Earth Share of Washington

Washington Birds Face Challenges of Development and Sprawl

- submitted by Hilary Hilscher from ESW member Audubon Washington

One-third of Washington State's birds are at risk, a situation with troubling consequences for our own quality of life, according to the "State of the Birds" report released today by Audubon Washington, a field office of the National Audubon Society.

"Like the canary in the mineshaft, our birds are warning us about the health and trends of the environment that we ourselves depend upon," said Audubon's national president, John Flicker.

Report author Tim Cullinan said natural places critical to many bird species have been disrupted by Washington's growing human population. The number of residents has more than doubled in the past 50 years and is forecast to double again in the next 50 years - the equivalent of adding 29 more cities the size of Tacoma or Spokane. It is not simply the number of people that changes the landscape, but also the way in which sprawl fragments natural areas so that birds and other wildlife have only small "islands" suitable for their needs.

"Immediate and focused conservation measures are needed to reduce human impacts on birds and bird habitat," wrote Cullinan in the report's executive summary. Cullinan, Audubon Washington's director of science and conservation, said our birds are in trouble because of low populations, steep population declines, or habitat loss.

Audubon Washington has produced two versions of the "State of the Birds" report, an executive summary and citizen's action guide; and a longer paper which is being submitted to policy and ornithological journals. The report examined the conservation status of our state's 317 common birds and found 93 species and four subspecies are at risk.

"Washington State is showing the way for bird conservation," said Flicker. "First with the 'State of the Birds' report - what Audubon hopes will become a model for other states - and, second, by passing legislation this year to help protect birds and their habitat."

The 2004 State Legislature unanimously passed a bill recognizing Important Bird Areas (IBAs), scientific identification of critical bird habitat to help guide public and private property owners in managing their land in environmentally sound ways. Washington is only the second state in the country, after New York, to enact IBA legislation. The worldwide IBA effort is run in North America by Audubon.

The summary and citizen's action guide is available on the web at wa.audubon.org. It includes a section on steps people can take individually, locally, nationally and internationally to protect birds. Examples include: planting bird-friendly native vegetation, taking part in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, voting to preserve natural areas and limit sprawl, using the Great Washington State Birding Trail, and buying shade-grown, organic coffee, which helps protect bird habitat.

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance Clean Boating Program for 2004

- submitted by Chris Wilke from ESW member Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (PSA), an Earth Share of Washington member, is weighing anchor for the 2004 boating season with Pollution Prevention Education for boaters and marinas.

With 2,000 miles of shoreline, Puget Sound is world-renowned as a boater's paradise. Featuring narrow fjords, rugged rocky coasts, high bluffs, shallow eelgrass beds and sensitive estuaries where fresh water and salt water meet, Puget Sound is a national treasure. It is also an important part of the Washington state economy drawing tourists, recreational and commercial fishing, as well as an estimated $76 million shellfish industry. There are approximately 50,000 recreational boats permanently moored on Puget Sound.

Boating sewage, oil and fuel spills, bilge water discharges, boat maintenance and damage from vessel operation all threaten the sensitive marine ecosystem in Puget Sound. PSA has a long history of involvement with boaters through the regularly produced 68-page Sound Information: A Boaters Guide, clean boating seminars, oil spill demos at boat shows and pollution prevention outreach to marinas. PSA's Pollution Prevention Director Chris Wilke is a member of the Pacific Oil Spill Prevention Education Team (POSPET), which seeks to minimize the effects of small oils spill up and down the west coast.

The next free Clean Boating Seminar hosted by PSA is June 15. For more information please see the Upcoming Events section below or call 206-297-7002 for a free Boaters Guide.

Washington Leads Other States in Eliminating Toxins

- submitted by Kristina Logsdon from ESW member Washington Toxics Coalition

In the first national tests for PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in household dust, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found high levels of the neurotoxic compounds in every home sampled, including one in Seattle. Consumer products such as computers, TVs, furniture, carpets and drapes, not industrial releases, are the most likely sources of the rapid buildup of PBDEs in people, animals and the environment.

PBDEs can be found in Deca, Penta, and Octa - commonly used fire retardants. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to Penta and Octa, Deca is still largely unregulated. This is due, in part, to strong industry support.

Governor Locke recently announced a program to phase-out persistent toxic chemicals. Six other states have passed or are considering bans or regulation of PBDEs, but only New York's proposed law and Washington's phase-out, which does not set a deadline, address Deca.

To learn more about these toxins, visit the Washington Toxics Coalition website at www.watoxics.org.

Volunteering For Wildlife

- submitted by Lauren Glickman, Volunteer Program Manager, PAWS Wildlife Center

Being a volunteer at a wild animal hospital is not your run of the mill experience, to say the least. It's not for everyone; is it for you? The PAWS Wildlife Center offers a unique opportunity to interact with sick, injured or orphaned wild animals with the goal of releasing them back to the wild. Over two hundred volunteers fill a number of different volunteer positions. Why do they do it? It offers the opportunity to learn about wild animals and to ensure that the injured and orphaned animals that arrive at the facility will be well cared for.

