Bird Alliance of Oregon

06/23/2026

When Oregon temperatures climb into the 90s, birds have some wonderfully unique and effective ways to stay cool.

Unlike humans, birds don't sweat. Instead, they pant to release heat, flatten their feathers to reduce insulation, and increase blood flow to bare skin and their legs to shed excess body heat.

They also change their schedules. Most birds do their singing, territorial defense, and foraging in the cool hours around sunrise, then retreat to shady cover during the hottest part of the day. Some even wait until dusk or after dark to resume feeding.

Meanwhile, soaring birds like vultures take advantage of rising warm air to glide to higher, cooler elevations.

On a hot summer day, if the birds seem to disappear, rest assured that they're not gone - they are simply using their strategies to beat the heat just like we do!

📷: Allen's Hummingbird / Tracie Hall

06/22/2026

Not all little brown birds blend in. This grassland bird is a standout with its striking chestnut, black, and white "harlequin" face, a crisp black spot in the center of its chest, and bright white tail corners that flash when it flies. Unlike many sparrows that stay hidden, Lark Sparrows often forage out in the open and perch on fence posts to sing their long, musical mix of trills, buzzes, and whistles.

And during courtship? Males put on a dance show! Hopping, spreading their tails, and drooping their wings in a display similar to a turkey strutting that can last several minutes!

Look for them in prairies, grasslands, pastures, and other open habitats with scattered shrubs and trees across the western U.S. and Great Plains (and in Oregon, you can primarily see them on the eastern half of Oregon during their breeding season).

📷:
1. Doug Greenberg
2. Dave Wendelken

06/19/2026

If you care about State Forests, now is our last best chance for at least a decade to tell the Oregon Department of Forestry to prioritize wildlife habitat, recreation access, clean water, and all the other benefits of healthy, intact forests, over unsustainable clearcutting. Click the link to send in your comments! Every voice matters.

If you care about State Forests, now is our last best chance for at least a decade to tell the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to prioritize wildlife habitat, recreation access, clean water, and all the other benefits of healthy, intact forests, over unsustainable clearcutting.

06/18/2026

Every spring we get ID questions about a funny looking bird with a spotted chest, a bird that doesn't quite look like any of our adult species. This adorable fledgling is an American Robin. As they get older, they lose their spots and gain that beautiful red breast.

Photo by Emilie Chen

06/17/2026

This summer, from June 12 to August 22, you can visit Bird Alliance of Oregon and other stops in Forest Park by hopping on the Forest & Washington Park Express Shuttle!

The shuttle is a free pilot transit service operated by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R). During summer 2026, Express Shuttle buses will make regular stops in neighborhoods in East, North, and Northeast Portland and Forest Park and Washington Park, two popular city parks that are hard to get to because of their locations and limited public transit options. The buses will provide a free way for people to get to these parks from areas closer to home. The buses will also take people back to neighborhood stops to return home after visiting the parks.

To visit Bird Alliance of Oregon, hop off at the Upper Macleay stop. One of the hardest parts of our location is not having public transit, so we’re very excited about the shuttle. We hope to see you soon! Get all the details here: https://www.portland.gov/parks/park-shuttle?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery -schedule

06/16/2026

Last week staff from multiple organizations and agencies within the Tufted Puffin Conservation Working Group installed Tufted Puffin Decoys at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. Why puffin decoys? Puffins are social animals, so using a social attractant like a decoy can help bring puffins to the area. Tufted Puffins historically nested at Yaquina, but haven’t in many years, coinciding with a drastic decline of puffins in Oregon and across their southern range. There is now a camera set up to track whether or not puffins land by the decoys. If they do, we’ll know this may again be a viable site for Tufted Puffins. They were spotted flying by the area the very next day!

The Tufted Puffin, one of Oregon’s most iconic and beloved seabirds, has been disappearing from Oregon’s shores at an alarming rate. In 1998, the population was nearly 5,000 strong. In 2021, that number dropped to just 553, a rapid decline that demands action.

The decoy project is an example of one tactic being used by the Tufted Puffin Conservation Working Group to stop the decline and restore puffins to the Oregon coast. The decoys were installed thanks to efforts from National Audubon Society’s Seabird Institute, Bird Alliance of Oregon, Oregon State University, the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Friends of Haystack Rock.

06/15/2026

PSA: Brake for families with ducklings and goslings crossing roads right now. They can't fly yet and need your patience 🙏🏼🙏🏼 As do all the other babies learning how to navigate a very complicated and fragmented world.

Photo by Jen Newlin

06/12/2026

For whoever you're celebrating this Father's Day... the nature enthusiast, the bird nerd, the backyard birdwatcher, or the avid hiker visit the Nature Store to find that perfect gift!

Find a range of options like:
■ Premium binoculars & spotting scopes
■ Bird seed & feeders
■ Books about nature & science
■ 100% tax deductible membership that supports local conservation, education, and wildlife rehabilitation work (and members get 10% off!)

Swing by the Nature Store any day of the week between 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or visit our online store: https://shop.birdallianceoregon.org/

06/11/2026

Join us for a hands-on work party at the 82nd Ave Sanctuary! Volunteers will help with a variety of habitat restoration projects, including removing invasive plants, planting native species, cleaning up debris, and improving habitat for local wildlife.

The 82nd Ave Sanctuary will eventually be home to the new Wildlife Care Center, a nature park, an outdoor classroom, and thriving native habitat. Restoration efforts are supported by grants from the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) and the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD).

Youth and student (12+ years) volunteers are welcome! Visit here to RSVP and let us know you're coming: https://birdallianceoregon.org/event/weekend-work-party-at-ne-82nd-avenue-sanctuary-3/