First, How can I
begin this newsletter without sending our thanks to two very
special people; Dean Hale and Chuck Gates. Both have
been at the core of ECBC for many years and were the last
President and Vice President respectively. They brought
so much to the organization, both in leadership and ideas
leading to actions that is the ECBC today. Luckily for
us, they remain committed to ECBC and still continue to play
important roles in the organization. Thank you guys, and
we will miss you at future board meetings. The new president and VP are Steve
Dougill and Devon Bately. We welcome three new board
members who bring a wealth of experience and ideas to the
organization; Liz O’Connell, Kim Bodie and Tom
Crabtree. This year we will continue with our
popular projects and have introduced a few more opportunities
for everyone to get involved with bird projects that need
little or no bird experience…. Now there is no excuse for not
getting out into the outdoors and actively participating
in ECBC. We are
grateful to RW Morse publisher who donated four cases (192
books) of "Birds of the Inland NW and NW Rockies" Authors
Harry Nehls, Mike Denny and Dave Trochlell. We
will use these to start an education program with local
schools.
Volunteer in
2009 - We need
you:
OK … so you have heard this before, but
we really do need your help. ECBC has a lot of very cool
projects and one of our goals as an organization is to
encourage as many people as possible to get involved with
them. The next few months are a busy time for us as we
prepare for the spring / summer field season and we would love
to hear from as many of you as possible about getting involved
in some of these
opportunities.
Although some of our projects involve
detailed bird identification skills, many do not and I am
highlighting these
below. Kestrel and Bluebird nest box
Project
:  | Kestrels are on the decline. We have a very
successful project that maintains over 120 nest boxes in
Central Oregon. We need people to adopt a section (a
number of boxes), clear them out once a year and check on the
nest outcome. We are hoping to ramp up our banding
effort at these nests to gather long-term population and
demographic data. Contact [ Dean Hale ] for more
information (so you know its going to be a fun
project). |
White headed Woodpecker
Surveys: | These spectacular birds are easy to
identify! We are partnering with the Sisters
Rangers District in assessing their management practices
in improving habitat for these woodpeckers. The
project involves walking a marked trail through the
forest (Metolius Area) and looking for WH Woodpeckers
and their nests. This is a great area and a great
bird. Not only that, but after signing up as a
Forest Service Volunteer they will reimburse you for
your vehicle miles. Just several part day
commitments are needed. Contact [Monty Gregg ] for more
information. |  |
Hart Mountain:  | Close to the California border in
Southern Oregon is a spectacular refuge that needs our
help. They would like some bird surveys done as
well as all raptor nests checked for current
activity. one trip is set up for early may to
monitor and find raptor nests [more info ]. We
are planning a second weekend trip in June and we have the use
of their very plush “bunk house”. There are hot springs,
fantastic birds and out-of-this-world scenery. What else
could you want …. Contact [Devon Bately] for more
information. |
Conservation work days:
We are looking for people to get involved with the
conservation committee that helps to shape ECBC’s policy and
actions for active management of bird habitats in Central
Oregon. Contact [Eva
Eagle] for more
information.
There are also many other projects.
Please visit the web site to find out
more.
Personality:
Interview with Jim Moodie - Volunteer of
the Year 2008 - by Judy
Merideth
Describe
your education, the work you do and tell me a little
about your
family.
I have a BS degree from St. John’s University,
Collegeville, MN, a MS in Zoology from the University of
Idaho, Moscow, and a PhD in Zoology from the University of
Oklahoma, Norman. I now teach at Central Oregon
Community College. The courses that I currently teach
are all designed for non-biology majors. They center
around the principle of evolution. My favorite course is
the bird ecology class I teach each spring. Part of my
job is to interact professionally with the community, so the
volunteer award is a major feather in my birding cap!
Kimberley Foltz and I have been married for six years and have
a three and ½ year old daughter, Summitt Rain
Foltz-Moodie. Summitt and Kim have helped me out with
the last two Bend CBCs. It is a fun family outing.
What got you started with birds
and birding?
When I was a junior in college, I took a Natural
History of Vertebrates course from Dr. Norm Ford. Being
an ornithologist, he emphasized birds in the class. I
borrowed my Dad’s bushnell binocular and bought the Golden
Field Guide to Birds for the course and got to see cool birds
for the first time. I was hooked. The next year, I
did a senior research project on woodpecker foraging, mostly
observing the Red-headed Woodpecker. I started a life
list during that time and kept it going through graduate
school, work, etc. But what really got me deeper into
birding was meeting Chuck Trost, who at the time was the
ornithologist at Idaho State University. He invited me
along on my first Christmas Bird Counts, state listing and
birdathons. I’m convinced he could convert anyone into
being a birder.
Why did you join ECBC and give
so much of your time to ECBC?
I joined ECBC when it was in its infancy as a board
member, mostly because I liked to hang out with great people
like Dean Hale, Judy Meredith, and Chuck Gates. ECBC is
brimming with enthusiastic birders who really care about birds
and the environment; it is easy to get involved when you are
around these folks. To be honest though, COCC has
requirements for reaching full professor that include service
to the community; so really, by the organization letting me
help them, I gain recognition from the college! I do
plan on staying engaged with ECBC community after achieving
full professor.
What is your hope for the
future of ECBC and birds?
This organization seems well supported by the
community, so I know it will only get better in the
future. We have a lot of talented people in the area;
they understand and encourage citizen science. What
would be really cool is if we become big enough to start
hiring people to run the operation, write grants and
essentially become the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology of
the West!
How can we all help to make
some good things happen?
I think as long as everyone
can contribute what they can, no matter how small, ECBC will
succeed in encouraging bird conservation in our neck of the
woods. Now let’s go birding!
Local
Christmas Bird Counts: by Chuck Gates The 2008 CBC season will be remembered for
weather worries and some pretty good birds. The
weatherman predicted very poor conditions for the early counts
but, luckily, those predictions were often incorrect.
While not ideal, most of the counts occurred in acceptable
weather and a few enjoyed better than average
conditions. The 2008 season began with the Redmond CBC
on December 14th. The state was in the grips of a solid
winter storm and flurries pestered volunteers throughout the
day. Overall, enough good weather prevailed to make for
a successful count. Twenty volunteers counted 84
species. Highlights included 2 Ross’s Geese and 2
Dunlin. Both were tallied for the first time ever on
this count. Other highlights included Greater
White-fronted Goose – 27, Killdeer – 12, Downy Woodpecker – 6,
Pinyon Jay – 188 and (Slate-colored) Dark-eyed Junco –
4. The 41st Bend CBC was held on the
20th. Most participants braced themselves for predicted
foul weather but the day turned out better than
expected. Over 20 participants fanned out to discover 95
species. Only 2 other years have produced more
species. The highlights were exciting and
abundant. A Peregrine Falcon made an appearance for only
the 3rd time in count history. With few marshy areas in
the circle, a Virginia Rail sighting was very unusual.
Fourteen Collared Doves were a record as were 15 Great Horned
Owls. The rare CBC sapsucker trifecta was achieved
with Williamson’s, Red-naped, and Red-breasted being
located. Two hundred forty-seven Clark’s Nutcrackers
destroyed the old record of 98. Three American Pipits
were joined by 3 Bohemian Waxwings on the “rare bird
list.” A record 41 Lesser Goldfinches topped off a
successful count.
The Antelope CBC was also held
on December 20th. This is a much smaller affair than the
Bend CBC. Much of the Antelope circle contains open
grassland and little water. Private land is everywhere
so driving along a few public roads constitutes the entire
count effort. Thirty-six species were found with the
highlights being 2 Black-capped Chickadees, an unusual
Loggerhead Shrike, and an American Crow. Next on the calendar came the Sisters CBC
on December 21st. Again, the weather turned out better
than expected, however, high elevation sections ran into deep
snow so some areas were inaccessible. Very low
temperatures made liquid water hard to find. This was
reflected in the final tally as forest species and waterfowl
were under-represented. Highlights from this count
included 3 Trumpeter Swans, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Williamson’s
Sapsucker, 9 Bohemian Waxwings and a Lesser Goldfinch.
Other species of note were Black-backed Woodpecker, Pileated
Woodpecker, 5 Northern Shrike, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, and
Fox Sparrow. Continuing on, the Prineville CBC was held
on December 31. The weather was mild as temperatures go
but it seemed previous cold, stormy weather negatively
affected bird numbers. Eighty-two species were tallied
which is a little lower than average. Twenty-four
volunteers spread out across the CBC circle and some good
birds were discovered. Two Harris’s Sparrows were the
highlight of the count. Seventy-seven Eurasian
Collared-Doves shattered the old record of 6. Bluebird
numbers were good and Sora, Tricolored Blackbird, and Purple
Finches were all tallied. Other good birds included
Cackling Geese - 7, Eurasian Wigeon - 1, Ferruginous Hawk – 2
and Barn Owl – 1.
The Santiam CBC is probably
the most challenging of all the local counts. Much of
the circle consists of snowbound trails and roads around
Suttle Lake. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are
common methods of accessing some of the locations. Some
of what was seen included 1 Pygmy Owl, an amazing 96
Chestnut-backed Chickadees and 21 Brown Creepers. The Utopia CBC was originally planned for
the same day as Sisters. However, bad weather
forced a move to January 4th. The Utopia circle is
centered where the old Culver Highway branches away from
Highway 97 and descends into Culver. This count was
originated by a group of young scientists working at the
research station at Rimrock Springs Wildlife Management Area
in the 70’s. Some of the same people, while not so young
anymore, still participate in this count. Fourteen
participants tallied 53 species. Highlights included 1
Peregrine Falcon, 24 Chukars, 28 Eurasian Collared-Doves, 11
Scrub Jays, 8 Canyon Wrens and 1 Pine Siskin.
Fall Bird Notes: by Chuck Gates In most circles, the fall is
characterized by the turning of the leaves on the trees or by
the harvest moon. In birding circles, fall means
migration and migration means rarities. Birds are in a
hurry as they migrate in the spring. They are eager to
get to their breeding grounds. Fall birds, on the other
hand, take their time as they move southward. This
slower pace increases the chances that one might fall upon the
occasional rare bird. It’s no wonder that so many
unusual birds were seen in Central Oregon this
fall. Waterfowl are not comparatively abundant
in Central Oregon during the breeding season and they tend to
migrate later than many of the other birds (if they migrate at
all). While the warblers, flycatchers, and vireos leave
by mid September, many waterfowl have just begun to
move. There are exceptions. Cinnamon and
Blue-winged Teal migrate out with the songbirds so a
BLUE-WINGED TEAL found in late September was somewhat
unusual. A REDHEAD in Deschutes is always worth noting
and one was seen as late as November 9th at Hatfield.
Most of the other rare ducks came in much later.
November SURF SCOTERS were found in respectable numbers with
nineteen individual birds found at five locations. One
of the biggest waterfowl stories of the season had to do with
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Wickiup Reservoir in early
November. It’s unusual to find a single individual of
this species in Central Oregon but this year, as many as
fifteen were found at Wickiup. That’s a notable number.
