Published by the Tahoma Audubon Society: Connecting people with nature since 1969.

Vol. 40 No. 9 November 2009

... and a day trip becomes a tribute

On a Wapato Park
walk, we remember
George Schonhard
Editors Note: it is with sadness that we say good
bye to a friend and volunteer of Tahoma Audubon,
George Schonhard. George was scheduled to lead
our trip at Wapato Park, a place he visited often.

By Diane Yorgason-Quinn

A lovely fall walk around Wapato Park

Wapato Park’s signature pergola, with its Doric columns, welcomes visitors.
Ruth Sullivan on George Schonhard:
George was my best birder and never missed a meet-
ing. I went to his Memorial. His son showed photos of
him and his many hobbies. He died too soon; he was
only 70 years old. I am going to miss him. He was a gi-
ant of a man in so many ways and was involved in many
activities. He climbed mountains, was an experienced
and Wapato Lake on a balmy fall morning
sounded like such a good idea! So thought
George Schonhard, who scheduled himself
to lead such a bird walk on the morning of
October 17, 2009. As you know, all of
George's plans were suddenly canceled by
the fates (see accompanying obituary on
page 6), but his field trip was still held to
honor his vision because he would have
wanted it thus. Ken and Nell Batker gra-
ciously agreed to step in as leaders of the
bird walk, and it was a good way to remem-
Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn ber George and enjoy the things he enjoyed.
The morning turned out very wet, and
again we thought of George, as he had the
right gear for every occasion.
As we were donning our wet-weather
garb, a Great Blue Heron was seen posing
See George’s obituary on page 6 over the water on a horizontal tree branch,
an artist’s vision. We set off to walk around
fisherman, collected butterflies, and knew his trees and
the lake, sure that the rain would let up
plants well. And he liked to photograph the many things
soon. It was a warm tropical kind of rain to
he did.
begin with. A flock of Cackling Geese, the
We are all going to miss George.
See "Wapato” on page 6

The worm didn't stand a chance ...

Our successful Early Bird Breakfast event
was held October 22nd.
At right, Board Member Melissa Paulson sits
with husband Jamie Paulson. Melissa present-
ed Tahoma Audubon’s five year membership
goals at the event, looking to increase mem-
bership by 50% by 2014!
See page 7 for more photos.

Donate to the Tahoma Audubon Society

Common birds at risk, sharp decline of sea
birds in Puget Sound, Global warming ef-
fects on habitat, and near extinction for the
Spotted Owl. These are some of the recent
headlines that add urgency to our work to
preserve habitat for wildlife and humans.
Your donation is critical to the success of
our important work. Donate today!
Your donation is tax deductible. Click here
to go to our donation webpage.
In this issue:
Announcements page 11
BirdSongs page 8
Calendar page 12
Education page 4
Environment Matters page 3
Executive Director’s column page 2
Field trips page 5
New members page 11
Quizzical Owl page 8
Volunteer recognition page 10
Photo/Robert Kelton
 executive director’s Corner
Ambitious goals for the future
By the year 2030,
Pierce County is
expected to grow by
almost
people.
250,000
This
population growth
is larger than the
TahomaAudubon will advance a culture of conservation
through our work in advocacy, stewardship, and
education, connecting the next generation with nature.
Tahoma Audubon has ambitious goals:
 

✔ Conservation:  Influence public policy to conserve,

protect, and restore the more than 267,000 acres of
connected open space indentified in Pierce County. 
‘‘ As we enter our fifth
decade, Tahoma
Audubon is fostering a
new generation of leaders
while celebrating the
‘‘
number of people • Conserve or restore important habitats and conservation victories of
who live in the city ecosystems through partnerships and the Important
of Tacoma today. 
our founding generation. 
Bird Area campaign. 
Far too many adults • Empower citizens to protect and preserve
Contact Bryan at 253-565-9129. and children are ecosystems and habitat in their communities and
Or bryanflint@tahomaaudubon.org already removed will be training volunteers to deliver our programming
neighborhoods.
from nature, and this
 
throughout the community.  We will be expanding
✔ Education: Expand education programs throughout partnerships with Schools districts, community groups
disconnect is likely to grow as the population increases. 
Pierce County to serve more than 40,000 children and and institutions in all parts of the County.
The challenges of climate change, increased suburban
adults annually by 2014. Membership in Tahoma Audubon gives folks the
and rural development, and shrinking public dollars  

mean that the work to protect wildlife habitat in Pierce ✔ Membership: Increase membership 50% by 2014. local face to the larger Audubon family.  We will be
organizing quarterly membership orientation meetings
 

County will be especially daunting in the coming How will we accomplish these goals? 
decades. We will achieve our Conservation goals by to better introduce ourselves to new members.  There
2009 is Tahoma Audubon Society’s 40th anniversary.  expanding our citizen science efforts such as the are a tremendous number of ways we connect people
As we enter our fifth decade, Tahoma Audubon is Seabird Survey, 24 Hour BioBlitz, and Christmas Bird with nature, and expanding our membership brings that
fostering a new generation of leaders while celebrating Count.  We will take a lead on the newly created Open to so many more in the community.
the conservation victories of our founding generation.  Space Task Force to seek new ways to fund open space These are ambitious goals indeed.  As I have seen
This new generation of leadership will ensure that there acquisition.  We will take Audubon into the community time and time again, the volunteers and staff of
continues to be a voice of habitat conservation in Pierce to connect our members and others with the rich Audubon are able to accomplish anything they put their
County.  biodiversity in their neighborhoods. mind to.  We will need everyone’s help to achieve these
The strength of Tahoma Audubon has been and will To increase our education programs we are developing goals and ensure that Audubon is around to protect the
continue to be our strong base of volunteer leadership.  a Volunteer Stewards Training beginning in January.  We environment for the next generation.

Introducing the Towhee's

newest editor, David Lev
Hello all, my name is David Lev,
and I’ll be the editor for The Towhee
for this issue and the next one. I’m
a senior English major and History
minor at the University of Puget
Sound, and I’ve worked as a writer
for several publications for a while
now, but this is one of my first
experiences editing.
well start now.
My other passions include LGBT
rights and fostering local arts and The Pierce County Chapter of The National Audubon Society
culture in the community. Located in University Place's Adriana Hess Wetland Park
I’ve lived in a diversity of places, 2917 Morrison Rd W University Place, WA 98466
including France and New Zealand, Office hours 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Front desk 253-565-9278
and I’ve seen a lot of cool places
on this planet Earth, so I know all Tahoma Audubon Staff
about the importance of

I’m originally from Corvallis, preserving our wilder-

Flint, Bryan Executive Director                        
Oregon, and I’ve always loved the nesses. I’m look- bryanflint@tahomaaudubon.org 253-565-9129
wild (which probably comes ing forward Kyer, Krystal Conservation Coordinator
from growing up in a to this job, kkyer@tahomaaudubon.org 253-232-9978                    
house in the middle of the and I hope
forest). you all like Swaim, Stephanie Education Coordinator
I’ve previously volun- my results! StephSwaim@tahomaaudubon.org 253-327-9480
teered for an organic com-
munity garden, but aside from – David Lev
Kesinger, Cami Development Coordinator
that I haven’t really done ckesinger@tahomaaudubon.org 253-565-9129                      
all that much work
for environmental- Taylor, Graham Volunteer 253-565-1884
ist groups, so I Kerrigan, Julie Coordinators 253-223-0039
figured I might as gtaylor@tahomaaudubon.org jkerrigan@tahomaaudubon.org
Benton, Ken Education Intern
The Towhee is a publication of the Tahoma Audubon Society. kbenton@tahomaaudubon.org 253-565-1884
The Tahoma Audubon Society was chartered in 1969. TAS advocates for the protec- Tahoma Audubon Board Officers
tion of wildlife and promotes conservation through education and activities that enrich its John Garner President
member’s experiences in and with the natural world.
Marjorie Shea Vice President
The Towhee is published monthly, ten times a year, with a combined Jul/Aug and Dec/
Jan issue. Submissions of articles and photographs of birds, bird lore, natural history, Jane Brosius Secretary
conservation, and environmental education are reviewed and considered for inclusion by Kathleen Nelson Treasurer
the editor. Copy is due by the 15th of the month and may be sent by e-mail, disk, or Tahoma Audubon Board Members 2009
typed.
Thelma Gilmur Ione Clagett
Editor: David Lev: editor@tahomaaudubon.org
Dick Carkner
Melissa Paulson
Mailing: Vera & John Cragin and Winfield Giddings
Design & Layout: Robert Kelton: E-mail: robert_kelton@ mac.com Marcus Roening
Bill Smith
Printing: Consolidated Press Peggy L. Kopf Tanja Scott
Printed on recycled newsprint Darby Veeck Charles Griffin

