Mary
Zimmer, Trula Thompson, Sevey Williams, Nicolas
Fogata, Maureen Robak, Dorothy Walker, Shelly
Kealy, John Lantz, Walter Lachnit, Patricia Berger,
Dr. Jerman Rose, Colin Conant, Mark & Inez Ritchey,
Isabel Campbell, Josh Stuart, Rutherford, Ann Waldo,
Carolyn Wright, Janet Shonk, Betty Larson, Phillip &
Joyce Schneider, Judy Stirling, Jean Trucco, Sue
Knight, Wilbur Johnson, Anne & Paul Jacobson,
Robert Arnold, Meri Kessler, Diane Kerlin, Galen
Stark, Ken Yunc, Walt & Marlene Arthur, Kathleen
Franz, Byrna Klavano, David Chase, Luanne Green,
Blaine Pearman, Janet Pool, Eugene Parsons, Millard
Hixson, Nancy Witkowski, Lao Ladene, P Fortiner,
Glenn Lampman, Vivian Jacqmin, Vicki King, Mary
Jane Cooper, Beatrice Thompson, Kathryn Buckner,
Melody Wedlund, Lin Livingston, Randy Crape,
Mark Carlson DDS, Charles Crittenden, Stella Jones,
Bernice Youtz, Bruce Demarais, Kim Jenseningram,
Sharon Babcock, Bonnie Stiff, Ferdinand Kollar, W
B Blackett, Ruth Daugherty, Linda Napier, Anne
Seago, Richard Dehlinger, Randy Van Nortwick,
Anne Ragin, Maude Valentine, J & D Swanberg,
Barbara Crowell, James Whorton, Diane Malone,
Mary Ann Iseri, Richard Carkner, Robert Jones, Mike
Baunach, Donna Arbaugh, Leslie Williams, Gloria
Gates, Barbara Spruell, R Lueck Mammen, Laurissa
Wallace, Carol Kovanda, Wayne Pieper, Sandra
www.tahomaaudubon.org
Program manager needed
Harbor WildWatch, a Gig Harbor-based non-
profit organization is searching for an Environmental
Education / Beach Program Manager for mid-
May-August (with 4 days of training in late April
and early May).
The closing date for this outdoor summertime
position is March 15. HWW is looking for a can-
didate that can demonstrate reliability, sound judg-
ment, leadership, and initiative in organizing and
managing our existing interpretive beach program
for the public and school groups on local area
beaches.
For a detailed job description contact d2holser@
yahoo.com. For additional information contact
Bruce Holser: bruceandd2@comcast.net /
253.514.0187.
Perrine, Ray Smith, Cecile Montgomery, Richard
Rhine, John & Karen Parks, Mary Henry, Thomas
Fitzgerald, Frank Senecal, James Reinsvold, Dr
Edmond B Dennery, Barbara Sullivan, Marjory
Robinson, Norita Stewart, Penelope Magelssen,
Richard Perkins, Floyd Exeter, Teresa Clabots, Dr
Murray Nelson, Russell Aaron, Charles Roe, Gael
Gann, Dennis Weeks, Linda Guerrero, B L Caswell,
Peter Liljengren. (Several renewals were sent to TAS
‘thank-you’ and are now being confirmed by NAS.
Thank-you to several of you who have also taken out
the Chapter Support membership.
Thank-you all so much for joining and renewing.
From Audubon’s Ethic, A Culture of Conservation:
“To preserve the Earth’s biological diversity--which
is humanity’s ecological inheritance and will be the
legacy we pass forward to future generations--
conservation must be a conviction common to all
people. Environmental values must be elevated to the
top of the hierarchy of ethics that govern civilized
behavior.
Audubon envisions a world in which humankind
accepts the obligations of being a part of nature,
especially the obligation of stewardship. We foresee
a culture in which public policy and individual
choice are framed by environmental consciousness.
We are committed to working toward a future when
exploitation of nature is socially, politically, and
morally unacceptable--when the environment is a
common, not a special interest, and when the
environmental ethic takes its place beside liberty
and equality as central cultural values.
Page 9
 voluNteer Recognition

Winter Fest 2007

Although it was incredibly wet and cold during Winter
Fest we had about 46 people come out to Morse Wildlife
Preserve to participate in nature walks, story time, natural-
ist discussions and warming up with hot chocolate. My
sincerest gratitude goes out to all the wonderful volunteers
who helped make the event possible. Thank you for
toughing out the weather and having great attitudes
throughout the day. Thank you to all the guests that came
out to the event as well. We truly appreciate your partici-
pation and attendance.

