Birding Guide to Ashland and the Greater Rogue Valley Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities in the nation. For Welcome to … visitors to Ashland, birdwatching offers a nice complement to the cultural tourism that attracts The Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion 250,000 visitors annually. This Birding Guide to Ashland and the Greater Rogue Valley was created to help visitors and residents get outdoors and enjoy the natural splendor of the region and its birds. To plan your visit to Ashland and the surrounding countryside, go online to the Ashland Chamber’s Visitor and Convention Bureau website for information (www.AshlandChamber.com) on food, lodging, and entertainment. Using this Guide This guide showcases 32 birding locations Western Tanager; Photo © Jim Livaudais throughout Ashland and the Rogue Valley, covering a variety of habitats and birdlife. Each Located in southern Oregon and northern site description includes a brief characterization California, the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion is of the habitat plus mention of species of note. defined by the convergence of the Cascade Mountains from the north, the Sierra Nevadas While locations can be birded individually, we from the south, the Coast Range, and the east- provide six birding routes with directions from west running Klamath and Siskiyou Mountains. one location to This region includes the Umpqua, Rogue, and the next. Routes Klamath River watersheds. Due to its complex are designed as geology and climate, the Bioregion is among the full or half-day most biologically diverse in the world! birding trips. To easily find The Bioregion contains a wide variety of habitat locations, we types, which in turn support a plethora of species, recommend that including endemic plants and animals that are you use a found nowhere else in the world. This habitat detailed road diversity supports a rich avifauna, making the map to Bioregion an excellent place for birdwatching. accompany the This guide highlights many of the region’s birding map provided in hotspots that are just a short distance from this guide (pp. 8- Golden-crowned Kinglet; Ashland, Oregon. 9). Photo © Jim Livaudais Version 2.0 © Klamath Bird Observatory 2012 eBird: The Critical Link Between Do not disturb nests and nesting colonies, Birdwatching and Conservation roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites – keep your distance. Birdwatchers can play a crucial role in bird Avoid artificial light for filming or conservation by serving as citizen scientists and photography, especially for close-ups. sharing their observations using Klamath-Siskiyou Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they eBird (www.ebird.org/klamath-siskiyou). This online map-based application offers fun tools for exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to tracking the birds that you see at your favorite a minimum. birding locations and for exploring new birding Respect the law, the rights of others, and possibilities. private property. Practice common courtesy in contacts. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill among birders and non-birders alike. Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area. Klamath Bird Observatory Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) was built on two decades of conservation science efforts in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion of southern Oregon and northern California. KBO is a non- profit organization dedicated to advancing bird Golden-crowned Sparrow; Photo © Jim Livaudais and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships. KBO’s work is By entering your bird observation data into focused in this Bioregion, renowned for its Klamath-Siskiyou eBird you can contribute to outstanding biological diversity. To learn more local, regional, national, and international about KBO, visit www.KlamathBird.org conservation efforts while tracking your birding observations. To enter you birding data today, visit: www.ebird.org/klamath-siskiyou. Birding Ethics Klamath Bird Observatory recommends the American Birding Association’s Principles of Birding Ethics (summarized below from http:// www.aba.org). Everyone who enjoys birds and birding should always respect wildlife, the environment, and the rights of others. When birding, remember your safety and the welfare of the birds and their environments come first. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment. Avoid the use of recordings and other Yellow-breasted Chat; methods of attracting birds. Photo © Jim Livaudais Birding Guide to Ashland and the Greater Rogue Valley 2 North Medford Field Trip Oak/Pine edge and more riparian habitat. There is Half-day trip from Ashland a small parking fee required. GPS Coordinates: Denman State Wildlife Area Latitude: 42.439044; Longitude: -122.88944 From Ashland, go north on I-5. Take 2nd Medford In the spring look for the large Great Blue Heron Exit (Exit 30 Crater Lake Highway). Turn right at rookery and nesting Osprey. Other species of light onto Crater Lake Highway (Highway 62). note include Brown Creeper, American Dipper, Follow Highway 62 out past Costco. Watch for Belted Kingfisher, waterfowl, and possible Acorn, the Agate Road sign on the left. If you miss Agate Downy, Hairy, and Lewis’s Woodpecker. Road, turn left on Antelope Road or Avenue G to get back onto Agate Road. Follow Agate north past Avenue G and see small gated road into Denman State Wildlife Area. GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 42.439911; Longitude: -122.86547 Bird this road all the way to the Rogue River through grasslands and into riparian habitats. Listen for Grasshopper Sparrows on right. Virginia Rails can Great Blue Heron; Photo © Jim Livaudais be found in ponds on left. Toward the end of the road enjoy the Lower Table Rock Trail riparian birds From Tou Velle State Park follow Table Rock Road including Yellow- north, then west, then north again, and turn left breasted Chats, on Wheeler Road. Turn left into Lower Table Rock Yellow Warblers, trailhead parking lot. and Warbling GPS Coordinates: Vireos. Along Latitude: 42.469142; Longitude: -122.94461 Military Slough, look for roosting Great Horned Owls, Pileated Grasshopper Sparrow; Woodpeckers, Photo © Jim Livaudais and Wrentits. Tou Velle State Park From Denman State Wildlife Area head south on Agate Road and turn right on Avenue G; Avenue G dog legs to the right and becomes Pacific Avenue. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; Photo © Jim Livaudais Turn right onto Kirtland Road and then take the first right onto Table Rock Road. Enter the public There is plenty of birding within the first ½ mile access area of Tou Velle State Park where Table on the trailhead in the oak woodlands. The trail Rock Road crosses the Rogue River. On the east to the top of Lower Table Rock is also nice; leave side of Table Rock Road at Tou Velle there is an 3 Version 2.0 © Klamath Bird Observatory 2012 at least 2 hours up and back. Look for Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Ash- throated Flycatchers, Lark Sparrows, Oak Titmice, Acorn Woodpeckers, Western Bluebirds, and California Towhees. Whetstone Pond Follow Table Rock Road back towards Highway 62. Turn left onto East Gregory Road. Turn left into the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife office for access and parking to the Whetstone Pond. GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 42.414167; Longitude: -122.85915 White-tailed Kites and Northern Mockingbirds can be seen here. Short-eared Owl; Photo © Jim Livaudais Highway 140 Loop Full-day trip from Ashland NOTE: Parts of this trip are inaccessible in the winter and spring due to snow pack. These White-tailed Kite; Photo © Jim Livaudais roads are designated with this symbol (*). Agate Lake Medford Airport From Ashland, go north on I-5. Take 2nd Medford Follow East Gregory Road to Highway 62 and go Exit (Exit 30–Crater Lake Highway). Turn right at right towards Medford. Turn right on East Vilas light onto Crater Lake Highway (Highway 62). Road. Turn left again onto Industry Drive. Field Follow Highway 62 out past Costco. Turn right access is located at the intersection of Industry onto Lake of the Woods Highway (Highway 140) Drive and Enterprise Way and on International heading east. Turn right on Antelope Road and Way. follow around a right turn to Dry Creek Road. Turn right on Dry Creek and into the entrance of GPS Coordinates: Agate Lake, a Jackson County Park. Latitude: 42.385177; Longitude: -122.86231 GPS Coordinates: At dawn and dusk look for Short-eared Owls in Latitude: 42.412917; Longitude:-122.76296 the winter. Birding Guide to Ashland and the Greater Rogue Valley 4 View waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, and waders the whole loop you might save the mixed conifer surrounding the lake and raptors and songbirds in birding for Forest Service Road 37, the next stop. the fields and oak woodlands. Look for Lewis’s and Acorn Woodpeckers, Northern Harrier, and Forest Service Road 37 (*) White-tailed Kite. Migrating shorebirds include Continue up 140 to the east approximately 15 Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Plover, Long- miles, and turn right on Big Elk Road and continue billed Dowitcher, and various sandpipers, onto Forest Service Road 37. Follow Forest Service including Pectoral and Baird’s. Road 37 south to Dead Indian Memorial Highway. GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 42.383200; Longitude:-122.35734 Follow this road through mixed conifer and riparian habitats. Look for Red-breasted Nuthatches, Hermit Warblers, Pine Siskins, Empidonax flycatchers, and Mountain and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. Northern Goshawks also inhabit the area. Lily Glen