Winter Birding Checklist

Itโ€™s time to check off your winter birding checklist! Siskiyou is home to several amazing winter watching spots, but the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refugeย and nearby Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge draw visitors from around the world to photograph and observe wildlife.

These vast wetlands are home to nearly 500 species of wildlife including waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors, big game, small mammals and aquatic life. Hundreds of bald eagles also migrate to the area from November through April โ€“ in fact, it has historically been the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the contiguous United States. Some years more than 1,000 of these majestic birds have been present. Be sure to check in at the visitorโ€™s center when you arrive for current information on where the best viewing is!

You can also try your luck at the Butte Valley Wildlife Area near Macdoel and Dorris, which is known for its excellent raptor-viewing โ€“ including the remarkable Swainsonโ€™s Hawk which migrates 12,000 miles each year between this area and the pampas in Argentina (to read more about a long-term local study on this amazing bird, visit here). Also of interest areย  Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks and many unique color morphs of Red-tailed Hawks in this area. The area encompasses approximately 13,400 acres of wetlands, sage flats, and farmlands, as well as the 4,000-acre ephemeral Meiss Lake that dries every 10-15 years. If you stick around after dusk, you might even catch a glimpse of numerous types of owl, including great horned owls, short-eared owls, and long-eared owls. (To read more on Siskiyouโ€™s spectacular Birds of Prey, visit here.)

The top 5 types of birds to look for in east Siskiyou between November and March generally are:

  1. Bald Eagles
  2. Hawks
  3. Swans
  4. White Geese
  5. Ducks

You can purchase a birding guide by the Klamath Basin Audubon Society here. For a more comprehensive winter birding checklist of the more than 274 regularly occurring bird species, visit here.

And, to make a weekend of it, stay at the historic Winema Lodge, a legendary favorite with birders and duck hunters, or the Golden Eagle Motel in Dorris, which is closest to Meiss Lake. Weed also offers a great base camp from which to explore the area. For more inspiration on what to see and do, visit here!

Photo Credit: FWS Dave Menke

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โœจ The stars shine brighter in Siskiyou.

With low light pollution and wide-open skies, our region offers some of the best stargazing in California. Bring a blanket, look up, and lose yourself in the magic of the cosmos. ๐ŸŒ 

๐Ÿ“ธ: @rockmaven56

#DiscoverSiskiyou #StargazeSiskiyou #AstroPhotography #NatureAfterDark #stargazing #california #LookUp
Have you voted yet? Text YREKA to 877-409-5525

๐Ÿ—ณ Voting closes Sept. 15. Help us bring more live music to Yreka's Miner Street Park! ๐ŸŽถ

#discoversiskiyou #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #LevittAMP #norcal #redding #mtshasta
POV: you booked a fall trip to Siskiyou ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿ—ป

๐Ÿ“ธ: @jbridges0214 

#discoversiskiyou #visitcalifornia #AutumnVibes #LeafPeeping #CozyFallVibes #mtshasta #norcal
๐ŸŽถ Help us bring more live music to Yreka! ๐ŸŽถ

We're in the running for a Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, and we need YOUR vote to make it happen! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธโœจ

๐Ÿ‘‰ Vote at www.vote.levitt.org or text YREKA to 877-409-5525
๐Ÿ“… Voting open Sept. 5โ€“15
๐Ÿ“ Support Yreka. Support local music. Support community vibes.

Please share to help spread the word!

#VoteYreka #LevittAMP #Yreka #yrekaca #SupportLocalMusic #norcal #LevittAMPYreka #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #discoversiskiyou
Shaped by fire and time, Siskiyou is home to some of the most fascinating volcanic landscapes in the American West ๐ŸŒ‹ From the towering majesty of Mt. Shasta to the surreal lava tubes of Lava Beds National Monument and the bubbling caldera of Medicine Lake, Siskiyou invites you to explore a world where geology and beauty collide.

Our top picks? @lavabedsnps,  Medicine Lake/Glass Mountain, Black Butte, and Captain Jack's Stronghold

#DiscoverSiskiyou #NatureGeeks #RockFormations #HiddenGemsOfCalifornia
#NorCalAdventures #GetOutside #IGTravel #NatureGram #caves
๐ŸŽถ YREKA NEEDS YOUR VOTE! ๐ŸŽถ

Help bring more FREE summer concerts to our community!

We're in the running for a Levitt AMP Music Series grant, and public voting opens this Friday. If we win, we will be able to expand the Yreka Summer Concerts in the Parks for the next three seasons, adding more shows and booking bigger bands! ๐ŸŽค๐ŸŒž๐ŸŽธ

๐Ÿ—ณ Mark your calendar: Voting opens FRIDAY!
๐Ÿ“ Link to vote will be shared soon โ€“ stay tuned!