Page 2 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009

 ENVIRONMENT Matters
Citizen Science opportunities abound
Fall is upon us, and so is the season for Citizen
Science projects – volunteer opportunities that connect
people to nature AND contribute to scientific knowledge
and decision-making.  National Audubon and Tahoma
Audubon have a long history of these types of volunteer
opportunities.  The December Christmas Bird Count is
the longest continuous running citizen science project
anywhere, now in its 110th year!  The Great Backyard
Bird Count is another winter project that occurs every
February.
Last year, Tahoma Audubon expanded our citizen
science projects in a conscious effort to engage members
in activities they love, like bird watching and nature
walks, with the goal of gaining more local knowledge as
to what is happening with our local birds and habitats.  consider watching
This knowledge will be used to then engage the wider
community in support of our conservation goals.  the comfort of the
For example, collecting baseline data on all types of
species (plants, animals, birds, bugs…) in the Ohop
Valley this past year in collaboration with Northwest
Trek Wildlife Park will help us better evaluate the
success of a major stream restoration project that got
underway this summer.  The last field trip was in
October, and more are being scheduled for 2010 to
discover what species are returning to the newly
restored valley.
In 2008, we began participating in three more new or
existing citizen science projects, and the great
enthusiasm and interest for these programs has led us
to continue to offer them once again. Here’s what we
are doing in 2009-10:
PUGET SOUND SEABIRD SURVEY
Lucky for you, you don’t have to wait until
December’s Christmas
Bird Count to get
involved.  In October, we
launched the second
season of the Puget Sound
Seabird Survey, in
collaboration with Seattle
Audubon, adding eleven
By Carter Rubin
From Portland, ME to Port Angeles,
“Catch Share”
WA independent family fishermen have relied on
generations of accumulated experience and local
knowledge to bring fresh seafood to our dinner ta-
bles and jobs to our coastal communities. But like
so many other areas of commerce in this country –
agriculture, manufacturing, etc. – a handful of large
corporations have risen to dominate commercial
fishing, leaving behind a
wake of environmental
and social destruction.
The factory trawler
boats used extensively in
large-scale fishing indis-
criminately haul in thou-
sands of pounds of fish in
one fell swoop of their nets, killing not only many of
the fish they intended to catch, but also those they
did not – including other fish species, sea mam-
mals, birds, and invertebrates. The practice of
bottom trawling in particular “effectively clear-cuts
everything living on the ocean floor...using large,
heavy nets kept open by doors, weighing as much
as several tons each, that drag across large areas of
seafloor to catch fish that live on or near the ocean
floor” (http://oceana.org/north-america/what-we-
do/stop-destructive-trawling/about/).
A plan is underway to radically change the way
November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 3
new sites and a dozen new volunteers in Pierce County.  of Fort Lewis. Over
The PSSS survey is done by volunteers standing on the
shorelines of Puget Sound from as far north as Everett
and as far south as Olympia. The survey gives us a
snapshot in time of all wintering seabirds in the central
and south Puget Sound area.  Both returning and new
volunteers stormed the shorelines on October 3rd for the
first of seven monthly surveys.  You can learn more
about the survey and results from previous years by
visiting www.seabirdsurvey.org.
PROJECT FEEDERWATCH
If cold windy
winter days aren’t
your cup of tea,
winter birds from
Adriana Hess
Wetland Park and
Audubon Center in
University Place.  capture more bird species.  A trained NatureTracker
Starting in
November, we will be observing wintering birds that
come to our feeders, stream, and pond, just outside our
windows.  Volunteers are needed to help make a list of
species seen and count them on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays between mid-November and early April.  Park, and some private property.  To sign up, for this field
Come in and volunteer for a shift, and we’ll even
make you a cup of tea! Or, if you would
like to participate in Project
FeederWatch from the comfort of your
own home, you can sign up online and
learn more at: http://www.birds.cornell.
edu/pfw/.  If you would like to help at our
office contact Graham Taylor, AmeriCorps
Volunteer Coordinator, to sign up at 253-
565-1884.
WINTER BIRDS OF ROY;
a NATUREMAPPING field trip
Last May we conducted a BioBlitz in the
Nisqually area, near the City of Roy, just east
is Not Fair
we manage our public ocean resources, and it's
only going to make things worse. Under the guise
of conservation, a system known as “catch share”
would cap the amount of a fish that can be re-
moved from the ocean and allocate those shares of
the catch to fishermen. While this sounds promis-
ing on paper, in practice the rights to fish will only
be given out to those who have fished the hardest,
fastest, and least sustainably over a period of five
years, a.k.a. the large corporate fishing operations.
Not only would this increase the already severe
threat to our ocean ecosystems, it would force
small-scale fishermen out of business by privatizing
our public ocean resources. To continue fishing, a
local fisherman would have to lease the right to fish
from the corporation at extortion prices. Already,
similar policies in Canada have ravaged the liveli-
80 volunteers came
out in one 24-hour
period to collect as
much data as
possible on the
species found in the
biologically diverse
area.  The area
includes streams,
wetlands, oak Contact Krystal at 253-232-9978.
woodlands and Or kkyer@tahomaaudubon.org
remnant prairies.
We found 468 species, including spiders, birds, plants,
butterflies, bats, frogs, plants and much more. This gave
us a great picture of the area’s biodiversity, but as
birders know, migratory birds seen in May aren’t
necessarily going to be the same ones found in the
wintertime.  Therefore, we are offering a field trip on
December 5th to explore the area once again, and
volunteer will be on hand to record the data in nifty
hand-held computers.  University of Puget Sound’s Dr.
Gary Shugart and members Nel and Ken Batker will
lead the trip through some of the areas covered during
the BioBlitz, including a rail line walk, the Roy City
trip, call our office at 253-565-9278 between 10am-
1pm Mon-Sat.  You can also learn more about
NatureMapping and the Roy BioBlitz by visiting:
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/bioblitz/roy/
Last, but not least, we’ll have
more information in next month’s
Towhee about Christmas Bird
Count in mid-December.  Learn
more at: http://www.audubon.org/
Bird/cbc/
Want more information?  If you
have questions about any of these
projects please contact Krystal Kyer,
Conservation Coordinator, at 253-232-9978.
hoods of fishing families and communities
in Nova Scotia and British Colombia, while
hastening the ascent of factory fishing.
However, in the United States we can take action
now to prevent further privatization of our fisheries.
This fall, the consumer action non-profit, Food &
Water Watch, is building a grassroots movement in
eight cities, including Tacoma, to add citizen power
to its Fair Fish Campaign. Community groups are
raising awareness and putting pressure on key
members of Con-
gress to take deci-
sive action in order
to protect our ocean
ecosystems, pro-
vide consumer ac-
cess to sustainable
seafood, and ensure
the vitality of our coastal fishing communities.
In October, the Conservation Committee of Ta-
homa Audubon unanimously agreed to sign on
to a letter to Sen. Maria Cantwell expressing our
concerns over the unfair “catch share” policy. We
encourage you to get involved by signing the online
petition right now or contacting Tacoma Fair Fish
Organizer, Carter Rubin at 310.200.1088 or Cart-
er@GreenCorps.org for more information.
You can learn more about this campaign online
at: http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/campaign.
jsp?campaign_KEY=27754&track=hp-090209-main

stephanieSWAIM
Education Coordinator
Call Steph @ 253-327-9480. Or
StephSwaim@tahomaaudubon.org
Education Matters
Become a Volunteer Naturalist!
Connect others to nature
Help us foster a sense of
wonder about the natural
world.
With expert instructors, and
knowledgeable staff you will
learn to guide youth and their
families to see nature as a
place to treasure.
Classes are forming, call for
more information: 253-327-
9480, or email: Naturalist@
TahomaAudubon.org.

