ABC’s April 2015 meeting will feature a name we all recognize, and we’re anxious to see what he’s been up to lately. Andy Stepniewski of Yakima is the author of Birds of Yakima County, Washington, first published in 1999, recently in its 2nd printing, telling everything about the 300 species which have been found in that county. He is an all-round naturalist, connecting the birds with the plants/vegetation zones, geology, weather, and everything else. Yakima Magazine recently profiled Andy, from his youth in southern California, to his orchards in Yakima. See: http://www.yakimamagazine.com/2012/11/16/for-the-birds/

Please join us in inviting our friend, Andy Stepniewski of Yakima, to ABC on April 20, 2015, at the University Place Library at 6:45.

Contributions will be accepted for his travel expenses with any excess going to the Slater Museum of Natural History at the University of Puget Sound.

March 28, 2015 – MOUNTAIN QUAIL PERFORM!

On March 28, 2015, a small group met at 6 AM (pre-dawn) at the Theler Wetlands parking lot in Belfair to motor over to Mountain Quail sites on the Tahuya peninsula. By invitation, we started at the home of Mary Hrudkaj, going up the switchbacks of Canyon Drive to gain altitude to the heights of the Tahuya peninsula. Mary had her living room set up like a theater for the 9 of us, and we were given strict instructions that when the Mountain Quail were sited (IF they were) to hold perfectly still, as any little perceived movement would send them off rapidly. As dawn started to show itself, we were treated to views of the Olympic Mountains and Tubby and Stubby the raccoons.

Mourning Doves showed up and copulated in front of us, and then the Bandtails showed up, looking like Mourning Doves on steroids. The background of the yard was soon stuffed with Steller’s Jays, Juncos, Robins, and other expected species, and then the two regular Mountain Quail (a pair) ran in. Yes, they ran. No sense walking if you can run!

These rotund birds kept us frozen as we gawked at them, noticing the subtle differences between the genders and the fact that there were TWO feathers making that crest, not just one. Every so often, one would run off, then run back, like wind-up toys. The sun then poked above the trees enough to light them up for great photographs! Thanks for keeping your window glass so clean, Mary!

Finally the Quail finished their breakfast and ran out to the road, and we were released from our frozen stances. We then piled into the cars, and Mary took us to a couple of other spots to highlight the glories of the Tahuya peninsula including the wonderful Dewatto Bay with its soon-to-be-busy Pigeon Guillemot holes right on the road, then to the very reliable Dipper bridge just northeast of there, where Donna LaCasse ducked under the bridge and saw an unoccupied-as-yet nest. Both Dippers dipped for us! Every target bird was seen and in good light!

Many photographs were taken by the group, some of which can be seen here: 76552838@N03/sets/72157651161797007/” >https://www.flickr.com/photos/76552838@N03/sets/72157651161797007/

Photos below by Diane Y-Q and Heather Roskelley. Click to enlarge.

March 23, 2015: The Paul Bannick Woodpecker event was a big hit!

Paul brought his woodpecker slide show to ABC and tantalized us with glimpses of his upcoming works on Owls as well. He had his new book, Woodpeckers of North America, written with David Benson, as well as his famous book, The Owl and the Woodpecker, for sale to the enthusiastic ABC crowd.

Paul started off the evening by showing us some slides he just took yesterday far east of here of Short-Eared Owls’ courtship behaviors. Stunning stuff, and new info to some of us, such as their different vocalizations during courtship, as well as their stunning aerial displays.

Only a person who has stalked so many woodpeckers with his camera on hands and knees asl well as lift mechanisms could have such personal insights into these woodpeckers. Paul knows every kind of hole every woodpecker employs, every kind of tree, every behavior, even pounds per square inch of drilling power.

A woodpecker hole can later house up to 30 different types of birds needing cavities (including many of the small owls), but are unable to drill their own holes. Other critters use the holes as well, and Paul showed reintroduced Fishers who will use the bigger holes.

It was interesting to have a dialog between ABC’ers and Paul about this winter’s interesting incursion of Acorn Woodpeckers into the state, especially into the Lakewood area of Pierce County. We’ll all be watching what happens with this species in the state.

