Audubon in the Community
RRAS recently cosponsored several free events for the general public. Approximately 30 people enjoyed the Klamath slide show and lecture at the Wharfinger building October 16, while about 50 spent the day learning about aquatic habitat conservation plans at the Arcata Community Center November 1.
Help Wanted
RRAS needs your help. With the Silent Auction in February, Godwit Café in April, booths at public events, etc., we need volunteers to work with the public and behind the scenes. If you are available to give as little as 2 hours a month to insure the success of these ventures, please contact Philip Smyser, your volunteer coordinator, at 442-5904 or philipsmyser@yahoo.com.
Help Wanted for Christmas Bird Counts
Ways you can participate:
1. Give counters access to your property
2. Keep a list of birds that you see in your yard on that day (be a “feederwatcher”)
3. Join a team to cover a territory near your home. (New birders are paired with veterans, so you don’t have to be an expert.)
All are welcome. If you’ve every heard yourself say, “Maybe it’d be fun to learn about birds,” this is a great opportunity. Call the contacts listed below to participate at any level.
Del Norte, Sunday, December 14, contact Alan Barron (465-8904; flockfinder@aol.com) or Gary Lester (work 443-8326, home 839-3373; garylester@w-and-k.com)
Arcata, Saturday, December 20, contact Ron LeValley (839-0900; ron@madriverbio.com)
Willow Creek, Saturday, December 27, contact Gary Lester (work 443-8326, home 839-3373; garylester@w-and-k.com)
Lewiston, Sunday, December 28, contact Barbara Peck (bapeck@jeffnet.org)
Centerville Beach to King Salmon, Sunday, January 4, contact Stan Harris (822-3802)
Garden Tour Nomination Deadline Extended to December 15
If you haven’t yet called Tom or Sue Leskiw (442-5444) to nominate your garden for inclusion on the 2004 Wildlife & Native Plant Garden Tour, you haven’t missed your chance. The original deadline of November 24 has been extended to Monday, December 15. If your property showcases plants that attract wildlife (especially hummingbirds and butterflies) or emphasizes native species and is located between Fortuna and Trinidad, we want to hear from you!
Audubon Election Materials
Watch your mailbox the beginning of January for a ballot to select 2004 RRAS board members and officers, as well as a flyer with information about the February 14 banquet. Please take the time to vote!
Conservation Committee Report, By Jim Clark
The following items were discussed:
Sierra Pacific restoration funding: Jim reported on a meeting with Regional Water Quality Control Board and Department of Fish and Game staff regarding Sierra Pacific settlement funding for restoration and enhancement of habitat. The most bang for the buck would probably be from projects that are already permitted and under way, such as Arcata’s Wetlands Project on Janes Creek. Enhancement on Mad River Slough across from the Sierra Pacific Mill would involve land purchase and permitting. Any project in the Arcata Bottom will probably benefit from the recently completed habitat mapping project completed for that region.
Eureka Marsh Enhancement: Mel reported that the City of Eureka was planning to start work on the Eureka Marsh enhancement by excavating Fragmites (common reed), contaminated soil, and treating the area with Glyphosate herbicide when new shoots emerge. A recent communication with Lisa Shikaney has revealed that current plans are to burn or mow the Fragmites stands instead of excavate, then treat with herbicide by hand application when new shoots emerge. It was determined that excavation would only stimulate rhizome growth and spread the evil weed; besides, costing a huge amount of money to transport and dispose of the weed contaminated soil.
The committee discussed the application of Glyphosate herbicide and supported it in this situation, provided that it is applied properly by an experienced applicator. The Glyphosate herbicide Rodeo® is not a regulated substance and does not require a permit from the County Agricultural Commissioner or application by a certified pesticide applicator. It is likely that up to six monthly applications will be required to eradicate the Fragmites. Lisa also indicated that the clumps of Pampas grass are also likely targets for eradication.
Headwaters Reserve Plan: Jim reported on his review of the Headwaters Plan and the general recommendation that mountain biking is essentially eliminated and horseback riding is very limited. The committee agreed that this was consistent with the purposes of the Headwaters Reserve.
Because of the author’s incomplete recovery from a nasty G.I. virus parts of this meeting were a little fuzzy. Have a safe and healthy holiday season, and please wash your hands before serving or eating food!
Next-Meeting December 18, 2003 same time, same place.
