Avian courtship is a fascinating ritual that varies wildly by species and can involve elaborate dancing, wing displays, construction projects, and all sorts of vocalizations. Early spring is courtship season for the Western Snowy Plover on Oregon’s sandy beaches.
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Just 553. That is the estimated number of individual Tufted Puffins remaining in Oregon, based on the 2021 coastwide survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It’s a staggering decline from the nearly 5,000 puffins counted back in 2008 and other surveys in the 1990s. It’s a number that demands action, and action is exactly what we plan to take.
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In recent years recreational drone use has skyrocketed, reflecting a nationwide trend. This in turn has led to increasing disturbances to birds, marine mammals, and other wildlife. Such disturbances have been documented to negatively impact nesting success of many bird species.
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Vulnerable birds, like threatened Snowy Plovers, that use our coastline have evolved over thousands of years to deal with the hazards of near-constant wind, rip tides and storm surges, hot and cold weather, and predators stealing eggs and young. Only in the last century have they had to deal with a high volume of people recreating directly within their nesting areas.
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A decade ago, Oregonians recognized the importance of our ocean and the value of protecting it with the creation of the state’s Marine Reserves Program. Despite its success, this legislative session, both the governor’s office and legislative leadership have proposed cuts to the Marine Reserves Program in the next biennium which wouldn’t just threaten the designated sites themselves, but would threaten the good will of ocean communities and stakeholders.
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A recent study on the change in visibility of stars from 2011 to 2022 shows that sky brightness is increasing globally by nearly 10% per year, effectively doubling sky brightness every eight years. Light pollution not only robs us of our own view of the heavens, it also has serious ecological consequences, with demonstrated impacts on over 200 species of birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants.
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Oregon is home to a fascinating range of animals, from rare species found nowhere else on earth to iconic creatures like beavers. In this lineup of biodiversity, freshwater mussels are an important yet often overlooked group, supporting many other species in our rivers by burrowing into stream bottoms, filtering water, and improving habitat.
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On December 31, 2022, Portland conducted the 97th annual Christmas Bird Count under mild and mostly dry skies—a real treat after the icy conditions leading up to the big day. We broke the record on number of field observers at 270, and over 100 joined in from their feeders!
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In December, Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) voted to move forward rocky habitat proposals that will establish protections and support on-the-ground stewardship efforts at six important sites on the coast which paves the way for them to be finalized for approval by the Land Conservation and Development Commission.
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Spring is at our doorstep and birds are starting to sing—time to get involved in our community science projects! Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Community Science program spans the state, from the iconic coast to the high desert of eastern Oregon as well as the Portland Metro region.
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