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Audubon Washington Audubon
Washington E-Newswire Audubon Washington
E-Newswire October 2007 Volume 3 Number 10
See you at ACOW! October 19-21 in Sequim
SEQUIM - The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society (OPAS) is pleased
to host the fall-2007 Audubon Council of Washington (ACOW)
Conference. We invite Audubon chapter leaders and other interested
Audubon members to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center in
beautiful Sequim on October 19, 20, and 21, 2007. Our theme
is “Restoring and Protecting Washington’s Natural Areas.”
Representatives of all 26 Audubon chapters located in Washington
state, plus staff of National Audubon Society’s Washington
state office, will convene for three days of meetings, field
trips, presentations, and a special Saturday evening banquet.
Full and a registration form are here.
Nina Carter Appointed to Statewide Conservation Committee
OLYMPIA - Nina Carter, Audubon Washington's Executive Director,
was appointed to a committee established by the 2007 Legislature
to resolve long-standing issues between local governments
and tribal, agricultural and conservation groups. Earlier
this year, the 2007 Legislature passed SSB 5248 "Preserving
the viability of agricultural lands" which assigned the William
D. Ruckelshaus Center to facilitate discussion between these
various groups. The Center is a joint venture between the
University of Washington and Washington State University.
This year, the Center’s job is to work with the committee
to document facts and concerns about agriculture and conservation
issues. Next year, they are to recommend ways to have a viable
farming industry and protect environmentally sensitive areas.
While their work is underway, local governments may not amend
or adopt Critical Areas Ordinances as they relate to agriculture.
River Center Is a Great Place to View Spawning Salmon
SEQUIM - Salmon are once again spawning in the Dungeness River at RR Bridge Park, the home of the Dungeness River Audubon Center. Through September, pink salmon have been making redds right underneath the historic bridge, to the delight of park visitors. Pink salmon are a two-year salmon, only spawning in the Dungeness in odd-numbered years. Chinook salmon, returning at four years old, will begin spawning this month as well, followed by coho and chum salmon this fall. To improve spawning and rearing habitat for these fish, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, one of the Center's partners, is installing five engineered logjams in the river upstream of RR Bridge this summer and fall, using salmon-recovery funding. People attending ACOW may be able to view spawning salmon during their visit.
Washington’s Last Frontier?
SEATTLE - Looking for a new place to escape crowds and enjoy
wilderness? East of the Cascades, you’ll find the Kettle and
Selkirk Mountains - a beautiful but largely undiscovered corner
of Washington State still home to grizzly bears, wolves, moose,
lynx and bighorn sheep. Join outdoor writer Craig Romano,
wildlife photographer Paul Bannick, and long-time wilderness
advocate Tim Coleman Thursday Oct 11, 2007 at 7:00 pm at REI’s
flagship store in Seattle as they shares stories and images
of the rugged wilderness and communities of this region and
explore the area’s importance as a wildlife bridge between
the Cascades and the Rockies. For more information, click
here
or contact Gwen Heisterkamp at 206.675.9747 x 205 or via email.
Great Washington State Birding Trail Helps With Restoration
SPOKANE - The Reardan Audubon Lake Restoration and Eastern Washington Important Bird Areas Project was funded by a grant from the Intermountain West Joint Venture.
Restoration began for 40 acres of Palouse prairie grasslands. The restoration plus a public access trail for bird watching will be continued with a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife grant. Over the course of the project more than two dozen citizen-scientist birders from seven Audubon chapters, plus agency wildlife biologists, and land managers identified 46 potential Important Bird Areas in eastern Washington. Sixteen of those areas had bird population data and could move forward in the nomination process. Those areas are currently under review by the Important Bird Area technical committee. Congratulations to all, and, especially to Spokane Audubon volunteers for super work!
Not-So-Common Loon
SEATTLE - Fewer than 15 territorial pairs of Common Loons nest in Washington State. At Seattle Audubon’s October meeting, Ginger Tumm and Daniel Poleschook, Jr. will present “Washington’s Not-So-Common Loon,” a program where you can learn about loons’ behavior, ecology, and the conservation measures required to maintain and or increase their numbers. The presenters will use recorded calls and incredible images to share their message about one of the most beautiful and charismatic North American birds. The meeting, October 18, 2007, at the REI Flagship store, South Room, is open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. with refreshments, displays, and Nature Shop selections. REI is located at 222 Yale Avenue N, Seattle, 98109. One hour free parking is available in the REI garage, $2 for up to three hours.
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