While birding for the Pelican Dive Bar Birdathon Big Day Jeremy Lucas and I found two Snowy Plovers at Grayland Beach State Park. These birds were foraging in separate areas of dry sand in the dunes outside the protected area. Jeremy had his scope and spotted leg bands on the first bird. As we headed back to the trailhead, we found the second plover which was also banded. I was able to get photographs of both birds showing the leg bands.
Without fail, at almost every one of our monthly Eastside Audubon Photography Group meetings, someone proclaims, "Topaz saved me". The proclamation usually comes right after they present a near-perfect bird photo.
The delighted photographer is usually referring to either Topaz Photo AI or Topaz Denoise, the popular noise reduction programs that routinely salvage dark, noisy photos.
Noise has always existed in digital photos, but it is something that became more apparent in recent years as newer cameras can shoot photos in extremely dark conditions. To compensate for the lack of light, the cameras increase the ISO setting, which increases the sensitivity to light.
A modern camera can shoot photos at an ISO (International Standards Organization) setting of 56,000 or higher. Earlier digital cameras were usually limited to 1,600 ISO. By comparison, a photo taken in sunny conditions is often shot at a mere 100 ISO, the lowest setting for most cameras.
But the increased ISO sensitivity comes at a cost. The absence of light results in noise; that is thousands of unwanted digital specks, sometimes black and white (luminance noise) and other times unpleasant red, green, and blue specs (chroma noise). Either way, the image appears muddy and not as sharp as it should be.
To the bird photographer, a noisy photo is better than no photo, but still far from perfect. As any Audubon member knows, birds rarely stand still in bright sunlight to get their picture taken. The bird photographer often must opt for a high ISO setting and hopefully find a way to deal with the noise in the editing process.
Example of an untouched noisy photo. The insert shows extensive chroma noise of red, green, and blue pixels. Most of the detail is lost to the noise.
Noise reduction software is used during the editing process when photos are typically cropped and adjusted for color, contrast, and brightness. The software has been around for some 20 years. The early versions worked well with some images but struggled with complex noise patterns that newer cameras produced. To complicate matters, the older noise programs required the user to fine-tune complex settings to achieve good results.
Topaz Labs solved much of this problem when it released Topaz DeNoise AI about five years ago.
The program utilized newly developed Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms that had analyzed millions of clean and noisy images to better understand the problem and possible solutions. The in-depth training helped DeNoise achieve impressive results, but many photographers still found the software complicated to use.
Topaz upped its game last year when it introduced Topaz Photo AI, a revolutionary product that reduced noise and sharpened images with less intervention by the editor.
More recently, Adobe Inc. introduced the easy-to-use Denoise AI as part of its widely used Lightroom photo editing software program. The Adobe offering, at the very least, closed the gap with Topaz and, in the opinion of some, is even better. Other software developers have released comparable offerings.
Noise reduction software has some downsides. If overused, it can eliminate detail in an image and leave the photo with a dull, bland, or milky appearance. It also increases the editing time. An older, less powerful computer can take several minutes to process an image. It is not a bad idea to try the free trials to see if your computer is up to the task.
For many members of the Eastside Audubon Photography Group, the new generation of software changes how they work.
Don and Margaret Larkin are longtime users of Topaz products and are especially impressed with Topaz Photo AI. The couple are frequent winners of the Eastside Audubon Society Photo of the Month contest.
"It is an amazing product. Not only does it remove noise after we take a photo, but it has changed how we take photos out in the field," Don says.
"In the past, we always set the ISO as low as possible to keep the noise to a minimum," says the national award-winning photographer. “This resulted in longer exposure times, which made it difficult to freeze the action of flying birds."
Margaret Larkin, also a national award-winning photographer, points out that noise reduction software allows her to focus more on the photograph and less on adjusting the camera settings.
"We have switched to using Auto ISO on our cameras, even for landscapes,” she says. “We can set the shutter speed and aperture based on what is best for the subject and conditions and let the camera adjust the ISO automatically as needed. This allows us to capture spontaneous moments that we wouldn't have otherwise."
Gary Luhm, a longtime member of the photography and winner of several Photo of the Month awards, is particularly impressed with Adobe Lightroom Denoise.
"AI photo software is moving fast. I tried Topaz almost two years ago and decided at the time the improvements weren't worth the cost and addition to my workflow," he says.
"I tried the new Lightroom Denoise and was astonished at how well and easily it worked,” Gary says. “A Denoise setting of 30% cleaned up the noisy black feathers of an old pileated woodpecker file without yielding that smeary look."
The digital specks of noise are highly visible in the insert of this untouched image that Gary shot at ISO 3200.
