Dear Reader,
We had a short but pleasant visit to Hana on the island of Maui last month. If you’ve been there before, you know that the road is narrow and windy (612 hairpin curves and numerous one-way sections where you’d swear your car was going to scrape the sides). Hana is small and quiet and it was a perfect place to relax. It’s been crazy busy since we got back home - all the catching up from the holidays and vacations! As I like to say, buried up to my neck in fun stuff!
FEBRUARY EVENTS
10th (Saturday), 9-11am: Join us on this ASLC/Lincoln City Parks & Recreation walk to Friends of Wildwoods Open Space! We will meet at the pullout at the trailhead on NE West Devils Lake Rd in Lincoln City (look for our ASLC sign). More info…
16th (Friday) - 19th (Monday): Join the fun on the Great Backyard Bird Count. Everyone is welcome to participate - from beginners to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds! Find out how you can take part in this annual, fun event. More info…
20th (Tuesday), 6:30pm: Naturalist Presentation: The Spectacular Birds of the Colombian Andes. Take a visual trip to South America with photographer Roy Lowe. The meeting will be at the OSU Extension Lincoln County, 1211 SE Bay Blvd in Newport. More info…
29th (Wednesday), 6:30pm: The Oregon Coast Rocks webinar, part 1: Feathers and Fronds with Roy Lowe. Join us for a fun and informative webinar exploring the connection between birds and kelp. Learn how birds use the nearshore ocean environment, especially the underwater kelp forests growing along our shoreline. Guest speaker, Roy Lowe, will talk about birds you might see using kelp beds in Oregon, explain how the kelp benefits them, as well as share his stunning photography. More info…
BIRDWALKS
Curious about past months’ walks? Did you know that we keep the reports, including photos and lists of bird sightings, on our website? Check out our January walk to Regatta Park & Devils Lake.
SEARCHING FOR OSPREY NESTS AND NEST MONITORS!
Osprey season is coming up again and we're preparing for our second year of osprey nest monitoring! Would you like to monitor an osprey nest this year? We're looking for volunteers who are willing to keep an eye on a nest several times a week and report their findings. You will need to register in advance and receive training. We’ll be providing the required training for free in two locations: in Newport on Tuesday, March 5 and in Lincoln City on Wednesday, March 6. Interested? Email me for more information.
WHERE ARE OSPREY NESTING? We’re expanding our nest monitoring program to encompass all of Lincoln County (Tillamook County will be next year). If you know of any nests outside of Lincoln City, please let us know!
RECRUITING NEW BOARD MEMBERS
We are looking for a few motivated folks who love birds and nature and are willing to serve on our ASLC Board of Directors. We meet monthly on the second Thursday. Meetings are held at our office in Lincoln City but are also hybrid so you don’t need to travel. If you’re interested, please let me know! If you’d like to volunteer, but not as a Board member, we have many other opportunities from one-time to ongoing, so just let us know what interests you.
ARE YOU A TEACHER?
Are you a teacher, or do you know a teacher here in Lincoln or Tillamook Counties? We are offering a six-lesson, bird-related curriculum from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. For example, the Spring 2024 course is "eBird Explorers: Discover Schoolyard Birds." While officially designated for grades 3-5, the materials are suitable up to 8th grade. The curriculum adheres to the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core State Standards. ASLC will cover the cost of the materials, approximately $80 per classroom, and provide teacher training.
We are offering this opportunity, including materials, for up to 10 teachers!. If you are interested, please contact our Education Coordinator, Nora Sherwood at noras@lincolncityaudubon.org.
STAFFING
We want to welcome our friend and former vice-president, Ruth Shelly, as our new Development Coordinator. Ruth started her position on January 18th and is already working on grant-writing, reporting, and more to help us become more fiscally sustainable. Ruth will be working on other sustainable funding options such as Business Memberships and planned giving. Ruth will continue on our Communication team as our newsletter editor. Stay tuned for more from Ruth!
We have another position that is currently open - a new part-time Volunteer Coordinator position! This seasonal position - mid-April thru mid-October - will average 15 hours/week at $18.45/hour. Applications are open until February 29, 2024. More info…
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
We congratulate Portland Audubon on adoption of their new name, Bird Alliance of Oregon. Our colleagues in Portland received feedback from nearly 2,000 individuals in their process to find a name that would connect with more people, especially those who have historically been excluded from the environmental and birding movements. ASLC has joined the growing number of chapters that have decided to change their name to one that better reflects our mission and values, and makes our organization a more welcoming place for all. Now that our friends in Portland have decided on their new identity, we can move forward to choose an aligned name that will help unify efforts across the state to protect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. Stay tuned!
That’s the news for this month - let's keep working together for birds and nature!
--
dawn villaescusa, President
Audubon Society of Lincoln City