WHAS Sponsors a Nature Library
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Willapa Hills Audubon Society has kindly agreed to sponsor the Fallen Leaf Nature Library. It is a collection of approximately 700 used books and 100 VHS videos on natural history and environmental education, which we hope to make available to Longview/Kelso families and teachers for circulation. These general interest books and videos, donated by Ann and David Cordero, Marie Fernandez, Sherry Evans, Lynn Smith, Gloria Nichols and others, would be available to anyone free of charge for a month or longer to stimulate an interest in the natural world and promote literacy. Volunteer staff could provide
simple interpretation such as touch tables, exhibits, displays, story times, demonstrations and experiments, homework help, or preparation for the Science Olympiad—any nature activity they choose to lead in the space where the library resides.
That is the key: where will we put this library? Lower Columbia College has approved the use of the McLaughlin Community Resource Center in the Health and Science Building for the nature library! LCC has been very gracious about this prospect, saying that it is the kind of thing for which the room
was intended and that this will be a mutually beneficial relationship to be continued as long as it works for both parties and which can be terminated by either party.
Does this sound like fun? You can help make this happen! We will need volunteers (as much or as little time as you like) and ideas for interpretive activities.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact
Together we can provide a new community resource for children, books to supplement classroom lessons, interaction between people with natural history interests, and better visibility for WHAS.
Call for Citizen Scientists!
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Audubon Washington's new citizen-science project is looking for volunteers! Participate in a regional volunteer monitoring effort, learn about coastal ecology, meet like-minded community members, and spend time near the water!
WHAT: Observe intertidal habitat use of waterbirds
WHO: Be part of a team of scientists including the University of Washington (UW), NOAA Fisheries (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR)
WHEN: Waterbird surveys will be conducted monthly during low tides, recording the abundance and behavior of birds in vegetated and unvegetated patches. Surveys will occur from mid-March through September 2016.
WHERE: Shore-based surveys of intertidal habitats will occur at fixed sites around Puget Sound and in Willapa Bay.
First 2016 Cowlitz County Bird List (January)
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Here is what Russ Koppendrayer says of January 2016:
We got off to our usual outstanding start with a record number of species on the January 1st Christmas Bird Count. The highlight of that day was a 1st for the count Black Phoebe. This was also a 3rd record for Cowlitz County. We also found a number of species that are less than annual during the month as well as a few species earlier in the year to get the big start on the year list. Please continue to report your finds on Tweeters, eBird or directly to me as we try to best 2015's banner year.
Download the pdf file here.
Final 2015 Cowlitz County Bird List
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The Cowlitz County Bird List is maintained by Russ Koppendrayer.
Thank you Russ!
Here is his review of 2015:
What a finish to a record breaking year! We finished with 207 species in 2015 which is four more than our previous high.
Capping the final months was a Yellow-throated Warbler that spent two weeks at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview and was seen by more than 50 birders and well documented with photographs. As well as a first for Cowlitz, this bird was only the third ever for all of Washington. While searching for the warbler a pair of birders found Cowlitz's first ever Northern Mockingbird a couple blocks from the park. This bird also was also seen by many observers during its twelve day stay.
To end our fantastic stretch the county's third record of Rusty Blackbird was found in the Woodland Bottoms just before sunset on December 31.
Download the pdf file here.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
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Have some fun this winter counting birds at your outdoor feeder—and at the same time aid important world-wide scientific research. The Great Backyard Bird Count, hosted by The Cornell Lab, Audubon and Bird Studies Canada, will take place on February 12-15 2016.
This is a fun way to stay connected to the outdoors on cold, wet winter days while staying dry and warm in your kitchen. It's a super way to get kids involved in nature activities and science!
Just count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the GBBC. If you have never participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count before, you must get started by registering at http://gbbc.birdcount.org/get-started/ All the information you will need is available through the same web page. A valuable app, called eBird, is also available that helps with identifying birds and uploading your results—but this is not a required item to participate. Just create an account, read the instructions and start watching birds. Report your count back to the web site.
You can receive additional help by contacting Larry Brandt, Science Committee Chair, Willapa Hills Audubon Society - email or 360-200-4580.
Northern Mockingbird seen at Lake Sacajawea
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As frequently happens birders chasing a rarity find another. Attached is the eBird post of the folks who dipped on the warbler, but found a Northern Mockingbird in a holly tree somewhere in the vicinity of 15th & Baltimore. Photos embedded in the list as well.
Rare Birdsighting in Western WA: Yellow-throated Warbler
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A Yellow-throated Warbler was found on the Kessler side of Lake Sacajawea in Longview. It is definitely a county first, a Western Washington first, and only the 3rd recorded sighting in the state, the first two on the east side of the Cascades.
Happy birding, to all.
October 2015 Cowlitz County Bird List
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Russ Koppendrayer's review of early fall:
Download the pdf file here.
Winter 2015 Whistler is online
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The Winter 2015 Whistler is available now.
Read more of its content:
- Revitalizing WHAS - Invitation to an important board meeting
- Annual Lake Sacajawea Walk & Social
- Membership Form
- Olympic Birdfest, Winter Wings Festival, Great North Central Washington Bird Race
- Christmas Bird Count details
- Sharnelle Fee, 1947-2015
- Highlights of Audubon Council of Washington (ACOW)
- Conservation Committee Efforts
- Highlights of WSACC Meeting
- Crossing Path with Washington’s Wildlife - Birdbaths
- WHAS Nomination form
- Book Review: Fastest Thing On Wings
- Programs and Fieldtrips
Precipitous Decline of Marbled Murrelet in Washington – How You Can Help
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The Marbled Murrelet is a robin-sized bird that was listed as threatened in 1992 under the Endangered Species Act. This bird spends most of its life on near-shore waters from northern California to Alaska. It flies inland to breed high in the canopy of old-growth forest within sixty miles of shore.
The NW Forest Plan was created in 1993 to protect breeding habitat for Marbled Murrelet and Northern Spotted Owl. Without this plan there would now be no old-growth forest on state or federal lands; however, private landowners can cut any timber.
This August shocking news was published on the status of Marbled Murrelet after 20 years of the NW Forest Plan. The science report said:
- In Washington State the Plan has not been successful--the population of Marbled Murrelet has declined 48% since 2001.
- This decline in numbers is tied to decline in breeding habitat, mostly due to timber harvest of habitat on nonfederal lands. Marine conditions were not an important factor.
- The decrease in both habitat and numbers is the largest in SW Washington, where there is little federal forested land. To read the full report, go to “MAMU GTR” at the bottom of http://www.reo.gov/monitoring/reports/20yr-report/
At current rates of decline there will be no Marbled Murrelet in SW Washington within 15 years! If the SW Washington population disappears, the northern population of birds in Washington, Canada and Alaska will be genetically isolated from the southern population in Oregon and California. This genetic bottleneck could quickly lead to species extinction. The situation for Marbled Murrelets is critical.
BUT YOU CAN HELP THIS OCTOBER! To find out how, click the read more below.
Read more: Precipitous Decline of Marbled Murrelet in Washington – How You Can Help
- August 2015 Cowlitz County Bird List
- Columbia Riverkeeper's new Handford video
- Fall 2015 Whistler is online
- June 2015 Cowlitz County Bird List
- May 2015 Cowlitz County Bird List
- Summer 2015 Whistler is online
- April 2015 Cowlitz County Bird List
- An Egrets Frustration
- Black Phoebe’s at Julia Butler-Hansen Refuge
- Proposed Propane Development Faces a Setback In Longview