Let's bird the Columbia Slough at NE 143rd Ave (near Whitaker Way)

Hey bird lovers! Did you know there's a levee at NE 143rd Avenue? And that it crosses the Columbia Slough between NE Sandy Blvd & Airport Way? It's a fascinating mix of nature & neighborhoods & industry, including some forest and wetlands. And it's got birds!

The local neighborhood is working hard to make this into a greenway all the way to the Columbia river, across Airport Way and Marine Drive.

There's a nice loop we can do, walking just a quarter mile north along the levee, and another quarter mile east along the slough, and then back to our cars (or bus stop!).

We'll be joined by Daryl Houtman from the Bureau of Environemental Services (BES), who works in partnerships with numerous agency and neighborhood groups to advance watershed health through stewardship.

(Photo: Cooper's Hawk by Jasper, seen by the Errol Heights middle pond on 3/24/2025)

There is public parking on the west side of NE 143rd, but \*take note\* of directions below.

**Meeting Location:** It's all public parking on the levee side of NE 143rd Avenue across from Speed's Auto Auction.
From NE 148th, take NE Whitaker Way west til it Tees into NE 143rd and the levee. Turn left and go south to the end of NE 143rd. It's public parking facing the levee.
GPS location is 45.554331, -122.515975.
Google map is on [this link](https://maps.app.goo.gl/w5e5q52N3kBJWHZt8) (https://maps.app.goo.gl/w5e5q52N3kBJWHZt8).
**Public Transit:** Trimet bus #21 & #86 get to nearby.
**Trail**: A mix of flat & sloped gravel, and one short section across a mowed field.
**Distance**: about 1 mile
**Amenities**: No public bathroom.
**Pacing**: slow, frequent stops.
**What to bring**: binoculars if you have them.