Water in Whatcom County, and Why We Should be ConcernedPresentation by Eric HirstWednesday, March 15, 6:30 - 8:30 PMCarl Cozier Elementary School If you’ve ever thought that water, and having enough of it, was a “dry” subject, then you owe it to yourself to come out to this presentation by local water researcher Eric Hirst. If you think that it’s water, water everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, the fact is that even here in Whatcom County there isn’t always enough water for all the people, crops and fish that need it. And that problem will only get worse if we don’t understand how to manage our finite water supplies. Environmental researcher Eric Hirst is just the person to explain it all. He has a Ph.D. in engineering from Stanford University, spent 30 years analyzing energy policy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, and retired to Bellingham 14 years ago where he continues his environmental analysis and activism. You may recognize his name from last year’s Whatcom County vs. Hirst, Futurewise, et al. decision by the Washington State Supreme Court. That case found that Whatcom County’s failure to comply with legal obligations to protect water resources required that it now coordinate its land-use planning with water availability. This presentation is sponsored by the Mt. Baker Group/Washington Chapter of the Sierra Club, and is free to all interested in understanding how water affects every aspect of our lives. Beverages and snacks will be served. Questions and answers will follow Mr. Hirst’s presentation. If you want to know more about water or other key environmental issues in this region check out the Mt. Baker Group’s website at http://www.sierraclub.org/washington/mount-baker-whatcom-skagitsanjuan.
March Newsletter and Events Are Online
March 2017 Newsletter is Online
Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.)
March Events and Field Trips Are Online
Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)
Hawk Watching Around the World:
Raptor Highlights of Six Continents
Saturday, March 18, 7 PM Bellingham Central Library, Lecture Room
Don't miss this exciting program mid-March! Join raptor expert and author Sergio Seipke as he showcases selected raptor species observed in recent years while traveling in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand, South Africa, Spain and the USA. His presentation will include photographs and descriptions of some of the most spectacular hawk watching sites around the world. Sergio has been studying raptors since 1993 and has authored and co-authored 16 articles dealing with raptor biology, migration, taxonomy, and field identification of neotropical raptors. He is currently writing Raptors of South America, a Princeton University Press field guide dealing exclusively with the identification of the 96 species of raptors occurring in South America.
This special presentation is hosted by the Bellingham Public Library, Whatcom Land Trust, Falcon Research Group and North Cascades Audubon Society.
General Membership Meeting with Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society
This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.
Stewardship North of the 49th Parallel. The Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society (FOSBS) is a 100% volunteer-based stewardship group working to restore and raise knowledge of the watersheds and habitats associated with Boundary Bay. Boundary Bay is just across the US/Canada border and is located between White Rock and Point Roberts. This presentation will show you why this area has international recognition for the significance of this habitat and its wildlife- expect some stunning pictures! FOSBS has three core components that make up the society: Environmental Education Programs, Citizen Science Projects and Habitat Enhancement Projects. Matt Christensen, Vice President/Restoration Projects Coordinator and Sarah Brookes, Secretary/Education Programs Coordinator are proud to share a little bit about this special area in which they work, and about the accomplishments of FOSBS’s dedicated supporters and volunteers.
Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:
March 28th, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public!
**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building
February Newsletter and Events Are Online
February 2017 Newsletter is Online
Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.)
February Events and Field Trips Are Online
Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)
Deepwater Horizon Disaster:
How Oil Spills Affect Local People and Wildlife
Don’t miss this special presentation sponsored by North Cascades Audubon Society and RE Sources for a Sustainable Community! Wednesday, February 15, 7 – 9 PM, Whatcom Museum: Old City Hall. Melanie Driscoll, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon’s Gulf Coast and Mississippi Flyway, will discuss the need for prevention of oil spills, preparedness for an organization to find a role in the event of a major spill, and her thoughts about the particular risks facing Native Americans and others living by the Salish Sea. Her perspective comes from her involvement in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster and subsequent years of involvement in the response and now restoration efforts. She will discuss that spill’s effects on wildlife, the environment, and local communities. During the disaster, she initiated wildlife survey efforts and provided biological interpretation regarding the relief effort to news media, the public, and the environmental community. She also led Audubon’s conservation planning in response to the disaster and initiated Audubon’s volunteer response effort.
