East Cascades Bird Alliance

ONDA's A Journey Through the Owyhee Canyonlands
2024-02-08 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | OR
Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands is one of the largest conservation opportunities in the country. Join ONDA Board Members, Elisa Cheng and Natasha Bellis, at a 2024 High Desert Speaker Series event as they reflect on their spring rafting trip down the Owyhee River on an exploration of this incomparable region. They’ll discuss the Owyhee’s awe-inspiring natural landscapes, rich culture and history, key wildlife habitats and many recreation opportunities. Karly Foster, ONDA’s Campaign Manager, will share conservation advocacy initiatives you can support to counter threats to the region and ensure that the Owyhee is protected.
About the Presenters
Elisa Cheng grew up in California and Hawaii. She launched her web design career in 2002 spending a few years at an eCommerce company before realizing that her passion was in helping non-profits. From there she moved into a role helping non-profits of all sizes with their online presence. She now works as a digital consultant helping small businesses and non-profits expand their digital presence through SEO, marketing, web design, social media, and digital strategy. Elisa moved to Bend, Oregon from Honolulu, Hawaii in 2010 and loves all of the outdoor opportunities right out her door in Bend.
Growing up in Wyoming and Utah, Natasha Bellis gained an early appreciation for wild and open spaces. Cultivating a love of the desert by roaming the canyon lands of southern Utah, she was inspired to pursue a career in environmental studies and has spent the past 20 years working to conserve and protect natural resources. Natasha is currently a Program Manager with the Deschutes River Conservancy where she works to restore streamflow to Oregon’s rivers and streams by negotiating instream water right transactions and helping to shape state water law and policy. Natasha holds a masters of science in environmental studies from the University of Montana and a JD from Lewis and Clark Law School with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law. As a former law clerk with ONDA, Natasha is excited to return to the organization as a board member.
As ONDA’s Campaign Manager, Karly Foster develops and executes conservation campaign initiatives across millions of acres of Oregon’s high desert public lands at the local, regional and national levels and with Tribal Nations, by building relationships with diverse stakeholders and community partners to secure protection for public lands, waters and wildlife. Karly grew up in the western Willamette Valley and as a fourth-generation Pacific City, Dory-fisher, her summers were spent fishing with her family in the Pacific Ocean. She received her bachelor’s in socio-cultural anthropology and Indigenous Nations studies at Portland State University. During undergrad, she attended Tatoosh School in the Tongass National Forest, studying southeast Alaska ecology and policy of place. Karly followed the coastal winds and eventually lived on organic farms in Aotearoa (New Zealand), where her views of what conservation, natural resource management, and Indigenous rights can look like, expanded. Karly graduated from the McCall Field Campus of the University of Idaho with a master’s degree in environmental science and a certificate in environmental education and science communications in 2022. Her next stop was a research assistantship with a National Science Foundation grant in the Rocky Mountains, which reignited her love for the ponderosa pine forests and sagebrush meadows she’d grown up with while camping in Central Oregon. Karly is excited to grow with ONDA in this beautiful place, learn of all the socio-ecological intricacies of Oregon’s high desert and be a strong advocate for its eternal prosperity.
For more information about the program and registration, please see ONDA’s site: https://onda.org/event/a-journey-through-the-owyhee-canyonlands/

Willamette Valley Bird Symposium
2024-02-03 | CH2M Hill Alumni Center, 725 SW 26th St., Corvallis, OR, 97331, United States
Mark your calendars! The 10th annual Willamette Valley Bird Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, February 3, 2024.
Registration opens on Friday, 15 December, 2023!
Ticketing is through University Events: https://oregonstate.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1414
To celebrate our 10th anniversary we are holding an open contest to design a special logo for WVBS: Year 10. Anyone can submit. To learn more and submit your art, please visit: https://forms.gle/9QWiP5SHGoxV9qz29

