Dive-rse birds ahead

Birds from Lincoln City to Depoe Bay will be the focus of a pair of birding walks organized by the  Audubon Society of Lincoln City this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14.

Friday’s walk, presented as part of Lincoln City’s Explorience series, will take participants on a stroll through the Villages Open Space and Roads End State Park.

The two-hour excursion will offer a good look at diverse habitats with an interesting array of birds. Walkers will get to welcome the arrival of wintering songbirds and enjoy year-round residents, ending with gulls and shorebirds at the beach at Roads End State Park. Participants should meet at 9 am past the golf course on NE Devils Lake Blvd.

On Saturday, the group will head to Depoe Bay for a driving tour of prime rocky habitats from Boiler Bay to Devil’s Punchbowl. Running from 11 am to 1 pm, the tour will start at Boiler Bay State Natural Area for excellent seabird watching and possible glimpses of shorebirds. The tour will also include stops at Depoe Bay and Otter Crest Loop, where participants will explore the new Cape Foulweather Marine Conservation Area, as well as the Otter Crest Marine Garden, and the Otter Rock Marine Reserve. The outing will offer the chance to learn more about protected nearshore habitats and the birds and other wildlife that depend on them.

Participants should meet at 11 am in the Boiler Bay Wayside parking lot.

All the group’s bird walks are free, family-friendly, easy to moderate, and open to the public. No pre-registration or experience is required. Binoculars and guidebooks are provided. Walks are held rain or shine, so dress appropriately for coastal weather and muddy trails and be sure to carry water.

For details, go to lincolncityaudubon.org.