A determined group of 17 braved the winds at Powell Butte last Saturday for our annual winter birding walk before the planting event. Led by Portland Audubon instructor, Laura Whittemore, the group saw 12 species of birds during our 75 minute walk. The highlight was a Merlin at the visitor center at the very end of the outing. Our list was:
3 Anna’s Hummingbirds
1 Red-tailed hawk
2 American kestrals
1 Merlin
3 Stellar’s Jays
7 American Crows
6 Black-capped Chickadees
1 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
2 Red-breasted Nuthatches
several Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 Dark-eyed juncos
3 Song Sparrows