Field Trip: Birding by Kayak Along the Columbia Water Trail with Brodie Cass Talbott *FULL*
This beginner-friendly route, complete with an easy dry launch, is a great way to start birding by kayak. We’ll paddle on calm backwaters adjacent to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge which feature low current and low river traffic, allowing us to watch for otter, muskrat and deer, as well as listen for songbirds. A variety of swallows and Purple Martins will entertain us overhead, as newly arrived songbirds sing from the trees. We’ll also check in on Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk nests, and visit a Great Blue Heron rookery. We’ll travel up to 5 miles out and back, conditions permitting.
Parking: If you can park against the chain link fence, outside of marina parking, you should. There is no fee to park along the fence. Please do not park in McCuddy’s private marina parking. If you are having trouble finding a space, please check with us inside the shop and we can direct you to overflow parking. OR you can simply pay the parking fee to use the paved lot. The pay machine is by the restrooms. We will return to the same location we launched from in Ridgefield, WA.
What to bring:
- Sunglasses with retention device (i.e. Croakies, Chums, etc)
- Synthetic top and bottom layers (thermal underwear, heavier wt. for cooler weather). Please avoid cotton!
- Hiking style wool or synthetic socks
- Water bottle and small snack (snack bar, etc)
- Towel and change of clothes for ride home
- Rain Jacket
Optional gear:
- Water proof camera
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- River shoes or booties
- A small gratuity for your Ridgefield Kayak Rentals guide
- Binoculars (a note on binocular use while kayaking: Binoculars can make wildlife viewing much more enjoyable, but will not be a mandatory item for this trip. Using binoculars takes away your peripheral vision, which makes balancing slightly more difficult. For beginners or those with balance issues, be mindful of this effect. Smaller binoculars may be easier to manage. And remember: Binoculars don’t float!)
Limited to 11 participants.
Masks are optional on this outdoor program.
