Black Hills

Audubon Society
Olympia, Washington

Volume 39,
Number 6

November/December 2008

In this Issue of The Echo:

Northwest Trek Frog Release........................ p 1
Northwest Trek Raises 2008 Birdathon Wrap-up.............................. p 2
State-endangered Frogs Fall Feeder Cleaning a Success...................... p 4
Missed the Fall Feeder Cleaning?.................. p 4
for Reintroduction Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14th.................... p 4
The tiny one-ounce dye-marked amphibians leap en- Birding in Earnest......................................... p 5
thusiastically out of their plastic containers and into Conservation Update.................................... p 6
the lush grass, water and thick mud at the edge of the Echo Paper vs. Electronic Results.................. p 6
lake. These juvenile Oregon spotted frogs BHAS Calendar............................................. p 7
are taking off into the big world after BHAS Roster................................................. p 8
being carefully monitored and pro- Field Trip Descriptions.................................. p 9
tected for six months at the Conserva- Alternative Gift Fair...................................... p 9
tion Center at Northwest Trek Wildlife Bird Book Reviews.......................................p 10
Park. The animal care team has fretted Annual Auction/Dinner Reminder................p 10
over water quality, chopped and cooked kale Membership Form....................................... p 11
and romaine, wrangled crickets and consulted with Marbled Murrelet Delisting......................... p 12
Continued on page 2

