An Advance Peek at Silent Auction Offerings
A Potato Latke Party for 6 with Pinky Zalkin! Two Godwit Days registrations from Arcata MainStreet! Two night’s pet-sitting from Pet Nurturing Services! These are just a few of the local businesses, artists, and other generous individuals who have already donated to the Silent Auction at our Annual Banquet. This effort has become our chapter’s largest fundraiser.
Other bid items you will see at the North Coast Inn on February 15: books from Tin Can Mailman, Ten Speed Press, and numerous individuals; feeders from Strictly for the Birds; a framed wildlife photograph by Ron LeValley; gift baskets from Eureka Natural Foods and Bubbles; gift certificates from Freshwater Farms and Northtown Books; a T-shirt from Los Bagels, dinner for 2 at Curley’s Grill, Restaurant 301 at Carter’s, or the North Coast Inn; glasses from Gallery Dog; earrings from Abraxas, and a sports package from the Adorni Center.
If you would like to donate goods, services, or a gift certificate, please call Sue Leskiw at 442-5444 prior to the banquet. All donors will be acknowledged in The Sandpiper and receive a thank-you letter (with tax ID number).
Potluck Proves Popular
About 55 people attended the RRAS potluck dinner preceding the December program and a few more squeezed into the Humboldt Area Foundation to hear Dr. Stan Harris’s Christmas Bird Count identification brush-up program.
RRAS would like to provide more social get-togethers for members, such as the picnic held at Freshwater Park in October. (How about a potluck before the May program at the Office of Education?) Please submit your ideas for future events to Elias Elias or Sue Leskiw.
Program Chair needed!
Most of our programs are planned through this May, but starting in the fall, we need someone to serve as Program Chair for R.R.A.S. Call Elias at 826-2758.
RRAS Completes Successful Year of Field Trips -- Sue Leskiw
During 2002, RRAS volunteers led 40 special field trips in addition to the weekly walks at the Arcata Marsh. Some 411 attendees took advantage of the birding expertise of these dedicated field trip leaders. The most popular trip was a visit to southeastern Humboldt County last May, led by David Fix and Jude Power (35 participants).
RRAS expanded its presence at the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge to monthly trips (second Sunday), while attendance at the Eureka Marsh walks (third Sunday, September-May) led by Pablo Herrera ranged from one to 18. Two Del Norte pelagic trips organized by John Hunter in September proved popular, as did a late-evening excursion to Luffenholtz Point with Elias Elias searching for storm-petrels.
RRAS would like to take this opportunity to send out a heartfelt “Thank you” to the special field trip leaders who were willing to share their expertise with local residents (and a few tourists) during 2002: Rob Hewitt, Tom Leskiw, David Fix & Jude Power, Chet Ogan, Gary Bloomfield, Stan Harris, Pablo Herrera, Matt Wachs, Michael Morris, Gary Lester, Elias Elias, John Hewston, Stan Harris, Gretchen O’Brien, Joan Loitz, John Hunter, Steve Tucker, Tristan McKee, Laura Nelson, and David Juliano.
And let’s not forget those stalwarts who, during the past year, escorted birders through the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, rain or shine, every Saturday at 8:30 a.m.: Jim & Donna Clark, Brent Critch, Elias Elias, Gary Friedrichsen, Esther Gilchrist, Larry Karsteadt, Paul Lohse, Carl Meyers, Michael Morris, Chet Ogan, Bill Rodstrom, Paul & Virginia Springer, Pete & Nancy Spruance, and Jim Tietz.
CBC UPdate
Our Christmas Bird Count period started with a tornado on the Arcata Count and ended with Buffleheads swimming across the road during the Centerville Count. Rain was the order of the day, resulting in low species counts on all but the Willow Creek Count. The following hardy souls participated in all four local counts (Arcata, Del Norte, Willow Creek, Centerville): David Fix, Gary Lester, Paul Lohse, Chet Ogan, Jude Power, and Kerry Ross. Check out the results at the Audubon Web Site -- www.audubon.org/bird/cbc.].
The Aleutian Goose Festival: A Celebration of Wildness, March 21-24, 2003
Come join us for our 5th annual Aleutian Goose Festival and celebrate the return of spring and the world’s population of Aleutian Canada Geese. Once on the Endangered Species List with only 800 birds, this magnificent goose now numbers 40,000+ and has joined the elite group of species that have recovered enough to be taken off of the endangered list. Our festival guests are treated to the sight of tens of thousands of these birds lifting off Castle Rock at dawn filling the sky over the Pacific.
The 4-day festival, March 21-24, features 75 workshops and field trips led by the best leaders in our region. Programs include; near shore ocean trips, pelagic trip, drift boats on the Wild & Scenic Smith River for birding-geology-redwood ecology, spotted owl, marbled murrelet, ecology of the Biscuit Fire, birding by kayak on Lake Earl, Tolowa Native American Heritage, wildlife photography, optics by Swarovski, salmon and steelhead, children’s activities and more.
