Recreation Report
Willamette Zone
Recreation Report
Nov. 8, 2023
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your viewing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Corvallis area
EE Wilson Wildlife 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. Neotropical migrants in the area include yellow-breasted chat, American goldfinch, various swallows, warblers, thrush, kinglet and common yellowthroat.
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
Fern Ridge Wildlife 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 be on the lookout 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
Sauvie Island Wildlife Area
The Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Eastside units and Westside, Oak Island and North units close Oct. 1through April 15, 2024. Rentenaar Road, Eastside Viewing Platform, Columbia River Beaches and Raccoon Point remain open for viewing.
Also open is Warrior Rock Lighthouse trail along the Columbia River. It starts at the end of Reeder Road and combines rich community history as well as a great bird-viewing hike.Parking permits are required for the entire wildlife area.
Visitors are encouraged to know the seasonal hunting dates and to wear bright colors. Hunt dates are found in the 2023-24 Game Bird Regulations.
As the leaves turn color, the sky fills with increasing flocks of migratory birds traveling the Pacific Flyway. The largest birds grabbing star status are sandhill cranes, tundra swans, white pelicans, cackling and snow geese, plus raptors. They relish the food and cover provided by the ODFW managed wildlife area.
Many of the birds can be seen in huge flocks visiting the agricultural areas. Farms join in the bird management effort by flooding areas to increase habitat and select crop rotation to increase soil nutrition. A fall drive on Reeder Road or Sauvie Island Road rewards onlookers with world famous views of migratory flocks. Binoculars are recommended!
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.