Birding by Ear 2025
2025-04-01 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-04-08 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-04-15 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-04-22 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-04-29 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-05-06 08:00, 2025-05-13 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-05-20 08:00 - 09:30 (America/Los_Angeles) and 2 more dates
Birding by Ear is a weekly bird walk led by ECBA volunteer Dave Tracy and will take place every Tuesday through early June.
Meet at Sawyer Park at 8 a.m. Bird walks typically last 1-1.5 hours depending on bird activity. We usually cover about 1/1.5 miles over mostly flat trails.
Depending on the weather, be prepared to dress for cool, breezy conditions. Wear suitable clothing and footwear in case of snow and muddy trails.
New as well as seasoned birders are welcome! Learn to identifiy the birds you hear, hone the skills you have, or share your talent with others!
If you haven’t already, please fill out the ECBA General Activity Waiver. Waivers are required for all ECBA trips. The online waiver takes one minute and you only need to fill one out once per year. Thank you!
General Activity Waiver

Wednesday Birders
2025-04-02 08:00, 2025-04-09 08:00, 2025-04-16 08:00, 2025-04-23 08:00, 2025-04-30 08:00, 2025-05-07 08:00, 2025-05-14 08:00, 2025-05-21 08:00 and 1 more date
Wednesday Birders is a group of birders, birding, but not a traditional field trip with a named leader who always provides a guided field experience. Everyone helps everyone else, shares, learns and enjoys birding together. Usually some advanced birders are there and are so helpful. All are welcomed. We carpool when possible.
As times vary from week to week, please watch COBOL for details and times which are usually announced a few days prior to Wednesday.
All the locations are listed on our website. From the home page, select Birding Resources, and from the drop-down menu, you can choose Birding by County where you will get a list of favorite birding places including directions to the spots and what birds you might hope to find.
One of the goals of Wednesday Birders is to encourage everyone to use the ECBA birding site guides and get used to using those directions and the “how to bird it” tips for the locations. Simply select the county and the hotspots are listed alphabetically.
Important Notes:

Please remember to read COBOL by Tuesday mornings for last minute details and changes to plans in case of adverse weather, road conditions or detours, bird news or better birding opportunities. Watch COBOL for meeting and carpooling times and places or for changes in the plan.
COBOL is Central Oregon Birders Online. It’s free to join.
Remember to dress for the weather. Be prepared with food, sunscreen, etc. and bring a pair of binoculars. Spotting scopes are helpful on many trips.

For questions and for more information contact: ecba@ecbirds.org

CANCELED - Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
2025-04-10 - 2025-04-13 | Burns, OR, Burns, OR, 97720, United States
Spend an amazing weekend witnessing the spectacular spring migration in the Harney Basin of Southeast Oregon. View thousands of migratory birds as they rest and feed in the wide-open spaces of Oregon’s high desert. From waterfowl to shorebirds, cranes to raptors, wading birds to songbirds, you’ll see them all! The festival offers non-stop birding activities as well as historical and cultural information sure to entertain you and your family. Whether you’re a beginner or a life-long wildlife enthusiast, the festival has something for everyone. Don’t miss this extraordinary weekend.
Registration opens February 14.
https://migratorybirdfestival.com/

Riverbend Bird Walk
2025-04-12 08:00 - 10:00 | Riverbend, 799 SW Columbia St, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
Join ECBA for a free guided bird walk in the RiverBend Park/Old Mill area. It will be apt for all (beginners to veterans). We’ll start at 8am and go to about 10am depending on what we’re seeing. Expect to walk about 2-3 miles on flat trails. Bring binoculars if you have them. If you don’t, we will bring a few extra pairs just in case.

Sunriver Bird Walk
2025-04-19 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-10 08:00 - 11:00 | Sunriver Nature Center, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
Join ECBA for a free guided bird walk at Sunriver. Meet at the Sunriver Nature Center at 8 am. Walk lasts 3 hours (11am finish). Distance 3-4 miles. Some walking on uneven terrain. Restrooms available midway and at the end. Bring binoculars. Dress for the weather. Walk led by Tom Lawler and Diane Burgess.

