In response to the COVID-19 virus, our monthly membership meetings are once again being held in person at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center; but, those who would prefer the option of attending via Zoom will still be able to do so. Hikes and birding field trips are being organized for vaccinated individuals and participants need to comply with the activity leader’s guidelines.
DECEMBER MEETING – PRESENTED IN-PERSON AND ON ZOOM
“Annual Member Photo Show”
Presented by: YOU!
Tuesday, December 13th at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
Please join Skagit Audubon Society for our hybrid member meeting at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center, 10441 Bayview-Edison Rd., Mt. Vernon, or attend virtually on Zoom (see below for Zoom registration details).
Our ever-popular annual member photo show will take place on Tuesday, December 13th! This is not a competition but a chance to share and enjoy nature photographs taken by our members.
Meeting Logistics: The doors at the Padilla Bay Stevens Center will open at 6:30 pm and the show will start at 7 pm. This year’s Master of Ceremonies for the evening (in-person) will be John Farnsworth. John will be doing all the narration; we will not be passing the microphone to the live audience.
Attendees may bring easily shareable holiday treats and napkins will be provided for serving. Coffee and tea will not be provided, but feel free to bring a personal (non-alcoholic) beverage.
2022 PADILLA BAY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT will take place on Friday, December 30th. To ensure obtaining the most accurate and complete data in this community science project, we are recruiting experienced birders. Contact Tim Manns at conservation@skagitaudubon.org or 360.333.8985.
For an opportunity to get your first taste of birding, please participate in the field trip Libby Mills will lead, also on Dec. 30th. For this field trip, meet at Padilla Bay Interpretive Center at 8:30 a.m. Please contact Libby Mills at 360.708.6975 or libbymills@gmail.com.
Dear Members and Friends of Skagit Audubon Society,
I’m sure that many of you have heard one way or another that Seattle Audubon Society recently decided to drop the Audubon name and is in the process of choosing a new one. You may be aware that the National Audubon Society (NAS) has also started the process of considering whether or not to change its name.
The issue here, as I understand it, is that despite what John James Audubon did to increase the public’s awareness and knowledge of North American birds, he was himself a slaveholder and made his racist views of Black and Indigenous people well known. This is seen by many as a significant barrier for minority people to joining Audubon or participating in Audubon-sponsored activities.
by Tim Manns
Washington State Legislature. The State Legislature’s 2023 session runs from January 9th to April 23rd. In odd years, our legislators write the two-year state budget. Thus, there will be both policy and funding bills with implications for Audubon’s priorities. At this writing in mid-November, we do not yet know Audubon Washington’s specific legislative priorities, but they should be available soon at Advocacy | Audubon Washington. The state staff is again organizing a virtual Advocacy Day, which will happen via Zoom on December 5th and 6th. Act quickly and you may still be able to get involved in directly urging your state legislators to support conservation priorities. Sign up here, filling in your information! Our elected officials need to hear from us about the importance of protecting and restoring shorelines, taking a well-considered, balanced approach to siting wind and solar farms, and more. Your voice can make a difference.
HAVE YOU SEEN A BANDED BIRD OR FOUND A SICK OR INJURED BIRD?
To report a bird with a federal band or color marker, please visit the USGS’ Bird Banding Laboratory website.
In addition to reporting collars to the USGS Bird Banding Lab, please report swan collars to Northwest Swan Conservation Association.
To report other bands or tags for local projects, please visit the Washington Ornithological Society’s Research page to view current projects, the types of markers they use, and how to report them.
SWANS
All swans that are dead, sick, or injured need to be reported to the WDFW hotline by calling (360) 466-4345, ext. 266. Swans should be taken to the Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Their phone number is (360) 966-8845. Please let them know if you need assistance with transporting a swan.
SICK OR INJURED BIRDS
Contact one of these organizations if you are sure the bird requires rescuing:
The Education Committee needs volunteers to help with a number of adult presentations coming up in the next several months. These Power Point presentations are scheduled at libraries and private organizations/clubs in the area. If you can help give part of a presentation (already written), that would be great; or, you can assist with the computer and help answer questions from the audience. If you can lend a hand, please contact Committee Chair Jeff Osmundson at education@skagitaudubon.org.
Read The Skagit Flyer, Our Newsletter
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.
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