Calliope Crier The Yakima Valley Audubon Society is people dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of the natural world. Through birding, education and conservation activities in our community, we raise awareness and promote the cause of global environmental protection. Volume 40, Number 07 A Chapter of the National Audubon Society August 2011 AUGUST PROGRAM ANDY STEPNIEWSKI The Ponderosa Pine Forest Presented By Andy Stepniewski Heading up into the Cascades from the Yakima Valley the first forest type you encounter is the Ponderosa Pine Zone, the classic dry forest of the American West. The wonders of this picturesque forest has been celebrated annually for more than 40 years by Washington State Auduboners at the nearby Wenas Memorial Weekend. It turns out there is an amazing diversity of plants and animals in this dry forest type, as documented by a number of scientific studies. I will introduce you to this ecosystem and its various plant community types. I will focus on the birds associated with each of the communities, and especially on declining species such as White -headed Woodpecker and Flammulated Owl. Both of these species are dependent on mature trees, becoming scarce on account of the high timber value of this forest. Join us at the meeting on August 25 at the Yakima Arboretum! What’s in this Crier Edition? “On the 11th of August we commenced to descend the eastern slopes of the Cascade range...and found ourselves in quite a different natural region.” Cooper, 1853 Program for this Month 1 President’s Report 2 Membership 2 YVAS Meetings 2 No Kiddin’ - Kids Found Birds! 2 Conservation: Shrub Steppe Project Sites Field Trips Tip of the Crown, Wag of the Feather 3, 6 4 4, 5 Reporting Color-Banded White-headed Woodpeckers 7 Membership Form 7 Visit the Yakima Valley Audubon Society’s website at: http://www.yakimaaudubon.org Page 2 August 2011 Calliope Crier PRESIDENT’S REPORT YVAS MEETINGS BILL DRENGUIS I just drove by the grass fire at 16th Ave and Highway 12. It was a fairly impressive fire. However, I got to thinking about one year ago when we had the big fire at Snow Mountain Ranch at Cowiche. Now that was a grass fire! By Bill the Bird Charmer making regular visits, one Photo by Jan Gano can see how quickly the vegetation starts to return, even in our desert. To see the progression from scorched black to green is really uplifting. I am sure that everyone is saying "Yakima Audubon" when they make their purchases at the Yakima CO -OP. We get a rebate on every purchase and it does not need to be bird related. Well, Robin the store manager (what a great name) has suggested we try a Bulk Seed Sale this fall. We are envisioning bringing in a large shipment and selling it at a discount. The Audubon chapter in the Tri Cities has done this for several years with good success so it can be done. Look for more information on this as plans firm up. All the hummingbirds around my feeder must mean Fall migration is starting. Time to look for those shorebirds at Wenas Lake. Aug 25 Sep 13 Chapter Meeting at the Yakima Area Arboretum at 7:00 pm. Board Meeting at Bill Drengjuis’s house (7708 Popularview Dr., 965-5808) at 7:00 pm. MEMBERSHIP DEBIE BROWN Welcome New Members: Yakima: Jane Mortimer Thank you for renewing your YVAS Membership! Yakima: Earl Derry, Dan Kinney, Sara Cate & Russell Maier, Joyce Hernandez, Jheri Ketcham, Joan Miler, Susie Lattomus, Betty Peterson, Don Sattler, George & Susan Vlahakis Union Gap: Louise Sisk Selah: Maia & Bob Mittelstaedt Naches: Carol & Jack Roth, Katherine Vornbrock Sunnyside: Myra Dorsey Seattle: Jennifer Kauffman, Rick & Ann Matsen, Martha Taylor Please note that the above membership renewals are for Yakima Valley Audubon membership. Renewals to National Audubon are separate and are not listed here. NO KIDDIN’ – Kids Found Birds! If you were to choose a time to introduce kids to the joys of watching birds, it might not be a warm midday in July. That was the time for the ―Kiddin’ Around‖ bird walk at the Yakima Area Arboretum. With the life-sized, anatomically correct bird models that Yakima Audubon acquired with a grant, and some life-sized photos, the walk was a rousing success. Nine Auduboners, and two Arboretum volunteers, led about twenty kids and as many adults on the bird walk, which was part of the Yakima Greenway’s summer activity program designed to get kids outdoors. We had specially made ―field guides‖ and a checklist that made identification easy. To quote Spencer Hatton’s July 31, 2011 column in the Yakima Herald-Republic ―You can’t go wrong spotting a Ruby-crowned Kinglet when it is fixed to a tree limb in broad daylight.