Black Hills

Audubon Society
Olympia, Washington

Volume 41,
Number 1

January/February 2010

Conservation:
Mineral Lands Update Contents:
Conservation: Asphalt plants ............................1
Gravel Mine and Asphalt Plant Rules
for Thurston County Conservation News: TDRs ...............................2
Birding Class ....................................................3
Donna Nickerson, Conservation Chair
Annual Dinner ..................................................4
After a six-year moratorium on new gravel mines and
asphalt plant permits outside of industrially-zoned ar- Environmental Lobby Day ................................4
eas, Thurston County is moving towards the adoption Birding in Earnest .............................................5
of revisions to its Comprehensive Plan and regulations Great Backyard Bird Count ...............................6
that govern those activities and the designation of New Birding Trail map ......................................6
Mineral Lands of Long-Term Commercial Signifi cance. BHAS Calendar/Field trips and Events ..............7
In November 2009, the Thurston County Planning
BHAS Contacts .................................................8
Commission (TCPC) heard public comments, includ-
ing those from BHAS, on proposed changes to the Membership .....................................................9
Comprehensive Plan and county code. The proposal Hog Island Reopens ........................................ 10
would alter the way mineral lands are designated and
Continued on page 2

Thursday, January 1st Thursday, February 18th

Feathered Architects Memories of
From eagles to hummingbirds, Idie Ulsh will Australia
explore with us how and where birds make nests, Kangaroos, koalas, kuckaburras,
nest confi gurations and relate interesting facts wallabees and a hairy-nosed
about their construction. She has photographed wombat
the nests of more than 30 species, with an empha- Come join us for a special evening
sis on song birds. with Jim Lazar and Karen Messmer as
they share images and memories of
Idie is well known for her bird and butterfl y
several trips “down under”,
programs. She has recently completed an in-
including the Great Barrier Reef
depth, three-year study of bird nests and is eager
and much more. Enjoy a bit of
to share her fi ndings. She is a past president of
vicarious sun-soaked scenery in
Continued on page 2 these pre-Spring days!

