White Swans of Winter

Hosted this month by Camano

Recording and Links Below

10:00 am – 10:30 am: Sound Water Stewards Business Meeting
10:30 am – featured speaker Martha Jordan, White Swans of Winter
11:30 to noon – breakout rooms for Camano and Whidbey Islands

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February 2023 Speaker is Martha Jordan, founder and Executive Director of the Northwest Swan Conservation Association.

Well-known swan biologist, Martha Jordan will present a program on the native swans, Trumpeter and Tundra, in the Pacific Northwest with a focus on Tundra Swans. You will learn about their life history, biology, and some swan identification tips. Updates on eastern Washington swans and how Washington’s west and east sides are connected for swans not only in WA but along the entire flyway. Learn about the connection between swans and snow geese and their management, on both sides of the Cascade Mountains.

She will shed some light on the problems and controversies these birds face on their wintering grounds and what is needed to insure their future. Get updated on the swan lead poisoning problem, winter habitat issues, avian influenza, and more. You will leave with resources to help you identify swans in the field. Learn how to help Get the Lead Out of both shooting and fishing sporting activities. This is vital to the welfare of swans and all waterbirds.  

Martha Jordan has a B.S. degree in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University. Professionally she has worked both in marine and terrestrial environments throughout Washington and parts of Alaska. In the late 1970s while volunteering to observe snow geese and reading their collars in the Skagit Valley, she began to look at the small group of Trumpeter Swans in the same area. By 1984 she had expanded her survey efforts to all of Western Washington and had contributed much information to both state and federal agencies on the status of Trumpeter Swans in Washington State. She wrote the state’s first Trumpeter Swan management plan in 1985. She is still active in both field work and education related to both Trumpeter and Tundra Swans throughout the region. She is currently the Executive Director of Northwest Swan Conservation Association, a regional non-profit. The focus is on native swans and their habitats throughout the northwest region.

Martha highly recommends this book, “Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds.”

10 am: All-Members Business Meeting Agenda

Camano is Host, Wendi Hale Facilitator

First Stewards Acknowledgement
Reports from:

• Board – President or Vice President
• Executive Director – Judi Sladky
• Sound Waters University – Tom Hiegler & Tabitha
• Volunteer Education & Training Committee – Lee Badovinus
• Education Committee – Nancy Neudecker
• Stewardship Committee – Kelly Webb
• Website Announcement from Joan – past monthly meeting and study group recordings are posted on the date when they occurred – use “search” (put in topic) at top to find them, for example, recording of Joe Mangiafico is on Jan 9

10:30 am: featured speaker Martha Jordan, White Swans of Winter

11:30 am: Break-Out Rooms for Camano and Whidbey

Camano Meeting Agenda

• Social Connections
  • Report on Breakfast at Farmers – Gaylen
  • Wine & Cheese Social at Michele’s on March 23– Stacey?
• Camano Events Team
  • 2/18 – Glass Quest – Wendi
  • Nature Discovery Days (save the date) May 19 – Barbara?
  • Next meeting is Feb 27 at 1 pm
• Volunteer Education and Training Committee (VETC) – Email Joan to volunteer
  • Town Hall – Feb 23 at noon
    • Send your short testimonial about your training experience
  • Two-Way Q&A/Buddies – looking for volunteers
    • 3/2, 3/3 and 3/8

• VET Field Trips – any Steward may sign up if not filled one week before
• Noxious Weed Removal –
  • Click the date to learn more and register- March 11, April 14, June 23, Aug 11 at Greenbank Farm
    • Do you want to carpool? From Camano email Joan
    • Carpool on Whidbey, email Tabitha