2013 Teams and Trips

Birdathon 2013 Teams and Trips

Here you go! Below is a list of Half Day, Full Day, or Gonzo Trips (2 + days). Registration begins on March 15th. Find a trip that fits your schedule and have fun while helping support the Audubon Society of Portland!
Click on the team name to find out more information.

Half Day Trips:

Wednesday, April 24, 7:00 am to 9:00 am
Spend the morning with Mt Tabor’s renowned birdsong expert at one of the best spots in Portland to find all the western warblers, flycatchers, vireos, and most other songbirds. All skill levels are welcome. You’ll hear simple calls and trills and learn how to differentiate the complex songs of tanagers, grosbeaks and robins.

THIS TRIP IS FULL!
Sunday, May 5, 8:00 am – NoonPopular “Beginning Birding and Birding by Ear” instructor, Laura Whittemore, and Birdathon Coordinator, Mark Fitzsimons, will be your guides at the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Washougal, WA. Northern Harrier, American Bittern, Pileated Woodpecker, House Wren, Common Yellowthroat, and Osprey are just a few of the 50-plus species we have seen or heard on past Birdathons at Steigerwald.

Clackamas County anyone? An opportunity to enjoy the birds and to discuss ID and basic information about the species encountered.  Check out some of the best small wetlands for Cinnamon Teal, Great Egret, and shorebirds such as the Solitary Sandpiper.  Wander through oak woodlands to look for migrating Warblers, Hutton’s Vireo, Flycatchers, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Acorn Woodpecker.  We will wind our way up to the foothills of the cascades to search for Bluebirds, Townsend ’s solitaire, and, since this is around the time of migration, let’s hope to encounter something unexpected!

The perfect Saturday morning birding experience! Give your legs a rest and your eyes a treat on a leisurely morning at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Bring your lawn chair, binoculars and snacks, sit back, and relax as the birds come to you in this beautiful botanical sanctuary. You'll learn to identify the 35 - 50 species that frequent this idyllic setting.

Join our bevy of bicycling birders for a family-friendly excursion. This 2-3-hour trip focuses on the fun of sleuthing-out birds in our urban environment, all by bike! We'll ride through birdy and bicycle-friendly SE Portland neighborhoods to a bird-friendly park for picnic and birdo activities. So, pack your binoculars, diaper bags, and bike helmets for this group ride that's going to the birds!

Full Day Trips:

Soggy Bottom Birders: Ian Abraham and Tim Donner
Saturday, May 4, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Join Portland Audubon Education staffers Ian Abraham and Tim Donner for an exclusive birding tour of wetlands of the Greater Columbia River Basin at spots such as Smith and Bybee, Ridgefield NWR and Stiegerwald. This team will car pool from its starting point at Smith and Bybee. This trip is ideal for birders of all skill levels and ages who appreciate birding in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Bird Photography: The Wandering Wildlife Photographers with Scott Carpenter
May 18 (weather permitting), 6:00 am - ~8:00 pm
An exciting new full-day trip led by avid birder and professional bird photographer Scott Carpenter. Join Scott for a day of bird photography and instruction in the field with a focus on obtaining good photographs of as many species of birds as possible. The day will be spent within a 30 mile radius of Portland, potentially at one location, or at several, depending on scouting and the desires of the group.


Magpies: Denny Graham & Dwight Sangrey  Two different trips - join one or both!
Slower paced, informative trips with expert leaders, Denny Graham & Dwight Sangrey

Wednesday, May 15, 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
Spend the early morning at Mt. Tabor focusing on songbirds, and then proceed to Ridgefield NWR for the rest of the day.
Thursday, May 16, 7:00 am – 4:30 pm
Early morning looking for songbirds at Tualatin Hills Nature Park then proceed to Cooper Mountain to include a wide variety of habitat for the day.

Joy of Birding: Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen
Saturday, May 4, 6:30 am –  9:30 pm
A sunrise to sunset adventure, beginning at Mt. Tabor, on to Sauvie Island, Forest Grove, Killin Wetlands, and out to the Tillamook area, returning in the evening. It's a fantastic trip for both beginners and experienced birders, we are expecting to see about 110 species.

Mult Madness: Wink Gross & Andy Frank
Saturday, May 4, 6:00 am - 7:00 pm
A tour of great birding hotspots all right here in Multnomah County: Vanport Wetlands, Mt Tabor, Larch Mountain, Eagle Creek, Troutdale and Sauvie Island for pygmy-owl, grouse, dipper, goldeneye, Harlequin Ducks, Wrentit are among the 95 to 110 species we’ll see. 

The Bus Passerines: Steve Engel
Saturday, May 4, 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Passerines are those perching birds commonly known as songbirds. Bus Passerines are those Bird-a-thoners who get around by Public Transportation!  Join Steve Engel, Audubon's Adult Education Programs Manager on an all-day tromp by MAX, bus and street car to prime birding sites in the greater Portland area: Mt. Tabor, Van Port Wetlands, Tualatin River NWR, Oaks Bottom. All levels of birding experience are welcome.

