Redwood Region Audubon Society

Announcements and Happenings for September 2003

All Members Invited to Fall Picnic

Here's an opportunity for RRAS members and their families to “meet and eat!” Whip up your favorite potluck item and come out to Freshwater Park on Sunday, October 5, starting at noon.

RRAS will provide beverages, place settings, and a cake. A grill will be available for those desiring to cook. We plan to eat around 1 p.m., then spend the afternoon enjoying a beautiful fall day. There's a large grassy area, so bring your frisbee, etc. Volleyball is also an option.

The event will be held in the “Reserved Area” of Freshwater Park. From Myrtle Avenue/Old Arcata Road, turn at the 3 Corners Store onto Freshwater Road. The park is 3 miles ahead on the righthand side. Tell the attendant that you are attending the Audubon picnic, to avoid paying an entry fee. The reserved area is to the right, across the bridge, at the end of the road. Electrical outlets and a cold water sink are available in a gazebo cook area.

Special Section: Garden Tour - July 2003

Garden Tour Thanks

RRAS and the California Native Plant Society thank the following for contributing to the success of the first Wildlife & Native Plant Garden Tour, held July 26. Nearly 400 people purchased tickets.

·         The Times-Standard, North Coast Journal, Arcata Eye, McKinleyville Press, NCC Radio Group, KHUM, KMUD, KHSU, and News Channel 3.
·         Ticket outlets Strictly for the Birds, Miller Farms Nursery, Pierson’s Garden Shop & Nursery, the Northcoast Environmental Center, Freshwater Farms, and Blake’s Books.
·         Ellen McCarthy and Andrea Lehrer, who made the trip from Santa Cruz to provide Celtic music at the refreshment stop.
·         Rick, Larissa, and Cindy of Freshwater Farms.
·         The garden selection committee.
·         The 30 volunteers who staffed the check-in tables, served refreshments, or directed traffic [Jan Andersen, Kristen Brown, Berit Carlsen, Jim & Donna Clark, Peggy Dunavan, Marilyn Foresell, Marcy Foster, Dave Hardy, Debbie Harrison, Judie Hinman, Bernie Huston, Nancy Ihara, Laura Julian, Anita Leipper, Grace Marton, Carol Mone, Chet Ogan, Nancy Rehg, Gisela Rohde, Erich Schimps, Rhonda Smyser, Gwen Thoele, Vicky Turner, Sandy Waters, Berti Welty, Mary Wheetley, Donna Wildearth, Leon & Margaret Zlatkoff].
·         The 9 garden owners who opened their properties to the public and were on hand for 6 hours to answer questions from attendees [Paul & Margaret Abels, Louise Bacon-Ogden & Dave Ogden, Chris & Richard Beresford, Rob & Robin Hewitt, Tom & Sue Leskiw, Tim McKay, Michael Morris, Jude Power & David Fix, Sabra Steinberg & Jeff Dunk].
·         Sue Leskiw, who handled the logistics and publicity for the Tour and ensuing volunteer appreciation events.

Tom Leskiw, Garden Tour Chair
 

Garden Tour a Huge Hit!

Nearly 400 tickets were sold for the inaugural Wildlife & Native Plant Garden Tour [see thank-you letter from chair Tom Leskiw]. Following are highlights of surveys of attendees, volunteers, and garden owners.

Attendees

·         RRAS and CNPS reached a new audience through the event, as 55% of ticketbuyers responding to the survey belonged to neither organization.

·         79% had attended garden tours sponsored by other groups.

·         When asked to rate the Garden Tour on a scale of 1 to 10, the responses were nearly equally divided between 8 and 9, with a few 10s and a couple lower scores.

·         76% were “very likely” to attend a future tour, with an additional 21% “somewhat likely.”

Comments from attendees:

“The plant lists were great. Thanks for doing the tour!”

“Liked the ‘naturalness’ of the gardens, great variety, gardeners to talk with.”