Teacher’s love of nature inspires club Outdoor education

From the News Tribune
Published: January 9th, 2008
Even though Sara Siemens-Luthy is a
general-education teacher, she is a self-
professed nature lover. For three decades,
she and her husband were ranger natural-
ists at Yosemite National Park in California.
They would lead visitors on walks and
point out the beauty of the park’s Tuolumne
Meadows area every summer. Two
years ago, Siemens-Luthy met with
Gabriel Newton, educator with the
Tahoma Audubon Society. Together,
they came up with the idea of creat
creat-
ing an after-school nature club at
Narrows View, where she’s taught
some 13 years. “We wanted to
show kids what’s in
their neighborhood,”
Siemens-Luthy said.
“Kids nowadays,
they think of the out-
doors as a foreign
spot.” About 30 kids
signed up for the
once-a-week class the
first year. They went on
nature walks, pointed out different species
of birds and did other activities that stu-
dents can’t get do indoors. This year, the
students in the Osprey Club are working in
the school’s play area. They’ve installed
bird feeders, put in plants, even placed a
log as landscaping.
In October, the Tahoma Audubon Society
recognized Siemens-Luthy for her efforts
with the club at its annual breakfast event.
Siemens-Luthy says she’s flattered
for the recognition, but the club’s
success is reflected in its students
and the community. “It is really
what I think teaching is all
about,” she said. “It’s about
helping kids find just those
little things to stop and take
a look at.”
Brent Champaco, The News Tribune
http://www.thenewstribune.com/
news/local/story/249712.html
Sara Siemens-Luthy gets
a truly deserving reward at
the Early bird Gets the Worm
breakfast event in October,
2007.
Photo/Kyle Duba
area coming soon
In the coming months Adriana Hess Wetland Park will be
developing an Outdoor Nature Education Area next to the of-
fice of Tahoma Audubon. The new area will have a covered
shelter to be used for outdoor classes and events. The area
will also include a demonstration on how to compost yard and
home waste. Local and recycled art will be displayed and the
site will be open for the public to enjoy.
We need your help with this project. Every Friday from
9:00am-11:00am we have work parties to help weed, prune,
transplant, and, eventually, construct the covered shelter. Any
help is greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in volunteering please call Julie Kerrig-
an 253-565-1884 or email at jkerrigan@tahomaaudubon.org.
Volunteers needed for the office!
Betty Main and Donna Pietras (she first signed on as of-
fice staff in 1993) need to step away from the front desk po-
sition due to health problems. Tahoma Audubon would like
to thank them for their invaluable help, we will miss them.
Their long service shows that this position is both rewarding
and enjoyable. We need volunteers to fill in for them. There
are other vacancies in the front desk schedule too. Call Sally
Sloat at 253-564-0655 or leave a message for her at the office,
253-565-9278

Please consider Volunteer at Adriana Hess Wetland Park

making a planned gift to All Fridays. Come at 9:00 a.m. for a light
Tahoma Audubon society in breakfast and stay to weed until 11:00 a.m.

the form of a bequest, a gift

of appreciated stock, or
charitable gift annuities.
Ask us how! (253) 565-9278
If you wish to help on your own time, we now
have a book with entire grounds marked off and
pictured in small segments. You can choose
your portion of the grounds, and at your own
2917 Morrison Road West
convenience, keep it looking like the picture.
Thanks for considering this great way of
helping out.

