Birding Trail Site #2

Dorris Ranch

205 Dorris Street

A terrestrial birding dream of riparian forest, oak, upland, and wet prairie

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Go to Site #3: Jasper Pond

Great Horned Owl Pileated Woodpecker

Shown above: Great Horned Owl and Pileated Woodpecker

Facts

• A working filbert farm on the National Register of Historic Places
• Riparian, oak, upland, and wet prairie natural areas
• 258 acres
• Gravel parking area
• Portable toilet near the Barn
• Park hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Habitat

Historically, the Dorris Ranch area was riparian forest and upland prairie with a small corner of oak savanna.

Much of the Ranch currently consists of farmed filbert orchards, however, a wide riparian strip and oak woodlands both still exist with healthy native understory shrubs and herbaceous plants. The upland prairie has large patches of roses and some blackberries.

Seeps are found throughout this upland prairie slope with Oregon ash and wet prairie habitat following the rivulets of water coming off the hill.

Birding Highlights

Pileated Woodpecker is fairly reliable in the riparian forest. Spotted Sandpiper can often be found along the river edges. Owls and winter raptors can be observed. Songs of Swainson’s Thrush along with many other songbirds can be heard in the early morning hours of breeding season.

Due to the variety of habitats, most terrestrial bird species can be found here in the appropriate season. This variety of habitats and extensive trails make Dorris Ranch a superb one-stop birding location.

Other Attractions

Deer and other wildlife are often seen. Western gray squirrels are plentiful, due in part to the abundance of filberts. A profusion of blooms greets the spring visitor including camas, buttercup, and hairy star tulip on the open hillsides, to bleeding heart, waterleaf, trillium, fawn lily, spring beauty, and many more in the woodlands.

Extensive trails provide ample opportunity for long, quiet walks. An old canal through the property and some of the riparian sloughs provide breeding and rearing grounds for dragonflies and damselflies. Flowering meadows provide for great spring butterfly observation.

The front end of the Ranch is shared with living history programs for school groups. The Living History Festival including the Civil War reenactment takes place in August.

Getting There

From South A Street, go south on South 2nd Street almost .9 mile to the entrance to Dorris Ranch. Park in the gravel parking area near the kiosk. A striped bicycle lane is available on South 2nd Street. Expect occasional closures of the Ranch for spraying that takes place in the orchards.

Detailed Site Map

Dorris Ranch Birding site map

Click here to download a larger version of the map.