Banquet Offers Flowers for Valentine’s Day
Pam Flowers will be the featured speaker at the 2004 RRAS Annual Banquet, to be held at the North Coast Inn on Saturday, February 14. Flowers will talk about her 2500-mile solo trans-Arctic dogsled expedition, the longest such journey by a woman in recorded history. During her trip, she encountered an extremely stormy winter, melting sea ice, being marooned on an Arctic island for nearly 6 months, and polar bears.
The Banquet will feature a buffet dinner, Silent Auction, and awards presentations. A no-host social hour from 6-7 p.m. will be followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the speaker at 8 p.m.
Tickets are on a sliding scale from $30 to $50 and must be purchased in advance. To encourage student attendance, full-time students may receive a below-cost rate of $25. In appreciation of their part in the success of RRAS outreach, all field trip leaders for 2003 are offered the same $5 discount.
Checks should be made payable to RRAS, with “Banquet” in the notation line, and mailed to P.O. Box 1054, Eureka 95502. Indicate the names of the persons attending for your payment. Checks must arrive no later than Monday, February 9. This is a firm date, so please plan ahead. Your tickets will be waiting at the door. You must purchase a ticket to attend the lecture.
The North Coast Inn is located at 4975 Valley West Boulevard, Arcata.
Donations of Goods & Services Sought for Silent Auction
For the fourth year, RRAS will be holding a Silent Auction at its Annual Banquet. This event has become the major fundraiser for our chapter.
If you work in a business, ask your employer to donate a gift certificate or merchandise. If you are an artist or photographer or needlecrafter, give a piece of your work. Offer to lead a birding trip or cook a dinner. Donate books or gently used optics or other field supplies. There are many types of services and objects on which people would be willing to bid, so don’t be shy or uncreative!
If you’d like to have an item picked up, contact Elias at 826-2758 or C.J. at theralphs@humboldt1.com. Please contact Sue Leskiw at 442-5444 to make a donation or if you would be willing to contact businesses on our behalf. All donors will be recognized at the banquet on February 14 and in the Sandpiper as well as receive thank-you letters.
RRAS to Sponsor Educational Awards
A $100 scholarship to a K-12 student/classroom and a $150 grant for an HSU student to conduct a research project or attend and present the results of his/her research at a scientific meeting will be underwritten by RRAS. Applications for both awards are due on February 2, 2004, and winners will be presented their checks at the RRAS annual banquet on February 14.
Flyers advertising the K-12 scholarship -- for projects related to local habitats or species, conservation, or other environmental topics – will be distributed to all Humboldt County schools in early January and mailed to teachers who attended the environmental education fair at College of the Redwoods.
Preference for the college award will be given to research conducted on birds in northern California, although projects related to local habitats or species, conservation, or other environmental topics will be accepted. The winner is expected to give a 45‑minute presentation of his/her research, geared to the informed layperson, at an RRAS general meeting.
To receive an application form, contact Louise Bacon‑Ogden, Scholarship Chair, 123 F St, Eureka, CA 95501; phone 445‑8304 or 445‑1822; e‑mail sftb@juno.com.
RRAS Sponsors Science Fair Award
Again this year, RRAS will be sponsoring an award for the best project dealing with birds and their habitat at the annual Humboldt County Science Fair. The event will be held in mid-March at Humboldt State University. RRAS volunteer judges will evaluate exhibits created by elementary, middle, and high school students to choose a winner. The prize is a $50 check and a 1-year local RRAS membership.
Children’s Art Contest at Godwit Days
RRAS, in cooperation with Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM), will be sponsoring a children’s art contest this April. Up to $200 in prizes will be awarded, with winners announced during the Godwit Days Festival April 16-18. Entry rules are still being formulated, so watch future issues of the Sandpiper for details or contact Sue Leskiw at 442-5444.
Redwood Region Audubon Society welcomes the following new members and subscribers:
Crescent City – Mona Reich, Rick Sermon
Trinidad – Dana Stevens
McKinleyville – Kim Hagans, Linda Parkinson, Richard Sherwood
Arcata – John Hunter, John Stokes III
Eureka – Susan Deyl, Penny Dunn, Lawronco Ford, Xandra Grube, Leona Harrington, Thomas Olson
Ferndale – Jim Streter
Fortuna – Jay Edelstein
We look forward to seeing you on field trips and at our monthly programs.