Quinn Read at the Sanctuary

Continuing Over a Century of Conservation at Portland Audubon

This opportunity to work with Portland Audubon feels like coming full circle. I am deeply humbled to join an organization that has been shaped by visionary leaders, like Bob Sallinger, and it’s an honor to be a part of this unparalleled community of staff, activists, volunteers, students, and supporters. I look forward to working with you, together for nature.

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Quinn Read

Portland Audubon Welcomes Our New Conservation Director, Quinn Read

We are thrilled to welcome our new conservation director, Quinn Read, to the Portland Audubon flock. Quinn has been a major player in the Oregon environmental movement for more than a decade. Whether she’s collaborating with partners or fighting down in Salem, we’re excited for Quinn’s leadership to help continue Portland Audubon’s 121 legacy of protecting the natural world.

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A photo of a drone hovering over the beach at sunset.

Minimizing Drone Impacts to Wildlife in Oregon State Parks

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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Two dogs on the beach disturbing a nesting Snowy Plover

Coastal Birds Face a Growing Threat: Wildlife Disturbance

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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American Dipper

Dippers Who Don’t Dip

Scientists have been pondering dipping for some time. Some species will bob, like a Rock Wren, or teeter, like a Spotted Sandpiper, but nothing dips quite like a dipper—not even some dippers. There are five species of dipper in the world, and two, the South American species, don’t dip. They are also the only ones that don’t habitually forage underwater.

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Marine Reserves - People standing on rocks in front of the ocean with hands up in the air

Turn the Tide: Fully Fund Oregon’s Marine Reserve Program

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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People planting together

Digging Deeper: Backyard Habitat Certification Program Update

In 2022, BHCP hit a programmatic milestone of enrolling the 10,000th participant! Our enrolled participants’ land now totals over 2,453 acres, which together is about four times the size of Powell Butte Nature Park in East Portland. These pockets of habitat form important corridors to support wildlife, manage stormwater, and increase access to greenspaces within urban spaces.

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