Kittitas Audubon

05/25/2025

A bird’s so.ution for climate change?

Recent studies have revealed that penguin f***s emit large amounts of ammonia, a compound that can rise into the atmosphere and trigger cloud formation over Antarctica.

This ammonia originates from the nitrogen-rich guano (excrement) of massive penguin colonies, especially during breeding seasons.

When ammonia reaches the atmosphere, it interacts with sulfuric acid and water v***r to create aerosol particles, which serve as cloud condensation nuclei.

These increase cloud cover, which can reflect sunlight away from the Earth's surface—a phenomenon known as albedo effect. This process may partially offset regional warming, although not enough to reverse global climate change trends.

The discovery underscores how even seemingly minor biological processes can have unexpected effects on the Earth's climate systems.

04/14/2025

How many times have you looked up at a raptor soaring overhead, to say ‘oh, it’s just a Red-tailed Hawk?’ Well Bryce Robinson and the Red-tailed Hawk Project are on a mission to prove that this species is anything but common. They may be the most abundant raptor in North America, but they’re also the result of incredible evolutionary dynamics that have woven a tapestry of 16 subspecies across the continent.

Click below to learn more about this wonderfully widespread yet mysterious species and the work the Red-tailed Hawk Project is doing to crack the code of their diversity.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/red-tailed-hawk-subspecies-america-widespread/

03/04/2025

The birds are coming! Watch your feeders and neighborhoods for changes in numbers and species!

12/18/2024

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT SATURDAY!!
Be alert for slow driving bird nerds with binoculars and scopes!

Saturday, Dec. 21st is the annual Christmas Bird Count for Kittitas Audubon. Teams will be out counting, and at the end of the day all will gather for a potluck at Hal Holmes where species are tallied and final numbers are submitted. Whether you count or not, you are invited to attend the potluck!

WHEN: SATURDAY DEC 21ST AT 5:00 PM

WHERE: HAL HOLMES

WHAT TO BRING:

PLATES

EATING UTENSILS

A DINNER DISH OF CHOICE TO SHARE (There are wall sockets for hot dishes.)

Coffee, tea, hot drink and water, plus napkins will be provided.

Note: No alcoholic beverages as the venue is an Ellensburg facility.

AND...If you have dead birds in your freezer, please bring them as Phil is making a trip to the Burke Museum very soon.

11/28/2024

Funded projects and programs are expected to reduce the equivalent of 335,171 metric tons of carbon dioxide!!!


Washington Department of Ecology logo
NEWS RELEASE


Nov. 27, 2024

New report and dashboard show Climate Commitment Act investments

See how 37 state agencies spent nearly $500 million across the state on transit, wildfire preparedness, clean energy and more

A new annual report and online dashboard show how Climate Commitment Act (CCA) revenue was spent on projects ranging from wildfire resiliency and salmon habitat restoration to pedestrian and biking infrastructure, energy bill assistance, and new clean energy sources.

“The Climate Commitment Act is among our most important policies for reducing carbon pollution. We’re putting funding to work in every corner of our state, and we want to make it easy to see how these new projects and programs are benefiting schools, neighborhoods and communities. Hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians have already experienced direct benefits from the CCA, and we’re just getting started,” said Gov. Jay Inslee.

The report shows how 37 state agencies invested nearly $500 million of CCA revenue in projects across the state between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. It also details the environmental, economic, public health, and community benefits associated with each project. The dashboard includes the data in the report, as well as data from previous reports.

“We’re creating a transparent record of how Climate Commitment Act dollars are being spent,” said Ecology Director Laura Watson. “We’re excited to continue with this work year after year so people can see the benefits provided by this transformative policy.”

Nearly $300 million, or 61% of the total spending, benefitted vulnerable populations in overburdened communities, surpassing the law’s required minimum of 35%. Funded projects and programs are expected to reduce the equivalent of 335,171 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Many of these projects also generate other environmental, economic, public health, and community benefits that align with the intent of the law.

State agencies have until June 30, 2025 to spend the full amounts appropriated to them for the 2023-2025 Biennium.

Read more Ecology news
Caroline Halter
Climate Pollution Reduction Program Communications Manager
Email
[email protected]
Phone
564-669-8947

11/21/2024

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/bird-flu-killed-more-than-half-of-wa-tern-colony-near-port-townsend/

Study findings provide new details on a Caspian tern die-off near Port Townsend in 2023 and how the virus killed seals in the region, infecting their brains.

10/28/2024

IBIV
I bird, I vote

As elections roll near, please take the time to educate yourself on voting and its importance to birds. One important vote will be on Initiative 2117 and its call to repeal the Climate Commitment Act. At first glance, it sounds like I-2117 will save you money, and who doesn’t like to save money? But a closer look reveals the true cost of I-2117. Can we afford I-2117? I say NO!

For years, Audubon Washington worked with a coalition of organizations to develop the Climate Commitment Act and lobby for its passage by the Washington legislature. This Act provides for the State to participate in a carbon trading system and collect fees from fossil fuel industries, creating funds which then are distributed as grants throughout our state to protect our air, water, forests, and farms. A small increase in gas prices resulted. However, in 2023, the year proponents of I-2117 quote gas prices as being high, fossil fuel industry profits soared! The fossil fuel industry chose to pass along increases in gas prices to consumers while padding their profits. Please note that I-2117 does not address reducing gas prices; in fact gas pricing isn’t even mentioned in its text. So there is no guarantee that gas prices will fall if I-2117 passes. Perhaps industry profits will soar even higher?

