Beaks and Bills

  February 2024

Puget Sound Seabird Survey

by Joe Meche Similar in many ways to the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC), the Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) is yet another example of citizen science at work. Volunteers take to the field at designated locations to monitor … Continue reading

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  February 2024

21st Annual Wings Over Water

March 15-17 Blaine, WA This year we’ll be celebrating the official 21st anniversary of a birding festival that had its origins in my living room and has evolved into a vibrant event that even survived Covid. We weathered that unexpected … Continue reading

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  January 2024

A Look Back at the Year That Was

by Joe Meche Here we are once again, in the heart of winter and over the year-end cluster of celebrations, waiting for the season’s holiday dust to settle so we can dive into 2024. It’s the time of year when … Continue reading

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  December 2023

Paddling Into Fall

by Joe Meche Our resiliency was put to the test in mid-September when the unexpected forced us to change our proposed travel itinerary. Our initial plan involved a two-week, grand tour of three of our finest national parks — Glacier, … Continue reading

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  Oct/Nov 2023

A Sense of Place

by Joe Meche It should come as no surprise that I’ve written about the Semiahmoo Spit before in past columns. But, the more I return to this unique strip of land, the more I think about it and its special … Continue reading

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  September 2023

To Everything There Is a Season

by Joe Meche   From a song of some renown by Pete Seeger: “To everything, turn, turn, turn there is a season, turn, turn, turn and a time to every purpose under heaven.”  Except for the phrase, “turn, turn, turn,” … Continue reading

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  August 2023

Back to California

by Joe Meche Since we’re always ready for a good road trip, an invitation to my nephew’s 60th birthday celebration was an excellent excuse to pack our bags and roll! Our destination would once again be Dillon Beach, California. It’s … Continue reading

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  July 2023

Back to the Eastside

by Joe Meche *Author’s note: We are in the process of relocating our base camp after 25 years. If you’ve ever moved, you can understand the logistics involved … the least of which is shutting down and reconnecting with the … Continue reading

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  June 2023

A Springtime Loop

by Joe Meche The sweet spot at the end of April and the beginning of May is prime time to schedule ambitious and dedicated road trips. With Cindy jetting off to the Greek Islands for 10 days, I decided to … Continue reading

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  May 2023

Make Way for the Migrants

by Joe Meche The Nesting Season Is Here! After what seems to have been a winter that would never end, there are signs everywhere that we might be on the way to better weather. Tulips and crocuses are peaking in … Continue reading

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