September, 2014 - Siskiyou Audubon Society

Number 268
September 2014
Pine Siskin
The Siskin
Newsletter of Siskiyou Audubon Society, Josephine County, Oregon
Siskiyou Audubon Society meets on the second Thursday each month from September through May, from 6:00 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. in Room 611 at Grants Pass High School, 830 NE 9th Street, Grants Pass. Room 611 is in the west end of the
cafeteria building on the quad. In December we hold a holiday Potluck Dinner. In June we enjoy a Potluck Picnic. Coffee and
refreshments are served at our informal meetings. Ple as e b rin g y o u r o w n c o ffe e c u p . We hope to see you there!
Chapter Meeting, Thursday, September 11, 2014
Now that summer break is over, we’ll kick off a new season back in Room 611 at Grants Pass High School. From 6 p.m.
to about 6:45, we’ll talk birds, socialize and snack. Then we’ll learn something from our
Program: Great Gray Owl Nesting Platform Project
by Peter Thiemann
Peter Thiemann will talk about the Great Gray Owl (GGO) nesting platform project that he initiated in June 2014 with
the support of Rogue Valley Audubon Society. He will outline the need for such a project, give
a historical perspective, and describe the success of using GGO nesting platforms in southern
Oregon, northeast Oregon, Canada and Finland.
Included in his program will be his personal experience with Great Gray Owls over three
seasons in the Applegate, Howard Prairie and Grizzly Peak areas. He will talk about the future
for the GGO’s at Grizzly Peak, as the owners of Willow-Witt ranch have approved the
sighting of two GGO nesting platforms on their 440 acres of prime GGO habitat near
Ashland. (Birders are welcome to visit this historic ranch, which produces high quality,
locally-grown meat and dairy products for the community, while providing opportunities to
Peter Thiemann
experience sustainable agriculture in the unique environment of Southern Oregon’s wild high
& Spotted Owl
country. Visit their website at willowwittranch.com.)
Peter Thiemann is a retired professional Engineer with a lifelong interest in birding and
photography. He has several credits from National Geographic, and has published many of his photos and stories in
magazines and newspapers both here in the U.S. and in his native Germany. He likes to call himself an “Image Hunter” with a
focus on and support of conservation of the natural environment. He resides with his wife and English Springer Spaniel on
six acres in the Applegate Valley.
Fall Migration Bird Count
Saturday, September 20 , 2014
The Fall “NAMC” or North American Migration Count, for Josephine County will be Saturday,
September 20, 2014. Siskiyou Audubon Society urges everyone to get outside and count the birds!
Count at home, count alone or gather a group, but please, count the birds!
If you are interested in counting, but not sure what to do, you should contact Dennis Vroman
for details. Minimum data needed would be species found, their numbers, locations counted,
approximate time spent counting, by what method (on foot, by vehicle, at a feeder, etc.), and the
approximate mileage for the various methods.
Phone Dennis at 541-479-4619, or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Let Dennis know where you count, too,
so that any given place is not double-covered. The results will be published in a future issue of The Siskin newsletter.
Our Mission . . .
is to promote the welfare of birds and other wildlife
through habitat enhancement and education. Our
primary focus is on our local community, our local
schools, and issues of the Pacific Northwest.
Chapter News
As we begin a new season of Audubon this September, we can look at our accomplishments of last year
and be proud. Now it’s a new opportunity to bring to our neighbors’ in Josephine County the word of
conservation of the natural world, especially to the young people. On 27 September, the City of Grants Pass
will host a “Saturday Parkways” block party based at Gilbert Creek Park. We will be on hand to help
youngsters build their own nest boxes – see next page. The Four Way Community Foundation generously
giving us a grant of $1,200 with which to buy the lumber for our birdhouse kits – THANK YOU! Four Way Foundation!