So where have all the funds collected by the Climate Commitment Act been distributed? An explorative map is provided by the Clean and Prosperous Institute which shows all the grants across our state, https://riskofrepeal.cleanprosperousinstitute.org/ Kittitas County has received over $1,590,000 in grants alone! Grants provided 25 monitoring stations for air quality around our county. (Did you know 1 in 10 children struggle with asthma?). Energy assessment grants went to small district schools, e.g, Easton, Kittitas, and Thorp. Greenhouse Gas Reduction grants, “Smart Livestock,” went to Kittitas farmers. Fish barrier removals in Naneum and Coleman Creeks were funded. And new EV charging stations were installed in multi-family units. Can we afford to go back?

When we are successful in protecting the environment, we protect the places people and birds need today and tomorrow. Remember: The number one risk to birds is Climate Change! BE THE VOICE FOR BIRDS!!!

Please vote NO on I-2117

Judy Hallisey
KAS Climate Change Officer

Uncover Projects at Risk if Cap-and-Invest Funding is Lost Map updated on October 23rd Check out the new City and Tribal Factsheets Active Transportation Public Transit Electric Transportation Ferries Fish Barrier and Habitat Tribal Environmental Justice Communities Natural and ...

10/02/2024

IBIV
I bird, I vote

As elections roll near, please take the time to educate yourself on voting and its importance to birds. One important vote will be on Initiative 2117 and its call to repeal the Climate Commitment Act. At first glance, it sounds like I-2117 will save you money, and who doesn’t like to save money? But a closer look reveals the true cost of I-2117. Can we afford I-2117? I say NO!

For years, Audubon Washington worked with a coalition of organizations to develop the Climate Commitment Act and lobby for its passage by the Washington legislature. This Act provides for the State to participate in a carbon trading system and collect fees from fossil fuel industries, creating funds which then are distributed as grants throughout our state to protect our air, water, forests, and farms. A small increase in gas prices resulted. However, in 2023, the year proponents of I-2117 quote gas prices as being high, fossil fuel industry profits soared! The fossil fuel industry chose to pass along increases in gas prices to consumers while padding their profits. Please note that I-2117 does not address reducing gas prices; in fact gas pricing isn’t even mentioned in its text. So there is no guarantee that gas prices will fall if I-2117 passes. Perhaps industry profits will soar even higher?

So where have all the funds collected by the Climate Commitment Act been distributed? An explorative map is provided by the Clean and Prosperous Institute which shows all the grants across our state, https://riskofrepeal.cleanprosperousinstitute.org/ Kittitas County has received over $1,590,000 in grants alone! Grants provided 25 monitoring stations for air quality around our county. (Did you know 1 in 10 children struggle with asthma?). Energy assessment grants went to small district schools, e.g, Easton, Kittitas, and Thorp. Greenhouse Gas Reduction grants, “Smart Livestock,” went to Kittitas farmers. Fish barrier removals in Naneum and Coleman Creeks were funded. And new EV charging stations were installed in multi-family units. Can we afford to go back?

When we are successful in protecting the environment, we protect the places people and birds need today and tomorrow. Remember: The number one risk to birds is Climate Change! BE THE VOICE FOR BIRDS!!!

Please vote NO on I-2117

Uncover Projects at Risk if Cap-and-Invest Funding is Lost August map and data refresh is live! Press Release: ONLINE MAP ADDS HUNDREDS MORE STATEWIDE PROJECTS AT RISK Newsletter: Climate commitments are at risk in all 39 counties Active Transportation Public Transit Electric Transportation ...

01/18/2024

KAS PROGRAM MEETING! THURSDAY 7:00 PM. Hal Holmes Center.

ARMCHAIR AFRICAN SAFARI

Please join Deb Essman as she shares her recent photo safari of South Africa and Botswana. The vast numbers of African wildlife were amazing to her, and she hopes she can impart the same awe she felt when she speaks to us about the diverse habitats she was able to explore.

It's a magical place facing many challenges; the national parks and private reserves visited all have stories to tell of resilience and adaptation for both the wildlife and local human populations. And of course, she will show us lots of animals and birds!

Our speaker is a local phenomenon... an avid naturalist, hunter, and birder. She majored in Natural Resources Management at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo and was a seasonal naturalist at Morro Bay State Park while attending college. After college, she co-founded and ran a raptor rehabilitation center in California for almost a decade, was a vet technician at the Woodland Park Zoo Earthwatch program for Bald Eagles, worked for the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife as a Game Warden (the only woman in that position at the time), and even taught a pursuit driving course for the WA State Patrol! After marrying and moving to Ellensburg, she worked in banking and volunteer taught various wildlife courses for the School District and other organizations such as KEEN and Teanaway Community Forest.

She is a past-President of the Kittitas County Field and Stream Club and has taught Hunter Education classes for WDFW for almost 20 years. A now retired hardcore birder, she has 262 species of birds documented in eBird for Kittitas County.

Join us IN PERSON (no Zoom) for this fascinating presentation—what a great way to spend a frosty January evening!

Refreshments will be served. See you there!

12/30/2023

We live in a time of extinction. The official status of many birds was changed from "endangered" to "extinct" in 2023 -- not because these birds *just went extinct* but because there have not been any sightings to feed hopes that they still are alive... this diagram shows some of the bird species whose ststus have changed.