National Wildlife Refuges in Oregon
Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 59 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-6 geographic coordinates 45 04’ 11” N 123 34’ 26” W
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Location, Habitat and Birds: Go to the Oregon Birding Trails Website. Click on Willamette Valley Birding Trails. Choose the Yamhill Loop and see site # Y-3.
Sawtell Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 59 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-7 geographic coordinates 45 03’ 13” N 123 29’ 18” W
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Location: From McMinnville, go SW on Hwy 18 for 17.7 miles to the junction of Hwy 18 and Hwy 22. Turn south on Hwy 22 and immediately look for Sawtell Road off to the right. This short road shortly returns to Hwy 22.
Habitat and Birds: Birds that are possible here include Canada Goose, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Western Wood-Pewee, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Steller's Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole, and Evening Grosbeak.
Willamina Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 59 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-7 geographic coordinates 45 04’ 27” N 123 28’ 53” W
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Location: From McMinnville, go SW on Hwy 18 for 17.7 miles to the junction of Hwy 18 and Hwy 22. Take Hwy 22 NE for 1.5 miles to Willamina. Willamina lies on the border between Polk and Yamhill Counties so county listers should take note of the county boundary. The Willamina Ponds are the southernmost ponds in this complex. The others are in Yamhill County and information about them can be found on the Yamhill page. Just as you arrive in Willamina, look for SE Adams Street. Turn right on Adams and find the baseball field. Park here and walk to the railroad tracks. Being careful to watch for train traffic. Scan the ponds for water birds.
Habitat and Birds: Birds that have been seen here in the past include Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Tundra Swan, Wood Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Green-Winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Pacific Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green Heron, Osprey, White-tailed Kite, Merlin, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black Swift, Vaux's Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Perrydale and Beck Roads return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-9 geographic coordinates 45 02’ 32” N 123 15’ 21” W
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Location: Perrydale is located north of Dallas. From Hwy 22, go west of the Rickreall Junction about 4 miles and turn right on Perrydale Road. Go 4.6 miles and take a left on Beck Road. This will lead you back to Hwy 22. Beck Road can be a side trip here and you can return to Perrydale Road and take it another five miles or so.
Habitat and Birds: Beck Road travels through plenty of farmland with scattered woodlots and creeks. Birds found here include Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Western Wood Pewee, Horned Lark, Bewick's Wren, Common Yellowthroat, and American Goldfinch. A Gyrfalcon took up residence in this area in the winter of 01-02 and one of only a handful of Oregon Rusty Blackbirds was found here in 1977.
Oregon 4-H Conference and Education Center return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 59 D-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-10 geographic coordinates 45 00’ 14” N 123 08’ 02” W
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Location: From the town of Dayton, take Hwy 221 south for about 15 miles to Zena Road. Turn left (west) on Zena and travel 2.3 miles. The road will bend 90 degrees to the south. Follow this bend and travel south. At the next bend, look for 4-H Road going straight south. Take this road to the complex.
Habitat and Birds: Birds you might see here include Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Band-tailed Pigeon, Black Swift, Vaux's Swift, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Willow Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, Lesser Goldfinch, and Evening Grosbeak.
Morris Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-9 geographic coordinates 44 59’ 00” N 123 16’ 10” W
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Location: Morris Road is located in north-central Polk County just north of Baskett Slough NWR. Take 99W north out of Rickreall for three miles to Smithfield Road. Take Smithfield west for 2.7 miles to Morris Road.
Habitat and Birds: Open farmlands are the draw here. Some of this farmland is left fallow and can be too marshy to cultivate. This provides some wild areas for birds. A bird list from this location might include Acorn Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, assorted swallows, Bewick's Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
Livermore Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-9 geographic coordinates 44 59’ 00” N 123 15’ 51” W
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Location: Livermore Road is just north of Basket Slough NWR. Take 99W north out of Rickreall for three miles to Smithfield Road. Take Smithfield west for 2.4 miles to Livermore Road. Livermore runs about four miles to the north and hooks up with Bethel Road. You can take Bethel east to Hwy 99W. This is open farmland mostly. Start by checking out the trees and shrubs around the abandoned house at the corner of Smithfield and Livermore. There are several good blackberry patches and fence rows. Sparrow watching can be pretty productive in winter here.
Habitat and Birds: Go to the Oregon Birding Trails Website. Click on Willamette Valley Birding Trails. Choose the Yamhill Loop and see site # Y-2. This area has some of the same birds as Baskett Slough although there is far less water here. Beyond the abundant waterfowl in the farm fields and sparrows in the hedgerows, this area can produce some unusual species. Some of these include Trumpeter Swan, Ring-necked Pheasant, Accipiters, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, peeps, Burrowing Owl, and Lazuli Bunting.
Farmer Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-9 geographic coordinates 44 58’ 08” N 123 13’ 29” W
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Location: Farmer Road is north of Rickreall off of Hwy 99W. From Rickreall, travel 2.5 miles north and turn right on Farmer Road.
Habitat and Birds: Check the marshy spots along this road. Lots of good marsh and shorebirds are spotted here. Things to look for include lots of waterfowl, Ring-necked Pheasant, Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Virginia Rail, Sora, both yellowlegs, Short-eared Owl, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Rarities here have included White-tailed Kite, Black-necked Stilt, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Northern Shrike, and American Pipit.
Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-9 geographic coordinates 44 57’ 08” N 123 16’ 08” W
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Fish & Wildlife Website
Location: Basket Slough NWR is a 2500 acre refuge originally established to provide winter habitat for Canada Geese (several sub-species including many Dusky). From I-5 in Salem, take exit 253 and follow Hwy 22 through Salem (follow the signs to the coast). Once you cross the Willamette River, travel 12 miles and look for the Kiosk and viewing platform on the right side of the road. This area offers a great view of the east edge of the refuge. Often, you can see over 10,000 birds from this viewpoint. From this location, continue on Hwy 22 for another mile and turn right on Smithfield Road. Immediately turn right again onto Coville Road. Bird this entire stretch. It will wind through the refuge and end up on Hwy 99W. At Hwy 99W take a left (north) and travel just over a mile to Smithfield Road. Turn left and bird along this road. You can choose to stay on this road and loop back to Hwy 22 or you can turn off onto Livermore or Morris Roads.
Habitat and Birds: Go to the Oregon Birding Trails Website. Click on Willamette Valley Birding Trails. Choose the Yamhill Loop and see site # Y-1. The bird variety here is diverse and always entertaining. In addition to the birds mentioned in the previous link, Baskett Slough has produced some good rarities. Snow Goose, Ross's Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Teal, Redhead, White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Pacific Golden-Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Whimbrel, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Thayer's Gull, Black Tern, Burrowing Owl, Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Northern Shrike, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Grasshopper Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Indigo Bunting, Lark Bunting, and Yellow-headed Blackbird have all been seen here. If you add this rare bird list to a long list of regulars, you can see why it's a favorite location in Polk County.
Dallas return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-8 geographic coordinates 44 55’ 09” N 123 19’ 01” W
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Location: From the Willamette River in Salem, take Hwy 22 west for 9 miles to the Jct of Hwy 22 and 99W. Just past that junction, take a left on Ellendale Avenue. Take this road a short distance into Dallas.
Habitat and Birds: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was here in August 2000. A Brambling was found in December 1985 and another was in Monmouth in spring the of 2006. A very excellent place to bird in Polk County is the Dallas City Park and the Arboretum . This park is good for warblers in the spring as well as other birds. The arboretum is great for nesting birds such as Bushtits, Brown Creepers, and hummingbirds (easy to see find nests) as well as Green Herons along the creek and Western Bluebirds at the open field along the creek. Once Barred Owls lived here in the park for at least three years. You are missing out if you skip the arboretum. PS: An excellent place for lunch is the Tea Room located on Oak Street between the two one-way streets. A good side trip here is to take Ellendale all the way through town and westward into some good lowland forested areas. (Thanks to Carol Karlen for info about Dallas City Park)
Riley Peak return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 52 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 53’ 18” N 123 36’ 29” W
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Location: From downtown Falls City, go west out of town on Black Rock Road. Stay on Black Rock Road for 6.5 miles to Riley Peak.
Habitat and Birds: This area consists mostly of second growth tree farms and clear-cuts. There are some open mountain meadows and bare-top ridges in the area. Mountain Quail and Red Crossbill are possible. Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Swainson's Thrush, and Winter Wren are pretty common.
Fanno Ridge return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 52 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 51’ 09” N 123 35’ 44” W
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Location: From Falls City (see above) take Main Street to the west edge of town. The road will fork. Take the left fork. This will be Bridge Street. Take Bridge for a short distance and it will come to a "T". Turn right on Chamberlain Road. This will shortly become Valsetz Road. Take the Valsetz Road for about 12 miles to the ridge. Some maps call this road the Fanno Peak Road.
Habitat and Birds: This is vintage Coast Range. You can productively bird this whole road. Expect to see Coast Range species here: Saw-whet Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Evening Grosbeak, Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Band-tailed Pigeon, Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Warbler, and lots more.
Gerlinger County Park return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 52’ 13” N 123 28’ 14” W
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Location: A very nice birding location only a mile and a half west of Falls City on Black Rock Road. The road into the park is now blocked but you can park next to the entry road and walk in.
Habitat and Birds: Riparian habitat, clearcut, and some large trees. Good for nuthatches and chickadees. Forest finches should be present. Check the Little Luckiamute River for American Dipper and listen for Pileated Woodpecker in the park.
Falls City return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 51’ 52” N 123 26’ 14” W
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Location: Falls City is located in eastern Polk County about 20 miles east of Salem and on the edge of the Coast Range. To reach Falls City from Dallas, travel south on Hwy 223 for about 5 miles to Falls City Road (look for the sign to Falls City). Turn right and go about 4-5 miles farther to Falls City.
Habitat and Birds: This little town, like many small Willamette bergs, will have scattered bird feeders as you cruise through the small neighborhoods. There is a wooded area along Pine Street which is two blocks north of Main. The main attraction of Falls City is that it acts as a gateway to the Coast Range. At the west end of town, the road forks. The right fork becomes Mitchell Street and then, quickly, Black Rock Road. You can take Black Rock up into the forest and bird as long as you like. Should you choose to take the left fork back in Falls City, this road becomes Bridge Street and then Chamberlain. Soon it becomes the Valsetz Road and eventually to Fanno Ridge (see below). This is an excellent road for exploring the Coast Range. Birds around Falls City include Wild Turkey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Common Nighthawk, Vaux's Swift, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's & Varied Thrushes, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, and Evening Grosbeak. Rarities here include Eastern Phoebe once and Blue Jay.