Other waterfowl sightings of interest were made
around the area. A PACIFIC LOON was found at Wickiup on
November 14 and HORNED GREBES were pretty easy to find in
Deschutes County. If CLARK’S was your grebe of choice,
Crook County was the place to be. Both Prineville and
Ochoco Reservoirs sported birds throughout the season.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS haunted the backwaters of
Prineville Reservoir and GREAT EGRETS were seen at Prineville
and Wickiup Reservoirs. WHITE-FACED IBIS showed up at
Tumalo and Prineville Reservoirs for their brief but almost
annual appearance.
Gulls and terns are sometimes
referred to as Larids. This is derived from the Latin
larus, which means ‘seabird’. Fall is the best time to
find Larids in Central Oregon and 2008 did not
disappoint. The biggest news of the season was the
presence of a LAUGHING GULL found at Crane Prairie.
FRANKLIN’S GULLS will usually grab the headlines but the few
that were reported associating with the “laugher” were
virtually lost in the spotlight. A THAYER’S GULL found
on the fall NAMC was one of fewer than five historical records
for Deschutes County. While a little more common than
Thayer’s, HERRING GULLS are still a rarity and individual
birds were found at Tumalo Reservoir and Lake Billy
Chinook. BLACK TERNS made a brief showing at Hatfield in
August while COMMON TERNS (which are not common at all here)
were found at Wickiup, Crane Prairie, and Tumalo
Reservoirs. A single report of an ARCTIC TERN came in
from Wickiup on September 1st. A LONG-TAILED JAEGER was
seen at Wickiup on the same day as the Arctic
Tern. Though not technically a Larid, the Jaeger
is often confused with gulls so it’s presence in this
paragraph is forgivable. Shorebird abundance can be highly
variable from year to year. 2008 will not go down as a
year of tremendous bird numbers but the variety was actually
pretty good. A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER made an appearance
at the Redmond Sewer Ponds, as did a SOLITARY SANDPIPER.
SANDERLINGS were located at Wickiup while a SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER made a showing at the Redmond Sewer Ponds.
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER numbers were down from previous years but
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS made a better than average showing.
Even several DUNLIN showed up earlier than normal.
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen at Wickiup, Prineville, and
Hatfield. The Hatfield birds numbered thirty-four, which
is a huge number. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were found
scattered around the water features of Central Oregon.
The best shorebird of the season was a RUFF found by Kim Owen
at the Redmond Sewer Ponds.
Fall is hunting
season for many of the game birds so watching them is often an
exercise in patience, as one must dodge shotgun-toting
sportsmen who are competing for the same resource. Even
so, many good game birds were seen through binoculars instead
of gun sights. CHUKARS were seen at scattered locations
like Gray Butte and Smith Rock. GRAY PARTRIDGE were
found on Grizzly Butte north of Prineville for a third county
record. RUFFED GROUSE were found at Crane Prairie and
SOOTY GROUSE were seen at Green Ridge. WILD TURKEYS were
found scattered in low numbers in all three Central Oregon
counties. A BAND-TAILED PIGEON showed up at the Redmond
Sewer Ponds briefly and EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continue their
march on Oregon with a remarkable 90 birds reported from our
area.
Our birds of prey consist of the diurnal
raptors (daytime hunters) and the nocturnal raptors (nighttime
hunters). Many of the rarities below are resident in
Central Oregon but are secretive, scant in number, and hard to
find. A total of six separate NORTHERN GOSHAWK sightings
were reported with most of the birds being seen in timbered
areas. Fourteen RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were found
throughout the area making this bird not as much of a rarity
as it once was. The same can be said for the PEREGRINE
FALCON as 7 different birds were found in Central
Oregon. A late SWAINSON’S HAWK was found migrating over
Lava Butte in October. FLAMMULATED and WESTERN SCREECH
OWLS were located on the Deschutes NAMC and another screech
owl was found in Prineville. Scattered PYGMY OWL reports
were normal but a BARRED OWL photographed at Tillicum Village
was certainly out of the norm. A GREAT GRAY OWL was
discovered in the Sisters area but its location was kept
secret because this bird is believed to nest in the same area
and locals are concerned about disturbance (the ECBC supports
this effort). LONG-EARED and SAW-WHET OWLS were heard
calling on Coyle Butte.
Webster’s Online
Dictionary defines a grab bag as a miscellaneous collection or
potpourri. In the middle of most field guides, you can
find a group of birds whose idiosyncrasies separate them from
the other birds. We’ll call them the grab bag
birds. Woodpeckers, swifts, shrikes, hummingbirds, and
nightjars fit this description in my way of thinking.
COMMON POORWILLS were found on the Deschutes County NAMC while
WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were seen coursing vertical canyon walls
as late as September 21st. BLACK-CHINNED, CALLIOPE, and
ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS were found throughout the region.
Two of the much more unusual COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRDS were located
at Tumalo State Park and Sawyer Park in Bend. LEWIS’S
WOODPECKERS were around until late September and WILLIAMSON’S
SAPSUCKERS, which normally migrate out, were found throughout
the season and into the winter. A total of nine AMERICAN
THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were seen mostly in the Sisters area
and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were found in small numbers in
the same locations. Most of the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were
gone by the end of September and the NORTHERN SHRIKES had
moved in by Halloween.
