Umpqua Bird Alliance – Event Report, by Liz Gayner

June 6, 2026

Bird Walk Report — Mildred Kanipe Memorial County Park

The third annual bird walk at Mildred Kanipe Memorial County Park drew 20 participants on Saturday, June 6, 2026. The group spent a little over two hours exploring the Day Use Area, the pond, and a short stretch of oak woodland along Bachelor Creek and its tributary, covering roughly a half mile. Early cloud cover made it a bit challenging to spot perched birds, but conditions improved as the morning progressed.

Participants recorded 28 species (about 81 individual birds), not including the resident Peafowl that frequent the Day Use Area. Seven TURKEY VULTURES represented the largest number of any single species observed during the walk. Several species were documented nesting, including HOUSE WREN, TREE SWALLOW, and WESTERN BLUEBIRD. LAZULI BUNTING were vocally abundant, and a couple of individuals offered excellent views as males perched up to sing. Two pairs of BULLOCK ORIOLES were also present, though they remained somewhat elusive as they stayed busy with nesting activities. Other highlights included a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS, a singing CASSINS VIREO, and BLACK PHOEBE pairs. Notably, no warbler species were detected either visually or audibly.

This walk has become a favorite annual outing for our chapter. We hope you can join us next year!

eBird checklist link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S353479817

See more photos below by Marge Cooney. Birds include COMMON PEAFOWL, TREE SWALLOW, and BLACK PHOEBE. 

Recognizing the strength that comes from diversity in both natural systems and human
communities, we welcome all people, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual
preference, age, levels of physical, cognitive, and social ability, or
citizenship status. We continually seek to advance and prioritize diversity,
equity, and inclusion through our programs and partnerships.

Umpqua Bird Alliance is a chapter of National Audubon Society.