June 2010 Warbler Newsletter Portland Audubon Society

AUDUBON SOCIETY of PORTLAND
JUNE 2010
Volume 74 Number 6

In this issue...

Warbler
West Hayden Island Still Threatened
Page 4 Page 8

Sign Up Now for Summer Camp!
Black-throated Gray Warbler

Spaces still available See page 7

Traffic Concerns on Cornell Road

Burgerville Collaborates with Audubon
Page 12

by Katy Ehrlich, Board of Directors

Lost Birds Find Portland
Thursday,
The Audubon Society of Portland will host a reception at the restaurant Lucier on Thursday, June 24 to dedicate the memorial, welcome the artist, and help to raise funds. A Community Fair to engage families in honoring lost and living birds will be open to the public free of charge on Saturday, June 26, 10am–3pm. The memorial will remain in place through December 2010. June 24 Portland Audubon will present the exhibit as a call for an end to extinctions. Nearly 25% of bird species in Oregon are suffering long-term declines, while 11% are critically imperiled or likely to become critically imperiled in the near future. Loss of habitat, pesticide use, building strikes, predation by cats, invasive species, and even wind turbines take a toll on wild bird species, even as Portland Audubon supporters work to reverse the damage and save the future of wild birds. Success stories and examples of birds at risk include the following.
Sculptures © Todd McGrain

he Lost Bird Project, a quintet of strikingly beautiful bronze bird sculptures, is about to alight in Portland. The public installation, created by visiting artist Todd McGrain and presented by Portland Audubon, is a new foray into art that conveys the urgency of conservation: Each of the birds represents a species that has gone extinct. The heavy metal cast sculptures, weighing 400–700 pounds and standing 5–7 feet tall, will be installed in the grass at the south end of Waterfront Park, where visitors can touch the pieces and make a connection with a time when people believed our wild birds could be taken for granted. They depict the Passenger Pigeon, Heath Hen, Carolina Parakeet, Great Auk, and Labrador Duck.

T

Dedication, reception and fundraiser at Lucier

Purchase tickets online at http://bit.ly/AudubonLostBird-Tickets or call 971-222-6117

and the birds were listed under the Endangered Species Act. Portland Audubon has participated significantly in their recovery and return to nesting on Portland’s high bridges.

Saturday, June 26, 10am–3pm
Community Dedication and Fair

Will the Sage Grouse follow the Heath Hen?

The Lost Bird Project is something Free and open to the public of a departure from Portland Audubon’s regular schedule of active Tom McCall Waterfront Park Waterfront Park at SW Montgomery nature trips and education. The tall silent bronze representatives require More information: http://bit.ly/ no binoculars, hushed listening, or PortlandAudubonLostBirdProject limber moves through the brush. The Splendid They evoke the beauty of birds still Peregrine Falcon common during John James Audubon’s time, and poignantly The Peregrine Falcon, the world’s fastest raptor, declined convey the finality of our loss. rapidly due to egg shells thinned by exposure to the pesticide DDT, and recovered only after DDT was banned

Are the spectacular Sage Grouse courtships displayed in the sagebrush habitats of Eastern Oregon about to cease? The Greater Sage Grouse is a candidate for Endangered Species status.

Vanished and Disappearing from Oregon Skies

Numerous species have vanished from the Portland area, including the Lewis’s Woodpecker, Northern Spotted Owl, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Songbirds seen less often in Oregon include the Western Bluebird, Western Meadowlark, and Willow Flycatcher. Even birds as common as the Mourning Dove and Rufous Hummingbird are declining in numbers. More information about the State of the Birds is available at www.audubonportland.org/issues. The Audubon Society of Portland committed more than a year ago to organizing and presenting the West Coast premiere of the Lost Bird Project installation, in cooperation with Todd Victor McGrain, artist and professor of art at Cornell University. Location in Portland was chosen in part because of the city’s reputation for environmental advocacy. The Lost Bird Project is made possible through a partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation and a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

Great Blue Heron Week
June 2–13, 2010
ach year since the Portland City Council adopted the Great Blue Heron in 1986 as Portland’s official city bird, the region has celebrated efforts to ensure the heron remains an icon for integrating the built and natural environments. This year we also commemorate the launch of The Intertwine Alliance and the Alliance’s efforts to realize The Intertwine vision of creating a world-class network of parks, trails, and natural areas throughout the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan region. Great Blue Heron Week is an opportunity for us to take time to celebrate the past year’s successes as well as start working on future challenges. It’s time to explore The Intertwine!
Great Blue Heron, Portland’s official City Bird. © Mike Houck

E

Viewing herons on Ross Island. © Mike Houck

Get out in a kayak, on a bicycle, or on foot to enjoy our greenspace heritage and to consider what remains to be done. This is your invitation to come along on the numerous field trips and special events. Celebrate the continued existence of this graceful bird and the natural world it represents. You must pre-register for most trips — go to www. audubonportland.org/about/events/gbheron for event details. The events are also included in the Audubon Outings on the following pages (indicated with the Great Blue Heron symbol). Directions will be sent to registrants.

Suggested donation from all members is $10 to sustain our programs promoting the enjoyment, understanding, and protection of birds. Lovely posters featuring the Lost Birds and a detail from John James Audubon’s Passenger Pigeon painting will be available for purchase to help raise funds. Tickets for the reception are available for $100. For more information, please contact Ann Takamoto at atakamoto@ audubonportland.org or 971-222-6117.
Learn more about The Lost Bird Project and the five extinct species of birds Todd McGrain’s scultures evoke on page 9

Peregrines & Pinot for Wildlife Care Center — page 12
Audubon Society of Portland 5151 NW Cornell Road Portland, Oregon 97210

Inside this issue
Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 & 5 Page 6 & 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 ..................................Audubon Outings ................................ From the Director ............................Calendar at a Glance ......................................... Conservation ........................... Wildlife Care Center ....................... Trips & Tours & Classes .......................................... Nature Store ..............................................Sanctuaries .................Field Notes and Volunteers ......................................New Members .................................. IBA of the Month ............................Map/Hours/Sponsors

Audubon Outings — Wild in the City and Beyond
= Birding trips starting later, going slower, with restrooms in sight

✍

= Sign-up needed

$ = Fee involved

= Great Blue Heron Week event

June 1 (Tue), 8am

Morning Bird Song Walk at Leach Botanical Gardens. See www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/ birdsong-walks. Free; no sign-up needed.

June 3 (Thu), 2 pm

June 2 (Wed), 7am

Reading of Great Blue Heron Week Proclamation by Mayor Sam Adams at Portland City Hall Council Chambers. Free; no sign-up needed.

Morning Bird Song Walk at Mt. Tabor. See www. audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/birdsongwalks. Free; no sign-up needed.

June 3 (Thu), 4:30pm–6:30pm North Reach Willamette River Paddle

June 2 (Wed), 7:30am–9:30am Herons of the Intertwine: Oaks Bottom

✍$

Join Mike Houck on a bird sight and song walk around 160-acre Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. The walk is a gentle 2-mile stroll on a combination of paved and uneven dirt paths, with two moderate hills. Fee: $8/person, $12/family. Pre-registration required at www.audubonportland.org/ trips-classes-camps/adult/wic (if no internet access: 503292-6855 ext.122).

June 2 (Wed), 8:30am–11am Morning Bird Walk at Jackson Bottom

Join Greg Gillson for a bird walk around Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Meet on the deck of their Education Center at 8:30am. The walk will be leisurely and the terrain is fairly flat. If questions, call Greg at 503-681-6417. Free; no sign-up needed.

Join Bob Sallinger & Jim Labbe (Portland Audubon) and Francie Royce & Scott Mizee (North Portland Greenway) on a leisurely paddle in the Portland Harbor to learn about the past and future of the North Reach of the Willamette. We’ll discuss the recent adoption of the North Reach Plan, its implications, and how to get involved. Bring and maintain your own kayak/canoe; life jackets absolutely required. Rentals at Portland Kayak Company or Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe; let them know you need to be there on time. Free; no sign-up needed. Be ready to paddle at 4:30pm at the Swan Island Boat Ramp. Take N. Going St to Swan Island and turn right on N. Basin Ave at bottom of hill across from McDonald’s. Go 0.6 miles on Basin Ave to the Swan Island Boat Ramp on left.

Gaggle of Herons at Oaks Bottom © Mike Houck

June 4 (Fri), 7am

Morning Bird Song Walk at Pittock Mansion. See www. audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/birdsongwalks. Free; no sign-up needed.

June 2 (Wed), Noon–1pm Lunch With the Birds at Jackson Bottom

June 5 (Sat), 7am–Noon Coast Range

Peregrine Falcon nest sites, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and other wildlife as Audubon’s Conservation Director, Bob Sallinger, entertains with commentary and insight into Portland’s natural beauty and wildlife from a river perspective. Proceeds go directly to help the wild animals that get assistance from our Wildlife Care Center. For more information, contact Deb at dsheaffer@audubonportland. org or 503-292-6855 ext.125. Fee: $75/person (includes hors d’oeuvres, a glass of wine, and entertainment; nohost bar available on board). Pre-registration required at www.audubonportland.org/sanctuaries/wcc/ sternwheeler/wccbenefit.

Three new birdfeeding stations and different habitat zones at the south end of Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve mean opportunities to view Northern Flicker, Whitebreasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, Anna’s Hummingbird, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and others. If questions, call Greg at 503-681-6417. Free; no sign-up needed.

June 3 (Thu), 7am

Join Stefan Schlick for a morning of birding in the Coast Range near Timber. Meet at Jim’s Thriftway parking lot at NE corner of Hwys. 47 & 6 in Banks. If roads permit we’ll drive up Round Top and explore habitats including clearcuts and forests. Wear sturdy shoes for short excursions over possibly rough terrain. If questions, contact Stefan at [email protected] or 916-293-1235 (cell). Beginners welcome! Free; no sign-up needed.

June 8 (Tue), 7:30am–12:30pm Field Trip to Hagg Lake

✍$

Morning Bird Song Walk at The Nature Conservancy’s Camassia Preserve. See www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/ adult/birdsong-walks. Free; no sign-up needed.

Greg Gillson will help you see, identify, and learn about the variety of birds in the watershed’s many habitats. We’ll walk a leisurely 2–3 miles over uneven gravel or mud trails. Bring water and snacks. Fee: $25 Hillsboro resident, $37 non-resident. Pre-registration required at Hillsboro Parks & Rec Dept, 503-681-5397; refer to class #24784.

June 5 (Sat), 8am–4pm Nature Close to Home: Portland & Clark County

✍

Malheur NWR June 8–11 (Tue–Fri), 8am–6pm

June 3 (Thu), 7am–4pm Conboy NWR

Meet Lou Fredd at Lewis & Clark State Park, just upstream from I-84 exit off Sandy River bridge. We’ll carpool to Conboy Lake NWR at base of Mt Adams (1-hour drive). Extensive wet prairie, grassland, and dry woodland provide diverse bird life. Bring lunch, sunscreen, and scope if you have one. We’ll leave the refuge at 3pm. If questions, contact [email protected] or 503-655-1856 (home) or 503-7068173 (cell, trip day only). Free; no sign-up needed.

