Rain is an all too common factor in Pacific Northwest winters. Grey days can go on for weeks at a time. The rain does not fall in huge dumps, but tends to lightly fall for much of the day. Short grey wet days. Cabin fever. No mountains to climb, so what to do? Then add on top of it the COVID pandemic. Perfect time to go birdwatch at Ridgefield!

The rain and the grey do not seem to affect the birds much. They flock to the areas along the Columbia and Willamette rivers in huge numbers. There are literally thousands if not millions of birds making their winter homes in wetlands of the western Northwest. The winter skies are full of birds flying in the early morning and late afternoon light as they go to and from feeding areas from their nightly resting spots.

Man has taken over many of the large wetland areas which used to be prime bird territory. Several areas have, however, been reserved for the birds in refuges run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife. In a 30 mile stretch along the Columbia River through the Portland-Vancouver metroplex, there are several large State and Federal refuges where you can observe migratory birds who have come from thousands of miles away to escape the cold.

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

One of the easiest places to birdwatch from inside the comfort of your own car, this is America after all, is at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is about eight miles north of Vancouver, Washington. There are 5,300 acres of wetland along the Columbia River protected here. It is the second largest refuge in the area behind Oregon’s Sauvie Island Refuge across the river at a little over double the size. These two refuges and the Washington State refuge just west of Vancouver – Shillapoo – offer a significant region along the Columbia River in the area around the confluence of the Willamette.

Ridgefield offers some viewing blinds to birdwatch and a trail – the trail is only open on weekends in the summer, so as not to disturb the wintering birds – but what is especially special is the auto tour route which covers 4-5 miles. The road is open to foot traffic from 1 May to 30 September when the migratory birds have gone. In the winter, you need to stay in your car.

The Auto Route

The road is a good gravel road with several places to pull off and observe the plentitude of wildlife. You drive between a series of lakes, most separated only by the road you are on. There is a podcast for both winter and summer wildlife viewing along the road available, with corresponding numbered stops along the way.

There is usually a fee $5 to do the auto tour – or to do hike during the summer – but because bird blinds are closed as are rest rooms because of the pandemic, the fees are currently waived. Such a deal!

Wildlife to be found

So, what kind of wildlife can you see here? Read over the linked list for the many species to be found. You will need patience, luck and a good pair of binoculars.

We were like most on the road, however. No binoculars, no telephoto lenses – ok, I take that back as my wife has a new pro-iphone – and we were not out to out to a “bird list”, but simply a change up on a nasty, rainy day – perfect day to birdwatch at Ridgefield.

Away We Go

Even not trying hard, you can see a decent number of different species. There were several species of duck which I need to be more expert to be able to identify.

Some species are more obvious. Here a pair of Bald Eagles – Helieeaetus leucocephalus – stop the car as they peer out over the waterscape with a small Redtail Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis – or a Northern Goshawk – Acciptier gentilis – looking on from underneath.

The magnificence of the wetlands is hard to miss even in the rain as you slowly drive along the Auto Route.

Some birds are all too familiar – I once had a fish pond. Great Blue Herons – Ardea herodias – are the bane of all koi pond owners.

Auto Route means your car is your bird blind

You are required to stay in your car and the refuge has a unique set of marshals to ensure your participation.

A big call to the refuge is the possibility of seeing the once nearly extinct Trumpeter Swans – Cygnus buccinator – which can be seen at a bit of a distance. Sometimes they are intermingled with Tundra Swans – Cygnus columbianus – making identification a little more difficult, especially if you did not bring your binoculars.

Again, if bird lists are important, bring the binoculars and a telephoto lens.

Beyond the Mallards – Anas platyrhynchos – the Dusky Canadian Geeese – Branta canadensis occidentalis – are ever prevalent.

Thousands, if not more, winter along the Columbia during the winter. The morning flights of geese off the lakes to daily feeding grounds is always a stirring site.

Videos are not from the refuge but up the Columbia River valley a few miles.

This is your Final Warning!

Keep your eye open for animals without wings, too! You can do more than simply birdwatch at Ridgefield, though on a rainy day in December …?