Fern Ridge Loop

C o l u m 4 b i a R Mayger i v e r Longview

Quincy 432 Erickson Dike Rd

Beaver Falls Rd 433

Clatskanie 30 Rainier

202 Mist

Vernonia St. Hellens

r Scappoose Vernonia Hwy e v i R e m a l h e Warren N Ridgeﬁ eld

47 C o l u Scappoose m

e r

Nehalem Hwy

Sauvie Island Vancouver

Wilson River Hwy Banks Columbi a River North Plains 30

W i 47 ll am Cornelius Pass Rd Skyline Blvd. ett e Ri ver

Cornell Rd Hillsboro 8 Forest Grove Cornell Rd.

Tualatin valley Hwy 8 205 Henry Beaverton Hagg 43 Lake 219 217 Scoggins Valley Rd

Spring Hill Rd Boring Gaston River Rd laurelwood rd Lake Oswego Damascus Bald Peak Rd Laurel Rd Scholls Ferry Rd Tigard Clackamas 224 212 210 T ua lat in r 219 Rive 43 Sandy 99W 205

Tualatin Rd Stafford Rd Galdstone Roy Rogers Rd Scholls-Sherwood Rd Tualatin Bald Peak Rd 211 Rd 47 ood 205 rw She Tualatin West Linn 219 Sherwood 211 Springwater Rd Mountain Rd 99E

Yamhill Boones Ferry Rd Stafford Rd Oregon City

213 240 99W Newberg Wilsonville Estacada Carlton 219 Dundee Locust St 99E Willam et Knights Bridge Rd te Ri Arndt Rd 47 ver Canby Spangler Rd

Beaver Creek Rd Lafayette 99W Mola Champoeg Rd lla R iv er Aurora 211 St. Paul Dayton French Prairie Rd McMinnville

99E i

Meridian Rd

i 233 d d 219 u P 211 213 214 221 Molalla 211 Lafayette Hwy

Woodburn Molalla Forest Rd 18

Amity Grand Island Rd

Amity Rd 99W Sheridan Willamina

18 18 99E Mt. Angel 213 Valley Brooklake rd Junction 22 Bethel Rd 214

213 Zena Rd

wheatland rd wheatland Hazelgreen rd Silverton

Oak Rd Silverton rd 22 Livemore Rd Keizer Smithﬁ eld Rd 221

Farmer Rd 214

Coville Rd Portland rd

99W

Salem cascade Hwy 22 Dallas

Commercial Rd 22 River Rd

214 214 Falls City Turner Independence Aumsville Monmouth 51

Liberty Rd Monmouth Hwy Sublimity

Stayton 22 99W er ankeny Hill rd 223 Riv Hunsaker rd ette er m iv a te R ll Lyons Luckiamu i Buena Vista Rd

Corvallis Rd W wintel rd Buena Vista Ferry Jefferson Hwy

Maple Grove Rd Talbot Rd Stayton rd Pedee Airlie Duckﬂ at rd Marion Airlie Rd Jefferson marion rd

corvallis rd Stayton-Scio rd Stayton-Scio

Buena Vista Rd Jefferson 226 Kings Valley Scio Maxﬁ eld Creek Rd Springhill Dr

Camp Adair Rd

Hoskins independence Hwy independence

20 99E 20 20

Kings Valley HwyKings Valley Albany

223 99W Blodgett 20 Oak Creek Dr Walnut Blvd Wren 99E 20

Harrison Blvd

20 20 S o

Corvallis u

Peoria Rd t

53rd st 53rd

Tangent S

34 a

Philomath n Lebanon t r i e Tangent Dr a iv m 34 M ’s R ary River

Ca la Mary’s Peak Rd p 20 oo ia R i 99W v

Decker Rd Greenberry Peoria Shedd

34 v i

e t t e m

Peoria Rd i Sweet Home

Bellfountain Rd W Halsey Brownsville Alsea Bruce Rd 228 228 99E 34 Bellfountain

Gap Rd South Fork Rd

Alpine 99W Monroe

Alpine Rd

Diamond Hill Rd

Harrisburg 99W Fern Ridge Loop

Junction City

W 36 il Cheshire la 99 m e t t e

e r Vida 36 126 Alvadore Coburg F10

green Hill rd Hill green Walterville Territorial Hwy Santa clear lake rd F11 99 Clara Leaburg

