2014 Cowlitz Columbia CBC Recap

Details

Last Updated: March 01, 2015

By Bob Reistroffer

23 field observers and eight feeder watchers joined and spent the cool sunny day finding 17,172 birds with 98 species recorded during the 33^rd Cowlity Columbia Christmas Bird Count. The temperature ranged from 21° to 41°. Also during count week an additional 7 species were reported.

We had several high counts: 54 Pied-billed Grebes, 430 Northern Shovelers, 225 Buffelheads, 78 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks, 72 Red-tailed Hawks, 22 Bald Eagles, 264 Mourning Doves, 24 Kingfishers, 24 Downy Woodpeckers, 11 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, 23 Common Ravens, 70 Chestnut-backed Chickadees, 22 Red-breasted Nuthatchs, 946 Oregon Dark-eyed Juncos, 175 White-crowned Sparrows, and 510 Golden-crowned Sparrows.

Seen during count week: Green Heron, Rough-legged Hawk, Long-billed Dowitcher, Horned Lark, Pygmy Owl, Saw-whet Owl, and Gray Jay.

Not seen for many years: 1 Hutton’s Vireo, 4 Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Thank you all for a great job. Hope to see you all next year on Friday, Jan 1, 2016.

January - February 2014 Whistler is online

Details

Last Updated: December 27, 2017

The January / February 2014 Whistler is available now.

Read more of its content:

• Lake Sacajawea Bird Walk and Social Recap
• Membership Form,
• WHAS contact information
• Amphibian Egg Mass Training
• Bald Eagle found at Lake Sacajawea
• Christmas Bird Count Recap
• Are Your Birds Southbound, Just Arriving, or Homebodies
• Thea Linnaea Pyle: Naturalist,
• WHAS Officer nomination form
• Book Review: The Snow Geese
• WHAS Programs and Field Trips;

2014 Leadbetter Point Count Recap

Details

Last Updated: March 01, 2015

By Suzy Whittey ~ Organizer ~ Long Beach, WA

I want to thank the 23 property owners who live around Willapa Bay and other key locations that granted the 42 birders in 8 sectors access to count birds on December 20, 2014 for the 115th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The information gathered in the Christmas Bird Counts that happened all across North America is invaluable to ornithologists who monitor bird populations.

The hardy birders, some who traveled over 100 miles to have the opportunity to count birds in Pacific County braved a wet and windy day with posted high surf advisories that did not allow the Pacific beach to be counted this year. But the stormy weather brought species like Red Phalaropes, Western Sandpipers and Snowy Plovers inland to be seen in puddles along G Street in Surfside and the Beach Barron Field on Sandridge Road. The Bay Center Group saw 7 Snow Geese and 16,000 Dunlin in Willapa Bay. But, their highlight was a rare sighting of a Townsend Solitaire. Other groups documented a Barred Owl, Wilson Snipe, Canvasback Ducks, Eurasian Widgeon, White-winged Scoter, Trumpeter Swans and Spotted Sandpipers just to mention a few.

Even though the number of birds and the number of species were down this year, most of it can be attributed to the stormy weather. Thank you birders for your time and expertise in making the Leadbetter Christmas Bird Count a huge success. I also want to thank the Berry Patch Restaurant in Ocean Park and the Hunters Inn in Naselle for serving us breakfast and dinner.

Dead Eagle found in Longview

Details

Last Updated: February 15, 2014

On December 27, during his daily walk around Lake Sacajawea in Longview, John Green found a dead Bald Eagle at the edge of the lake.  It is illegal to collect wild birds, per the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, so he did not touch the bird, determined to find the proper action to take.

Upon arriving home, he called Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, who were not interested (maybe not their jurisdiction) and recommended to call Portland Audubon.  Audubon gave him the number for the Federal Fish and Wildlife office.  These folks have committed to picking up the bird, which upon their direction was stored in a plastic bag in his freezer.  They advised that there is a demand for Native American ceremonial use and the feathers will be donated after a necropsy is performed to determine cause of death.

It has been determined that the eagle died in a collision with a motor vehicle probably in flight over the Washington Way bridge.

November - December 2013 Whistler is online

Details

Last Updated: December 27, 2017

The November / December 2013 Whistler is available now.

Read more of its content:

• Bald Eagle Released at Willow Grove Park
• Welcome back Pacific County Auduboners
• Membership Application Form,
• A special Memorial Gift
• Christmas Bird Count Information
• WHAS helps with Forestry Day
• Washington Audubon, WHAS and Coal,
• Highlights of State Audubon Meetings
• Update on LNG
• Book Review: Freeway Birding: San Francisco to Seattle
• WHAS Programs and Field Trips;

How the NorthWest Weather can affect bird migration

Details

Last Updated: December 27, 2017

Cliff Mass provides some interesting news of how the weather radar can be used to track and check on bird migration. Over the last week we had mostly wind from the south and birds don't like headwinds. Recently this has changed and now the birds are really on the move.

Check out his blog.

September - October 2013 Whistler is online

Details

Last Updated: December 27, 2017

The September / October 2013 Whistler is available now.

Read more of its content:

• Bird Report from a summer in Alaska
• Fall events
• Membership Application Form,
• WHAS contact information
• Photo impressions form WHAS picnic
• HE” Hope & Endurance
• DVD Review: Nature: An Original DUCKumentary
• Visitors seen in the Kastberg’s garden
• WHAS Programs and Field Trips;

Bald Eagle Released at Willow Grove Park

Details

Last Updated: February 15, 2014

On September 20th Audubon Society of Portland’s wildlife rehab clinic released a male adult Bald Eagle at noon at Willow Grove Park.

The injured eagle had been picked up in the Abernathy Creek watershed suffering from lead poisoning caused by ingesting dead animals that had been shot. Vets repaired broken tail feathers using feathers from four other eagles in a process called “imping.”

About 20 people were able to watch the release, despite short notice. Several WHAS people attended, including Tom Finn, Bob Reistroffer and Darrel Whipple.

UPDATED! Injured Bald Eagle will be realeased healthy

Details

Last Updated: February 15, 2014

UPDATE

Wildlife Care Center staff have decided to delay the bald eagle release scheduled for Saturday August 24^th. During the final round of exams, it was discovered the eagle was struggling to fly. I will keep you updated of a possible rescheduling. Sorry for the last minute notice, but this is the nature of rehabilitation. Below is the official press release for more details.

Portland Audubon would like to invite the public to the release of a rehabilitated Bald Eagle this Saturday (August 24th).

The bird was found in Longview, Washington in May almost completely incapacitated with lead poisoning, after months of treatment it is now ready to be released back to the wild.

We are planning to release the bird at 11 AM at Willow Grove Park on the Columbia River just west of Longview. It would be great if you and any of your members could join us at this event.

July - August 2013 Whistler is online

Details

Last Updated: December 27, 2017

The July / August 2013 Whistler is available now.

Read more of its content:

• Invitation to the WHAS Summer Picnic
• Membership Application Form,
• WHAS contact information
• Conservation updates
• S.W.A.M.P. Picnic a Rousing Success
• Sapsucker has found his instrument
• Washington States has two new IBA’s
• Fundraising for Coal Dust Research
• Barred Owls camp in Longview yard
• WHAS Programs and Field Trips;