General membership meetings are usually 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.
Conservation News
By Donna Nickerson
Black Hills Audubon (BHAS) has a history
of advocating for improved land use
planning in Thurston County with
the goal of protecting the ecosystem
functions and values that are essen-
tial to wildlife, our local economy,
natural heritage and quality of life.
This has always been an essential
role of the Conservation Committee
and complimentary to our work on
the oversight of permit applications for
various development projects that signifi-
cantly affect important bird and other wildlife
habitat.
Our work in improving land use planning has
involved suggestions to help strengthen and
improve the Comprehensive Plan, Critical Areas,
Mineral Lands, and Stormwater Ordinances, as
well as Growth Management Act (GMA) compli-
Mineral lands
From page 1
establish criteria for designation that protects other
natural resources, environmentally sensitive areas,
and public health and safety. The TCPC is scheduled
in December 2009 to forward recommendations to
the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), which
will hold its own public hearing early in 2010. Revi-
sions to county code regulating the siting of asphalt
plants are scheduled to be in front of the TCPC in
January. The BoCC will then deliberate on asphalt
plant rules later in 2010.
The designation of mineral lands and the siting of
asphalt plants were discussed by two task forces
comprised of citizen, government, and industry
representatives. Reports from both groups are avail-
able and are being used by the TCPC in the devel-
opment of their recommendations. Information on
the county’s process and background information
is available on the county’s web site http://www.
co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/Mineral_Lands_Task_
Force/Mineral_Lands_Home.htm
Work sessions held on these issues by the TCPC
and the BoCC are open to the public. Meeting agen-
das and the BOCC master schedule are also avail-
able via the county’s web pages.
For additional information, email Susan Markey at
slmarkey@comcast.net.
 Black Hills Audubon Society
ance solutions, among others. In addition, we
have recommended innovative tools as practical
solutions for easing the burden of implementa-
tion on both property owners and the County.
Some examples include: (1) a full scale Low
Impact Development approach that blends
conservation and pollution prevention
techniques; (2) Conservation Design
for Subdivisions; and, (3) Transferable
Development Rights (TDR). In this
issue, I want to describe progress on
just one of these tools: TDR.
Transferable Development
Rights
As I looked back at our correspondence written on
this subject to the County, I found comment letters
and testimonies from 2006 and 2007 asking for the
County to improve its TDR program so that it can be
implemented as one solution for sustainable growth
and preservation of our rural character, including
agricultural lands and important habitats in Thur-
ston County. We asked that the County implement
an impact fee structure in the rural areas to help
direct growth to the cities, which would also enable
cities to maintain their own impact fee levels, rather
than cutting or eliminating their fees to attract
urban housing, as has been the tendency. We asked
that Thurston County’s three major cities stop giv-
ing away additional density for free, and that the
County actively seek areas that are most ecologi-
cally valuable for preservation and broaden the
scope of the TDR program to include these areas in
addition to farmland.
In 2008, we recommended to the Olympia City
Council that they continue the review and consider-
ation of the potential for turning the Isthmus into a
park before making any intermediate decision that
would affect development on the Isthmus. Our key
Continued on next page
Bird nests
From page 1
Seattle Audubon, founder of the Washington But-
terfly Association, Seattle Audubon Master Birder,
freelance nature photographer, and an independent
college counselor.
In addition to her own photos, she will include pho-
tos from University of Puget Sound Slater Museum,
Cornell Lab of Ornithology and many local photog-
raphers who have contributed to this unique and
fun program.
 Beginning Birding Class with Dr. Scott Mills of BHAS
Date: Five Saturday Mornings, Jan 9th, 16th, 23rd,
30th, and Feb 6th, and two field trips whose dates
will be determined at first class.
Time: 9:00 to 11:00AM
The class is comprised of five classes and two
field trips.
Where: Olympia or Lacey- Location to be given
upon registration.
Cost: $40.00. Registration Required
Contact person: Shelley Horn at and taught ornithology at the college level. Since
shelleysmail directv.net, 360-352-0075
This course will provide an introduction to bird-
ing with an emphasis on developing identification
skills. Other topics will include a review of bird-
Conservation News
From page 2
reasons included that the proposal would require a
significant change in the city’s comprehensive plan
and that the city’s upzoning of the isthmus “for
free” prevented the use of growth management tools
(e.g., Transferable Development Rights, among oth-
ers) by the County.
How does a TDR program work?
TDR is a market-based tool to exchange the right
to develop residential units from areas with low
population needs, such as rural farmland, to areas
of higher population needs, such as downtown ar-
eas. Under a TDR program, property owners in the
downtown urban areas who apply for an increase
in zoning density must buy the development rights
to upzone if and when the application is approved.
These fees from the buyer of development rights
are used to pay the owners of rural lands who are
willing to sell their unused rights to develop on their
property. The transactions cost the government only
administrative time to oversee the program. The
public benefits because open spaces are perma-
nently preserved while central cities are revitalized.
Thurston County’s TDR program (Chapter 20.62)
targets only farmland that is zoned Long Term Agri-
culture.
Why a TDR program is so important.
In recent months, the County Commissioners have
increased the amount of farmland zoned as Long
http://www.blackhills-audubon.org
ing tools including binoculars and field guides,
an introduction to birding terminology, and some
discussion of basic bird biology and classification
as they relate to identification. The course is de-
signed primarily for beginning birders but should
be useful for many mid-level birders as well.
The instructor, Dr. Mills, is a professional biolo-
gist with nearly fifty years of birding experience
throughout the United States and in several
foreign countries. He has previously taught a
number of beginning and specialty birding classes
moving to Washington from Tucson, Arizona in
1999, he has done a number of bird surveys at
sea on NOAA ships and has been a trip leader for
Westport Seabirds.
Term Agriculture (LTA). However, this only increases
the LTA lands to some 20% of the total farmland in
Thurston County. And importantly, LTA farmland is
not permanently protected as farmland. Owners of
land zoned under LTA can apply to subdivide the
land ultimately to 5 acre parcels with a residential
unit on each parcel. A TDR program would allow
for the LTA landowner to sell the development rights
to the 5 acre parcels, keeping the lands working in
perpetuity.
Expanding the program beyond the LTA zoning to
protect more farmland and other rural lands that
are ecologically important would allow the County
to offer more property owners an opportunity to
keep their farm and forestry lands working and for
landowners of critical habitat areas, conserve the
ecological functions and values of their property for
public benefit.
Thurston County’s progress and vision
Until recently, Thurston County had the oldest
but least used TDR program in the state. However,
new leadership in Thurston County is committed
to ensuring that its policies and practices are in
full compliance with the GMA. The County is now
developing a number of tools that will help achieve
the vision and goals of our Comprehensive Plan. An
effective TDR program is an important component
of this tool kit, and the BHAS conservation commit-
tee is one of the stakeholders actively participating
at the table in the County’s new collaborative ap-
proach to improve the TDR program.

