Eastside Audubon sets two bird walks

A sunset walk on the longest evening of the year and a kid-friendly, Saturday-morning tour on July 6 offer chances to see the birds of summer when they’re most active and abundant at Marymoor Park in Redmond.

A sunset walk on the longest evening of the year and a kid-friendly, Saturday-morning tour on July 6 offer chances to see the birds of summer when they’re most active and abundant at Marymoor Park in Redmond.

Hosted by Eastside Audubon, both walks are free and open to the public.

In early summer, birds like American Goldfinches and Cedar Waxwings are still colorful and singing in the woods, ducks like Common Mergansers may be swimming with their young on the slough, and, with luck, a Short-eared Owl may even be spotted over the meadow at twilight.

Birdsong continues for hours on Friday, June 21, the long first evening of summer. Walk the Audubon BirdLoop with Eastside Audubon president and master birder Andy McCormick to look and listen along the slough, in the woods, and at the meadow.

This leisurely and level two-mile walk will start at 6:30 p.m. at Parking Lot D and end at 9 p.m. or when the birds call it a night. (Parking is $1.) Bring binoculars and a snack. All ages welcome (17 and younger with parent).

A family birding walk on Saturday, July 6, will give people a chance to see birds when they are most active and fun to watch in the morning when the woods and meadows are still cool and fresh. The walk will start at 9 a.m. and go at a kid’s pace until 11 a.m. (you can leave the walk at any time).

Leading the group will be Brian Bell, a professional nature guide and co-author of Birds of Washington State (Lone Pine).

The walk starts at the Audubon BirdLoop kiosk in the southeast corner of Parking Lot G at Marymoor. (Parking is $1.) Binoculars are recommended, as are snacks, liquids, and sunscreen.

Eastside Audubon is the National Audubon Society chapter active in Bellevue, Bothell, Carnation, Duvall, Issaquah, Kirkland, North Bend, Redmond, Sammamish, Snoqualmie, Woodinville, and unincorporated East King County.