Fun Classes begin in January 2010: Introduction to Interpretation,

Forests, Birds, Wetlands, Tidepools, & Mammals.
Fun Workshops: Wildlife Tracking, Wild Edibles, Kayak EcoTours,
and much more!
Perfect for Recent Retirees, College Students, Homeschool We are passionate about this because nature is becoming a foreign place. Each year our environ-
Parents, and Teens aged 16+. It's more than fun; it's rewarding! mental educators teach about the habitats and wildlife of Puget Sound. ❤ We teach outdoors and
in classrooms. ❤ We teach in kayaks and on hikes! ❤ We teach this because we love it.

Morse is an educational force

We are grateful for a second year of
funding from TogetherGreen.org for the
continuation of our Prairie Restoration
Project at the Morse Wildlife Preserve, a
collaboration between Tahoma Audubon Society, Cascade Land Con-
servancy and the 4th and 5th graders at Rocky Ridge Elementary
School in Graham, Washington.
Learn more about the exciting things happening at the Morse Wild-
life Preserve on page 9.

At Morse Wildlife Preserve, students collect data, learn about water

quality testing with Mrs. Case, and plant 5 x 5 plots.

1919 South Tyler Street, 2917 Morrison Road W.,

Tacoma WA 98338 University Pl. WA 98466
253-591-6439 www.metroparkstacoma.org 253-565-9278
Open Tues. – Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. www.TahomaAudubon.org
& Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Open Mon – Sat. 10a.m.-1p.m.

See class schedule on next page, or check our websites for the latest updates.

Page 4 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009

 field trips and Events
Bird Walk at Adriana Hess Park
Mon Nov 9 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.  juveniles. We also should see good numbers of other
Enjoy a guided bird walk through the park!
Weekly Bird Walks at Nisqually
Wednesdays, Nov. 4, 11, 18, 24. Dec 2, 9. 7:30 AM to
11:00 AM
Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Phil Kelley
Birdwalk hikes changed in spring, 2009.  The boardwalk
loop, including the twin barns and riparian overlook, are
now the only areas open to the public due to construction.
Even so, bird watching has been good.
Join Phil on his weekly bird walks as he counts the birds
at Nisqually NWR. The group takes the boardwalk/trail
loop out to the Twin Barns, the Nisqually overlook   area,
and the riparian area, totaling about 2 miles. Bring: Good
walking shoes or boots, raingear, water, snacks, and $3  (After Thanksgiving “Walk-Off-The-Calories” trip)
for entry fee unless you have a pass.   Scopes are
welcome. Meet: At the Visitor’s Center.
Directions:   Take I-5 south from Tacoma and exit to
Nisqually NWR at exit 114.  Take a right at the light.
Sign-up:  Call or email Phil Kelley to confirm details.  Phil
Kelley, Lacey, (360) 459-1499, scrubjay323@aol.com.
NisquallyNWRhasstarteda3-4yearestuaryreconstruction
project.  For more information about trail closures for the
dike removal and reconstruction project, go to ttp://www.
fws.gov/nisqually/ and click on Events and   News.
White-tailed Kites in the Fall
Sun Nov 15 7:30 AM to Late Afternoon
Leader: Roger Orness
White-tailed Kites are not known to migrate, but the
dispersal of the young and the possibility of late nesting
pairs can be found in the fall.  This year has been a down
year for kites, but we will find them.
Our trip will take us through several valleys where kites
nested in the past, and we will also seek kites in new
schedule of classes
Adriana Hess Park Photography Class.
Mon Nov 2 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  Thu Nov 12, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Location: Adriana Hess Park. An adult program
encouraging people to appreciate nature and how they can
incorporate it into their photography. Call Dixie Harris for
details 564-6373.
Beginning Birding: Winter Birds.
Mon Nov 2 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM.
Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 18+. $45/ Audubon Member,
$55 non-Member. Winter is a wonderful time to watch
birds in your neighborhood at at your favorite waterfront
park. Learn how to identify the most common and colorful
waterfowl and other winter birds with a local Master
Birder and bird educator. This class is designed for
beginners to learn the basic skills needed to start discovering
the avian inhabitants of our area. Local Field trips  on
Saturday, Nov 7, 9:00 to noon and on Saturday Nov 14,
9:00 to noon. Call 253-591-6439 to register.
Beginning Homeschool Science - “Evergreen State”
Nov 5 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Homeschool students
explore science through hands-on experiments and
activities. Register early - classes fill quickly! Note - topics
are repeated during the month, so select class appropriate
for your child’s knowledge and abilities. Contact Margie
with questions or for more info at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com. Beginning science students should be
able to add and subtract numbers.
Budding Scientists “Washington Wildlife.”
Weds Nov 11 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Ages 5-7, $9.00
per student. Young homeschoolers and other children
begin science and nature exploration through games,
walks, and crafts. Register at least two days prior to the
session by calling 253-591-6439.
Budding Scientists “Washington Wildlife.”
Weds Nov 11 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM. See above.
November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 5
areas.   Our main target birds will be any hatch year
raptors.  One year we had 41 American Kestrels. This
trip is limited to seven people and two vehicles, so sign
up early to secure a spot.
Bring:  Scopes, binos, lunch, and snacks.  Be prepared
for a long drive, and a long day returning to Tacoma in
the late afternoon.
Meet:  At the McDonald’s Restaurant at the Hwy 512
P&R at 7:30.  Depart promptly. Directions:  Take I-5 to
Hwy 512 south of Tacoma.   Turn right and take an
immediate left on South Tacoma Way.  Travel south one
block, and turn left into the P&R.
Sign-Up:  Call or email Roger Orness, 253-922-7516, r.
orness@comcast.net
Kent to East Lake Washington
Sat Nov 28  8:30 AM to Mid Afternoon
Leader:  Carol Schulz
The Saturday after Thanksgiving will be a great time to
visit areas in or near the Kent Valley (depending on where
the birds are being seen).  Then we’ll travel north to two
parks on East Lake Washington: Juanita Beach Park, and
Juanita Bay Park.  Some folks call this our “Diet Trip”.  We
will walk about 2 miles on paved and unpaved trails.  These
areas near Kent, and the parks in north Kirkland should
have excellent birding this time of year.   We will be
looking for eagles and hawks, dabbling and diving ducks,
Cackling Geese, woodpeckers, songbirds, and more.
Bring:  Warm clothes, lunch (turkey sandwiches?), hot
drinks, snacks, and water. Scopes are welcome.
Meet:  8:30 AM at the Kent-Des Moines P&R.  (People
who wish to leave early may bring their own cars.)
Directions:  Take I-5 to exit 149.  Go east on Kent-Des
Moines Rd. approx. one block. Turn left (north) 1/2
block on Military Rd.  The P&R is on the left.
Sign-Up:  Carol Schulz, 206-824-7618, linusq@att.net.
Intermediate Homeschool Science -"Evergreen State"
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Homeschool students
explore science through hands-on experiments and
activities. Register early - classes fill quickly! Note - topics
are repeated during the month, so select class appropriate
for your child’s knowledge and abilities. Contact Margie
with questions or for more information at 591-6439 or
marjories@tacomaparks.com. Ages 10-12, $12 per
student. Intermediate Science Students should be able to
multiply and divide numbers, add and subtract fractions.
Beginning Birding: Winter Birds.
Mon Nov 16 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM.  is a wonderful grandparent/ grandchild activity! Space is
Tacoma Nature Center. Continuation, see Nov 2.
Snake Lake Science Club
Tues Nov 17 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 10-14, no charge
for club meetings, $10 per student to join the club. Snake
Lake Science Club for homeschool and other students age
10-14 years old who want to learn more about science and
the natural world. Students pay a once per school year fee
of $10 to join the club and are then free to participate in
any program offerings, including the 2010 Snake Lake
Science Fair. The following programs are designed to help
students learn more about science and the scientific
process through hands-on discovery. Pre-registration for
each program is required as space is limited. Call The
Nature Center to register 591-6439.
Homeschool Advanced Science -
“Pacific Northwest Ecology”
Thu Nov 19 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  Fri Nov 20, 2009 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Homeschool students
explore science through hands-on experiments and
activities. Register Early - these classes fill quickly! Note
- topics are repeated during the month, so select class
appropriate for your child’s knowledge and abilities.
Contact Margie with questions or for more information at
591-6439 or marjories@tacomaparks.com.  Ages 12-15,
rules
Call TAS to register (253-565-9278). Some trips are
people limited out of necessity.
Notify TAS 24 hours in advance if you cannot come.
Field trip leaders put in a lot of time and planning and
no-shows disrupt field trips. More than 3 no-shows a
year can result in revoking opportunity to participate.
Arrive at the meeting place early.
No pets are allowed.
Be prepared for seasonal weather.
Bring lunch, drinks and snacks if the field trip is
scheduled past mid-day.
All passengers divide total carpooling expenses.
Current guidelines are 20 cents a mile per car, not
including driver.
Beginners are always welcome.
Have fun.
Winter Birding in Roy
Date: Saturday, Dec. 5 Time: 8am -Noon
Meet at:We will be carpooling from University of Puget
Sound's Thompson parking lot off of Union & N. 14th
at 7:15am - we will depart at that time. If not carpool-
ing, meet at Roy City Park at 8:00am.
Head of the UPS's Slater Natural History Museum, Gary
Shugart, will lead a NatureMapping field trip along the
rail tracks, city park, and oak woodland prairie areas
in Roy, WA. Join his winter bird watching trip to get a
taste of what was seen during our recent BioBlitz!
Call 565-9278 to sign up or for driving directions.
$15 per student. Older homeschool students will continue
their science studies with challenging and engaging
experiments and activities. To participate in this class,
students should be able to calculate averages, percentages,
and solve simple equations.
Nature Storytime “Raccoon and Friends.”
Fri Nov 20 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. 
Adriana Hess Center, U.P. Ages 2-6, $6 per child, $3
Audubon member, free to adults and U.P residents. Join
us as we explore the park at the Adriana Hess Audubon
center in University Place with nature stories based on the
current theme. Adults are welcome with the children. This
limited to the first 20 registered guests (adults and
children). Call 253-591-6439 to register.
Homeschool Advanced Science LAB
“Pacific Northwest Ecology.”
Fri Nov 20, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Tacoma Nature Center. Homeschool students explore
science through hands-on experiments and activities.
Register early - classes fill quickly! Note - topics are
repeated during the month, so select class appropriate for
your child’s knowledge and abilities. Contact Margie with
questions or for more info at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com. Ages 12-15, $15 per student. Older
homeschool students will continue their science studies
with challenging experiments and activities. To participate
in this class, students should be able to calculate averages,
percentages, and solve simple equations.
Nature Alphabet “P is for Pumpkin.”
 
