Come join us at our next meeting and program on May 14, 2013!
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, WashingtonThe 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 2013Come 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 VernonBuilding 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 VOLUNTEERSWolf 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.Coordinatornancy.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

Steve and Rachel — when relations were more mellow around the nest. (Photo: explore.org)
Audubon's Bird Cam Reveals All
Explore.org streams Audubon's HD Osprey Cam, where Ospreys Rachel and Steve first captivated viewers with a Real Housewives of Hog Island episode (http://bit.ly/11yVU11).Then on April 26 - John John James Audubon’s birthday - Rachel laid the first of three eggs, captured live with a new infrared camera which allows 24/7 streaming. Tune in at http://bit.ly/KML9AL.
And look for the Audubon Puffin Cam to go live later this month!




