It’s official!  ECBC and COAS have merged to form the East Cascades Audubon Society.  It will take us a little time to update the web site, logo and brochures, but we are happy to present a single bird organization to serve this area.  Despite the change of name, our focus remains the same; we will still focus on local bird projects and issues.  We are also committed to keep the flavor of the organization the same; fun and approachable.  For information about the merger see

The winter is always a time for planning for us.  We had a great board retreat in early January and the 8 members of the board are excited about the coming year.  The winter raptor surveys are going strong right now, we are supporting the Winter Wings Festival in Klamath in mid February and encourage you to participate, and it won’t be long before the main field trips kick off again for another year.  If you need an excuse to get out birding though, join Judy Meredith and the ECAS Wednesday morning birders each week.

Volunteer in 2009 / 2010 - We need you:
ECAS is an active organization.  We have a number of projects that we carry out and we would like you to participate in them, get involved and meet some great people.  We are featuring a few below that need little birding experience.  See the web site for a full list of projects.

The major project we undertake in the winter is the statewide winter raptor surveys.  If you would like to adopt a survey route or tag along with someone who is already conducting one, please contact Jeff Fleisher for more details [email Jeff Fleischer].

In 2009 we had over 7500 hours volunteered.  This is amazing, but we are still looking for more help.  Anyone interested in updating Cascade Birding Trails information for the Travel Oregon web site?  We just need a few pieces of information gathered for each of the 200 sites … contact Liz O’Connell for information.

We are also looking for volunteers to play an active role in the conservation committee.  This group will work with other Audubon chapters to help define some of the Important Bird Areas in our region, gather information and present their findings to the board about conservation issues and concerns in the local area, and work with other groups to define conservation works days.  Please contact Eva Eagle (golden_eagle@mac.com) for more information.

Many people were recognized throughout the evening for their volunteer efforts during the past year.  However, two special people were singled out to receive special awards for performances above and beyond most others.  Dean Hale was awarded the 2009 Conservationist of the Year and Janice Rising was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award.  Dean has been a lead volunteer for years.  He is a former board member and past President of the ECAS.  It was during his tenure as President that the Conservation Committee was formed and Dean has been a regular at conservation and restoration projects since their inception.Dean wears many ECAS hats but his role as Field Trip Leader has brought literally hundreds of people in touch with nature and conservation.

The highlight of the evening had to have been the story-telling of Jim Anderson as the keynote speaker.  Introduced by Chuck Gates, Mr. Anderson held the crowd spellbound with stories of conservation and animal rescue.  A master story teller, Jim entertained the group with a mixture of levity, poignancy, and wonderment that has made him a favorite of everyone who has ever heard him (with a few exceptions of those that have chosen to abuse nature in front of him).  His stories held the fascination of old and young alike and left everyone wanting more.  Most ECAS members spend the year looking forward to the Annual Meeting.   The chance to celebrate birds and birding with like-minded people in a social atmosphere only comes about once a year.

David Letterman said, "Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees."   Luckily, we don't have that problem here.  We get to see the leaves change color and watch rarities fall from the sky.  The fall of 2009 was in many ways a pretty typical fall season.  The weather was great.  The birding was spectacular.  The company was unsurpassed.  Here are the highlights of the fall season which goes from the beginning of August to the end of November.
 