Thursday, November 20th Thursday, December 18

Midway Atoll Holiday Party
50 Years Later Come join us in a holiday party celebrating the
successes of BHAS in 2008! Sometimes we don’t
Come join Elizabeth Rodrick as she shares her 2- have enough time set aside to share stories, gab, or
week “working vacation” on Midway Island, and just hang out with like-minded folk! Board mem-
how the island has changed since she lived there bers will be on hand to welcome new members and
as a child 50 years ago. Her “vacation” was spent re-connect with staunch supporters over the years.
counting albatross. She will give an overview of all Bring a favorite recipe or sample of bird-friendly
species on the island with special emphasis on al- snacks, and for us bipeds there will be hot cider
batross species biology and techniques used to take and yummy cookies on hand!
the census. Elizabeth will also talk about current
national wildlife refuge issues affecting the atoll.
Elizabeth is the Conservation Lands Manager for the
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
BHAS membership meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at the Capitol Museum Coach House, 211 W. 21st Street, in Olympia. Social
hour is at 7pm, with programs beginning promptly at 7:30. Driving directions: From I-5 in Olympia, take Exit 105 following the State Capital/City
Center route. After the tunnel, turn left (south) onto Capital Way. After 7 blocks, turn right on 21st Avenue. The museum is two blocks down on the
left. The Coach House meeting room and adjacent parking are behind the Museum building of Olympia).
2008 Birdathon Wrap-up
The 2008 Birdathon (in May) was a huge success.
With the help of field trip leaders and many indi-
viduals, $2483 was raised for our Chapter. Forty-
three people participated in Birdathon field trips led
by field trip leaders Woody Franzen,
Jim Pruske, Phil Kelley, Jean MacGregor,
Tom Schooley, and Lonnie Sommer.
Several people led their own field trips
or birded on their own and found cre-
ative ways to include others in this fun
and important fundraising event.
Information about the 2009 Birdathon
will come your way at the Annual Din-
ner in March. Remember – May is Birdathon month!
Thanks to all the following 2008 Birdathon partici-
pants and supporters:
JL and JD Anderson, Marian Bailey, Andrew and
Shirely Beelik, Patty Brock, Linda Carter, Pat Brady,
Rob Cole, Michele Collins, David and Peggy Ed-
wards, Eve Failor, Fred Fiedler, Woody Franzen,
Karen Fraser, Bill Frymire, Mark Grey, Burt Gutt-
NW Trek Frog Release First of its Kind in Washington
From page 1
partner agencies which has generally kept them
hopping.
“This is the first-ever cap-
tive rearing and release
program for the Oregon
spotted frog in Washington
and represents a significant
first step in our joint effort
to help recover this fragile
species,” said Harriet Allen,
Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
endangered species pro-
gram manager.
“We’re excited to be part
of this project because it Tiny radio transmitters are attached to six frogs to
fits so perfectly with our enable biologists to track the movements of the
conservation mission,” said animals for at least a month.
Dave Ellis, deputy director at
Northwest Trek. “Not only that, but our specialty at
the park is North American species, so this dove-
tails beautifully with our work.”
The zookeepers joined biologists from the WDFW
and the U.S. Army released the frogs into Dailman
 Black Hills Audubon Society
man, Sheila Harper, Lee Hoemann, Liz Hoenig, Scott
Jarvis, Whittier Johnson, Nancy Judge, John and
Donna Keith, Phil Kelley, Erika Krupp, Jean Mac-
Gregor, Clarice McCartan, Sheila McCartan, Cathy
McGuire, Michael McGuire, Sam and
Susan Merrill, Melody Mier, Greg Miller,
Anne Mills, Paul and Bobbie Moody,
Deb Nickerson, Tom Oliva, Steve Parrett,
Starleen Parsons, Matt and Lisa Pike,
Michael Pike, Ralph Pike, Jane Poole,
Sam Powell, Jim Pruske, Dave Richard-
son, Doug Roster, Michael and Maria
Ruth, Bob Saunders, Tom Schooley,
Jan Sharkey, Eric Slagle, Jean Smith, Lonnie Somer,
Mary Ann Steele, Kristin Stewart, Alexis Sulek-Dom-
mes, Bob Sundstrom, Tim Sweeney, Jean Takekawa,
Nancy Wells, Merlin Wiese, Cathy and Ross Wig-
gins, Gary Wiles, Deborah Wilhelmi, Sharon Willis-
Green, and Sharon Wilson.
—Sheila McCartan
Lake on the Fort Lewis Military Reservation in Pierce
County in a collaborative effort to return the state-
endangered frog to a portion of its historic habitat.
“Frogs are found in all parts
of the world and are known
as sentinel animals by alert-
ing us to serious environ-
mental and climate changes
that can affect all species,”
said Jim Lynch, biologist
for the Fort Lewis Fish and
Wildlife Program. “They also
play an important role in
balancing ecosystems and
when they disappear from
their habitat, that ecosystem
is disrupted.”
The captive-rearing strat-
egy, called “head starting”
is based on the premise that
juvenile frogs are thought to be less vulnerable and
better able to survive when released back into na-
ture. The goal of the this pilot program is to estab-
lish a self-sustaining population of Oregon spotted
frogs at Fort Lewis and set the stage for a structured
Continued on page 4
Fall Bird Feeder
Cleaning a Success!
Satisfaction, pride, problem-solving, pizza, and
camaraderie…. I experienced all that on October 4th
at the annual Fall Bird Feeder Cleaning held at Wild
Birds Unlimited on Olympia’s west side.
The satisfaction came when I learned that 124 bird
feeders had been cleaned and sanitized, and that
birds who ate from them would not be exposed to
disease from moldy and contaminated feeders (at
least for a couple of months). I experienced pride in
knowing how hard we volunteers worked to trans-
form moldy dirty feeders into clean healthy feeders.
The problem-solving opportunities were numer-
ous, since it seemed each feeder had its own unique
way of being taken apart. The
puzzle didn’t always end
with disassembly, either;
sometimes it was a chal-
lenge to put them back
together, too! But that part
of the fun…
We had 4 different kinds
of pizzas to choose from
for lunch, plus cider and
assorted donuts. We did
not lack for food!
Last, but not least, I
valued working alongside
others who care about our
Missed the Fall Bird Feeder Cleaning?
Don’t wait until next April for us to clean your
feeders! BHAS volunteers do an unusually thor-
ough cleaning job, but some feeders should be
cleaned every month during the damp Pacific
Northwest winters to help avoid spread of infec-
tious diseases of our backyard birds.
You can give your feeders a maintenance cleaning
in about ten minutes:
1. Wash the feeder in warm, soapy water,
2. Rinse in fresh water,
3. Air-dry before refilling.
However, if moldy seed has accumulated in the
feeder or you’ve noticed sick birds at your feeder:
4. Use a bottle brush to remove the seed
(don’t dump it on the ground)
Black Hills Audubon Society
environment and the health of our bird friends. We
even got to socialize and learn more about each
other while our hands were busy scrubbing feeders
in dish pans filled with warm soapy water. What
could be better?? Well, maybe a little less rain and
wind, but heck, that’s the Pacific Northwest we live
in and love!!
We thank everyone who brought in feeders to be
cleaned. Huge thanks to Ruth Pagel and her friendly
and knowledgeable staff at Wild Birds Unlimited
for hosting this, the 13th year of twice-yearly feeder
cleanings. Thanks also to Top Foods for the hot
water, without which the actual cleaning would be
much less effective and definitely less pleasant for
our volunteers.
And speaking of volunteers, we can’t thank the fol-
lowing folks enough for working the feeder cleaning,
whether it was pressure wash-
ing, scrubbing, ferrying feeders,
taking in the feeders, or staying
until the feeders were picked
up: Jane Poole, Susan Markey,
Bob Markey, Gary Wiles, Jan
Sharkey, Sue Danver, Whit-
tier Johnson, Vicki Aden,
Noah Aden, Nolan God-
frey, John Godfrey, Bev
Gorman, Debra Jaqua,
and the Coordinator
of this event, Debbie
Nickerson.
­­—Deb Jaqua
5. Wash the feeder
6. Then immerse it in a solution of ten parts
water to one part bleach for two to three min-
utes to disinfect them before rinsing if fresh
water and air drying.
As word of dirty-feeder dangers spreads, sales of
“quick-clean” feeders are growing. Tube feeders
and finch feeders with snap-off bases and several
easy-to-clean styles of hopper and tray feed-
ers are available locally. Ruth Pagel of Wild Birds
Unlimited recommends Feeder Fresh, a non-toxic
absorbent sand that helps reduce clumping and
molding of seed in tube feeders. The birds will
thank you!
— Maria Ruth

