Tualatin River Refugewinter wildlife

An average of 20,000 waterfowl during mid-winter, and over 50,000 in a single day in some years, per the Fish and Wildlife Service (a season, not a peak): mid-winter. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.

Not now: its usual winter wildlife window for this year has passed. Next time: mid-winter, local timing.

An average of 20,000 waterfowl in mid-winter, and in some years over 50,000 in a single day; bald eagles become regular visitors then, hunting them.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

No: the River Trail is open year-round, but the Wetland Trail is open only May 1 through September 30, closed the rest of the year to protect wintering waterfowl.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

It's free; trails are open dawn to dusk, and the visitor center Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Trails are for walkers only: no bikes, jogging or pets except service animals.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

It was designated and established in 1992.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Wetland Observation Platform: between the visitor center and the office building, over the permanent ponds: waterfowl, wading birds and other wildlife; River Trail (year-round): two miles out and back through oak and forest, ending at a wetland overlook platform; open all year.

Cackling Canada geese, northern pintail and mallards blanket the refuge (Dec–Feb), Migrating songbirds arrive to breed and nest (Mar–May) and Broods of wood ducks and hooded mergansers on the wetlands (Jun–Aug).