Tokeland, Westport and Bottle Beach

SHOREBIRD FIELD TRIP All day trip to Tokeland, Westport and Bottle Beach. This will be a great day for seeing the shorebird migration. Hundreds, if not thousands, of shorebirds will be in breeding plumage. Spotting scopes will be available to help see the birds. This is......More

SHOREBIRD FIELD TRIP All day trip to Tokeland, Westport and Bottle Beach. This will be a great day for seeing the shorebird migration. Hundreds, if not thousands, of shorebirds will be in breeding plumage. Spotting scopes will be available to help see the birds. This is a great opportunity to work on shorebird identification. Beginning birders welcome! WHEN: Sunday, 21 April 2024 Meet at 7:45 AM at Mud Bay Park and Ride. Leave for Tokeland at 8 AM. Westport Marina late morning, Bottle Beach at 1 PM for the incoming tide. Return to Olympia late afternoon. BRING: Binoculars and spotting scope (if you have one) Lunch, snacks, drinks Layered clothing – it can be cool and windy by the water Shoes/boots that can get muddy at Bottle Beach Discover Pass LEADER: Lin Stern Trip limited to 12 participants. Contact Lin Stern at [email protected] to sign up. Photo credit: Shorebirds at Bottle Beach, by Mick Thompson, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mickthompson/17289896706/in/photolist-vdMLnH-c3BHy7-skReVm

Birding Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

In all seasons of the year, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge has something to see.  We are lucky to have this treasured preserve in Thurston County.  An important stop on the Pacific migratory route north and south, waterfowl stop and may congregat......More

In all seasons of the year, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge has something to see.  We are lucky to have this treasured preserve in Thurston County.  An important stop on the Pacific migratory route north and south, waterfowl stop and may congregate in great numbers here.  A mix of habitats – mixed woodland, riparian, and open meadow – hosts native birds year-round and hosts nesting migratory songbirds and others in the spring and summer. Wednesday morning bird walks, sponsored by the refuge, attract a diverse group including birders with expertise at all levels.  You may stay with the group as long or as short a time as you please. All paths in the refuge are level, either boardwalk or graveled.  The longest path, the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk, out towards the mouth of McAllister Creek, is four miles round-trip.  There are restrooms at the Visitor Center.  Admission costs $3.00 or is free with an appropriate pass for national lands or with a Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge pass.

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA, 98516, United States

February 2024 Book Club Meeting

Next Book for the BHAS Book Club The next book has been chosen for our April meeting: Birdgirl: Looking to the Skies in Search of a Better Future, by Mya-Rose Craig. We will meet via Zoom to discuss this memoir on Wednesday, April 24th at 6:00 PM. If you are interested ......More

Next Book for the BHAS Book Club The next book has been chosen for our April meeting: Birdgirl: Looking to the Skies in Search of a Better Future, by Mya-Rose Craig. We will meet via Zoom to discuss this memoir on Wednesday, April 24th at 6:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, please email Rachel Hudson at [email protected] to receive the questions we will talk about regarding the book, as well as to receive a link to the Zoom meeting. From the publisher of Birdgirl: “Birdgirl follows Mya-Rose and her family as they travel the world in search of rare birds and astonishing landscapes. But a shadow moves with them, too―her mother’s deepening mental health crisis. In the face of this struggle, the Craigs turn to nature again and again for comfort and meaning. Each bird they see brings a moment of joy and reflection, instilling in Mya-Rose a deep love of the natural world. But Mya-Rose has also seen first-hand the reckless destruction we are inflicting on our fragile planet, as well as the pervasive racism infecting every corner of the world, leading her to campaign for Black, Indigenous, people of color. Joining the fight of today’s young environmental activists, Mya-Rose shares her experiences to advocate for the simple, profound gift of nature, and for making it accessible to all, calling her readers to rediscover the power of our natural world. Birder, activist, daughter: this is her story.”

