Dear Reader,

2023 is here and we are hoping for a year that is a little less challenging than the past two or three have been. Our Audubon chapter has so much going on this year - we really hope that one or two of our projects catches your interest so you can help us do great things for birds in 2023!

UPCOMING EVENTS

NOTE: The planned Lincoln City birdwalk at Regatta Park, originally scheduled for tomorrow, January 6th, has been cancelled.

Saturday, January 7, 9-11am - ASLC Bird Walk:

Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) Nature Trail and Yaquina Bay South Jetty

Please note: this walk replaces our usual “second Saturday” walk.

Yaquina Bay regularly hosts thousands of wintering waterfowl. After walking the trail, we’ll drive to the south jetty as time permits. We should see Harlequin and other diving ducks, loons, and other wintering birds. This trip offers short easy walks to viewing areas.

Location: Meet in the HMSC visitor center parking lot.

Thursday, January 19, 6:30am - Yaquina Birders and Naturalists Presentation:

The Beach Birds of Monomoy Just 3,290 miles east of Newport, OR lies Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. It's a barrier beach system off of the elbow of Cape Cod and it harbors a wide diversity of beach nesting birds. Join speaker Kate Iaquinto and learn more about the management of common, least and roseate terns, piping plovers, and American oystercatchers. Iaquinto is the Deputy Project Leader for the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. She has worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service for 15 years, most recently as the refuge manager at Bandon Marsh NWR. Previously, she served for ten years as the Wildlife Biologist for Monomoy NWR on Cape Cod in Chatham, Massachusetts.

Location: OSU Extension Lincoln County, 1211 SE Bay Blvd, Newport, OR

Wednesday, February 8, 6:30pm - Science at the Pub in Pacific City

Tom Calvanese of the Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA) will present their work on saving the kelp forests on the Oregon coast.

Location: Pelican Brewing, 33180 Cape Kiwanda Dr, Pacific City, OR

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT REPORTS

Tillamook Bay CBC Saturday December 17th: The 58th Tillamook Bay CBC had the highest number of species in 11 years! Our 34 volunteers of all ages, experts and beginners, found 144 species. Last year, with terrible weather, we only had 119 species.

New high counts for many species including Anna’s Hummingbird with 176 (previous high 75 in 2018), Bald Eagle - 90 (previous high 83 in 2018), Red-shouldered Hawk - 13 (previous high 8 in 2015), and Black Phoebe - 52 (previous high 31 in 2021). Five owl species were reported: Barred, Short-eared, Northern Pygmy, Barn, and Great Horned.

Lincoln City CBC Sunday December 18th: We had 27 field counters and 12 backyard counters this year - a really great turnout. Our tally was 127 total species this year! This is the 2nd highest we've had since we started the count in 2013.

Best birds for the count were a White-tailed Kite spotted by one of our backyard counters, Jane Boyden, two Tundra Swans on Devils Lake, and Phil Pickering ID'd our first ever Franklin's Gull during his seawatch.

Yaquina Bay CBC Wednesday December 28th: The Yaquina Bay CBC had 33 participants and totalled 142 species.

Highlights included a very cooperative American Golden Plover along South Jetty Way, a Marbled Godwit at Hatfield Marine Science Center, two Snow geese along Beaver Creek, and a White-breasted Nuthatch along the North Bay road.

We had decent weather for all three of the counts and we had a great volunteer turnout. We hope to see you at the counts next year!

YEAR END MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

We have enough calendars to extend our year-end membership drive through January! Upgrade your membership or give a gift of a Wood Duck $50 or more ASLC membership and your gift recipient will get your choice of:

a beautiful 2023 calendar, or
a set of four 3” ASLC bird stickers, or
a set of five 3” Oregon Marine Reserve decals.

All of these items were designed and illustrated by our own Nora Sherwood, local scientific wildlife illustrator! More info...

We have lots of exciting projects and events coming up this year - stay tuned for more information on these! And we need volunteers in several areas - please reach out if you want more information.

I’ll be sending out a separate email with updates on our Marine Reserves, Rocky Habitat, and other conservation-related efforts.

Let's keep working together for birds and nature!

dawn villaescusa, President

Audubon Society of Lincoln City