 Christmas Bird Count, Sunday, Dec. 14th
This year’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will
be held on Sunday, December 14th. This
event, sponsored by BHAS, needs volunteers
to spend the day (or as much time as pos-
sible) in the field counting
birds in their group’s
assigned count area.
Folks new to birding
or those who prefer
will be partnered
with experienced
group leaders. This
is a serious commit-
ment and a whole
lot of fun, and it’s
also a great way for
amateurs to become
familiar with our local
birds.
The day will conclude with
the traditional post-count
chili dinner shortly after dark at
the Gull Harbor Lutheran Church
in Olympia, 4610 Boston Harbor Rd.
What a wonderful way to end the day after
being outside for so long!
Frog Release
From previous page
recovery effort that will continue for several years.
Northwest Trek is using space at its Conservation
Center located on land purchased through the Cas-
cade Land Conservancy and Pierce County Futures.
The Dailman Lake area was chosen for reintroduc-
tion because it contains diverse wetlands connected
to a stream system capable of supporting and sus-
taining a frog population.
The Oregon spotted frog historically ranged from
southwestern British Columbia to northeastern Cali-
fornia. The frog is now believed to have disappeared
from California and Oregon’s Willamette Valley and
has suffered significant declines elsewhere in its his-
toric range. Loss of habitat, predation by non-native
species such as the American bullfrog, and disease
have decimated its numbers, which prompted listing it
as a Washington state-endangered species in 1997.
 Black Hills Audubon Society
Our count is part of the National Audubon
Society’s 109th CBC. These events are more
important than ever because the results are
used as tools to monitor the status and distri-
bution of bird populations across the west-
ern hemisphere. Incidentally, almost every
year Olympia has the
national
high count
for Golden-
crowned
Kinglet and,
in some
years, Win-
ter Wren.
This work is
very im-
portant and
very ap-
preciated. To
join in, contact
George Walter at
360-459-8220 or email
gwalter@nwifc.org.
The reintroduction program was first developed in
2007 through a collaborative effort by WDFW, Fort
Lewis, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance
Zoo & Aquarium, Oregon Zoo, Washington State
Department of Transportation, U.S. Fish and Wild-
life Service, Woodland Park Zoo, Port Blakely Tree
Farms, Washington Department of Natural Resourc-
es, NW Zoo & Aquarium Alliance, U.S Geological
Survey, Mountain View Conservation & Breeding
Centre and The Nature Conservancy.
The project’s start-up coincides with efforts by the
Association of Zoos & Aquariums, which is high-
lighting 2008 as the Year of the Frog to mark a
major conservation effort to address global amphib-
ian extinction.
Activities related to the reintroduction program are
being funded through grants from the Point Defiance
Zoo & Aquarium, the Northwest Zoo & Aquarium
Alliance and the Association of Zoo & Aquarium’s
Amphibian Fund.
—Cherilyn Williams
Birding in Earnest
Sightings from August and
September 2008
By Bill Shelmerdine
To report sightings, call 360-866-9106 or email at
georn1 hotmail.com.
Thanks go to Phil Kelly (PK), Paul Hicks (PH), Lonnie
Sommer (LS), Jim Pruski (JP), Trudy Cadman (TC),
Dennis Ellison (DE), and Dave Hayden (DH) for
reporting or recording their finds.
Anything can happen in migration, and for my
money, fall is the most exciting season in the Pa-
cific Northwest. In our area, I’m usually thinking
shorebirds, but we really see the full spectrum from
offshore waters to the mountains; recent reports
reflect this. Surprisingly there were few reports of
shorebirds locally, although,
as usual, there was plenty of
activity along the coast.
August and September are busy
times in offshore waters and this
is where I spent more of my
birding time, sadly to the
detriment of wandering
the shorelines, mudflats
and ponds in search of shorebirds. So with
a general lack of reports, you get my take
on seabirds when you might expect a
focus on shorebirds…
Offshore in Grays
Harbor County:
My first trip off-shore this August was on 8/23; it
was just one of those truly great days on the water
with big numbers of birds and marine mammals.
Seeing two hundred to three hundred Pacific White-
sided Dolphins slashing the water around the boat
with thousands of birds overhead was dizzying. The
return trip encountered a family of Orca (including
a young calf) and more thousands of birds (domi-
nated by Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters).
Flesh-footed Shearwater probably topped the
list of exciting birds seen; first of season Buller’s
Shearwaters, a sweep within the Jeager clan,
South Polar Skua, and Arctic Tern were just a few
of the highlights from an impressive day list. Sep-
tember 5th brought the first Short-tailed Shear-
waters; a 5-shearwater day is a good day any way
you slice it and a Manx Shearwater close to shore
started the trip out right.
Westport Seabirds runs trips out of… you guessed
Black Hills Audubon Society
it, Westport, running more trips in August and Sep-
tember and finishing at the end of the month. Sep-
tember 27th ended the “offshore season” with lower
than expected seabird numbers (though Cassin’s
Auklet numbers were good for those who follow the
plights of the northern alcids). However, the sight-
ing of Hawaiian Petrel on the 27th, a first for WA,
was nothing short of spectacular. If interested in the
complete list for specific trips, check out the website
for Westport Seabirds ( westports-
eabirds.com/ ). A schedule for 2009 trips will likely
be posted in mid-winter or spring.
Coastal birding… Along the
outer coast:
I received no specific reports from the coast. From
what I gather, shorebird movements were typical
with all of the regulars present and accounted for.
Unusual for this part of the coast were very spo-
radic reports of Elegant Terns along
the Oregon, Washington, and BC
coasts. A species that makes
regular fall visits from the
south into central Califor-
nia, they are rarely en-
countered this far north
and it has been many
years since the last inva-
sion. They proved very
frustrating to find along
the Washington Coast however,
and only a handful of lucky observers
reported birds along our coast (though not
for lack of searching).
Puget lowlands and inland
marine waters…
Personally, I did not do much birding here over the
summer period, and with a general lack of reports
I am likely under representing the situation. An im-
mature Sabines Gull was present on the waters of
Eld Inlet on 8/31.
On 9/23, three Sandhill Cranes were observed on
the outer delta at Nisqually (DE, PK), and on 9/30,
nine Brown Pelicans were observed in the same
general area (DE). Passerine migration was quite
noticeable in early and mid September; reports from
Nisqually on 9/3 included Nashville and MacGilli-
vrey’s Warblers along with 6 other warbler species
seen that day (PK). On 9/9 a busy day near Tenino
included 6 warbler species, 3 Hammonds Fly-
catchers, and sightings of Northern Pygmy Owl
and a roving band of Gray Jays (PH).
Next page

