Meet the New Shorelines Editor
Karen Posner with her banjo in the garden.
Karen Posner, long-time Whidbey Audubon Society (WAS) member and resident of Greenbank, took over as editor for Shorelines during production of the April 2026 edition. We talked to her about her role as editor and learned a bit about her background.
Describe what you do for WAS:
I solicit and edit articles for Shorelines, the WAS newsletter. Shorelines is an important resource for communicating to members and the public about the upcoming meeting program, other WAS activities and special events, field trips, unusual bird sightings and other information consistent with the mission of WAS.
What’s your favorite bird/birding site?
My own yard! I enjoy creating and maintaining a bird-friendly habitat. The current list of birds seen on or over our property is 115 species. It’s interesting to see how the sightings change with changes in habitat as the property and surrounding area ages.
Tell us a bit about your history with WAS: how long you have been a member, what other positions you have held, what your experiences with WAS have been like…etc.
My family joined WAS shortly after moving to Whidbey Island in the early 1990s. Attending WAS meetings was an important family activity. Our family also participated in field trips, the “Birds of Whidbey” class series, and other WAS events over the years. This is the first time I have held a position within WAS. It’s rewarding to give back to the organization after my many years of association with WAS.
Tell us a bit of your personal history: where you grew up, places you have lived, education, work, family, travel experiences, etc.
I grew up in New Jersey, attended college in Rhode Island, and then moved to Washington for graduate school. My younger years were filled with playing music, hiking and rock climbing, with a short stint as a “climbing bum” in Yosemite National Park. Perhaps my most interesting outdoor experience was skiing across the North Cascades Highway after it closed for the winter season. My professional life was somewhat unusual, with an undergraduate degree in music and a PhD in cultural anthropology (with a certificate in health services), then a career as faculty of the UW School of Medicine. My research at the UW focused on patient safety, medical malpractice and quality of care. I retired in 2020 after 30 years on the faculty and have since actively returned to earlier passions such as gardening and music.
How can the membership help you and the Shorelines team?
Members who are expected to report on their WAS projects have been great about submitting excellent articles that meet publication deadlines. It makes my editing job so easy! And I want to give a huge shout out to previous editor Sharon Heiber for leaving behind some fantastic organizational resources that are incredibly helpful in putting Shorelines together. I welcome suggestions for articles from any member of WAS or the public. Please send suggestions and feedback for Shorelines to editor@whidbeyaudubonsociety.org