I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone to the ECBC.  Currently we are going through an exciting period in our history and we are actively working towards joining forces with the other birding organization in Central Oregon.  If all goes to plan, the resulting Audubon chapter will be formed in January 2010.

As we move through the transition process we will keep you informed of the steps we are taking and have provided a Q&A section that will hopefully answer the most frequently asked questions, details …  

Winter is coming on and our statewide winter raptor surveys have just started for the sixth year.  I would also like to wish Jeff Fleicher, the project coordinator, a happy retirement from his work with the postal service … now he can spend more time with the raptors!   Chuck Gates generated great enthusiasm for the North American Migration Counts in September and the Green ridge project headed up by Kim Bodie produced good numbers of raptors, great views and our first Broad-winged Hawks ever.

Most importantly though, we would like to show our appreciation to all our members, volunteers and supporters and invite you all to our 7th annual fun-raiser on November 14 at the Senior Center in Bend.  This is a great opportunity to catch up with friends, meet other members and find out what has been happening with the organization.  As ever we treat you to food, music and a fantastic guest speaker.  Come support the ECBC … details.

Volunteer in 2009 / 2010 - We need you:
ECBC 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].

 

Board Member Liz O'Connell has already contributed a lot to the organization. She spent a lot of effort preparing for the re-publishing of the Cascades Birding Trails brochures.  This little story will help get to know her better..... 
 
My acute awareness of birds happened on my way to march in a parade, as a teen. In my drum and bugle corps white uniform shirt. I was bombed by a bird.  Kind of humiliating for a teen but it got lots of laughs and the parents got me dressed in a new white shirt quickly. 
 
Living in Alaska gave me a unique birding awareness.  Although we didn't have feeders at our log cabin close to Anchorage, we did have great windows to observe the seasonal birds feasting and passing through our neighborhood.
 
I'm a video producer/editor and we produced natural history programs about Alaska that have aired on Discovery Channel about Alaska, such as "Alaska's Whales and Wildlife" and "Alaska's Arctic Wildlife."  We relied on naturalists to be the guides in our programs.  They were the teachers that filled our programs and us with important information about what we were observing. Recently I produced a program titled "Alaska's Coolest Birds" incorporting some of the wonderful shots over the years and collaborating with another Alaskan filmmaker.  It's funny, the filmmakers aren't the experts. To make up for my lack of knowledge, I began going to Birders Night while editing "Alaska's Coolest Birds" to get a better feeling for birds that would translate to the program. ECBC members were generous to view a rough cut of the program to make sure I had the birds identified correctly.
 
My birding interest has flourished, I enjoy the bounty of birds to observe in Central Oregon, and the unique places that the ECBC birding field trips take me.  And it's great to be with all the personalities in ECBC.  It's also critical to recognize the ecosystem bounty still available in Central Oregon.  That's why birding is so great here!

 

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September Pelagic Trip: by  Mary Yanalcanlin
 
Less than a year ago I couldn't identify a house sparrow yet in September I was lucky enough to go on a pelagic birding trip out of Newport.  Back in the spring when I asked the kids (now known as The Fledglings) if they were interested in doing the Bird-A-Fun fundraiser I had no idea I would be one of the recipients of this trip, the prize donated by Greg Gillson and The Bird Guide Inc
 
I would have been quite happy just to be on that small boat out in the ocean riding the swells up and then down, watching the slate gray motion of water rippling gently over each crest and then cascading down like sand over desert dunes on a windy day.  I would have been thrilled just seeing the ocean sun fish waving their fins and puckering their lips as they floated by or watching the humpback and gray whales spouting and cavorting or seeing the seals and the dolphins and the sea lions or the fin of a blue shark cutting through the water.  I would have had a great time birding along the coast with fellow birders so willing to share their skill and knowledge with me.
 
