The rich diversity of vegetation, geology, and climate in far northern California make this area a haven for hundreds of bird species. The Klamath Refuges in eastern Siskiyou County are home to the largest concentration of Bald Eagle in the lower 48 states. Wetlands abound with waterfowl migrating on the Pacific Flyway during the spring and fall. The free-flowing section of the Klamath River are especially rich in year-round wildlife. Siskiyou County offers excellent birding opportunities for the casual wildlife watcher as well as avid birders.
The Butte Valley National Grasslands, and Wildlife Area (530) 398-4627 boast a wide variety of habitat and bird life that is very different from that found in the western portion of the Klamath National Forest. In the spring, watch for nesting Greater Sandhill Cranes. In summer, numbers of Swainson’s and Red-tailed hawks, Northern Harriers, Golden Eagles and Prairie Falcons should be present.
Tulelake and Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuges (800) 344-9453 offers a twice yearly resting place for millions of waterfowl, and along with the other four refuges, host the largest concentration of wintering bald eagle in the lower 48 states.
Tule-lake.com brings you to the Heart of the Pacific Flyway. Six national wildlife refuges, three state wildlife areas, and thousands of acres of private farmlands converge to provide habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors, big game, small mammals and aquatic life. Millions of birds stop here throughout the year to feed, rest, and raise their young, they find the combination of water, fields, cliffs and trees an ideal sanctuary.
The Shasta Valley Wildlife Area (530) 459-3926 near Montague offers excellent year-round birding, with a habitat similar to the Butte Valley areas.
Shasta Trinity National Forest offers a very different habitat. The Shasta Trinity has accumulated a bird list of more than 200 species, including Bald Eagle, Spotted Owl, and Peregrine Falcon, as well as strong population of Stellars and Scrub Jays, Acorn, Downy, Hairy, Nuttalls and Pileated Woodpeckers, Black-capped, Mountain and Chestnutbacked Chickadees, Western Tanager, and several species of warblers. The list is long and varied.