Virtual

Birding at Pioneer Park

Birding at Pioneer Park Date: Saturday, April 27.  Meet at 9 AM and plan around two hours for the walk. Trip Leader: Jason Zolle Description and Targets: This will be a beginner-friendly outing. We will be looking for songbirds, woodpeckers, and anything else with feath......More

Birding at Pioneer Park Date: Saturday, April 27.  Meet at 9 AM and plan around two hours for the walk. Trip Leader: Jason Zolle Description and Targets: This will be a beginner-friendly outing. We will be looking for songbirds, woodpeckers, and anything else with feathers! Meeting Place:  Pioneer Park, 5801 Henderson Blvd SE, Tumwater. When you pull in, continue straight all the way to the end of the parking lot. We will meet at the western most area of the parking lot at the trailhead here. Trail Information: The trails at Pioneer Park are relatively flat. Most of the trail is covered in gravel or grass. Our outing will take us through open and forested habitat along the Deschutes River. We will encounter one bench about halfway through (about 1 mile in). We travel up to two miles, with the option to stop sooner or continue on your own after 11am. Bathroom: There is a bathroom on the opposite side of the sports fields. Bring: Binoculars, a scope if you have one, and a field guide if you want one. Merlin Bird ID is a great phone app for identifying birds. I also suggest a hands-free pack for water, snacks, and personal items. Dress for the conditions and for a slow walking pace dull natural fabrics are more bird-friendly than bright synthetics. Layers are your friend! Please contact Jason Zolle at [email protected] for more information. Photo credit: Downy Woodpecker, by Rachel Hudson.

Pioneer Park, 5801 Henderson Road S.E., Tumwater, WA, 98501, United States

Birding Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

In all seasons of the year, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge has something to see.  We are lucky to have this treasured preserve in Thurston County.  An important stop on the Pacific migratory route north and south, waterfowl stop and may congregat......More

In all seasons of the year, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge has something to see.  We are lucky to have this treasured preserve in Thurston County.  An important stop on the Pacific migratory route north and south, waterfowl stop and may congregate in great numbers here.  A mix of habitats – mixed woodland, riparian, and open meadow – hosts native birds year-round and hosts nesting migratory songbirds and others in the spring and summer. Wednesday morning bird walks, sponsored by the refuge, attract a diverse group including birders with expertise at all levels.  You may stay with the group as long or as short a time as you please. All paths in the refuge are level, either boardwalk or graveled.  The longest path, the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk, out towards the mouth of McAllister Creek, is four miles round-trip.  There are restrooms at the Visitor Center.  Admission costs $3.00 or is free with an appropriate pass for national lands or with a Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge pass.

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA, 98516, United States

Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival

Each spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed along the Washington Coast and in the Grays Harbor estuary during their migration northward. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world’s greatest migran......More

Each spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed along the Washington Coast and in the Grays Harbor estuary during their migration northward. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world’s greatest migrants. Some birds travel over 15,000 miles round trip! The concentration of birds during spring migration offers people a great chance to view a number of shorebird species. With luck you will also see the birds fly together in beautiful formation “murmurations” while trying to escape a Peregrine Falcon. Shorebird is the name given to the group of birds that are usually found along the shoreline. They include plovers, turnstones, sandpipers, dowitchers, and others. Some shorebirds can be found in Grays Harbor County all year others only during their migration. The shorebird spectacle happens every year at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and in other parts of the County. People from around the world come to view this event of hemispheric importance. The Festival works to bring people together for this incredible natural phenomenon. Watch for registration in late winter 2024.

Birding with Breakfast

Birding with Breakfast Date: Saturday, May 4 Time: 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Leader: Suzanne Wilson Description: Birding at McLane Nature Trail.  Walk near the height of migration on trails through woodlands and around a beaver pond.  Birding with Breakfast walks are espec......More

Birding with Breakfast Date: Saturday, May 4 Time: 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Leader: Suzanne Wilson Description: Birding at McLane Nature Trail.  Walk near the height of migration on trails through woodlands and around a beaver pond.  Birding with Breakfast walks are especially appropriate for beginning and intermediate birders. Meeting location: Meet at 7:30 a.m. at McLane Nature Trail, 5043 Delphi Road S.W., Olympia.  Discover Pass is required. Breakfast after walk at Blue Heron Bakery, 4419 Harrison Ave NW #108 (just east of Kaiser Rd.), Olympia, WA 98502.   No registration needed.

