Redwood Region Audubon Society

Announcements and Happenings for March 2004

Awards Presented at Annual Dinner

Over 110 people attended the RRAS banquet held February 14 at the North Coast Inn. Keynote speaker Pam Flowers delivered a funny and poignant account of her 2500-mile solo trans-Arctic dogsled expedition, the longest such journey by a woman in recorded history.

Tom Leskiw was presented the RRAS Member/Volunteer of the Year Award for 9 years of service on the board of directors, a decade of Sandpiper columns, work on the Humboldt County Breeding Bird Atlas, leading field trips, and chairing the Wildlife & Native Plant Garden Tour.

Member/Volunteer of the Year recipient Tom Leskiw [left] accepts his award from RRAS president Jim Clark.

Two $150 awards were given to Humboldt State University students: a travel grant to Cheryl Millett to attend the western section meeting of The Wildlife Society to present her work on Snowy Plover breeding and a research grant to Theresa Spang to support her investigation of Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary use by domestic cats. Boyd Smith of Eco Gardening accepted the $100 K-12 scholarship on behalf of the Trillium Community Charter School’s Gardening/Nature Studies Program Project.

The Conservation Award was presented to Tim Ayres and Aryay Kalaki of the Beach & Dunes Stewards for more than a decade of service addressing enforcement and public safety issues related to implementation of the county’s Beach & Dunes Management Plan. 

A check for half the fall 2003 Bird-a-thon proceeds was presented to Tim McKay, executive director of the Northcoast Environmental Center. An additional donation was made to the NEC’s Rebuild It Fund.

Thank You, Auction Donors & Bidders!

A Silent & Live Auction held in conjunction with the RRAS Annual Banquet once again proved to be our chapter’s largest fundraiser, netting over $3,400. The Board would like to recognize Sue Leskiw for organizing the event, CJ Ralph for putting together the live auction, Tim McKay for serving as emcee, and Philip Smyser, Dick Laursen, Sue & Tom  Leskiw, Frank Anderson, Elias Elias, Gary Bloomfield, and Luke George for contacting potential donors. Setup was accomplished by Shana Stearn, Tom & Sue Leskiw, CJ Ralph, Frank & Marji Anderson, and their friend Lee Anne, while Carol Ralph, Donna Clark, Sue Leskiw, and Jan Andersen served as cashiers.

Following is a complete list of donors, arranged alphabetically: Adel’s, Adventure’s Edge, A&L Feed and Garden, Arcata Community Pool, Arcata Exchange, Arcata MainStreet, Gary Bloomfield, Elizabeth Bollinger, Berit Carlsen, Carter House, Kay Gott Chaffey, Chalet House of Omelettes, Crosswinds, Denny’s, Eureka Natural Foods, Folie Douce, Freshwater Farms, Chris Frolking, Gallery Dog, Gill’s by the Bay, Golden Harvest, Gottschalk’s, Hensel’s Hardware, Humboldt Audio & Video, LBJ Enterprises, Sue Leskiw, Ron LeValley, Frances Madrone, Marie Callender’s, McKinleyville Press, Marsha Mello, Miller Farms, Minor Theater Corporation, Natural Selection, Wanda Naylor, Nilsen Company, Northtown Books, Jeanne O’Neale, Linda Parkinson, Pierson Building Center, Plaza Design, Pro Sport Center, CJ Ralph, Ray’s Food Place, Jane Riggan, Safeway, Sizzler, Sjaak’s, Strictly for the Birds, Gwen Thoele, Three G’s Hay & Grain, Tin Can Mailman, Tomas Jewelers, Trinidad Rancheria, Bill Van Fleet, Village Pantry, Catherine Walling, Jim Welsh, and Pinky Zalkin.

Cashiers Carol Ralph and Sue Leskiw “show you the money” (over $3400 in proceeds from live and silent auctions). Not shown: Donna Clark.

Conservation Report

The Conservation Committee met on February 19, 2004 at the Golden Harvest Cafe in Arcata at 12:00 noon.

Attending were Jim Clark, Barbara Kelly, Sue Leskiw, Tim McKay, Melvin McKinney and Philip Smyser.

Tim got the discussion going early about the liquefied natural gas facility proposed for Humboldt Bay’s North Spit.  Although most local conservation organizations are focusing on the public endangerment aspects of such a proposal, RRAS is going to limit its comments to potential local and global environmental environmental consequences.  The committee also has concerns about the place of massive natural gas importation in a sound (not the current one) national energy policy.

Mel reported that the Trails Committee wants the City of Eureka to take some action on trails beyond  just  talking about it and agreeing that it is a good idea.  It appears that some additional commitment might be coming from the city. Getting people into the gulches and on trails the right way may enhance residential property values if done correctly.   Jim mentioned that RRAS’s multiple offers to assist and volunteer in several aspects of the Eureka Gulch and Greenways project had generated almost no response from the City.  Sue remarked that it looked like it was time for Jim to lead another Eureka Gulches field trip.

Sue opened the discussion about the Hammond Trail extension across Widow White Creek.  Jim pointed out that former Conservation Chairman Chad Roberts did not object to the extension of the trail but to the construction of the trail and bridge taking place without a coastal development permit.  Sue offered to write a letter stating that RRAS was not opposed to the the trail extension provided that it was done in accordance with the local coastal plan.

Next meeting is March 18, 2004; same time, same place, Chet Ogan presiding.

RRAS Co-sponsoring Humboldt Bay Symposium

All are invited to attend a free public symposium on “Current Perspectives on the Physical and Biological Processes of Humboldt Bay.” The one-day session, crafted by the Humboldt Bay Stewards, will be held on Monday, March 15 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Wharfinger Building on the Eureka waterfront. Presentations will include the history of human influences, circulation modeling using LIDAR data, physical processes and functions, habitat relationships to physical functions, and future planning considerations. At the end of the day, a panel composed of scientists, business, environmental groups, and agency representatives will provide fresh perspectives on bay management and protection and identify information gaps. Lunch will be provided. Sponsors are RRAS, Friends of the Arcata Marsh, EPIC, Humboldt State University, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Sea Grant.

March 29 Deadline for Student Bird Art Contest Entries

A reminder that RRAS, in cooperation with FOAM, is sponsoring an art contest this April. Some $200 in prizes will be awarded in four grade categories (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12). Winners will be announced at the Godwit Days opening reception on Friday, April 16 and winning pieces will be displayed at the Arcata Community Center.

Artwork may be in color or black and white. Subject must be a rendering of bird(s) from a list of 40 species. Flyers with complete rules are available at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center and Strictly for the Birds or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the RRAS post office box.

Artwork may be dropped off at Strictly for the Birds, 123 F Street, Eureka, or the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, South G Street, Arcata; or mailed to RRAS, P.O. Box 1054, Eureka CA 95502.

Help Wanted

RRAS needs your help. With the 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.

Redwood Region Audubon Society welcomes the following new members and subscribers: