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Hike Netarts Spit: A guided hike focused on snowy plovers, dunes, and fun beach finds with the Bird Alliance of Oregon, WEBS, and OPRD!
Join Bird Alliance of Oregon and Friends of Netarts Bay – Watershed, Estuary, Beach, & Sea (WEBS) to learn about the threatened Western Snowy Plover and Oregon’s coastal ecosystem while hiking the length of Netarts Spit. We hope to observe Snowy Plovers and other coastal creatures on this 13-mile round trip hike. Please bring your own binoculars, water, lunch, and comfortable attire. Participants can opt to join for a portion of the hike if they do not wish to hike the full distance. This is an out-and-back hike along the same stretch of beachline.
Accessibility
Distance: 12-13 miles
Elevation Changes: None
Terrain: Sandy Beach
Amenities: Flush and Vault Toilets in the campground (limited access on the beach); water is available in the campground; large parking lot with $5 day use fee
Public transit: No public transit
Rest stops and pace: We will move at a slow – medium pace, stopping frequently to look at birds, washed-up items in the wrack line, and other points of interest. We will break for lunch on the beach.
RSVP: FREE event limited to 15 people.
Why Western Snowy Plovers?
The Pacific coast population of Western Snowy Plovers has been in decline for several decades due to habitat loss, human disturbances, and predation pressures. In Oregon, the population hit a low of about 50 individuals in the early 1990s. Subsequently, this species was listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1993.
Due to targeted recovery efforts in Oregon, mostly focused on the south and central coast, the Snowy Plover has bounced back to around 500 individuals in Oregon and are recolonizing traditional north coast nesting sites.
Plover Patrol engages citizen scientists to monitor plovers on the north coast, helping Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Bird Alliance of Oregon track where Snowy Plovers are and how they are recovering to inform management.
Cost: There is no cost to attend this program. Tax-exempt donations to Netarts Bay WEBS to enable programs like this are encouraged, but not required.