Field Trips
The Oregon Birding Association offers trips led by experienced birders and expert local guides. See our Field Trip Policies page for full details and our waiver. There is no charge to attend, but participants must be current members of OBA; you can join or renew here. Pre-registration is required and group size is limited. Weather, wildfire or other conditions may cause a trip to be modified or canceled; if that happens, the trip leader will alert you. To suggest a trip we should run, or to volunteer as a leader, please contact us.
FULL – Santiam Valley Ranch (a.k.a. Duckflat Wetlands) Field Trip in Marion County
Trip Leaders: Dominic Valenti, Shane Pruett and Joy Jensen.
Trip Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026
Trip Start Time: 8:00 AM
Trip End Time: around 12:30 PM
Maximum # of participants: 15
Description: The hundreds of acres of wetlands along Duckflat and Hunsaker Roads near Turner are one of the top-ranked hotspots in Marion County despite the fact that most are inaccessible to the public because they are on private lands. For this field trip, guided one-day access has been arranged to the vast “restricted access” portion. Expect a variety of waterbirds and a variety of songbirds. For description of the area, see https://www.
With the land owners’ permission, the field trip leaders and colleagues have conducted monthly surveys of these wetlands for 5 years, amassing a list of 175 species. Potentially 70 species could be found during this field trip.
Directions to Meeting Place. Directions will be provided to participants prior to the field trip. Parking is limited to 8 vehicles and meeting at a park and ride to carpool to the site will be necessary. We can help with those arrangements.
Walking and trail conditions. All walking will be on paths that adjoin the wetlands. Some may be wet and muddy. Three separate portions will be walked, for a total of about 2 miles.
Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes, there is a portable toilet in the parking area. No water.
Additional important information. If more than 15 people are interested, a waitlist will be created. Priority may be given to those who have not previously toured these wetlands. Bring water and snacks, as needed. Dress for the weather. Boots are recommended, especially waterproof. Bring a spotting scope if you have one.
WAIT-LISTED – Explore Rentenaar Road on Sauvie Island (Columbia County)
Trip Leader Bob Archer
- Trip Date – Saturday, January 10, 2026
- Trip Start Time 8:00 AM
- Trip End Time 10:00 AM
- Maximum # of participants: 12
- Description: Come bird Sauvie Island’s Rentenaar Road with local expert Bob Archer on Sunday January 10. This Columbia County hotspot is great for winter waterfowl and sparrows. This trip is geared toward people who wish to learn how to bird the road, and designed for beginner and intermediate birders. We’ll meet at 8:00 am (soon after sunup before waterfowl scatter) at the Eastside check station parking area at the start of Rentenaar Road (at the junction with Reeder Road here: 45.75729, -122.77107). Be prepared to walk the road (1.5 mile or so) which is gravel and may be wet or muddy in areas. Bring scopes if desired, as they will be handy for the waterfowl.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? There are at least 3 porta potties along the entire stretch of road. Bring your own water.
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.)
- An ODFW parking permit is required to park. You can buy a day pass ($10) at the Cracker Barrel Grocery Mart near the bridge or go online to purchase an annual pass ($30). For more information, see https://myodfw.com/articles/buying-odfw-wildlife-area-parking-permit
- Bring binoculars, snacks, sturdy boots or trail shoes with a good tread. Bring scopes if desired, as they will be handy for the waterfowl. Dress for the weather; layers are recommended.
Questions?
OBA members – please contact fieldtrips@oregonbirding.org or jillpunches@gmail.com
Wallowa County Bird Photography Weekend – Friday, January 23 – Monday, January 26, 2026 (WAIT LIST only)
Field Trip Reports
- Wheeler and Grant Counties – June 2025
- Boiler Bay – May 2025
- Yamhill County – May 2025
- Sherman County – March 2025
- Tillamook Gulls – January 2025
- Wallowa Valley – January 2025
- Sauvie Island – September 2024 (Oregon Birding Weekend)
- Malheur – September 2024 (Oregon Birding Weekend)
- Santiam Valley Ranch – September 2024 (Oregon Birding Weekend)
- Timothy Lake – September 2024 (Oregon Birding Weekend)
- Great Gray Owls in the Blue Mountains – June 2024
- Boiler Bay Seawatch – April 2024
- Santiam Valley Ranch (aka Duckflat Wetlands) – March 2024
- Brownsmead – February 2024
- Wallowa Valley Trip Report – January 2024
- Sauvie Island – January 2024
- Portland Gulls – December 2023
- Santiam Valley Ranch (aka Duckflat Wetlands) – October 2023
- Great Gray Owls in Blue Mts. – May 2023
- Boiler Bay Seawatch – April 2023
- Lower Columbia River and Brownsmead Report – March 2023
- Wallowa Valley Trip Report – February 2023
- Bonney Butte Trip Report – September 2022
- Great Gray Owls in Blue Mts. – May 2022
- Columbia County – April 2022
- Lower Columbia River and Brownsmead – March 2022
- Portland Area Gulls – February 2022
- Columbia Gorge: Sherman and Wasco Counties – January 2022
- Bonney Butte Trip Report – October 2021
- Green Ridge Trip Report – October 2021
- Spruce Grouse Trip Report – August 2019
- Pelagic Cruise Trip Report – May 2019
- Wallowa Valley Trip Report – Jan. 2019
- N. Wasco and Sherman Counties Trip Report – Nov. 2018
- Cannon Beach Trip Report – July 2018
- Wallowa Valley Trip Report – January 2018
- Field Trip Reports 2017
- Field Trip Reports 2016
- Field Trip Reports 2012-2013
We follow the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics, developed and promoted by the ABA.