Join the Columbia Land Trust to learn how private landowners are taking inspiring actions to protect and restore nature right in our city. Starting in Vancouver, we’ll tour a donated forest property along the west Willamette ridge in Portland. Free; pre-registration required with Tammy at [email protected] or 503-2243601 or 360-213-1201.

Bird Malheur National Wildlife Refuge with Shawn Schmelzer and Mike Kaufman. We’ll stay in the Malheur Field Station; estimated cost is $250/person. Pre-registration required with [email protected] or 503-226-2523.

June 5 (Sat), 8:30am–11:30am Smith & Bybee Kayak Tour

✍$

June 9 (Wed), 8:30am–11am Morning Bird Walk at Jackson Bottom
See June 2 for details.

June 3 (Thu), 2 pm

Reading of Great Blue Heron Week Proclamation by Metro Council President David Bragdon at Metro Council Chambers. Free; no sign-up needed.

Want to paddle Smith & Bybee Wetlands but don’t have a boat? Let NW Discoveries provide the boat, paddle, and personal flotation device for this 3-hour kayak adventure. Learn about Smith & Bybee wildlife and natural history from Metro naturalist James Davis. Some kayaking experience recommended. Pre-registration and payment of $25/person required; call 503-797-1650, option 2.

June 9 (Wed), Noon–1pm Lunch With the Birds at Jackson Bottom
See June 2 for details.

June 9 (Wed), 5pm–8pm Herons of the Intertwine: Oaks Bottom
See June 2 for details.

✍$

June 5 (Sat), 8:45am–1pm Cycle the Well Field, Columbia Slough Watershed

✍

Take a bicycle tour of Portland’s drinking-water wells. Experts from Portland Water Bureau will lead this 16-mile trip on easy terrain. Learn about the safety, functionality, and history of Portland’s underground water system, which supplements Bull Run. Helmets required; refreshments provided. Free; pre-registration required at www.columbiaslough.org or 503-281-1132.

Sandy River Delta June 10 (Thu), 8am–Noon

June 5 (Sat), 5pm–7:30pm Peregrines and Pinot, a Sternwheeler Rose benefit for Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center

✍$

Join Ron Spencer for our annual hike at the Sandy River Delta, home to a variety of species, many of which are now nesting. This outing requires more hiking than most Magpie trips. From I-84 eastbound, take Exit 18, turn right at bottom of exit, loop under freeway, keep right, look for parking lot and restrooms. If questions, contact Ron at [email protected] or 503-656-5170. Free; no sign-up needed.

June 10 (Thu), 5:30pm–8pm Evening Paddle to Ross Island

✍

Join Audubon Wildlife Care Center staff for “Peregrines and Pinot,” a Sternwheeler Rose benefit for our Wildlife Care Center! Enjoy cocktail hour on the deck while cruising through spectacular wildlife areas on the Willamette. See
Male Northern Flicker © Mike Houck

Join Willamette Riverkeeper as we put in at the SE Portland Boathouse dock and aim for Holgate Channel and Ross Island, enjoying whatever wildlife reveals itself as evening falls. Free; pre-registration required with Kate at [email protected] or 503-223-6418.
Continued on page 3

2

JUNE 2010

www.audubonportland.org

From the Executive Director
Establishing New Roots and Reaching New Communities

A
Meryl Redisch

fter many years discussing the possibility and potential of establishing a satellite office, Portland Audubon is taking action!

comfortable, and confident here. We have a strong sense of place here within these wildlife sanctuaries. We have managed our operations and programs to effectively meet the needs and desires of an incredibly loyal membership. As noted earlier, Portland Audubon had been discussing the concept of opening a second office for some time, but didn’t have a concrete plan or definitive view for a geographic location. With assistance from Jim Rapp, former board president who also served to facilitate six meetings with a small group, we developed a list of goals and criteria that aided us in moving forward. Outer Southeast Portland presents us with numerous opportunities: • The Lents neighborhood is one of the Portland Development Commission’s urban renewal areas and some resources are directed to it; • Multi-model transportation options exist including light rail, the Springwater Corridor, sidewalks, and bus lines; • East Portland comprises several diverse populations including people from Latino, Bhutanese, Bengalese, East European, and Asian communities; • East Portland has a wonderful array of natural assets which supports the region’s biodiversity and holds practical and potential access to it; • Leach Botanical Gardens is a hidden treasure for its natural and cultural history and for its location adjacent to Johnson Creek, and is worthy of preserving and promoting as benefit for the community.

Beginning July 1st, Portland Audubon will have a second site in East Portland. In collaboration with Portland Parks and the Friends of Leach Botanical Gardens, we will be renting space in the Garden’s administrative office and using the lovely, historic manor house to offer free programs. Our aim is reach nontraditional Audubon audiences by establishing a presence, building trust, creating new partnerships, and deepening existing connections. This type of thing will not happen easily or quickly. Just think about a time in your life when you relocated from one neighborhood or one part of the country to another, particularly as an adult. How long did it take for you to have a sense of self and place in the community? Recall the length of time it took until you felt confident that your presence was warmly recognized and welcomed. I believe that all of this holds true for organizations as well as for individuals. Portland Audubon has been well established in the West Hills since 1929 when we acquired the first of several properties. We have operated primarily and very successfully out of this wonderful campus for more than 90 years and will continue to do so. We feel certain,
Continued from page 2

You may have noticed that we already added Leach Botanical Gardens to our annual spring Morning Bird Song Walk series. Later this summer, volunteers will staff a table at the Lents International Farmers Market. Also in the works is the start of a new collaboration with the environmental justice organization, OPAL (Organizing People, Activating Leaders). OPAL is an advocacy organization working with low-income populations and communities of color to educate, engage, and empower. Portland Audubon and OPAL will team up to offer young leaders with a multi-modal tour of East Portland’s natural areas. Finishing the tour at the Leach Gardens manor house with socializing and food, we will begin conversations about how Portland Audubon can serve these and other nontraditional Audubon audiences in a relevant way. While nobody at Audubon thinks that this endeavor will be quick or easy, everyone believes it’s necessary, worthwhile, and timely. As we embark upon this exciting next step, I trust that Audubon can count on your continued support to help us as we establish new roots and reach new communities in East Portland.

The Audubon Society of Portland is a member of Earth Share of Oregon. For more information, contact Earth Share of Oregon at 503-223-9015 or on the web at www.earthshare-oregon.org.

June 11 (Fri), 9am–11am Herons of Norm Thompson & Rock Creek Greenway

✍$

Join Mike Houck on a hike along Rock Creek and explore wetlands at Norm Thompson headquarters on Rock Creek. We’ll get close-up views of two Great Blue Heron nesting colonies. Fee: $8/person, $12/family. Pre-registration required at www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/ adult/wic (if no internet access: 503-292-6855 ext.122).

June 12 (Sat), 10am–2pm Tualatin River Paddle Tour & Nature Walk

✍$

in a car stall (not a trailer space or you’ll be ticketed). Park entrance is off SW Macadam Ave south of Johns Landing at Nebraska Ave.

June 11 (Fri), 7pm–9pm Columbia Slough & Heron Lakes Golf Course Sunset Bike Ride

✍

Join Metro naturalist James Davis and the Tualatin Riverkeepers for a leisurely paddle upstream and back from one of Metro’s future river access points west of Tigard. Bring water, snacks, insect and sun protection, and waterproof binoculars if you have them. Free canoes provided for Tualatin Riverkeepers members; canoes available to non-members for $30. Pre-registration and pre-payment of $5/member or $10/non-member required at www.tualatinriverkeepers.org or 503-620-7507.

June 19 (Sat), 8am–11am Sandy River Delta

Join Portland Parks & Recreation for a sunset bike ride at Heron Lakes Golf Course and Columbia Slough Trail. This 5.5-mile loop ride will give us close looks at waterfowl and a large heron rookery. Ride will end at Pizza Fino in downtown Kenton. Helmets and lights required. For route info, see tinyurl.com/sloughandgolfbikeride or www. PortlandParks.org. Free; pre-registration appreciated at [email protected] or 503-823-1650.

June 12 (Sat), 3pm–6pm A Walk on the Wetlands: Jackson Bottom

✍$

Join Gabriel Forcier and Robin Carpenter on a leisurely exploration of the trails around this rich delta area. We’ll look for songbirds and open-country residents. Bring binoculars; hats recommended! From I-84, take Exit 18. Turn right and loop under the freeway, continuing into the parking area; meet near restroom. Call Robin at 503-7843245 if interested in carpooling. Beginners welcome! Free; no sign-up needed.

Discover the magic of Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve as Rick Balazs helps you view its birds and all that nature has to offer here. Limited to 10 participants. Fee: $3/ person. Pre-registration required at Hillsboro Parks & Rec, 503-681-5397; refer to class #23902.

Mt. Hood Lakes June 21 (Mon), 8am–4:30pm

June 12 (Sat), 8am–11am Powell Butte Nature Park

Join leader Ron Escano for a walk exploring the unique habitats of Powell Butte. Our objective is to see the Lazuli Bunting. Meet at the parking lot at end of SE 162nd Ave. Turn south on SE 162nd off Powell Blvd and drive to top of butte. Bring binoculars, dress for weather, beginners welcome! Free; no sign-up needed.

June 13 (Sun), 10am–1pm Herons of the Intertwine: Ross Island Paddle

We’ll visit three locations on the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail: Wildwood Recreation Area, Trillium Lake, and Little Crater Lake Meadows. Meet Denny Graham at Olive Garden Restaurant on SE Sunnyside Rd across from Clackamas Town Center. Bring lunch, sunscreen, insect repellant, and scope if you have one. If questions, call Denny at 503-659-1245. Free; no sign-up needed.

June 12 (Sat), 9am–Noon Ross Island Restoration Trip

✍

Help Audubon, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Portland Parks restore habitat on Ross Island. All necessary equipment will be supplied, and canoes will be provided free for volunteers who don’t own one. Free; pre-registration required with Marissa Dorais at [email protected] or 503-823-7016.

