Avian Bird Signs Featured on History Walk
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On May 15, Longview Park Superintendent, Al George led 20 citizens on a walking history tour of Lake Sacajawea. As well as lake history, the Avian Interpretive Signs were featured on the tour. These signs were designed and installed through the efforts of Willapa Hills Audubon Society in partnership with the City of Longview and are now a prominent feature on the lake, offering both art and educational opportunities to Park patrons. WHAS member, Margaret Green spoke to those gathered,
What should the future of Mt St Helens look like?
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A recent commentary in the Oregonian presents a limnologist's perspective on the future of Mt St Helens, arguing in favor of continuation of long-term research projects and for granting the monument National Park status.
WHAS Alerts
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Do you know that WHAS provides an announcement email list?
Receive notices about birding classes, new field trips, changes to classes or events, calls to action on conservation issues, requests for volunteers.
Birding as Medicine
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Researchers have documented that just 5 minutes a day of physical exercise in a pleasant natural environment (urban parks qualify) is beneficial for mental health (in addition to the benefits of exercise in any environment.) Read this article on the benefits of green exercise if you need one more reason to make time and get out into the natural world. If you're looking for inspiration, consider joining WHAS for a volunteer or field trip activity. The researchers encourage folks to self-medicate with outdoor exercise; birding as medicine!
May / June 2010 Whistler is online
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The May / June 2010 Whistler is available now.
Some of its content:
- May Program: Falling Off the Edge: Four Decades of Environmental Change at the Top of the World
- Member Form and WHAS News
- Honoring our Volunteers
- LNG Update
- Nelson Creek News, Book Review
- Annual Meeting Report, Call for Photos
- Book Review, Birding Classes
- WHAS Programs, Volunteer Activities
Bird Brains
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I stumbled on an article on neurogenesis (growth of new brain cells) that provided a clear example as to how basic research in non-humans can have such a concrete impact on human health. I think it's important to be reminded of such benefits in times of budget cuts and attacks on funding for basic science.
"About 20 years ago, research on the ability of adult songbirds to learn new songs showed that their brains created new cells and that these neurons helped them form memories of the new songs. This opened up debate on whether the same process occurred in humans.
Amphibian Egg Mass Surveys in the News
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"Under Kastberg's enthusiastic oversight, dozens of volunteers have hopped to it during the county's first official amphibian survey. Adults and youth groups are wading through local ponds and wetlands, counting frogs, salamanders and the egg masses they lay this time of year." Read an article in The Daily News by Tom Paulu about our local amphibian egg mass survey efforts.
March - April 2010 Whistler is online
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The March - April 2010 Whistler is available now.
Some of its content:
- Annual Member/Dinner Meeting; Bird Poem
- Member Form and WHAS News
- Birding Bits, Recent Birding Class
- LNG Update, Earth day, Fox Creek
- Citizen Science Amphibian Survey
- Christmas Bird Count Updates
- High Lakes, Backyard Birding
- WHAS Programs and Field Trips
Egg Mass Surveying
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Surveying has been great. We've found long-toed eggs (AMMA) at the Mint Farm in Longview, and red-legged frog (RAAU) egg masses west of Longview up Spruce Creek, at Germany Creek and Nelson Creek and in a cow pasture in Kalama. Northwestern Salamanders are laying in Germany Creek and South Nemah. From Corkran and Thoms's Amphibians of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia: WINTER (Some periods of freezing weather; often December to mid February.) During periods of warm rain:
- Long-toed Salamanders gather at breeding sites and lay their eggs. Sudden, prolonged, sub-freezing weather can kill both adults and eggs.
- The first Red-legged Frogs lay their eggs.
- The low croaking of Pacific Treefrogs can be heard away from the ponds, but they are not yet breeding.
Early Spring (Frost some nights, some sun, some late snows; often late February and March) During periods of warm rain:
- The first Northwestern Salamanders lay their eggs.
- The last Long-toed Salamanders lay their eggs, and many of the earlier eggs hatch.
- The last Red-legged frogs lay their eggs.
- Pacific Treefrogs begin chorusing and may begin to lay eggs.
It looks like we may be in early spring. This sure describes what we're seeing out there in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. Looks like chorus frog eggs have been found in Clark County.
Amazing Bird Songs
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Watch this youtube video to hear the amazing lyre bird, which mimics the calls of other birds - and chainsaws, car alarms and camera shutters...
- A Fascinating Hunting Behavior
- 2009 Christmas Bird Count Results from Leadbetter Point
- Learn about the most promiscuous bird
- 2009 Christmas Bird Count Results from Wahkiakum County
- Christmas Bird Count discussed on NPR's Science Friday
- January - February 2010 Whistler is online
- Deery Memorial Signage
- New 'Palouse to Pines' Birding Trail Map
- Environmental Lobby Day 2010
- WHAS received the GOLDEN LOPPER AWARD