Raven Maniacs: Steve Robertson & Steve Engel
Friday, May 10, 6:30 am – 6:30 pm
Looking for a weekday trip? Join Steve Robertson & Steve Engel of our Education Department for a complete day of birding the city to the sea, visiting at least a dozen birding hot spots and/or IBA's as we bird our way from Portland to Tillamook and back, in search of shorebirds, gulls, puffins and more, and visit a few more stops on the return, hoping to get at least 100 species for the day.

Red-breasted Wine Suckers: Deanna Sawtelle & Candy Plant
Saturday, May 11th, 8:00 am - 7:30 pm
(open to Wildlife Care Center Volunteers only)
Join us for this year's Birdathon as we head out for a full day of fun and birding.  We’ll start the day with some backyard bird watching and a light breakfast, then head for the coast.  We’ll search for of raptors, shorebirds, Harlequin Ducks, Puffins & more!  As usual, our trip will include a little wine tasting (we have designated drivers).

NEW TRIP! Metro Merlins: Tim Shelmerdine
Sunday, May 12th, 7:30 am - 1:30 pm
Experience the excitement of spring migration at Portland hot spots with seasoned birder Tim Shelmerdine.  All are welcome, from first-timers to experienced listers. Walk Mt Tabor's trails, visit Vanport, and head out Marine Drive for warblers, flycatchers, and waterfowl.


The Gorgets: Skip Russell and Darlene Betat
THIS TRIP IS FULL!
Sunday, May 26
This duo has birded from Attu to Australia and has led trips for Portland Audubon and other organizations, including numerous gonzo Birdathons. Bird hot spots from Portland to the Columbia Gorge with flashy targets like Lazuli Bunting, Lewis’ Woodpecker, Bullock’s Oriole and much more! 

The Murre the Merrier: Sarah Swanson & Max Smith
THIS TRIP IS FULL!
Saturday, May 11, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
The team begins by birding Dawson Creek Corporate Park, then heads west and visits the wetlands, beaches and bays of the North Coast. Sarah and Max will introduce participants to their favorite birding hotspots and help everyone see as many species as possible. Birders of all abilities welcome!

NEW TRIP! The Paddy Wagon: Patty Newland
Saturday, May 11, 6:00 am - 7:00 pm
WANTED: Every living bird from Portland to Tillamook – Pittock Mansion, Jackson Bottoms, Killan Wetlands, and the coast. We will comb the area to round up the usual suspects and target "kingpin" species--bittern, acorn woodpecker, and oystercatcher. If there is a bird out there, we'll get it!

Gonzo Trips: 2+ days

Feathers of Color: Tony DeFalco, Gladys Ruiz & Koto Kishida
Saturday, May 4 – Sunday, May 5
This two-day, laid back tour of Oregon coast birding spots is specifically for birders of color and their friends and family! See puffins, harlequin ducks and other coastal birds and have a lot of fun with a great group. Any level of birding expertise welcome. 

The Roadrunners: Barb Grover and Micah Meskel
Saturday, May 18 - Sunday, May 19
Splendid Cycles and the Audubon Society of Portland bring you this unique, human-powered, carbon neutral birding experience, in its 10th year – a 25 mile “birding-by-bike” ride! Stops include Smith and Bybee Lakes, the St. Johns Landfill (meadowlarks!) and Kelley Point Park. Participate for the day or continue over the St. Johns Bridge and out to Sauvie Island where we will enjoy a salmon dinner, bonfire, and a night beneath the stars. Spend the morning birding around Sauvie Island, and then continue birding all the way back home on two wheels! A minimum of $75 in pledges is required. Limited to 20 participants.

The Wild Turkeys: Mike Houck, Ron Carley and other notorious birders
Friday, May 17 - Sunday, May 19
The ultimate gonzo Birdathon experience. Ron and Mike have been leading the Wild Turkeys for the last 20 years and have refined the art of "Gonzo Birding" - birding from Coast to Desert, Mountains to Valleys. Transportation and lodging are provided.  A minimum of $700 in pledges is required to participate on this team.       

Cream of the Crop: Gary Slone
Saturday, May 18 - Sunday, May 19
Join Gary Slone for this special 1 1/2 day bird-quest through the Willamette valley and out to the coast. The trip includes an overnight of rest and revelry in the town of Neskowin, visiting at least 10 great birding locations and seeing 100+ species!  Breakfast and lodging provided. A minimum of $600 in pledges is requested.

Lager Head Shrikes: Dan van den Broek & Mark Greenfield
THIS TRIP IS FULL!
Friday, May 24 – Sunday, May 26 (Memorial Day Weekend)
The alumni and volunteers of Audubon’s School of Birding invite you to join them on a three-day, two-night trip to the Klamath Basin in south central Oregon. The team's focus is on quality, not quantity, so the pace will be more relaxed. Expect to see 100-125 species while spending time studying and appreciating each one. A minimum pledge amount of $600 is required.