General Membership Meeting with Steve and Martha Ellis
This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.
Loons of the Salish Sea. Up to a thousand red-throated loons gather each year at Deception Pass. Where do they and the other loon species that grace the Salish Sea come from? What’s so special about loons? This program will answer these and other loon questions. The talk will feature the special adaptations that allow loons to be so successful at pursuing fish, and will give tips on identifying each species. There will be discussion on where and when to view each of these charismatic species, but the focus will be on how loons go about fishing for a living. The program concludes with a short segment on the long history of human and loon interaction. Come and hear the haunting calls of the loons that make them so compelling.Steve and Martha Ellis are long-time residents of Coupeville and have been giving talks on a wide variety of natural history topics for over 25 years. Steve is currently the Vice President of Whidbey Audubon Society (WAS) and lived among loons in Alaska for 24 years. Martha is a former WAS board member and belongs to the Washington Native Plant Society.
Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:February 28th, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public!
**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building
January Newsletter and Events Are Now Online
January 2017 Newsletter is Online
Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.)
January Events and Field Trips Are Online
Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)
General Membership Meeting with Belinda Rotton and Richard Kessler
This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.
Birding on the Skagit and Whatcom Wildlife Areas. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW’s) Skagit Wildlife and Whatcom Wildlife Areas are popular public access sites for birding in the Pacific Northwest. Wildlife Area Managers Belinda Rotton and Richard Kessler will provide an overview of site history, current management practices and initiatives, and new project developments at these sites. Information will also be provided on the planning process and opportunities for public involvement at the wildlife areas.Belinda is the Wildlife Area Manager on the Skagit Wildlife Area focused on waterfowl, wetland management, and salmon recovery. She has worked for WDFW on the Skagit Wildlife Area since 2005. She received her BS in Biology from the University of Arkansas, worked as a biologist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and received a MS in Wetland Ecology and Management from the University of Missouri.Richard is a graduate of The Evergreen State College and has worked for WDFW since 1991, starting in the Upland Wildlife Restoration program in Eastern Washington. In 1993 he became Wildlife Area Manager for the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area, Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, McNeil Island, and West Rocky Prairie. Richard worked restoring native prairie, managing the first release site for endangered western pond turtles, and managing hunting dog field trials and a wildlife nest box program using prisoners of McNeil Island. In 2009 Richard started managing the Whatcom Wildlife Area which includes the Lake Terrell, Tennant Lake, Nooksack, BP and Intalco Units. He manages these units for wildlife breeding, winter feeding of waterfowl, pheasant release, waterfowl hunting, fishing and boating.
Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:January 24th, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public!
**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building
NCAS Climate Change Group
Volunteer with your local chapter.
The NCAS climate change group is planning to put an information table at the Bellingham Farmers Market one Saturday per month, starting next April. Before moving forward we need to know how many volunteers would commit to taking one or more 2-hour shifts at the table, to explain the issues to members of the public, and to hand out literature describing what they can do to help offset the effects of climate change on birds. If you are interested please contact Pam Borso at borsope@aol.com 360-319-9004.
CANCELLED: Holiday Potluck
Due to the current forecast for freezing temperatures and the location of the YWCA on the hill it may be too dangerous and icy. The Holiday Potluck is cancelled this evening. We hope to celebrate all the great birding and conservation successes of the year another time.
50th Annual Whatcom County CBC Sunday, December 18
50th Annual Whatcom County CBC Sunday, December 18.The National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a citizen science effort, conducted by thousands of community members whose purpose is to collect data on bird populations across the continent while celebrating the holidays and enjoying the wonders of nature. The CBC in Bellingham has been held annually since 1967, making this year our 50th year. So come celebrate and participate! For more information on the Bellingham CBC please go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org/birding/christmas-bird-count/#. Participation in the Bellingham CBC is free. Results will be published by National Audubon in an online version of American Birds during the summer of 2017. You can find much more information on this event, as well as annual results and summaries, at birds.audubon.org/ christmas-bird-count. If you are interested in participating in the Bellingham CBC please contact Paul Woodcock at vp@northcascadesaudubon.org or 360-966-6549; or Doug Brown at bblackcat@comcast.net or 360-647-1657.
