March 23, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A
Observing a black-capped chickadee in my garden
G
ood morning dear readers!
Here I sit on a beautiful
Saturday morning. The sun
is shining and the temperature’s
pleasant and I am stuck inside. Not
chained to the computer writing
this piece, rather with a low
personal energy day after surviving
the awful flu that is going around.
Luckily for me, as noted in
previous columns, the birds often
come to me! It doesn’t hurt that
I have a wide variety of habitats
view-able from my living room
window, which is where I have
spent most of the last three days,
dozing, reading and staring. There
was also a stern talk to the universe
about kicking this quickly!
From my large comfortable
“bird blind,” I have kept a bird
species list for two of those three
days. Both reaching 30 species.
Interestingly not the same 30 each
day. And that is my topic for this
BIRD NOTES
SUSAN PETERSON
column.
Birds are everywhere. A won-
derful article in the January 2018
issue of National Geographic states
that birds are the only mammals
that inhabit all the environments
on earth. So everywhere is not a
exaggeration.
And in my own studies, OK
so they are more like an loose
observations, the same spots attract
a varying population. (30 species a
day but not the same 30 species) Of
course during migration, this bird-
er’s favorite times of year, there
are travelers stopping in to rest and
feed, but what about my obser-
vations in these last couple days?
SUSAN PETERSON
Black-capped chickadee taking a
break in the author’s backyard.
There were 26 repeat species. That
leaves four species each day that
were different.
Does that lead us to the ques-
tion of why one day and not the
other? In the past, I have learned
that asking “why questions” about
birds habitats are hard to pinpoint.
Instead, I am putting the hard
questions aside and enjoying the
birds in front of me. I am focusing
on “seeing” the birds.
I am taking pleasure in the antics
of Canada geese and the funny way
they run (not fly?) away from the
bald eagle. The mallards picking
their partners from the flock. The
black-capped chickadee coming for
one seed and quickly getting back
into the safety of the branches to eat
it. And the large murders of crows
who tend to go over early and late
in the day.
Being stuck inside has some
benefits!
Upcoming (outside)
birding events
Plan to attend the Necanicum
Bird Day on April 7 at the Bob
Chisholm Center in Seaside and
then the Annual Birdathon Fund-
raiser for the Wildlife Center of the
North Coast on April 14. Find all
the details at the Wildlife Center’s
website at coastwildlife.org.
Right after that, we’ll be
celebrating more outdoor adven-
tures with Cannon Beach’s unique
12 Days of Earth Day, including
lectures, plantings, clean-ups and
a parade and street fair. Watch for
details coming soon!
And don’t forget the First Sun-
day Cannon Beach Bird Walk. The
next one will be on March 4, join a
small group at 9 a.m. at the Lagoon
Trail on Second Street. Bring binoc-
ulars and wear appropriate clothing.
Everyone is welcome!
Susan has spent her life enjoying
the great outdoors from the lakes
and woods of northern Minnesota,
to Mount Adams in Washington and
now the Oregon coast. After spend-
ing many pleasurable hours driving
her avid birder parents around, she
has taken up birding as a passion.
Susan resides on Neawanna Creek
in Seaside where her backyard is a
birder’s paradise.
Fat bike event raises concerns about nesting puffins
Bikes from Page 1A
“Time and time again I’ve
seen positive effects of cy-
cling in communities,” Wein-
traub said. “I thought it’d be
amazing to try and do some-
thing different like this in the
community I live and work
in.”
Since his departure from
the chamber last year, Oregon
Rides, a promotional organi-
zation for biking, has taken
over coordinating the event.
Fat biking, a growing trend
across the nation, is picking up
especially quickly in the Ore-
gon due in part to the state’s
abundance of public beach ac-
cess, event organizers Elliott
and Daniella Crowder said.
The Crowders hope the inau-
gural festival will evolve into
an annual event, and eventual-
ly spark new interest along the
entire coast.
“The focus is getting peo-
ple out, enjoying themselves
on the beaches, and fat biking
is a way to do it,” Daniella
Crowder said.
While growing in popu-
larity, one of the challenges
about getting the first event
off the ground will be aware-
ness and education. Oregon
Rides plans to bring in a fleet
of fat bikes to engage as many
interested people as possible
since fat bike ownership is
low and somewhat costly.
Right now, organizers are
expecting about 100 partic-
ipants, with the majority of
those registrants between 35
and 50 years old.
‘BECAUSE THIS EVENT HASN’T
TAKEN PLACE ON OREGON BEACHES
BEFORE, WE DON’T KNOW WHAT
THE FULL RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS
EVENT WILL BE. THERE COULD
BE UNANTICIPATED EFFECTS.’
Melissa Keyser
Haystack Rock Awareness Program director
COLIN MURPHEY/EO MEDIA GROUP
Ken Brown prepares to ride his fat bike in Cannon Beach.
“We want to emphasize
this isn’t a race. This is for
fun. It’s not about who is
the fastest, or who can wear
the most spandex,” Daniella
Crowder said.
Environmental
concerns
April was chosen in part
due to a low tide schedule, as
well as a way to give tourists
another reason to come during
the town’s off-season.
Some residents in the com-
munity have taken issue with
the timing of the festival,
however, as it coincides with
when shorebirds are migrat-
ing and feeding in intertidal
areas like Haystack Rock.
The event also over-
laps with Cannon Beach’s
long-running 12 Days of
Earth Day, which is timed
with when tufted puffins
come to nest. Some worried
a high volume of bikers could
scare of birds attempting to
feed and nest, Haystack Rock
Awareness Program director
Melissa Keyser said.