‖ Thanks go to Bill Drenguis, Arboretum co-director Colleen Adams-Shuppe and her son, Denny Granstrand, Dotty Armstrong, Ellen Stepniewski, Jim Hertel, Kerry Turley, Mike Roper, Richard Repp, and Vera Backstrom for helping. — Ellen Stepniewski — Page 3 August 2011 Calliope Crier CONSERVATION Priority Shrub Steppe Project Sites for South Central Washington Yakima Valley Audubon Society is a member of the South Central Washington Shrub Steppe and Rangeland Conservation Partnership formed in 2006. This is a volunteer organization developed to facilitate collaboration among public and private entities interested in conserving shrub-steppe. The Partnership focuses on shrub-steppe in Benton, Yakima, Kittitas and Grant Counties. A diverse ownership of shrub steppe exists in this area; the U. S. Army, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington State Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Yakama Nation own the largest non-private parcels. Smaller scattered tracts are owned by DNR and BLM. Private lands surround these public and tribal ownerships. Land use decisions and changes are being made daily that can affect the habitat and species in this area. Many of these decisions and changes will be adversely affecting habitat quality. To stem or reverse habitat loss, conservation easements or fee title acquisition are important tools the Partnership can use to maintain habitat quality in high priority sites. As background, the shrub- steppe ecosystem is extremely threatened in Washington. Approximately 60% of this unique, fragile ecosystem has been completely lost. Agricultural development was historically the most important cause of habitat loss. Residential development, military training, hazardous waste cleanup activities at Hanford, large scale wildfire, inappropriate grazing by domestic, feral and wild grazers, renewable energy development, new agricultural water delivery projects and proposals for new water storage threaten remaining shrub steppe. Wildlife species dependent on the shrub steppe plant community have correspondingly been impacted. The Greater SageGrouse, once common and abundant in eastern Washington, has declined to approximately 1100 birds statewide. Roughly 200 of these birds remain in the focal area and are almost entirely dependent on the Yakima Training Center for habitat. The imperiled condition of this federal candidate and state threatened species is a primary driving force for numerous shrub-steppe conservation actions at the national and state levels. Ferruginous Hawks have experienced a similar fate and have been listed as a state threatened species since 1983. Their core nesting range has contracted to southeastern Washington with only 35 active territories documented in 2010. Numerous other shrub-steppe obligate species have experienced population declines in response to habitat loss. Black-tailed and White-tailed Jackrabbits, Burrowing Owls, Golden Eagles, Sage Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, and Sagebrush Lizard are all candidates for state listing as threatened or endangered. Given the imperiled status of the shrub-steppe ecosystem and associated wildlife species, the Partnership formed to collaborate on conservation efforts in the focal area. The Partnership developed a conservation strategy plan to direct conservation to our highest priority areas. Of immediate importance is the planning being undertaken for the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. A water storage project is proposed in Lmumma Creek drainage in Kittitas County. Under the proposal, a new Wymer Dam would be constructed to create an off-channel storage facility that would hold approximately 162,500 acre-feet of water. The reservoir behind the dam would flood the creek, basalt cliffs, and shrub-steppe vegetation impacting plants and wildlife. The approximately 15,000 acres of private ranch land that contains and surrounds the creek is currently being proposed as a mitigation site through fee title acquisition to offset habitat losses from inundation. The Partnership offers several alternative high priority sites for acquisition in case this primary mitigation site is not available for protection. The Partnership utilized existing plans and studies completed at the state and regional level to guide decision-making and set priorities. These past efforts were directed at either conserving biological diversity and/or imperiled species. The ultimate deciding factor was the landowner’s interest in working with us. There are certainly other sites within the focal area that also possess high ecological and public value; however, it was decided to only include those sites where opportunity exists to work