Tacoma Nature Center.Ages 3-6, $6 per child. Preschoolers
explore different nature topics through stories, hands-on
activities, nature walks and crafts at the Tacoma Nature
Center. Adult participation is recommended, children
under four require an adult present. Please note alternating
times. Register by the Saturday before the program. Call
591-6439 to register.
... Wapato
from page 1
smaller relatives of Canada Geese, swam right
up to us with the usual Mallards and park
ducks, showing how similar in size these little
geese are to ducks. A pair of Pied-Billed
Grebes actually became airborne by about one
inch as they were suddenly startled. I’m not
sure I’ve ever seen a P-B Grebe fly, and this
probably wouldn’t qualify! Wood Ducks were
wending their way between Coots, putting
those drab fowl to shame. A huge long-necked
white goose (domestic x Chinese goose?)
swam for shore and ran up the hill, making us
chase it a bit to be sure it wasn’t an early
Swan! Suddenly, an intrusion put all the
waterfowl on alert!! A Bald Eagle swooped in,
giving the scare to all and strafing the water’s
surface with a line of white foam, but coming
up empty-taloned to a nearby conifer to recon-
noiter.
Wapato Park is truly an urban gem. Police
sirens screamed by several times, reminding us
just how urban it is, but otherwise one might
imagine themselves in an idealized country-
side far away in place and time. Paths veer off
from the main lake walk, where you can peer
into the swift-running streams and ponds, all
of which were finally brimming with water
again on this wet morning after a dry summer.
Little islands of dense marshland and dark
woodlands provide diverse habitats for birds
and birders alike. In the rain, songbirds were
scarce, but those reliable Song Sparrows came
through as usual, as well as some Golden-
Crowned Kinglets and Black-Capped
Chickadees calling out incantations for the rain
to stop. Our only shorebird was an American
Crow, doing its best to fill that niche and many
others. A Red-Tailed Hawk flew overhead,
and I believe he shook water off his feathers
onto us.
As the morning progressed, the rain increased,
the skies grew darker, and the temperature
dropped. Luckily we were only scheduled for
a couple of hours, but due to finding some
paths becoming slippery with mud and autumn
leaves, we found ourselves actually finishing a
little early for a change. The skies were con-
tinuing to weep copiously as we paddled our
cars away in the darkening morning, weeping
with needed rain after our dry spell, but also
weeping for George and others not there to
enjoy what we experienced that morning.

Top: Cackling Goose surrounded by raindrops on Wapato Lake. Below: Double-Crested

Cormorants having fun with fish. Right: Our soggy group taking cover under a picnic
shelter at Wapato Park: Adam Trent, Leaders Ken and Nell Batker, Diane Yorgason-Quinn,
and Beverly Webber. Photos/Diane Yorgason-Quinn

} George Philip Schonhard }

George Philip Schonhard of Tacoma passed away on
September 23, 2009, at the age of 70.
George was born on August 2, 1939, in Bremerton,
WA. He graduated from Everett High School and the
University of Washington. George married Judith Ann
Clinkingbeard in 1962, and they had one son, David.
George was a retired chemist, and is survived by
his wife of 46+ years, Judy, son David Schonhard and
daughter-in-law Nancie, grandchildren Michael, Rachel,
and Jill, sister Judy Lee Schonhard, and many other
relatives and friends. Donations may be made to the
Tahoma Audubon Society.

