Bird watching has become one of the fastest-growing recreational pastimes in the United States, and Oregon is a bird watching paradise. Nine established birding trails, over 500 species, and seasonal migrations put us on the feather-friend map.

So grab your binoculars and plan your bird watching vacation in Bend, Oregon!

Bend is the gateway to the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail, which features 200 sites along 1,200 miles of scenic roadways. With locations as geologically diverse as the lava flows near the Dee Wright Observatory to the riparian habitat along the Deschutes River, this region of the Cascades is home to treasured species like the Western Meadowlark (Oregon’s state bird), the Yellow-Headed Blackbird, and even the legendary Bald Eagle.

Begin your birding adventure right here in downtown and the Old Mill District. The Great horned owl or its smaller cousin, the Western screech, are known to make night-time appearances. Or take the short hike up Pilot Butte to discover bluebirds, robins, and even Bohemian waxwings. At Shevlin Park, Bend’s 650-acre park with trails that wind along Tumalo Creek, catch a glimpse of Lewis’s woodpeckers or the rare pygmy owl. This day-flying bird is as tiny as a sparrow, so if you can’t spot it at first, listen for its high-pitched hoots.

From identifying serenading songbirds in nearby neighborhoods to spotting Red-Tailed Hawks and majestic Bald Eagles on the Deschutes River or catching them on exhibition at the High Desert Museum, birders of all skill and fanatic levels will enjoy the massive variety of winged beauty here in Central Oregon.

Stop by the Visit Bend Visitor Center to pick up a free copy of the Old Mill District and Deschutes River Corridor Birding Checklist and other detailed forest and road maps to help you plan your trip.