Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival
2023-05-05 00:00 - 2023-05-07 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles) | https://www.fws.gov/refuge/grays-harbor, 1000 Airport Way, Hoquiam,, Washington, 98550, United States
Celebrating the natural world and the spring shorebird migration!

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.

www.shorebirdfestival.com

Rainier Audubon's May Birdathon
2023-05-01 00:00 - 2023-05-31 23:59
The Month of May is Birdathon!

The goal of this year’s birdathon is to raise money to expand our Bird Nest Box Project to the newly redisigned Green River Natural Resource Area (GRNRA).

The new design losses some upland bird habitat, but increases the potential for shorebirds and other waterfowl. We hope to both add new boxes and service the existing ones, We could also raise money for a live camera for the Barn Owl nest.

Special One-day Events:

May 7 – Bird the Streiffert’s backyard from 7am – 12pm. A light brunch and coffee will be available. Asking for $10/person donation. Please send an email to dan_streiffert@hotmail.com to let us know how many are comming. Address 10102 SE 270th PL, Kent, WA 98030, 253-394-2328

May 31 – Birdathon Field Trip to Eastern Washington with Barbara Petersen – See More

IIt’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.

You choose how you want to participate. Stay at home and count species at your feeder, visit your favorite birding spots or create your own Birdathon experience. Do you love photography? You could share pictures of the birds with your sponsors. Or do you like a friendly competitive game? Perhaps do a fun challenge by matching their donations!

Sponsors are happy to support your efforts, and many look forward to being sponsors again. They especially enjoy your list of bird species seen.

While you can choose any day in May, we encourage you to do Saturday, May 13th., which is the Global Big Day.Why do the Birdathon?It’s fun, and Rainier Audubon needs your support! Membership dues to Rainier Audubon only covers a portion of the costs of running a successful Audubon chapter.Birdathon is our largest fundraiser. We depend on it, and you, to provide a stable funding base for our many activities and services such as: programs and speakers fees, environmental education activities, conservation committee activities, printing and mailing our newsletter, and general administrative costs. With your support, we can continue to provide these loved services and wouldn’t have to cut back any of our activities due to lack of funds!It’s simple. Collect sponsors and count bird species in your backyard or on walks. The Sponsor Sheet is included below.

Download the Sponsor Sheet

Make a Donation Now

Spring Birding: Ask an Ornithologist
2023-04-26 09:00 - 10:00
Have you ever wondered why birds look different throughout the year, or how you can spot breeding behavior? Join us for an open Q&A session with renowned ornithologist Dr. Kevin McGowan. Learn the answers to your questions and gain insights into the spring migration season! Submit questions in advance when you register or live during the webinar.

Register for Spring Birding Webinar

Nature Journaling
2023-04-23 15:00 - 16:30
TBD

Click here to Join the Zoom Workshop

Passcode: [REDACTED]

All ages and experiences are welcome. No registration is necessary.

Questions? Contact Cindy Flanagan cindy.flanagan@rainieraudubon.org

In Search of Meadowlarks: Birds, Farms, and Food in Harmony with the Land
2023-04-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by John Marzluff

As a wildlife scientist and birder, I think about our relationship with, and effects on, nature. As I searched for meadowlarks and other open country birds among farms and ranches, I learned how these species flee the plow and how many farmers adjust their actions to lessen this exodus. I birded and talked with farmers on their lands from Nebraska to California to Costa Rica. Here I bring news to you from these farms that show how some birds are extirpated while others evolve to live among the crops we need for our own sustenance. I focus on the actions of many farmers that coexist with nature because “it is the right thing to do.” You’ll learn about wine producers that welcome barn owls to their vineyards to help control rodents, organic producers that fallow some land each year to the benefit of yellowthroats, ranchers that employ intensive, rotational grazing to coexist with predators and trout, and a rancher that traded cows for tourists. One of humanity’s grand challenges is to conserve nature while providing for a growing and increasing affluent population. The lessons I’ve learned from agrarians and the scientific literature suggests strategies that we can each employ to help meet this challenge.

