Beebe Springs Wildlife Area will now be open year-round again. Virginia Palumbo will be leading once-monthly bird surveys on the third Wednesday of each month. The data from these surveys are shared with Amy Pavelchek, of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, to help assess how the restoration of this former orchard land is doing. Start times are variable throughout theyear, so please contact Virginia at vwpalumbo@gmail.com, or 509-860-2129, if you are interested in participating.
Saturday, May 10: Beaver Pond at Sun Mountain, Winthrop
Come birding with leader Pat Leigh for a morning walk around the beaver pond at Sun Mountain. A nice variety of birds should be present on the pond and in the surrounding riparian habitat. Wear good walking shoes and expect to walk a gentle trail approximately two to three miles around the pond. Bring binoculars, water, and snacks. Meet at 8:00 am at the Chickadee parking lot off of Patterson Lake Road and expect to be out for about three hours. The trip is limited to eight participants. Please email Pat Leigh at patricialeigh1@mac.com to register.
Monday, May 19: Deadhorse Lake, Twisp
Join Julie Hovis for a morning bird walk to Deadhorse Lake. Many birds should be back in the area with a variety of songbirds and waterfowl to be seen. Last year’s trip highlights included good looks at Ruddy Ducks, Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Tree Swallows, Western Bluebirds, Mountain Bluebirds, and Yellow Warblers. Please wear good walking shoes and expect to walk two to four miles over gently rolling trails and dirt roads. Bring binoculars, water, and snacks as needed. Meet at 8:00 am at the Methow Valley Community Center parking lot in Twisp and expect to be out for roughly three hours. The trip is limited to ten participants. Please email Julie Hovis at jahovis711@gmail.com to register.
Saturday, May 31: The Sinlahekin Valley in Spring
Join Art Campbell and Dj Jones in exploring the beautiful bird paradise of the Sinlahekin Valley. We will spend a full day birding from Conconully to Loomis and Palmer Lake, and continuing along Horse Coulee Road on our way back to Omak. With almost all the spring migrants back in our region by the end of May, we’ll have an excellent chance to see many of our region’s breeding birds. Dress for the weather and bring lunch, snacks, water, etc. There will be only limited walking along unpaved roadways. We will meet at 7:00 am in the Safeway parking lot in Omak and expect to return by 5:00 pm. This trip is limited to ten birders. To reserve your space, email Art Campbell at rapakivi@methow.com.
Monday, June 9: Nespelem to Goose Lake and the Aeneas Valley with Dj Jones and Art Campbell
By early June, all the spring breeding birds should be present in our region. In a reprise of the last three year’s highly successful trips, we will spend a full day birding from the Nespelem River to Goose Lake, and continuing on to the Aeneas Valley. We’ll have an excellent chance to see several species that are uncommon in our area, such as American Redstart and Northern Waterthrush. Dress for the weather and bring lunch, snacks, water, etc. There will be only limited walking along unpaved roadways. We will meet at 6:00 am at the Sweet River Bakery in Pateros (203 Lakeshore Drive) and expect to return by 5:00 pm. This trip is limited to ten birders. To reserve your space, email Dj Jones at djtrillium.birder@gmail.com.
Sunday, June 15: Okanogan Highlands Field Trip
Come bird the Okanogan Highlands! This day-long adventure will begin in Tonasket, ascending from the Okanogan Valley to roam through the varied habitats of the Highlands and sample its wonderful bird life. We hope to see up to 90 species in the cliffs, wet meadows, shrub steppe, grassland, forest, riparian, wetlands, and open waters of the Highlands. Plan to walk short distances over level to slightly rolling terrain. Please bring lunch, water, sun protection, and anything else you need to enjoy a day in the Highlands with the birds. Meet at 7:30 am in Tonasket with projected end time of 4:30pm. Group size is limited to 10 participants. To reserve your space and for directions on where to meet, contact Todd Thorn at water.thrush@yahoo.com.