Bird Walks:
First-of-Month Bird Walks
Bird Walks are meant to be a casual, local morning of birding. They are a great time to enjoy birds with others and find new areas to visit. You can work on bird identification by sight and sound. It’s also an opportunity to practice your eBird app with help when needed. These walks are easy to join or leave at any time during the morning. You don’t have to commit to the entire walk if you have limited time. All are welcome!
First-of-Month Bird Walk–Vancouver Lake Regional Park
Date: Sunday, February 1st
Meeting time: 7:30-8:00am
Leader: Cindy McCormack
Register: Cindy at vas@vancouveraudubon.org
Meeting Location: Vancouver Lake flushing channel’s east end (park at the roadside lot)
We have a flexible starting time, since we hope to begin the morning with scanning and scoping the lake from the flushing channel for some fun waterbirds. As everyone gathers, we can start walking the Vancouver Lowlands’ trail into Vancouver Lake Regional Park, where we should be able to find many of our wintering passerines. This park often provides close views of many of the small birds that form winter feeding flocks.
Park in the roadside gravel parking area or in the small parking lot on the north side of the rowing club’s boathouse. Just wander down the short trail on the south side of the mouth of the channel to find the group.
This winter walk will be weather-dependent! Please contact me if you plan to join the walk and watch your email or check the website if extreme weather is expected on that day.
Most of the trail will be paved or graveled path, but the short trail to the viewing point at the flushing channel is a dirt trail along a mild grassy slope. If you think you may want to step off the trail in any location, plan on footwear for wet vegetation.
(add this event to your calendar)
Additional Bird Walks
No additional walks are currently scheduled, but could be posted here soon. Check back at your convenience.
Field Trips:
Field trip to Cowlitz County Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Leader: Randy Hill (Reserve with Randy at randy.hill.98642@gmail.com; phone/text 360-975-2573)
Meeting Location: Salmon Creek Park & Ride to carpool
Meeting Time: Departure time 07:30 am. A second
meeting point further north (Ridgefield P&R) can be arranged for those living north of Salmon Creek or if needing to
return early.
Expected return time around 2 pm.
We will drive Willow Grove Rd. for waterfowl, raptors, gulls, songbirds and whatever. This will be mostly driving and stopping along the perimeter road, walking short distances at the boat ramp and park area along the Columbia River, Barlow Point Road, and the old WTP on the north side of SR-4 off Coal Creek Road.
Bring a spotting scope, radios if you have them, and lunch. Limit 8 plus leader in 3-4 vehicles.
(add this event to your calendar)
Field trip to Larch Mountain/Yacolt Burn State Forest, Friday, February 20, 2026
Leader: Randy Hill (Reserve with Randy at randy.hill.98642@gmail.com; phone/text 360-975-2573)
Meeting Location: Hockinson Fire Station
Meeting Time: Departure time 07:15 am.
Expected return time around noon.
We will look for winter finches, higher elevation species, grouse, etc. Depending on snow and access, we will drive the L-1500/L-1510 roads to migration corner (where the L-1520 road splits off). If snow is an issue, we will drive the L-1000 road north toward Rock Creek and Yacolt for American Dipper, etc.
Bring a spotting scope and radios if you have them.
Limit 10 plus leader in 5 vehicles.
(add this event to your calendar)
Please review the current VAS Guidelines and Waiver before registering for a trip.
Safety is a primary concern for Vancouver Audubon, and we ask anyone who is feeling unwell or who has had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19* or other contagious health issues to stay at home until the risk for infection has passed. However, no public activity can be 100 percent safe. By participating, you accept the risk that you may come into contact with pathogens, including the COVID-19 virus.
For all field trips or other outdoor activities, Vancouver Audubon
requires:
Participants wishing to carpool must be fully vaccinated*.
Participants must be fully vaccinated to view through the leader’s or other participant’s spotting scope.
Field trip leaders have the option of requiring all participants be fully vaccinated for their trips.
*Symptoms include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
**Vancouver Audubon defines “fully vaccinated” as two full weeks beyond your final COVID-19 vaccine. Each year a new variant vaccine is available and is highly encouraged.
Field trip registration and cancellations:
All field trips, unless otherwise indicated, require pre-registration. This simply involves contacting the leader or person indicated on the announcements, and supplying email address and cellphone #. Vancouver Audubon expects all registrants to attend, so please contact the leader with any cancellations. Some trips may have a wait list, so please be considerate and contact the leader as soon as possible if you have to miss the trip for any reason.
Carpooling:
Vancouver Audubon wants to be sure we conserve as much as possible (including using fuel efficient vehicles), so any field trip that includes some driving will be a carpooling trip unless otherwise indicated. Carpooling is generally arranged at the designated meeting location, but can be arranged in advance for multiple pick-up locations.
Please remember to pay your driver! The recommended amount is $0.30/mile divided by the number of passengers in the vehicle.
Leaders should keep track of mileage and let participants know the total for the field trip.
Vancouver Audubon 