Thursday, February 26, 2026. Zoom only. The Zoom room will open at 6:55.  Zoom link.

Raptor Quest

Speaker: Scott Harris

Scott Harris spent 17 months, chasing 53 Raptors across 34 states—his version of a Raptor Big Year. RaptorQuest is about his adventures, misadventures, successes and failures. From minus 36 degree days, to ones over 100 degrees, to the joy of getting on the bird just in time, to the frustrations of missing one by minutes. It’s about the birds, of course, but it’s also about the people he met, the things he learned and why he’s already working on his next adventure.

Scott became an avid birder when he and his wife, Randi, retired to South Carolina in March of 2020. It was a hobby he never imagined himself participating in, but now can’t imagine living without. He has since added a fascination with mammals and has sold his photographs around the world. His most recent book, RaptorQuest: Chasing America’s Raptors, is the story of his year-long adventure tracking down every species of Raptor in the Lower 48 states.

In addition to his writing, Scott also hosts a podcast, NaturallyScott, that focuses on birds, wildlife and the great outdoors. He just signed a book deal for his upcoming book, Why We Love Birds: 52 Birders on Birding. Other interests and hobbies include the largest collection of John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley in the world and playing harmonica in a blues band. He  has written more than fifty books in the past ten years,  though RaptorQuest: Chasing America’s Raptors is his first entrée into the world of birding and birds.

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Understanding Bird Songs

Speaker: David Lucas

Since the dawn of time, humans have been fascinated and inspired by bird songs. But how do we study bird songs today, and what have these studies taught us about the world of bird song? In this talk, we will explore how and why birds sing, and how we study bird songs as a way of understanding what they are saying to each other. This talk will open a new world for you because bird songs and vocalizations are a huge part of how birds interact with each other, and they are one of the most important ways we appreciate birds.

David Lukas is a well-known speaker, writer, and naturalist who has led thousands of walks, talks, classes, workshops, and tours, including more than ten years working as a hiking guide and educator in Yosemite National Park. David has written seven books and contributed chapters to another forty books on a wide range of bird and nature topics, including Sierra Nevada Birds, Sierra Nevada Natural History, and Language Making Nature (www.languagemakingnature.com). David’s most recent project is producing the Lukas Guides Newsletter, a weekly nature newsletter at www.lukasguides.com.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukasguides/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.lukas.735
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidLukas

American Goldfinch, photo: Alex Kistler

Cooper’s Hawk, photo: Fauna Carver

The following programs and videos can be found here:  YVAS Facebook page. At the top of the Facebook page, click on “More.” A drop down menu will appear. Click on Videos.

2025

January 23, 2025 – Exploring Madagascar’s Otherwordly Wildlife – Jason Fedorra

2024

March 28, 2024 – Whose Track is That? Exploring for Wildlife Sign – Deborah K. Essman
April 25, 2024 – Tropical Wildlife and Conservation,  Peru and Kenya – Eric Heisey

2023

October 26, 2023 –Bluebird Country – Karen Zook
August 24, 2023 – Travels in Africa – Deborah Essman
May 25 , 2023 – Nutcrackers and Whitebark Pine – Taza Schaming
March 23, 2023 – Wild America 2022 – Andy Stepniewski
February 23, 2023 – Woodpeckers 2 – Denny Granstrand
January 26, 2023 – Madagascar – Eric Heisey

2022

December 8, 2022 – Forests and People – Ken Bevis
October 27, 2022 – Tahoma’s Biggest Stories – Jeff Antonelis-Lapp
September 22, 2022 – White-headed Woodpeckers – 20 years of Research in WA – Jeff Kozma
August 25 ,2022 – The Secret Life of the Deserts of the Pacific NW – Mike Denny
May 26, 2022 – Yakima Valley Audubon’s Vredenburgh Bluebird Trail Marks its 40th Year! – Andy Stepniewski
March 24, 2022 – Bird’s Eye View – Gina Roberti
February 24, 2022 – Westport Seabirds – Bill Tweit