Conservation News – The conservation committee is committed to providing up-to-date conservation news for our members and visitors to our website.
Survival by Degrees: 389 Species on the Brink (10/10/2019)
Two thirds of North America Birds are at increasing risk of extinction from global temperature rise.
Audubon scientists took advantage of 140 million observations, recorded by birders and scientists, to describe where 604 North American bird species live today—an area known as their “range.” They then used the latest climate models to project how each species’s range will shift as climate change and other human impacts advance across the continent.
The results are clear: Birds will be forced to relocate to find favorable homes. And they may not survive.
Click here to read about the results of this latest update to Audubon’s 2014 Climate Change Report.
Scroll down and find the Birds and Climate Visualizer within the report, then enter your zip code where you will go to a page that provides specific data on vulnerable birds in your county.
Marbled Murrelet Long Term Conservation Strategy FEIS Released (9/27/2019)
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) published their joint Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Marbled Murrelet Long-Term Conservation Strategy. The 1,590-page FEIS includes analysis of eight (8) strategy alternatives including Alternative H, which is the preferred alternative of the BNR and USFWS. The conservation community had previously strongly supported another alternative, one that protected more habitat on DNR lands for the critically endangered Marbled Murrelet. OPAS and other conservation organizations are reviewing the FEIS and plan to issue talking points for comments.
Click here to review the Long Term Conservation Strategy FEIS.
North America Has Lost More Than 1 in 4 Birds in Last 50 Years, New Study Says (9/19/2019)
Across the continent, numbers have plummeted, even among common species. In less than a single lifetime, North America has lost more than one in four of its birds, according to a report in the world’s leading scientific journal.
Published in Science by researchers at seven institutions, the findings show that 2.9 billion breeding adult birds have been lost since 1970, including birds in every ecosystem.
July 10, 2019: Wild Olympics Bill Rides Wave of New Local Support through House Hearing.
Representative Derek Kilmer testified at the hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands for the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (H.R. 2642). The legislation was introduced by Senator Patty Murray and Representative Derek Kilmer in May 2019, and would permanently protect more than 126,500 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries, a total of 464 river miles, as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Designed through extensive community input to protect ancient forests and clean water and enhance outdoor recreation, the legislation would designate the first new wilderness on Olympic National Forest in nearly three decades. It would be the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. Read more.
OPAS is committed to protecting critical bird habitat and protecting the ecological integrity of watersheds on the Olympic Peninsula and strongly supports the Act. You can learn more on the OPAS Wild Olympics page by clicking here.
2019 OPAS Conservation Awards presented June 18, 2019
Kudos to Laura Davis, Liam Antrim, and Dow Lambert
Each year the OPAS Conservation Committee nominates individuals for their contributions and achievements in studying and improving the conservation of our local birds. This recognition can be presented to OPAS members or others in our community who perform a noteworthy act or make lasting contributions over many years. This year we acknowledged the accomplishments of three of our members. Read more.
Dow Lambert, (Robert Phreaner, presenter) Laura Davis, Liam Antrim
photo by Ken Wiersema
Watch this wonderful video by filmmaker John Gussman.
Restoring the Dungeness Estuary
3 Crabs, 5 Salmon, 30 Partners
Important Notice! What to do if you encounter aircraft disturbance at Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge.
By FAA regulation, aircraft, including fixed wing, helicopter, drone, powered or unpowered are required to maintain a safe non-disturbance distance from wildlife. Should our members note what they believe is an aircraft disturbing wildlife they should contact:
FAA’s Flight Standards District Office (FDSO Seattle)
1601 Lind Avenue SW
Renton, Wa 98057
Phone: (425) 227-2813 or (800) 354-1940 Fax: (425) 227-1810
Wildlife disturbance on or near the DNWR should also be reported to Refuge Law Enforcement, David Falzetti (David_Falzetti@fws.gov or 360-457-8451). However, without detailed information including a tail number, date, time, and detailed wildlife disturbance behavior information he can do little. It is highly recommended that reports include photos of the tail number and type of wildlife disturbance. Understandably, these details can be very difficult to get, but the effort is important for follow-up.
Audubon’s Birds and Climate Change Report – 314 Species on the Brink
Shrinking and shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of U.S. birds within this century. Read the Audubon Climate Report.
