Birding by Ear
2026-03-31 08:00 - 09:30, 2026-04-07 08:00 - 09:30, 2026-04-14 08:00 - 09:30, 2026-04-21 08:00 - 09:30, 2026-04-28 08:00 - 09:30, 2026-05-05 08:00 - 09:30, 2026-05-12 08:00 - 09:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sawyer Park, 62999 O. B. Riley Road, Bend, Oregon
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
2026-04-01 08:00, 2026-04-08 08:00, 2026-04-15 08:00, 2026-04-22 08:00, 2026-04-29 08:00
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: dukedt@gmail OR brian.macdonald9@gmail.com or brianmacdonald0458 in Discord

Crooked River Wetlands Guided Bird Walk
2026-04-04 07:45 - 10:00 | Crooked River Wetlands Complex, 4035 NW Rimrock Acres Loop in Prineville, OR, 4035 NW Rimrock Acres Loop, Prineville, OR, 97754, United States
In 2026, Wetlands Walks will be held on the first and third Saturdays of the month starting in April and running through September. The first walk will be April 4, 2026 and the last walk of the year will be September 19, 2026. No walks October through March.
Walks will begin at 8:00AM and conclude at 10:00AM. We gather at 7:45AM at the Crooked River Wetlands
Pavillion at 4035 NW Rimrock Acres Loop in Prineville. Walks will be about 2 miles.
There is no drinkable water at this facility so bring water and dress for Central Oregon
weather. A 4-person golf cart is available to carry those who can’t walk the distance.
For more information (including reserving space on the golf cart), contact Chuck Gates at 541-280-4957. Or email CRWCTOURS@cityofprineville.com
Sponsored by Prineville Bird Club and Crooked River Volunteers

ECBA Board Meeting
2026-04-07 16:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-05 16:00 - 18:00
East Cascades Bird Alliance Board of Directors meets monthly, on the first Tuesday.

Birders' Night--The Bird–Caterpillar Connection with LeeAnn Kriegh
2026-04-09 18:00 - 19:30 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Caterpillars are the single most important insect in the diet of most terrestrial birds, yet our knowledge of these larval marvels often begins and ends with The Very Hungry Caterpillar. So, let’s get caught up on the latest research. We’ll explore the life cycles of each of the 160,000 species of caterpillars (or at least a few of the best-known), discuss why these bristly sausages are so vital to nestling diets, and learn a few simple ways we can boost caterpillar populations in our own backyards. LeeAnn Kriegh is a woolly bear enthusiast and author of The Nature of Bend and The Nature of Portland. She’ll have the 2025 editions of both books available for sale at the talk.
The program will start at 6pm. Feel free to come early for dinner and a beverage. There is typically a nice group there by 5:00pm or so.
Seating is first come, first serve, so come early!
And Worthy Brewing offers a nice Happy Hour Menu from 3-6pm.

Sunriver Bird Walk
2026-04-11 08:30 - 11:30, 2026-04-25 08:30 - 11:30 | Sunriver Nature Center, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
We will meet at the Sunriver Nature Center at 8:30 am on Saturday. Bring binoculars, water, and snacks. Dress for the weather. We will walk 3 – 4 miles with some uneven terrain. Restrooms available. We will finish around 11:30 am depending on the bird sightings. Walk led by Tom Lawler and Diane Burgess.
We will do two Sunriver Bird Walks a month April – September. Specific dates and times will be posted on COBOL. Please be aware the start up times change throughout the months.

Please sign an ECBA activity waiver for this field trip. Sign once for the whole year. The waiver is found on the East Cascades Bird Alliance website under Events. Or, use this link: https://www.memberplanet.com/s/eastcascadesaudubonsociety/ecasactivitywaiver

Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
2026-04-16 - 2026-04-19
Registration opens February 14.
https://migratorybirdfestival.com/

Crooked River Wetlands Guided Bird Walk
2026-04-18 07:45 - 10:00, 2026-05-02 07:45 - 10:00 | Crooked River Wetlands Complex, 4035 NW Rimrock Acres Loop in Prineville, OR, 4035 NW Rimrock Acres Loop, Prineville, OR, 97754, United States
In 2026, Wetlands Walks will be held on the first and third Saturdays of the month starting in April and running through September. The first walk will be April 4, 2026 and the last walk of the year will be September 19, 2026. No walks October through March.
Walks will begin at 8:00AM and conclude at 10:00AM. We gather at 7:45AM at the Crooked River Wetlands
Pavillion at 4035 NW Rimrock Acres Loop in Prineville. Walks will be about 2 miles.
There is no drinkable water at this facility so bring water and dress for Central Oregon
weather. A 4-person golf cart is available to carry those who can’t walk the distance.
For more information (including reserving space on the golf cart), contact Chuck Gates at 541-280-4957 or send email to CRWCTOURS@cityofprineville.com
Sponsored by Prineville Bird Club and Crooked River Volunteers

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST SHOREBIRD SURVEYS
2026-04-24 - 2026-04-30
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY — INTERMOUNTAIN WEST SHOREBIRD SURVEYS
Spring Survey Window: April 24-30, 2026
https://www.imwss.org/
Shorebirds represent important species diversity and are indicators of environmental health.
Wetland sites across the Intermountain West are oases for migratory shorebirds. A comprehensive shorebird survey was last completed across the region in 1989-1995, but much has changed in the past 30 years. This Shorebird Survey is replicating the census of the past so we can better manage shorebirds into the future.
The shorebird survey objectives are:

Document the distribution and abundance of shorebirds at over 200 survey areas during the spring and fall migrations from 2022-2026.

