RAINIER AUDUBON SOCIETY

Christmas Bird Count 2025
2025-12-28 00:00 - 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles) | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
While the month of November may spell Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie to some, it is also the month to plan ahead for the annual Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) taking place throughout all of North America and beyond. We have scheduled Rainier’s CBC for Sunday, December 28th, 2025. Mark your calendars!The origin of Christmas Bird Counts dates back to the year 1900, when Frank Chapman, an ornithologist with the Museum of Natural History in New York City, challenged people to count birds rather than shoot them as was the custom at that time. Today there are more than 2100 active CBC circles across the US, Canada and several Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Rainier Audubon, active in the CBC since becoming a National Audubon chapter in 1980, fielded six birders and counted 73 species on its first official count, known as the Kent-Auburn CBC. This annual survey of birds and their wintering habitats continues to increase the understanding of population trends, and our awareness of habitat change and its impact on birds everywhere.

While this longtime citizen science project is of great value to science, an important part of a CBC is for participants to have fun on this special day! Everyone is invited to participate, and everyone is welcome, whether a new birder of an experienced one.

Three ways to help:

1) We have terrific leaders for field teams birding each of the eight areas within the 15-mile diameter Kent-Auburn count circle, so come on out and join a team. Wear warm, waterproof clothing and bring a lunch and snacks.

2) If you live within the Rainier count circle, count birds at home doing a feeder watch. We have forms for recording your sightings which can be sent to our compiler.

3) Another way to participate is to join the count dinner team! These generous folks plan, set up for and prepare a warm meal at the church where our monthly programs take place.

All CBC participants are welcome at the dinner at 4PM, where we warm up with hot food, review a tally of bird species seen, and enjoy stories of the day from the field teams.

Signup for the CBC Dinner at the Church so we can get a head count for Pizza!

For further information or to sign up, contact Barbara Petersen, 253 389 3204, or bpbatfan@aol.com.

Skagit Valley field trip
2026-01-17 07:30 - 17:00 | Washington
Join Rainier Audubon for a trip north to visit the Skagit Valley. Species we see include Bald Eagle, SnowGeese, and American Wigeon, we sometimes see Northern Harrier, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Kestrel and shore birds. This trip would for suitable for those with differing abilities, since a lot of thebirding can be done from the car.Bring: Lunch, beverages, and warm clothes. A scope is very welcome.Meet: January 17, 2026 at 7:30 AM at Kent Station, near Panera Bread. Park in the lot or nearby parkinggarage.521 2nd Pl N Suite 101, Kent, WA 98032https://goo.gl/maps/ATtKwd8aNCzx946T8

Saving the Nisqually Delta
2026-01-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Janine Gates

Saving the Nisqually Delta is an inspiring drama that captures the voices and efforts of environmentalists who fought proposals by ports, counties, cities, and corporations to industrialize the delta. It also recognizes those who are currently caring for the Nisqually River watershed, from its headwaters at Mount Rainier National Park to the Nisqually Reach.

Significant threats to industrialize the Nisqually Delta were thwarted by effective citizen activism, but today, the Nisqually Delta is still at risk. The cumulative impact of urban and industrial encroachment still threatens the Nisqually Delta and its ecosystem.

Since publication, I have been busy giving slide show presentations throughout the Nisqually watershed and beyond. I have lots of stories to share, and I am grateful to all the organizations and local businesses who have hosted me. I’m booked at events through February 2026!

For more information, go to my Saving the Nisqually Delta website, https://savingnisquallydelta.com, Instagram: @Ja9Olympia, or Facebook: Saving the Nisqually Delta.

A Look Ahead at U.S. Bird Conservation Policy in 2026
2026-01-22 16:00 - 17:00 | Washington

Great Backyard Bird Count
2026-02-13 00:00 - 2026-02-16 23:59 | Washington
Connect to Birds, to Nature, and with Each Other

Share your birds with us February 13-16 and be a part of this global event.

Learn How to Participate

Enter Birds on eBird

Burien Bird Festival
2026-02-14 10:00 - 14:00 | Washington

Why Washington Matters to Waterfowl
2026-02-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Kyle Spragens

For a variety of reasons, the ducks, geese, and swans that rely upon Washington’s waters and wetlands every year, are often taken for granted or unnoticed. Using insights and stories from projects across the Pacific Flyway, you will come away with a deeper appreciation and the urge to take a longer look at these migratory masters of the marsh.