with willing landowners. Priority #1: Wymer Reservoir Project Area (Eaton Ranch): This 15,000 acre working ranch lies between the Yakima Training Center and WDFW’s Wenas Wildlife Area. This is the number one priority for protection because of its immediate proximity to the proposed reservoir. This parcel’s landscape context and large size has also elevated the priority for this project. Radio-equipped Greater Sage-Grouse have been documented traveling across the site in between the YTC and WDFW land. Golden Eagles currently nest and Ferruginous Hawks historically nested on the site. Bighorn Sheep commonly move between the site and WDFW land and a resident group lives there year-round. Habitat on site is present for numerous other species including Townsend’s Ground Squirrel, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black-tailed Jackrabbits, Sage Thrasher, Sage Sparrow, and American Badger. Threats to the site are abundant. Housing developments are creeping up the slopes from Ellensburg and Selah. Energy companies have installed towers to determine the best places to install wind tur- Conservation Article — Continued on page 6 Page 4 August 2011 Calliope Crier FIELD TRIPS DENNY GRANSTRAND Please call the leader before the trip to let him/her know you are interested in going. That way, if plans need to be changed, he/she can call you. Also, if no one calls, the leader will know to cancel the field trip and won’t be sitting around at the meeting place all alone! Be sure to wear clothing appropriate for the weather and take lunch, snacks and beverages. Also please make a contribution to the driver for gas when you carpool. Sep 10 Sept 24 Fort Simcoe – We will scour Fort Simcoe for migrating birds that should be filling the trees at the park. Resident species include Lewis’s Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Steller’s Jays and Ash-throated Flycatchers may still around. Contact Denny Granstrand (dgranstrand@gmail.com or 453-2500); meet at the Sears parking lot west of IHOP on Valley Mall Blvd. at 8:00 a.m. Clear Lake – Kokanee salmon spawn in the creek between Rimrock Lake and Clear Lake, creating a feast for many species of birds. The salmon are quite a spectacle themselves. There should also be migrants and montaine species to seek out. Meet leader Dan Kinney (452-3670 or insur3@charter.net) at 40th Ave. Bi-Mart at 8:00 a.m. Please contribute for gas when you ride on field trips With high gas prices it is important for all participants to contribute for gas. Based on four people in a car, here are the totals per person: 100 miles driven on the trip — $5.00 each; 150 miles — $8.00 each, 200 miles — $10.00 each; 250 miles — $13.00 each; 300 miles — $16.00 each. Please pay your share; if drivers have to pay most of the gas bill, they may quit driving. TIP OF THE CROWN, WAG OF THE FEATHER RICHARD REPP This month’s tip of the crown goes to all those individuals who marvel at some aspect of a bird’s life and then share their wonder with others. That should Black-chinned Hummingbird pretty much Photo by include everyMike Roper one in the Audubon family, but lest we forget, also includes many mortals lacking attachment to any nature-orientated organization. Earlier this month, a co-worker of my sister-in-law shared a few photographs of hummingbirds that were subsequently emailed to me. I deemed them to be male and female Blackchinned Hummingbirds. The photographer, Debi Roberson, relayed that a male and female(s) had spent the spring and summer sipping sugar solution at her home near the Union Gap School. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are the only one of our county’s three breeding hummers that remain to nest at lower elevations in the valley. However, the breeding records I am aware of seem to occur in more rural or fringe areas such as Andy and Ellen Stepniewski’s Parker Heights home, Ron and Debie Brown’s Konnowac Pass sanctuary or Larry and Doris Robinson’s Nile Valley villa. As hummingbirds are one of the more iconic birding attractions, I am now wondering if more Black-chinned do breed inside the boundaries of the valley’s cities. Is there a trend developing where hummers are expanding their breeding range into areas where they were once just migrants? Perhaps the city of Union Gap is taking birders back to school. Denny Granstrand’s homework included following up on a group of Black-billed Magpies playing hooky behind the school’s bus barn. One of these clever corvids was reputed to be wearing a disguise to insure anonymity. It took our intrepid truancy officer several trips but he eventually came away with photographs of the gray clad magpie. While true albino birds are