John Marzluff is James W. Ridgeway Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington. His graduate (Northern Arizona University) and initial post-doctoral (University of Vermont) research focused on the social behavior and ecology of jays and ravens. He continues this theme investigating the intriguing behavior of crows, ravens, and jays. His current research focuses on the interactions of ravens and wolves in Yellowstone. He teaches Ornithology, Governance and Conservation of Rare Species, Field Research in Yellowstone, and Natural and Cultural History of Costa Rica.

Dr. Marzluff has mentored over 40 graduate students and authored over 170 scientific papers on various aspects of bird behavior and wildlife management. He is a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Team for the critically endangered Mariana Crow, a former member of the Washington Biodiversity Council, a Fellow of the American Ornithologist’s Union, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a National Geographic Explorer.

Professor Marzluff has written six books and edited several others. His Welcome to Subirdia (2014 Yale) discovers that moderately settled lands host a splendid array of biological diversity and suggests ways in which people can steward these riches to benefit birds and themselves.

His most recent In Search of Meadowlarks (2020 Yale) connects our agriculture and diets to the conservation of birds and other wildlife. Copies will be available at the meeting for $20,

This will be a hybird meeting. Come in person or join us with Zoom.

Dan Streiffert is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: In Search of Meadowlarks: Birds, Farms, and Food in Harmony with the LandTime: Apr 17, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/85745489671?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 857 4548 9671Passcode: [REDACTED] tap mobile+12532158782,,85745489671#,,,,440994# US (Tacoma) +12532050468,,85745489671#,,,,440994# US

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Basic Birding Class at Seahurst Park
2023-04-15 08:30 - 2023-04-16 10:30
Kevin O’Malley & Barbara Peterson will be teaching a birding basics class for beginners & expert birders wanting to further their knowledge about birding. Class will focus on bird language, behavior, habitats, nests & bird tracks. You will learn to talk about what birds you are seeing and hearing.Binoculars are not mandatory. Small class size of 8

More Info & Registration online at:

https://southsoundnatureschool.org/

Migratory Bird Festival
2023-04-13 08:00 - 2023-04-16 17:00 | Burns, Oregon, Burns, Oregon
https://www.migratorybirdfestival.com/

Duwamish Waterway
2023-04-08 08:30 - 12:30 | Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave S,, Tukwila,, Washington, 98168, United States
Leader: Barbara Petersen

Tukwila Community Center

Join Barbara for a morning exploration of birding spots near the Duwamish River. You will want to return to these places often in the spring when they can be quite busy with bird activity. Common sightings include Osprey, Bald Eagle, Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Western Tanager, even Bullock’s Oriole if the timing is right. We’ll visit North Wind’s Weir, Cecil Moses Park, Duwamish Hill Preserve, Duwamish Gardens and the river path at Tukwila Community Center.

Meet at the Tukwila Community Center in front of the main entrance by 8:30 a.m. and will finish there about 12:30 p.m. We’ll walk less than a half a mile on paved trails. Bring drinks, snacks, binoculars, scopes and cameras as needed to enhance this half day outing. We’ll sharpen our spotting skills as a few of these spots have a lot of traffic noise. To sign up, email Barbara at bpbatfan@aol.com or call / text 253-389-3204 and leave a message.

20 Years of Field Research on the White-headed Woodpecker in Washington
2023-03-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Jeff Kozma

In Washington, the White-headed Woodpecker is listed as a species of concern due to its association with old-growth ponderosa pine forests. Although White-headed Woodpeckers have recently been documented inhabiting early to mid-seral managed forests, information is limited regarding their reproductive success and general ecology in these forests.

For the last 20 years, Jeff Kozma, a wildlife biologist for the Yakama Nation, has been studying the ecology of White-headed Woodpeckers in managed ponderosa pine forests along the eastern Cascades in Yakima and Kittitas Counties. Jeff will present brief highlights from his research including nest-site characteristics, reproductive success, and nestling provisioning (i.e., who feeds the kids and what are they feeding them). He will also present a summary of findings from a long-term banding study he has been conducting since 2011 investigating adult longevity. If you ever wanted to know more about the White-headed Woodpecker, this presentation is for you!