Visit Paul’s website at: http://www.paulbannick.com/

Below: Paul talks about Flickers and then signs books for us. (Click to enlarge)

March 23, Monday – 6:45 PM – University Place Library. Paul Bannick, co-author and photographer for the new book, Woodpeckers of North America, A Naturalist’s Guide, will examine each of the North American woodpecker species through award winning images, intimate sounds and stories and observations from the field. Paul’s presentation will help you distinguish between species by behavior, habitat and field markings. He will also touch upon races of woodpeckers, adaptations to specific habitats, morphology and cultural ties.

Check out Paul’s website! It has lots of video interviews and looks at his owl photos as well. http://www.paulbannick.com/

We were fortunate to get Paul to speak to our club and are suggesting an honorarium of around $10 each to offset his usual speaking fee.

Paul is a celebrity to non-birders as well, having chosen two “iconic” families of birds, woodpeckers and owls, as his targets, so be sure to invite your friends and family to this presentation.

Chris Maynard shared many facets of his feather mania with the group on February 26, 2015, at a well-attended meeting. He is an internationally known artist with feathers, and as we learned also an expert on the biology of feathers. His family background enabled him early on to pursue both birds and art. What he does is precise cutting of feathers with surgical scalpels, etc., to form bird images from actual bird feathers, but no description could match seeing it. This is his own invention, and no one else does anything like it. His larger-than-life slides were informative and entertaining. It was interesting that he found that complex patterns in feathers are found in neutral colored feathers, but rarely in brightly colored feathers. He passed around a crowned crane feather asking us to test its strength, and we were amazed.

Some Great Bustard feathers from Britain that the Pullens had brought to the last meeting for their presentation were passed around again, which added to the feathery delights of the evening.

Chris brought his new book, “Feathers – Form and Function,” and many copies were sold and autographed. A stunning volume, already in its second printing!

For more information about Chris and to order more copies of his book, see his website: http://www.featherfolio.com/

Click on photo to enlarge:

The ABC meeting on February 26, 2015, will be quite an event, featuring Chris Maynard, feather expert and noted feather artist.

His book has just been published, “Feathers – Form and Function,” which he will have for sale and signing. This book was a #1 recommendation from Ian “Birdbooker” Paulsen: http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/birdbooker-report-353-9/

Read more at Chris’ website: http://www.featherfolio.com/feathers-form-function/

Chris is an engaging and enthusiastic speaker. His art is truly unique, carving up feathers with surgical scalpels, a form he invented that just has to be seen to be believed.

Please join us at the University Place library at 6:45 on Thursday, February 26, 2015, for this special event.

JANUARY 2015 ABC GALA!

On January 29th, the ABC Club met to celebrate its own!! We had lots of fun and games, beverages, and goodies!

The meeting started out with the two stalwarts of the club, Kay Pullen, our Mistress of Ceremonies and program planner, and Ken Brown, founder, both being recognized this year by Tahoma Audubon as award winners for their volunteer work! Congratulations both of you!

Kay then announced a wonderful roster of upcoming programs including feather artist Chris Maynard next month on February 26, famous woodpecker and owl photographer/author Paul Bannick on March 23, noted naturalist and author Andy Stepniewski in April, Wendy Connally of WDFW in May or June on the new Northwest eBird portal, later in the year Lora Leschner of the Washington Pacific Cost Joint Venture, then Peter Wimberger and Dennis Paulson, whom you all know!

Plus we’re going to read the book, The Thing with Feathers by Noah Strycker, a one-time Washingtonian who is now doing a World Big Year! More info: http://noahstrycker.com/ So start reading soon!

Our Big Year review included our star for Pierce County, Mike Charest, with what he’s learned from two consecutive Big Year titles and the new birds added for 2014. His photos, as usual, were terrific! He also explained where Sha-Dux wetland is, one of his finds that got people birding there and where there is currently a Black Phoebe! The Phoebe was seen yesterday by the red mark: https://www.google.com/maps/place/47%C2%B013%2717.7%22N+122%C2%B020%2746.5%22W/@47.2217396,-122.3460782,976m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

The Great Bustard Caper was then presented by Kay and Ed Pullen. This was on a trip to England where they were privileged to be privy to a reintroduction program of this fabled huge bird to the Isles from Spain after a botched attempt from Russia. The population now is almost to the self-sustaining level. The leader of the program has facial hair now making him quite resemble a Great Bustard himself and keeps Bustard “pets” which the Pullens met and came home with souvenir feathers, some of which they offered to us, some saved for Faye, our Feather person, and some to be saved for next month’s speaker, the feather artist/expert Chris Maynard!! The feathers illustrated powder down very well. Ed recommended YouTube videos for more information:

Then the game quiz!! We struggled and we laughed to identify problem bird photos! Photos came from many of the group. As usual, we sweated over them too long, so had to postpone many for another day.