The 2024 Symposium will be held IN PERSON.
We have two special plenary speakers this year.
Dr. Geoff Hill, Professor at Auburn University, will help us celebrate the remarkable color of birds. His talk: “The color of birds: How the power of science meets the beauty of birds” should inspire us about the amazing spectacle of avian coloration.
Tykee James from the National Audubon Society in Washington, DC, will discuss community building and inclusivity in birding through his talk “Building bridges with birds.”
We have a suite of speakers and special events planned as well, including a focus on bird artists, presentations on recently published books by local authors, and a panel discussion where the audience can ask our plenary speakers and others any questions about birds.
In addition to the plenaries, we will have many 7- and 15-minute talks to keep the pace moving and share with you the amazing variety of stories about birds our speakers have to offer. Expect talks about remote recorders to study bird song, bird diversity across our mountains, stunning photos of Tufted Puffins and what we can learn from them, Slender-billed Nuthatches, Streaked Horned Larks and much more!
We have also extended the length of breaks and will have an after-party at a local Corvallis watering hole so you can have more time to connect with your friends!
• Regular Registration Deadline: January 16th, 2024
What’s included with regular registration?
Regular registration includes admission to the symposium and lunch. Regular registration includes free swag.
• Late Registration Deadline: January 26th, 2024 at 3 PM
What’s included with late registration?
Late registration includes admission to the symposium only. Late registration does not include commemorative items, free swag, or lunch.
Being Green At WVBS
YOU can make a difference! Help WVBS and our planet by reducing your waste during the Symposium. Here are a few tips:

Bring your own coffee mug, thermos, and/or water bottle for refills
Your swag bag is a great place to carry a cloth napkin and reusable cutlery so we can keep those items out of our landfill!
If you do use single-use items while at the event, be sure to keep an eye out for recycling and composting bins and toss them appropriately to reduce your footprint

Have other ideas? We’d love to hear how you stay green and help keep our community and planet zero-waste! Please email douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu for suggestions.
What is WVBS?
An annual, day-long symposium bringing people together to celebrate birds. Learn more.

Deschutes Land Trust Nature Night: The Remarkable Native Bees of Central Oregon
2024-01-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend, Oregon, 97703
he Remarkable Native Bees of Central Oregon
Did you know Oregon has more than 700 species of native bees?!? We say “more than” because, in fact, no one actually knows how many native bees call the state home. Central Oregon is particularly well endowed with these amazing bees. Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Andony Melathopoulos to learn about the unique and sometimes weird bees of Central Oregon. Andony will also discuss the ongoing efforts to find all of our native bees and provide gardening tips on how to make these special pollinators feel at home in your backyard.
The Land Trust is working to make our events as accessible as possible. This event will feature:

A free livestream option. Registration is required; please register for the livestream.
An ASL interpreter.
Accessible parking, a ramped entrance, wheelchair seating, restrooms, water fountains, and assisted listening devices at the Tower Theatre. Learn more.
Please let us know at least one week in advance if there is something we can do or provide to support you in participating in this event to the fullest and we will accommodate as possible.

About Andony Melathopoulos
Andony Melathopoulos is an Associate Professor in Pollinator Health Extension in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University, which was the first such position in the US. He chairs the statewide bee protection initiative—the Oregon Bee Project, is the Extension Educator for the Master Melittologist program, and hosts a weekly podcast called PolliNation.
*This is a Deschutes Land Trust event. Please see their website for more details.

Great Basin Bird Observatory's January Lecture Series: Birds and Bugs in the High Mountains: How Extreme Climate Affects Insect Abundance and Chickadee Reproduction
2024-01-24 18:00 - 20:00 | OR
Lauren Whitenack will present in person and GBBO will host and provide snacks. We will also have a fun bird trivia challenge!
Lauren Whitenack is a PhD student at UNR studying mountain chickadees in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains. She investigates the relationships between climate, insect abundance, and bird reproduction, as insects are the main food source for many birds during the breeding season. Come learn what she has discovered over the last 2 years of insect sampling and monitoring mountain chickadees in nest boxes!
In-person attendees: RSVP to outreach@gbbo.org
Virtual attendees: REGISTER HERE