Kyle Spragens is the WDFW Waterfowl Section Manager, coordinating monitoring and research activities statewide. He serves on the Pacific Flyway Study Committee charged with status assessments and harvest regulation responsibilities throughout the Pacific Flyway states. Currently he is the U.S. Chair for the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture Management Board and looks for an opportunity to talk about waterfowl whenever folks are interested. To find out more please visit: https://pacificbirds.org/about-pacific-birds/our-people/kyle-spragens/

3 Billion Birds Lost

The Joy of Spring and Summer Birds
2026-03-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Thomas BancroftBirds are amazing. Here in Washington, they range in size from minute hummingbirds to swans and eagles. Some stay here all year; others fly incredible distances in their migration. Thrushes have songs like a woodwind quartet, while hawks and vultures squawk and screech. These creatures always leave me with a sense of awe. Their hollow bones and air sacks make them light enough to fly, and their cardiovascular system is far more efficient than the best mammalian athletes. Evolution has blessed the world with more kinds of birds than mammals, heck, more perching birds than mammals. This isunquestionably the age of birds. This talk will explore birds that are in Washington during the spring and summer. We will look at common ones, hard-to-identify ones, and some rare or more difficult-to- discover ones. Songs, distributions, and migrations will all be topics to ponder. Oh, and then how have they evolved? Our journey will jump from Puget Sound lowlands over the top of the Cascades to Eastern Washington, all with the goal of leaving us mesmerized by our feathered friends.Perhaps we can make some sense of why birds leave us with wonder, awe, and incredible joy.Thomas Bancroft’s lifelong passion for birds and nature has been the driving force behind his illustrious career. His earliest memory is of his mother helping him identify Black-capped Chickadees. He was five. Growing up on a farm, he was constantly immersed in the beauty of nature. This love for the natural world led him to pursue these interests in undergraduate and graduate school. Thomas holds a Ph.D. in Biology and an M.A. in Zoology, both from the University of South Florida. He led a research program on Everglades conservation for over a decade, during which time he helped craft restoration and management plans for this spectacular wild area.

2026 Othello Sandhill Crane Festival
2026-03-20 08:00 - 2026-03-22 17:00 | Washington
Join us March 20-22, 2026, in the beautiful Columbia Basin, Othello, WA. You’ll have the chance to see thousands of Sandhill Cranes, ducks, and geese as they gather against the stunning backdrop of the Saddle Mountains and sprawling cornfields. We have a fantastic lineup of wildlife viewing opportunities, along with engaging talks, fun tours, hikes, and workshops for everyone to enjoy. Experience the warmth of our friendly rural community while taking in the fantastic sight of the Sandhill Crane migration. We can’t wait to see you there!

Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition Volunteer Work Party
2026-03-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Washington
Volunteer Work Party | March 21 | Alderton

Join Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition for a hands-on volunteer work party caring for the Foothills Trail near Spooner Farms in Alderton.

Volunteers will help care for trees and shrubs planted last spring, supporting the long-term health of the trail and surrounding landscape. This is a great opportunity to give back, learn more about trail stewardship, and connect with fellow community members.

No experience is required — tools, guidance, and light snacks will be provided. Please dress for the weather and be prepared to work outdoors.

After you register, we’ll send additional details closer to the date, including parking information and what to bring.

Signed volunteer waivers are required annually and must be completed prior to participation.Register

Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
2026-04-16 00:00 - 2026-04-19 23:59 | Washington
Spend an amazing weekend witnessing the spectacular spring migration in the Harney Basin of Southeast Oregon. View thousands of migratory birds as they rest and feed in the wide-open spaces of Oregon’s high desert. From waterfowl to shorebirds, cranes to raptors, wading birds to songbirds, you’ll see them all! The festival offers non-stop birding activities along with historical and cultural information for all ages. Whether you’re a beginner or a lifelong wildlife enthusiast, the festival has something for everyone. Don’t miss this extraordinary weekend. The Harney County Migratory Bird Festival is generously organized and hosted for the benefit of our community by the Friends of Malheur Refuge, Bureau of Land Management, Bird Alliance of Oregon, High Desert Partnership, and Harney County. The festival is held annually in honor of John Scharff, who served as Refuge Manager at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for over 34 years — the longest tenure of any on-site manager in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Migratory Bird Festival | April 16-19, 2026

Olympic Peninsula BirdFest
2026-04-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Washington
Set on Washington State’s North Olympic Peninsula, between the million-acre Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, this region is renowned for its rich birdlife and diverse habitats, making it one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier birding destinations.Olympic BirdFest takes place each April, timed perfectly to capture the overlap of wintering birds and spring migration. Species such as Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks, seabirds, and winter songbirds are still present, while spring arrivals like Rufous Hummingbirds return from Mexico alongside the blooming red-flowering currants.

