Wintering at Smith Rock is for the Birds
December 14, 2022
Winter means migrating to warmer locations for a lot of species, including humans. But at Smith Rock State Park, winter can be a wonderland for getting up close and personal with the birds and other wildlife that stick around. Combine that with the picturesque snowscapes and limited visitation, and if you have your binoculars handy you’re in for a treat. And if you don’t, professional bird photographer Bettina Ishimaru sent us a few of the ones she spotted after the first snowfall here at the park a couple of weeks ago.
A couple of male Quail compare plumage at Smith Rock State Park, courtesy of Bettina Ishimaru
But first, more about the birds. There are over 500 bird species that can be found in the State of Oregon alone. And Oregon is one of the top 5 birding states in the nation.
The variety of wildlife in Smith Rock State Park is extensive, especially birds. There are over 175 active bird species that live and migrate through the park. Over 5 geese species and three swan species can be seen including the rare Mute Swan, albeit infrequently. (Not to be confused with the white “Smith Rock Goose, who hangs out with his Canada Geese buddies off and on in most seasons.)
Other rare birds can include Common Nighthawk, White-throated Swift, and Calliope Hummingbirds. There are actively 5 species of owls that have been spotted in the high canopies. Birds are essential to the food chain. Raptors such as American Kestrels, Eagles, Falcons, and Magpies can eat gophers, brush rabbits, rattlesnakes, western terrestrial garter snakes, and voles that can all be found in the park.
Bettina began an interest in photography in the early 1980s. While living in rural Pennsylvania she began a lifelong attachment to nature finding respite in the woods and streams.
She originally studied photography at the International Center for Photography in New York City and then went on to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts at The School of Visual Arts in Photography.
After moving to Portland from Alaska in 2001 she knew that the beauty of the Cascades was something unique as she was transfixed by the volcanic mountain range and the ease of accessibility to significant viewscapes to photograph. Hiking and Mountaineering were always primary to her mountain visits.
Bettina Ishimaru at Smith Rock State Park in 2010, prior to the parking lot addition, courtesy of Bettina Ishimaru
Bettina, like a lot of us, can get focused on the destination. She reflected on her past saying, “I was always into climbing high and the rush of life above the treeline as I focused more on the big picture of the landscape once I reached the summit or viewpoint virtually always ignoring any birds who lived there.”
Bettina’s first trip to Smith Rock over 15 years ago was purely an accident. Her daughter was playing in a tennis tournament in Bend and they decided they needed a calm distraction in between matches. Smith Rock turned out to be far more than that for them, as she recalled that first visit.
“Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty that I saw and the Golden Eagles that flew by amidst the great towering canyon walls. I was dumbstruck. After that Smith Rock became our destination hiking and camping location for weekend vacations and even my daughter's 14th birthday party where I took 5 girls hiking through Misery Ridge.”
After that, the Bald Eagles’ nest across the rim from the campground became her “go-to” destination for its unique eye-level view of the parents and later, the family until the little ones would fledge. Bettina also loves watching the Bald Eagles perched above the Picnic Lunch Wall looking down on all the next meal in the Crooked River.
“It really wasn’t until the Pandemic took hold that I started to reexamine photography as an interest in order to look closer at wildlife. Merging my interest with hiking I started to look more closely at the microlife that surrounded me that I often if not always overlooked as I rushed up that trail. Curiosity took hold and I was hooked.”
American Kestrel at Smith Rock State Park, courtesy of Bettina Ishimaru
Black-billed Magpie in flight at Smith Rock State Park, courtesy of Bettina Ishimaru
Townsend’s Solitaire in flight at Smith Rock State Park, courtesy of Bettina Ishimaru
A female and male pair of Quail hanging out at Smith Rock State Park, courtesy of Bettina Ishimaru
A Grey Jay comes to say hi to Bettina at Frog Lake in 2020
“I have become more acutely aware of the ecological sensitivity of many if not all birds. In 2022 a report indicated that the US and Canada have lost more than 3 billion birds in the last 50 years and almost 50% of bird populations are in decline. I have become sensitized to the impact man has on these precious beings and hope to bring their beauty and essence to the public through my lens. ”
Birding and bird photography have opened up so many paths of inquiry and exploration as Bettina photographs them in their habitat, often walking and hiking many miles. She strives to do so while minimizing her impact on the environment. A good mindset for each of us. Thanks, Bettina for sharing your awesome images!
For more of Bettina Isimaru’s bird images go here: