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, find new areas to visit, and/or work on bird identification by sight and sound or to practice your eBird app with help when needed. These walks are usually easy to join or depart at any time during the morning, no commitment to participate in the entire walk if you have limited time. All are welcome!
May Bird Walk: Round Lake
Date: May 1st, 2024
Meeting time: 7:00a.m.
Leader: Cindy McCormack
Register: Cindy at vas@vancouveraudubon.org
Meeting Location: Round Lake (Lacamas Park) parking lot
It’s prime migration time! The Round Lake trail provides birding through a variety of habitats, including city park, open water, evergreen forest, wildflower meadow, and oak woodland. On the Round Lake trail, we’ll enjoy the wonderful spring bird songs, look for spring arrivals, and some wildflowers. Light boots are recommended, as some of the trails can be a bit rocky.
Other Bird Walks
Vancouver Audubon Bird Walk-Salmon Creek Greenway (west end)
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 7:30-10:30am
Leaders: Ken Pitts, Beth Marlin Lichter, Stella Walk
Register: Email kenp@vancouveraudubon.org
Meeting Location: Salmon Creek Greenway Trail (45.721883, -122.707630)
This date and location are prime for seeing a maximum number of bird species! The walk is about a 3 mile out and back hike at a 1 A classification for speed and slope (relatively slow and flat terrain.) It is geared for beginning to intermediate level birders.
Binoculars and spotting scopes are available for participants to use during the walk. Please indicate in your registration email if you need binoculars or would like a scope to use. If you include your smartphone #, then you can be contacted quickly if there are any changes of plans. When you register, I will send you a verification and my number. We hope to see you there!
Vancouver Audubon Bird Walk –Steigerwald NWR
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2024
Time: 7:00 – 11:00 AM
Leaders: Ken Pitts and Stella Walk
Register by emailing kenp@vancouveraudubon.org
Meeting location: Steigerwald Lake NWR parking lot
We will gather at parking lot for Steigerwald Lake NWR off SR 14 east of Washougal (45.571534, -122.320238).
Target birds on this walk will include Lazuli Buntings and Yellow-breasted Chats who will have just arrived. The Mountain View Trail offers vistas over flooded areas being refreshed by The Columbia River with abundant waterfowl, raptors, and waders. A combined list will likely yield 70 plus species. The walk is about a 5 mile out and back hike at a 1 A classification for speed and slope (relatively slow and flat terrain.) It is geared for beginning to intermediate level birders, and all levels are welcome to join. Binoculars and spotting scopes are available for participants to use during the walk.
Please include your smartphone number in your registration email in case plans change. I’ll include my number in my verification email. We will plan on walking from the parking lot, to the Seasonal Trail, make the loop, and will walk the 1.5 miles back to the parking lot. Bring plenty of water, calories, a hat, and sunscreen. I hope to see you there!
Ridgefield NWR–Carty Trail bird walks (8am start; registration required):
- 5/4/2024 with Ron Escano (WAITLIST FULL)
- 5/11/2025 with Robert Vanderkamp
Find more information and register here.
Field Trips
Please review the current VAS Guidelines and Waiver before registering for a trip.
Pierce and Thurston Counties including Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Thursday, April 18th, 2024
Meeting Location: Salmon Creek Park and Ride
Departure time: 5:50am
Register/questions: Randy Hill at re_hill@q.com or call/text 360-975-2573.
We will head north to southern Pierce County (and hopefully beat the Olympia traffic) to join the Eagles Pride Golf Course monthly bird walk at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) starting at 08:00 for about 3 hours through mixed forest and openings. Sometime before noon we will head to Nisqually NWR and walk trails through forest and wetlands that can extend out to the boardwalk and reach the edges of southern Puget Sound. Trip will likely go to at least mid-afternoon before a return home, so bring a lunch. Spotting scopes encouraged for Nisqually; radios not needed. Limit of 4 cars, 10 total participants.
Earth Day in Columbia River Gorge
Monday, April 22nd, 2024
Meeting Location: Port of Camas-Washougal (near boat launch)
Departure time: 6:15am
Register/questions: Cindy McCormack vas@vancouveraudubon.org
Spring birding in the gorge! We will be looking for several early migrants, late wintering birds, and resident species on this trip. The area is a unique transition between the east, west, and mountains, making for some interesting birding! Weather will dictate our exact birding destination, but the tentative plan will be to hike around the day use area of Beacon Rock State Park, with other possible stops at St. Cloud Recreational Area and Skamania Landing. A check of some of the areas of Strawberry Island could also be included, depending on time, weather, and activity.
Plan on a full day trip, returning mid-afternoon. Dress for the weather, wear layers and comfortable hiking shoes. Bring lunch/snacks and plenty of water.
We will meet at the Port of Camas-Washougal parking (between the port building and Westlie Ford dealership, just east of the boat launch prep area). We will arrange carpools here and go over the day’s plan before heading east into the gorge at 6:15am.
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. Vancouver Audubon follows COVID-19 safety protocol recommendations as defined by the CDC, all restrictions in effect for Washington state, and any further restrictions that may be in effect for the region of the state (or other state) we may be visiting.
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.
COVID Spotting Scope Policy
Leader or participants that bring a spotting scope and are willing to share viewing through their scopes should follow these guidelines:
Only allow fully vaccinated* individuals to use the scope.
Owner should be the only one setting up the scope and getting it set and focused on the desired view.
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 