Coeur d’Alene Audubon has been dedicated to protecting birds since 1990.
Bobolink Study Spring 2026
Each spring, Coeur d’Alene Audubon partners with Bureau of Land Management biologist Carrie Hugo to gather important information about the Bobolink, one of North America’s most fascinating and uncommon grassland birds. Famous for its striking plumage, bubbling song, and incredible migration of nearly 12,500 miles between North and South America, the Bobolink is a species that deserves our attention and protection.
Through this citizen science project, volunteers help monitor known Bobolink locations throughout the Idaho Panhandle and search for new areas where these birds may be breeding. Information collected by participants is shared with wildlife agencies and landowners to improve understanding of Bobolink populations and habitat needs in North Idaho, helping guide future conservation efforts. This is an excellent opportunity for birders of all experience levels. Survey locations are easily accessible from public roads, no special experience is required, and Bobolinks are relatively easy to identify thanks to their distinctive appearance and behavior. If you enjoy birds, conservation, and contributing to meaningful scientific research, we invite you to join this rewarding annual effort to help protect one of North Idaho’s most extraordinary migratory songbirds.
The Hoodoo Valley Bluebird Trail
For over 25 years, local Audubon volunteers have monitored and collected data from fifty bluebird nest boxes placed in the beautiful Hoodoo Valley north of Coeur d’Alene. This project gathers valuable data about bluebird populations in our area while also helping to protect and restore their numbers. These nest boxes have also provided nesting opportunities for both Tree and Violet-green Swallows. The boxes are monitored from the first arrival of the birds until the hatchlings have all fledged. Teams of volunteers monitor the trail each week and the data is sent to e-bird at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University. Volunteers cite this project as one of their favorites and many of our volunteers have been doing this for over a decade! We recommend that you audit a bluebird visit with an experienced member to learn more.
Bluebird hatching in process — June 2025
Beginning Birding Classes
Our Beginning Birding classes, offered in partnership with the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, are free to the North Idaho community. Classes span three consecutive Saturdays, with each session offering three hours of hands-on instruction led by some of our club’s most experienced birders. Topics include bird identification basics, how to attract birds to your yard using native plants, tips for feeding birds responsibly, and how to effectively use binoculars and scopes to improve your birdwatching skills. The course wraps up with a guided field trip where participants can put their new knowledge into practice in the field.
This 100% volunteer-led effort reflects our chapter’s commitment to fostering a deeper connection to nature and promoting bird conservation in Northern Idaho. Whether you’re a curious beginner or looking to refresh your skills, we welcome you to join us in discovering the joys of birding!
Educational Programs and Guest Presentations
Conservation begins with understanding, and Coeur d’Alene Audubon is committed to bringing that knowledge to our community through a series of engaging educational programs each year. Presented free of charge and open to the public, these monthly gatherings feature expert speakers who share insights on birds, wildlife, ecology, and conservation issues affecting northern Idaho and beyond. Topics have included bird research, bird monitoring techniques, habitat restoration, and emerging conservation challenges.
These programs do more than inform—they inspire action. By connecting community members with scientists, researchers, conservation professionals, and experienced naturalists, Coeur d’Alene Audubon helps foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the role each of us can play in protecting it. Whether you are a lifelong birder or simply curious about the wildlife around you, our programs provide opportunities to learn, engage, and become part of a growing community dedicated to conserving birds and the habitats they depend upon.
Researcher Denver Holt of Montana’s prestigious Owl Research Institute presents data on the snowy owl to the CdA community.
Field Trips and Birding Excursions
One of the best ways to inspire conservation is to experience nature firsthand. Throughout the year, Coeur d’Alene Audubon leads birding field trips to some of our region’s most productive birding hotspots, including wetlands, forests, rivers, canyons, and wildlife management areas. Guided by experienced birders, participants have the opportunity to discover the region’s remarkable birdlife while learning about migration, habitat needs, and the conservation challenges facing birds in northern Idaho and beyond.
These outings are more than bird walks—they foster a deeper appreciation for the landscapes and wildlife that make our region unique. Field trips often introduce participants to local conservation projects, important bird habitats, and opportunities to contribute to community science efforts. Open to birders of all skill levels and free to the public, these excursions help build the next generation of conservation advocates while creating lasting connections between people, birds, and the natural world.
Earth Day
Each year, Coeur d’Alene Audubon advances community-based conservation through our Earth Day presence at the library in Coeur d’Alene. Our educational booth features bird nests and replica eggs, generously loaned by BLM, that foster appreciation for native species and responsible stewardship. In partnership with Dark Skies International, we highlight the importance of dark skies for migratory birds and healthy ecosystems. Guided walks on Tubbs Hill connect participants with local habitats, while demonstrations of the osprey cams behind the library showcase successful urban nesting and inspire ongoing protection of the wildlife thriving above our community.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count was established in 1998 and is the world’s largest citizen science project. Each year in February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days, people spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to Cornell Lab of Ornithology. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.
Check our calendar to join us yearly for the world’s largest citizen science project! See our 2026 observations in our Field Report.
Audubon Adventures
Coeur d'Alene Audubon’s Educational Programming is currently available to classrooms in the Coeur d'Alene School District for 3rd through 5th graders. This program offers engaging, science-based materials about birds, other wildlife, and their habitats and includes informational materials both printed and online, suggested activities, and resources for students and teachers. Retired science teacher Pam Gomes is currently working with four classrooms in our region, delivering lessons and activities planned in the classroom, on the playground, and in the field. The rewards are palpable in the student response when teaching this fun and engaging curriculum—we encourage classroom volunteers to join us so we may expand this program.
