Birdwatching at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

In the midst of urban Vancouver, Washington, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a great place to watch birds! As you walk through this national park, take a moment and listen. You're guaranteed to hear songs and calls from different species of birds. At sunrise and sunset, listen for the call of owls. In the spring and fall, watch for migratory birds from California, Alaska, Mexico and Canada, who rest here before continuing their journey. On the national park's waterfront, keep an eye out for different waterfowl, gull, shorebird, and grebe species. Learn more about birdwatching, or birding, at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site on this page! Getting Started Learn more about birdwatching for beginners here. If you are a beginner to birding, you may want to check out the Cornell Lab Merlin Bird ID app. This app makes identifying birds based on their location, color, behavior, and size much easier. Don't have access to a smartphone? Check out the Friends of Fort Vancouver bookstore at the Visitor Center to purchase a bird guide. First time to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site? Start planning your visit here. Top 3 Birdwatching Spots at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Robins hop through the Fort Vancouver Garden. Scrub jays call out from tall trees. Swallows swoop around the Great Meadow. Birds are all around at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site! Here are a few of our favorite places to spot our feathered friends: The Garden: Find a bench in the shade and watch for birds in the beautiful Fort Vancouver Garden. The Parade Ground and Great Meadow: The Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground and its adjacent Great Meadow have large, grassy fields and tall trees that birds love! The Columbia River Waterfront: This area of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site has lush trees and access to the Columbia River. Find a map of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site here. Bird Species at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Click here to download a Fort Vancouver National Historic Site bird checklist Using this checklist and a bird guide of your choice, see how many you can spot! When to Birdwatch at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site You can see birds at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site all year round. The checklist above helps tell you when birds might be present at the national park. Status Present at the park: Breeding Spring and summer Nonbreeding residents Fall, winter, spring Permanent residents Winter, spring, summer, fall Migrant Spring and fall Rare/Accidental Winter, spring, summer fall