Christmas Bird Count, Feeder Watch, and Zoom Celebration

Christmas Bird Count, Feeder Watch, and Zoom Celebration

Written by Andy McCormick, CBC Compiler

Eastside Audubon will be conducting the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) in our count circle on Saturday, December 18, 2021. As we did last year, we will conduct the count with small teams and be following the Eastside Audubon COVID-19 protocol. 

We are also recruiting people to join our CBC Feeder Watch Team and count birds at home. The only limitation is that you have to watch birds within the CBC Count Circle, which you can see below. 

Any Audubon member may join the Post-Count Zoom Celebration and review the count day activities. 

All registrations for Christmas Bird Count activities begin at https://www.eastsideaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count.

Each year our feeder watch team has been growing and we hope you will consider watching birds at your feeder and entering the total into our database to be included in the CBC total count. First, register with Eastside Audubon. Then, on Saturday, December 18, choose a two-hour period when the birds will be busiest around your feeder or yard. 

Here is how to join the EAS CBC Feeder Watch Team and count birds at home. The deadline for registrations is December 12, 2021.

1. Register with Eastside Audubon by completing the online form at https://www.eastsideaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count.

2. We will check your address to determine if your home falls within the EAS CBC Count Circle and let you know if you are eligible to be a feeder watcher. You can check the Count Circle below.

3. Feeder watchers should watch their feeders for two consecutive hours. Count the maximum number of a species you see or hear at any one time. For example, if you start watching at 7:00 a.m. and see 3 Black-capped Chickadees at 7:20, but at 8:00 a.m. you see 5, your count would be 5, not 8. In another example, if you see a Steller’s Jay at 7:10, see 2 and hear a third from a nearby tree at 8:20, and 2 more at 8:50, your count will be 3 Steller’s Jays, the most seen and/or heard at one time.

4. As soon as you can after you count birds enter the data into the Feederwatch Data Sheet online. If you cannot enter data from your computer or cell phone make a list of the birds and the highest number you saw at one time and mail them to: Eastside Audubon, P.O. Box 3115, Kirkland, WA 98083-3115, or email them to amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org.

5. Thank you for being a feeder watcher and adding the birds in your yard to the Christmas Bird Count data.

EAS COUNT CIRCLE MAP:

Photo credit by Penelope Kipps.

Owls Visit Wellington Elementary School

Owls Visit Wellington Elementary School

Written by Mary Britton-Simmons

While rain fell outside, owls were kept warm and dry inside PACE (Parents Active in Cooperative Education) second and fifth grades at Wellington Elementary in the Northshore School District. For thousands of years, people have been fascinated with owls and attributed various symbols to them: wisdom, dread, knowledge, spirit world, and even death. In fact, where I lived in Peto, Yucatan, seeing an owl meant that someone in our small Mexican village was going to die. 

Equally fascinated by owls were students in both grades at Wellington. They marveled at their extraordinary hunting behavior due to keen eyesight and remarkable hearing. They ran careful hands over the soft wing and tail feathers of the Snowy Owl, examined a Great Horned Owl egg and skull, and ended the session by listening to and then imitating owl calls. One student even raised his hand and asked me, “Who cooks for you?” A clever ending to a fun and information-packed lesson!

And finally, they became citizen scientists by examining pellets and attaching their discoveries of skulls and other bones to a chart. Excited shouts rang out: “I found a feather.” “Look at the skull hidden in my pellet.” “My parents will really like all the bones glued to my chart.”

Our last message to the students was the importance of keeping our earth safe for owls as their numbers are decreasing. Through our programs, we always hope to inspire students to be stewards of the environment and to consider science as a career. We plant seeds (or in this case, bones) and hope they sprout!

