Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is preserve located within the city limits of Hillsboro and consists of 725-acres of year-round wildlife viewing from 4.5 miles of trails, wildlife viewing from established blinds and also from the deck of the 12,000-square-foot Wetlands Education Center. The complex includes wetlands and uplands located in the middle of the Tualatin River Watershed, a riparian forest zone along the Tualatin River, forested wetlands, oak groves, a mixed Douglas fir/big-leaf maple woodland, ponds, marshes, slough and meadow areas of predominantly reed canary grass, with frequent sightings of wildlife.
Recently (2011) Ducks Unlimited began leading a project to restore 120 acres of degraded wetland habitat in the Preserve, called the Wapato Marsh area, following a $129,000 grant awarded by the Metro Nature in Neighborhoods.
The preserve is already highly recommended as a bird watching area, both in the nesting season and during migration. Nesting birds include a pair of Bald Eagles, and 22 active nests of Great Blue Herons. Migration brings supports thousands of waterfowl, including Dusky Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, Northern Pintails, Canvasbacks, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal and Buffleheads, and during the past three years a Black-crowned Night Heron was observed wintering on one of the beaver ponds. The local Aubudon society has listed sightings of Short-eared Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Rufous Hummingbird. The riparian area of the preserve attracts Western Tanager, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Townsend's Warbler in the spring.
One of the main exhibits on display in the exhibit hall is a magnificent 1,500-pound bald eagle nest, promoted as the only authentic bald eagle nest on display anywhere in the nation.
EDUCATION/classes:
Birding Classes that are held at Jackson Bottoms: What is Bird Watching?, Northern Flicker and Acorn Woodpecker, Chickadees and Nuthatches of Oregon, Your Backyard Birds, Bluebirds of Oregon, Owls of Oregon, Attracting Birds to your Backyard, Beginning bird watching, Identification of birds in flight, Nature journaling for birders.
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Links with additional information:
www.jacksonbottom.org. (bird list available here)
audubonportland.org/local-birding/iba/iba-map/jacksonbottom
(
visit link)
In the northwest Willamette Valley, at Hillsboro, Washington County. Vicinity maps: TopoZone, USGS