Join Mike Houck, Bob Sallinger, and Friends of Ross Island in a colorful flotilla of canoes and kayaks on this 3-hour paddle around Ross Island to view Great Blue Herons, Osprey, and Bald Eagles on their nests. We’ll see and hear numerous summer birds such as Swainson’s Thrushes, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Spotted Sandpipers as we ply the shallow waters between Hardtack and East Islands. Bring and maintain your own kayak/ canoe; life jackets absolutely required. Rentals at Portland Kayak Company or Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe; let them know you need to be there on time. Free; no sign-up needed. Meet at Willamette Park Boat Ramp no later than 9:40am sharp. Offload your craft and park your car
Oaks Bottom from Sellwood Blvd © Mike Houck

PoRTLAND AuDuBoN CALENDAR AT A GLANCE
June
1 (Tue) .......................Bird Song Walk..................................... (p.2) 1 (Tue) .......................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.2) 1 (Tue) .......................Birders’ Night....................................... (p.9) 2 (Wed) .....................Bird Song Walk..................................... (p.2) 2 (Wed) .....................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.2) 3 (Thu) .......................Bird Song Walk..................................... (p.2) 3 (Thu) .......................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.2) 3 (Thu) .......................Bird the Badlands ................................ (web) 4 (Fri) .........................Bird Song Walk..................................... (p.2) 4 (Fri) .........................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.2) 5 (Sat) ................ Audubon Outings ...................(p.2) 5 (Sat) ................ Peregrines & Pinot.................(p.12) 8 (Tue) .......................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.2) 8 (Tue) .......................Tree protection hearing ..................... (p.4) 9 (Wed) .....................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.2) 10 (Thu) ....................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.2) 11 (Fri) .......................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.3) 12 (Sat).............. Audubon Outings ...................(p.3) 13 (Sun) ............. Beginning Birding II ...............(p.7) 13 (Sun) ............. Audubon Outings ...................(p.3) 17 (Thu) ....................Board Meeting, 7pm 18 (Fri) .......................Birdathon Banquet .............................. (p.12) 19 (Sat).............. Audubon Outings ...................(p.3) 20 (Sun) ............. Beginning Birding II ...............(p.7) 21 (Mon) ...................Audubon Outings ................................ (p.3) 23 (Wed) ...................Birding the Basin.................................. (p.6) 24 (Thu) ....................Larch Mountain .................................... (p.7) 24 (Thu) ....................Lost Bird Reception............................ (p.1)

26 (Sat).............. Lost Bird Project Fair............(p.1) 26 (Sat).............. Beginning Birding II ...............(p.7) 26 (Sat).............. Larch Mountain ......................(p.7) 28 (Mon) ...................Summer Camps ................................... (p.7) 29 (Tue) .....................Summer Camps ................................... (p.7) 30 (Wed) ...................Summer Camps ................................... (p.7)

July
1 (Thu) .......................Summer Camps ................................... (p.7) 2 (Fri) .........................Summer Camps ................................... (p.7) 4 (Sun) ............... Nature Store closed 5 (Mon) ......................Admin closed

www.audubonportland.org

JUNE 2010

3

Protecting Birds in the Backyard and Beyond
City Council unanimously Adopts North Reach River Plan
River Industry Appeals to LuBA to Reverse Council Decision
by Bob Sallinger, Conservation Director
n April 15, 2010, the Portland City Council unanimously adopted the North Reach River Plan. This was a huge victory for our river, our environment, and our community — a decision which after decades of neglect and decline finally sets the most degraded stretch of river in Oregon on a path toward ecological health. Hundreds of people participated in developing the River Plan over the past decade and hundreds more wrote and turned out to testify in support of the plan. I heard from one City staffer that Council received more letters in support of the River Plan than any other issue that Council has faced since Mayor Adams took office. Thank you to everybody who wrote or came out to support the River Plan! Thank you to Council for having the courage to move forward on this plan and to Mayor Adams and Commissioner Fritz for their leadership! Adoption of the plan was delayed more than a year while first the Planning Commission and then City Council reviewed and re-reviewed the Working Waterfront Coalition (a river industry lobbying group) objections to the plan. For decades City Code has allowed river industry to develop in the North Reach with little regard and minimal requirements to mitigate for their environmental impacts. The results are written on our landscape: The North Reach is the most degraded stretch of river in Oregon and one of the most degraded stretches of river in the country. Its degraded state provides a gauntlet of hazards for fish and wildlife species migrating up and down the Willamette Corridor and undermines restoration work that is occurring upstream and on the tributaries, an area that drains 11,500 square miles.

O

The Working Waterfront Coalition not only sought to weaken the improvements prescribed by the River Plan, but tried to actually roll back the embarrassingly weak protections that are currently in place for the river. The Working Waterfront Coalition advocated that the City abandon its regulatory authority over the river altogether, a decision which would have denied the City and its citizens any say over what happens in our river. It also advocated to severely weaken the funding mechanisms prescribed in the River Plan, a position that would have perpetuated the status quo in which the ecological impacts of industry are at best partially mitigated and the taxpayers are left to either cover the costs or accept that the river will degrade even further. At every step of this process our community has spoken clearly. We reject the Working Waterfront Coalition’s attempts to subvert the City’s regulatory authority over the river and we expect industry to step up and pay their fair share to help protect and restore the river. Unfortunately the Working Waterfront Coalition is now using the legal system to try to accomplish what it was unable to do through the public process. They have appealed to the state’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) to overturn the City Council decision. Particularly troubling is that the Port of Portland, a public agency, is using public dollars and public resources to support this effort to weaken environmental protections and subvert the public process. There is more than a little bit of irony in this new industry strategy, since two of their most oft-repeated
North Reach River Plan overview. Map: City of Portland

Trouble Ahead, Trouble Behind:

West Hayden Island Threatened Again
by Bob Sallinger
est Hayden Island is Portland’s largest unprotected greenspace. At over 800 acres, it is surpassed in size only by Forest Park and Government Island when compared to other Portland natural areas. It sits in a critical location just east the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. The island is a mosaic of grasslands, bottomland hardwood forests, wetlands, and some of the best mainstem salmon habitat left in the Portland area. Study after study has concluded that West Hayden Island’s size, complexity, and location make it a unique and highly valuable resource on an otherwise heavily developed river corridor. For more than a year, Audubon and other stakeholders have been serving on a committee to evaluate a proposal to annex and rezone West Hayden Island to allow the Port of Portland to develop the majority of this wildlife habitat for marine industrial terminals. This is not the first time we have been down this road — a similar proposal in 1999 collapsed after community groups, conservation groups,

complaints about the River Plan are that it will delay project implementation and will allow conservation groups to file frivolous LUBA appeals. The fact is that conservation groups have had the ability to appeal to LUBA under existing code for more than 20 years — and there has never been a LUBA challenge filed by a conservation organization to an environmental decision in the North Reach. The LUBA appeal pulls back the veil that has hidden the lie that has been at the core of industry complaints from day one, that the delays and high administrative costs associated with environmental protection and restoration in the North Reach are most often not the result of conservation tactics or bureaucratic hurdles, but rather the result of industries’ own legal machinations. Audubon will intervene in the appeal in support of the City and the River Plan. We fully expect the City to prevail in this litigation. We will continue to work with the City and other stakeholders to move the River Plan to on-the-ground implementation. And we will continue to call on you, our members, to make your voices heard — you have already made a huge difference. For more information on the River Plan and for specific responses to Working Waterfront Coalition distortion and delay tactics, please visit our website, www.audubonportland.org.

W

West Hayden Island. Photo: Portland Audubon

natural resource agencies, and even the Portland Business Journal expressed serious concerns about the need for this development and its potential impacts on the environment. What we have seen over the past year has not been promising. The Port is no closer to describing the need for this development than it was a decade ago. The preliminary designs presented by the Port would leave nothing but narrow strips of fragmented habitat along the margins of their parking lots, railroad tracks, and structures. Preliminary recommendations from the committee will be brought before City Council this summer. We will be calling on our members to strongly support a plan that ensures protection for this unique and irreplaceable wildlife area. For more information, contact Bob Sallinger at bsallinger@ audubonportland.org or check out the West Hayden Island page at www.audubonportland.org.

Mike Houck Receives Garden Club of America Medal
ongratulations to Mike Houck, Audubon’s longtime Urban Naturalist, for receiving the prestigious Francis K. Hutchinson Medal given by the Garden Club of America. In giving Mike this award, the Garden Club noted that “Mike has never accepted the prevailing trajectory that in order to accommodate growth, cities must fill wetlands, divert streams, or cover vast areas with impervious asphalt. His core belief is that cities and nature can be and, indeed, must be married.” Other award winners have included Edward O. Wilson and Rachel Carson.

C

Photo: FWHI.us

Want to stay updated on Portland Audubon’s campaigns and initiatives to protect and restore urban natural areas? Want to learn more about your urban watersheds and how you can help protect and restore them?

Join Portland Audubon’s Friends and Advocates of urban Natural Areas (FAuNA).
Sign up to get email alerts at www.audubonportland.org. We’ll send you regular updates on how you can help protect urban greenspaces in the Portland metro region.
Left to right: Corinne Gentner and Liza Lilley (Portland Garden Club members) and Mike Houck with medal. © Peg Malloy

4

JUNE 2010

www.audubonportland.org

Conservation
Backyard Wildlife and Habitat
by Karen Munday, urban Wildlife Specialist
ight now is a great time to sign up for the Backyard Habitat Certification Program. We have ramped up our summer staff and are looking for new yards to certify. Whether your yard is in the planning stage and you are wondering where to start — or if you’ve already done the work and are ready for your certification sign — we’d love to get into your yard. Here are some things to think about for your Backyard Habitat. If you were like me and planted new native plants this spring, then remember they are going to take a little care during the summer. Native plants are great because they are adapted to our climate but they still need water to get established, especially in these warm summer months. We often focus on birds, but another great benefit of native plants is on our native pollinators. I recently attended a Pollinator Workshop presented by the Xerces Society and the Oregon Zoo and learned some great tips for increasing habitat for native pollinators in your yard. As always… focus on natives. Out of all the different species of plants, our native plants provide the best food resources for our native pollinators. If you’re planning a native pollinators garden, try to achieve a natural diversity of native plants. Pick plants that bloom throughout the year, especially early and late. Plant in clumps or groupings (avoid one of these here and one of those there), planting three here and five there.

R

Forest Canopy and urban development in Clackamas County. New protections will help preserve more trees in and around development, keeping it more livable for people and wildlife. © Jay Wilson

Speak up to Protect Urban Trees in Clackamas County!
n June 8 the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a proposal to increase tree protections. The tree code will provide increased protections for trees threatened by new development in unincorporated Clackamas County inside the Urban Growth Boundary. The new tree protections are the product of the tireless efforts of a group of dedicated advocates, Clackamas County Urban Green, with support from Portland Audubon, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and Friends of North Clackamas Parks.
We need Clackamas County Auduboners to speak up for adoption of strong tree protection in urban Clackamas County!

O

It’s also important to provide nesting habitat for native bees, including snags, stumps, brush piles, or Mason bee nest boxes. You can easily make your own bee house! You can find building instructions and much more information on specific plants for native pollinators on the Xerces Society website at www.xerces.org. If you live in Portland, you can sign up today for our Backyard Habitat Certification Program at www. audubonportland.org/backyardwildlife/backyardhabitat or call Karen Munday at 503-292-6855 ext.122.

