Living in Oregon provides ample opportunities to be outside and enjoy all of the spectacular scenery the Pacific Northwest has to offer. But did you know that with its wide range of habitats, Oregon is a hotspot for bird watching?
Bird watching, or birding, is an activity for all ages, abilities and can be done anywhere. All you need is to look around you, wherever you are, and observe. You might choose to heighten your experience with binoculars or spotting scopes, but not everyone has the ability to purchase this type of gear or have the ability to use it.
So, listen closely, do you hear that high pitched chirp? That’s an Anna’s Hummingbird and they live here all year long and can be found just about anywhere there is nectar. You’re a birder now!
Read below for more pro tips for year-round birding in Forest Park.
Pro Tip: If you’re new to using binoculars, remember, look at the bird with your eyes first and then bring your binoculars to your face. Searching for a moving target while looking through your binoculars is really difficult!
Birding has been around for a very long time but has recently found itself into the mainstream as a Covid-19 friendly activity to enjoy outside. But you don’t have to go very far to partake in this communal activity. One of the best places to go birding is right in the heart of the city, Forest Park. With 5,200 acres of coniferous forest, a diverse understory and more creeks than I can count, it is home to over 100 species of birds. With 80 miles of trails, discovering these species can be an exciting new adventure.
Forest Park is open year round so the different species of birds that one could find varies in each season and makes for a unique type of guessing game. In the winter, when things are damp and cold, you might see an influx of hunting raptors such as Cooper’s Hawks and Barred Owls.
Pro Tip: The small but mighty Cooper’s Hawk is more commonly found in forested areas as they are primarily bird hunters and specifically designed to maneuver between trees and branches to catch flying songbirds with an agility that most larger birds of prey do not possess.
Still, as you might be craning your neck looking up trying to spot an owl nestled close to the trunk of a large conifer, don’t forget to look down. The year round Spotted Towhee and visiting migrant Varied Thrush are poking around on the ground, turning over wet leaves, looking for insects.
Pro Tip: Owls don’t tend to move very much. Look for “white wash” (owl poop) on the ground under a large tree and look up! Chances are, there’s an owl there. If not, come back in a day or two to the same location and you might be able to see one.
As what little snow we may get melts and the sun starts to warm our skin again, Spring Migration and courting begins. As you move through Forest Park, you might work on birding by ear as all the song birds start to sing loud as ever in order to attract a partner for spring mating season. The American Robin is an easy and classic song to memorize. But, the trick is to decipher if it is the robin or the visiting Black-headed Grosbeak. The differences are minute and make for a thrilling challenge to deepen your newly acquired birding skills.
Pro Tip: There are a number of resources out there to help you learn how to identify the birds around you. One of my personal favorites is the Merlin Bird ID app available on any smartphone. If you don’t have a smartphone, visit Portland Audubon nestled in Forest Park off of Cornell road and pick out a great identification book!
In fact, Portland Audubon is a great destination during the summer for all things birdy. Head down and into the 172 acre Wildlife Sanctuary and by the pond, you might find Wood Ducks and Mallards floating about. Respect their space and you might even catch a glimpse of some fluffy yellow and brown baby ducklings trailing behind mom. If you listen closely, the sanctuary is home to some Steller’s Jays that love to mimic the sounds of Red-tailed Hawks to thwart predators away from their own babies. Be sure to also listen for the pounding of Oregon’s largest woodpecker, the Pileated Woodpecker. A sight to see, truly.
For accessibility, Forest Park isn’t very ADA accessible, but the trailhead at Lower Macleay has 0.2 miles of paved trail to explore. And if you don’t have a car, don’t worry, there are a couple trailheads you can catch via TriMet. Bus line 16 leaves from downtown and travels up highway 30 to St John’s where you can pick up the Ridge and Lower Saltzman Road Trails and to Sauvie Island and back.
Pro Tip: When first starting out learning birds, it can be daunting, there are a lot of birds! However, birding can be whatever you want it to be. As long as you are ethical and respectful of space, birding doesn’t have to be anything more than simply noticing what’s going on around you and who is there.
Birding in Forest Park is a unique experience. With so many different types of habitats spread over such a large area, it truly doesn’t matter what time of year you decide to visit, or which trail you want to explore or if you’re a seasoned birder or new to the fun, there are always birds to discover!
About the Author: Sam DeJarnett is the creator and host of the Always Be Birdin' podcast and an avid birder. She has been birding for a little over 3 years and is a firm believer that the hobby is for anyone and everyone and can be done anywhere. Her favorite bird is the American Crow and favorite local birding spot is the highly accessible Whitaker Ponds.