This is our first electronic newsletter and we
hope that you will provide your comments to us. This format allows us to
provide more information with less impact on the environment. It also allows us
to reach a wider audience. In each issue we will provide information on the
ECBC projects, news from other conservation / wildlife groups in the area, and a
listing of any birding events coming up in Central Oregon. We will continue to
highlight a local personality, local birding news, and good birding
resources. The early part of the year is a time for the
ECBC to prepare the ground work for the coming season of field projects. It is
also a time to build on the solid backbone that is ECBC. We have added several
features to our web site including online payments / donations and an archive of
photos of unusual birds of Central Oregon. We continue to build relationships
with other conservation organizations and have had productive meetings with the
Deschutes Basin Land Trust and The U.S. Forest Service. ECBC was represented at
two community events this winter / spring; the eagle Festival at Lake Billy
Chinook near Madras and the Earth Day festivities in Bend. At both events we
focused on kid activities while gently spreading the bird conservation message.
A big thank you to Marilyn Miller and Devon Bately for helping to organize
these. And now Spring is here; The Winter Raptor Survey has drawn
to a close for another year while Lewis's Woodpeckers are returning to the burns
around Bend and investigating our nest boxes. Shorebirds are migrating through
Central Oregon, unaware that they are being counted and adding to valuable
long-term datasets. Field trips have also started and are a great chance for
members to meet each other and see some great places and birds. Birding-by-ear
walks are going strong (led by Dave Tracy) and a new weekly event, the Wednesday
Morning Birders, offers more chances to meet birders in the local area. Next
week The North American Migration Counts occur ... There is a lot happening.
There are so many chances for you to get involved and most of all ... enjoy the
birds! Problems viewing
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we have created for them. Winter Birding
Highlights, by Chuck Gates It’s sometimes easy to think of the winter birding
season in terms like “cold” or “dreary” or “not worth the frostbite”. However, it’s prudent to
remember that winter birding has it’s own set of charms and attractions. This sentiment was well
displayed in the 2007-08 season. Though the thermometer might have sent a contrary
message, this winter was “hot” Winter
is about water birds. SNOW GEESE were reported from 14 different locations with a
total of 23 birds being seen in Central Oregon. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were also reported from Crook
and Deschutes Counties.
As many as 19 CACKLING GEESE were seen around the area. Perhaps the most
interesting waterfowl find was Steve Dougill’s discovery of a BLACK BRANT in the
farm fields north of Prineville (Look for a separate article about this bird in
this newsletter). Four
TRUMPETER SWANS were seen on the Sisters CBC while a single EURASIAN WIGEON
showed up for the Prineville CBC. An unusual BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was
discovered along the river in Bend but, sadly, this bird died soon after it was
discovered. A SORA
was located in Prineville and a smattering of RING-BILLED GULLS were reported
from various water features. The Haystack PACIFIC LOON stayed around until
December 8 and COMMON LOONS were seen throughout the region. |  |
Rare winter Game Birds
are….well…rare.
This winter past did nothing to dispel that fact. CHUKARS were seen just
once in the Smith Rock area and WILD TURKEYS came down from deep winter snows
and were seen near Sisters. RING-NECKED PHEASANTS were located in Crook,
Deschutes, Wasco, and Jefferson Counties. A total of 33 EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES were
discovered throughout the region. There were a lot of raptors reported
from our region this winter. This is certainly due, in no small part, to the
tremendous efforts of over 150 ECBC volunteers who participated in the annual
Winter Raptor Surveys.
This state-wide project continues to add bushels of data about wintering
raptors and raptor distribution in Oregon. Late (or maybe early) reports of OSPREY around the
new year came in from Sunriver, Gateway, and Prineville. Four different NORTHERN
GOSHAWKS were found at different times in Bend and Sisters. Large numbers of
Deschutes and Crook County FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were found and they were joined by
a more unusual Jefferson County “Ferrugy”. One hundred and sixteen ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were
tallied along with 139 BALD EAGLES and 74 GOLDEN EAGLES. If that weren’t enough,
26 MERLIN, 60 PRAIRIE, and a single PEREGRINE FALCON were also documented in the
area. Owls included
WESTERN SCREECH OWLS from
Prineville, Powell Butte, and Camp Sherman; PYGMY OWLS from Millican,
Prineville, Sisters, and Tumalo Reservoir; and SHORT-EARED OWLS from Prineville
and Powell Butte. A
single SAW-WHET OWL was heard calling from an area south of
Prineville. We love our woodpeckers in Central
Oregon so a good reconning of their winter numbers is always informative. A WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER
was seen on the Prineville CBC for only the second time. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER
sightings came in from three different areas near Prineville. WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS
were found in the Sisters area and 10 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS on the Sisters
CBC made a big splash.
A rare winter NORTHERN 3-TOED WOODPECKER is always interesting but 4 of
them on the Sisters count was very special. A single
BLUE JAY was found by Susan Doran in Bend. This bird hung around for a while and was last
seen on or around January 15th. Many passerines (perching birds) leave for the
winter and don’t return until spring. A few come back early to take advantage of the
emerging insects at the end of winter. SAY’S PHOEBES began showing up around February
12th. TREE SWALLOWS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were right
behind them with the first birds arriving on February 22nd. There are those
passerines that seem to find Central Oregon winters to their liking and choose
to stick it out instead of migrating. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were found in the Gateway
area north of Madras.
Most ROCK and CANYON WRENS go south but a few were reported wintering in
the canyons of Central Oregon. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were spotted from
two  | different
locations in Bend and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, though scarce, were found a few
times. FOX SPARROWS
were tallied in Sisters and Prineville and several LINCOLN SPARROWS were
discovered skulking around. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were seen in Bend and
Prineville and HARRIS’S SPARROWS were located in Prineville and
Paulina. |
The annual TRICOLORED
BLACKBIRDS of Crook County were joined by other birds found in Wasco County and
near Madras.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS showed up in large numbers with 93 on the Utopia
CBC. Rosy-finches,
Pine Grosbeaks, and Purple Finches failed to make a showing this
winter.
