Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Audubon Society
Olympia, Washington
Volume 38,
Number 3
May/June 2007
BHAS membership meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at the Capitol Museum Coach House, 211 W. 21st Street, in Olympia. Social
hour is at 7pm, with programs beginning promptly at 7:30. Driving directions: From I-5 in Olympia, take Exit 105 following the State Capital/City
Center route. After the tunnel, turn left (south) onto Capital Way. After 7 blocks, turn right on 21st Avenue. The museum is two blocks down on the
left. The Coach House meeting room and adjacent parking are behind the Museum building of Olympia).
Washington Birding Trail Expands To Olympic Peninsula
Visitors with binoculars bring dollars, conservation incentive to rural areas
OLYMPIA, Feb. 14 – Under the watchful yellow eyes add biking or walking sections.
of a live Great Horned Owl and Red-tailed Hawk,
two species of bird regularly seen on the Olympic With 40+ million Americans describing themselves
Peninsula, Rep. Lynn Kessler and Sen. Ken Jacob- as interested in bird watching, developers of the
sen today in the state capitol unveiled Audubon Great Washington State Birding Trail hope to entice
Washington’s fourth and newest route of the Great both local residents and out-of-state visitors to the
Washington State Birding Trail, the Olympic Loop. Olympic Loop which features more than 200 of
Washington’s 365 bird species.
“Birding trails are big
business all across the The route, on a full-
country,” said Rep. Kes- color map with origi-
sler (D-Hoquiam), lead nal artwork, explores
House sponsor of legis- Olympic National
lation last year that sup- Park, four national
ported development of wildlife refuges, state
the loop and completion and local parks, as
of the statewide trail. well as the natural
and cultural history
“The trails and their of six Native Ameri-
birds attract visitors to can tribes: Jamestown
primarily rural locations, S’Klallam, Makah,
which spurs economic Quileute, Quinault,
development and gives Skokomish, and
residents increased Squaxin.
incentive to safeguard
natural areas around From the quiet
their communities and Nisqually River delta
“Red Tail Hawk takes off with Olympic Loop” from left: Bob in south Puget Sound,
regions,” she continued. Morse, Nina Carter, Wolftown volunteer, Red Tail Hawk, Linda
the Olympic Loop leads
Audubon Washington Johnson, Michael O’Malley, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Beelik, Bill
Shelmerdine, Sue Danver, Heath Packard. west to wild Pacific
Executive Director Nina breakers, follows rivers
Carter explained that birding “trails”, now offered in through moss-draped forests, and touches the tip of
more than 20 states, are usually self-guided driv- the contiguous U.S. at Cape Flattery. The route trac-
ing tours to places where birds are likely to be seen. es the Strait of Juan de Fuca east over the Olympic
Some states include water routes where visitors can Peninsula, and wends south along the inland waters
paddle canoes or kayaks to see birds while others of Hood Canal.
Department of Ecology Investigation of BHAS just wishes the Hearing Examiner would
Water Use at the QRP Gravel Mine incorporate the vision of the Comprehensive Plan
rather than be so reliant on code, which favors de-
Since 2004, BHAS has been requesting DOE to in-
velopment, in his decisions.
vestigate QRP’s water usage at its 88th Ave SW mine.
Supported by a 2002 Pacific Groundwater Group Protect Significant Wildlife Corridors
study on water use at western Washington gravel
Doelman Farm is a large farm just west of Littlerock
mines, BHAS does not believe that QRP can meet all
Road and Black Hills High School in the Urban
of its water needs with its exempt
Growth Area of Tumwater. For a number of years,
well limit of 5,000 gallons per day.
the Doelmans have sought annexation for an
We note that PGG report incorpo-
urban village type development. Recent
rated water recycling in its analy-
plans show a mixed use
sis. Despite this fact, QRP seems to
development of 1200
answer any challenge with the fact that
units. The City of Tum-
they utilize water recycling.
water recently decided to
In the spring of 2006, DOE finally requested annex the property. An
QRP to report on its water usage. QRP replied appeal of the annexation has
they needed a summer to study their usage and been filed. So, whether Thur-
would send in a report around August. That report ston County or Tumwater will be
has not been filed as of April 2007. reviewing the urban village has yet
to be determined.
Hearing Examiner Driscoll approves
expansion of subdivision next to Munn Lake The farm has productive soil, and recently a friend
said you could not beat the flavor of a potato grown
The area of wetlands, forests, bluffs and threat-
on that fabulous sandy loam. The parcel is also
ened gopher habitat between Munn Lake and the
very wet and will require mitigation to deal with a
Deschutes River will not have a wildlife corridor.
high water table.