Page 10 www.tahomaaudubon.org February 2008

The Hoody everyone was trying to photograph for the CBC.
For those doubters, there really was a flock of 5 pheasants at the Gig Harbor Golf Course!
Birders Bruce LaBar and Faye McAdams Hands, being interviewed by Joe Turner of the TNT (far right), while
Dean Koepfler scopes out birds.
Please see the new board approved Chapter Membership Policy on page 2.
Membership
Tahoma Audubon is the Pierce County chapter of National Audubon. As
an Introductory member of Tahoma Audubon you also receive a National
Audubon membership and Audubon Magazine for one year. Renewing
your Chapter Membership ensures that we can continue to do our work in
Pierce County. Chapter membership includes: Towhee newsletter sub-
scription, free family events, birding trip invitations, class & book dis-
counts, conservation activities, annual celebrations and more. Joint TAS/
National Audubon membership includes: Chapter membership, National
membership, annual Audubon Magazine subscription, and support of
Important Bird Areas (IBA) and state and national conservation agendas.
February 2008 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 11
Folks enjoying the Christmas Bird Count dinner.
... CBC - Area 3 from page 6
impressive tome about bridging the Narrows, “Masters of Suspension”)
was following around our 3-man team on Fox Island; he arrived after a bit
as well. It was a nasty morning, which was deeply satisfying to us hard-core
birders, who are, after all, used to it. We watched as the media shivered
trying to see the birds we were looking at and attempting to photograph
birds in the wind and spray!
We had a number of interesting birds out in the harbor, but those press guys
seemed to only turn their eyes towards the Big and Bad (raptors) or the Cute
and Little (Hoodies). Reporter Turner interviewed Count Coordinator Faye
McAdams Hands in depth, distracting her pair of famous spotting eyes from
their primary job, but all eyes looked up when we had seven Bald Eagles over
our heads at one time. Later, her interview looked very
official in the newspaper, except for the mention of
Double-Breasted Cormorants, which she claims she
never said, but one wonders if she might have been try-
ing to get something over on nonbirders.... It was fun to
show these guys a few birds. Let’s hope they come out
as bird counters next year! We’ll take ‘em in Area 3!
We now send 5 teams out in Area 3 and are recruit-
ing to send 6 teams next year if possible! A far cry
from those yesteryears when I took over this area from
Nell and Ken Batker--yes, there were few birders on
the peninsula at that time! For years I went out with
Norris Cone, who pretty much taught me the lay of the
land. When Norris decided to “retire,” somehow I got
the job of running a count in this backwater. But a
backwater no more! As a dedicated cadre of birders
has become loyal to this event, we have watched this
landscape change tremendously in these past few
years. The more things change, the more they stay the
same, and that is true of these birders who stand up to
be counted while counting every December.
Thanks to the Area 3 crew! Thanks most to Jim
O’Donnell, who didn’t’ count this time because he was
playing Santa for a good cause at Wild Birds Unlimited
in Gig Harbor, conveniently located in our count zone.
Jim was the guy 30+ years ago who drew that big circle
for Tahoma Audubon and said, “Hey, let’s start a CBC!”
We had a great turnout including Ashlee Jackson who
was doing her tenth count, and she’s only 15! The rest
photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn
of the crew really turned out, and we have the numbers
to prove it! Thanks to all!
Checks payable to: Tahoma Audubon 2917 Morrison
Rd. W. University Place, 98466 Tahoma Audubon
Society, established in 1969, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Membership Fee:
___ Introductory (first year) $20
___ Joint National/Tahoma Audubon $50
organization. Donations are tax deductible.
___
___
Chapter member renewal
Other Contributions _____________
$30
Member(s) Name: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
City______________________________ Zip__________________
Phone: home ___________________business _________________
e-mail: ________________________________________________
Member #: _______________________________ (office use only)