Wildlife Care Center
Owl Stories
by Kari Jones, Wildlife Care Center Assistant Manager
n April 16th a feed store in Ridgefield, WA received an ordinary truckload of hay bales. After unloading the hay into the store’s storage, employees noticed something odd: large owl pellets lined the entrance of a rectangular gape between some of the bales. Taking a closer look, they could see baby Barn Owl eyes peering from the very back of the nest. Barn Owls nest in hay bales and people often don’t notice the nests until the bales are opened. Each year the Wildlife Care Center receives Barn Owlets that have traveled across states on the back of a truck. This load of hay was picked up in Madras, Oregon several days prior to delivery. Barn Owls can have large clutches of eggs (up to 11); this nest had 7 owlets, and Wildlife Care Center volunteer Mariha Kuechmann assisted in their rescue. Because the babies were so far back, the hay had to be removed to reach them. The owlets were dehydrated but otherwise in good health. Once they are fledging we will move them to a large flight cage, where they’ll spend time building the flight and hunting skills necessary for survival in the wild. The Wildlife Care Center recently had another interesting owl case. In late April, a very young Great Horned Owlet was found at the base of a tree in SW Washington. Young owls are explorers and do end up on the ground from time to time. This baby was younger than the usual “brancher” and had symptoms of head trauma. After it had spent several days in our hospital recovering from dehydration and neurological symptoms, we attempted to reunite the baby with its parents. With help from Ascending the Giants (professional tree climbers), we placed the baby in an artificial nest 60 feet up in the tree where it was found. Great Horned Owls, like most birds, will continue caring for their young in artificial nests, especially if there are siblings still in the area. Unfortunately the reunion was not successful and the baby once again was on the ground 2 days later. It had sustained a compression of a growth plate in its right leg and we once again admitted it into the Wildlife Care Center. Wild animals need to be raised

The public hearing is on Tuesday, June 8 at 6:30pm at the Clackamas County Public Services Building (2051 Kaen Rd, Oregon City). Please attend and speak in your own words to the value of urban trees for clean air, clean water, wildlife, public health, and quality of life, and express your support for increased protection for trees in your community! You can also download and print an 8x11-inch sign at www.ccurbangreen.org that you can bring to public hearing to show your support for tree protection. If you cannot attend the hearing, please send a letter or email to: Clackamas County Board of Commissioners c/o Public Services Bldg. 2051 Kaen Road Oregon City, OR 97045 Email your letter to [email protected]; write ‘Tree Ordinance’ in the subject line. For more information contact Jim Labbe, Urban Conservationist, at [email protected] or 503-292-6855, or visit the Clackamas County Urban Green website at www.ccurbangreen.org.

O

This Great Horned Owl nestling’s pupils are different sizes, a sign it suffered head trauma when it fell from the nest. © Kari Jones

by their parents and we only interfere when there is no chance of parental involvement. Being highly imprintable at this young age, we initially fed the owlet with a Great Horned Owl puppet. As the bird grew stronger we decided to let our education bird, Julio the Great Horned Owl, be housed with the nestling. It worked like a charm: Julio actually ended up feeding her little foster owlet! Julio’s hormones must have kicked in and she began answering the baby’s begging cues. The nestling is eating and growing well under Julio’s care, and we hope that the leg will heal well so the owl will eventually be able to survive in the wild. Julio and the baby will be housed together until the youngster Barn Owl nestlings were found is independent. in this hole between hay bales
© Tara Lilly For updates on these and other cases in the Wildlife Care Center, check out our website at www.audubonportland.org. — do you see the owl pellets?

Barn Owl nestlings before being rescued by Wildlife Care Center volunteers. © Tara Lilly

www.audubonportland.org

JUNE 2010

5

Educational Trips & Tours

These trips are popular. We recommend that you book early.

nepal!
February 10–24, 2011

epal… an ancient land of terraces, alpine meadows, and unsurpassed mountains. It’s also the land of over 800 species of birds! Join Portland Audubon on this 2-week tour of Nepal as you bird some of its most famous national parks and many locations well off the tourist trail. The first leg of our journey will take us to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the far east of the country. Here we’ll explore this rich riverine ecosystem in search of such species as the Bengal Florican, Sarus Crane, Ibisbill, and Greater Adjutant, to name just a few. This park was set aside in 1976 to protect the Arna (the Wild Water Buffalo), and we hope to encounter this majestic species as well. We’ll also keep an eye out for Wild Boar, the Chital (Spotted Deer), Nilgai, massive crocodiles, and the exotic freshwater Gangetic Dolphin. The next destination is Chitwan National Park, one of the last strongholds for the endangered Great One-horned Rhinoceros. We’ll explore the park on foot, by jeep, and even by Elephant in search of this impressive animal. Chitwan also offers much in the way of birding. Of its over 500 species, we’ll keep a special look out for the Painted Snipe, Black Ibis, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, and Stork-billed Kingfisher, all of which we encountered here on our trip in 2010. We’ll have 3 full days to explore the park’s forested and grassland habitats. Just south of Kathmandu we’ll travel into the forest of Phulchowki and visit the Godavari Botanical Gardens, where mixed-species flocks present themselves so rapidly the birding becomes fast and furious, but fun for both the novice and expert. We’ll end the trip with 2 nights in Kathmandu, giving you a day and a half to explore this rich and wonderful city. You may choose to go on a guided tour of its temples or simply peruse the vast markets on your own. Either way, Kathmandu offers an unforgettable experience. Leader: Dan van den Broek. For more information or to register for this trip, contact Dan at [email protected] or 971-222-6105. All trips fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Fee includes: all lodging (based on double occupancy), all meals except some dinners, internal air and all ground transportation, all park and guide fees, and the services of your leaders. A portion of your fee is a tax-deductible contribution to Portland Audubon. Fee does NOT include airfare to and from Nepal. Fee: $3965 member / $4265 non-member Deposit: $1900 required to secure your place Group size: 12 participants

N

extensions to the nepal Trip
At the conclusion of this trip, you may choose one of the following extensions: Mt. Everest Trek: Spend 6 days trekking in the region near Mt. Everest Base Camp. This is not designed as a birding extension but rather as an adventure that will give you an opportunity to experience the raw beauty of the Himalayas. Fee: $1495 for 6 days and 7 nights. — or — India: This trip to southern India is designed for the birder who would like to add as many species to their list as possible while they’re in this corner of the world. We will focus on finding many of the endemic species of the Western Ghats. Chances to see the rare Bengal Tiger are also good. A visit to the Taj Mahal is included. Fee: $1845 for 8 days and 9 nights.
Photos © Steve Robertson

Yosemite & Lake Tahoe Birding!
September 27 – October 2, 2010

J

oin Portland Audubon to experience the scenic majesty of Yosemite. See the landscape that so awed John Muir with its towering granite domes carved by mighty glaciers and bathed in tumbling waterfalls fed by snow and ice. After the summer crowds have departed and while the weather is still beautiful is the perfect time to explore the Sierra Nevada Mountains, home to our most popular National Park and the sapphire-blue waters of Lake Tahoe. We’ll explore the Yosemite Valley for Sooty Grouse and Clark’s Nutcracker beneath the sheer 2,000-foot wall of magnificent Half Dome. A hike among a grove of ancient Giant Sequoias is part of our search for the White-headed Woodpecker, and a visit to mountain meadows will give us a chance to find the rarest of the Park’s resident birds, the elusive Great Gray Owl. Our exploration of Yosemite National Park takes us to the heights of Tioga Pass at the Sierra crest where we will search the alpine environment for Graycrowned Rosy-Finch before descending

to the shores of enormous and ancient Mono Lake. The hyper-alkaline water of the lake supports an incredibly rich ecosystem and is a magnet for migratory birds. Tens of thousands of Red-necked and Eared Grebe © Wilson’s Phalaropes utilize BjornFredrickson.com the lake in autumn and 1–2 million Eared Grebes have been counted there in October. The scenery at Mono Lake is other-worldly with stark white tufa towers mirrored against a backdrop of imposing snowcapped Sierran peaks. Pinyon Jays roam the surrounding desert and we’ll keep sharp eyes out for Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, and other raptors. Returning to the mountains we’ll enjoy Lake Tahoe, renowned for its beautiful blue hue, while cruising on the paddleboat Tahoe Queen as we search for Bald Eagles and vagrant waterbirds which could include Red-necked Grebe, Sabine’s Gull, and Pacific and Red-throated Loon. Forest birds we may encounter in the Tahoe Basin include Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill, and Pygmy Nuthatch, to name a few.

Half Dome at Yosemite © Kirk Hardie

This trip promises spectacular scenery as well as great birding. Join us and experience the beautiful Sierra Nevada from the California foothills to the east slope. All trips fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Fee includes: all lodging (based on double occupancy), all meals except dinners, all ground transportation, and the services of your leaders. A portion of your fee is a tax-deductible contribution to the Audubon Society of Portland. Fee does NOT include airfare. Fee: $995 members / $1295 non-members Group size: 10 participants Deposit: $500 required to secure your place Leader: Kirk Hardie, Audubon Trip Leader and Lake Tahoe resident biologist Contact Steve at [email protected] or 971-222-6119 for information or to register.

White-headed Woodpecker © Steve Berliner

upcoming trips Save the dates for these upcoming educational adventures!
Birding the Basin
June 23–27, 2010

Wildflowers and Birds of Steens Mountain
July 21–25, 2010

Galapagos
Sept. 30 – oct. 6, 2010

Panama
April 3–18, 2011; $3495 (tentative dates and price)

6

JUNE 2010

www.audubonportland.org

HOW TO REGISTER
Adult Classes

For more information, go to www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps.

Trips & Classes
Mail: Audubon Society of Portland Contact: Steve Engel, Adult 5151 NW Cornell Rd. Education Coordinator Portland, OR 97210 Email: [email protected] Phone: 971-222-6119 Credit Card Payment: We accept VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. A 3% processing fee is added to each transaction. Include card number, expiration date, and billing address, or call Steve Engel and pay over the phone.

1. NEW — register and pay online! Visit class description on our website. 2. OR — contact Steve Engel via phone or email to be put on the roster, then make your payment as soon as he confirms availability. Only your payment holds your spot. 3. Mail your check payable to Audubon Society of Portland or call with your credit card information.

Educational Trips & Tours
1. Phone or email to request a registration packet for the trips of interest. 2. Complete and sign the Registration / Waiver Form and return it with the required deposit. 3. We’ll contact you with confirmation of payment and further details.

Beginning Birding II

June 13 & 20 (Sun), 8am–11am June 26 (Sat), 6am–1pm

Flycatchers & Kingbirds

July 20 (Tue), 7pm–9pm in Heron Hall

Laura Whittemore offers a late spring Beginning Birding II class, perfect for graduates of her popular classes. This three-field-trip class will focus on taking your birding skills to the next level. Participants Barn Swallow fledglings should have some prior © Paul Buescher birding experience. This is an opportunity to spend more time in the field learning bird groups, songs and calls, habitats, and field marks — and to take on the ID challenges that pop up out of the bushes, like freshly fledged juvenile birds! Class consists of two local field trips (8am–11am) and one trip by van (6am–1pm). Transportation provided by Audubon for June 26 only. Fee: $75 members / $85 non-members Class size: 12 participants Pre-registration is required.

What are Flycatchers? These feisty little songbirds migrate long distances from the tropics to the Northwest each year. Once here they set up a territory, raise young, and head right back to Central and South America! Flycatchers occur in a wide variety of habitats across the Pacific Northwest, and they are notoriously difficult for birders to identify. Tonight Harry Nehls, local bird expert and author of several popular regional birding guides, will share his tips on where to find flycatchers and how to recognize them. Attend this class, then seek out flycatchers this summer equipped with your new skills and Western Kingbird knowledge. © Paul Buescher Fee: $10 members / $15 non-members Free for volunteers! Pre-registration is required.

