With the weather getting nicer, it’s time to get outside and explore. Here are some upcoming activities offered by local organizations. Also planned are lectures and presentations on nature and wildlife.

Admiralty Audubon hosts talk, outdoor adventures

Admiralty Audubon is hosting a schedule of programs and outdoor activities over the next few weeks.

On Thursday, March 15, Beverly McNeil presents a program on the bears and wolves of Hallo Bay. The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.

McNeil spent a week at a bear camp in the wilderness on the Alaska Peninsula, 30 miles northwest of Kodiak Island. While there, she camped and photographed wolves and coastal brown bears (grizzlies). During her presentation, she highlights the importance of salmon and keeping the wilderness pristine while having the privilege of observing the beauty of the beasts.

Admiralty Audubon also has a field trip to Discovery Bay Estuary planned for 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 22. The group is to look for birds from the paved trail and from the narrow peninsula, and may visit Anderson State Park, time permitting, to look for newly arrived swallows.

Meet at the Haines Place Park-and-Ride opposite Safeway on 12th St. to carpool, or meet at the Discovery Bay Estuary public access on the south side of U.S. Highway 101 and near the painted railroad cars.

Space is limited to the first 11 who sign up. Significant rain would cancel the trip. Discover Pass is required to visit Anderson Lake State Park. To sign up, contact Leader Ron Sikes, b1rdbrush@gmail.com.

Other upcoming Admiralty Audubon events include the following field trip: Fort Flagler at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 7 (contact John at jhn.comstock@gmail.com); Anderson Lake State Park at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 14 (contact Beverly McNeil at 360-385-9730 or blmcneil59@gmail.com); and Fort Worden at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 21 (contact Monica Fletcher, monicaflet@gmail.com or 360-379-3136).

Take a native plant walk March 17

The Olympic Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society is sponsoring a hike to Gibbs Lake on Saturday, March 17. Organizers say winter mosses and ferns, and perhaps “ice flowers,” would most likely be the highlights on this loop trail around the lake.

Those interested can meet at the Jefferson Transit lot at Four Corners at 9:30 a.m. to carpool, or meet in the parking lot area at Gibbs Lake County Park at 10 a.m.

For those who want to avoid the second half of the trip, which is a little steep in places, cars can be staged at the halfway point. The trip may be postponed or canceled if weather is bad. Contact Varn at

turnstoneroiginals@gmail.com for questions or signup.

Learn about Lomatium on March 20

A botany lecture on genus Lomatium, the biscuit root or desert parsley, which is of the most diverse group of native plants in Washington, is set for Tuesday, March 20.

“Lomatium: No Wonder We’re Confused!” is presented by botanical illustrator Terri Knoke and takes place at 7 p.m., beginning with social time, at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St. The goal of the talk is to help attendees understand why lomatiums are so difficult to identify as a genus. She will talk about how new species are found, including the story of her late uncle, Don Knoke, who discovered a new species, Lomatium knokei, and will demonstrate how Lomatium is distributed across the state.

The focus on the Olympic Peninsula Lomatiums also reveals the relationship between Pacific Northwest native people and Lomatium dissectum.

For more information, contact Dixie Llewellin at 360-774-1652.

Work party planned for Kah Tai Lagoon

Admiralty Audubon sponsors a work party at Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, March 25.

The group is pulling Scotch broom, spurge laurel and holly in the woodland, and picking up trash. For those who want to pull spurge laurel and holly seedlings, a pair of needle-nose or other small pliers is very helpful.

Refreshments, Scotch broom pullers, garbage grabbers and garbage bags are provided.

The nearest parking is at the Chase Bank parking lot at the corner of Kearney Street and Sims Way.

Walk the loop trail starting at the northwest corner of the Chase Bank lot to the nearest bench where you will find the white pickup truck.

For more information, email ptrose53@gmail.com or call 360-385-0307.