Expert-led field trips explore some of the region’s most iconic birding locations, including Sequim Bay, Port Angeles Harbor, Dungeness Bay, Ediz Hook, Dungeness Spit, and the Elwha River. Additional outings venture through forests, fields, and prairies to seek out a variety of songbirds. Beyond the field trips, BirdFest offers engaging presentations, workshops, and a Saturday night banquet featuring a special guest speaker and raffle.

See the BirdFest 2025 recap video here

Sequim is the ancestral home of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe (a partner of the non-profit Dungeness River Nature Center). Their Tribal headquarters are at the head of Sequim Bay at Blyn. A tour explaining traditional Northwest Coast totemic art (totem poles, house posts, masks, and signage) at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center and their Seven Cedars Resort properties will also be offered. For more information about the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, see https://library.jamestowntribe.org/home where you can also find pre-recorded presentations by tribal elders and leaders on the Tribe’s culture and history.

Olympic BirdFest is the Dungeness River Nature Center’s largest annual fundraiser brought to you in partnership by the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. This event supports hands on environmental education that inspires the next generation of bird lovers.

Olympic Peninsula BirdFest

Bass Lake Complex Spring 2026 Bird Walk
2026-04-18 09:00 - 13:00 | Washington
Revised Date!

Leaders: Ken Schroeder and Dolly OwenJoin leaders Ken Schroeder and Dolly Owen for a half-day exploration of the Bass Lake Complex Natural Area. We do a one-way walk to explore three different lakes in this lowland basin along a well-maintained trail, for a total of 1.8 miles. There are only a few gentle uphill sections. We go slowly for birding and nature study. With luck we will observe some spring migrating birds, and possibly a glimpse of the Mt. Rainier Elk herd. Our walk ends at the mysterious “Sinkhole Lake” with a well-deserved reputation of being bottomless.The Bass Lake Complex is a ten-minute drive from Flaming Geyser State Park. We will meet at Whitney Bridge Park at the intersection of SE Green Valley Road, and 218th Ave SE. This intersection is just west of Flaming Geyser State Park. Look for our vehicles parked in a gravelly pull-off at this intersection.When all guests have arrived, we will caravan to Sinkhole Lake. Two cars are parked here while the other two cars shuttle all birders to our starting location at Bass Lake. At the conclusion of the hike, we shuttle back to the starting point and go our separate ways. Stopping for lunch at the nearby, and world famous, “Black Diamond Bakery” is optional.We must have a total of four cars that each seat four to shuttle between the starting and ending points. This bird hike is capped at six guests, plus two leaders for a total of eight. We remain together for the entire outing.Bring hiking boots, a water bottle, a few snacks, rain gear, binoculars, an optional hiking pole, and your sense of adventure. If the weather is bad, we will postpone to the following weekend.

"Mighty and Tiny: The Territorial World of Hummingbirds"
2026-04-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Alyssa J. Sargent

What does a day in the life of a hummingbird entail? Where do they travel, and which rival is worth attacking? Does it pay off to stay near home, saving energy for inevitable battle, or to fly further afield—facing new perils—to find food? Cutting-edge technologies can help us to answer these questions. In my PhD, I study hummingbirds in Colombia using “on-board” devices, which we equip to the birds themselves; these tiny electronics allow us to map where individual hummingbirds disappear to, how active they really are, and how thick the competition can get at a given feeder. Come join me and take a peek, up close, at the swashbuckling lives of the world’s smallest birds!

Alyssa J. Sargent is a PhD candidate and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Washington, where she’s a part of the Behavioral Ecophysics Lab. In her current work, she studies the swashbuckling, drama-packed lives of hummingbirds in Colombia. Alyssa loves to come up with creative ways to share her research with people—including a bilingual board game, “Hummingbird Sugar Rush” (“Fiebre de Azúcar en Colibríes”)—to teach people about the decisions hummingbirds must make every day. Throughout her career, she’s studied birds in Australia, Portugal, Ecuador, Canada, Puerto Rico, and numerous states.