ONDA's Dive into the Hive: Explore the World of High Desert Bees
2024-01-23 18:30 - 19:30 | OR
Join ONDA for the inaugural event of the 2024 High Desert Speaker Series—a captivating online presentation delving into the diverse species of bees thriving in Oregon’s high desert. Presenter Lincoln Best, Oregon Bee Atlas’ melittologist, will guide us through an exploration of the unique bees residing in iconic desert landscapes such as the Owyhee Canyonlands, Steens Mountain and Greater Hart-Sheldon. This visual presentation combines detailed photographs showcasing desert bees with insights into their pollination habits, lifestyles, and ecology. Discover the fascinating world of these vital pollinators, from rare endemic species to the challenges they face in their natural habitats. Uncover the hidden wonders of bees and learn about how conservation can support the crucial roles these bees play in the delicate balance of Oregon’s high desert ecosystem.
Lincoln Best is a Faculty Research Assistant at Oregon State University Cooperative Extension and works on the Master Melittologist program and Oregon Bee Atlas. He instructs the Oregon Native Bee School Intermediate and Advanced courses.
Please visit ONDA’s site for more details about the program and registration: https://onda.org/event/dive-into-the-hive-explore-the-world-of-high-desert-bees/.

Great Basin Bird Observatory's January Lecture Series: Bee Research and Protecting Pollinators
2024-01-17 18:00 - 20:00 | OR
Zoom in or join us in-person at 6:00 PM in the Lare Meeting Room of the Sparks Library for this hybrid presentation. Jess Buelow is a PhD student at the University of Nevada, Reno. Jess studies bumblebee behavior and the effects of naturally occurring chemicals on them. Jess will present in person, and her bumblebees will be there too! GBBO will host and provide snacks. We will also have a fun bird trivia challenge! Please RSVP using the links below.
In-person attendees: RSVP to outreach@gbbo.org
Virtual attendees: REGISTER HERE

Great Basin Bird Observatory's January Lecture Series: Movie Night with presentation by Dr. Frank Fogarty, Montane Riparian Birds and their Habitats
2024-01-10 18:30 - 20:30 | OR
Join Great Basin Bird Observatory for the first of our January Lecture series at the South Valleys Library, in the Diamond Room. We will feature talks each Wednesday evening in January, with the exception of the final talk being held on Thursday, February 1st.
Dr. Frank Fogarty will zoom in for this movie night style talk. GBBO will host and provide snacks. We will also have a fun bird trivia challenge!
Dr. Fogarty has conducted a substantial amount of research on birds in the Great Basin. He is currently an Assistant Professor at California State Polytechnic University at Humboldt. Dr. Fogarty will talk about riparian areas around creeks, seeps, and snow pockets that cover just a small fraction of the Great Basin’s mountains yet are a key resource for much of its avian diversity. He will discuss his work on these systems, including how changes due to climate change and human activity potentially affect their bird communities.
In-person attendees: please RSVP to outreach@gbbo.org
Virtual attendees: REGISTER HERE

Klamath Basin Audubon Society public meeting's program: A Natural History of Oregon's Lake Abert
2024-01-09 18:30 - 20:00 | OR
Tuesday, January 9th, the Klamath Basin Audubon Society public meeting’s program will be:

A Natual History of Oregon’s Lake Abert
presented by Ron Larson
(see the attachments to read the recently released book cover, and the back cover of the book with Ron Larson’s biography related to this book, and an overview of the book’s contents.

The meeting will take place at Favell Museum, Klamath Falls, starting at 6:30 pm. After a short chapter meeting Ron Larson will begin his presentation.
The meeting has a Zoom link for those who can not attend the meeting in person.

I hope to see you in person at the meeting, or on Zoom, for this well researched topic by Ron.

Kevin Spencer
rriparia@charter.net
Klamath Falls, Oregon

Below is the Zoom link,

Kevin Spencer is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: KBAS January 2024 General Meeting Abert Lk
Time: Jan 9, 2024 06:15 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83954249515?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 839 5424 9515
Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+17193594580,,83954249515#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
+12532050468,,83954249515#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US

Redmond CBC - January 3rd
2024-01-03 08:00 - 17:00 | OR
Redmond CBC, Wednesday, January 3rd
Contact: Mike Golden, 541-420-5814, gardenbug99@bendbroadband.com.

