News Archive

From Our President: NAS Convention Report

Posted on Saturday, August 31st, 2013
In mid-July, I attended the National Audubon Society (NAS) convention held at Skamania Lodge above the Columbia Gorge in Washington. I had never attended before because the last convention in our region was 15 years ago! Chapter leaders, NAS Board members and staff from all over the United States, and international partners were there—over 500 people in all! I met and visited with folks from around the country and Mexico. At every event, people were friendly and eager to meet each other. Over the weekend, concurrent sessions covering nine topic areas were held. It was difficult to decide what to attend.
 
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Report on June Bird Walk at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area

Posted on Saturday, August 31st, 2013
Avocet chicks at the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area, Eugene, OR
(Photo: American Avocet adults and chicks at the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area, Eugene, OR)
 
John Sullivan
 
About a dozen birders met at the Royal Avenue entrance to the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area for the June 15th Third Saturday Bird Walk. We began the morning in the native wet prairie near the west end of Royal Avenue, where we were immediately treated to nice views of singing Grasshopper Sparrows. This area is one of the few breeding sites for Grasshopper Sparrows in Lane County. One adult Grasshopper Sparrow carried a beak-full of caterpillars and other bugs, apparently indicating a nearby clutch of nestlings. Western Meadowlarks and Savannah Sparrows sang from fence posts, while many dozens of Cliff Swallows foraged for insects over the prairie around us.
 

From Our President: The Pleasures of Summer Birding

Posted on Monday, July 1st, 2013

Summer birding at our house revolves around keeping the hummingbird feeders full, monitoring the nest boxes, and watching the various species of hatchlings beg for food from their frenzied parents. The juveniles are so vulnerable as they learn to fly, watch for predators, and fend for themselves. They are usually loud and rather conspicuous. Watching them is entertaining but at times nerve-wracking.

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Backyard Birds II (A 37-Year Pursuit of 100 Species)

Posted on Friday, April 12th, 2013

Steve Gordon

At the end of 2011, our backyard list stood at 97 species after 36 years of watching birds at our home in the Friendly Neighborhood (see the March 2012 Quail). This is an update for 2012 and early 2013. I’m sure all avid Quail readers have been waiting anxiously to see when and if the 100-species threshold could be reached.

On May 18, while sitting on our deck, my wife Susan and I counted eight Cliff Swallows overhead  (#98). After the March 2012 snow storm, the birch tree across Van Buren Street was taken down. On May 19, before it was felled, it was the perfect perch for an Olive-sided Flycatcher (#99). The next bird seen or heard in or from the yard would be the magical number 100.

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