But--I had all of that--and more.  I saw BIRDS!  Lots of birds!  Pelagic birds!  There was the excitement when I identified a Pink-footed Shearwater for the first time by myself (after seeing dozens and dozens of them I might add).  I struggled to distinguish between the Rhinoceros and the Cassin's Auklets and between the Pelagic, the Brandt's, and the Double-crested Cormorants.  These were all new to me so when a Manx and a Buller's Shearwater flew by they were just two more new birds...some (okay, most...if not all) of the other birders didn't seem to share that viewpoint.  The same thing happened with the Xantus's Murrelets.
 
Then I really became overwhelmed!  There were masses of birds surrounding two huge fishing boats.  Fork-tailed Storm Petrels and Albatrosses and three species of Jaegers---birds previously only encountered in field guides and on nature shows...EVERYWHERE!  I did appreciate the Laysan Albatross separating from the hoards and flying right by our boat so I got a close-up view.  Of course, I was in just as much awe at the Black-footed Albatrosses that did the same even if there were more of them.
 
Later I realized I had witnessed globalization at its best...in a display as old as nature itself...birds from around the world sharing food and space as they pass by with the birds who call these waters as home:  the South Polar Skua who breeds in the Antarctic region, the Sabine Gull who nests in the high arctic but winters in tropic waters, Albatrosses that may nest thousands of miles away, Marbled Murrelets that nest in our own old growth forests, and so many more that elude me at this moment (time for research).
 
Simply put...it was good.  Really good!

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Summer field notes: by Chuck Gates

In the bird world, summer sometimes gets a bad rap.  The spring migration is over.  The chance for rare birds is diminished.  Hard core birders are just a little tired.  However, summer can produce some very nice birding experiences.  Below, you will find the best Central Oregon bird sightings for the months of June and July, 2009.

 

Most of the waterfowl leave our area to take advantage of the long summer days up north.  However, some stay around and grace us with their presence and some even seek the waterways of Central Oregon to raise their young.  BLUE-WINGED TEAL are sporadic summer nesters here and sightings came in from a couple of spots in Deschutes and Crook counties.  A single CANVASBACK spent a few days at the Redmond Sewage Ponds and late COMMON GOLDENEYES (they nest up north) were found as late as June 6.  BARROW'S GOLDENEYE nest here in our high mountain lakes and birds were found at locations like Suttle Lake, Cache Lake, Scout Lake, Dark Lake, and Clear Lake.  HOODED MERGANSERS usually take their cue from the Common Goldeneyes and head north to nest too but a few stuck around in our high lakes.

 

Besides ducks, other good water birds were seen in the area this summer.  CLARK'S GREBES summered at Prineville and Ochoco reservoirs and AMERICAN BITTERNS were found in their traditional nesting sites at Houston Lake near Powell Butte.  It was a big year for AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN.  Ochoco Reservoir had as many as 420 at one time while most major lakes in the low lands hosted at least a few.  A single WHITE-FACED IBIS rested at the Redmond Sewage Ponds for a few days and SANDHILL CRANES could be heard cavorting in eastern Crook County.  A few STILTS & AVOCETS could be found here and there which is normal but a report of a WANDERING TATTLER from the River Trail in Bend was completely unexpected (The bird was only seen by one observer who was from out of state).  A SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was seen at Hatfield Lake in July and a FRANKLIN'S GULL was there in early June.  BONAPARTE'S GULLS were found at Hatfield and Prineville Sewage Ponds.  A few FORSTER'S TERNS were seen in June and BLACK TERNS nested in their usual locations in eastern Crook County.

 

Summer can be the best season to find the chicken-like game birds.  During summer, these birds call and display often so they can be easier to find.  CHUKAR were located near Green Ridge and RUFFED AND DUSKY GROUSE were reported from Wheeler County.  SOOTY GROUSE are the form of Blue Grouse found in the Cascades and "Sootys" were found at the Metolius Preserve, Camp Sherman area, and Trout Creek.  WILD TURKEY reports came in from Green Ridge and MOUNTAIN QUAIL were located at Green Ridge, Squaw Flat, and Lake Billy Chinook.  EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continue their advance on Central Oregon and sightings in every Central Oregon community are becoming commonplace.