feBruAry 2008
Fri. Feb 8 9 am Breakfast and Work Party -
Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Sat. Feb 9 8 am Decoursey Park birding with
Ed Pullen f
Mon. Feb 11 12 pm Birdwalk - Adriana Hess
Audubon Center f
Tue. Feb 12 2 pm Conservation Committee -
Adriana Hess Wetland Park, 2917 Morrison
Road W, University Place, WA 98466
Wed. Feb 13 3:15 pm Budding Scientists -
Dirt? - Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Thu. Feb 14 9:30 am Beginning Home School
Science - Beneath Your Feet - Tacoma Nature
Center
Thu. Feb 14 1 pm Beginning Home School
Science - Beneath Your Feet - Tacoma Nature
Center
Thu. Feb 14 6:30 pm TAS Board Meeting -
Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Fri. Feb 15 Great Backyard Bird Count
Fri. Feb 15 9 am Breakfast and Work Party
- Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Sat. Feb 16 Great Backyard Bird Count
Sat. Feb 16 10 am Discovery Walk - Anderson
Island f
Calendar
Key to letter symbols
f Field Trip Page
v Volunteer page
m Environmental Matters Page
a Related article in The Towhee
E Education Page
Sat. Feb 16 Great Backyard Bird Count
Sun. Feb 17 Great Backyard Bird Count
Sun. Feb 17 8 am Pt. Defiance Nature Walk -
Point Defiance Park in Tacoma f
Mon. Feb 18 12 pm Plant Walk - Adriana Hess
Audubon Center f
Tue. Feb 19 1:30 pm Nature Alphabet - L is for
Licorice - Tacoma Nature Center
Wed. Feb 20 10:30 am Budding Scientists -
Let’s Compost... - Adriana Hess Audubon
Center
Thu. Feb 21 1 pm Intermediate Home School
Science - What’s Down Under? - Tacoma
Nature Center
Fri. Feb 22 9 am Breakfast and Work Party
- Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Fri. Feb 22 10:30 am Nature Story Time -
Dirty Rotten Fun - Adriana Hess Audubon
Center
Fri. Feb 22 6pm Membership Banquet and
For additional information on educa-
tion programs contact Tahoma Audu-
bon at 253-565-9278; on the web at
www.tahomaaudubon.org
Or The Tacoma Nature Center at
253-591-6439 or on the web at
www.metroparkstacoma.org
Auction - Elks Club, Tacoma
Sat. Feb 23 Seabird Workshop - Slater
Museum, UPS
Wed. Feb 27 3:15 pm Budding Scientists -
Let’s Compost... - Adriana Hess Audubon
Center
Thu. Feb 28 1 pm Advanced Home School
Science - Soil Science - Tacoma Nature Center
Fri. Feb 29 9 am Breakfast and Work Party
- Adriana Hess Audubon Center
Fri. Feb 29 1 pm Advanced Home School
Science Lab - Soil Science - Tacoma Nature
Center
MArch 2008
Sat. Mar 1 Seabird Workshop - University of
Puget Sound, Slater Natural History Museum
Sat. Mar 1 Snake Lake Science Fair - Tacoma
Nature Center

tAhoMA AuDuBoN Programs

Join your friends at Tahoma’s annual banquet March 14th - Membership Program
in February. Tahoma Audubon has its annual Join Nate Chappell for an evening of incredible
membership meeting and banquet in place of the photography of birds from tropical corners of the
February Program . February 11 is the deadline world ~ Ecuador, Argentina, Thailand, and Ma-
for reservations for the February 22 banquet to laysia. Nate, longtime TAS
be held at the Tacoma Elks Lodge featuring Dr. member and owner of
Nalini M. Nadkarni. Helen Engle raves that Dr. Na- Trogon Tours, comes Blue Gray
dkarni’s program is “the best I’ve ever heard” and well versed in wildlife Tanager
“inspiring, humorous. $35 Banquet Supporter photography and in-
includes a $10 donation for Audubon programs cludes instruction on
or you may elect to pay $25 per person to just his tours.
pay for dinner. All tickets include gratuity. Send to Currently he is the Avi-
Tahoma Audubon Banquet, 2917 Morrison Rd W, an Gallery moderator for
University Place, WA 98466. (Silent Auction items NaturePhotographers.
gratefully accepted at the office.) net. photo/Nate Chappell
Tue. Mar 4 10:30 am Nature Alphabet - M is
for Mountain Goat - Tacoma Nature Center
Wed. Mar 5 10:30 am Budding Scientists -
Riding the Wave - Adriana Hess Audubon
Center
Sat. Mar 8 8:30 am Photo Fest - Tacoma Nature
Center
Tue. Mar 11 2 pm Conservation Committee -
Adriana Hess Wetland Park, 2917 Morrison
Road W, University Place, WA 98466
Wed. Mar 12 3:15 pm Budding Scientists -
Riding the Wave - Adriana Hess Audubon
Center

Towhee The February 2008

Nonprofit Org
U.S. Postage In this issue:
Tahoma Audubon Society YO2
PAID 25 years ago page 8
Tacoma, WA
2917 Morrison Road West Permit No. 177
BirdSongs page 8
University Place, WA 98466 Bryan Flint column page 2
Address service requested Christmas Bird Count pages 1, 6, 7, 11
Environment matters page 3
Field trips page 5
Not applicable on the internets New members
Paul Webster
page 9
page 1
TAS programs page 12
Volunteer recognition page 10