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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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July Harlequin Happenings Newsletter
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Although we pause OPAS meetings and programs during July and August, there’s still plenty of birding activity to enjoy! This month, OPAS board members will lead two introductory bird ID programs hosted by the North Olympic Library System—July 9 in Sequim and July 17 in Port Angeles. Don’t miss our July 12 Backyard Birding presentation on Purple Martins, followed by an optional field trip. You’ll also find a July 5 outing to Dungeness Bay and a beginner birding walk on July 19. Full details on all programs and field trips are in this issue, along with a variety of insightful articles we’re excited to share. _________________
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by Matt McCoy Advocating for the Birds The challenges facing our feathered friends and the natural world are myriad. If you are prone to doomscrolling as I am, it seems that headlines constantly remind us of new or worsening problems or reversals on issues we thought were being addressed. Environmental challenges are not new. It was Thomas Jefferson who said “In the environment, every victory is temporary, every defeat is permanent.” While it sometimes feels like we’re powerless to change things, we are not! You can and are making a difference. Feeding birds, adding native plants to your landscape, and sharing your love of nature with others are some of the ways you’re already having a positive impact. Our recent recognition by the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat with over 300 participants is an exciting accomplishment. Being a member of OPAS means you’re helping shape positive change at a community level. Monthly programs and … Learn More __________________
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Take Action to Protect Habitat for Birds and People
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Western Bluebird - Photo: Cindy Fullwiler Many birds depend on urban areas for nesting, migration, and wintering habitat. At a time when habitat loss threatens the health of bird populations and our communities, conserving and improving urban habitats is essential to a healthy future for birds and people. The Local Communities and Bird Habitat Stewardship Act would benefit these habitats by improving local parks, reducing hazards to birds in urban environments—such as collisions with buildings—and engaging communities with birds and nature. Act now and urge your U.S. Representative to support the Local Communities and Bird Habitat Stewardship Act. Take Action __________________
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July Backyard Birding Program
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Purple Martins at 3 Crabs - Photo: Dow Lambert Backyard Birding: Purple Martins (2-part program)
Presenters: Ken Wiersema and Dow Lambert
Saturday, July 12, 2025
(Part I) 10 a.m. at Dungeness River Nature Center
Suggested donation: $5.00
(Part II) 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on tide flats adjacent to Three Crabs Road, Sequim. Limited to 12 participants.
Registration and signed liability form required for the field trip to Three Crabs. Our ‘24–’25 Backyard Birding series wraps up with this extra program focused on Purple Martins, now nearing “threatened” status in Washington State due to habitat loss and competition from non-native species. Since 1998, OPAS has supported their recovery by providing species-specific nesting cavities. Part I is a classroom session at the River Center covering Purple Martin ecology and 25 years of local data on the Purple Martin’s progress in adapting to our human-made nesting cavities. Part II features a short field trip on the tide flats to their nesting colony at Three Crabs. We will view inside nest boxes using an endoscope camera and observe the behavior of the adult birds. Please dress for the weather and wear waterproof shoes or boots that extend to at least above your ankles, preferably to mid-calf. Also, bring your binoculars and or your scopes for up-close views! Participants are encouraged to attend both the indoor class and tide flats field trip, but may choose either segment. Learn More and Register __________________
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Semipalmated Sandpiper - Photo: Bob Boekelheide. Dungeness Bay – Returning Shorebirds
Saturday, July 5, 2025.
Meet at Three Crabs parking lot at 8:30 a.m.
Leader: Bob Boekelheide
Number of participants: 15 – Registration required.
Free to attend Though the calendar says early summer, post-breeding migration is underway. By early July, adult shorebirds—having nested in the Arctic, taiga, and prairies—begin arriving, many still sporting their flashy breeding plumage. Join Bob Boekelheide to scan the bay and mudflats for water birds and gulls. After hopping a few beach logs at Three Crabs beach and after surveying birds there, the group will travel to Dungeness Landing County Park on Oysterhouse Rd off Marine Drive. Dungeness Landing Park is accessible to all. If you have a spotting scope, bring it. Learn More and Register __________________
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Purple Finch - Photo: Mick Thompson OPAS Field Trip: Birding for Beginners
Saturday, July 19, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Stacey Fradkin
Participant limit: 12 — Registration required.
Meet at the Dungeness River Nature Center parking lot.
Free to attend
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Join Stacey Fradkin for an easy, paved walk to learn about the birds you see in your yard and neighborhood. July is the time when most of the breeding birds have finished nesting, their babies have fledged, and the young birds are learning to find their own food. Bird singing will be limited so it’s a great time to hone your spotting skills, concentrate on the field guide identification marks, study bird behavior, and ask questions. Bring binoculars if you have them, but the Nature Center has binoculars for you to use free of charge and Stacey will bring a spotting scope. Get ready for a fun, informative outing. Learn More and Register __________________
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Chestnut-backed Chickadee - Photo: Dow Lambert Know Your Backyard Birds
(North Olympic Library System, Sequim)
Presenter: Bob Boekelheide, OPAS
Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 6:00 PM — 7:00 PM
Radio KSQM 91.5 FM, Community Room, 609 W. Washington St., Ste. 17, Sequim, WA
Free to attend. *** Know Your Backyard Birds
(North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles)
Presenter: Ken Wiersema, OPAS
Thursday, July 17, 2025, 6:00 PM — 7:00 PM
Port Angeles Main Library, Raymond Carver Room, 2010 South Peabody Street, Port Angeles, WA
Free to attend. Get the lowdown on your feathered neighbors. Learn the basics to identify local birds by size, shape, color, song, and more. Amaze your family and friends with your new birding skills! These events are part of the Summer Reading Program, generously supported by local Friends of the Library groups. __________________
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Swainson’s Thrush eating red elderberry - Photo: Mick Thompson
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The Importance of Habitat, OPAS Conservation Committee, and You by Joyce Volmut Habitat refers to the foundation of resources that plants and animals need to survive and reproduce. It is the place where a specific plant, animal, or all human life lives a healthy life. It includes food, water, light, sound, cover, and space. Whether they can survive depends upon … OPAS Conservation Committee — I have written about the Conservation Committee in the past and the need for new voices, new eyes, a new passion. But what is conservation all about, and what does the Conservation Committee do? It is made up of members with a desire to conserve habitat. The committee responds to threats to birds from changes in federal, state, or local policy, discusses issues that affect birds, reports to the board, and makes recommendations. Today the committee’s mission hasn’t changed, but today's members have taken a more active role in protecting … Learn More __________________
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Rufous Hummingbird - Photo: Mick Thompson Hummingbirds and Their Pollinator Cohorts in Western Washington By Melonie Ramsey 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 birds are more than just a delight to the eye—they are vital pollinators that help sustain ecosystems and human agriculture alike. But hummingbirds do not work alone. They are part of a diverse team of pollinators that includes bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, birds, and even small mammals such as bats. Together, these pollinators form the invisible backbone of the food webs throughout the ... Learn More __________________
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OPAS President Matt McCoy and Port Angeles scholarship winner Corbin Hempel - Photo: Dee Renee Ericks Another Year of OPAS Scholarship Winners! By Rhonda Coats 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. To inform the scholarship winners about Jim’s remarkable life, a document “About Jim Gift” accompanied each award certificate. Click here to read the PDF version. On May 21st, three Port Angeles High School scholarship recipients received their awards in a gathering that career counselors had arranged especially for … [Click on the link below to view several photos of students receiving their awards and read part of a heartfelt thank you letter] Learn More
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