Bird Walks

Dick Lamster, 541.343.8664, maeveanddick@q.com

This year marks the 78th Eugene Christmas Bird Count (ECBC) and the 120th National Audubon Society (NAS) Christmas Bird Count. The ECBC this year will be on Sunday, December 29, 2019. Our 15-mile-diameter count circle is centered in the Danebo area of Eugene and is divided into 27 areas, each with a Team Leader. The Team Leaders organize the teams, lead the groups through the area during the count day, and then submit the results to the ECBC Steering Committee.

More information TBA

Dave Bontrager will lead a walk at a location to be arranged. Details will be posted on the LCAS Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/Lane-County-Audubon-Society/330177413824

 and on the website: laneaudubon.org

Nick Paget will lead a walk at the Bertelson Nature Park, near Wallis and 5th Avenue. To get there, take 1st Ave. to Wallis. Take Wallis to 5th, and park near that intersection. Do not park near Euphoria Chocolate as that is too far from our starting point.

All ages and skill levels are welcome. Bring binoculars, if you have them. To carpool, meet at 8 am at the South Eugene High School parking lot, corner of 19th and Patterson. We plan to return by noon. Remember that it’s not a good idea to leave valuables or your vehicle registration in your car if you leave it at the lot. A $3 donation is appreciated to help support Lane County Audubon’s activities.

FMI: Rebecca Waterman at 541.653.3354 or Rebecca.waterman@gmail.com.

Lane County Audubon Society will put on its annual fall swift event outside Agate Hall, 1787 Agate St, Eugene, on Friday September 13th at sunset. The Vaux’s Swifts use the chimney to roost for the night as they gather prior to migration. We could possibly see thousands of birds entering the chimney, but we make no guarantee! It is fun to observe the swifts before they fly off to Central and South America for the winter.

Chad Hoffman or his coworker, Jock Beall, will lead a walk at the Quamash Prairie wetland mitigation site, located approximately 5 miles south of Eugene/Springfield metro area, south of Camas Swale Creek. Details will be posted on the LCAS Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/Lane-County-Audubon-Society/330177413824, and on the website: laneaudubon.org.

Summer walks are not always walks! In July, Dick Lamster and Maeve Sowles will lead a bird-watching-by-canoe/kayak trip to Fern Ridge Lake. You will need to furnish your own canoe or kayak and lifejackets (required). Each craft ten feet or longer will need an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permit. See boatoregon.com for details. Bring binoculars, if you have them. To reserve a spot on this trip and/or to get more information, call Dick at 541.343.8664.

In another departure from the norm, we will head to the coast. Daniel Farrar will lead a walk in Florence from 8:30 to 11:30 am. People who want to stay longer can. We plan to meet up with him on the road to the South Jetty, where you pull in to buy parking passes. Carpooling to get there is preferred. For those who wish to carpool, we will leave at 7 a.m. from the South Eugene High School parking lot, corner of 19th and Patterson.

It’s that time of year again! Get ready to spend an entire day in the field, trying to record as many species as possible. Last year, more than 30,000 citizen scientists helped to record more than 7,000 species in a single 24-hour period. Our LCAS team plans to follow the same general route as in previous years. It will include Skinner’s Butte, Alton Baker Park, Fern Ridge, various spots at the coast, and any other hotspots with potential to produce exciting birds.