#Yreka #levittampmusicseries #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #smalltownbigheart #yrekasummerconcerts #norcal
Labor Day Weekend = one last summer adventure. โ˜€๏ธโ›ฐ๏ธ From lakes to trails, Siskiyouโ€™s the place to savor every mom#peaceofmind 

๐Ÿ“ธ: @etch_in_love 

#discoversiskiyou #seesiskiyou #mtshasta #lakesiskiyou #MountainLife #california #labordayweekend #peace
Still soaking up summer? Us too. ๐Ÿ˜Ž But trust usโ€”fall in Siskiyou is worth planning ahead for. Golden trails, cozy nights, and mountain views are waiting. Link in bio for our top five spots to find fall color in Siskiyou ๐Ÿ”๏ธ๐Ÿ 

๐Ÿ“ธ: @kiwibandit 

#DiscoverSiskiyou #VisitCalifornia #ExploreCalifornia #NorCalAdventures #NorthernCalifornia #CaliforniaFall #FallGetaway #AdventureAwaits #HiddenCalifornia #SiskiyouCounty #FallInCalifornia #MountainEscape #WanderNorCal #AutumnAdventures
Trail to the sky. โ›ฐ๏ธโœจ Hiking Castle Crags State Park means big views, fresh air, and feeling on top of the world. 

๐Ÿ“ธ: @morgan_swartz

#DiscoverSiskiyou #CastleCrags #ExploreCalifornia #VisitNorCal #AdventureAwaits #GetOutside #SiskiyouCounty #HiddenCalifornia #NorCalHikes #ForestEscape #CaliforniaMountains #TrailViews #WildCalifornia
โœจSURPRISE ENCORE SHOW!โœจ

Just when you thought the Yreka Summer Concert Series was overโ€ฆ weโ€™ve got one more night of free music for you! ๐ŸŽถ

Join us for a special encore concert on Friday, 9/12 at Miner Street Park as we celebrate community, live music, and our chance to bring even more free concerts to Yreka in 2026-2028!

๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ We are in the running to receive a Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, which would allow us to expand the Yreka summer concert series over the next three years. We have advanced to the semifinals round, which is PUBLIC VOTING from Sept. 5-15. 

We'll share the voting link when it's live! For now, spread the word about this special encore concert and let's rally together - Yreka deserves it. ๐Ÿ’›

#YrekaConcerts #LevittAMP #EncoreShow #VoteForYreka
๐ŸŽถ Don't miss the final Yreka Summer Concert in the Park! ๐ŸŽถ

This Friday, August 1, wrap up the season with a sunset performance by the Seth Charles Band โ€” known for their soulful blend of rock, blues, and Americana vibes. Bring your lawn chairs, pack a picnic (or grab local eats from a variety of vendors at the show), and enjoy one last evening of live music under the Siskiyou sky. ๐ŸŒ„๐ŸŽธ

๐Ÿ“ Miner Street Park, Yreka
๐Ÿ•• Music starts at 6:30 PM
๐Ÿ’ƒ Free & family-friendly!

Letโ€™s end the summer series on a high note โ€” weโ€™ll see you there! ๐ŸŽค๐ŸŽถ

#YrekaEvents #SiskiyouSummerNights #LiveMusicInThePark #DiscoverSiskiyou #SethCharlesBand
๐ŸŒฟ Tucked just off the highway in Dunsmuir lies a little slice of magic โ€” Hedge Creek Falls! This easy walk leads to a waterfall you can literally walk behind, with mist on your face and views of Mt. Shasta peeking through the trees. A perfect quick stop that feels like a secret. ๐Ÿ’ฆโœจ

๐Ÿ“ธ: @backroadsculture 

#DiscoverSiskiyou #HedgeCreekFalls #DunsmuirCA #WaterfallWednesday #HiddenGems #NorCalNature #VisitSiskiyou
๐ŸŽถ Southern Oregonโ€™s legendary Rogue Suspects are bringing the groove to the Yreka Summer Concert Series this Friday, July 18! ๐ŸŽธ๐ŸŒŸ

Join us at the park for a night of classic, high-energy jams you wonโ€™t want to miss. Bring your lawn chairs, your dancing shoes, and your summer vibes! โ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿ•บ๐Ÿ’ƒ

๐ŸŽค Music starts at 6:30 PM
๐Ÿ“ Miner Street Park, Yreka
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Free & family-friendly!
๐ŸŒฎ Food + Beverage Trucks On-Site

#YrekaSummerConcerts #RogueSuspects #LiveMusicYreka #SiskiyouVibes #discoversiskiyou #seesiskiyou #redding #mtshasta #yreka #southernoregon #medford #ashland #norcal