Festival of the Birds

Yesterday, Sarah and I helped out at the Festival of the Birds, which is organized by Portland Audubon and several other organizations. Bird enthusiasts of all ages visited Sellwood Park to learn about birds and enjoy the sunny weather. Here are some highlights:


A rehabilitated sharp-shinned hawk was released into the park as a baseball game was played.

During one of our walks, a red-tailed hawk plunged to the ground, but would not fly off with its prey while we watched.

As in previous years, a pair of osprey nested on top of this power pole. The nest is extremely flat and difficult to see without binoculars.

Sarah and I picked up a boxful of tiles donated by the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Using stencils and help from Audubon volunteers, visiting children created some nice works of art.

2009 Festival of the Birds List:

Vaux’s Swift
Turkey Vulture
American Crow
Steller’s Jay
Red-tailed Hawk
American Goldfinch
Bald Eagle
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Flicker (nest)
Cooper’s Hawk
Canada Goose
Mallard
Western Kingbird
Ring-necked Duck
Green-winged Teal
Osprey (nest)
Anna’s Hummingbird
Western Scrub Jay
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Bushtit (nest)
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Western Wood-pewee
Pine Siskin
Violet-green Swallow
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
Western Tanager
Warbling Vireo
Lesser Goldfinch (nest)
House Finch
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Bewick’s Wren
Hutton’s Vireo
Wood Duck
Sharp-shinned Hawk (released!)