Sure to cause a flap
You never know what’s coming nest at World Migratory Bird Day
Help celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with the Audubon Society of Lincoln City this Friday and Saturday, May 12 and 13, with events from outdoor guided hikes to indoor educational presentations.
This year’s theme of the annual event, coordinated by Environment for the Americas, is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life,” something particularly appropriate for Lincoln City with its seven miles of ocean beach, two major rivers with estuaries and a large freshwater lake.
These varied sources of water provide migrating birds with a welcome source of habitat and food as they travel along the Pacific Flyway—some stopping for a few weeks and othersstaying for months at a time.
Audubon members will lead opportunities to see local and visiting birds on both days.
Friday, 9 to 11 am
Cutler City Open Space and Siletz Bay
Large trees in this wooded wetland host species such as pileated woodpecker, while the marshy brush is home to common yellowthroat and other songbirds. After walking the woods, the group will move on to the Siletz Bay to enjoy the herons and look for shorebirds.
Meet at the pull-out on SW 63rd Street.
Saturday, 10 am to noon
Sitka Sedge Natural Area
This popular natural area has a variety of coastal habitats that are teeming with wildlife. The trail winds to the ocean through tidal flats, saltwater marshes and forested wetlands. The group will be keeping an eye out for songbirds and shorebirds. Bring lunch and enjoy eating with fellow bird enthusiasts after the walk in the picnic area.
Meet in the parking area off Sandlake Road.
Saturday, 3:15 to 4 pm
Observe the Taft High School Osprey nest and get your Home of the Osprey decal.
Meet at Oregon Coast Community College North Campus.
Indoor adventures will abound at the World Migratory Bird Day Festival at Oregon Coast Community College’s Lincoln City campus from 4 to 8 pm on Saturday, May 13.
The afternoon commences in the Community Room with live raptor ambassadors courtesy of Chintimini Wildlife Center. Enjoy activities for children and adults — play the migration game and make an osprey mask.
At 5:30 pm, light refreshments will be served before the evening program.
At 6 pm, there will be presentations that focus on two migrating species that depend on local water resources. Expert Roy Lowe will share his snowy plover knowledge, adventures and photographs, then members of the ASLC Osprey Awareness Initiative will present on osprey in Lincoln City. Learn about a new interactive map that provides locations of 13 local nesting sites and a volunteer team that is building a community science database on nesting behavior.
The evening concludes at 8 pm with door prizes and raffle drawings.
No registration is required, and all activities are free and family-friendly. Oregon Coast Community College is located at 3788 SE High School Drive in Lincoln City. For more information, go to lincolncityaudubon.org.
Come birdwatch with the Cape Perpetua Collaborative to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and work to identify migratory bird species in nearshore and forest habitats within the Cape Perpetua region. On Saturday, May 13, Cape Perpetua Collaborative birders with spotting scopes will be stationed at the Yachats Viewing Deck, Thor’s Well and Heceta Head Lighthouse from 11 am to 1 pm.
Your participation will help in their efforts to catalog and track the variety of migratory birds along Oregon’s coastal landscape. Sightings can be uploaded to the iNaturalist app to help record observations in Oregon and worldwide.
There will also be a guided hike from the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center to the Giant Spruce. Meet at the Visitor Center at 11 am.