A year of birding across Oregon

This June I turn 40 gulp, and to mourn my youth/celebrate still being alive, I’m planning a couple of extended trips around the Pacific Northwest. I’ll be revisiting some old favorites and exploring some new places too — and I’ll have my sketchbook along for the ride, ready for nature inspiration.

I love planning my travelling and hiking adventures: mapping out routes, hunting for off‑the‑beaten‑path stops, and daydreaming about what I might see. As part of that research, I’ve been digging into potential birding spots along the way. So I thought I’d share some of that with you.

Here are some of the top birding spots I’m hoping to visit — and what makes them special.

Top birding spots in Oregon: how to use this guide

When you think of Oregon, the first picture that pops into your head may well be lush, rainy Portland. But Oregon’s habitats are far more diverse than you might expect. Here in Bend, for instance, it’s usually sunny and dry — we’re in the high desert!

As someone from a small island, let me tell you: Oregon is big (around twice the size of England). And within that space is a wealth of different ecosystems — from the temperate rainforests of the Coast Range, to the towering conifer forests of the Cascades, to the arid shrublands and canyon country of eastern Oregon.

That diversity means there are lots of different birds to spot, depending on where you go. And because Oregon is such an important stopover for migratory birds, what you’ll see can vary dramatically with the season.

If you’re planning a trip to Oregon and want to do some birding, here are some ideas for where to go depending on the season and the kind of experience you’re after.

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Fall can also be spectacular, with sandhill cranes gathering in large numbers before heading to California’s Central Valley for the winter. I’m looking forward to taking my dad (also a keen birder) in early September to hopefully catch some birds resting up before their long flight south.

Combine your trip to Malheur with:

• A soak at Crystal Crane Hot Springs
• A hike up or around Steens Mountain
• A visit to the incredible Alvord Desert

Summer Lake Wildlife Area & Lake Abert

Summer Lake Wildlife Area is a bit of a hidden gem. It’s not really that far away from Bend (2 hours drive is nothing in America!) but it definitely feels off the beaten path. Like Malheur, it’s an important stopover for migrating birds in March and April, and an important breeding spot for breeding waterfowl and shorebirds from May through July. 

Combine your trip to Summer Lake & Lake Abert with:

• A swim in the hot spring fed pool at Summer Lake Hot Springs
• A wonderfully secluded hike on Winter Rim
• Spring wildflower-spotting in the meadows of Gearhart Mountain Wilderness

Northern Oregon Coast

This summer I’ll be making a much anticipated trip up the northern Oregon coast on my way to Olympic National Park. I’m so excited to explore this landscape of rich tidal estuaries and romantic rugged headlands – and there are so many birding spots I want to check out on the way. Here are a few I’m especially looking forward to visiting:

Tillamook Bay

The shallow waters of Tillamook Bay expose wide stretches of mud at low tide, creating a feast for wintering waterfowl, including Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter, and Bufflehead. Brown Pelicans are present from May through December, and Great Blue Herons are resident year‑round.

Cape Meares State Park and National Wildlife Refuge 

Just south of Tillamook Bay, this headland is known for its iconic lighthouse, steep cliffs, and old‑growth forests of western hemlock and Sitka spruce. It’s also a nesting area for Tufted Puffin, Common Murre, and Pigeon Guillemot. Peregrine Falcons nest here from early May to July. And beyond birds, there’s the chance to see Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, and even Gray Whales.

Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach 

This dramatic sea stack is another important nesting area for seabirds, including Cormorants, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemots, and Rhinoceros Auklets. It’s also supposedly the best place on the Oregon coast to see Tufted Puffin from April to August. I’m very much looking forward to exploring the tide pools here too.

Fort Stevens State Park

At the northern tip of the Oregon coast, across the Columbia River estuary from Washington, this state park sits on the site of a former military installation and features a shipwreck. It’s also a good place to see sea ducks. And if you visit during fall migration, you might catch thousands of Sooty Shearwaters streaming past the South Jetty.

