The Corvid Crier Vol 29, No 5 — June 2010

The Mission of the Eastside Sunny Walter Named Eastside Audubon 2009
Audubon Society is to protect, Environmentalist of the Year
preserve and enhance natural
ecosystems and our communi- At the celebration of Year Award.
life service held in her
ties for the benefit of birds, We are recognizing Sunny for the many hours
honor in late April,
other wildlife and people. Eastside Audubon
of volunteer time which she gave to three or-
ganizations that are dedicated to preserving
posthumously pre-
open space for humans and habitat for wildlife:
sented Sunny Walter
The Mountaineers, the Washington Wildlife
the 2009 Environmen-
and Recreation Coalition, and Eastside Audu-
talist of the Year
bon. She was a researcher, a mother, a writer,
Award. Her daughter
an organizer, a photographer, a committee
Samantha King accepted the award. Andy
HIGHLIGHTS INSIDE: McCormick, Conservation Chair, presented the
member and a field trip leader. Her energy
infused meetings, connections with people, and
Styrofoam Recycling — 2 award with the following acknowledgement of
her commitment to the natural world. Her
Sunny’s contribution to the health of the envi-
Open Positions — 2 work rippled out and motivated many other
ronment:
people to join her efforts. The environment is
Board Notes — 3 In recognition of her work in support of pro- better as a result of her enthusiasm and accom-
Field Trips — 4 tecting and restoring the environment Eastside plishments. We are grateful for all her contri-
Audubon has selected Sunny Walter as the re- butions.
Bird of the Month — 5 cipient of the 2009 Environmentalist of the
Conservation in our Lives:
Shoreline Buffers — 6 Understanding Shorebirds: The Miracle of Migration
Thursday, June 24, 7:00 p.m. — Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church
Puget Bird Loop Project — 7
Come learn about Pacific Golden Plovers, San-
derlings, Wandering Tattlers, Bar-tailed God-
wits, and other shorebirds.
Tim Boyer will present “Understanding Shore-
birds: The Miracle of Migration” at the June
membership meeting. Shorebirds are an awe
inspiring group of birds, many of them spend-
ing their lives making epic journeys each year.
We’ll take a close look at several species and
talk about where, why and how they make
these journeys. We’ll also see that by under-
standing the migration patterns of shorebirds Bar-tailed Godwit (Tim Boyer photo)
Directions to Eastside Audubon we can see the necessity of global conservation.
Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church,
308 4th Ave. S. (corner of 4th Ave. S. and June is the perfect month to get ready for the place in the Professional, Nature category of
State). Take I-405 exit 18 (NE 85th, Kirk-
land). Drive west on Central Way to 3rd St. fall migration of shorebirds which starts in July, the International Art show sponsored each
(stoplight). Turn left (south) on 3rd St. and and last through September and into October. April by the Associated Arts of Ocean Shores.
follow it as it bears left and changes name
to State St. Turn left on 4th Ave S. Tim is the moderator of the Photo Group that This presentation is FREE and open to the pub-
meets the second Thursday of each month. His lic. Please invite a friend. Directions to Eastside
TAKE THE BUS! Routes 540, 230 and
255 serve State Street in Kirkland. photography has appeared in “WildBird,” Audubon (at Northlake UU Church) are at the
“Birder’s World,” and “Wildfowl.” His image bottom-left of this page.
of Sandhill Cranes, “Evening Flight,” won first
The Corvid Crier ~ June 2010 1
 Eastside Audubon Society
Recycling Very Clean Chunk Form (425) 576-8805 — www.eastsideaudubon.org
Styrofoam — Yes!
