Fern Ridge Reservoir – East and West Coyote Units

Habitat and Birds

First stop at the parking lot where the road bends sharply south.  From this lot, there is access to ponds and riparian habitat of the East Coyote Unit that are immediately south of West 11th Ave. across from the Fisher Butte Unit. Then continue driving south, birding the meadows from the road. A Lark Bunting was found in these meadows singing on territory several years back. White-tailed Kites used to hunt in these meadows in winter. Turn right onto Cantrell Road at the “T” intersection less than a mile south from the sharp bend in Ken Nielsen Road. A small parking lot on the north side of Cantrell Road provides access to the southern edge of the pond area reached from the parking lot along Ken Nielsen Road. Then continue west on Cantrell Road to the West Coyote Creek Unit. At the bridge over Coyote Creek, there is a nature trail on the east side and a canoe access point on the west side immediately after crossing the bridge, both on the north side of the road. Wood Ducks nest in this area and can often be found in the trees here. About 0.1 mile further to the west is a gated road. This road leads to a marshy area with ponds that can be productive for shorebirds, especially during migration. The beginning of this trail can be under quite a bit of water during wet winters and springs.