northern harrier

 

(Hover over photos for description and photographer)

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Bird Alliance!

(also known as Audubon Society of Corvallis)

Where birds and wildlife count

MWBA (previously ASC) is headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon and welcomes members and visitors from the mid-Willamette Valley and beyond. We host speakers, lead half-day birding walks to local areas, guide multi-day field trips to regional birding areas, present education programs to all ages, and support conservation of birds, other native wildlife, and natural habitats.

What’s Happening?

Community Events
Volunteers Needed: Avian Botulism at Lower Klamath NWR. Register
MWBA/ASC Events – all programs are free (except where indicated) and open to the public.
* Nov 21 –
Richard Rich: “Two Birds, One Story: Ravens, Sage-grouse, and a Complicated Relationship”Contact.Silent Auction paintings by RT Peterson et al. prior presentation. INFO
*Link to Zoom recording
(GBHs)
* Dec 14 – Second Saturday Field Trip 8 am – noon. Meet at Willamette Park Shelter. Register
*
Dec 17 – Christmas Bird Count. Contact Bev Clark,INFO
* Dec 19 – Member Slide Show – submit photos or short videos by Dec. 12  INFO
*
Jan 9 – Second Saturday Field Trip 8 am – noon. Meet at Willamette Park Shelter.Register
*
Jan 16 – Elakha Alliance: “Returning Sea Otters to Oregon”
* Feb 20 – Joel Geier: “Vesper Sparrows”
* Mar 20 – Roy Lowe: “Birds of the Andes Mountains”
* Apr 17 – Mark Kerstens: “Black-backed Woodpeckers”
* May 15 – May 15 – Jayshaun:Talbert: “Lights Out Corvallis”
Hesthavn
* Trails – open dawn to dusk every day
* Nov 24 Work Party 10 am – 2 pm. Weeds, bring gloves, snack. Contact
Other Events
*
Conservation Volunteer Opportunities Calendar

Monthly Speakers

“Two Birds, One Story: Ravens & Sage-grouse – a Complicated Relationship”
Richard Rich Nov 21, 2024

Raven and Sage Grouse
Common Raven vs Greater Sage-grouse

  Richard Rich is a Master’s student and a member of OSU’s Sage Steppe Habitat Team. He will present an overview of both Greater Sage-grouse and Common Ravens, including ID tips and life history information. He will also describe his own research into raven-grouse interactions and surprising new evidence of undocumented raven behaviors.   
  Meetings will be held in the *Alder Room* at the Corvallis Community Center for October, November, January, and February. Meet and greet 6:30 pm, business meeting 7:00 pm, and the presentation could start as early as 7:20 pm. If accessing via Zoom, please tune in by 7:15. Contact for information.
  A silent auction of five bird paintings. Displayed at 6:30 and until after the business meeting. The highest bidders will be announced before the presentation begins. INFO

Member Show for Favorite Photos

Harlequin Ducks

Tom Heath shared his photo of Harlequin Ducks at last year’s Member Slide Show.

Don’t be shy, this is not a professional competition, and all photos are special. We are more than just birds, so share a little bit about yourself with your birding friends at ASC.

Since we don’t know how many presenters we will have until after they have submitted their photos, you can prepare 10­ to 20 digital images. We have an hour total for the presentations. So, if we have lots of entrants, you can talk faster! The deadline for submission is Dec. 12. You may email them to Sue Powell, send them to my Dropbox (I will send you the link), or drop them off on a thumb drive. Need some help? Send me a note, and I’ll do my best to make it easy for you

Birding Field Trips

birdwatching
Second Saturday field trip participants scour the trees in Willamette Park for winter birds.

Second Saturday (half-day) field trips to local birding areas are led by Duncan Evered and Caryn Stoess from September through June. 
The 2024 Multi-day field trips will be led by experienced birders driving rented vans. Signup sheets are available at monthly meetings starting in January 2024, or click here Contact 
See Field Trips for registration and more information.

Birding & Resources

gray-crowned rosy finch
Due to its remote and rocky alpine habitat, the Gray-crowned Rosy Finch is a special find!

Our region is a prime place to find, watch, draw, and photograph many species of birds. Half-day field trips to local areas and multi-day trips to regional birding areas are led by ASC guides. New birders and anyone else interested are invited to participate. Find more information about ASC Birding at the links below.
Birding        Field Trips       Resources  

Conservation

Homer Campbell boardwalk trail
Visitors check out the Homer Campbell Boardwalk Trail at Finley NWR, which was constructed by ASC and partners.

ASC participates in grassroot conservation by providing information about pending actions on national and state environmental laws. Locally, ASC has joined partners to conserve habitats, provide access on trails, and restore native plants. Conservation of Western Bluebirds and Streaked Horned Larks are other major initiatives for ASC.
For more information, click: Audubon in the News or Conservation/Protection or Priorities

 

Education Workshops

Use your senses to explore nature poster
The Kalapuyans are a Native American ethnic group. Their traditional homelands were in the Willamette, Elk Creek, and Calapooya Creek watersheds of Western Oregon (Link). Recent workshops explored local Kalapuya history and ecology with stories, games, and uses of native plants and animals. It also included an exploration into fire management practices and restoration following fire.
Education Program
The Education Team has connected people to nature for the past 30 years. Events are often held at Hesthavn, our small Nature Center on Oak Creek Road. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, our plans for the coming year are limited, so check here for updates.

Bluebird Trail

Western Bluebird
Western Bluebird population declines galvanized Elsie Elzroth to make a difference.

The ASC Bluebird Trail committee was created to promote the conservation of the Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) and other native cavity-nesters through field work, scientific studies, and education. A series of bluebird boxes have been placed in ideal habitat for the birds. Volunteers monitor the nesting success throughout the breeding season, and results are reported to several organizations.

Hesthavn Grounds & Nature Center 

Hesthavn welcome sign


Hesthavn Nature Center started life as a barn, and now it offers a museum with taxidermied birds, Bluebird Trail and other exhibits, and a classroom. It will be open to the public for special events. The grounds include trails, bird feeders, and a native plant garden and are open are open from dawn to dusk everyday. Meadow restoration is one step in the long-term goal of restoring all habitats. Admission is free! 

Hesthavn       Volunteer

Join Us!

volunteer interpreter
What are the birds in your backyard?

New to the area? Meet people who also like nature! Would you like to volunteer to share your passion or contribute to restoration? Become a member of ASC and help us continue our important work. You can also donate time or dollars to ASC. We also appreciate your tax-deductible contributions to our local education and conservation efforts.
Membership        Volunteer        Donate

Partners

Forster's tern
These Forster’s Terns are announcing their partnership for the common goal of raising a family.

ASC welcomes partnerships with other agencies and organizations. Together we provide equal opportunities for all children, allowing them to experience nature through games, art, and activities that enhance both classroom and special-event learning. Other partnerships pool funding, staff, and other resources to accomplish conservation and other education goals.
Education      Conservation

Our Newsletter

 

Each issue of The Chat contains information about monthly speakers and their presentation. Also included is the latest news about education, conservation, Hesthavn Nature Center, field trips, bird sightings, Board meetings, calendar items, and more. Ten issues are produced by our volunteers each year, from September through June. Archived newsletters are available in PDF format from April 2003 to the present.
Current Issue
The Chat Newsletter and Archives