Conservation Issues and Community Science

by Bob Phreaner, Conservation Co-Chair

Last month we described the mission of the OPAS Conservation Committee to include initiation and monitoring of community science projects. This time of year the emphasis is on our wintering population of Trumpeter Swans (TRUS). Last season, juvenile TRUS made up less than 10% of the flock. I was pleasantly surprised on 10/26 to visit Kirner Pond before sunrise to find a family group of 2 adults with 6 juveniles. That is an unusually large brood. Pardon my anthropomorphism but maybe this is a “blended” family? Several years ago I followed a family of 3 juveniles with two adults that we named “Full House,” and I remember a “single mom” with three juveniles that I dubbed “Hard Times.” It will be interesting for the OPAS swan observation teams to follow “Six Pack” to see if they all make it through the winter.

Commenting on conservation issues is one of the tasks of the OPAS Conservation Committee. Recently Audubon Washington asked the chapters to provide comments on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Periodic Review of the Endangered status of the Northern Spotted Owl in Washington State. The WDFW staff report cited Climate Change, with associated drought and wildfire, as threats to survival but also emphasized competition from the invasive Barred Owl. WDFW is considering changes to the management of the Barred Owl population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been experimenting with the removal of Barred Owls from Spotted Owl habitat to sustain the population of the latter species. OPAS supports maintaining the Endangered status of the Northern Spotted Owl, but I would like to see the response of chapter members to WDFW policies that would remove Barred Owls. Let the Conservation Committee know your thoughts.

In 2017, our chapter proposed a resolution to the Washington State Audubon Conservation Committee for the banning of marine Atlantic Salmon net pens in Washington State. This resolution was unanimously approved by the Audubon Council of Washington. It is no coincidence that Governor Inslee and the Washington legislature have prohibited marine net pens for Atlantic Salmon aquaculture after 2025. If you have bird friendly conservation actions in mind please consider participating in your OPAS Conservation Committee

Visit the OPAS website under the Conservation/Take Action tab to learn more of our activities, attend a Conservation meeting, or contact Bob Phreaner (phreaner@aol.com) or Joyce Volmut (joyce.volmut@gmail.com) to volunteer.