Birding Tour to Scott Mountain Lookout

Registration is required to attend this event, as space is limited. Individuals on the waitlist will be contacted with instructions if a spot becomes available. Only those who have completed Eventbrite registration and received a confirmation email may attend, including attendees needed for accessibility assistance.

Join Golden Eagle Audubon for a full-day birding adventure to Scott Mountain Lookout, north of Garden Valley, where cooler mountain temperatures, spectacular views, and a variety of birds await. We'll carpool from the rendezvous point, stopping in Garden Valley to look for nesting American Dippers and Bobolinks before making our way up the mountain. Along the route, we'll visit several birding stops in search of Western and Mountain Bluebirds, Swainson's Thrushes, Lewis's Woodpeckers, Clark's Nutcrackers, and other mountain species.

This all-day trip covers approximately 160 miles along many unpaved and rocky roads. Reaching the Scott Mountain Lookout may require a short walk of about 0.2 miles on a gentle incline. After lunch at the lookout and time to enjoy the scenery and birds, we'll return to Boise along the same route.

Accessibility: This event may be accessible for those who are blind and/or low vision, as there will be opportunites for birding by ear, but birding will also be done through spotting scope or from a distance. This trip may be accessible for those that are comfortable with traveling on un-paved and uneven trails. Field Trip Leaders will help with bird identification and questions, but are not able to provide one-on-one physical aid or navigational assistance (including sighted guiding) on our trips. Participants are always welcome to arrange any assistance they may need in the field! Please ensure that any assistant is registered to attend this event. Use the special needs question in the registration form to let us know more about your accessibility needs and how we can best support your participation.

Birding Skill Level: All levels are welcome! Binoculars will be available to borrow if needed.

Age: Participants younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and participants younger than 18 must have a parent/guardian sign the liability release.

Time: 7:30am - 4:30pm. Check-in is at 7:20am. Please arrive at check-in, as we will leave promptly at 7:30am.

We'll meet in the South end of the Home Depot parking lot at 2808 W State Street. If you prefer to meet at the Chevron Station in Horseshoe Bend, please contact the field trip leader no later than Thursday, July 16th.

This trip is limited to 4 cars, and carpooling is required. Drivers must have vehicles with AWD, properly maintained tires with sufficient tread, and relatively high clearance, and must be confident, capable licensed drivers comfortable with the road conditions and terrain. Drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are properly insured and in safe operating condition.

Passengers are expected to contribute toward gas as a courtesy to drivers.

What to Bring: Layers for weather, sun protection, closed-toe shoes, binoculars, a scope if you have one, water, lunch, snacks as needed, phone charger/backup battery, and anything else you need to be comfortable on an all-day trip. A full tank of gas will be needed for those who volunteer to drive. A scope will be available for the group to share. No dogs please.

Restroom Availability: Restrooms will be available in Garden Valley and at the Lookout.

Inclement Weather: If there is an unhealthy AQI, steady precipitation forecast, or the trails are not suitable for ethical passage, the trip may be cancelled.

Contact Information: Please email trip leader Jim at [email protected] with any questions.

Cancellation Policy: If your plans change, please cancel your ticket on Eventbrite or contact the field trip leader listed above. Participants who miss two trips without advance notice may be suspended from registering for three months. Donations made during registration are non-refundable. Thanks for your understanding!

Bobolink photo by Ken Miracle

Field trip leader Jim James