Belt line Hwy Fern Ridge Lake 126

Elmira royal ave Eugene F7 F6 F2 126 126 F5 F1 126 F4 126 F9 99 Springﬁ eld Veneta cantrell rd F8

central rd

M idd le Fo rk ern Ridge Reservoir is the Willamette Valley’s largest body of water, W Jasper-lowell rd. Goshen il la surrounded by marshes that are home to nesting Western and Clark’s m F F3 et t Grebe, Redhead, Black-necked Stilt, Black Tern and other species that 58 e R willamette rd ive are usually associated more with the vast marshes of the Great Basin. r Big fall creek rd.

When the reservoir is drawn down in fall, expansive mudflats make this lower fox r Hollow rd e v Pengra rd. Fall Creek i

the best shorebirding area in the Willamette Valley, with extraordinary R Reservoir

t be found here. On some days during Center exit. Loop overt a bridge over finds including Wood Sandpiper in recent years, along with nearly every e migration, “fallouts” occur with dozens Delta Hwy and go W onm Valley River Dr. winberry creek rd. a western shorebird species. On your way to the reservoir from downtown l l of flycatchers, warblers, vireos,Creswell and In 0.4 mi you will reachi a stoplight at Lowell W Dexter Reservoir Boundary rd. Eugene, the home of the University of Oregon, be sure to visit Skinner tanagers showing up for the day. Bald Goodpasture Islandk Rd. From here, for r Dexter Butte, one of the valley’s prime migration spots, and several spots in the Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, and Osprey nest access to the Easto Bank Multiuse F t on the butte. The park has facilities Path turn L into thes VRC parking lot. West Eugene Wetlands, one of the nation’s best examples of a cooperative a To 58 o Lookout Point Reservoir to accommodate large numbers of C wetland restoration project. reach parking areas adjacent to visitors and provides excellent views Delta Ponds turn N on Goodpasture Loop Sponsor: Eugene, Coast & Cascades – Travel Lane County of Eugene. Island Rd and look for a small, gravel 99 pull-out in 0.5 mi, or continue N 0.4 ACEFGO mi to a new parking lot, overlook, and Sponsor: Lane County trailhead. F1. Skinner Butte Skinner Butte is the Willamette Audubon Society From 5th Ave near the Public Market in Valley’s best spring migration sites for Black Phoebe songbirds. A loop trail and improved F2. Delta Ponds PHOTO BY: downtown Eugene, turn N onto Pearl St. Steve Dowlan Cross the railroad tracks and continue foot paths provide excellent birding From downtown Eugene, go W on W 0.1 mi to 3rd Ave, and turn W (L) to opportunities through coniferous 6th Ave and turn N onto I-105 over the forests on the N slope and mixed Washington-Jefferson Bridge. Get in enter the park. After 0.2 mi turn sharply Willamette Patterson deciduous forest and woodland on the mtn. rd R at the gate and continue with caution the R lane andCottage take the Groveexit to Valley National Boundary rd. up to the parking lot on top; use care S slope. During the migration season, River. Follow the loop under I-105 row river rd Forest practically any species of songbird that fr 5840 as the road is narrow and is shared by and head N on Delta Hwy. Get in the n fork rd. occurs in the Willamette Valley can R-hand lane and take the Valley River Dorena cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Lake government rd

north Side rd. fr 17 Sunset rd. 35 58 Westﬁ r Oakridge

R fr 17 o w R i v e laying creek rd london rd r Umpqua Cottage row river rd Grove M National os Lake by Forest C Brice creek rd r cottage grove res. rd e e k

Sharps creek rd

fr 22

london rd London Shoestring Rd

Big R iver Fairview Big river rd Peak fr 2212 Sharps creek rd couger Bend rd martin creek rd Bohemia

london rd Mtn.