McLane Creek Nature Trail, 5043 Delphi Road Southwest, Olympia, WA, 98512, United States

EDMOND MARSH FIELD TRIP

  EDMOND MARSH FIELD TRIP DATE:   Monday May 6th LOCATION:  Edmond Marsh, DuPont TIME:  8 am to noon LEADERS:  Denis DeSilvis & Kathleen Snyder REGISTRATION:  Register with Kathleen at [email protected].  If we need to cancel due to weather, you’ll be notified. DE......More

  EDMOND MARSH FIELD TRIP DATE:   Monday May 6th LOCATION:  Edmond Marsh, DuPont TIME:  8 am to noon LEADERS:  Denis DeSilvis & Kathleen Snyder REGISTRATION:  Register with Kathleen at [email protected].  If we need to cancel due to weather, you’ll be notified. DESCRIPTION:  This is a loop trail through a variety of habitats that come alive with spring migration.  This walk will be on mostly flat gravel and dirt roads with one section on a neighborhood sidewalk.  Length is approximately two miles.  There are no restrooms on the trail.  Bring snacks and water and dress appropriately for the weather. ADDRESS:  The parking area is located at 1000 Davis Place, DuPont.  This is off Steilacoom-DuPont Rd.  Park at the end of the road, away from the Cowlitz Tribe building. NOTE:  BHAS has loaner binoculars for our field trips.  If you wish to borrow, let Kathleen know a few days ahead of the walk. Photo credit: Wilson’s Warbler, by Rachel Hudson.

Edmond Marsh, DuPont, 1000 Davis Place, DuPont, WA

Birding Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

In all seasons of the year, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge has something to see.  We are lucky to have this treasured preserve in Thurston County.  An important stop on the Pacific migratory route north and south, waterfowl stop and may congregat......More

In all seasons of the year, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge has something to see.  We are lucky to have this treasured preserve in Thurston County.  An important stop on the Pacific migratory route north and south, waterfowl stop and may congregate in great numbers here.  A mix of habitats – mixed woodland, riparian, and open meadow – hosts native birds year-round and hosts nesting migratory songbirds and others in the spring and summer. Wednesday morning bird walks, sponsored by the refuge, attract a diverse group including birders with expertise at all levels.  You may stay with the group as long or as short a time as you please. All paths in the refuge are level, either boardwalk or graveled.  The longest path, the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk, out towards the mouth of McAllister Creek, is four miles round-trip.  There are restrooms at the Visitor Center.  Admission costs $3.00 or is free with an appropriate pass for national lands or with a Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge pass.

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA, 98516, United States

Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest: Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe

The Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest is a by-donation community event highlighting the endangered shrub-steppe habitat in Central Washington.  (Some special events do have fees.)  The event starts Friday with an evening social gathering, Saturday is filled with expert guid......More

The Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest is a by-donation community event highlighting the endangered shrub-steppe habitat in Central Washington.  (Some special events do have fees.)  The event starts Friday with an evening social gathering, Saturday is filled with expert guided field trips with birding, geology, snakes and reptiles, fish and river bugs, history, and more. Educational booths are set up with free educational materials and other outreach materials and we highlight affinity environmental and natural resource groups from around the state. Saturday evening brings a keynote speaker with a shrub-steppe focused theme. Sunday includes self-guided field trips and additional guided field trips into the shrub-steppe. The Yakima River Canyon is an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) with some of the highest densities of passerines and birds of prey in the State. The extensive cliffs, shrub-steppe, and riparian cottonwood forests provide a rich mixture of habitats for animals, plants, reptiles, and insects. Particularly important are the immense basalt cliffs and talus slopes interspersed with shrub-steppe vegetation, which support a diverse assemblage of birds associated with this habitat, including White-throated Swift, Cliff Swallow, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, and 21 species of raptors. Ten of these raptor species breed in and around the canyon, including two pairs of Golden Eagles and five pairs of Prairie Falcons. The cliffs and shrub-steppe habitat also support dense populations of Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, and Great-horned Owls. Up to 20 Bald Eagles winter along the river, subsisting primarily on whitefish. The riparian habitats along the river and its tributaries support a high diversity and abundance of bird species, including Lazuli Bunting, Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, Sage Thrasher, Mountain Bluebird, Say’s Phoebe, Williamson’s Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Cedar Waxing, Northern Spotted Owl, and American Pelican.  

Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center, 24343 Canyon Road, Ellensburg, WA, 98926, United States

Wings Over Whidbey Festival

Wings Over Whidbey is a day-and-a-half-day community birding festival with educational and informational presentations, guided birding tours, children’s activities and more. The festival will be at the Pacific Rim Institute amongst the forest and prairie vistas of centr......More

Wings Over Whidbey is a day-and-a-half-day community birding festival with educational and informational presentations, guided birding tours, children’s activities and more. The festival will be at the Pacific Rim Institute amongst the forest and prairie vistas of central Whidbey Island. Keep checking the website for updates about activities at the festival.

Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship, 180 Parker Road, Coupeville, WA, United States

Birding Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

In all seasons of the year, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge has something to see.  We are lucky to have this treasured preserve in Thurston County.  An important stop on the Pacific migratory route north and south, waterfowl stop and may congregat......More

In all seasons of the year, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge has something to see.  We are lucky to have this treasured preserve in Thurston County.  An important stop on the Pacific migratory route north and south, waterfowl stop and may congregate in great numbers here.  A mix of habitats – mixed woodland, riparian, and open meadow – hosts native birds year-round and hosts nesting migratory songbirds and others in the spring and summer. Wednesday morning bird walks, sponsored by the refuge, attract a diverse group including birders with expertise at all levels.  You may stay with the group as long or as short a time as you please. All paths in the refuge are level, either boardwalk or graveled.  The longest path, the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk, out towards the mouth of McAllister Creek, is four miles round-trip.  There are restrooms at the Visitor Center.  Admission costs $3.00 or is free with an appropriate pass for national lands or with a Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge pass.

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA, 98516, United States

Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest

Celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season. Enjoy the excitement of birding field trips and workshops. Take part in speaker events, music, visual arts, picnics, and activities for all ages and abilities. All of this is happening in be......More

Celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season. Enjoy the excitement of birding field trips and workshops. Take part in speaker events, music, visual arts, picnics, and activities for all ages and abilities. All of this is happening in beautiful Leavenworth, WA and throughout the Wenatchee River Valley. Bird Fest happens in association with World Migratory Bird Day. Bird Fest contributes a list of all birds seen during the festival to eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related community science project. Rebecca Heisman, author of Flight Paths, will be the keynote speaker.  2024 Bird Fest Planning is underway! Registration and field trip information coming soon.

Leavenworth, Leavenworth, WA, United States

Ladd Marsh Bird Festival

Scheduled at the height of spring migration and nesting in the Grande Ronde Valley, the annual Ladd Marsh Bird Festival celebrates World Migratory Bird Day with an uncrowded, non-competitive birding opportunity for the whole family. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlif......More

Scheduled at the height of spring migration and nesting in the Grande Ronde Valley, the annual Ladd Marsh Bird Festival celebrates World Migratory Bird Day with an uncrowded, non-competitive birding opportunity for the whole family. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area is located about 7 miles south of La Grande, Oregon, and has one of the the most diverse bird populations in Union County. Over 200 species of birds either visit or live permanently at Ladd Marsh. On Bird Fest weekend, birders can explore areas of the wildlife area generally closed to the public, providing increased opportunities to see abundant ducks, geese, raptors, passerines, and shore birds. General registration begins April 6.  Registration for field trips opens April 13.

Ladd Marsh, Oregon, La Grande, OR, United States

Field Trip on Willapa Hills Trail

Birding the Willapa Hills Trail at Ceres Hill Road   When: May 18, 9 AM Where: Lewis County has many great places to enjoy nature the Willapa Hills Trail is probably one of the best. This location offers open fields, river and riparian habitat adjacent to Ceres Hill. Me......More

Birding the Willapa Hills Trail at Ceres Hill Road   When: May 18, 9 AM Where: Lewis County has many great places to enjoy nature the Willapa Hills Trail is probably one of the best. This location offers open fields, river and riparian habitat adjacent to Ceres Hill. Meet at the parking area on Ceres Hill Rd. and the Willapa Hills Trail at 9 AM. This is about a 20 minute drive from I-5 in Chehalis at the SR 6 / Pe Ell exit. Discover Pass required but no toilets at this site. Plan accordingly. https://maps.app.goo.gl/v1nhfJN4nbcjB26V6 Trip Description: We’ll start our walk heading east, this follows the upper Chehalis River for a little stretch where there are likely ducks and a few waders in the shallows. The river cuts back towards the highway allowing the trail to become more wooded and usually filled with songbirds from Western Tanagers to Black-headed Grosbeaks. We will walk to a local open field area to check for raptors and geese. This area is being developed for a small ride-in or walk-in State Park and will allow for great birding opportunities in the future. Some species found along this section of the trail have included Northern Pygmy-Owl, Wood Ducks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Pileated Woodpeckers, and the usual variety of migrants in spring. Trail Conditions: Expect flat walking of over a mile out and back. Gravel and some debris. Bring: Dress for the weather and bring binoculars, spotting scopes and guides if needed. Please contact [email protected] to sign up and for more information.   Photo credit: Western Tanager near Ceres Hill, by Rachel Hudson.

Willapa Hills Trail – Ceres, 412 Ceres Hill Rd, Chehalis, 98532, United States