Lightroom Denoise removed the digital specks of noise while retaining image detail.
A good source of information on Adobe and Topaz products is the YouTube Channel of Anthony Morganti. He gives a good overview of Lightroom Denoise in this video.
He also has a comparison of On1 NoNoise AI, Topaz Denoise AI, and Lightroom Denoise AI.
The group members meet monthly to show their latest photos and videos and share their knowledge of photography and wildlife. To attend the meeting, please join the group's announcement list.
For more information, contact John Spilker, photo group leader.
Written by Shruti Mehta
Members of the Youth Education Committee met on a Tuesday last month to give our bird mounts a 'Spa day'. It was a rainy day, so a perfect one to spend indoors with the birds and some bird lovers. We had a great time grooming these bird mounts while exchanging stories of birds and bears. Sharing some highlights here with all of you.
We have a collection of over 25+ bird mounts ranging from small birds like Black-capped Chickadee, Gold-finch and Dark-eyed Junco and the more majestic ones like Osprey, Great Horned Owl and Red tailed hawk. Feathers are dead protein, very much like our hair - they too need regular maintenance. Over the past couple of months, Jill had frozen these mounts and then treated them with pest medicine to kill mites & their eggs. In this 'preening' session, we started with blow drying the feathers to remove any dust, sprayed a diluted alcohol mixture on the feathers, smoothed the feathers with a brush and then cleaned the eyes and feet with cotton. Thanks to Amanda Leon (Executive Director of EAS) for the detailed instructions and Jill Keeney for being a wonderful host to us and the birds.
I have seen these mounts several times before, but had not had the luxury of observing these mounts closely and noticing the details. We marveled at the Barn owl feathers, which at the leading edge of the wing have a comb-like structures termed serrations. This structure is known to play a role in noise reduction during flight which helps in the Barn Owl's almost silent flight. I was able to see the clear difference in the size of Cooper's Hawks and Sharp Shinned Hawks; two species which I have been struggling to ID in the field. I have yet to see a Northern Pygmy Owl so it was interesting to see the bird mount, I was fascinated that it is even smaller than a Northern Saw-whet Owl! I have seen Ospreys several times around Marymoor but had not noticed the intricate pattern on their wings. It was also a real treat to discover tiny serrations on the bill of a Hooded Merganser; which helps it to keep hold of slippery fish.
If you have been following the news you will have undoubtably heard about the controversy surrounding the Audubon name. Our Audubon Chapter has been following these developments closely the last few years.
John James Audubon (1785-1851) was not a member of the National Audubon Society, which was founded in 1905. The organization was named in his honor. He is considered to be an important figure in Ornithology, as he documented and painted most of the bird species found in North America. His Birds of America collection was one of the earliest efforts to paint birds for field identification.
This famous Ornithologist also had a very dark side. He was a white supremacist who enslaved and bought and sold black people. To prove that white people were superior to any other race, he robbed the graves of Native Americans and Mexicans for skulls to gather “evidence” for his eugenicist beliefs. He killed and ate the birds he illustrated. He committed both academic fraud and plagiarism. He was an ardent supporter of slavery and wrote critically about emancipation.
For the last 2 years, the National Audubon Society grappled with the decision of a possible name change due to this man’s complicated history. Earlier this year, after deliberation, guidance, and feedback, the National Audubon Society’s Board voted to retain the Audubon name. Many Audubon Chapters have announced their intention to change their name, with some chapters recently announcing their new names.
Eastside Audubon Society’s Board has had some discussions on the subject and decided it best to wait on any potential chapter changes until National Audubon announced to the world its decision. Now that this has happened, we want to communicate to all of our members and supporters that Eastside Audubon is looking into this and considering all possibilities.
This may be a controversial issue for many of us. We are discussing all possible scenarios and outcomes for either retaining the name “Audubon” or dropping it. No matter where we land on this issue it is clear from our conversations that Eastside Audubon is more than just an organization. We are a community of friends that are bound together for a love of birding, conservation, the environment, and being outdoors. I know many of you have made some lifelong friends through this amazing birding community. I know I have.
There are plenty of reasons why it might make sense to change our name, based on what I briefly wrote above. I would also encourage each of you to read this article, which does a better job of describing John James Audubon than I could ever do here. The big question is, does the name “Audubon” transcend the man to mean something more? As language evolves, as it has since its invention, should we strive to change the meaning of this word, or is its roots too dark that they must be left behind?
We are discussing the legalities and expenses of a name change. Our Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, business accounts, bank accounts, various licenses, and contracts with our partners would need to be updated. This work would take effort and people dedicated to doing it, which could take away from time spent on organizing our programs. This isn’t to say that the above should be a reason not to consider a name change, but these are important considerations.
