Haystack Rock National Wildlife Refuge is on the beach at Canon Beach, Oregon, 60 miles west of Portland. As the most accessible Tufted Puffin colony on the West Coast, how inappropriate would be beach fireworks on Independence Day. How forward-looking of city officials to enforce the state ban on beach fireworks displays and, instead, promote wildlife viewing, creating the Great Canon Beach Puffin Watch!
Thus, on July 3-6, the Haystack Rock Awareness Program and the Friends of Haystack Rock will offer information and set up spotting scopes on the beach. This allows visitors to view the puffins nesting unmolested high up on the 235 foot monolith's grass-covered slopes. Tours are arranged at low tide to visit the tide pools of the designated Marine Gardens and nearby bird watching areas.
The schedule of events is here: Great Canon Beach Puffin Watch, Thursday-Sunday, July 3-6, 2009.