pure white with red eyes, birds that have paler than normal plumage fall into the leucistic category. For a definition of leucism we turn to the Cornell Lab website: Tip of the Crown, Wag of the Feather — Continued on page 5 Page 5 August 2011 Calliope Crier Tip of the Crown, Wag of a Feather — Continued from page 3 Photos of the Black-billed Magpie and a leucistic Black-billed Magpie were taken by Denny Granstrand ―Leucism is a genetic mutation that prevents melanin from being deposited normally on feathers. Typically birds with abnormally white feathers do not survive long because they are so much more visible to predators. Those that do survive may have trouble attracting a mate. Consequently, the mutated genes that cause albinism and leucism are less likely to be passed on to a new generation. If you are ever fortunate enough to see one of these oddly plumaged birds, consider yourself lucky! Melanins occur as tiny granules of color in both the skin and feathers of birds. Depending on their concentration and location, melanins can produce colors ranging from the darkest black to reddish browns and pale yellows. Melanin provides more than just coloration. Feathers that contain melanin are stronger and more resistant to wear than feathers without melanin. Feathers without any pigmentation are the weakest of all. Many otherwise all white birds have black feathers on their wings or black wingtips. These flight feathers are the ones most subject to wear and tear. The melanin causing the tips to appear black also provides extra strength.‖ Pigment colorization in birds also comes from carotenoids and porphyines in addition to melanin. For more information, visit: www.birds.cornell.edu/allaboutbirds/studying/ feathers/color/document_view Another marvel and share story originated in the northeast corner of Terrace Heights. A songster of varied repertoire serenaded Kim Naasz as he worked in his garden. Finally, a glimpse and a few notes struck a chord for Kim who is a beekeeper with scores of colonies near his home. A call to Denny Granstrand resulted in several birders making a beeline for Terrace Heights where a nervous search for the purported Northern Mockingbird may have caused a case or two of hives among the anxious birders. The buzz over the Mockingbird’s two-day stay was barely dying down when Denny received an email from Lamont McLachlan, a self-described new birder. Lamont included a few photos of a raptor he found just off of Hwy 410 near Bald Mountain Road. The consensus at press time indicates the bird to be a Broad-winged Hawk, another county rarity. The broad appeal of relocating this raptor combined with high water at Wenas Lake retooled the scheduled Aug 13 shorebird field trip into a bueto quest along the Chinook Pass Highway. Although the trip netted close to 40 species, a Cooper’s Hawk was the lone raptor. On July 10, Andy and Ellen drifted south along Hwy 97 stopping at dense pockets of White Alder occurring in the Satus Creek drainage. At two stops, Red-eyed Vireos were found singing in this habitat. Best part, to catch these redeyes it wasn’t necessary to roll out of bed pre-dawn; these birds were singing in the warmth of mid-day. Last month, we touched upon the mystery of Turkey Vultures roosting in residential Yakima in the midst of the breeding season. This roosting behavior has continued as evidenced by Lori Isley’s running recount of at least two Turkey Vultures gliding in the late evening towards the intersection of Barge and Gilbert Avenues. According to Diann MacRae of the Olympic Vulture Study, these city roosters are most likely birds that have not yet attained breeding status. Diann stated that literature indicates it might take three years for Turkey Vultures to become breeders. So, a gentle wag of the feather to encourage us all to share not only unique birds but also the mystery and/or joy that even the common species gift us with. Please send your bird sightings to: rich712@aol.com Page 6 August 2011 Calliope Crier Conservation Article — Continued from page 3 bines. Public ownership through fee title acquisition of the site is the preferred conservation action. Several environmental and governmental organizations have agreed to this proposal. Landowner interest in this proposal is uncertain at this time and therefore the following alternate sites are provided. Priority #2: Rattlesnake Mountain (McWhorter Ranch): The Rattlesnake Mountain project located in Benton County will protect 14,000 contiguous acres of ecologically unique shrub-steppe. A parcel of this size offers a rare opportunity to conserve habitat connectivity and buffer existing conservation lands. Hanford Reach National Monument