Blog - Willapa Hills Audubon Society

Winter lessons for middle school grade

Details: Last Updated: February 02, 2021

The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife has a program that provides lessons focused on the interactions between humans and wildlife for students in 6th - 8th grade.

“Counting Birds for Science” takes learners into the world of birding and community science. Students explore sighting numbers from the Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, and gather, graph, and analyze data about birds in their area.

This lesson emphasizes the importance of community science for gathering and recording large amounts of data and observing long-term trends. Educators have the option of birding as a one-time lesson or to gather data over time for a more robust student experience. Though the lesson highlights the Christmas Bird Count, the lesson could also be taught in the spring or fall.

The lesson is aligned with Common Core State Standards in math and Next Generation Science Standards in life science. Students record, graph, and analyze data and identify trends based on resource availability and interactions with other species.

"Trafficking Wildlife" lets students explore the multi-billion dollar, illegal industry of wildlife trafficking.

Students take the roles of WDFW detectives and enforcement officers who work to protect regional and international wildlife. Teachers and parents can choose to include a career profile of a WDFW detective. Students read two cases studies of wildlife trafficking in Washington and create their own project informing their community how they can avoid supporting wildlife trafficking practices and help promote the sustainability of wildlife populations.

The lesson encourages critical thinking skills and is rooted in Next Generation Science Standards in life science, as well as Common Core State Standards in writing, and an Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction environment and sustainability standard.

Details are available on the WDFW website.

2021 Cowlitz County Bird List - January Update

Details: Last Updated: February 02, 2021

Cedar Waxwing - Image courtesy of Russ Koppendrayer

By Russ Koppendrayer

We got off to a typical fine start to our year list as far as the number of species seen.

A bit unusual was the number of species that over winter in small numbers that we usually miss until they begin to return from their winter haunts. Cedar Waxwing would be one of these species that in many years we don't find any until June, but this January we had three reports. The flock found feeding on berries at Lake Sacajawea astoundingly contained an estimated 150 individuals.

All the Code 4 (over 4 records, but less than annual) seen fall into the category of species found nearly every year.

Download the pdf here.

Help protect wild birds from deadly salmonellosis

Details: Last Updated: January 23, 2021

Below is a message from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to anyone using backyard bird feeders. More information here.

Recent reports of sick or dead birds at backyard feeders in King, Kitsap, Skagit, Snohomish, and Thurston counties is prompting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to recommend that people temporarily discontinue feeding wild birds or take extra steps to maintain their feeders.

The current die-off of finches- such as pine siskins- as well as other songbirds, is attributed to salmonellosis, a common and usually fatal bird disease caused by the salmonella bacteria, according to WDFW veterinarian Kristin Mansfield.

"When birds flock together in large numbers at feeders, they can transmit the disease through droppings and saliva,” said Mansfield.

The spread of the disease this winter could be exacerbated by what appears to be an “irruption” of winter-roaming finches- an anomaly where finches and other species that generally winter in the boreal forest in Canada and the far north move south and are spotted in areas in larger numbers than non-irruption years. (More information on irruption is available from this National Audubon Society website.)

“The first indication of the disease for bird watchers to look for is often a seemingly tame bird on or near a feeder. The birds become very lethargic, fluff out their feathers, and are easy to approach. This kind of behavior is generally uncommon to birds,” Mansfield said. "Unfortunately, at this point there is very little people can do to treat them. The best course it to leave the birds alone.”

Members of the public can help to stop the spread of salmonellosis by discontinuing backyard bird feeding until

Video of a Barn Owl exiting a building

Details: Last Updated: January 12, 2021

Mary Duvall, a volunteer for the Cowlitz-Columbia Christmas Bird Count on Jan. 1, 2021, took this video of a Barn Owl exiting the barn at the Whipple Tree Farm east of Clatskanie while Darrel Whipple was entering the other end of the building.

