Bewick's Wren singing

Why Do Birds Sing in Fall?

Most birdsong is in the spring, as birds define their territory and try to attract mates. So why is this Bewick’s Wren singing now, in October, when it won’t nest again until April?

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Downtown Portland Oregon during the fall

Building Complete Communities Where Both People and Nature Thrive

Oregon is faced with an epidemic of houselessness, a humanitarian disaster that touches every part of the state. As we contend with a trio of concurrent crises—housing, biodiversity, and climate—we believe we can and must meet our region’s housing needs by supporting affordable housing development while providing access to nature, protecting our natural environment, and increasing the climate resilience of our communities.

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Northern Spotted Owl

The Endangered Species Act at 50

The Endangered Species Act is celebrating its golden anniversary and it remains one of our most powerful environmental laws with an incredible track record of success. In the 50 years since its passage, the ESA has prevented the extinction of the overwhelming majority of wildlife and plant species under its protection.

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Mary Ratcliff at Wild Arts Festival

Remembrances of Mary Ratcliff

The sudden loss of Mary Ratcliff was devastating to all of us in the Portland Audubon community, where she had been a volunteer since 2011. Her contributions to Portland Audubon were both deep and broad, and she left an indelible mark. The following remembrances of Mary from staff, fellow volunteers, and birding friends paint a portrait of a passionate person with an unforgettable combination of intelligence, kindness, and enthusiasm.

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American White Pelicans

A Win for Harney County Collaboration

$2.5 million was allocated to the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative and High Desert Partnership via the legislature which will provide funding for the collaborative work in the area to continue and will also support Portland Audubon’s work to understand reed canarygrass, its effects on birds and macroinvertebrates, and methods for treating reed canarygrass to best support wildlife.

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Red-breasted Sapsucker patient at WCC - window strike

What Happens When a Bird Hits a Window?

Birds are beginning their fall migrations, and here at the Wildlife Care Center we’ll start to receive dozens of calls and admissions each day due to window collisions. This is a tragic and avoidable pattern that we see occur every year. Window strikes are consistently among our top five reasons for injury, and last year was number three, behind only cats and cars.

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A photo of a flock of Pacific Black Brants entering the water.

Protecting Oregon’s Estuaries, Starting with Yaquina Bay

Oregon’s coastline is blessed with 22 major estuaries, where Oregon’s forests and rivers meet the ocean, and these estuaries are the engines that power salmon, waterbirds, Dungeness crab, oysters, cultural resources, and jobs for many people in coastal communities. It is crucial that Oregon update all their estuary plans to provide the strongest habitat protections possible to ensure a vibrant economy.

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