The rest of our birds fall neatly
into the generic category of ‘songbirds’. Three very
unusual BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES made a showing at a west Bend
feeder. If you ever see this species at your feeder,
please contact (as this person did) local birders. The
status of this species is in question. CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEES are not nearly so mysterious. They are rare
but certainly resident as 5 were seen at Whisky Springs and
more are seen seasonally. The Lower Bridge
BEWICK’S WREN was seen throughout the season while a
difficult-to-find SWAINSON’S THRUSH made a showing at a water
feature near Sisters. Woodside Ranch reported a GRAY
CATBIRD which was well seen and photographed. A
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was found at Hampton and two BLACK
& WHITE WARBLERS were found in Bend. Other good
warblers included several HERMIT X TOWNSEND hybrids from the
Cascade foothills, a PALM WARBLER found in Brothers, and an
AMERICAN REDSTART in Bend. A rare CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
came to a water feature briefly in the Sundance sub-division
east of Bend. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS made a good
showing with ten birds being tallied from all over the
region. A SNOW BUNTING was found on Grizzly Butte for a
third county record. Gray-crowned Rosy-finches showed up
on Grizzly as well and over twenty PURPLE FINCH reports came
in from Deschutes and Crook counties.
A warming Snow
Bunting: by Steve
Dougill It’s amazing how just one bird
can change the day. Picture this: driving rain / hail
turning to snow; a wind that makes you walk bent double to
stay on your feet; and a cold that rips through both sweaters
and a thick coat. Just the kind of weather to avoid the
tops of mountains …However, it was the first of November and
the location Grizzly Butte. Normally you get a fantastic
view down the O’Neil Valley towards Prineville … but this day
my eyes were just slits to avoid the stinging
hail. |
I
took shelter behind a radio tower and looking around
I noticed a small birding creeping around in a
weedy patch amongst the snow and gravel. There was no
need for binoculars at 10ft; creams and buffs
and browns … a young Snow Bunting. A tundra nester,
this species generally spends the winter in weedy fields
to the north and east of us and is
regularly seen in NE Oregon. This was the third record
for |  |
Crook County with only a handful of
others having been found in Central Oregon. Its always
fun to find something a little unusual, but its even more fun
to find something totally out of the blue…. There’s
nothing like a Snow Bunting to give you a warming feeling on a
cold Central Oregon Peak.
The
Waxwings: by Chuck
Gates What’s the most beautiful bird?
Now, there’s a loaded question. Certainly there is no
definitive answer to such a question but there are many
families that might be able to lay claim to such a
title. Some could boast they have the most glaring
colors and others could claim to have the most elaborate
plumage structure. In the background of all such
discussions, there are often soft-spoken individuals that
speak just one word over and over
again….waxwing….waxwing….waxwing. The waxwing family sports the Latin name
Bombycillidae. All three species (yes there are three)
were given the genus name Bombycilla meaning ‘silky
tail’. The gray, silky plumage of this bird is the
source of much of its understated beauty. Looking at the
feathers of the body, one gets the impression of a one-piece,
silk jumpsuit as there is no hint of the presence of
individual feathers. To add to its appeal, a waxwing
sports a neat, pointy crest and a mask that extends through
the eye. The often-overlooked field mark is a dark,
black chin (blacker in males and more brown in females but
this in not entirely reliable) that rounds out the contrasting
plumage on the head. The common name, waxwing, comes
from the tips of a small group of feathers that resemble a
dollop of bright red wax. The color is actually derived
from pigments obtained from a diet high in berries (Your new
word for the day is frugivorous…fruit eater). These
berries can ferment and drunken waxwings have been seen
staggering among the fruit trees. Juveniles have streaky
plumage and usually lack any waxy wing markings. The
sexes are similar and difficult to tell apart even given the
difference in chin colors in some individuals.
All three
species exhibit similar lifestyles. They are very
gregarious. They are fairly nomadic. They tend to follow
berry supplies and often leave an area if the food supply is
low. This causes frequent eruptions into areas that may
not normally have waxwings (this is especially true of the
Bohemian Waxwing). Because of this wondering lifestyle,
they tend to form no permanent territories and do not sing
elaborate songs because there is no need to defend said
territories. The songs of all three species are really
just calls that tend to be short, high pitched, trills that
the birds seem to use to stay in contact with the flock.
They are found mostly in the northern hemisphere and tend to
hug the northern half of that hemisphere. The Cedar
Waxwing will push this envelope being found on occasion as far
south as Central America, Bermuda, and northern South
America. The Bohemian Waxwing and Cedar Waxwing are
found in the western hemisphere while the Japanese Waxwing
inhabits the forests of North Eastern Russia.
Though the Japanese Waxwing seems to be suffering from habitat
destruction, North American waxwing populations seem to be
increasing which might reflect the increase in ornamental
fruit trees which accompany affluence in the northern western
hemisphere. Their social behaviors and tameness around
humans add to their appeal for birders. CEDAR WAXWING
The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
is the most abundant and widespread of the three
species. It gets its name from its fondness for the
cones on the Eastern Red Cedar. This tree produces
modified cones that look like berries, much like our own
Western Juniper. It differs from the Bohemian Waxwing in
having a pale yellow belly, white undertail coverts, and a
conspicuous lack of yellow or white markings in the
wing. The cedar waxwing is browner overall and smaller
than its bohemian cousin. Though most birds have a
yellow-tipped tail, rarely some show orange in that area and
is reflective of its diet during development. Cedar
Waxwings can be found throughout Oregon in any season.