308 4th Avenue S. (Corner 4th Ave. S. and State)
Eastside Audubon now has a plan to keep more chunk Executive Officers
styrofoam out of the landfill and have it sent off to be President Cindy Balbuena cbalbuena@comcast.net
processed into a useful item. You've heard about styro- Vice President Open
foam recycling at some monthly meetings; and now here Secretary
Treasurer
Carmen Almodovar calmodovar@eastsideaudubon.org
Jim Kenney (425) 746-9862
are specifics about how you can help. Styrofoam shaped Executive Director Jan McGruder (425) 822-8580
to a product for shipping protection is not recyclable jan@eastsideaudubon.org
curbside. Last year a local person, Marilyn Lauderdale, Committee Chairs/Board (board positions underlined)
began a recycling business for this debris. The business At large board member Helen LaBouy hlabouy@eastsideaudubon.org
is known as V&G Styro Recycle, and its website address At large board member Margaret Lie mlie@eastsideaudubon.org
Birding Tricia Kishel tkishel@eastsideaudubon.org
is www.styrorecycle.com. Marilyn had worked for Bird Photography Tim Boyer tboyer@seanet.com
IKEA in south Renton for many years, and they kindly Field Trips Hugh Jennings (425) 746-6351
offered space for this new business. IKEA is a complex Native Plant Walks fieldtrips@eastsideaudubon.org
Open
of three large buildings. Marilyn's recycling "styrofoam Nature Walks Christopher Chapman (425) 941-3501
depot and processing business" is in the western-most cjchapman19@comcast.net
building, a warehouse with a loading dock that's across a Bird Questions? MaryFrances Mathis (425) 803-3026
Conservation Andrew McCormick amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org
driveway from Alliance Packaging, between SW 41st
Education Mary Britton-Simmons (360) 794-7163
and SW 43rd streets. mbrittonsimmons@eastsideaudubon.org
Communication Open
Newsletter Tom Grismer (206) 851-7322
Even if people accumulate clean styrofoam (no tape, no newsletter@eastsideaudubon.org
plastic or metal - just clean styrofoam) how often do we Membership Open
get to south Renton? Our Jill Keeney had an idea: at our Financial Development Tim McGruder tmcgruder@eastsideaudubon.org
Birdathon Open office@eastsideaudubon.org
chapter meetings which are held every 4th Thursday
(except during summer, or in December). people can Open Positions
bring chunk/block styrofoam - clean styrofoam - and a
The following positions are open and waiting for volunteers. Please
volunteer will take it to Marilyn's south Renton recy- call the office if you have questions or are interested: Vice President,
cling depot for us. Hooray! Bring your styrofoam, and Adult Education chair, Advocacy, Communication chair, Member-
bring your neighbor's styrofoam (bring your neighbor ship chair, Programs chair, Gift Wrap, Birdathon, and Merchandis-
too) to our June meeting. With no monthly meetings in ing.
summer, be ready to bring any you've collected to the
September meeting. No styrofoam is to be brought to
store at our office (no room); bring it only to our Newsletter Editor Wanted
monthly meeting. Would you be able to help some
month with this? If you can help, just call the office, and
leave your name and phone number. Let's take a turn to Are you familiar with Publisher or another layout pro-
help solve this problem. A remarkable woman has done gram? Looking for a creative volunteer position you
lots of work to create a styrofoam recycling business. can do in your jammies from home? We are looking
Now we need to put Jill's idea to work. for an editor for the Corvid Crier to take over the reins
— Bev Jennings and Jill Keeney from Tom Grismer, who has served in this position for
many years. Tom will provide training and guidance to
B u sin es s N am e
get you started on the right foot. The time commit-
ment is around 6 – 8 hours per month.
TM Construction
Please contact Cindy Balbuena at
Tim McGruder
General Contractor
tmcon**1480t cbalbuena@comcast.net if interested.
Residential Construction
Remodel, Repair, Carpentry

10% discount for Audubon members

425-457-0465
tmcgruder@gmail.com

The Corvid Crier ~ June 2010 2

June Meetings
June 3 (Thurs) 10:30 a.m.
Web Committee
Meets first Thursday each month in EAS
Office. All interested parties are invited.
Questions? Email
webmaster@eastsideaudubon.org
June 8 (Tues) 7:00 p.m.
Youth Education Committee
Meets in the EAS Office. All interested
parties are invited. Questions?
Email education@elwas.org
June 9 (Weds) 7:00 p.m.