ECBA Board Meeting
2024-01-02 18:00 - 20:00 | OR
East Cascades Bird Alliance Board of Directors meets monthly, on the first Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Board meetings are held virtually, via Zoom, and are open to the public. If you are interested in attending, contact ecba@ecbirds.org for a Zoom invitation.

Prineville CBC - December 31st
2023-12-31 08:00 - 17:00 | OR
Prineville CBC – Sunday, December 31st
This count circle has extensive private land holdings with limited access. Consequently, it’s not the kind of count that requires a huge number of volunteers. However, I generally scramble to find a group of hikers that is willing to hike/snowshoe through a closed forest section near Brennan Palisades. Kim Kathol has been a perennial hiker, but he could use help covering this area. If you are up for a winter hike, please let me know. This section has historically had some of the rarest and most uncommon species of the entire count circle — think Dusky Grouse, Canada Jay, Black-backed Woodpecker, Mountain Quail, etc. The rest of the circle offers a mix of driving and short walks.
Contact: Mark Gonzalez, towhee@bendbroadband.com, 541-233-3359.

Madras CBC - December 27th
2023-12-27 07:00 - 15:30 | OR
Madras CBC, Wednesday, December 27th
Birding Volunteers will meet at Madras Black Bear Diner on Wednesday Dec. 27, from 7:00 – 8:30 am.for handouts, maps and assignments. Later pick ups may be found in baskets at 225 NE 8th. Street, just two blocks off Hwy 97, up Oak Street. You may also call and make special arrangements. (Kimdell Owen used to meet here – coffee 3.99 and ranges from Grits $1.99 to full meal $15 or so but also has oatmeal, biscuits/gravy … and clean restrooms. Located in the middle of Madras, 237 SW 4th with access also from 5th.)
Return to house, 225 NE 8th, if possible, between 3:00 and 3:30 pm. and leave Data collected. Hot coffee and warm soup can be taken on the road, or savored while you warm up and we SHARE OUR FINDINGS with each other at 3:30. (Since we may finish earlier or later, and weather always plays a part, you may drop off counts anytime, on the house porch, use restroom facilities etc.)
Contact: Annette Lange Hildebrand, 503-750-2567, Lange69Annette@gmail.com

Sunriver CBC - December 20th
2023-12-20 09:00 - 13:00 | OR
Sunriver CBC, Wednesday, December 20th
Everyone is welcome to join us for the Sunriver ‘Christmas’ Bird Count on December 20th. This event is generously hosted by the Sunriver Nature Center with support from the Sunriver Resort. Our goal is for an inclusive and accessible community event. We will have two stationary counts for those using wheelchairs, walkers or have other mobility needs better suited to counting from a fixed location. For those needing Spanish translation during the Count, we hope to have a Spanish speaking volunteer at one stationary count and on one hiking team. We also will have a free kid event at the Nature Center, run by the Nature Center’s awesome education team plus some volunteers, from 9-1pm, so parents and grandparents can bring kids and participate in the Count also.
The Sunriver Resort has generously offered to provide all volunteers with a twenty percent discount on non-alcoholic food and beverages at the Owl’s Nest where we will hold the Count ‘after party’ to warm up and share Count day tales together by their indoor fireplace. https://www.sunriverresort.com/…/owls-nest-bar-drinks…
The Sunriver Resort has also offered all volunteers a fifteen percent discount on stays relating to the Count. So you can stay the night at the Resort before the Count rather than drive to Sunriver in winter weather.
If you want to volunteer, you MUST register with the Nature Center. All Resort discounts and the kid event are only available to registered volunteers. To volunteer, register at: https://snco.org/christmas-bird-count/

Summer Lake CBC
2023-12-19 07:30 - 17:00 | OR
Summer Lake CBC, Tuesday, December 19th
Please join us for the 36th annual Summer Lake CBC. The plan is to meet at the ODFW Summer Lake Wildlife Headquarters at 7:30am on Tuesday December 19th for sector assignments. The details for the compilation meeting time and place are TBD. Please contact Marty St. Louis if you would like to participate or if you have any questions.
Contact: Marty St. Louis, 541-219-0879, stlouismartin541@gmail.com