These volunteers work closely with 12 professional staff members to do a wide variety of tasks - some glamorous and some not so glamorous. Laundry and dishes must be cleaned to ensure that patients have clean bedding and clean food and water dishes. Feeding infant animals happens constantly throughout daylight hours along with making food for adult and juvenile animals that are eating on their own. Besides caring directly for these wild creatures, volunteers have a unique opportunity to educate community members about coexisting peacefully with wildlife. Not only do the volunteers educate the public, they also are given a unique opportunity to learn. Their ongoing direct care volunteers, Wildlife Care Assistants, are eligible to participate in the Senior Skills Workshop after volunteering for nine months. This training includes handling large raptors and adult rodents, giving subcutaneous and intramuscular injections to mammals and birds and tube feeding a variety of animals.

The species treated at the PAWS Wildlife Center range from the tiniest hummingbird to the majestic bald eagle, from a baby chipmunk to a black bear cub. Many have been hit by a vehicle, attacked by a cat or dog, been a victim of cruelty or hit a window. It isn't always pretty. It is the strength and compassion of the volunteers who are so willing to get dirty that make this healing work possible. It absolutely couldn't get done without these people.

If this sounds intriguing and you're up for a challenge, go to www.paws.org/help/vol/ and fill out a volunteer application. All training is provided and the only requirement is a once-a-week commitment for three or four months.

Host an International EarthCorps Volunteer

EarthCorps is a Seattle-based not for profit organization with a mission to create a global community through local environmental service. EarthCorps offers opportunities to young environmentalists from around the world to come to Seattle and actively learn new techniques to restore the global environment.

They are in need of families to host an international corps-member for the upcoming program this June 28 - December 16, 2004.

The 2004 year for EarthCorps is gearing up to be something special. They have international volunteers from Guatemala, Philippines, Kenya, Japan, Cameroon, Jamaica, Honduras, Ecuador and Tanzania! Join EarthCorps this year for the chance to bring the world to your home by hosting an international volunteer. They have twelve international participants starting in June for a six month hands-on training in the basic fundamentals of environmental restoration. They are looking for open-minded and fun families just like yours to host these participants.

If you are interested please have contact Mark Howard by phone 206-322-9296 X 224 or email: mark@earthcorps.org. To learn more about EarthCorps, please visit their website - www.earthcorps.org.

Upcoming Events

• June 12 - Earth Share of Washington's Day in the Park, presented by IKEA - 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM - 1000 volunteers, supporting 65 environmental organizations, restoring local parks.
  
  WHAT: Day in the Park invites people from Puget Sound area organizations to team up with leading non-profit conservation organizations for an honest day's work enhancing local parks. Volunteers remove invasive plant species, clean up beaches, and rebuild trails. It's an opportunity for everyone to feel good about helping the Earth, and giving back to your community parks.
  
  WHERE: Golden Gardens & Discovery Park with a celebration afterwards at Golden Gardens.
  
  WHY VOLUNTEER? Featuring live music from Ian McFeron, the grand opening of the newly remodeled Golden Garden Bathhouse, free foods, prizes, and a chance to win a $500 gift certificate from IKEA.
  
  Signup today at www.dayinthepark.org
• June - All month - Volunteers needed at Olympic & Mt. Rainier National Parks - Educate park visitors about the national park system, and the need to save critical funding to support these two Northwest parks. National Parks Conservation Association will mobilize thousands of park visitors & register voters by tabling at Olympic & Rainier with volunteers every weekend this summer. Contact Holly at NPCA for more info & to sign up: hunger@npca.org (206) 903-1444 x22.
• June 10 - Make your neighborhood more livable community forum - from 6:00 - 7:30PM at the New Holly Community Center on 7054 - 32nd Ave. South, Seattle. Find out how you can take action in creating a livable neighborhood in your community. Safe walkways and crosswalks, open spaces, traffic calming techniques, street trees, and community gathering areas all help make a neighborhood livable and enjoyable. For more information or to signup, please contact Jeeseca Brand at jesseca@1000friends.org.
• June 15 - Free Clean Boating Seminar - from 7:00 -9:00PM at the Mountaineers Club, 300 Third Ave West Seattle, WA, 98119, Northwest boaters will be able to get answers and insight clean boating practices. Free Clean Boating Kits will be supplied to attendees at no charge courtesy of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. Please register in advance by calling PSA at 206-297-7002.
• June 19 & 20 - Outreach Assitants Needed at Fremont Fair - Staff an information booth for Washington Toxics Coalition and educate the public on the hazards of toxic chemicals such as toxic flame retardants and pesticides and what they can do to eliminate them from our environment. If you are interested in providing this much needed service, contact Kristina at 206-632-1545 ext 20 email klogsdon@watoxics.org.