Conservation Committee
Meets second Wednesday each month in
EAS Office. Questions? Email Andrew
McCormick at
amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org
June 10 (Thurs) 7:00 p.m.
Photo Group
Meets in large room upstairs from EAS
Office. Questions? Email Tim Boyer at
tboyer@seanet.com
Eastside Audubon Office/
Audubon Center
The office is downstairs at Northlake
Unitarian Universalist Church in
Kirkland, 308 4th Avenue S. (Corner
4th Ave. S. and State). Directions: I-
405 exit 18 (N. E. 85th-Kirkland). Go
west on Central Way to the light on 3rd
St. Go left on 3rd St. Follow this street
(it bears left and changes name to State
St.) Then turn left on 4th Ave. S.
(425) 576-8805
office@eastsideaudubon.org
Hours: Mon, Tues, Fri —
9:00 a.m.— 1:00 p.m.
The Corvid Crier, Vol 29, NO 5
Publication Date: June 1, 2010.
Published by: Eastside Audubon Society
P.O. Box 3115, Kirkland, WA 98083-3115
The Corvid Crier is published monthly by the Eastside
Audubon Society except that there are no issues in
January or August.
Deadline for material submission is the first Wednesday
of the month preceding publication. Send material by
email to:
newsletter@eastsideaudubon.org
Subject: EAS Newsletter
or by mail to:
Eastside Audubon Society
Attn: Tom Grismer
P. O. Box 3115, Kirkland, WA 98083-3115
Board Notes for April 2010
Puget Sound Birding Trails Map: ble facilitators.
The board passed a motion to make
Fundraising: The board reviewed the
the $5,000 donation required to par-
status of current fundraising projects,
ticipate in the Birding Trails Map pro-
including Birdathon and related trips,
ject being coordinated by Christy Nor-
as well as the Spring Plant Sale.
man, formerly of Washington State
Audubon. We will be making the do- Sierra Club and the TransAlta
nation in two $2500 installments, one Plant: TransAlta, which produces en-
ergy from coal, is a Canadian-owned
this year, and one next year.
company in Centralia, Washington.
Program Night: The board is consid-
TransAlta is the largest employer in
ering speakers for our monthly pro-
Lewis County, and it’s also the largest
grams. If you would like to suggest
producer of global warming pollution
speakers for our monthly meetings,
in the state. Governor Gregoire wants
please send email to: of-
the company to convert to a gas pow-
fice@eastsideaudubon.org
ered plant in 10 years, while Sierra
Member Survey: The board is final- Club conservationists would like the
izing the questions for the survey that transition to occur within five years.
we’ll be asking members to complete. The board passed a motion in support
The board will be looking for feed- of the Sierra Club position.
back on current chapter activities as
Marymoor: Andy McCormick, Con-
well as the future direction of the
servation Chair, noted that the Conser-
chapter.
vation Committee decided that trail
Visioning: The board is planning a improvements should be made to
day-long session on “visioning.” Vi- bring them to ADA standards. He
sioning is a process that will help our said that the Conservation Committee
chapter identify, develop and docu- is looking at possible funding sources
ment our vision and values, which will for this improvement.
then help us with strategy and tactics
for future growth and development.
Board members have identified possi-
The Dalliance of the Eagles
Skirting the river road, (my forenoon walk, my rest,)
Skyward in air a sudden muffled sound, the dalliance of the eagles,
The rushing amorous contact high in space together,
The clinching interlocking claws, a living, fierce, gyrating wheel,
Four beating wings, two beaks, a swirling mass tight grappling,
In tumbling turning clustering loops, straight downward falling,
Till o’er the river pois’d, the twain yet one, a moment’s lull,
A motionless still balance in the air, then parting, talons loosing,
Upward again on slow-firm pinions slanting, their separate diverse flight,
She hers, he his, pursuing.
Walt Whitman
The Corvid Crier ~ June 2010 3
 FIELD TRIPS
Parents and children over 8 are welcome on all trips. **FRS Radio owners, please consider bringing them on trips.**
See www.eastsideaudubon.org/events/ for the latest information and for reports of last month‘s field trips.
