Birders—Photo: Skip Perkins

Field Trip Program Update – February 2026

by Marie Grad 

Planning for the Year Ahead

I recently met with several of our field trip leaders to begin organizing the field trips for the upcoming year. After thoughtful discussion, we agreed to focus much of this year’s program on the Elwha River area, offering a series of quarterly trips.

Elwha River Series

Throughout the year, we will be visiting both the mouth of the Elwha River and the region near Madison Falls. By scheduling these excursions in different seasons, each trip will highlight the variety of bird species present at those times, giving participants a chance to experience the changing avian diversity.

Exploring New Destinations

We are also exploring opportunities to schedule field trips beyond Clallam County. While it may not be possible to organize all of these trips within the current calendar year, there are a few destinations that we hope to include in this year’s schedule.

Continuing Popular Outings

In addition to the new and expanded offerings, we will continue with some of our popular past trips, such as the Purple Martin and shorebird outings. These favorites remain a staple of our field trip program.

How to Participate

If you are interested in joining any of our field trips, please check the OPAS website events calendar for dates, details, and registration information.

Wednesday Bird Walk

Date and Time: Every Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m.
Meeting Place: Outside the Dungeness River Nature Center
Features: Easy guided bird walk through Railroad Bridge Park to see birds of the Dungeness River riparian area and adjacent fields and open areas.
Bring: Binoculars, scope, and appropriate clothing for the weather.
Cost: Free