Large flocks are easiest to locate during winter months when
birds tend to invade cities and towns in search of fruit
producing trees. BOHEMIAN WAXWING
The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla
garrulus) is the largest of all the waxwings and is usually
considered to be the more northern of the two North American
species. It can be distinguished from the Cedar by its
overall larger size, grayer plumage, chestnut undertail
coverts, yellow and white markings in the wing, and lower
pitched voice. Called Bohemian because of its wandering
lifestyle, it either got its species name from its talkative,
chattering call or from its superficial resemblance to the
European jay whose Latin name is Garrulus. These birds
hold an air of mystery for most birders as they tend to come
and go like nomads and are usually found, not by looking for
them, but by being lucky enough to be in the right place at
the right time. Small numbers of Bohemian Waxwings will
often join flocks of Cedars when they erupt into southern
regions. Bohemian Waxwings are hard to find in
Oregon. The biggest populations seem to be in
Northeastern Oregon, especially in the towns of the Wallowa
Mountains. LaGrande generally hosts small winter
populations but towns like Joseph and Enterprise can often
produce flocks of one hundred to over eight hundred
birds. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen an evergreen
tree with five hundred Bohemian Waxwings adorning its foliage
like silky Christmas ornaments. Occasionally, they will
make their way to Central Oregon and are easiest to find in
the city of Bend.
JAPANESE WAXWING
The Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla
japonica)is not very aptly named. It rarely shows up in
Japan and is most often found from eastern Siberia to Korea
depending on season. The Japanese waxwing differs from
the North American Waxwings in that the red in the wing is not
usually wax-like at all but exists as a red-brown stripe at
about mid-wing. The tails of the Japanese birds are
usually not yellow but range from red to pink reflecting a
different diet from their North American counterparts.
The undertail coverts resemble the Bohemian Waxwing and the
size is similar to the Cedar Waxwing. This bird’s small
population and decreasing habitat make it a species of concern
in its range. This bird is not on the AOU official bird
list for North American so finding one locally is
unlikely.So, is the waxwing the most beautiful
bird? Only the reader can answer that question. Clearly,
they could give just about any species a run for their money.
Waxwings…waxwings…waxwings.
Upcoming ECBC
Field Trips: Field trip
information can be checked [here]. Thet are fun and casual. Come
and enjoy the birds with us. March 21 Saturday---Summer Lake for Snow
Geese April 12 Sunday---Sage Grouse Lek and Sage
species east of Bend April 25 Sat--- Hatfield and Bend May 3 Sunday--Redmond, Lower Bridge, Smith
Rocks etc May 9 Sat---Possible Owling trip before the
NAMC May 30 Sat---Crook County Winter / Spring Events: Recurring
Events : The third Thursday of selected months is
Birder's Night at the Environmental Center in Bend. For a
schedule of talks and slide shows [see] for more info.
Dates: For
more events see the ECBC web site
ECBC’s Annual
Meeting and Fundraiser: Another Fun & Successful
Year! Once again
the East Cascades Bird Conservancy held a fun, fruitful and
informative Annual Meeting and Silent Auction in November 2008. The
meeting brought in over 200 people to share in pizza and appetizers
as well as beer provided by Three Creeks Brewery. James
Davis, interpretive naturalist and educator came and charmed us with
his interpretation of blackbirds. His skits let us into the amusing
world of yellow-headed blackbirds, cowbirds, red-winged blackbirds
and grackles!! The 2008
Silent Auction was a great success, raising about $4000 for the
benefit of birds. Over 50 local business and individuals
contributed auction items and in kind donations for this
event. As we
strive to do every year we honored Jim Moody with the Volunteer of
the Year award, which his daughter Summit accepted on his behalf.
Diane Kook was awarded Conservationist of the Year for her part in
the nationally recognized and highly valuable Lewis’ Woodpecker nest
box project. More details about this project can be found at www.ecbcbirds.org. This year
also saw some changes to the ECBC board leadership. After serving
the ECBC as president for 2 years and a board member for 6 years,
Dean Hale stepped down. Steve Dougill has replaced him as ECBC’s new
board president. ECBC’s
vice-president, Chuck Gates also stepped down after being with the
board for 6 years. His replacement will be Devon Batley, who joined
the board in 2008. We also
welcomed Kim Boddie, Elizabeth O’Connell and Tom Crabtree to the
ECBC board and look forward to their input in 2009 and beyond.
ECBC Project
Reports ..... Kestrel Nestbox study - [Dean Hale] We had fantstic news recently. One of the
Kestrels Don banded as a nestling in 2006 in NW Bend was recently
captured near Sacramento, CA. This is the first time we hve
managed to track any of our birds!
News from other Local
groups: No group works alone and we would like to
introduce you to a range of other conservation / wildlife groups in
Central Oregon that are active and support out mission. If you
are active in a group not represented here and would like to
contribute a regular piece, please contact The
Nuthatch.
It’s
Looking up for Badlands & Spring Basin
Wilderness On
January 7, 2009, the Badlands Wilderness Act and Spring Basin
Wilderness act were reintroduced into the Senate as a part of S. 22,
the omnibus public lands bill. Since introducing wilderness
legislation to protect the Badlands and Spring Basin last June,
Senator Wyden has worked tirelessly to ensure that these important
bills are passed into law. The
Badlands Wilderness Study Area encompasses over 30,000 acres of
juniper-sagebrush habitat. This area is accessible by a number of
hiking trails and is a great place to visit year-round. Just 15
miles from Bend, the WSA offers unique lava formations, ancient
junipers, plentiful bird watching and wildflowers in the spring and
summer. Located
above the John Day River just south of state highway 218 near
Clarno, Oregon, Spring Basin Wilderness Study Area is an 8,400 acre
tapestry of rolling hills, providing spectacular vistas of the river
and surrounding landscape. This unique wild area offers a
profusion of desert wildflowers in the spring, along with
recreational opportunities for hikers, horseback riders, hunters,
botanists, and other outdoor enthusiasts. For more information
on these areas visit www.onda.org
Wind Turbines
Proposed for Steens Mountain
In partnership with the Audubon Society of
Portland, ONDA has submitted comments in opposition to the wind
turbine project, which would generate over 400 megawatts of
electricity. Columbia Energy Partners has proposed building an
industrial wind power project on North Steens Mountain. The project
would place hundreds of 250-foot tall wind turbines within view of
the Steens Mountain Loop Road and within the Steens Cooperative
Management and Protection Area. Both ONDA and the Audubon Society support
the development of clean, renewable energy, including wind power,
through a thoughtful process that ensures a complete review of
potential ecological and economical impacts to the area. However the
developer of this project has not completed any due diligence in
terms of surveying wildlife and sensitive plant species, nor have
they obtained permission to build the necessary transmission lines
through adjacent public lands. To help citizens better understand the
potential visual impact of the proposed 250 wind turbines ONDA has
created a visual analysis of the project using Google Earth. Upcoming volunteer trips with ONDA Pine Creek Conservation Area February 27
(Friday) evening to March 1 (Sunday) afternoon: Robinson Creek Stream Restoration March
13-15 2009: How Do Birds Keep
Warm?- Kevin Lair, Wild
Birds Unlimited Birds have
evolved a number of anatomical, physiological, and behavioral
characteristics that enable many to survive even the harshest winter
conditions. As days grow short and temperatures drop, birds
will grow more feathers. The structure of insulating body feathers
enables them to trap warm air next to the skin.