Portland Audubon’s

2010-2011 School of Birding
Beginning and intermediate birders welcome!
he School of Birding is a course modeled after a university program and is taught in seasonal “terms.” Each term consists of a series of classes and field trips focused on the best birding each season has to offer. Dan van den Broek, field ornithologist and Audubon trip leader, is the primary instructor and will help you to improve your birding skills and bird identification. Each term consists of 6 classes and 5 field trips (including an overnight). Sign up soon, as this is a popular program.
FALL TERM DATES: Classes (7pm–9pm in Heron Hall) Field Trips

T

Oregon Hot Spots: Larch Mountain
June 24 (Thu), 7pm–9pm: Class in Heron Hall June 26 (Sat), 6am–Noon: Field Trip

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Northwest
July 21 (Wed), 7pm–9pm in Heron Hall

A mosaic of mature forests and clearcuts, Larch Mountain provides access to mountain birds close to Portland. Join Birding Oregon author John Rakestraw for an evening session to learn about the best birding spots and an identification review of expected species. On Saturday we will start at the summit and work our way down, looking for Hermit Warbler, Red Crossbill, Sooty Grouse, Red Crossbill © Don Baccus Northern Pygmy-Owl, Varied Thrush, and other forest specialties. The field trip will involve moderate walking with significant elevation gain. Fee: $65 members / $75 non-members (transportation provided) Class-only option: $10 members / $15 non-members Field Trip limited to 12 participants.

Ever wonder how many species of dragonflies frequent your local wetland, or how they spend their days? Join instructor Jim Johnson for an evening class on the Odonata — otherwise known as the dragonflies and damselflies — to learn about aspects of dragonfly life and especially about field identification of the more common local species. Class topics will include: What are dragonflies and damselflies and what makes them different from other insects; life history from egg to adult; habitat preferences; diet; and identification. Jim Johnson has taught dragonfly classes at Portland Audubon, The Wetlands Conservancy, and the Tualatin River NWR. He serves on the executive council of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas and is working on a field guide/manual to the Odonates of the Northwest. Fee: $10 members / $15 non-members Pre-registration is required.

October 13, 27 November 10, 17 December 1, 8

Group size: 16 Fee Option 1: $550/term (no discount for full year) Option 2: $395/term + 8 hours of volunteer time – or for full year discount: $1,395/full year + 32 hours of volunteer time (Overnight includes 2 nights in hotel and transportation in 2 vans.) Contact Dan van den Broek, Instructor, at [email protected] or 971-222-6105. Also visit www.audubonportland.org/trips-classescamps/adult/classes/schoolofbirding.

October 16, 30 November 12–14 (two nights at Olympic peninsula’s Dungeness Spit) November 20 December 4

Summer Camp 2010
Exciting camps for kids entering 1st–12th grades!
Here are two exciting trips with space available:

Summer Camp in a Forest Wonderland: Mysteries of Opal Creek
Entering 6th–8th grade: July 26–30 (Week 5) Entering 4th–5th grade: August 2–6 (Week 6) Fee: $395 members / $415 non-members
Under ancient trees, alongside clear streams, Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center is a hidden gem in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Each year Portland Audubon brings children to this beautiful oldgrowth forest for a week of enjoying the natural world, without the distractions of technology. The campers hike in to the site on a route that takes them through the forest and orients them to the special things about this magnificent place. With no cell phone reception at Opal Creek and no television, there is plenty of time for hiking, swimming in the creek, and stargazing. Campers also spend time searching for the diverse salamanders that make their homes in this pristine environment. Audubon’s instructors lead the campers on hikes and explorations of the diverse ecosystems. Nights are spent in cozy wood cabins and meals are made from scratch by Opal Creek staff. This is a camp that campers love to return to year after year. If your child is entering 4th–8th grade this fall and wants to spend a week at Opal Creek with an Audubon camp, go to www.audubonportland.org to register. Questions? Call Sarah Swanson at 971-222-6120.

Destination: Glacier
Entering 9th–12th grade August 15-21 (Sunday-Saturday) Fee: $495 members/ $515 non-members
Spend a week exploring Glacier National Park, one of the most pristine and wild parks in the country. Located in NW Montana, Glacier is home to rugged peaks and glacier-carved valleys that have been compared to the majestic Alps of Switzerland. We will explore the park by driving along the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, and stopping to search for Mountain Goats, Wolves and Grizzly Bears that live in the park’s diverse ecosystems. We’ll spend one night enjoying the solitude at one of Glacier’s many turquoise-colored glacial lakes, where we’ll backpack in to get off the beaten path. A day will be spent crossing Josephine Lake by boat to join a Ranger on a guided hike to the foot of Grinnell Glacier. Come along and find out why this park has earned the nickname “the Crown of the Continent”!

Spaces still available in other camps too!
www.audubonportland.org

See complete listing on our Summer Camp webpage at www.audubonportland.org. Questions? Call Sarah Swanson, Camp Director, at 971-222-6120.

JUNE 2010

7

Nature Store Highlights
by Sally Loomis, Book Buyer
Summer vacation is just around the corner, so this is a great time to take a peek at some of the new children’s items available in the Nature Store. When you pick your child up from one of our wonderful summer camp programs, or take a weekend family nature hike in our sanctuary, please drop by the store so we can show you the cool new books, games, and toys available for young people. Here are a few favorites, with an emphasis on books that encourage kids to interact with the natural world around them. We’re delighted to have Nikki McClure’s latest, Mama, Is it Summer Yet? (Abrams, 17.95). A companion to last year’s popular All in a Day, the Northwest artist’s distinctive paper-cut designs capture the joys of summertime, as a young boy anticipates the coming season. Recommended for ages 4 and up. The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Lisa Falkenstern (Marshall Cavendish, 17.99), is a beautifully drawn story — in rhyme — of the many creatures that might occupy a tree. Alison Formento’s This Tree Counts, illustrated by Sarah Snow (Albert Whitman, 16.99), also celebrates the importance of trees, along with being a counting book, from one owl to ten earthworms. Both books are suggested for ages 4–8. You Can Be a Nature Detective by Peggy Kochanoff (Mountain Press, 14.00) is for ages 8–12, and encourages children to explore the world outside, using their senses to solve various natural mysteries. Your junior magician should check out Campfire Magic: 50 Amazing, Easy-to-Learn Tricks and Mind-Blowing Stunts by Mac King, illustrated by Bill King (Black Dog and Leventhal, 12.95). This is also suggested for ages 8–12, and teaches basic magic tricks using common items that can be taken along on a family trip or at summer camp. The family show-off will have a great time with this. The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science by Sean Connolly (Workman, 13.95) is a sequel to his wildly popular Book of Totally Irresponsible Science. Both give middle school kids lots of experiments to try with common household items, and include opportunities for exploration even for kids with more limited chances to get outside. Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald (Candlewick, 16.99) is a young adult novel with an environmental twist, as activist Jenna spends her summer vacation in a small Canadian town full of engaging characters, including a cute boy or two. This is suggested for ages 14 and up. Also note: Carl Hiaasen’s very entertaining recent YA environmental mystery, Scat, is newly available in paperback. (Knopf, 8.99). Please also take a look at the great new toys in stock. We have fun stuffed-animal coin banks, kaleidoscopes with animal designs, and lots of science kits and activity sets to keep your youngsters busy wondering and exploring this summer.

Audubon Society of Portland gratefully acknowledges these thoughtful gifts:

In Memory
Ned & Shasta
Donnalee Baudry

Dr. Richard Henry Dykstra
Lexa Braxmeier Thomas Syltebo Nan Robertson

Shannon
Angela Jacobs

George Bateman
Mark, Claudia, Taylor & Callan Dane

Jeanne Gates Gardner
Sylvia Breed Gates

Dr. David Copeland
Jean Wadlin

Terrie Murray
Karen Pazucha & Larry Morandi

Larry Deal
Merrily Cowgill Betty Girsch Patricia Jones Patty Newland & Carol Orange John Mausen Rose City Astronomers Ruth Steckel Mike & Jean Sutherland Donna Urban Scott & Lois Youngman

Cathy Olson
From the many friends & participants of the Cathy Olson Memorial Bridge Tournament

Herman “Dutch” Schneider
Eleanor Obenaus

Frank Schumaker
Mark & Nancy Palmer

Donald Devlin
Susan Griffiths

Carol Shillitto
Joan Welty

In Honor
Steve Engel
Anonymous

Lynn Herring
Richard Herring

Sanctuaries News
by Tom Costello, Sanctuaries Director
n recent years traffic on Cornell Road has created some safety concerns for visitors, volunteers, and staff at Portland Audubon. While heavy traffic at peak hours can make it nearly impossible to pull out of the parking lots at our facilities, the more serious problems occur when traffic volumes are light and vehicles are able to travel at excessive speeds. This creates significant safety problems for pedestrians trying to access our facilities from the parking lot on the south side of Cornell Road. The problem is often compounded by cyclists who must hug the side of the road to avoid aggressive drivers, which then makes their silent wheels virtually imperceptible to both pedestrians and drivers pulling out of our lots. While we have avoided any serious accidents, on numerous occasions cars have slammed on their brakes to stop for pedestrians, only to be rear-ended by the driver behind them. The summer of 2008 saw 6 such accidents in a 3-month span. Countless calls to the City of Portland’s Bureau of Transportation have resulted in two new pedestrian crossing signs and a new paint job on the crosswalk in summer 2009, which have made some small improvements to the situation. Unfortunately winter weather events have

Nancy Fraser
HPSO SW Study Group

Kirsten Lee
Lori Schallich

Addressing Traffic Concerns on Cornell Road

John Hammerstad
Lucien Burke

Elizabeth Ryono
Colin Ryono

I

erased all of the new paint very quickly. We have also been encouraging visitors and patrons to always use the crosswalk when crossing the road, as this helps to train motorists where to expect pedestrian traffic. We have also partnered with the Cornell Road Sustainability Committee, a group of 4 local neighborhood associations that is also represented by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Forest Park Conservancy, and Portland Audubon. In the words of Committee Chair Peter Stark, “The vision includes components to address public safety, park and trail use, multi-modal use, reinforcing pedestrian and bicycle routes, watershed conservation, and the possibility of creating a demonstration project for the first LEED-certified infrastructure project in the nation.” To date the committee has presented to Portland department directors for the Bureaus of Planning and Sustainability, Transportation, Parks, and Environmental Services. The presentations of the committee’s vision have been well received by these agencies. Currently the committee is working with Bureau of Transportation staff to assemble an application to request Regional Flexible funds for the planning phase of the project.
Dismantling the old bridge…

You can honor a special person with a gift to Audubon Society of Portland. Your gift will help fund a future of inspiring people to love and protect nature. You can make an Honor or Memorial gift online at www.audubonportland.org or by calling 971-222-6129. A songbird card acknowledging your thoughtful gift will be sent to the honoree or family.

