Thank you to trip leader Dave Parent for sharing reports from expeditions to Malheur Wildlife Refuge and Westport, WA.

When Tiffany Kelly and her husband, Paul, moved to South Whidbey Island in 2023, one of the first things they did was to take the Birds of Whidbey class. Learn why her involvement has grown from there in our Q&A with Tiffany.

Longtime South Whidbey Audubon member Govinda Holtby and her husband, Matt, a follower of the Grateful Dead, have published a book that melds their two passions: Northwest birds and the Grateful Dead. They will be launching the book with a festive, public celebration at Ott & Hunter winery in Langley on October 26.

September Birding in Neighborhoods South meetups were spent at Deer Lagoon–the shifting seasons bring on something interesting everywhere we turn.

We observed a little of everything–at least 40 species during one morning early in the month–about eight different shorebirds, including…

Read Cathi Bower’s full report.

The Whidbey Audubon Society Conservation Committee has added two new projects: investigating decreased water levels at Crockett Lake and securing a site for the Motus tower.

Thick fog greeted eleven birders as we gathered at the West Beach/Swan Lake Overlook on September 10. Only the birds closest to shore were visible. Among Ring-billed and California Gulls, we spotted Heerman’s Gulls in a full range of plumage, from juveniles to adults. The most dramatic sighting was…

Dave Venard is the new treasurer of Whidbey Audubon Society. Dave is an accountant by education and training and a longtime birder. We talked with him about his interest in birds and his new role.

Carlos Anderson shares updates on the Conservation Committee’s work to preserve Deer Lagoon this summer, including putting up additional Important Bird Area signs at the Preserve and advocating for a burn ban that would limit the fireworks use that harms American White Pelicans and Bald Eagles.

This July, Whidbey Audubon’s Conservation Committee piloted a new program to help protect bald eagle nests—especially those with vulnerable fledglings—from the impacts of fireworks. Signs posted near nests raised public awareness, encouraged reporting of violations, and provided added protection during the holiday season. The pilot was a success and will return next year.

Linda Rhodes writes about the importance of this new designation and describes how to become a volunteer Adopt-a-Park steward.

Throughout summer we visited a half dozen locations -  from Possession Point at the far tip of the Island and the Glendale (aka, Possession Sound Preserve) Pigeon Guillemot colony where we watched a PIGU deliver a fish to its burrow and saw a lone and early southbound Swan, up to Greenbank Farm where we spied…. Read Nancy Luenn’s full report.

When I initially heard about the 2025 National Audubon Leadership Conference in Montreal, I quickly put aside the idea of attending. Even ignoring the distance to Quebec, the entrance fee for the event was expensive, and I suspected (correctly) that very few chapters would be attending from our state. Even so, as the conference crept closer, I had a nagging feeling that I had to go, knowing that the opportunity to connect with both the larger international conservation community and the hundreds of Audubon chapter leaders from around the country was one I couldn’t let pass by. Just a few hours before the registration closed….