Local Personality, by Judy Meredith Nicole Nielsin-Pincus
was selected to the board at the annual meeting and is already active on three
committees. She works as a wildlife technician for the USFS Ochoco NF in
Prineville. Nicole and her husband Max moved to Prineville in Nov 2006 for his
job with the Crooked River Watershed Council. Nicole did her undergraduate work
at U of New Hampshire in Environmental Science and Wildlife Biology and obtained
a Masters degree at U of Idaho in Wildlife Biology. She found herself interested
in birds in 1997 when she went abroad to study wildlife in Tanzania, East
Africa. |  | | She says "I thought I was going to get to know charismatic
species such as lions and elephants, but fell in love with birds. It was
exciting to come home and feel like I was on safari again everyday. I couldn't
believe what I had been missing". She believes that birds are such a great,
tangible way to fall in love with ecology. As a scientist, she thinks they are
also a great subject for study and an indicator of biodiversity and
environmental change. She enjoys time with her daughter, Sylvia, husband, Max,
and energetic Border Collie, Badger, in a variety of outdoor activities such as
hiking, skiing, canoeing, camping, fishing, and gardening. A hearty welcome to
Nicole. |
|
 | Devon Bately, was
also just elected to the board. She works as the membership coordinator for the
Oregon Natural Desert Association. Her affair with Central Oregon began in the
early 90's when she located here as a pre-teen with her dad and sister. After a
period in the UK she returned here over a year ago to be near her fiancé and to
finally live somewhere for more than three months. Her interest in birds started
in 2004 when she took a job with the Roseburg BLM surveying for Marbled
Murrelets. This exposed her to all types of birdy things and she "actually
learned to identify birds by song, a once daunting task became fun and
intriguing". | | From there she worked for
HawkWatch International, "which was probably my most fun job and lowest paid.
However I learned hawk id skills and trapping and banding; it was exciting,
challenging and rewarding." There’s not much Devon does that doesn’t involve a
little birding. She loves camping, hiking, boating, fishing, skiing, playing
with her kitties, and her pre-husband Sean. A big welcome to Devon. |
|
A couple of rare birds .... by Chuck Gates  | On January 11, 2008 Steve
Dougill and Damian Fagan were running the north Prineville Winter Raptor Survey
for the ECBC. As it
turns out, raptors would not be the big story that day. Instead, they happened
upon one of Central Oregon’s most unusual geese… the Brant. Brant are
most commonly found on the Oregon Coast in winter. Flocks of over a hundred
can be seen in places like Netarts, Yaquina, and Tillamook Bays. |
Inland sightings are much more rare. This is only the 3rd verified report of this species in Central Oregon
and a first for Crook County. While it was present, the Brant tended to congregate with a
mixed flock. With
the Brant were Canada Geese, Snow Geese, and Cackling Geese. Over the course of about a month, several people traveled
to witness this rarity.
Even Central Oregon’s own goose enthusiast, Marilyn Miller, got a chance
to view the Brant. All good things must come to an end and the Brant was not
seen after February 10.
Rare birds always bring an air of excitement to the
local birding community.
Nothing gets the birding juices flowing like a good “rare bird
alert.” Just such
an event occurred on March 10, 2008. The rare bird that was reported was a
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. | At about 9:30 on May 10, Sonja de Boer was
driving north on Hwy 97 north of Terrebonne when a bird caught her
attention. The bird
had crossed the road in front of her and she noted the small body size compared
to a very long tail and a light body color. She also noted that the bird flew with a bouncy
flight pattern. Sonja promptly turned around and relocated the bird while it
hovered and hunted in an open field east of the highway. At one point it landed on a |  |
fence
post to give her a chance to study it while perched. She even took a couple
of photos. For
several minutes, she watched the bird to be sure of her initial
identification.
After she saw the bird bank into the sun and display pink sides and under
wings, she knew she was looking at a scissor-tailed Flycatcher. What
happened next is an indication of how the avid birders in Central Oregon are so
intricately connected. No fewer than 10 people were on the scene within a
couple of hours. Sue and Mel Holt were lucky enough to see the bird but
unfortunatly even all that birding might was not enough to produce another
sighting. No one else saw the bird that day. Others trickled back to the location in the following days
but no one saw the bird again. This is often
the way of the rare bird.
It comes…it shines…and it leaves us wanting. One definition of a rare bird is one that has been seen
fewer than five times in an area. Using this definition, the Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher found in Terrebonne is certainly rare. This is only the second time this species has ever
been recorded in Central Oregon. The first sighting occurred in 1978 at Davis
Lake. This bird is
also unusual because it was found so early. All other spring records of this species in Oregon
are from early May to early July. It’s always important to maintain a certain level of
skepticism when dealing with rare bird reports. Although this bird was seen by more than one
observer and was well described, it’s still possible there was no Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher at this location. The early date would certainly support this
idea. Even if this
bird were within its normal range (Texas to Nebraska), this would be a pretty
early date of arrival for this species (late March to early May is more
normal). This
skepticism provides us with a sense of mystery that often accompanies rare bird
sightings. After
all, without the mystery, they wouldn’t be considered
rare.
Recent Field Trips, by Steve Dougill A key part
of what ECBC is about, is to introduce people to the birds and the great birding
areas in Central Oregon. Car pooling is encouraged and it’s casual and fun
....  | Our first trip of the season was on a chilly Easter Day
(3/23) and eight of us headed east from Bend to look for geese. On the way to
Burns we stopped in the sagebrush habitat and hay fields to look at raptors and
desert sparrows. There were large numbers of both FERRUGINOUS HAWKS and BALD
EAGLES, probably due to the abundant ground squirrels. In the flooded valley
close to Burns, we saw our geese; thousands of them!
| All in all we saw almost 20,000 SNOW and ROSS'S GEESE . It
was fantastic! Also, we found large numbers of SANDHILL CRANES (more than 150)
gracefully flapping over the area and standing around in the fields. With them
were several groups of LONG BILLED CURLEWS. There were lots more BALD EAGLES
everywhere and ducks and geese and more geese. Further south, we stopped at The
Narrows and were treated to newly arrived BLACK NECKED STILTS gracefully
strutting about in the shallow water and, rather unusually, 4 HERRING GULLS
mixed in with other gulls. Apart from the birds, we saw several herds of
Pronghorn grazing in the hay fields and running through the desert.
|
Spring should have been here for our second field trip when
nine intrepid birders gathered for a trip to visit Smith Rock State Park and
Lower Bridge on April 20. It was 24 degrees when the birding started and it
didn't warm up much. Still, the main snowstorm arrived later when people were
back in their vehicles. Despite the weather migrants were searching for food
along the Deschutes River and the BEWICK'S WREN put on a show. This is a rare
bird in Central Oregon that might be starting to extend it’s range down the
Deschutes River from the Columbia Gorge.
