2023 Schedule

At any day/time of arrival: select a campsite, set up camp and sign in at the Larrison Tree. (PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY ON THE LIST.)

Friday, June 2, 2023

5:30am: Early Bird Walk
A casual stroll around Wenas camp for early birding. Morning birding is best, according to early risers.

7:00 PM: Evening Program
Hazel Wolf Campfire Circle, look for signage for location. See program page for details.

SATURDAY, June 3, 2023

All Day: Wenas Little Free Library
Look for the Wenas Little Free Library and help yourself to books, magazines and puzzles. Bring books to donate to the library. Sharing is caring!

5:30 AM: Early Bird Walk
A casual stroll around Wenas camp for early birding, returning in time for later morning trips. Morning birding is best, according to early risers.

7:00 AM to 4:00 PM: Open Birding at Three Creeks
Jim Leier and Carolyn Comeau, Yakima Audubon
Drop by Three Creeks, 21200 N. Wenas Road, to enjoy the birds in the immediate yard. See Bullock’s Oriole, warblers, finches, woodpeckers and more. Birding is restricted to the yard this year because of cattle and numerous deadfalls from wildfires. Snacks and beverages will be offered, but you also can bring your lunch and enjoy the shade trees filled with birds.

8:00 AM: Downstream Trip
A casual stroll along the riparian areas within the Wenas Creek campground. Good chance to see warblers, Veery, American Dipper and other riparian birds. Easy walking. Meet at the vault toilet in camp.

7:30 AM: Adventure Hike
Jack Seifert, Seattle Audubon. A full day hike looking for birds, especially ones not seen around camp; flora; fauna and natural sites. Bring food and water for a full hike.

8:00 AM: Downstream Trip
Michael Hobbs, Eastside Audubon. A casual stroll along the riparian areas within the Wenas Creek campground. Good chance to see warblers, Veery, American Dipper and other riparian birds. Easy walking. Meet at the vault toilet in camp.

8:30 AM: Campground Wildflower Walk
Paul Slichter and Susan Saul, Vancouver Audubon. Meet at the wildflower boards by the campfire circle to hike from the campground up Hog Ranch Road and return via Hog Ranch Ridge. Hiking boots and poles are recommended for rocky off-road walking. Bring lunch and water. Return to camp by mid-afternoon.

10:00 AM: Dry Creek Walk
Ed and Liz Brown, Pilchuck Audubon. We will walk from camp up Dry Creek as far as we like. Bring water, snacks or lunch. Dry Creek is great for riparian birds, Veerys, Warbling Vireos and other beauties. Fairly easy walking but expect uneven surfaces and stream crossings.

12:00 PM (Noon): Lunch with other birders (informal)
Join other campers at Larrison tree to picnic, socialize and bird watch. Bring a lunch or snack, binoculars, scopes and something to sit on. Meet new birders or old friends.

TBD based on interest: Afternoon Kids’ Activities
Shelby Hemp, teacher at Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Co-op Pre-School. Meet up at the Zimmerman van, the one will the pink flamingoes. Suitable for kids ages 4 to 10 (younger and older kids welcome). Shelby will read aloud from nature-themed children’s books and lead the group is an arts and crafts project and a nature scavenger hunt. The time in the afternoon will be based on interest of those planning to attend.

1-3:00 PM: Seattle Audubon Field Sketching
Carleen Zimmerman and Nancy Merrill. Meet at the vault toilet for a field sketching workshop that will cover sketching tools, techniques and bird-drawing basics. A family activity for kids and adults; please bring your own art supplies and a lawn chair if you have one. Minimal walking required.

3:00 PM: Multi-Media Journaling
Nancy Merrill, Seattle Audubon. Enjoy a 1-hour session where you will learn beginners’ tips for digital photography; how best to downloads and print digital photos; how to make digital photobooks and their use in nature journaling.

4:00 PM: Jeff Main of Main Strings Acoustic Music Performance
Relax after a day of birding with music from Jeff Main on a variety of string instruments. Beverages and light snacks will be provided.

7:00 PM: Evening Program at Hazel Wolf Campfire Circle.
See program page for details.

SUNDAY, June 4, 2022

All Day: Wenas Little Free Library
Look for the Wenas Little Free Library and help yourself to a variety of books and magazines about birds and nature. Feel free to bring books to donate to the library as well.

5:30 AM: Early Bird Walk
A casual stroll around Wenas camp for early birding.

7:00 AM to 4:00 PM: Open Birding at Three Creeks
Jim Leier and Carolyn Comeau, Yakima Audubon. Drop by Three Creeks, 21200 N. Wenas Road, to enjoy the birds in the immediate yard. See Bullock’s Oriole, warblers, finches, woodpeckers and more. Birding is restricted to the yard this year because of cattle and numerous deadfalls from wildfires. Snacks and beverages will be offered, but you also can bring your lunch and enjoy the shade trees filled with birds.

8:00 AM: Black Canyon Walk
Michael Hobbs, Eastside Audubon. A 5-mile round-trip hike up Black Canyon. Bring a lunch and water. Walking is moderate on logging roads; the final stretch to the top of Umtanum Ridge is rocky, but worth it for sweeping vistas of Ellensburg and the surrounding valley. For-sure species include Lazuli Buntings, Rock Wrens and bluebirds, with occasional star appearances by various raptors.

9:00 AM: Hardy Canyon
Ed and Liz Brown, Pilchuck Audubon. The classic Wenas trip. We will carpool to the trail head, walk up canyon, then stop by the hay barn on the way back to look for Say’s Phoebe. Hardy Canyon is a reliable spot for Lazuli Buntings, Vesper Sparrows, Meadowlarks and riparian birds along the creek, including Yellow-Breasted Chat.

1-3:00 PM: Field Sketching
Carleen Zimmerman and Nancy Merrill, Seattle Audubon. Meet at the vault toilet for a field sketching workshop that will cover sketching tools, techniques and bird-drawing basics. A family activity for kids and adults; please bring your own art supplies and a lawn chair if you have one. Minimal walking required.

7:00 PM: Evening Program
Hazel Wolf Campfire Circle. See program page for details.

Monday, June 5, 2023