Meeting Places for Field Trips:
• Kingsgate Park and Ride: I-405 exit 20B northbound or
20 southbound, N. E. 124th St. Go west to light at 116th
Ave. N. E., then right (north) a few blocks to P&R lot (on
the left). Meet in the S.E. corner. 1300 116th Way NE,
Kingsgate.
• Newport Hills Park and Ride: I-405, exit 9. 5115 113th
PL NE, Newport Hills.
• South Kirkland Park and Ride:108th Ave. NE just
north of hwy 520 and Northup Way. 10610 NE 38th Pl.
• Tibbetts Park and Ride: Take exit 15 from I-90, turn
right (south) and go past the new multistory
Issaquah Park & Ride to the 3rd traffic light. Turn
left (east) on Newport Way NW, go one block and
turn right (south) into the Park & Ride. Meet at the
west end of the parking lot (away from the entrance)
to carpool. 1675 Newport Way NW, Issaquah
June 5 (Sat) 9:00 to noon
Marymoor Park Habitat Restoration
Join us in restoring native habitat at the Marymoor Park
interpretive area. Dress for the weather and bring
clippers, gloves, snacks and water. Meet at SE corner of
Parking Lot G.
Questions? Call office at 425-576-8805
June 15 (Tues) 8:00 to noon
Juanita Bay Park Bird Walk
A relaxed walk in the Park, seeing what birds are in the
area. Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 8:00.
Bring binoculars and meet in parking lot. No registration
required.
MaryFrances Mathis 425-803-3026
June 16 (Weds) 8:00 to noon
Lake Sammamish State Park
This urban park offers a wide assortment of birds and
habitats due to its varied ecosystems. The trip will
involve walking approximately 3 miles. Dress
appropriately (rainproof in layers & wear appropriate
shoes because some of the trails can be muddy if
wet). Just inside the main entrance, take the first left into
the large parking lot and meet at the northeast end. Co-
lead by Sharon Aagaard and Stan Wood. PRE-
REGISTRATION IS NOT NECESSARY. Call
Sharon with any questions, 425-891-3460.
June 20 (Sun) 1:00 p.m. — Watershed Park
A 2-hour nature walk in this Kirkland park takes place
the 3rd Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Nature
walks enter the park off NE 45th Street, north of the
The Corvid Crier ~ June 2010 4
railroad tracks on 108th Avenue NE, east of 108th Avenue
NE. Watershed park has more than 70 acres of mostly
upland second growth forest; there is some riparian habitat.
Several plant and bird species can be seen in the park. Bus
stop nearby on 108th, near 45th. Limited street parking.
Jan Johnson 425-814-5923
June 28 (Mon) 9:00 to noon
Birding the Hot Spots of King County
Monthly field trip on fourth Monday of each month to
wherever the birds are. Meet before 9:00 a.m. at north end of
the Newport Hills Park-N-Ride (I-405, exit 9) and plan to be
back by noon. Passenger cost/person $2.00.
Hugh Jennings 425-746-6351
Hurricane Ridge/Dungeness Spit
July 10-11 (Sat.-Sun.) 11:00 a.m.
Our annual Olympic Peninsula wildflower trip featuring
views, birds, and varied wildlife. On Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
we will meet at the picnic table across the street from the
Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center for a snack lunch. (This is
the Center at the base of the foothills, the one before you
actually enter the park.) Look for the picnic tables at fron of
the Center. After lunch, we will head for the main visitor
center at the top of Hurricane Ridge, making one stop to
check out wildflowers along the way. If you miss the lunch,
look for us at the trailhead of Hurricane Hill, about a quarter
mile beyond the main visitor center. On Sunday we will go
birding in the Ediz Hook, Dungeness Spit and Sequim areas.
We'll be staying overnight on Saturday in Port Angeles. If
you plan to join us, we usually stay at the Riviera Inn Motel,
or there are several other motels and campsites available.
