Birdwalk Site Descriptions

Read this to familiarize yourself with some of the popular areas visited on Backyard Bird Shop bird walks. Bird species at each site will vary seasonally. Following are general guidelines for know what to expect: WINTER means waterfowl, raptors, and winter sparrows and most places we visit include a body of water with surrounding trees and brush that attract those birds. SPRING means warbler migration, lots of breeding birds doing courtship stuff like singing and displaying, so we try to go to sites with water and good trees that would attract warblers and other songbirds. SUMMER means more songbirds, flycatchers, orioles and such. Birding slows down after breeding, days are hotter, and both people and birds are feeling it. FALL means more migration of songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl. Back to the water and trees to see what’s moving through. For more extensive information about sites please refer to the book Wild in the City by Mike Houck and M.J. Cody. For detailed maps please refer to the Thomas Guide.

by Laura Whittemore

BRYANT WOODS, LAKE OSWEGO
Bryant Woods features five habitat types within its mere 25 acres that offer shelter for songbirds, woodpeckers, and waterfowl on the pond. No restrooms and not wheelchair accessible. From Lake Oswego drive south on State St. (Hwy 43) to the south end of Oswego Lake and take McVey Ave west. McVey turns into SW Stafford Rd. Follow Stafford south and just south of SW Rosemont turn right (west) onto SW Childs. The park is on the right just past SW Bryant Ave. From the south take 1-205 to Stafford exit, drive north on Stafford Rd and turn west on SW Childs Rd.
CAMASSIA PRESERVE , WEST LINN
This small Nature Conservancy property is a little known gem. It is one of the few Oak\Madrone woodlands left in the Willamette Valley and provides a view into the past when these trees were quite common. Walking is on somewhat uneven paths and there is poison oak present. Camassia is a great place to see and hear migrant songbirds and a good view of an Osprey nest is had from the open rocky area. It’s common to see both Lesser and American Goldfinches on the same branch. Rufous Hummingbirds love the Madrone flowers. Native wildflowers abound in spring and summer. The area is not wheelchair accessible and there are no restrooms. Drive S from Portland on Highway 43 (SW Macadam Avenue) through Lake Oswego to West Linn OR drive S from Portland on I205 to the West Linn Exit # 8 and turn left at the end of the exit ramp. After going under the highway, turn uphill onto Willamette Falls Drive just before the gas station. (This is the last right turn before coming to the bridge over the Willamette River, so if you find yourself on the bridge, you went too far). After one block, Willamette Falls Road turns 90
degrees to the left; continue on Willamette Falls Road for .25 mile. Veer right onto Sunset Avenue, which continues uphill, passing over I-205. Take the first right onto Walnut Street, which ends at the preserve entrance and parking area.

CRYSTAL SPRINGS RHODODENDRON GARDENS, SOUTHEAST PORTLAND
Located near Reed College, this lake adjoins the beautiful rhododendron gardens and is part of the Johnson Creek watershed. In fall and winter as many as a dozen species of waterfowl such as Wood Duck, Ruddy Duck, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup and Hooded Merganser, can be seen up close. Kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons are also residents. Walking is on mostly level paved paths and the group usually spends time with scopes scanning the water for ducks. This is a great spot for beginners as the ducks are easily viewed and identification can be much easier. Wheelchair accessible and seasonally available restroom. Meeting place is at the entrance to the gardens on SE 28th Street just north of SE Woodstock Blvd. From the west side, cross the Ross Island Bridge and exit onto McLoughlin Blvd. Get off at Holgate and follow Holgate to SE 28th. Turn right and follow 28th until you see the parking lot on the right.
From the east side, follow Powell Blvd. to SE 39th. Turn left and follow to Holgate. Turn right and follow to SE 28th. Turn left on 28th and follow until you see the parking lot on the right.

