Over 190 species of birds can be found in the woods and marshes surrounding Sisters, from the smallest to majestic raptors. Just five minutes from town at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve there have been sightings of 86 – that’s not a misprint. The preserve, owned and managed by the Deschutes Land Trust, has an improving meadow habitat with pools and surrounding riparian habitats.
Calliope Crossing
This is one of the best known and beloved birding locations in all of Deschutes County. Dense riparian habitat surrounded by ponderosa pine forest supports all three Sapsuckers, “Western” and Gray Flycatchers, Cassin’s Vireo, Western Wood-Pewee, House Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Cassin’s Finch, and Calliope Hummingbird.
According to the Audubon Society, among the uncommon birds in the area are Wild Turkey, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Goshawk, and an occasional American Redstart. Rare birds found here have included Costa’s Hummingbird, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Plumbeous Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Gray Catbird, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Glaze Meadow & Gobbler’s Knob
The surrounding forest is good for White-headed Woodpeckers close to the western access point. The small hill (Gobbler’s Knob) at the eastern access point has breeding Fox Sparrow and Green-tailed Towhee. The Black Butte Swamp has a variety of birds similar to Calliope Crossing. It is currently the only place in Deschutes County where you are very likely to find Veery and Swainson’s Thrush, which nest there in small numbers.
Rooster Rock Burn
The 1,634-acre Rooster Rock Fire of 2010 is a surreal backdrop and was a prolific woodpecker location for about 10 years. Now that it is older, it is less attractive to woodpeckers, but they can still be found here.
Why drive?
Simply stay right in town. Best birds to be discovered by just walking or biking around include Clark’s Nutcracker, Pinyon Jay, White-headed Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, and Red Crossbill.
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