Purple Martin, photo courtesy of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists

SWIFTY (Swallows in Flight to Yachats) is a group of volunteers based out of Yachats who build, install and monitor nest boxes for ducks, owls and songbirds. SWIFTY’s main focus is helping the swallow family, with 250+ boxes installed for Tree and Violet-green Swallows and 90 boxes for Purple Martins. During this illustrated talk, Jim Welch will explain the ecology of these species, highlighting the important role of bird nesting boxes and the challenges these birds face due to climate change and other factors.

Jim bought a home on the Oregon coast in 2016 when he retired from the renewable energy industry in Colorado. As a lifelong environmentalist, he has been active in conservation related projects. Besides co-founding SWIFTY, he established Yachats annual environmental festival, Wild Things, where kids and families learn to enjoy and protect our treasured coastline and its wildlife. He serves on the board for the Seven Capes Bird Alliance and is in the process of getting the City of Yachats certified as one of the first “Bird Cities” in the state.

This presentation is brought to you by Yaquina Birders and Naturalists. 
 

MEETING LOCATION:

OSU Extension Lincoln County
1211 SE Bay Blvd
Newport, OR 97365