northern harrier

 

(Hover over photos for description and photographer)

 

Welcome to the Audubon Society of Corvallis!

 

Where birds and wildlife count

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?


ASC Events – all programs are free (except where fee is indicated) and open to the public.

* Mar 1 to 31 – Winter Wildlife Field Days Flyer,  Contact*
* Mar 19 – Winter Wildlife Field Days, ASC event: 2:30-5:30 at Village Green Park, Corvallis
* Mar 21 – Monthly Speaker: Alan Contreras “History of Oregon Ornithology” INFO, Speakers
* Apr 13 – Second Saturday Field Trip, meet at 8 am Willamette Park shelter INFO
* Apr 18 – Monthly Speaker: Nikki Cross, “eBird.org: Targeting and Tracking Birds with Citizen Science”
* May 16 – Monthly Speaker: 7:30 pm Carina Kusaka “TuftedPuffins,” C3 INFO
Hesthavn
* Nature Center
Open periodically, but trails are open dawn to dusk everyday.
* Work Party Contact
Mulit-Day Field Trips – registration required – sign up at monthly meetings (Fee) Itineraries
* Apr 19-21: Klamath Falls area
* May 4-6: Rogue Valley
* May 16-19: Malheur NWR
* Jun 7-9:  Summer Lake
* Jul 17-21: Wallowa Mtns
* Aug 15-18: Steens Mtn
* mid Sept TBA: S. Oregon Coast

Other Events

* Mar – May: Lights Out volunteers needed for surveys Sign upFlyer
* An Oregon Story: Saving our Beaches, Farmland and More – 83-min “A must-see documentary”
* Conservation Volunteer Calendar

Monthly Speakers

“History of Oregon Ornithology”

Alan Contreras
March 21, 2024

Book cover

Alan Contreras promises “non-boring information” about the development of Oregon birding from the Lewis and Clark expedition through the 1950s. He will cover the development of birding as a hobby, pelagic trips, eBird, and other modern delights.

This monthly meeting will be held in the large Chandler Ballroom at the Corvallis Community Center, and it is open to the general public. Meet and greet starts at 6:30 pm, the business meeting at 7:00 pm, and the presentation at 7:30 pm. To access the meeting via Zoom, please check in by 7:15 to avoid missing the beginning.
Contact audubon.corvallis@gmail.com for information.
View 2023-2024 Monthly Speakers  Link

Don’t Miss Winter Wildlife Field Days thru March 31!

Winter Wildlife Field Days  ASC
Visitors to the Winter Wildlife Field Days at Martin Luther King Park in Corvallis

The WWFD is an excellent opportunity to get outside and discover what’s happening across the mid-Willamette Valley!  This bilingual and accessible nature adventure continues throughout the month of March, with in-person events in your favorite nearby spots. All programs are free, and you won’t need a car to get to some near you. Check out the event schedule below.

The 2024 theme is “Worlds Unseen,” and events include bird language, soil, moles, larvae, spiders, insects, dragonflies, and SO much more. Join us!
Event Schedule,  ASC Contact

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. Please see Field Trips for registration and more information.
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 Info 

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