Our 5 Best Photos of 2014 participants showed us some glorious photos, including the Pullens, Pat Damron, Heather Roskelley, Heather Voboril, Susan Boynton, Carol Smith, John Riegsecker, Brian Pendleton, Vicki Biltz, John Riegsecker, Bryan Hanson, Diane Y-Q, Åsta Tobiassen, and Cara Borre, including her stunning video of the Eurasian Hobby seen in October/November, which was part of a longer video on the great bird collection seen at that time at Neah Bay, which is highly recommended: https://www.youtube.com/user/wildthingproduction1?feature=watch

A great time was had by all!

Click below to enlarge photos:

ABC’s 2015 NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION!!

Join us for fun and games on January 29th at the University Place Library at 6:45 PM.

We’ll be celebrating our Big Year people, old and new, including Mike Charet and Brian Pendleton, who mesmerized us last year with their outstanding Big Years, and Ken Brown who just finished a Kitsap Big Year.

Kay and Ed Pullen will be giving a presentation on the Great Bustard, a truly amazing story! Don’t miss this!

BEST PHOTOS FROM EVERYONE! Bring your 5 best photos from 2014! With only 5 from each, we should have a fast and fabulous slide show to make us appreciate our local talent! Photos can be of anything, not necessarily birds. Bring on a jump drive or e-mail to Kay Pullen at kaypullen@me.com or Diane Y-Q at Avosetta@hotmail.com.

Speaking of photos, we’ll also have a photo quiz, or should we say, Help us ID these birds!! If you have a photo of a bird that you think should be in this quiz, send it to Kay Pullen at kaypullen@me.com or Diane Y-Q at Avosetta@hotmail.com.

This will be a celebratory party just for us as well as a look forward at all the great programs we have coming up, including February’s program (Feb 26) featuring famed feather sculptor and scholar, Chris Maynard. His new book will be available at that time. More info on his website: http://www.featherfolio.com/

CHARLIE WRIGHT GULL EVENT SLIDE SHOW:

Several people have asked to receive the slides from Charlie’s presentation on November 24th. We are unable to post the PowerPoint program on the ABC website, so as an alternative, below you will find thumbnails of the slides. They are not full sized, though, so if you see any you’d like, please e-mail Diane Y-Q at Avosetta@hotmail.com with the numbers of the slides you’d like to have sent to you by e-mail.

Thanks, Charlie, for making these available and for a great presentation.

Click on the image below to enlarge it for viewing.

CHARLIE WRIGHT GULL WORKSHOP REPORT, Nov 24, 2014.

We had such an enthusiastic response to hearing Charlie talk about gulls that Peter Wimberger of UPS had to find us a bigger room to hold it in!

I think everybody took notes! Of the 24 species ever seen in Washington, Charlie covered the 8 main species (Mew, Thayer’s, Ring-Billed, California, Herring, Glaucous-Winged, Herring, and Glaucous), as well as two hybrids (the common Glaucous-Winged/Western and the more-common-than-realized Glaucous-Winged/Herring, plus the bonus gull, Slaty-Backed, now being seen at Gog-Le-Hi-Te in the Tacoma tideflats!

You have to love a presenter who tells you to identify your gulls by facial expressions! Glaucous-Winged: Horse face! Thayer’s: Bambi-like, gentle! Charlie says to learn gull faces like your friends’ faces.

Charlie finished up by moving the group to the Slater Museum. Museum honchos Peter Wimberger and Gary Shugart had put out a plethora of gull specimens for our study, which provoked more one-on-one questions, which Charlie and Peter fielded admirably.

Field trips are still coming up for those of you lucky enough to get into one. If so, you’ll be getting reminders soon. If not, you can get on the waiting lists by contacting Diane Y-Q at Avosetta@hotmail.com.

Click on photo below to enlarge.