Jeff Kozma

Jeff received his B.S. Degree in Environmental Forest Biology from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse and his M.S. Degree in Wildlife Science at Texas Tech University where he studied the use of Chihuahuan Desert arroyos and adjacent uplands by migrant and breeding birds in southern New Mexico. After graduating, he began working as a Wildlife Biologist at the Yakima Training Center where he monitored Sage-grouse, performed raptor and non-game bird surveys, and was involved with restoration of seeps, springs, and riparian areas. He is currently working as a Wildlife Biologist for the Yakama Nation where he has been studying the reproductive biology of White-headed Woodpeckers and other cavity-nesting birds in managed forests since 2003, as well as reviewing timber sales on the ceded lands of the Yakama Nation to help protect habitat important to state and Federally listed wildlife

This will be a Zoom only meeting as Jeff is doing this from Yakima!

The presentation will start at 7 pm.

Dan Streiffert is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: 20 Years of Field Research on the White-headed Woodpecker in WashingtonTime: Mar 20, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/81063281046?pwd=[REDACTED]

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Black River Riparian Forest Field Trip
2023-03-19 15:30 - 17:00 | Black River Riparian Forest, 600 Oakesdale Ave. SW, Renton, Washington, 98057, United States
by /Suzanne Knrom

If you’d like to see the nesting herons at Black River before the cottonwoods leaf out, this will be the time to do it. Once the trees are leafed out, the nests will be very difficult to see. When we were there last month, we saw 30-40 herons, and counted 18 nests from last year. The birds are pairing up, repairing last years’ nests, and building new ones now. It’s possible that some have started incubating their first eggs. We’ll know if that’s the case if we see herons sitting in their nests, as opposed to standing.

You are welcome to join us. Details —

Black River Riparian Forest field trip —

Date/time: Sunday, March 19, 3:30 – 5:00 pm

Meet: In the Oakesdale Center parking lot, 600 Oakesdale Ave. SW, Renton 98057. The best place for us all to gather at 3:30pm is near the Northwest Kidney Center. (Sorry, no bathroom access on Sundays.)

If you have binoculars, be sure to bring them. Also, if you’d like to take photos, you’ll need a lens for long distances (equivalent to about a football field away). We’d really appreciate getting copies of your photos!

Two important notes:

If this is your first visit to this wildlife sanctuary, we strongly recommend attending our field trip so you’ll know the best viewing areas and safest route. (Taking a different route will give you an entirely different experience and is definitely not recommended.)

In case anyone wants to visit on their own in the future, please do not go alone. Black River Riparian Forest is 96 wooded acres and the vast majority of it is very isolated. I’ll add that if you find yourself in trouble, call 911. However the challenge would be in identifying exactly where you are because there are no markers.

I hope you can join us! Please let me know if you can make it.

Suzanne

Soos Creek Park Habitat Enhancement
2023-03-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Gary Grant Park, 13600 SE 208th Street, Kent
Meet along the Soos Creek Trail; 1/4 mile south of the Gary Grant parking lot (13600 SE 208th Street, Kent)

Please sign up in advance. Here’s the link . https://pg-cloud.com/KingCountyParks/

Wear work clothes and bring your work gloves.

Questions? Contact Crescent Calimpong at ccalimpong@kingcounty.gov

FYI: Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer required to participate in King County Parks Volunteer Events. In consultation with Public Health – Seattle & King County and other regional leaders, Executive Dow Constantine ended the Emergency Proclamation and lifted the vaccine mandate for employees and volunteers.

We want to continue keeping our community safe. Feeling sick? Please stay home. Please do not attend if anyone in your household is suspected of having or has tested positive for COVID-19.

Masks are optional and welcome.

Joe Miles

Friends of Soos Creek Park

friendsofsooscreekpark@q.com

Check us out on Facebook !!!

Hawks & Raptors Field Class
2023-03-04 09:00 - 2023-03-05 14:00
Different class each day, or you can sign up for both!

Pack a hat, gloves and warm drink!