To many people, the single most iconic representation of autumn is a flock of migrating waterfowl passing through our skies as they head for greener pastures in California and beyond.  This year, we were graced by the presence of some spectacular migrating waterfowl and some unusual birds were among them.  WHITE-FRONTED GEESE come through every year for a short time and this year we were visited by a few BLUE-WINGED TEAL as well.  REDHEADS were reported from several locations and GREATER SCAUP were seen at Suttle Lake and the Prineville Sewage Ponds.  A candidate for bird of the season, a single female HARLEQUIN DUCK was found at Crane Prairie.  This was the first time this species has been found in Deschutes County.  A total of 43 SURF SCOTERS were reported from Wickiup Reservoir, Prineville Reservoir, Hatfield Lake, and Haystack Reservoir.  A single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER report came in from the north end of Davis Lake.  RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen at Wickiup and Davis Lake.  HORNED GREBES seem to be showing up more frequently these days as this species was sighted on 9 different occasions.  It was a big year for RED-NECKED GREBES as well with birds being seen at Suttle Lake, Haystack, and Wickiup Reservoirs.   CLARK'S GREBES were also found in about the same areas.  AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS made a good showing with as many as 210 being seen at Wickiup Reservoir.  GREAT EGRETS were found at Houston Lake on two different occasions and PACIFIC LOON reports came in from the High Lakes region.  Though a little north of our area, two exciting LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were found along the Columbia River at the John Day Dam.  More locally, HERRING GULLS showed up in several locations and SABINES GULLS were found at Ochoco Reservoir and Prineville Sewage Ponds.  A few BLACK TERNS were reported from various locations and FORSTER'S TERNS were seen at Houston Lake and Wickiup Reservoir.
  
Game bird sightings were few and far between in Central Oregon this fall.  This is not entirely unusual.  If every predator in the area wanted to eat you, you would be hard to find as well.  RUFFED GROUSE were seen near Sisters and the Green Ridge Hawkwatch group found SOOTY GROUSE, and MT. QUIAL while surveying hawks.  A single RING-NECKED PHEASANT was seen near Prineville and Camp Polk gave us our only WILD TURKEY report of the season.

 

Raptors like Central Oregon for its abundant food supply and multiple habitats.  Late TURKEY VULTURES (I know.  They're not raptors but where else can I talk about them?) were found in Prineville (Nov. 15) and Tumalo (Nov. 21).  Mild weather certainly contributed to these late birds.  The last OSPREY was seen on October 17 and the first ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS came in on November 3.  Many NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were seen in the mountains around Sisters and Bend. 

RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were reported from Tumalo Reservoir, Bend, Wickiup Reservoir, Calliope Crossing, Glaze Meadow, and near Rosland Park.  The most exciting raptor news was that of a BROAD-WINGED HAWK being seen, not once, but twice on two different dates at Green Ridge.  SWAINSON'S HAWKS were nearly gone by October but a late bird stayed around Powell Butte until 20 October.  PEREGRINE FALCON sightings are becoming almost mundane in the fall which is in stark contrast to their dismal populations only a couple of decades ago.

Ten different Peregrines were seen this fall in Central Oregon.  A BARN OWL was found in Culver and a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL report came in from Deschutes River Woods.  A dead LONG-EARED OWL was found tangled in a fence along the Crooked River and a BOREAL OWL was heard calling near Mt. Bachelor.  A migrating N. Saw-whet Owl showed up at a Redmond residence in August. 

The best season to find shorebirds in Oregon is the fall.  During this time, birds leisurely pick their way south, freed from the burdens and haste that accompanies reproduction.  Rarities tend to stay longer in one place and, consequently, are found more often in the fall.  This season produced some good birds.  SEMIPALATED PLOVERS are not an uncommon bird along the coast but inland they can be harder to find.  We had about a dozen reported this fall from our area.  A late AMERICAN AVOCET was located at the Prineville Sewage Ponds and 2 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were found at Wickiup Reservoir in August.  A very intriguing report of a WANDERING TATTLER came in from an out of state birder but no one else was able to verify the sighting.  Single SOLITARY SANDPIPERS reports were filed from the sewage treatment facilities at Prineville, Redmond, and Bend. 

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were found at Gutierrez Ranch, Redmond Sewage Ponds, and Hatfield Lake.  Easily the most exciting discovery was made by Judy Meredith as she found Oregon's second record of WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Hatfield Lake (Way-to-go Judy..WhooHooo!!!).  SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were found at Prineville Sewage Ponds and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE records came in from multiple regions.

