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Our Mission The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society promotes birding and habitat conservation through science-based education, advocacy, and stewardship. __________________
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October Harlequin Happenings Newsletter
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This issue celebrates October’s birding and conservation highlights: a popular Backyard Birding seminar on winter birds’ needs on the 4th, a welcoming “Birding for Everyone” outing on the 18th, and a shoreline field trip at Port Williams and Gibson Spit on the 20th. Our monthly program on the 15th explores radar-based bird detection at sea. We also honor this year’s Harlequin and Conservation Award recipients, share a new installment of Conservation Matters, and invite you to relive a splendid field trip to Hurricane Ridge in our latest blog recap. Read our past newsletters on the Newsletter page of the website.
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by Matt McCoy “Planning Ahead” Fall is here and winter residents are arriving. Golden-crowned Sparrows are quite proud of their journey and let us know each morning. Per BirdCast, we’re just past the fall migration peak in Clallam County. We often take our migrating birds for granted, but they face a multitude of challenges on their travels, not the least of which is what is happening to the lands beneath them. That often depends on how those lands are being managed. Land use plans are the blueprints that guide that management, and consequently these plans matter to birds. Planning areas range from landscape-scale efforts covering multiple jurisdictions … Continue Reading
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__________________ A Local Survey Opportunity The Clallam County Parks Comprehensive Master Plan is in the early stages of being updated. A survey is underway (open through October 10th) to learn how people use different sites, what changes or improvements they’d like to see, and which priorities matter most to them. While the plan emphasizes recreation, your input could help ensure wildlife needs are considered. Responding is a simple way to support better bird habitat. Take the Survey
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Spotted Towhee and snow—Photo: Mick Thompson OPAS Backyard Birding: “Preparing Backyard Habitats for Winter”
Presenter: Christie Lassen, Wild Birds Unlimited, Gardiner, WA
Saturday, October 4, 2025
10:00 a.m. to noon
Dungeness River Nature Center
Suggested donation: $5 On Saturday, October 4, Christie Lassen returns to the Backyard Birding classroom to deliver her always popular seminar discussing the special winter needs of the Anna’s Hummingbird and dozens of other species that make the Pacific Northwest a yearlong home. Christie will demonstrate the latest in feeders and various foods formulated by Wild Birds Unlimited designed to attract specific birds while promoting thriving bird populations and discouraging unwelcome mammals! Following her presentation, Christie’s demonstration items will be available for sale so plan to stay a bit longer than the noon posted end-time. Learn More
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California Gulls at Swiftsure Bank—Photo: Bob Boekelheide OPAS Program: “At-Sea Biological Radar System for Airborne Target Detection”
Presenter: Dr. Chris Rumple, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
October 15, 2025, 7:00 p.m. (Come early for refreshments.)
Dungeness River Nature Center
Free to attend How do you monitor birds offshore when the offshore environment poses new challenges for radar applications? Dr. Chris Rumple of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will share how researchers are tackling those challenges with a new biological radar system designed for deployment on buoys in the Salish Sea. This innovative technology aims to track birds and bats over vast areas, with early efforts focused on stabilizing radar equipment amid ocean motion. His passion for aerodynamics has driven his interest in renewable energies. Chris brings his experimental fluid mechanics and automation/instrumentation background to PNNL-Sequim’s campus to help the Marine Technology Team develop ocean energy. Come early to enjoy gathering time and some tasty goodies before the program begins! Learn more about the talk and about Dr. Rumple at the link below. Learn More
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Golden-crowned Sparrow—Photo: Dow Lambert OPAS Field Trip: "Birding for Everyone"
Leader: Marie Grad
Saturday, October 18, 9:00 a.m. to noon
Meet in the parking lot at the Dungeness River Nature Center
Participant limit: 12— Registration required
Free to attend (Note: Registration is currently full with a waitlist available.) Fall migration is in full swing during October. Even though there are many species of birds that are yearlong residents, some birds will migrate to their wintering habitats, while others will arrive here to spend the winter. White-crowned Sparrows will be replaced by Golden-crowned Sparrows for example. Everyone is welcome; however, this trip is intended for individuals who are new to birding. No experience required. Learn where to meet and what to bring at the link below. Learn More and Register
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Rhinoceros Auklet—Photo: Mick Thompson OPAS Field Trip: Port Williams and Gibson Spit
Leader: Kathy McCoy
Monday, Oct 20, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to noon
Participant limit: 12—Registration required.
