Field Trips

Let’s Go Birding!

YVAS field trips are an excellent way to meet other YVAS members, improve your birding skills, and get to know local hotspots and hiking trails.  We have field trips appropriate to people of all birding abilities and are led by knowledgable YVAS members.

For new birders and families, the Second Saturday Bird Walks are a great way to get started:  these walks are always in the Yakima area, short (around 2 hours), over easy trails (1-2 miles) and on Saturday mornings for working people and families. 

Please come out and give our field trips a try!

The Ahtanum, Saturday, May 24, Leader: Jeff Kozma

On Saturday, May 24, Jeff Kozma, expert birder and biologist, will lead a field trip to the Ahtanum. This is a general birding trip that will coincide with spring migration. There will be several stops and we will be walking through conifer forest and aspen/riparian areas. Heavy footwear is recommended as we will be off trail. We probably won’t walk more than a quarter mile from the vehicles at any stop.

Parking is very limited so we will carpool to the birding sites. We will be leaving Tampico at 7:30 am and will return between 1:00 and 2:00 pm. The trip is limited to 12 people. When you sign up, you will be told where the meet up site is. Sign up, or get more information, by contacting Jeff Kozma:  jcr_5105@charter.net.

Snag protection program in the Ahtanum.

Second Saturday Bird Walk: Tieton Nature Trail.  
Saturday, June 14, 8:00-10:00am.Leaders: Sarah Shippen and Gene Miliczky. Meet at Trail parking lot at 8:00 AM

The Tieton Nature Trail is part of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area along Highway 12. This walk has been a favorite, but last August a wildfire swept through the area, taking out many trees and riparian growth, and resulting in trail closure for several months. Such an event tends to set plant succession back to an earlier stage, with consequent changes in plant and animal species, including birds. It may be difficult for us to see the devastation, but the area has re-opened and we will explore changes in the flora and fauna and check on status of the recovery. Please join us for this walk.

Directions:  From Yakima, head west on US 12 about 4.4 miles past the stoplight in Naches to the junction with Highway 410. Turn left to stay on US 12. Continue 2.0 miles to the Oak Creek Wildlife Recreation Area. You may park on the left side of the highway at the trail head, or continue on and turn right into the Oak Creek Wildlife Recreation Area parking lot.  If you use the Oak Creek Wildlife Recreation lot, you will need a Discover Pass. Contact ses1440@outlook.com with questions, but you do not need to sign up in advance. 

Yellow-breasted Chat, photo: Sarah Shippen

Field Trip Information

As trips and leaders are  arranged we will add them to the website. Trips may be added with short notice so check often. Trips may be canceled at any time due to bad weather, too few participants, or the lack of a leader. Contact the leader for more information and to reserve a spot.

Field trips are free and are open to anyone. You don’t have to be an Audubon member to participate. Our leaders are club volunteers and are not compensated. If you carpool with somebody, it is common courtesy to compensate the driver for your share of gas and vehicle use. You are also responsible for any park entry fees, camping fees, or motel bills. To enhance the birding experience we need to limit the number of participants on our trips. The number allowed for each trip will be posted. Call or email early to reserve your place on a trip. And, call ASAP if you are not able to make the trip so the leader can offer your spot to someone on the wait list.

Field trips range from a few hours to all day long. Please arrive at the meet up location a bit early. Start time is the time we leave form the meet up location.

What to Bring

Participants need to provide their own binoculars*, food and drink, appropriate footwear and clothing for changing weather, and transportation, unless you find somebody with whom to carpool. Drivers bring your Discover Pass and any other pass you may have.

*A limited number of high quality binoculars are available for use during field trips. Please let the trip leader know in advance if you need binoculars.

Skill Level

We provide a variety of trips that accommodate many birding skill levels. Birders of all levels are welcome on all trips. However, please bear in mind that some beginners may get frustrated or bored on trips designed for advanced birders, where much of the birding is done by ear and the pace is very fast. Some advanced birders might find the trips geared toward beginning birders too basic and slow-paced. The skill level for each trip will be posted.

Families, Children and Dogs

Dogs are disruptive to the birding experience. Therefore, we do not allow any dogs on our trips. While we very much want families to participate, very young children are not appropriate for our field trips. When in doubt about the appropriateness of bringing your child, ask the leader before the trip so you can make plans for child care. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or adult.

Yellow-breasted Chat, photo: Sarah Shippen

Common Nighthawk, photo: Soo Goh Baus