Blm 23-2-22 clark creek rd fr 23 Umpqua National Forest Snow Peak row creek rd F4. Stewart Pond Western Meadowlark nests here, and From West 11th Ave (Hwy 126) in W flocks of 20 or more can be found Eugene, turn N on Bertelsen Rd. Drive in winter. As of 2009, a total of 206 0.1 mi and turn E (R) on Stewart Rd. species have been recorded in the West Go 0.5 mi, turn N (L) into the Stewart Eugene Wetlands. Pond parking lot. Bicycle access is ACEFGOQ via the Fern Ridge Path, which crosses Sponsor: City of Eugene Bertelsen Rd at Stewart Rd. Stewart Pond includes a large emergent F6. Meadowlark Prairie – wetland and several smaller ponds, Checkermallow Access and is adjacent to oak savanna and From the Greenhill Overlook (Site F4), forested wetland habitats. Look here continue N on Greenhill Rd 0.5 mi to a for shorebirds, waterfowl, and wading four-way stop at Royal Ave. Go 0.4 mi birds in winter and during spring and E on Royal Ave and watch for sign for fall migrations. Peregrine Falcon has Checkermallow Access parking lot to been seen here. An observation and the S. Bicycle access is via the Fern PHOTO BY: S t eve D o wlan PHOTO BY: photography blind is located along Ridge Multiuse Path. Anna's Hummingbird the west edge of the pond. A 0.5 mi soft-surface trail leads to the forested This site on Meadowlark Prairie provides direct access to Amazon Creek and Over 120 bird species have been F3. Ridgeline Trail and wetlands. Other informal paths allow recorded at Delta Ponds. Look for access to an extensive area with varied adjacent wetlands. Along with Western Gadwall, Wood Duck, Green-winged Cascade Raptor Center habitats. Meadowlark and the raptors mentioned Teal, Lesser and Greater Scaup, and From downtown Eugene go S on for Site F4, check Amazon Creek Common Merganser along with Great Jefferson St to 18th Ave. Turn L and go AVEFGOP above the dam for wading birds and Blue Heron, Great Egret (winter) and 0.4 mi, then turn R (S) on Willamette St. Sponsor: Bureau of Land waterfowl. A spotting scope donated by Green Heron (nesting). Also watch After 1.3 mi bear L onto Donald St and Management, Eugene District Lane County Audubon is permanently for Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Peregrine continue 2.0 mi. Turn R on Fox Hollow installed at this access. The Fern Ridge Falcon overhead, gulls and Spotted Rd and go 0.8 mi to Raptor Center F5. Meadowlark Prairie – Path extends approximately 0.5 mi to Sandpiper along gravel bars, and parking area at 32275 Fox Hollow Rd. Greenhill Overlook the W and 8 mi to the E and provides Willow Flycatcher, migrating warblers Transit: Lane Transit District Bus 24 or From downtown Eugene go 5.5 mi W great birding with interpretive signage and vireos in riparian growth. A short 73 stop at Donald/Fox Hollow Rd; from on Hwy 126. Turn N on and go 0.5 mi along the way. walking route to view the ponds is there walk 0.8 mi SW to Raptor Center. to overlook. Bicycle access: Follow ACEFGO to start at the Greenway bike bridge, The Raptor Center is a rehabilitation Fern Ridge Multiuse Path W along Sponsor: City of Eugene go to bike path MP 0.75, and return center specializing in hawks, falcons, Amazon Creek to Greenhill Rd. by the same route. For a longer 5 mi owls and other raptors. This is a good The 380-ac Meadowlark Prairie wetland F7. Fern Ridge Reservoir - loop along the river, at bike path MP starting point for a hike along the is jointly managed by the City of Eugene Royal Avenue Access 0.5, follow a paved path that leads to Ridgeline Trail, which circles through and Bureau of Land Management, as From Greenhill Rd W of Eugene, Goodpasture Island Rd with overlooks the south hills of Eugene. After you visit part of the West Eugene Wetlands. continue W on Hwy 126 for 1.8 mi to at 0.1 and 0.6 mi. Future trails are the 33 species of captive raptors and Amazon Creek and several tributaries Fisher Butte Rd and turn N (R). Follow planned to surround the ponds between watch wild feeder birds, woodpeckers flow through the wetland, wet and Fisher Butte Rd to Royal Ave and turn Delta Hwy and Goodpasture Island Rd. and warblers in the forested setting, upland prairie, and riparian habitats. W. Stop at the grove of oaks to view the you can hike the trail SW through This site is especially good for viewing Acorn Woodpecker colony. Continue W ARCEFGOQ mixed forest (with some old growth) raptors, with White-tailed Kite, Red- to the gate, which blocks Royal Ave and Sponsor: City of Eugene to Spencer Butte for magnificent views shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, park in the gravel lot. of the Willamette Valley and the snow- American Kestrel and Northern Harrier capped Three Sisters volcanoes in the common in season. Look for Short- Fern Ridge Reservoir is an exceptional Cascades. For a longer hike, continue eared Owl at dusk in winter and spring. birding site and a very popular birding through mixed forest and oak savanna destination. It is the largest area of open all the way to the West Eugene Wetlands. The Raptor Center (entrance fee) is open Tuesdays through Sundays, plus Cassin's Vireo Mondays on holidays. The Ridgeline PHOTO BY: Trail (no fee) is open from dawn to dusk Kevin Smith all year. ACDEFGOP Sponsorship available PHOTO BY: Bruce C raig PHOTO BY: Sora

