Pacific Northwest Trip: Woodpeckers of Wasco with Brodie Cass Talbott & Erin Law *FULL*
We’ll meet at the Sunset Transit Center at 7 a. m. before heading to 8-mile crossing, the site of an old burn where Williamson’s Sapsucker can be found, and seven other woodpecker species are possible. A rigorous hike will take us through changing habitat. After lunch in the field, we’ll spend the rest of the day exploring the eastside montane forest, searching for Red-naped Sapsucker and trying for Black-backed, one of the more difficult species to find. We’ll end the day and overnight in Dufur at the historic Balch Hotel.
On Sunday we’ll start early, heading to the Lewis’s Woodpecker capital of the world, Tygh Valley. We’ll check in on a small colony of Acorn Woodpeckers before heading into Ponderosa forests searching for White-headed Woodpecker, and then back up into the higher elevation forests again to try for American Three-toed Woodpecker, knowing that these last two will require quite a bit of luck. We will return to Sunset Transit Center by 6 pm. Please be sure to read the notes below on travel, lodging, and accessibility:
Travel and lodging: We will be traveling together as a group by van, with the requirement that all participants and leaders will be fully vaccinated. Vans will be limited to 8 people per van including drivers, and masks will be required.
We will be staying at the Balch Hotel in Dufur. This historic, family-owned hotel is well-known for its historic nature and tasteful upkeep but also retains some of the features of hotels from earlier eras. First, there are no elevators, and all rooms will be located on the second and third floors. Preference for second-floor rooms will be given by need, and help will be provided with bags. Second, all rooms have shared bathrooms, with an average of three rooms sharing each bathroom.
Accessibility: This trip will feature several moderately challenging hikes on narrow forest trails, with some trails having moderate to steep inclines, and most trails featuring uneven terrain, and loose gravel and dirt. Participants will be able to opt out of hikes if they choose, but with such a short trip, they may want to consider if this trip is right for them based on activity level. Participants should also be mindful that our evening accommodations do not have elevators, and participants will be required to use the stairs to access their rooms.
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- Classes and Field Trip Cancellation Policy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- COVID-safe Spotting Scope Policy
- Adult Education Mandatory COVID Guidelines
This outdoor program will follow all physical distancing and safety protocols dictated by the Oregon Health Administration.