Later in the day the group hiked down into the canyon at
Smith Rock and were treated to a spectacular display by the resident Golden
Eagle at its nest. Both Canyon and Rock Wrens were seen and first of the year
MacGillivray’s and Nashville Warblers were found. On the 4th May spring had finally arrived. Migrants were
everywhere for the nineteen of us on the Bend field trip. We kept to the
regular haunts: the First Street River Trail, Sawyer Park, Entrada Burn and
Hatfield “Lake”. Lots of challenging flycatchers, colorful warblers, secretive
Hermit Thrushes and a beautiful male Calliope Hummingbird sitting right out in
the open for all to see. We were treated to newly arrived Tanagers and
Black-headed Grosbeaks and swarms of swallows and swifts. At the Entrada burn we saw lots of Lewis’s Woodpeckers
hanging out at the ECBC nest boxes. If you have never been out here, it’s a
site you will not want to miss … the birds are spectacular! Finally a quick look in at Hatfield Lake where we were
treated to a variety of shorebirds at close quarters; two Solitary Sandpipers
were particularly nice, as was a couple of close Lesser Yellowlegs and a flock
of Wilson’s Phalaropes spinning about on the water. All in all we had a total
of 92 species.
Ross's Geese Color
bands: On the
field trip to Burns at the end of March, our group was lucky enough to see four
banded Ross's Geese (with coded neck collars) in a mixed flock of about 2000
"white geese". It turns out that these geese were collared by the Canadian
Wildlife Service. The geese are captured during their flightless period in late
July and early August using "helicopter drive" techniques at their breeding
grounds in the Arctic. Information on their age and sex is recorded. Adult and
juvenile geese are leg banded and adult geese are collared. Each neck collar
contains a unique, easily readable, three-digit, alpha-numeric code. Collars may
be yellow, blue, red, black or green, depending upon the species of goose and
the location of the nesting colony. Two of our birds were collared as adults in
2003 on the west coast of Hudson Bay. The other two birds came from even
further north; The Queen Maud Gulf Bird Migration Sanctuary on the north coast
of Nanavut in 2002 and 1991. This makes the oldest one more than 17 years old!
More information on the project and the reasons for the surveys can be seen by
following this [link]. Spring Events: Recurring
Events: - Every
Tuesday through the Spring - Birding by Ear with Dave Tracy. Join us as we find
birds along the Deschutes River. This is a great chance to become familiar with
the local birds and meet some other birders. Free, and open to all ages. Meet
Sawyer Park at 8:00am ... [contact ] Dave for more info.
- Every Wednesday, local birders meet at
Nancy P's Bakery at 7.30am to decide where they want to bird that morning. The
bakery is located between Milwaukee and Newport on 11th on the west side of
Bend. [Contact ] Judy Meredith for more
info.
At the
beginning of 2008, newly retired Judy Meredith, decided that it might be nice to
have an informal bird event on Wednesday mornings. Since this was her
brainchild, we have looked to her as the "leader" a title she prefers not to
have. So to convince us she is not the leader, she proceeded to spend most of
March and April out of the state. Well it is still a good idea so Wednesday
morning birding has not stopped. Any interested Birder is welcome to join the
group and we welcome new birders. We
usually have no plan until we meet and assess the weather as well as recent bird
sightings. For the most part, we spend about three hours locally in pursuit of
birds. However, on one occasion, we did make it an all day event traveling all
the way to Gateway spending time in Adams, Madras, and the Trout Creek
Campground. There
were some great looks at a good variety Central Oregon birds but nothing I would
call rare. It is my opinion that the best bird observed was the White Throated
Sparrow on the First Street River Trail. Of course I do not attend every
Wednesday and due to a cross-country trip with ten days birding in Florida, I
too was gone for most of March. By Don Sutherland. 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 - 10 &11 May - Spring NAMC. For list of compilers and
more info [click]
15 May
- Birders Night - Talk by Kevin Lair of Wild Birds Unlimited on back yard birds.
[info]
- 17 May -
International Bird Migration Day, Prineville ...[info]
- 18 May - ECBC Field Trip to Crook County ... [info]
31 May
- ECBC Conservation Work day at the Metolius Preserve where we declare a war on
the invasive weed Mullien ... [info]
- 7 &
8 June - Woodpecker Festival, Camp Sherman ... [info]
- 14 June - ECBC Field Trip to Metolius Preserve and Trout
Creek (DLT preserves) ... [info]
21 June
- ECBC Conservation Work day at Big Summit Prairie where we will help cage
regenerating Aspens. We encourage people to camp the night before ... [info]
- 10 July - ECBC Board Meeting, 5.30pm at Environmental
Center. All welcome ... [info]
ECBC Project Reports: The
Lewis's Woodpeckers are back in Central Oregon! These birds typically show up
in our region around the last week in April- the 1st week in May and then
migrate south again around the end of September. Currently volunteers have
readied the nest boxes we have in place for them at our project sites for the up
and coming breeding season. This consisted of cleaning out the nest boxes and
replacing a 4-6 inch layer of shavings, and replacing some bark on a few fronts
of the nest boxes. We also cleared out a few squirrel nests and will be keeping
a close eye to see if these mammals return and take up residence once again in
the nest boxes. Currently there are 11 volunteers who will be donating
their time, from the beginning of May through the early part of July, monitoring
and collecting data about the use of our nest boxes by this beautiful species of
woodpecker.
