Uganda Safari: Shoebills, Gorillas, and Chimps, Oh My!  Join Pepper for a slideshow of his recent trip experiencing the wildlife wonders of Uganda. His primary goals were to see mountain gorillas and the amazing Shoebill, which were unforgettable.  But he also had memorable encounters with elephants, chimpanzees, rhinos, and over 200 species of birds – as well as fantastic scenery. It’s a November safari!

About the Speaker

Pepper Trail is well-known in southern Oregon as a naturalist and writer. He was the ornithologist at the National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory for over 20 years, until his retirement in 2021. He is the long-time conservation co-chair of Rogue Valley Audubon Society, and has been active in many regional environmental efforts, particularly the establishment and expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. When not pursuing birds, wildflowers, and bumble bees in southern Oregon, he leads natural history expeditions around the world.

First Wednesday Bird Walk

Join RVAS for our monthly outing to Denman Wildlife Area. Walks begin at 8:30 am and end before noon, and are led by Jim Hostick. The gate will be open from 8:00 – 8:20 am. Participants need to purchase an ODFW Area Parking Permit at the ODFW Office, Sportsman’s Warehouse on Delta Waters and Highway 62 in Medford, or at Bi-Mart. We request that all participants be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Directions to meeting spot: We will meet at the entrance off Agate Rd. between 1/4 and 1/2 mile past the fire station on the left side of the road. Coming out Table Rock Rd., turn right on Antelope Rd. and go to the light on Agate Rd. and turn left. The fire station will be on your left at the corner of Ave. G and Agate Rd. Go 1/4 to /12 mile past the fire station and the gate will be on your left. Coming out on Highway 62 to Antelope Rd., turn left and go to the next light. Turn right and continue to the gate on Agate Rd.

Rogue Valley Audubon Society’s Annual Holiday Party!

Save the Date!

When: Friday, December 5, 2025 at 6 PM

Where: MUCC Lidgate Hall (1801 E Jackson St, Medford, OR 97504)

We’re planning another great sea-sonal gathering to celebrate a won-derful year of birding. Join fellow members for an evening of food, entertainment, and prizes!

Author Paul Bannick explores  the often secret lives of woodpeckers from Alaska’s boreal forests to the oak woodlands of the West and Midwest and from the ribbon of Ponderosa Pine habitats that stretches from British Columbia through much of the Western states until they transition in southern Arizona to the Sierra Madre pine-oak that forms the spine of Mexico. Paul also explores the diversity in arid ecosystems straddling the US-Mexico border and the wet tropical habitats from Florida through the Caribbean Islands and southeastern Mexico.

Through first-hand experiences, more than 200 never-before published photographs and the latest science, Paul examines woodpeckers in every season: their courtship and nest selection in spring; life in the nest during summer; fledging and gaining independence in autumn; and the challenges of surviving the winter.

Paul also takes a closer look at the most important woodpecker habitats in North America and what we can do to protect them.

Bloomsbury Books
290 East Main St. Ashland
Saturday December 13th  7:00 to 8:00 pm

Paul is both the author and photographer of five books  including two best-selling bird books, Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls and The Owl and The Woodpecker, Encounters with North America’s Most Iconic Birds as well as “Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural History” and “Great Gray Owl: A Visual Natural History”

Ashland Christmas Bird Count
Date: Sunday, December 21, 2026
Coordinator: Jon Pope – jonath.pope@gmail.com