Beaks and Bills

  October-November 2024

September Sojourn

Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche Ten Days on the Road Last year’s eastbound getaway ran into a few obstacles that forced us to rein in our planned destinations and keep it closer to home. In fact, we didn’t leave … Continue reading

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  August 2024

Bird Populations Are in Decline — What Does This Mean for Whatcom County?

by Ella Gage Birds are an indicator species. Their population health is denotative of the health and trajectory of our ecosystem as a whole. The ground-breaking 2019 Science magazine report “Decline of the North American Avifauna” was derived from half … Continue reading

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  June 2024

A Pair of Coastal Gems

Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche For the first time in many years, we made a departure from our traditional spring getaway. Due to prior reservations, weather cancellations, and rebooking, we opted to head for the coast for a change … Continue reading

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  June 2024

Connecting People and Nature

Community Service Spotlight by Amye Bronson-Doherty Wild Whatcom is a Whatcom County nonprofit offering outdoor, environmental education and enrichment programs to people of all ages and abilities. Our mission is to foster lifelong connections to nature. By focusing on two … Continue reading

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  June 2024

Harsh Winter Kills Whatcom Survey Mussels

by Meghan Fenwick Every other winter, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists and volunteers deploy cages of mussels on Puget Sound nearshore beaches to test water quality. It typically takes six months to a year for lab results … Continue reading

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  June 2024

Articles You Might Have Missed

Climate Good News Around the world people are taking the initiative to mitigate climate change. Repairing Systems to Save the Fish: Two Good News Stories Collated by The League of Women Voters of Bellingham Whatcom County, these two stories give … Continue reading

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  June 2024

The Edible and the Inedible

by Fred Rhoades All photos by Fred Rhoades Part 1 The first thing most people ask when they bring me a mushroom to identify, once I provide them with an ID, is, “is it edible?” This can be a tricky … Continue reading

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  May 2024

The Day Bellingham ‘Lost Its Innocence’

by Meghan Fenwick Longtime Bellingham residents remember it well: At 5:02 p.m. on June 10, 1999, the summer evening sky darkened. Across the city, residents stepped outside to witness the 30,000-foot-tall wall of smoke erupting from Whatcom Falls Park. On … Continue reading

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  May 2024

Bluebirds, Avocets, and White-headed Woodpeckers

Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche My springtime loops over the mountains and through the woods the past two years left me wanting more so I did it again the first week in April. I have a plan to make … Continue reading

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  April 2024

Wildlife Network Rescues Marine Mammals

by Meghan Fenwick In November of 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service responded to calls concerning a harbor porpoise. The adult male was seen struggling in shallow waters, where the species is rarely found. After assessing his condition and … Continue reading

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