Audubon Birding Days and Pacific Northwest Trips
Join Portland Audubon instructors on affordable full-day, half-day, or multi-day Pacific Northwest Trips and Audubon Birding Days to natural areas within a day’s drive of Portland. Expert guiding and camaraderie provided! Past offerings have included a daylong exploration of Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuges, Hiking and Birding at Catherine Creek, and Spring Migration on Gresham Butte.
New birders are always welcome.
If you have a question regarding an upcoming program or registration issue, please check our FAQs below or email classes@audubonportland.org.
Due to COVID-19, you must provide your own transportation, lodging, meals, spotting scope, etc.
- 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. Masks required. Please feel free to bring your own spotting scope if you have one.
Audubon Birding Day: Ankeny & Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuges
Leader: Brodie Cass Talbott
Join Brodie to experience winter birding in the Willamette Valley, with bountiful waterfowl, stunning raptors, and curious sparrows.
Ankeny & Baskett Slough
- January 20, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. *FULL*
Field Trip: Hopkins Demonstration Forest
Leader: Dan van den Broek
We can expect to find the common inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest coniferous forest such as Varied Thrush and Golden-crowned Kinglet and we just might have a chance at an owl sighting of one of the three species who call this area home.
Hopkins Demonstration Forest
- January 22, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. *FULL*
- Second date added! January 17, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. *1 spot left*
Audubon Birding Day: Finley National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Stefan Schlick
We will bird the different habitats of Finley focusing on winter birds, waterfowl, and rarities; hoping for Northern Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk, Western Bluebird, and Short-eared Owl.
Finley National Wildlife Refuge
- January 23, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. *FULL*
Field Trip: Fernhill for Beginners
Leader: Stefan Schlick
Join Stefan for a loop around Fernhill Wetlands. On this beginner-focused birding day, we will look at everything, but focus is on the basics of the birds that are present. Waterfowl is most abundant, but there also should be some raptors, little birds and maybe shorebirds.
Fernhill for Beginners
- January 24, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. *FULL*
Audubon Birding Day: Tillamook Area Birding
Leader: Dan van den Broek
Explore the estuaries, woodland patches, farm fields, and wetlands of Tillamook for a variety of exciting flocking birds, and some unusual species like Long-tailed Duck and White-tailed Kite.
Tillamook Area Birding
- January 24, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. *FULL*
Audubon Birding Day: Understanding Raptors for Beginners
Leader: Brodie Cass Talbott
In this beginner’s-focused field trip we’ll search for and practice identifying hawks, harriers, eagles and falcons on Sauvie Island.
Understanding Raptors
- January 26, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. *2 spots left*
Audubon Birding Day: Advanced Understanding Raptors
Leader: Brodie Cass Talbott
This more advanced raptor trip will explore the raptor-rich farmlands of Polk county.
Understanding Raptors
- January 29, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. *2 spots left*
Pacific Northwest Trip: Owls by Day in Walla Walla
Leader: Stefan Schlick
Explore the unique habitat along the Columbia river and adjacent to the Blue Mountains on this self-catering winter trip to see owls by day in the Walla Walla area.
Owls by Day in Walla Walla
- February 5 – February 7, 6:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. *1 spot left*
Field Trip: Fernhill Wetlands
Leader: Dan van den Broek
This area of cattail marshes, open lakes, and ponds attract a good variety of dabbling and diving ducks as well as marsh skulkers and shoreline feeders.
Fernhill Wetlands
- February 9, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Audubon Birding Day: Sauvie Island – Wapato and Rentenaar Road
Leader: Stefan Schlick
Winter is the birdiest season at Sauvie Island, with cranes and geese wheeling overhead almost non-stop.
Sauvie Island – Wapato and Rentenaar Road
- February 13, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. *2 spots left*
Audubon Birding Day: Tillamook
Leader: Stefan Schlick
In winter, the agricultural fields in Tillamook serve as a refuge for gulls, sparrows, and raptors. Black Phoebe and White-tailed Kite are among the day’s targets.
Tillamook
- February 21, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Pacific Northwest Trip: Skagit Valley Birding
Leader: Stefan Schlick
Explore and bird shoreline habitat to forested uplands on this self-catering winter trip to the Skagit Valley.
Skagit Valley Birding
- February 26 – February 28, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. *5 spots left*
Audubon Birding Day: Clackamas County Hotspots II
Leader: Dan van den Broek
We will bird from West Linn to Wilsonville and Canby at Publisher’s Pond, Brown’s Ferry, Anderson Road, and Coffee Creek, looking for ducks and woodland and riparian species!
Clackamas County Hotspots: Publisher’s Pond, Brown’s Ferry, Coffee Creek, and Anderson Road
- February 28, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. *FULL*
Audubon Birding Day: Baskett Slough & Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Stefan Schlick
We will search for Horned Lark, waterfowl, and Northern Shrike at Baskett Slough; then we will close the day at Ankeny searching for Short-eared Owl.
Baskett Slough & Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge
- March 20, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. *1 spot left*
Coming soon! Pacific Northwest Trip: Central Oregon
Leader: Dan van den Broek
Explore the birding hotspots of central Oregon where many habitats are accessible within a short drive. Amid this region’s natural wonders up to 11 species of woodpeckers can be found, the third highest woodpecker diversity in the world!
Central Oregon
- May 22 – May 24, 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Coming soon! Pacific Northwest Trip: Rogue Valley – Southern Oregon Birding
Leader: Brodie Cass Talbott
California birds — in Oregon! On this three-day ramble through the beautiful Rogue Valley, we will search for some of Oregon’s hardest to find species, such as Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Oak Titmouse, and California Towhee.
Rogue Valley – Southern Oregon Birding
- May 25 – May 27, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Coming soon! Pacific Northwest Trip: Yakima
Leaders: Dan van den Broek and Brodie Cass Talbott
Yakima provides easy access to a variety of habitats as we search for avian highlights such as Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, Eastern Kingbird, Redhead, and Calliope Hummingbird. As we move through the region, we will also enjoy a lovely assortment of wildflowers, butterflies, and dragonflies.
Yakima
- June 17 – June 20, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
