Beaks and Bills

  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

Port Townsend and the Triangle of Fire

Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche The big getaway to celebrate our 28th Anniversary was all set, reservations were made and we were packed and ready to roll … and along came the weather! I awoke with a start at … Continue reading

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  March 2024

Spring Is on the Way

Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche The vernal equinox occurs when the sun crosses towards the relevant hemisphere ending winter one more time. Even though it’s just another notch on the calendar it’s often cause for celebration amongst the winter-weary … Continue reading

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  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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