Hidden Glass Birds Are Waiting In Salem’s Parks – Here’s How Your Family Can Join The Hunt

Here’s the truth: everyone loves finding hidden treasure! Be it surprise money in an old coat pocket, a bonus item in your to-go order, or a neat rock along the riverside, free goodies are sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. For the last few summers in select parks around Salem, finding a special prize to take home with you has become a reality! Read on to find out how to join in on the capital city’s unique treasure hunt.

There are many tourist hotspots around Oregon, and one particular city greatly increased its success 25 years ago when it chose to start leaving beautifully crafted works of art resting on its sandy beaches to be found by unsuspecting visitors. Finders are asked to keep their precious swirled glass creations, provided they register their individual float as “found” with the city through a designated website. Sounds too good to be true, right? If you are unfamiliar with the Lincoln City Finders Keepers glass floats, I recommend reading up on this tradition in this helpful article. It was the coast’s ongoing, special event that inspired Salem resident Pamela Garland to do something similar in her own city! At the core, her program vision encourages outdoor exploration coupled with a sense of neighborhood connection and shared joy. On the surface, it’s all about looking for a colorful and unique hand-blown glass bird to claim as your very own! 

Let’s break down just how Salem Seekers works and how we can get your family involved. The best way to stay updated on annual details is to follow the program’s Facebook or Instagram page. Each year, as the school year wraps up and the summer excitement builds, many local families await the announcement of which parks will be featured in the Salem Seekers hunt. 

2025 looks like this:

The basic concept and rules of the hunt can be simplified as follows:

• Each month, a total of 30 hand-blown, beautifully crafted glass birds are hidden at the featured park to be found and kept by visitors.
• Drops are made at different times of day and not every single day, so the chances of finding one are sporadic. This encourages repeat visits throughout the month!
• Birds are hidden in plain sight, but they are never placed in trees or bushes. Look instead alongside pathways, near the playground, and around benches.
• Each bird features a rubberband “collar” that identifies their name and number in the collection on one side of the tag and offers a QR code for sharing on the other side.
• This activity is free and open to everyone each year from June through August. It features an array of different parks around Salem so that all members of the community can feel inspired to participate.
• Sharing pictures of birdie finds on their social media pages is highly encouraged, so others in the community can be included in the experience, even if only virtually.
• Hiding can be postponed if seeking becomes hazardous in the summer weather. Notifications of these delays are posted to their socials since safety is a top priority!
• As this is a fun, community event, Salem Seekers asks that families play fair by choosing to limit themselves to one found bird per household per summer. 

Massive shoutout to Pamela Garland for orchestrating this grand annual event, and thank you for all of the gorgeous hand-blown birds commissioned through Glass Art Oregon! It has been a pleasure for many years seeing their handmade glass creations on display through events such as the annual Oregon Garden Art in the Garden Exhibition in Silverton. As envisioned from the start, the Salem Seekers program has brought joy, connection, and beauty to the neighborhoods of Salem in a new and exciting way! My family and many more look forward to engaging in this tradition for many years to come.

Lastly, as a parent who has engaged in this summertime public park event since it began in 2023, here is some extra advice for you to consider before your family starts hunting:

• Always research the available park amenities before visiting! Not every location will be equipped with all your family’s needs. Be sure to know the status of restrooms, parking, water fountains, doggie stations, covered picnic areas, or other essential factors before you go to ensure a pleasant trip.
• Finding a glass bird should not be the goal–having fun searching for one is! Maintaining a flexible, positive attitude with your family is critical since there is never a guarantee of walking away with a prize.
• Safety should remain your family’s top priority while hunting! Just because a Salem park is featured in the hunt does not mean that it is a safe place to split up, enter the water, touch strange plants, or engage in any other unsafe practices. The Oregon Health Authority has compiled a list of summer hazards that would be wise to review with your kids. 

Happy Hunting!