 

Raptors are birds of prey.  They come in two flavors; the owls that hunt during the night and the hawks that hunt during the day.  Central Oregon hosts summer raptors of both ilks and occasionally the more unusual ones get sighted.  A WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was heard at Ochoco Ranger Station in Crook County near the end of July and BARN OWLS could be found in a few barns in the Prineville area.  NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were found in the Metolius Preserve and the Ochoco Mountains. 

BARRED OWL reports came in from Cold Springs Campground and Jordan Creek in Wasco County.  A GREAT GRAY OWL was located in Deschutes County and a LONG-EARED OWL was calling from Cold Springs Campground in early June.  A pair of NORTHERN GOSHAWKS nested in eastern Deschutes County near Sisters and SWAINSON'S HAWKS summered around Prineville.  FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were seen around Crook County while a Peregrine Falcon took up residence at St. Charles Hospital in Bend (it was still there at the time of this writing).

 

Hummingbirds, Swifts, and night-jars are favorites among birders because of their specialized ways of life.  COMMON NIGHTHAWKS began arriving around June 2nd and COMMON POORWILLS were heard calling from Powell Butte all summer.  WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS could be found were rock promontories exist in places like Smith Rock or Peter Skene Ogden Wayside on Hwy 97.  Hummingbirds in the area included BLACK-CHINNED, ANNA'S, CALLIOPE, and RUFOUS. 

 

Central Oregon hosts the annual Woodpecker Wonderland Festival so you can bet that summer woodpeckers are going to be included in this summary.  The festival was a great success and many good woodpecker species were seen by the attendees.  LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS could be found west of Bend near the Entrada Burn.  WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS were easy to find in the Cascades and Ochocos.  RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS were abundant around Sisters while RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS were the more common species in the Ochocos.  RED-BREASTED X RED-NAPED hybrids were seen in several places which reflects the range overlap of these two species in the Sisters area.  WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS were abundant in the large ponderosa pine habitats and AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER could be found in the Dry Creek area near Sisters.  BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were relatively easy to find in the big burned areas west of Sisters.  PILEATED WOODPECKER reports came in from Scout Lake, Trout Creek, Abbott Creek, and Elk Lake.

 

The summer passerines fill our forests with bird song every year.  We have many dozens of species that nest here and occasionally we'll get some of the more unusual summer passerines.  Sometimes they are visitors and sometimes they choose this area to call home in the nesting season.  Willow Flycatchers nest in small numbers at places like Summit Prairie in Crook County and Calliope Crossing in Deschutes.  A rare LEAST FLYCATCHER made a showing for a couple of weeks in early July (this is only the 2nd Deschutes County record of this species).  EASTERN KINGBIRDS were located in their usual Crook County haunts but a bird at Lake Billy Chinook in late June was unusual.  One usually thinks of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES as being a Coast Range or western slope of the Cascades bird but a few were spotted on this side of the Cascades crest.  BEWICK'S WRENS continue to expand into Central Oregon and birds were seen at Lower Bridge and Calliope Crossing.  For several consecutive years now, VEERY have been heard at Metolius Preserve.  VARIED THRUSH are usually nesters in the dark, wet forests of the Cascades and Coast Range but singing birds were located in the Ochoco Mountains this summer.  A GRAY CATBIRD spent a few days showing off at Calliope Crossing and HERMIT WARBLERS could be found at many high Cascade locations like Suttle Lake. 

One of the best birds of the summer was an OVENBIRD found at Cold Springs Campground.  YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were seen along North Shore Road in Crook County and several BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS were found nesting near Painted Cove in Wheeler County.  Three (presumably) different ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS showed up in Bend this summer and BOBOLINKS were found on Puett Road in eastern Crook County.

 

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COBOL keeps Central Oregon Birders Connected and Informed - by Jim Moodie

COBOL, Central Oregon Birders OnLine, has continued to grow since its inception on April 2006.  By May 2007, the number of subscribers to our online listing service passed the 200 mark.  Today we have over 250 subscribers to COBOL.  This is the place to post and share your birding observations for the enjoyment of the Central Oregon birding community.  Rare bird sightings, trip reports, backyard bird observations, interesting bird behavior, odd plumages and out of place or time sightings are all reported on COBOL.  Occasionally, discussions of how to identify tough to ID species /genders/ages or announcements about upcoming birding events are posted as well. 