“We had a lot of concerns
at the beginning,” Keyser
said. “This (event) kind of
moves all the way down our
beach. We were concerned
where they were going to ride
the bikes and what the impacts
could be. We wanted to make
sure there was no loud music
or balloons or something to
deter them.”
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UPCOMING
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In response to these con-
cerns, the Chamber of Com-
merce partnered with the
awareness program and the
Surfrider Foundation to help
educate bikers on how to
avoid sensitive wildlife areas,
as well as creating route maps
to go above the high-tide line.
Event organizers have also
coordinated with environ-
mental groups to schedule a
fat bike cleanup ride on the
final morning to help mitigate
any impact the bikers may
leave.
Elliot Crowder said fat
bikes have a minimal environ-
mental impact, with the thick-
er tires creating less pressure
on the surface.
“I think people will be
TUESDAY, April 3
Cannon Beach City Council, 7
p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
MONDAY, April 9
Cannon Beach Rural Fire Pro-
tection District, 6 p.m., 188
Sunset, Cannon Beach.
TUESDAY, April 10
Cannon Beach City Council,
5:30 p.m., work session, City Hall,
163 E. Gower St.
THURSDAY, April 12
pleasantly surprised by the
fat bikes,” Daniella Crowder
said. “By Sunday morning you
won’t even see the tracks. It’s
like a footprint in the sand.”
With the awareness pro-
gram helping educate bicy-
clists during the festivities
and being included in some of
the planning process, the im-
pact could be relatively small.
“But, it’s still a ‘we’ll see’
situation,” Keyser said. “Be-
cause this event hasn’t taken
place on Oregon beaches be-
fore, we don’t know what the
full ramifications of this event
will be. There could be unan-
ticipated effects.
“But it looks like as of now
all of the precautions are be-
ing taken.”
NEW LISTING
PUBLIC MEETINGS
NEW LISTING
Cannon Beach Academy, 5:30
p.m. 3718 S. Hemlock St.
TUESDAY, April 17
Cannon Beach Public Works
Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall,
163 E. Gower St.
Seaside School District Board
of Directors, 6 p.m., 1801 S.
Franklin, Seaside.
THURSDAY, April 19
Cannon Beach Parks and Com-
munity Services Committee, 9
a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
Cannon Beach Planning Com-
mission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E.
Gower St.
THURSDAY, April 26
Cannon Beach Planning Com-
mission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E.
Gower St.
NEW LISTING
HAYSTACK ROCK OCEAN FRONT
ARCADIA OCEAN FRONT
OCEAN FRONT, OCEAN VIEW
1288 S Pacific St, Cannon Beach 80622 Highway 101, Cannon Beach 1216 S Pacific, Cannon Beach
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Midtown beach home completely rebuilt in
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CMLS#18-229
$2,395,000
Karen Meili 503-440-5806
CMLS#18-253
$2,145,000
Kate Merrell 503-739-2324
CMLS#18-320
$1,995,000
Karen Meili 503-440-5806
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
MAGNIFICENT SURROUNDINGS
628 Oak St, Cannon Beach
RARE OPPORTUNITY
163 W Washington St, Cannon Beach
ARTISAN STYLE BEACH HOME
1331 Pacific St, Cannon Beach
Perfectly located, & superbly orientated,
this 3 bedroom, 3 bath home draws in
the natureís grandeur with itís open, light
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West Presidential area home just 200’ to the
beach and one block to town. FOR DETAILS
CALL 1-800-784-9541 EXT 200.
One of the areas premier high-end builders
designed and built this home for his personal
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FOR DETAILS CALL 1-800-784-9541 EXT 728.
CMLS#18-57
$1,595,000
Kate Merrell 503-739-2324
CMLS#18-210
$$1,388,000
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Tina Chapman 503-440-9957
NEW LISTING
CMLS#18-221
$979,000
Jackie Weber 503-440-2331
NEW LISTING
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QUIET SOUTH LOCATION
3748 Coho Place, Cannon Beach
VINTAGE BEACH COTTAGE
31913 E Shingle Mill, Arch Cape
Whether you are looking for an investment prop-
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this well-cared for beach house is for you!
Kick back on your expansive deck, enjoy the
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Sited on a large sunny lot, this home has tons
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CMLS#18-216
$639,000
Kate Merrell 503-739-2324
CMLS#17-469
$499,900
Jackie Weber 503-440-2331
CMLS#18-251
$375,000
Kate Merrell 503-739-2324
NEW PRICE
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
GREAT LOCATION
160 E Siuslaw #3, Cannon Beach
ARCADIA BEACH LOT
81090 Arcadia Rd, Cannon Beach
OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING
Birch and 6th, Cannon Beach
Just one block to the beach, this 3 bedroom
condo has 3 fireplaces and a carport. Seller
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closing. Zoned for nightly vacation rentals.
CMLS#16-1644
$291,500
Craig Weston 503-738-2838
Dana Weston 503-738-2839
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ARCH CAPE OCEAN VIEW
31948 Star Mooring Lane, Arch Cape
A CareOregon Company
Property has ocean frontage and beauti-
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water, septic has not been applied for.
CMLS#18-163
$250,000
Angie Huntsman 503-739-2131
Double large lot, walkable to both town and the
beach. Currently secluded and undeveloped
with possible views of Haystack and the ocean
from a reverse floor plan. FOR DETAILS CALL
1-800-784-9541 EXT 456.
CMLS#18-235
$129,999
Jackie Weber 503-440-2331
CANNON BEACH OFFICE
GEARHART OFFICE
255 N. Hemlock, Ste. B1 • Cannon Beach, OR 97110
800/676-1176 • 503/436-1027
cannonbeach.withwre.com
588 Pacific Way • Gearhart, OR 97138
800/275-7773 • 503/738-8522
gearhart.withwre.com
Serving the Entire North Oregon Coast