OPAS Backyard Birding: “Native Plants for Bees, Butterflies, and Hummingbirds”

Description

Presenter: Julie O’Donald, Rainshadow Hall at Dungeness River Nature Center.  All are welcome to this very special OPAS event celebrating National Hummingbird Day—and the designation by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) of the north Olympic Peninsula as a Community Wildlife Habitat™! This designation was achieved through the work of the North Olympic Wildlife Habitat Project, an OPAS conservation initiative launched in September 2024. Thanks to the participation of property owners and land managers across north Clallam and Jefferson counties who earned individual Certified Wildlife Habitat® status with NWF, the OPAS initiative quickly achieved its initial goal of community certification in May 2025. Marking this event, NWF representatives and community leaders will be in attendance. Following their remarks, the audience will be treated to an informative talk by Julie O'Donald, Native Plant and Community Wildlife Habitat Steward, who returns by popular demand to the Backyard Birding classroom. Julie will overview the elements that create enticing gardens benefiting pollinators, birds, and people. She will emphasize the best native plants for pollinators and hummingbirds and the design features that create and sustain bird habitat. Beautiful photography of native plants will illustrate how to bring nature home to any size property. Julie is the team leader for the Brier Wildlife Habitat Project, recognized by NWF as a Community Wildlife Habitat™. She has been actively involved in community education and outreach for the Washington Native Plant Society, Kruckeberg Botanic Garden (bird surveys and tours), and the Adopt-a-Stream Foundation. In addition, Julie's own certified wildlife habitat garden contains over 200 species of native plants—successfully attracting birds, butterflies, and pollinators for more than 25 years. The garden habitat has featured in publications including Pacific Horticulture, The Butterfly Gardener, Bird Watching Magazine, and Sunset publications. Plant lists will be available. Come early for a baked goodie and to secure your seat to this, the first, session of the new Backyard Birding 2025-2026 series as we learn together how to support synergies among birds and plants for the benefits to—and enjoyment of—nature in our midst! Admission to the series is free. However, we suggest a donation of $5.00 per person to support our ongoing education and bird conservation programs. For your good health as well as that of other attendees and our volunteer staff, please be aware of the latest COVID-19 health precautions as recommended by Clallam County Public Health and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.