Kirtland Ponds (White City Lagoons)
Seasons
Checklists
Location
From Medford, take I-5 North to exit 35 for OR-99 S/Blackwell Rd. toward Central Point. After 0.3 miles, Turn right onto OR-140/OR 99 N/Blackwell Rd. Go 1.2 miles and continue straight on OR 140 for 2.9 miles and the dirt pull in will be on your left.
This is an IMPORTANT message to all visitors to White City Lagoons (Kirtland Rd. Ponds). As many know RVSS has modified the sewage lagoons with an eye towards improving shorebird habitat as well as modifying their own work environment. The grading process is now mostly complete. Birders are welcome to visit but please make sure you park in the new parking area well away from the main entrance gate. See the attached maps.
We MUST keep to the west side of the work area. DO NOT enter the eastside as seen on the map. Access and viewing are from the Dike Trail and the foottrail. When one gets up on the dike from the parking area one can view the pond area to the east but DO NOT walk down that Dike toward the lagoons. Proceed either down the foot trail in yellow on map or around on the Dike Trail. There will be more signage out there soon. Remember also if there is work being done in the parking area or near the public access area either park along the road or bird it another day. Please stay out of the way.
RVSS has been amazingly open and tolerant to birders. We owe them a huge amount of gratitude.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
A drivable road goes around the accessible portion of this pond allowing for some mud flat and some open water viewing. This is a famous Jackson County location because it has produced so many unusual birds. That list includes both golden-plovers, Snowy Plover, Ruddy and Black Turnstone, Ruff, Red Knot, Sanderling, Red Phalarope, Sabine’s Gull, White-tailed Kite, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Lapland Longspur, Rusty Blackbird, and Great-tailed Grackle.
More standard fare would include over 35 species of waterfowl, nearly 50 species of shorebirds and waders, 10 species of gulls and terns, a dozen species of raptors and over 50 species of passerine birds.
Nearby Birding Locations
- Whetstone Savannah Nature Conservancy Reserve
- Prescott Park and Roxy Ann Butte
- Medford and Bear Creek Park
- Valley of the Rogue State Park
- Bear Creek Greenway
- Tou Velle State Park/Denman Wildlife Management Area
- Upper Table Rock
- Lower Table Rock Nature Conservancy Reserve
- Lynn Newbry Park
- Applegate River and Reservoir
