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 the year, so please contact Virginia at vwpalumbo@gmail.com, or 509-860-2129, if you are interested in participating.
Sunday, June 14: Beaver Pond at Sun Mountain, Winthrop
Come birding with leaders Dj Jones and Jen Fisher 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 Patterson Lake Road and expect to be out for two to three hours. The trip is limited to 10 participants. Please email Dj Jones at djtrillium.birder@gmail.com or Jen Fisher at jenwalsh1219@msn.com to register.
Saturday, June 20, 2026 – Big Valley Trail near Winthrop
Enjoy a morning of birding on the Big Valley Trail located between Winthrop and Mazama. Turn onto Dripping Springs Road at HWY 20, MP 186, and continue, bearing left, roughly 1/4 mile to the parking area. We’ll meet at 7:30 am. Possible species in the area include woodpeckers (Downy, Hairy, Pileated, Red-naped Sapsucker); finches (Purple, Cassin’s, Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill); vireos (Western Warbling, Red-eyed); thrushes (Swainson’s, Veery); warblers (Yellow-rumped, Townsend’s, MacGillivray’s), and hummingbirds (Rufous, Calliope). Other possibilities are Hammond’s Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, chickadees, and nuthatches—to name a few! Bring water and snacks and plan to walk on a mostly level trail for two to three hours. The trip is limited to ten birders. To reserve your space, email Pat Leigh at: leighpatricia1@gmail.com
Note: There is a seasonal closure to protect state-endangered sandhill cranes at Big Valley. These cranes are extremely rare in the Methow Valley and Big Valley hosts the only nesting pair ever documented here locally. You can expect to see portions of the trail closed from April through the end of September, but perhaps we’ll see a Sandhill Crane flyover.
Saturday, June 27, 2026 – Bird the Singing Season Before It’s Over, Wenatchee
Join Richard Scranton and Mark Johnston (253-297-0705) as we explore the latter stages of this year’s bird song. Meet at the Olds Station P&R on Penny Road in Wenatchee at 6:30 am and expect to be done birding by 10:00 am. We’ll view as many species as possible, but will pay particular attention to identification by ear. We’ll walk up to three miles over uneven ground, so please wear sturdy footwear. Dress for the weather, and bring liquids, snacks, etc. The trip is limited to ten birders. To sign up email Mark Johnston at toxostoma495@gmail.com.