Next
week NAMC is happening! It occurs on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May throughout
Oregon. Apart from coordinating the project we are attempting to collate all
the count data from the previous 14 or so years into a database for analysis.
This will offer an unprecedented view of long-tem population trends in the
State. The
Fall 2007 North American Migration Count marked a pivotal moment in the history
of this count. Since its meager beginnings in 1994, the count has gone through
many ups and downs. In its hay day, the NAMC in Oregon involved nearly every
county in the state. Recently, participation has been dwindling as volunteers
began to question the validity of a continent-wide count that no longer involves
most of the continent. The fall of 2007 marked a turning point in data
collection and processing that will hopefully encourage more volunteers to join
in and make this a meaningful migration count for Oregon. In
2006, the East Cascades Bird Conservancy decided to take over the administration
of this count and attempt to reinvigorate it. Efforts are being made to find
volunteers for each county. Progress is being made but the going is slow and
difficult. It is the hope of the count coordinators that people will begin to
see the benefits of these counts and participate more fully. Of the
counties that did participate, enthusiasm was generally good. One hundred and
forty five participants fanned out in their prospective counties and mustered
over 500 hours of volunteer time. The total car mileage for the count was 3626
with another 390 miles tallied by means other than automobile. Twenty-two
individuals participated in feeder watches and twelve stationary observers
logged 33 hours. Nineteen intrepid volunteers spent 25 hours owling while
covering about 160 miles. A total
of 285 species were counted during the time period. The individual total was
713,834. This number is quite high compared to past years. This was due mostly
to one sighting of over 550,000 Barn Swallows in Yamhill County.
One of
the more interesting and entertaining parts of NAMC is to view the rare birds
that people scare up as they romp around the state. This time of year, many are
rushing to Malheur to see the smorgasbord of rarities that show up there every
fall. However, due to this count, other birds were discovered that merit
mentioning. A possible Blue-headed Vireo was reported from Baker County. This
bird was observed by JoAnne Britton and the description seemed to fit
Blue-headed quite well. JoAnne was not completely certain so the sighting
remains in the “possible” category. A single Black-and-whiteWarbler was
reported from Deschutes County. The bird was seen well. Trumpeter Swans were
reported from Crook and Deschutes while a single Eurasian Wigeon was found in
Coos County. Twenty-four Red-shouldered Hawks were located in ten different
counties. Two of those sightings came from Deschutes and five from Klamath.
Five counties produced a total of eight White-tailed Kites. Dusky Grouse were
found in Crook and Baker Counties. Flesh-footed Shearwaters were seen off the
coasts of Lincoln and Tillamook Counties as were Leach’s Storm-Petrels. Single
American and Pacific Golden-Plovers were located in Lane and Coos Counties
respectively. Four Common Terns were found in three interior counties while a
total of 46 Arctic Terns were tallied at sea. Five Xantus’s Murrelets were
located at sea with the majority coming from Curry County and a single Cassin’s
Auklet was recorded off the coast of Douglas County. The ocean crew turned up
good numbers of all three jaeger species and 9 South Polar Skua. Forty-four
Eurasian Collared-Doves were seen in ten counties with the high number of
thirteen coming from Jefferson County. A single Spotted Owl from Douglas County
was joined by a lone Long-eared Owl from Jefferson. Barred Owls were found in
Curry and Douglas Counties. A solitary Three-toed Woodpecker report came from
the forests of Linn County. Klamath produced a single Black Phoebe for the only
eastern record (13 more were seen in the west). Eastern Kingbirds turned up in
Klamath and Baker Counties. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were seen in Klamath and
Crook Counties. Seven California Towhees were located from Josephine County
while a single Tri-colored Blackbird was seen in Deschutes.
Winter Raptor Surveys
- Contact [Jeff Fleischer] The East
Cascades Bird Conservancy’s Winter Raptor Survey Project concluded its fourth
survey season at the end of March. This winter, a total of 122 survey routes were in
the project throughout the state of Oregon. More than 8,000 miles of transects were surveyed
by more than 90 project volunteers from November through March. The primary months of
survey work are December through February, with November and March considered
transition months as birds move north and south during
migration.
This
winter, during December through February, a total of 303 surveys were completed
out of a possible 365.
The volunteers logged 1,296.5 hours while surveying a total of 23,465
route miles. The
maximum monthly coverage was 8,065 miles in January followed by 8,013 miles in
February and 7,387 miles in December. The monthly total number of raptors counted was
5,896 (Dec), 5,941 (Jan), and 5,406 (Feb). As in the previous 3 winters, the Red-tailed Hawk
was the most prevalent species counted, making up 43% (Dec), 42% (Jan), and 47%
(Feb) of total birds found. The American Kestrel ranked second at 25%, 24%,
and 21% for the respective months followed by Bald Eagles at 5%, 11% and
10%. Rough-legged
Hawks accounted for 8%, 8% and 6% while Northern Harriers rounded out the top 5
with 8%, 7% and 7% for the three months. These 5 species have consistently accounted for a
little more than 90% of the monthly total of birds counted each month since the
start of this project.
A complete final report of this past
winter’s project activities will be available later this summer. It will contain a
variety of charts that will depict all the data collected since the start of
this project. The
success of this project lies squarely with all of the great people who have
volunteered their time these past 4 winters to get out and do the monthly
surveys. Their
efforts are sincerely appreciated. Without this supreme effort, there would be no
Oregon Winter Raptor Project. This project is scheduled to continue into the
future as long as there will be folks dedicated to doing these surveys. We are always looking
for more individuals to join in on the fun and provide even more new areas of
the state to survey.
If this project sounds like something that you would like to participate
in, please contact Jeff Fleischer, project coordinator.
Last
season was yet again a bumper year for raptor counts. Green Ridge proves to be
an excellent place to record raptors migrating south, especially when winds turn
towards the west. This seems to create just the right conditions to draw in the
raptors that use the up drafts created by the topography of the ridge line. In
early October, we had a fantastic day where we recorded over 300 individual
raptors including a Goshawk, 4 Peregrines, eagles, Merlins, and lots and lots of
Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Each year since the counts started, we have
recorded more birds than the more famous Bonney Butte Hawk Watch site to the
north. This is probably due to the lower elevation of Green Ridge and the fact
we are able to count in weather conditions that close Bonney Butte down.
