Previous Programs
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In this fast paced PowerPoint Presentation, Larry Schwitters of Issaquah, Washington, will examine Audubon's ongoing citizen science project, Vaux's Happening, launched eight years ago to gather the data necessary to make a compelling case for the preservation of what has proven to be one of the most significant Vaux's Swift communal migratory roost sites in North America. Vaux's Happening quickly expanded into an attempt to locate, raise awareness of, and hopefully preserve the important roost sites used by this species all along their migratory path. In the last fourteen migrations the project has documented over seven million Vaux's Swift roosting events from San Diego to the Yukon. Schwitters will also share images and information captured by the project's chimney surveillance cameras and precision temperature recorders.
Larry Schwitters holds a Master's of Science degree and spent 30 years in the trenches of public education, mostly as a Middle School Science Teacher and Coach in the Seattle area.
He spent four years tracking down Black Swifts at Washington State's waterfalls for the American Bird Conservancy before his involvement with Audubon Vaux's Happening.
Willapa Hills Audubon Society (WHAS) is sponsoring this presentation. For several years, members have participated in the annual count of migrating Vaux Swifts. This fall WHAS will plan a gathering to observe the migrating swifts, to be announced at a later date.
The program is at 7:00 PM, Sunday, March 29, at the Kelso Senior Center, 106 NW 8th, Kelso, WA.
The event is free and open to the public
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Come join us for food, fun, and fellowship. The annual membership dinner meeting and program for members, family, and friends will be held on Sunday, March 29th with dinner at 5:30 at the Kelso Senior Center. The address is 106 NW 8th, Kelso, WA. This year will be a potluck. WHAS will supply coffee, tea and water. Please bring a potluck dish to share that would feed 8 to 10: salad, dessert, casserole, bread, appetizer, or your own specialty. Let’s make it a green event and bring your own tableware too. The first 40 families to arrive will receive a Charles Kingsland Print. Also there will be other door prizes for those who come. Doors open at 5:15.
If you have questions,
At 7:00 keynote speaker, Larry Schwitters, will present his program on the Vaux’s Swift monitoring project he manages for Audubon.
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To Participate: Notify Russ Kastberg, Willapa Hills Audubon Society member, by
Ready your feather dusters – it’s time for a bird box cleaning on Saturday, November 8th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Indian Jack Slough contains 17 wood duck boxes, 2 Purple Martin colonies, 2 Flickr boxes, and one Barn Owl box. You’re invited to join us as we ready these boxes for next year’s avian residents. Volunteer will work in teams of 3 or 4, venture to bird boxes scattered throughout the property, and sweep out the mysteries found inside.
About Indian Jack Slough: This 180-acre site sits directly adjacent to the 5,600-acre Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge for the Columbia White-tailed deer. Formerly a poplar plantation, Indian Jack Slough was purchased by Columbia Land Trust in 2006 to provide additional foraging, resting and breeding habitat for this federally listed endangered species. It’s a site that’s also home to bald eagles, songbirds, waterfowl, amphibians, beaver, river otter, and elk.
Safety Considerations: Be prepared to navigate uneven terrain, standing water, and a few spikey/thorny plants. Those who feel comfortable doing so should be prepared to climb up a 12 foot ladder to reach nest boxes.
What to Bring: Bring warm clothes, rain gear, and rubber boots. This wetland is a wet one! Bring hip or chest waders if you have them – we’ll also have some adult sized waders for loan. Bring a water bottle, snacks, and a lunch if you’re one to get hungry before 1pm.
Directions and Meeting Location: Take Highway 4 west to Cathlamet, WA. Proceed approximately one mile west, cross Elochoman River Bridge, turn right on Nelson Creek Rd., and proceed to the Red Barn at the intersection of Nelson Creek Road and Risk Road. Park along the roadside.
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This has been an annual event for almost 10 years. We will meet on December 6th at 8:30 AM at Hemlock Square and Kessler at Lake Sacajawea in Longview, to spend a couple hours checking out the bird life before retiring to the Green’s. We will have tea, coffee, or chocolate and some snacks available in the dry and warmth while viewing backyard birds. The conversation is always fun and lively. To sign up, call John Green at 360-575-9238 or
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Willapa Hills Audubon Society welcomes Ian Thompson, Director of Lower Columbia School Gardens, to share successes, challenges and opportunities of developing and sustaining school gardens at local middle and elementary schools. Lower Columbia School Gardens is a local nonprofit (no government or school district funding) that is getting kids OUTSIDE digging in the mud, noticing, observing and learning about critters in the compost, pollinators at the flowers and whatever other natural life presents itself (see photos).