Migrating Raptors are fascinating to observe. Please join Kevin O’Malley and Barbara Petersen for a winter raptor viewing adventure. The Skagit Field Class will be held on Saturday March 4th & Suday March 5th from 9-11 & 12-2. This is a time when many migrating raptors move through the Skagit Valley. It might be cold, so dress in many layers. We will spend two separate blocks of time birding with a lunch break in between. Most of the time we will be close to our cars, and will drive from one destination to another during each two-hour birding adventure. During the day you will have the opportunity to walk on easy trails and view raptors through a spotting scope. We will meet at a location TBA near Edison, WA. We will be wearing masks and driving in separate cars.

The cost will be $55 per person and will include four hours of birding each day. We will take a total of 8 participants. We have the option to separate into two small groups. Teenage children (and those 10 years and up who are really into Birding) can attend with an adult. Refunds will be given as credit unless I can fill the spot. Most people just donate the funds if they must cancel. Please contact Kevin O’Malley at omalley23@gmail.com for more information, payment options and to sign up.

Black River Riparian Forest Field Trip
2023-02-24 15:00 - 17:00 | Black River Riparian Forest, 600 Oakesdale Ave. SW, Renton, Washington, 98057, United States
by /Suzanne Knrom

2/23/2023 Update:

Hi all,

The weather looks good for Friday’s field trip so we are definitely on for that date. With a predicted high of 39 degrees, it’ll be cold so layers and sturdy shoes are highly recommended to stay warm. Bring binoculars if you have them.

You’re in for a real treat — especially if the herons are there. Our Pacific herons (aka Fannini) are a unique subspecies, with most living in the Salish Sea and British Columbia’s Fraser Valley regions. Unlike most great blue heron subspecies, Pacific herons don’t migrate. Habitat loss/development and bald eagle predation have profoundly affected their population over the past 30 years.

Where we’re meeting and other details are in my 2/16 email below. We’re looking forward to seeing you Friday!

Suzanne

2/16/2023

Nesting has begun at Renton’s Black River Riparian Forest. I visited this past weekend and we saw about 30 herons. Some were even standing in nests and one was pointing his/her beak skyward to let the others know that they were looking for a mate.

Just before sunset, the herons in the main nesting area rose up and moved to two trees along the edge of the pond for the night. It was an absolutely stellar day.

We were there for an hour, starting at 4:14 (sunset was at 5:30).

We counted a total of 18 nests from last year’s season (2022): 15 nests are in the eastern section of the forest across the pond (the “Protected Forest”), and 3 nests are in western section of the forest. All were toward the middle of the dense mix of cottonwoods and alders so will be obscured by foliage once the trees leaf out late next month.

The number of herons there now is the same as we saw last year. I find the consistency really interesting, as it could indicate that these specific herons are committed to Black River for nesting. Twenty years ago, with 135 active nests, Black River had quickly grown to become the fifth largest great blue heron colony in the state. But adjacent development depleted the richness of the habitat, and a pair of bald eagles relentlessly raided the nests for several years in a row (we named the pair Bonnie and Clyde). I can’t help but wonder if some of these birds are offspring of those herons from the halcyon days of the late 1990’s – early 2000’s.

We’d love for you to join us on our field trip. We’ll spend time watching the herons, who are probably well into the early activities of the nesting season. This is an ideal time to visit, as the cottonwoods will not leaf out until late March. Once that happens, it will be much harder to see the herons and their nests.

We’ll also be touring the north side — another rich wetland habitat but very different from the Protected Forest. You can join us for the full tour or just focus on the herons, which will be our first part of the tour.

The condition of the vegetated trail is good. You’ll want to wear sturdy shoes, ideally weatherproof. If it’s been especially rainy, there’ll probably be a few muddy spots.

Details —

Date/time: Friday, February 24, 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Meet: In the Oakesdale Center parking lot, 600 Oakesdale Ave. SW, Renton 98057. The best place for us all to gather at 3pm is near the Northwest Kidney Center.

Three of us from Herons Forever will be leading the field trip. I established the nonprofit in 1989. In the 1990s I was very fortunate to cross paths with Dr. Kate Stenberg (through King County at the time) and Patricia Thompson of WDFW (recently retired). Their expertise, along with Rainier Audubon and Seattle Audubon, helped save this very special place from more profound impacts of development.

