Perhaps the fastest growing activity on national wildlife refuges in the past ten years has been wildlife photography. That鈥檚 not surprising 鈥� the digital camera population explosion and cell phones with ever-improving picture-taking abilities are increasing the number of nature photographers at a rapid rate. You don鈥檛 need to purchase expensive equipment or have any experience to get started. A small camera or basic cell phone will do just fine for most visitors!
Tips For Photographers
Plan ahead!
Monitor community science webpages such as and to see what has been reported. Follow the Refuge social media pages like our page. You will see which wildlife species have been observed lately. You can scroll backwards to check dates and general locations. Many wildlife observers will not give exact locations to protect sensitive species.
Follow the water!
You don't even need to leave the car if you drive to McFadden's Marsh and Cheadle Marsh on Bruce Road. Better yet, it's even better to stay in the car and use it as a bird blind to get closer photos of wildlife!
Depending on the time of the year, you can expect to see lots of waterfowl in the water, wading birds and shorebirds on the mudflats, songbirds in the trees, dragonflies above the water, coyotes, beavers, river otters, and more! Check out our seasons of life to learn what wildlife is at the Refuge at the time of the year you are visiting.
Walk the trails!
With over 12 miles of trails at William L. Finley, there's many different habitats, landscapes, and wildlife to experience.
Walk the Woodpecker loop trail and get stunning views of 5 different species of woodpeckers, several songbirds, and once you reach the environmental education shelter at the top of the loop you can capture photos of Mount Jefferson and the rest of the Willamette Valley.
Walk the Homer Campbell Boardwalk trail through dense riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian forest where you can photograph several songbirds, squirrels and chipmunks, and use the observation blind at the end of the trail to photograph the hundreds of geese, ducks, and swans at Cabell Marsh. There is a seasonal extension of the trail that leads to Cabell Marsh open between April 1st to October 31st.For more trails, check out our trails page!
Drive the roads!
Drive the auto tour! If you begin the auto tour from Bellfountain Road, turn into Finley Refuge Road and continue down the road until you reach Highway 99W. If you begin the auto tour from Bruce Road, continue down Bruce Road heading West then make the right onto Bellfountain Road until you reach the Refuge sign and Finley Refuge Road.
The auto tour traverses through several different habitats that provide opportunities to photograph different species and landscapes. The speed limit for the auto tour is 20 miles per hour.
Follow etiquette!
- Pull way over and DO NOT stop at a curve or in the middle of the road.
- Drive slowly.
- If a car is pulled over and has binoculars or a camera sticking out the window, use extreme caution so not to startle the wildlife.
Be mindful of other drivers, especially those who live nearby, and stay off of their property.
Tips for getting the best photo!
a. Use an electronic shutter if you can, so you don't startle the birds or other wildlife.
b. Shut off your car, so the vibration doesn't blur your photos.
c. Keep an eye on the horizon or the rings of water, so your images are straight.
d. Early morning seems to be the best time to find wildlife, and twilight gives spectacular lighting. Really, though, all times of day shows beauty.
e. Be patient and enjoy the experience.