Some of the
warmest jackets and sleeping bags use goose down insulation.
Birds also undergo physiological changes the enable them to store
more body fat. To establish fat reserves and get the extra calories
they need to generate body heat, birds eat more during the fall and
winter. Most songbirds will fill a special storage pouch in the
esophagus with food before dark and digest the food overnight. Some
birds, like hummingbirds and swifts, will enter a mini hibernation
called torpor at night. During torpor the metabolism slows and body
temperature drops, thereby conserving energy. Birds will also
use dense, sheltered areas in trees and shrubs to spend the night
and non-feeding times during the day. Some species will roost in
groups in tree cavities or roosting boxes, thereby sharing body
heat.
Yard Bird Survey Data:
Though
the West cannot compare with the East for diversity of warbler
species, we do have a regular set of species that mostly migrate
through our area. The yard bird surveys for 2007 detected many
of those species during the spring, summer and fall. For the
six yards that kept data throughout the year, the following species
were observed by at least one yard: Orange-crowned, Nashville,
Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Gray, Townsend’s , Hermit,
MacGillivray’s, and Wilson’s. For every yard, except one, the
warblers migrate through in the spring, and remain absent until late
summer post-breeding dispersal or fall migration. A glance at
the graph, which includes a sum of all the maximum number of each
species seen for all yards/10-day period, tells us that 2007spring
migrants showed up in late March (period 9), but the peak in numbers
was in the last 10 days of April, not May. A major reason for
this late April peak for all warblers is due to one species:
Yellow-rumped Warblers. Butterbutts (my preferred pseudonym
for Yellow-rumps) also dominate the fall migrant numbers. The
Millers, several miles East of Bend, had a whopping 58 Butterbutts
one day during period 28 (first 10 days of October)! Regardless of the Yellow-rumps, it is obvious
that the latter part of April and the entire month of May provide
the best chances of seeing warblers in Central Oregon at the lower
elevations. Likewise, while some post-breeding warblers show
up around our area in August, the fall migration does not really get
started until September and falls off quickly after the first 10
days of October. May and September seem to be the best
opportunities to see our Western Warblers show up in our
yards.
I hinted at an exception to
the spring/fall migration pattern for our six yard bird
surveys. Steve Edwards’ location is at a higher elevation and
in mixed coniferous forest. His yard survey boasts Pileated
Woodpecker and Gray Jay. He can also take pride that he has
breeding yard warblers. All the data for June and July is from
his yard only.
As 2008 data comes in, it will be interesting
to see how numbers shift compared with 2007. I am looking
forward to viewing the data. Good yard birding!
USFWS - News from Hart Mountain National
Antelope Refuge, -by Marla
Bennett Hart Mountain
National Wildlife Refuge Christmas Bird Count
On Dec.
29, 2008 in winds of 35-45 mph, 4 intrepid birders conducted the
Hart Mountain Christmas Bird Count. They reported 433 birds,
303 of which were horned larks. Six bald eagles and 3 golden
eagles were seen, as well as 8 rough-legged hawks, 1 northern
harrier, 1 red-tailed hawk, and 1 ferruginous hawk.
Thirty-five Canada geese, 2 tundra swans, a lone common goldeneye,
20 chukars, 1 long-eared owl, 2 northern flickers, and 9 common
ravens were spotted. Fifteen bushtits, a canyon wren and a
marsh wren, 2 robins, 2 Townsends solitaires and 1 northern and 1
loggerhead shrike were seen. Only 7 dark-eyed juncos, 3 song
sparrows, and 7 house sparrows represented the sparrow and finch
families.
Hart Mountain
National Antelope Refuge Wildlife Surveys
In July, Hart
Mountain National Antelope Refuge completed its annual summer aerial
survey for pronghorn and bighorn sheep. These surveys are not
intended to be a complete census, but to give a general sense of the
population trends. This year we observed a total of 2,024
pronghorn with herd ratios of 47 bucks:100 does and 47 fawns:100
does. The 10-year average trend indicates an increasing
population (+10.8%) since 1998.
