Conservationists, biologists, and many others have worked hard to restore and maintain stretches of the ancient South Sound prairie, and Glacial Heritage Preserve is one epitome of those efforts. I remember helping The Nature Conservancy pull Scotch Broom there when I first moved to Olympia, and to see the preserve's open grasslands now makes me ... Read more
Come celebrate the 24th annual Prairie Appreciation Day at Glacial Heritage Preserve. Learn about and experience one of the rarest plant communities (and its inhabitants) in the South Puget Sound region located right here in Thurston County. The celebration is full of activities for all ages, including wildflower walks, tractor rides, and butterfly and bee ... Read more
Acquired by Capitol Land Trust in 2018 and not open to the public, 60-acre Blooms Preserve includes 2000 feet of Blooms Ditch, which provides essential habitat for Coho and Steelhead Salmon, sea-run Cutthroat Trout, and the threatened Oregon Spotted Frog. Coincidentally, the preserve also provides habitat for diverse birds. Migratory species and courting and nesting ... Read more
THIS TRIP, LIMITED TO 12, IS NOW FULL. (May 6, 2019) This trip is for birders with ambition and stamina. Southern Thurston County has several marvelous birding hotspots, a variety of habitats, which Paul Hicks knows intimately. The trip will visit a variety of locations in South County in a quest to find 70+ species. ... Read more
The McLane Creek Nature Trail consists of an easy 1.4-mile loop trail winding through a variety of habitats. This is a perfect area for birders of all abilities to spot and hear large numbers of our local birds courting, nesting, feeding, and protecting territory. The heart of the area is a large beaver pond which ... Read more
This walk is designed primarily for beginning and intermediate birders. We will look and listen for woodland birds such as Swainson’s Thrushes, Wilson Warblers, Pacific Wrens, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, and Pileated Woodpeckers as we walk through the deep forest of cedars and Douglas fir to reach Henderson Inlet where we may see Cormorants, Purple ... Read more
All of our migrant forest birds should have arrived and will be filling the forest with their songs. We will cover two to three miles of trails in two hours (at a birder’s pace), on a clean dirt path with only a couple of small hills. Bring binoculars and footgear to match the weather. Tennis ... Read more
Located near Millersylvania State Park, West Rocky Prairie is a large, high-quality, native prairie with oak, ash, and fir woodlands managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This trip includes a good variety of open country and forest birds such as Chipping Sparrows, House Wrens, and six warbler species. Dress for the weather ... Read more
Here is a chance to see birding hotspots in Lewis County near Centralia, sites probably unfamiliar to most of us. We'll travel to Goodrich Road, Borst Park, Hillburger Pond, and Alexander Park to find native birds and spring migrants nesting and fledging. If time allows, we'll swing by the airport, Galvin Road, and the coal ... Read more
Black Hills Audubon Society has not ventured into Grays Harbor County in several years. Plan on a full day's outing to scout shorebirds and myriad others in hotspots around the bay and along the Cranberry Highway. We will meet at Mud Bay Park and Ride at 7:00 a.m. Stops may include Hoquiam STP, Ocean Shores, ... Read more
This is a trip in which you can participate for part or all of it. Car pool assistance provided. Each September Vaux’s Swifts return south, stopping to roost, rest and rejuvenate in chimneys or snags along the way. The Chapman School in Portland boasts a tower that hosts thousands of swifts during September. We begin ... Read more
Sandhill Cranes will be our “target” species, along with Great Egrets and herons, geese and other waterfowl. These “big birds” should be plentiful at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and possible other sites in Clark County. Other interesting specialties include Red-Shouldered Hawk, American White Pelican, White-Breasted Nuthatch, and Lesser Goldfinch. Late-migrating shorebirds, warblers and other passerines ... Read more
This destination is a seven-mile driveable loop through farmlands and adjoining woodlots and wetlands in the Chehalis River valley in eastern Grays Harbor County. We'll search for raptors, swans and other waterfowl, plus a variety of other birds. Dress for the weather and bring water, lunch, and a spotting scope if you have one. Meet ... Read more
We will hold our annual field trip planning meeting for 2020 on Monday, December 9, at 6:00 at Bonnie Wood's house. Please come with your post-2019 thoughts, ideas for 2020, and friends who may wish to lead a field trip! Black Hills Audubon's field trips ventured to several new sites in our three-county area, thanks ... Read more
It's easy to speed by on Route 101 and miss the rich waterfowl birding at the Kennedy Creek estuary, at the far end of Totten Inlet. But take the time, especially if you have never before, to enjoy the comfortable DNR viewing site back away from the highway, to watch the flocks of different birds ... Read more
Come explore Mason County with water birds and shorebirds in mind. Mary Hrudkaj, Mason County resident and experienced field trip leader, will share with us some of her favorite birding spots. Winter birds we hope to see include two species of loon, grebe and merganser, Pigeon Guillemot, various ducks, American Dipper plus (fingers crossed) Mountain ... Read more
January and early February are great months to see vast flocks of Snow Geese, huge congregations of Trumpeter Swans, Bald Eagles galore, and many other birds in the Skagit Valley. Whittier Johnson has birded the area for years and will take you to all of the best viewing spots. We recommend that you make your ... Read more
Let's go a little farther afield this month. Point No Point is a Kitsap County park on the northeastern tip of Kitsap Peninsula. It is a well-known birding spot, complete with lighthouse and a species list of 278. Kyle Leader, a native to the area and an amazing young birder, will lead us in exploring ... Read more
The Lady Alderbrook birding cruise on Hood Canal continues to attract Black Hills Audubon Society and Tahoma Audubon Society birders. To Black Hills Audubon members and friends: yes, this is the same day as our annual fund-raising dinner, but the cruise will be for just a couple of hours in the morning. You then can ... Read more
Still Waters Farm is a 48-acre tree farm with a 20-acre peat wetland system, certified sustainable by the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) and the Forest Stewardship Council( FSC). The farm has a 20-acre peat wetland system that has been disturbed at least twice in its history; much work has been done to restore this ... Read more