Results of The Echo in
Paper vs. Web Survey
Thanks to the twenty folks who took time to com-
municate with BHAS about their preference of
whether to continue to receive The Echo in paper or
get it electronically. The majority stated their prefer-
ence to keep publishing and sending out The Echo in
paper. Among the several reasons given for keeping
paper was the convenience and ease of reading pa-
per over reading from a screen, some members do
not have computers, and also that the paper version
of The Echo is more portable.
As for the frequency of publishing The Echo, the
responses ranged from preferring to receive The
Echo twice a year to monthly, with most saying that
they liked the current rate of every other month but
could live with it coming out less frequently.
The BHAS Board agreed to continue publishing The
Echo in paper, every other month, for the time be-
ing, but we may revisit the frequency in the future.
Also, we may ask who would be willing to have an
electronic version emailed to them instead of getting
a paper version as a way to save resources. Stay
tuned!!
Please don’t hesitate to let us know of any sug-
gestions you may have to improve The Echo, or the
Web site. Thanks!
—Debra Jaqua, Echo Editor
Birding in Earnest
From previous page
The most unusual report came on 8/28: a Com-
mon Ground Dove was reported from the Roches-
ter area in South Thurston County (TC). Where the
heck did this guy come from? Interestingly, there
was an unconfirmed report from North Portland,
OR, earlier in the month. Escapee? Perhaps, as this
particular individual was reported to be unusually
tame, but this species is also a confirmed wanderer.
To my knowledge it is as yet un-reported in WA.
Fall in the Skokomish Valley, what does that make
you think of… probably not birds. This is a time
many of us think of produce, specifically Skok Valley
corn. However, if you make a trip to this area in the
fall, don’t forget your binoculars. In early August,
swallows began staging here in very large numbers;
on 8/3, huge numbers (thousands) of swallows,
dominated by violet-greens, crowded the wires
around the valley. On 8/4 a Eurasian Collared
 Black Hills Audubon Society
Conservation
Update
Members of the BHAS Conservation Committee
have been so busy working on continuing local
issues, some with late-breaking legal decisions,
that we haven’t been able to write up what’s
happening in time to get it into this edition of
The Echo. We apologize for this, but that is
sometimes the nature of these issues. Often,
these are not stories with identifiable endings….
they are in process. It takes dedication to follow
these issues, sometimes for several years!
Among the many issues we are following are
housing or industrial/commercial developments
that could have a negative effect on wildlife or
natural habitat, clean up and protection of Puget
Sound, preserving unique prairie ecosystems,
the county task force on cluster housing, county
critical areas ordinances, and more.
For current updates on conservation issues,
please go to Black Hills Audubon Society’s Con-
servation Web page at //blackhillsaudu-
bon /conservation-local.html.
If there is a conservation issue you are con-
cerned about, feel free to contact us at info
blackhills-audubon .
Dove was present (perhaps a first for Mason Co.)
— just another example of this introduced spe-
cies continuing its rapid expansion through North
America.
The forests and hills in our area usually receive little
birding attention at this time. However, time spent
here paid off for some. August in the upper Skokom-
ish River Basin seemed to have some good birding
possibilities. On 8/13, a pair of Golden Eagles were
located and sightings over the next couple of weeks
suggest that they may have been residents rather
than migrants. A Northern Goshawk was found in
the same area on 8/26, Blue and Ruffed Grouse
were seen on every visit, and Northern Pygmy
Owl and Olive-sided Flycatchers rounded out a
list of interesting sightings. Five Common Night-
hawks were noted overhead near Shelton on 8/13,
probably migrants on the move. A BHAS field trip on
9/28 produced 2 Townsend’s Solitaires in Capi-
tol Forest (DH, LS, JP,), a species difficult to find in
Thurston County and rarely reported in the fall.
$

