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 5/24 we will have a field trip to the Ahtanum led by expert birder and biologist Jeff Kozma. This is a general birding trip that will coincide with the Spring migration. There will be several stops and we will be walking through conifer forest and aspen/riparian areas. Heavy footwear is recommended as these are off trail. We probably won’t walk more than a quarter mile from the vehicles at any stop.

Parking is very limited so after meeting we will have to carpool to the birding sites. We will be leaving Tampico at 7:30am and will return between 1 and 2pm. The trip is limited to 12 people. So to reserve a spot, and find out the actual location of the meeting site contact Jeff Kozma at jcr_5105@charter.netLeader Jeff Kozma Contct Jeff, jkozma1049@gmail.com, for more information.

Snag protection program in the Ahtanum.

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