Botanizing—it's like birding, but without the birds. Trade in your binoculars for a hand lens and join the thrill of a botanist's quest to find all the native plant species on the Olympic Peninsula.

In these early days of the Pacific Coast Population Trumpeter Swans' annual autumnal migration south, the OPAS Swan Team has received some exciting news. The swan …

Watch the video of our November 1, 2025 Backyard Birding program, “Home as Habitat.” Steve Koehler presents a photo-rich look at sharing our yards with native …

Mark your calendars! The annual Sequim-Dungeness Christmas Bird Count (SDCBC) will occur this year on Monday, Dec.15. If you’re really into Christmas Bird Counting, you …

On October 3, 2025, Washington State Audubon Conservation Committee (WSACC) unanimously adopted a statewide resolution “Lights Out Washington.”

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Christie Lassen of Wild Birds Unlimited returned to the Backyard Birding classroom with her ever-popular seminar, Preparing Backyard Habitats for Winter.

Friday morning, September 19, brought superb weather for our field trip at Hurricane Ridge. The smoke, previously obscuring the mountains, had cleared, giving way to stunning views over the Strait of Juan de Fuca to …

The September 9, 2025 OPAS Backyard Birding program celebrated National Hummingbird Day and marked a major milestone: the north Olympic Peninsula’s designation as a Community Wildlife Habitat™ by the National Wildlife Federation. The celebration …

Recently, the OPAS environmental initiative, the North Olympic Wildlife Habitat Project, has caught the attention of elected officials generating a series of proclamations from the City of …

The Western Bluebird (WEBL) outperformed this year by nesting in a new spot. See nesting …

The Puget Sound Seabird Survey is looking for birders on the Olympic Peninsula to join this established Community Science program. Volunteers are asked to conduct 7 surveys with a small team of fellow surveyors at specific coastal locations. All surveys are …

In the forests, meadows, and backyards of western Washington, the blur of iridescent wings and a high-pitched hum often signals the presence of one of nature’s most important workers: the hummingbird. These small, vibrant …

Academic year 2024-2025 marked the second year of the OPAS Natural Sciences Scholarship Award. In May, five deserving graduating seniors received $1,000 each in honor of James “Jim” Gift, who served OPAS for nearly two decades in various roles including Conservation Chair and President.

Fawn Wagner, Wildlife Refuge Manager and Ecologist for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Refuge Management Program, talked about the groundbreaking agreement between the Tribe and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to …

OPAS just received exciting news from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Our environmental initiative—the North Olympic Wildlife Habitat Project—has earned NWF recognition as a certified Community Wildlife Habitat™!

We had a delightful morning on Sunday, May 11 exploring Peabody Creek Trail. I encourage folks to do this walk as it’s a pleasant introduction to the Olympic Foothills. While the birds weren’t always easy to spot, we identified at least 19 species along the way.

The OPAS Board is pleased to announce the following individuals who have offered to serve the chapter as its elected officers for the one-year term, beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending on June 30, 2026.

Watch this engaging video presented by Ken Wiersema from our April 26, 2025 Backyard Birding program that explores birds many folks dislike, such as European Starlings, House Sparrows, …