BHAS Calendar
November
November 20th, (Thurs.):  7pm - pm. 
General Membership Meeting.
Presentation:  Midway Atoll—50 Years Later,
by Elizabeth Rodrick.

December
December 6th (Saturday), Field Trip: Point Wilson,
Fort Flagler, and Port Townsend environs.
Leave at 7:00 am from Mud Bay Park & Ride. 
Leader: Lonnie Somer
December 13th (Saturday), 10am—3pm: 
Alternate Gift Fair, at the
Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia. 
December 14th (Sun.), 109th Audubon Christmas
Bird Count and Chili Feed
December 18th (Thurs.), General Membership Meeting
will be the Holiday Party! 7pm–9pm.

Birding Classes waiting list

d up quickly this year, with a
The fall Birding 101 class fille st from the
re thrilled with the eager intere
of at least ten people. We we
community!
ated this
Education Committee that cre
Debbie Nickerson, chair of the ing winter,
ss, sai d the re may be a “Sp ecialty Birding” class this com
cla might ex-
ding 101 class coming, as you
and there will be a spring Bir the cla sses will be
have firm dates yet, but
pect, in the spring. We don’t BH AS Web
of the Echo and also on the
announced in upcoming issues tact Debbie at
at htt p:/ /w ww .black hil ls-audubon.org. Please con
site
any questions.
360-754-5397 if you have