Page 6 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009

 Thank you for the success of our
Former board member Terry Conner (center) talks with Lara Her-
rmann (left) and David Hirst (right)
Volunteer Coordinator Graham Taylor thanks our Table Captains by
offering them complimentary Tahoma Audubon Calendars.
Table Captain David Seabrook (center) and his wife Vergia (left) chat
with Tahoma Audubon President John Garner (right) at the Early Bird
Gets the Worm Breakfast.
Photo/Melissa Sherwood
Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper, center, Kent, WA
Photo/Diane Yorgason-Quinn
Bar-Tailed Godwit, Tokeland, Oct 09
November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 7
Thanks to our sponsors:
Wayne and Sally Larson Thanks to our presenting sponsor:
Peggy Kopf and Pat Mail
And thank you Table Captains!
American Leadership Forum, Ken & Nell Batker, Knute Berger signs books as volunteers Rylla
CalPortland, Richard Carkner, John Garner, Gary Goldberg (back left), Karen Bloustine and Monica
Geddes, Kristy Gledhill, Debby Hyde, Kathryn Weidman (sitting, table) try desperately to keep
Kravit-Smith, Ryan Mello, Ian Morrison, Cindy up with the demand, selling 60 of the 50 books
on hand!
Niemi, Nisqually Delta Association, Melissa
Paulson, Nancy Pearson, Port Of Tacoma, Da-
vid Seabrook, Margie Shea, Bill Smith Tacoma
Public Utilities, Darby Veeck, Brian Ziegler.
Photos/Bill White
Audubon board member Margie Shea (left) and
Tacoma Nature Center intern Daisy Garcia (right)
spoke to the audience about the success and im-
Judith Krill, Steve Wyant and Don Dresser of the Nisqually Delta portance of the Tacoma Nature Center’s paid in-
Association. ternship.
Specialty
Bird
Hunting
By Diane Yorgason-Quinn
This fall has been terrific for rare birds seen in Pierce County and surround-
ing areas. The sightings have been exciting enough to cause the most agree-
able of birders to become a chaser. As an example, Melissa Sherwood has
successfully chased three rare birds, all lifers, in two weeks, and she’s not
done yet! She went down to Tokeland in early October and found the Bar-
Tailed Godwit hiding amongst the hundreds of Marbled Godwits, then scooted
up Kent a week later and saw two Sharp-Tailed Sandpipers, followed two days
later by successfully observing the Black-Tailed Gull off of Marine View Drive
in Tacoma, found the previous day by our own Charlie Wright. Others have
also been flocking to Browns Point to see a remarkably tame Lapland
Longspur. Melissa is locked and loaded for the next rarity and might even find
it herself and report it to the world.
How can you get in on the excitement? There’s a new feature available
from Tweeters, the Northwest’s e-mail birding group, called Tweeters Alerts,
which is just for reporting and reading about desired birds. For more informa-
tion on Tweeters and Tweeters Alerts, please see their web page: http://
www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/tweet.html. Many of us would like to extend a
thank-you to the Burke Museum at the University of Washington for hosting
Tweeters on the internet.
Although we all love to just go out and see what’s around, sometimes hav-
ing a specific goal bird adds an element of excitement and motivation like
nothing else can, plus it gets you out of the house!
 Let's renew our dedication to the Nisqually Refuge
By Helen Engle
Tahoma Audubon’s involvement with the Nisqually
River estuary is a big part of our history. Our field
work produced flora and fauna data to add to the
growing bank of information about this last undevel-
oped major river estuary on Puget Sound. Audubon’s
respected advocacy voice joined in the chorus to
“Save Nisqually.” With our allied organizations, such
as Nisqually Delta Association, League of Women
Voters, Black Hills Audubon, Washington
Environmental Council, The Nisqually Tribe and hunt-
ing and fishing groups, we returned to the legislature
every session for years to pass bills to protect the
Delta.
The 100-year old network of dikes built to create
pasture and farmland, had shut off seven sloughs of
Puget sound marine waters . Early in the 1970s this
area, then known as the Brown Farm Duck Club was
for sale and our lobbying efforts were diverted to
obtain federal funding to purchase what we knew
would be an outstanding National Wildlife Refuge.
For decades Auduboners have loved the 5.5-mile
trail on the perimeter dike and scheduled year-round
field trips to count the diverse birds and animals that
thrived in the combination or saltwater and freshwa-
ter habitat. Although not advertised along I-5, the
Refuge drew 180,000 visitors a year. Loss of the
popular Brown Farm Dike Trail will be softened in
part by construction next year of a mile-long board-
the
quizzical
wl
By 5. Nesting in "seabird cities", the world's most numerous gull species is the ____________.
Thais Bock
by Phil Buly
BIRDSONGS
ANSWERS: 1. Painted Bunting 2. House Finch 3. Seventeen 4. Great Gray Owl 5. Black-legged Kittiwake
Page 8 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009
walk extending out over the estuary to the mouth of will double survival of the river’s Chinook salmon
McAllister Creek. population – a stock that was federally listed as
Meanwhile some 80 percent of Puget Sound’s threatened in 1999.
estuarine habitat has disappeared – diked, filled and Auduboners, do go to the Nisqually National
developed. Restoring wetland habitat is the corner- Wildlife Refuge. Refresh your sense of ownership of
stone of many of our salmon recovery plans. this sacred place where the life of the water and the
Estuaries provide places for young salmon to hide, life of the land converge in a biological blur.
rest and feed as they leave their rivers and enter the Help renew our collective dedication to this place
marine waters. in its new incarnation. Join our friend Jean Takekawa,
Audubon supported the 12-year, $12 million proj- US Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge Manager, as she
ect to restore the estuary on the 3,000-acre Nisqually marvels at the tides moving into the sloughs and
National Wildlife Refuge. In 2008 we watched as the reassures us, “This is all for the good of Tahoma
new, exterior dike was built across the refuge. And Audubon’s special refuge.”
it was with some pangs and feelings of déjà vu this Feedback, comments and reminiscences welcome,
summer when we saw 4 miles of the old dike exca- 253-564-3112, Hengle@iinet.com.
vated -- more than
350,000 cubic yards of
dirt and rock.
On the Pierce County
side of the river the
Nisqually Tribe’s restora-
tion project on the for-
mer Braget Dairy farm
has been successful. All
this work on the
Nisqually estuary has
boosted the total south
sound estuary habitat
by 55 percent. Fisheries
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
scientists predict this Four miles of the old dike were excavated this summer.
1. At one time this colorful bird was a popular caged bird.
2. What common species was formerly known as the Winter Finch?
3. How many species of penguin are in the southern hemisphere?
4. What owl can detect movement up to 2 ft. under snow?
(Answers below.)
 New wetland and forest access at Morse Wildlife Preserve
The Morse Wildlife Preserve is a green jewel in
eastern Pierce County that exists as a credit to the
dedication and hard work of many Tacoma
Audubon Society (TAS) members and community
volunteers.  That dedication is now focused on an
enhancement that will help protect and restore
wildlife on the property and for the Preserve to
better serve as one of the premier open-air
environmental education centers in the region.
Planning for this Boardwalk and Trail Project
began about two years ago and is now at a critical
fundraising stage.
A bit of history: Lloyd and Maxine Morse
deeded the original 53 acres to the local land trust
(now Cascade Land Conservancy) in 1994.  That
group and TAS immediately created a joint
operating agreement and created the Morse
Force to manage the property.  In the 15
intervening years TAS and CLC have overseen the
development of a trail system and educational
curriculum, the addition of 185 wooded acres, the
construction of a beautiful observation tower,
restoration of the historic barn, and several
projects at the on-site caretakers’ residence.  The
Preserve is one of two Monitoring Avian Productivity
overseeing all educational These photos depict the type of boardwalk construction that
and Survivorship (MAPS) sites in the region at
events and programs. is envisioned. Below is a map of where the boardwalk will be.
which the vitality of bird populations is studied
over decades.  Last year we tallied nearly 1,000  
hours of education provided on the property and The project to date: The
about 1,350 hours of volunteer activity devoted to Morse Force has made
the Preserve, including restoration of critical considerable progress so far …
habitat zones.  A total of 119 bird species and over • The locations of the
250 plant species have been identified on the boardwalk, bridges, and
original parcel. trails have been specified.
The Boardwalk and Trail Project will open up • The numerous county
about 75 acres of unique habitat that have not permits and sign-offs have
been accessible before now.  The results will be been purchased and granted.
the creation of new education and restoration • The construction
activities for the growing number of visiting system has been designed,
students, better ecological stewardship of the specifically adapted for this
property, and the opportunity to discretely site, especially to minimize
observe wetland and aquatic species at close the environmental impact on
range.  TAS will remain as the “gatekeeper”, the land. A scale model was
coordinating access to the Preserve and fabricated to demonstrate its
unique interlocking modular design.
• Detailed construction management plans
have been made, covering such aspects as
bringing power to the site, transporting materials,
creating jigs, and locating staging areas along
the route.
• Individual donors have funded the project
to this level and slightly beyond.
The overall price tag will be about $150,000…a
relative bargain at today’s construction costs. 
Securing the first $50,000 will trigger the ordering
of materials and first-phase construction.  All
available avenues for funding will be pursued
during the building period, but help is needed now
to kick start the work.  We are currently $12,000
shy of placing the first materials order.  CLC (253-
274-4955 or 206-292-5907) has set up an account
for donations or these can be directed through the
TAS office.
Further details concerning construction or
funding can be obtained from Tom Galdabini
(tgaldabini@comcast.net).
 
