Redwood Region Audubon Society

Birding Hotspots

Ferndale / Salt River

By: David Fix

Ferndale is a town characterized by Victorian architecture and ornamental birches which sometimes support an odd warbler or (late fall, winter) a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Nashville Warblers winter in some numbers in the Eel River delta, and the muddy dairylands are simply stuffed with Black Phoebes. Ferndale is reached easily by following highway signs south from Eureka; exit Hwy 101 at the Fernbridge/Ferndale exit, cross historic Fernbridge, and proceed several miles to Ferndale.

Local birders generally prefer to check the riparia along the outer Salt River, shortly northwest of Ferndale. Before reaching Ferndale, turn from the Ferndale road west onto Port Kenyon Road at the Port Kenyon / Arlynda Corners sign. Although the riparia along the absurdly tiny Salt River is privately owned, it can readily be birded from along Port Kenyon Road all the way to its dead-end several miles west of Arlynda Corners. At Dillon Road intersection, one may turn right and then immediately left onto Riverside Road, passing through Jersey-cow pasturage and the best stretch of willows along the Salt River. Respect private property rights while birding the Eel River delta, and take care not to block roadways.

Locking up the car and slowly walking stretches of the road in search of mixed-species flocks is the best approach. 'Spishing' and pygmy-owling work well here. The Salt River marks the presently-understood southwesternmost limit of the range of Black-capped Chickadee in California. A few can usually be turned up with a bit of effort. Presence of chickadees often--though not always--signifies presence of a mixed-species warbler flock. Vagrant season here extends into December.

Good birds found along the Salt River have included any number of warblers, the fanciest of which was a Blue-winged Warbler present a bit upriver from Port Kenyon Road from 2 Jan - 6 Mar 1993.

Redwood Region Audubon Society
P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502
Last updated February 1999