Events List
Board Meeting
Come explore what the Board of Directors does! Bring your interest and consider joining a committee. Any member is welcome to attend.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Field Trip: Keystone Small Sit
Join us as we return to Keystone for a fall Small Sit. Diving ducks, loons, grebes, and alcids abound here in fall. There is no walking for this field trip, just sit or stand and observe the birds. Bring a chair if you want one. Participants are free to come and go as they please during the two-hour "sit". This is a Washington State Park free day: NO Discover Pass needed.
Birding in Neighborhoods – North Whidbey
Birding in Neighborhoods North Whidbey (BINN) outings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Field trip: Dugualla Bay, March Point, Washington Park
This half day trip offers the opportunity to see loons, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and forest species with Steve Ellis. Start at Windjammer Park in Oak harbor and carpool to Dugualla Bay and then to Fidalgo Island. Meet in Windjammer Park at 8:00 a.m. Be prepared to carpool.
General Meeting and Program: How to Count 4 Million Birds
North America hosts the largest raptor migration in the world each fall in Veracruz, Mexico. But it’s a lot more than just the birds of prey; there’s millions of migrating songbirds and storks and pelicans and anhinga… and clouds of dragonflies and colorful butterflies. It’s also a compelling story of the biologists who grew up in the small rural communities, and the non-profit that runs the counts, the education programs, forges conservation partnerships with local land owners, and hosts several MOTUS towers. Steve worked there for a season and so will bring you the story and explain how to count millions of migrating raptors.
Field Trip: Big Trees and Small Birds Nature Exploration
Join us for a gentle morning outing through the old campground at South Whidbey State Park. Bring your curiosity as we will look and listen for any flora and fauna we can find, not just birds!
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Birding in Neighborhoods – North Whidbey
Birding in Neighborhoods North Whidbey (BINN) outings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Christmas Bird Count North
Save the Date! Sign up to join a team for the annual Christmas Bird Count in the North Whidbey Circle. In case of snow or really bad weather, the count will be rescheduled for January 2, 2027.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Christmas Bird Count South
Save the Date! Christmas Bird Count for the South Whidbey circle is Wednesday, December 30. If the weather is really bad the count will be postponed until January 4, 2027. Watch for details on the Christmas Bird Count page.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Birding in Neighborhoods – North Whidbey
Birding in Neighborhoods North Whidbey (BINN) outings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Loons at Deception Pass
Join us for this free field trip to see the Red-throated Loons feeding on the outgoing current at Deception Pass before they return to the Arctic to breed.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Birding in Neighborhoods – North Whidbey
Birding in Neighborhoods North Whidbey (BINN) outings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
Field trip: Pratt Loop Trail
This hike goes through fields,a forest and nice hedgerows. Bird species found in the forest including four species of flycatchers, several woodpeckers and warblers. The open areas host raptors and grassland species. A bonus is a chance at wildflowers and butterflies.
Birding Deer Lagoon Preserve
Fall at Deer Lagoon Preserve celebrates the return of the waterfowl. Please join local birding enthusiast Carlos Andersen for a peaceful morning of birding at the Preserve.
Libbey Beach Small Sit
Join us for a seawatch small sit at Libbey Beach County Park, where seabirds abound in fall and winter! There is no walking for this fieldtrip, just sit or stand and observe the birds. Bring a chair if you want one.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Birding in Neighborhoods – North Whidbey
Birding in Neighborhoods North Whidbey (BINN) outings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
General Meeting and Program—Barred and Spotted Owls
Join us for our monthly public program and general membership meeting at a NEW venue—the Coupeville High School Performing Arts Center. All are welcome to this free event. Register to attend this program online.
This hybrid program features Emilie Kohler and Emma Gashi from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for an engaging talk exploring the competitive relationship between Barred Owls and the endangered Northern Spotted Owl.
Poor Man's Pelagic
Enjoy a short pelagic excursion across Admiralty Inlet on the Port Townsend Keystone. We will walk on the ferry at Keystone and head upstairs to the sun deck to look for birds feeding in the harbor. This short trip is limited to 8. Please register.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Native Bee Walk with Ingrid Carmean, Washington Native Bee Society
During this walk, starting from the Native Bee Society tent at WoW, we will discuss the bees we see, where they nest, overwinter, and their larvae develop. As well as what stage (larva, prepupal or adult) they spend the winter. We will discuss parasitic (cuckoo) bees and their hosts. We will discuss the difference between bees and flies and the difference between bees and wasps.
Camp Casey Scope Station with Madrone Ruggiero
Scan for marine birds on Admiralty Inlet from the edge of Camp Casey. Look for the scope and benches at the beachside fire pit and come join us for a midday seawatch.
