RAINIER AUDUBON SOCIETY

Earth Day 2022
2022-04-22 00:00 - 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
Homepage

Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
2022-04-21 00:00 - 2022-04-24 23:59 | Burns, Oregon, Burns, Oregon
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 open spaces of Oregon’s high desert. Held annually in April in Harney County.

The Harney County Migratory Bird Festival was first held in 1981 ​to celebrate the large annual migration of birds passing through Harney Basin on the Pacific Flyway. Harney Basin is one of the three most important areas left in the western United States for spring migratory birds stopping on their way north.

Over 300 species of birds use the refuge throughout each year, making Harney Basin a bird watcher’s paradise. Today, we continue to celebrate the migratory birds’ return each year with guided tours led by experts, workshops, and fun activities for both youth and adults.

17th Annual Duwamish Alive! April 16th Celebrating the Green/Duwamish Watershed
2022-04-16 10:00 - 14:00
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. All communities are welcome to join in this collaborative effort which highlights the complex and rich nature of our watershed and the community stewardship of it. For more information contact Sharon Leishman, or visit the Duwamish Alive Coalition website.

Sandhill Cranes of Homer, Alaska
2022-03-31 09:00 - 10:00
by Gary Ivey

International Crane Foundation Webinar

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.Sponsored in memory of our dear granddaughter, Beatrice Love Walter, who loved cranes. Dawn and William Cogger.

Register

Free Cornell Lab of Ornithology Webinar
2022-03-01 15:00 - 16:00
Title: Preparing for Spring Birding–An eBird Q&A

When: Tuesday, March 1, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Eastern TimeWhere: ZoomDescription: 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.Registration Link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lCwA0wT9Qh-lURTRWMYeDAImages: American Wigeon © Oliver Patrick/Macaulay Library (ML380895901); App screenshot © eBird Mobile

Winter Wings Festival in Klamath Falls, Oregon
2022-02-18 08:00 - 2022-02-20 17:00 | Kalamath Falls, Kalamath Falls, Oregon
The Winter Wings Festival is produced by Klamath Basin Audubon Society volunteers with support from sponsors, grants, and participant registration fees. Proceeds from this festival support local grants to teachers and other entities for outdoor education and community nature-related projects. Typically the reported species at the festival number about 120 – 133. Here is our 2019 festival bird species count.

Learn More

Ridgefield Field Class
2022-02-05 09:00 - 13:00
American Bittern – Ridgefield NWR

Pack your winter hat and a warm drink!

The Ridgefield Field Class will be Sat, February 5th, 9AM-1PM. We will meet near the refuge at 9AM. Experiencing birds in different habitats is an important tool to being a better birder, and Ridgefield offers 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 song birds, raptors, wintering waterfowl, and others. Please dress warm, as during the day we will get out of our cars and walk on easy trails.

The cost will be $55 per person per class, with a total of 8 participants. We’ll have the option to separate into two small groups. For questions and to sign up, contact Kevin via email at omalley23@gmail.com.

Volunteer Opportunity - Soos Creek Park Habitat Enhancement
2022-01-29 09:00 - 12:00
Wood Duck at Soos Creek Park

Friends of Soos Creek Park

Please join us, as we mulch native trees and shrubs to restore an area in Soos Creek Park, once overrun with blackberries and Scotch broom.

Saturday January 29th, 2022

9 AM to Noon

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. You are also required to wear a mask.Volunteers need to sign a King County waiver form. You must sign up to participate. Here’s is the link . TreePlotter – King County Parks (pg-cloud.com)

Bring gloves. Wear work clothes and boots.

If you have any questions you can contact Tina Miller at tina.miller55@gmail.com.

Joe Miles

Friends of Soos Creek Park

friendsofsooscreekpark@q.com

Visit us on Facebook

Back to the Night: Why Preserving the Stars is Not Just for the Birds
2022-01-20 19:00 - 20:00
Join our friends at East Cascade Audubon Society for their FREE monthly Birder’s Night presentation on Thursday January 20th at 7:00 PM. This presentation will be an exploration of the night’s wondrous mysteries and the impacts of light pollution with Portland Audubon Society’s Mary Coolidge. We will learn about how we can preserve our starry skies while simultaneously creating vibrant, beautiful, and safe nighttime cityscapes.

Zoom Link: Back to the Night Jan. 20, 7 PM

Christmas Bird Count
2022-01-02 08:00 - 20:00
Declan and Mom

Join us for out Christmas Bird Count!

What is the Christmas Bird Count?

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is an annual survey that began in the early 1900s.

History of the Christmas Bird Count | Audubon

2021-22 Christmas Bird Count Sunday, January 2, 2021

This year’s Rainier Audubon Christmas Bird Count will be a modified survey due to the coronavirus pandemic. Field leaders will survey the Rainier Audubon CBC Circle; however, we will not be taking field participants. Participants can do a backyard survey.

Participate in our CBC Backyard Bird Watch

Join the CBC by counting birds on your own in your yard. You can choose what time of day you would like to do your survey—morning, afternoon or even nighttime.

Download RAS Backyard Bird Checklist

Download RAS Winter Birds

How to participate in the CBC Yard Survey

If you live in the Rainier Audubon CBC Circle, you can count birds at home for the CBC. Your data will be submitted to National Audubon.

If you live outside of the Rainier Audubon CBC Circle, you can still do a survey and we will add your information to our Rainier Audubon CBC files. The data will not be submitted to National Audubon because your survey location is outside of the count circle.

