East Cascades Bird Alliance

Summer Lake CBC
2023-12-19 07:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OR
Summer Lake CBC, Tuesday, December 19th
Please join us for the 36th annual Summer Lake CBC. The plan is to meet at the ODFW Summer Lake Wildlife Headquarters at 7:30am on Tuesday December 19th for sector assignments. The details for the compilation meeting time and place are TBD. Please contact Marty St. Louis if you would like to participate or if you have any questions.
Contact: Marty St. Louis, 541-219-0879, stlouismartin541@gmail.com

Bend CBC
2023-12-16 07:00 - 17:00 | OR
Bend CBC, Saturday, December 16th
The 56th Bend Christmas Bird Count will be held on the first Saturday of the count period, December 16th. Many of the sector leaders have put together their teams for the count but I do imagine there will be openings available for those who want to participate all day. Feeder watchers are always welcomed, too. If you would like to participate, please drop me a line at tc@empnet.com and let me know. Some routes involve a lot of walking, others are mainly driving. Let me know your preference and your experience level. We will try to accommodate as many as possible. Remember this is a winter activity and requires dressing appropriately for the weather. Every year someone shows up without a warm coat, gloves or shoes that aren’t made for walking on forest trails. Meet at Pioneer Park at 7 am
Contact: Tom Crabtree, tc@empnet.com.

November Birders' Night
2023-11-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Environmental Center, 16 N.W. Kansas Ave., Bend, OR
Tundra Swan | Jack Williamson

November 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Environmental Center 16 N.W. Kansas Ave., Bend, OR
Trumpeter swan restoration at Summer Lake Wildlife Area. Martin St. Louis, a biologist and the former wildlife manager for the Summer Lake Wildlife Area for more than 30 years, will share his knowledge and expertise on the trumpeter swan restoration in the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. Join us for this Birders’ Night to learn more about these amazing birds!

Can’t join in person? Join our zoom here.

Green Ridge Raptor Count 2
2023-10-21 - 2023-10-22 | OR
Bald Eagle, photo by Chuck Gates.
Project leader, David Vick, has announced that he is scheduling the “official” count for the weekends of Oct. 14th – 15th and Oct. 21st – 22nd. There may be other days that folks will go up to count. Info and sign-up at ecbirds.org/projects/green-ridge-raptor-survey/.

October Birders' Night
2023-10-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Environmental Center, 16 N.W. Kansas Ave., Bend, OR
Pinyon Jays – Abbott Schindler

October Birders’ Night: Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research

Join us for a Birders’ Night presentation from Rebecca Heisman. We’ve all heard amazing facts about bird migration—the long distances that birds travel, the ways that they navigate, etc. But did you ever wonder how we figured all of this out? While working for the American Ornithological Society, Rebecca Heisman became fascinated with the varied and creative techniques that scientists have used to study bird migration, and this eventually became the basis for her book Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration. In her talk, she’ll share some surprising stories from the history of bird migration research and discuss why understanding migration is so crucial for bird conservation.

If you cannot attend in person, join on zoom.

Mindful Birding: Oct. 14
2023-10-14 09:30 - 11:00 | OR
ECBA and the Deschutes Land Trust invite you to join us for a morning of (mostly) quiet shared enjoyment of our local birds.
This is a free event, but limited to ten people. You are welcome to register for one or more of the three sessions. (You will need to click on each link and RSVP separately for each event you want to attend.)

September 30 near Sisters at Deschutes Land Trust’s Whychus Canyon Preserve.
October 7 near La Pine at Deschutes Land Trust’s Paulina Creek Preserve
October 14 near Bend at Tumalo State Park (participants will need to pay a state park admission fee to park for this event).

Starting at 9:30 am, for about ninety minutes, we will sit outside together mostly just listening and observing. For those wanting to share, there will be some opportunities to talk about the birds around us.
This is not a formal meditation practice – as long as it is not too distracting or disturbing to nature around us, you are encouraged to move as you need to stay comfortable and there is no required method of enjoying our silence. We will ask people to refrain from talking during the fifteen to thirty minute quiet periods. This is a chance to pause together and, somewhat unobtrusively, be with and appreciate the birds around us.
Designed to be an inclusive and accessible event, please let us know if you require any accommodations. The sit area will be near several parking spaces for those with mobility needs.

Green Ridge Raptor Count 1
2023-10-14 - 2023-10-15 | OR
Bald Eagle photo by Chuck Gates.
Project leader, David Vick, has announced that he is scheduling the “official” count for the weekends of Oct. 14th – 15th and Oct. 21st – 22nd. There may be other days that folks will go up to count. Info and sign-up at ecbirds.org/projects/green-ridge-raptor-survey/.

October Big Day: 14th
2023-10-14 | OR
Mark your calendars for October Big Day—14 Oct 2023! Like Global Big Day, October Big Day is an opportunity to unite around our shared love of birds. Last October, nearly 35,000 people from 185 countries submitted 80,000 checklists with eBird, demonstrating the power of birds to bring people together.
How to participate

Get an eBird account: eBird is a worldwide bird checklist program used by millions of birders. It’s what allows us to compile everyone’s contributions into a single massive October Big Day list—while at the same time gathering data to help scientists better understand birds. Sign up here. It’s 100% free from start to finish.
Watch birds on 14 Oct: It’s that simple. You don’t need to be a bird expert or go out all day long, even 10 minutes of birding from home counts. October Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. You can report what you find from anywhere in the world.
Enter what you see and hear in eBird: You can enter your observations via our website or download the free eBird Mobile app to make submitting lists even easier. Please enter your checklists no later than 17 Oct to be included in the results announcement.

Watch the results roll in: During the day, follow along with bird reports from more than 180 countries in real-time on our October Big Day page.

ECBA Annual Event
2023-10-08 16:00 - 19:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Photo credit: Jim Moodie – Pygmy Nuthatches.

Our Annual Event will be on Sunday, October 8th at 4pm at Worthy Brewing. ECBA is hoping that you will join us for this special event to socialize with fellow birders, enjoy some tacos and beverages, and learn more about birds from Harry Fuller and Chuck Gates.
Register/RSVP here

Where: The Hop Mahal room at Worthy Brewing at 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend, OR 97701.
When: Doors open at 4:00pm. Come early, have a drink, and hang out with your fellow ECBA birders. Dinner will be served around 5:00. After dinner there will be a short discussion of the 2023 election of Board members and a proposed change to our bylaws. Nominations for vacating Board positions in 2024 can be accepted from the members at this time.
Food: Worthy Brewing will be whipping up a fantastic taco bar for us, including the following: Pork Carnitas, Barbacoa Beef, Green Chili Chicken, Seared Rockfish, Sweet Potato & Poblano, Corn/Flour Tortillas, Spanish Rice, Spiced Black Beans, Cabbage Slaw, Pickled Vegetables, Chips & Salsa, Radish, Cotija, Lime Crema, Lime Wedges, and Cilantro. The cost to members is $20. This is partially covered by ECBA. If the cost is prohibitive for you please send an email to ecba@ecbirds.org to discuss alternatives.
Drinks: no-host bar

Register/RSVP here

Mindful Birding: Oct 7
2023-10-07 09:30 - 11:00 | OR

Mindful Birding: Sept. 30
2023-09-30 09:30 - 11:00 | OR

September Birders' Night: A History of Oregon Ornithology, From Territorial Days to the Rise of Birding
2023-09-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Environmental Center, 16 N.W. Kansas Ave., Bend, OR
Join us for Birders’ Night with a presentation of “A History of Oregon Ornithology: From Territorial Days to the Rise of Birding” by Alan L. Contreras.

Wednesday Birders
2023-09-20 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
Sept 20 – Smith Rocks trails (state park pass in each vehicle), ag fields to the east, Redmond ponds

Wednesday Birders
2023-09-13 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
Sept 13 – Wickiup, Crane Prairie, Sheep Bridge, etc

Wednesday Birders
2023-09-06 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
September 6 – Hatfield, Houston Lakes and CRWC

Wednesday Birders
2023-08-30 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
August 30 – shorebirds. Hotspots TBD

Wednesday Birders
2023-08-23 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
Aug 23 – Cascade High Lakes. Begin with willows along “kiosk ponds” at Wickiup and loop around to North, Wickiup Butte, etc. Passerines and shorebirds are on the move.

Wednesday Birders
2023-08-16 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
August 16- Lower Bridge, Redmond Sewer Ponds. Willows at Lower Bridge and Lynx could be stuffed with migrants.

Wednesday Birders
2023-08-09 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
August 9 – Haystack for shorebirds, waterfowl. Springs and and Gray Butte if mid-day temp permits.

Wednesday Birders
2023-08-02 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
August 2 – Tumalo Res and Hatfield.

Wednesday Birders
2023-07-26 18:00 - 20:00 | OR
July 26 – p.m. birding Millican area. Finish after dusk with Poorwill. Time TBD

Wednesday Birders
2023-07-19 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
July 19 – Warm Springs. Boat ramp area, trail near sewage treatment area and then Museum trail. Consider supporting the museum by visiting exhibits.

Wednesday Birders
2023-07-12 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
July 12 – Todd Lake, Sparks Lake. Arrive early to find parking. Walk the trails around the lakes for finches, chickadees, RS Hawks and waterfowl. Walk 2 to 3 miles.

Wednesday Birders
2023-07-05 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
July 5 – Santiam Pass, PCT for Northern 3-toed, and Lost Lake

Wednesday Birders
2023-06-28 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
June 28 – Prairie Farm etc. on Green Ridge. Walking along the creek below the dam can be a great spot for thrushes and warblers, i.e., Nashville, etc. Try going up to the hawk watch site for Hermit and Townsend’s, maybe Pileated and Sooty Grouse. Bear Springs and Whiskey Springs can be visited to end the loop. Whiskey Springs is not on the ECBA site resources because it is private. Bird only from the road, 1.7 miles in on 1140 from the 11 Rd.

Wednesday Birders
2023-06-21 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
June 21 – Deschutes River Trail, Lava Island. Some of you have already been there this season and can direct others to spots for highlights. Gray Catbird is the celebrity bird there. Meet at 7:00 for carpooling at the Park and Ride off Simpson, near The Pavilion or meet at 7:30 at the start of birding from the parking area for the river trail. Plan some walking along the trail. The group can plan other birding from there.

Wednesday Birders - June 14
2023-06-14 08:00 - 12:00 | OR
This is a tentative schedule which can always be altered for exciting opportunities for birds elsewhere, adverse road or weather conditions, etc. When directions aren’t given, the intent is to encourage everyone to use the ECBA birding site guide 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.
June 21 – Deschutes River Trail, Lava Island. Some of you have already been there this season and can direct others to spots for highlights. Gray Catbird is the celebrity bird there. Meet at 7:00 for carpooling at the Park and Ride off Simpson, near The Pavilion or meet at 7:30 at the start of birding from the parking area for the river train. Plan some walking along the trail. The group can plan other birding from there.
June 28 – Prairie Farm etc. on Green Ridge. Walking along the creek below the dam can be a great spot for thrushes and warblers, i.e., Nashville, etc. Try going up to the hawk watch site for Hermit and Townsend’s, maybe Pileated and Sooty Grouse. Bear Springs and Whiskey Springs can be visited to end the loop. Whiskey Springs is not on the ECBA site resources because it is private. Bird only from the road, 1.7 miles in on 1140 from the 11 Rd.
July 5 – Santiam Pass, PCT for Northern 3-toed, and Lost Lake.
July 12 – Todd Lake, Sparks Lake. arrive early to find parking. Walk the trails around the lakes for finches, chickadees, RS Hawks and waterfowl. Walk 2 to 3 miles.
July 19 – Warm Springs. Boat ramp area, trail near sewage treatment area and then Museum trail. Consider supporting the museum by visiting exhibits.
July 26 – p.m. birding Millican area. Finish after dusk with Poorwill.
August 2 – Tumalo Res and Hatfield.
August 9 – Haystack for shorebirds, waterfowl. Springs and and Gray Butte if mid day temp permits.
August 16- Lower Bridge, Redmond Sewer Ponds. Willows at Lower Bridge and Lynx could be stuffed with migrants.
Aug 23 – Cascade high Lakes. Begin with willows along “kiosk ponds” at Wickiup and loop around to North, Wickiup Butte, etc. Passerines and shorebirds are on the move.
August 30 – shorebirds. Hotspot to be determined for this date.
September 6 – Hatfield, Houston Lakes and CRWC
Sept 13 – Wickiup, Crane Prairie, Sheep Bridge, etc
Sept 20 – Smith Rocks trails (state park pass in each vehicle), ag fields to the east, Redmond ponds
Sept 27- Haystack, Culver, Metolius and The Cove. Early loons, gulls, Scoters, shorebirds.
October and November. Instead of scheduling spots in advance, will work on using the ECBA website as a source of birding sites, for Crook and Jefferson, with focus on spots new or rarely visited by the group.
Watch COBOL for announcement of meeting and carpooling times and places or for changes in the plan. Wednesdays are group birding where we help each other and learn together, not always a “guided” field day.

