Wednesday Birders
2025-10-15 08:00, 2025-10-22 08:00, 2025-10-29 08:00, 2025-11-05 08:00, 2025-11-12 08:00, 2025-11-19 08:00, 2025-11-26 08:00, 2026-01-07 08:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OR
Wednesday Birders is a group of birders, birding, but not a traditional field trip with a named leader who always provides a guided field experience. Everyone helps everyone else, shares, learns and enjoys birding together. Usually some advanced birders are there and are so helpful. All are welcomed. We carpool when possible.
As times vary from week to week, please watch COBOL for details and times which are usually announced a few days prior to Wednesday.
All the locations are listed on our website. From the home page, select Birding Resources, and from the drop-down menu, you can choose Birding by County where you will get a list of favorite birding places including directions to the spots and what birds you might hope to find.
One of the goals of Wednesday Birders is to encourage everyone to use the ECBA birding site guides and get used to using those directions and the “how to bird it” tips for the locations. Simply select the county and the hotspots are listed alphabetically.
Important Notes:

Please remember to read COBOL by Tuesday mornings for last minute details and changes to plans in case of adverse weather, road conditions or detours, bird news or better birding opportunities. Watch COBOL for meeting and carpooling times and places or for changes in the plan.
COBOL is Central Oregon Birders Online. It’s free to join.
Remember to dress for the weather. Be prepared with food, sunscreen, etc. and bring a pair of binoculars. Spotting scopes are helpful on many trips.

For questions and for more information contact: brian.macdonald9@gmail.com or brianmacdonald0458 in Discord

Birders' Night: Waddle We Do Without Penguins?
2025-10-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Patty McGill will talk about the conservation status of penguins that live at lower latitudes and challenges they face. Of these species, she will emphasize African penguins, found in South Africa and Namibia. Last fall, African penguins were declared Critically Endangered and they could be extinct in the wild in by 2035. Patty serves as the Program Leader for a group of zoos and aquariums focused on saving African penguins, and Patty will tell us about the array of projects the team leads and/or supports; these projects are focused on the most urgent and important conservation priorities.
Background:
Dr. Patty McGill received her PhD from Cornell University, where she studied competition among species of gulls and also other species of seabirds. She spent most of her career working in AZA accredited zoos, in animal (bird) care and conservation. She led the program to manage Humboldt penguins in zoos–and from there began to work with colleagues in South America on conservation & research projects on these penguins. In one way or another Patty has worked with Humboldt penguins for 40 years, and has been working with African penguins for about 10 years.

Malheur Inspired; An Evening w/ Friends
2025-10-18 17:00 - 20:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend, OR, 97703, United States
The Friends of Malheur NWR are celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week with an evening of fun in honor of Malheur NWR and the Friends who promote its conservation.
The program for the evening will feature Friends Volunteer, Julie Burchstead.
Julie is truly inspired by Malheur NWR. As an artist she finds beauty in the natural world around her and seeks opportunities to share that with others. Julie was FOMR’s 2023 Artist in Residence which had her traveling across Harney County to visit every elementary school classroom from Riley to Fields and everywhere between. She provided an art instructional alongside Refuge Wildlife Specialist Carey Goss who offered background on the birds of the area and the importance of the Refuge for both migratory and breeding birds. Julie also produces handmade nature journals which can be found in FOMR’s Crane’s Nest Nature Store.
You will also hear about other critical FOMR programs from our Executive Director, Janelle Wicks. She will share how deeply critical it is for us to be engaged in advocacy for and stewardship of our public lands like Malheur Refuge. Together, let’s get inspired by Malheur and all that we can do to give back to a place which has given us so much.
COST: $25.00 including dinner, drinks, and spirited fellowship with Friends. We encourage you to come out, socialize, and celebrate all that it means to be inspired by Malheur! But bring your checkbook or credit card because the auction will be enticing, and all proceeds support the Friends ongoing work at Malheur NWR.
EVENT REGISTRATION

We are thrilled to feature a photo wall at our event, thanks to Showtime Photo Booth, the go-to photo booth rental in Indianapolis. Their memorable photo setups will bring an enjoyable experience to our celebration.

What's Next for Oregon's Sagebrush Steppe?
2025-10-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Worthy Garden Club presents:
Dr. Stu Garrett’s presentation on:
What’s Next for Oregon’s Sagebrush Steppe?
Register @ bit.ly/sagesteppe
https://www.worthygardenclub.org/

ECBA Membership Drive
2025-10-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Wild Birds Unlimited, 2680 NE Hwy 20, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
East Cascades Bird Alliance — Membership Drive

Get a $20 Gift Card good for day at Wild Birds Unlimited

Why join ECBA?
– Support local bird conservation
– Connect with fellow birders
– Access exclusive events and resources

ECBA Board Meeting
2025-11-04 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-12-02 16:00 - 17:30 | OR
East Cascades Bird Alliance Board of Directors meets monthly, on the first Tuesday.

