Election Results
The Board welcomes new member Frank Anderson and returning members Hal Genger, Tom Leskiw, Chet Ogan, and Jay Sooter. RRAS thanks retiring Board member Luke George. Sue Leskiw agreed to serve as President-Elect, based on write-in results.
Awards Presented at Annual Dinner
Approximately 90 people attended the RRAS banquet held February 15 at the North Coast Inn. Peter Pyle, Farallon biologist at the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, delivered the keynote lecture on PRBO’s white shark project.
Sue Leskiw was presented the RRAS Member of the Year Award for her contributions as chapter secretary, membership chair, publicity co-chair, and scholarship committee member, as well as organizing three annual banquets/silent auctions, the Godwit Café, member picnic, and potlucks.
Humboldt State University wildlife graduate student Christine Steele won the new $150 travel grant award. She will attend the western section meeting of The Wildlife Society to present her work on transfer of pathogenic bacteria between humans and seabirds in rehabilitation centers. High school teacher Dan Equinoss accepted the $100 K-12 scholarship on behalf of the Laurel Tree Habitat Restoration Project at the Bayside Grange. The students are removing invasive species and replanting with natives.
Luke George presented a $930 check to Tim McKay, executive director of the Northcoast Environmental Center. The amount represented 75 percent of the proceeds from the October 2002 Bird-a-thon fundraiser chaired by George.
Thank You, Silent Auction Donors & Bidders!
A Silent Auction held in conjunction with the RRAS Annual Banquet once again proved to be our chapter’s largest fundraiser. The Board would like to recognize Sue Leskiw for organizing the event, Tim McKay for serving as emcee of the live auction segment, and Dick Laursen, Jan Andersen, Hal Genger, Sue Leskiw, Tom Leskiw, and Jay Sooter for contacting potential donors. Special mention goes to Gary Bloomfield, Jeanne O’Neale, Linda Parkinson, CJ Ralph, Restaurant 301 at Carter’s, Southport Landing Bed & Breakfast, and Jim Welsh for their donations of high-value items.
Following is a complete list of donors, arranged alphabetically: Abraxas (earrings), Adel’s (gift certificate), Adorni Center (sports package), Adventure’s Edge (kayak rental), Arcata MainStreet (two Godwit Days registrations), Louise Bacon-Ogden (picnic set), Gary Bloomfield (four pieces of original artwork), Elizabeth Bollinger (handmade craft items, calendar), Broadway Cinema (tickets), Bubbles (gift basket), Jeannette Carol (book, trivet), Lina Carro (books), Chalet House of Omelettes (gift certificate), Curley’s Grill (gift certificate), Denny’s (two gift certificates), Susan Deschenes (energy breathing sessions), Eureka Natural Foods (two gift baskets), Folie Douce (gift certificate), Freshwater Farms (gift certificate), Bob Frey (book and calendar), Gallery Dog (etched glasses), Gill’s by the Bay (gift certificate), Hensel’s Hardware (tote cooler), HomeTown Buffet (two gift certificates), Pat Larsen (books), Mary Larson (book), LBJ Enterprises (book and owling trip), Sue Leskiw (book), Ron LeValley (photograph), Los Bagels (t-shirt), Marie Callender’s (pies), Marsha Mello (two etchings), Nilsen Company (gift certificates), North Coast Inn (gift certificate), Northtown Books (gift certificate), Jeanne O’Neale (many grooming items, cutting board, TripLink), Linda Parkinson (painting, print), Pet Nurturing Services (two night’s petsitting), Pierson Building Center (gift certificate), Pro Sport Center (daypack), CJ Ralph (artwork, tripod), Sjaak’s (chocolate), Southport Landing B&B (one night B&B for two), Strictly for the Birds (three feeders, owl plaque), Sweet River Grill & Bar (gift certificate), Ten Speed Press (books), Three G’s Hay & Grain (feeder), Tin Can Mailman (books), Catherine Walling (artwork, books), Jim Welsh (four pieces of original artwork), and Pinky Zalkin (potato latke party for 6).
New RRAS Logo Goods
Baseball caps and commuter mugs featuring Gary Bloomfield’s Marbled Murrelet were unveiled at the RRAS Annual Banquet. The caps come in two styles – olive green oilskin and green/blue cotton – and cost $15. The mugs are a beautiful metallic green with the logo on one side and a shade-grown coffee/songbird connection on the other. The price is $10.
