We are very excited to announce the winners of the Haystack Rock photography contest. Congratulations to our first place winner, Bob Kroll with Rare Visitor, Erin Luttenbacher our 2nd place winner, and Stanley Brown our 3rd place pick. It was very difficult choosing from the 79 photographs entered, all were absolutely beautiful. Thank you to everyone who participated! To see all of the photographs click here.
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World of Haystack Rock
Library Lecture Series
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Join us for our first talk of this year's speaker series, Janet Essley and her presentation on “Tidal Flats, Victorian Prudes, and Going to the Moon: what we can learn from Sandpipers".
Tune into the Friends of Haystack Rock's Facebook page to view this live. If you don’t have access to Facebook, email us at [email protected] and we will provide alternative ways for you to join this wonderful presentation.
Wednesday November 11th, 2020 at 7:00pm PST
Artwork provided by Janet Essley
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Origin Story – Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
It began in 1935 when Goat Island, near Brookings, was identified as important to seabirds. It was designated Goat Island Migratory Bird Refuge by Executive Order. The name was changed to Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge in 1940, but it remained the only island protected by the refuge for three decades. Almost all of the other islands remained under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with the intent to be reserved for potential oil, gas, or mineral exploration.
In 1964, US Fish and Wildlife Service biologists conducted an aerial survey of the seabird colonies and seal and sea lion haulouts along the coast. The biologists recognized the unique flora and fauna of these crown jewels and urged that all 1,863 rocks, reefs, and islands be acquired. The biologists were overruled and in 1968 only 200 of the largest rocks and islands including Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach were added to the refuge.
Finally, in 1978 and 1996 the remaining rocks, reefs, and islands transferred from BLM to the Service and were also designated as a National Wilderness Area. Subsequently, the refuge acquired two headlands including the 19-acre Coquille Point and the 134-acre Crook Point. These provide a buffer zone between development and seabird colonies. Crook Point has rare plants, unique geological formations, and one mile of pristine beach. The 14-acre Whale Cove, added on the last day of 2014, is a secluded sanctuary managed for its natural resource values and to protect native ecology.
Today, the wilderness islands and windswept headlands of the refuge provide 1.2 million nesting seabirds and four species of seals and sea lions an undisturbed place to rest and raise their young.
Photo and article provided by the USFWS
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Creature Feature - Ocean Burps |
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Coming across one of these is a beachcomber’s dream! These small debris fields are usually composed of small bark chips, shells, large tubeworm casings, hermit crabs, algae, kelp, and sometimes even skate egg casings! They usually occur because of a local upwelling.
An upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon that involves wind-driven motion of denser, cooler, and usually nutrient-rich water towards the ocean surface, replacing the warmer, usually nutrient-depleted surface water.
This juggling of water from the bottom of the ocean to the surface often lifts debris sitting on the seafloor into the water column. As the tide comes in, the debris is cast onto shore. We fondly refer to these events as ‘Ocean Burps’.
Photo and article provided by the Seaside Aquarium
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We are so happy to continue our partnership with SOLVE by sponsoring local beach cleanups.
In 2020 we were able to put on two beach cleanups in Cannon Beach. We had 131 people participate and with their help were able to remove 350 pounds of trash off of the beach. That is 350 pounds of trash that will not end up in the marine environment.
In 2021 we hope to expand our beach cleaning efforts. A huge thank you to all who helped us. Stay tuned for the announcement of our next scheduled beach cleanup. Hope to see you there!
SOLVE restores and preserves Oregon’s environment by mobilizing the power of volunteers and partners with the generosity of donors. Across the state, SOLVE brings diverse communities together to improve the health and safety of our neighborhoods and natural areas including our coast, rivers, parks, and forests.
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Environmental Education Grant |
Special thanks to the Pacific Power Foundation for awarding Friends of Haystack Rock a $1,000 grant. The grant will support Environmental Education at Haystack Rock by helping to fund changes to the bed of the HRAP truck on the beach. The HRAP truck bed will be customized to support environmental displays, educational pamphlets and materials. These changes will provide additional opportunities for environmental education on the beach. Thanks to the Pacific Power Foundation for their support. |
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Gift Giving Season is Coming Soon! |
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Did you finish all your holiday shopping?
The Friends of Haystack Rock has a store with gifts for everyone on your list. And with your purchase, we can continue protecting and preserving Haystack Rock and all the critters that rely on this unique landscape. You purchase also helps fund education and creating stewards of our natural landscapes; visitors to Cannon Beach and students around the world get to learn about this special place through virtual classrooms.
Thank you for your purchase and we are excited to see you in the New Year!
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Photo contest submissions due Dec. 1! |
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Friends of Haystack Rock
PO Box 1222
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
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Friends of Haystack Rock is a non-profit organization that promotes the preservation and protection of the intertidal life and birds that inhabit the Marine Garden and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock.
We do this in cooperation with Haystack Rock Awareness Program and other partnerships.
Friends of Haystack Rock is guided by a volunteer board of directors and advisors consisting of committed community members.
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Board Members
Angela Benton, Tiffany Boothe, Hannah Buschert, Keith Chandler, Craig Davidson,
Tia Degerstedt, Lisa Kerr, and John Underwood
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You can help Friends of Haystack Rock earn donations just by shopping with your Fred Meyer Rewards Card!
How? It's Easy! Sign up for the Community Rewards Program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards card to Friends of Haystack Rock.You can search for us by name or by our NEW nonprofit number #NA959
At the end of each quarter, Fred Meyer will make a donation to participating nonprofits based on the accumulated spending of the Rewards customers linked to each nonprofit.
You still earn your reward points, fuel points and rebates just as you do today but every time you shop and use your rewards card you are helping Friends of Haystack Rock earn a donation!
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