Little Grass Mountain return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 52 C-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 44’ 22” N 123 35’ 08” W
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Location: To reach this location from Falls City, head west on Main Street and turn left on Bridge Street. Turn right on Chamberlain Street which will become Valsetz Road. Stay on Valsetz Road for just over 6 miles. Turn right to stay on Valsetz Road and go 0.8 miles. Turn left to again stay on Valsetz Road. Go 1.9 miles and turn left. Go 0.6 miles and turn Right. Go 0.6 miles again and take the 2nd left. Go 0.4 miles and take the 1st left. Go 1.3 miles and turn right toward Bald Mountain Road. Go 1.9 miles and turn right on Bald Mountain Road. Go 1.2 miles and make a right turn. Go 0.9 miles and make a left turn. Go 0.2 miles and take a slight right. Go 2.5 miles and make a left hand turn. Go 0.4 miles and turn Right. Go 0.5 miles and turn right. Go 0.6 miles to Little Grass Mountain.
Habitat and Birds: Little Grass Mountain is in the Coast Range near the SW corner of Polk County. Typical mountain species can be found here. The following is just a partial list: Mountain Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Western Screech-Owl, N. Pygmy-Owl, N. Saw-Whet Owl, Hairy Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Gray Jay, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, warblers (Orange-crowned, Wilson's, MacGillivray's, Townsend's, Hermit, & Black-throated Gray), Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak.
Maple Grove Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-8 geographic coordinates 44 46’ 39” N 123 20’ 41” W
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Location: From Monmouth, take Hwy 194 west for 9 miles to the junction of Hwy 194 and Hwy 223. Take 223 south (left) for 7 miles and look for Maple Grove Road on your left.
Habitat and Birds: Maple Grove is located in south-central Polk County north of Airlie about 2 miles at the junction of Airlie and Maple Grove roads. There is a good stand of oaks and mixed hardwoods at the western end of this road and there are several grassy spots that might harbor a sparrow or two. The surrounding farmlands and riparian areas are what bring birders to this area. The Luckiamute River roughly parallels Maple Grove Road and can attract visitors. The farm fields attract an interesting mix of winter raptors. Birds found in this region include Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Steller's Jay, Violet-green Swallow, both kinglets, American Pipit, Cedar Waxwing, and Western Meadowlark.
Tarter Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-8 geographic coordinates 44 45’ 46” N 123 20’ 12” W
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Location: Follow the directions to Maple Grove Road above. Go 3.6 miles east on Maple Grove Road. Turn right (south) on Airlie Road and travel 1.1 miles to Tarter Road. Turn right onto Tarter and travel the 2.7 miles to a dead-end.
Habitat and Birds: This is a short detour with the main species to look for being White-tailed Kite.
Monmouth and Independence return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-9&10 geographic coordinates (Monmouth) 44 51’ 02” N 123 13’ 45” W (Independence) 44 51’ 04” N 123 11’ 36” W
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Location: Monmouth is located west of Salem on Hwy 99W. Take Hwy 22 west to Rickreall. Turn south on 99W for 5 miles to Monmouth. Like many communities, birding the town involves driving the neighborhoods, looking for feeders, and visiting local natural areas. Monmouth has a college campus (WOU) but there are limited opportunities for birding there. Use the following directions to access the local sewage ponds: From the main intersection of Main St and Hwy 99, go east on main St. for 0.5 miles, and at the 2nd S curve go straight into the entrance to the Public Works Dept. You will need to go in the office and sign in. Currently, the Independence Sewage Ponds are closed to public access but a good alternative is Riverview Park in Independence. From Monmouth, take Monmouth St. (Hwy 51) east to its junction with Main Street. Turn left (north) and go one block. The park is on your left along the river.
Habitat and Birds: These are some of the birds that have been seen in the Monmouth-Independence area: 12 species of duck, Green Heron, 6 species of diurnal raptors, Spotted Sandpiper, Mew Gull, Downy Woodpecker, and Lesser Goldfinch.. Rarities at these locations have included Eastern Phoebe , Clay-colored Sparrow, and Brambling.
Elkins Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-9 geographic coordinates 44 48’ 16” N 123 14’ 06” W
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Location: This area is located just a couple of miles south of Monmouth off of Hwy 99W. Take Elkins Road west for about 5 miles as it snakes through farmland and a small creek.
Habitat and Birds: The riparian areas and side trips on Zumwalt and Smith Roads can make for enjoyable birding. Birds at this location represent typical Polk farmland: raptors, winter waterfowl, sparrows and finches can be expected. Watch for woodpeckers and migrants in the riparian areas. Zumwalt has some good wood lots that can be good for passerines.
Simpson Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-9 geographic coordinates 44 46’ 16” N 123 14’ 06” W
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Location: Travel 4 miles south of Monmouth on Hwy 99W to Old Fort Road. Turn right (west) and go a short distance to Helmick Road. Turn left (south) on Helmick Road (you can make a nice detour to Helmick State Park here if you like) and travel one mile to Simpson Road. Simpson winds through South-Central Polk County for six miles.