Black Hills Audubon Society 

 Board of Directors 2008-2009
Officers
President: Sam Merrill................360-866-8839
smerrill@zhonka.net
Vice President: Kris Schoyen...... 360-754-1710
kschoyen@hotmail.com
Secretary: Debbie Nickerson.......360-754-5397
debranick gmail.com
Treasurer: Susan Markey ..........360-438-9048
slmarkey comcast.net
Board Members At Large
Debra Jaqua.................................360-491-3325
webdeb1 mail.com
Whittier Johnson.........................360-866-8156
whittierwj comcast.net
Mike O’MalIey.............................360-943-2369
Committee Chairs
Conservation: Donna Nickerson Office Support: Carolyn Harmon, Bonnie Wood
D.J.Nick comcast.net
Field Trips: Kristin Stewart ........360-456-5098
kristinstewartO1 comcast.net
Membership: Margery Beeler.....360-352-5437
mswampcat aol.com
Programs: Kris Schoyen ............ 360-754-1710
kschoyen@hotmail.com
Black Hills Audubon Society
1063 Capitol Way So., Rm 208, Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: 360-352-7299
Website: www.blackhills-audubon.org
E-mail: info blackhills-audubon.org
Black Hills Audubon Society is a non-profit
organization. A member chapter of the National
Audubon Society, it represents Audubon members in
Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties.
Our goals are to maintain, restore and protect our
ecosystems for future generations, and to promote
environmental education and nature-based
recreation.
General membership meetings are held at 7 p.m.
on the third Thursday evening of each month,
September through June, at the Capitol Museum
Coach House, 211 West 21st Street, in Olympia.
 Black Hills Audubon Society
Member Volunteers
Bird-a-thon Coordinator:
Sheila McCartan.......................... 360-357-9170
schooleymccartan omcast.net
Bird ID: Dave McNett. ...............360-357-3695
Bird Feeder Cleaning
Debbie Nickerson .......................360-754-5397
debranick gmail.com
Conservation: Sue Danver..........360-705-9247
sdanver7 aol.com
Echo Designer: Lee Miller ........360-753-0942
aleemiller igc.org
Echo Editor: Debra Jaqua ..........360-491-3325
webdeb1 gmail.com
Forest Issues: David Jennings..... 360-866-7551
nativeforest gamil.com
Healthy Olympia Task Force, E3 Washington:
Jean MacGregor...........................360-866-0166
Webmaster: Debra Jaqua ..........360-491-3325
webdeb1 gmail.com
Board meetings are at 5:30 p.m. on the second
Wednesday of each month. The site varies from
month to month, so please call us at the office if
you would like to sit in.
Phone and e-mail messages are welcome, but please
remember that we are a volunteer-based organization,
and it may take us a few days to get back to you.
The Echo is published bi-monthly. Editor: Deb
Jaqua. Layout and design by Lee Miller. Graphics by
Nature Icons/Ultimate Symbol unless initialed.
Material for The Echo should be sent to
PO Box 2524, Olympia, WA 98507, or e-mailed to
Deb Jaqua at webdeb1 gmail.com.
Deadline for the January/February 2009 issue is
December 5, 2008.
Field Trip Descriptions
December 6 (Saturday), Leave at 7:00
am from Mud Bay Park & Ride.  Field
Trip:  Point Wilson, Fort Flagler, and Port
Townsend environs.
Leader: Lonnie Somer
The primary targets for this field trip are winter wa-
ter fowl in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the north-
ern Puget Sound. Hoped for species include Marbled
and Ancient Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinoceros
Auklet, Common Murre, Harlequin Duck, Long-
tailed Duck, Brants, 3 species of loon, and several
other species as well.
Dress for cold, wind, and the ever-present possibil-
ity of rain. Bring lunch, snack, and liquids. We will
return by early evening.
Trip limited to 12 people (3 cars). Call the BHAS of-
fice at 360-352-7299 for registration.
Alternative Gift Fair
When: Saturday, Dec. 13th, from 10am – 3pm
Where: 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia
Website: www.theunitedchurches.org
What: Tired of the commercialized gift giving dur-
ing the holidays? There are alternatives to the usual
holiday gifts.
On Saturday, December 13th, from 10am to 3pm
at The Olympia Center, you can purchase a gift in
someone’s name from organizations which help
train the homeless, build homes for families, help
protect our environment, and feed the hungry. This
year, let your gift to someone be a week’s worth of
care for patients at The Neighborhood Free Medical
Clinic; purchase a pig for a hungry family through
Heifer International; help conserve wild spaces
in Thurston and Mason Counties with Black Hills
Audubon Society and People for Puget Sound; sup-
port a kitchen garden project with GRuB; buy tools
for homebuilding with Habitat for Humanity and
learn about the many organizations doing good
works around our community and country.
Eighteen organizations, to which you can donate
any amount, will be participating. Gift cards will be
given to donors which, in turn, are presented to the
recipient. You can make a difference in our com-
munity and world with your gift to a local charity in
a loved one’s name. Come to The Olympia Center
from 10am to 3pm and feel good about your holiday
Black Hills Audubon Society
December 14th (Sun.), From as early as
you’d like until dusk.
109th Audubon Christmas Bird Count and
Chili Feed. 
This event, sponsored by BHAS, needs volunteers
to spend the entire day (or as much time as you
can contribute) in the field counting birds in your
group’s assigned count area. This is a serious com-
mitment and a whole lot of fun!! For more informa-
tion, go to Christmas Bird Count page.
The day will conclude with the traditional post-
count chili dinner shortly after dark at the Gull
Harbor Lutheran church in Olympia, 4610 Boston
Harbor Rd.... This is always a welcome event after
spending many hours in the (possible) cold and wet
Northwest. To join in the Christmas Bird County,
contact George Walter at 360-459-8220 or email
gwalter nwifc.org.
shopping. For additional information, please call
Debbie Nickerson at 754-5397 or visit us at www.
theunitedchurches.org.
Alternative Gift Fairs—
Some Questions and Answers
Q. What is an “Alternative Gift Fair”?
A. An Alternative Gift Fair offers the opportunity
for a different kind of “shopping”. It is shopping
which avoids the often-encountered holiday
stress in searching the malls and deciding among
the material gifts or “stuff” one might give to
another. Instead, the “shopper” at the Fair can
choose to give a gift in honor, and in the name,
of a loved one or friend by making a donation to
one of a number of worthy non-profit organiza-
tions which participate in the Fair, organizations
whose purposes best fit the values of your gift
recipient.
Q. Are donations to charitable organizations the
only kind of “gifts” offered at the Fair?
A. No. Also available for purchase are unusual
craft products and artwork fashioned by per-
sons in developing countries around the world
and even in some areas in our own country. The
proceeds from such purchases go directly to the
artisans themselves and for those causes such as
community self-help projects which benefit from
their talents.
Next page