If you plan to go please call Bill Schmidt 425-881-6037
Dr. Kerri W. Scarbrough, Optometrist
Dr. Kerri
17320 W. Ave.
135th Scarbrough, Optometrist
N.E. — Woodinville
17320 135th (425) 398-1862 Woodinville
Ave. N.E. ?
www.eevisioncare.com
(425) 398-1862
See the birds better!
BIRD OF THE MONTH — Andrew McCormick
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Length 12 in
Wingspan 18 in
Weight 4.2 oz (120 g)
AOU Band code MODO

The mournful oowoo wooo woo woo

(Alderfer) is the source of the
Mourning Dove’s name. But its ge-
nus Zenaida, which it shares with the
White-winged Dove Z. asiatica and
Zenaida Dove Z. aurita, is named for
a princess. Princess Zenaida Laetitia
Julie Bonaparte had a husband Prince
Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bona-
parte, who was a well-known French
ornithologist. The species macroura
is from the Greek, macros, long and
oura, tail (Holloway). The Mourn-
ing Dove is the most common and
widespread dove in North America
and it is our most slender dove with a
long, pointed tail. A fluttering whis-
tle is often heard as the bird takes
flight.
The Mourning Dove has a typical
dove’s small, round head, plump
body, and short legs and bill. It’s
long black and white trimmed tail is
distinctive however. It is generally
brown overall with a black bill, red
legs and a black arc below the
auricular area. The male has a pink-
ish bloom on the breast. The female
has reduced pink color, and the juve-
nile has a scaly-brown breast. The
brown scapulars contrast with darker
flight feathers and black spots on
both tertials and coverts are visible
when in flight and when the wings
are folded. It is a ground feeder and
seeds comprise 99% of its diet (Otis).
Mourning Doves migrate various
distances with those in the northern-
most range migrating the farthest,
those at middle latitudes migrating a
shorter distance and those in the
southern latitudes staying year round
(Otis).
Mourning Doves live on a very fast
track and are prolific breeders. They
reach sexual maturity in less than
three months and will live only one
year. In that time a pair can produce
up to six broods in warmer climates.
The nest is a flimsy collection of
sticks which is so open that the usual
two white eggs can be seen through
the bottom. Nests are built in trees,
on building ledges, or cliffs. Occa-
sionally Mourning Doves will re-use
their own nests or those of other
Mourning Doves, and will some-
times build their nest atop those of
other species such as American
Robin, Common Grackle and Blue
Jay (Otis). Incubation takes two
weeks and in another two weeks the
squabs fledge. Hatchlings are fed
with a milky liquid called pigeon
milk or crop milk made from cells
sloughing off the crop. The liquid is
concentrated protein and fat. The
squabs will peck at the corner of the
parent’s mouth stimulating regurgita-
tion of the crop milk (Kaufman).
The Mourning Dove population is
very stable. It has done very well in
response to human intervention in
the environment since it shuns for-
ested areas and wetlands, and prefers
open spaces in both rural and urban
habitats. It is a migratory game bird
in 38 of the 48 contiguous states and
the estimated annual take by hunters
is between 20 and 45 million birds,
which exceeds the annual harvest of
all other migratory game birds com-
bined (Otis). A national roadside
Call Count Survey (CCS) has been
conducted since the 1960s and trends
from this survey are used to establish
hunting regulations.
A recording of the Mourning Dove’s
cooing can be heard at the Macauley
Library of the Cornell Lab of Orni-
thology at http://macaulaylibrary.org/
audio/flashPlayer.do?id=22930
(Photo credit: Sunny Walter. Refer-
ences available upon request at
amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org)

The Corvid Crier ~ June 2010 5

Conservation in Our Lives — Andrew McCormick
Shoreline Buffers Key to Water Quality and Healthy Birds
Many of the cities and towns in the
Eastside Audubon service area are
in the process of updating their
Shoreline Master Plans (SMP).
The Washington Department of
Ecology requires that managers use
the “best available science” in de-
veloping plans and much has been
learned about the benefits of shore-
line buffers to vegetation, wildlife corridors provide feeding and rest-
and water quality.