Klamath Basin

The Klamath Basin is a crucial staging area for many migratory birds and it’s long been a feature of my own migrations between Oregon and California. Highway 97 winds right along the eastern shore of Upper Klamath Lake and it’s always a highlight to see Mt. McLoughlin across the mirrorlike water on a fine day — and the plethora of birds along its margins. 

I always appreciated this scenic part of my journey, but as I started planning intentional stops along the way, my appreciation for the wider region grew. The Klamath Basin covers a vast area and includes a variety of ecosystems and landscapes, along with numerous opportunities for bird and wildlife spotting.

A natural place to start is the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which encompasses six refuges, including Upper Klamath Lake, Lower Klamath Lake, and Tule Lake. The lakes and marshlands support a huge array of birds — too many to name here — but surely the highlight of any trip would be watching Western and Clark’s Grebes perform their rushing ceremony on Upper Klamath Lake.

The area is also home to the largest concentration of wintering Bald Eagles in the lower 48, with many roosting together in Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The wider Klamath Basin watershed includes other habitats too, including the mountainous areas around Crater Lake, where you can spot Mountain Quail, Northern Goshawk, and several species of owl.

Zumwalt Prairie

I only recently learned about this preserve in northeastern Oregon, and now I’m determined to go. It’s part of one of the largest remaining areas of Pacific Northwest bunchgrass in the U.S. and a vital habitat for many species of wildlife.

Zumwalt Prairie is an incredible place to see wildflowers and butterflies. It also has one of the highest concentrations of breeding raptors in the country, including Golden Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, and Prairie Falcons. The grasslands are home to many ground‑nesting songbirds too, including horned larks and several species of sparrow. What’s not to love?

The reserve is privately owned by The Nature Conservancy, and much of it is off‑limits to visitors for its own protection. There are, however, a few trails open to the public — and plenty to explore in the surrounding area to make a full trip of it (as I plan to do).

Ethical birding and stewardship

If you’re reading this, you probably love birds. And I know we all want to protect the birds, landscapes, and other wildlife that bring so much joy to our lives (and are so vital for healthy ecosystems!). If you’re just getting into it, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when you’re out birding:

• Don’t disturb nesting areas — birds may abandon nests if they feel threatened. 
• Keep a respectful distance — you may love birds, but they may not feel the same way about humans (and with good reason).
• Respect signs and closures — they’re there for a reason, and yes, the rules do apply to you.
• Keep your dog on a leash — or better yet, leave them at home or in the car.
• Stay on trails — avoid trampling vegetation and minimize your impact; the goal is always to leave no trace.
• Keep noise to a minimum — you’ll hear more birds that way.
• Use birding apps thoughtfully — tools like Merlin Bird ID are fantastic for identifying birds, but avoid using playback, especially during breeding and nesting season.

A Year of Noticing More

As I map out these birding adventures across Oregon, I’m reminded again and again of how lucky we are to share space with such wild, vibrant places — and of the obligation we carry when we step into them.

Every marsh, canyon, headland, and prairie has its own rhythm, and its own cast of birds passing through, nesting, hunting, or simply resting for a moment on their long journeys. Exploring these places is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Whether you’re planning a big trip or just stepping outside with a pair of binoculars, I hope this guide inspires you to slow down, look closely, and care for the landscapes that care for us. Here’s to a year of noticing more, treading lightly, and celebrating the birds that make Oregon feel so alive.

Bring Oregon’s birds home with you

Not literally, of course — but if you enjoy exploring these birding spots, you might also love the new bird cards I’ve been creating in my studio here in Oregon. They’re inspired by the Pacific Northwest birds we love and the diverse landscapes and habitats that make this part of the world so special.

And you can rest assured that sustainability is at the heart of everything I make. Cards are printed locally here in Bend, Oregon, and packaged using recycled and recyclable or compostable materials.

You can find the full collection (so far!) in my Etsy shop. It’s a lovely way to keep a little piece of Oregon’s wild places close — or to share them with someone who loves birds as much as you do.

Join the Flock!

Curious what’s happening in the studio or out on the trail? I share works in progress, new designs, and the birds and landscapes that inspire them on my social pages. Follow along for updates, new products, and behind the scenes moments.

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