Important note: In case anyone wants to visit on their own in the future, please do not go alone. Black River Riparian Forest is 96 wooded acres and the vast majority of it is very isolated. I’ll add that if you find yourself in trouble, call 911. However the challenge would be in identifying exactly where you are because there are no markers.

We would love for you to join us on February 24th. You’re welcome to bring others who would enjoy this. Kindly rsvp.

Suzanne Krom, PresidentHerons Forever

Better Birding Series: We will be exploring Audubon’s Bird Migration Explorer and BirdCast.
2023-02-21 19:00 - 20:30
About BirdCast

Cindy Flanagan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Better Birding: Tracking Migration using BirdCast and Audubon Bird Migration ExplorerTime: Feb 21, 2023 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/85784469800?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 857 8446 9800Passcode: [REDACTED] tap mobile+12532050468,,85784469800#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US+12532158782,,85784469800#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location +1 253 205 0468 US +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose) +1 669 444 9171 US +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 719 359 4580 US +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 689 278 1000 US +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 305 224 1968 US +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)Meeting ID: 857 8446 9800Passcode: [REDACTED] your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kcSPe8dC7L

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in June
2023-02-20 19:00 - 20:00 | United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave.South, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Dan Streiffert

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

I have been going to Malheur NWR for about 15 years now and still think it has the best birding in the Pacific Northwest. Most years I go in April for the Migratory Bird Festival in Burns, Oregon. Last year I spent the month of June there hoping for opportunities to photograph newborn chicks – particularly the Sandhill Cranes and Burrowing Owls.

I spent the month as a volunteer with the Friends of Malheur, working half-time at ther Visitor Center and spending my free time mostly photographing wildlife. Join us to see the results.

This will be a hybrid meeting. Join us by Zoom or come to the church.

For more about Malheur Refuge, watch this!

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: Past, Present and Future

Video Note

This presentation is done in Power Point and includes several videos. These do not play very well in Zoom. So I have added them in a Post, so that you can view them either before the Zoom meeting or after.

Videos from Malheur In June 20, 2023 Presentation

Dan Streiffert is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Malheur in JuneTime: Feb 20, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/88166018083?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 881 6601 8083Passcode: [REDACTED] tap mobile+12532158782,,88166018083#,,,,380391# US (Tacoma) +12532050468,,88166018083#,,,,380391# US

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Burien Bird Fest
2023-02-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Ave., Burien, Washington, 98166, United States
Bird Walks: 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM.

Presentations: Our 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM presentations will also be live streamed with registration on our website.

11:00 AM: Feathers & Friends (Family Nature Hike) with Tiny Trees Preschool

12:00 PM: Owls in Seattle with Ed Dominguez from Seward Park Audubon Center

1:00 PM: Bird Watching & Home Habitats with Kelsey Hansen from WDFW’s Habitat at Home and Watchable Wildlife program

There will be crafts and hands-on activities outside the building all day as well as a door raffle with prizes donated by Wild Birds Unlimited in Burien.

Please find our 2023 flyer attached to this email as both a PDF and JPG for you to share with your community! Spread the info far and wide! All are welcome! We do currently have advanced registration for our bird walks and presentations open on our website at: https://envsciencecenter.org/bird-fest/ . Half of the spots are open for advanced registration and the other half will be open to day of participants.

The 26th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
2023-02-17 00:00 - 2023-02-20 23:59
TheCornellLab

Spend time in your favorite places watching birds–then tell us about them! In as little as 15 minutes notice the birds around you. Identify them, count them, and submit them to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.

Project Goal

Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days we invite people to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to us. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.

What’s Changed?

In 2020 we designed a new website to help make your 4-day count easy, clear, and inspiring! In an effort to spread the love of birdwatching even further, we’ve moved away from using the Charley Harper image (pictured below). Instead, we use pictures of birds and people from around the world participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count. No matter what corner of the world you live in or visit, we want to share in your joy of birdwatching.

