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

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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Backyard Habitat Certification Program |
People planting together
Backyard Habitat Certification Program |

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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Urban Conservation |
Urban Conservation |

Lights Out, Oregon!

A recent study on the change in visibility of stars from 2011 to 2022 shows that sky brightness is increasing globally by nearly 10% per year, effectively doubling sky brightness every eight years. Light pollution not only robs us of our own view of the heavens, it also has serious ecological consequences, with demonstrated impacts on over 200 species of birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants.

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Birding |
A Tufted Coquette, a tiny and brilliant orange and green hummingbird is sipping nectar from a magenta flower.
Birding |

The Nature of Being

Why must there be a deeper connection? At this pivotal moment in time, there cannot be too many environmental stewards. Those who speak for nature can theoretically include every one of us, and this is what passively observing nature induces. Specifically, this practice of being in nature encourages the observer to see beauty and commonality in all things.

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Urban Conservation |
On a sunny morning in February, over 65 community volunteers helped plant nearly a thousand native trees and shrubs at Wilkes Creek Headwaters, led by Friends of Trees and partners.
Urban Conservation |

Green Investments to East Portland

Just before the new year, Commissioner Carmen Rubio approved funding for several parks projects in Portland. Included in the list is Wilkes Creek Headwaters, a greenspace in outer East Portland. These undeveloped 20+ acres are within a residential neighborhood and contain the springs that feed the only free-flowing stream in the city that still enters the Columbia Slough.

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Conservation |
Black Oystercatchers, Western Gulls at Three Arch Rocks at Cape Meare
Conservation |

Bird Alliance of Oregon 2023 Legislative Conservation Priorities

The 2023 Oregon legislative session kicked off its biannual “long session” with thousands of bills in play. As in years past we will be tracking bills to support and oppose for the next several months until the session ends in June. Bird Alliance of Oregon is prioritizing several important bills and budget requests that will advance protections for wildlife and habitats and help combat climate change.

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Conservation |
Joe Liebezeit and Micah Meskel
Conservation |

Introducing Our Interim Conservation Directors

Joe Liebezeit will serve as interim statewide conservation director, and Micah Meskel will serve as interim urban conservation director while we begin the search for a new conservation director. Together they possess over 20 years of experience at Bird Alliance of Oregon and significantly longer over their careers.

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