 THE FERN RIDGE WILDLIFE AREA
EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD
CENTRAL OREGON COAST
CASCADE MOUNTAINS
Whether you head to Florence along the Oregon Coast, Eugene in the Willamette Valley, Oakridge near the Cascade Mountains or the McKenzie River region, you'll be sure to find many of the birds on your checklist while you enjoy the beauty of Oregon's natural habitats.
Pack your binoculars and head to some of these Eugene, Cascades & Coast birding hotspots. Blaze your own trail or follow in the path of birdlovers who have gone before when you view the Willamalane Birding Trail. Please check back here periodically for updates on avian activities in the region.
FERN RIDGE WILDLIFE AREA
Located 10 miles west of the Eugene-Springfield metro area, Fern Ridge Lake and surrounding shallow marshes cover an area of 10,219 acres. The Fern Ridge Wildlife Area is home to more than 250 species of birds that use the area for residence and nesting periods during fall and winter migrations. Species include great blue herons, great egrets, yellow-headed blackbirds, black terns and red-shouldered hawks. Nesting osprey are easily spotted during spring and summer months.
Perkins Peninsula Park: In spring and fall, walk around the park and check the trees and bushes for migrating songbirds. Wilson’s, Black-throated Gray, and Orange-crowned Warblers can be common. White-breasted Nuthatches are usually easy to find with their distinctive "mewing” call. Most summers, the reservoir comes right up to the edge of the peninsula, but in winter, scan the mudflats for wading birds and perched raptors. In fall, look for migrant shorebirds as the waterline recedes by walking the mudflats. Remember to check out the boardwalk on the west side of the park.
Cantrell Road and K.R. Nielson Road: Drive slowly along these gravel roads to search for interesting birds. In winter, look for White-tailed Kites, Red-shouldered Hawks, and the occasional Prairie Falcon or Golden Eagle. Thousands of Canada Geese may be present in the fields along these roads in winter. Scan through these flocks for a possible Snow Goose, Ross’ Goose, White-fronted Goose, or Brant. Other winter birds include shrikes, sparrows, finches, and quail.
In late spring and summer, Vesper Sparrows and Lazuli Buntings breed. Be aware of nesting birds in the marsh. If you are flushing birds from nests, you are too close. Please be respectful of wildlife.
West Side: Several pullouts, parks, and trails are located along the west side of the lake. The west end of Royal Avenue provides good access to the lake. Other birding stops include the Applegate Unit (best in spring), Zumwalt Park, and the Long Tom River. Look for migrant warblers and sparrows in the trees and bushes in the parks. Red-winged blackbirds and Marsh Wrens are common in the reeds on the edge of the reservoir.
CENTRAL OREGON COAST
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Florence is home to a variety of birds that migrate or make their home in the Dunes including, White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, Violet-green Swallows , Downy Woodpeckers, Townsend's, Hermit Warblers and Great Horned Owls.
Just north of Florence at the Sea Lion Caves, among other species you can see the pigeon guillemot, a black and white migratory bird with orangish-red feet which trail in flight, usually appears at Sea Lion Caves in early April when its mating season begins. Brandt's cormorant is the most common cormorant seen in the Sea Lion Caves area.
Cox Island, located two miles east of Florence in the Siuslaw River, is part of the land purchased by the Nature Conservancy to help protect important habitats in Oregon.
EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD
Willow Creek: South of West 18th Avenue in Eugene, this is the richest remnant of native wet prarie in the Southern Willamette Valley.
Royal Avenue: In spring, walk out past the gate and connect to a system of dikes in the Fisher Unit marshes to the south. Yellow-headed Blackbird, Black Tern, Osprey, American Bittern, Yellow-breasted Chat, and many other marsh birds breed. Recent rare breeders here include Black-necked Stilt, Wilson's Phalarope, and several ducks (Ruddy Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal). In winter, look for large sparrow flocks which may include rarities such as American Tree, Harris, and White-throated sparrows.
Waterfowl reach highest densities and greatest variety in winter. White-tailed Kites, Red-shouldered Hawks, and Short-eared Owls may be seen hunting over the marshlands, especially at dusk. A colony of Acorn Woodpeckers is in the oak trees northwest of the junction of Royal Avenue and Fisher Road. Winter closures may be in effect in the Fisher Unit. Kindly respect closures which are sometimes posted seasonally to protect nesting wildlife.
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum: Just southeast of Eugene and Springfield, Mt. Pisgah has been named one of Lane County's "IBAs" (Important Birding Areas.)
CASCADE MOUNTAINS
Salt Creek Falls : Located 60 miles east of the Eugene/Springfield area, just outside Oakridge in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Salt Creek Falls and the surrounding area provides ample bird watching opportunities. Bird species spotted in this area include Black Swifts, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, MacGillivrays’ and Nashville Warblers, and Black-backed and Three-toed woodpeckers.
For a glimpse at some of the birds you might be seeing, check out our birding photo tour!
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