Recreation Report
Willamette Zone
Recreation Report
-Photo by Jon Yoder-
WILLAMETTE WILDLIFE VIEWING
April 2, 2026
Corvallis area
There are lots of deer, shorebirds and waterfowl to see on the wildlife area – look for goose, mallard, hooded merganser and wood duck broods. Wildlife viewing remains good for waterfowl and shorebirds.
Note: Dogs are required to be on a leash inside the wildlife area boundary. Rifles and pistols are prohibited year-round. Find directions to EE Wilson Wildlife Area.
A parking permit is required to park at EE Wilson Wildlife Area. Find out how to buy a parking permit.
Eugene area
Observant visitors may catch a glimpse of black-tailed deer and furbearers including beaver, otter, mink, red fox and coyotes. Some of the unusual and special bird species to watch for include white pelicans, black terns, purple martins, band-tailed pigeons, yellow-headed blackbirds, osprey and bald eagles.
Throughout the year look for waterfowl, shore birds, wading birds, songbirds, raptors, reptiles, and amphibians. During summer, visitors may also see Western Pond turtles basking on logs, branches, and rocks in sunny areas of rivers, off-channel ponds, and other wetlands. Please report sightings of turtles here.
An elevated viewing platform in the Fisher Butte unit just south of Royal Avenue is open year-round. A second viewing platform is located 1/4 mile north of the Fisher Butte unit parking lot on Hwy. 126.
A parking permit is required to park at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. Find out how to buy a parking permit. Maps of the wildlife area can be found on the ODFW website.
Portland area
Clackamas, Multnomah, Columbia, Washington counties
It's a great time of year to get out and see wildlife in Northwest Oregon, including in the counties surrounding the Portland metro area. Waterways may be fruitful for viewing a variety of birds and their young. There are many active osprey, eagle and even peregrine falcon nests that can be seen from a safe distance along the Willamette, Columbia, Sandy, and Clackamas rivers. Lakes and ponds may provide great opportunities to see resident waterfowl and their offspring.
Glassing meadows and clearcuts with binoculars in the evening and early in the morning may provide opportunities to see black bears, deer, elk, and coyotes, sometimes with offspring in tow. Just make sure to give all wildlife appropriate space and appreciate them from afar.
The Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Westside and Oak Island units will reopen on April 16. However, the Eastside will remain closed until May 1 to protect wintering waterfowl and to minimize any human impact on the birds. Rentenaar Road, Eastside Viewing Platform and Raccoon Point remain open for viewing. The trail to Warrior Rock Lighthouse remains open and starts at the end of Reeder Road and combines rich community history as well as a great bird-viewing hike.
Viewing opportunities are plentiful this time of year. Cacklers and some Sandhill cranes are still hanging around and normally stay until mid-April. Hawks, Bald Eagles, and Osprey are present and very active around their nest. Recently viewed bird species on the Island include Turkey Vultures, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Cinnamon Teal, Rufous Hummingbirds, Band-tailed Pigeons, Great Egrets and swallows. There are fewer Snow geese as they are starting to migrate north to their summer breeding grounds. Roadside viewing is excellent this time of year so be sure to bring your binoculars.
Sauvie Island is a main stopping point for migratory birds as they travel along the Pacific Flyway, and ODFW actively manages the Wildlife Area to provide food and cover for these creatures.
Sauvie Island Wildlife Area is located on Sauvie Island, only 10 miles north of Portland off Hwy. 30.
A parking permit is required for the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area and can be purchased at ODFW license vendors or online at myodfw.com.