PENINSULA WILDLIFE
THE DISCOVERY COAST HAS ABUNDANT VIEWING OPPORTUNITIES
W
hen it comes to watching wildlife, the
Discovery Coast is the place to be,
with more bald eagles than anywhere
south of Alaska, and more pelagic
and coastal seabirds than anywhere
else on the West Coast.
Seals and otters, huge herds of deer
and elk, migrating and resident
songbirds and waterfowl all can be
observed in numbers that will amaze the whole family. It’s
time to discover just where these beauties can be seen!
EAGLES, HAWKS AND FALCONS: Peregrine falcons are
frequently observed swooping down from tree top perches as
they intercept prey in Leadbetter Point State Park. Bald eagles
and other birds of prey are often spotted anywhere in the
vicinity of Willapa Bay and the Columbia River. They are
particularly obvious along U.S. Highway 101 between the
Astoria Bridge and Ilwaco.
HERONS: Living here on the Discovery Coast we are
fortunate indeed to have a very large and healthy population of
great blue herons. They are quite common around the margins
of Willapa Bay.
PELICANS: Pelicans, cormorants, Caspian terns,
kingfishers and other bird species all gather in great
numbers along the Columbia River estuary east of Ilwaco,
through Chinook and on past the Dismal Nitch unit of Lewis
and Clark National Park.
SWANS: Trumpeter and tundra swans can often be observed
in Peninsula lakes, especially Black Lake near Ilwaco and
Brisco Lake north of Long Beach.
ELK: For something a bit larger, how about some elk
watching? A short drive out to the Bear River area at the south
end of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge situated on the east
side of the bay is a good place to start.
Elk also can often be spotted near the Naselle River.
BLACK-TAILED DEER: Deer are almost too common to
notice on the Peninsula and the mainland, chomping rosebushes
wherever they go.
GEESE AND DUCKS: Waterfowl in a myriad of colors can
also be seen near the refuge headquarters. Casual sightings of
dozens of species of ducks are quite common. Wood ducks are
a particular favorite among area residents, many of whom build
nesting boxes for them.
RIVER OTTERS: If it’s something altogether different
you’re looking for, how about putting the binocs to some river
otters? They can often be seen swimming and frolicking in the
canals and lakes in the center of the community of Surfside
just west of Oysterville, or even in Black Lake or small creeks
around Ilwaco.
Left: Great blue herons are picturesque residents of the Willapa National
Wildlife Refuge in south Pacific County. — MADELINE KALBACH PHOTO
22 • DISCOVERY COAST 2018-19 • ChinookObserver.com