Skagit Audubon Society

Welcome to Skagit Audubon Programs

General membership meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.
In person meetings are typically presented at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center, 10441 Bayview-Edison Rd., Mt. Vernon. Other meetings may be available by Zoom only. Please check the specific program listing below for the time and location of the current meeting. Some programs offer “watch parties” - see newsletter for details.

SCAM ALERT! Our monthly programs on Zoom are always FREE! Any prompt during registration on Zoom to collect any financial or payment information is a scam (and out of our control).

MONTHLY PROGRAM

Although Washington is blessed with a rich community of breeding and wintering seabirds, relatively little is known about the ecology and conservation status of many of the species, particularly the burrow-nesters. This relative lack of knowledge extends to iconic species such as the Tufted Puffin, a species listed as Endangered by Washington State.

Moving between islands, seascapes and species of the waters of Washington, Dr. Peter J. Hodum shares stories about a collaborative research program focused on improving our understanding of the ecology and conservation status of species such as the Tufted Puffin, Rhinoceros Auklet, Cassin’s Auklet and Leach’s and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels.

Dr. Hodum is a professor with a joint appointment in the Biology and the Environmental Studies and Sciences departments at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington and the Chile Program Senior Advisor for Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, a conservation nonprofit organization. His research focuses primarily on the conservation and ecology of threatened seabirds and island ecosystems in Chile and Washington State. His work also has a strong focus on community-based conservation, including how communities can be more effectively and authentically involved in conservation.

Please come to hear Dr. Hodum and learn more about these endangered species and the efforts being made to protect them. Please contact programs@skagitaudubon.org with any questions. We look forward to seeing you! Photo credit: Tufted Puffin by Peter J. Hodum, Ph.D.

2025-2026 UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Join us for a season of interesting and energetic speakers and topics

November 11, 2025  Rebecca Heisman ZOOM Flight Paths: Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research. Energetic presenter Rebecca Heisman shares stories and amazing facts about bird migration. Author: Flight Paths

December 9, 2025  Members’ Photography Show IN-PERSON (HOLIDAY POTLUCK)  Images, stories and sounds from the photographic contributions of our members.

January 13, 2026  Kaeli Swift ZOOM Something to Crow About: Kaeli Swift is an author, researcher and speaker who specializes in Corvids with a focus on Crows and unique features that make them compelling topics of literature and observation.

February 10, 2026 George Armistead ZOOM A Birder's Evolution: Beyond Your Spark Bird What are some of the common features that draw people to birding, how that interest ignites into passion and even obsession, and what birders and communities get back from their birding. Author: Better Birding, Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania

March 10, 2026  Bob Gillespie IN-PERSON Introduction to Beneficial Insects or Introduction to Pollinator Diversity. A talk with displays will cover the diversity of native bees, flies, beetles, butterflies and moths that pollinate native plants and the plants we depend on for a complete diet.

April 14, 2026  Paul Bannick IN-PERSON (at SKAGIT STATION) Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers. The outcome of Paul’s lifelong interest and study of Woodpeckers, their habits, ranges and over 200 never-before-seen images. A bonanza of woodpecker information and images. Author: Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls

May 12, 2026  Kevin Zobrist IN-PERSON Know your Native Trees Learn about the most common native trees around Skagit County. We’ll cover identification as well as growth traits and habitats. Author: Native Trees of Western Washington

June 9, 2026  Peter Cavanaugh IN-PERSON: How Birds Fly (POTLUCK)  Our year-end member program.  From take-off to landing, Peter unveils the complex evolution and physics of bird flight. Author: How Birds Fly

Legacy Program Recordings:

May 2025: “Salmon and the American Dipper” presented by Christopher Tonra, PhD is now available at: https://youtu.be/CSdGwlBeCiY

April 2025: “Birds and Climate Change” presented by Steve Hampton, PhD is now available at: https://youtu.be/ZnYQ5yTBc64

March 2025: “White-headed Woodpecker – 20 Years of Research”, presented by Jeff Kozma, is available for viewing here: https://youtu.be/WIPeKj6KDyU

January 2025: The recording of the Jan. program, “Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest”, presented by Julie Zickefoose is now available for viewing here: https://youtu.be/HEaEKDFxQTc

November 2024 :  If you missed the Nov. 12th presentation “Adaptive Estuary Restoration of the Port Susan Bay Reserve” by Amber Parmenter, Stewardship Manager for The Nature Conservancy, it may be viewed at the following link:  https://youtu.be/rnZmw9oRJ0U Please also see this short fact sheet on the restoration project at the Port Susan Bay Reserve.

https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/port-susan-bay-fact-sheet.pdf

May 2024 Pacific Flyway Shorebird Conservation by River Gates