How to Participate

Winter Wings Festival
2023-02-17 00:00 - 2023-02-20 23:59 | Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Oregon., 3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 97601, United States
The Winter Wings brings together birders and photographers to learn and explore with top notch professionals and enthusiastic local guides. The Klamath Basin is renowned for its massive wintering population of Bald Eagles, but is prime habitat for many other raptors including owls, as well as a diversity of waterfowl.

What’s New for 2023?★ Festival runs Friday through Monday (instead of Thursday through Sunday)★ Free Friday afternoon presentations with updates on the Klamath Basin and stakeholder initiatives★ Lots of new programs and presenters including new keynoters, pro photographers, and raptor workshops★ Vendors (Friday afternoon through Saturday) include new optics and camera vendors plus many of your favorite local vendors★ Free children’s activities again on Saturday★ Our first ever Sunday night reception gives you the chance to mingle with new birding and photography friends!★ New photo contest prizes

The 2023 Festival will feature singer/songwriter and raptor specialist Jen Hajj and award-winning photographer Ray Hennessy.

Join us for an extensive array of field trips, workshops, presentations, and receptions that highlight the wonders of the Klamath Basin in winter. #winterwingsfestiva

For information call 877-541-BIRD (2473) or email to info@winterwingsfest.org

Registration opens around mid-December 2022; check website for details.

Fresh Water and Saltwater Birds
2023-02-12 08:30 - 13:00 | Lake Fenwick, Washington, 25828 Lake Fenwick Rd, Kent, Washington, 98032, United States
Join us for a morning walk around Lake Fenwick to look for wintering waterfowl and woodland birds. We’ll practice spotting, listening for, and identifying the species we encounter. Then we’ll move on to Redondo Beach to scan Poverty Bay for saltwater birds. We may walk part of the boardwalk there, and check the edges of nearby Wooten Park if time allows.

Let’s meet in the middle parking lot at Lake Fenwick, the next lot north of the fisherman’s lot, at 8:30AM. Bring layers for the weather, snacks and water as needed.

To sign up email Barbara Petersen at bpbatfan@aol.com, or leave a voice message at 253 389 3204.

Photos by Jay Galvin

Sandhill Cranes & Winter Birds Field Class
2023-02-04 09:00 - 13:00
Pack your winter hat and a warm drink!

South Sound Nature School’s Ridgefield Field Class will be Saturday, February 4th, 9:00-1:00. Meet leader Kevin O’Malley and Barbara Petersen at the refuge on Saturday morning. Experiencing birds in different habitat is an important tool to becoming a better birder. At Ridgefield we will see a variety of habitats. The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) consists of approximately 5300 acres – a lush mixture of wetlands, grasslands, riparian corridors, and forests. This variety of habitats, combined with a mild and rainy winter climate, make for an ideal environment for bird species including songbirds, raptors, wintering waterfowl, and other local species. Please dress warm as during the day we will get out of our cars and walk on easy trails to experience birds in their habitat.

The cost will be $55 per person. We will take a total of 8 participants. We have the option to separate into two small groups. Teenage children (and those 10 years and up that are really into Birding) can attend with an adult. Please contact Kevin O’Malley at omalley23@gmail.com for more information, payment options and to sign up.

Desert Oasis: The Birds of Lake Abert
2023-02-01 18:30 - 20:00
As Oregon’s only hypersaline lake and one of just three such lakes in the western U.S., Lake Abert is a vital ecosystem within the high desert and an essential stop for migratory birds travelling along the Pacific Flyway from Patagonia to Alaska.

At it’s full capacity, Lake Abert covers 64 square miles below the iconic Abert Rim. When conditions are optimal in this delicate ecosystem, Lake Abert can support hundreds of thousands of birds whose arrival at the lake coincides with peak brine shrimp and alkali fly populations.

Zoom Webinar sponsored by the Oregon Natural Desert Association

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Skagit Valley field trip
2023-01-22 07:30 - 17:00
by Jay Galvin

Join Rainier Audubon for a trip north to visit the Skagit Valley. Species we expect to see include BaldEagle, Northern Harrier, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Snow Geese, American Wigeon andpossibly Kestrel and shore birds.

