Birding Day: Hood to the Hook FULL

Name: Birding Day: Hood to the Hook *FULL*
Start: 2024-05-31T08:00:00-07:00
End: 2024-05-31T16:00:00-07:00

Hood River County may be small, but boasts the broadest range of elevation of any in the state. On this full day, self-driving trip, we’ll traverse Highway 35, starting above 4,000 feet in search of MacGillivray’s Warblers, Olive-sided Flycatchers, and Canada Jays. We’ll slowly descend in elevation, checking for Harlequin Ducks and American Dippers along the Hood River, before exploring the Columbia River hotspots in the Hood River area looking for Caspian Terns, Spotted Sandpipers, and late migrant waterfowl.

Bring a lunch, and come dressed for a variety of weather. Carpooling is encouraged. Exact route and hotspots may be impacted by remaining snowpack. This trip requires a PNW Forest Pass.

A Caspian Tern stands on the beach with its beak wide open. — Caspian Tern, photo by Mick Thompson

Explore the rich and varied habitats of Hood River County, from the high subalpine forest to the Columbia River, in search of warblers, woodpeckers, and water birds.

Accessibility

Distance: Several hikes of up to one to two miles. Not recommended for people with mobility challenges.
Elevation changes: Up to a few hundred feet per hike, depending on exact route. Participants should expect some amount of active hiking.
Trail: Expect a variety of substrates including single track trails with rocks and exposed roots, and open sand.
Pacing: Generally slow, but we may try to hike at a moderate pace in some forested sections if we need to reach certain areas.
Rest Stops: Several throughout the day.
Sun Exposure: Partial in the morning, complete in the afternoon. Ample sun protection recommended.
Amenities (bathrooms and parking): We will aim for a bathroom break every two hours, but formal facilities are limited. PNW Forest Passes required.
Public transit: None.

Trip Details

Leader: Brodie Cass Talbott
Fee: $65 members / $85 non-members
Limited to 10 participants

Trip Leader

Brodie Cass Talbott

Brodie works as an educator with Bird Alliance of Oregon. After many years of wildland firefighting and leading river tours, he spent six years living and teaching across Asia, where his interest in birds became his passion. He has birded across five continents, and uses his experience in education and ecotourism to share his love of the outdoors with people from all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, with an eye towards increasing access to wild spaces for people from diverse communities.

Email Brodie

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