American Dipper—Photo: John Gussman

OPAS Backyard Birding: “Backyard Birds in Winter”
Presented by Ken Wiersema, Olympic Peninsula Audubon 
Saturday, December 6, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to noon
Rainshadow Hall, Dungeness River Nature Center
Suggested donation: $5

Ken Wiersema and his friend, Jake

As days become shorter and the weather gets a bit wetter, our December program offers a refresher on the adaptations that birds make to winter.

We live in a unique habitat on the Olympic Peninsula, with snow pack in our mountains to the south, and a temperate saltwater strait on our northern shoreline. We annually witness the many migratory species that flock to our micro-climates, as well as host those birds we see here year-round. Many birds change in appearance and behavior with the seasons. Our December program reviews basic winter identification tips, patterns of movement, and bird sounds. 

We’ll explore how you can support wintering birds with water, food, and shelter. The program includes notes on the value and design of brush piles, along with a demonstration of roost boxes.

Please bring your curiosity, winter bird identification questions, bird behavior observations, and reference aids you use or recommend. We’ll also discuss caring for your birding optics in winter, online and cell phone birding aids, reference books, and field guides. The program includes a discussion of our participation in the nationwide Christmas Bird Counts along with dates of our local counts. We encourage you to join in the fun—whether from your backyard or out in the field—and will provide information on how to participate.

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!