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Phipps Meadow Bird Count & Botany Day


Join Blue Mountain Land Trust for a guided Bird Count & Botany Day at Phipps Meadow. 

Spend the day with us at Phipps Meadow, a 278-acre property surrounded by the Malheur National Forest near Prairie City, Oregon. Purchased by BMLT in 2021, this meadow is home to wild salmon, diverse upland forests, and more than 200 species of birds, wildlife, and plants. We’re working with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and John Day Basin Partnership on several restoration projects to improve habitat for wild salmon, restore wetlands and floodplains, and support healthy, diverse forests.

Help us monitor this incredible landscape. We’ll kick off the day with a guided bird count using BMLT’s volunteer bird monitoring protocol to document species on the property. After the bird count, join our team and expert botanists including Michael Stein from Turnstone Environmental Consulting for a walk through of the meadow and uplands to learn about key plant species and assist in documenting rare or notable flora in bloom.

Please join us to learn more about the incredible conservation values of the property, hike in the meadow and upland forest, survey birds, identify and document wildflowers, and hear about the developing restoration work to uplift these vital habitats. Your observations will support long-term restoration and conservation efforts at Phipps Meadow.

Come bird, botanize, and be part of the science that helps this special place thrive. No experience necessary!

 

Trip Details:

  • The bird walk and botany tour will be led by BMLT staff, Grant County Birders, Blue Mountain Audubon Society (Walla Walla), and expert botanists. Topics will include:

    🌲 How to survey bird communities through site and sound at point count. stations and along walking transects.

    🌲 Tips on using Merlin, a phone app for bird identification.

    🌲 Best practices for eBird, a platform for reporting and tracking bird species at Phipps Meadow and that can be used at locations throughout the world (including your own home).

    🌲 Identifying plant species using Seek by iNaturalist.

    • Guided birding walk led by experienced birders and BMLT Staff

    • Insights on plant species at Phipps Meadow provided by expert botanists and BMLT Staff

    • Invasive species and tree cage removal demonstration

    • Camping fees for Friday, June 13th, 2025 at Bates State Park as well as Breakfast between Bird and Botany events for those who select camping option.

  • Bates State Park

    Old West Scenic Bikeway

    Bates, OR, 97817
    (Download directions prior to departure since cell service is unavailable)

    Friday, June 13th

    Arrive: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm for Camping @ Bates State Park

    Saturday, June 14th

    Bird Count: 5:30 am - 9:00 am @ Phipps Meadow

    Breakfast/Camp Pack-up: 9:00 am-10:30 am @ Bates State Park

    Botany Tour: 11:30 - 2:00 pm @ Phipps Meadow

  • 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Campers arrive at Bates State Park’s campground. 

    There are 26 dispersed campgrounds at Bates State Park. Both tent camping and RV camping are available; there are hookups for RV’s. There are also vault toilets (but not developed showers).

    These Camp sites are not available for advance registration.  BMLT will arrive early and hold campsites for the group. Dinner will be on your own.

    7:00 pm: Welcome 

    BMLT will make introductions and address questions or other logistical considerations for the morning bird monitoring activity.

    7:30 pm: Informal meet and greet for participants
    Campers will be welcome to enjoy a communal campfire (pending no active burn bans). Firewood is generally available for purchase and use on-site. 

    …………………………………………

    Saturday, June 14th, 2025

    4:15- 4:45 : Rise and Shine!
    Don't hit the Snooze button if you want to join the bird count.  Having your own Tea or instant coffee is highly recommended. This is also your last chance to use a restroom for a few hours (we will have a camping toilet set up for emergencies at Phipps Meadow).

    5:00 am - 5:15 am: Shuttle to Phipps Meadow. 

    Parking at Phipps Meadow is very limited, so we will consolidate vehicles as much as possible. Your car will be safe at Bates State Park. The ride to Phipps Meadow is less than 10 minutes. Folks staying elsewhere must be on the property by 5:15am to participate in the bird count. (Directions to Phipps Meadow will be provided).  

    5:15 am - 5:30 am: Overview of Bird Monitoring protocol.

    The bird protocol will be provided to all registered participants in advance of the event.  All supporting phone applications (eBird, Merlin, Avenza Maps) should be downloaded in advance of the event, as there is no cell service on the property.  

    5:30 am - 8:30 am: Bird Monitoring
    The BMLT protocol includes six 10-minute stationary Point Counts (Point Count Station 1 – 6) and a one-way approximately 1-km Walking Transect count. 