Habitat and Birds: In some ways, Simpson Road is the typical Polk County Country Road. Farm fields border much of this road but several good forested areas can be found scattered around rolling hills. Mixed deciduous and conif Birds that have been seen along this road include Trumpeter Swan, several species of duck, California Quail, White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Say's Phoebe, Western Bluebird, Fox Sparrow, and Golden-crowned Sparrow.
Oak Hill Road Dairy return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-10 geographic coordinates 44 46’ 27” N 123 10’ 44” W
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Location: This spot is just west of Buena Vista in southern Polk County. From Monmouth, travel south on 99W for 4.5 miles. Turn east on Old Fort Road and then south on Parker Road. Parker turns east and dead-ends at Corvallis Road. Take a right (south) on Corvallis. It will quickly turn east and Oak Hill Road is a 0.25 miles down from that turn. The dairy is only a quarter mile down Oak Hill Road.
Habitat and Birds: There are several ponds around the dairy and one big one just east of the dairy. Water birds are the main attraction here. 18 species of ducks and geese have been recorded from these ponds and the surrounding dairy land. Even Tufted Duck has been spotted here. Other species that you might see in the area include Horned Grebe, Northern Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, California Gull, Acorn Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, several species of swallow, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Wilson's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and American Goldfinch.
Airlie-Suver Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 C-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-9 geographic coordinates 44 44’ 38” N 123 13’ 23” W
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Location: The Airlie-Suver Road is southwest and across the Willamette from Salem. Take Hwy 99W south from Monmouth for about 7 miles (you will go past Sarah Helmick State Park which is the oldest state park in Oregon. Helmick Park is prone to flooding during high water events. It also seems to attract dubious persons from time to time and a prominent local female birder does not recommend women visiting the site by themselves. That being said, it's a good site for woodpeckers and other conifer-loving birds. There is a decent riparian stretch along the river and you can scope out neighboring fields from the entry parking area for swan flocks and other birds during the winter.). Turn west on Airlie-Suver and bird the open farmland here.
Habitat and Birds: Rodents take advantage of the farmer's spillage and raptors take advantage of the rodents. Watch for Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, and Prairie Falcon among other raptors. Sparrows can be in the hedge rows so expect Spotted Towhee, White-throated Sparrow, Fox, and White-crowns in winter. Horned Larks sometimes feed in the road and blackbird flocks may have a Brown-headed Cowbird in the bunch. You never know what might show up. A Whooper Swan was found here in 1997.
De Armond Hamlet & Pond return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 C-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 D-9 geographic coordinates 44 44’ 34” N 123 16’ 04” W
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Location: Take Hwy 99W south from Monmouth for about seven miles (past Sarah Helmick State Park). Turn west on Airlie-Suver and travel 2.2 miles to De Armond Road. Turn left (south) and go about a mile to the pond on your right.
Habitat and Birds: This area is northwest of Albany and west of Hwy 99W. From Monmouth, take Hwy 99W south for seven miles to Airlie-Suver Road. Turn west on Airlie-Suver and go 2.2 miles to De Armond Road. Turn left on De Armond and travel .8 miles to a large pond on the right. Scope this pond for waterfowl. Continue on and either take Robinson Road back to Hwy 99W or, if you want some adventure, take Rifle Range Road south for several miles through a nice wooded area (Warning to county listers: Rifle Range Road is in Benton County). Birds seen in the De Armond area include Trumpeter Swan, Cackling Goose, Northern Shoveler, Pintail, Bufflehead, Great Egret, Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel, Western Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Spotted Towhee.
Luckiamute State Natural Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 D-10 geographic coordinates 44 43’ 45” N 123 09’ 44” W
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Location: Travel seven miles south of Monmouth on Hwy 99W to Suver Road. Turn left (east) on Suver and travel 2.2 miles to Corvallis Road. Turn right (south) and go 4.4 miles to NW Springhill Drive. Turn left (east) on Springhill and drive .8 miles to Buena Vista Road. Turn left (north) and travel 1.25 miles to a dirt road on the right that is just before the bridge over the Luckiamute River. Take this road to the parking area for the natural area. To access this area from the south, take I-5 exit 234 to Hwy 99E. Go west two miles and take the Hwy 20 north exit. Travel north until Hwy 20 crosses the Willamette River. Just after crossing the river take a right on Springhill Drive. Drive 6.8 miles to Buena Vista Road and follow the instructions above.
Habitat and Birds: There are lots of possibilities at this riverside natural area. Located at the confluence of two major rivers (Willamette and Santiam), this small piece of native woodland harkens back to a time when the entire river bottom was covered with thick riparian vegetation. The birds flock to areas like this and even the surrounding farmlands reflect this attraction. Species seen in this area include Greater White-fronted Geese, Cackling Geese, Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Great Egret, Osprey, Rough-legged Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Barn Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Saw-whet Owl, Common Nighthawk, Vaux's Swift, Red-breasted and Red-naped Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Cassin's Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Townsend's Solitaire, and Wrentit. Tennessee Warbler was seen here once.