Before we get to the passerines, let's talk about some other good bird sightings in Central Oregon.  COMMON POORWILLS seemed to be "common" north of Sisters and on the slopes of Pine Mountain.  WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were nearly gone by the time of the last report on September 8th.  LEWIS'S WOODPECKER sightings were pretty abundant and a late WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER reports came in on November 8.  One AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was found in the GW Burn by Sisters and 33 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were located in the same area.
 
Our small perching birds give the most joy to many birders.  This fall, the joy was overflowing as many good passerines were found in this region.  A BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD visited a feeder at Prineville on August 12 and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were seen throughout the Bend area.  A single COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD showed up in Redmond briefly and the last CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD report was on September 15.  An EASTERN PHOEBE was at Calliope Crossing for a day and the resident BEWICK'S WREN is still present at Lower Bridge.  BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were found on four different occasions along the Crooked River on North Shore Road. 

Norma Funai had a GRAY CATBIRD at her place for several days in November and Steve Dougill was fortunate to be out working in his yard when a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER cruised through.  Steve also reported a late TOWNSEND'S WARBLER on 19 October.  Single WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were sighted in Redmond and Bend while late BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS were found in Crook County in late November.

Plenty of excitement ensued when a LAPLAND LONGSPUR turned up at Hatfield Lake for a few days and 4 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were discovered near Lone Pine in November.  Steve Kornfeld found a feeding flock of 5 COMMON REDPOLLS on October 25 for a very rare "pre-Halloween" record for this species. 

 

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BIRDING TRAIL UPDATE - by  Liz O’Connell

 

The Oregon Cascade Birding Trail runs south from the Columbia River to past Crater Lake and branches out into 5 loops with about 200 stops designed to delight novice and experienced birders.  Have you visited any of the stops?  Have you seen the newly printed brochure? It is available on line at: www.oregonbirdingtrails.org. A hard copy can be found at many of the portals along the Trail or with our sponsors.

 

The Central Cascades Geotourism MapGuide
In January of 2009 the ECAS board agreed to look into submitting the Oregon Cascade Birding Trail as an item on the National Geographic Geotourism Mapguide proposed for the Central Cascades.  Guess what?  The Oregon Cascade Birding Trail made the cut and is on the Mapguide.  The unveiling of the map on January 19th, 2010 by Travel Oregon will encourage tourism along the East Cascades and raise the awareness of the wonderful birding opportunities. The digital mapguide is available at www.thecentralcascades.com.  A hard copy is available at the Central Oregon Visitors Association for a $5 donation. 

 

The National Geographic Geotourism Mapguide incorporates the collaborative effort of many to identify Geotourism sites from Mount Rainier National Park to Crater Lake National Park.  Other features of the map build on the Pacific Northwest’s iconic features including the Cascade volcanoes, the Columbia River, our vibrant heritage and culture, our link to salmon, the beauty and bounty of our forests and our identities as north westerners.  The hope is this Central Cascades MapGuide project will contribute to sustainable tourism in our region.

 

Signage Along the Trail

Thanks to Norman Barrett, Wildlife Biologist with the US Forest Service in the Rogue River Forest Service District, signs were fabricated and located in their district to help identify their trail stops.  Here’s an example of the sign we emulated for the Oregon Cascade Birding Trail.  We hope to fund raise and partner to continue to place signs along the Cascade Trail.

 

Statewide Birding Trails

Travel Oregon continues to assist the statewide effort to build other birding trails.  At www.oregonbirdingtrails.org the four completed trail maps are downloadable along with the locations of proposed trails.  Building a new birding trail requires sustained effort and funding; but the result builds region appreciation, protection and tourism. A birding trail working group is meeting monthly to discuss collaborations to raise and maintain the birding awareness level for avid birders, new birders and tourists.