Tom Galdabini
Chair, Morse Force

November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 9

 volunteer Recognition
A tribute to Tahoma Audubon’s front desk volunteers and leadership
Tahoma Audubon’s
front desk volunteers
have served as a core
volunteer force within
the organization.
They are an effective
team, sharing an
enormous workload
of about 93 hours a
month among the 17
of them. While
Audubon does not
have specific numbers
on volunteer retention,
observation shows
that our front desk volunteers have the highest retention
rate of all our volunteers, with at least nine of them
serving in their positions for over eight years each. In a
world where people change paid positions regularly, one
might wonder why and how Tahoma Audubon has had
such a high retention rate with these volunteers. One
reason in particular stands out: Sally Sloat.
As a past president of Tahoma Audubon and
Administrative Chair since 1990, Sally has been deeply
committed to her team and Audubon’s mission. Although
her first work with Audubon was focused on direct
conservation efforts in the 1980s, her interest narrowed
as she specialized in Administrative Service. Sally
recognized Audubon’s need to present a refined, yet
simultaneously wise face to the world. She has met this
need by meticulously recruiting, training, and advising
her unique volunteer force. However, Sally’s constructive
intentions and positive influence did not begin with
Audubon.
As a trained psychologist, Sally ran a full gambit in her
own working life, starting her first job in a mental
hospital and ending her psychology career years later,
working in a state prison. It is perhaps then that she was
prepared for the responsibility at Audubon’s front desk;
her first job offering her talents to deal with callers and
her last job ensuring her a certain understanding of how
to manage volunteers. In fact, Sally Sloat was one of the
first female psychologists to work in a Washington State
men’s prison facility. Although her friends say that her
work there changed her lexicon, it did not alter her
determination to help others. Altogether, Sally’s work
with Audubon and elsewhere has been a major success.
Since Audubon has lived at Adriana Hess Wetland
Park, Sally has made sure that Audubon has fulfilled its
lease agreement: to staff the office six days a week for
three hours each day. When someone cannot come in,
Sally does (or finds someone). When a new volunteer is
interested in serving at the front desk, Sally trained them.
This has been going on for almost 20 years!
It is with all of this in mind, that Tahoma Audubon
regretfully accepts Sally’s decision to step down as
Administrative Chair. We are comforted in knowing that
she will not wander far, promising to continue
volunteering at Audubon in a
more relaxed role. We are
hopeful that her continued
support will ensure some
needed continuity with the
operation of our front desk.
Altogether, Audubon is
tremendously grateful for
Sally’s outstanding service
and for her continued
dedication to the process of Sally Sloat
connecting people with nature.
As Sally’s era of front desk leadership draws to a
close, Audubon is excited to announce that front desk
volunteer and former conservation coordinator Kris
Quinn has agreed to step forward and take responsibility
for training new front desk volunteers and retraining
veteran volunteers. Kris’s decision to take on this
important task illustrates the familiar mind-set at
Audubon. As one volunteer steps down to rest, another
stands up to serve. Tahoma Audubon greatly appreciates
this attitude that is so deeply rooted in our membership.
It is this willingness to serve that allows Audubon to
continue to offer the community such excellent
environmental advice, education and advocacy. From
the hearts of all of us at Audubon, we offer a special
thank you to Sally, Kris, and all the rest of our front desk
volunteers that make this organization such an
environmental beacon in the cloudy Pacific Northwest.

ENVIRONMENT Matters

Green Tacoma
The Green Tacoma Partnership works to engage the Tacoma community in the restoration and maintenance of viable,
healthy natural spaces by connecting stewardship groups, providing resources and training, and organizing public outreach.

Green Tacoma Day Creek, First Creek, Puget

Over 381 people from all Creek, Blueberry Park,
over Tacoma came out to Meadow Park Golf Course,
celebrate the Green Tacoma Oak Tree Park, University
Partnership's 2nd annual of Puget Sound, Wapato
Green Tacoma Day and Hills, Point Defiance,
National Public Lands Day Wright Park, Tacoma
on Saturday, Sept. 26 .
th
Community College, The
At Titlow Park opening Tacoma Nature Center
remarks were made by City and Titlow Beach Park.  organize a volunteer event.  Upon completion of the
These volunteers will be stewards of local natural areas.
of Tacoma Mayor Bill Individuals, families and training participants received a comprehensive field
Baarsma, U.S. Representative Norm Dicks' District community groups participated in the event. guide with lots of tips & Best Management Practices
Manager Clark Mather, and Metro Parks Board Over 130 freshmen from Tacoma’s new Science and will receive continued support from the Green
Member Ryan Mello.  Each spoke to the importance and Math Institute helped remove English ivy from Tacoma Partnership in their restoration efforts.
of open spaces and the community’s work to restore Point Defiance Park.  After the event site sponsor Habitat Steward Spotlight
them.  volunteers were thanked and honored with a free Our very own Cami Kesinger plans on being a
Green Tacoma Day hosted a variety of activities barbeque lunch at Titlow Beach Park.   Thank you to Habitat Steward for Titlow Beach Park.  She and her
encouraging community members to explore, tour, everyone who made Green Tacoma Day possible. son are frequent visitors of Titlow and enjoy
and help restore Tacoma's natural areas.  Natural Green Tacoma Partnership Habitat Steward exploring the beach and the forested areas.  Through
areas that hosted events were Julia’s Gulch, Swan Training Reflection leading volunteer work parties focused on invasive
On Saturday October 10th nine dedicated species removal and other habitat restoration
volunteers attended the Green Tacoma Partnership’s projects Cami will be instrumental in preserving this
first ever Free Habitat Steward Training at Point park for generations to come.
Defiance Lodge.  These volunteers
will be stewards of local natural areas,
parks and private property.  They will
work to restore areas to their natural
habitat by removing invasive species
and trash as well as replanting native
plants. The training focused on site
management, plant identification, a
powerpoint presentation about the
history of Tacoma and the Green
Tacoma Partnership and how to

Page 10 www.tahomaaudubon.org November 2009

 announcements
Thank Goodness Its Friday of people to make it run smoothly. If you are interested
(TGIF) Restoration Fridays in November from 10:00
in helping out with the banquet in any way, please Christmas Bird Count is
contact Melissa at mjnpaulson79@gmail.com or
AM to 12:00 PM - Nov 13th, 20th, 27th, at Adriana (253)306-0037. We’ll need people to help with the coming December 19th.
Hess Wetland Park. Come enjoy the outdoors and help program, decorations, materials and day-of logistics.
beautify the grounds at Adriana Hess Wetland Park! With your help, we can put together a great event to Save the date!
celebrate Tahoma Audubon’s fantastic members and Just a reminder for you
Mark your calendars activities. We look forward to seeing you at the 2010
banquet!
to save the date for
for Saturday, Feburary 6th, 2010! this fun holiday tradi-
The 2010 membership banquet is right around the tion.
corner! Last year’s 40th Anniversary celebration was a Join Audubon Chapters
huge success and we want to repeat the fun for this across the country in
year’s event as well. But to make it great, we need your counting birds on this 110th
help on two important pieces of this party: annual event. Stay tuned for more news in
1) We need auction items! Please consider donating the December/January issue on Areas to
something to this year’s silent auction. Most donations sign up for, who to call, etc……..or if you
are tax deductible and all proceeds go to support our can’t wait, call or e-mail the CBC Compiler
endowment. Donations large and small are appreciated. now! Faye McAdams Hands – 253-942-9233,
Ideas from past auctions include art, books, tickets to or zest4parus@hotmail.com.
museums or sporting events, homemade goodies, guided And on December 27th, Vashon
birding trips and other fun experiences. Please call the Audubon will hold their CBC. Contact
TAS office for more ideas or to make a donation. Diane Yorgason-Quinn, 253-857-3367,
2) We need party planners! This is the biggest avosetta@hotmail.com.
single event of the TAS calendar year and it takes lots

