We protect birds through education, outreach and research.

contact.us@whidbeyaudubonsociety.org
509-906-1663

Wings over Whidbey Bird Festival

May 10th and 11th

Our second annual Wings over Whidbey Bird Festival is coming! The festival activities will be Saturday, May 11th, at Pacific Rim Institute, but guided bird walks and prairie walks are scheduled both days. We’ve lined up a lot of great presentations, art workshops, and children’s story times. Events are FREE except for a $5 materials fee for the art workshops. Check out our Wings over Whidbey page for a complete listing of events and times.

Field Trip: Lone Lake and Langley Marina

Saturday, April 13th
8:30-11:00 am

Join Govinda Holtby to witness and marvel at the early spring migration at Lone Lake and Langley marina. We hope to see new arrivals, those just passing thru, and catch last glimpses of our wintering friends soon to depart. Poster here.

We will Meet at Bayview Park & Ride and carpool to our first stop Lone Lake public boat launch and then on to Langley Marina.

Preserving Deer Lagoon

It was a wonderful turnout for the November 9, 2023, program with Carlos Andersen, Between the Tides — Whidbey’s Birding Gem: Deer Lagoon Preserve. (Click here for video recording). We are gratified that so many want to help preserve the lagoon.

To help shape the future of Deer Lagoon Preserve please participate in the development of the Comprehensive Plan. Visit our page Deer Lagoon Preserve Advocacy. You’ll find everything you need to add your voice.

Deer Lagoon is a state recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) with at least 211 different bird species having been documented at the lagoon. Washington State Fish and Wildlife has concluded Deer Lagoon is the single most important site on Whidbey Island for use by waterfowl, year around. The lagoon is a critical resting and feeding site for migrating shorebirds in the spring and fall. It has been labeled the most important wetlands in Island County and for this reason alone deserves the highest levels of protection.

Monthly Program - April: The Mystery of Owls
with Izzy Edwards

Thursday, April 11, 2024
7:00 PM 8:30 PM

Join us at the Coupeville Recreation Hall or by Zoom. We will be doing a deep dive into owl photography and life history with Izzy Edwards. Follow along as Izzy shares her experiences of how she began her photographic/naturalist journey and what led her to become immersed in the world of owls. 

To register for a Zoom link and to find more information about this program go here.

To learn about past programs see the Monthly Program page.

Special Four Session Bird Class in April via Zoom:

Birding by Ear - with Thomas Bancroft

Tuesday evenings 7:00-8:30: Apr 2, 9, 16, 23
Cost $120

This course will build your skills in song and call identification. We will start with identifying song types, how to describe songs, and recognizing different patterns. We will explore this both through the ear and visually with sonograms. Second, we will tackle thirty or so common species found in suburban neighborhoods and local parks. This part will allow you to learn songs of species you might see regularly. Third, we will explore difficult species groups like flycatchers, warblers, and sparrows. Finally, we will look at similar-sounding songs and what species might be found in specific habitats. Distribution and habitat information can enhance your ability to identify a species.

If you haven’t attended a program or had a class with Thomas Bancroft before, you are in for a treat. His amiable style keeps things fun, and the material is always accessible for all levels of birders.

Go here for more information and to register.

Coming up in May:

Go Fish! with Connie Sidles

Four session bird class:
Wednesday evenings 7:00-8:30: May 22, May 29, June 5, June 12
Cost $100

Go here for more information about this class.

Page Peepers - March 27 Gathering

Featuring Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace by Carl Safina.

Sign up for our every-other month book club, Page Peepers, here.

Birding Field Trips in Deception Pass State Park

Whidbey Audubon is partnering again with Deception Pass State Park. We will meet with AmeriCorps Interpretive Naturalist Akiko Nakagawa for bird watching field trips in the Park every other Saturday morning. Trips run from 10 – 12 noon. All are welcome. There is no need to register. Just show up to be part of the group. For more information, you can email Akiko. Upcoming trips are March 23, April 6 and 20, 2024. Check the events calendar.