Paul Hicks’ Annual Quest for 70+ Birds

South County birding sites 475 West Sussex Avenue, Tenino, WA, United States

If you enjoy bird-binging in the spring as much as I do, why not join me on Saturday, May 13? (I know there are several great BHAS field trip options going on this prime birding date.) We’ll visit a variety of habitats and locations in South County in a quest to find 70+ species. Expect ... Read more

Prairie Appreciation Day: Birding Glacial Heritage Preserve

Glacial Heritage Preserve 15044 Miima Rd SW, Olympia, WA, United States

Normally closed, once a year the Glacial Heritage Preserve opens its restored South Sound prairies, streams, and oak woodlands to the public. The timing is grand: camas is in bloom; the hills' slopes are blue. Other rare prairie wildflowers are also in bloom, and prairie birds are busy. The day will start with an early ... Read more

Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day: Birding at Tumwater Historical Park

Tumwater Historical Park 802 Deschutes Way S.W., Tumwater, WA, United States

Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on this morning field trip to Tumwater Historical Park, where proximity to water and verges between open space and copses encourage plenty of bird activity. Expect to see the usual (yet always charming) native species, waterfowl, and perhaps more exciting this time of year, migrating species such as warblers. Paths ... Read more

Meadowlark Nature Festival – British Columbia

Meadowlark Nature Festival - Shatford Center 760 Main Street, Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

The Meadowlark Nature Festival has evolved into one of Canada’s premier outdoor nature celebrations offering over 90 environmental tours and events held under the open sky, which take people from Canada’s unique desert to the alpine meadows high above the Okanagan Lake. People from across North America and as far away as Europe now come ... Read more

Leavenworth Spring Birdfest

Leavenworth Leavenworth, WA, United States

The Leavenworth area features spectacular habitats ranging from snow-capped mountains to sunny ponderosa pine forests, lush riparian zones to shrub-steppe. All field trips during this festival are led by experts and professionals in their field. Learn about the wide variety of migratory birds that come to the Leavenworth area for the breeding season. Photographer Clay ... Read more

Ladd Marsh Bird Festival – LaGrande, Oregon

Ladd Marsh, Oregon La Grande, OR, United States

The festival opens Friday night with music (original songs about birds and birding) by the Odd Strings followed by a presentation by Mark Obmascik, author of “The Big Year” and “Halfway to Heaven.” Beginning Saturday morning and through weekend, the wildlife area is open to birding and exploration. From 6:00 am to noon on Saturday, ... Read more

Birding Morse Preserve with Joe Zabransky

Morse Wildlife Preserve Graham, WA, United States

Organized with the assistance of the Tahoma Audubon and resident caretaker, BHAS is returning this year to the Morse Preserve. The Morse Wildlife Preserve (Graham, WA) was established by a donation of land from Lloyd and Maxine Morse in 1995. It is situated at the headwaters of the north fork of Muck Creek and consists ... Read more

Birding Klamath Basin with Hank and Helen Henry

Klamath Falls Klamath Falls, OR, United States

This is an overnight trip during Memorial Day weekend to one of the Northwest's birding hotspots - the Klamath Falls, Oregon area, including Upper Klamath Lake environs and Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge on the Oregon/California state line. The trip is open to birders of all skill levels who would enjoy seeing waterfowl and woodland birds. ... Read more

WENAS Campout

Wenas Creek Campground See website for directions, WA, United States

Every Memorial Day weekend, members of Washington's Audubon chapters and their families and friends gather at the primitive, yet free!, Wenas Creek Campground in the Wenas Valley, on the east side of the Cascades between Ellensburg and Yakima, to enjoy the natural surroundings, abundant bird life, and each other's company. There are campfire programs every ... Read more

Birding Nisqually Land Trust’s Powell Creek Preserve with Joe Zabransky and Kim Adelson