On the other hand, retaining “Audubon” in our name means that we will work harder as an organization that represents much more than the work of one person. We will continue to focus our work on assuring that equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging are at the core of our conservation and birding outreach.
We are looking forward to hearing from our community throughout this journey. Our Board is actively discussing our options and we know this is going to take time. We are committed to communicating when we have made our decision. We acknowledge that the National Audubon Society has been a champion in bird conservation and has cleared the way for all chapters to be successful. We are looking forward to our continued partnership.
Thank you all for your support. Our work is not possible without you!
Jeremy Lucas
President
Eastside Audubon
president@eastsideaudubon.org
The Puget Sound Seabird Survey is looking for birders in Eastside Audubon’s catchment area to join this established Community Science program.
PSSS - Richmond Beach - Linda and John Mutfeldt, and Kristin Campbell (black hoodie) © Toby Ross - Oct 2015
The Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) is a community science survey created by Seattle Audubon in 2007 and continued by the Puget Sound Bird Observatory since 2022. This survey effort trains volunteer birdwatchers to gather valuable data on wintering seabird populations in Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and waters surrounding the San Juan Islands.
Volunteers are asked to conduct 7 surveys with a small team of fellow surveyors at specific locations throughout the Sound. All surveys are synchronized to take place once per month on the first Saturday in October – April. You will be provided training in the survey technique, and ideally will have good seabird identification skills. However, there are roles on the survey teams for birders of all levels. Now in its 15th season, you’ll be contributing to valuable science that monitors wintering seabirds across Puget Sound and informs important management decisions.
Previously, the project was part of Birds Connect Seattle’s (formerly Seattle Audubon) science program but transitioned to its new home at Puget Sound Bird Observatory in 2022. More information can be found on our website and if interested in taking part, please reach out to Program Manager Toby Ross t_ross@pugetsoundbirds.org
Earlier this year, Amazon decided to end its Smiles campaign, which allowed its customers the ability to have donations made to a charity of their choice for each purchase. Eastside Audubon benefited from this program and we are sad to see it go.
But every door closed leads to a door opening! Did you know that Fred Meyer offers a similar program? It’s true. By simply shopping at Fred Meyer, you can help Eastside Audubon raise money at no cost to you!
All you need to do is:
Enroll in their Rewards program (if you haven’t already)
Link your Rewards card to your online account (you will need to create this)
Link Eastside Audubon to your account
That’s it! It’s easy to do, and you help us raise money! For more information, visit the Fred Meyer site.
Pinyu Liao, College Scholarship Winner 2023
Pinyu Liao from Inglemoor High School in the Northshore School District won this year’s college scholarship. It was a difficult decision as many of the applications were excellent. In addition to being a bird watcher, Pinyu is particularly interested in “the intersection of human health with environmental impacts, particularly in antibiotic resistance.” In fact, she directed and filmed a documentary on the topic which was screened in Times Square, New York, and led to interviews with the Seattle Times and Forbes Magazine. This interest also led to her work with the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to expand the state health curriculum to include antibiotic resistance.
In 2019 she began a small business, Koala Earth, which donated its profits to WIRES Wildlife Rescue in Australia. Design for Change, a club she founded, followed soon after as she worked at Inglemoor High School on advocacy and activism. She is no stranger to awards: Second Place Grand Award in Microbiology at the 2022 International Science and Engineering Fair; Rising Star in Nanoscience Award and First-Author Presenter at the 23 IEEE Nanomaterials: Applications and Properties Conference in Poland; 74 Million Magazine 16 Most Accomplished Students Under 16 Years Old.
In addition to her remarkable scientific background, she is dedicated to working for humanitarian endeavors and has the leadership skills to accomplish this: Inglemoor ASB Student Body President; Educational Equity District Representative; Dorothy Johnson Humanitarianism Award for Leadership and Community Service. Her plans? She is still looking at colleges, but she will pursue her interest in “using computational tools for humanitarian causes.”
Thanks to the generous donations of the members of Eastside Audubon, the Education Committee has awarded this college scholarship to amazing recipients, like Pinyu, who will spend their lives dedicated to making the world a better place for all to live. We wish her the very best as she pursues her goals.
Birdathon is a fundraising event that lasts for the entire month of May. The funds we raise support our efforts in promoting birds, education, and conservation. Last year, we reached out to children and adults at various schools and events to educate the public about the beauty of birds. We planted and cared for hundreds of native trees and shrubs in Marymoor Park. We provided numerous field trips. All of this made possible by your contributions. This year, we hope to do more.
