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The state is divided by the Cascade Mountains, with the western third (Western Washington) being the wet side and the eastern two-thirds (Eastern Washington) being the dry side. Western Washington is dominated by wet coniferous forests, and by coastal areas and inland marine habitats. There are an abundance of wetlands as well. The, Olympic Mountains, separated from the rest of Western Washington by Puget Sound, reach to nearly eight thousand feet (2400 meters). The Cascade Range is even more impressive with a ridge running north to south across the state, ranging from about 3000 feet high to over 8000 feet (900 - 2400 meters); and with four huge volcanoes (Adams, Baker, St. Helens, and Rainier) towering above. Mt. Rainier, at 14,411 feet (4392 meters) is the fifth tallest peak in the 48 contiguous states. Eastern Washington, while generally drier (and much less populated) than Western Washington, has perhaps even more habitat diversity. The eastern slopes of the Cascades feature dry coniferous forest, which fades into sagebrush hills. The mighty Columbia River cuts across the state, providing water to orchards and fields. In the northeast, higher elevation dry forest changes to wet forest again, as the Rocky Mountains just touch the northeast corner of the state. In the centre and southeast of Eastern Washington, huge wheat fields dominate. Because of the wide range of elevations, habitats, and climatic zones, there is no simple list of best birding spots. Luckily, despite its large size, any point in Washington can be reached in a single day's drive from Seattle, as long as you don't stop to bird too much on the way! On the coast, the area around Grays Harbor is recommended, as is the less accessible Cape Flattery area. Some of the best birding is at Ocean Shores. Pelagic trips are periodically run out of Westport http://www.westportseabirds.com/ Along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which separates the Olympic Peninsula from Vancouver Island, there is an abundance of good birding, especially around Port Angeles and Sequim. In the Puget Sound area, Whidbey Island is a good bet, but there are an abundance of good locations in and around the cities as well, including Discovery Park (Seattle); Spencer Island (Everett) and the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) (south of Tacoma). Birding the Cascade crest is more difficult, but can yield White-tailed Ptarmigan and Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (both only at highest elevations). In Eastern Washington, the dry coniferous forests can be outstanding, especially spring in the Wenas valley, between Ellensburg and Yakima. The Okanogan region, with its higher latitudes and higher elevations, is the best place for boreal species. To the south, the Walla Walla river delta is great, especially for fall shorebird migration. The potholes area and the Columbia NWR, in the centre of the state, has countless lakes and ponds in a desert environment, providing oases for birds. The best existing site guide for Washington State is A Guide to Bird Finding in Washington, by Terence R. Wahl and Dennis R. Paulson. It is available through the Washington Ornithological Society http://www.wos.org |
Michael Hobbs
Former WOS Webmaster
birdmarymoor@verizon.nethttp://www.wos.org
Number of bird species: 468
State Bird - Willow Goldfinch Fringilla tristis
State Bird - Willow Goldfinch Fringilla tristis
A Birder's Guide to Washington
by Hal N Opperman ABA 2003ISBN: 1878788205
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Birder's Guide to Washington
Diann MacRae, Elizabeth A. Mills (Illustrator) Paperback - 336 pages (June 1995) Gulf Publishing CompanyISBN: 0884151263
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Birding in the San Juan Islands
by Mark Lewis & Fred Sharpe. Paperback - 219pp (1987) Mountaineers BooksISBN: 0898861330
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Birding Washington
Rob McNair-Huff and Natalie McNair-Huff Series: FALCON GUIDE SERIES 388 pages, 65 b/w photos, 50 maps. Falcon Press 2004ISBN: 076272577X
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Birds in Place - a Habitat-based Field Guide to Birds of the Northern Rockies
by Radd Icenoggle Paperback 384 pages (1 May, 2003) Publisher: Farcountry PressISBN: 1560372419
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Birds of Washington State
Brian Bell and Gregory Kennedy 384 pages Lone Pine Publishing 2006ISBN: 1551054302
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National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: Washington and Oregon
Jonathan Alderfer Series: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STATE FIELD GUIDES TO BIRDS 272 pages, maps, photos, drawings. National Geographic Society 2006ISBN: 0792253132
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Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest
by Dennis Paulson; Jim Erckmann (Illustrator). Paperback - 422pp (1998) University of Washington PressISBN: 029597706X
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Washington Birds : An Introduction to Familiar Species
Waterford PressPaperback - 12 pages (October 1997) Waterford PressISBN: 1889903353
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Admiralty Audubon
WebsiteBirding around Port Townsend...
