First Bird Walk at Bush's Pasture Park
Salem India Wellness Community – Bird Watching Group
Date: 07/11/2026
Time: 8:15 a.m.
Location: Bush's Pasture Park, Salem, Oregon
Our Salem India Wellness Community held its very first bird-watching outing this morning at Bush's Pasture Park. Although the weather was cool, everyone came prepared, making for a comfortable and enjoyable morning outdoors.
Over the course of 1 hour and 15 minutes, we explored the park's beautiful oak woodlands, listened for bird calls, and searched the tree canopy for movement. We also enjoyed a relaxing family walk, and the children had fun at the playground afterward. It was a wonderful way to combine nature, exercise, and family time.
Highlights from Today's Walk
🕳️ Tree Cavity
One of the most interesting discoveries was a perfectly round cavity in an oak tree. This hole was almost certainly created by a woodpecker and may now serve as a nesting or roosting site for birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, bluebirds, or small owls. Watching tree cavities is an excellent birding technique because many birds return repeatedly to these natural homes.
🐦 Small Songbird
The bird captured in flight appears to be a small songbird, possibly a White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, or another similar species. The photo is slightly blurred, so a confident identification isn't possible, but it reminds us that patience—and sometimes a faster shutter speed—can help capture these quick-moving birds.
🦅 Bird of Prey
The larger bird perched high in the oak appears to be a juvenile hawk, likely a Cooper's Hawk or Sharp-shinned Hawk. Young hawks have heavily streaked chests and often perch quietly while scanning for small birds and squirrels. Spotting a raptor is always exciting because it indicates a healthy ecosystem.
🐦⬛ American Crows
We also observed several American Crows, including a pair investigating a trash bin. Crows are among North America's most intelligent birds. They recognize human faces, solve complex problems, communicate with one another, and play an important role as scavengers that help keep parks clean.
🪰 Common Whitetail Dragonfly
Although not a bird, one highlight was a beautiful Common Whitetail Dragonfly (male). Its powder-blue body and dark wing patches make it one of Oregon's easiest dragonflies to recognize. Dragonflies are excellent indicators of healthy wetlands because they depend on clean water during their larval stage.
Birds We Recorded
American Crow ✅
Finches (heard and observed) ✅
Small songbirds (likely chickadees/nuthatches, identification uncertain) ✅
One juvenile hawk (likely Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk) ✅
Several birds high in the canopy that remain unidentified ✅
Bird-Watching Tip of the Day
Many birds are most active between sunrise and 10:00 a.m. This is the best time to:
Listen before you look.
Scan tree tops for movement.
Watch dead branches and cavities.
Stay quiet and move slowly.
Bring binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens.
Every outing helps build identification skills. Even experienced birders don't identify every bird they see.
Looking Ahead
Our first outing was a success—not because of the number of birds we identified, but because we spent meaningful time outdoors together, learned about local wildlife, and enjoyed nature as families.
We look forward to many more bird walks throughout the summer and hope to build a checklist of all the birds we discover around Salem.
