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Island Audubon Field Trips
Saturday. September 11
8-10 am
Meet at Park & Ride at Ober Park
You don't have to be a member or an experienced birder to participate and no reservations are necessary -- just come down to Ober Park at 8:00 o'clock and join us for a fun visit to hot birding spots around the Island.
Each bird walk is led by highly experienced birders.
More Info
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Gerald Plowman photo
Click to enlarge |
Island Audubon Program
Martha Jordan presents The White Swans of Winter
Wednesday, September 15, 7 pm
Vashon Maury Island Land Trust Building
The evening is free and all are welcome to attend.
More Info
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Island Wings Newsletter
July - August 2010
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Bald Eagles Can Do the Butterfly
I was at the private property where Christensen Creek flows into the cove south of Lisabeula Park. About 11:30, as I walked towards the bulkhead, a small group of ducks exploded into the air and scattered. Moments later, as I looked past the ornamental plants that had partially blocked my view, I saw a large, dark animal struggling in the water. My first thought was that a sea lion had snagged a duck and was thrashing it side to side. However, the dark animal was a bald eagle with only its head, neck and part of each wing above the water.
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Strawberry Festival Parade |
Audubon Celebrates 20 Years
1989 was the year the Exxon Valdez dumped 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound. But on the hopeful side, and not just coincidentally, it was also the year a new Audubon chapter started on Vashon-Maury Island.
Our founder Emma Amiad says:
“The birding that gives me the most pleasure is the birding I do right here on the Island and mostly on my own property. That is the gift to me from our local Audubon Chapter and the people who make it up.”
READ MORE
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The new Palouse to Pines Loop map
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Final Loop of Great Washington State Birding Trail Embraces Puget Sound
Q. String together everyone’s favorite birding place and what do you get?
A. The Great Washington State Birding Trail.
“Each loop of the birding trail is a strand of nature’s gems,” said Audubon’s birding trail Program Director Christi Norman. “Every site on each of our five – soon to be six – maps embodies important habitat for our resident or migrating birds.”
After the eastern Washington map, the Palouse to Pines Loop, is unveiled at the capitol in late January, work will begin on the seventh route, the map that will complete the birding trail across Washington (drum roll, please!): the Puget Sound loop.
Christi and birding trail editor Hilary Hilscher will start visiting local Audubon societies within the boundaries of the Puget Sound loop – Tahoma, Rainier, Vashon-Maury, Kitsap, Seattle, Eastside, Whidbey Island, and San Juan – seeking favorite birding places.
Each map takes from 12 to 18 months to develop and is a collaborative effort between chapters’ birding trail committees and Audubon staff. The other birding trail routes are the Coulee Corridor, and the Cascade, Southwest, Olympic, and Sun and Sage loops.
More than 30 states now have birding trails to spur sustainable economic development and help protect natural areas.
Washington State Briding Trail info
For more information, contact Christi, cnorman@audubon.org.
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McGillivray's Warbler
This bird caught photographer Michael Elenko's eye and led to much discussion among Vashon birders and regional experts.
Read the Vashon Loop story by Ed Swan
Michael's bird photography
Photo © Michael Elenko
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Lions of the Sky
A story of eagles and herons by Pete Murray
Read the story
Photo © Peter Murray |
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Eagle Scout
Cody Turner was selected to receive Audubon’s annual scholarship award based on his interest and commitment to the environment. As his Eagle Scout project, Cody constructed the rest of the loop trail around Fisher Pond, showing hard work, organization and ability to mobilize others to help in a community service project that demonstrates environmental and citizen/community awareness.
Steve Caldwell presents the award to him on behalf of Vashon Audubon. Click photo to enlarge. |
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Ed Swan's Notable Sightings
Sightings and interesting information about the birds of Vashon-Maury Island collected by Ed Swan, former president of Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society and expert birding guide.
View current sightings
Photo by Gary Shugart of the Canvasback seen at Raab's Lagoon February 14, 2009 - the first recorded sighting here.
Click photo to enlarge. |
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Recycle Used Binoculars for Kids
Do you happen to have an extra pair of pocket-sized, or beginner's binoculars laying around the house that you're not using anymore? If so, Edmonds Discovery Programs would love to get those out of your way! We have several educational programs for schools and daycamps during the spring, summer and fall that require the use of binoculars. With a limited budget we're not able to purchase enough to replace the worn out ones we've been using for the past several years, so we'd be most happy to receive some donated pairs.
If you can help, please call Sally Lider, Edmonds Parks & Recreation, 425-771-0227, or e-mail lider@ci.edmonds.wa.us.
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Audubon Brings Birds Into the Classroom
How old is the bald eagle when his or her head turns white? Which bird has been called the “cowboy of the sea?” What two sea birds are named for the color of their eyes?
During the Vashon-Maury Audubon sponsored beginning birding program, every Chautauqua fourth grader has a chance to learn the answers to these questions and hold local birds, quite literally, in their hands.
Read more
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Audubon Needs Your Skills
There are several volunteer opportunities available for Vashon-Maury Island Audbon members.
Please consider contributing your time and skills.
More info
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Advertisers who support Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society
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Ed Swan Bird Watching Tours
Ed Swan provides natural history wildlife tours that offer the opportunity to see and hear a great variety of bird species. Gorgeous views of brilliant Wood Ducks, magnificent Bald Eagles, great numbers of waterfowl and many kinds of woodpeckers, sparrows and finches are too be expected with any birding tours on Vashon.
Click here for more info |
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Trogon Tours
Wildlife photographer and Tahoma Audubon member Nate Chappell leads exciting birdwatching and photography tours to Ecuador and bird photography workshops in Arizona.
Click here for more info |
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Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
Our voyage to the great Southern Ocean has come to be well known as the most in-depth way to see this incredible environment and, most especially, its tremendous seabirds and other wildlife.
Click here for more info |
