Volunteers are often unappreciated. For about 30 Pilchuck Audubon Society volunteers, there will be no thank-you notes in their mail boxes from those they help. Nonetheless, these volunteers know what is at stake.
For four weekends, they take their scopes, binoculars, maps, clipboards and bird-count forms on waterproof paper to the shorelines of Port Susan, which includes the rich deltas of Skagit and Stillaguamish rivers. They have been counting shorebirds.
“Shorebirds are those ubiquitous little fellows we see running, walking, wading or swimming along the shore,” said Bob Sindelar, Pilchuck Audubon Society, “ubiquitous as long as key habitats along the migratory route are not overtaken by man’s inroads via industrial and residential development.”
While many generically call shorebirds sandpipers, there are more than 20 species of shorebirds in the area. This area really suits dunlin, western sandpiper, black-bellied plovers and greater yellow legs.
Without feeding grounds such as Port Susan, the migration route would be more deadly. Without sufficient food and rest, migrating birds face a higher death toll.
In order to prioritize avian-oriented conservation projects, volunteers are collecting data, including seasonal censuses by species.
Port Susan is one of more than 50 Important Bird Areas in the state. Pilchuck is also nominating the bay for a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. If successful, it would be one of only two in the state; Grays Harbor is the other.
Volunteers also conducted a fall count after a two-night training session with birding guru and author Dennis Paulson. Then they set out for 17 sites. After tomorrow, the last day of the survey, the goal moves to educating the public about habitat needs and advocating for sound voluntary conservation practices, Sindelar said.
Even if they’ll never get a thank-you note from shorebirds.
Whidbey dives: Think beyond Deception Pass, a story in Northwest Dive News encourages. Although the pass is an excellent shore or boat dive, there are other dives on the island’s perimeter, including Possession Fingers, Possession Point ferry wreck, Satchet Head reef, Langley tire reef, Glendale, Keystone Underwater Park, Admiralty Beach and Polnell Point.
Cheap vacations: Depressed over rising gas, food, hotel and admission prices? Thinking of staying home instead of trekking around Spain or New England? Chin up — there’s a way to get the endorphins flowing, enjoy the time, save money and do a good deed all at the same time.
Check out the volunteer vacation opportunities offered by Washington Trails Association. Hike to the work site, camp out, enjoy the scenery, make new friends, exercise, and head home with a do-good feeling by helping WTA maintain trails.
All trips run Saturday to Saturday with Wednesday off. You must be 18 or older or be accompanied by an adult. It’s $150 for your first trip, including meals, scenery and a one-year subscription to Washington Trails. The WTA member rate is $125. For other trips, pay $75.
For your options, more information and registration, see www.wta.org. Vacation choices stretch out through September.
On the bookshelf: Four experienced paddlers have put their efforts and knowledge into “Paddling Washington” ($25, Mountaineers Books). Follow their lead and explore 112 routes on flatwater and whitewater. Decent maps, photographs, the latest information, a factoid box and enough words to whet your appetite plus descriptions of the routes and accesses are in a 384-page package.
“Map and Compass” ($10, Falcon) is a must-read for beginners and a nice refresher course for those whose skills are rusty. Cliff Jacobson gives clear instructions and his text is liberally complemented with colorful graphics.
Don’t have a telescope? “Stargazing with Binoculars” ($20, Firefly) discusses the advantages of binoculars as well as how to buy and use them. The rest of the text and dozens of star maps guide you to the stars. Then you can decide whether to invest in a telescope.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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