Birding in Chelan County: Blackbird Island

A short walk from downtown Leavenworth you can immerse yourself in nature on Blackbird Island with just under 2 miles of trails that circle the island, and meander through the center. To get to the island, you stroll a short distance from the parking areas at Waterfront Park or Enchantment Park, but even those stretches of trails are abundant with birds and wildlife. The elevation here is 1100’, but there is no elevation gain along the wide path trails, except a rise to cross the bridges on either end of the island.

During the summer these parks and the Wenatchee River that flows alongside and around Blackbird Island are popular for visitors who can paddleboard, float in tubes, or just wade in the water at several beaches. The tree-lined trails have benches to enjoy sunny patches or offer a shady respite. Along the trails, interpretive signage tells the story of the area, including the logging mill history of this location. Pilings still rise from the water, a tell-tale sign of the industry that flourished here in the early 1900’s.

This area is not only popular with birds, but we recently were entertained by a doe and two spotted fawns feeding their way through the underbrush on Blackbird Island. Black bear sows are known to bring cubs to visit the area and cougar sightings are not uncommon. Signage at the trail access locations will warn you of closed areas due to bear activity, and our last visit had a sign with a phone number to call in the event you spot a cougar. With plenty of activity from beachgoers and splashing in the river, the likelihood of seeing these predators is slim, unless you are visiting very early or very late in the day. Park hours are 6:00 am – 10:00 pm.

The original inhabitants of this area were the Sin P’squosa tribe, who lived at the forks of the Wenatchee River (P’squosa, which means ‘narrow land’) and Icicle Creek (Nasikelt, which means ‘narrow bottom canyon’).

More recently, the area near where the rivers converge was a main thoroughfare to move lumber from the forests near Lake Wenatchee to a mill established where Enchantment Park now sits. Blackbird Island is actually only about 100 years old, as it was created when the dam for a holding pond that stored the floating logs was demolished, and the receding water carved a channel and created the island.

A few ponds were also left behind when the man-made lake was removed, and Enchantment Park Pond is managed by Washington State Fish and Wildlife and open to anglers younger than 15, seniors, or those with a disability. The pond has historically been stocked with cutthroat trout, which also attracts a variety of bird species, including raptors.

This list is not comprehensive of all species that might be seen at this location, and the timing of their visits to this natural area may vary by several weeks, but it can give you a good idea of what you can look for!

e-bird: Northern Flicker and other woodpeckers like Downy, Hairy and Pileated, Cedar Waxwing, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, American Kestrel, American Goldfinch, Bullock’s Oriole, Wood Duck, Common Merganser, California Quail, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Great Blue Heron, Anna’s, Rufous and Calliope hummingbirds.

All Year: You may see Canada Geese, Mallards and Common Mergansers, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker and other woodpeckers like Downy, Hairy and Pileated, Great Blue Heron, Steller’s Jay, Red-tailed Hawk, Black-capped Chickadee, American Dipper, Dark-eyed Junco, Nuthatches, and a variety of finches and sparrows.

Summer/Fall: Osprey, Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Anna’s, Rufous and Calliope hummingbirds, Wood Duck, Spotted Sandpiper, Western Wood-Pewee, Barn, Tree, and Violet-green Swallows, Bullock’s Oriole, American Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler, Western Tanager.

Waterfront Park: From Highway 2, at the light turn toward downtown on 9th Street, and follow it to the junction with Main Street where a sign points left to the parking area. Space is limited. On the trail, keep right to Blackbird Island.

Enchantment Park: From Highway 2 between the Howard Johnson hotel and Enchantment Lodges take Mill Street, and then left on Commercial Street a short way to Enchantment Park Way, where you will take a right. Follow a short way to a Y and stay left, drive downhill to the park. Once on the trail here, stay left to reach Blackbird Island.

Content courtesy of Roni Freund.

All photos by Pete Freund Photography