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April 23 @ 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Audubon Birding Day: Deschutes River State Recreation Area and Celilo State Park

Name: Audubon Birding Day: Deschutes River State Recreation Area and Celilo State Park
Start: 2023-04-23T08:00:00-07:00
End: 2023-04-23T15:00:00-07:00

Join Ross to bird along the Columbia River from the Dalles to the Deschutes River mouth. This area will include stops at Deschutes River State Rec Area, Celilo State Park, nearby cliffs checking for White-throated Swift, and the Dalles Riverfront Park. We hope to encounter spring migrant songbirds and returning breeders in this diverse portion of the Columbia Basin ecological zone featuring canyonland, sagebrush, grassland, and riparian habitats.

Notes on this Audubon Birding Day

*Please remember to bring binoculars and appropriate layered clothing. Remember drinks and snacks/lunch for the duration of the trip!

*Also, it’s recommended to wear tick spray (permethrin) and high boots, given the guaranteed presence of ticks and the possibility of snakes encountered during the hike.

Pacing: Slow
Rest stops: Possibly an occasional bench near the campground.
Sun exposure: Treed and partially shaded by the campground, full sun for most of the hike
Amenities (bathrooms and parking): Vault toilets and potable water at the campground. The small parking lot at the trailhead.

Accessibility

Walking distance: Up to 4 miles.
Elevation changes: Mostly flat along the river; moderate grade at the halfway point, 200-300 feet elevation gain.
Trail: Mostly narrow dirt or small rocky trails; asphalt or paved roads in parking areas and boat ramps.

Yellow Warbler, photo by Scott Carpenter

Join Ross for early spring birding along the lower Deschutes River, its mouth at the Columbia River, and the nearby riverside state park.

Field Trip Details

Date: April 23, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Fee: $85 members / $115 non-members

Trip Leader

Ross Barnes-Rickett

Ross caught the birding bug in the spring of 2011, while living in the Piney Woods of Northeast Texas. Since then, he has lived in Texas' High Plains, conducted breeding bird and environmental impact surveys in the region, as well as birded extensively throughout the Lone Star State and led trips for local Audubon chapters. He and his partner moved to the Portland area in 2016, and he has thoroughly enjoyed getting to experience Oregon's rich diversity of habitats, while becoming intimately familiar with its unique birdlife. Ross has birding experience in the UK, Costa Rica, and Australia, and delights in camping and traveling with family whenever possible. He has a keen interest in birding by ear, encouraging his toddler to identify flyover calls while on local hikes. Ross also has interests in birding equity and inclusion, particularly at the intersection of disability and universal design/access, and looks to promote birding opportunities for all.

Questions? Email us

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