National Wildlife Refuges in Oregon
Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 59 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-6 geographic coordinates 45 04’ 11” N 123 34’ 26” W
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Location, Habitat and Birds: Go to the Oregon Birding Trails Website. Click on Willamette Valley Birding Trails. Choose the Yamhill Loop and see site # Y-3.
Sawtell Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 59 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-7 geographic coordinates 45 03’ 13” N 123 29’ 18” W
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Location: From McMinnville, go SW on Hwy 18 for 17.7 miles to the junction of Hwy 18 and Hwy 22. Turn south on Hwy 22 and immediately look for Sawtell Road off to the right. This short road shortly returns to Hwy 22.
Habitat and Birds: Birds that are possible here include Canada Goose, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Western Wood-Pewee, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Steller's Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole, and Evening Grosbeak.
Willamina Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 59 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-7 geographic coordinates 45 04’ 27” N 123 28’ 53” W
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Location: From McMinnville, go SW on Hwy 18 for 17.7 miles to the junction of Hwy 18 and Hwy 22. Take Hwy 22 NE for 1.5 miles to Willamina. Willamina lies on the border between Polk and Yamhill Counties so county listers should take note of the county boundary. The Willamina Ponds are the southernmost ponds in this complex. The others are in Yamhill County and information about them can be found on the Yamhill page. Just as you arrive in Willamina, look for SE Adams Street. Turn right on Adams and find the baseball field. Park here and walk to the railroad tracks. Being careful to watch for train traffic. Scan the ponds for water birds.
Habitat and Birds: Birds that have been seen here in the past include Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Tundra Swan, Wood Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Green-Winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Pacific Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green Heron, Osprey, White-tailed Kite, Merlin, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black Swift, Vaux's Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Perrydale and Beck Roads return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-9 geographic coordinates 45 02’ 32” N 123 15’ 21” W
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Location: Perrydale is located north of Dallas. From Hwy 22, go west of the Rickreall Junction about 4 miles and turn right on Perrydale Road. Go 4.6 miles and take a left on Beck Road. This will lead you back to Hwy 22. Beck Road can be a side trip here and you can return to Perrydale Road and take it another five miles or so.
Habitat and Birds: Beck Road travels through plenty of farmland with scattered woodlots and creeks. Birds found here include Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Western Wood Pewee, Horned Lark, Bewick's Wren, Common Yellowthroat, and American Goldfinch. A Gyrfalcon took up residence in this area in the winter of 01-02 and one of only a handful of Oregon Rusty Blackbirds was found here in 1977.
Oregon 4-H Conference and Education Center return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 59 D-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 27 F-10 geographic coordinates 45 00’ 14” N 123 08’ 02” W
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Location: From the town of Dayton, take Hwy 221 south for about 15 miles to Zena Road. Turn left (west) on Zena and travel 2.3 miles. The road will bend 90 degrees to the south. Follow this bend and travel south. At the next bend, look for 4-H Road going straight south. Take this road to the complex.
Habitat and Birds: Birds you might see here include Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Band-tailed Pigeon, Black Swift, Vaux's Swift, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Willow Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, Lesser Goldfinch, and Evening Grosbeak.
Morris Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-9 geographic coordinates 44 59’ 00” N 123 16’ 10” W
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Location: Morris Road is located in north-central Polk County just north of Baskett Slough NWR. Take 99W north out of Rickreall for three miles to Smithfield Road. Take Smithfield west for 2.7 miles to Morris Road.
Habitat and Birds: Open farmlands are the draw here. Some of this farmland is left fallow and can be too marshy to cultivate. This provides some wild areas for birds. A bird list from this location might include Acorn Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, assorted swallows, Bewick's Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
Livermore Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-9 geographic coordinates 44 59’ 00” N 123 15’ 51” W
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Location: Livermore Road is just north of Basket Slough NWR. Take 99W north out of Rickreall for three miles to Smithfield Road. Take Smithfield west for 2.4 miles to Livermore Road. Livermore runs about four miles to the north and hooks up with Bethel Road. You can take Bethel east to Hwy 99W. This is open farmland mostly. Start by checking out the trees and shrubs around the abandoned house at the corner of Smithfield and Livermore. There are several good blackberry patches and fence rows. Sparrow watching can be pretty productive in winter here.
Habitat and Birds: Go to the Oregon Birding Trails Website. Click on Willamette Valley Birding Trails. Choose the Yamhill Loop and see site # Y-2. This area has some of the same birds as Baskett Slough although there is far less water here. Beyond the abundant waterfowl in the farm fields and sparrows in the hedgerows, this area can produce some unusual species. Some of these include Trumpeter Swan, Ring-necked Pheasant, Accipiters, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, peeps, Burrowing Owl, and Lazuli Bunting.
Farmer Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-9 geographic coordinates 44 58’ 08” N 123 13’ 29” W
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Location: Farmer Road is north of Rickreall off of Hwy 99W. From Rickreall, travel 2.5 miles north and turn right on Farmer Road.
Habitat and Birds: Check the marshy spots along this road. Lots of good marsh and shorebirds are spotted here. Things to look for include lots of waterfowl, Ring-necked Pheasant, Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Virginia Rail, Sora, both yellowlegs, Short-eared Owl, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Rarities here have included White-tailed Kite, Black-necked Stilt, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Northern Shrike, and American Pipit.
Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-9 geographic coordinates 44 57’ 08” N 123 16’ 08” W
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Fish & Wildlife Website
Location: Basket Slough NWR is a 2500 acre refuge originally established to provide winter habitat for Canada Geese (several sub-species including many Dusky). From I-5 in Salem, take exit 253 and follow Hwy 22 through Salem (follow the signs to the coast). Once you cross the Willamette River, travel 12 miles and look for the Kiosk and viewing platform on the right side of the road. This area offers a great view of the east edge of the refuge. Often, you can see over 10,000 birds from this viewpoint. From this location, continue on Hwy 22 for another mile and turn right on Smithfield Road. Immediately turn right again onto Coville Road. Bird this entire stretch. It will wind through the refuge and end up on Hwy 99W. At Hwy 99W take a left (north) and travel just over a mile to Smithfield Road. Turn left and bird along this road. You can choose to stay on this road and loop back to Hwy 22 or you can turn off onto Livermore or Morris Roads.
Habitat and Birds: Go to the Oregon Birding Trails Website. Click on Willamette Valley Birding Trails. Choose the Yamhill Loop and see site # Y-1. The bird variety here is diverse and always entertaining. In addition to the birds mentioned in the previous link, Baskett Slough has produced some good rarities. Snow Goose, Ross's Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Teal, Redhead, White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Pacific Golden-Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Whimbrel, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Thayer's Gull, Black Tern, Burrowing Owl, Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Northern Shrike, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Grasshopper Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Indigo Bunting, Lark Bunting, and Yellow-headed Blackbird have all been seen here. If you add this rare bird list to a long list of regulars, you can see why it's a favorite location in Polk County.
Dallas return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 A-8 geographic coordinates 44 55’ 09” N 123 19’ 01” W
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Location: From the Willamette River in Salem, take Hwy 22 west for 9 miles to the Jct of Hwy 22 and 99W. Just past that junction, take a left on Ellendale Avenue. Take this road a short distance into Dallas.
Habitat and Birds: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was here in August 2000. A Brambling was found in December 1985 and another was in Monmouth in spring the of 2006. A very excellent place to bird in Polk County is the Dallas City Park and the Arboretum . This park is good for warblers in the spring as well as other birds. The arboretum is great for nesting birds such as Bushtits, Brown Creepers, and hummingbirds (easy to see find nests) as well as Green Herons along the creek and Western Bluebirds at the open field along the creek. Once Barred Owls lived here in the park for at least three years. You are missing out if you skip the arboretum. PS: An excellent place for lunch is the Tea Room located on Oak Street between the two one-way streets. A good side trip here is to take Ellendale all the way through town and westward into some good lowland forested areas. (Thanks to Carol Karlen for info about Dallas City Park)
Riley Peak return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 52 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 53’ 18” N 123 36’ 29” W
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Location: From downtown Falls City, go west out of town on Black Rock Road. Stay on Black Rock Road for 6.5 miles to Riley Peak.
Habitat and Birds: This area consists mostly of second growth tree farms and clear-cuts. There are some open mountain meadows and bare-top ridges in the area. Mountain Quail and Red Crossbill are possible. Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Swainson's Thrush, and Winter Wren are pretty common.
Fanno Ridge return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 52 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 51’ 09” N 123 35’ 44” W
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Location: From Falls City (see above) take Main Street to the west edge of town. The road will fork. Take the left fork. This will be Bridge Street. Take Bridge for a short distance and it will come to a "T". Turn right on Chamberlain Road. This will shortly become Valsetz Road. Take the Valsetz Road for about 12 miles to the ridge. Some maps call this road the Fanno Peak Road.
Habitat and Birds: This is vintage Coast Range. You can productively bird this whole road. Expect to see Coast Range species here: Saw-whet Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Evening Grosbeak, Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Band-tailed Pigeon, Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Warbler, and lots more.
Gerlinger County Park return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 52’ 13” N 123 28’ 14” W
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Location: A very nice birding location only a mile and a half west of Falls City on Black Rock Road. The road into the park is now blocked but you can park next to the entry road and walk in.
Habitat and Birds: Riparian habitat, clearcut, and some large trees. Good for nuthatches and chickadees. Forest finches should be present. Check the Little Luckiamute River for American Dipper and listen for Pileated Woodpecker in the park.
Falls City return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 51’ 52” N 123 26’ 14” W
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Location: Falls City is located in eastern Polk County about 20 miles east of Salem and on the edge of the Coast Range. To reach Falls City from Dallas, travel south on Hwy 223 for about 5 miles to Falls City Road (look for the sign to Falls City). Turn right and go about 4-5 miles farther to Falls City.
Habitat and Birds: This little town, like many small Willamette bergs, will have scattered bird feeders as you cruise through the small neighborhoods. There is a wooded area along Pine Street which is two blocks north of Main. The main attraction of Falls City is that it acts as a gateway to the Coast Range. At the west end of town, the road forks. The right fork becomes Mitchell Street and then, quickly, Black Rock Road. You can take Black Rock up into the forest and bird as long as you like. Should you choose to take the left fork back in Falls City, this road becomes Bridge Street and then Chamberlain. Soon it becomes the Valsetz Road and eventually to Fanno Ridge (see below). This is an excellent road for exploring the Coast Range. Birds around Falls City include Wild Turkey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Common Nighthawk, Vaux's Swift, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's & Varied Thrushes, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, and Evening Grosbeak. Rarities here include Eastern Phoebe once and Blue Jay.
