Please Note: There are no OPAS Programs for July and August

In This Issue

Events:
July 16: OPAS Purple Martin Class & Field Trip (a 2-part program)
August 2: OPAS Field Trip: Dungeness Bay—Early August Shorebirds, Gulls, and Waterfowl

Articles:
1. July President’s Notes—Wizardry Behind the Scenes
2. OPAS Harlequin Award 2026
3. 2026 OPAS Conservation Award and the 2026 Career Achievement in Conservation Award
4. July HabiTIPS!
5. Conservation Matters: Retired WDFW Biologist Shelly Ament Awarded for Career Achievement in Conservation 
6. Nightflyer: The Curious Life of a Nighthawk
7. Sequim Gazette Recognizes the OPAS Scholarships Award
8. First Nestbox Census
9. Volunteers Needed! Puget Sound Seabird Survey

Videos:
1. "Partners in Birding" and Awards Video
2. “Retrospective on Birding” Video

The Wizard of Oz has many iconic scenes and important lessons. (On a personal note, the traumatic flying‑monkeys scene delayed my foray into birding for years.) Among them is Toto’s reveal of the wizard—the man behind the magic. OPAS is fortunate to have many wonderful wizards (not the blustery kind) who work their magic quietly behind the curtains to keep our organization going. Please join me in thanking three who are stepping back a bit for well‑deserved breaks.

Click here to continue reading about those three individuals, and then read about nature’s magic in Matt’s backyard.
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Purple Martin Class & Field Trip (2-part program)
Presenters: Ken Wiersema and Dow Lambert
Thursday, July 16, 2026
(Part I) 9:45 AM at Dungeness River Nature Center
(Part II) 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on tide flats near 3 Crabs Road
Limited to 12 participants.
Registration required for field trip portion only
Suggested donation: $5.00

Curious about Purple Martins? Join Ken Wiersema and Dow Lambert on Thursday, July 16, at the Dungeness River Nature Center for a special two-part Backyard Birding program exploring the biology, migration, and local conservation of these remarkable swallows. Purple Martins are Washington’s largest swallows and are increasingly vulnerable due to habitat loss and nesting competition, making this an especially timely program.

The morning includes an indoor orientation at the River Center followed by an optional weather-dependent guided visit to the 3 Crabs tide-flat colony, where participants can observe active nest boxes and learn about OPAS’s long-running conservation work.

Learn more details and register for the field trip
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The voice on the phone sounded perplexed. “You’re the bird lady, right? Well, I don’t know what kind of bird this is, but I think it must be hurt, because it’s just sitting there flat on the ground, not standing up at all.”

In answer to my questions, the caller added that the bird was about the size of a robin but “chubby, kind of stripey gray and brown with a really tiny bill, like a goldfinch.” Hmmm. Not a terribly helpful description. I had been a birdwatcher only long enough to write a weekly column for the local newspaper as I learned by researching. Still, I decided to check this bird out, if only to get it to the local rehab center.

Continue reading about the Common Nighthawk and view several images
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OPAS made the news in the June 17, 2026 issue of the Sequim Gazette, featuring a photo of Bob Boekelheide, who delivered the OPAS Natural Sciences Scholarship Award 2026 to two Sequim High School winners—Elaina Drennen and Laila Sundin. OPAS was among many generous organizations and institutions at the May 20th SHS Awards Night awarding a total of more than $3.87 million in grants and scholarships to outstanding seniors in the 2026 graduating class.

Now in its third year, the OPAS award is given “in recognition of outstanding scholarship and dedication to the study of the natural sciences for the benefit of people and wildlife.” In their backgrounds and career aspirations, both 2026 recipients, Elaina and Laila, fulfill the award’s purpose.

Click here to read more about the students
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On June 17, OPAS recorded the “Partners in Birding” program on Zoom, where the Conservation Award, Career Achievement in Conservation Award, and Harlequin Award were presented to honor individuals whose work has protected birds and their habitats. The full program is now available as a YouTube video for anyone who couldn’t attend.

Our featured speaker, Michael Glore, shared a heartfelt talk tracing his path from a nature‑loving boy to a National Park Service ranger and now Executive Director of the Dungeness River Nature Center. His stories highlighted a deep connection to the natural world, genuine appreciation for OPAS’s partnership, and an eagerness to learn more about birds as he settles into his role. It's a wonderful program worth watching.

Click here to watch the video
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On Sunday morning, June 14th, the Purple Martin Team met to do the first 3 Crabs nest box census of the year. With the tide at –3.3 feet, clear blue skies, calm winds, and 70 degrees, it was a perfect day to check the 18 nest boxes perched on three off‑shore pilings.

The plan was for Dow to take turns with Alex, who is learning the census technique. Balancing on a tall ladder fifteen feet above the sand, threading a small wire with a camera on the end through a pre-drilled hole, and looking down at your cell phone screen to spy the nest box contents in bright sunshine is not as easy as it looks!

Continue to read about the census and view the photos
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Ken Wiersema’s June 6 Backyard Birding program is a warm, lively look back at 57 years of learning, teaching, and hands‑on conservation. What began in 1969 with a homemade feeder for his wife grew into a lifetime of fieldwork, travel, bird banding, nest‑box building, and community education—much of it shared with OPAS since he moved to Sequim in 1994.

In this richly illustrated “swan song” as leader of the Backyard Birding series, Ken highlights the projects, discoveries, and stories that shaped his journey. If you enjoy birds, local natural history, or simply a good tale well told, this is a program you’ll want to watch.

Click here to watch the video
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Dungeness Bay—Early August Shorebirds, Gulls, and Waterfowl
Leader: Bob Boekelheide
Sunday, August 2, 2026. 
Meet at Three Crabs WDFW parking lot at 7:30 AM
Number of participants: 15 – Registration required
Cost: Free

Start at Three Crabs WDFW parking lot at 7:30 AM. After surveying Three Crabs birds, we will travel to Dungeness Landing County Park on Oysterhouse Rd off Marine Drive.

Shorebird migration hits is in full swing in early August, and Dungeness Bay is one of the best places to watch it unfold. We’ll look for an exciting mix of shorebirds, water birds, and the ever‑charming gulls that gather on the mudflats and estuary at the mouth of the Dungeness River. Expect lots of activity and plenty of opportunities to practice identification. We’ll have to step over a few beach logs to access Three Crabs beach. Dungeness Landing Park is accessible to all. If you have a spotting scope, bring it.

Click here to learn more and register
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Volunteer Birders Needed – Make a Difference for Seabirds
by Toby Ross, PSSS Program Manager

The Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) is seeking volunteers to join this long-running community science program. Volunteers take part in seven coordinated surveys at coastal sites, conducted once per month on the first Saturday from October through April. Surveys are completed in small teams, and training is provided. While seabird identification skills are helpful, birders of all experience levels are welcome.

Now entering its 18th season, PSSS generates critical data on wintering seabirds across the Salish Sea—informing research, conservation, and management decisions. At a time when many wildlife monitoring programs are facing cuts, your participation is more important than ever.

Click here to learn more and sign up
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