Fall Migration Birding Tour: Sauvie Island
Details
(LOCATION DIRECTIONS AT BOTTOM)
The sandhill cranes are back! These lovely creatures have the most recognizable call of all winter waterfowl--a loud, almost wooden-sounding sort of rattling bugle that you can hear up to 2.5 miles away! It's more like Africa than Oregon.
Sauvie Island is the holy land for Portland birders, 250 separate species have been spotted in its varied habitats and much of the island has been designated a wildlife area. It's famous for migrating waterfowl and resident raptors, so now's the time to polish up the binoculars and get out there.
We'll meet at the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Eastside Viewing Platform (LOCATION DIRECTIONS AT BOTTOM) and set up our scopes to see who's out on the lake. There's usually sandhills, ducks, coots, mergansers, herons, egrets, swans, geese, and harriers at this spot. Restroom on site.
Then, we'll drive 0.5 mi. further down to gravel Rentenaar Road (look for white building on left) and form a slow caravan to the end, pausing at sloughs and fields along the way for sightings. We'll get out at the terminus and walk up the steep little gravel berm to look out over the fields from a great vantage point. Here, I've spotted rare sparrows, California quail, snow geese, swans, ospreys, white pelicans, eagles, and owls. Unconfirmed restrooms on site.
Then, we'll get back on NW Reeder Road north to a gravel access road and parking area among tall cottonwoods that I know about. We'll walk the road a little ways to check out the otter pond and see who's home and scan the trees for woodpeckers and owls. No restroom on site (but lots of cover, if you know what I mean.)
ATTENTION: You'll need an ODFW Wildlife Area Parking Permit ($10). Lots of stores carry them, too.
Bring $10 cash, your parking permit, water/snacks, binoculars/spotting scope, camera, birding books/apps, and WEATHER appropriate clothing. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.
DIRECTIONS: From the Sauvie Island Bridge, stay left to curve around under the bridge onto NW Gillihan Road. Follow it all the way around the right (east) side of the island for about 6.2 mi. Turn right on NW Reeder Road and go about 2.75 mi. to the gravel parking lot of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Eastside Viewing Platform on your left. Look for my deep blue Honda CRV.