BIN-North birders met three times this summer, including in a trip with BIN-South in August. Highlights included watching the antics of a family of California Quail, being buzzed by a territorial Red-breasted Nuthatch, and seeing a mother river otter and her pup catching fish among the tide pools. Find out else delighted and surprised the group in Nancy’s BIN-North report.

Whidbey Audubon had a magical time connecting with more than a hundred bird lovers at this year’s Whidbey Renaissance Faire! From curious kids to new volunteers, read about all the exciting connections we made in our full event recap.

On the first of the month, between wandering the Greenbank Farm grounds and our stroll to the Wonn beach access, we identified at least 36 species. There was a little of everything, including the most exciting, a closeup look at a gorgeous pair of Blue-winged Teal right there in the pond…

The future is bright for Whidbey Island’s nesting population of Western Purple Martins! The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife has taken an interest and is gathering data. Volunteers have installed a new “flock” of eight PVC nest boxes at Crockett Lake. And tyhe Crockett Lake Purple Martin colony is big enough to be monitored.

This Wings Over Whidbey field trip met at wind-blown Fort Casey State Park. We started our efforts atop the high bluff in order to scope for waterbirds. A large flock of Rhinoceros Auklets with interspersed Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants was found immediately. …

On another cool gray morning, eleven birders met at the Pacific Rim Institute on May 14 to look for birds and wildflowers. Hearing that Barn Owls are nesting in the 1910 pole barn, we walked in the direction of the forest….

Whidbey Audubon welcomed two new officers and two new members and bade goodbye to four members in May. We appreciate members who have given of their time and talents in the past and who are filling vital roles going forward.

I had the pleasure of leading the first official Whidbey Audubon trip to Reifel in many years. Twelve enthusiastic participants and I met at the Reifel entrance station…

Five enthusiastic participants met me and the state park employee at the locked gate to the Hoypus Point Road.

Our much-loved picture windows have been killing birds for generations because birds can’t distinguish habitat reflected in windows from real trees and sky. Have any birds hit your windows this year? There are simple actions you can take to prevent bird window strikes and save lives.

Bird nesting is in full swing, and our actions can support or jeopardize eggs and nestlings. Steve Ellis shares guidelines for observing nests and actions you can take to give birds a better chance of reproducing.

There is still time to sign up as a survey volunteer! There are openings for regular beach monitors and substitute monitors, primarily for sites from mid-Island-Greenbank and North to Oak Harbor and we could definitely use volunteers with Navy Base access for the colonies on the base.  

Online and in-person volunteer trainings will take place May 14, May 21, May 28 and May 28.