Look for a summary of the results
in the next newsletter. We are also asking for anyone in the Sisters area to
house volunteers from The Valley for a night during the survey season to help
encourage more people to participate in this great project.
During
the spring, water levels are generally too high in many locations in Central
Oregon to attract many shorebirds. This makes wetlands that are artificially
managed especially important during this season. This spring we have been
focusing our efforts on several key spots: Hatfield Lake and Redmond Sewage
Lagoons (Deschutes); Prineville Sewage Lagoons and Guiterrez Ranch (Crook);
Pelton Dam (Jefferson); and Summer Lake (Lake). | Killdeer
started arriving in force by mid March and are normally the first shorebirds to
be recorded when the surveys start (although some birds were braving the area in
February). Late march saw the first of the Dunlin with their beautiful black
bellies and reddish backs. Also present were Greater Yellow Legs at Redmond
Sewage lagoons and Stilts and Curlews in the Harney Basin. |  |
By the second week of April peeps were
starting to pass through with least and western sanpipers in a few
sites. Summer Lake
isalways a hotspot and
the wet conditions and current management regieme have yeald high numbers of
shorebirds. During a count in the 3rd week of April there were over
450 Avocets, 131 Black necked Stilts, 200 Long billed Dowitchers, 19 Willets and
2 Snowy Plovers. By the last week of April the first Wilson's Phalarope's were
beging to show up and 2 Solitary Sanpipers made an appearance at Hatfield
Lake. In a
couple of weeks, we will start the third consecutive year of bird surveys in the
woodlands surrounding Glaze Meadow. The Forest Service, in partnership with Oregon
Wild, will be thinning areas of the forest to reduce the threat from high intensity firesto the neighboring Black
Butte Ranch. ECBC
is providing information on the effects of the management so that it can
be accomplished with as little impact to the birds / wildlife as possible. This
is supported by a recent grant from Oregon Wild of $500 for which we are
extremely grateful. This will be used to reimburse volunteers for their vehicle
expenses incurred during the surveys. Last year we found good numbers of woodpeckers, including
nesting White-headed and Pileated. Close to the swamp, we came across a family group
of Ruffed Grouse, several Pygmy Owls, breeding Purple Finches, and territorial
Swainson’s Thrushes.
Veery were found for the second year in a tangled area of aspen swamp.
Central Oregon’s first Northern Parula was found at this location along with a
rare Red-eyed Vireo
For directions to this great birding area [see]. Camp Polk Meadow
Surveys - Contact [Contact Eva Eagle]The
Deschutes Basin Land Trust and East Cascades Bird Conservancy have been
collaborating for several years to conduct informal area surveys at Camp Polk
Meadow Preserve. This 145 acre Preserve, owned and managed by the Land Trust,
is a hot spot of bird activity - so far we have documented 135 bird species at
Camp Polk Meadow. Over the
next several years the Land Trust will be engaged in a major stream restoration
in "The Meadow".
The Land Trust and ECBC are interested in tracking the effects of this
project on bird populations. In order to do so, we need volunteers to help
conduct bird surveys year round - with a special emphasis on early May to late
September. So we are still looking for volunteer birders to continue these
surveys.
Any interested birder can help in this
survey. All you
need to do is to participate in a guided survey orientation to the Preserves and
learn the survey protocol. Then you can conduct a survey at your own
convenience. You
can record your results in a variety of ways, thus adding to our store of
knowledge about the birds of Camp Polk Meadow Preserve.
In the
summer of 2003, the Crooked River National Grasslands contacted the ECBC for
assistance in monitoring Gray Flycatchers in the grasslands area near Madras.
The CRNG was (and still is) doing a widespread fire treatment on public land in
selected areas surrounding Madras. The area ranges from Smith Rocks in the
south to near Willowdale in the north and from near Crooked River Ranch to Round
Butte. Pre-burn and post-burn avian data collection was needed to monitor the
impact of burning on the Gray Flycatcher. An emphasis is being placed on
monitoring Gray Flycatchers because of their status as a species of
concern. To
count the birds, a standard point count method is used. Surveyors are provided
maps with random points. Surveyors drive to those points and listen for 10
minutes, recording every species heard. When Gray Flycatchers are heard,
compass readings distance estimates are recorded. There are 10 such points in
each route. Surveys begin as sunrise and usually take 3-4 hours. Follow-up
surveys are then done to locate Gray Flycatcher nests. The project is usually
accomplished between May 20 and July 10. Since
2003, the ECBC has done this survey annually (we missed 2005 due to funding
problems). 2007 was a year with mixed results. In the course of surveying 48
point-count stations, volunteers tallied a total of 1200 individuals of 52
different species (one station was inaccessible due to road barrier). The top
three most abundant species, with frequencies calculated as birds per 48
stations, were Western Meadowlark (186 individuals, 3.87/station), Common Raven
(81 ind., 1.69/sta.) and Mourning Dove (74 ind., 1.54/sta.). (See Table 2a)
Western Meadowlark also occurred at the most stations (35, 60%), followed by
Mourning Dove (28, 48%) and Northern Flicker (24, 41%).
The focal species for the
project, Gray Flycatcher, ranked twenty-first in abundance and frequency, with
21 individuals detected at 15 stations (1.4/station, 31%). Of these 15 stations
where Gray Flycatchers were detected, ten hosted birds within 50 meters. These
results were promising but follow-up surveys were unable to locate any active
nests in areas where breeding behavior had been noted.
In
2008, the ECBC will again monitor these bird populations in the CRNG. If you
are interested in getting involved with the Gray Flycatcher Survey as a Project
leader, the following requirements must be met: Project Leaders must have
transportation (4-wheel drive is required for some routes). Project Leaders
must be healthy enough to be able to get in and out of a car and should be able
to identify birds by sound. Project Leaders are expected to collate the data on
provided forms and report that data to the Project Coordinator. Basic MS Word
and Excel skills are helpful but not necessary for this task. In addition to
Project Leaders, ride-a-long volunteers are encouraged to participate. This is
a great opportunity to learn how to do point counts and identify birds by
ear.
