Today I want to talk about the yellow headed blackbird. I wanted to talk about this flying friend because its cute.
Seeing Without Being Seen: A Low Impact Approach to Bird Photography
As a bird photographer, I’m often asked how I manage to capture such close, intimate portraits of birds that are naturally wary of people. A fellow birder recently encouraged me to share my process, because while viewers see the final image — a sharp eye, a relaxed posture, a bird going about its day — what they don’t see is the quiet, careful setup behind the scenes.
Update on Monarch Butterfly Conservation
Our February meeting program on citizen scientist volunteers tracking captive-reared telemetry-tagged Monarch butterflies to help determine migration routes, presented by Patrik Adair of the North Idaho non-profit organization WingsRising, Inc., raised a lot of enthusiasm and questions about Washington state efforts.
True Royalty
It was the bewitching hour. The hour before dark, when the Empress-Sun lights the sky, outlining each puff, strand, and wave of clouds with her lavender, silver, and yellow highlighters. Each night, she sets the stage and calls in her subjects to see her fall. She had called me to watch her cross the crimson horizon, to see past the earth into the cosmos, to know that our world is just a finite piece of infinity.
Turnbull NWR Great Gray Owl Update
By now, most birders in the region have likely heard about this recent, uncommon visitor to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. Great gray owls are the largest owl species in North America, having a wingspan of up to five feet. They inhabit bogs, grassy meadows and boreal forests, where they feed mainly on small mammals such as voles. When vole populations crash, the birds can move in large numbers south of their usual range, particularly in the winter.
Flying Friends and Glass Door Danger
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip
Have you ever been to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon? Please plan to join us, April 22nd to the 25th on our way back from Arizona! We are fairly new members of Spokane Audubon, Bill and Ann-Scott Ettinger, but have been long time birders, and Malheur is one of our favorite late spring destinations!
End of Winter and Start of a New Birding Field Trip Season
As winter draws to a close, we eagerly anticipate the return of warmer days and the awakening of nature. This transition marks the perfect time to kick off a new birding field trip season. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just beginning, join us as we explore diverse habitats and enjoy the sights and sounds of migratory and resident birds. Get your binoculars ready—adventure awaits! Details will be posted on the events page of the website. These events are offered free of charge, as usual.
Snake River Eagle Count
Recently my wife, Bea and I were invited to attend the Canyon Birders annual eagle count along the Snake River in southeastern Washington. The Canyon Birders is an established club within the Lewiston/Clarkston Valley, originally founded by local educators. The organization is recognized for organizing well-regarded birding excursions at various sites throughout the region. They have conducted the eagle census for many years. This nationwide survey began in 1979 to monitor Bald Eagle populations across the lower 48 states. Check out this website for more history of these eagle surveys. https://gis.nacse.org/eagles/history.php
2025 Report from the Save-A-Bird Team
This year, volunteer team members logged more than 300 hours responding to 420 reports from the public regarding injured, sick, or vulnerable birds. The team handled most of these incidents by providing advice / coaching to the reporting party over the phone. A total of 99 separate incidents required physical intervention by team members. Often, these involved capturing and transporting injured birds to cooperating veterinarians. Our volunteers drove almost 5,500 miles to complete physical interventions with wild birds this year.
Birds of Prey Northwest Damaged in Windstorm
Former Spokane Audubon Leader Brian Miller Died Last Month
Birds and Fireworks
Remembering Jan Reynolds
The Use of the term “Jizz” in Birding
A Delightful Day with the Gawkers
A few weeks ago, my boyfriend Ben and I were visiting his sister in rural Eastern Washington. Her home lies in a mixed landscape where open fields and pasture lands rest scattered around stands of forest. It is a beautiful place. But our mission for the day was not to relax under the Ponderosa Pines, listen for the calls of the wild birds, or hike to explore the area. The purpose of the trip was to install two toilets.