“Loved the more “natural” aspect of the tour. Liked gaining access to these beautiful hidden treasures.”

“Liked comparing new gardens with more established ones.”

“Liked the diversity in yards and personal tours.”

“The people were wonderfully friendly and informative.”

“Liked talking to gardeners, maps, plant labels.”

“Got so many ideas for ponds/natural plantings. We have a new home and will incorporate as many ideas as possible.”

“Well-organized, good directions, beautiful gardens.”

“We had a very pleasant day visiting the gardens.”

“Enjoyed learning about native plants and talking with the owners. It was great to learn about plants that attract birds.”

“The best garden tour I’ve ever been on. Great biodiversity; gardens avoided a palatial feel.”

 Volunteers

Comments from volunteers:

“All of the comments were positive and people happy. I’ve been involved in many activities of this type and was so impressed with the superb organization.”

“Many attendees thanked me and said they were enjoying the gardens. This event seems like a wonderful way to educate people about using native plants in landscapes plus create critter-friendly habitats.”

“Attendees enjoyed the variety and all comments were favorable.”

“Very positive comments. People liked seeing “real” gardens. Many said they had gotten good ideas for native planting and planting for wildlife.”

“Everyone was very enthusiastic. No negative feedback whatsoever.”

“Everyone really enjoyed seeing the gardens, only positive comments.”

 Garden Owners

Comments from garden owners:

“We enjoyed sharing our garden.”

 “The attendees were fun and appreciative and relaxed. Received compliments that it was “lower key” and “less intense” than the HBGF tour.”

“Wonderful. Do it again! A “thank-you” sunflower plant was left anonymously on my porch.”
 

Will There Be a Garden Tour Next Year?

The attendees are calling for one, the volunteers are eager to help, and this year’s garden owners had a great experience and would be willing to show their properties again in the future. But the first step for planning a 2004 Tour is to locate new gardens to showcase next summer. A few suggestions have come from returned questionnaires but we need more locations to evaluate.

Does YOUR yard feature plants attractive to wildlife or emphasize native species? Do you know someone else who has such a property? Please contact Tom Leskiw at 442-5444 or tomleskiw@aol.com with a name and phone number.

We’d also like to hear from 2003 attendees who haven’t been surveyed about their Tour highlights and suggested improvements. E-mail Tom or drop a note c/o the RRAS PO Box (#1054, Eureka 95502).

Finally, two lost items were found by garden owners. If you’re missing a pair of reading glasses or a car key, call Sue Leskiw at 442-5444.

Butterfly Field trip a success

On July 12, 30 people participated in a Butterfly Field Trip co-sponsored by RRAS and the North Coast Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. The trip -- led by Pete Haggard, with assistance from Bill Rodstrom, Tom Leskiw, and Carol Ralph (native plants) -- traveled to US Forest Service Route 1 on Grouse Mountain, near Willow Creek. This trip was last held on July 10, 1993, nearly 10 years to the day!

The following butterflies, skippers, and moths were observed at three different locations: Western Tiger and Pale Swallowtails, Clodius Parnassian, Silvery Blue, Nelson’s Hairstreak, Lilac-bordered and Gorgon Coppers, Orange and Western Sulphurs, Painted Lady, Hydaspe (Fritillary), Buckeye, Lorquin’s Admiral, California Sister, Variable Checkerspot, Mylitta and Field Crescentspots, Duskywing sp., and the Sierran Pericopid moth, and the Sheep Moth Larvae (Wild Silk Moth).

RRAS Birdathon

Once again this fall, RRAS is sponsoring a Bird‑a‑Thon fundraiser to benefit RRAS and the Northcoast Environmental Center. The timeframe is September 21 through October 4. We need people to pledge as well as to bird. Pledge forms are available at the NEC, the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, and Strictly for the Birds.

If you decide to bird, the organization is completely up to you. You can grind out a “Big Day” or keep a list of birds viewed in your yard. Instead of receiving 20, 30, or 50 cents for every species spied, why not seek out flat‑rate pledges of $10, $20, or more?

