November’s Green Tip of the Month: Embrace Nature’s Mulch!

🌿 November’s Green Tip of the Month: Embrace Nature’s Mulch! 🍂

Written by Jeannine Sielinski

As we head into winter, consider leaving your leaves and twigs in the yard. My pollinator garden might look tired, but every time I step outside, I see birds nibbling on seeds or resting in the brush. There’s so much life hidden in there that we often overlook!

WHY KEEP LEAVES AND TWIGS?

• Nutrient-Rich Mulch: As leaves and twigs break down, they enrich the soil, preparing it for a healthier spring.

• Wildlife Shelter: These natural materials provide shelter for bugs and critters, supporting biodiversity in your yard.

• Compost Your Pumpkins! Break down your old pumpkins (remove any candles or paint) and compost them. Birds and critters will love the treat, but keep an eye out for unwanted guests like rats.

• Add Wood Chips to Your Yard: Wood chips help retain moisture in the soil, which is crucial during dry spells. They also act as a natural barrier against weeds, as well as mitigating soil erosion and helping to keep your garden intact.

  • You can get free wood chips from local tree removal services or arborists. I’ve already put in a request and am eagerly awaiting my delivery. There are also websites where you can request wood chips, but be prepared to accept a large load whenever it’s available.

Happy thanksgiving!

Western Field Ornithologists Conference Experience

Western Field Ornithologists Conference Experience

Written by Song Han Ngo

Each year, the Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) holds a conference in the western United States, bringing together birders and scientists from all over western North America. The WFO, started fifty years ago, has grown to become a major hub for bird science, publishing peer-reviewed journals and promoting the conservation of important species. The organization also has a robust student program, aimed at inspiring young birders to pursue their passions in ornithology. As a scholarship recipient, I was excited to travel down to San Diego to attend the 48th annual WFO conference.

Snowy Egret by Song Han Ngu

As part of the conference, birders are offered the opportunity to attend birding field trips around the local area. This included a variety of habitats, such as sloughs, the pelagic zone, forests, and we even got exclusive entry into a salt works area where thousands of birds migrate through each year. I spent Thursday morning birding along the Tijuana River Estuary, and had a wonderful close encounter with a Ridgway’s rail, the theme bird of the conference. We also saw many other amazing birds such as the Vermillion Flycatcher, a White Tailed Kite, and a Pacific Golden Plover. A huge part of this experience was thanks to our field trip guide, Mel, who had been birding in the area for years and knew all of the best spots.

An integral part of the conference are the science sessions, where researchers from across North America come to share their findings. The highlight for me was hearing about the Ridgway Rail conservation work being done in the area, and how the population has been slowly but steadily growing thanks to the conservation. There were also plenty of other interesting research studies, including ones analyzing the phylogeography of Wrentits, sucrose perceptions in pigeons, and the differences between house and pacific wrens in California. It was my first time listening to such high level research projects, and I was really impressed by the work that so many ornithologists are doing studying birds.

Science Sessions at the Western Field Ornithologist Conference.

In addition to the science sessions, there were also ornithology workshops where birders could learn how research is being done in the field. I was able to attend the Ridgway Rail Conservation workshop and the Specimen-preparation one, both of which were wonderful experiences! At the Ridgway Rail workshop, we were given a tour of the Living Coast Discovery Center to see the breeding area and proving pens where Ridgway rails are cared for. We then helped to build and implement a rail raft to help improve the birds’ habitat. The specimen preparation workshop was fascinating as well. We listened to Philip Unnit explain the importance and applications of taxidermies, before getting to watch a live demo on two birds.

Taxidermy Demo.

My favorite part of the conference was getting to meet the other student scholars. We had the opportunity to meet and talk with each other at the reception, banquet, and at a special event called the Next Generation Birders Reception. It was really cool to hear about how they’re involved with their own local audubon societies, including habitat restoration work and banding birds. It was also really inspiring to meet previous student scholars who are now researchers and college graduates in the field of ornithology.