Bird Book Reviews electronics technician and writer from Portland.
Some parts were so funny that I was unable to
We all have our favorite field guides to the read them out loud without weeping and snort-
birds—those dog-eared, water-stained, well- ing.
worn Petersons, Audubons, Sibleys, How to Be a (Bad) Birdwatcher, by Simon
National Geographics, or even Golden Barnes (Short Books, 2006). An irreverent in-
Guides. But what about the troduction to birdwatching by a world-class
other bird books--the birder and conservationist. “Looking at
ones that you’re more birds,” he writes, “is a key: it opens
likely to read by the fire doors, and if you choose to go
than in the field? Here through them you find you
are a few of my favor- enjoy life more and understand
ites—mostly quirky, life better.”
often funny, always poi-
gnant stories to read when it’s Diary of a Left-Handed Bird
just too dern cold and wet to go Watcher, Leonard Nathan (Harvest
outside. Books, 2006). Birds, philosophy, and
meditation from an award-winning poet pur-
Providence of Sparrow: Lessons from a Life Gone suing the elusive snow bunting.
to the Birds, by Chris Chester (Anchor Books,
2004). A very entertaining story of one man’s The Life of the Skies: Birding at the End of Nature,
friendship with a house sparrow. Chester is an by Jonathan Rosen (Farrar, Straus, Giroux,
2008—due out in paperback in December). A
fascinating exploration of birding as our “real
Alternative Gift Fair national pastime.” Nearly every page of my
From page 9 copy is dog-eared.

