The Willamette Valley Birding Trail is the fifth of nine birding trails that are planned in Oregon. These birding trails utilize existing highways and byways to link birding hotspots into routes. Each trail showcases the diversity of birds and habitats within one of the state's main ecological regions. The Willamette Valley Birding Trail will be the first of these trails to feature bicycling loops as well as auto tour routes.  

As the first stage of route planning, Oregon's birders were invited to nominate their favorite birding sites in the Willamette Valley. Over 118 birding sites were identified. These are currently being reviewed by the route committee, to confirm that the sites offer adequate safety, accessibility, and birding interest and to ensure that property owners and managing agencies agree to inclusion of these sites in the birding trail. A draft route map shows the locations of these sites around the Willamette Valley, and tentative plans for smaller loop routes and links to nearby birding trails in the Cascades and along the Oregon Coast.

During the summer of 2008, volunteers will visit each of the sites along the proposed route to confirm directions and other essential information. A web version of the Willamette Valley Birding Trail guide is expected to be ready by the end of 2008. A printed brochure is expected in May 2009.

Please bookmark this web page to check for the latest news on the project, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities (coming soon!). If you have any questions regarding the Willamette Valley Birding Trail, please contact Joel Geier at 541-745-5821 or e-mail joel.geier@peak.org.

Thank you for your interest in the Willamette Valley Birding Trail!