Our Market Booth sales tally for the 2014 spring season is in – we made $2,395 on sales of our nest boxes, bird feeders and other
structures for wildlife. Volunteers who build for the booth include Glenn Campbell and Mike Klem – many thanks! And a huge THANKS!
to the many volunteers in our Society who came out to work at the booth and building events – Susan & Jeff B., Shirley B., Sarah & Carrol
& Jared C., Josh C., Pat & John E., Margaret J., Mike K., Joe P., Susan P., John & Joy T., Evan W., Lee W., Glenn C., Marsha & Phil H.,
Rick H., Zia F., Kathy P., Joyce H., and Boyd P.
The first Board of Directors meeting of the season will have been held Wednesday, 27 August. Developments will be reported in the
next issue of The Siskin. Items on the agenda will likely include the preparation of our annual report to National Audubon, our upcoming
programs, and events we can take advantage of to spread our word.
Since we still lack a field trip leader, we don’t have regular birding trips, but we do go out for the larger bird counts. The Fall North
American Migration Bird Count (NAMC) is coming 20 September, and we can look forward to the Christmas Bird Count in late
December. There are several circles in our area to be counted in the CBC – Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Medford and Ashland all have
count circles. Siskiyou Audubon urges everyone to get out and observe the birds, even if you don’t count them. Enjoy the wonder of our
feathered friends this month, and all through the year.
Camp EEK! 2014
Wildlife Images Rehabilitation & Education Center is located at 11845 Lower River Road, about 12 miles west of Grants Pass, and 3.5
miles southwest of Merlin, Oregon. The non-profit facility is run by Executive Director Dave Siddon, son of the founder. With paid and
volunteer helpers like Marilyn Campbell and education director Cory Alvis, Dave keeps the facility humming.
Summer Vacation Camp EEK! caters for kids between the ages of 7-12, who are admitted for a fee.
Camp hours are from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The kids are immersed in outdoor activities at the center – from insect
safaris to birding hikes. Games, crafts and all manner of fun activities are packed into the camps. Each
summer they hold five different themed weeks of camp, so kids can come once, or multiple weeks, for a
different experience each time.
During Camp EEK! in 2013, Siskiyou Audubon Society’s John and Joy Taylor gave PowerPoint
presentations with talks about bats and owls, using information materials supplied by the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife. This year, the Taylors took a different approach, giving shows of DVD
movies, which the kids took to with great relish. Their questions were sometimes surprising and engaging. The shows presented were:
‘Discover Bats,’ produced by and purchased from Bat Conservation International; ‘Magic of the Snowy Owl,’ produced and purchased
from PBS, the Nature Series, and ‘An Original DUCKumentary,’ also purchased from PBS and their Nature Series, this one narrated by
film star Paul Giamatti. I have never seen so many kids and adult instructors be so fascinated by this production about ducks. The kids
asked interesting questions and the adults came away with new knowledge to aid in their class lessons.
The future will spell more fun for the kids. We expect to add shows and
presenters, so that Siskiyou Audubon Society can expand on our mission of the
education of kids about birds, and animals and the need to preserve them.
~John & Joy Taylor
Pop Quiz
~ John & Joy Taylor
Hint 1. The male’s gleaming green head, gray flanks, and black tail-curl make it an easily identified bird.
Hint 2. Large birds with hefty bodies, rounded heads, and wide, flat bills. Like some others of a similar general
description, the body is long and the tail rides high out of the water.
Hint 3. Males have a bright yellow bill, and a gray body sandwiched between a brown breast and black rear.
Hint 4. Females and juveniles are mottled brown with orange and brown bills. Both sexes have a whitebordered, blue patch in the wing.
Hint 5. These birds live in wetland habitat – natural or artificial – lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and coastal
habitats, as well as city and suburban parks and residential backyards.
Hint 6. In flight their wings are broad and set back toward the rear.
Last Hint Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos
Answer on Page 6.
The Siskin
Page 2
September 2014
Siskiyou Audubon Society
Nest Box Building with Kids
Saturday, September 27, 2014
at the ‘Saturday Parkways’ Block Party
Gilbert Creek Park – 12 Noon to 4 p.m.
