N. Oregon Coast's Haystack Lecture Series Kicks Into Gear with New Venue

Published 11/17/25 at 7:35 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Cannon Beach, Oregon) – With this winter season begins a host of fascinating talks along Oregon's shoreline. Starting November 22 with a talk on Oregon coastal mushrooms, things get interesting quickly.

The Friends of Haystack Rock have begun their Nature Talks lecture season, and these are now moved to Pelican Brewery in Cannon Beach ( 1371 S. Hemlock Street). They all begin at 4 p.m. and are open to the public.

The series kicks off November 22 with “Fascinating Fungus: Northwest Oregon Mushroom Foraging and Identification,” presented by Strand Sheldahl, a park ranger with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department at Fort Stevens. Sheldahl holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Literature from Purdue University, and takes attendees on a wondrous verbal adventure around the Oregon coast, going through the basics of mushroom biology, foraging tips, culinary and ecological uses, and species identification. He will also bring a variety of mushroom specimens collected from the region.

On December 20, the community is invited to “A Night With Friends,” an opportunity to meet the members of Friends of Haystack Rock and learn about their ongoing conservation and education projects in the Cannon Beach area.

Seaside Aquarium photo: brown pelican

The January 11 talk will spotlight the Brown Pelican, with scientists Deborah Jaques and Joe Liebezeit sharing insights from a recently published study and ongoing research. The presentation will explore the use of the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to study pelican movement patterns and highlight the role of community science in monitoring efforts.

The series concludes on February 22 with “What Do Puffins Drink? And Other Fun Facts About Oregon’s Iconic Seabird,” presented by Katherine Luscher, Tufted Puffin Conservation Coordinator with the National Audubon Society’s Seabird Institute. Luscher will discuss collaborative efforts to protect and restore puffin populations along the Pacific Northwest coast.

The Nature Talks series is part of Friends of Haystack Rock’s mission to promote the preservation of intertidal life and seabirds at Haystack Rock, a designated Marine Garden and part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The organization works in partnership with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program and other local groups to foster environmental stewardship through education and outreach.

See https://www.friendsofhaystackrock.org/ for more.

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