Our Regional Initiatives
Beyond our local, urban home and service area, Birds Connect Seattle participates in a diverse array of regional initiatives and projects to support birds across the Pacific Flyway and beyond.
Christmas Bird Count
Established in 1900, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the longest running community science survey in North American. Birds Connect Seattle has been coordinating the Seattle count area for over 90 years. This data is compiled by National Audubon and contributes to our understanding of winter bird populations.Â
Climate Watch
Climate Watch is an innovative community-science program that enlists volunteer birders across North America to count certain target species twice each year. The data collected by volunteer scientists help track whether birds are moving in accordance with projections from Audubon’s climate models.
Northern Spotted Owl Protection
Northern Spotted Owls are in crisis, especially in Washington State. Populations here have declined by 75-80% since the mid-90s. Currently the Northern Spotted Owl is protected under the Endangered Species Act. In 2024, the US Fish & Wildlife Service will finalize a Barred Owl Management Strategy and Environmental Impact Statement for the purpose of protecting the Northern Spotted Owl from further decline.Â
Read more about Birds Connect Seattle’s position on this strategy.Â
Martin Miller Fund
The Martin Miller Fund was started in 1987 for the purpose of acquiring habitat to be protected in perpetuity for plants, animals, birds, fish, and their ecosystems.
Puget Sound Seabird Survey
The Puget Sound Seabird Survey gathered valuable data on wintering seabird populations in Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and waters surrounding the San Juan Islands. The data collection portion of this project has been transferred to the Puget Sound Bird Observatory, and Birds Connect Seattle will now focus its resources on on data analysis.
The Collision Buffet: How Bird-window Collisions Supplement the Diets of Urban Scavengers | EarthCare Northwest
Bird fatalities, while tragic, play an important and unnoticed role in our urban food chain, especially for scavengers like crows, gulls, and rats. Birds Connect Seattle is studying carcass persistence, or how long a dead bird remains before it is carried away by scavengers, as part of the Seattle Bird Collision Monitoring Project.
Barred Owl Diet: Insights from Pellet Analysis in Seattle | EarthCare Northwest
University of Washington student researcher Olivia Cavalluzzi spent her summer analyzing nearly 600 Barred Owl pellets to uncover interesting insights into their diet, behavior, and role within the Seattle-area food chain.
Barred Owl Management Strategy Position
Birds Connect Seattle shares our organizational position on US Fish & Wildlife Service’s proposed Barred Owl Management Strategy for the protection of the Northern Spotted Owl, listed under the Endangered Species Act.