SPEAKERS
SERIES
Owls of Western Washington
Date: Thursday, May 7th
Time: 6PM to 7PM
Location: Online via Zoom
Class Fee: Pay What You Can, $5, $10, or $15
Have you ever been curious about owls? Local nature photographer and naturalist Izzy Edwards invites you on a journey into the hidden world of these elusive birds of prey. In this talk, Izzy will introduce the owl species that call western Washington home, sharing insights into their behavior, habitats, and unique adaptations. Along the way, she will reflect on her personal journey into nature photography and what inspired her passion for documenting and understanding owls. Whether you are a seasoned birder or simply someone who enjoys connecting with local wildlife, this presentation will offer a glimpse into the secret lives of one of nature’s most mysterious creatures.
About Izzy Edwards
Isabelle (Izzy) Edwards is 22-year-old nature photographer based in Longbranch and Alki, Washington. Growing up in Western Washington, she has always been surrounded by diverse landscapes, from marine estuaries to dense temperate rainforests. These rich and vibrant ecosystems have shaped her passion as a naturalist and photographer.
Isabelle’s photography journey began with a small red Canon Powershot camera, gifted to her by her parents at age 7. This early introduction to photography evolved into a deeper passion when she started experimenting with her father’s DSLR cameras. By age 13, Isabelle became a volunteer Marine Naturalist for a whale-watching company in Anacortes, Washington. Photographing Southern Resident and Transient Killer Whales helped her develop technical skills and inspired her professional pursuit of wildlife photography.
In 2018, Isabelle began traveling to explore National Parks. A close encounter with a Long-eared Owl ignited her mission to locate all 19 species of American owls in a calendar year. By December 2020, she had achieved her goal, encountering these elusive birds in their natural habitats.
She contributed to owl research by banding, measuring, and collecting data from wild owls. These intimate experiences, such as observing nesting owls and their chicks, profoundly shaped her perspective on the fragility and beauty of life. Through her photography, Isabelle strives to share her deep appreciation for the natural world, inspiring others to cherish and protect its intrinsic beauty. Humbled by her encounters, she continues to explore and document the diverse and magnificent lives that inhabit our planet.
The Bird With Flaming Red Feet, Presented by Author Maria Mudd-Ruth
Date: Saturday, April 11th (Date Full) and Saturday, May 16th
Time: Both Presentations 1PM to 2PM
Location: Tahoma Bird Alliance Office, 2917 Morrison Rd W, University Place
Class Fee: Free! Donations appreciated but not required.
One Bird, One Beach, One Community
Join us for an entertaining presentation with local author Maria Mudd Ruth and the Pigeon Guillemots—the Pacific Coast seabirds at the center of her new book, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet.
The lively, charismatic guillemots are easy and fun to watch close-up from shore though they are often overlooked by birders seeking more elusive and rarer life-list birds. Why bother learning about this common species, this “accessible alcid,” this seabird with an off-putting name that makes it sound like French pigeon? Pigeon Guillemots have
unique and fascinating stories to tell about being a seabird and about the workings of our shared environment.
Maria began listening to the guillemot’s stories in 2013 when she joined a long-running community science program to study the breeding habits of the guillemots in the Salish Sea. Members of the Tahoma Bird Alliance are no strangers to community science and know the value of contributing data to scientists through Project Feeder Watch, Great Backyard Bird County, and the CBC. But what happens when you collect data on just one bird over the seasons and over the years? Magic.
About the Author
Maria Mudd Ruth is the author of more than a dozen books on natural history topics for general audiences, young readers, birders and non-birders alike. Her recent books include critically acclaimed Rare Bird: Pursuing the Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet and award-winning A Sideways Look at Clouds. Maria has lived in Olympia for 25 years and
is a member of the South Sound Bird Alliance, where she served on the conservation committee for several years. Since 2013, she has been a volunteer community scientist with the Salish Sea Guillemot Network. To learn more about Maria visit mariaruthbooks.net. To learn more about the Salish Sea Guillemot Network visit http://www.pigeonguillemot.org.
The Bird with Flaming Red Feet will be available for purchase and signing after her talk. The book retails for $24.95 plus tax. Her book is also available online from Mountaineers Books, Browsers Bookshop, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon as well as brick-and-mortar bookstores.
