Tracking the Marbled Murrelet

by Tom Bloxton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013
7:00 Social; 7:30 Program
Padilla Bay Interpretive Center
10433 Bayview-Edison Road
Mount Vernon, Washington

The Marbled Murrelet is a seabird that spends most of its life in coastal waters, while nesting primarily in large old-growth trees. Decline in its population led to this murrelet’s federal listing in 1992 as Threatened throughout its range in Washington, Oregon, and California.

For the past 10 years wildlife biologist Tom Bloxton monitored Marbled Murrelets at sea to track the bird’s population status and trend. He also engaged in research to determine whether the Northwest Forest Plan (1994) is maintaining and restoring the bird’s nesting habitat. The Marbled Murrelet is a fascinating species facing significant challenges both where it breeds inland and where it forages on the saltwater.

Tom Bloxton recently began work as the wildlife biologist for the Northwest Region of Washington Department of Natural Resources in Sedro-Woolley. The past 10 years Tom served on the staff of the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station in Olympia as a Marbled Murrelet Biologist.

 

Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest
Celebrate Birdsong!
Explore the Natural World
May 16 – 19 2013

Come bird with us the third weekend in May!
Find the natural beauty of North Central Washington! The Leavenworth area features habitats ranging from snow-capped mountains to sunny ponderosa pine forests, to lush riparian zones, to shrub-steppe!

http://www.leavenworthspringbirdfest.com

 

 

Annual Plant Fair

Sponsored by
the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation

 

Saturday, May 11, 2013

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

http://skagit.wsu.edu/mg/plantfair.htm

Skagit County Fairgrounds,
Mount Vernon

Building F

(Use South gate at Taylor Street)

Free admission and parking!

Come EARLY for the best selection.

Find Great Plants at Great Values!

• 2000+ tomatoes--many varieties
• Veggie and flower starts
• Native Plants
• Perennials, herbs, trees, and shrubs
• Mother's Day gifts

Also enjoy:

• Educational booths
  
• Art, food, plant and other vendors
• Master Gardener help with gardening questions

 

 

 

WOLF HOLLOW WILDLIFE REHAB CENTER
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehab Center is located on San Juan Island, but it serves Skagit County too! In fact more than half of its patients come from Anacortes, Mt. Vernon, Burlington, Sedro Woolley, Bow, La Conner and surrounding areas. We have a network of Animal Transport Volunteers, who act as links in the chain to pick up these animals and get them out to Wolf Hollow.

We Urgently Need More Volunteers!

If you live in Skagit County and have time and a vehicle, we could use your help. No previous experience required. Initially you will be asked to pick up a box/carrier containing an animal and take it to another volunteer or to the ferry or Anacortes Airport. As you gain experience (and attend training sessions we offer from time to time) you can progress to assessing and rescuing a range of species.

Interested? Questions? Please call: 360-378-5000
Email: wolfhollow@wolfhollowwildlife.org.

 

Membership Expiration Dates Announcement

For members receiving a paper copy of The Skagit Flyer, the mailing label includes your membership expiration date in the upper right corner. If the date is highlighted in orange it is a reminder that your membership is about to or has expired.

All other members will receive an email notice when their membership is about to expire.

If you have questions about your membership or a change of address, please contact: Skagitmembers@gmail.com

 

Friends of Skagit Beaches Seeks Volunteers for
TRAIL TALES

Last season more than 200 people enjoyed interpretive walks along the Tommy Thompson Trail guided by volunteer Docents in the Trail Tales program. In addition to leading interpretive walks, Docents guide bike rides, staff informational booths and offer presentations to other groups interested in learning about the human history, flora and fauna, marine ecology and the Baywide Cleanup restoration currently underway along the shoreline.
To apply contact: Nancy Olsen, Prog.Coordinator

nancy.skagitbeaches@gmail.com
or visit Friends of Skagit Beaches website:
http://skagitbeaches.org

 

WOLF HOLLOW WILDLIFE REHAB CENTER

REPORT INJURED OR ORPHANED WILDLIFE IN SAN JUAN AND SKAGIT COUNTIES

If you find a SMALL ANIMAL:
Put in a covered box with air holes and soft material on bottom
Keep in a dark, quiet warm place
Please, don't offer food or water
Large/Difficult to Handle Animal:
Call us: (360) 378-5000
or
www.WolfHollowWildlife.org

 

 

 

Great Washington State Birding Trail

The now-completed Great Washington State Birding Trail consists of 7 maps describing and locating good birding spots across Washington State. This 10-year effort, from the first map, the Cascade Loop including numerous sites in Skagit County, to the Puget Loop completed this year, this has been the project of many volunteers ably organized by Christi Norman.

In appreciation for her great contributions to Audubon in Washington, Tahoma Audubon is honoring Christi with its Distinguished Service Award – Community. All the maps are at http://wa.audubon.org/great-washington-state-birding-trail. At this website you can also buy paper copies of each map or an app with them all.

Bird video of the month

Audubon's Bird Cam Reveals All

http://bit.ly/11yVU11