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Spider workshop October 2008


Our programs are open to anyone who wants to participate. You don't have to be a member of Audubon or our local chapter to join the fun. But after you have come to  several of our programs, we think you'll want to join and support us. :-)

 

Vaux Swifts Fall Migration in full swing

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Last Updated: Wednesday, September 14 2022 11:15

Several years ago, Darrel Whipple and crew removed the grating covering the smokestack at Riverside Community church in Rainier OR.  The purpose was to attract Vaux swifts during their twice-yearly migration. 

The southward migration of the swifts from all over the Northwest usually starts in September, affording us more opportunities to view thousands of them entering the chimney. The success was greater that possibly imagined.  One Sunday night in early September last year saw 19,514 birds enter the chimney before dark.  Similar counts happen each night during the 2-3 weeks of migration.  You can watch them and meet our volunteers from the corner of W D St and W 3rd St near Fox Creek in Rainier, Ore.

Larry Schwitters of Vaux’s Happening recently sent out the rankings for the top 14 roost sites on the flyway for the northbound migration Rainier's Riverside Community Church ranked second or third in all three categories! Enjoy the video from the previous chimney and come and see the spectacle at the new location in person. 

The birds can be unpredictable but, in general, if the weather is relatively calm, they begin entering the roost around an hour before sunset and conclude half an hour after sunset.

The count on Monday, September 12th, was 24035, they started entering the chimney at 7:30pm and finished by 8pm.

 

2021 Wahkiakum CBC Results

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Last Updated: Thursday, March 03 2022 09:12

By Andrew Emlen


The 24th annual Wahkiakum CBC was held January 5, 2022, after canceling on December 28, 2021 due to weather. 15 volunteers found 57,425 individual birds of 113 species plus 2 additional count week species. Temperatures were from 35-40 degrees F with an east wind of 5-7 mph and a nearly ceaseless light rain. Despite having fewer volunteers (usually there are 20-24), this is close to average in terms of numbers of individual birds and species.

The most abundant species this year was Cackling Goose with 20,367 counted, followed by Greater Scaup at 9002 and European Starling at 2900. These are the usual top three. Cackling Geese represented over 35% of all the individuals counted. Conditions made it difficult to find birds that are dependent on flying insects, but as Mike Patterson noted in his trip report, “It was a good day for ducks”.

New high counts were set for six waterfowl species: Snow Goose 430 (former high 141), Trumpeter Swan 27 (20), American Wigeon 2089 (2037), Mallard 2567 (1688), Green-winged Teal 2344 (2199), and Common Merganser 219 (183). A total of 44,354 ducks, geese and swans represented over 77% of all individual birds counted. Other new high counts were for Dunlin 1220 (1006), Red-shouldered Hawk 12 (8) and Rough-legged Hawk 7 (4). The increase in Red-shouldered Hawks for the Wahkiakum Count mirrors increases across Oregon and Washington.

To see how Dr. Steve Hampton used CBC data to track west coast species that have been expanding their ranges northward with the warming climate, see https://thecottonwoodpost.net/2020/03/09/the-invasion-of-the-pacific-northwest-californias-birds-expand-north-with-warmer-winters 

All of the species he examines have shown similar overall trends in the Wahkiakum CBC circle. 

Many thanks to all volunteers for counting on a challenging day.