The whole city of Grants Pass is invited to what likely will be the biggest block party
of the year on Sept. 27. Reviving the inaugural effort of two years ago, the celebration is
called ‘Saturday Parkways,’ and will feature events ranging from a movie, live music, a
tennis clinic, gymnastics and archery demonstrations and much more.
Siskiyou Audubon Society has answered the call for vendors and volunteers – we will
host Nest Box Building for Kids, as well as sell our birdhouses and feeders, and provide
handouts for folks curious about birds, wildlife and conservation.
For more of this story at the Grants Pass Daily Courier, click on or type this URL:
http://www.thedailycourier.com/articles/2014/08/14/community/news003.t
xt
City of Grants Pass organizers say the
inaugural ‘Saturday Parkways’ event in
2012, shown here, was a success. This
year’s free celebration on September 27
will be even bigger. The “block party,”
centered around Gilbert Creek Park, will
cover more than a quarter-mile on
Hawthorne Avenue between Morgan
Lane and Lynel Court.
Members of the public are encouraged to leave their cars at home and make their
way to the event by walking, biking, on a scooter or maybe a skateboard – any mode that
promotes physical activity.
The day of activity will begin with a 5K run or walk that will start from Gilbert Creek
Park at 9 a.m. Early registration for the run lasts until Sept. 5. Runners in all age groups are
welcome. For information about the run, call the recreation office at 541-471-6435 or the
Grants Pass Family YMCA at 541-474-0001.
The party will get underway at noon. When the booths close at 4 p.m., live music will
begin. Angie Rodgers of Recreation Northwest said the bands Three Little Birds and The Seasons are already scheduled to play and more
will be lined up, and more are expected. As dusk settles in, the bands will pack up in time for the movie ‘Muppets Most Wanted’ on a large
screen at Gilbert Creek Park.
Siskiyou Audubon Society members, please volunteer to help with the nest box building. Phone Lee Webb at 541-479-6859 or Fran
Taylor at 541-955-2934 to sign up for an hour or two, or the whole afternoon! We have kits and hammers and drills, we just need helpers to
supervise the children as they build their own birdhouse.
Klamath Bird Observatory’s Mountain Bird Festival
Held May 30 - June 1, 2014
John & Joy Taylor signed up for the inaugural Mountain Bird Festival, sponsored by Klamath Bird Observatory to help bring the
message of conservation of birds to the general public. On Sunday, day three, we took the North Mountain Park birding walk with Kate
Sipfle, setting a record of 42 species in a little over four hours, thanks to Kate’s capable guidance and spotting. Day two of the event was
led by the very capable Harry Fuller. Our group of about 14 birders picked up 52 species in the 9-1/2 hour caravan tour of the Cascade
Mountains. On May 31, 51 species of birds were observed during a drive in Jackson County, in the areas of Howard Prairie Lake (for the
White-headed Woodpecker and Great Gray Owl), Hyatt Lake and up Dead Indian Memorial Road. Here’s that list:
Acorn Woodpecker
Hermit Warbler
Steller’s Jay
American Crow
House Wren
Townsend’s Solitaire
American Dipper
Lark Sparrow
Tree Swallow
American Robin
Lazuli Bunting
Turkey Vulture
American White Pelican
Lesser Goldfinch
Vaux Swift
Bald Eagle
Mallard
Vesper Sparrow
Band-tailed Pigeon
Meadowlark
Warbling Vireo
Barn Swallow
Mountain Bluebird
Western Bluebird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Mountain Chickadee
Western Scrub Jay
Bullock’s Oriole
Mourning Dove
Western Tanager
Canada Goose
Nashville Warbler
Western Wood
Cassin’s Vireo
Northern Flicker
Pewee
Chipping Sparrow
Oregon Junco
White-headed Woodpecker
Double-crested
Osprey
Wilson’s Warbler
Cormorant
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Great Blue Heron
Red-winged Blackbird
Great Gray Owl
Ring-billed Gull
~John & Joy Taylor
Green-tailed
Sandhill Crane
Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Hermit Thrush
Great Grey Owl
at Hyatt Lake
Photo by
Jim Livaudais
September 2014
Page 3
The Siskin
Events, Field Trips, Festivals, . . .
