NCAS has been asked to assist the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), as well as volunteers from the Washington Waterfowl Association, with the installation of Western Bluebird nest boxes on WDFW and British Petroleum property at Cherry Point. This should be a worthwhile cooperative effort to attempt to bring back the Western Bluebird as a breeding bird in Whatcom County. If there is interest, we can bird the Lake Terrell area after the work is done. 9:30 AM. Trip limit: 10. Trip leader: Paul Woodcock, 380-3356.

Back by popular demand is this unique field trip that takes place in the heart of downtown Bellingham. We meet in front of city hall, regardless of the weather – which ran the full range last season – and walk down Whatcom Creek to its mouth and return upstream and eventually back to our starting point.

The walk usually lasts a couple of hours and you’ll have the option to bail at any time. We’ll start at 10 AM sharp so plan to arrive a little before 10 to say hello and get to know your fellow walkers. Trip limit: 12. Trip leader: Joe Meche, 739-5383.

*As with the Semiahmoo Spit walks, this walk will be a monthly fixture from September through May. It’s always interesting to witness the changes in the creek and in the wildlife we see as the seasons progress. Be sure to check each month’s newsletter for specific Sundays.

            Celebrate Arbor Day, Bellingham style, at Elizabeth Park and enjoy a number of activities.

●Tree care stations with local experts to answer your questions.

●A tree walk spotlighting the trees of Elizabeth Park with Bellingham Parks arborist James Luce at 10:30.

●Mayor Dan Pike will read the Arbor Day Proclamation at noon, followed by a tree climbing demonstration at 12:30.

●Table displays and activities, including knots commonly used in tree work; nest box building with North Cascades Audubon; restoring salmon habitat with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association.

●Find the best tree for your yard and learn about the tools an arborist uses with Treekeepers.

●There will also be tree-related kids’ activities

      David Knibb, author of Grizzly Wars: The Public Fight over the Great Bear, will discuss recovery of grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act.  Following an overview of this effort, he will focus on the North Cascades, which are designated as one of six grizzly recovery areas.  He will explore such questions as whether grizzlies still live in the Cascades, how many, where they are, their future, and what plans there may be to save them.  Because wolves recently returned to the North Cascades, he will also discuss some of the biological and political interplay between grizzlies and wolves.
    Knibb says that grizzlies are likely to be in the news more over the next few years because appropriations are being sought in Congress to fund an environmental assessment of what to do to save or restore grizzlies in the North Cascades.  Once this is underway, Knibb predicts that public hearings will spark a lot of discussion about bears.  It will be good, he says, for Audubon members to have a "heads up" on these issues.

Another edition of Birding the Beaches, similar to the September trip but every month is different. Greater numbers of wintering waterfowl will be present. Join us!

Whatcom County. These monthly trips are co-sponsored by NCAS and Whatcom County Parks and are meant for birders of all skill levels. Semiahmoo is one of our area’s most scenic, biologically rich, and environmentally challenged places. We will see shorebirds (September should be outstanding for shorebirds), waterfowl, and other seabirds as well as raptors and songbirds. 9 AM. Meeting place: Semiahmoo County Park. Trip leader: Paul Woodcock. No registration required.