COASST Training
Beachwalkers Wanted!BEACHED BIRD TRAININGSaturday, November 19, 201610:00 am – 4:00 pmLions Camp HorizonConference Building7506 Gemini StreetBlaine, WA 98230MARINE DEBRIS TRAININGSunday, November 20, 201611:00 am – 5:00 pmFairhaven Branch Library1117 12th StreetBellingham, WA 98225RSVP to attend one of the trainings at coasst@uw.edu or 206-221-6893.If you can’t attend this event, please check our website at www.coasst.org for additional information on upcoming events and trainings.OverviewHelp make a difference for the environment by collecting data for the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST). COASST is a citizen science project dedicated to involving volunteers in the collection of high quality data. Our goal is to assist government agencies and other organizations in making informed management and conservation decisions, and to promote proactive citizen involvement and action. COASST is offering two different trainings: Marine Debris and Beached Birds. Volunteers need NO prior experience, just a commitment to survey a specific beach (about ¾ mile) each month.COASST Marine Debris participants survey local beaches and collect data on the characteristics and location of debris - data that will ultimately be used to map the source and transport pathways of debris, as well as the potential harm to people, wildlife, and local coastal ecosystems.COASST Beached Bird volunteers systematically count and identify bird carcasses that wash ashore along ocean beaches from northern California to Alaska.If you are interested in participating, join COASST staff for a training session. There is no charge to attend a training, but plan to provide a $20 refundable deposit if you would like to take home a COASST volunteer kit. Training activities take place indoors. Beach surveys are best conducted in groups of 2 or more – please come with a survey partner in mind or plan to join a team during training.
Nov/Dec Newsletter and Events Are Online
Nov/Dec 2016 Newsletter is Online
Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.)
November and December Events and Field Trips Are Online
Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)
Christmas Bird Count dates:
Saturday, December 17: San Juan Ferry Transect
Sunday, December 18: Whatcom County
If you are interested in participating in the Bellingham CBC please contact Paul Woodcock at vp@northcascadesaudubon.org or 360-966-6549; or Doug Brown at bblackcat@comcast.net or 360-647-1657.
Mark Your Calendar: Holiday Potluck
Our annual holiday potluck will be on Monday, December 12, from 6-9pm at the YWCA Ballroom.
1026 N Forest Street, Bellingham
Join us at the YWCA Ballroom on Monday, December 12, from 6-9pm to celebrate another great year of birds, birding, and our Audubon community. There will be live music and Doug Brown, a local photographer and birder, will be presenting some of his photos. Please bring plates, utensils, and a dish to share. Coffee and tea will be provided. Happy holidays!
General Membership Meeting with Jim Watson
This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.
Raptors of Western Washington: From Shoreline to Summit. Often seen, often admired, often maligned. Raptors are important apex predators in western Washington associated with ecosystems centered on water and forests. Join us for an evening discussion that will be of interest both to novice and experienced birders and avian ecologists. We’ll establish some common ground as we discuss key specialized adaptations of raptors that make them successful hunters, and learn about the ecology of species most often encountered in ecosystems west of the Cascades. Then we’ll highlight interesting findings from current statewide raptor research studies including effects of recent forest fires on golden eagle and northern goshawk nest ecology, and impacts of wind power development on golden eagles and ferruginous hawks. Both forest fires and wind power development are expected to increase over the next several years in western Washington. Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, especially those raptor questions you’ve always pondered, whether fact or fiction. Although we may not be able to derive the answers, it will make for a lively discussion!
Jim Watson is a Wildlife Research Scientist with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and the lead researcher for statewide raptor studies. He has spent the past 45 years studying raptors in the western United States and abroad. Jim’s research focus includes raptor population dynamics, migration ecology, and management of raptors in human landscapes.
Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:
November 22nd, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public!
**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building
NCAS Climate Change Group
Volunteer with your local chapter.
The NCAS climate change group is planning to put an information table at the Bellingham Farmers Market one Saturday per month, starting next April. Before moving forward we need to know how many volunteers would commit to taking one or more 2-hour shifts at the table, to explain the issues to members of the public, and to hand out literature describing what they can do to help offset the effects of climate change on birds.
If you are interested please contact Pam Borso at borsope@aol.com 360-319-
October Board Minutes
Board of Directors Meeting MinutesOctober 3, 2016Present: Kelley Palmer-McGee, Carol Roberts, Paul Woodcock, Pam Borso, Steve Irving, Twink Coffman, Owen Bamford, Rae Edwards1.Additions to AgendaCherry Point Aquatic Reserve: Steve Irving is member on a committee to eliminate the cut-out for the pier suggested by the Department of Natural Resources.2. Approval of September Minutes: Approved by the board3. Treasurer’s Report: Received by the board4. Communications & Inputa. Climate Change Group and I-732: Next Group meeting is October 24 at 7:00 PM at the Cordata FoodCo-op.b. Facebook interface: Kelley reported that Ann is working on the interface.c. Online donations efficiency: No newsd. CBC update: December 17 for the ferry count and the 18th for the mainland count. Doug Brown will beassisting Paul Woodcock. Paul has recommended having a pre-meeting so that people know what toexpect with regard to commitments at the CBC.e. Asa Wright Nature Center Fundraising: If we advertise in our newsletter the tours of this nonprofitorganization and someone signs up, they will donate $100.00 to NCAS. Board approved advertising.5. Old Businessa. Garlick Memorial Award Report and Swan Update: Now have $650.00. State permits acquired, nowworking on federal permitsb. Holiday Potluck update: Set for December 12 from 6-9 at the YWCA ballroom. Carol will purchaserectangular table cloths and supply hot beverages. Nicole will help with decorations. Doug Brown willprovide the program. It will be advertised in the newsletter and on the website and Facebook.6. New Businessa. Whatcom Land Trust Collaboration: An agreement was presented to WLT. We await WLT board approval.b. Volunteer recognition: Rae, who has been coordinating volunteers and has found appreciation eventsare not usually successful, recommended more broad reaching acknowledgement such as in thenewsletter, on the website and Facebook.c. Jim Duemmel recognition 50 years CBC: Pam inquired about the best way to acknowledge Jim andsuggested a nice red fleece. Paul recommended a plaque. Board approved acquisition limited tounder $500.00.7. Committee Reports as needed8. ProgramsOct 25 Gary Searing: Raptor Management at Vancouver BC AirportNovember 22 Jim Watson: Raptors of Western WashingtonJan 24: Wildlife RefugesFeb 28 Steve and Martha EllisApril 25 or May 23 Jonathan White: Tides in the Salish SeaAdjourn - Next Meeting: November 7, 2016, 7 PM WECU Ed Ctr; 311 Holly St, Bellingham, WA
October Newsletter and Events Are Online
October 2016 Newsletter is Online
Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.)
October Events and Field Trips Are Online
Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)
Mark Your Calendar: Holiday Potluck
Our annual holiday potluck will be on Monday, December 12, from 6-9pm at the YWCA Ballroom. Stay tuned for more details.
General Membership Meeting with Gary Searing
This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.
