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.
Saturday, May 4, 2026: Deadhorse Lake, Twisp
Join Julie Hovis and Torre Stockard for a morning bird walk to Deadhorse Lake. A good variety of songbird and waterfowl species should be back in the area, so this is a good early-season opportunity to brush-up on your birding skills. Species seen on this trip in the past include Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-tailed Hawk, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Tree Swallow, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, American Goldfinch, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-winged Blackbird, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Lazuli Bunting. 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 and expect to be out for approximately three hours. We’ll meet at 8:00 am at the Twisp Town Park at 325 N. Lincoln Street and will carpool from there. The trip is limited to ten birders. For more information or to register, email Julie Hovis at jahovis711@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026: 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 Omak and expect to return by 5:00 pm. This trip is limited to ten birders. To reserve your space and for information on where to meet in Omak, email Art Campbell at rapakivi@methow.com.
Monday, May 25, 2026: River Run Trail, Mazama
Please join Dj Jones and Torre Stockard for a morning of birding on the River Run Trail near Mazama. 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! We’ll meet at 7:30 am at Jack’s Trailhead on Highway 20 approximately two miles west of the turnoff to Mazama. 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 Dj Jones at djtrillium.birder@gmail.com