Overall, being at the conference was a really special experience, and I had a wonderful time. I got to meet ornithologists and scientists from all over the region and their research, see many of the local birds around the San Diego area, and attend workshops where I learned more about how bird science is being done. I truly thank the WFO for everything that they’ve done for birds and ornithology, and will continue to follow the organization for many years to come.

Christmas Bird Count

Christmas Bird Count

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Registration for the 2024 Eastside Audubon Christmas Bird Count will be open on November 4! The CBC is the world’s largest and longest-running community science data collection project. The 2024-2025 count period from December 14 to January 5 marks the 125th CBC sponsored by the National Audubon Society. It will be Eastside Audubon’s 41st CBC.

We are recruiting volunteers to join CBC teams or for feeder-watching at home. Go to the CBC page become a feeder watcher, join a field team, and attend the CBC dinner. We will have 15 field teams this year.

JOIN THE COUNT FOR FUN AND SCIENCE

Eastside Audubon’s CBC Count Circle. 25-mile diameter centered on Beaver Lake in Sammamish.

The EAS CBC is an all-volunteer project, and we have three ways for you to participate.

• Our chapter has 15 teams being led by experienced birders who are accepting 3-5 volunteer participants.

• We also support at-home feeder watchers who count birds at their home feeder or other location within the 25-mile diameter circle centered on Beaver Lake in Sammamish.

  • View our CBC Count Circle here and see if your address falls inside the circle (top left for search field).

• Everyone, whether birding or not, is invited to join the CBC dinner after the count.

REGISTER ONLINE

Whether you participate by joining a field team, watching your feeder at home, or sharing in the experience of the day at the dinner, you can register for the event you want to join at the CBC page. Registration closes on December 10th. If you are interested after that date, please email Andy McCormick at amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org as we may still be able to get you on a team.

Eastside Audubon Goes Birding with Redmond City Council Members

Eastside Audubon Goes Birding with Redmond City Council Members

Redmond City Council members were taken birding during a council supper break on September 10.

Attending the walk were councilmember Angie Nuevacamina, council vice president Jessica Forsythe, councilmember Osman Salahuddin, councilmember Melissa Stuart,  Eastside Audubon Christmas Bird Count chair Andy McCormick, council president Vanessa Kritzer, and Lights Out Program leader Sayna Parsi.

The birding event was led by Andy McCormick, the Eastside Audubon Christmas Bird Count chair and past president,  Lights Out Program Leader Sayna Parsi and EAS vice president John Spilker. The walk along the Sammamish River Trail, behind Redmond City Hall, focused on local bird species, bird migrations, the importance of conservation efforts and habitat restoration, as well as reducing light pollution.

Redmond City Council was represented by Council President Vanessa Kritzer, Vice President Jessica Forsythe, and Councilmembers Angie Nuevacamina, Osman Salahuddin, and Melissa Stuart.

Christmas Bird Count chair Andy McCormick lead the birding walk with Redmond city council.

“They gained an awareness of the chapter's goals and our interest not only in birds but also in climate change, and they said they look forward to our input on their climate plan,” McCormick said afterward.

Among the birds the participants saw were an Osprey perched behind City Hall, Mallards in the river, and some Black-capped Chickadees.

“They loved the Osprey, and they remembered that a Bald Eagle has nested in the same area. I think they appreciated our dedication to the birds and the environment,” McCormick said. “They also enjoyed seeing salmon jump in the river and made a point to go up onto the trestle to get a better look at them.”

The event was organized by Parsi. “I wanted to kick-start discussions about strengthening Redmond's existing light pollution ordinance that will impact migratory birds,” she said.

“I want our policy makers to love and care for our avian friends so their love will shape all the little decisions that they make in the future,” she added.

For more information about light pollution, see Wonders of Bird Migrations, City Lights, and How We Can Help.