Free to attend
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Join us for a beach walk along the entrance to Sequim Bay, with less than two miles of shoreline exploration. We’ll focus on water birds such as gulls, loons, cormorants, and alcids as migration winds down and winter residents settle in. Forest birds, beach plants, and the occasional otter may also make an appearance. Leader Kathy McCoy will share an eBird list after the trip. Dress for the weather, bring water, and download the eBird, Merlin, and Seek apps if you’d like help identifying what we find. Kathy will be available at 8:00 a.m. to assist with app setup. Learn More and Register
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Trumpeter Swans—Photo: Bob Phreaner
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Why Bird Advocacy Matters More Than Ever
by Mary Porter-Solberg In the lush landscapes of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, home to old-growth forests and rich biodiversity, birds are more than silhouettes against the horizon—they are indicators of ecological health, threads in the web of biodiversity, and companions to those who seek solace in nature. Yet today, many of these avian species face unprecedented threats, not only from predators or climate, but also from policy decisions that could unravel decades of conservation progress. The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society (OPAS) stands as a beacon of hope and action. With a mission rooted in science-based education, advocacy, and stewardship, OPAS promotes birding and habitat conservation across the region. Our work includes … Continue Reading
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2025 Harlequin Award Presentation
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Bob Phreaner presents Harlequin Award to Dee Renee Ericks This year, Dee Renee Ericks was the recipient of the Harlequin Award, presented at our September 17th meeting. Dee Renee was recognized for her tireless dedication to bird conservation and community engagement on the Olympic Peninsula. Learn more about the award and see several examples of Dee Renee’s generous contributions of time, talent, and technical expertise. Our community is enriched by her stewardship. Learn More
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Barbara Blackie holding Conservation Award certificates for her and Joey Gish—Bob Phreaner (left) presented the awards. This year our Conservation Award was presented to Barbara Blackie at our September 17th meeting. In addition, Barbara accepted an award for her Biology Technician, Joey Gish, who was out of town. Barbara and Joey were recognized for their committment to preventing bird strikes on exterior glass at Peninsula College. Learn more about the award and view the separate Conservation Award certificates for each of them, which in their own special way, took noteworthy actions to save, protect, teach, and advocate for the birds that live among us. Learn More
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Horned Lark—Photo: Dow Lambert A Splendid Day for a Hurricane Ridge Walk by Kathy McCoy
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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 Rocky Point and Victoria. It was a glorious, although not a particularly “birdy” day. Before our group had fully assembled at 8:30 a.m. to begin its formal eBird count, some birds were flying by and landing briefly on the nearby meadows. These birds included Horned Larks and American Pipits. The appearance of Dark-eyed Juncos prompted a discussion about the subspecies distinctions. (The Oregon subspecies arrives on the Olympic Peninsula during … Continue Reading
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Black-capped Chickadee—Photo: Mick Thompson OPAS Backyard Birding: “Home as Habitat”
Presented by Steve Koehler
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Dungeness River Nature Center
Suggested donation: $5 As we move into fall and winter, let’s rethink about how we share our yards with native birds and plants, as well as other species they depend on mutually. Steve will explore how the plants our local birds evolved with provide habitat—including food, shelter, and nesting places. This is an exploration beyond feeders and nest boxes to consider the habitat birds and wildlife used before human presence on the Peninsula. Bring your ideas and questions, as well as your recommendations and knowledge of other local resources. Learn More
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