Skagit Audubon Society

Photo by Ann Kramer

Watching Birds - Protecting Habitat - Connecting With Nature

Our mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.  

Skagit Audubon just completed its annual “Big Sit” fundraiser on a rainy Saturday at Rosario Head in Deception Pass State Park. We counted 60 species within a 17 foot diameter circle (along with several private counts done in other circles). If you would like to donate to our Big Sit fundraiser, you still can! Proceeds go to our Scholarship Fund which is used to award scholarships at Skagit Valley College. Just click HERE and donate using the SCHOLARSHIP donation button. Thanks to all who participated in this year’s sit! Click HERE for the full list of species.

They leave their Arctic breeding grounds at different times so fall migration is both less concentrated and lasts longer than spring migration, usually well into September, both in western Washington and along the coast. While most of the shorebirds will continue moving south after resting and refueling, some (primarily Dunlin) will remain for the winter and thousands will continue to arrive well into October. Uncommon and rare birds (like the Bar-tailed Godwit in the photo who spent a few weeks at the Tokeland Marina on the Washington coast in Sept. 2024), often turn up locally and farther afield.

Fir Island Farm Reserve (Hayton) in Conway is a good place for shorebird viewing, but you will need to time it with the tide. Shorebirds must take advantage of the available mudflats for as long as possible, so the basin will be flooded during high tide and the birds will have left. Conversely, during low tide, the basin will be empty and the birds will be gone until the next incoming tide replenishes their food supply.

Try to aim your visit for when the tide is between 6.0-8.0 feet. When the tide marker in LaConner is at five feet, the basin will begin to fill up and the tide comes in quickly. This website is useful for timing your visit to see shorebirds: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions.html?id=9448558

From the Skagit Audubon Board of Directors: All those who plan to participate in our group activities are asked to stay up-to-date on their vaccinations and stay home if they are feeling unwell in order to foster good community health and protect more vulnerable citizens. Thank you.