28th Annual Oregon Shorebird Festival
Friday through Sunday
September 5 - 7, 2014
Festival Headquarters: Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
63566 Boat Basin Road, Charleston, Oregon
The festival is sponsored by: Shoreline Education for Awareness; Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
(“OIMB”); The Bird Guide, Inc.; Cape Arago Audubon Society; South Slough NERR; Oregon Field
Ornithologists; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and World Shorebirds Day.
Registration is Friday, September 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the OIMB Cafeteria, followed by the evening
program at 7 p.m. in the OIMB Boathouse Auditorium – “Must See Birds of the Pacific Northwest” by Sarah
Swanson and Max Smith. Both Saturday and Sunday there are three available field trips based on land or water
(but the pelagic trip is sold out). Saturday’s evening program is by Joe Buchanan, Biologist with Washington
Red Knots
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife on “Red Knots: Status and Migration on the Pacific Coast”
chaplintourism.com
Rain or sun is expected this time of year; layered clothing is best. Pack extra water, sunscreen, a sunhat, rain
gear and mud boots for land-based field trips. For more information contact Dawn Harris 541-867-4550 or
[email protected].
Lodging is available in the dorm at OIMB and at area motels and camping and RV parks. The festival does not provide options for
dining on Friday evening nor for any breakfast or lunch. At 5:30 PM on Saturday there will be an optional Sustainable Seafood Dinner in
the OIMB cafeteria. The dinner includes Albacore Tuna, salad, side dishes, bread, dessert and a drink. The cost is $25 per person. Preregistration for tickets to this dinner is encouraged.
Festival registration costs $30 per person or $55 per family. Shirts, the Saturday night dinner, lodging and all meals are extra costs.
Visit oregoncoast.fws.gov/shorebirdfestival.htm for more information and a registration form.
South Slough Celebrates 40th Anniversary
The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve celebrated its 40th birthday on August 6, 2014.
On June 27, 1974, the South Slough Sanctuary was dedicated as the first site in what is now known
as the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. South Slough is now one of 28 national estuarine
research reserves around the country dedicated to research and education about estuaries – those places
where rivers meet the sea and fresh and salty waters are mixed by the tide.
Today the Reserve is a 5,000 acre natural area centered on the Winchester Creek and South Slough
waterway, and part of the larger Coos Bay estuary. It encompasses a mix of tidal and freshwater habitat
including marshes, mudflats, streams and forest. The Reserve is co-managed by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the Oregon Department of State Lands.
The Interpretive Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Trails are open
daily from dawn to dusk. For more information visit http://www.oregon.gov/DSL/SSNERR
South Slough Paddle
South Slough Birding, First Saturday Monthly
September 6, October 4
Reservations are required for all programs – please phone 541-888-5558. All programs begin at the South Slough National Estuarine
Research Reserve Interpretive Center, located 4 miles south of Charleston at 61907 Seven Devils Road, Charleston, Oregon, unless
otherwise noted. Programs may be cancelled due to low enrollment or hazardous weather.
Rogue Riverkeeper’s
2nd Annual “Celebrate the Rogue” Raft Trip & BBQ
Saturday, September 13
Rafting 12 - 3 p.m., BBQ 4 - 7 p.m.
Join Rogue Riverkeeper and friends for the 2nd Annual “Celebrate the Rogue” raft trip & BBQ!
The day will include a professionally guided, mild, 3-hour whitewater raft trip prior to the BBQ. The
float will take place from noon to 3pm on the Wild & Scenic Rogue River from Indian Mary
Campground to Alameda campground (shuttle provided). Afterwards join us for a riverside BBQ at the
Riverhouse Camp Lodge where we will enjoy local food, beer, wine, live music and a silent auction with
great items!
