Birdability Week, October 20-26, 2025
Written by Andy McCormick
Andy McCormick, 2024 Audubon Washington Helen Engle Volunteer of the Year
Join us in October as Eastside Audubon hosts two accessible and inclusive bird outings inspired by Birdability during Birdability Week from October 20-26, 2025, a weeklong effort to support the commitment to make birding accessible to everybody. We hope this will be the beginning of an ongoing effort to make the birding field trips and outings accessible to everyone who wants to go birding. For information about national and online Birdability Week activities search here.
NEWCASTLE BEACH PARK, BELLEVUE
On Wednesday, October 22, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. our bird outing will follow the asphalt loop trail along the shoreline of Lake Washington and around the grass field and picnic areas. A second loop through the wooded area of the park will offer another birding opportunity. We expect to see Song Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Steller’s Jays, Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch in the woods and wintering waterfowl including Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded Mergansers in the lake.
TOLT MACDONALD PARK, CARNATION
This outing will take place on Saturday, October 25 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and will follow the approximately one-mile out-and-back asphalt trail passed a field, shrubs, a marsh, as it winds to the Tolt River Bridge. For those who choose a shorter route a circular road in the campground area is an alternative trail. Tolt MacDonald Park is a good location for Song and Savannah Sparrows, Steller’s Jays, Red-tailed Hawk, Mallard, Gadwall, Great Blue Heron, and American Dipper.
MORE INFORMATION
Check the Eastside Audubon Calendar for more information about these two birding locations. The Birding East King County page of the Eastside Audubon website has descriptions of 21 birding hotspots within the service area of our chapter. They can be accessed at Birding East King County.
These outings will also be posted on the Eastside Audubon Calendar.
BIRDABILITY ASSESSMENTS
Both of these birding locations have been assessed by a team of volunteers from Eastside Audubon following the Birdability protocol. The Birdablity assessments can be accessed through the Birdability Map. a joint project of National Audubon and Birdability. These assessments allow a birder or their family members to review a location before they go birding. Planning ahead is essential for those with disabilities and knowing what to expect at a location can help make the experience of birding the positive experience we want when we are refreshed by nature.
Please, spread the work about these events. We are organizing to meet the needs of those who attend, and will have space for personal attendants to accompany people during the event.
CONTACT
If you have questions about these events or would like to join our Birdability Assessment Team, help with planning the Birdability Week in October, or help lead a future accessible birding outing, please contact Andy McCormick at amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org
Photo Credit: Killdeer by Mick Thompson