Audubon Society in Washington
WebsiteThe usual State site for the National Audubon society… dry and useful as a link to local chapters… about time they put some more effort into a better design!
Audubon Washington
WebsiteAudubon Washington conserves and restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity...
Black Hills Audubon.com
WebsiteBlack Hills Audubon Society represents Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties in Washington. We are affiliated with National Audubon. Our goals are to maintain and protect our ecosystems for future generations, and promote environmental education and recreation...
Blue Mountain Audubon Society
WebsiteBlue Mountain Audubon Society general membership meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month, 7:30 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall, First Congregational Church, corner of Palouse and Alder, Walla Walla...
Central Basin Audubon Society
WebsiteWe are a chapter of the National Audubon Society with national memberships of over 500,000. There are over 30,000 memberships in the state of Washington. Our chapter now has about 150 members and is growing. We received our charter in 1989. The purposes of the CBAS are education, conservation, and recreation, to encourage public appreciation of the values of wildlife and natural habitats and to stimulate action for their protection.
Discovery Coast Audubon Society
WebsiteA New Chapter of Audubon - First one in 25 Years. The 26th Chapter in State of Washington...
Eastside Audubon
WebsiteEast Lake Washington Audubon brings together Birdwatching, environmental education and local conservation in Western Washington State, including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville and Bothell. A classy site this, pleasing to the eye as well as useful for anyone visiting this area... the name has changed but the mission is the same: The mission of Eastside Audubon is to protect, preserve and enhance natural ecosystems and our communities for the benefit of birds, other wildlife and people.
Grays Harbor Audubon Society
WebsiteGrays Harbor Audubon Society PO Box 444 Montesano, WA 98563 Phone: (360) 495-3101 FAX: (559) 851-8279 E-mail: GHAS@usa.com
Kitsap Audubon Society
Website...To preserve the natural world through education, environmental study, and habitat protection; and to promote awareness and enjoyment of local and regional natural areas...
Kittitas Audubon Society
WebsiteThe mission of the Kittitas Audubon Society is to develop an appreciation of nature through education and conservation with a focus on birds.
Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society
WebsiteThe Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society is the chapter of the National Audubon Society located in the Tri-Cities area (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco) of south-eastern Washington State. Our area is primarily a dry, sagebrush/chaparral type of environment, but we are located at the confluence of three major rivers, the Yakima, the Snake, and the Columbia, which, together with much agricultural irrigation, gives us a large amount of wetlands and riverine environments. This combination of factors, as well as our location under a major bird migratory pathway, gives us a much larger variety of species than might otherwise be expected...
Nature Conservancy of Washington
WebsiteNot in the house style of the new NC websites but nontheless very well presented site with lots of info for birders. The Nature Conservancy of Washington has embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign to save some of the last remaining lowland coastal ancient forest in Washington...
North Cascades Audubon Society
WebsiteAnother fairly ordinary local chapter site: Serving the communities of Whatcom County.
North Central Washington Audubon
WebsiteNorth Central Washington Audubon Society, a local chapter of the National Audubon Society, is dedicated to furthering the knowledge and the conservation of the environment of North Central Washington, our Nation, and the World... North Central Washington Audubon Society, P.O. Box 2934, Wenatchee, WA 98807
Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society
WebsiteAnother better than average local site.
Palouse Audubon Society
WebsiteThe Palouse Audubon Society has been serving the Palouse region of North Central Idaho and Eastern Washington since 1973. Our chapter, headquartered in Moscow Idaho has a membership of nearly 400 people enjoying our national heritage of songbirds and wildlife. We share both the opportunities to observe songbirds and other wildlife as well as our concerns about their continued survival.
Pilchuck Audubon Society
WebsitePilchuck Audubon Society is a grassroots environmental organization with approximately 1,500 members in Snohomish County and Camano Island, WA. Our mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of the earth`s biological diversity...
Rainier Audubon Society
WebsiteMission: To conserve and restore natural ecosystems and protect birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and biological diversity in South King County and the world we live in...
San Juan Islands Audubon Society
WebsiteThis is the web site of the San Juan Islands Audubon Society. We are a group who meets for bird walks monthly on one of the four islands in the San Juan Islands serviced by the ferry system. Our basic philosophy is enjoy the wildlife and try to tread lightly. Our goal is to attain a better understanding and respect for the flora and fauna of our surroundings. We invite all to join us...
Seattle Audubon Society
WebsiteSeattle Audubon Society serves its members in their endeavours to appreciate, preserve and enjoy birds and the natural environment in the Pacific Northwest.