The cost is only $45 per person ($35 for children 13 and under), and includes: professionally
guided rafting by Momentum River Expeditions, Indigo Creek Outfitters, & Rogue River Raft
Trips, local food, beer, wine from Troon Vineyards, music by Maestro & the Captain’s Flat 5 Flim Flam
and much, much more! Tickets are also available for the barbeque only, at a lower cost.
Buy your ticket online at www.rogueriverkeeper.org/bbq or call (541) 488-9831. Space is
limited.
The Siskin
Page 4
September 2014
. . . Classes & Outings
Rogue Valley Audubon Society
Rogue Valley Audubon Society bird walks are open to the
public. Bring your own binoculars, food and water. Car-pooling and
sharing fuel expenses are encouraged. Please, no dogs. Prepare for
the weather; wear sturdy shoes and expect some walking on most
trips. Dates and times are subject to change, so before any trip,
either check the web site www.roguevalleyaudubon.org
or call Field Trip Chair Maggi Rackley at 541-855-7935, e-mail:
[email protected].
First Wednesday Bird Walk - Agate Lake - 8:15 a.m.
Wednesdays, September 3 & October 1
On the first Wednesday of each month RVAS takes a bird
count at Agate Lake. Experienced leaders organize the count, and
birders with any level of expertise are invited to join in this citizen
science effort. The walk covers approximately 1-1/2 miles. It begins
at 8:30 a.m. and lasts about 2-1/2 hours. Meet at the main parking
area on the EAST side of the lake, the far side from the boat ramp.
Bring binoculars, field guide, and spotting scope (if you have one).
Mud boots are a good idea. Each month, results of the count will
be e-mailed to participants and logged into eBird. Any questions,
contact leader Murray Orr by phone 541-857-9050, or email at
City of Ashland Saturday Morning Bird Walk
Saturday September 13, 8 a.m.
North Mountain Park, City of Ashland
On the second Saturday in September, 8 to 9 a.m., a local
birding expert will lead a casual one hour walk through North
Mountain Park. Last in a series of summer walks, this is a great
opportunity to learn how to identify by sight and by sound some of
the many bird species that are found in the Rogue Valley. The walk
is free to the public and all ages are welcome. Binoculars and field
guides are available for check-out or bring your own. Pre-register
by calling the Nature Center at 541-488-6606, or online at
www.ashland.or.us/register .
[email protected].
Williams Creek in the Applegate Watershed
Siskiyou Field Institute Class
Based in Selma, Oregon, “SFI’s” mission is to introduce people to one of the most diverse and intriguing bioregions in the world, the
Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains, through field-based natural history classes. SFI offers natural history classes at Deer Creek Center and in
other places. For details of this trip and to register, call Siskiyou Field Institute at 541-597-8530, e-mail [email protected], visit Deer
Creek Center, 1241 Illinois River Road, Selma, or write: P.O. Box 207, Selma, OR 97538.
Saturday, September 20
Birding on Bikes at Tolowa Dunes State Park
Bring your binoculars – and your bike! This class on wheels combines Del Norte Coast September weather and scenery with an
opportunity to observe myriad shorebirds and migrating land birds – especially warblers – headed south. We’ll pedal at a leisurely pace
through Tolowa Dunes State Park in an area that hosts more than 315 bird species in its lagoons and forest. As we travel toward Lake Earl,
artist and naturalist Gary Bloomfield will share information on bird migratory routes, food sources, life cycles, breeding habits and fledgling
activity. Our easy off-highway route will include mellow ups and downs.
Tuition $55; Time 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Location: Tolowa Dunes State Park, 2591 Old Mill Rd., Crescent City, CA
Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Annual Meeting - Saturday, September 13, 2014
The business meeting of the Friends of “MNWR” will be at P Ranch at 9 a.m., ending with lunch at noon. Then we’ll go birding from
1:30 - 4 p.m. Accommodations: dry camping for tents/RVs Friday and Saturday on P Ranch grounds, bath and kitchen in P Ranch house.