Another
way to get involved with this project would be to help us do nest searches.
This activity requires no experience and can be a lot of fun. Volunteers arrive
early in the morning at locations already identified as probable nesting sites.
They locate birds by sight or sound (very easy for Gray FC because of their
distinctive and simple song). They then patiently follow the birds (from a safe
distance) back to their nests and record the location of the nest. If you
don’t feel like fieldwork is for you, you can offer to help with data
processing. This would involve collecting data forms from field workers and
transferring it into electronic form. Mostly, it involves entering numbers into
a spreadsheet. Help writing a final annual report is also needed. The
Gray Flycatcher Survey is just the kind of project the ECBC was created to
handle. It can’t be successful without volunteer help. Please consider getting
involved with this wonderful project by contacting the Project
Coordinator.
The ECBC Conservation Committee (Eva Eagle, Anne Gerke,
Peter Low, Marilyn Miller, and Nicole Nielson-Pincus) has been busy planning
ways for ECBC members to improve bird habitat. So far we have two workdays scheduled: Camp Polk Meadow ‘Bird
and Weed’ on May 31 and Glaze Meadow ‘Bird and Fence Pull’ August 16. Note the ‘Bird and…’
part—these are great birding locales and we want to enjoy them as well as help
them out.
Other
projects are in the works.
Last year, an ECBC work party camped in the Ochocos and built an aspen
exclosure. This
year, we hope to do more of this and are working to find the right date and time
for that. We would
also love to organize a workday or two closer to Bend and welcome ideas from the
membership about possible projects. Let us know about places that need our help! One focus
for the Conservation Committee in 2008 is to strengthen the partnership between
ECBC and the Deschutes Basin Land Trust. This year for the first
time, ECBC board members will be leading two special birding expeditions on Land
Trust properties: on April 26 Nicole Nielson-Pincus led a woodpecker tour at the
Metolius Preserve and on May 16 Steve Dougill will help find and identify the
springtime birds of Camp Polk Meadow. These efforts build on a longstanding partnership
between the two organizations. For seven years, ECBC has sponsored an intensive
bird survey project at Camp Polk Meadow that produced a season-by-season bird
list for the area.
These results will, in time, help the Land Trust understand the impact of
habitat changes over the next several years. Every spring, ECBC leads a field
trip to these preserves to observe migrating and nesting species; starting last
year, we have committed to improve Camp Polk Meadow habitat through a
conservation workday. Kestrel Nestbox Study - [Contact
Don McCartney]During
the period 1998 through 2007, the Kestrel project has grown from one box to
120, and the cumulative
number of young falcons fledged is slightly in excess of one thousand. However,
American Kestrel numbers are declining in North America according to a Fall 2007
Kestrel Symposium of the Raptor Research Foundation. Nesting data is provided
to the Cornell Lab for Ornithology from boxes monitored by ECBC
volunteers. Jim
Anderson bands as many of the young nestlings as possible for migration
studies. These banding sessions also serve a great educational experience for
youth groups, land owners, and other people invited to attend. 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.  By Sarah
MowryThe
Deschutes Land Trust works cooperatively with landowners to conserve land for
wildlife, scenic views, and local communities. We care for more than 7,200 acres
in our region for today and for generations to come. The Land Trust owns
and cares for four Community Preserves—places protected for native plants and
wildlife but also for you to enjoy and explore. We offer walks and hikes at our
protected properties as well as opportunities to help with restoration and
stewardship. Camp Polk
Meadow Preserve is a 145 acre meadow near Sisters that is one of Central
Oregon’s birding hot spots. The
Land Trust and ECBC have collaborated on many projects at Camp Polk including
bird surveys and conservation work days. Bird surveys conducted for the past 7
years by ECBC and Land Trust members have helped tremendously to monitor the
conditions of the meadow and the 150 species that call it
home. This year, ECBC and the Land Trust will
partner on a conservation work day on May 31st
from 8am-12pm to help with the major restoration of Whychus Creek through Camp
Polk Meadow. We hope you’ll join us for morning birding and then invasive
species removal in preparation for creating a new stream channel for Whychus
Creek. This restoration will dramatically improve habitat, including wetlands
and wet meadows, all utilized by many bird species  by Devon
BatelyOpposition to Proposed
Hydroelectric Projects on Summer Lake and Abert Rim Grows
NT Hydro, an Idaho based development firm, has applied to
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a preliminary permit that
could lead to construction of two pumped storage hydroelectric projects on
Summer Lake (docket P-13050) and on Abert Rim (docket P-13054). In the last two weeks the Oregon Natural Desert Association
(ONDA), joined by Oregon Wild and WaterWatch of Oregon have submitted comments
in opposition to both projects. Numerous individuals and agencies have submitted
their Motions to Intervene including local Summer Lake landholders, the Oregon
Department of Fish & Wildlife, Oregon Water Resource Department and the US
Forest Service.
The reasons for opposition to these projects range from
devastating ecological impacts to diminishment of aesthetic values along the
Oregon Outback National Scenic Byway.
The proposed hydroelectric projects would require the
construction of large pumps and turbines, and associated pipes, tunnels,
substations and transmission lines that would intrude directly on two designated
Wilderness Study Areas. The Diablo Mountain WSA reaches about halfway into
Summer Lake and the necessary substation and transmission lines would be visible
from the WSA, diminishing the wilderness properties of the area. The Abert Rim
project is perhaps even more egregious as it will potentially dredge a natural
perennial freshwater lake in the Abert Rim Wilderness Study Area, as well as
constructing a tunnel directly under the WSA.<>
Pumped storage systems are designed for energy storage, not
net energy production. To generate energy the alkali waters would be pumped
uphill during the night when electric rates are low, stored in a reservoir, then
released during the daytime to generate electricity when rates are high,
resulting in a net loss of energy to the electric grid, but a profit to the
operating company from the difference between the two rates. NT Hydro states
that they intend to use wind power to power the pumps at night. The glitch?