In 2004-2005, a neighborhood association fought
hard for the river otter, eagles, and assorted other The west side of this parcel has a significant wildlife
wildlife that would migrate between the Deschutes corridor connecting two large wetlands to the north
River and the relatively pristine 34 acre Munn Lake. of the property to wetlands south and west of the
Migratory waterfowl use this lake. The area is so property. The property itself contains mapped wet-
special that WDFW had provided an official buffer lands. Neighbors report seeing fox and bear on the
for wood duck. BHAS asked to protect the corridor west side of the property. The wetlands west and
and wood duck buffer in the neighbors’ 2005 envi- south of the property link to the Black River Nation-
ronmental appeal to the County Commissioners. al Wildlife Refuge.
Nearly two years after the Commissioners heard the On April 3, BHAS provided code to the Tumwater
appeal and approved a development which would City Council which would help protect this sig-
have included an approximate 125’ buffer/wildlife
corridor between the Munn Lake and the Deschutes Continued on page 5
May 2007
May 5 and 6, Saturday and Sunday: Central Washington localities, 6:00 am Satur-
day to late Sunday. Leaders Gary Wiles and Kristin Stewart. Call BHAS to register.
May 12, Saturday: Eastern Columbia Gorge and Klickitat region. 7:30 am to early
evening. Leaders Lonnie Sommer and Kristin Stewart. Meet at Martin Way Park
and Ride. Bring lunch, water and snacks. Call Lonnie at (360) 866-8119, or email at
wheelermombi@comcast.net.
May 17th Membership Meeting. Paradise in Peril. Begin arriving at 7:00 pm program
begins 7:30 pm. State Capital Museum Carriage House 211 W. 21st. (behind).
May 19, Saturday: Ridgefield NWR, 8:00 am to early evening. $3.00 entrance fee
per vehicle. Meet at the Labor & Industries parking lot. Call BHAS to reserve your
spot. Leader Dave Hayden.
May 20, Sunday: Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, 8:00 am to afternoon. Meet at the
entrance parking lot near the caretaker’s house and barn. Dress weather
appropriate. Bring food and water. Leader Whittier Johnson, call BHAS of-
fice 352-7299 for reservations.
May 28th Monday Memorial Day. Beginning Birding by Ear, McLane Creek
Nature Trail. 7:30 am to 10:00 am. Leader Jean MacGregor. Meet at the
lower McLane Trail parking lot. Call BHAS office 360-352-7299 to register.
June 2007
June 16, Saturday: Flying Critter Housing and Habitat Tour, 10:00 am to
afternoon. See article for details.
June 16, Saturday: Cape Elizabeth / Point Grenville. Meet at 4:00 am at the Mud
Bay Park & Ride. All day event. Limit of 20 people. Call Scott 360-412-1260 to re-
serve your spot. Let him know if you can drive.
June 21st Membership Meeting, Summer Solstice and Story Telling. Priest Point Park
at the Rose Garden shelter. Begin arriving at 5:00 pm. Dinner at 6:00 pm.
June 23, Saturday: Skokomish Delta. 8:30 am to early afternoon. Meet at the Lucky
Dog Casino parking lot along U.S. Hwy 101, just north of the intersection of State
Hwy 106. Call leader Andrew Beelik for reservation at 360-426-6262. Limit of 6
people.
Black Hills Audubon Society Board meetings are at 5:30 p.m. on the second
1063 Capitol Way So., Rm 205, Olympia, WA 98501 Wednesday of each month. The site varies from
Phone: 360-352-7299 month to month, so please call us at the office if
Website: www.blackhillsaudubon.com you would like to sit in.
E-mail: bhas”at”blackhillsaudubon.org Phone and e-mail messages are welcome, but please
Black Hills Audubon Society is a non-profit remember that we are a volunteer-based organization,
organization. A member chapter of the National and it may take us a few days to get back to you.
Audubon Society, it represents Audubon members in The Echo is published bi-monthly. Editors: Bill and
Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties. Linda Johnson. Layout and design by Lee Miller.
Our goals are to maintain, restore and protect our Graphics by Nature Icons/Ultimate Symbol unless
ecosystems for future generations, and to promote initialed.
environmental education and nature-based Material for The Echo should be sent to PO Box
recreation. 2524, Olympia, WA 98507, or e-mailed to Linda
General membership meetings are held at 7 p.m. on Johnson at lindashair comcast.net
the third Thursday evening of each month, Sep- Deadline for the July/August 2007 issue is
tember through June, at the Capitol Museum Coach June 10, 2007.
House, 211 West 21st Street, in Olympia.
City/State/Zip_ ________________________________________________________________________________