Q. Is the Alternative Gift Fair an event unique to

— Maria Ruth
Olympia?
A. No. From a modest beginning in California
around 1980 the idea of the Alternative Gift Fair
was picked up around the country by faith com- Annual Dinner &
Auction
munities, colleges and other organizations which
have acted as sponsors for this kind of event. By
the year 2000, Alternative Gift Fairs had been
conducted in 43 states, including Washington,
and in England, The Netherlands, South Korea
March 7, 2009
and Japan. The 2009 BHAS Annual Dinner and Auc-
Q. Is this the first year in which an Alternative Gift tion on March 7, 2009 may seem a long
Fair has been presented in Olympia?
A. No. In recent years, a few faith communities
way off, but the end of 2008 may be a good
– and perhaps some other organizations – have time to approach local merchants for dona-
offered this kind of opportunity for giving, pri- tions to the Auction, as they may wish to
marily to their own members. However, in recent reduce their inventories before the start of
years there has been a more concerted effort by
several sponsors to invite the participation of the
the new year.
entire Olympia community. So if you have a favorite local shop, con-
Q. Will all of the proceeds of the gifts made today
go to the participating charities?
sider stopping by to ask for a contribution.
A. Yes. The costs associated with this Alternative If you have any questions or need a let-
Gift Fair are borne by its sponsors.
Q. Are donations (other than the purchase of craft
ter of introduction, call or e-mail Margery
products and artwork) tax-deductible? Beeler (360-352-5437 or mswampcat aol.
A. YES, to the extent allowed by law. com).

10 Black Hills Audubon Society

Black Hills Audubon Society (BHAS) Membership form
Type of Membership—check appropriate box Yearly benefits:
Member of Black Hills Audubon Society Chapter (BHAS) only
Singles or household

$20, regular member All dues go to support local

$35, regular member for 2 years NEW! Black Hills Audubon chapter efforts.
$50, regular member for 3 years, NEW! Receive the chapter newsletter,
$15, senior or full-time student The Echo, which describes local
chapter conservation action, events,
$25, senior or full-time student for 2 years NEW! and field trips.
$35, senior or full-time student for 3 years NEW!
Please make check payable to Black Hills Audubon Society.

Member of Black Hills Audubon Society Chapter and National Audubon (both)
$20, first-time member price
$15, Senior or full-time student Most of the dues go to support national efforts.
Please make check payable to National Audubon Society. Receive the award-winning national magazine,
Renewals: please renew your National Audubon Membership by Audubon, and the chapter newsletter, The Echo.
filling out the forms sent to you by National and sending directly
to National Audubon. Thanks!

Subscription only—receive the chapter newsletter, The Echo (does not include membership)
$10 chapter newsletter only Receive the chapter newsletter,
The Echo
Please make check payable to Black Hills Audubon Society.

I would like to help Black Hills Audubon’s programs of education and conservation.
Enclosed is my additional donation of $_________
Renewals: please renew your National Audubon Membership by filling out the forms sent to you by National and send-
ing directly to National Audubon. Thanks!

Name:_________________________________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________City/State/zip________________________
Phone/Email___________________________________________________________________
My check for $__________ is enclosed.

Please fill out this form and mail it with your check to the appropriate address:
Membership Membership
Black Hills Audubon
Society is a 501(C)3 Black Hills Audubon Society National Audubon Society
organization. Contri- PO Box 2524 225 Varick Street, 7th floor
butions are deductible Olympia WA 98507 New York, NY 10014
to the extent allowed
by law. Thank you for supporting the Black Hills Audubon Society!

Black Hills Audubon Society 11

Marbled Murrelet to dispute scientific claims that the Canadian and
Alaskan murrelets are distinct from those liv-
be Delisted? ing in the Pacific Northwest and require special
protection.
Under pressure from timber industry groups, Murrelets also face threats from oil spills, chronic
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced oil pollution, gill-netting, loss of prey species,
on October 2 that it will consider delisting the predation by other bird species, and now a
Marbled Murrelet, a small seabird that newly documented threat in Alas-
nests in old-growth forests along the ka—whales. Researchers re-
Pacific Coast. Since 1993, the mur- cently watched a humpback
relet has been listed under the whale accidentally ingest
Endangered Species Act as 10 murrelets as they were
a federally threatened spe- competing for the same
cies in Washington, Oregon, small fish.
and California. Scientists esti-
mate that at its current population If you’d like to voice
decline of 4 to 7% a year, the murrelet your opinion against
could be extinct from Washington, Oregon, delisting and in support
and California within the next 100 years. of listing the species as
LMthreatened in Alaska
Delisting this bird would open up thousand of (where it currently is not listed), please send in
acres of forest to logging—an activity that has your comments by December 1, 2008, via
destroyed most of the murrelet’s breeding habi- //www.regulations (type “marbled
tat. The timber industry claims there is no need murrelet” in the search field).
to protect murrelets because there are “enough”
birds in British Columbia and Alaska; they

Black Hills Audubon Society

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Olympia WA 98507–2524 PAID
Olympia WA
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