There are currently no wind farms in the Summer Lake/ Abert Rim area so NT Hydro
would just be drawing off the same power grid everyone else
uses.
Summer Lake and Lake Abert are closed basin alkali lakes
that receive runoff from perennial streams. Both these lakes provide vital
habitat for migrating and nesting birds, including the Western Snowy
Plover, listed as threatened under the
Endangered Species Act. The Lake Abert Area of Critical Environmental Concern,
covering more than 49,000 acres of the lake, associated wetlands, and
surrounding habitat, was established primarily for protection of the Western
Snowy Plover. Lake Abert and Summer Lake provide about 90% of all nesting Snowy
Plover habitat in Oregon. In fact the 19,000-acre Summer Lake Wildlife Area was
also created to protect Western Snowy Plover. The two proposed hydropower
projects would likely cause significant harm to the species and its
habitat.
Both Summer Lake and Lake Abert serve as important stops
for migrating birds along the Pacific Flyway. Despite the limited amount of water it contains, Lake Abert
is an oasis for migratory shorebirds who depend on the brine shrimp and brine
flies in the lake for food during their migrations. Peak shorebird counts on Summer Lake have ranged from
30,000 to 50,000 birds per year. This draws tourist dollars to the valley and
the loss of bird populations and blowing dust will interfere directly with the
region’s economy. To feed the pumped storage system NT Hydro proposes
withdrawing 2,000 acre feet of water from Summer Lake, a deficit that wildlife
can’t afford. Closed-basin lakes are known to have large fluctuations in volume
throughout the year. At it’s best Summer Lake is three feet deep and spans a
length of 20 miles, meaning that reduction of the water table will lead to
decreased surface water for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, drastic changes
in exposed shoreline which will devastate nesting and feeding habitat as well as
leading to more toxic alkali dust being released.
Similar effects will be felt by bird populations at Lake
Abert. The lake is so extensive (about 60 square miles) but shallow
(approximately 6 feet on the average), withdrawals of even small amounts of
water will cause magnified effects to the lake’s shoreline, and the proposed
withdrawal of water for this project will have significant, harmful effects on
the lake’s diverse aquatic ecosystem. Read more about
these projects [here]. ONDA Pushes for Badlands Wilderness 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.
The Badlands’ current status is a Wilderness Study Area
(WSA), a designation that imposes fewer restrictions than wilderness
designation, and does not offer the permanency that wilderness does. Recognizing the need to
provide recreation opportunities for non-motorized users, protect natural
resources, and minimize conflicts among visitors, the BLM closed the Badlands to
motorized use in their 2005 Resource Management Plan.
For over ten years ONDA has been working to get Wilderness
designation for the Badlands. This year we have ramped up our efforts and
employed two Greencorps interns to get the word out and generate comments to
Senator Wyden in support of Badlands Wilderness. This drive included a
well-attended Badlands pub-crawl at which 80 comments were generated to Sen.
Wyden in favor of Badlands Wilderness. In total we have collect 850 comments
this year, we also have support of over 200 local businesses and Deschutes
County Commissioner Tammy Melton (nee Baney).
It’s not too late to make your voice heard; if you haven’t
submitted your comments to the Senator you can do so [here].
 Create a Complete Backyard Bird Habitat
- Kevin Lair, Wild Birds Unlimited After a long winter, spring has finally arrived in Central
Oregon. Springtime
is a great time to evaluate your backyard bird habitat and consider making
improvements. A
complete habitat consists of four key elements: food, water, nesting habitat,
and shelter.
Spring is an important time to keep the birdfeeders
full. While it is
warmer and plants are beginning to grow, most plants do not set seed until later
in the summer or fall. Therefore there is not more food available yet for
seed eating birds.
In addition, birds are now faced with all their nesting related
chores. They must
find and defend a territory, attract a mate, produce eggs, incubate the eggs,
and feed the nestlings and fledglings. All these chores certainly take a toll on nesting
birds, and healthy, well fed adults have the best chances of producing many
healthy offspring.
For most seed eating songbirds the preferred seed is black
oil sunflower. This
can be offered in the shell or out if shell mess and germination are
concerns. Provide
white millet if Dove and Quail are present. Offer nyjer seed in a finch feeder for Goldfinches
and Pine Siskins.
 | Keep the suet feeders filled. Energy-packed suet is
great for nesting birds.
Parents will even carry beakfulls of suet to their nest to feed their
nestlings. As
temperatures rise, switch to heat tolerant suet doughs. They will withstand even
direct summer sun without melting.
Rufous Hummingbirds are moving back into Central Oregon, so
now is the time to put out your hummingbird feeders. The best nectar is
simply one part white table sugar to four parts water. Be sure to changes the
nectar and clean the feeders every 4 to 5 days. |
A
water source is a great attractant for all bird species, including those such as
warblers that do not eat seed or suet and may not otherwise visit backyard
habitats. Birdbaths
can be on pedestals, on the ground, or even hung in trees or from poles. Ponds and water features
are great, as long as they have a shallow section. The ideal water depth
for most songbirds is 1-2 inches.
Spring is also a great time to evaluate the nesting habitat
available in your yard.
Having nesting boxes is a great way to help cavity nesting birds
successfully raise their young. Mountain Chickadees, Pygmy Nuthatches, Tree and
Violet-green Swallows, and Mountain and Western Bluebirds all take readily to
boxes. Appropriate
dimensions and entrance hole sizes can help encourage the species you want, and
discourage non-native species like House Sparrows and European
Starlings.
Take a look at the trees and shrubs you have in your
yard. If possible,
try to create a “wild area” densely planted with native vegetation. These areas
provide shelter and may be used by non-cavity nesting species as nesting
sites. Plant berry
producing trees and shrubs to provide food for fruit eating birds.
Improve your bird habitat now and you will be rewarded with
great bird activity for years to come. It’s great for you, and great for the birds.
