NEWSLETTER July 28, 2022

It's Too Darn Hot! Did you know that birds use a variety of strategies to stay cool? Keeping cool is a high priority for humans and our pets during the summer heat: humans sweat and dogs pant. But what about birds?  Birds hunker down in shady areas and in cooler microclimates near water, but you may also witness a behavior called gular fluttering. Gular fluttering is essentially an avian form of panting where some bird species expand the pouch behind their throats and rapidly move air in and out with a noticeable, well…flutter! The fast-moving air removes heat from blood vessels near the surface of the gular sac and moisture evaporates from inside the birds’ mouths. You can help stay cool in warm weather.  Set out a shallow tray of water available for birds to drink, stand in, or bathe. Let’s all stay cool.

Virginia Rivers Double-crested Cormorant

The Early Bird Saturday, July 30, 2022 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM, or Sunday, July 31, 2022 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM Free Advance Registration Required Join us in Seward Park during a point in the day where the bird's calls and songs are lifted high above the din of the busy day that follows. Lead Naturalist Ed Dominguez leads our trek through the fields and forest as we tune in to migrating and resident birds and bring them into view as the opportunity allows.  Learn more and register

Ruby-crowned Kinglet photo by Mick Thompson

Bar Trek Wednesday, August 3, 2022 8:15 PM - 10:00 PM Free Advance Registration Required Our guided Bat Trek features a presentation on bats of the Pacific Northwest and a guided walk to locate and identify these creatures of the night with the setting sun as our backdrop. We'll observe and listen for local bats in their natural habitat, flitting through the trees and skimming over the water as they devour a bounty of flying insects. It's a fantastic way to explore this magical piece of our local urban environment. Learn more and register

Photo by Matt Reinbold

Pulling for Seward Park | Community Reforestation Event Friday, August 12, 2022 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM Free Advance Registration Required Seward Park Audubon Center is working to keep Seward Park beautiful, vibrant and healthy. We need help removing invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. We provide gloves, tools, mulch, and more. Join us in preserving this gem to enjoy now and well into the future! Learn more and register

Photo by Amy Scarfone

What's In a Bird Name? More than 100 North American birds carry the names of people, some of whom were enslavers, supremacists, or grave robbers. A growing movement aims to do away with honorifics all together and bestow monikers that reflect each species' unique qualities. Read Arianna Remmel’s Audubon Magazine story about the names behind some birds, and offer your suggestion on renaming a few. Read more

Illustration by Lauren Tamaki

Introducing Ridwell Despite our best efforts to reduce waste and send more materials to landfills, there always seem to be materials that are seemingly bound for the landfill. And a surprising number of recyclable items never make it to recyclers that follow through on reuse promises.  One local company is trying to change that dynamic by providing doorstep collection of plastics, threads., batteries, and more. When you sign up with Ridwell, you receive a metal box to place a variety of waste products for bi-weekly pick-up. Ridwell will give these items new life or a new purpose by distributing them to responsible organizations and recycling partners.  Interested? Learn more about Ridwell and find if your home is in their service area. You can also receive a 10% discount on your Ridwell membership as a friend of Seward Park Audubon.  Learn more about Ridwell

Ridwell

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