Black Hills Audubon Society
Annual Dinner/Auction
March 6, 2010, Olympia Center, Olympia
5:00 pm: Social Time/Auction Perusal
5:45 pm: Dinner Begins
The BHAS Board of Directors is very excited about
our upcoming Annual Dinner/Auction. Your invitation
should reach you in early February.
Our featured speaker is David Jennings. David has a
long history with BHAS. Back in the 90’s he serviced
in a variety of positions on our board. In 2006 we
honored him as our Conservationist of the Year for
his efforts on behalf of our native forests.
David is currently a member of the Pacific Northwest
Advanced Assessment Team of REEF (Reef Environ-
mental Education Foundation, a non-profit organiza-
tion of recreational divers who regularly conduct bio-
diversity and abundance surveys during their dives).
His photographic presentation, Underwater Wildlife
Of Puget Sound: the amazing fish and invertebrates
in our back yard, will give us a special opportunity to
glimpse our amazing neighboring undersea world and
to learn about current marine conservation issues.
For additional background on David’s talk, please see
his article Tigers and Chinas and Canaries, Oh My!
in the November/December 2009 issue of The Echo.
Another important component of the evening will
be the presentation of our two major awards: the
Environmental Lobby Day 2010:
Be Heard, Be Seen, Be Green!
When: Tuesday January 26th, 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Where: United Churches of Olympia, 110th East
11th Ave (opposite Capitol Campus).
Black Hills Audubon is a co-sponsor of the nine-
teenth annual Environmental Priorities Lobby Day.
Join hundreds of citizen lobbyists from around the
state and the state’s leading conservation groups to
push for the passage of the Environmental Priorities
Coalition’s 2010 legislative priorities:
1. The Working for Clean Water bill is about creat-
ing jobs, rebuilding our local economies, and
cleaning up polluted waterways like Puget Sound
and Spokane River.
2. Safe Baby Bottles to protect children’s health and
the environment by phasing out the harmful chem-
ical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, food and
beverage cans, and other consumer products.
3. Budget for our Environment to ensure adequate
 Black Hills Audubon Society
Jack Davis Environmentalist of the Year award and
the recently established Dave McNett Environmental
Educator of the Year award.
The Auction, once again Silent only, succeeds when
we have wonderful items to offer. The best items,
from past experience, are field trips or unique experi-
ence items involving birding, wildlife, botany, garden-
ing, or boating. We also love to offer art, craft, book,
and jewelry items with bird/wildlife/plant themes.
A word of warning: art/photographic items valued
above $200 rarely produce bids worthy of the item.
Less expensive items fare better, especially in these
difficult economic times.
If you have something to donate, please call or e-mail
Margery Beeler (360-352-5437; mswampcat@aol.
com) or Meagan Thorn (360-754-5557; mithorn@
comcast.net). We must have advance notice of any-
thing you plan to donate.
Also if you can help with setting up for the dinner
(about 2 pm), helping at the dinner itself or with
cleanup, we would be deeply grateful. Please contact
Margery or Meagan.
We plan an evening of good company, good informa-
tion, good opportunities to socialize and good food.
Most of these rely on you for your contributions. We
hope you will bring a wonderful dish to share at the
potluck and cash or checks (sorry: we can’t handle
credit/debit cards) to pay for the auction items on
which you bid generously. We look forward to shar-
ing this special evening with you.
funding for the core environmental protections that
make Washington State a healthy place to live.
During Environmental Lobby Day you will hear from
legislators that are championing the Environmen-
tal Priorities legislation, receive training on how to
lobby from top environmental lobbyists, and meet
face-to-face with your elected officials. And don’t
forget the party in the evening!
For more information on the legislative priorities of
the Environmental Priorities Coalition, visit www.
environmentalpriorities.org.
Registration: On line registration is $15 (includes
breakfast, lunch and materials) and begins in
December at http://pugetsound.org/forms/lobby-
dayreg10.
(After January 22, the registration fee is $20: Con-
tact lobbyday@pugetsound.org.)
Birding in Earnest along with 3 adult and 2 young Tundra Swans
reported by Keith Brady (KDB). On 10/30 Keith also
October – November 009 noted a Heerman’s Gull at the north end of the lake
