Dear Reader,
I just returned from another quick trip to Orlando to help my daughter unpack and organize. She has a cute little house in College Park, walking distance to shops, restaurants, and parks. The weather cooperated so I enjoyed taking walks to look at birds while she was at work. I added eleven new species to my "life list" and even got a few photos!
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
We are excited to report that we distributed more than 20 calendars in our year-end membership drive. Our local membership has grown over the past three years from 78 members to our current count of 121. We are excited by the growth and the opportunity to make a difference for birds and their habitats in our two-county service area!
BIRD WALKS
Join us as we walk through Friends of the Wildwood open space in Lincoln City on Saturday, February 12 at 9am. More info...
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
This fun, free, family event takes place in mid-February, from the 18th through the 21st. Everyone is welcome to participate! It takes as little as 15 minutes, or you can count each day for as long as you like. More info...
If you're interested, but not sure you can identify the birds in your backyard, there's a special webinar on Wednesday, February 16th at 11am. Click here to register... (Note: this is not an ASLC webinar).
ACTION ALERT 1 ~ Thank Representative Gomberg for his support of the new Private Forest Accord!
You should have received an update a few minutes ago on the Private Forest Accord. Please join us in thanking Rep. Gomberg and encouraging his continued support as it moves through the legislature in this special short session. More info...
ACTION ALERT 2 ~ Help us pass legislation for long-term protection of the Elliott State Forest
For the past three years, Portland Audubon and other conservation organizations have served on an Elliott State Stakeholder Advisory Group charged with charting a new path forward for the Elliott. We now have the opportunity to put in place strong, durable protections for the Elliott, its older forests, and its imperiled species.
More info...
EXPECTED BIRDS AND POSSIBLE FINDS ~ Tillamook County
Raptor heaven! Tillamook county is a favorite place for wintering buteos and other raptors. Each year it seems that a different agricultural field is the most popular-probably because of food availability, of course. This winter, in addition to many Red-tailed hawks, we are seeing more Red-shouldered hawks, and a beautiful Swainson’s hawk, rare for the west side of the Cascades. Bald Eagles, American Kestrels, and Northern Harriers love these same fields. If you drive these roads after dark, or before sunrise, you are likely to see Barn owls on the fence posts.
Repairs to the north Tillamook jetty at the entrance to Tillamook bay have started and will last until at least September. This has limited access to this popular birding spot. Instead, try looking from the Garibaldi public pier (aka the crabbing dock), for good views of the bay and channel. Many birds float in and out on the tide. A Barrow’s Goldeneye pair is frequently there. Harlequin ducks and loons love the tide pool area between Garibaldi and Barview. This is where the rare Yellow-billed Loon was seen at the end of January. For more information on birding in Tillamook, visit http://www.tillamookbirder.com/ ~ Report submitted by Kathy Krall
UPCOMING COASTAL WEBINARS
We are excited to be partnering with Oregon Coast Community College to bring you a series of webinars for the spring term, which starts in April. Stay tuned for more info!
That's it for this month.
Let's keep working together for birds and nature!