What is inappropriate to post on COBOL?  Opinions about cats, exotic species, hunting, etc. should not be posted to this site.  Attaching photographs is a no no as many folks still have slower dial up connections.  Instead, post a link to a website that hosts your photographs (e.g. Flickr).  We also discourage posts with the intent of making a sales pitch to our members.  The general rule is: is my post directly related to Central Oregon birds and birding?  If not, please post it somewhere else. 

COBOL is how Central Oregon Birders and others keep up to date with what people are seeing in Central Oregon.  And apparently, people are increasingly willing to post their observations and share them with other members of the list (figure 1).    While Spring always seems to excite people to share their observations, the general trend has been an increase in postings to the listserve over its three and one half year history.   That is good news, but we can do better.  As Chuck Gates has pointed out, it is also good and data worthy to post the dates of when you last see migrants in the fall.  Sure this takes a bit more effort, but the information is just as valuable as the first reports of migrants in the spring. 

How can you join Central Oregon’s bird reporting community?  It is easy to subscribe.  Just go to the web site: http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol and subscribe.  You have the option of receiving postings to the list serve as they are posted or receiving all the postings  for a day all at once.  If you have trouble subscribing, send me, the moderator, an email jmoodie@cocc.edu

 

 

Figure 1.  Number of posts on COBOL per month (May 2006-Sept 25, 2009)

 

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Recent Field Trips:trip report by Kevin Smith on the Sisters and Calliope Crossing trip in September.

 

WOW! ECBC did it again. 14 of us started out in Sisters and traveled to Cold Springs Campground. The springs there attract all sorts of good birds. I don't have the entire list, but we saw SIX of the eleven woodpeckers which nest in the area, all three nuthatches, towhees, juncos,3 sparrows, and more. We moved up hill a bit and saw some warblers, but not as many as we had hoped for and headed for Calliope Springs where we saw 3 juvi goshawks and a Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tail, TV's and more warblers. Again, not a lot. Somebody needed Pinon Jays for their 'life' list so we went back in to Sisters. Near the commercial district we saw about thirty (as usual in one spot!), more Pygmy Nuthatches and a Willow Flycatcher getting water from a ROCK! No kidding! We finished off with an attempt at a Dipper as Sisters Campground. It usually is there near the bridge but the water is REALLY murky now (and doesn't smell good either) and we got skunked. Well, no big loss. Many of our group got more than one 'lifer' for the day so it was a GOOD DAY! You REALLY MUST come next time. As a scientific note reported from California there are many birds showing up in places that they have not been before and the culprit seems to be 'Global Warming'/Climate Change. Maybe that explains the three folk from Texas who joined our group. Too HOT down there.

 

 

There were other trips too this fall.  Summer lake where there were lots of Snowy Plovers, a fantastic Peregrine and Bitterns, Egrets and Night Herons.  Later in September, everyone was treated to great views of pectoral sandpipers at the Redmond Sewage lagoons after fumbling with the multiple locks at the main gate.  Up on Green Ridge the raptors were slow and were moving at high altitudes.  Still, it was fun to pick out the specks way up in the sky as they headed south.  Throw in a Pileated Woodpecker and 3 Sooty Grouse feeding by the road to round off the day. 

 

Our final trip this fall was to Wickiup Reservoir and the high lakes.  Lots of loons and some unusual species that are more likely to be found on the coast.  Also, the biggest surprise of the fall, a female Harlequin Duck that is the first record for Deschutes County at Crane Prairie.  A big surprise and a great way to end the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Upcoming ECBC Field Trips:

 

• Nov 14 The Annual ECBC fun-raiser ... save the date

 

  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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The fall North American Migration Count was held on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday September 20.  It usually takes about 6 weeks to gather all the data from around the state so, needless to say, this report is a bit incomplete.  This count happens on the third weekend in September every year.  This year, the third weekend was just about as late as it can be and numbers reflected this fact with many species vacating the state before the count and unusually low numbers were posted for some other species.  With about 2/3 of the counties reporting, 263 species have been tallied and some very interesting sightings have emerged.

