Portland Birding Meetup Group

Portland Area Birding

1. Purpose of the Group
   • Connect Portland area birders, photographers, and naturalists.
   • Share seasonal intel on species movement, hotspots, and behavior.
   • Build fieldcraft skills: tracking, timing, habitat reading, and ethical wildlife practice.
   • Offer hybrid participation: in person outings + Zoom learning sessions.
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2. Who It’s For
   • Beginners wanting guidance and a welcoming entry point.
   • Intermediate birders looking to sharpen ID and behavior reading.
   • Photographers who want to capture more than “perched bird on a stick”—feeding, hunting, flight, territorial displays.
   • Naturalists who enjoy mapping habitat, food webs, and seasonal patterns.
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3. Meeting Structure
   A. Monthly Zoom Session (60–75 min)
   • Seasonal Forecast: What’s moving through Portland this month.
   • Hotspot Spotlight: Koll Wetlands, Oaks Bottom, Fernhill, Ridgefield, Sauvie Island, etc.
   • Behavior Deep Dive: One species per month—feeding strategies, calls, flight cues, habitat preferences.
   • Photo/Field Review: Members share 1–3 images or observations.
   • Upcoming Field Trip Preview.
   B. Twice Monthly Field Outings
   • Rotating locations across the metro area.
   • Focus on timing, approach, wind/sun angles, and reading microhabitats.
   • Optional photography coaching in the field.
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4. Sample Monthly Themes
   • January: Ducks, raptors, winter sparrows, and waterfowl behavior.
   • March: Early migrants, courtship displays, and song learning.
   • May: Peak migration—warblers, flycatchers, shorebirds.
   • July: Juvenile behavior and quiet season tracking.
   • September: Fall shorebirds and raptor movement.
   • November: Urban birding and storm pattern strategies.
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5. Group Values
   • Ethical birding: distance, respect, no playback in sensitive areas.
   • Accessibility: all skill levels welcome.
   • Curiosity over competition.
   • Community knowledge sharing and seasonal awareness.