Stay Connected With Eastside Audubon’s Virtual Programs

Stay Connected With Eastside Audubon’s Virtual Programs

Written by Jeremy Lucas

The COVID-19 pandemic created a lot of challenges and also opportunities for Eastside Audubon, as it did for many other organizations.  A perfect example was how we hosted our Program Nights.  Before the pandemic, Program Nights were hosted in person.  There is, of course, a lot to be said about meeting up with your “birding family” and listening to subject matter experts as they present from a variety of environmental topics. But due to the pandemic, Eastside Audubon adapted and switched Program Nights over to virtual events.

Migrating to a virtual platform has taken away our ability to meet up and see old friends.  However, with this migration, we have been able to record and share our virtual Program Nights.  Did you know that Eastside Audubon has a Vimeo page?  You do not need to be a member to watch any of our content.  Were you looking forward to a Program Night but couldn’t make it because of your busy schedule?  Did you miss our Bellevue City Council Candidate Forum?  Do you want to see the latest presentation from the Eastside Audubon Photo Group?  Our Vimeo account has got you covered.

You can see our page here.  Do consider signing up for a Vimeo account and following our page.  If you have thoughts about what you might like to see, feel free to drop us a message.

Use Your Voice to Advocate for Birds

Use Your Voice to Advocate for Birds

Written by Adam Maxwell of Audubon Washington and Lori Danielson

The Audubon in Washington Advocacy Day is scheduled for December 7th, 2021. Audubon Washington will be working with local chapters to schedule virtual meetings with legislators that will provide the opportunity for you to join other chapter members in speaking up for the birds. No need to go to Olympia, instead we’ll talk to the legislators from the comfort of home!  Register here if you’d like to join.

Speaking to your representatives is one of the most powerful actions you can take to help steer the future of our region. The legislature meets for a short 60-day session in 2022, which means it’s even more important to take the opportunity to make sure Audubon’s priorities are top of mind before our legislators head into the new year. We’ll be looking to advance policies that support bird-friendly clean energy, Puget Sound recovery, and carbon-friendly agriculture. 

Join us in making sure our state legislators do everything they can in the upcoming legislative session to protect the places birds and people need to thrive in a changing climate.

To help you prepare, local Audubon leaders will be hosting preparatory meetings in late November and early December. Our state’s Audubon Washington office will also host sessions to go over our policy agenda and answer any questions you may have. Together we have the power to make sure our elected officials are ready to get to work in 2022, protecting birds and people, now and into the future.

Saving Bellevue’s Watersheds for Wildlife

Saving Bellevue’s Watersheds for Wildlife

Written by Claire Waltman

Claire Waltman

The City of Bellevue is currently updating their 20-year Watershed Management Plan.  Recognizing that the watersheds have been significantly degraded, the city is developing a plan to “improve the health of our streams for people and wildlife.”   Over the last two years, a detailed analysis has been made of all 80 miles of streams within the City of Bellevue.  For this analysis, four watershed areas were designated: Kelsey Creek Watershed, Coal Creek Watershed, Lake Sammamish Watershed, and Small Lake Washington Watershed.

Reports of the current status each of these watersheds will be published independently by the city.  These reports will detail current status, previous improvements, and challenges for further restoration.  Currently, the Coal Creek Watershed Assessment Report is the only one available.  Not surprisingly, Coal Creek which was designated a priority habitat by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife has a better maintained riparian corridor than other streams within Bellevue.  With its headwaters in Cougar Mountain and significant tree canopy along much of its course, this stream likely has the best potential for wildlife and return of salmon though there has been significant degradation from I-405 to its mouth on Lake Washington.

Importantly, the next stage for the city is eliciting community input to determine priorities of residents for recreation and/or wildlife habitat.  The city will weigh heavily these preferences in determining future restoration/management options.  To this end, the city is asking for input through a simple on-line survey.  The survey does let you indicate whether you are a citizen of Bellevue or not, so nonresidents can also participate.  Please take a moment to complete the survey.  Your input may determine the outcome for watersheds in Bellevue for the next 20 years.

More information about the planning process, the Coal Creek Assessment Report, and the survey can be found at:

https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/utilities/utilities-projects-plans-standards/capital-projects/watershed-management