Bend CBC
2023-12-16 07:00 - 17:00 | OR
Bend CBC, Saturday, December 16th
The 56th Bend Christmas Bird Count will be held on the first Saturday of the count period, December 16th. Many of the sector leaders have put together their teams for the count but I do imagine there will be openings available for those who want to participate all day. Feeder watchers are always welcomed, too. If you would like to participate, please drop me a line at tc@empnet.com and let me know. Some routes involve a lot of walking, others are mainly driving. Let me know your preference and your experience level. We will try to accommodate as many as possible. Remember this is a winter activity and requires dressing appropriately for the weather. Every year someone shows up without a warm coat, gloves or shoes that aren’t made for walking on forest trails. Meet at Pioneer Park at 7 am
Contact: Tom Crabtree, tc@empnet.com.

November Birders' Night
2023-11-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Environmental Center, 16 N.W. Kansas Ave., Bend, OR
Tundra Swan | Jack Williamson

November 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Environmental Center 16 N.W. Kansas Ave., Bend, OR
Trumpeter swan restoration at Summer Lake Wildlife Area. Martin St. Louis, a biologist and the former wildlife manager for the Summer Lake Wildlife Area for more than 30 years, will share his knowledge and expertise on the trumpeter swan restoration in the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. Join us for this Birders’ Night to learn more about these amazing birds!

Can’t join in person? Join our zoom here.

Green Ridge Raptor Count 2
2023-10-21 - 2023-10-22 | OR
Bald Eagle, photo by Chuck Gates.
Project leader, David Vick, has announced that he is scheduling the “official” count for the weekends of Oct. 14th – 15th and Oct. 21st – 22nd. There may be other days that folks will go up to count. Info and sign-up at ecbirds.org/projects/green-ridge-raptor-survey/.

October Birders' Night
2023-10-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Environmental Center, 16 N.W. Kansas Ave., Bend, OR
Pinyon Jays – Abbott Schindler

October Birders’ Night: Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research

Join us for a Birders’ Night presentation from Rebecca Heisman. We’ve all heard amazing facts about bird migration—the long distances that birds travel, the ways that they navigate, etc. But did you ever wonder how we figured all of this out? While working for the American Ornithological Society, Rebecca Heisman became fascinated with the varied and creative techniques that scientists have used to study bird migration, and this eventually became the basis for her book Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration. In her talk, she’ll share some surprising stories from the history of bird migration research and discuss why understanding migration is so crucial for bird conservation.

If you cannot attend in person, join on zoom.

Mindful Birding: Oct. 14
2023-10-14 09:30 - 11:00 | OR
ECBA and the Deschutes Land Trust invite you to join us for a morning of (mostly) quiet shared enjoyment of our local birds.
This is a free event, but limited to ten people. You are welcome to register for one or more of the three sessions. (You will need to click on each link and RSVP separately for each event you want to attend.)

September 30 near Sisters at Deschutes Land Trust’s Whychus Canyon Preserve.
October 7 near La Pine at Deschutes Land Trust’s Paulina Creek Preserve
October 14 near Bend at Tumalo State Park (participants will need to pay a state park admission fee to park for this event).

Starting at 9:30 am, for about ninety minutes, we will sit outside together mostly just listening and observing. For those wanting to share, there will be some opportunities to talk about the birds around us.
This is not a formal meditation practice – as long as it is not too distracting or disturbing to nature around us, you are encouraged to move as you need to stay comfortable and there is no required method of enjoying our silence. We will ask people to refrain from talking during the fifteen to thirty minute quiet periods. This is a chance to pause together and, somewhat unobtrusively, be with and appreciate the birds around us.
Designed to be an inclusive and accessible event, please let us know if you require any accommodations. The sit area will be near several parking spaces for those with mobility needs.