along with a few Canvasback, a sight that seems to
By Bill Shelmerdine
be less common in recent years. On 11/1, Ira Zuck-
To reports sightings call 866-9106 or email at
erbond located a Long-tailed Duck in West Bay
georn1 hotmail.com
behind the Bayview Thriftway, and by 11/20 at least
The big news… Nisqually Refuge: construction is 2 male Redheads had joined the mix at the lake
complete, at least for this phase, and some of the (KDB).
new wetland and dike areas are accessible. The outer
Phil Kelly reported on the fi rst post-construction
dike of course is no longer accessible. On October 28
survey from Nisqually on 10/28. At that time the fi rst
the fi rst post restoration bird surveys were conducted
Northern Shrike of the season was reported. On
and on November 12 there was a dedication cer-
11/1 I spent a few hours along the Nisqually Cut-
emony. A visit at high tide will provide an impressive
off Road just south of the refuge. A Yellow-Headed
contrast with the refuge of old.
Blackbird was among the large blackbird fl ock in the
Through much of October I spent my time birding pumpkin patch, and 6 Snow Geese, and 2 Greater
to the south. From the redwoods to the deserts, to White-fronted Geese were among the 3000 or more
the coastal sage scrub and off the continental shelf; Cackling Geese frequenting the fi elds there. The
California in the fall is an outstanding birding desti- group likely included a mix of migrants and wintering
nation. During this time I either received few reports birds. By 11/18 Phil Kelly’s group recorded a Short-
or missed a bunch of them. Normally this is a great eared Owl (fi rst of season) and a second Northern
time to be out in our area. Shrike at the refuge. On the same day Keith Brady
located a Trumpeter Swan on the outer part of the
Locally October began a bit on the slow side, I
refuge at Luhr Beach and a family group of 3 Sand-
thought. However, along the coast a Chestnut-col-
hill Cranes along the Nisqually Cut-off.
lared Longspur was located at the Hoquium Sewage
Ponds on 10/21. The bird turned out to be very coop- Infrequently reported these days, one or two White-
erative, not only sticking around for over a week, but tailed Kites were reported from Mima Mounds on
often hanging out in the open not far from the road. 11/11 by John Sneva (fi de Bill Tweit). Probably the
Over the days that followed, those searching for the most exciting fi nd in our area was a fi rst-year male
Longspur turned up Clay-colored Sparrows (2), Or- King Eider seen at Potlatch State Park on Hood
chard Oriole, Palm Warbler, and Tropical King- Canal on 11/21 by Marv Breece; it could not be relo-
bird in the same area. This seemed to be the place cated.
to be at the time for birds and birders alike. Unfortu-
By the third week in November, a signifi cant move-
nately this period also coincided with a lapse in my
ment of Tundra Swans seemed to be underway.
record keeping. My apologies to those who found
Bob Sundstrom reported one overhead at Tenino on
the above mentioned species and are not credited
11/23, Phil Kelly noted 27 at Nisqually on 11/25, I
here. During this same period, a Black-tailed Gull
noted 70 overhead near Steamboat Island on 11/26,
frequented Commencement Bay in Tacoma, making
and Doug Canning reported 20 swans that were al-
the later part of October an exciting time for birding
most certainly Tundras also on 11/26 at Black Lake.
in the region.
And fi nally there were some nice reports from Lewis
The focus of this article however, is the Thurston,
County near the end of the month. Roger Moyer re-
Lewis, Mason County area, and closer to home
ported a Ross’s Goose with Tundra Swans on 11/27
things really seemed to pick up from late October
west of Chehalis near Pleasant Valley and Twin Oaks
straight through November. About the third week in
Roads. Two Short-eared Owls were also noted in
October a distinct increase in waterfowl numbers
the area.
was noted.
Looking ahead to December and January, a number
On 10/25, Bill Tweit located a Clarks Grebe and
of opportunities are on tap. Besides the numbers of
Eurasian Wigeon on Capitol Lake, while a Barred
waterfowl, raptors, and sparrows that can be found
Owl was hanging out in the riparian area at the
locally, an infl ux of winter fi nches can often spice
south end. Wigeon numbers had jumped to over
things up. Nomadic species from the northern or bo-
200 by this time and 2 Mute Swans were likely the
real environs show up in some winters. Many bird-
same birds that frequented the lake in the spring. On
10/28, very large numbers of waterfowl were noted
Continued on page 7