Wish List & Thank you’s Thank you to:
• Susan Bexton for electric teakettle for Administration Office • Gregg Everhart for 105 four-inch plants for Native Plant Sale • Ann Littlewood for 18 one-gallon plants for Native Plant Sale • Alan Locklear for seven 3.5-inch pots of Oxalis Oreganum for Native Plant Sale • Cynthia Merrill for 5 boxes of rubber gloves for Wildlife Care Center • Joanne Mucken for 68 Western Red Cedars for Native Plant Sale • Rick Meyers for a Magnum hose nozzle • Shondell Odegaard for 3 gallons of birdseed • Ginnie Ross for refreshments and supplies for Wildlife Care Center training, EXACT formula and a lizard light for Wildlife Care Center • Paula Squire for fifteen 96-oz bottles of bleach for Wildlife Care Center

Balch Creek Bridge Project a Big Success!
With the help of nearly 40 volunteers as well as our tireless Education Director, Steve Robertson, the old Balch Creek Bridge was dismantled and materials for the new bridge were hauled down the trail during our April 24 TogetherGreen Volunteer Day. With a handful of dedicated volunteers staying late, we were even able to set our new anchors in the concrete, assemble the new wooden pier risers, and set the new laminated stringers in place. It was quite a successful day. Two of our TogetherGreen Volunteers had such a good time they Reconstruction progresses… came back for a few hours on Sunday. With that extra infusion of help we were able to get the bridge completed ahead of schedule, with all the tools back in the shop by midafternoon on Monday! Special thanks to Rick Meyers for his extra effort on the bridge project — he was by my side from the project’s beginning to its end. I also want to thank the 5th graders, their teachers, and parents at Forest Park Elementary School for selecting our new bridge as their Legacy Project. Their generous donation of wood, hardware, and other materials for the bridge is greatly appreciated, and it was a lot of fun meeting all of the students as we oiled the bridge and planted the areas disturbed by our work.

Our Wish List:
Photos © Tom Costello

For Education: Laptop computer • Powerpoint Projector For Sanctuary: Loppers • Hand saws •Work gloves Watering wand hose attachment For Wildlife Care Center: Science Diet Kitten Growth • Kiddie Pools Dawn Dishwashing Detergent • Welding Gloves Camper/Trailer • Untreated Wood: 2x4, 4x4, 4x8
If you can donate these items, please first contact Audubon Society of Portland at 503-292-6855 ext.102, Mon–Fri, to arrange a time for delivery/pick-up.

Come walk across the new Balch Creek Bridge!

8

JUNE 2010

www.audubonportland.org

Wrentits Are Rarely Seen or Heard
n March 14, while exploring the thick brushland along the west bank of the Sandy River near the Troutdale Airport, David Mandell encountered a Wrentit. He spread the word and many birders visited the area during the next several days, taking several photographs and finding more than one bird. It appears to be an active breeding colony. The Wrentit is an unusual species. It is not related to any North American bird but is an isolated member of the Eurasian Babbler family. Many of its habits are quite unique. Its preferred habitat is brushland, where it skulks around under thick cover. Apparently it is a poor flyer and is rarely seen flying across open areas. It has long been thought that the Columbia River is a barrier to any northward expansion. The Wrentit mates for life and once a territory is set up the pair rarely move from it. It sings a loud distinctive song and fortunately sings throughout the year. Quiet birds are seldom seen and birders passing through a silent bird’s territory would not know any Wrentits were in the area.

Field Notes

by Harry Nehls

O

While paired birds do not leave the vicinity of their nesting territories, young birds disperse away from the area and often explore new breeding areas. These birds seldom sing and when a birder sees one it rarely is seen again. Many may spread into a new area but are not noticed until a breeding colony of one or more pairs is established.

Over the years the range of the Northward expansion along the east Wrentit has slowly expanded Wrentit © levalleyphoto.com side of the Willamette Valley has been much slower, with through much of western Oregon. much fewer sightings. By 1999 a colony was found east of Early explorers and ornithologists in Oregon did not report Lebanon. Another colony was at the E.E. Wilson Wildlife finding any Wrentits, either not recognizing it, or it wasn’t Area by 2001. One individual was sighted at Minto-Brown there at all. But by 1900 it was recorded as ranging along Park in Salem in 2008, and one in northeast Portland in the coast from the Columbia River south into California 2009. The Sandy River colony expands the Wrentit’s range and from 1910 in the Rogue and Klamath Valleys. northward through western Oregon to the Columbia River. Washington birders are now on alert to see if it crosses the By the 1930s Wrentits reached the southern edge of the Columbia River, or if the river is actually a barrier. Willamette Valley around Eugene. Birds then began to be

reported along the western edge of the Willamette Valley, with a colony at Finley NWR by 1971 and west of Dallas by 1980. Since that time sightings have been reported all along the west side of the Willamette Valley to the Columbia River at St. Helens. So far no breeding colonies have been reported north of Dallas. Sightings in Coast Range clearcuts indicate that these birds moved eastward from the coastal colonies.

Continued from front cover

Sightings
Mild weather earlier this spring allowed birds to think of nesting, but the weather soon returned to cold and unsettled. Migrants arrived about on time or slightly late, but the movements were often interrupted and grounded. Early nesting swallows checked their nesting sites, but most often left to find food elsewhere. Nesting will probably be very late this year. Each year Evening Grosbeaks swarm into the Willamette Valley when the elm and maple seeds ripen. By April 25 extremely high numbers were reported from many Portland metro neighborhoods. Mt. Tabor Park was again the place to see migrating warblers and flycatchers. Again this spring White Pelicans appeared in Willamette Valley locations. They first arrived at Fernhill Wetlands on April 27. The annual light movement of Black-necked Stilts through the valley occurred during late April, with two birds seen in Oaks Bottom April 27 and three at Ridgefield NWR the next day. On May 3 Jerry LaPlante spotted two flying northward over NE 11th and Oregon Streets near the Lloyd Center. Many birders reported a major flight of Whitefronted Geese April 25–26. They have been noted in well above normal numbers last fall and during the winter west of the Cascades. Most blame it on the snow in the Cascades, but this spring the number of migrant Calliope Hummingbirds
Evening Grosbeak © Jim Cruce

The Birds of The Lost Bird Project
Todd McGrain’s sculptures evoke the life and loss of five extinct species.

The Passenger Pigeon

Perhaps the best-known example of extinction, Passenger Pigeons once darkened the skies from noon until nightfall as flocks numbering in the millions passed by. These attractive, The extinct communal nesters succumbed to Passenger Pigeon, depicted by John overhunting 100 years ago.
James Audubon

visiting residential feeders west of the Cascades was well above normal. Dan Carver reported a Black-chinned Hummingbird April 24 coming to his feeder near Mt. Tabor Park. While looking for Ravens and Gray Jays in Forest Park April 15, Tammi Miller saw and heard a very early Swainson’s Thrush. On April 25 Tammi spotted two Nighthawks flying low over I-5 north of Woodburn. April Nighthawks most likely would be Lesser Nighthawks rather than the expected Common species. On April 18 Ken Vanderkamp reported a Red-naped Sapsucker in Portland Audubon’s Pittock Sanctuary. Susanna Kuo saw a lone Bonaparte’s Gull floating in the Willamette River at Lake Oswego April 18, the only one reported in the Portland area. Lars Norgren reported that on May 3 he found bird activities in Fernhill Wetlands greatly increased. Among the shorebirds there were two Black Turnstones.

The Heath Hen

The Heath Hen, also known as the Pinnated Grouse or Prairie Chicken, performed spectacular mating displays akin to those of the Sage Grouse. Its preference for open country and value as food made the bird vulnerable to over-exploitation and decline.

The Carolina Parakeet

The colorful green, yellow, and red Carolina Parakeet attracted feather hunters and trapping for caged pets. A social bird The extinct Carolina inclined to flock disastrously Parakeet, depicted by toward a fellow bird in danger, Charles R. Knight the parakeets declined due to competition for habitat from farming and non-native species.

Black Turnstone © levalleyphoto.com

The Great Auk

The Great Auk, a deep-sea diver resembling our Common Murre, began its decline in the 1500s as it was gathered at sea The extinct Great Auk, depicted by John James and on land for food. Audubon

Volunteer of the Month:

Patty Newland
by Dan van den Broek, Master Birder Coordinator

The Labrador Duck

The Labrador Duck, also called the Pied Duck, lived on the Atlantic shore from Nova Scotia to Chesapeake Bay. Similar in appearance to the Eider Duck, it made a whistling noise in flight.

P

Birders’ Night

atty Newland has had a lifelong interest in birds and nature. She is passionate in learning about the natural world, and in 2009 she graduated from Portland Audubon’s Master Birder program. Patty’s enthusiasm and willingness to share her skills in the field and her warm way with people have made her an asset as a volunteer in our Education Department. Since graduating from the Master Birder program, Patty has led many Audubon Outings and has been involved in the Portland Audubon School of Birding program. She has been part of the Development Committee as well as attending classes, passing out handouts, and adding lots of helpful information to the discussion. While out in the field she always has little clues to help you remember how to identify a bird or bird song, or help develop your bird behavior skills.

First Tuesday of every month 7:30pm at Heron Hall; free
Birders’ Night is an informal gathering for anyone to share their recent sightings, ask questions, and show videos and photos of birds. Audubon’s new flat-screen HD television makes viewing the images all the more fun! Please bring photos and videos on a flash drive or CD to show through a laptop computer hooked to the HD TV.

One of Patty’s interests is bird language, which involves less about the sound the bird is making and more about why the bird is making the sound. © Portland Audubon On a recent School of Birding class outing she was watching some agitated Steller’s Jays high in the treetops. While the group was searching the treetops for a predator, Patty noticed that the Jays were cocking their heads downward, looking toward the ground. Indeed, a moment later a Cooper’s Hawk flew off the ground with its prey (a Steller’s Jay). Patty’s volunteering also includes involvement in the Citizen Science program, conducting point counts at Oaks Bottom. We are grateful she finds time to contribute to Audubon’s success!

www.audubonportland.org

JUNE 2010

9

Mamie Campbell Award Winners!
by Deanna Sawtelle, Volunteer Coordinator
amie Campbell was an important figure in Audubon’s early years. A long-time and active volunteer herself, Mamie was instrumental in establishing the Jr. Audubon Club in Portland. Mamie was an ardent conservationist and helped distribute environmental brochures to area schools in the 1920s and ’30s. She was also a tireless leader of the Lucy Club, which organized Portland Audubon Society’s social and special events during the early 1900s and was named after Lucy Audubon (wife of John James Audubon). The Mamie Campbell Award is the highest honor given to Audubon volunteers, and it recognizes the dedication and service each recipient has tirelessly given. This year, the Audubon staff presented this prestigious award to nine deserving volunteers at the Annual Volunteer Banquet. Jill Nelson-Debord started volunteering at the Audubon Society of Portland in 2005. Since then, she’s done approximately 50 sanctuary tours. At about 10 kids per tour, that means she’s shared our sanctuary with about 500 area students, giving them a deeper appreciation for nature. Jill also helps with several special events like the Wild Arts Festival and Native Plant Sale. She’s chair for “Banana Slugs and Banana Splits,” our next Audubon Family Adventure, and really helps our volunteer program grow as well, as a member of the Volunteer Council. Carol McAllister’s volunteer career started in 1999 when she began her shift in the Wildlife Care Center, but beyond that she has rehabbed a countless number of orphaned squirrels and chipmunks. In case you’ve never taken care of a baby squirrel, let’s just say it’s a 24-hour-a-day job! Carol’s especially excited because she just released the first pair of Townsend’s chipmunks she successfully rehabbed. With Carol’s nursing background, she understands and is able to treat those mammals requiring special medical attention. Carol is also a Nature Store volunteer and last year became the “unofficial” jewelry buyer. The jewelry sales have steadily climbed ever since! Even though Carol Gross just started volunteering in 2007, she’s already logged over 1,000 volunteer hours between her leadership on the Volunteer Council, coordinating all the volunteers for the Native Plant Sale, working in the Nature Store and as a receptionist, tabling at local festivals and events, and helping with the Wild Arts Festival. As an original member of the Speakers’ Bureau, Carol has given presentations both onsite and at several far-flung locations in the Portland area. Carol is always there when we need her, and she’s always got a smile on her face and enthusiasm that can’t be beat. All we need to do is point Carol in the right direction and she takes it from there with no problem. Kristina Gifford joined Audubon’s Board in 2007, lending her expertise and leadership to the entire organization; however, she didn’t want to stop there. Kristina really wanted