Rainier Audubon CBC Circle Map

Share your experience at the CBC Zoom Celebration

Join us for an online celebration at the end of our count day, Sunday, January 2, 2021, from 6:00 PM-7:00 PM. We will tally the results from all of our surveys and hear from the teams and individuals about any special birdy moments on the survey.

Join us for our celebration at 6:00 PM

Zoom Meeting Link

How the count data is used

We send our data to National Audubon. Hundreds of Audubon chapters nationwide is compiled. The data is used by scientists and researchers to better understand bird distribution and population trends. This information helps to identify conservation priorities. We also use our CBC data for local conservation projects.

Audubon in Washington Advocacy Day 2021
2021-12-07 08:00 - 17:00
In 2022, legislators must chart a path toward economic recovery that equitably invests in a climate resilient future. We need your help in speaking with your legislator to elevate the needs of birds and people. When you register, you’ll join an advocacy group to meet with your state legislator on December 7th. Audubon will schedule your group’s meeting and provide training to ensure you’re prepared to speak for the birds!

Register

Winter Birds of Nisqually
2021-11-27 09:00 - 12:30
Varied Thrush

Kevin O’Malley, lead naturalist and birder at South Sound Nature School, will be teaching a birding basics class for beginners & intermediate birders wanting to further their knowledge about birding, assisted by Rainier Audubon member Barbara Petersen.

Class will focus on winter birds of the Puget Sound area, and will cover identification and behavior. Birding is a fascinating recreational activity. The class will help you better describe what you are hearing and seeing in your backyard and in the field.

Nisqually has both forest and wetland habitats which leads to a great bird diversity. Binoculars are recommended but not required.

These small classes will be geared toward ages 16 years and up. Class takes place on Saturday, November 27, 2021, 9:00AM to 12:30PM at the Billy Frank Jr Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. We’ll meet near the Visitor’s Center.

Maximum 8 participants.

You can pay in check or cash. You must register at: https://southsoundnatureschool.org/winter-birds-nisqually

Special Birds of Mt. Rainier
2021-11-15 19:00 - 20:00
Our member meetings are held the third Monday of every month. Check back regularly for Presentation details. Due to Covid-19, we are holding all member meetings online. Check Presentation details for a link.

by Jeff Antonellis-Lapp

To most birders, Mount Rainier National Park is a mecca for subalpine and alpine birds that include Gray Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Bluebird, and many other species. It’s also home to highly sought-after specialties that include Boreal Owl, White-tailed Ptarmigan, and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. But did you know that it and its neighboring watersheds host Northern Spotted Owl, Marbled Murrelet, and Streaked Horned Lark, all protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act? Join Jeff Antonelis-Lapp, Emeritus Faculty at The Evergreen State College, as he shares the status of these key species from Tahoma and Its People, his natural history of Mount Rainier National Park, published in 2020 by Washington State University Press. Learn more at https://jeffantonelis-lapp.com/.

Bio: After graduating from college, Jeff Antonelis-Lapp worked two summers at Mount Rainier National Park, igniting a connection to the mountain that endures today. He has summited the mountain, hiked all of its mapped trails, and completed the 93-mile Wonderland Trail five times.

Jeff began writing Tahoma and Its People after being unable to find a current natural history for a course he planned to teach at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. He conducted over 250 days of fieldwork for the book, many of them in the company of park archaeologists, biologists, and geologists.

While at Evergreen, he taught Native American Studies, natural history, environmental education, and served as the Library Dean before retiring in 2015.

Meeting starts at 6:30 pm. Presentation starts at 7:00 pm.

What's happening to the GRNRA?
2021-10-18 19:00 - 20:00
The Lower Russell Levee Setback Project

by Eric Peters, P.E., CCS

Capital Project Manager IV

Join Zoom Meeting

Our member meetings are held the third Monday of every month. Check back regularly for Presentation details. Due to Covid-19, we are holding all member meetings online. Check Presentation details for a link.

Lower Russell Levee Setback Project 2020/2021 Construction Video

About this project

The project is located on the east bank of the Green River between river mile (RM) 17.85 (S. 212th Street) and RM 19.25 (Veteran’s Drive/S. 228th St) within the City of Kent. The project driver was to replace an existing flood control levee that was eroding and not able to be rebuilt in its existing location and meet current engineering design standards. A levee failure during a flood event would damage a significant number of buildings, building contents and interrupt business. The project began planning and preliminary design in 2014 and is now under construction. Construction will be complete in 2022.

The project goals are the following:

Increase the flow containment capacity of the flood protection system.Construct a flood protection system that balances policy directives regarding flood protection (e.g., scour protection, stability, and vegetation maintenance), habitat restoration, and recreational use.Set the new flood protection system back from the river, where feasible, to improve riverine and riparian processes, functions, and habitat.Design a system that minimizes long-term maintenance needs and associated costs. The project resulted in flood protection system that is a combination of floodwall and levee, setback from the river. Riparian habitat will be significantly expanded with the levee setback. Recreation improvements include expanded shoreline access, constructed trails of various types, replacement Van Doren’s Landing Park and hand carry boat launch. More information may be found on the project’s web page.

Erik Peters is a civil engineer with King County’s River and Floodplain Management Section. He has over twenty-three years of experience working for private consulting and King County. His expertise is in water resources engineering. His experience ranges from planning to design and construction management. Erik has a BS and MS in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Drone Photos

New Environmental Center?

This construction will result in the relocation of the former Van Doren’s Landing Park to the east side of the new levee. The city is also looking into the possibility of creating a new Environmental Center at this location. We will follow Eric’s presentation with a short update about this from Rowena Valencia-Gica, Environmental Supervisor with the City of Kent.
