Events & Field Trips
Chapter Meeting: Thomas McIntyre - Are Pikas stressed by highways? A discussion on wildlife, highways, and how the two meet
October 24 (Thursday), 7pm - Yakima Area Arboretum Office, 1401 Arboretum Dr., Yakima, WA
For his Master’s degree work at Central Washington University, Thomas McIntyre worked on the I-90 wildlife connectivity project. His thesis compared stress levels of pika’s living along I-90 to pikas living in more natural habitats. Come and listen as Thomas explains what he observed.
Thomas McIntyre has been working as a wildlife biologist for the last seven years. He has worked on a remote arctic research project in Alaska, as a biological consultant on an Air Force base in California, on the Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara, and most recently finished a Master’s degree in Biology from Central Washington University. While there, his thesis was on stress hormone levels of American pikas along I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass. He is passionate about road ecology (the study of the interaction between roads and wildlife). He is looking forward to discussing the problems roads make for ecosystems and the newest solutions to revitalize the natural world around us.
Future Programs
- Dec 5 – Tom Kogut Photography
Field Trips
October 19 (Saturday) — Conrad Meadows
Join us in the search of the elusive Spruce Grouse (subspecies franklinii) and other montane species. Conrad Meadows is located adjacent to the Goat Rocks Wilderness and is the largest subalpine meadow in the State of Washington. The meadows are at 4000’ elevation, and the South Fork of the Tieton River meanders through it. The habitat includes lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Engelmann’s spruce, and occasional mountain hemlock and, more importantly, patches of grouseberry (vaccinium scoparium), a very important indicator species for spruce grouse.
This will be a full day trip, departing at 7:30 am and returning by 3:00 pm, and will involve fairly easy hiking of around three miles. Pack a lunch, water and snacks and dress for changing weather. For meeting location and to sign-up, please contact field trip leader Kerry Turley at kdturley@gmail.com or 509-840-0980.
December 14 (Saturday) — Toppenish NWR Christmas Bird Count
Eric Heisey is back as compiler for the 37th edition of the Toppenish Christmas Bird Count. Contact Eric (magicman32@rocketmail.com) to sign up or to get more information.
December 28 (Saturday) — Yakima Valley Christmas Bird Count
Contact Denny Granstrand (dgranstrand@gmail.com) to sign up for or get more information about the 50th Yakima Christmas Bird Count.