Birding Basics session 6: Field Experience - June 8
2023-06-08 07:45 - 10:00 | Shevlin Park, 18920 NW Shevlin Park Rd, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
June Birding Basics: Field Experience

Attention novice birders, birders new to Central Oregon, and those who want a refresher course! ECBA is offering a series of free field experiences designed just for you. Each month, January through June, there will be spots for 14 people to learn about a variety of Central Oregon birds, birding locations, skills, and resources.

Details for the June 1st Birding Basics Field Experience: Woodpeckers and Other Birds of the Varied Shevlin Park Habitats

Topic: Woodpeckers and other birds of the varied Shevlin Park Habitats (& bird books display)
Location: Shevlin Park, Bend
Meeting spot: North side parking lot near Aspen Hall in Shevlin Park. Meet at the nearby picnic shelter in the meadow (just beyond the port-a-potties in the parking lot).
Group Leader: Lynda and Skip Paznokas
Date/Time: June 8, Thursday. 8:00 till approximately 10:00 a.m., with an optional extension. Meet at 7:45. If you want a longer look at the bird books, they will be available starting at 7:30 in the picnic shelter.
Focus: In June, the star of the show at Shevlin Park is the Lewis’s woodpecker. We will look for these unique birds throughout our walk. In the varied environments of the park, we may see pygmy nuthatch, hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, red-naped sapsucker, red-breasted sapsucker, violet-green swallow, tree swallow, dipper, robin, lesser goldfinch, Steller’s jay, flicker, bald eagle, hairy woodpecker, mountain chickadee, and more. We will also discuss the history of Shevlin Park.
Additional resource: A wide variety of bird books will be on display on such topics as bird behavior, backyard birding, reference, regional field guides, etc. Note: Bird books will be on display starting at 7:30 and will be discussed at the beginning of the morning.
What to expect: We will be walking 1-2 miles on level ground. However, after the main part of the field experience, people have the optional opportunity to extend their time, looking for more birds on the ridge with the guides. Expect a steep climb up and steep climb down from the creek to the ridge with loose rocks.
Bring: Binoculars will enrich your experience. Loaner binoculars will be available. Dress in layers for the unpredictable weather of Central Oregon. Remember a hat, water, and sunscreen. You might want hiking sticks if you’re adding the ridge part of the walk. Optional: paper/pen for notes and a camera.
Who should sign up? All ages are welcome. There is a limit of 20 participants. ECBA members and non-members are welcome. Please leave your dog at home. Sign up starting June which will take you to Member Planet. This will get you registered and provide the link to sign the waiver.

Sign up here
If you have questions, e-mail Lynda Paznokas Lpaz@bendnet.com or Gordon Wetzel gordonwetzel@gmail.com. Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to attend.

Descriptions of ECBA Field Experiences with tentative dates:
January: Drake Park, Water Birds of Mirror Pond and Field Optics, led by Gordon Wetzel (postponed will February 5)
February 25: Hatfield Ponds, Exploring Hatfield Ponds and using Merlin Bird ID app, led by Gordon Wetzel
March 9: Old Mill, Bird Identification at the Old Mill District, led by Diane Burgess
April 21: Crooked River Wetlands Complex, Prineville, Identifying Spring Song Birds and Waterfowl and Using Technology to Record the Birds We See, led by Chuck Gates
May 21: Sawyer Park, Identifying Songbirds and Waterfowl by Sight and Sound, led by Aaron Jenkins
June 8: Shevlin Park, Woodpeckers and Other Birds of the Varied Shevlin Park Habitats (and display of bird books), led by Lynda and Skip Paznokas.

Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival
2023-06-01 - 2023-06-04 | OR
ECBA’s signature annual event, the Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival, will be held June 1-4.
The festival was started in 2011 to provide an opportunity to birders to visit a beautiful area and enjoy our local birds. There are 11 nesting species of woodpeckers that exist in the area and there is a good chance to see them all, as well as lots of other cool birds.
Centered in Sisters, the festival is focused on field trips and meeting other birders. The environment is fun, low key, and casual. Local birders lead the tours and group size is restricted by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on USFS lands. We follow ethical birding practices, minimize play backs, and have strict protocols about approaching nests.
The festival entirely organized and run by its volunteers. Named after Dean Hale who was tragically killed in a car accident in 2012, the festival is part of Dean’s legacy as a birder par excellence and consummate conservationist and teacher. In his spirit, we want to share our enthusiasm, help you to see great birds, and have a fun time.
Registration for the event will begin in April.

Birding Basics session 5: Field Experience - May 21st
2023-05-21 07:45 - 10:00 | Sawyer Park, 62999 O. B. Riley Road, Bend, Oregon
May Birding Basics: Field Experience

Attention novice birders, birders new to Central Oregon, and those who want a refresher course! ECBA is offering a series of free field experiences designed just for you. Each month, January through June, there will be spots for 14 people to learn about a variety of Central Oregon birds, birding locations, skills, and resources.

Details for the May 21st Birding Basics: Field Experience:

Topic: Identifying songbirds and waterfowl by sight and sound
Location: Sawyer Park, Bend
Meeting spot: 62999 O.B. Riley Road, Bend (meet at picnic tables by parking lot)
Group Leader: Aaron Jenkins
Date/Time: May 21 (Sunday). Meet at 7:45 a.m., ready to begin at 8:00 a.m. Session lasts till around 10:00 a.m.
Focus: Songbird identification. With ample riparian habitat along the Deschutes River, Sawyer Park is popular among resident and migrant songbird species (and water birds, too). We may encounter various warblers, sparrows, black-headed grosbeaks, warbling vireos, western tanagers, ruby-crowned kinglets, among others.
Skill emphasis: Birding by ear (identifying bird species by their vocalizations)
What to expect: We will be walking 1-2 miles on level ground, which might be muddy and is often windy.
Bring: Binoculars (we will have some loaner binoculars), clean ears, and warm and wind-resistant layers. You might also wish to bring a camera, water, and paper/pen for notes.
Who should sign up? All ages are welcome. There is a limit of 14 participants. ECBA members and non-members are welcome. Please leave your dog at home. Sign up here starting May 1 which will take you to Member Planet. This will get you registered and provide the link to sign the waiver.

www.memberplanet.com/events/eastcascadesaudubonsociety/birdingbasicsfieldexperiencessawyerpark_1

If you have questions, e-mail Gordon Wetzel gordonwetzel@gmail.com or Lynda Paznokas Lpaz@bendnet.com. Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to attend.

Descriptions of ECBA Field Experiences with tentative dates:
January: Drake Park, Water Birds of Mirror Pond and Field Optics, led by Gordon Wetzel (postponed will February 5)
February 25: Hatfield Ponds, Exploring Hatfield Ponds and using Merlin Bird ID app, led by Gordon Wetzel
March 9: Old Mill, Bird Identification at the Old Mill District, led by Diane Burgess
April 21: Crooked River Wetlands Complex, Prineville, Identifying Spring Song Birds and Waterfowl and Using Technology to Record the Birds We See, led by Chuck Gates
May 21: Sawyer Park, Identifying Songbirds and Waterfowl by Sight and Sound, led by Aaron Jenkins
June 8: Shevlin Park, Woodpeckers and Other Birds of the Varied Shevlin Park Habitats (and display of bird books), led by Lynda and Skip Paznokas.