welcome to New and Returning Members

September 16, 2009 to October 15, 2009
Chapter New and Renewing:
Mike & Carolyn Barry, Robert & Anne Caughey, An-
drew Clarke, Greg Cook, Joyce & Colin Ehli, Gerry &
Susan Elston, Grace T Eubanks, Cam & Dave Fore-
man, Phil Kennedy, Cami Kesinger, Margaret Kraft,
Dorothy Leyden, Marilyn T Mahoney, Scott Markow-
itz, Franky Marsh, Diana & Jim Noviello, D Pederson,
William & Berrit Price, Victoria Ray, David Rich-
ardson, Phil Schneider, Dennis & Melissa Sherwood,
Morry & Mary Stafford, Norita Stewart, Ruth Sullivan,
Dorothy & John Swanberg, Della Taylor, Steve & Julie
Thomas, Linda Van Nest, Warren & Mary Woodard,
Alex Zaffee.
Chapter Joint with National,
Recruited through Tahoma Audubon Society:
Lynn Andrews, Lois Currie, Jo Egan, Carol Gould-
Harris, Bob Hennings & Debby Hyde, Jean Jacobson,
Kathleen LeGreid, Janice Pittman, Kenneth Query, Ed
Sakai, Tom Sawyer, Carol Smith, Margaret Sullivan &
David Schutt, Audra Taylor, Dale Thompson.
Introductory,
Recruited through Tahoma Audubon Society:
Phil & Liann Arnold, Rob & Michelle Baird, Will Car-
huff, Eric & Lisa Ellis, Jennifer Federighi, Karen Kon-
rad, Verona Lunsford, Monty & Kelley Mansfield, Da-
vid Miller, Candy Nigretto, Jennifer Pasquier, Nancy
Paxton, John W Ratko, Lynette Schimming, Lorraine
Simpers, James Tran, Cate Tschannen, Ingrid Wachtler,
Cheryl White, Candy Wies, Ken Zugner.
Introductory, Recruited through
National Audubon Society:
In September we received these new, trans-
fering-in, and returning members---Robert
Billington, Allan Warner, Karen Ander-
son, Bobbie Bayda, Thomas Biuur, Bon-
ney Boyd, Dana Boyer, Bob Brand, Mary
Cogger, Valerie Cordova, Eric Dahl, Mar-
jorie Dickson, Family Quigley, Johnny Foster, Janet
Frind, Mike Grant, Ann Green, James Hilderbrand,
Lita Hodges, Lila Howe, Judith Kinslow, Sharon Ko-
rtright, Charles Larsen, Patricia McGill, Masu Mue-
hike, Marti O'Connor, Ted Sanford, Mark Sinclair,
Patty Smallwood, Joleen Sorenson, Cathy Thompson,
Maridee Wildermuth, Cindy Williams, Rosemarie Wil-
liams, Helene Wingren, Gary
Witherspoon, Dave Zink, Lynn Boldenow, John &
Cynthia Dillon, Jean Elmer, Mary Lou Ferguson, Mary
Fox, Tokio Hayashi, Rowena Jackson, Kenneth E
Jones, Guisevin Kayihan, Lila F Keiler, Dianne Raw-
lins, Karen Ries, Deborah Rodriguez, Tammi Stewart,
Jeannie Walker, Bill Widener, William A Zindt.
In October we gained these new or returning members-
--Will Betz, Betty Dowie, Arden & Julie Johnson,
Charles Jones, Jr, Jungle Fever Exotics, Muriel Sch-
ramm, Erika & Daniel Sprague, Rebecca Stonestreet,
Jennifer Wasankari, Gayne & Ann Mar Williams,
James A Barnhart, Melvin Bill, Mary A Black, Alice
Certo, Constance Childs, James Clark, Sharon Collins,
Virginia Colyer, Roy Crouch, Carol Drysdale, Carol
Eckrom, Janis Elias, Janis Endsley, Eulalie Fisher,
Kenneth Graves, Wanda Gustafson, Diana Hamilton,
Dani Hart, Thomas Hayes, Kathy Higbee, Mary Hunt,
Cynthia Iies, Winogene Ivins, Jeff Jennings, Al Kehr,
Dena Kinzer, M G Messersmith, Moore, Caroline Mul-
lins, Dorothy Nelson, Margaret Oliver, Terry & Shelley
Petersen, Judie Price, Jose Rivera, Kris Ross, Blake E
Smith, Mary Voigt, Debra Watson, Al & Nancy Weaver,
Eddie West, Michael Bailey Long, Brynn Doyle, Ma-
mie Jackson, Jeff Lundbeck, Melba McGinnis, Colleen
Mishler, Agnes Nussie, J Opferman, Wesley Pollock, S
Pond, Georgia Pope, Jeanette M Smith, Muriel Taylor,
Germaine Wells, Mary P Bates, Ervin Boehl, Joan El-
dredge, Robert Haggard, Kate Packard, Ellen Vickrey.
All introductory members please take note:
When renewal time comes, you must renew through
TAS. We'll send you a renewal form a month before
your membership expires. You may get several re-
newal forms from NAS that you should ignore because
renewing through NAS will not give you our Towhee
newsletter.
Glad to have you with us. Hope to see you get involved!
– Thelma Gilmur, Membership Chair
Checks payable to: Tahoma Audubon 2917 Morrison
Rd. W. University Place, 98466 Tahoma Audubon
Society, established in 1969, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Membership Fee:
___ Introductory (first year) $20
___ Joint National/Tahoma Audubon $50
organization. Donations are tax deductible.

Membership

___
___
Chapter member renewal
Other Contributions _____________
$30

Tahoma Audubon is the Pierce County chapter of National Audubon. As

an Introductory member of Tahoma Audubon you also receive a National Member(s) Name: _______________________________________
Audubon membership and Audubon Magazine for one year. Renewing Address: _______________________________________________
your Chapter Membership ensures that we can continue to do our work in
Pierce County. Chapter membership includes: Towhee newsletter sub- City______________________________ Zip__________________
scription, free family events, birding trip invitations, class & book dis- Phone: home ___________________business _________________
counts, conservation activities, annual celebrations and more. Joint TAS/
e-mail: ________________________________________________
National Audubon membership includes: Chapter membership, National
C9ZY020Z

membership, annual Audubon Magazine subscription, and support of

Member #: _______________________________ (office use only)
Important Bird Areas (IBA) and state and national conservation agendas.

November 2009 www.tahomaaudubon.org Page 11


Unless otherwise stated -
To register for field trips can (253) 565-9129
To register for all education classes call (253) 591-6439
See further descriptions inside the Towhee
Check out our calendar at www.TahomaAudubon.org
for more information and updates
november 2009
Adriana Hess Park Photography Class.
Mon Nov 2 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  Location: Adriana Hess
Park. Call Dixie Harris for details 564-6373.
 
Beginning Birding: Winter Birds.
Mon Nov 2 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM.
Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 18+. $45 Audubon Member, $55
non-Member. This class is designed for beginners to learn
basic skills needed to start discovering avian inhabitants of our
area. Local Field trips  on Sat. Nov 7, 9:00 to noon and on Sat.
Nov 14, 9:00 to noon. Call 253-591-6439.
 
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually.
Weds Nov 4 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
 
Beginning Homeschool Science
Nov 5 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Nov 6 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Fri Nov 20, 2009 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.  Conservation Committee
Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Bird Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Mon Nov 9 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.  adult present. Register by the Saturday before the program.
Enjoy a guided bird walk through the park!
 
Beginning Birding: Winter Birds.
Mon Nov 9 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM.  Tacoma Nature Center.
Conservation Committee.
Tues Nov 10 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
Location: Pacific Lutheran University, Reike 112, Parkland.
 
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually.
Weds Nov 11 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
 
Budding Scientists "Washington Wildlife."
Weds Nov 11 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Ages 5-7, $9.00 per
student. Register at least two days prior. 253-591-6439.
 
