In This Issue

Events:
September 5: OPAS Backyard Birding: “Bird-Friendly Communities”
September 12: OPAS Field Trip: Elwha Through the Seasons—End of Summer
September 16: The Feather Wars: And the Great Crusade to Save America’s Birds
September 25: 2026 Dungeness River Festival

Articles:
1. September President’s Notes: Birding Curious? Watch Listers
2. September HabiTIPS!
3. Survival: The Life of the Majestic Great Blue Heron
4. The Swans Among Us: 2025–2026 Season Summary
5. Dungeness Bay Field Trip Report—August 2, 2026
6. Last PUMA Census of 2026

Action Alert:
1. Take Action to Protect Our National Forests

What happens when a love of birds turns into an all-consuming quest? In this month’s President’s Notes, Matt McCoy takes a look at Listers, a film following brothers Owen and Quinten Reiser on an epic Big Year of birding. Along the way, the film explores the fun, camaraderie, quirks, and ethical questions of extreme birding—and ultimately celebrates the simple joy of watching birds.

The film will be screened September 10 at the Dungeness River Nature Center.

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For more than two decades, the Roadless Rule has protected much of our last remaining wild national forests—but now the U.S. Forest Service is planning to repeal the policy. One of the most significant conservation measures adopted to protect the national forests of the United States, the rule prohibits industrial logging and most roadbuilding within intact areas of our public forests while allowing for active management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and maintain healthy habitat. 

We cannot afford to lose these protections for some of our last remaining intact public lands. 

Join us to urge the Forest Service to uphold protections for roadless areas. The deadline to add your name is September 21, 2026. 

OPAS Backyard Birding: “Bird-Friendly Communities”
Presenters: Katja Bridwell, Patty Giffin, and Dee Renee Ericks
Saturday, September 5, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Dungeness River Nature Center
Suggested donation: $5

Learn how simple changes in your own yard can make a lasting difference for birds and other wildlife. This Backyard Birding program explores the elements of creating bird-friendly communities, from planting native species and providing food, water, shelter, and nesting sites to reducing common hazards such as window collisions. Whether you have a large property or a small backyard, you'll discover practical ways to create habitat that supports both resident and migratory birds while making your outdoor space more enjoyable for people as well.

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OPAS Field Trip: Elwha Through the Seasons—End of Summer
Leaders: Ben Hannah & Kathy McCoy
Saturday September 12, 2026—9:00 a.m. until noon
Limited to 15 participants
Registration required—register below
Free to attend
Meet at the Madison Falls parking area on the Elwha river.

Join OPAS for the third of four seasonal explorations of the Elwha Valley on September 12. This free, limited-size field trip will explore the river, forests, and open fields around Madison Falls, looking for resident birds as well as lingering summer migrants such as Swainson’s Thrushes, Vaux’s Swifts, and Band-tailed Pigeons. The trip also contributes valuable citizen-science observations to an area that remains relatively under-birded.

Learn More and Register Here
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OPAS Program: The Feather Wars: And the Great Crusade to Save America's Birds
Guest Presenter: James H. McCommons
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Virtual program will be presented in Rainshadow Hall, Dungeness River Nature Center
Free to attend; donations appreciated
*Note: Come early for cookies!

How did America’s bird conservation movement begin? Join OPAS on Wednesday, September 16, for an engaging presentation by journalist and author James H. McCommons, author of The Feather Wars: And the Great Crusade to Save America’s Birds. McCommons will explore the surprising history of a movement sparked by the devastating loss of the Passenger Pigeon and the widespread hunting of birds for food, sport, and fashion. From society gatherings and hunt clubs to newspapers, politicians, and early conservationists, discover how an unlikely coalition came together to change the way Americans viewed and protected birds.

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2026 Dungeness River Festival
Friday, September 25, 2026
9:00 a.m.—2:30 p.m. for school groups
Dungeness River Nature Center
Free to the Public from 10:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m.

Celebrate the Dungeness Watershed at the 2026 Dungeness River Festival on Friday, September 25, at the Dungeness River Nature Center. This free, family-friendly event features hands-on learning, interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and activities highlighting the watershed’s natural and cultural resources. More than 20 local and regional organizations will be on hand, including conservation groups, government agencies, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and outdoor recreation organizations.
The morning portion of the event will welcome local school groups, with the general public invited to participate from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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Great Blue Herons may look nearly indestructible, but their lives are surprisingly challenging. In this engaging article, Ida Domazlicky and Jane Nicholas explore the heron’s remarkable adaptations, from its formidable bill and unique fishing techniques to the threats posed by cars, Bald Eagles, and other predators. The article also introduces “Carte Blanche,” a distinctive leucistic Great Blue Heron that has returned to Dungeness Bay year after year.

August and September are prime times to see these majestic birds around Dungeness Bay, with about 30 herons often gathering near the Dungeness Landing/Three Crabs area. Keep an eye out—you might even spot Carte Blanche.

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OPAS’s Swan Team completed another season of monitoring Trumpeter and Tundra Swans in the lower Dungeness Valley. Local numbers were unusually low this year, but regional populations remain strong. An encouraging sign was the high percentage of juveniles in the flock—the highest recorded by OPAS since 2015/2016. Volunteers also observed changes in where swans fed and roosted, including increased use of ponds and winter cover crops. The season also highlighted ongoing threats, including lead poisoning and power-line collisions.

Click on the link below for more observations, photos, and details from this important community science project.

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Shorebird migration was in full swing during OPAS's August 2 field trip to Dungeness Bay, where participants explored one of the Olympic Peninsula's premier birding hotspots in search of migrating shorebirds, waterfowl, and gulls. The trip report highlights the morning's notable sightings, identification tips, and the excitement of watching the ever-changing activity across the mudflats and estuary. Whether you joined the outing or simply want to experience the highlights, read the full report to see what species made an appearance and why Dungeness Bay remains one of the region's best places to witness migration in action.

Read the full field trip report
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The Purple Martin team completed its fourth and final 2026 census at the 3 Crabs tide flats, checking all 18 nest boxes and documenting a successful breeding season. The team counted 10 fledglings, 32 chicks still in the nest boxes, and 19 breeding pairs. Observers also watched parents delivering dragonflies and other insects to hungry chicks—a wonderful sign of another productive season for Olympic Peninsula Purple Martins.

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