The Crooked River
Watershed Council has recently completed an assessment of the anadromous fish
reintroduction area of the Lower Crooked River Watershed. The assessment lays the
groundwork for the development of several major watershed and habitat
enhancement projects, including two major fish passage and screening projects at
private diversion dams on the Crooked River and two habitat enhancement projects
on the Crooked River and Ochoco Creek near Prineville. In addition, the
Watershed Council is a partner in several other projects focused on improving
stream and riparian habitat, managing juniper at the small watershed scale, and
monitoring water quality and watershed trends. Our projects in the Crooked River Watershed will
improve and restore riparian and wetland habitat for neo-tropical migrants, and
reclaim sage grouse habitat from the expansion of western juniper. Our projects are
voluntary restoration and monitoring efforts that rely on partnerships with
landowners, agencies, municipal governments, and irrigation
districts. Yard Bird Survey Data: Getting to know the locals
better - Jim
Moodie Last year, ECBC supported the beginning of a new kind of
survey: birds seen in people’s yards. The goal is to use yards as a means of detecting
trends in migratory species or patterns in the movements of residents or
wintering species.
Thirteen yards began the year by reporting the maximum number of
individuals seen on one day during 10-day periods. By year’s end, six yards
had complete data sets for the entire year. For all yards reporting
at least part of the year, we identified 137 species. The data suggest more
interesting trends than just number of species. For example, let’s look only at the Rufous
Hummingbird data for those yards completing the entire year: April | May |
|
| June |
|
| July |
|
| Aug |
|
| Sept |
| 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Rufous
Hummingbird numbers are low in spring and this species disappears during the
first ten days of June!
The numbers appear to peak during the 2nd
ten-day period of July and then slowly dwindle until all the birds are gone by
the 20th of September. Of course, this is only
for one year, but hopefully, with continued efforts by people willing to report
their yard birds in a systematic way, we can uncover some real trends with our
local bird populations. U.S. Forest Service: Lauri Turner The Deschutes
National Forest manages public lands for multiple resource benefits. It is one
of 17 forests in the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service. The
Wildlife Biologists on the Deschutes NF are working on many projects across
three districts, many of which aid in bird conservation. The Sisters Ranger
District is working on two stewardship projects, Glaze Forest Restoration and
Flymon, where thinning, aspen enhancement, noxious weed treatments, and road
closures will occur. The bird information collected by ECBC for the Glaze
project helped the wildlife biologist a great deal in his analysis. THANK
YOU!! In addition, two hardwood planting projects will occur this spring in
association with Oregon Hunters Association and National Wild Turkey
Federation. May 17th cottonwood and dogwood will be planted around two small
ponds in the First Creek drainage within the B&B fire to help promote the
re-establishment of these hardwoods. Hardwoods will also be planted around
impoundments recently enhanced to retain water for a longer period during the
summer months. The Bend-Ft. Rock
Ranger District is currently working on a 7000 acre project designed to enhance
habitat for sage grouse in the Pine Mountain area by proposing to lop and
scatter trees in historic habitat. In addition, 3 water developments
specifically designed for sage grouse will be installed. The Crescent Ranger
District is working on several aspen enhancement projects employing local high
school kids to assist in the planting. In addition, they are continuing to work
on Big Marsh balancing the needs of the Oregon spotted frog and yellow rail.
It's also good Sandhill Crane habitat. The Forest is a
partner in the early stages of development of a Conservation Assessment for the
Lewis’ and White-headed Woodpeckers. Soon we will be sending out a request for
information on these two species. We are continuing our bald eagle monitoring
if anyone is interested in assisting. A new bird species was added to our
Sensitive Species list – the Northern Waterthrush. Not much is known about this
species so if anyone has any information, please contact Lauri Turner, Forest
Wildlife Biologist, at 541-383-5640 or [e-mail] Check out the [Eagle
Cam]. They’re nesting! And also
check out our Wildlife Viewing [website].
Summer Lake Wildlife
Area (SLWA) was established in 1945 by the Oregon State Game Commission (now
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife or ODFW) when land acquisition at the
north end of Summer Lake Valley was initiated. SLWA became Oregon’s first of
several wetland-focused wildlife areas. The Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration
Act of 1937 (Pittman-Robertson Act or PR) was the major funding source used for
acquisition and the sole source of operations and maintenance today. PR funds
are generated by an excise tax on firearms and ammunition and are distributed to
States by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on size (square miles) and
Hunting License holders.
SLWA recently (October 2007) completed a revision of its
long-range management plan that will guide management for the next 10 years.
The revision is a habitat based approach with a focus on ecosystem management
and is strongly tied to the Oregon Conservation Strategy. Goals for Summer Lake
Wildlife Area are:
Goal 1: To protect, enhance and manage wetland habitats to
benefit fish and wildlife species.
Goal 2: To protect, enhance and manage upland habitats to
benefit a wide variety of wildlife species.
Goal 3: To provide a variety of wildlife oriented
recreational and educational opportunities to the public that are compatible
with Goals 1 and 2.
Major habitat enhancement actions are underway at this
time. Infrastructure vital for wetland management is being enhanced and
upgraded and vegetation manipulations are being undertaken to restore diversity
and productivity. On a rotational basis (once every 6-8 years), units are being
drawn-down (and held dry), burned and disked to influence plant density and
diversity. Infrastructure improvements will enable water levels and vegetation
responses to be managed more efficiently. This will provide a much wider array
of habitat features to meet life cycle needs for a wide variety of wildlife
species.
Work in Bullgate Refuge unit was completed last fall and
has resulted in tremendous waterbird use. Overly dense and impenetrable stands
of tall emergent vegetation were disked and reflooded. This action made plant
seeds and vegetation more available to foraging birds and the incorporation of
organic matter into the soil stimulated invertebrate production.
During spring
migration, waterfowl use approached nearly 1.0 million use-days by 16 species of
ducks, 4 species of geese and both trumpeter and tundra swans. Shorebirds have
responded well to these management actions their use is increasing as migration
progresses.
In 2008, ODFW will undertake similar actions in the
adjacent Link Marsh and River Ranch units and wildlife response is expected to
be comparable to results observed in Bullgate
Refuge.
|