April Program-Woodpeckers of Western Washington (Zoom Only)
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APRIL MEETING – PRESENTED ON ZOOM ONLY
“Woodpeckers of Western Washington”
Presented by: Jeff Kozma
Tuesday, April 9th at 7:00 pm
The featured speaker for our April 9th general meeting will be Jeff Kozma, a wildlife biologist with Yakima National Fisheries. Jeff specializes in field research regarding the reproductive biology of the White-headed Woodpecker and other cavity-nesting birds. He is a member of the WDFW Wildlife Diversity Advisory Council, which benefits from his expertise in avian ecology, forest conservation, ecosystem ecology and conservation biology. His presentation will cover the woodpeckers of Western Washington.
Register using this link: https://bit.ly/3wJ1KH7. After registering, you will receive an email with the link for the program. If you have questions, please contact: programs@skagitaudubon.org.
Photo credit: Red-breasted Sapsucker by Neil O’Hara
WDFW Public Comment Period-Skagit Wildlife Area Management Plan
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NEWS RELEASE Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife March 20, 2024 Contact: Greg Meis, 360-503-1087 Media contact: Ben Anderson, 360-902-0045
WDFW seeks public input on draft management plan for Skagit Wildlife Area
Public invited to March 27 public meeting in Burlington (public comments due by 5 pm on April 22, 2024; see below for further information on how to submit a public comment)
OLYMPIA –The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public input on a draft management plan for the Skagit Wildlife Area. The Department is hosting a public meeting on the draft at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 at the Burlington Public Library, located at 820 E. Washington Ave.
WDFW engaged tribal governments, technical experts, key stakeholders, and members of its Skagit Wildlife Area Advisory Committee in the development of the draft plan. Once finalized, the Skagit Wildlife Area plan will guide stewardship for the 17,968-acre wildlife area for the next 10 years. “We’ve worked hard on this draft. Now, we’re eager to hear from the public on how it aligns with their thoughts for the future of this special place,” said Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW Lands Division manager.
The public is invited to ask questions and share feedback on the draft plan at the workshop on March 27. Members of the public can also submit comments online, by email, or by mail to Lisa Wood, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA, 98504. The draft plan and additional materials are available at WDFW’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) website. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on April 22. The Skagit Wildlife Area is made up of 21 units mostly located on the Skagit River Delta and Skagit Bay Estuary between La Conner and Conway, northwestern Snohomish County, to the west on isolated parcels in the San Juan Islands, and in eastern Skagit County near the cities of Marblemount and Concrete. It contributes to the internationally significant conservation values of the Skagit River delta and provides local opportunities for recreation and stewardship.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL ELECTION - SAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The annual process to elect Skagit Audubon Society's board of directors has begun. Our chapter has four elected officers and up to seventeen At-Large Directors. Our President, John Day, is at the end of his two-year term. Nominations are now open for Board President (2-year term) and all other Board positions, each of which has a one-year term.
Nominations of Chapter Members in good standing will be accepted from now through our April member meeting and will close at the end of that meeting. The final slate of candidates proposed for election by the Board will be presented at the members' meeting in May. Elections will be held at the annual meeting of members on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Please save the date and participate in our annual elections.
At this writing in mid-March two Whooper Swans first noticed weeks ago in fields along Chuckanut Drive west of Burlington are still visiting Skagit County. Thanks to Jeff Osmundson’s good directions, I joined many other birders adding this species to the avian wonders we have seen so close to home. Whoopers nested on Attu Island in the Aleutians in 1996, but most of these near Trumpeter-sized swans inhabit northern Asia and Europe and only rarely visit North America. Of the world’s six swans in the genus Cygnus, there in my narrow scope view were three: a Whooper posed in front of a Tundra and, to the side, a juvenile and adult Trumpeter. It was a dramatic reminder of the avian diversity we can experience in the Skagit. When this Skagit Flyer issue reaches you, the swans will probably have left for their respective breeding grounds: Trumpeters to inland Alaskan or Canadian lakes, Tundras further north to, yes, tundra ponds along the Arctic coast of Alaska and Canada, and the Whoopers back to northern Asia or Europe where they came from, venturing all the way to Skagit’s pastures and potato fields. We know that the presence of swans, ducks, and geese can impose financial burdens on Skagit’s farmers, and we appreciate those who tolerate the waterfowl spectacle the Skagit hosts each winter. Skagit’s present capacity to support huge numbers of ducks and geese and more Trumpeter Swans than any other county in the Lower-48 depends on the bays, marshes, and remaining inland habitat and also on agriculture.
When, where, and how far will birds migrate? How many birds passed last night? The tools from Birdcast help you explore the answers to these and many other questions about bird migration.
Bird migration forecast maps show predicted nocturnal migration 3 hours after local sunset and are updated every 6 hours. Colorado State University and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology currently produce these forecasts. See real-time analysis maps of intensities of actual nocturnal bird migration, as detected by the US weather surveillance radar network between local sunset to sunrise. Cornell Lab of Ornithology currently produces these maps.
Explore: https://birdcast.info/ Powered by The Cornell Lab, Colorado State University, UMass Amherst
UPDATED JAN. 3, 2024: Because of increased activity of respiratory illness, Skagit County Public Health is now recommending that masks be worn when visiting healthcare facilities. At this point, Skagit Audubon recommends that members and guests wear masks while attending indoor meetings. We also ask that people who are sick or experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness remain home.
Some of our general meetings are being held at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center while others will be available on Zoom only. Hybrid meetings are not currently offered. Please check the monthly program description for meeting details. As with our field trips and other events, only vaccinated, symptom-free individuals should attend meetings in person.
Skagit Audubon Society holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month except for the months of July and August. We meet at 7:00 pm at Padilla Bay Interpretive Center (Google map), 10441 Bayview-Edison Rd. Mount Vernon. Meetings are open to all.
The board of directors meets at the same location at 7:00 pm on the first Tuesday of each month, except for the months of July and August.