FERNHILL WETLANDS, FOREST GROVE
This is an extensive wetland and former sewage pond area teeming with bird life. Common birds here include many raptors, waterfowl, shorebirds, and plentiful songbirds in spring. Walking is on level gravel paths around the ponds covering about 2.5 miles but the area is only marginally wheelchair accessible. No restroom. Take Highway 26 west to the North Plains exit (Glencoe Rd). Turn left (south) on Glencoe Rd. Take a right at the light on Zion Church Rd, at first roundabout follow sign for Forest Grove/Verboort Rd, at second roundabout follow sign for Verboort Rd. Continue to stop sign at Highway 47 (sign reads Pacific University), turn left on 47. Continue on 47 into Forest Grove, across Highway 8, then turn left (south) at National Guard Armory sign on Fernhill Rd (which is marked as Maple St. on the right), cross the railroad tracks and turn left into the parking lot marked with a brown sign reading Fern Hill Wetlands.

JACKSON BOTTOM WETLANDS, HILLSBORO
This 650-acre wildlife preserve is located on Hwy 219 in Hillsboro and is home to a pair of nesting Bald Eagles whose nest can usually be seen from the northern viewing platform. Many species of waterfowl and raptors can be viewed from this platform but to find a wider range of species we head to the Education Center further down the road where trails go through the wetlands. The trails are not wheelchair accessible but the northern viewing platform is. Restroom in Education Center. Meeting place is at this northern shelter. From Highway 26 take the North Plains exit and drive south on Glencoe Rd approximately 6 miles, through Hillsboro, until the road turns into Hwy 219 which you follow just south of Hwy 8 to the preserve’s northern shelter or to the Education Center further south. Otherwise simply follow Hwy 8 from either east or west to intersection with Hwy 219 and turn south to the preserve.

OAKS BOTTOM WILDLIFE REFUGE, SOUTHEAST PORTLAND
The city’s first wildlife refuge is right next to Oaks Amusement Park. A loop trail encircles the lake and good views of ducks, herons, eagles, and many songbirds can be had on the leisurely walk around the lake. There are no restrooms and only the paved bike trail along the dike is wheelchair accessible. There are three commonly used meeting places: 1) Oaks Amusement Park parking lot located just north of the Sellwood Bridge on Oaks Park Blvd. Look for the Ferris Wheel. Easy access to the dike trail from this site. 2) Sellwood Park located on SE 7th at the top of the bluff overlooking the lake. Steep trail down hill to get to the lake. 3) Oaks Bottom parking lot on SE Milwaukie south of Holgate. Good place to meet in spring as the trail goes through good songbird habitat before getting to the lake. Birding Oaks Bottom can entail a lot of walking if we try to get all the way around the lake. From the west side take the Sellwood Bridge east onto Tacoma Blvd. and follow signs for Oaks Amusement Park to get to the amusement park parking lot. For the Sellwood Park site, turn left off Tacoma onto SE 7th and follow it to the park. For the northernmost site on Milwaukie, turn left onto 13th from Tacoma, then left onto Milwaukie at the stoplight intersection. Look for the parking lot on your left after about a mile.

MT TABOR PARK, SOUTHEAST PORTLAND
During spring migration Mt Tabor suddenly swarms with birders hoping to arrive on a morning when the trees are literally dripping with warblers. The maples and Douglas Firs can attract flocks of Townsend’s, Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, and Black-throated Gray Warblers foraging for insects as they head on to breeding grounds. Resident hummingbirds guard their territories, Band-tailed Pigeons nest in the treetops and even the occasional Townsend’s Solitaire has been seen here. Walking conditions are steep at times but are mostly on paved paths. Paved sections are wheelchair accessible but steep, dirt trails are not accessible. Possible restroom but you know those Portland Parks restrooms…..questionable. The park is located east of SE 60th between SE Division and SE Yamhill Streets.

POWELL BUTTE NATURE PARK, GRESHAM
Powell Butte is located at SE Powell Blvd. and 162nd in Gresham. It is a multi-use area with a winding paved trail leading from the parking lot to the top of the butte. The area is
open fields on top surrounded by coniferous forest. On a clear day the view is spectacular. Birds seen here include Northern Harrier, Pileated Woodpecker, Savannah Sparrow, and a variety of resident and migrant songbirds. Paved trail is wheelchair accessible. Restrooms present. Meeting place is the parking lot on the butte at the end of SE 162nd.