 

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Upcoming ECAS Field Trips:

 

March 13  Fort Rock with the Lane Co Audubon Society.  Raptors,Sage Grouse etc--
April 4  Hatfield Lk and Alfalfa Areas--Waterfowl and Raptors
April 10  Burns Festival--Water Birds----Ducks Geese and Cranes Raptors

April 22 Earth day bird walk at Camp Polk Meadow with Damian Fagen
April 24  Metolius Preserve--Steve Dougill leader

April 24 Evening Owl prowl at Camp Polk Meadow

May 2  Summer Lk for Shorebirds etc.
May 9  Redmond--Lower Bridge and Smith Rock
May 15  NAMC
May 22  High Lakes Area
June 13  Woodpeckers--Deschutes and Jefferson Counties

• Winter Wings Festival Feb 12-14 see www.WinterWingsFest.org
• Birders Night Feb 18 - Test your ID skills and have fun at the Birders Quiz night
• Eagle Festival at Lake Billy Chinook on Feb 27-28
• Birders Night March 18 - David Moen talks about Condors in Oregon
• John Sharaff Migratory Bird Festival at Burns on April 9-11 ... details
• Birders Night - April 15th Birding by Ear Panel: Want to learn the tricks of telling a Macgillvray's warbler from a Nashville warbler? What about a Robin verses a Solitaire. Learn all this and more as a panel of local experts dissect bird songs of Central Oregon.
• Birders Night - May 20th, Sue Anderson, Butterflying

• May 27 - 30, Devon Batley from ONDA will lead a raptor monitoring survey trip to Hart Mountain close to the CA border.  There is only room for 8 people so sign up now ... details

Audubon Important Bird Areas: by Mary Coolidge

 

Fern Ridge Important Bird Area

 

Twice a year, the statewide Audubon chapters meet at a roving location to strategize on our statewide priorities and how to maximize our collaborative effectiveness.  The fall meeting was hosted by Lane County Audubon in Eugene, who, by lengthy tradition, guided the visiting chapters on an outing to a nearby Important Bird Area, in this case, to Fern Ridge Reservoir west of the city.

 

Oregon's 2006 state wildlife action plan, the Oregon Conservation Strategy, was drafted to ensure the preservation of our statewide natural resources, identifying both target species and habitats.  The OCS includes mapping of priority focus areas known as Conservation Opportunity Areas, of which Fern Ridge Reservoir is one.  Over 286 species of birds have been documented here, a 12,780 acre complex of wetland, grassland, wet prairie (lowland grasses), oak woodland, and freshwater aquatic habitats.  The property is owned by Army Corps of Engineers, with 5,261 acres of it licensed to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage as a Wildlife Area.  ODFW manages FRWA with three explicit goals in mind: to attract and support waterfowl, to protect, enhance, and restore habitat diversity, and to provide recreational and educational opportunities to the public (including hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing).

 

Fern Ridge Reservoir was established in 1941 for flood storage for Long Tom and Coyote Creeks, but years of successful management at FRWA has improved habitat and increased wildlife diversity.  Together with the 2,500-acre West Eugene Wetlands to the east (a restored wetland area acquired by BLM, the City of Eugene and The Nature Conservancy), the area provides a green anchor in the city and acts as a storehouse
of Willamette wet prairie, of which less than 1/2 of one percent remains in the valley today due to urbanization.

 

A Sunday morning drizzle didn’t drown our birdwatching spirits, and the eight of us who ventured out to West Eugene found several Acorn woodpeckers active among the Oaks in a small stand north of Royal Avenue on the way into the Royal Amazon Unit of the FRWA.  Visiting an IBA in our host chapter helps us envision the focused efforts of chapters in their respective backyards.  And spying a housecat in a willow stand on FRWA property identified a century-old conservation challenge: how to keep cats out of urban natural areas.

