MONDAYS: Bird Song Walks at Canemah Bluff Nature Park
Situated near the Willamette Narrows, Canemah Bluff sits on the ridge of an ancient Columbia Basalt flow where Ice Age Floods later washed away the soil, creating a small scabland of rocky outcrops. It is an ideal place for Oregon White Oaks to thrive, rising above wildflower meadows of Camas, Rosy Plectritis, Western Buttercup, large-flowered Blue-eyed Marys, and a very small population of the rare Pale Rock Larkspur.
There are many habitats (including a rich mixed-coniferous forest on the south slope) which are ideal to see an excellent variety of birds. On any given day we should easily find over 30 species, including those more frequently encountered such as Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, Spotted Towhee, and the Pacific NW Song Sparrow, providing ample opportunity to learn their songs and calls. Less frequently encountered birds that we could see or hear include Pileated Woodpecker, Hutton’s Vireo, and Great Horned Owl.
Violet-green Swallow, Orange-crowned Warbler, and waves of Yellow-rumped Warblers will welcome us on our first visits in April. Ruby-crowned Kinglets sing during the first part of April, but will become quite scarce later as they move both northward and to higher elevations.
Turkey Vultures can be numerous as they soar silently along the bluff, searching the riverbank for food. Vaux’s Swifts and both Nashville and Black-throated Gray Warblers arrive by mid-April. Over the second half of April, migrants will increase noticeably, and include Warbling Vireos, Hammond’s and Western (Pacific Slope) Flycatchers, Western Wood-Pewees, and Wilson’s Warblers, until migration peaks during the first week of May. Then will arrive some of the most colorful birds, such as Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Bullock’s Oriole. Waves of migrants will continue through May, adding Swainson’s Thrush, Willow Flycatcher, and large flocks of Cedar Waxwings arriving to feed on Osoberry fruit.
Bird Song Walks at Canemah Bluff are on Mondays beginning April 1 and ending May 20. Walks are held from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. RSVP below!
