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. 

Come out and give our field trips a try!

Upcoming Field Trips

Saturday, May 2, 9:00-11:00am. Field Trip: Yakima River Canyon. Meet at Milepost 8, Boat Launch and Paved Nature Trail. Leaders: Sarah Shippen and Gene Miliczky. The paved nature trail, which goes around a small pond, leads to a riparian area along the Yakima River and then circles back through stands of Ponderosa Pine. Less than a mile, it is surprising how many species can be found here. If there is time, we may stop at the Selah Cliffs on the way back and look for owls. Location is 8 miles from the southern end of the Yakima Canyon and marked by the milepost signs on the west side of the highway. Meet in the parking lot at 9:00am. Discover Pass required. Contact Sarah at ses1440@outlook.com with questions. No need to sign up in advance.

Saturday, May 23. Field Trip: Ahtanum Woodpeckers. Leader: Jeff Kozma. Take part in a birding trip to the Ahtanum State Forest with field biologist Jeff Kozma. Jeff has conducted extensive research in this area, including his research on the White-headed Woodpecker. He will share his expertise and introduce our group to the ecology and birds of this unique region. Contact Jeff at jkozma1049@gmail.com to sign-up and receive meetup information. Space is limited, please let Jeff know as soon as possible if interested. 

Saturday, May 30. Field Trip: Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Leader: Scott Downes. Many people know the Oak Creek Wildlife Area for its elk feeding station, but it covers over 67,000 acres along Highways 12 and 410, featuring varied landscapes and bird species. Scott, a biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, has worked to protect these lands for public use. On this half-day field trip, Scott will guide us through the area and introduce its birds. Contact Scott at downess@charter.net to sign up and receive meet-up information. Space is limited, please let Scott know as soon as possible if interested. 

Saturday, June 13, 9:00-11:00am. Field Trip: Second Saturday Bird Walk, Tieton Nature Trail. Leaders: Sarah Shippen and Gene Miliczky. Email Sarah for additional information: ses1440@outlook.com

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.

Nashville Warbler, photo: Karen Zook

Common Nighthawk, photo: Soo Goh Baus