Whidbey Audubon Society at the Whidbey Gardening Workshop
Robin Llewellyn showing a young visitor a bird specimen at the Master Gardener Workshop.
By Cathi Bower
Of course, birds and plants go together better than just about anything. Last month Whidbey Audubon joined up with the WSU Master Gardeners all day Whidbey Gardening Workshop and marketplace. We shared bird and habitat insights with the gardeners who came through, and also shared the space with Pacific Rim Institute. We really fit nicely there together.
Questions and interest ranged from feeders and hummingbirds to owls and what to do if you find a dead bird (contact our Bird Specimen Library, of course!) Our little Red-breasted Sapsucker received much attention, as apparently he is the most elusive and surprising to the locals. Throughout the day, by far the most popular topic was that of Northern Flickers banging away on people’s houses! Everyone was assured that the flickers are just looking for love this time of year, that it is cyclical (will cease shortly), and that as long as the relentless pounding is only on gutters, downspouts and chimneys, the damage is limited mostly to our early morning sleep, If the birds are creating holes in siding that is a different story, and exclusion measures must be deployed.
Thanks to Robin, Cheryl and Linda for assembling a wonderful bird specimen collection for display – thirteen species, Brown Creeper to Great-horned Owl. Everyone enjoyed the up-close-and-personal opportunity. We were busy all day, and Robin stopped by for a couple hours to help field questions and collect contact information for those with possible interest in helping with bird specimen preparation. The day was very rewarding for being able to interact with some cheery and engaged gardening folk. Also, the workshop provided vendors with a generous and substantial snack spread! So think about that next time someone asks if you’re interested in tabling an event!
These are only some of the tools available to create an engaging tabling display.