For the volunteer housing, bring your own linens, food, and other supplies. The buildings are heated; there are fully equipped
kitchens, restrooms, and washers/dryers. There is also room for RVs and for tent campers.
Please contact Alice Elshoff at 541-389-3543 or [email protected] for more information or to sign up. Invite your friends to
come too – there will be opportunities for bird and other wildlife viewing, evening potlucks, and lots of story swapping. This is why they
are called “work parties.” Web site: www.malheurfriends.org
Monterey Bay Birding Festival
Thursday - Sunday, September 25 - 28, 2014
The 10th annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival will feature noted birder and author Kenn Kaufman as the keynote speaker. Daily field
trips from Big Sur to the San Mateo County coastline with experienced leaders will be featured. Daily from 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM, the festival
is priced from $10 to $120. For registration and more information, call 831.726.8052; e-mail: [email protected]; or visit
the website http://www.montereybaybirding.org.
September 2014
Page 5
The Siskin
Focus on Bumblebees
Recent articles in the ‘Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon,’ and the National Wildlife Federation online have focused on
bumblebees, which seem to be in decline across North America. As we know from recent bumblebee disasters in northern Oregon, the
bees need our help: from providing healthy gardens for the bees and not using pesticides, to joining
Bumblebee Watch, a partnership of the Xerces Society, Wildlife Preservation Canada, the University of
Ottawa, the Montreal Insectarium, the Natural History Museum in London, and BeeSpotter, which is
dedicated to tracking and conserving North America’s bumblebees.
Through Bumblebee Watch, www.bumblebeewatch.org, citizen scientists can help by uploading
photographs of bumblebees they see in their local areas. Tips on how to photograph and ID bumblebees are
on the website. Species identification is not necessary to use the site, and any i.d. submitted will be verified
by experts. The information gathered through the website will help locate rare or endangered populations of
bumblebees, aid researchers in determining the status and conservation needs of bumblebees, and track
species whose status is less well known The website also provides information about bumblebee ecology,
ongoing conservation efforts, and a way to connect with other volunteers. [Bulletin, newsletter of Native
Plant Society of Oregon, Vol. 47, No. 6, July 2014]
White-shouldered Bumblebee
According to the National Wildlife Federation, bumblebees are native to the United States, unlike
on Bee Balm
honey bees, which are indigenous to Europe. That makes bumblebees an especially important pollinator. But
Photo by Lona Pierce
bumblebeewatch.org
bumblebees are in trouble: Four once-common, widespread North American species have vanished from
large portions of their former ranges, and a fifth may already be extinct.
There are several helpful actions you can take, right in your own yard – to get started:
•Provide pollen and nectar for food• Because bumblebees are active from early spring through late fall, planting a season-spanning
variety of nectar and pollen-producing flowers will ensure food will be available throughout all stages of the insects’ life cycle.
•Ensure bumblebees have nesting sites• Most bumblebees nest underground in holes made by larger animals, but some others nest
aboveground in abandoned bird nests or cavities such as hollow logs or beneath rocks. They may also
use compost piles or unoccupied birdhouses.
•Protect hibernation habitat• Because most queens overwinter in small holes on or just below the
Pop Quiz Answer: Mallard
ground’s surface, avoid raking, tilling, or mowing your yard until April or May. If you do mow, set the
mower blade at the highest safe level.
•Eliminate pesticides• Both insecticides and herbicides should be avoided. In particular, steer clear
of systemic pesticides such as neonicotinoids.* Bees and other pollinators are exposed to the poison long
after a product has been applied when they feed on the plants’ nectar and pollen.
