The Spotted Towhee rustles through leaf litter, attracting the notice of people who can be surprised when they learn that it is a bird making all that racket.
Birding During the Pandemic
Current news reports indicate that more people are appreciating birds while they shelter in place. Confined to home during partial shutdowns this spring, people have had a lot of time on their hands and many of them have started watching the birds in their yards, discovering just how much fun it can be. Downloads of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology bird identification app, Merlin, and the Audubon app have increased dramatically. Sales of bird feeders and bird seed have expanded during the pandemic. People are starting to notice birds.
Eastside Audubon College Scholarship Recipients
Volunteer Spotlight: Glenn Eades
$5,000 GiveBIG Washington Matching Gift Challenge
Backyard Birding During Quarantine
I always enjoy watching birds in my backyard, and yet as the days wore on, I became mesmerized by their activities and voracious eating habits, thankful for my husband’s diligence in filling and cleaning the feeders. One sunny day, my son suggested that I sit on the porch with my camera. He helped bring out a chair for me as I hobbled out with my walker and camera.
A Note from Your Conservation Chair
Partnerships Create a Brighter Future for Children
President’s Letter: Navigating a Changed World
With lots of time at home right now, I was reminiscing back to May of last year and the time I spent with so many of you. Just twelve months ago, I was on my first ever trip to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge with my two best birding buddies, excited to do my first Big Day: a quest to see as many birds as possible in one day to support Eastside Audubon’s biggest fundraiser of the year—Birdathon.
Vesper Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Eastside Audubon Book Club is Three Years Old
Bird Surveys and Other Conservation Committee Updates
The Conservation Committee had a busy Winter Quarter. We completed the Climate Watch Survey in February, advocated for protecting the Purple Martin boxes at Lake Sammamish, sent letters to our Washington state legislators, and planned and prepared to start our brand-new bird survey at the Marymoor Transition Zone.
Teacher Grants Awarded
Annually the Youth Education Committee awards two grants of $450.00 to Eastside schools with a significant low-income student body. Funds are to be used for the following: non-consumable, reusable materials; a project centered on the environment, science, nature; lessons consistent with the mission of Eastside Audubon.
Birdathon: Social Distancing Edition
President’s Letter: Taking Time Outside
When the pace of everyday life stresses me out, or the craziness of political news makes me wonder about the future of society, I’m drawn to nature. While it’s difficult to clear my mind of everything that has caused the stress, sometimes I can fill it momentarily with the wonder of the world around us.
Marymoor Park Bird Survey: Birders of All Skill Levels Needed
Meet Our New Board Members!
Volunteer Spotlight: Emily Kistler
Restoration of Riparian Habitat
While researching some literature in preparation for Eastside Audubon’s upcoming bird survey of the Willowmoor Project area at Marymoor Park, I learned that by taking into consideration some important elements of restoration design and new plantings, restoration of riparian habitat could significantly improve bird abundance and diversity in an area that had previously become degraded.