2025 ECBA Annual Event
2025-11-09 16:00 - 18:00 | OR
Join East Cascades Bird Alliance for its 2025 Annual Event.
Aspen Hall at Shevlin Park
4 – 6 pm

Birders' Night: Fun with Sapsuckers with Steve Shunk!
2025-11-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Fun with Sapsuckers!
Did you know that sapsuckers have a paintbrush-tipped tongue? Did you know that one species is the world’s longest- distance migrant woodpecker? How about that one sapsucker is named for the daughter of German naturalist Johan Kaup, who first described the Flammulated Owl? These are just a few of the fun facts you will learn from naturalist Steve Shunk when he returns to share stories of our amazing sapsuckers. Of course, Steve will also discuss the perplexing puzzle of sapsucker hybridization, with his best tips for identifying the “chupasavias” of Central Oregon.
Steve Shunk learned about sapsuckers during his 27-year stint living on the east slope of the Cascades. His woodpecker research culminated in the publication of the Peterson Reference Guide to Woodpeckers of North America. In 2024, Steve moved to Mexico’s Pacific Slope to live with Mexican naturalist Lizzy Martinez. They enjoy daily encounters with the endemic Golden-cheeked and Gray- crowned Woodpeckers from their backyard at the Rancho Primavera bird sanctuary.
The program will start at 6pm. Note that the start time is 6pm, not 7pm.

Feel free to come early for dinner and a beverage. Worthy Brewing offers a happy hour from 3-6pm. We’re expecting a full house, so please come a bit early to ensure that you get a seat.

Worthy Garden Club Event: Refugia of the Blue Mountains
2025-11-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Note that you must reserve your free spot for this event on EventBrite. See here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/refugia-of-the-blue-mountains-tickets-1956788028669?aff=oddtdtcreator

Overview

A journey of art, prose and poetry through the heart of Oregon’s Blue Mountains with author Marina Richie and watercolor artist Robin Coen.

From vast wildlands to tiny habitat pockets, refugia translates to safe havens and corridors for native plants and wildlife to survive dramatic climate changes. These places of refuge are essential for the future of life on this precious blue jewel of a planet. Nestled between the Rockies and the Cascades, the Blue Mountains offer some of the last best refugia in the West and critical linkages for wildlife to move and find cooler homes as the climate warms up.
Hear readings from Marina Richie’s book, Refugia of the Blue Mountain, alongside Robin Coen’s art, inspried by their time spent in this special place. Prints will be available for sale. Made possible through the Wild Blues Artist-in-Residency of the Greater Hells Canyon Council. For more info, see: https://www.robincoenart.com/refugia-exhibit
ROBIN COEN
My love of “all things wild” emerged while growing up on a cattle ranch in the Elkhorn Mountains of Eastern Oregon. I shadowed my father through days of fence-mending, irrigating fields and the occasional early morning horseback ride up the mountain to see the sunrise. My passion for nature and the West continues from my home in Boise and at the Good Bear Ranch (the family home place). Painting connects me to what matters most. The watercolors are not mine, any more than the landscapes or wild beings in them are mine. They are expressions of what has been given to me, to us, to all who care to see.
I am honored to be working with award-winning author Marina Richie who amplifies our message of compassion and solidarity with the natural world. Together, we hope to inspire others to join us in preserving refugia—the wild heart of the Blue Mountains.
Dipping my brush to find the right color, I deepen my understanding of the natural world. I paint small local wildflowers with native pollinators on a large scale. Portraying local wildlife and landscapes, I strive to reveal intrinsic values as well as threats. I believe art can influence others toward a deeper understanding of our role in recovering planetary health. When I paint, I feel the boundary recede between myself and all that lives. The intrusive edges of modern culture soften. I am unwrapping a gift, looking into the face of a generosity that knows no bounds, and experiencing a kinship that has no end. I hope this collection of images and prose inspires compassion and generosity toward the earth and for all beings, both known and unknown, for we humans have much to learn.
MARINA RICHIE
I am humbled to put words to Robin Coen’s watercolors, which exquisitely express the theme of Refugia of the Blue Mountains. Her paintings are so alive you can almost hear the rush of the free-flowing Imnaha River or the wind sifting through five-needle clusters of the oldest limber pine. Robin’s paintings remind me of why I write prose and poetry. I strive to connect people to the natural world—to be curious, to find the peace of wild things, and to speak up for all who converse in the languages of kingfisher, beaver, pika, marten, wolverine, salmon, and hummingbird.
Observing the intricacy of wild animal lives in wild places inspires my writing. Everywhere are relationships that are highly evolved over the eons, and many in concert with wildfire, wind, and floods. In this era of climate crisis and mass extinction, it’s critical to cut fossil fuel emissions and protect our carbon-storing and biodiversity-sheltering forests and other wildlands.
Refugia of the Blue Mountains brings the wilds to the people—and we hope motivates you to experience the wilds, whether observing a butterfly, sipping nectar from a native wildflower near home, or out hiking on the Blue Mountains Trail.

