Designation of the Columbia River Estuary as a Site of Regional Importance
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 09:22 Written by Webmaster
Excellent Birding Opportunity—Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Celebrates the Columbia River Estuary as a Site of Regional Importance
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, May 1, 2010
LOCATION: Fort Stevens State Park – 15 minutes West of Astoria, OR
TIME: 9.30 a.m. - until 3 p.m.
The Columbia River estuary hosts more than 20,000 shorebirds during spring migration. The newly designated Site of Regional Importance includes the shore line and islands, beginning at river mile 60 at Crims Island—near Mayger, Oregon, and across from Stella,Washington. It extends to the mouth of the Columbia River Estuary in both Washington and Oregon.
The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network is a conservation strategy begun in 1986 that aims to protect key habitats throughout the Americas in order to sustain healthy populations of shorebirds. Today, 29 million acres of shorebird habitat, made up of 77 sites in 12 countries, have been brought under the auspices of WHSRN. See more information at http://www.whsrn.org/about-whsrn
This new Regional WHSRN site will help to promote shorebird conservation through increased coordination among landowners, greater emphasis on shorebird habitat conservation, and new education opportunities.
The celebration will begin in Parking Lot D, at Fort Stevens State Park, with a short ceremony and VIP speakers. WHSRN will be sending out an official invitation with sign-up information for field trips, including a bird walk guided by local shorebird biologists, narrated boat tour to view shorebirds and tern colony within the Columbia, and a guided boat tour to Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge islands.
For more information contact:
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, 503-736-4497
Come out to see thousands of shorebirds in one of the most beautiful settings in the country!