RIDGEFIELD NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, RIDGEFIELD, WASHINGTON
Located around the town of Ridgefield, Washington, this wildlife refuge is a great place to see throngs of wintering Tundra Swans, Canada Geese, Sandhill Cranes and many raptors.
The River S unit, located south of town, is an auto tour route but offers two stops in winter and an additional one in summer where birders can get out and scope the area. Restrooms at two stops. During May-September pedestrians are allowed on the road but the rest of the year the marked stops are the only places to get out and scope. Two of the stops are wheelchair accessible. The Carty Unit, located just north of town, offers a 2-mile trail through oak groves and past wetlands where a variety of songbirds can be found. This unit is not wheelchair accessible and walking is over unpaved sometimes uneven paths. From Portland take I5 north to the Ridgefield exit and turn west towards town. To access the River S unit, just after entering town (where the speed limit suddenly drops) turn left on 9th street, head up the hill to the Ridgefield NWR entrance on the right, head down the hill and into the refuge. Groups usually meet at the visitor station just across the bridge. To access the Carty Unit, continue on the road through the town and turn right at the stop sign at the T intersection at the end of town. Follow road
to Ridgefield NWR sign on left. Park here and walk over the trestle bridge into the refuge.

SANDY RIVER DELTA, TROUTDALE AREA
The Delta harbors many unique breeding birds including Red-eyed Vireo and Eastern Kingbird. Reach the delta from I-84 eastbound, take exit 18, turn right at the bottom of the exit, loop around under the freeway, keep right and look for the gravel parking lot and gate. The area isn’t a true park….mostly a wandering around and looking type of place. Not listed in Wild in the City but it is a bird walk destination.

SAUVIE ISLAND, NORTH OF PORTLAND
Located about 10 miles north of downtown Portland off of Hwy 30, this area is comprised of both state land and private farmland. The areas most frequently visited by birders include the Wapato Access trail (aka Virginia Lake), Oak Island, Rentenaar Rd., Coon Pt lookout. Easy, level walking trails usually covering, at most, 2 miles. Coon Pt is wheelchair accessible but others are questionable. In spring and summer Oak Island and Wapato Access are good places to find migrant warblers, orioles, as well as raptors and breeding songbirds. Fall and winter birders scan the lakes and fields at the Coon Point and Rentenaar Rd lookouts for waterfowl and raptors. Oak Island is closed for hunting for most of the winter. Parking passes (day or annual) are required for most areas and can be purchased at the Sauvie Island store prior to carpooling around the island. Meeting spot is the parking lot directly under the Sauvie Island Bridge and a pass is not required to park here.

SMITH AND BYBEE LAKES, NORTH PORTLAND
Often referred to as “the big secret of North Portland”, many people are surprised to find that these beautiful lakes exist side by side with industrial warehouses. Two large lakes dominate the area and are host to a wide variety of waterfowl, raptors and mammals. The surrounding woodlands teem with songbirds during spring and fall migration and there are resident songbirds year round. The Interlakes Trail runs 1\2 mile through the park and is wheelchair accessible. Two viewing blinds are accessed from this trail. From I5 take the Marine Dr exit and follow signs for Marine Dr West. Go for a few miles until you go over the railroad bridge and can see the lakes on the left. Soon after that is the left turn into the parking lot. Follow the road down to the designated parking area with restrooms.

TUALATIN HILLS NATURE PARK, BEAVERTON
A 200 acre pocket of Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine and Big Leaf Maple in an otherwise office park dominated area make this park a great destination. Many paths wander through the park and several habitat types that support a wide variety of birds such as Great Horned Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Rufous Hummingbird and Winter Wren. Restrooms available and paved paths are wheelchair accessible. From Hwy 26 take the Murray Rd. exit and go south on Murray to Millikan Blvd. (sign for Nature Park) and turn right. Follow Millikan over the RR tracks to the park on the right. From Canyon Rd (Hwy 8) turn north on Millikan and look for the nature park on the left. 15655 SW Millikan Blvd.