There are 4 ways you can get involved and help us meet our Birdathon goals.
For 11 months a year, we offer field trips for anyone who simply signs up. In May, we ask that each participant donate $25 for each field trip they would like to attend. We have some great field trips scheduled and encourage everyone to sign up for as many of these as you can! See our May calendar. And please don’t forget to register and donate!
A Big Day is any day in the month of May where a team goes out and counts as many birds as possible. You can support one of our teams by pledging a dollar amount for each bird species that team sees. For example, if you pledge $1.00 per species and that team sees 100 birds, you helped us raise $100.00! Go to our Birdathon page and click on the team you wish to support!
How is a Global Big Day different than a Teams Big Day? A Global Big Day is not a team event where you raise money, but an individual event where you pay $25.00 to join. On May 13, we invite you to participate in the eBird Global Big Day. For $25.00, you can challenge yourself against other Eastside Audubon Birders to see who saw the most bird species and gain bragging rights! You can learn more by going to our Global Big Day page. Do note that using eBird and connecting it to Eastside Audubon is a requirement, which you can find instructions on how to do that on our Global Big Day page.
Do you just want to make it simple and contribute to our Birdathon efforts to raise funds? We have a plan for that. Please consider making a contribution by going here or consider mailing us a check at:
Eastside Audubon
PO Box 3115
Kirkland, WA 98083-3115
No matter which method you choose to support Eastside Audubon, your support is needed more than ever. We are grateful to all our supporters, members, and volunteers. You really do keep the birds singing by connecting people to nature.
As always, I am here to answer any questions you may have. Please reach out to me at president@eastsideaudubon.org
With gratitude,
Jeremy Lucas
President
Eastside Audubon Society
The end of winter was a busy time for the Youth Education Department. We started off the season with a new program, a monthly walk for children at Juanita Bay Park. Seventeen intrepid birders, some with and some without children, braved the cold weather as Shruti led us around the park, one of our favorite places to find and identify birds. Watch the Covid Crier for monthly dates and join us!
Later in the month, we spent the day at Ella Baker Elementary School where we gave presentations to four classes of first graders. A Rufus Hummingbird, a male Bufflehead, two Cooper’s Hawks, and others greeted our students as they entered the classroom. There was more to enjoy: feathers with magnifying glasses, bird song books, and even a chance to practice flying on their own. It was wonderful to be in a classroom again. The month ended with a trip to the Newport Library where parents and children were enthralled by the mounts, carefully passed around the Ostrich egg, and stretched arms wide to showcase the wings of a Wandering Albatross.
March provided more fun with students from Providence Classical Christian School in Bothell. Two classes of first graders learned about migration. Our mounts, such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler and Vaux’s Swift, were some of their teachers. Our volunteer carefully explained concepts such as the tools, characteristics, and dangers of migration. They met Hope, a Whimbrel who migrated each fall to St. Croix and back in the spring to northern Canada. Finally the month ended with two STEM nights for the Lake Washington School District at Margaret Mead and Samantha Smith Elementaries.
In April the Youth Education Committee will turn its attention to reading the applications for Eastside Audubon’s College Scholarship. One talented high school senior will earn a $5,000.00 college scholarship from Eastside Audubon. Stay tuned!
Eastside Audubon Society has some exciting events coming up in April and May!
Join us for an inspiring evening, where we will learn about the Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Lands Movement and how they are bringing awareness to preserving their ancestral homelands. This event is not only an opportunity to learn about indigenous rights and the impact of recreation on the environment but also a reminder of our duty to be mindful of our impact on the environment when engaging in recreational activities.
Most attempts to teach bird sound identification rely primarily on memorization. This workshop takes a different approach. Just as beginning birders learn the different parts of the bird and how to distinguish colors like “buff” and “rufous,” we will study the different parts of a sound and how to distinguish tone qualities like “burry” and “polyphonic.” Once we have a common vocabulary for describing bird sounds, we can apply these skills to some bird sound identification challenges in the region.
No matter your level of experience, this workshop will help you listen to sounds more analytically, describe them more accurately, and use them more effectively in identifying birds. This workshop by Nathan Pieplow will be recorded and shared with registered participants. Nathan is the author of The Peterson Field Guide Bird Sounds of Eastern & Western North America.
In this online session by Nathan Pieplow, we will discuss apps for recording and identifying birds with your cell phone, with special attention to Merlin Sound ID.
Nathan Pieplow has been fascinated by birds since his childhood in South Dakota, and has intensively studied bird sounds since 2003. He is a professor at the University of Colorado and author of The Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern & Western North America.
