Twilight Eagle Sanctuary
Learn about our work at Twilight Eagle Sanctuary.
Description
Located on the stunning and rugged Oregon Coast, the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary is a property that consists of 76 acres of lush and rich tidal wetland and forested shoreline. Commonly referred to as Twilight “Marsh,” this piece of land compliments two adjoining conservation properties which in total establishes 103 acres of contiguous preservation of critical salmon and waterfowl habitat, and almost one mile of undeveloped shoreline within the Lower Columbia River Estuary.
The two adjoining properties neighbor the west and southwest ends of the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary include a 15-acre piece of land owned by Clatsop County and managed by the Oregon Eagle Foundation and a 12-acre property owned and managed by the North Coast land Conservancy.
Twilight Marsh wetlands and channels provide valuable habitat primarily for fish species and waterfowl. Four federally listed fish are supported along this stretch of the Columbia River: chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and summer and winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquatic mammals such as seals and sea lions also frequent the waters near the property. Though bald eagles don’t nest on the property, they roost and forage throughout the wetland and shoreline forest habitat.
Public use of the property is restricted to the viewing platform located above the railroad along Burnside Loop Rd. The existing railroad is considered private property and considered trespassing if accessed. The property can also be viewed by boat. The nearest public boat launch is located at the John Day County Park approximately 2.5 miles west of the property.
Directions
The Twilight Eagle Sanctuary lies at approximately Columbia River mile 20, upstream from the Pacific Ocean. It is 8 miles east of the city of Astoria.