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Birding Day: Whale Spotting at Ecola State Park and Haystack Rock Birding *FULL*
Bird Alliance of Oregon presents:
Birding Day: Whale Spotting at Ecola State Park and Haystack Rock Birding
Spring is migration time for Gray Whales as they’re making their way north. During this time of year they’re migrating north from their breeding grounds in Baja California towards Alaska. About 25,000 Gray Whale males make this journey each spring and fall.
Join us as we scan the ocean for migrating whales! We’ll look for spouts, flukes, and if we’re lucky breaching whales. We’ll also scan for other wildlife as well such as harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and migrating shorebirds and seabirds such as Common Murres andTufted Puffins. We will spend 3 hours here scanning for whales. Chris Williams will be the guide and give an overview of gray whale migration, anatomy, their life history, and what we may see them doing. Spotting scopes and binoculars (if needed) provided.
Afterwards we will head over to Cannon Beach to do some birding around Haystack Rock where we will observe birds such as Common Murre, Black Oystercatchers, Harlequin Ducks, and if we’re lucky an early Tufted Puffin.
- This is a self driving trip. We will meet on the Oregon Coast.
- Participants should bring warm layers, water, lunch, snacks, sun protection, binoculars, and a seat if preferred. We will be standing in one place for most of the trip.
Accessibility
Distance: Up to 2
Elevation changes: None
Trail: Mostly walking along the beach, both soft and hard sand. Other trails are paved. We’ll be standing for a long period of time at Ecola State Park. Please bring a chair if you’d like!
Pacing: Slow
Rest Stops: We will have breaks in between stops but little opportunity for rest stops at each location.
Sun Exposure: Full
Amenities (bathrooms and parking): Bathrooms available at both stops
Public transit: This is a self-driving trip.
Birding Day Details
- Date: April 5, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Class fee: $45 members / $65 non-members
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This is a self-driving trip and we will meet on the Oregon Coast. Participants should dress for the weather and bring all the food and drinks they will need for the day.
*Meeting location will be emailed to you by your leader several days before the field trip.
- Register!
Trip Leader
Chris Williams
Chris has been interested in birds and wildlife since he was a child. Chris grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where he first started to make observations of the natural world. He received a BS in Zoology from The Evergreen State College where he was able to get hands-on experience in ornithology, marine mammalogy, and tropical ecology. Upon graduating Chris worked for Audubon South Carolina where he participated in ongoing prothonotary warbler studies and led kayak and canoe tours through a swamp. He strives to create a more inclusive birding community and bring traditionally underrepresented groups into outdoor spaces.