A New Big Year Record for Lane County
By Alan Contreras Lane County’s previous Big Year record of 289 was set by Dave Irons in 2008. I finished at 296 in 2021! In doing this, I birded in Lane County away from my house on 150 days. Sally…
Preventing Bird Strikes on Windows and Buildings: Mt. Pisgah Arboretum
Birds face a myriad of threats as they go about their daily lives. In addition to the natural causes of death like disease and predation, there are a host of causes that are human influenced. Habitat loss, cats, pesticide use,…
The River Democracy Act of 2021 Would Protect More Oregon Waterways
Riddle: You’re out hiking one day, and you catch glimpses of osprey, kingfishers, American Dippers, herons, perhaps a flycatcher, a woodpecker, a warbling vireo. Where are you? As you listen to the bird calls, the sun glints off the…
Conservation Column: Cooperation—Some Birds Do It, Can We?
Conserving biodiversity is a big challenge, but there is much we can do. Populations suffer from habitat loss and fragmentation, the wildlife trade, invasive species, and disease. These are exacerbated by climate change, as animals shift range, search for food,…
Conservation Column: Logging Is Not the Solution to Wildfires
The wildfires that tore through our communities and devastated natural areas were terrifying. We are so sorry for those who had to flee, for those who lost their homes, for those impacted by the fire and smoke. We are sad,…
Conservation Column: Environmental Protections Necessary For Survival of Our Essential Ecosystems
The health of the natural environment is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It is not a liberal or conservative issue. It is what all of us, non-humans and humans alike, depend on for our very existence. Unfortunately, it has…
Conservation Column: The Expanding Perils of Plastic Pollution
I have always been charmed by watching videos of bowerbirds decorating their bowers to attract females. Historically, they have decorated with colorful flowers, leaves, feathers, shells, and berries. But now the display sites contain a preponderance of plastic waste, including…
Conservation Column: Anti-poaching Campaign
Lane County Audubon Society has joined a diverse group of stakeholders to fight poaching and illegal harm to wildlife in Oregon. This campaign is a collaboration among conservationists, recreationists, hunters, and landowners. We and other wildlife organizations (including Portland Audubon)…
Conservation Column: Diseases Respect No Boundaries
I hope that everybody is safe and well as we deal with this devastating pandemic. Turns out that many of the conservation issues that have been on our radar for years are associated with pandemics. Zoonotic (zōe’nätik) diseases are caused…
Conservation Column: April 2020 Annual Bee Report
Here’s the buzz from our first year as official members of BeeCity USA. Representatives from the City of Eugene Parks and Open Spaces, Xerces Society, Beyond Toxics, Walama Restoration Project, GloryBee, and Lane Audubon serve on the pollinator protection committee…