Deschutes County

Similar to the Old Mill River Walk: The Deschutes River winds through this urban center and is lined with paved paths and green areas. Waterfowl are present year round and often produce rarities like Red-breasted Merganser, Ross’s Goose, Gre...

Scrub interspersed with ponderosa pines. This is a prime area for Lewis’s Woodpeckers and a site for an ECBC project looking at their nesting preferences. This is also a fine area to find Gray Flycatcher, Cassin’s Finch, Fox Sparrow, Brewer...

This park attracts many ducks and other waterfowl in the winter. People feed the ducks (signs are posted warning not to feed bread) so the birds become habituated to humans and allow close approach. It’s an easy place to get closeup looks at Mal...

Riparian woodland along the banks of the Deschutes River. Rufous Hummingbirds are common in the spring and the area is good for migrants. The river often may have feral Trumpeter and Mute Swans along with naturally occurring American Dipper. This ...

The surrounding forest is good for White-headed Woodpecker (especially) close to the western access point. The small hill (Gobbler’s Knob) at the eastern access point has breeding Fox Sparrow and Green-tailed Towhee. The Black Butte Swamp ha...

The GW Burn occurred in the fall of 2007 and was a terrific woodpecker location.  It’s quite old now and attracts fewer woodpeckers but it still hosts some and Lewis’s Woodpecker is regular here.  Both Red-naped and Red-breasted Saps...

Agricultural lands. This is a prime area for wintering raptors such as Prairie Falcons, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. In summer search for Swainson’s and Ferruginous Hawks. If you happen to be in this area during the fall or spring migratio...

Sewage lagoons surrounded by sagebrush / scrub and juniper. This is a prime birding spot in all seasons. Common species here include the broadest spectrum of waterfowl in Central Oregon, 15 species of diurnal raptors, Virginia Rail and Sora, more ...

Cattails and open lake with surrounding high elevation forest. Barrow’s Goldeneye nest here. Sooty and Ruffed Grouse have been located in the area. Osprey and Bald Eagles hunt the lake. The cattails hold rails and American Bittern in the sum...

Ponderosa forest and riparian habitat. Sapsuckers and White headed Woodpeckers can be found in the campground with Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill, Northern Pygmy-Owl and flycatchers. Green-tailed Towhees are almost always present at the parking a...

The bird bath behind the visitor center (off the patio) is a great place to get close up views of Red Crossbill, Clark’s Nutcracker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee and sparrows. Two trails behind the visitor center are also worth a hike – ...

The Deschutes River flows through an accessible riparian area surrounded by juniper woodland. This is a great migrant spot and often has breeding Yellow-breasted Chat. Be sure to check out the area of poplars by the car park. This area is the most...