Dean Patterson of Futurewise, a
Washington state public interest
group, reports that scientists have
learned that the width of the buffer
is extremely important to its use-
fulness. The shoreline depicted in
the drawing illustrates the different
component areas of a shoreline.
Each section from the upland to
open water provides habitat for
different plants and animals. Also recommends buffers of 100 feet for
included in shoreline management lakes and marine waters, and be-
are the shrubs and trees which are tween 50 and 150 feet depending
farther upland and may hang over on the size of a stream. A report
the water.
Water quality can be significantly
affected by the quality of the buffer
next to or around it. An adequate
buffer will inhibit erosion, filter
sediment, and remove or transform
nutrients or harmful substances
from surface runoff. Storm water
runoff is a significant polluter of
Washington’s waterways and
vegetation in the buffer can miti-
gate some of it. Vegetation will
also shade and cool water, provide
overhanging cover from predators,
contribute organic matter to sup-
port fish food species and thereby
provide a food source for many
birds.
Land habitat can also be enriched.
Wildlife habitats along riparian
The Corvid Crier ~ June 2010
Minnesota DNR, (2010)
feet per second, water areas larger
ing areas for birds and other wild- than 20 acres, upland areas within
life. Vegetation provides screening 200 feet of the edge of these wa-
or dampening of noise and glare, ters, wetlands and river deltas, and
and separation from human activ- parts of the 100-year floodplain.
ity. The buffer also provides large All of the larger lakes, rivers and
woody debris needed for amphib- large streams in the east King
ian, small mammal, bird and insect County area are covered by the
habitat. Shoreline Management Act.
Several agencies have recom- Eastside Audubon is conducting a
mended buffer widths. The Na- survey of birds along the Tolt
tional Marine Fisheries Service River for the City of Carnation and
has an opportunity to comment on
the SMPs of over half the towns in
the service area. If you would like
to participate in this process con-
from the Washington Department tact Andy McCormick, Conserva-
of Fish and Wildlife recommends a tion Committee Chair at amccor-
buffer of between 150 and 250 feet mick@eastsideaudubon.org
based on stream type and the size
Reference
of the flood plain. Because buffers
Minnesota Department of Natural
affect some private property, the
Resources, 2010, Shoreline altera-
extent of the buffers has become
tions: Natural buffers and
controversial in the planning proc-
lakescaping. St Paul: DNR Eco-
ess. Prior development may limit
logical Services.
the space available for expansion
of buffers, so even the best plans
may be limited in what can be im-
plemented. Public involvement is a
required part of each city’s process
and aggrieved parties do have a
process for appeal of a plan.
Washington’s Shoreline Manage-
ment Act of 1971 applies to all ma-
rine waters, streams with a mean
annual flow greater than 20 cubic
6
Birding Trail Goes Greener
This summer, help choose sites for
the seventh and final route of the
Great Washington State Birding
Trail – and do it online. For the
first time since the program started
in 2001, birders can nominate their
favorite birding places using the
internet.
That means less paper and less pa-
perwork for everyone.
Located in the midst of our state’s
densest and most diverse human
population, the Puget Loop
(working title) will become the sig-
nature route of the 3,000-mile,
statewide program – the loop most
accessible and most visible to the
most people, with the greatest po-
tential for promoting our birds and
their conservation.
Coordinating the project for our
chapter are: Brian H. Bell, chair
and Michael Hobbs, Melinda
Bronson, and Hugh Jennings.
Join this rewarding project today
by contacting our Birding Trail
Committee or going directly to the
Audubon Washington homepage,
http://wa.audubon.org. Under the
headline, “Recommend Your Fa-
vorite Puget Area Place to Bird”
click on the word “Nominate.”
You can nominate a site using ei-
ther the one-pager or the complete ing seasons, habitat type and own- We’ll bring you more news as
form. ership, viewing places, safety, road “construction” of the loop pro-
access, and visitor information gresses.
The systematic nomination process such as trails, ADA facilities,
uses specific criteria to assess a camping, fees, and natural history
site’s suitability for the birding interpretation, plus digital photos.
trail, including: bird species, bird-

The Corvid Crier ~ June 2010 7