2020 Cowlitz County Bird List - Final Update

Details: Last Updated: January 02, 2021

White-tailed Kite- Image courtesy of Kevin Cole via Wikemedia — White-tailed Kite- Image courtesy of Kevin Cole via Wikimedia

By Russ Koppendrayer

Two species have been added to the list since the last report two months ago. This gives us the most species found in Cowlitz County in one year over the life of this project. The first addition was a Heermann's Gull that was actually seen in mid October, but didn't get through the eBird review in time for the October report. This was the third ever record for the county for this gull that has a strong attachment to salt water. While we have three records, Wahkiakum county just downstream on the Columbia River has only one record and the next county upstream (Clark) has never witnessed this visitor. Heermann's Gull is a handsome mostly gray gull whose favorite foraging technique is to follow Brown Pelicans when they plunge dive on baitfish and take advantage of any fish stirred up or spilled by the pelicans.

The second addition was a White-tailed Kite that appeared for a couple days at Willow Grove. This species has become quite rare anywhere in Washington in the last twelve years. After being well established in the southwest part of the state, their range has regressed southward with the nearest population now in the Tillamook, Oregon area.

As previously stated there is now a new county highest total for species in a year. These 209 species include the three that were new to the county. We added Gray Flycatcher, Siberian Accentor, and American Redstart to our list in 2020.

We'll see what 2021 has to offer for birding excitement and pleasure, and good birding to all.

Download the pdf here.

Winter 2020 Whistler is online

Details: Last Updated: March 01, 2021

The Winter 2020 Whistler is available now.

Cowlitz-Columbia Christmas Bird Count 2020

Details: Last Updated: December 02, 2020

NEW YEARS DAY 2021

Friday, January 1, 2021 Cowlitz -Columbia Christmas Bird Count (3CBC) is the first of the New Year. We will be out for an 8 hour period covering a 15 mile diameter circle looking for any birds that will let us see them.

More details will come later.

To sign up, call Bob Reistroffer 360-751-5595 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This count will be different because of COVID-19. The guidelines are:

NO in-person compilation gatherings.
Social distancing and/or masking are required at all times in the field.
Carpooling may only occur within existing familiar or social “pod” groups.
Activities must comply with all current state and municipal COVID-19 guidelines.

HOPE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE 1-1-21 !

Wahkiakum CBC 2020

Details: Last Updated: November 17, 2020

The Wahkiakum CBC is still on, December 29, 2020.

There are some national standards for the Christmas Bird Count this year due to Covid-19, which we will follow. Participants should not carpool with people other than their own family group or social pod.

There will be no gathering at the end of the day - participants should submit their data via email. As the Wahkiakum count is generally birding outdoors in a sparsely populated area, the chance of transmitting the virus will be low as long as participants mask up and wash hands for purchasing fuel or food, or are otherwise interacting with others.

Those who wish to participate may contact Andrew Emlen at 360-795-8009.

Children’s Discovery Museum: Discovering a Wonderful World

Details: Last Updated: February 22, 2023

A special place in Longview is the Children’s Discovery Museum. There, children play with interactive exhibits that are designed for learning. Children of all ages can find something of interest there, from the area designed for babies to the large harmonograph.

Kids can picture themselves boating, shopping at the farm to table market, or as doctors and dentists. Creativity flourishes with exhibits like the Wind Tunnel and with stories,arts, and crafts. Parents and museum volunteers help enrich the experience by interacting with kids in child-centered play. Staff are working on developing new experiences for the children to look forward to, which may soon include a stage and a puppet theater.

The museum has reopened at 1209 Commerce Avenue near the corner with Hemlock Street after having been closed for
over two years during the covid pandemic. It is free to the public, and many children return to it time and again.

Winter Raptor Survey Slide Presentation

Details: Last Updated: November 06, 2020

Check out this slide presentation by Jeff Fleischer of East Cascades Audubon, coordinator of the Winter Raptor Survey Project. Several members of Willapa Hills help with survey routes in Cathlamet and Puget Island, Grays River, Naselle and Rainier, OR.

The presentation is packed with information and is a great way to continue birding education during the long winter and while Covid19 keeps us isolated.