These items, as well as the remaining American Bittern T-shirts ($10), can be purchased at the Godwit Café or at any monthly RRAS program.
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.
For more information, contact Education Chair Louise Bacon-Ogden at 445‑8304 or 445‑1822.
Conservation Committee Report - February 21
Attending the meeting were: Jan Andersen, Diane Beck, Jim Clark, Barbara Kelly, Melvin McKinney and Leila Raim.
Eureka marsh and wildlife areas: Mel continues to push Eureka to act on its promises and the city appears to be something less than an immovable object. Although slow to act, the City of Eureka is moving toward compliance with environmental commitments such as signage for access to the Eureka marsh.
Herbicide in the Bay: Jim will attend a presentation on use of an herbicide to kill Zostera japonica, which is the undesirable species of eel grass that lives at a higher tide level than the native species. It will be challenging to weigh the possible side effects of herbicides against the result of colonization by the exotic eel grass.
Eureka Gulches: The city council voted to form an ad hoc time-limited committee to address the problems associated with the gulches. The planning commission has had difficulties dealing with development near gulches because they are not specifically defined in the zoning ordinance, yet they need special protection.
Water export: Discussion continued on the “water bag” export proposal. Barbara Kelly and Diane Beck brought back valuable information from the water district meeting concerning this issue. The District has wisely decided to proceed with researching the legal issues on water export in general but did not take action to accept or reject the water bag barging concept. After further discussion of the issue, Barbara Kelly hit the nail on the head for Redwood Region Audubon Society by asking how we can support sustainable development by not opposing extreme measures to support non-sustainable development. The consensus was that we could not.
Want a chance to participate in another epiphanal event? Come to our next meeting at the Golden Harvest Cafe in Arcata on March 21, 2003 at noon.
- Jim Clark
Potluck Planned Before May Program
Come early to the May 9 RRAS program and bring your appetite! Since the potluck preceding the December CBC brush-up proved so popular, we are adding one to the last program before the summer hiatus. RRAS will provide drinks, paper goods, and utensils; you bring the food. The location is the main room at the County Office of Education; the time is 6:30 p.m. See you there!
Wildlife & Native Plant Garden Tour Update
Nine gardens -- from downtown Eureka to Trinidad -- plus Freshwater Farms have been selected for inclusion in the inaugural RRAS Garden Tour. The event, co-sponsored with the local chapter of the California Native Plants Society (CNPS), will be held from 10 am to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.
The chosen gardens showcase plants that attract wildlife (especially hummingbirds and butterflies) or emphasize native species. The event is intended to increase community awareness of backyard habitats and to raise funds for RRAS and CNPS.
Tickets will go on sale in April and cost $15. Ticket outlets are Strictly for the Birds in Old Town Eureka, Freshwater Farms on Myrtle Avenue, and the Northcoast Environmental Center in Arcata. Tickets also can also be ordered through RRAS and CNPS; order forms will be widely distributed through newsletters, mailings, and at public events.
Volunteers are needed for 3-hour shifts to check tickets at the gardens, distribute handouts, and help with traffic control. Volunteers will receive a free VIP tour of the gardens and a post-event picnic. If you want to help, call Tom or Sue Leskiw at 442.5444.
Redwood Region Audubon Society welcomes the following new members and subscribers:
Arcata – David Cook,
Kevin Dawson, Greg Frankfurter, Ranya Henson, Yben Lyell, Rusty Stoob
Crescent City – Diane
Caldwell, Dorothy Round, Heidi Wendt
Eureka – Kim Bird,
Betty Chadwick, Mark Freztas, G. Falxa & G. Garman, Marylee Nurrenbern, Donna
& Charlie Pace, Raye Woodhouse, Derek & Kathy Zane
Fortuna – Jim & Necia
Matheson
Kneeland – Lauren
Tompkins
Loleta – Christian
Crawford
McKinleyville – Sally
Auerbach, Joan Brandon, Jack Munsee, Dolan Zachary
Redcrest – John
Laboyteaux
Rio Dell –
Laura & Mike Bradley
Trinidad – Carolyn
Christenson, Anne Rodden
We look forward to seeing you on field trips and at our monthly programs.