King County Regional Meeting
2026-04-30 10:00 - 14:00 | Seward Park Audubon Center, 5900 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle, Washington, 98118, United States
This is a great opportunity to find out what our neighborhood chapters are doing, and to share our own projects.

If you would like to join us, please contact me at so we can register you for lunch.dan_streiffert@hotmail.com

This message is going out to chapter leaders at Birds Connect, Eastside, Rainier, and Vashon.

We have a lot to catch up on at this spring’s in-person Regional Meeting. By then:

The 2026 legislative session will be complete

We may have a new policy lead on staff

Progress will be underway on Lights Out Washington

Planning will be ramping up for Bird Week/ACOW 2026 this October in Bellingham

Spring birding festivals will be in full swing

It will also be a great opportunity for our new(ish) VP, Amanda Kaplan, to meet your chapters in person.

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Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival
2026-05-01 08:00 - 2026-05-03 17:00 | Washington
Plan to attend the next festival: May 1 – 3, 2026.May 1: Shorebird viewing at Grays Harbor National Wildlife RefugeMay 2-3: Festival activities at Hoquiam Middle School, 200 Spencer St., Hoquiam, WA 98550

Each spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed along the Washington Coast and in the Grays Harbor estuary during their migration northward. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world’s greatest migrants. Some birds travel over 15,000 miles round trip! The concentration of birds during spring migration offers people a great chance to view a number of shorebird species. With luck you will also see the birds fly together in beautiful formation “murmurations” while trying to escape a Peregrine Falcon.

Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival

Birdathon Field Trip to Eastern WA
2026-05-11 00:00 - 2026-05-12 23:59 | South Renton Park & Ride,, 205 S 7th ST, Renton, Washington, 98057, United States
Monday, May 11th, 2026, and optional May 12th, 2026.

Join Barbara Petersen for a fundraising field trip to Eastern Washington!Collect sponsors and raise Birdathon money to help our Rainier Audubon chapter cover the cost of bringing live bird presentations such as John the Falconer or Craig Moran to our annual Nature Festival and monthly Program Nights.

Two options this year for Barbara’s Birdathon field trip. Either ride with Barbara on Mon May 11 and be prepared to stay overnight in George, Moses Lake or Othello. We’ll drive home Tuesday, May 12, with a possible stop for lunch. (We’ll make hotel reservations in advance.) OR, ride with others and turn around at dusk, or whenever you like, on Monday to head back to our side of the Pass to the Renton Park & Ride.

Gather your own Birdathon sponsors before going on this field trip, OR sponsor Barbara by pledging 25 cents per species found on the trip or any donation amount. All funds will be used to help with costs of bringing live bird presentations to our chapter events. The very popular John the Falconer has been invited to the 2026 Rainier Audubon Nature Festival at Flaming Geyser State Park again this June.

We’ll bird locations on Snoqualmie Pass, in Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Vantage, Frenchman’s Coulee, and near Wanapum Dam. With a goal of 75 species, we’ll look for Mountain and Western Bluebird, Mountain Chickadee, Say’s Phoebe, White-throated Swift, Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-headed Blackbird, raptors, songbirds, waterfowl, and lovely scenery.

Meet at 7:00AM on Monday, May 11th at South Renton Park & Ride, 205 S 7th St, just north of Grady Way and Renton Village Shopping Center, to form carpools if participating on Monday May 11th only. Special plans will be needed to ride with Barbara and avoid leaving cars at the Park & Ride overnight. Bring binoculars, scopes, cameras, layered clothing for varying weather conditions, lunch, snacks, beverages, sunscreen.

Email Barbara (bpbatfan@aol.com)for info about the overnight option.

Seabirds Live! event in Tacoma: Multimedia storytelling with Eric Wagner and Peter Hodum
2026-05-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington
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Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest
2026-05-14 00:00 - 2026-05-17 23:59 | Washington
Come bird with us in Leavenworth and beyond!

The annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest promotes conservation through educational and recreational activities about birds, wildlife, and their environments.

The 2026 Bird Fest Schedule will be posted before registration opens. Make sure to subscribe to WRI’s E-Newsletter for the most up to date information, and keep checking back on this page.

