Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 884

headlands. From April to July harbor seal pups may be found resting on beaches while
their mothers are hunting at sea. Well-intentioned people often take these pups to animal
shelters without realizing that their mothers are nearby, so it's best to leave them alone.
The much larger and darker sea lions, with external ears and the ability to 'walk' on
land by shuffling on their flippers, are renowned for the thick manes and roaring cries
that give them their name. Sea lions easily adapt to human presence and can be common
around docks and jetties, where they sometimes steal fish from fishermen.
Other famous marine mammals include gray and humpback whales, which make the
longest migrations of any mammals in the world. The best time to view them offshore is
November to December and April to May; Depoe Bay in Oregon is an especially good
place to spot them. Once hunted to near extinction, these majestic creatures have made a
comeback and are a major reason for visiting the Pacific Northwest coast.
Salmon conservation includes protecting populations around the entire Pacific Rim from
the Russian Far East to northern California. Learn more at www.wildsalmoncenter.org .
Birds
The Pacific Northwest is a stronghold for bald eagles, who feast on the annual salmon
runs and nest in old-growth forests. With a 7.5ft wingspan, these impressive birds gather
in huge numbers in places like Washington's Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Area and Ore-
gon's Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges. Other raptors include ospreys, often
seen along large bodies of water like the Columbia River; peregrine falcons, happy to
nest along sheer cliffs or under urban bridges; and the northern spotted owl, which can
only live in old-growth forests. Common coastal birds include pelicans, cormorants,
sandpipers and puffins.
The region's two prominent jay species include the dark-blue, black-crested Steller's
jay, which occupies conifer forests throughout the Pacific Northwest and is notable for its
loud screeching calls as it swoops down on picnickers. Meanwhile, hikers and skiers in
the high mountains may encounter the gray jay (or 'camp robber'), with its soft cooing
whistles and gentle demeanor; these inquisitive jays are fearless in taking food from
people's hands.
Clark's nutcracker, first observed by William Clark (of Lewis and Clark fame), is often
found in high-altitude pine forests. Crows and ravens are other very commonly seen
members of the corvid family; they're happy in both wild and more urban environments
throughout the region. Sandhill cranes can sometimes be seen in fields, such as those on
Sauvie Island near Portland.