http://www.blackhills-audubon.org 5
Great Backyard Bird Count: A Chance to
Participate, whether Novice or Expert
Submitted by Sam Merrill counting for fun, counting for the future.”

Join millions of bird watchers across North America People of all ages and experience levels are invited
to make your love of nature add up for science and to take part wherever they are—at home, in school-
for the future during the 13th annual Great Back- yards, at local parks, or wildlife refuges. Participants
yard Bird Count during “Presidents’ Day” weekend, can compare results from their town or region with
February 12-15, 2010. Led by Audubon and the others, as checklists pour in from throughout the
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, anyone – expert U.S. and Canada. In 2009, participants sent in over
or novice -- can count birds from wherever they are 93,000 checklists tallying 619 species and over 11
and enter their tallies online at www.birdcount.org million individual birds.
and see the results within minutes. Here is just a sample of on-line comments from
On the www.birdcount.org website, participants can previous participants:
explore real-time maps and charts that show what “Thank you for the opportunity to participate in
others are reporting during the count. These reports citizen science. I have had my eyes opened to a
create an exciting real-time picture of where the whole new interest and I love it!”
birds are across the continent and contribute valu-
able information for science and conservation about “It is more than a rewarding experience. I will do
which species are declining and which are becom- this every year from now on because it feels like I
ing more abundant. am doing something more to help the birds other
than just feeding them.”
“The Great Backyard Bird Count benefi ts both birds
and people. It’s a great example of citizen science: Mark the date: February 12-15. Go to www.bird-
Anyone who can identify even a few species can count.org for more information. Just count the birds
contribute to the body of knowledge that is used to you see during these dates and enter the results
inform conservation efforts to protect birds and bio- online at the same website, either daily or at the
diversity,” said Audubon Education VP, Judy Braus. end of the weekend. You will be part of the most
“Families, teachers, children and all those who take detailed snapshot of continental bird-distribution in
part in GBBC get a chance to improve their obser- history. Get your friends involved and have fun!
vation skills, enjoy nature, and have a great time

Celebrate the Newest Great Washington

State Birding Trail!
State Sen. Lisa Brown and Audubon Washington cordially
invite you to the unveiling of the newest map of the Great
Washington State Birding Trail, the Palouse to Pines Loop,
and featuring live birds like those seen on this route:
a Great Horned Owl and Red-tailed Hawk.
12:45-1:00p.m. • Jan. 26, 2010
Rooms ABC Cherberg Building
State Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA
Please join us in the presentation of the latest area of the
state to offer the Birding Trail’s successful combination of
outdoor recreation, conservation and rural economic devel-
opment.
More information: cnorman audubon.org

