Paulina Marsh
Seasons
Checklists
Location
Located just north of the small town of Silver Lake, this region is best birded in spring when water levels are high and vegetation levels are low. It’s also a good winter raptor area. Travel south from Bend for 28 miles (through the town of La Pine) and turn east on Hwy 31. Go 47.5 miles to the small community of Silver Lake. Go past the school and turn left on County Road 5-13 (Picture Lane). Bird this road. The lake bottom (mostly farmland now) goes about seven miles. After that, the road opens into good sagebrush habitat and can be very productive for sagebrush species such as Sage Thrasher, Sagebrush Sparrow, and Brewer’s Sparrow. It’s also a very productive raptor alley year round. This road will eventually end at Fort Rock if you want to go that far (16 miles). If not, return to Silver Lake and go east on Hwy 31 for a short distance and take the next road north (County Road 5-13A). Take this road 2.5 miles to the “T”. Explore the left road which will dead end after about a mile. Return to the “T” and explore the right road to its end. Return to Hwy 31 the same way you came in.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
Marshy areas surrounded by wet farmland. There are some areas of dry alkali on the north end and dry sagebrush past that. Birds recorded in this area include Tundra Swan, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, White-faced Ibis, Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Sandhill Crane, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Wilson’s Phalarope, Western Kingbird, Savannah Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, and Sagebrush Sparrow.
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