Budding Scientists "Washington Wildlife."
Weds Nov 11 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM. .
Intermediate Homeschool Science "Evergreen State"
Thu Nov 12, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with
questions or for more information at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com. Ages 10-12, $12 per student.
TAS Board Meeting.
Thu Nov 12, 2009 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.  TGIF Restoration Activity.
Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Guests Welcome, please call
ahead at (253) 565-9278.
 
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Nov 13 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  raingear, water, snacks, and $3   for entry fee unless you have
Adriana Hess Wetland Park. Come enjoy the outdoors and
help beautify the grounds at Adriana Hess Wetland Park!
 
Membership Meeting at Tacoma Nature Center
Fri Nov 13 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
See box in upper left corner for details.
 
White-tailed Kites in the Fall
Sun Nov 15 7:30 AM to Late Afternoon
Leader: Roger Orness Bring:   Scopes, binos, lunch, and
snacks.  Be prepared for a long drive, and a long day returning
to Tacoma in the late afternoon. Meet:  At the McDonald's
Restaurant at the Hwy 512 P&R at 7:30.  Depart promptly.
Directions:  Take I-5 to Hwy 512 south of Tacoma.  Turn right
and take an immediate left on South Tacoma Way.  Travel
south one block, and turn left into the P&R.   Meet near
McDonalds. Sign-Up:  Call or email Roger Orness, 253-922-
7516, r.orness@comcast.net  numbers.
Plant Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
Mon Nov 16 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.  Fri Dec 4 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Adriana Hess Park.  Thu Dec 17 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Wetland Park.   Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with
 
Beginning Birding: Winter Birds.
Mon Nov 16 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM.  Tacoma Nature Center.
 
Snake Lake Science Club
Tues Nov 17 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 10-14, no charge for
club meetings, $10 per student to join the club. Call The
Nature Center to register 591-6439.
For additional information:Tahoma Audubon - 253-565-9278; or www.tahomaaudubon.org Or The Tacoma Nature Center:253-591-6439 or www.metroparkstacoma.org
Calendar
Intermediate Birder's Class 
Tues Nov 17 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Continuation, see Nov 3.
 
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually.
Weds Nov 18 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
 
Homeschool Advanced Science "Pacific NW Ecology"
Thu Nov 19 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. 
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with
questions or for more information at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com.  Ages 12-15, $15 per student.
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Nov 20 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Adriana Hess Wetland Park. Come enjoy the outdoors and
help beautify the grounds at Adriana Hess Wetland Park!
 
Nature Storytime «Raccoon and Friends.»
Fri Nov 20 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.  driving directions.
Adriana Hess Center, Ages 2-6, $6 per child, $3 Audubon
member, free to adults and U.P residents. Space is limited to
the first 20 registered guests (adults and children). call 253-
591-6439 to register.
Homeschool Adv. Science LAB "Pacific NW Ecology"
Fri Nov 20, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with questions or for
more information at 591-6439 or marjories@tacomaparks.
com. Ages 12-15, $15 per student.   9278 to reserve your spot.  For more details, call Rosanne
Nature Alphabet «P is for Pumpkin.»
Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 3-6, $6 per child. Adult
participation is recommended, children under four require an
Call 591-6439 to register.
 
Family Walk at Adriana Hess Park.
Sun Nov 22, 2009 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  Kelley.
Call Dixie Harris for details 564-6373
 
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually.
Weds Nov 24 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
 
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Nov 27 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Adriana Hess Park.
 
Kent to East Lake Washington
(After Thanksgiving «Walk-Off-The-Calories» trip)
Sat Nov 28  8:30 AM to Mid Afternoon
Leader:   Carol SchulzBring:   Warm clothes, lunch (turkey
sandwiches?), hot drinks, snacks, and water. Scopes are
welcome.Meet:   8:30 AM at the Kent-Des Moines
P&R.  (People who wish to leave early may bring their own
cars.)Directions:  Take I-5 to exit 149.  Go east on Kent-Des
Moines Rd. approx. one block. Turn left (north) 1/2 block on
Military Rd.  The P&R is on the left. Sign-Up:  Call or email
Carol Schulz, 206-824-7618, linusq@att.net.
 
december 2009
Weekly Bird Walks at Nisqually
Weds Dec 2 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Phil Kelley  Bring: Good walking shoes or boots,
a pass.  Scopes are welcome. Meet: At the Visitor's Center.
Directions:  Take I-5 south from Tacoma and exit to Nisqually
NWR at exit 114.  Take a right at the light. Sign-up:  Call or
email Phil Kelley to confirm details.  Phil Kelley, Lacey, (360)
459-1499, scrubjay323@aol.com. Nisqually NWR has started
a 3-4 year estuary reconstruction project.  For more information
about trail closures  for the dike removal and reconstruction
project, go to ttp://www.fws.gov/nisqually/ and click on
Events and   News.
Beginning Homeschool Science «Planet Earth»
Thu Dec 3 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 8-10, $12 per student.
Contact Margie with questions or for more information at 591-
6439 or marjories@tacomaparks.com.
Beginning science students should be able to add and subtract
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Nature Alphabet «Q is for Queens»
Fri Dec 4 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 3-6, $6 per child.  tacomaparks.com. Ages 12-15, $15 per student. To participate
Register by the Sat. before the program. Call 591-6439.
 
Winter Birding in Roy
Sat Dec 5 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Roy, WA. We will be carpooling from University of
Puget Sound's Thompson parking lot off of Union & N. 14th
November program
Fri, November 13, 7pm – 9pm at Tacoma Nature Center,
1919 S. Tylor Street
Monthly membership meeting of Tahoma Audubon. All are
welcome. Celebrate our veterans this week! This month's
program will feature Mark Fischer from the Washington
State Veterans Conservation Corps. Learn how this im-
portant WA State Department of Veterans Affairs program
helps protect and restore wilderness throughout our region,
while providing valuable volunteer opportunities for our vet-
erans. Learn how to get involved. Call (253) 565-927
at 7:15am - we will depart at that time. If not carpooling, meet
at Roy City Park at 8:00am.  Call 565-9278 to sign up or for
 
Adriana Hess Park Photography Class
Mon Dec 7 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Park. Call Dixie Harris 564-6373.
Christmas Irisfolding Card Class
Mon Dec 7 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Cost $12 per person
to be paid at class. Call Adriana Hess Audubon Center @ 565-
Becker @ 564-7115.
 
Tues Dec 8 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Location: Pacific Lutheran University, Reike 112, Parkland.
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually
Weds Dec 9 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Leader: Phil
Budding Scientists «World of Wonder»
Weds Dec 9 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Ages 5-7, $9.00 per
student. Register at least two days prior. 253-591-6439.
 
Budding Scientists «World Of Wonder»
Weds Dec 9 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM
 
Intermediate Homeschool Science
«Think Globally, Act Locally»
Thu Dec 10 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Contact Margie with
questions or for more information at 591-6439 or marjories@
tacomaparks.com. Ages 10-12, $12 per student. Intermediate
Science Students should be able to multiply and divide
numbers, add and subtract fractions.
TAS Board Meeting
Thu Dec 10 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Adriana Hess Audubon Center. Guests Welcome,
please call ahead at (253) 565-9278.
Fri Dec 11 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. 
Adriana Hess Wetland Park.
 
Membership Meeting
Fri Dec 11 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S. Tyler Street.
Monthly membership meeting of Tahoma Audubon.  All
welcome.  Call (253) 565-9278.
 
Bird Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park
Mon Dec 14, 2009 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
Snake Lake Science club
Tues Dec 15 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
Location: Tacoma Nature Center. Ages 10-14, no charge for
club meetings, $10 per student to join the club.Pre-registration
for each program is required as space is limited. Call The
Nature Center to register 591-6439.
Weekly Bird Walk at Nisqually
Weds Dec 16 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Leader: Phil
Kelley. 
Homeschool Advanced Science «The Ecosphere»
questions or for more information at 591-6439 or marjories@
in this class, students should be able to calculate averages,
percentages, and solve simple equations.
 
TGIF Restoration Activity.
Fri Dec 18 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. 
Adriana Hess Wetland Park.