6 Black Hills Audubon Society

BHAS Calendar and Field Trip and Event Details
January 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, and Feb 6th,
and two field trips whose dates will be
determined
Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00AM
Class: Beginning Birding with Dr. Scott Mills
Registration required. (See complete information in
this Echo).
January 21st, Thursday, 7 pm
Program meeting presentation:
Feathered Architects:
The Fascinating World of Bird Nests
By Idie Ulsh
January 26th, Tuesday,
8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Event: Environmental Lobby Day
2010:
Be Heard, Be Seen, Be Green!
United Churches of Olympia, 110th East
11th Ave (opposite Capitol Campus). Regis-
tration required. See complete article in this
Echo.
February 12th-15th
Event: Great Backyard Bird Count
Led by Audubon and Cornell
See complete details in this issue of the Echo
Feb. 18th, Thursday, 7pm
Program meeting presentation:
Memories of Australia–Kangaroos, koalas,
kuckaburras, wallabies and a hairy-nosed
wombat
March 6th, Saturday, 7:30 am
Field Trip: Birding by Ear
Leader: Jean MacGregor
Location: McLane Nature Trail
The group will meet at McLane Nature Trail parking
lot at 7:30 a.m. for a two-hour stroll on the McLane
Trails, practicing birding by ear, and watching for
both the migrants and residents of early spring.
Beginners, as well as more experienced birders, are
welcome. Please sign up by calling the BHAS mes-
sage phone at 360-352-7299. Limit 12.
March 6, Saturday
Event: Black Hills Audubon Society Annual
Dinner/Auction
5:00 pm: Social Time/Auction Perusal
5:45 pm: Dinner Begins
Location: Olympia Center, Olympia website (http://www.wos.org/) for count locations
See complete information in this issue of the Echo
http://www.blackhills-audubon.org
March 7th, Saturday, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Field Trip: Hood Canal
Leader: Andrew Beélik
We’ll do the traditional sweep of promising es-
tuaries along the west shore of the Canal. We’ll
check Purdy Creek for Dippers and the Skokomish
Valley for swans. Wintering waterfowl will still be
around and they attract raptors. Passerines will be
incidental along the shoreline. We might see up
to 15 species of ducks, among them, with luck,
such uncommon ones as Black Scoter, Harle-
quin, and Hooded Merganser. We’ll meet at 8:30
am in Shelton at the Chevron Station at Arca-
dia and Olympic Hwy S. Limit three vehicles, 12
persons. Sign up with Andrew at (360) 426-6262.
You may also join us at the picnic area of Potlatch
State Park, provided you had signed up. The trip
continues from the Park at 9:30. At the end of the
day, we’ll touch on the Park on the way to Shelton.
Bring lunch, walking will not exceed one mile.
April 3rd , Saturday, 7:30 am
Field Trip: Birding by Ear
Leader: Jean MacGregor
Location: McLane Nature Trail
The group will meet at McLane Nature Trail
parking lot at 7:30 a.m. for a two-hour stroll on
the McLane Trails, practicing birding by ear, and
watching for both the migrants and residents of
early spring. Beginners, as well as more expe-
rienced birders, are welcome. Please sign up by
calling the BHAS message phone at 360-352-7299.
Limit 12.
Birding in Earnest
From page 5
ers choose to take an annual trip to the east-side
in January or February. The Waterville Plateau and
the Okanogan Highlands are among favored locals.
The mid - to latter part of the winter season is also
a good time to take a second look through those
gull flocks. It is at this time that some of the more
uncommon northerly species show up. This can be
the best time to look for Glaucous, or if you are very
lucky perhaps even a Slaty-backed Gull.
And finally, December (and the first days of Janu-
ary) is Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season. Everone
is encouraged to participate. Check out the WOS
and compiler contact information.

 Black Hills Audubon Society Contacts
President: *Sam Merrill .............360-866-8839 Programs: Kris Schoyen ........... 360-754-1710
pres@blackhills-audubon.org kschoyen hotmail.com
Co-Vice President: Publications
*Whittier Johnson ..................360-866-8156 (Echo Editor/Webmaster)
co-vicepresw blackhills-audubon.org *Debra Jaqua .........................360-491-3325
Co-Vice President: webdeb1 gmail.com
*Kris Schoyen ........................ 360-754-1710 Education and Birdfeeder Cleaning
co-vicepresk blackhills-audubon.org Coordinator
Secretary: Currently vacant *Debbie Nickerson .................360-754-5397
Treasurer: *Susan Markey .......360-438-9048 debranick@gmail.com
treasurer blackhills-audubon.org Member Volunteers
*Tracey Scalici ....................trscalici .com Bird-a-thon Coordinator:
*Mike O’MalIey ..........................360-943-2369 Sheila McCartan ......................... 360-357-9170
Michael.omalley comcast.net schooleymccartan omcast.net
*Meagan Thorn ...............mithorn net Bird ID: Bill Shelmerdine ........... 360- 866-9106
Committee Chairs georn1@hotmail.com
Conservation: Donna Nickerson ... 360-352-7299 Echo Designer: Lee Miller .........360-753-0942
conservationchair blackhills-audubon.org aleemiller igc.org
Field Trips: *Kristin Stewart .....360-456-5098 Phone Team: Carolyn Harmon and Bonnie Wood
kristinstewartO1 comcast.net
Membership: *Margery Beeler ..360-352-5437 Committee Chairs may also serve as Board Members.
mswampcat aol.com