 

Species of Ornithological Significance

Fern Ridge represents habitat for a diverse assemblage of bird species, of which 118 species are confirmed breeders.  ODFW sensitive species found at FRWA include Purple martin, Yellow-breasted chat, Western meadowlark, Willow flycatcher, Western bluebird, and Grasshopper sparrow.  Over 30 species of ducks, geese, swans and pelicans use FRWA.   Breeding season and spring migration populations include Cinnamon teal, Blue-winged teal, Red-shouldered hawk, White-tailed kite, and Bald eagle.  Peak winter waterfowl counts reach up to 27,000 birds, excluding the 8,000 to 20,000 Canada geese and 100 to 1,500 Tundra Swans which roost nightly on the lake and migrate to the surrounding fields at daybreak.  Wintering populations of Northern pintail, Great egret, and Ring-billed gull are present.  Marsh breeders include Pied-billed grebe, Western grebe, Clark’s grebe, American bittern, Virginia rail, Sora, American coot, Black-necked stilt, Wilson’s snipe, Wilson’s phalarope, Marsh Wren, Willow Flycatcher, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.  An estimated 25 pairs of breeding Black Terns nest in loose colonies among bulrush, cattail, sedge and rush in the marsh.  Fern Ridge is also important for Solitary sandpiper, Spotted sandpiper, Western sandpiper, Dunlin (flocks up to 20,000 in winter), Black-bellied plover, Semipalmated plover, Greater yellowlegs, Long-billed dowitcher, Wilson’s snipe, and Black-necked stilt.  Up to 140 American white pelicans summer at Fern Ridge but are not yet documented to be breeding.

 

If you go:
I-5 South toward Eugene to the I-195 B exit toward Junction City/Florence.  Merge onto Beltline Road/ OR-569 W.  Turn right at W 11th Ave/OR 126-W and continue.
There are options here:  To visit the experimental Caspian Tern Island at the Royal Amazon Unit, turn right on Fisher Road (at the West Eugene Wetlands Meadowlark Marsh).  Left on Royal Avenue to the parking lot (just after the turn onto Royal is the Acorn woodpecker Oak stand where you may be lucky enough to spy a Lewis’ woodpecker).  To get to the FRWA Headquarters, return to I-126 W and turn left at Central Road and left again on Cantrell Road.  HQ is signed on the left.
Questions?  ODFW FRWA office: 503.935.2591

 

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News from other Oregon Audubon  chapters:

 

As we become more involved with the local Audubon chapters we will feature some of their projects and ways to get involved.

 

Cape Arago Audubon Society - The latest newsletter is online

PO Box 381, North Bend, OR 97459; 541-266-7382

Corvallis Audubon Society

PO Box 148, Corvallis, OR 97339 

Kalmiopsis Audubon Society 

PO Box 1265, Port Orford, OR 97465; 541-332-0261 

Klamath Basin Audubon Society

PO Box 354, Klamath Falls, OR 97601

Lane County Audubon Society

PO Box 5086, Eugene, OR 97405; 541-485-2473

Lincoln City Audubon Society

PO Box 38, Lincoln City, OR 97367; 541-921-4009 // 541-992-0440
 

Rogue Valley Audubon Society
PO Box 8597, Medford, OR 97504; 541-734-2473 or BIRD

Salem Audubon Society

189 Liberty St NE – Suite 210, Salem, OR 97301 – 503-588-7340

Siskiyou Audubon Society     (no website)

PO Box 2223, Grants Pass, OR 97528

Umpqua Valley Audubon Society
PO Box 381, Roseburg, OR 97470; 541-673-4752

 

 

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  Greetings from Klamath Falls, Oregon!