Surveys
for California bighorn sheep have been conducted on Hart Mountain
since their reintroduction in the mid-1950s. This survey
provides a minimum estimate of the bighorn population, sex and age
ratios, and general population trend. This year we observed a
total of 212 sheep, with herd ratios of 55 rams:100 ewes and 43
lambs:100 ewes; both the highest values observed since
2005. Each
year, volunteers and refuge staff conduct greater sage-grouse lek
counts on Hart Mountain Refuge and the data is used to monitor
population trends. It appears that the ongoing decline in
sage-grouse numbers continued in 2008, however production was
improved. Want to
see the positive impact bulldozers can have on birds? This spring
the bulldozers will break ground on a major restoration of Whychus
Creek at the Deschutes Land Trust’s Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. And
it will be the annual bird surveys conducted by East Cascade Bird
Conservancy (ECBC) and Land Trust members that will show how the
birds react to the restoration. For
eight years, ECBC and the Land Trust have partnered on a bird
surveys at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve near Sisters. The Preserve is
home more than 150 species and the surveying project is currently
providing critical pre-restoration data that will help gauge avian
response as the restoration gets underway and then once it is
finished. The Land
Trust is restoring Camp Polk Meadow to improve fish and wildlife
habitat. Currently, Whychus Creek is restricted to a narrow,
straight and fast channel at the south edge of the meadow. The Land
Trust is working with our restoration partners to restore the creek
to its original channel meandering through the meadow. [See map].
This should re-establish natural meanders, reconnect the creek with
its historic floodplain, and create much better fish and wildlife
habitat than currently exists. It will also restore more than 70
acres of high quality wetlands and wet meadows, all utilized by many
bird species. For more info see
... Bird
surveys at Camp Polk are a great way to watch first-hand the changes
the restoration will bring. And this spring will be your last
opportunity to record pre-restoration data. Bill Mitchell has been
participating in surveys for the past several years. He “looks
forward to being able to see the effects the restoration will have
on the birds I’ve come to know so well.” “Bird
surveys are also a great way to get outside regularly, have fun and
watch the seasons change as different birds come and go” commented
Carol Wall another dedicated surveyor. Now’s
your chance to be a part of this major restoration project at Camp
Polk Meadow. Get involved with bird surveys at Camp Polk Meadow this
spring—contact Eva
Eaglefor details.
Learn more about the bird surveys at: or
Fall saw
the end of a very productive field season where a wide variety of
habitat developments were accomplished, the stage being set for Fall
migration and then shift to annual hunting seasons and
winter. Habitat
Development/Management
The Summer Lake
Wildlife Area (SLWA) Short-Term Habitat Implementation Plan for
enhancement of wetlands continued with the completion of summer 2008
field activity. Overly
dense tall emergent vegetation (bulrush and cattail) stands in Link
Marsh and River Ranch units were mowed and disked to restore open
water features and improve habitat diversity. Link Marsh was
reflooded in early September and waterfowl response was
tremendous.
Major
infrastructure (levee and water control structure) improvements were
initiated in the River Ranch unit that will allow wetlands to be
managed with greater effectiveness and efficiency. This unit
will remain dry until early fall 2009 to allow for completion of the
enhancement project.
Planning
and preliminary work for the next area in the rotation are the large
area of Gold Dike and South of Gold Dike units that are now being
dewatered and will be held at very low levels throughout the 2009
growing season.. The drawdown began in early December and
receding water levels provided tremendous foraging opportunities for
waterfowl. When Gold Dike water was released to the head of
Summer Lake, shallow flooding of saltgrass and alkaline flats
occurred and feeding by dabbling ducks and Canada geese was
heavy. Behind Gold Dike rapidly declining water levels exposed
the pond bottom that was formerly under 2-3 feet of water and
additional foraging opportunities were provided to ducks, geese and
swans.
These units will
be control burned in March and dense tall emergent stands will be
mowed and disked in July, August and completed by mid-September.
Infrastructure improvements are also planned during the 2009 field
season.
Bullgate Refuge unit (enhanced in 2006-07)
showed tremendous returns to migrant waterbirds in this first year
of fully flooded conditions. Vegetation and invertebrate
response provide abundant and diverse food sources. Throughout
early fall 50-60% of the Wildlife Area’s waterbirds were found in
this unit.
Early
December saw the continuation of additional habitat enhancement on
SLWA. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) contractors
initiated the third implementation project of the preferred action
as identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for
Caspian Tern Management to Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in
the Columbia River Estuary. A 0.5 acre nesting island was
build in the E. Link unit and will provide a consistent and secure
nesting site for Caspian terns and other colonial nesting
waterbirds. The island will be visible from the Wildlife
Viewing Loop and will provide tremendous opportunities for wildlife
viewers to observe those species. Construction of a floating
island in Dutchy Lake is scheduled to occur in February and both
sites will be available during the 2009 nesting season. A
third island to be situated in south portion of Gold Dike unit is
planned during late summer 2009. Monitoring/Research
July through December saw a wide variety of
monitoring efforts being accomplished on SLWA. Duck
brood surveys were conducted in mid-July showed continued good
production that was down slightly (-6.8%) from last year but well
above (+39.9%) the long-term average. Waterfowl banding was accomplished by
nightlight capture at night (11 sessions) with airboats during the
new moon phases in early and late August. SLWA staff and crews
from Malheur NWR captured and banded over 2,000 ducks (predominantly
gadwall and mallards). Over 500 of these birds were sampled
for the presence of avian influenza. To date AI has not been
detected in resident and migratory ducks in Oregon. Tule
greater white-fronted geese from the Lower Cook Inlet of Alaska were
captured during their brief migration stop at SLWA in early
September. Rocket nets were utilized to capture small groups
on grit sites and about 50 VHF radio neck collars were placed on
adults. This is a continuation of a cooperative research
involving the states of Alaska, California and Oregon designed to
monitor this unique subspecies of geese in the Pacific
Flyway. Weekly
waterbird surveys were initiated in early September and have
continued to date documenting over 3.9 million waterfowl use
days. Other waterbirds and raptors remained well represented
throughout the unusually mild fall, well into early December.