This trip would for suitable for those with differing abilities, since a lot of the birding can be done from the car.Bring: Lunch, beverages, and warm clothes. A scope is very welcome. Mask wearing is optional.

Meet: January 22, 2023 at 7:30 AM at the Kent Station, near Panera Bread. Park in the lot or nearbyparking garage.521 2nd Pl N Suite 101, Kent, WA 98032https://goo.gl/maps/ATtKwd8aNCzx946T8

Participants will be limited to the first 9 who sign up. There will be three cars with a leader in each car.

Contact Call Jay Galvin at 253-939-3094 or email him at gjgalvin@comcast.net to be included.

Raptors of Washington
2023-01-18 19:00 - 21:00
(Jan. 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8, and 15th)

Nineteen species of raptors regularly occur in Washington State. These birds are fascinating, and their behaviors unique. Each species has many distinctive features. Birders find this group intriguing, and many people want to see each of them, learning more about their behaviors.

This course will help you become familiar with the eagles, hawks, harriers, falcons, vultures, and kites that make our state their homes. We will cover the characteristics, behaviors, and biology that will help you identify these marvelous birds. Learn to identify these remarkable birds and gain some knowledge of their natural history. The course will span all the species regularly found in Washington. The focus will be on learning characteristics and information that will help you name them and not just on-field marks.

Slides and homework will allow you to practice these skills.

One field trip is possible, and detailed information on possible field trips you can do on your own will be provided, including stops and what to look for at each place.

We will frequently review the information to help you solidify your knowledge and feel comfortable with your new abilities.

Topics discussed during this course:

Eagles: Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Osprey

Hawks: Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Goshawk,

Red-shouldered Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk

Falcons: American Kestrel, Merlin, Prairie Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Gyrfalcon

Vultures: Turkey Vulture

Kites: White-tailed Kite

The goal is to help you learn to identify raptors, know what to look for when you see one and have a good understanding of their distribution and behavior.

Class Meetings:

Five sessions, each will be 90-100 minutes; (Jan. 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8, and 15th)

Raptor Birding Skills: Size and Shape, Behavior, Habitat, Color Pattern, calls.

Buteos – Begin working through these species – Review of the first lecture.

Accipiters, Harriers; Review of Buteos

Falcons & Review of Harriers, Accipiters, and others

Eagles, Vultures, Kits, and Lots of Review – Putting it all together.

The presentations will be done using Zoom and you will be provided with a link to the zoom call before each session. This class will use Google Classroom to provide additional information, copies of the presentations, videos of the presentations, and lots of supplemental material that will help you learn these raptors and about them. Google Classroom is free, and you will need to have a Gmail account orregister your email with Google. Google Classroom is free.

About the instructorRainier Audubon is fortunate to have Thomas Bancroft offer this course. Thomas Bancroft has been a birder and ecologist all his life and has a Ph.D. in Ornithology.He has birded in 48 states, several Canadian provinces, and on six continents. Tom began birding at a very young age in Pennsylvania, climbing into the kitchen sink to observe birds outside the window at his mother’s feeder. Just before moving to Seattle, he served as Chief Scientist for National Audubon. Tom is a published author, an avid photographer, and has a wonderful sense of humor.

For more information about the Raptor course, contact Rainier Audubon Education Chair Cindy Flanagan cindy.flanagan@rainieraudubon.org

Cost

$85 Rainier Audubon Members$100 Non-members

Become a member here.

Registration is closed. If you would still like to join the class, please contact Cindy Flanagan, skip the registration, and pay using the information below.

Pay using Paypal or Credit Card

Member?
Member $85.00 USD
Non-member $100.00 USD

Another Test
2023-01-18 17:00

Another Time Zone Test
2023-01-17 18:00 - 18:30

SEATTLE’S ADAPTABLE URBAN COOPER’S HAWKS
2023-01-16 19:00 - 20:00 | United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave.South, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Ed Deal

Ed Deal with Cooper’s Hawk

Thirty years ago, Cooper’s Hawks began colonizing urban and suburban landscapes throughout the US, developing a tolerance for living in proximity to humans. Ed Deal, from Seattle’s Urban Raptor Conservancy, will provide insights into these common but elusive raptors.

