FIELD TRIPS

OBA field trips are back! OBA is again offering trips led by experienced birders and expert local guides. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have guidelines in place to help ensure a safe experience for everyone. All participants must show proof of vaccination; 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 to 10 participants plus leader(s). Weather, wildfire or other conditions may cause a trip to be 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.

Columbia Gorge: Sherman and Wasco Counties, January 8, 2022

Ring-Billed Gulls, photo by Erik Bergman

Trip is FULL. Waiting list is FULL.
Join OBA President and Wascophile Brodie Cass Talbott as we explore several habitats of northern Wasco and Sherman counties, scanning the Columbia River for gulls, grebes, geese, and ducks; exploring Deschutes State Park for wintering passerines; and visiting Heritage Landing for raptors and anything else we can find! There is no charge, but participants must be current OBA members (you can join or renew here). Register here.

 The Columbia River on the far end of the Gorge can host good numbers of waterfowl in winter. On this full-day, self-driving field trip, we’ll visit a variety of habitats looking for winter sparrows, waterfowl, and raptors along a 20-mile stretch of the Columbia. We’ll start at Deschutes State Park in Sherman County, where White-throated Sparrow and Barrow’s Goldeneye are occasionally seen, and a variety of owls have been spotted in winter months. From there we’ll visit a number of hotspots scanning for winter specialties, including a stop at The Dalles Dam, which can host prodigious numbers of Bald Eagles, so that you can tell passersby that you did see the eagle. Continuing west, we’ll visit hotspots in The Dalles area, looking for loons and a variety of grebes, as well as large rafts of ducks. We will end our day around 4 pm near the Taylor Lakes area in West The Dalles. Our exact route will depend on local conditions. There will be sporadic bathroom breaks along the way, and participants will likely eat lunch in their cars, depending on the weather. 

Northern Saw-whet Owl, photo by Erik Bergman

Each of our stops will have short, slow hikes on flat terrain, with no more than 2 miles total hiking throughout the day. Bring binoculars, a scope if you have one (your leader will bring one to share), and food and water to last the day. Weather will generally be cold and dry, but make sure to check conditions before the trip. Warm layers, warm hat, and gloves are recommended. No parking passes are required. Please try to start the day with at least a half-tank of fuel.

Meeting place: We will meet at the first small parking lot on the left as you enter Deschutes River State Park. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early. Call or text Brodie (541-460-1503) if you have any issues on the morning of.

Brownsmead, March 5, 2022

Details TBA: registration is not yet open.

Field Trip Reports

We follow the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics, developed and promoted by the ABA.

OBA Field Trip Policies