ECBA Board Meeting
2025-05-06 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-06-03 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OR
East Cascades Bird Alliance Board of Directors meets monthly, on the first Tuesday.

Wednesday Birders
2025-05-07 08:00, 2025-05-14 08:00, 2025-05-21 08:00, 2025-05-28 08:00 | OR
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

Trout Ck Ranch Wet Meadows Bird Surveys (volunteer)
2025-05-09 15:00 - 2025-05-10 10:00, 2025-06-13 15:00 - 2025-06-14 10:00 | OR
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY — Trout Creek Ranch Wet Meadows Bird Surveys
Oregon Desert Land Trust (ODLT) is seeking bird surveyors to assist coordinators in sunrise point counts May 9-10, June 13-14, July 11-12 in the wet meadows of Trout Creek Ranch Headquarters. These 4-hour wetland surveys will be used to determine overall abundance of migratory birds and are important in guiding restoration plans.
Overnight stays are required and we have accommodations for sleeping indoors, outdoors, or vehicle camping (see registration form for details).
Surveys will begin around sunrise and end by 10 AM each morning. In May, we’ll deploy audio recording units and retrieve them in July. Survey start points are a 5-10 minute walk from parking/housing.
For more details and registration, please go to:
https://www.oregondesertlandtrust.org/bird-surveys/

National Migratory Bird Day
2025-05-10 08:00 - 10:00 | Lake Creek Lodge, 13375 SW Forest Service Rd., Camp Sherman, OR, 97730, United States

Sunriver Bird Walk
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.

Birding by Ear 2025
2025-05-13 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-05-20 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-05-27 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-06-03 08:00 - 09:30 | OR
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

Birders' Night: Bird Restoration with Oregon Desert Land Trust
2025-05-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Join us for Birders’ Night with a presentation of bird restoration on Oregon Desert Land Trust properties.
The Oregon Desert Land Trust conserves lands in the high desert to benefit wildlife and people. In seven years, they’ve conserved more than 20,000 acres from Brothers to the Owyhee Canyonlands. Their outreach coordinator, Kharli Rose, will share their scope of work and current volunteer restoration projects, including creating artificial burrows for burrowing owls and wetland bird surveys that go from May-July. Learn more to join a count in Fields, Oregon!
https://www.oregondesertlandtrust.org/
https://www.oregondesertlandtrust.org/bird-surveys/

Annual Ladd Marsh Bird Festival
2025-05-16 - 2025-05-18 | Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, 59116 Pierce Road, La Grande, OR, 97850, United States
The Annual Ladd Marsh Bird Festival is held at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area located about 7 miles south of La Grande, Oregon. The wildlife area, normally closed to visitors during nesting season, will be open all weekend, providing increased opportunities to see an abundance of ducks, geese, raptors, passerines, and shorebirds. During past festivals, upwards of 150 species of birds have been seen over the weekend.
https://friendsofladdmarsh.org/

Crooked River Wetlands Saturday Bird Walk
2025-05-17 07:45 - 10:00 | OR
In 2025, 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 5, 2025 and
the last walk of the year will be September 20, 2025.
Walks will begin at 8:00AM and conclude at 10:00AM. The walks are approximately 2
miles long and last about 2 hours. We gather at 7:45AM at the Crooked River Wetlands
Parking Lot at 4035 NW Rimrock Acres Loop in Prineville.
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.
Email Chuck Gates if you would like a seat(s) on the cart. cgates326@gmail.com

Ochoco Preserve Bird Walk
2025-05-20 08:30 - 11:30 | OR
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 | OR
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, 2025-06-28 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.

2025 Summer Lake Wildlife Area Shorebird Survey
2025-05-31 - 2025-06-01 | Summer Lake, 53447 OR-31, Summer Lake, OR, 97640, United States
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY – Summer Lake Shorebird Survey
Where: Summer Lake Wildlife Area
What: Volunteers conduct counts of all shorebirds and other waterbirds (excluding waterfowl and American coot) across the entire Summer Lake Wildlife Area.
When: Saturday & Sunday, May 31 and June 1, 2025
Why: The survey was established in 2009 to monitor breeding shorebird and other waterbird populations and to document bird responses to habitat enhancement and management actions in each of Summer Lake Wildlife Area’s habitat management units. The Summer Lake Shorebird Survey has been conducted annually (except in 2020) since 2009.
On average, over 3,200 shorebirds representing the 9 breeding species have been counted. In addition, about 5 non-breeding shorebird species have been found each year.
Since 2009, a total of 22 different shorebird species have been recorded including uncommon or rare species such as red knot, wandering tattler and whimbrel.
Other waterbirds such as waders, gulls & terns, grebes, pelicans & cormorants, sandhill cranes and rails are also counted and average over 1,300 individuals and over 20 species.
How: Volunteers count from vehicles along roads, and/or by foot hiking along dikes and levees, cross country and/or wading through marsh and shallow ponds in order to survey all types of wetland habitats.
In the past, bicycles, canoes and kayaks have been used in some areas.
Binoculars are essential and the use of spotting scopes in many areas is encouraged.
Volunteers meet at River Campground on Summer Lake Wildlife Area at 7:30 am and are assigned specific areas to survey.
Historically, many volunteer have camped one of the Wildlife Area’s four primitive sites. Others have chosen commercial lodging at the Lodge at Summer Lake.
In the past, the group has found about 120 species of birds throughout the weekend of birding.

Please contact Marty St. Louis for additional details and information.
PO Box 68, Summer Lake, OR 97640
Cell phone: (541)-219-0879 or email: stlouismartin541@gmail.com

Browns Mountain Bird Hike
2025-06-01 08:00 | OR
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 | OR
Join ECBA for a free guided birding outings on June 6-8. Details and link to register forthcoming.

Crooked River Wetlands Saturday Bird Walk
2025-06-07 07:45 - 10:00, 2025-06-21 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

Osprey Natural History Talk + Osprey Watch Info Session
2025-06-07 16:00 - 17:00 | Redmond public library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States
Learn all about Osprey Watch, a growing citizen science project that tracks nesting success of ospreys across habitats, substrates, and ecosystems. This is your chance to discover how you can contribute meaningful data to help researchers better understand this iconic raptor’s reproductive trends and environmental challenges.
The event will include:
-A dynamic presentation from Think Wild
-Opportunities to sign up as a volunteer Osprey Watcher
– Tips from Pacific Power on utility-specific risks, nest platform installation, and reporting problem nests or mortalities
-Q&A and connection with local birders, naturalists, and photographers
-Updates on potential osprey nest camera projects in Central Oregon
-Participation from the East Cascades Bird Alliance, East Cascades Camera Club, and more!
For questions about this event, contact Kylie (Klanuza7290@gmail.com)
Space is limited, so RSVP to reserve your spot.

Birders' Night: eBird 2.0
2025-06-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend, OR, 97701
Matt Cahill will discuss how to get the most out of eBird.

LaPine State Park - Bird Walk on the Deschutes
2025-06-14 09:00 | OR
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
