The Klamath Basin, located in southern Oregon and northern California, boasts some of the most diverse and healthy bird populations in the nation. From Crater Lake National Park and Klamath Marsh Refuge in the north to Tule Lake and Clear Lake Refuges southeast of Tulelake, CA, Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway provides the ultimate birding getaway. Add countless species to your life list as you peer through binoculars at rare sea birds, enjoy breakfast with fellow birders before a Bald Eagle flyover, or spend a tranquil day on the water, the splash of your canoe paddle the only sound to break the silence.
The byway takes you to six different National Wildlife Refuges, each with its own ecosystem and bird population. Look for nesting American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants in Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge in California. Also in the state, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge's ten-mile auto tour provides a view of American Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, several species of geese, and the threatened Peregrine Falcon where cropland and open water meet. Visit Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and see why it holds the distinction of being the nation's first waterfowl refuge. The 53,000-acre refuge features photoblinds, where photographers capture portraits of birds as they fly, feed, and nest in a protected environment.
While most of the National Wildlife Refuges provide signed driving tours, a few offer the option of a less intrusive interaction with local birds. Paddle around Oregon's Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge's 14,400 acres of marshland and glimpse the Lost River Sucker and Short-nosed Sucker, both listed as endangered. You'll also see Osprey, Bald Eagles, and an assortment of waterfowl. In the colder months the Klamath Basin hosts birders from around the world for the annual Winter Wings Festival. Though Bear Valley NWR in Oregon is closed to the public, take an expert-guided snowshoe tour just outside of the refuge and witness the spectacle of the largest migrating population of American Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states during a morning flyover.
Don't limit your birding along the byway to National Wildlife Refuges, though. Plenty of places along the byway offer hundreds of birds in varying environments. Visit the McCloud, CA area's pond, riparian areas and forests to witness species like Belted Kingfishers and Common Nighthawks. Take a hike near Crater Lake in Oregon where you'll witness the majestic flight of a Red-tailed Hawk or American Kestrel. When night falls, embark on a moonlit walk around the lake and listen for the distinctive hoot of the Great Horned Owl.
Pelicans in the Wetlands (OR) [5]
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, with its vast assortment of ecosystems and protected lands, provides the ultimate in western birding. Whether you watch for noble birds of prey soaring above or seek out the rare migratory water bird, the area's wildlife refuges, national parks, and small mountain towns cater to the perfect birding adventure. Enjoy friendships with fellow enthusiasts in a gorgeous natural setting and create lifelong memories.