Ochoco Preserve Bird Walk
2025-05-20 08:30 - 11:30
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Aaron Jenkins for a bird walk at Ochoco Preserve. Last year, the Land Trust completed the second phase of a major project to shape the future of Ochoco Preserve! See firsthand all the work we’ve accomplished to create healthy streams, flourishing native plants and wildlife, and new connections for the community. Explore and learn about the Preserve’s waterways (McKay Creek, Ochoco Creek, the Crooked River) and watch for water birds, raptors, and songbirds.
Hike Rating: This is a moderate ~1-2 mile hike on loose dirt trails.
Route: This hike will start at the Ochoco Preserve parking area and follow dirt trails. We may also venture off-trail. Terrain will be uneven at times.
When: Meet at Ochoco Preserve before 8:30am May 20.
Follow this link to register:
https://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes-events/hikes/bird-walk-6

Camp Polk Meadow Preserve Bird Walk
2025-05-22 08:00 - 11:00
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Aaron Jenkins for a bird walk at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. With ponderosa pine forest, wet and dry meadows, and a portion of Whychus Creek, the Preserve is one of Central Oregon’s birding hot spots! Visit the Hindman Springs portion of the Preserve, watching for warblers in the willows and woodpeckers working the pine groves. Then, we’ll visit the lower meadow to watch for some of the more than 180 species of birds that have been observed at the Preserve! Beginning and intermediate birders welcome! Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event.
Hike Rating: This is a moderate ~2 mile hike, with little elevation gain. Portions will be on gravel trails and through a grassy meadow. Terrain will be uneven and wet at times.
Follow this link to register:
https://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes-events/hikes/bird-walk-7

Sunriver Bird Walk
2025-05-24 07:30 - 10:30, 2025-06-14 07:30 - 10:30 | Sunriver Nature Center, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
Join ECBA for a free guided bird walk at Sunriver. Meet at the Sunriver Nature Center at 8 am. Walk lasts about 3 hours. Distance 3-4 miles. Some walking on uneven terrain. Restrooms available midway and at the end. Bring binoculars. Dress for the weather. Walk led by Tom Lawler and Diane Burgess.

Browns Mountain Bird Hike
2025-06-01 08:00
Join us for 5 – 8 miles (up to 6 hours total) of hiking/birding on the flanks of Browns Mountain, along the Deschutes River. We’ll search for woodpeckers, warblers, Chestnut-backed Chickadees and whatever the mountain serves up. Moderately challenging terrain at times.

The forest service roads and terrain are uneven, rocky in places, sloped, and there could be downed trees and other obstacles to manage. There is an elevation gain of ~500 ft and there are no restrooms or places to fill up water bottles. The temperatures could rise quickly, participants will need to bring enough water for exertion on sloped trails with temperatures potentially exceeding 80 degrees up from potentially freezing lows in the morning. There may not be any cell service.
We are limiting this outing to seven (including 2 guides) and not allowing playback in order to respect the wildlife and birds during breeding season in this wild area. Please see ECBA’s outing code of ethics for more details on how we will try to reduce our impact in this special place.

Meet at 8am. Park on NF 4285 (the road to Browns Mountain Boating Site) at the first forest service gate on the left. Forest Service NW pass required for parking. Bring sustenance (lunch, snacks and water), clothing layers, and backpack.

The outing is limited to 5 participants. To sign up, please email susanjzimmerman@gmail.com

Dean Hale Woodpecker Weekend
2025-06-06 - 2025-06-08
Join ECBA for a free guided birding outings on June 6-8. Details and link to register forthcoming.

LaPine State Park - Bird Walk on the Deschutes
2025-06-14 09:00
Join ECBA at LaPine State Park for walk up the river trail to seek out local birds.
Visit the interactive display in Camper’s Clubhouse.
All abilities welcome, binoculars provided. Bring sturdy shoes and water.
Where to Meet: Camper’s Clubhouse, South Loop
When: 9am, June 14, 2025
