Oregon Coast Birdcast

How can art alter how you look at the world? Today Paul talks to Nora Sherwood, science illustrator and nature artist about her work drawing and painting birds and other wildlife. Nora shares how she came to this work later in life, leaving a career in tech to learn how to become an artist. She discusses the process of working with scientists to convey key messages about their study subjects, the strengths and weaknesses of hand dr...

Offshore wind energy is in the news. While it’s a potentially promising step toward decarbonizing the grid, conservationists and fishermen alike share concerns about its potential impacts. In this episode, Paul talks to Ann Vileisis, President of Kalmiopsis Audubon Society and independent scholar about the recent proposals for offshore floating turbines off of the southern coast of Oregon. Ann shares her perspective on why a more c...

Paul talks to CJ McCarty, Curator of Birds at Oregon Coast Aquarium about working with seabirds at the aquarium! The Seabird Aviary at Oregon Coast Aquarium is home to six species of birds including Black Oystercatchers, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Tufted Puffins, Horned Puffins, and Rhinoceros Auklets. CJ shares how she went from being a young animal lover to having one of the world’s coolest job titles and what makes her wo...

In this episode, Paul talks to Joseph Youren, Forest Policy Director for Audubon Society of Lincoln City about the nitty gritty world of forest policy. Joseph breaks down the conflict between the timber industry and conservationists and teases out the role of Habitat Conservation Plans and why they are necessary for protecting forests and water. They discuss the power imbalance between the timber industry and conservation groups wh...

Paul is joined by Joe Liebezeit and Allison Anholt of Portland Audubon to talk about their work conserving coastal habitats and the birds that rely on them. We learn about Oregon’s Marine Reserve Program and three birds that depend on healthy coastal ecosystems: Marbled Murrelets, Western Snowy Plovers, and Black Oystercatchers. Joe and Annie discuss the specific needs and conservation challenges these birds are facing as well as t...

Paul talks to Roy Lowe, retired biologist and refuge manager with the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) National Wildlife Refuge Program. As the first USFWS agent stationed on the Oregon Coast, Roy has accrued decades of experience studying seabirds and their migration habits within the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Paul and Roy discuss the amazing endurance and navigational feats of migratory seabirds, theo...

What do birds do during a wildfire? Dr. Jamie Cornelius, a National Geographic Society Explorer, is on a mission to find out. Professor and researcher in the Department of Integrative Biology at Oregon State University, Dr. Cornelius chats with Paul about her research on how birds respond to unpredictable changes in their environment and the Cornelius Lab’s new project exploring how birds respond to wildfire. Dr. Cornelius shares h...

Paul interviews Ruth Shelly, Vice President of Audubon Society of Lincoln City (ASLC) about the migratory Osprey population of Lincoln City, Oregon. We get to know Ospreys, their habits and behaviors, and what makes our iconic State Raptor so special. Ruth shares about ASLC’s Osprey Awareness Initiative, an education and community science project that aims to educate the public about Ospreys and monitor their nests in the area. 

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