Reserve a Program

Field Trip: Birding by Ear at Mt. Tabor

Mt. Tabor is famed for its migrant songbirds. On this walk we’ll work our way through the park focusing on identifying residents and migrants alike by their songs and calls, keeping an ear out for possible early migrants like Black-throated Gray Warbler, Cassin’s Vireo, and Hammond’s Flycatcher.

Pacific Northwest Trip: Rogue Valley

California birds -- in Oregon! On this three-day ramble through the beautiful Rogue Valley, we will search for some of Oregon’s hardest to find species, such as Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Oak Titmouse, and California Towhee.

The New School of Birding, Module 3.

Module 3 will focus on the Wonders of Migration. We’ll delve into the mysteries of how birds stay on course, how scientists measure migration, systems of feather molt, the amazing journeys of long-distance migrants, and much more. As in all New School of Birding programs, these ornithology lessons will be combined with instruction and practice of our field craft.

Pacific Northwest Trip: Idaho’s Cassia Crossbill

See the American Birding Association’s newest species in the South Hills of Idaho! Because of the absence of red squirrels in Idaho’s South Hills, Cassia Crossbills are about 20 times more common than the Red Crossbill. We’ll take a compelling and exciting trip from Portland to Twin Falls, seeking summer specialties in various mountain and wetland habitats along the way. This is a van-based trip and complete vaccinations are required.

Pacific Northwest Trip: Birds, Plants, and Bugs of Mt. Adams

This is the time to go to Mt. Adams! While bird song is winding down, there should still be lots of singers out and about. Butterflies and dragonflies will not be ignored on this trip! We will spend time in the fabulous marshes of Trout Lake to look for Veery, Gray Catbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, and warblers. Another special treat will be the dry forest and marshes of Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge where we will be looking for Eastern Kingbird, Grasshopper Sparrow, White-headed Woodpecker, and Gray Flycatcher.

Summer Camp: 6th-8th Grade

Summer Camp: 3rd-5th Grade

Summer Camp: 1st and 2nd Grade

Pacific Northwest Trip: Yakima

Yakima provides easy access to a variety of habitats as we search for avian highlights such as Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, Eastern Kingbird, Redhead, and Calliope Hummingbird. As we move through the region, we will also enjoy a lovely assortment of wildflowers, butterflies, and dragonflies.

PNW Trip: Okanogan

Escape the lingering pandemic and join Okanogan birding expert Stefan Schlick on this unique tour to the Okanogan. Stefan has done countless trips to the area and knows all the right spots. With its diverse habitats, it is the area in Washington State with the highest number of breeding bird species. The scenery is fabulous, even after last year’s wildfires. Boreal forest, pinelands, riparian, lush meadows, lakes and rivers, sagebrush steppe, the Okanogan has got it all! You will never forget this trip!

Audubon Birding Day: Klickitat River Butterflies & Birds

Join Stefan in the Klickitat River region of Washington state. A highlight will be searching for the rare Goldhunter's Hairstreak and birds such as Nashville Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Lewis’s Woodpecker.

Pacific Northwest Trip: Woodpeckers of Wasco

Wasco County holds the distinction of having the most breeding species of woodpecker of any county in the United States, with all 12 of Oregon’s breeding species represented. We’ll try for all 12 (with 8-9 more likely). Along the way, we’ll traverse from montane forest to oak woodland and sagebrush steppe, enjoying the changing bird life as we go.

Dragonfly Basics, Part II

A primer on dragonflies and damselflies between Eugene, Oregon and Bellingham, Washington. In part two, we will finish with darners then look at skimmers, meadowhawks, spreadwings, all damselflies, and some oddballs.

Dragonfly Basics, Part I

A primer on dragonflies and damselflies between Eugene, Oregon and Bellingham, Washington. In part one we will cover dragonfly biology basics and begin to cover darners.

Pacific Northwest Trip: Central Oregon

Explore the birding hotspots of central Oregon where many habitats are accessible within a short drive. Amid this region’s natural wonders up to 11 species of woodpeckers can be found, the third highest woodpecker diversity in the world.

Intermediate Birding by Ear

Northern Blues: Washington State’s Forgotten Counties

Discover a lesser known part of the Pacific Northwest on this 5-day birding adventure with Stefan Schlick. The Northern Blue Mountains, east of Walla Walla, have breathtaking canyons and cliffs at their higher elevations and riparian areas are a mecca for migrating birds at the lower elevations. Possible avian highlights include White-throated Swift, Canyon Wren, Green-tailed Towhee, Gray Catbird and White-headed Woodpecker.

