Spotted Towhee—Photo: Mick Thompson

OPAS Backyard Birding: “Backyard Bird Populations Trends”
Presenter: Matt McCoy, OPAS President
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to noon
Dungeness River Nature Center
Suggested donation: $5

Matt McCoy

Through the years, we’ve learned a lot about the birds in our back yards. What they like to eat, what plants and habitats they need, how they behave, how to identify them by sight and sound, and where they go on migration. We enjoy them and don’t take them for granted, but do we really know how well they’re doing?

Ring in the New Year with retired wildlife biologist Matt McCoy by exploring backyard bird population trends. We’ll discuss different trend data sources, how they’re collected and analyzed. We’ll explore the short- and long-trends for Bob Boekelheide’s Olympic Peninsula top 24 backyard birds, how they’re doing in our area and beyond. You’ll also learn what might be causing those trends and how you can make a difference in your backyard. You may think it’s all bad news, but there are some pleasant surprises and of course it depends on what and where you’re looking.

Admission to this program is free. However, we ask attendees to consider a donation of $5.00 per person to support ongoing OPAS education and conservation programs. Thanks for your support and interest!