and the Sunnyside Wildlife Area protect the north side of Rattlesnake Mountain. This acquisition will protect a substantial portion of the south side. Ferruginous Hawks, among other species, are targeted for conservation. The project site is at the nexus of a concentration of territories. Wind turbines, houses and vineyards are being developed on the ridges and fields this shrub steppe specialist needs for nesting and foraging. Acquisition will abate these threats at the project site for the hawk and other listed/priority species including Burrowing Owl, Long-billed Curlew, Townsend’s Ground Squirrel, American Badger, Black- and Whitetailed Jackrabbit, Sage Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, elk and Mule Deer. Conservation and outdoor recreation groups have identified this property as a priority for protection. Documented support has been received from the Benton County Commissioners and Parks and Recreation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Richland Rod and Gun Club, Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society, Tapteal Greenway, Friends of Badger Mountain and many others. To date we have secured approximately half the funds needed to complete the acquisition. The landowners intend to sell the ranch as soon as possible and therefore our time is short to raise the remaining funds. Priority #3: Cowiche Watershed (Emerick, Van Wyk, Lenz/ Trepanier, Tieton Cattle Company): The Cowiche Watershed project in Yakima County targets several parcels of critical and diverse habitats in the shrubsteppe/dry forest transition zone of the south central Cascades slopes. We are working with several landowners and partners who are interested in either fee title or easement acquisition. Priority habitats present and in good to excellent condition include: stream, riparian, shrub-steppe, oak woodland, cliffs and talus. Targeted terrestrial species include raptors, bat guilds associated with cliffs and riparian draws, primary cavity nesting woodpeckers (White-headed Woodpecker), and shrub-steppe obligates. The target aquatic species are steelhead and Bull Trout (both listed as threatened), Coho (recently re-introduced) and West-slope Cutthroat. Other listed and priority species include: Sage Thrasher, Loggerhead Shrike, White-breasted Nuthatch, Vaux’s Swift, Lewis’ Woodpecker, Greater Sage-Grouse, and elk. Partners include: Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, North Yakima Conservation District, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy. The need for protection is driven by conservation value, imminent threat (subdivision and development), and current opportunity (willing landowners). Advancing subdivisions are approaching this key habitat and regulatory protections will not adequately protect priority species, habitat or landscape connectivity. — Andy Stepniewski — Figure 1. Locations of the proposed Wymer Reservoir and high priority shrub steppe project sites in the South Central Washington Shrub Steppe and Rangeland Conservation Partnership focal area. Page 7 August 2011 Calliope Crier Reporting Color-Banded White-headed Woodpeckers As some of you know, I have been studying the reproductive biology of White-headed Woodpeckers (WHWO) in Yakima County for the last 9 years and still ongoing. This year, I am teaming with a PHD student, Teresa Lorenz from the University of Idaho, on a project to color-band and affix radio transmitters to WHWO in the areas of the Nile, Wenas, Rimrock, and Bethel Ridge (as well as Leavenworth). Teresa is studying the home-range size of WHWO and also longevMale White-headed ity and dispersal using Photo by color-bands. We have banded adults and some George Vlahakis nestlings in each of these areas and one of each pair has a radio transmitter. We are asking birdwatchers (or anyone!) to please report color-banded birds to Teresa and I (e-mail addresses below). Each bird has two color bands on one leg and one color-band and one metal band on the other leg. When reporting the colors, please report them in the order of Upper Right (UR), Lower Right (LR), Upper Left (UL), and Lower Left (LL). Also, right and left are the bird's proper right and left leg (imagine yourself as the bird and your arms as their legs). Getting the order and colors correct is paramount to successful observations. The colors we used are pink (P), mauve (M), yellow (Y), red (R), orange (O), and green (G). Please denote the metal band as "X" instead of "M" which would be confused with mauve. If you have access to a GPS, please denote the location and report the coordinates. If not, please give as accurate a description as possible of where you observed the bird and the date and the confidence of your observations of colors...even if it is only one leg. This information will be vital, especially for nestlings that Female White-headed Teresa has banded as Photo by we don't know where Denny Granstrand those birds will end up. Teresa's study will be going on until 2013 I believe and I plan on color-banding birds in my historical study areas even after Teresa's study is finished. My e-mail is: kozj@yakamafish-nsn.gov or jcr_5015@charter.net. Teresa can be reached at: lore5748@vandals.uidaho.edu Thank you for your time and your assistance with this important project! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly. Good birding, — Jeff Kozma — YVAS MEMBERSHIP Join or renew your annual membership to the Yakima Valley Audubon Society to receive ten issues of the Calliope Crier and all chapter membership benefits. Yakima Valley Audubon Membership …………………………………….$25 Yakima Valley Audubon Senior (62+)/Student Membership …………..$15 ___ I do not wish to receive any solicitation or communications from NAS (please check if applicable) NAME _________________________________________ PHONE ____________________ ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________ CITY __________________________________________ STATE _____ ZIP __________ E-MAIL ADDRESS __________________________________________________________ Please make your check payable to: Yakima Valley Audubon Society Send the form and your check to: YVAS Membership P.O.Box 2823 Yakima, WA 98907-2823 If you have any questions, please call Debie Brown at 248-3878 The Gentleman Peep Non-profit Organization U.S. It is time for fall Postage migration. Paid Fall means Yakima,are WAcoming. Be on that the shorebirds Permit 38 Sandpiper. the look-out for theNo. Baird’s Yakima Valley Audubon Society P.O. Box 2823 Yakima, WA 98907 This champion long-distance migrant winters in Southern South America and breeds in the northernmost high Arctic. Return Service Requested Baird's Sandpipers basking at Wenas Lake in the golden glow the late evening sun. Photo by Denny Granstrand, altered for effect by Elizabeth Bohn. Adult Description Small to medium-sized sandpiper. Short neck. Moderately long, slightly drooping bill. Moderately long legs. Long wings extend past end of tail on resting bird. Dark center of rump and tail. Fairly distinct chest markings. Back scaly, with whitish edges to dark back feathers in some plumages. printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper The Yakima Valley Audubon Society meets on the fourth Thursday of January, February, March, April, May, August, September, and October at 7 pm at the Yakima Area Arboretum, located at 1401 Arboretum Drive, Yakima, WA. Guests are welcome at these meetings. The Annual Meeting of the Society is held the first Thursday of December at 6 pm. The Board of Directors meets each month except December at 7 pm at locations announced in the Calliope Crier. Members may attend Board meetings; however, please notify the host because of possible space restrictions. 2 0 1 1 Y AKIMA V ALLEY A UDUBON O FFICERS President Vice President Past-president Secretary Treasurer Directors: Bill Drenguis (DRENGUIS@aol.com) Open Kerry Turley (kdturley@embarqmail.com) Vera Backstrom (vback47@gmail.com) Ellen Stepniewski (steppie@nwinfo.net) Jan Gano (gano12@earthlink.net) Bob Wahl (reljwahl@msn.com) Standing (Voting) Committee Chairs: Audubon Hoegar Preserve Leslie Wahl (reljwahl@msn.com) Audubon Refuge Keeper Kerry Turley (kdturley@embarqmail.com) Bluebird Trail Richard Repp (Rich712@aol.com) Conservation Vacant Education Jenny Snyder (jlsnyder001@hotmail.com) Field Trips Denny Granstrand (dgranstrand@gmail.com) Fund Raising Dan Kinney (insur3@charter.net) 965-5808 Membership Newsletter Editor 837-6930 Programs 731-2103 877-6639 966-4539 452-9183 452-9183 837-6930 965-1134 453-2500 452-3260 Special Committees: Bird Rehabilitator AND BOARD Debie Brown 248-3878 Sturnella@aol.com Elizabeth Bohn 901-1886 (elizabethannbohn@yahoo.com) Andy Stepniewski 877-6639 (steppie@nwinfo.net) Connie Hughes (owlbirdlady@q.com) Bird Reports Richard Repp (Rich712@aolcom) Bluebird Trail Richard Repp (sponsorship records) Important Bird Areas John Hebert hejohn1126@msn.com Publicity Denny Granstrand (dgranstrand@gmail.com) Social Open Volunteer Recognition vacant Webmaster John Hebert (hejohn1126@msn.com) Website www.yakimaaudubon.org Toppenish NWR CBC Andy Stepniewski (steppie@nwinfo.net) Yakima Valley CBC Denny Granstrand (dgranstrand@gmail.com) Yakima Valley Audubon Voice Mail 457-5661 965-1134 965-1134 965-8235 453-2500 965-8235 877-6639 453-2500 248-1963
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