Giving Back to Birds by Contributing Observations to eBird
2025-12-03 18:00 - 19:30 | OR
Seven Capes Bird Alliance invites you to attend the last session in our fall webinar series, Your Data Is for the Birds, all about community science and how you can make a difference for bird conservation! Join us for our third and final session, Giving Back to Birds by Contributing Observations to eBird with Dr. Douglas Robinson on December 3, 6-7:30 p.m. eBird is an online community science project managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society for birders to record and share their bird sightings. W. Douglas Robinson is Professor of Wildlife Science and Curator of Birds at Oregon State University.

Where: Online via Zoom. Webinar is free, but pre-registration is required. Register at www.sevencapes.org/dataforthebirds.

When: Wednesday, December 3, 6-7:30 p.m.

Birders' Night: Klamath Refuges
2025-12-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Teresa Wicks, the Eastern Oregon Biologist and Program Manager for the Bird Alliance of Oregon, will present on bird productivity in the Klamath Refuges and the management of botulism there.
The program will start at 6pm. Please note the earlier start time.

Feel free to come early for dinner and a beverage. There is typically a nice group there by 5:00pm or so.

Summer Lake CBC
2025-12-16 | OR
Please join us for the 37th annual Summer Lake CBC. The plan is to meet at the ODFW Summer Lake Wildlife Headquarters at 7:30am on Tuesday December 16th 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.

Tygh Valley CBC
2025-12-16 | OR
Please contact Joseph Blowers if you are interested in participating in this CBC. Contact: josephblowers@ymail.com

Madras CBC
2025-12-17 | OR
Contact: Annette Lange Hildebrand, 503-750-2567, lange69annette@gmail.com

Sisters Library Talk - Lives of Fluffy Birds
2025-12-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Sisters Public Library, 110 N Cedar St, Sisters, OR, 97759, United States
Cute but Wild: Discovering the Lives of Fluffy Birds
Stay cozy inside for an afternoon program about our fluffiest local birds while learning about their stories and habitats. From our largest fuzzy owls to the smallest downy nuthatches, kinglets and bushtits, we’ll see beyond their unbearable cuteness into their fascinating lives in the natural world around us.
Presenter: Sevilla Rhoads
https://dpl.libnet.info/event/14830145

Bend CBC
2025-12-20 | OR
Meet at Pioneer Park at 7am.
Contact: Tom Crabtree, tc@empnet.com.

Sunriver CBC
2025-12-27 | OR
Contact Sevilla Rhoads and Lexie Houchins-Park. bird@snco.org and lexiehouchins@gmail.com

Details will be added when available.

Prineville CBC
2025-12-31 | OR
Contact: Mark Gonzalez, towhee@bendbroadband.com, 541-233-3359.

Redmond CBC
2026-01-03 | OR
Contact: Mike Golden, 541-420-5814, gardenbug99@bendbroadband.com.

ECBA Annual Board Retreat
2026-01-03 11:00 - 15:00 | OR
East Cascades Bird Alliance Board of Directors has annual board retreat.

Birders' Night--An update on the Central Oregon Pinyon Jay Habitat Ecology Project with Alex Wilson
2026-01-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
An update on the Central Oregon Pinyon Jay Habitat Ecology Project.
Alex Wilson will discuss how we collected Pinyon Jay Habitat use data during the breeding season across central Oregon. The focus will be on analysis of the backpack transmitter data we collected this year, and what our plans are moving forward to meet the research needs of the region.
Alex Wilson is currently a graduate student at Oregon Tech, pursuing a Masters of Natural Resources. Most recently he was a project manager for the Blue Ridge Bird Observatory. Prior to that, he was part of the recovery and monitoring team for the Mariana Crow and the island of Rota.
The program will start at 6pm. Please note the earlier start time.

Feel free to come early for dinner and a beverage. There is typically a nice group there by 5:00pm or so.

Wednesday Birders
2026-01-14 08:00 | OR
Wednesday Birders is a group of birders, birding, but not a traditional field trip with a named leader who always provides a guided field experience. Everyone helps everyone else, shares, learns and enjoys birding together. Usually some advanced birders are there and are so helpful. All are welcomed. We carpool when possible.
As times vary from week to week, please watch COBOL for details and times which are usually announced a few days prior to Wednesday.
All the locations are listed on our website. From the home page, select Birding Resources, and from the drop-down menu, you can choose Birding by County where you will get a list of favorite birding places including directions to the spots and what birds you might hope to find.
One of the goals of Wednesday Birders is to encourage everyone to use the ECBA birding site guides and get used to using those directions and the “how to bird it” tips for the locations. Simply select the county and the hotspots are listed alphabetically.
Important Notes:

Please remember to read COBOL by Tuesday mornings for last minute details and changes to plans in case of adverse weather, road conditions or detours, bird news or better birding opportunities. Watch COBOL for meeting and carpooling times and places or for changes in the plan.
COBOL is Central Oregon Birders Online. It’s free to join.
Remember to dress for the weather. Be prepared with food, sunscreen, etc. and bring a pair of binoculars. Spotting scopes are helpful on many trips.

For questions and for more information contact: dukedt@gmail OR brian.macdonald9@gmail.com or brianmacdonald0458 in Discord
