Reserve a Program

Monday: Bird Song Walks at 82nd WCC Site

Bird Alliance of Oregon is excited to introduce the future home of our new Wildlife Care Center to community members who have not yet birded this location, and explore it with the locals who have been visiting this open space that includes the Dharma Rain Zen Center Campus. The open grassland-type habitat has attracted a number of interesting species over the year, and has been a breeding location for Lazuli Buntings for several years running. Over the long term, we will be restoring this habitat, and are looking forward to documenting these changes with regular bird walks! Come join us to learn more about the exciting plans in the works.

Monday: Bird Song Walks at Whitaker Ponds

Come escape into the riparian woodland of Whitaker Ponds and learn Spring bird songs with us!  

We’ll pause often and pay attention to the words of birds like Song Sparrows, Bewick’s Wrens, Spotted Towhees, and American Robins. It’s possible we’ll come across some Spring migrants from the south, like the Western Wood Pewee, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, and of course, some warblers thinking they’re so sweet sweet sweet.  

Please join us if you’re a brand new birder, a long-standing birder, or anywhere in between——we’ll be glad to see you!

Digital Class

Tuesday: Bird Song Walks at Wilkes Creek

Assistant Director of Urban Conservation Micah Meskel will join Brodie Cass Talbott andTara Lemezis from our Education Team to lead a new series of walks around  
Wilkes City Park every Tuesday. This new location is the epicenter of Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Greening Wilkes Initiative. In collaboration with Friends of Trees, Verde, Columbia Slough Watershed Council, and Portland Parks and Recreation, we’re working with the community surrounding the Wilkes Creek Headwaters in outer East Portland to restore and enhance the area’s greenspaces, engage the community in activities to increase climate resilience and deepen the community’s growing connection to this evolving green space. Come check it out with us!

Field Trip at BAO: Grade 2-6, Both Slots: 9:45-1:00

Interacting with Ecosystems OR Amazing Animal Adaptations, for Grades 2-6. You will choose one program on the reservation form that follows.  

Enter "1" in the box next to the pricing level that you are paying at.

Field Trip for PreK-2nd grade, Slot 2

Hanging out in Habitats: Grades PreK-2  
Spend the morning in the forest using hands-on learning to observe and investigate what plants and animals (including us!) need to survive in their habitats.

Wednesday: Mt. Tabor Bird Song Walks 2.0

Mt. Tabor is one of the most popular birding locations in the Portland Metro area and is a hotspot for migrant birds in spring. The mornings will include birdsong from our resident forest birds and colorful visitors like the Western Tanager and many warblers. *You can expect a large crowd of enthusiastic birders every week.

Wednesday: Mt. Tabor Bird Song Walks - New Birders!

New to birding? New to birding Mt. Tabor? Our legendary Mt. Tabor bird song walk can be a big group. This will be a shorter outing with a smaller group size (on most days). Be ready for a laid back and casual birding time. We will make space to listen to the birds as well as to eachother. Casual conversation and community building is encouraged on this walk. Together we will focus on our year-round resident birds and gradually welcome colorful spring migrants and those tricky flycatchers. Beginners and first timers are welcome here. *Please note- we will most often climb down large flights of stairs.

Field Trip for PreK-2nd grade, Slot 1

Hanging out in Habitats: Grades PreK-2  
Spend the morning in the forest using hands-on learning to observe and investigate what plants and animals (including us!) need to survive in their habitats.  

Enter "1" in the box next to the pricing level that you are paying at.

Botany for Birders:

Thursday: Bird Song Walks at Pittock Mansion

Start your day with a spring Birdsong walk at Pittock Mansion! This location overlooks the Portland skyline from 1,000 ft up and can host many suprise migrant birds flying through. Stay for the whole time or leave when you need to. We'll listen for spring migrants and resident birds. Be prepared for birding on some uphill and downhill terrain with paved and dirt trail surfaces. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather as mornings can be cool. Meeting details: No parking payment is required (parking kitty begins at 9:30AM). Meet in the parking lot at 7 am. 3229 NW Pittock Dr, Portland, OR 97210

Thursday: Bird Song Walks at Fernhill Wetlands

Join Chris Williams for a two hour morning Bird Song walk at Fernhill Wetlands. In early spring we may expect find lots of waterfowl preparing to head north for their breeding grounds. We should also expect to hear songbirds singing as they prepare for the breeding season and hopefully we'll see some nest building. Throughout the season we can expect to see spring migrants including several warbler and flycatcher species. The loop we will do is about 1.15 miles on a paved trail around Fernhill Lake. We hope to see you there!

Field Trip at BAO: Grades 2-6, 9:45-11:15

Interacting with Ecosystems OR Amazing Animal Adaptations, for Grades 2-6. You will choose one program on the reservation form that follows.  

Enter "1" in the box next to the pricing level that you are paying at.