Camp Casey Family Field Trip with Patrick Layton
Come enjoy the birds of Whidbey in their habitats surrounding the Wings over Whidbey festivities. We will provide binoculars so that families with children can explore the birds in and around Camp Casey and Crockett Lake.
Wings over Whidbey Bird Festival
Join us for another year of Whidbey Audubon Society's Wings Over Whidbey Bird Festival, held at YMCA Camp Casey on Saturday, September 26, 2026. It will feature a community space with local vendors, food trucks, and nonprofit booths, several speakers in Camp Casey's large auditorium, and our wonderful Bird Specimen Collection for hands-on engagement!
We will also be hosting an evening event, featuring a catered dinner by Orlando’s Southern Barbecue and a presentation by Paul Bannick, September 25th at the Nordic Lodge!
Shoreline Walk with Sound Water Stewards
Join Sound Water Stewards on the beach to learn about the local shoreline habitat and how it supports bird populations in the area. With a focus on geology and the intertidal zone, we’ll take a closer look at the unique features of the shoreline and discover how the land, water, and wildlife are all connected. Come explore, learn, and enjoy the beauty of our shoreline! This is a Wings over Whidbey Bird Festival partnership event. Please register.
Port Townsend Pelagic Ferry Trip with Dave Parent
Join us for a pelagic trip on the Coupeville - Port Townsend Ferry route! This is a great open water crossing for birds and marine mammals and an underrated destination. We hope to find pelagic birds and winter resident birds that have returned from nesting in the boreal forest and arctic. I make this crossing frequently and am often surprised by what I find. Anything is possible.
Fort Casey State Park with Steve Ellis
We start by looking for seabirds from the bluff and then proceed to walk through the forest. Possible sightings at the park include Rhinoceros Auklets, grebes, Cedar Waxwings, woodpeckers and many more species. We then drive to the Keystone Boat Launch to look for cormorants and Harlequin Ducks. Next we drive the length of Crockett's Lake, searching for waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors.
The Heartbeat of the Western Forest: Exploring the Lives of Our Keystone Birds
In this brand-new presentation, award-winning photographer Paul Bannick uses his intimate yet dramatic images, up-to-date science and first hand narratives to explore the lives of woodpeckers and their importance to our habitats in Western Washington and beyond. Bannick’s startling images reflect their shared behaviors as well as some surprising exceptions and adaptations. More than just a backdrop, the varied habitats reveal wildly rich stories of their own.
Penn Cove Small Sit #2
Hang out and bird the incoming tide for early fall arrivals and resident birds with trip leader, Madrone Ruggiero.
Please register for this Wings over Whidbey field trip.
Fort Ebey State Park with Steve Ellis
This trip offers the chance to encounter forest birds, seabirds, waterfowl and shorebirds. We'll walk the bluff trail after visiting Pondilla Lake. The park is home to chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and is the most reliable spot on the island for crossbills. Eagles and Black Oystercatchers are often present. There's also a good chance to view seals and sea lions.
Penn Cove Small Sit #1
Hang out and bird the incoming tide for early fall arrivals and resident birds with trip leader, Madrone Ruggiero.
Please register for this Wings over Whidbey field trip.
Deer Lagoon Preserve with Patrick Layton
Come and explore a Whidbey Island wonder and one of the best locations for birding on the island, with 219 different bird species! This is a great trip for experienced and novice birders alike.
Deception Pass with Dave Parent
West Beach, Deception Pass State Park, is a varied habitat. We will begin with a seawatch out on the Strait of Juan de Fuca for seabirds returning from the arctic. Next we will look out over Cranberry Lake, a freshwater lagoon. After that, we will walk through the forest looking for birds and then admire the 850 year old contorted Douglas Fir.
October Shorelines articles due
Please send articles, photos, and announcements to Karen by Friday, September 18. If you are working on an article but cannot make the deadline, let her know when to expect it and what it’s about.
Board Meeting
Come explore what the Board of Directors does! Bring your interest and consider joining a committee. Any member is welcome to attend.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Deep Birding: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Birds in a Rapidly Changing Climate
Join us for a monthly program, hosted at Whidbey Island Nordic Lodge in Coupeville! This month’s speaker, Steve Hampton, is an award-winning writer who integrates stories of Indigenous history, climate change, and birds.
Birding in Neighborhoods – North Whidbey
Birding in Neighborhoods North Whidbey (BINN) outings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Board Meeting
Come explore what the Board of Directors does! Bring your interest and consider joining a committee. Any member is welcome to attend.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.
Birding in Neighborhoods – North Whidbey
Birding in Neighborhoods North Whidbey (BINN) outings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey
“Birding in Neighborhoods - South Whidbey” meets every other Thursday. Contact Cathi Bower, group leader.