Powell Creek Preserve 22417 Hobson Road S.E., Yelm, WA, United States

This property is adjacent to the Nisqually River and is part of Nisqually Land Trust's Powell Creek Complex, a 460-acre block, which includes mature forest as well as riparian area. The site is home to abundant wildlife, including cougar, elk, and diverse waterfowl. We will be mostly out on replanted pastures, which are still quite ... Read more

Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival – Sisters, Oregon

Sisters, Oregon Sisters, OR, United States

Organized by the East Cascades Audubon Society, the Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival sees 11 species of woodpeckers and over 200 species of birds in total every year. Led by experienced birders, the festival is timed to see young woodpeckers leaving their nests. For full information and details, go to www.ecaudubon.org. As long as you are ... Read more

Birding by Ear Class

Grace Community Covenant Church 5501 Wiggins Rd. SE, Olympia, WA, United States

Birding by Ear – An Introduction Instructor: Paul Hicks Please join us for our Birding by Ear Class on Friday, June 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This will be a lecture/discussion, followed-up with an early morning field trip—a choice between the 3rd or 10th (or possibly 20th) of June. Our instructor is long-time birder ... Read more

Black Hills Audubon Society Annual Picnic

Priest Point Park 2600 East Bay Drive Northeast, Olympia, WA, United States

Join us Thursday June 8, 2017 at Priest Point Park for the BHAS annual picnic.  Go to Picnic Site 4 on the water side of the park next to the playground and big field.  Enjoy a bird walk at 5 p.m. followed at 6 p.m. by dinner and a program, Increasing Diversity in Conservation Work. ... Read more

Woodard Bay for Beginning and Intermediate Birders

Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area 7000 Whitham Rd Ne, Olympia, WA, United States

This walk is designed primarily for beginning and intermediate birders. We will look and listen for woodland birds such as Swainson’s Thrushes, Pacific Wrens, Brown Creepers, Wilson Warblers, and Pileated Woodpeckers as we walk through the deep forest of cedars and Douglas fir and reach Henderson Inlet where we may see Cormorants, Purple Martins, and ... Read more

McLane Creek

McLane Creek Nature Trail 5043 Delphi Road Southwest, Olympia, WA, United States

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

Birding Mima Mounds and Scatter Creek

Mima Mounds and Scatter Creek Preserves South Thurston County, WA, United States

This field trip has a little bit of everything: birds, botany, butterflies, as well as two knowledgeable and energetic leaders. Explore the birds and plants at two choice South Sound prairie sites near Olympia: Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve and Scatter Creek Wildlife Area. At both sites we should see prairie flowers, prairie birds, and ... Read more

Birding and Breakfast – Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge/Deb Nickerson

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA, United States

Meet Deb Nickerson at 7:30 at the Visitor Center Overlook.  Breakfast afterward at a location to be determined. Want to get a head start on your weekend? Join us for Birding and Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, except July and August.  Bird with us, then enjoy breakfast at a local ... Read more

Monroe Swift Night Out

Frank Wagner Elementary School 115 Dickinson Road, Monroe, WA, United States

For this year's details, visit the Monroe Swifts website. Eastside Audubon and other local organizations invite you to Swift Night Out, their annual festival held on a Saturday evening in September to celebrate the peak of the Vaux's migration in Monroe. Each September thousands of migrating Vaux's Swifts pause to roost in the old brick ... Read more

Birds of Costa Rica/Sam Merrill

Temple Beth Hatfiloh 201 8th Avenue SE, Olympia, WA, United States

Costa Rica, with an area less than that of West Virginia, has approximately the same number of bird species as the United States.  With forests that range from dry to very wet and elevations from sea level on both the Pacific and the Atlantic to a central spine that rises to over 12,000 feet, and ... Read more

Puget Sound Bird Fest

Frances Anderson Center 700 Main Street, Edmonds, WA, United States

Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds, Washington is an annual fall celebration of birds and nature found on the beautiful shores of Puget Sound. The three-day event includes speakers, guided walks, land and water-based field trips, exhibits, and educational activities for children and adults. Plan to spend the weekend in Edmonds, birding and meeting other ... Read more