Friday: Bird Song Walks at Elk Rock Island

Join Urban Conservation Micah Meskel and a rotation of local partners at Elk Rock Island. Situated along the Willamette River just south of downtown Milwaukie, Elk Rock Island is a unique space to bird, offering a variety of habitats like oak, madrone

Birding Day:

Standing Outings at Errol Heights

Join us for free, community-focused birding outings at Errol Heights! Space is limited to 15. Please make sure that you put this event on your calendar and let us know one week ahead of time if you can't make it.

Field Trip:

Bird Journals for Beginners and Continuing Journalers!

Get started or continue with your bird journal, using drawing, simple watercolor, and writing. We use specimens and photos to practice. You will try simple ways to learn to see in new ways, then draw, write, and use watercolors, and develop your pages. No art experience needed, just enthusiasm and a few tools! Register for each class separately.

Luminous Together Forest Bathing Walk (BIPOC-only)

Join us for a 2 hour Forest Bathing experience and reconnect with nature. Slow down, breathe deeply, and immerse yourself in the forest. Guided by a certified forest therapist, you'll explore mindful walking, sensory activities, and reflective moments. We will move through a series of invitations, which are simple, sensory practices that encourage the senses to come forward, as the thinking mind settles.

Sunday: Accessible Bird Song Outing at Whitaker Ponds w/ FBC.PDX

*This event is reserved for people who identify as BIPOC, queer, and or disabled.*  

Join Rey Snyder and a host of friends from the FBC.PDX for a movement-oriented morning. We will spend our time enjoying all the birds around us and learn how to identify them by the sounds they make. The needs of the group + the presence of the birds will determine our pace.

Forest Therapy at Bird Alliance of Oregon Sanctuary

Join Andrea Kreiner, a certified nature and forest therapy guide, for a slow and mindful sensory journey to connect with nature at the Portland Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary.

Accessible Outings at Kelley Point Park

Join Bird Alliance of Oregon for an accessible birding outing at Kelley Point Park! Let’s get outside together in the primetime of Spring. This time of year is perfect for experiencing the sights, sounds, and nesting behaviors of many songbirds. We may encounter resident and migrant songbirds, woodpeckers, and raptors. Together we’ll make our way through the natural area by foot or by wheelchair, observing and learning about birds, plants, and other wildlife.  

This outing is reserved for people who identify as disabled, chronically ill, or neurodivergent and their family, friends or caregivers. Our accessible outings are made for and led by birders with disabilities. Beginning birders are welcome! Extra binoculars will be available.

Watercolor Painting with Ronna: Belted Kingfisher

The Belted Kingfisher has a very distinguished shape and feather pattern that is super fun to paint in watercolor! Come enjoy an evening painting the local Belted Kingfisher alongside Ronna Fujisawa during this online watercolor painting class.

The Warbler Tour! Magee Marsh & Michigan

Enjoy up to 36 species of brilliantly colorful warblers along the famous boardwalk of Magee Marsh. We’ll delight in watching up to 150 species as the marshes come alive with birds. Then we’ll head to northern Michigan to find the incredible and rare Kirtland’s Warbler to conclude this memorable Midwest adventure.

Bird Language: Group Habitat Mapping

We'll embark on an expedition to Whitaker Ponds, a natural oasis in the middle of industrial NE Portland, where we'll delve into the art of observing nature's nuances. Together, we'll learn to identify key indicators in the environment, and then we'll each find our own sit-spot within the habitat to document our observations for 40 minutes. Upon regrouping, we'll map our findings into a collective understanding, deepening our insight into the intricate web of life that surrounds us.

Amazon River Cruise

Travel with Bird Alliance of Oregon on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise through the heart of upper Amazonia, on the largest river in the world! The Amazonian region boasts more than 120 endemic species and may be the most biologically diverse place on the planet – a true paradise. We will bird on a variety of tropical forest walks, observe wildlife and explore canals and lagoons by watercraft, and take in the Peruvian culture and history.

Magical Birding in Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley

From amazing birds, to the fertile Sacred Valley, a trip to the cloud forest and Machu Picchu, you won't want to miss this magical experience full of hummingbirds, tropical species, and Peruvian history and culture!

Pacific Northwest Trip: Malheur Foray

Explore remote and beautiful southeastern Oregon and visit a world-class birder’s paradise, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, during peak migration. We’ll focus on both birds and the natural history of the vast refuge and surrounding areas, including Steens Mountain and the Alvord Desert.

In-Person Watercolor Painting with Ronna: Grosbeaks

Almost every spring and summer, the Grosbeaks will be revealed in deciduous woodlands. One way to gain knowledge of the subtle differences between the Grosbeaks is to do studies and paint sketches in fine detail. We will look at several Grosbeaks and create beautiful painting sketches during this in-person watercolor painting class.

Pacific Northwest Trip: Explore Okanogan

Join us to explore one of the most spectacular and productive areas of the Pacific Northwest for birding: the Okanogan. This mid/late June trip features the many habitats of the area including grasslands, forests, high elevation, wetlands and shrub steppe. We should expect to see 150 species of birds, including highlights like Bobolink, Williamson’s Sapsucker, forest grouse, Least Flycatcher, Veery and Clay-colored Sparrow and an assortment of colorful butterflies and wildflowers.