[*Neonicotinoids are found in many house and garden chemical products. According to Wikipedia
online, wikipedia.org, “Neonicotinoids are registered in more than 120 countries. With a turnover of $2+
billion, they represented 24% of the global market for insecticides in 2008.” “Seven neonicotinoids from
Mallards - Coos Bay
different companies are currently on the market.” One chemical is Imidacloprid from Bayer Crop Science,
February 2010
and is found in dozens of products including Bayer Advanced 3-in-1 Insect, Disease, & Mite Control; Bayer
francona.com
Advanced Fruit, Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control; Bayer Advanced All-in-One Rose & Flower Care
concentrate; DIY Tree Care Products Multi-Insect Killer; Ferti-lome 2-N-1 Systemic; Hi-Yield Systemic
Insect Spray; Hunter; Knockout Ready-To-Use Grub Killer; Lesco Bandit; Marathon; Merit; Monterey Once a Year Insect Control II;
Ortho Bug B Gon Year-Long Tree & Shrub Insect Control; Surrender Brand GrubZ Out; Confidor, Admire, Gaucho, and Advocate. One
must use extreme caution if choosing a chemical pesticide. There are literally too many products containing neonicotinoids to list here.
~Editor]
More information on creating a healthy yard habitat for insects and birds, and other wildlife, can be found at National Audubon
Society’s website at: http://athome.audubon.org/.
100th Anniversary of the Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon
2014 marks the centennial anniversary of the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon. To help remember the Passenger Pigeon, an
organization called “Foldtheflock.org” is asking folks to fold origami pigeons to symbolically recreate the great flocks of 100 years ago.
They have designed an origami pattern for the Passenger Pigeon that is available in printed and downloadable formats. Participants fold
origami Passenger Pigeons and are encouraged to add their birds to our ever-growing virtual flock. See who has
contributed to Fold the Flock by going to the Participants page. Check out the pigeon count on the website and
watch the flock grow!
At the time of European arrival, Passenger Pigeons accounted for up to forty percent of the land birds of North
America. Passenger Pigeons flew in vast flocks, numbering in the billions, sometimes eclipsing the sun from noon
until nightfall. Flying sixty miles an hour, they migrated across their geographic range, which stretched from the
northeastern and mid-western states and into Canada to the southern states. In the 19th Century, as American’s urban
population grew and the demand for wild meat increased, thousands of men became full-time pigeon hunters. With
nesting sites holding unimaginable numbers, hunters slaughtered the birds with great efficiency. It was inconceivable
that in less than fifty years, the Passenger Pigeon would be nearly extinct. On March 24, 1900, a boy in Pike County,
Ohio shot the last recorded wild Passenger Pigeon. Fourteen years later, On September 1, 1914, under the watchful
eyes of her keepers, the last captive Passenger Pigeon, Martha, died in her cage at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Martha, the last
Passenger Pigeon
The Siskin
Page 6
September 2014
Audubon Society Membership Applications
Siskiyou Audubon is a nonprofit society under IRC §501(c)3, Tax ID #93-0866572. Subscriptions are tax-deductible.
Send your application with dues payment to the address shown on the form – please choose only one form.
E
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Directory
The Siskin, newsletter of Siskiyou Audubon Society (“SAS”), is published six times per year. SAS is Chapter No. T61 of National Audubon Society.
Address corrections, items for publication or letters to the Editor may be sent to Editor, P.O. Box 2223, Grants Pass, OR 97528, phoned or FAX’d to 541955-2934, or e-mailed to [email protected]. Siskiyou Audubon encourages submission of letters, articles and photos, which may be published at the
discretion of the editor. Articles may be edited for size or clarity. Permission to reprint articles from this publication is granted unless the article is under
copyright, and provided credit is given to both the author and the newsletter. SAS meets the second Thursday, September through June. The SAS Board of
Directors meets monthly or at times determined by the Board. Members, Visitors and the Public are welcome to attend all meetings.
Officers
Email Addresses & Phone Numbers
President: Susan Bush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Term Expires June 2015
Shirley Bredahl. . . . . . . [email protected]. . . . . . . . . 541-476-6461
Vice-President: Shirley Bredahl... . . . . . . . . . . . .