Visit our web site www.redwoodlink.com/soar or call 707/465-0888 for a sampling of the programs and to let us know if you wish to receive a registration booklet
RRAS to Sponsor Award at County Science Fair
The best project dealing with birds and their habitat at the Humboldt County Science Fair in March will be awarded $50 and a local Audubon membership. Projects by elementary and secondary school students, on display at Humboldt State University, will be judged by a panel of RRAS representatives.
This is the second year that RRAS has sponsored an award at the fair. Last year’s winner was Cole Salmon, a fifth-grader from Scotia Elementary School, whose experiment tested what color feeder birds preferred.
For more information, contact Education Chair Louise Bacon-Ogden at 445‑8304 or 445‑1822.
Sixth Annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 14-17
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society are calling on birders of every age and skill level to help with this annual event. Participants are asked to count the numbers and kinds of birds that visit their feeders during any or all of the four count days and enter their sightings online. This year’s count will spotlight the nearly 200 species on Audubon’s WatchList, an accounting of birds in decline or at conservation risk. Instructions for participating can be found at www.birdsource.org.
Reminder: Scholarship Applications Due January 30
Applications for a $100 scholarship to a K-12 student or classroom and a $150 travel grant to an HSU student must be received by Thursday, January 30. Both awards will be presented at the RRAS annual banquet on February 15.
Conservation Committee - December 20
The conservation Committee met at the Golden Harvest Cafe at noon, December 20, 2002. Chet Ogan, Mel McKinney and Jim Clark were present.
Chet announced that Coastal Flight Photos are now available on line. Contact Chet for the URL.
South Spit, Snowy Plover: According to Mark Massera of the Sierra Club, the BLM will not support full Snowy Plover protection on the North Spit by restricting vehicles from the wave slope during the nesting season. It was alleged that a local politician persuaded the local office to allow vehicles on the wave slope. If this is true, it means that two agencies within the Department of the Interior have conflicting policies with regard to snowy Plover protection.
Mariculture Monitoring Committee (MMC): Jim reported on the recent meeting of the MMC. The meeting lasted two hours longer than planned and revolved more around getting funding for studies than Coast Seafood’s compliance with the mitigated negative declaration. According to Coast Seafood, the Coastal Commission is requiring to much information to be presented that would cost over a million dollars to comply with. Others commented that Coastal Commission staff did not read the reports before commenting—and did not know that a bat ray was not a flying mammal! The later part of the meeting degenerated into accusations without specifics. Coast Seafood stated that they would have to discontinue business in Humboldt County if they had to comply with the current permit requirements. In a December 17, 2002 letter from Coast Seafood’s attorney Samuel W. Plauche to Coastal Commission Staff Counsel John Bowers, Mr. Plauche attempts to clarify Coast’s expectations with regard to their claim for vested rights. Coast Seafood is threatening to make a Claim of Vested Rights (CVR) in the event of enforcement action or if negotiations do not go in Coast Seafood’s favor. Although it is doubtful that Coast Seafoods would meet the conditions required for vested rights, a CVR and associated appeals would buy at least a couple of years of continued operation.
The committee agreed that it appears that Coast Seafood is not pursuing a permit, but attempting to coerce a negotiated settlement with the coastal commission.
An offer was made to the MMC by RRAS on behalf of Jim Clark to help sponsor mediation in an attempt to clearly resolve some of these issues. The only inquiry so far was by a member of the Coastal Commission staff.
Target, City of Eureka: EPIC has some concerns regarding the allowed setback requirements for the proposed Target store at the old Montgomery Ward site. The committee felt that the current plan is an improvement, but also recognizes that the setback issue may be important for future interpretations of the planning ordinance. We also recognize that although the public input for this project met the letter of the law, it could be improved.
National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR): Mel is looking into details of establishing a NERR for Humboldt Bay. We may need to provide some education to counteract years of “locking up” the bay.
The next meeting will be February 21, 2003 at the same time and place.
--Jim Clark
Latin America Committee Needs Members
RRAS is reaching out to another Audubon chapter beyond our North American borders and exploring a “sister” relationship with Belize Audubon Society (BAS). Being on the Pacific Flyway, we in Humboldt and Del Norte counties enjoy watching and protecting the habitat of birds that then wend their way to Central or South America. Belize enjoys the advantages of a wonderful diverse avifauna in a very small area—and it is an English-speaking country. The BAS chapter with the government of Belize manages 8 sanctuaries and forest preserves, totaling over 165,000 acres. Jay Sooter has already visited Belize, and in fall 2002, Chet Ogan met with the BAS executive director to learn how we can be of help to them and vice versa. We hope to organize a birding and nature trip for RRAS members. We need your help, your input, and your enthusiasm for this exciting adventure! If you’re interested in joining us or would like more information, contact Jan Andersen at (707) 444-3501 or jandersen1936@earthlink.net.
Redwood Region Audubon Society welcomes the following new members and subscribers:
Bayside –
Scott Bryon Cariss
Crescent City
– Dorothy Round
Eureka – Donna Summerly
Klamath
– Ken Zierenberg
McKinleyville – Dolan
Zachary
Smith River – Cin
Greyraven & Kathleen Kaut
We look forward to seeing you on field trips and at our monthly programs.