Amphibians & Reptiles: Beginner's Guide to Herping

An introduction to finding and identifying the common reptiles and amphibians of the Portland Metro Area.

Audubon Birding Day: World Migratory Bird Day! Clackamas County

Discover the birding patches near the communities of Canby and Molalla. From Lazuli Bunting to Acorn Woodpecker plus a myriad of spring migrants this will be a fun trip for us all to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day!

Arizona with Stefan Schlick and Randy Hill

Spring in southeast Arizona is delightful! Breeding birds will have arrived and will be singing their hearts out. We hope for highlights such as Elf Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, warblers such as Olive, Red-faced, Grace’s, Virginia’s and of course Elegant Trogon! *The services of your experienced Portland Audubon leaders and double-occupancy lodging is included. Hotel names and locations are included in the itinerary.  

This trip is not van-based and will be a car caravan trip, adhering to our current COVID guidelines. Transportation (flights and car rental), meals, and park entrance fees are not included and are your responsibility.

Field Trip: Cooper Mountain Nature Park

The slopes of Cooper Mountain, just south of Beaverton, are a great place to look for spring migrants. Among the meadow, oak woodland and mixed coniferous forest we hope to find Black-throated Gray Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler and House Wren, while Vaux’s Swifts hunt for insects overhead.

Birds of a Feather: Cathartidae - New World Vultures

Perhaps you have heard the exciting news that California Condors will soon be sailing over southern Oregon again! Join us to learn about the California condor, as well as the other 6 species that make up the family Cathartidae, the New World Vultures.

Audubon Birding Day: Welcome Back Puffins!

We’ll start the day at the famous Seaside Cove looking for surfbirds and turnstones before heading south to Cannon Beach, where we should have the opportunity to search for Puffins, freshly back from their wintering grounds. After we’ve had our fill of Alcids, we’ll head south to the Nehalem Bay state park to search for Red-breasted Merganser, Black-bellied Plover, and other northbound migrants.

Audubon Birding Day: Deschutes River Butterflies & Birds

Join Stefan for a full day of butterflies, wildflowers, and birds! This trip takes place in The Dalles area, about an hour and a half from Portland metro.

John Rakestraw’s Warblers and Flycatchers

This two-part series focuses on a group of birds notorious for giving birdwatchers a stiff neck and bewildered stare. Local author and guide John Rakestraw will show you how to identify these birds by sight and sound as well as posture and performance.

Active Field Trip: Birding By Kayak at Ridgefield

Experience some of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful habitat by kayak! This three-hour tour features two expert guides, and includes your kayak rental, and all necessary kayaking gear (does not include binoculars!). We’ll learn what it takes to paddle and navigate your way around beginner-friendly flatwater, while keeping an eye out for the variety of bird and animal life of the Ridgefield area.

Field Trip: Hopkins Demonstration Forest

We will hike the extensive trail system of this 140-acre forest in Oregon City. We expect to find the common inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest coniferous forest such as Varied Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Red-breasted Sapsucker. In the clearing and brushy patches we will find various sparrows and new migrants will be arriving daily. We hope to find a nice variety of warblers, flycatchers and vireos.

Audubon Birding Day: The North Coast, from Seaside to Astoria

We will visit numerous birding hotspots from Seaside to Astoria, looking for loons, grebes and sea ducks migrating off the coast. Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Western and Least Sandpiper are likely as they are heading back to northern breeding grounds. This is a great time to look for migrating passerines as well.

Audubon Birding Day: Ankeny & Baskett Slough NWR

Join Brodie for an exploration of the wetlands of Ankeny and Baskett Slough, the companion trip for our Birding by Ear: Wetlands class. The Willamette Valley refuges come alive in spring, as breeding birds ramp up their vocal display amidst the high traffic of northbound songbird and shorebird migrants. We’ll take the whole day to explore the wetlands, Oak Savannah, and ash forest that make this area a vital part of the Pacific Flyway.

Shorebirds & Boreal Birds of British Columbia

Join British Columbia expert, Stefan Schlick, on this unusual late summer trip that includes habitats as opposite as coast and mountains. Birds are no longer singing, but migration of shorebirds and passerines is already in full swing. At Boundary Bay, migration of shorebirds will be in full swing. Red Knot, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Stilt Sandpiper are all possible. At ManningProvincial Park we will look for Boreal Chickadee, Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak, and Spruce  
Grouse. On top of fantastic migration birding, we will spend time in the picturesque Vancouver, BC.