Little Grass Mountain return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 52 C-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 44’ 22” N 123 35’ 08” W
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Location: To reach this location from Falls City, head west on Main Street and turn left on Bridge Street. Turn right on Chamberlain Street which will become Valsetz Road. Stay on Valsetz Road for just over 6 miles. Turn right to stay on Valsetz Road and go 0.8 miles. Turn left to again stay on Valsetz Road. Go 1.9 miles and turn left. Go 0.6 miles and turn Right. Go 0.6 miles again and take the 2nd left. Go 0.4 miles and take the 1st left. Go 1.3 miles and turn right toward Bald Mountain Road. Go 1.9 miles and turn right on Bald Mountain Road. Go 1.2 miles and make a right turn. Go 0.9 miles and make a left turn. Go 0.2 miles and take a slight right. Go 2.5 miles and make a left hand turn. Go 0.4 miles and turn Right. Go 0.5 miles and turn right. Go 0.6 miles to Little Grass Mountain.
Habitat and Birds: Little Grass Mountain is in the Coast Range near the SW corner of Polk County. Typical mountain species can be found here. The following is just a partial list: Mountain Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Western Screech-Owl, N. Pygmy-Owl, N. Saw-Whet Owl, Hairy Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Gray Jay, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, warblers (Orange-crowned, Wilson's, MacGillivray's, Townsend's, Hermit, & Black-throated Gray), Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak.
Maple Grove Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-8 geographic coordinates 44 46’ 39” N 123 20’ 41” W
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Location: From Monmouth, take Hwy 194 west for 9 miles to the junction of Hwy 194 and Hwy 223. Take 223 south (left) for 7 miles and look for Maple Grove Road on your left.
Habitat and Birds: Maple Grove is located in south-central Polk County north of Airlie about 2 miles at the junction of Airlie and Maple Grove roads. There is a good stand of oaks and mixed hardwoods at the western end of this road and there are several grassy spots that might harbor a sparrow or two. The surrounding farmlands and riparian areas are what bring birders to this area. The Luckiamute River roughly parallels Maple Grove Road and can attract visitors. The farm fields attract an interesting mix of winter raptors. Birds found in this region include Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Steller's Jay, Violet-green Swallow, both kinglets, American Pipit, Cedar Waxwing, and Western Meadowlark.
Tarter Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-8 geographic coordinates 44 45’ 46” N 123 20’ 12” W
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Location: Follow the directions to Maple Grove Road above. Go 3.6 miles east on Maple Grove Road. Turn right (south) on Airlie Road and travel 1.1 miles to Tarter Road. Turn right onto Tarter and travel the 2.7 miles to a dead-end.
Habitat and Birds: This is a short detour with the main species to look for being White-tailed Kite.
Monmouth and Independence return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 B-9&10 geographic coordinates (Monmouth) 44 51’ 02” N 123 13’ 45” W (Independence) 44 51’ 04” N 123 11’ 36” W
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Location: Monmouth is located west of Salem on Hwy 99W. Take Hwy 22 west to Rickreall. Turn south on 99W for 5 miles to Monmouth. Like many communities, birding the town involves driving the neighborhoods, looking for feeders, and visiting local natural areas. Monmouth has a college campus (WOU) but there are limited opportunities for birding there. Use the following directions to access the local sewage ponds: From the main intersection of Main St and Hwy 99, go east on main St. for 0.5 miles, and at the 2nd S curve go straight into the entrance to the Public Works Dept. You will need to go in the office and sign in. Currently, the Independence Sewage Ponds are closed to public access but a good alternative is Riverview Park in Independence. From Monmouth, take Monmouth St. (Hwy 51) east to its junction with Main Street. Turn left (north) and go one block. The park is on your left along the river.
Habitat and Birds: These are some of the birds that have been seen in the Monmouth-Independence area: 12 species of duck, Green Heron, 6 species of diurnal raptors, Spotted Sandpiper, Mew Gull, Downy Woodpecker, and Lesser Goldfinch.. Rarities at these locations have included Eastern Phoebe , Clay-colored Sparrow, and Brambling.
Elkins Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-9 geographic coordinates 44 48’ 16” N 123 14’ 06” W
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Location: This area is located just a couple of miles south of Monmouth off of Hwy 99W. Take Elkins Road west for about 5 miles as it snakes through farmland and a small creek.
Habitat and Birds: The riparian areas and side trips on Zumwalt and Smith Roads can make for enjoyable birding. Birds at this location represent typical Polk farmland: raptors, winter waterfowl, sparrows and finches can be expected. Watch for woodpeckers and migrants in the riparian areas. Zumwalt has some good wood lots that can be good for passerines.
Simpson Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-9 geographic coordinates 44 46’ 16” N 123 14’ 06” W
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Location: Travel 4 miles south of Monmouth on Hwy 99W to Old Fort Road. Turn right (west) and go a short distance to Helmick Road. Turn left (south) on Helmick Road (you can make a nice detour to Helmick State Park here if you like) and travel one mile to Simpson Road. Simpson winds through South-Central Polk County for six miles.
