stick your neck out

Although Eleanor Stopps received many more well-known and prestigious awards, she liked to call attention to her Giraffe Award. Eleanor mentioned the award in a 2005 interview with Robin Ornelas for the Jefferson County Historical Society:

"A lot of people don't know about the Giraffe organization. I got a certificate one day and it said, 'Congratulations, you are a giraffe.' It is an international organization who used to have headquarters in New York but now have headquarters on Whidbey Island, WA."

The Giraffe Organization can be found at http://www.giraffe.org. Its motto is 'Nobis est (it's up to us). So stick your neck out.' Their mission is 'to move people to stick their necks out for the common good'.

The citation on the Giraffe website reads: 'Eleanor Stopps of Port Ludlow WA waged a successful 10-year effort to turn Protection Island, nesting place for three-quarters of the seabirds in Puget Sound, into a wildlife refuge. The activist retiree lobbied relentlessly, using her savings to pay the costs of her campaign.'

Protection Island in the news

Protection Island sunset. Photo by Julie Jaman.

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center recently published in Marine Pollution Bulletin the results of their four-year study on the occurrence of plastics in the boluses of Glaucous-winged Gulls nesting on Protection Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge is used by more than 70% of the nesting seabirds in Puget Sound and hosts the largest nesting colony of Glaucous-winged Gulls in Washington State. Gulls are efficient scavengers that regurgitate inedible items, so their boluses (the regurgitated masses) provide a non-invasive perspective on food sources and contaminants for many species in our region. Trained volunteers dissected 589 gull boluses and identified components from four years of bolus collection. Plastic was found in over 12% of boluses, with plastic film (as in plastic bags) the most common form. When plastic film was present, it often dominated the bolus volume. The study adds significance to local governmental efforts, in Port Townsend and elsewhere, to eliminate single-use plastic bags at checkout counters.

Glaucous-winged Gulls were one of Eleanor's favorite species. Her vision and perseverence led to the creation of the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, the only Refuge established during the Reagan administration. Eleanor also founded our local Audubon chapter, Admiralty Audubon Society, in the late 1970s. The PTMSC awards the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership award each year in early October. This was the first year that she wasn't present to witness that ceremony.

Three Americorps interns and PTMSC's former volunteer coordinator (now program director) analysed the data from the extensive study made possible in part by a two-year grant from the Washington Department of Ecology and the efforts of Port Townsend's dedicated citizen scientists. The PTMSC publication, entitled 'Plastic consumption and diet of Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens)' by Valerie A. Lindborg, Julia F. Ledbetter, Jean M. Walat and Cinamon Moffett, is dedicated to Eleanor's memory. Citation is http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.08.020.

Kah Tai bird survey dedicated to Eleanor Stopps

Admiralty Audubon has completed its two-year bird survey at Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park. Although everyone knows Eleanor Stopps was instrumental in the creation of the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, it is less-common knowledge that she was involved in the creation of this much smaller but dearly loved urban nature park here in Port Townsend.

In 1978-1979, Eleanor Stopps and Admiralty Audubon's first president, Bernard Beck, undertook a one-year bird survey at Kah Tai to document the species observed so that the information could be included in the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application to protect the area and turn it into a nature park. They documented 70 species.

The two-year survey (October 2009-October 2011) documented 98 daylight species utilizing the park that Eleanor helped create more than three decades ago. Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park has an historic bird list of 150 species now, using the list completed in 1979 as a starting point. We added the 150th species in July, a Western Kingbird.

If you would like to download a copy of the bird survey, which is dedicated to the memory of Eleanor Stopps, please go to the Admiralty Audubon website and click on the notice on the right side of the page for a pdf. It is about 2.7 MB. The handsome fellow above, a male Ruddy Duck in full breeding plumage, is on the cover of the report.

Eleanor Stopps Memorial Fund update

photo by Robin Ornelas, 2011.

 A few of the sentiments that have been received with donations to the Memorial Fund:

'In memory of our very dear friend and neighbor.'

'I surely will miss Eleanor. She was a lovely, kind and talented lady.'

'In memory of Eleanor Stopps, for the sculpture.'

'For the Eleanor Stopps Memorial Sculpture. I knew Eleanor personally when she was trying to protect Protection Island.'

Thanks to all of Eleanor's neighbors, friends and admirers who have already donated to the Memorial Fund. Your generosity is appreciated. Please direct others who may be interested to the donation information in the right-hand column.

fundraising begins

heading to Protection Island

Fundraising is underway for Eleanor's memorial sculpture or plaque of the birds and sea mammals of Protection Island by wildlife sculptor Tony Angell. The memorial will be installed at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center or another appropriate location as inspiration for those who follow us in leadership so that future generations will cherish Protection Island and wildlife habitat everywhere.

Thanks to those who have already contributed to the fund. Acknowledgement letters will be sent out soon.

Send an email to Admiralty Audubon if you have questions or would like more information. You can also send queries to Admiralty Audubon, PO Box 666, Port Townsend WA 98368, or visit our website.

account established for sculpture

Admiralty Audubon has established an account at First Federal Bank for donations that will fund a sculpture in honor of Eleanor Stopps and in tribute to Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge. There is a PayPal button to the right that is linked to the account and accepts credit cards. Checks can be sent directly to the bank.

Donations should be made out to:

AAS Memorial Fund (or Admiralty Audubon Society Memorial Fund)

and be sent to:

First Federal Bank
PO Box 1510
Port Townsend WA 98368

Admiralty Audubon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by the IRS code.

in her own words

A recent post on the Port Townsend Leader website provides an opportunity to learn about Eleanor's life and her reasons for the Protection Island campaign in her own words. Thanks to Al Bergstein for posting the audio link, recorded during the 'Voices of the Straits' interviews.

stay tuned

Friends and admirers of Eleanor Stopps are planning a memorial sculpture in her honor and with her approval. As the plan develops, some fundraising will be necessary. Please check back here for more details.