Pilchuck Audubon Society

08/31/2026

‼️Action Alert!‼️
Take Action to Protect Our National Forests!

Some of the nation’s last intact forests, which serve as essential bird habitat, are at risk. For more than 20 years, the Roadless Rule has protected vital wild places, but the U.S. Forest Service just released a proposal that would repeal these protections. In Washington state, two million acres are at risk under the proposed repeal, including habitat for at-risk forest birds ranging from Marbled Murrelet to Sooty Grouse.

👉ACT NOW: Join us to urge the Forest Service to uphold protections for roadless areas. The deadline to add your name to our letter is September 21, 2026.

🔗Visit:

Join us to urge the U.S. Forest Service not to repeal the Roadless Rule. Add your name by September 21.

08/24/2026

🦅 Last call! Education & Outreach Coordinator 🦅

⏰ Just 1 week left to apply before we start reviewing applications!

Pilchuck Audubon Society is looking for an enthusiastic educator to help us connect more people across Snohomish County and Camano Island with birds and nature! 🐦

In this part-time role, you'll lead school presentations, nature walks, and community programs, help coordinate signature events like Puget Sound Bird Fest and Swifts Night Out, and grow our education volunteer team.

✅ 20 hrs/week, hybrid with some evening and weekends required
✅ $25/hour
✅ PTO, paid holidays, mileage & phone reimbursement
✅ ‍If you’re excited about this opportunity but don’t check every qualification listed, we still want to hear from you, and we encourage you to apply!

📅 Priority deadline: September 1, 2026 — we'll begin reviewing candidates and scheduling interviews right after, so don't wait!

View the full position description and application guidelines at: https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/employment

Help us inspire the next generation of bird lovers and conservationists. Share with anyone who might be a great fit! 🔁

08/14/2026

"Cedar Waxwing"
📸: Kristin L. Raught (Kristin L. Raught)

Kristin won the People's Choice Award in our 2026 Puget Sound Bird Fest Photography Contest, Adult Category, earning her the spotlight on our account for the day! This is the final post of the day, thank you for sharing your beautiful photos with us, Kristin!

"I love photographing Cedar Waxwings because they always feel so elegant, even when they are just quietly perched in a tree. In this photo, I was drawn to the warm light, the soft crest, and the small details that make this bird so beautiful.

What I love most are the little flashes of color: the yellow tail tip, the red waxy markings on the wings, and the dark mask across the face. Cedar Waxwings have such a polished look, but they are still wild birds moving through the landscape in their own quiet way.

Bird photography has taught me to pay attention to both the dramatic moments and the quieter ones. Sometimes a bird does not have to be doing anything unusual to be worth noticing. Sometimes the beauty is simply in the light, the pose, and the details."

08/13/2026

"Osprey with Flounder"
📸: Kristin L. Raught (Kristin L. Raught)

Kristin won the People's Choice Award in our 2026 Puget Sound Bird Fest Photography Contest, Adult Category, earning her the spotlight on our account for the day! Stay tuned throughout the day to view several of her photos!

"I photographed this Osprey flying overhead with a flounder in its talons. It happened quickly, the way so many bird photography moments do. One second you’re watching the sky, and the next there’s an Osprey above you carrying its catch.

What I love about this photo is the combination of power and detail. The wings are fully extended, the fish is visible, and you can see the intensity in the Osprey’s face. It’s one of those moments that reminds me how much is happening just beyond our normal awareness.

One of my biggest bird photography tips is to stay ready, even when it seems like nothing is happening. Birds don’t usually give much warning before the good moments happen. Patience matters, but so does being prepared when the moment suddenly arrives."

08/13/2026

"White Pelicans on Puget Sound"
📸: Kristin L. Raught (Kristin L. Raught)

Kristin won the People's Choice Award in our 2026 Puget Sound Bird Fest Photography Contest, Adult Category, earning her the spotlight on our account for the day! Stay tuned throughout the day to view several of her photos!

"I photographed these American White Pelicans on Puget Sound, and it was one of those moments that made me stop and stare for a while before I even started taking photos. They looked so striking against the deep blue water, with their bright white feathers, orange bills, and large bodies gathered together in the middle of the frame.

What I loved most about this scene was how unexpected it felt. White pelicans are such large, unmistakable birds, but seeing them here still felt almost surreal. They were also very aware of their surroundings, so I photographed them from a distance with a long lens and gave them plenty of space.

Bird photography has made me appreciate how much is happening around us all the time, especially when we slow down and look carefully. Sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones that feel like a surprise."

08/13/2026

"Plumes at Dusk"
📸: Kristin L. Raught (Kristin L. Raught)

This was the People's Choice Award winner in our 2026 Puget Sound Bird Fest Photography Contest, Adult Category, earning Kristin the spotlight on our account for the day! Check back throughout the day to view several of her photos!

"This Great Blue Heron had just finished fishing in shallow water when it suddenly shook out its feathers, and for a few seconds, it looked completely transformed. The long breeding plumes caught the light and fanned out in every direction, turning a quiet birding moment into something dramatic and almost theatrical.

This is one of the things I love most about bird photography. You can spend a lot of time watching and waiting, and then suddenly a bird does something unexpected that only lasts for a moment. I was grateful to be there with my camera ready when this heron gave me this little bit of magic."

08/12/2026

Tune in tomorrow as Kristin Raught takes over our social media!

She'll be sharing a few of her favorite photos throughout the day with insights into her passion for and approach to bird photography.

Kristin won the People's Choice Award in the adult category of our recent Puget Sound Bird Fest photography contest, earning her the spotlight on our account for a day!

07/27/2026

🦅 August's birding calendar is here! 🦅

Grab your binoculars — we've got four birding trips lined up this month across some of Snohomish and Skagit Counties' best spots:

📍 Sat, Aug 1 — Fobes and Riverview | 8:00am-12:00pm
📍 Sat, Aug 8 — Fir Island, Channel Drive, and more! | 8:00am-2:00pm
📍 Tues, Aug 11 — Fir Island & Skagit Flats | 7:30am-3:00pm
📍 Tues, Aug 25 — Fir Island & Skagit Flats | 7:30am-3:00pm

Free and open to the public — all skill levels welcome, whether you're a lifelong birder or picking up your first field guide.

Full details and sign-ups: 🔗 www.pilchuckaudubon.org/upcoming-trips

See you in the field! 🐦

07/24/2026

🦅 We're hiring! Education & Outreach Coordinator 🦅

Pilchuck Audubon Society is looking for an enthusiastic educator to help us connect more people across Snohomish County and Camano Island with birds and nature! 🐦

In this part-time role, you'll lead school presentations, nature walks, and community programs, help coordinate signature events like Puget Sound Bird Fest and Swifts Night Out, and grow our education volunteer team.

✅ 20 hrs/week, hybrid with some evening and weekends required
✅ $25/hour
✅ PTO, paid holidays, mileage & phone reimbursement
✅ ‍If you’re excited about this opportunity but don’t check every qualification listed, we still want to hear from you, and we encourage you to apply!

📅 Open until filled — priority deadline September 1, 2026

View the full position description and application guidelines at: https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/employment

Help us inspire the next generation of bird lovers and conservationists. Share with anyone who might be a great fit! 🔁