Use survey data to compare distribution and abundance with the historical shorebird survey from 1989-1995.

Identify factors that influence abundance of shorebirds.

We are recruiting volunteers to survey at wetland sites across the West. Join us and be a part of the collective impact!

CANCELED: Birding Bio Blitz at Hatfield Ponds
2026-04-25 07:00 - 09:00 | Hatfield Ponds, 22395 McGrath Rd, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the second day of City Nature Challenge with community bird watching bioblitz event at Hatfield Ponds!
The free, family-friendly bird identification walk is sponsored by Think Wild and East Cascades Bird Alliance.
Come learn to identify native Central Oregon birds by sight and by sound. Binoculars and field guides are provided.
Register at: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/Of70_RWsVoI-VIvUX3v7TA

2026 Earth Day Fair
2026-04-25 11:00 - 15:00 | Alpenglow Park, 61049 SE 15th St,, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
Visit the ECBA booth at the 2026 Earth Day Fair at Alpenglow Park in Bend.
https://envirocenter.org/tec-events/earth-day-fair/

World Migratory Bird Day
2026-05-09

High Desert Museum - Volunteers needed
2026-05-09 06:45 - 14:00
High Desert Museum provides an excellent habitat for migratory bird species. Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day by volunteering!
ECBA is looking for 4 more volunteers for Breakfast and Birding at the High Desert museum, 6:45 – 9:00am. Plus, we need 2-4 more volunteers for tabling at the museum 10:00-2:00pm.

Email Wendy Andrick if you are interested in volunteering at:
ecba@ecbirds.org

Sunriver Bird Walk
2026-05-09 08:00 - 11:30
We will meet at the Sunriver Nature Center at 8:00 am on Saturday. Bring binoculars, water, and snacks. Dress for the weather. We will walk 3 – 4 miles with some uneven terrain. Restrooms available. We will finish around 11:30 am depending on the bird sightings. Walk led by Tom Lawler and Diane Burgess.
We will do two Sunriver Bird Walks a month April – September. Specific dates and times will be posted on COBOL. Please be aware the start up times change throughout the months.

Please sign an ECBA activity waiver for this field trip. Sign once for the whole year. The waiver is found on the East Cascades Bird Alliance website under Events. Or, use this link: https://www.memberplanet.com/s/eastcascadesaudubonsociety/ecasactivitywaiver

Jewell Elementary Outreach - Volunteers needed
2026-05-14 09:30 - 12:30, 2026-05-15 09:00 - 12:00
Jewell Elementary Education Outreach
Thursday May 14 — In class presentation
Friday May 15 — Walk to Alpenglow Park to look for birds.

Thursday, May 14th: Come to share a presentation and some specimens, eg bird nests, eggs or habitat. We just had a field trip that focused on feathers, feet and beaks with some specimens about this.

Class A: 10-10:30am
Class B: 10:30-11:00
Class: 11:45-12:15

Friday May 15th: Have a visual/simple word “nature checklist” for students would be great with pencils and clipboards. If you’d like that translated into Spanish, send us it word document form and we can send it to translation through the district office. That may give students something to do and focus on as they walk.

Tentative schedule:
9:15-9:45am Walk from Jewell to Alpenglow park
9:45-11:00 Field Trip (hour and 15 minutes)
11:00-11:15 Lunch (at climbing rock wall section of park)
11:15-11:45 Walk to return to Jewell

Email Wendy Andrick if you are interested in volunteering at:
ecba@ecbirds.org

Birders' Night: Visions of Desert Life with Alan Contreras
2026-05-14 18:00 - 19:30 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Visions of Desert Life with Alan Contreras
Long-time Oregon birder and writer Alan Contreras will present an unusual program of poems, stories and images related to birds, wildlife and the human experience of eastern Oregon. He will read from his own work and the work of other writers including Ursula K. Le Guin, Ada Hastings Hedges, Ellen Waterston, C.E.S. Wood and others. These readings will be accented with images by visual artists and photographers working in eastern Oregon and perhaps excerpts from music inspired by eastern Oregon.
Alan L. Contreras, a fourth-generation Oregonian, has published several books about the natural world as well as professional work in higher education, poetry and essays. His recent work includes A History of Oregon Ornithology (senior editor, OSU Press 2022), Edge of Awe: Experiences of the Malheur-Steens Country (editor, OSU Press 2019), and Collected Poems of Ada Hastings Hedges (ed. with Ulrich Hardt, OSU Press 2020). He is currently working on a book on the Oregon desert as a source of creative inspiration. He will have books for sale at the meeting.
The program will start at 6pm. Feel free to come early for dinner and a beverage. There is typically a nice group there by 5:00pm or so.
Seating is first come, first serve, so come early!
And Worthy Brewing offers a nice Happy Hour Menu from 3-6pm.
