Powell Butte

Located on the east side of Portland, Powell Butte Nature Park (Birding Oregon p. 66) offers a variety of birds and some nice views of the nearby mountains.

forest
The butte is tall enough to produce its own rain shadow, so the western slope is forested with a dense understory.

mthood
The top of the butte is drier and dominated by grassland and small scattered trees. Mount Hood looms in the distance.

fox-sparrow
Fox Sparrows are among the birds found in the brushy patches.

kestrel
The open habitat is very attractive to raptors, like this American Kestrel. Northern Harriers and Red-tailed Hawks are also frequently seen.

coyote
I love to see these guys. Urban and suburban Coyotes are a songbird’s best friend. Studies have repeatedly shown that the presence of Coyotes coincides with larger populations of songbirds, since Coyotes reduce the number of free-roaming domestic cats. For more information on the effects of domestic cats on wildlife, check out the American Bird Conservancy site.

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