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June 2016
Susan Bush. . . . . . . . . . [email protected]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541-955-8966
Secretary: Pat Etchells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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June 2016
Pat Etchells. . . . . . . . . . [email protected]. . . . 541-218-0543
Treasurer: Phil Hicks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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June 2015
Marsha Hicks. . . . . . . . [email protected]. . . . . . . . . 541-474-4457
Directors
Phil Hicks. . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]. . . . . . . 541-474-4457
Marsha Hicks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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June 2015
Margaret James. . . . . . . [email protected]. . . 541-476-8126
Margaret James. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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June 2016
Lee Webb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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June 2016
Boyd Peters . . . . [email protected]. . . 541-866-2596
Fran Taylor. . . . . . . . . . [email protected]. . . . . . 541-955-2934
John & Joy Taylor. . . . [email protected]. . . . . . . . . . . 541-476-9846
Dennis Vroman. . . . . . [email protected]. . . . . 541-479-4619
Lee Webb. . . . . . . . . . . [email protected].. . . . . . . 541-479-6859
Conservation
Parks – Boyd Peters
Education
Programs – Joy Taylor
Market Booth/Outreach – Fran Taylor
Membership: Lee Webb
Committees and Chairpersons
Ornithologist
Dennis Vroman
Publications
Newsletter Editor – Fran Taylor
Mailing List – Lee Webb
Distribution – Officers and the Board of Directors
Revised June 30, 2014
September 2014
Page 7
The Siskin
The Siskin
Sis kiy o u Au d u b o n So c ie ty
Newsletter Number 268 – September 2014
P.O. Box 2223, Grants Pass Oregon 97528
IRC §501(c)3, Tax ID #93-0866572
Website: www.siskiyouaudubon.org
Pine Siskin
by Joy Taylor
In th is Is s u e :
Pag e :
September Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Fall Migration Bird Count. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Pop Quiz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
G.P. Festival with Nest Box Building for Kids.. . . . 3
Report on Mountain Bird Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Events, Field Trips, Festivals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Classes & Outings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Focus on Bumblebees.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Passenger Pigeon Extinct 100 Years. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Membership Applications & Directory. . . . . . . . . . . 7
Semi-palmated Plover
Photo © 2007 Mike McDowell at
http://birddigiscoper.blogspot.com/2007/08/shorebirds.html
Date Book – September 2014
Wed. Sept. 3: RVAS First Wednesday Bird Walk at Agate Lake
Fri.-Sun., Sept. 5-7: 28th Annual Oregon Shorebird Festival, Charleston
Sat. Sept. 6: South Slough First Saturday Birding, Charleston
Thurs. Sept. 11: Siskiyou Audubon Society Chapter Meeting at Room 611, Grants Pass High School
Sat. Sept. 13: Friends of Malheur NWR Annual Meeting and work parties
” ” ” : City of Ashland North Mountain Park Bird Walk (last of the summer series)
” ” ” : Rogue Riverkeeper’s “Celebrate the Rogue” rafting and BBQ
Sat. Sept. 20: Fall North American Migration Bird Count - Josephine County. Details from Dennis Vroman 541-479-4619.
” ” ” : Siskiyou Field Institute Class – Birding on Bikes at Tolowa Dunes State Park (CA)
Sat. Sept. 27: City of Grants Pass “Saturday Parkways” Festival with Siskiyou Audubon Nest Box Building with Kids
Wed. Oct. 1: RVAS First Wednesday Bird Walk at Agate Lake
Sat. Oct. 4: South Slough First Saturday Birding, Charleston
Save the Date for the Christmas Bird Count: Saturday, December 20, 2014 in Grants Pass.
v Printed on Recycled Paper
Siskiyou Audubon Society is Independent Chapter No. T61
Affiliated with National Audubon Society, www.audubon.org
Pine Siskin
by Rosie Anderson