Raptor Management at the Vancouver International Airport. Raptors, including eagles, hawks and falcons comprise a significant portion of the biomass of bird strikes at the Vancouver International Airport. With the exception of eagles, there are no harassment methods for raptors that are effective to prevent strikes. At Vancouver International Airport many species of raptors are tagged and transported with varying degrees of success, but overall, strikes have been significantly reduced with those species that were caught in significant numbers. The wildlife management program at Vancouver International Airport is recognized as one of the best in Canada and in the world. Situated in the Fraser River Delta, home to millions of wintering birds, managing wildlife in the middle of a wetland of international significance requires a management program that blends conservation with safety. Through research and monitoring of populations an ecological perspective to airport wildlife management is taken, making success more likely with conservation being the unlikely but welcome companion to the airport’s wildlife control program.Gary Searing, M.Sc., Wildlife Hazard to Aircraft Specialist, is a wildlife biologist with specialized expertise in the monitoring and control of birds at airports. He has been involved in the assessment, planning, monitoring and management of birds associated with Vancouver International Airport since 1989. He has completed wildlife management plans, risk assessments and trained more than 150 personnel in wildlife management and control at airports around the world. He is the Executive Director of the Bird Strike Association of Canada and an International Civil Aviation Organization technical consultant in the field of wildlife hazards to aircraft.
Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:October 25, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public!
**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building
September Newsletter and Events Are Online
September 2016 Newsletter is Online
Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.)
September Events and Field Trips Are Online
Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)
General Membership Meeting with David Hancock
This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.
Bald Eagles: Their Amazing Comeback from Endangered Status. Noted biologist, conservationist, writer and publisher David Hancock has been studying bald eagles in the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia and Alaska for over 40 years. David will present a lively program focused on the history of the decline and rise of bald eagle populations, reasons for the cross border differences in eagle populations, potential conflicts with other wildlife populations, other ecological concerns resulting from increasing bald eagle populations, and the future outlook for bald eagles.David has spent most of his life studying West Coast and Arctic wildlife. He has published scientific and popular papers on whales, seals, seabirds, grouse, and his specialty, the northern raptors. Prior to starting Hancock House Publishers, David was a pilot and wildlife film producer and produced films on these subjects as well as the Haida and other northern Native cultures. His books include The Bald Eagles of Alaska, B.C. and Washington, Rocky Mountain Wildlife, Story of the Eagle, and The Tlingit: Their Art & Culture. In 2006 David established the Hancock Wildlife Foundation to broaden his teaching about wildlife and conservation, especially bald eagles, to include the web. The Foundation’s mandate is to use the Internet in general and live-streaming wildlife video in particular to promote the conservation of wildlife and its habitats through science, education and stewardship. In David’s words, “Our first live eagle nest cams reached and taught more people in a four-month period than I had in all my years of lectures combined. This is the way of the future.” David received worldwide acclaim for the Live Bald Eagle Video Cam which he pioneered. His current study on the Urban Bald Eagle of Vancouver B.C. has turned up over 360 nesting pairs in the greater Vancouver area and the Foundation is currently supporting more than a dozen live web cams in the greater Vancouver area.
Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:September 27, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public!
**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building
Rainbows on the Wing!
Whatcom Land Trust and Mount Baker Theatre present Conservation Conversations: Dragonflies ~ Rainbows on the Wing.Kindle your curiosity about the dragonflies and damselflies of our region with a fascinating talk and slide show by Dennis Paulson, naturalist and educator. Appropriate for all ages.Wednesday August 17, 20166pm - 7:30pm (doors open at 5pm)Mount Baker Theatre Encore Room104 N Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225Tickets $5.00 all ages, available at the Mount Baker Theatre Ticket Office
Sustainable Gardening Classes
Whatcom County Public Works will offer two Gardening Green: Sustainable Landscaping Classes. Both classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am–2 pm. In these fun, relaxed six-session classes, participants will learn how to create sustainable residential landscapes that are beautiful, easy to care for, attract wildlife, and benefit the watershed.A special session of this popular class will be offered for Birch Bay watershed residents August 16 – September 1 at the Cannery Day Lodge in Semiahmoo County Park.A fall class, open to all Whatcom County residents, will run from September 20 – October 6 at WSU Whatcom Extension Building in Bellingham.The free classes fill up quickly. Pre-registration is required. Contact Sue Taylor at (360) 671-3891 or sl-taylor@comcast.net to register or get more information.
