Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

July 20, 11:00 AMPortland Environmental News ExaminerBarclay Charles

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Tualatin River NWR during fall migration

Portlanders’ looking for wildlife should check out the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. It’s a short 15 mile drive south from downtown and well worth the visit. It’s over 3,000 acres along the Tualatin River. They have miles of hiking trails (no bikes allowed on trails) that meander through several types of habitat, so you have the opportunity to see different plant and animal species around every turn. “Refuge habitats include floodplain, seasonal emergent, forested, and scrub-shrub wetlands, Oregon ash riparian hardwood and conifer forests and oak-pine communities. They are among the best representative examples of these severely depleted habitats remaining in the Willamette Valley” (Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service). Bring your binoculars or spotting scope, the birding opportunities are incredible. They also have a beautiful new interactive wildlife center and gift shop with a panoramic view of the refuge.

The refuge is on a floodplain so the fall and winter is the ideal time to see the massive bird flocks that use the wetlands as a rest stop and breeding area on their yearly migration routes. The bird species most commonly spotted are northern pintail, green-winged teal, mallard, American wigeon, Canada geese, wood ducks and hooded mergansers and, to a lesser extent, cinnamon teal and blue-winged teal. You might also see deer, coyotes, beavers, river otters, and several species of amphibians. If you’re lucky you might see some of the endangered and threatened species that have been spotted at the refuge; like the peregrine falcon, bald eagle, western pond turtle, dusky Canada goose, northern red legged frog and winter steelhead (Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service).

There are many volunteer opportunities year-round, check out their website listed below for details. I volunteer as a trail rover and naturalist as much as possible. Hope to see you there, it’s free and a great place for people of all ages and ability since the trails are flat and easy to follow.