36 Nielsen Rd S, then W (where it merges with Cantrell Rd) for 2 mi until the road crosses a bridge. Park along the road shoulder near the bridge to access trails on either side of creek. The birding in this area is well worth the effort to find it. On your way there, in late spring watch for Ash-throated Flycatcher along KR Nielsen Rd as this is one of the few likely places to see them in the Willamette Valley. The riparian PHOTO BY: S t eve D o wlan PHOTO BY: Black-necked Stilt woodland trails along Coyote Creek offer easy walking, with Black Phoebe, Red-shouldered Hawk PHOTO BY: Kevin Smith water and wetlands in the Willamette Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Cassin’s and Valley, and relatively close by air to the Hutton’s Vireo, and Swainson’s Thrush marshes of the Klamath Basin. Many among the nesting species. Also watch wetland species that are typical of inland for Belted Kingfisher, Osprey, Bald marshes, including Redhead, Western Eagle, Red-winged and Yellow-headed more common Western Grebe; with jaegers. In spring, watch for Bald Eagle and Clark’s Grebes, Black Tern, Yellow- Blackbirds, and Great Blue Heron. luck you might see a pair in courtship. and for Osprey carrying fish to their headed Blackbird, Wilson’s Phalarope, Coyote Creek is a great place to put In winter, check blackberry brambles nest. Listen for rails in the marshy and Black-necked Stilt, also breed at in a canoe or kayak for better views of for large sparrow flocks; this is a good areas, and Wrentit along riparian edges Fern Ridge. To bird this area on foot, waterfowl on the reservoir 2 mi to the spot for Swamp Sparrow. Also scan in the park. Camping is available at walk past the gate and continue along N (though not navigable mid-October for Bald Eagle, Osprey, Lesser Scaup, nearby Richardson Park. the old Royal Ave roadbed until you through March due to high flows Canvasback and Bufflehead. Canoe reach the water’s edge (distance varies and dangerous currents). The area is rentals are available in July and August. ABC with seasonal water levels). Observation closed Oct 6 - Jan 25, and open only The reservoir is drained by December Sponsor: U.S. Army Corps of decks and side trails are to the south of on Saturdays Jan 26 - April 30. and is very muddy through February. Engineers the roadbed. Habitats include marsh, ARH Restrooms are closed in winter. F11. Eugene Airport area mudflat, Willamette Valley wet prairie, Sponsorship available oak woodland, and reservoir water ARCDOQ From Site F10 continue W 5 mi on Sponsor: Eugene, Cascades Clear Lake Rd. go NW (through August). Shorebirding is F9. Perkins Peninsula From Eugene fantastic during southbound migration & Coast 4 mi on Hwy 99 and turn L on Clear (July-Oct); along with all of the State Park Lake Rd. Best birding in this area is regularly occurring species, watch for From downtown Eugene go W 11 mi on F10. Kirk Park on side roads off of Clear