Grab your calendars and start making plans to join us in Klamath Falls for the 2010 Winter Wings Festival, to be held February 12-14 at the Oregon Institute of Technology. This Festival promises to be a very special event. Here’s a preview:

Friday Night Guest Speakers: Join two special guest speakers for a Friday night double feature. First up is Bill Clark, a photographer, author, and lecturer with over 45 years experience working with birds of prey, including 5 years as Director of the National Wildlife Federation's Raptor Information Center. He has published numerous articles on raptor subjects, has traveled extensively worldwide studying, observing, and photographing raptors, and regularly leads raptor and birding tours and workshops, both home and abroad, with his company, Raptours.  Bill Clark will kick off the Festival with a presentation titled "Eagle Quest," in which he will recount his adventures with the world's eagles. In addition, Bill Clark will also be presenting a “Celebrity Raptor Prowl” field trip on Sunday.
Following Bill Clark's talk, Canon will present their Explorer of Light photographer, Rick Sammon, in a special slide show "Exploring Wildlife and Nature Photography." Rick has published 34 books, including his latest, Rick Sammon's Digital Photography Secrets. He also writes for PC Photo magazine. Rick, who has been nominated for the Photoshop Hall of Fame, is considered one of today's top digital-imaging experts, cutting through a lot of Photoshop speak, making it fun, easy and rewarding to work and play in the digital darkroom. See www.ricksammon.com for more information. Also check out Rick's new plug-in site: www.pluginexperience.com. 

Keynote Speaker: Scott Weidensaul, a well-known wildlife writer, lecturer, and field researcher, will be the keynote speaker after the banquet on Saturday February 13. His topic: "Living on the Wind: The World of Migratory Birds" . . . At any moment of every day, migratory birds fill the skies of the western hemisphere, journeying from the High Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, across the Atlantic and Pacific, moving by day and night. Join Scott on an exploration of how and why birds migrate, and the conservation challenges that face them, based on his book, Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds.  His talk will be preceded by a banquet dinner.

Expanded Canon Photography Programs: Back by popular demand is the Canon Photography Workshop. The workshop will be offered twice: once for beginning and once for advanced photographers. The beginning workshop includes both classroom instruction and the opportunity to check out new Canon camera gear to use on your self-directed photo safari at the local refuges or nearby birding spots. In addition to these workshops, Canon will offer a “Shoot with a Pro” field trip with Rick Sammon on Saturday (limited to a small group).

New Offerings: Here are some of the presentations in the works for the 2010 Festival: Additional photography workshops on Lightroom and Photoshop, Larry Turner photography field trip, Storyteller Susan Strauss, Lava Beds tour, Environmentally Friendly Desert Landscaping, Introduction to Falconry, Baby Birds, Family Friendly Birding, and Bird Sketching to name a few!

Popular Returning Activities: Flyouts, Aerie Afternoon, Big Day, Leisurely Birding, Behind the Scenes at the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, It's Not in My Field Guide, and many more!

Check out the website at www.WinterWingsFest.org for the latest in Festival planning information. On-line registration will not begin until early or mid December unless otherwise notified. Brochures are scheduled to be distributed in early December and will also be available on-line.

If you have questions in the meantime, contact Todd Christian, Festival Registrar, at (541) 850-0084 or e-mail him at singingbear@charter.net.

Your Winter Wings Festival Coordinators,
Diana Samuels and Anne Wenner

 

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Reduce Bird Window Collisions - Kevin Lair, Wild Birds Unlimited

While nothing can be done to completely prevent birds from flying into windows, there are steps that one can take to minimize how often these collisions occur.

Often birds fly into windows because they see the reflection of the sky or trees in the glass. When windows are viewed at certain angles and at certain times of day, birds don’t see through the window but rather the reflection of what is behind them. This reflection tricks the birds, especially when they are flying quickly and only look at the window briefly.

One way to minimize window strikes is to put decals on the outside surface of the glass to help break up the reflected image. We have found the UV coated Window Alert decals to be the most effective. Birds see a different spectrum than we do, so while to us the decals just appear opaque, to the birds they really stand out. As an added bonus, Window Alert decals are a local product of Bend.

Hanging obstacles outside in front of the window can also help deter birds from flying in that direction. Shiny holographic wind socks and mylar ribbon strips are particularly effective.

Surprisingly enough, another helpful hint is to move feeders closer to your windows. When feeders are hung within 3 ft of windows rarely are the birds moving fast enough to get hurt should they hit the glass.

