Northern Flicker, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 8 March 2010 by Greg Gillson.It seems quite early, but this Northern Flicker apparently already is excavating a nesting cavity.
This bird is just one of the 55 species seen this morning on an impromptu bird walk at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Wednesdays are going to be my free bird walk days, going forward...
From 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays I will lead bird walks at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve (map) from the Education Center. We'll start this week, March 10 and 17, then skip a few weeks and start again regularly on April 21. We'll walk liesurely on up to 3 miles of wetland trails (can be a bit muddy, but no wading).
For one hour at noon (starting April 7) is Wednesday's regular Lunch With The Birds. For this community program I'll set up scopes on the back deck of the Jackson Bottom Education Center and greet visitors and answer their bird questions as we watch the many birds visible from that new location. Until then we will still meet at the North View Shelter, which provides distant views of the Bald Eagle nest.
Then, starting March 24, I will lead a free Wednesday bird walk at the Hillsboro Library Main Branch (map), from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. This is near the Hillsboro Airport off Brookwood Parkway, and we'll walk a mile or so of the paved walkways around Dawson Creek Corporate Park. Many ducks winter here, and some are residents, including the striking Wood Ducks. Acorn Woodpeckers have a large colony in the swale behind the park. Park on the north side near the Bike Pavillion.
Attendance is limited to about 15 persons for the Jackson Bottom and the Hillsboro Library bird walks, so advanced registration is requested. Send email to Greg Gillson at greg@thebirdguide.com to see if space is available.
I hope to see you at one of these activities on Wednesdays!