* BHAS Board Member

Black Hills Audubon Society Board meetings are usually at 5:30 p.m. on the sec-
Mailing address: PO Box 2524, Olympia WA, 98507. ond Wednesday of each month. The site varies from
Phone: 360-352-7299 (Messages) month to month; please call the message phone
Website: www.blackhills-audubon number to inquire as to the location. Phone and
E-mail: 4info blackhills-audubon.org e-mail messages are welcome, but please remember
that we are a volunteer-based organization, and it
Black Hills Audubon Society is a non-profi t may take us a few days to get back to you.
organization. A member chapter of the National
Audubon Society, it represents Audubon members in The Echo is published bi-monthly. Editor: Deb
Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties. Jaqua. Layout and design by Lee Miller. Graphics by
Nature Icons/Ultimate Symbol unless initialed.
Our goals are to maintain, restore and protect our
ecosystems for future generations, and to promote Material for The Echo should be sent to PO Box 2524,
environmental education and nature-based Olympia, WA 98507, or e-mailed to
recreation. Deb Jaqua at webdeb1 gmail.com. The deadline for
the March/April 2010 issue of The Echo is January 29.
Monthly program meetings are usually 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.

8 Black Hills Audubon Society

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

Member of Black Hills Audubon Society Chapter and National Audubon (both)
$20, fi rst-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.
Renewals: please renew your National Audubon Membership by Receive the award-winning national magazine,
filling out the forms sent to you by National and sending directly Audubon, and the chapter newsletter, The Echo.
to National Audubon. Thanks! Chapter: C 9 Z Y12 0 Z
Subscription only—receive the chapter newsletter, The Echo (does not include membership)
$10 chapter newsletter only
Receive the chapter newsletter,
Please make check payable to Black Hills Audubon Society. The Echo
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 Black Hills Audubon Society National Audubon Society
Society is a 501(C)3 PO Box 2524 225 Varick Street, 7th fl oor
organization. Olympia WA 98507 New York, NY 10014
Contributions are
deductible to the
extent allowed Thank you for supporting the Black Hills Audubon Society!
by law.

http://www.blackhills-audubon.org 9
Black Hills Audubon Society
PO Box 2524
Olympia WA 98507–2524
Return Service Requested
Famed Hog Island
Reopens
The National Audubon Society will reopen its legend-
ary Hog Island for four adult ornithology sessions and
one teen bird studies session during the summer of
2010. Dr. Steve Kress, Audubon’s VP for Bird Con-
servation will direct the sessions. He will be joined
by some of the country’s top ornithologists who will
serve as instructors, including Kenn Kaufman, Pete
Dunne, and Scott Weidensaul. Additionally, said Dr.
Kress, there will be two totally new sessions offered in
association with Elder Hostel (now Exploritas) where
participants will assist Project Puffin biologists to
census gulls, eiders and cormorants at several nearby
seabird nesting islands. Participants in the September
session will learn about land and seabirds through
bird banding and presentations and assist with a
habitat management project for endangered terns and
storm-petrels at Eastern Egg Rock.
Known to thousands as the Audubon Camp in Maine,
Hog Island was closed during the summer of 2009 to
permit planning for the future. This process led to Proj-
ect Puffin bringing back the popular ornithology pro-
Nonprofit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Olympia WA
Permit #87
grams for adults and teens. The adult programs are for
both beginning and avid birders who would like to learn
more about Maine birdlife and the biology of birds. The
teen session is for 14-17 year olds with a keen interest
in birds. This session is co-sponsored by the American
Birding Association. Due to its varied habitats, Hog
Island and vicinity are an ideal setting for the program,
as more than 100 species frequent the area.
Participants live in authentic, turn of the century hous-
ing on the 330 acre spruce-covered island. Here, they
will enjoy three home-cooked meals a day in an historic
island farmhouse that overlooks Muscongus Bay. Dur-
ing the five-day sessions, small field groups will go on a
variety of trips and boat cruises, and attend workshops
and presentations on topics ranging from migration and
the identification of warblers to the restoration of Atlan-
tic Puffins and terns on nearby Eastern Egg Rock.
The Hog Island camp first opened in 1936, with Roger
Tory Peterson as its first bird instructor. It is well known
in America’s environmental community as a distin-
guished and beautiful place of learning and enjoyment.
For more information on dates, sessions, costs, instruc-
tors, etc. visit www.projectpuffin.org To read testimoni-
als and see photos from previous Hog Island programs,
visit naturecompass fohi.