The Seattle Cooper’s Hawk Project is one of several studies in large US cities (e.g., Milwaukee, Albuquerque) and the only all-volunteer, community science project. Since 2012 the group has monitored the local Cooper’s Hawk population nesting density and annual nest productivity. A color-ID banding program helps us track fledgling dispersal, longevity, and adult breeding site and winter site fidelity.

Study results show annual increases in nesting pairs, high nest success rates, high fledgling productivity, little evidence of migration, strong site fidelity and mostly short natal dispersal distances. In 2012 we documented 26 nesting attempts, with 22 successful nests producing 70 fledglings. In 2022 volunteers monitored 61 nesting attempts within the Seattle city limits. Forty-eight nests succeeded, producing 167 fledglings.

Successful nest productivity is consistently high, averaging 3.6 fledglings per successful nest. To date we have banded almost 500 Coops and accumulated over 640 repeat sightings. 46% of our banded birds are resighted. Our population has nearly tripled in just 10 years. It will be interesting to see when they reach carrying capacity.

You would think someone born in Cooper Hospital and raised in Audubon, NJ would be a child prodigy birder. But Ed’s mid-life conversion involved taking Bud Anderson’s Hawk ID class in 1991. He went on to volunteer on Fall Migration hawk banding projects in the Goshutes Mtn, NV, Florida Keys and Cape May, NJ, in addition to Diamond Head, Chelan Ridge and Entiat Ridge in WA. He volunteered on Falcon Research Group’s entire 17-year study of nesting Peregrine Falcons in the San Juan Islands and completed his 29th year monitoring & banding nesting Peregrines in the Seattle area. For the last 11 years he has worked with a group of volunteers studying the expanding urban population of Cooper’s Hawks in Seattle. He holds a Federal Master Raptor Banding Permit. He is a graduate of the Seattle Audubon Master Birder Program and a recovering lister.

This will be a hybrid meeting.

George Galvin is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: RAS January 2023 Membership MeetingTime: Jan 16, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/85988024910?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 859 8802 4910Passcode: [REDACTED]

Timezone Test
2023-01-09 21:00 - 21:30

2nd New Time Zone Test
2022-12-23 19:00 - 20:00

New Time Zone Test
2022-12-23 18:00 - 19:00

Seattle Urban Carnivore Project
2022-12-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Mark Jordan and Katie Remine

This meeting has been changed to Zoom Only!

Have you ever wondered what life is like at the top of the food chain in a big city? The Seattle Urban Carnivore Project aims to find out by monitoring the carnivores of the greater Seattle area. During this presentation, you’ll learn about our work, the variety of carnivores that share our home, and what we all can do to peacefully coexist with them.

Urban spaces and the suburbs that sprawl around them are growing worldwide, pushing some carnivore species into more remote regions, while forcing others to adapt to higher human densities. Increasing contact between humans and carnivores potentially leads to more human-carnivore interactions and increased concerns about risks to humans, whether real or perceived. Continued survival of urban carnivore populations, as well as a sense of security for the public, requires increased understanding of and coexistence with these species.

Mark Jordan is an Associate Professor of Biology at Seattle University and co-lead of the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project. He received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Puget Sound and his Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from UC Berkeley. His research interests include urban ecology, population monitoring of carnivores, and the genetics of species of conservation concern.

Katie Remine works as the Living Northwest Conservation Manager in the Wildlife Conservation division at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Katie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in African Studies from Colorado College and completed her Master of Science in Biodiversity Conservation and Management through Imperial College London. She coordinates Woodland Park Zoo’s involvement in Pacific northwest wildlife conservation, including projects to recover local endangered species and projects to help communities coexist with local wildlife from carnivores to pollinators. Katie is a co-lead of the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project.

Meeting opens at 6:40 pm. Program starts at 7:00 pm.

The meeting tonight will be Zoom Only!

George Galvin is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: RAS Dec. 2022 Membership MeetingTime: Dec 19, 2022 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/89726126067?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 897 2612 6067Passcode: [REDACTED] tap mobile+12532158782,,89726126067#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Tacoma)+12532050468,,89726126067#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