Skulls and Skins Event
Skulls and SkinsSunday July 171pm-4pmTennant LakeFree for all agesThe Friends of Tennant Lake and Hovander Park invite everyone to the annual “Skulls and Skins” event with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Attendees will touch and learn about tortoise shells, wolf skins, deer antlers and more. The Tennant Lake Interpretive Center will be open, as will the tower and boardwalk, so visitors can plan for an afternoon adventure.Find us at 5236 Nielsen Ave. just outside Ferndale, Washington. Take the Ferndale exit (west) off of 1-5. Follow the signs to Hovander Park. Instead of a final right turn into Hovander Park, continue straight on Nielsen Road through the gate to Tennant Lake.
Invitation to Heather Meadows hike from the Native Plant Society
July 2, Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM: Heather Meadows Wildflowers Invitation by Koma Kulshan, Native Plant SocietyThis will be a moderately easy hike in Heather Meadows. We will be looking at the variability in flowering of common subalpine meadow species by micro-habitat. We will also take a close look at any pollinators that we find on these meadow flowers. If we are very lucky, we might even find a few ripe huckleberries. Bring a lunch, rain gear (including pants), and sturdy shoes. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the southeast corner of Sunset Square parking lot out from the Safeway. Contact Jim Davis at 360-296-5159 or jimdaviscpc@comcast.net with questions or to RSVP.
Oil, Orcas & Oystercatchers: Preparing for the Inevitable
Do you love the beauty of the Salish Sea, marine birds, and the southern resident orcas that call it home? As part of the 10th annual Orca Month, we will celebrate and learn about the health of Salish Sea marine bird populations and the region’s iconic Southern-resident orca population, hear in detail the threats they face due to increased oil tanker and vessel traffic, and participate in a hands-on introduction to citizen science first response observance training – a meaningful way volunteers can take action in the event of an oil spill. Join us for this free event that is open to the public. We ask that you RSVP here:https://www.tfaforms.com/425810What: Oil, Orcas, and Oystercatchers: Preparing for the InevitableDate: Sunday, June 26, 2016 Time: 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm Location: Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 10441 Bayview-Edison Rd, Mount Vernon Speakers: Dr. Deborah Giles, Research Director, Center for Whale Research Dr. John Bower, Professor, Western Washington UniversityStephanie Buffum, Executive Director, FRIENDS of the San Juans Jerry Joyce, MoonJoyce Resources Sponsors: Washington Environmental Council, Audubon Washington, Skagit Audubon Society, FRIENDS of the San Juans, Evergreen IslandsPartners: Climate Solutions, Stand Up to Oil campaign Numerous proposals to increase oil-by-rail transport are underway in Washington State. In Skagit County, Shell Oil is looking to add an oil-by-rail facility to its existing refinery in Anacortes, bringing in six oil trains per week and 60,000 barrels per day. As we prepare to comment on the Shell-Anacortes Draft Environmental Impact Statement this fall, we are also learning how citizen science action could make a difference during an inevitable oil spill disaster in our marine waterways. We hope that you will feel empowered to act and understand why your participation does make a difference for marine life in the Salish Sea. For more information about Orca Month activities, visit http://www.orcamonth.com/events.php OR www.orcasalmonalliancce.org
This Weekend: Audubon at the Museum
Join North Cascades Audubon this weekend at the Whatcom Museum's Syre Education Center!Saturday, May 28: 1-2:30pm - Tips & Tricks of Bird Photography with Ken SalzmanSunday, May 29: 2-4pm - Audubon at Museum with Sue ParrottAll programs are included with the price of admission to Whatcom Museum, which is as follows:Everyday except ThursdayMuseum Members: FreeGeneral: $10Students/Military(with valid ID)/Seniors (62 +): $8Children 2-5 years old: $4.50Children under 2: FreeFIG Only (Wed.-Fri., 10 AM – Noon): $4.50ThursdayMuseum Members: FreeGeneral: $5Students/Military(with valid ID)/Seniors (62 +): $5Children 2-5 years old: $4.50Children under 2: FreeFIG Only (Wed.-Fri., 10 AM – Noon): $4.50
2016 Scholarship Awards
Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2016 North Cascades Audubon Society Scholarships:Zoe Zilz - Western Washington University - Parasitism by the sperm-feeding ciliate, Orchitophyra stellarum, in Pisaster ochraceus populations on the west coast of North America, and its consequences for the recovery of sea star populations from sea star wasting disease. ($400)Ryan Drake - Western Washington University - Shrub-steppe grasslands have recently disappeared due to land development, which can reduce suitability for endemic species and drive extirpation. The goal of this study will be to measure Sceloporus graciosus abundance as a response to possible forms of habitat degradation. Measures of habitat suitability, including shrub density, patch size, and herbaceous cover, will be quantified as correlates to S. graciosus abundance. The results of this study can be applied to conservation of shrub-steppe ecosystems by identifying possible forms of habitat degradation. Furthermore, the results of this study have potential use in future studies and conservation initiatives concerning population viability. ($400)
May Newsletter and Events are Online
May 2016 Newsletter is OnlineGo to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.)May and June Events and Field Trips Are OnlineVisit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)General Membership Meeting with Trevor BloomThis month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.Shrinking Summits: The Impact of Climate Change and Wildfire on a High Elevation Flower in Western North America. High elevation plants are disproportionally affected by warming, and species level extinctions are expected over the next century under current trends. As mean annual temperatures rise, the amount of available high-subalpine/alpine habitat in Western North America will decrease resulting in the potential extinction of species that exist nowhere else. In addition to the direct effects of climate-driven habitat loss, high elevation plants must also respond to changes in disturbance regimes, or indirect effects. One of the most tangible indirect effects is the increase in wildfire frequency and intensity in regions where fire was previously rare or absent, including the high-subalpine and alpine.As a graduate student in the Biology Department of Western Washington University, Trevor Bloom conducted a field expedition across the entire Rocky Mountain chain to investigate the combined influence of climate change and wildfire on the high elevation flower, Saxifraga austromontana. This is the first non-timber based study on the combined impacts of climate change and wildfire on a high elevation species. Forecasting changes in the distribution of high elevation species is critical for informing scientists and managers on the best strategies for preserving critical habitat and rare species. Beyond scientific research, it is Trevor’s goal to raise awareness on the issues of climate change in the alpine through public outreach and an upcoming documentary titled “Climb-it Change”. Find out more at www.climbitchange.com.Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:May 24, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public!**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building
Audubon Events at Whatcom Museum
CALL OF THE BIRDS! SYRE EDUCATION CENTER THURSDAYS – SUNDAYS, MAY 19 – JUNE 4, NOON – 5 PMThe birds in our 500+ mounted display are calling you to come visit! This is a great time of year to check out who might be in your backyard too. Special programs with North Cascades Audubon Society include: AUDUBON AT THE MUSEUMSUNDAY, MAY 22, 2 – 4 PMCheck out our 500+ bird collection while local Audubon expert, Paul Woodcock, is on hand for casual conversation and interesting information about birds. Takes place at the Syre Education Center.TIPS AND TRICKS OF BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY WITH KEN SALZMANSATURDAY, MAY 28, 1 – 2:30 PMGet tried-and-true methods for taking good bird photos with expert Ken Salzman. Beginners and advanced birders learn helpful tips as Ken shows photographs taken withdifferent equipment and techniques. Whatever your camera equipment, you’ll find ideas you can use. Takes place at the Syre Education Center.AUDUBON AT THE MUSEUMSUNDAY, MAY 29, 2 – 4 PMCheck out our 500+ bird collection while local Audubon member, Sue Parrott, is on hand for casual conversation and interesting information about birds. Takes place at the Syre Education Center.All programs are included with the price of admission to Whatcom Museum, which is as follows:Everyday except ThursdayMuseum Members: FreeGeneral: $10Students/Military(with valid ID)/Seniors (62 +): $8Children 2-5 years old: $4.50Children under 2: FreeFIG Only (Wed.-Fri., 10 AM – Noon): $4.50ThursdayMuseum Members: FreeGeneral: $5Students/Military(with valid ID)/Seniors (62 +): $5Children 2-5 years old: $4.50Children under 2: FreeFIG Only (Wed.-Fri., 10 AM – Noon): $4.50