In the past year Lower Columbia School Gardens has engaged nearly 3,000 students in Cowlitz County in garden related activities. Come hear how participating in planning, planting, weeding, watering, composting, harvesting, selling, cooking and eating actual vegetables (and fruit) impacts students and volunteers and fosters connection with nature.
Where: Lower Columbia College Physical Science Building Room 102; Located next to the LCC 15th Ave parking lot in Longview, WA
When: Thursday, April 17th from
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Come celebrate with us.
The annual membership dinner meeting and program will be held on Saturday, March 29th at 5:30 at the Longview Woman’s Club. The address is 835 21st Ave. in Longview, on the Kessler side of the lake. This year will be a potluck, once again. WHAS will supply meat and vegetarian pizza, coffee, tea and water. Members should bring a potluck dish they would like to share: salad, dessert, casserole, bread, appetizer, or something else. We will need to know how many of you plan on attending to plan pizza.
Please contact Carol at 360-849-4324 or
Please make it a green event and bring your own tableware.
At 7:00 keynote speaker, Paul Engelmeyer, manager of Ten Mile Creek, an Important Bird Area, will begin his presentation.
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WHAS will welcome Paul Engelmeyer as keynote speaker at the Annual Meeting, Dinner, & Program on Saturday, March 29th. Paul has been managing the Audubon parcel located on Ten Mile Creek, south of Yachats since 1990. This effort includes not only watershed restoration and protection strategies but a marine conservation effort as well.
The Ten Mile Creek Conservation Program includes education, land stewardship, acquisition and advocacy. In the early ‘90s ODFW, Audubon, the local community and the Siuslaw National Forest developed a partnership that grew into a basin-wide protection and restoration program which eventually led to a national award in 2005.
In 2012, the 80,000 acres from Heceta Head through Rock Creek Wilderness, Ten Mile and Cummins Creek Wilderness to north of Yachats River basin was designated a Globally Significant Important Bird Area (IBA) for the Marbled Murrelet. As the statewide conservation representative on the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) Paul has worked on formation of marine reserves in Oregon’s Territorial Sea which includes five sites including the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve and Seabird Protection Area just off-shore of the Murrelet IBA.
Engelmeyer will be discussing a range of issues including land-sea conservation strategies, marine reserves and protected areas, forage fish issues as well as recovery efforts for the Marbled Murrelet.
The program at the Longview Woman’s Club. 835 21st Ave. in Longview is at 7:00 PM and free and open to the public.
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The Willapa Hills Audubon Society is excited to announce the first of many more programs in Pacific County.
Join us for an open house on Saturday, December 07, 2013, from 01:30pm - 03:30pm. During that time COASST will offer two 20min programs/classes titled “Flocking Together: Learn How Citizen Science Counts” at the rear lower level of the Long Beach Grange at 5715 Sandridge Road.
COASST works with citizens to collect, identify, and count birds that have died and been washed up on beaches in Washington State and other states.
From their mission: “COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups… By collaborating with citizens, natural resource management agencies and environmental organizations, COASST works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation solutions. “
There will also be information about the many citizen science projects that involve counting live birds. Before and after the COASST presentation there will be information tables to explain the different missions of Willapa Hills Audubon Society, Shoalwater Birders, Grays Harbor Audubon Society, and Friends of Willapa National Refuge.
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Please join local birding expert Harry Nehls, author of Birds of the Willamette Valley Region, on Wednesday May 8 at 7:00 pm at Lower Columbia College, Room PSC 102 as he discusses the Unique features and fascinating natural history of diving birds including cormorants, pelicans, loons and grebes.
The program is free, open to all and sponsored by the LCC Sustainability Club and the Willapa Hills Audubon Society
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Learn about fierce and fast hawks, owls, vultures and eagles and get a close-up view of these birds soaring overhead as the Oregon Zoo brings live raptors from the Pacific Northwest and all over the world to the Lower Columbia College Student Center on Saturday, April 13th at 11:00 am!
The program is free and all ages are welcome to attend. Sponsored by the Willapa Hills Audubon Society and the LCC Sustainability Club.
- Mushroom Growing 101
- Annual WHAS Member Meeting and Program
- Great Backyard Bird Count - Outreach to New Birders
- What impact do browsing animals have on health, diversity and productivity
- Unique ecology of the Marbled Murrelet by William Ritchie
- Aventures while Backpacking Washington
- Kids Day 2012
- Free screening of "Bag It"
- Birds of Prey - Live presented by Portland Audubon
- Still Walking: Bigfoot in the Dark Divide and Beyond