Short-eared Owl
Skagit Flats
Earth Day Event – Soos Creek Park Habitat Enhancement
Meet along the Soos Creek Trail; 1/4 mile south of the Gary Grant parking lot (13600 SE 208th Street, Kent)
- Volunteers must be fully vaccinated and need to show proof of vaccination.
- Volunteers need to sign a King County waiver form.
- You must sign up in advance to participate. Here’s the link . TreePlotter – King County Parks (pg-cloud.com)
- Wear work clothes and bring your work gloves. Masks are optional.
Better Birding Series: How to use Merlin, the Bird ID App
Are you newer to birding? Do you have photos of birds you cannot identify? Do you wonder who is singing that bird song? Join us as we explore how to use an amazing bird identification app—Merlin. Cornell Lab of Ornithology created this app for use on your phone or computer. We will walk you through the app’s Bird ID Wizard, show you how to use the bird song and call identifier, help you figure out how to upload your photos on the app, and explore bird lists in your area and abroad. Continue Reading →
Gardening for Birds
This webinar will explore how to bring more birds to your home with native plants. Find out how to create a Pacific Northwest bird habitat that provides birds with food, shelter, and nesting sites year-round. Whether you are in a house, a tiny home, or an apartment, your outdoor space can become a sanctuary for you and the birds. We will have three master gardeners come in and share some of their tips and answer your questions about gardening for birds. Continue Reading →
Rainier Audubon’s May Birdathon
It’s “birding for dollars!”
It’s time for the May Birdathon! It’s fun and easy to participate. Simply count as many bird species in one day as you can! Choose any day in May. Have family, friends, and co-workers sponsor you, then go birding! Afterwards, send your sponsors a list of the birds you saw, and they will donate X amount for each species (i.e. $1 or another amount). Or they can donate a flat fee. 100% of the proceeds support Rainier Audubon activities in south King County. Continue Reading →
17th Annual Duwamish Alive! April 16th Celebrating the Green/Duwamish Watershed
Duwamish Alive! is a collaborative stewardship effort of conservation and community groups, businesses, and government entities. Twice a year these events organize hundreds of volunteers to work at multiple sites in the river’s watershed, connecting the efforts of communities from Auburn to Seattle. Volunteers’ efforts include a river cleanup by kayak, salmon habitat and upland restoration, forest revitalization while learning about the watershed and how they can make a positive impact in their daily lives on it. Continue Reading →
Sandhill Cranes of Homer, Alaska
Join our Research Associate Gary Ivey to learn about his 2008 study of Sandhill Cranes in Homer, Alaska. Gary will describe their habitat use and migration paths through the Pacific Flyway to their wintering grounds in California’s Central Valley. Continue Reading →
The Ecology and Conservation of Alcids in the waters of Washington State
Although Washington is blessed with a rich community of breeding and wintering seabirds, relatively little is known about the ecology and conservation status of many of the species, including the alcids (the auk family). This relative lack of knowledge extends to iconic species such as the Tufted Puffin, a species listed as Endangered by Washington State. Moving between islands, seascapes, and species of the waters of Washington, Peter Hodum will provide an overview of a collaborative research program focused on improving our understanding of Tufted Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, and Marbled Murrelets and their conservation status.
Dr. Peter Hodum is a professor in the Biology Department and the Environmental Policy and Decision Making Program at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA, and the Chile Program Director for Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, a conservation non-profit organization. His research focuses primarily on the conservation and ecology of threatened seabirds and island ecosystems in Chile and Washington State. His work also has a strong focus on community-centered conservation, including how communities can be more effectively and authentically involved in conservation. Continue Reading →
Seen & Heard: April 2022 – CBC Results
The 41st edition of the Rainier Audubon Christmas Bird Count looked like a typical CBC in the Midwest or East Coast rather than a Pacific Northwestern count. Sub-freezing temperatures greeted CBC leaders in the morning, snow blanketed the ground, and ice covered any standing water. The forecast called for a cold and slushy day, but the atmosphere was merciful and outside of some light afternoon rain, the weather was mundane and dry. However, the weather played an integral role in count totals. Continue Reading →
Free Cornell Lab of Ornithology Webinar
Spring is approaching! And with it comes wonderful opportunities to experience birds during migration. eBird is here to help you get the most out of spring birding. Join our webinar and discover the power of eBird—just in time for peak birdwatching. During this live Q&A, eBird team members will answer your questions and explain how to find and report birds, share checklists, add photos or recordings, and more. Submit questions in advance during registration or live during the webinar Continue Reading →