Habitat and Birds: In some ways, Simpson Road is the typical Polk County Country Road. Farm fields border much of this road but several good forested areas can be found scattered around rolling hills. Mixed deciduous and conif Birds that have been seen along this road include Trumpeter Swan, several species of duck, California Quail, White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Say's Phoebe, Western Bluebird, Fox Sparrow, and Golden-crowned Sparrow.
Oak Hill Road Dairy return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-10 geographic coordinates 44 46’ 27” N 123 10’ 44” W
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Location: This spot is just west of Buena Vista in southern Polk County. From Monmouth, travel south on 99W for 4.5 miles. Turn east on Old Fort Road and then south on Parker Road. Parker turns east and dead-ends at Corvallis Road. Take a right (south) on Corvallis. It will quickly turn east and Oak Hill Road is a 0.25 miles down from that turn. The dairy is only a quarter mile down Oak Hill Road.
Habitat and Birds: There are several ponds around the dairy and one big one just east of the dairy. Water birds are the main attraction here. 18 species of ducks and geese have been recorded from these ponds and the surrounding dairy land. Even Tufted Duck has been spotted here. Other species that you might see in the area include Horned Grebe, Northern Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, California Gull, Acorn Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, several species of swallow, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Wilson's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and American Goldfinch.
Airlie-Suver Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 C-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 C-9 geographic coordinates 44 44’ 38” N 123 13’ 23” W
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Location: The Airlie-Suver Road is southwest and across the Willamette from Salem. Take Hwy 99W south from Monmouth for about 7 miles (you will go past Sarah Helmick State Park which is the oldest state park in Oregon. Helmick Park is prone to flooding during high water events. It also seems to attract dubious persons from time to time and a prominent local female birder does not recommend women visiting the site by themselves. That being said, it's a good site for woodpeckers and other conifer-loving birds. There is a decent riparian stretch along the river and you can scope out neighboring fields from the entry parking area for swan flocks and other birds during the winter.). Turn west on Airlie-Suver and bird the open farmland here.
Habitat and Birds: Rodents take advantage of the farmer's spillage and raptors take advantage of the rodents. Watch for Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, and Prairie Falcon among other raptors. Sparrows can be in the hedge rows so expect Spotted Towhee, White-throated Sparrow, Fox, and White-crowns in winter. Horned Larks sometimes feed in the road and blackbird flocks may have a Brown-headed Cowbird in the bunch. You never know what might show up. A Whooper Swan was found here in 1997.
De Armond Hamlet & Pond return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 C-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 D-9 geographic coordinates 44 44’ 34” N 123 16’ 04” W
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Location: Take Hwy 99W south from Monmouth for about seven miles (past Sarah Helmick State Park). Turn west on Airlie-Suver and travel 2.2 miles to De Armond Road. Turn left (south) and go about a mile to the pond on your right.
Habitat and Birds: This area is northwest of Albany and west of Hwy 99W. From Monmouth, take Hwy 99W south for seven miles to Airlie-Suver Road. Turn west on Airlie-Suver and go 2.2 miles to De Armond Road. Turn left on De Armond and travel .8 miles to a large pond on the right. Scope this pond for waterfowl. Continue on and either take Robinson Road back to Hwy 99W or, if you want some adventure, take Rifle Range Road south for several miles through a nice wooded area (Warning to county listers: Rifle Range Road is in Benton County). Birds seen in the De Armond area include Trumpeter Swan, Cackling Goose, Northern Shoveler, Pintail, Bufflehead, Great Egret, Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel, Western Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Spotted Towhee.
Luckiamute State Natural Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 53 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 33 D-10 geographic coordinates 44 43’ 45” N 123 09’ 44” W
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Location: Travel seven miles south of Monmouth on Hwy 99W to Suver Road. Turn left (east) on Suver and travel 2.2 miles to Corvallis Road. Turn right (south) and go 4.4 miles to NW Springhill Drive. Turn left (east) on Springhill and drive .8 miles to Buena Vista Road. Turn left (north) and travel 1.25 miles to a dirt road on the right that is just before the bridge over the Luckiamute River. Take this road to the parking area for the natural area. To access this area from the south, take I-5 exit 234 to Hwy 99E. Go west two miles and take the Hwy 20 north exit. Travel north until Hwy 20 crosses the Willamette River. Just after crossing the river take a right on Springhill Drive. Drive 6.8 miles to Buena Vista Road and follow the instructions above.
Habitat and Birds: There are lots of possibilities at this riverside natural area. Located at the confluence of two major rivers (Willamette and Santiam), this small piece of native woodland harkens back to a time when the entire river bottom was covered with thick riparian vegetation. The birds flock to areas like this and even the surrounding farmlands reflect this attraction. Species seen in this area include Greater White-fronted Geese, Cackling Geese, Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Great Egret, Osprey, Rough-legged Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Barn Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Saw-whet Owl, Common Nighthawk, Vaux's Swift, Red-breasted and Red-naped Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Cassin's Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Townsend's Solitaire, and Wrentit. Tennessee Warbler was seen here once.