Port Angeles - The Center Of It All

The Olympic Peninsula offers habitat for thousands of birds from over 200 different species, attracting bird watchers and researchers from the US and the world. Popular viewing areas for birds include:

Port Angeles waterfront and Ediz Hook

Here find large numbers of shorebirds, sea ducks, Brants, gulls, and raptors.

Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

Take Hwy. 101 east to Kitchen-Dick Road. Turn left (north) on Kitchen-Dick. The Refuge will be about 2 miles on your left. The Refuge protects critical habitat and nesting sites for migrating and resident waterfowl. Many viewing opportunities exist. Portions of the Refuge are closed to the public to provide sanctuary for birds during critical migration and nesting times.

Olympic National Forest: Upper waters of Dungeness and Gray Wolf Rivers

Directions can be obtained online or at the Port Angeles Visitor Center and at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center. Mountain species here include Dippers in the rivers, Hermit Thrushes in the thickets, and American Pipits, Horned Larks, and Gray-crowned Rosy Finches near the high peaks.

Olympic National Park at Hurricane Ridge

Mountain birds include Ravens, Steller’s and Gray Jays, Townsend’s Solitaires, and Golden Eagles. One can hear flight-calls of Marbled Murrelets as they circle over the old-growth forest at dawn.

Dungeness River Audubon Center at Railroad Bridge Park

The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society conducts several bird counts each year and visiting bird watchers are welcomed to call for information on recent bird sightings and counts. Free to the public, guided bird walks conducted each Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

For additional information:

• Dungeness River Audubon Center
  (360) 681-4076
  www.dungenessrivercenter.org
• Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society
  www.olympicpeninsulaaudubon.org