Thank you to Mary Lou Reed for funding this educational conservation program for Coeur d’Alene Audubon.
Higgens Point Eagle Watch
Each December, in collaboration with Idaho State Parks, Coeur d’Alene Audubon hosts Eagle Watch at Higgens Point. When the Bald Eagles come to Coeur d’Alene Lake to feast on the kokanee salmon at the end of their lifespan, it is possible to see hundreds of Bald Eagles flying, fishing or perched in the trees near Wolf Lodge and Beauty Bay. Coeur d’Alene Audubon Volunteers man high-powered spotting scopes (with step stools for our younger viewers) and share information on eagle biology and behavior.
This past season was a productive season for Bald Eagle sightings — we made contact with over 1,000 members of the public. We enjoyed chatting with the many wonderful people stopping by who care about birds and have a deep curiosity about their behavior.
Thanks to Greg Speasl for sharing this fantastic photo with us of a Bald Eagle near Higgens Point in Winter 2024.
Christmas Bird Count
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a long-running citizen science tradition that began in 1900 as a conservation alternative to a holiday hunting tradition. In late December, volunteers across the Western Hemisphere participate in synchronized bird counts within designated areas. This data collection effort has provided valuable insights into bird populations, distribution, and habitat health over time. Many Coeur d’Alene Audubon members enjoy participating in this yearly event; our club archives have decades of Christmas Bird Count data for the five counties that our chapter serves.
Highway Cleanup
Birds and other animals can be enticed to highway areas that are not safe spaces for them. Attracted to shiny items and searching in litter for food, they may get entangled in discarded items. Coeur d’Alene Audubon organizes a highway cleanup along 2 miles of Hwy 95 near well-populated bird habitat to contribute to a cleaner environment and create safer spaces for birds to forage, nest, and thrive. Our efforts are a simple but helpful way to improve a local habitat and instill community pride. Our Spring 2026 team of 14 collected over 31 bags of trash and donated 30 hours of work time.
Mica Bay Surveys
Since 2010, Coeur d’Alene Audubon volunteers have conducted the Mica Bay Survey monthly. This ongoing effort documents the diversity and quantity of birds on an established survey route in Kootenai County. Mica Bay is located 7 miles south of Coeur d’Alene. The survey route is approximately 3 miles long, contains several habitat types and takes between 2 and 4 hours to complete. Consistent monitoring of the site provides valuable data regarding seasonality, migration timing and patterns, population trends, and diversity changes occurring in our area.
Interpretive Signs
Coeur d’Alene Audubon partners with local agencies to create engaging educational signage in community spaces to educate people about birds and wildlife. These projects are funded through member dues and generous donations, allowing our club to reinvest directly in conservation efforts that raise awareness, inspire stewardship, and provide lasting educational value for the entire community. Volunteer committees are created and hours of work will go into one sign—be on the lookout for these waysides as you hike and bird in our area!
Reel-in and Recycle
Fish, birds and other wildlife can easily become entangled in discarded monofilament line causing ingestion, strangulation and death. Coeur d’Alene Audubon oversees the local Reel-in and Recycle program in coordination with the Idaho Department of Lands. Collection points are set up around local lakes and along the Coeur d’Alene River. Coeur d’Alene Audubon volunteers monitor, collect and send the line to our recycling partner, Berkley Recycling.
To date, over 13,000 bins have been set up and 20,000 miles of discarded fish line recycled.
Birding Backpacks
In partnership with the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, Coeur d’Alene Audubon is proud to support a hands-on conservation and education project that invites our community to experience birds up close. Through this collaboration, four fully equipped birding backpacks—two designed for children and two for adults—are available for free check-out at the library. Each backpack offers everything needed to get started, making birding accessible, welcoming, and fun for all ages.
By removing cost and equipment barriers, this project opens the door for families, students, and curious newcomers to step outside, observe local birds, and develop a deeper connection to the natural world. These backpacks help spark curiosity, encourage outdoor exploration, and inspire the next generation of bird enthusiasts and conservation advocates—one library card at a time.
Advocacy and Communication
Coeur d’Alene Audubon actively engages in conservation advocacy by communicating directly with local, state, and national decision-makers on issues that impact birds, habitat, and the broader environment. Through thoughtfully written letters, our chapter lends a clear and informed voice to matters such as habitat protection, responsible development, climate change, and policies affecting wildlife and public lands. This work reflects our commitment to science-based conservation and our responsibility to speak on behalf of the natural world.
By participating in the public process, we aim to influence outcomes, raise awareness, and encourage stewardship at every level of government. Our letters also provide members and the public with insight into the issues shaping our region and beyond. Join us at a chapter meeting to learn more about how Coeur d’Alene Audubon advocates for a healthier, more sustainable future for birds, ecosystems, and our community.
Educational Outreach
Our mission aligns with creating lifelong learners and citizen scientists of all ages. At Coeur d'Alene Audubon, we take pride in collaborating with various institutions, including schools, groups and other entities that are passionate about receiving engaging programming on bird education and conservation in our local area. Our programs have garnered positive feedback, and we are always open to hearing about your unique ideas and projects. Feel free to reach out to us with your ideas and proposed projects so we can explore how we might be able to further our mission by working with your organization.