Deschutes Land Trust - Camp Polk Meadow Preserve Whychus Creek Restoration Update - by Sherry Berrin

During the summer of 2009, the Deschutes Land Trust, in partnership with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and the Deschutes National Forest, began implementation of the Camp Polk Meadow Whychus Creek Restoration project. The existing Whychus Creek channel is currently restricted to a narrow, straight and fast channel at the south edge of the Camp Polk Meadow. Restoring the water it to its original path through the meadow will re-establish natural meanders, reconnect the creek with its historic floodplain, and create much better fish habitat than currently exists. It will also restore more than 70 acres of high quality wetland habitat, benefiting many wildlife species. In the fall of 2009, over 110,000 native trees, shrubs, grasses and sedges were planted along the newly constructed channel. The purpose of this new vegetation is to provide bank stabilization, prevent erosion, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, provide shade to help lower water temperatures, and slow the erosive forces of water moving across the floodplain during high water flow events.  In 2010, we will continue to plant and water new vegetation around the channel. This vegetation will be allowed to mature for several years prior to redirecting Whychus Creek through the new channel. Learn more and follow the progress of this project at: http://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/protected-lands/community-preserves/camp-polk-1/camp-polk-restoration-details

Since 2000, the Land Trust has been working with ECBC to conduct ongoing bird surveys of the entire Preserve. These surveys have provided the base understanding of seasonal bird species presence on the Preserve. Birders continued to survey the property both during and after stream channel construction. Carol Wall, one of our dedicated bird surveyors, commented on one of her visits just after construction ended: “I was really surprised to find so very many birds as I walked down the road… I don't think I have ever seen so many different species. These included three (count them, three!) coveys of quail with their youngsters, multiple house wrens, a Western tanager, two western wood peewees, many, many bank swallows, and assorted other birds that I often see there.  I thought it particularly encouraging to see the quail with their young, obviously all the work didn't disturb them.  Also liked seeing the birds making use of the new channel.  A mallard left Duckett Pond and flew right to the new channel where she settled down and a sandpiper was busily working the water's edge.”

The Land Trust and ECAS will continue to monitor birds at Camp Polk. While we are just beginning to analyze previous years’ data, a continued effort is needed to assess the effects of our stream restoration efforts. If you're an avid birder who likes to visit birding hot spots throughout the year, then we'd love to have your help! To volunteer or to learn more about Camp Polk Meadow Preserve and the Land Trust, visit: http://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/protected-lands/community-preserves/camp-polk

The Land Trust's Community Preserves are lands protected for wildlife and for local communities.
 
Other project updates:
The Land Trust is currently working to conserve land (Skyline Forest) near Bend and Sisters. This 33,000 acre former tree farm was historically known as the Bull Springs Tree Farm. Surrounded by state and federal lands, Skyline Forest contains important wildlife habitat and protects the scenic green foothills that set off the Central Oregon Cascades. Skyline Forest is currently owned by Fidelity National Financial and these owners are in discussions with the Land Trust on how best to conserve Skyline Forest. Skyline Forest is not protected yet. What you can do to help conserve Skyline Forest: write letters to the editor, tell your friends and neighbors, and make sure people know about this important project. To learn more about Skyline Forest please visit: http://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/protected-lands/current-projects/Skyline_Forest.
 
ECAS is committed to working with the Land Trust to help promote this area and help identify the important bird areas. The Land Trust, with permission of the current landowners, is hoping to provide some general tours and bird walks in Skyline Forest in 2010. Check the Land Trust’s event page to learn about upcoming tours, http://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/news-reports/current-events.

Please send any comments about this newsletter and how we might be able to improve it to the [ECAS]

Checklist for Central Oregon birds [get it]

Checklist for Deschutes birds [get it]

Does your buisness want to support ECAS and bird conservation in the local area? Please contact us for the benefits we can provide your company by becoming a supporting member.

ECAS 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 ECAS. Contact [Steve Dougill]for more information.