Mark your calendars! Registration will open on Wednesday, March 25th.

https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/bird-fest/overview.html

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge & Annual Membership Meeting
2026-05-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Dan Streiffert

For the past several years the low accumulation of snowpack and rainfall has resulted in a continual reduction in the size of Malheur Lake, to the point where the lake has nearly disappeared. But this changed in 2025 with a 150% snowpack. As a result, there is now enough deep water at the Narrows for Harney and Malheur Lakes to merge. This is both good and bad news.

The good news is an abundance of waterfowl throughout the spring with an extension of the nesting season to the point where many of the birds have had 2 – 3 broods of chicks.

The bad news is that with water everywhere, the birds are spread out all over the area, much of which has flooded making it hard to reach. The flooding was so bad that the north end of Burns flooded the week before the Migratory Bird Festival that was ultimately cancelled.

This presentation includes visits from both 2025 and the first two weeks of April 2026 for the spring Migratory Bird Festival.

Migratory Bird Festival | April 16-19, 2026

Green Valley in Late Spring
2026-05-23 08:00 - 13:00 | Washington
Leader: Steve JohnsonIn June, the migrant birds should be singing on their territory near Auburn and in the beautiful Green Valley east of Auburn. We’ll visit Academy Drive, Green Valley Road and Flaming Geyser State Park. We may see and hear warblers, thrushes, vireos, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Virginia Rail, flycatchers, and more. We may walk up to 2 miles on trails and roads.People who bring their own cars and want to leave early may do so.Bring: Lunch, snacks, drinks, hiking shoes, Discover Pass, if you have it. Scopes welcome.Meet: Auburn Safeway at Auburn Ave & Main at 8:00 AM. Directions: Take Hwy 18 to Auburn, and exit at Auburn Ave (Hwy 164). Turn north at the exit at Auburn Ave (Hwy 164). Turn north (right) on Auburn Way and drive 3 blocks north. Safeway sign and gas station is on the left. Park in the lot straight out from the north entry door of Safeway at 8:00 am.

Yakima River Canyon
2026-06-03 00:00 - 23:59 | Washington
We’ll join Roger Orness for an all day trip to the Yakima River Canyon.

We will focus on birds of prey, but we’ll also be looking for:

Golden Eagles

Lazuli Buntings

Bullock’s Orioles

Yellow-breasted Chats

Yellow Warblers

Eastern Kingbirds

Western Kingbirds

and more!

Meet at 6:00AM at Federal Way Hobby Lobby, next to Costco, to form carpools.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kKmaqGmKnm2GWCrj9

Flaming Geyser Nature Festival
2026-06-06 09:00 - 16:00 | Flaming Geyser State Park, 23700 SE Flaming Geyser Rd, Auburn, Washington, 98092, United States
All are welcome to our 2026 Rainier Audubon Nature Festival at Flaming Geyser State Park on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is a “Free-Entry” day at all state parks. This beautiful park is only 20 minutes east of Auburn, on Green Valley Road.Our feature presentation is a live bird show starring, hawks, falcons, owls, and an eagle. Throughout the day, we lead bird walks, so bring your binoculars for a day of “Birding and Learning”. Outside activities include native plant walks, geology walks, and solar telescope observing.Inside the park lodge, children will enjoy our “Nature Crafts Corner”. All guests can enjoy high-quality displays, and information stations, on bird feeding, nestbox construction, plants for birds, and more. Test your bird ID skills at the “Migration/ID” station. Media presentations on “Nature” topics will be scheduled all day.

Participating community partners for 2026 include:

WA Native Plant Society

Bats Northwest

WA Dept of Fish and Game

The Falconer

Seattle Astronomical Society

Puget Sound Mycological Society

WA Geological Survey

Tacoma Astronomical SocietyFree The Green Conservation

WA State Parks

Clark Lake Park - Birdwalk with Bob Swain
2026-07-25 07:00 - 11:00 | Clark Lake Park, 12520 SE 240th St, Kent, Washington, 98031
Bob Swain will lead a bird walk for a summer exploration of Clark Lake Park on July 25th.The park offers a variety of habitat types and bird species. Follow trails to the lake andthrough forest, wetland, meadow and even an old orchard. We’ll walk one or two milesat a leisurely pace searching for waterfowl, raptors and passerines. Dress in layers andbring binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras, water and snacks.Meet: Join us at Clark Lake Park at 12520 SE 240th St. in Kent at 7:00 AM