Please complete your birding by October 4 and finish collecting your pledges by October 24. Checks should be made payable to “RRAS” and mailed to PO Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502. Enclose a list all birders in your group and, if possible, the birds seen. If you're not birding or pledging to a specific birder but want to support the general fundraising effort, send a check to the same address by October 24.

For more information, contact Bird-a-Thon chair Luke George at 826‑3430 or vthrush@aol.com

Conservation Committee Report By Jim Clark

Conservation notes for meeting of August 21, 2003

Diane Beck, Jim Clark, Barbara Kelly, Sue Leskiw,  Melvin McKinney, Chet Ogan, and Phil Simpson attended the meeting.  Welcome Phil!

Mel presented a copy of the Harbor District’s tideland leases for review.  This information is useful for determining when to comment on leases.

The Simpson Timber Aquatic Habitat Conservation Plan forum will be held on November 1, 2003.  Jim volunteered to act as go between to the League of Women Voters to see whether the sponsors wish to utilize their moderation services.

The Lake Earl final draft is out, and the Lake Earl Branch comments look thorough.   So far, they have provided comments specific to the Western Snowy Plover and water birds.  Jim will coordinate obtaining the consensus of the Board to endorse the comments.  The Del Norte folks deserve great praise for the work they have done on the Lake Earl lagoon system.  Comments are due on the plan by September 3, 2003.

The Clam and Moonstone Beach County Parks Master Plan was commented on by Sue; Jim submitted the Chapter comments in the nick of time.

The City of Eureka has requested assistance in their Greenways and Gulches.  Jim is meeting with the League of Women Voters and a city planner on Monday, August 25 to discuss preliminary organization for a joint effort.

Due to a low initial response to Jim’s prioritization scheme for conservation issues to address, he proposed that the committee tackle this task and submit the prioritized list to the Board of Directors and membership for their consideration.  All present agreed.

Sue reported on nuisance conditions at the Eureka Marsh.  Illegal camping and the trash and filth that accompany it are worse than it has ever been.  The consensus of the Committee was that the City of Eureka is negligent in allowing these conditions to occur and persist until citizens complain.

Jim initiated discussion on the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal.  Several aspects of liquefied natural gas (LNG) were discussed, including:

• Environmentalists were not happy when the United States did not agree to restrict carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

• Natural gas power plants emit about one-third the carbon per kilowatt of coal-burning power plants.

• There are environmental costs of natural gas production.

• The hazards and characteristics of LNG, a flammable cryogenic material, are not well understood by the public.

At the end of the discussion it was agreed that the environmental benefits of LNG importation need to be weighed against the potential hazards, and that a sound national energy policy needs to emphasize conservation as its objective.  Energy conservation is the key to reducing the need for fossil fuel, hydropower, and other environmentally destructive sources of energy.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, September 18 at the Golden Harvest Cafe in Arcata at 12:00 noon.

 

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

Alderpoint – M Klein

Arcata – Winslow Condon, Carilyn Goldammer, Joseph Liebenzeit, Genevieve Ross, Michelle White

Bayside – Nina Potter

Bridgeville – Jana Maguire

Crescent City – Robert Deal, John Ging, Lorene West, C Winther

Eureka – Don Butler, Merle Cables, Connie Doyle, Audrey Kapitan, Mary Langley, Pat McNerney, Gail Popham, Shana Stearn, Berti Welty

Fortuna – James Meade

Hydesville – George Criswell

Klamath – Peter Spaulding

Kneeland – Thomas Johnson

McKinleyville – John Burkett, Alyson Dorman, Michael Kelly, Richard Ridenhour

Myers Flat – Laurens Perry

Redway – Steve Kellar

Willow Creek – Susan Becker

Glen Cove, NY – Mary Normandia

We look forward to seeing you on field trips and at our monthly programs.