Eastside Audubon is now accepting applications for two funding opportunities supporting local conservation and education efforts.
The Puget Sound Seabird Survey is looking for birders in King County to join this established Community Science program.
In the quiet of the woods the bubbling song of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet erupted, and the high trill of the Brown Creeper signaled its presence. The hormonal drive to breed had birds singing regardless of the weather.
In 2024, the monthly Marymoor habitat restoration workparty had 237 volunteers. We planted 131 native shrubs and trees, including bigleaf maples, Garry oaks, Oregon grapes, Nootka roses, and Western red cedars. We spread almost 70 cubic yards of mulch and removed over 50 cubic yards of invasive species like common hawthorn, Himalayan blackberry, and reed canary grass.
Leah Turner and Mick Thompson were named co-winners of the Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month award for September. Leah won for her shots of elusive Common Loons at Semiahmoo Spit, south of Vancouver, B.C., while Mick earned recognition for his photos of long-eared owls taken at Boundary Bay in British Columbia.
As we head into winter, consider leaving your leaves and twigs in the yard. My pollinator garden might look tired, but every time I step outside, I see birds nibbling on seeds or resting in the brush. There’s so much life hidden in there that we often overlook!
Nutrient-Rich Mulch: As leaves and twigs break down, they enrich the soil, preparing it for a healthier spring.
Wildlife Shelter: These natural materials provide shelter for bugs and critters, supporting biodiversity in your yard.
Compost Your Pumpkins! Break down your old pumpkins (remove any candles or paint) and compost them. Birds and critters will love the treat, but keep an eye out for unwanted guests like rats.
Add Wood Chips to Your Yard: Wood chips help retain moisture in the soil, which is crucial during dry spells. They also act as a natural barrier against weeds, as well as mitigating soil erosion and helping to keep your garden intact.
You can get free wood chips from local tree removal services or arborists. I’ve already put in a request and am eagerly awaiting my delivery. There are also websites where you can request wood chips, but be prepared to accept a large load whenever it’s available.
Happy thanksgiving!
Each year, the Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) holds a conference in the western United States, bringing together birders and scientists from all over western North America. The WFO, started fifty years ago, has grown to become a major hub for bird science, publishing peer-reviewed journals and promoting the conservation of important species. The organization also has a robust student program, aimed at inspiring young birders to pursue their passions in ornithology. As a scholarship recipient, I was excited to travel down to San Diego to attend the 48th annual WFO conference.
Snowy Egret by Song Han Ngu
As part of the conference, birders are offered the opportunity to attend birding field trips around the local area. This included a variety of habitats, such as sloughs, the pelagic zone, forests, and we even got exclusive entry into a salt works area where thousands of birds migrate through each year. I spent Thursday morning birding along the Tijuana River Estuary, and had a wonderful close encounter with a Ridgway’s rail, the theme bird of the conference. We also saw many other amazing birds such as the Vermillion Flycatcher, a White Tailed Kite, and a Pacific Golden Plover. A huge part of this experience was thanks to our field trip guide, Mel, who had been birding in the area for years and knew all of the best spots.
An integral part of the conference are the science sessions, where researchers from across North America come to share their findings. The highlight for me was hearing about the Ridgway Rail conservation work being done in the area, and how the population has been slowly but steadily growing thanks to the conservation. There were also plenty of other interesting research studies, including ones analyzing the phylogeography of Wrentits, sucrose perceptions in pigeons, and the differences between house and pacific wrens in California. It was my first time listening to such high level research projects, and I was really impressed by the work that so many ornithologists are doing studying birds.
Science Sessions at the Western Field Ornithologist Conference.
In addition to the science sessions, there were also ornithology workshops where birders could learn how research is being done in the field. I was able to attend the Ridgway Rail Conservation workshop and the Specimen-preparation one, both of which were wonderful experiences! At the Ridgway Rail workshop, we were given a tour of the Living Coast Discovery Center to see the breeding area and proving pens where Ridgway rails are cared for. We then helped to build and implement a rail raft to help improve the birds’ habitat. The specimen preparation workshop was fascinating as well. We listened to Philip Unnit explain the importance and applications of taxidermies, before getting to watch a live demo on two birds.
Taxidermy Demo.
My favorite part of the conference was getting to meet the other student scholars. We had the opportunity to meet and talk with each other at the reception, banquet, and at a special event called the Next Generation Birders Reception. It was really cool to hear about how they’re involved with their own local audubon societies, including habitat restoration work and banding birds. It was also really inspiring to meet previous student scholars who are now researchers and college graduates in the field of ornithology.
Overall, being at the conference was a really special experience, and I had a wonderful time. I got to meet ornithologists and scientists from all over the region and their research, see many of the local birds around the San Diego area, and attend workshops where I learned more about how bird science is being done. I truly thank the WFO for everything that they’ve done for birds and ornithology, and will continue to follow the organization for many years to come.