    8:30 am - 9:00 am: Reconvene at Parking area, return to Bates State Park

    9:00 am -10:30 am: Camp Breakdown and Breakfast (Bates State Park)

    This will be your opportunity to change, use the bathroom, and pack up your campsite if you are returning home that afternoon.

    A light breakfast will be arranged by BMLT and provided to all participants.

    11:00 am-11:30 am Return to Phipps Meadow
    We will again need to consider parking limitations of Phipps Meadow and consolidate vehicles as much as possible. 

    11:30 am ~ 2:00 pm Botany Tour
    A presentation and guided tour of the properties unique botanical resources will be provided by Michael Stein of Turnstone Environmental Consulting. Botanical data gathering protocols will be developed and shared with participants.  More details to come.

    2:00 pm

    End of the event.  Participants depart Phipps Meadow
    (Additional camping will not be organized by BMLT, but folks are welcome to stay another night at Bates State Park or nearby camping areas).

  • Who should join?

    • All ages welcome for the birding event and botany tour. Parent or guardian required for participants under age 16.

    Experience Level:

    • No birding, botany, or restoration experience necessary

    • Involves walking and standing for extended periods of time on uneven ground

  • Phipps Meadow and nearby Bates State Park are about 3.5 hours drive south of Walla Walla, and about 2 hours from La Grande. Please indicate whether you would be open to carpooling to Phipps Meadow on the registration form. We will distribute a list of those interested in carpooling a week in advance of the event to self-organize.  

    NOTE: Phone service is not available at Phipps Meadow. Please download directions prior to departure.

  • BMLT will have snacks, water, and gatorade on offer during the event. A late breakfast meal is included for Bird Count participants and Botany participants who select the camping package.

    Participants should plan to bring sufficient food and snacks needed for the remainder of their stay at the campground. Day visitor participants should plan to provide all of their own meals. 

    The campground has potable water and there is a roadside artesian spring near the entrance of the campground which produces some of the finest water in Eastern Oregon. 

     Between Phipps Meadow and Bates State Park is the Austin House, which serves hot meals and has some provisions. However, their hours can be limited so be prepared!

  • ✅ Muck boots, hiking boots, or sturdy waterproof shoes

    ✅ Terrain can be uneven - please bring trekking poles if you need or let us know ahead if you need to borrow some!

    ✅ Change of clothes in case you step in steep mud

    ✅ Long sleeves and pants (highly recommended

    ✅ Binoculars

    ✅ Field notebook and pen

    ✅ Sunglasses & hat

    ✅ Sunscreen

    ✅ Gloves

    ✅ Water

    ✅ Snacks

    ✅ Your preferred morning and evening beverages

    ✅ Backpack to carry water, snacks, extra socks, etc.

    ✅ Packable chair

    ✅ Camping gear & food

    ✅ Bug spray and/or permethrin-treated clothing (ticks are present on the property).

    ✅ Bird ID and botanical field guides (optional)

    • A group will be camping overnight at Bates State Park. If you are planning to camp, please bring all gear, bedding, food, and water to support your needs.

    • Camping fees are included in the overnight ticket options. BMLT will arrive early to reserve campsites at Bates State Park, which is a first-come-first-served camping area. Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs.

    • If you do not plan to camp at Bates State Park, you will be responsible for making alternative lodging arrangements and tying in with the group based on the detailed agenda. 

    • There are additional campgrounds around the area as well: https://thedyrt.com/camping/oregon/near/prairie-city

  • Nearby communities of Prairie City, John Day, Sumpter, and Baker City have additional developed accommodations.

    Baker City

    • Best Western 

    • Geyser Grand Hotel

    • Super 8 

    • Roadway Inn

    John Day 

    • Best Western

    • Dreamers Lodge

    Prairie City 

    • Prairie City Hotel

    • Space is limited, please register soon. Registration closes on June 6, 2025

    • BMLT will provide a detailed list of logistics, monitoring protocol information, phone app resources prior to the event.

    • Pack warm, the campground and Phipps Meadow are at approximately 4200’ elevation.  Nighttime and morning temperatures are commonly in the 30s before warming significantly throughout the day. 

    • Phone service is not available around Phipps Meadow or Bates State Park. Please download the directions and contact us as soon as possible before your departure if you have questions. 

    • The following phone apps are highly recommended to be downloaded prior to the event:

  • Please email Emma Erickson, BMLT Stewardship Associate if you have questions. emma@bmlt.org

 

This event is generously supported by partners from Turnstone.


Earlier Event: June 7
National Trails Day: Umatilla Rim Trail Work Party