PLAYA Experience: Birding in the Summer Lake Basin (June 25-29, 2026)

Join us for this 4-night Experience led by during peak bird migration season! Led by Pepper Trail, Fellow of the American Ornithological Society and a retired ornithologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, this Experience includes a presentation about the natural history of the Summer Lake Basin, an excursion to a birding hot spot, and a dinner prepared by PLAYA’s house chef. 

Our birding excursion will focus on the Summer Lake Wildlife Area*, a major high desert wetland administered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. In May and June this complex of marshes and small lakes is alive with the trilling songs of Marsh Wrens, the raucous squawks of Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and the bugling of Sandhill Cranes. Other notable species that we will likely see include American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, Trumpeter Swans, White-faced Ibis, and White Pelicans.

After a group dinner provided by PLAYA on Friday night, Pepper Trail will lead off this weekend with a talk on the natural history of the Summer Lake Basin, which will introduce many of the special bird species we will see on Saturday’s field trip. On Saturday morning, we will depart PLAYA at 8:00 AM (or earlier depending on group preference) and drive ten miles to the Summer Lake Wildlife Area, where we will spend the morning following the Auto Tour Route, with frequent stops to observe the many species of wading birds, waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds that make their home in the area. We will be back at PLAYA in time for lunch. For those interested, Pepper will also offer a birding excursion in the afternoon. Depending on conditions, and the preference of the group, options could include the Paisley area (cranes, curlews, and snipe), Christmas Valley (Swainson’s and Ferruginous Hawks), or Winter Rim (Townsend’s Solitaire, Cassin’s Finch, and Black-backed Woodpecker).

PLAYA Experiences offer you time and space on the PLAYA campus for your own creative, restful, or exploratory pursuits as well as time spent learning from an expert! Experiences are like Self-Directed Residencies, but elevated with a dinner and a field trip, evening presentation, and/or special event.

*An Oregon ODFW parking permit is required to access the Summer Lake Wildlife Area; as participants will be carpooling to this location, not everyone needs to purchase a permit. When signing up, please let us know if you have a permit and would be willing to offer your car for carpooling.

🦅 Extend your stay at PLAYA by pairing this Experience with the July 2-6 Self-Directed Residency and stay at PLAYA for free the nights in between (a stay from June 25 to July 6).

Click each cabin below for the full workshop agenda and details, and cabin descriptions.

Cancellation policy: $50 cancellation fee. Six or less days before arrival NO refund; seven-14 days before arrival 50% refund; 15-28 days before 75% refund.