Skagit Audubon Society
WebsiteThe mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the Earth`s biological diversity. This site is also a better than average one; well laid out and full of good stuff.
Spokane Audubon
WebsiteTo provide services to the Spokane region that allow natural ecosystems to become more healthy, thriving and restorative, to nurture and protect birds and other wildlife and their habitats, and to encourage biological diversity for the benefit of people and nature in the Spokane region and the world we live in. Education Program services include Audubon Adventures, Nature Mapping projects and the Spokane Audubon Centre for nature projects. Conservation Program services include the Important Bird Areas program. An attractive site with nice bird photos too.
Tahoma Audubon Society
WebsiteThe Pierce County Chapter of The National Audubon Society.
Vancouver Audubon Society
WebsiteVancouver, Washington (Clark County) Vancouver is located near the Oregon-Washington border on the Columbia River and north of Portland, OR.
Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Societ
WebsiteThe Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society was founded in 1989. From the beginning, our membership included individuals of diverse ages and backgrounds who shared a common interest in nature and an enthusiasm for the very special environment of Vashon and Maury Islands. Today, at any one of our program meetings, you will find birders of all skill levels, wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts, environmental activists, and people who simply enjoy listening to our guest speakers and socializing with other members...
Washington Bird Records Committee & Rare Bird Reports
WebsiteDetails of what to submit and where to send it etc.
Washington Brant Foundation
WebsiteThe Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) is a small sea goose that is about the size of the common Mallard and stages one of the most spectacular migrations of all waterfowl...
Washington Ornithological Society
WebsiteA sumptuous must visit site for birders contemplating this part of N America as a destination for a trip. Plenty of contacts and links too.
Whidbey Island Audubon Society
WebsiteWhidbey Audubon Society is dedicated to the protection of wildlife species and their habitat on Whidbey Island and surrounding waters...
Willapa Hills Audubon Society
WebsiteThe mission of the Willapa Hills Audubon Society is to support ecologically responsible ways of life, to help maintain biologically diverse habitats, and to promote environmental understanding and enjoyment of nature...
Yakima Valley Audubon Society
WebsiteWe are people dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of the natural world. Through birding, education and conservation activities in our community, we raise awareness and promote the cause of global environmental protection...
Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival
http://snowgoosefest.orgBirding in the Stanwood Camano Island Area continues to be wonderful all winter long. The Snow Geese don’t typically head north until April 15th, so there are still thousands of reasons to come visit us. You’ll find plenty of beautiful scenery, hawks, herons, ducks and more. After the Geese and ducks are gone, there is still plenty to do and see...
Wings Over Water NW Birding Festival
http://www.blainechamber.com/wow/Saturday, April 17, 2010 10am - 4pm Downtown Blaine, WA - Peace Portal Drive - wildlife field trips, birding stations, live raptor demonstration, kids activities, exhibits, art/craft vendors, expert wildlife speakers and prize draws. Free admission - 360-332-6484...
Burke Museum
MuseumUnfortunately, the bird collection itself is only referenced on the website (i.e. they don't have a page about it).
Slater Museum Ornithology Collection
MuseumThe Slater Museum of Natural History was founded as the Puget Sound Museum of Natural History in 1930. James R. Slater started the museum as a collection of reptiles and amphibians and was the director from 1930-1951. The Bird Division was established in 1934 by Gordon D. Alcorn.
Adriana Hess Wetland Park
InformationAdriana Hess Wetland Park
Dungeness River Audubon Center
WebsiteSatellite View;
The Dungeness River Audubon Center is intended to enable residents, students and visitors to enjoy and understand the unique natural character of the Olympic Peninsula, with special focus on the Dungeness River and watershed...
Seward Park Environmental & Audubon Center
WebsiteSatellite View
The Seward Park Environmental & Audubon Center is part of national Audubon’s vision to make conservation the path to a better future by building a constituency as diverse as nature to help protect nature....
Tacoma Nature Center
InformationSatellite View
Lace up your shoes and take a "quietly wild" trek in the heart of the city. You may hear the honking of Canada geese and the peculiar twitter of the wood duck as you explore this 70-acre wetland habitat. Tread carefully and you might catch sight of a red fox, raccoon, great blue heron or other wildlife...
Washington State Wetlands Network
WebsiteThe Washington Wetlands Network (WETNET) mission is to protect, preserve, enhance and restore wetlands and watersheds for the benefit of birds and other wildlife and for human health and well being.
This section sponsored by: 
1999 [October] - Mary Beth Stowe
ReportToday met birding buddies Jerry and Sandy Conberse from Grand Coulee at Turnbull NWR. It was another beautiful day; it actually warmed up enough to take my vest off, but it was also very dry as the flying dust attested to!
2000 [August] - Marian Alvarez
ReportThis is the report of the trip that three Spanish birdwatchers (and another friend) made to Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas, written by Marian Alvarez. My sister Piluca and I are very keen, long-time, birders, but we had never done birdwatching outside of Spain, Portugal, France and the U.K. Rafael is just getting into this activity - he has done birdwatching with us for two years. And Mariano had never seen a bird through binoculars before...
2003 [July]
Report2008 [April] - Henry Cook
ReportThis trip come about because I had to do a weeks university work in the state of Washington, USA so I tagged a few days on beforehand to get some birding in on what was for me, a new continent and country...
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Birding Pal
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Focus on Nature
Tour OperatorPeregrine Northwest
Tour OperatorBrian Bell Providing personalized guided birding services for beginners, those new to the northwest, and old hands at birding that want to see that special bird that they need!
Westport Seabirds Offshore Trips
Tour OperatorWelcome to Westport Seabird Offshore Trips. We're in the midst of the year 2000 pelagic trip season off the coast of Washington. In addition to regular species like Black-footed Albatrosses and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, trips in recent years have featured seasonal species like Laysan Albatross, Flesh-footed, Short-tailed, and Manx shearwaters, Murphy's Petrel, Red-legged Kittiwake, and Thick-billed Murre. We'll make all-day trips 35 miles out to the edge of the continental shelf where Grays Canyon gouges its way to the seafloor and two deepwater trips farther offshore.
B&B Directory
AccommodationTo view a list of Washington State B&Bs by name, simply click on the letter that the inn name begins with.
Birdyak
Mailing ListTo post to list:birdyak@yahoogroups.com
List contact:birdyak-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:birdyak-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
osprey@nwinfo.net
Mailing List – Discussion Group - BirdYak is a mailing list for topics relating to birding in Yakima County, Washington. Anyone may subscribe to this free service, both beginning and advanced birders.
Tweeters
Mailing ListTo subscribe to list:listproc@u.washington.edu
Mailing List – Discussion Group - Discussion of birds in Washington State. Welcome to Tweeters, the Northwest birders e-mail listprocessor serving the University of Washington, Washington State, and the Cascadia region as a public service and scientific research tool. Tweeters was founded around the end of 1992 by Dan Victor of the Washington Ornithological Society and the Seattle Audubon Society, with three people sharing messages about bird sightings. From this informal beginning it has spread around the Northwest, and now has a wide variety of regional subscribers from Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia. The University of Washington listprocessor was added in March of 1994 with the help of Steve Hallstrom, the listowner for the first year.
Bird brained stories
BlogAlong with being an erstwhile birder and blogger, I spin yarns of a different sort as a professional storyteller...
Northwest Natural Moments - Bernie Krausse
BlogMy Hobby and Current Passion is Wildlife Photography. The Photos that I take and Post are a Reflection of my Mind and are a meditative tool for me to explore my Inner Self...
The Wild Bird
BlogBirding shop owner's blog...
Wingtrip
BLOGBrendan McGarry’s exploration of the natural world through photography & writing with a decidedly avian bent...
Yelm
BlogWashington Backyard Birds...
Bird Notes
WebsiteThis web site is designed to gather information on bird distribution throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia.
Bird Watching Hotspots in Walla Walla Vicinity
WebsiteThe delta is fast becoming one of the hottest birding spots in Eastern Washington. Spring and fall migrations bring thousands of shorebirds to this ever-increasing delta area. Some of the better state records are now being seen at the delta. The one drawback is the erratic decisions by the PUDs upriver on the Columbia and their drawdowns on water. You never know how exposed the mudflats will be. The best place to view the delta is difficult to find. Going north on Highway 12 from the junction, watch for a left turning (rough road) just past the bridge over the Walla Walla River...
Birding Klickitat County
WebsiteWashington's home to the Acorn Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher & Lesser Goldfinch.
Checklist
WebsitePacific NW Backyard Birder
WebsiteEnjoying and learning about common birds in British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and northern California…
Sequim
WebsiteThe North Olympic Peninsula offers exceptional bird watching year round. Our mild winter supports large numbers of ocean birds, including waterfowl. Spring and fall are migration times and offer great diversity in species. Summer residents are numerous and varied due to the diversity of habitat - from rain forest to tidelands.
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This site was last updated on Sunday, 29th January 2012.
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