M

Left to right, back row: Mariha Kuechmann, John Hammerstad, Kristina Gifford, Jean Schoonover, and Carol McAllister. Front row: Jill Nelson-Debord, Carol Gross, Lynn Sweeney, and Becky Magnuson. © Portland Audubon

to volunteer on a regular basis to show her total support. She’s been volunteering in the Nature Store ever since. The Nature Store staff has grown to depend on Kristina for handling a major part of their merchandise inventory. Kristina also helps with conservation activities, Birdathon, the Christmas Bird Count, and she’s at the Wild Arts Festival every year. According to Steve Engel, Kristina is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, dedicated, helpful, and she can play a mean game of cheek darts! Jean Schoonover is the volunteer who makes possible all the volunteer hour statistics the staff uses every year as they write grants and annual reports. She volunteers every Tuesday morning in the Wildlife Care Center, but then she spends another three hours every Tuesday afternoon entering all the volunteer hours from the previous week. In addition, she serves on the committees for the Wildlife Care Center Open House and the “Night Flight” Halloween Event. She’s one of our regulars for “Ovenbird Outings” and volunteers for many of our special events like the Raptor Road Trip and Native Plant Sale. Always willing to try something new, Jean has also volunteered to get up really early in the morning to be in downtown Portland for the Window Strike Program, and she recently helped with our newest event for families, our Audubon Family Adventures. John Hammerstad serves as an excellent and engaged Board Member. He and his wife, Judi, have opened their home on many occasions to support Audubon’s good work. This has included three years of house parties as well as a house party for the Metro Bond Measure in 2006. These gatherings have generated nearly $20,000 for general operations. In addition, John has actively participated and raised money from Birdathon and serves on the Membership and Development and the Bylaws Committees. This last committee spent well over a year working to revise the documents that govern the way Portland Audubon operates. On the surface, that might seem like an easy task — but it involved gathering lots of ideas and comments from other Board Members and other organizations, reworking

language to convey consistency and tone throughout, and presenting the new bylaws before the Board for approval. Lynn Sweeney has been a member of the Friday crew in the Wildlife Care Center for as long as anyone can remember. Children who visit the Care Center always get more than they bargained for when Lynn is talking to them. She brings down the stuffed Red-tailed Hawk or the chicken skeleton or anything else interesting to help spark knowledge and engage young (and, for that matter, older) visitors in learning something new. Lynn is the “kitchen queen,” as she prepares all the daily diets, cleans up everywhere, and greets all the visitors. Like Lynn, Becky Magnuson is a member of Friday’s Wildlife Care Center crew and has donated thousands of hours over the years. The first “Peregrines and Pinot” fundraiser for the Wildlife Care Center wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without Becky’s leadership. As a member of the organizing committee, she gave a lot of her time and creativity to make sure all of the guests had a great time. Whenever in doubt, the Friday crew always asks, “What would Becky do?” WCC Assistant Manager Kari Jones really didn’t know what that meant until she went on a wild eagle chase with Becky. It seems that Becky will do almost anything to get her bird, even if that means shredding her pants by going through blackberry bushes searching for that eagle, which probably flew off hours before! Mariha Kuechmann rounds out the Friday Wildlife Care Center crew, over the years helping rehabilitate thousands of animals and answering just as many telephone calls to help people understand how they can best live with urban wildlife. She is always up for wildlife rescues and releases in Vancouver and beyond, and often brings in berry clippings from her property for the songbirds. What’s truly unique about the Friday morning Care Center shift is their longevity. Along with Josie Reznik, who received a Mamie in 2004, they have been together forever and have formed lifelong friendships. It’s a truly an amazing crew.
Christopher & Ashley Mullins Carey Myles Michael Myles Hayes Nelson Susan Neuharth Patricia & Andrew Nimelman Kristina Opsahl Kali Orton Sherry Padgett David Pagni Kari Peters Kristine Peterson Debrah Potter Gerry Rainingbird Jean Rathfelder Austin Ray Kelly Reed Kirsten Reeves Mae Reeves Craig Reynoldson Elizabeth Rickles Deanna Rizzo Tanya Roberts Lindsey Robinson Rochelle Romero Camille Russell Donna Russell Jackie Sandquist Carol Ann Schaerer Stan & Patricia Senner Susie Serres David Sewell Brett & Connie Sharman Barry Sherr Kimmy Simon Glenda Sims Keri Smith Marie-Therese Smith Kimberly Smith Scott Smithhisler Chris Stapelmann Amy & Edward Steele Melissa Stevens & Don Wood Pat Still Charles & Marybeth Stockman Jim Stringer Laurence & Patricia Sturm Barbara Taylor Jean Thieroff Barbara Thompson Josh Tipton Erika Tsugawa Elizabeth Viggiano Amy & Charles Wachsmuth Deena Westerby Lance & Colleen White Richard Wilson Karmin Wilson Barbara Wootan Mei Ye Pamela Yocum Joel Young Audrey Yue Julie Zola

Welcome, New Members!

P

ortland Audubon is a force in conservation thanks to its strength in membership, standing together since 1902. We appreciate each and every one of our members and celebrate our membership by welcoming our new members monthly. Thank you for joining our vibrant and growing community!
George & Maydel Cashdollar John Chandler Robert Charpentier John Christensen Susan Clift Michael Coe & Randi Douglas Paulette Coles Terry Cone Lori Conner Ashley Crain Mary Beth Crawford Valerie Curry Keni Cyr Rumble Rupert & Amanda Dallas Amanda Dalrymple Daniel Deaville Susan & Joseph Denman The Dennis Family Kay DePree Liza Derby Virginia Dias Dina Dickerson & Jay Eisenberg Peggy Dollar Tom Domenici Elizabeth Enderle Donald Erceg Stacie Erdahl Joanna Evenson Caprial Farrington Jennifer Feickert Julie Feinberg Felicia Ferguson Verna Ferguson James Finn & Alanna Bove Nayan Fleenor Robert & Carla Forsich Brent Frazier Alex Ganum Roger & Caryl Gertenrich Jim Gilbert Ashley Goethe Pete Gonzales Darren Goodding David Greenberg Janet Hague Susan & George Hansen Katie Harris Andrew Harvey Jeremy Hayter Taney Hennick Paul Henson Beverly Hess James Jacobson Sridhar Jayaraman & Soundharya Nagasurramanian Lyndsey Johannesen Harriet Jondahl James & Andrea Jurkiewicz Carey Kaer Rick Kebbe John Kennedy Cole Kieling Eriko Kishida Linda Klann Martha Koerner Courtney Krisanda Lisa Kummer Christopher Kuni Matt Lackey Mark Langford Amanda Lee Melissa Lewis Dave Lindhorst Tyler Lindstrom Roger & Jeanette Lochbaum Colleen Lockovitch Nicholas & Karen Loos Diane & John Lorenz Shuishong Lu Melora Lustig Michael Lynot Daniel Mackey Nancy Macy Laura Maffei Andrea Marks Jane & Phil Marquis Teri Martine Karen Martwick Ann & Rob Mathers Christopher Mathieu Andrea Matzke John & Margaret Maxwell Colleen McBrinn Marianne McClure Edwin & Lisa McFarlane David McGuire Jeff McHugh Jeanine McKee Suzanne Michalik June & Virgil Millhollin Angie Moore

Robert Adolf Paula Alban Cale Alpert Thomas & Shauna Anderson Kenneth Arnold Bill & Christie Aspegren Kristen Bakouros Laura Barber Elizabeth Stout Becker Lynda Bell Todd Betters Linore Blackstone Patricia Blakeslee & Marco Ullmer Jocelyn Bourgault Mary Boyd Kathleen & Michael Brashler Frannie Brindle Elizabeth Brown Seth Brumley Allison Bryan Christopher Burger Sandhi Butler Justin Callaway Leslie Campbell Kristen Carlberg

If you would like to join us or have any questions about membership, please contact Catherine at [email protected] or 503-292-6855.

10

JUNE 2010

www.audubonportland.org

Important Bird Area of the Month
by Mary Coolidge, Assistant Conservation Director

A

William L. Finley NWR
area, these WRPs are the future of habitat expansion and are credited with increasing species diversity on the refuges. A testimony to this diversity, by noon on Sunday we had compiled a list of 48 bird species including the sighting of a single Lewis’s Woodpecker in an Oregon white oak stand, together with Acorn Woodpeckers and Western Bluebirds. We saw Western Meadowlark and Western Kingbird in the Willamette Floodplain Research Natural Area wet prairie at the north end of the refuge (at 475 acres, the largest undisturbed remnant of this habitat type in the Willamette Valley). A number of other species were seen and heard over the course of half a sun-drenched spring day: Savannah Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Whitefronted Goose, Dunlin, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Purple Finch, White-crowned Sparrow, American Kestrel, Greater Yellowlegs, Brown Creeper, and Pileated Woodpecker, to name just a few. Before we left, we were treated to a walk along the now 1,700-foot Homer Campbell memorial boardwalk trail and observation blind overlooking the 125-acre Cabell Marsh. The trail wends its way through riparian forest of ash and alder, abuzz with both Myrtle and Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warblers and singing Black-throated Gray Warblers. The trail was a collaborative effort of Audubon Society of Corvallis, Finley NWR, Friends of Willamette Valley Refuges, and Greenbelt Land Trust. While

s I reported last November, twice a year the statewide Audubon chapters converge on one chapter’s birding grounds for a Saturday meeting in which we share updates on our statewide workplan and collaborate on program effectiveness. Sunday is reserved for a visit to a local Important Bird Area. Last month’s spring meeting was held in Corvallis with a visit to William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), 11 miles south of town. Will Wright, President of Corvallis Audubon, arranged for a tour of Finley NWR led by refuge biologists Jarod Jebousek and Molly Monroe, who provided tremendous insight into the history, habitats, threats, and current management programs of the refuge. Back in 1964, the now over 5,300-acre Finley refuge was established to provide winter habitat for Dusky Canada Goose, a subspecies that winters primarily here in the Willamette Valley. The site is the southernmost of three Willamette Valley NWRs in the refuge complex, together with Baskett Slough (west of Salem) and Ankeny (south of Salem). These refuges were set aside in part to preserve habitats that have been decimated in the Willamette Valley: seasonal wetlands, native wet prairie, and riparian forest, habitats that host a diverse array of bird species. The Willamette Valley NWR complex is now involved in a Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), which invites landowners to voluntarily establish long-term or permanent easements on their land and thereby contribute to wetlands enhancement, protection, and restoration. Participating landowners receive technical guidance and are eligible for financial assistance and grants. These easements represent thousands of acres of wildlife habitat where there would otherwise be marginal agricultural land. In a refuge area that lacks an approved acquisition

Thousands of Duskies fly over Finley NWR. © Joe Staff

many of the refuge trails are seasonally closed to protect wintering Duskies, this trail is open year-round.

ornithological Significance

Finley NWR was nominated as an Important Bird Area for Dusky Canada Goose, but has been host to over 230 species of birds, including good numbers of focal conservation species. Partners in Flight focal species that use the refuge include Yellow Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Western Wood-Pewee, and Streaked Horned Lark (the larks have been reported along Bruce Road at the southern end of the refuge). The refuge also supports large concentrations of wintering waterfowl and shorebirds including Mallard, American Widgeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Tundra Swan, and Dunlin.
If you go:

Take I-5 Exit 228 west to Corvallis. Travel south 10 miles from Corvallis on Hwy 99W to mile marker 93. Watch for the refuge entrance sign on the west side of the road. Follow refuge signs for 2 miles to the Refuge Headquarters. (Finley NWR also includes the disjunct 376-acre Snag Boat Bend Unit which includes riparian forest, backwater sloughs, and seasonal wetlands. To reach this unit, travel east from Corvallis on Hwy 34 to Peoria Rd. Head south on Peoria Rd for 11 miles, and watch for entrance signs along the road.)