Least sandpipers (found on the CBC) were present on Dec. 3 as were
greater yellowlegs. One American avocet was present on
November 26. The 22nd
Annual Summer Lake Christmas Bird Count was conducted on December
16, 2008. Eight hardy and intrepid counters enumerated about
8,600 birds representing 72 species on a very cold and frozen
day. One new species was detected this year, 5 lesser
goldfinches were observed. Of interest was the tally of 19
Eurasian collared doves, up considerably from the 6 found in 2007
when they were first detected on the count. At this writing,
they remain just as numerous and breeding season calling is being
heard. SLWA’s
roll in the redistribution of wintering Rocky Mountain Population of
trumpeter swans continues to show success. Over 50 individuals
(as many as 7 family groups) have been observed during weekly counts
this past winter including 2 neck banded birds. One bird was
captured in 2003 in Island Park, Idaho by Idaho Fish and Game
personnel and translocated further south and released at Bear
River. The other is a regular winter visitor to SLWA.
She was translocated from Island Park as a cygnet in 1994 and when
she reached breeding age brought her first brood to SLWA in
1999. Since then she has been detected every winter except one
and has shown a total of 33 cygnets this new wintering
location. As the
end of January approaches, a return of waterbirds will soon
occur. The migratory cycle will once again begin as California
wintering birds (especially tundra swans) arrive en route to
northerly staging areas and ultimately the Arctic region by late
spring.
| DATE | DUCKS | | GEESE | | | SWANS | TOTAL* | AM.
COOTS | | | Snow | Wht.-front | Canada | Total | | Waterfowl | | | Sept. 10 | 25,124 | 0 | 262 | 670 | 932 | 1 | 26,057 | 5,563 | | Sept. 17 | 51,595 | 0 | 154 | 821 | 975 | 1 | 52,571 | 5,121 | | Sept. 24 | 43,522 | 60 | 254 | 495 | 809 | 1 | 44,332 | 6,214 | | Oct. 1 | 42,153 | 522 | 249 | 511 | 1,482 | 1 | 43,636 | 8,045 | | Oct. 8 | 41,696 | 1,911 | 1,050 | 629 | 3,880 | 1 | 45,577 | 7,496 | | Oct. 15 | 33,436 | 7,956 | 200 | 719 | 9,537 | 0 | 42,973 | 6,474 | | Oct. 22 | 31,430 | 4,191 | 117 | 688 | 5,121 | 190 | 36,741 | 11,394 | | Oct. 29 | 32,043 | 10,421 | 111 | 359 | 10,891 | 2,940 | 45,874 | 9,681 | | Nov. 5 | 29,885 | 9,027 | 175 | 284 | 9,736 | 3,897 | 43,518 | 5,934 | | Nov. 12 | 18,138 | 6,200 | 244 | 432 | 6,876 | 1,648 | 26,662 | 5,206 | | Nov. 19 | 24,815 | 9,218 | 114 | 793 | 10,125 | 2,495 | 37,435 | 5,035 | | Nov. 26 | 20,149 | 15 | 52 | 1,016 | 1,083 | 2,659 | 23,891 | 3,120 | | Dec. 3 | 17,619 | 731 | 496 | 791 | 2,018 | 2,360 | 21,997 | 1,959 | | Dec. 10 | 13,380 | 4 | 518 | 1,302 | 1,824 | 2,528 | 17,732 | 536 | | Dec. 16 | 4,456 | 0 | 11 | 1,088 | 1,099 | 1,690 | 7,245 | 126 | | Dec. 24 | 5,809 | 0 | 0 | 780 | 780 | 1,933 | 8,522 | 156 | | Dec. 31 | 5,190 | 0 | 1 | 584 | 585 | 1,441 | 7,216 | 169 | | Jan. 9 | 4,085 | 0 | 0 | 661 | 661 | 916 | 5,662 | 125 | | Jan. 14 | 4,533 | 0 | 5 | 772 | 777 | 1,081 | 6,391 | 111 |
| February 1 2009 ECBC 16 Kansas St, Bend, OR. 97701
Help support
ECBC and become a member today [Join]
You can make a donation right now with this
secure web service. In this
issue ... Volunteer Opportunities - Get
involved. Two ECBC prize winners: Conservationist and
Volunteer of the Year. CBC Results Fall Bird Notes Upcoming events Winter Project Reports. News from other groups.
The Board
...
Local
Info: Information on ECBC projects and volunteer
opportunities, [see] Sign up for COBOL, the local listserver for
staying connected with Central Oregon's birds [link ] Local yard bird project [link ] Local rare and unusual bird photos [link ] Where to go birding in Central Oregon [link ] Recent COBOL archive [link]
Fundraising: As a non-profit we rely on you to help
keep the organization alive. Currently we are seeking funds to
hire an Executive Director which would solidify the organizations
base and allow it to grow. Please help us reach this important
goal.
Volunteering: We have many volunteer opportunities ranging
from bird surveys, conservation work days, and helping on booths at
county fairs. Other needs include working with bird data,
contacting members, writing grants, and sharing ideas.
[Contact
] Diane Kook, our volunteer coordinator.
Suggestions & Comments:Please send any comments about this newsletter
and how we might be able to improve it to the [ECBC]
Checklists:Checklist for Central Oregon birds [get it] Checklist for Deschutes birds [get it]
Businesses:
Does your buisness want to support ECBC and
bird conservation in the local area? Please contact us for the
benefits we can provide your company by becoming a supporting
member.
Guided Trips:ECBC offers guided trips for individuals and
small groups for $150 in Central Oregon. You drive - we lead.
These are led by local experts who will try and find your target
birds. All proceedes go to ECBC. Contact
[Steve
Dougill] for more information.
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