Lake Rd and rarities such as golden-plovers and Hwy 126 and turn R into park entrance. From Hwy 126 at Veneta go N Green Hill Rd to N. Use caution and Stilt, Buff-breasted and Sharp-tailed Seasonally, there is a $3 entrance fee. 5 mi and turn R onto Clear Lake. Go stop and park safely while viewing Sandpipers. The oak woodland features In winter, park outside the closed gate 1 mi E and turn L into park entrance. birds, as traffic moves fast on some of Acorn Woodpecker and White-breasted and walk in. From Hwy 99 and Beltline in NW these roads. Nuthatch. In spring, watch for a huge The riparian woodland, oak woodland, Eugene, take Hwy 99 N for 0.5 mi. The general area around the Eugene variety of waterfowl, waterbirds, hawks, and open park on this small peninsula Turn W (L) onto Clear Lake Rd. Go 6.7 Airport is good for wintering raptors and songbirds. The site is closed in act as a “migrant trap” in springtime, mi and turn N (R) into park entrance. and waterfowl, including Tundra Swan. the winter except for hunting access. with neotropical songbirds stopping This park is along the Long Tom River, Check hedgerows for sparrows and Another good birding walk nearby starts on its northern tip. Along with nesting which flows from the spillway of Fern Northern Shrike. Other birds that favor from a gravel parking lot about 0.25 mi Yellow Warbler, in April and May look Ridge Dam, just across Clear Lake open country can sometimes be found W of Fisher Road along Highway 126. high up in the oaks and maples for Rd. Oak and Oregon ash dominate the in winter, including Prairie Falcon, Walk N along the gravel road toward practically all regular migrant warblers. habitat, with willows along the margins Horned Lark, Burrowing Owl, and Fisher Butte for views of prairie to the E Also check along the W shore where of several ponds. Kirk Pond, the large (rarely) Snowy Owl. and marsh on the W. A road around the a wooden deck provides good vantage shallow pond along the N side of Clear base of the Butte continues on to Royal for nesting Clark’s Grebe along with Lake Rd, hosts large flocks of American KQ Avenue. Wigeon in winter, usually with a few Sponsorship available Purple Martin pair Eurasian Wigeon, Canvasback, and ACHLONQS PHOTO BY: sometimes more rare ducks. In winter, Sponsor: Oregon Field Ornithologists Judy Schneider the spillway attracts numerous gulls, and Great Egrets line the river. Cliff F8. Fern Ridge Reservoir - Swallows nest here in spring. The pre- Coyote Creek Access dawn fly-out of Tundra Swan flocks From Greenhill Rd W of Eugene from winter roosts on the reservoir is continue 2 mi W on Hwy 126 to KR a spectacle worth seeing and hearing. Nielsen Rd. Turn L (a sign indicates From the top of the earthen dam, scope PHOTO BY: Bruce C raig PHOTO BY: for wildlife viewing area) and follow KR the lake for gulls, terns, and (rarely) Clark's Grebe

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