Dusky Canada Geese. © George Gentry

Burgerville and Portland Audubon Collaborate to Promote Birds and Their Habitats

F

The Lost Bird Challenge
Protecting the birds that remain — “Give Life to Flight” with $10 in June!

our unique activity books created in association with Audubon Society of Portland’s Education staff, specially designed for kids ages 4–10, are available at all Burgerville locations through the end of July.

Each booklet is dedicated to birds and their special habitats. Stickers, tattoos, and coupons for the Audubon Nature Store and Summer Camp, and for Burgerville restaurants, are in each activity book. Burgerville continually looks for ways to deepen their commitment to fresh, local, sustainable practices, and they accomplish this goal through community partnerships. Please show your support for Burgerville and Portland Audubon by visiting a neighborhood Burgerville soon.

F

ive extinct birds will come to life at Portland’s Waterfront Park on June 24. The Audubon Society of Portland is proud to present this amazing sculpture group and to host wonderful events, including a ticketed evening at Lucier restaurant and a free public dedication at the park on June 26 with activities for the entire family. This is a unique opportunity for Portland Audubon: As public art, the Lost Bird Project will provide exposure to the current state of Oregon’s native birds and wildlife. Awareness is just the first step, and generating action is the goal. Portland Audubon offers many opportunities for people to make a difference; Citizen Science, Backyard Habitat Certification, volunteering — and of course, membership — all work to protect birds, wildlife, and wild places here in Oregon. GIVE $10 in June! The Challenge — Our goal is to raise $50,000 to support Portland Audubon’s programs with a special Lost Bird appeal, “Give Life to Flight,” asking each member to give an additional $10 in the name of Lost Birds. Our flock of over 11,000 members creates a strong voice and makes the Audubon Society of Portland one of Audubon’s largest chapters, and if just half our membership responds, we’ll easily make our goal! With 25% of Oregon’s birds suffering long-term declines and 11% critically imperiled, the real challenge is to protect what remains. With your help, we can make a difference for birds! Give online or download a form to return with your $10 “Give Life to Flight” challenge gift at www.audubonportland.org/support-us.

Members Receive a Discount at the Nature Store!

Nikon 8x42 EDG

A

udubon Society of Portland’s Nature Store is the headquarters for naturalists in the PortlandVancouver metro area. We feature nature books, hiking & field guides, birding software, CDs, DVDs, binoculars and spotting scopes, bird feeders and seed, plus gifts & toys for adults & children, all with a nature theme. Portland Audubon members receive a 10% discount off regular prices. Our Nikon Birding Weekend in April was a rousing success. If you missed that event, summer is a great time to stop in and check out Nikon’s top-end binoculars! Through October 31, 2010, Nikon is offering a FREE Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera with a 18–55mm zoom VR lens and 10.2 megapixels with the purchase of any EDG binocular. We stock both mid- and full-size EDG models featuring Nikon ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lenses 5151 NW Cornell Road • Portland, OR 97210 503-292-9453 • [email protected]

crafted from the same extraordinary glass originally developed for the legendary Nikkor camera lenses. Along with new dielectric prism coatings, these optics help you pull the birds out of the background like never before! Come take a look: you’ll be thrilled with the extreme brightness and razor-sharp clarity. EDG binoculars have proved an able competitor to our Swarovski EL line. They possess the same great features of a comfortable open bridge design with a super-quick dual-phase focus knob with hidden locking diopter. Now with the addition of a free Nikon Digital camera, this is the perfect time to upgrade your equipment. You can enhance your field birding experience and also bring back high quality digital images to share with your friends and fellow nature lovers.

PoRTLAND AuDuBoN’S NATuRE SToRE
Open 10am–6pm Monday through Saturday 10am–5pm Sunday

www.audubonportland.org

JUNE 2010

11

Calling all Birdathon participants, supporters, family, and friends! Join us for the

30th Annual Birdathon Banquet Friday, June 18th, 6pm–8:30pm
This year’s banquet is a special celebration.

• Fine dining at NW Natural Headquarters! • Live music by the 12th Avenue Hot Club! • Prizes, Contests, Raffle, the Birding Quiz, and lots more! Banquet location: NW Natural Banquet Room One Pacific Square Bldg, 4th floor 220 NW 2nd Ave, Portland You must call to RSVP: 503-292-6855. Seating is limited!
Lazuli Bunting © Jim Cruce

Very special thanks to our Birdathon 2010 Event Sponsors!

Peregrines & Pinot
Saturday, June 5th 5pm–7:30pm

a Sternwheeler Rose benefit for Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center

Bob’s Red Mill

Duggan, Schlotfeldt & Welch PLLC, Attorneys at Law

NatureBake & Dave’s Killer Bread

ShoreBank Pacific

Join us for the 2nd annual Peregrines & Pinot, a Sternwheeler Rose benefit for Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center! Enjoy cocktail hour on the deck of the beautiful Sternwheeler Rose while cruising through spectacular wildlife areas on the Willamette River. See Peregrine Falcon nest sites, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and other wildlife as Audubon’s Conservation Director, Bob Sallinger, entertains with commentary and insight into the natural beauty and wildlife of Portland from a river perspective. Proceeds go directly to help the wild animals that get assistance from Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center. Cost of $75/person includes hearty hors d’oeuvres, a glass of wine, and entertainment. No-host bar will be available on board. Pre-registration required at www.audubonportland.org/sanctuaries/wcc/sternwheeler/ wccbenefit. For more information, contact Deb at [email protected] or 503-292-6855 ext.125.

Thank you to our Birdathon 2010 Prize Sponsors!
Bald Eagle Prize Sponsors: Kowa Optimed Inc. Leupold & Stevens Nikon Inc. Vortex Optics Zeiss Inc. Western Meadowlark Prize Sponsors: Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe Earl-E-Bird Seed Co. Bird Watcher’s Digest Mirador Common Ground Distributors Open Space Cafe Cornell Lab of Ornithology Portland Center Stage Crane Creek Graphics The Arrangment

Great Blue Heron Prize Sponsors: Amenity Shoes Grand Central Baking Annie Bloom’s Books Hands on Café & Catering Artists Repertory Theatre Helen Knaupp Backs on Burnside Japanese Garden Society of Oregon Cinema 21 Kalmbach Publishing Co.

Lan Su Chinese Garden Tears of Joy Theatre WildBird Magazine Yoga Shala

Audubon Society of Portland
Inspiring people to love and protect nature since 1902
Audubon Society of Portland promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and protection of native birds and other wildlife and their habitats. We focus on our local community and the Pacific Northwest.

President...........................................................................Pat Campbell Vice President ........................................................................Josh Cerra Secretary ............................................................................. Wink Gross Treasurer ..................................................................................Ken Ivey Past President .................................................................... Peter Paquet

Board Officers

BUSINESS MEMBERS

Through their business practices and financial contributions, the following business members help Audubon Society of Portland fulfill its mission. If you would like to become a business member, please contact our Development Department at 971-222-6117.
Business Guarantors Backyard Bird Shop Portland General Electric Business Friends Barran Liebman LLP Bob’s Red Mill Carton Service, Inc. Duggan, Schlotfeldt & Welch PLLC Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Inc. ShoreBank Pacific Tactics Board Shop Vernier Software & Technology

Board Members
Josh Cerra Tony DeFalco Katy Ehrlich John Fitchen Kristina Gifford John Hammerstad Barb Hill Bob Liddell Karen O’Connor Kruse Claire Puchy Dan Rolf Lee Savinar Ron Spencer

Business Benefactor NW Natural Business Partners BridgePort Brewing Company Columbia Sportswear Forest Park Federal Credit Union Business Supporters Enterprise Rent-A-Car Leupold & Stevens, Inc. NatureBake & Dave’s Killer Bread Portland Audubon Nature Store

ADMINISTRATION OFFICES 5151 NW Cornell Rd • Portland, OR 97210 503-292-6855 • Fax: 503-292-1021 9am to 5pm, Mon. - Fri. SANCTuARIES Dawn to dusk every day NATuRE STORE 503-292-9453 10am to 6pm, Mon. - Sat. • 10am to 5pm on Sunday INTERPRETIVE CENTER & LIBRARY Same hours as store WILDLIFE CARE CENTER 503-292-0304 9am to 5pm every day RARE BIRD ALERT 503-292-6855 • www.audubonportland.org

Board Member Emeritus - Dave Marshall Conservation .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynn Herring Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vacant Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Campbell Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ken Ivey Membership & Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katy Ehrlich Sanctuaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Littlewood Board Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josh Cerra Volunteer Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carol Gross Executive Director ................................................. Meryl Redisch Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tammi Miller Development Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Takamoto Bookkeeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jill Hartzell Birdathon Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Slone Membership Development Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Catherine Halpin Membership Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pam Meyers Education Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Robertson Adult Education Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Engel Camp Director/Onsite Programs Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarah Swanson Master Birder/Adult Trip Coordinator..................Dan van den Broek Environmental Educator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Abraham Environmental Educator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Donner Urban Naturalist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Houck Conservation Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Sallinger Assistant Conservation Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mary Coolidge Urban Conservationist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Labbe Urban Wildlife Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Karen Munday Ten Mile Sanctuary Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Engelmeyer Volunteer Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deanna Sawtelle Wildlife Care Center Operations Manager..................... Deb Sheaffer Wildlife Care Center Assistant Manager .......................... Kari Jones Nature Store Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Mattson Nature Store Assistant........................................Marilyn O’Grady Nature Store Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Loomis Sanctuaries Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Costello Sanctuaries Assistant................................................ Greg Kurtz Backyard Habitat Certification Technician ................... Rick Mishaga

Committee Chairs

Everything for the Wild Bird Enthusiast
Seven locations in Portland and Vancouver 503-635-2044 www.backyardbirdshop.com

Staff

AUDUBON

Visit the Audubon Society of Portland

NATURE STORE
Shady Trails Nature Books Hiking Guides Birding Optics Toys and Gifts

5151 NW Cornell Rd, Portland OR 503-292-9453 www.audubonportland.org Minutes from downtown in Forest Park