Downtown Vancouver, WA is located on the north side of the Columbia River (across the I-5 bridge from Portland, OR). It is generally a dense urban area but has several areas with excellent birding during certain times of year. If you need to be downtown for business, there are several areas to visit within walking distance or a quick car trip. Several of the locations or just the Waterfront Renaissance trail can be worth a special trip, even if you aren’t downtown for another reason. The 4+ mile walking trail can take you from Esther Short Park, through the popular new Vancouver Waterfront development, along the river east to Marine Park, Water Resource Center and Wintler Park. A detour to the north just east of the I-5 bridge will take you over the pedestrian Land Bridge (over SR-14) to Fort Vancouver.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
While much of the Fort property is very manicured, it does have areas of large, mature trees, including oaks, Douglas-fir, sequoia, maple, cottonwood, pine, and sycamore. This large patch of green in the middle of an urban area can be a great place to find migrants and vagrants, so migration and winter tend to be the times this park shines! Shrub hedges and tree groves can harbor warblers, vireos, Lazuli Bunting, grosbeaks, tanagers, and flycatchers. Check the oaks for visiting or wintering Acorn Woodpeckers. The migration along the tree-line northwest of the land bridge can be spectacular with a steady stream of Western Tanager or Steller’s Jay when visited during their peak migration times.
Directions:
From I-5: take the Mill Plain exit, take Mill Plain east, then south on Ft. Vancouver Way. There are multiple areas to park, the main public parking lots are located off Evergreen (east of Ft. Vancouver Way) and at 5th and Ft. Vancouver Way.
Walking: access from downtown Vancouver via Evergreen Blvd or from the Waterfront Renaissance Trail by crossing north over the pedestrian bridge (just east of the I-5 bridge).
eBird hotspots: Fort Vancouver NHS
Best seasons/times to visit: The park is an excellent location to check during migration (both spring and fall) and during winter. It is also one of the most reliable locations for Acorn Woodpecker in the county during fall/winter.
Accessibility type(s): Areas of paved trail and sidewalks, some side trails of dirt tracks and/or gravel. Restrooms are available in the main visitor’s center, Pearson Museum, and at the reconstructed HBC trade fort when open.
Vancouver Audubon 