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Spotted Owl photo by Ken Bevis.
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FIRST SATURDAY BIRDWALK
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Since November of 2002 KAS has offered the monthly First Saturday BirdWalk
whether there be rain, wind, snow, or sunshine. One need not know anything
about birds or nature. Trip leaders and participants will eagerly provide
the knowledge and answer any questions. All you need is a pair of
binoculars and to dress for the weather. Walking on uneven ground takes
two-three hours. Meet at 8:00 AM at the parking lot to Irene Rinehart
Riverfront Park (Ellensburg), located on Umptanum Road where the bridge
crosses the Yakima River. |
"A Birder's Guide to Kittitas County "
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Download the Guide 
1.5mb |
Errata WORD document 21k |
Where to get the guide. WORD document 21k |
2012 Field Trips
| Date | Event | Location and Details |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 4 Saturday |
First Saturday Birdwalk, Rinehart Park | Hoping to find the winter residents - ducks, grebes, hawks and forest birds, plus any surprises, that we missed in January. 2-3 hour walk; Jan and Steve lead; 933-1179 for info. |
| Feb 18 Saturday |
Upper County Feeder Tour | The places where birds congregate in winter: feeders with food and shelter. A look at seed and suet eaters in yards with popular feeding stations. In winter a bigger challenge is finding open water. A lot of what we see and where we see will depend on that. A search for swans and waterfowl at nearby ponds may be in order, and some other forest birds will complete the list. Plan to bring a lunch. Limit of 12 people. Cricket Webb will lead; please call 509-674-4035. |
| March 3 | First Saturday Birdwalk, Rinehart Park | The migration is just beginning. Some early birds in the park might include robin, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, even a swallow. 2-3 hour walk; Jeb and Gloria Baldi lead; 933-1558 for info. |
| March 17 Saturday |
Sandhill Cranes, Othello and environs | Cranes tarry awhile on their yearly migration through our state, thanks to farmers who put out corn for them; plus waterfowl are still on central Washington ponds. (Details to be announced.) |
| April 7th Saturday |
First Saturday Birdwalk, Rinehart Park | It’s Spring! We can expect arrivals of some swallows, kinglets, Osprey, blackbirds, and maybe a Yellow-rumped Warbler. 3 hour walk; Gloria and Jeb Baldi lead; 933-1558 for info. |
| April 14 Saturday (plus Sunday option) |
Nisqually Delta and NWR, Olympia | A wondrous wetland where Mt. Rainier’s big river meets the sound, largely preserved for wildlife, with more reclamation on-going to make it even more natural. We’ll canvass those interested about a possible overnight a 2 birding days. 5 hours of total road time. Call Steve and Jan, 933-1179. |
| April 21 Saturday |
Confluence Park, Wenatchee | Where the Wenatchee River flows into the Columbia a rich food source attracts a wide variety of birds. The 200-acre Confluence State Park provides a range of habitats in a fairly easy walkable loop. Highlights may include Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Black-crowned Night-heron, both Northern and Loggerhead Shrike, Laughing Gulls, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Cat-bird, Chat, Bittern, Sora and a whole lot of warblers. We will leave at 7 am to get there earlier in the day. Bring a lunch or plan to buy one at the bakery. We will also stop at the Discover trail on our way home. (we can vote on where to eat - in the orchard at the Bakery or along the trail.) Dress in layers, the climate changes along the way. Please call Cricket Webb, 509-674-4035. |
| April 28 Saturday |
Columbia Basin Birds | Marianne Gordon has led this trip for many years and finds that the last weekend in April is especially bird-rich with 50+ species expected. Waterfowl and a few cranes still ply the fields and ponds; burrowing owls are a possibility. Car circuit of Columbia River, Crab Creek, Othello area and Columbia NWR. Call Steve for information, 933-1179. |
| May 5 Saturday |
First Saturday Birdwalk, Rinehart Park | May is just about the best month to see many songbirds arriving at Rinehart to mate and nest. Also passing through are colorful sights like Townsend’s Solitaire, Western Tanager, and Nashville and Yellow-rumped Warblers. 3 hour walk; Jeb and Gloria Baldi lead; 933-1558 for info. |
| May 10-13 Thursday to Sunday |
4-day Malheur Wetlands | An encore to last year’s trip to watch birds assemble at this amazing central Oregon basin of rivers and lakes. This year’s trip will be about 2 weeks later, so slightly warmer, possibly with more arriving migrants and fewer stopover geese - plus maybe a mosquito or 2 - depending on La Niņa. Accommodations (3 nights at Malheur field station) and dinner fare (local dining spots) similar to last year. Call Steve and Jan for reservations, 933-1179. |
| May 19 Saturday |
Naneum and Colockum Forest and Stream | Colorful and vocal passerines, nuthatches, woodpeckers and maybe a hummer, as we search from the north margin of our valley up into the pines. Previous trips found Black Swifts, a chat, and bluebirds nesting in aspens near our lunch spot. Leader Steve Hall; please call 925-4877. |
| May 26 Saturday |
Wenas Area Birding | Join west-side Audubon members on a bird-finding walk in prime east-side riparian and forest-edge habitat. Flycatchers, orioles, warblers, vireos, Picidae, and bluebirds await your inspection. Tentative location is Hardy Canyon, a 3-5 mile walking trip. Participants coming from Ellensburg will rendezvous on the Umtanum-Wenas road at a specified time and place. Leader, final location and details to be announced in the May Hooter. |
| June 2 Saturday |
First Saturday Birdwalk, Rinehart Park | Barring a windy AM this is THE Saturday to see the most bird species at our traditional park site. Nesting is in progress in the cottonwood forest, with waxwings, warblers, woodpeckers, pewees, orioles, swallows and cowbirds in attendance; a few migrants like Spotted Sandpiper are still coming (and going). 3 hour walk; Gloria and Jeb Baldi lead; 933-1558 for info. |
| June 9 Saturday |
Toppenish NWR and Old Fort Simcoe | Birds to go looking for are Bobolink at their traditional fields near the reserve, and Grasshopper Sparrows. More grassland birds can be expected on Toppenish ridge, and Lewis’ Woodpecker and who knows what warblers nesting in the pine-oak habitat of Fort Simcoe. Jeb and Gloria lead; call 933-1558 for info. |
| June 16 Saturday |
Robinson Canyon | A morning’s walk up a pine and sage valley close to home, and return by 1 PM. Meet 7 AM at Super 1 parking lot. Steve and Jan lead; 933-1179 for info. |
| June 23 Saturday |
Lake Wenatchee/Tall Timbers | Eastern Cascade woodland birds and a view of snowy peaks at the mountain cabin of Gerry and Marilyn Sorenson. Bring lunch goodies. RSVP at 509-968-485. Meeting spot to be arranged. |
| June 30 Saturday |
Sage Steppe to Columbia River | Join Deb to explore our iconic habitat and see Sage Thrashers, Brewer’s Sparrows and Mountain Bluebirds nesting along the Vantage Highway. Includes a special search for Burrowing Owls, and we can expect other brushy birds and raptors overhead. Deb Essman, leader; please call 968-4532. |
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Kittitas Audubon Field Trip Policy
~For additonal information on any of the above trips, call Steve Moore, 509-933-1179.~Beginners are encouraged to join any field trip. ~Carpool guidelines are twenty-five cents ($0.25) per mile divided by the number of people in the auto, excluding the driver. ~Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or adult. ~Be prepared with appropriate footwear and clothing for changing weather. ~Bring a lunch, drinks, and snacks for trips that go beyond midday. ~No pets, please. ~Bring binoculars and a field guide. ~Have fun and enjoy being out-of-doors. |
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