Whidbey Audubon Society

Whidbey Audubon Society is dedicated to the understanding, appreciation, and protection of wildlife species
and their habitat on Whidbey Island and surrounding waters. Visitors are welcome to participate in our events.

Upcoming Events

"Shorelines" Newsletter (PDF)

Birding Class

Join Whidbey Audubon

Birding on Whidbey Island: -- 15 Great Birding Spots; -- Deer Lagoon; -- Bird Checklist

About Whidbey Audubon: -- Board Officers and Committee Chairs; -- Education Activities; -- Scholarships; -- Chapter History; -- Chapter Bylaws (pdf); -- Shorelines Newsletter Archive; -- Website Credits

Wildlife Rescue Resources: -- Wildlife Care Resources (PDF); -- Flowchart--I Found a Baby Bird (PDF); -- What to Do if You See a Sick or Dead Swan

Stewardship: -- Fieldtrip Leaders' Instructions; -- Pigeon Guillemot Study; -- Wildlife Habitat Project; -- Swan Lake Preservation; -- Christmas Bird Count Data; -- Bird Specimen Library; -- Plants for Birds; -- Bird-a-thon Data 2013-2019 (PDF); -- External Links

Check Whidbey Audubon's Facebook page for discussions, pictures, and more information.

Fact Sheets

Unusual Bird Sightings and Special Points of Interest
Post an unusual bird sighting	\|	Get emails when sightings are posted.

Reporter's name: Jann Ledbetter

Sighting Description: Peregrine Falcon

Location: Driftwood Beach

Date and time: 6/13/19 7:00 a.m.

Photo Title: Peregrine Falcon

Comment submitted Jun 14, 2019

Reporter's name: Darwin Wile

Sighting Description: western wood pewee - along wooded trail leading to west dike; also, along the same trail, one male each of all three versions of teal in my scope at one time.

Location: west dike, Deer Lagoon

Date and time: 6/3/19; 1:45pm

Comment submitted Jun 3, 2019

Reporter's name: Cheryl Bradkin

Sighting Description: A single adult band-tailed pigeon, the first we have seen in Ledgewood Beach since about ten years ago, when a neighbor cut down the cluster of evergreens where six to eight birds used to hang out.

Location: Fircrest Avenue in Ledgewood Beach

Date and time: May 31, 2019 7:00 p.m.

Comment submitted May 31, 2019

Reporter's name: Jennifer Holmes

Sighting Description: I believe I saw a common nighthawk down by crockett lake this evening. I heard a squawk from above and when I looked up there was a small dark bird overhead.

Location: closer to the beach, but across the street from Crockett Lake

Confirmation: I didn't see this bird listed on your website, but I've included a picture so you could confirm it for me.

Date and time: about 7 pm 5/30/2019

Comment submitted May 31, 2019

Jennifer, this is Sarah, one of the Sightings editors. You did indeed photograph a Common Nighthawk. Good catch! It is included on our checklist (just after owls) as Uncommon in Spring and Summer, but without a photograph.

Reporter's name: Rob Craig

Sighting Description: Black Oystercatchers

Location: On the beach in front of Lake Hancock.

Date and time: May 25 11 am

Comment submitted May 25, 2019

Reporter's name: Jay Adams

Sighting Description: Chipping Sparrow seen this morning in the Oak plantation section at Pacific Rim Institute.

Location: PRI

Date and time: May 22, 2019 at 9:45

Comment submitted May 22, 2019

Reporter's name: Steve Ellis

Sighting Description: Today a Western Kingbird was perched on a fence post at the Greenbank Farm. It dove into the grass and I lost sight of it. This is pretty late in the season for a kingbird.

Location: At Greenbank Farm, north side of Wonn Road, about 1/3 of the distance from the hwy to the farm entry road

Date and time: 5/18/2019 9:15am

Comment submitted May 18, 2019

Reporter's name: Nancy Van Wormer

Sighting Description: A Townsend's Solitaire visited our feeder

Location: On the bluff overlooking Deer Lahoon

Date and time: May 10, morning

Comment submitted May 16, 2019

Reporter's name: Nancy Van Wormer

Sighting Description: A Yellow Headed Blackbird landed on the pole of our feeder for a few brief moments. Simply glowing yellow head and neck.

Location: On the bluff above Deer Lagoon

Date and time: May 1- - 6, 7:30 AM

Comment submitted May 16, 2019

Upcoming Events

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Schedule changes: Remember to check this space a few hours before any Whidbey Audubon Society event in case weather or illness cancels it. Consider signing up to receive updates by email.

Birding in the Neighborhoods - Weekly Field Trips

South Whidbey
The trips are every other Thursday and the meeting time varies with the season. If you would like to be notified of the events, contact Cathi Bower (email) .

North Whidbey
The trips are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you wish to be notified of the events, contact Marcia Lazoff (email) .

Saturday, June 29: Field Trip
PIGEON GUILLEMOT COLONY
Meet at 8 a.m. at the Freeland Park and Ride at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Saturday July 13: Field Trip
Vendovi Island Preserve
About a dozen pairs of Pigeon Guillemots nest and rear their young on Vendovi Island's breakwater spring and summer. Generally, they gather in April, pair-bond in May, incubate eggs in June, feed the chicks in July, and disperse in August. To observe this progression in behaviors, trips are scheduled in May, June and July. In addition to birding, you can explore the island's forest, beaches, grassy meadows and lookouts on its well-maintained trail system (total 2 mi, 200 ft elevation gain), and enjoy your lunch with stunning vistas of the San Juan Islands, the Salish Sea, Mount Baker and the North Cascades. The San Juan Preservation Trust has owned Vendovi Island (located off the northwestern tip of Guemes Island) since 2010 ensuring its protection. There'll also be time to bird along the way including a stop at the Cone Islands, situated between Cypress and Guemes Islands, where more Pigeon Guillemots nest.

Time: 9:30 am - 3 pm (about 3 hours on the island)

Group size: 4 min - 12 max (invite fellow birders, friends & family!)

Price: $106 p/p; reservation fee of $31.48 secures spot, balance of $75 p/p due on day of cruise

Departs from: Island Express Charters, Skyline Marina, Anacortes

What to bring: binoculars, camera, lunch, comfortable walking/tennis shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing

Donations encouraged: $2-5 p/p for SJPT accepted at Vendovi Island donation box

Reservations: https://skagitguidedadventures.com/calendar/ ; go to date and follow booking flow

Contact: Stephanie Fernandez, steph@skagitguidedadventures.com (360) 47 47 47 9