Green Ridge Raptor Count 1
2023-10-14 - 2023-10-15 | OR
Bald Eagle photo by Chuck Gates.
Project leader, David Vick, has announced that he is scheduling the “official” count for the weekends of Oct. 14th – 15th and Oct. 21st – 22nd. There may be other days that folks will go up to count. Info and sign-up at ecbirds.org/projects/green-ridge-raptor-survey/.

October Big Day: 14th
2023-10-14 | OR
Mark your calendars for October Big Day—14 Oct 2023! Like Global Big Day, October Big Day is an opportunity to unite around our shared love of birds. Last October, nearly 35,000 people from 185 countries submitted 80,000 checklists with eBird, demonstrating the power of birds to bring people together.
How to participate

Get an eBird account: eBird is a worldwide bird checklist program used by millions of birders. It’s what allows us to compile everyone’s contributions into a single massive October Big Day list—while at the same time gathering data to help scientists better understand birds. Sign up here. It’s 100% free from start to finish.
Watch birds on 14 Oct: It’s that simple. You don’t need to be a bird expert or go out all day long, even 10 minutes of birding from home counts. October Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. You can report what you find from anywhere in the world.
Enter what you see and hear in eBird: You can enter your observations via our website or download the free eBird Mobile app to make submitting lists even easier. Please enter your checklists no later than 17 Oct to be included in the results announcement.

Watch the results roll in: During the day, follow along with bird reports from more than 180 countries in real-time on our October Big Day page.

ECBA Annual Event
2023-10-08 16:00 - 19:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Photo credit: Jim Moodie – Pygmy Nuthatches.

Our Annual Event will be on Sunday, October 8th at 4pm at Worthy Brewing. ECBA is hoping that you will join us for this special event to socialize with fellow birders, enjoy some tacos and beverages, and learn more about birds from Harry Fuller and Chuck Gates.
Register/RSVP here

Where: The Hop Mahal room at Worthy Brewing at 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend, OR 97701.
When: Doors open at 4:00pm. Come early, have a drink, and hang out with your fellow ECBA birders. Dinner will be served around 5:00. After dinner there will be a short discussion of the 2023 election of Board members and a proposed change to our bylaws. Nominations for vacating Board positions in 2024 can be accepted from the members at this time.
Food: Worthy Brewing will be whipping up a fantastic taco bar for us, including the following: Pork Carnitas, Barbacoa Beef, Green Chili Chicken, Seared Rockfish, Sweet Potato & Poblano, Corn/Flour Tortillas, Spanish Rice, Spiced Black Beans, Cabbage Slaw, Pickled Vegetables, Chips & Salsa, Radish, Cotija, Lime Crema, Lime Wedges, and Cilantro. The cost to members is $20. This is partially covered by ECBA. If the cost is prohibitive for you please send an email to ecba@ecbirds.org to discuss alternatives.
Drinks: no-host bar

Register/RSVP here

Mindful Birding: Oct 7
2023-10-07 09:30 - 11:00 | OR

Mindful Birding: Sept. 30
2023-09-30 09:30 - 11:00 | OR

September Birders' Night: A History of Oregon Ornithology, From Territorial Days to the Rise of Birding
2023-09-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Environmental Center, 16 N.W. Kansas Ave., Bend, OR
Join us for Birders’ Night with a presentation of “A History of Oregon Ornithology: From Territorial Days to the Rise of Birding” by Alan L. Contreras.

Wednesday Birders
2023-09-20 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
Sept 20 – Smith Rocks trails (state park pass in each vehicle), ag fields to the east, Redmond ponds

Wednesday Birders
2023-09-13 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
Sept 13 – Wickiup, Crane Prairie, Sheep Bridge, etc

Wednesday Birders
2023-09-06 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
September 6 – Hatfield, Houston Lakes and CRWC

Wednesday Birders
2023-08-30 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
August 30 – shorebirds. Hotspots TBD

Wednesday Birders
2023-08-23 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
Aug 23 – Cascade High Lakes. Begin with willows along “kiosk ponds” at Wickiup and loop around to North, Wickiup Butte, etc. Passerines and shorebirds are on the move.