An early CACKLING GOOSE was reported from Linn County along with an early COMMON GOLDENEYE at the Burns Sewage Ponds.  Another early duck was the EURASIAN WIGEON found by Tim Rodenkirk at Krumbo Reservoir in Harney County. Ray Korpi managed to find a few GRAY PARTRIDGES in Gilliam County and no more were reported from other counties.   A RED-NECKED GREBE was found by Judy Meredith on Suttle Lake and AMERICAN BITTERNS were found in Marion and Crook Counties.  WHITE-TAILED KITES were found in 5 counties with Benton being the only "non-coastal" county to report this species.  RED-SHOULDERED HAWK reports came in from 6 counties including a single Eastern Oregon tally in Deschutes County.  MERLIN were found in several counties and PEREGRINE FALCONS continue their "sprint" back from the brink of extinction having been seen in 9 counties during this count.  A PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER report came in from Curry County and SNOWY PLOVERS were seen in Lake County.  So far, only one BLACK-NECKED STILT has been reported but southern counties will certainly add more.  Single LONG-BILLED CURLEW and MARBLED GODWIT reports have trickled in and lone  RED KNOTS were found in Douglas and Coos counties.  PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were found in 6 counties and BAIRD'S SANDPIPER reports came in from 4 different counties.  A single PARASITIC JAEGER was seen in Curry County.  The only Bonaparte's Gulls found were in Klamath County.  So far, only one HERRING GULL report has come in and Sherman County has produced the only COMMON TERN reports to date.  MARBLED MURRELETS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were found on several coast counts.  Owl species included SAW-WHET, FLAMMULATED, WESTERN-SCREECH, PYGMY, SPOTTED, BARRED, LONG-EARED, and of course, GREAT HORNED.   ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS were found in their usual Curry County haunts and THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were located in Deschutes County.  Just a smattering of flycatchers were found which is not too surprising given the late date of the count this year.  EASTERN and WESTERN KINGBIRDS were equally represented with 3 birds a piece being seen.  An early NORTHERN SHRIKE report came in from Baker County.  PINYON JAYS were found in only 2 counties but the total of 483 birds was pretty impressive.  The only BANK SWALLOW to make the count was seen in Crook County at Houston Lake.  A Deschutes County BEWICK'S WREN is pretty unusual for this count and the only YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT yet reported was seen in Benton County.  BREWER'S SPARROWS were all but gone with a single bird making the list from Deschutes County.  A slightly early WHITE-THROATED SPARROW showed up in Linn County.  A couple of lingering BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS also made the count.   Though not yet officially reported, it is probable that someone saw the NORTHERN WHEATEAR that was being seen around the time of the count in Tillamook County.

As in most years, there are breeding birds that do not get surveyed on our count.  Either they have limited ranges, leave early, or simply lack an observer to check them out.  Breeders NOT seen on the count included Spruce Grouse, Sage Grouse, and Yellow Rail.  Black Terns and Willet were not found and neither were Common Poorwill even though the latter was heard before and after the count date.  White-throated Swifts seemed to have abandoned the state before the count as did most of the hummingbirds (no Black-chins reported!).   Ash-throated Flycatcher was not found in any county in the state.   Tricolored Blackbirds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and Snowy Egrets have not been reported but several of the counties where these birds are possible have yet to report their numbers.  No Grasshopper Sparrows made the list which is not all that abnormal.  Lazuli Bunting and Bobolinks were absent but were not really expected in a late count year and Bullock's Orioles were long gone by September 19. 

There were also migrants that did not appear on the report this year.  At this date, there are no reports of Solitary Sandpiper or Semipalmated Sandpiper.  Whimbrel is, so far, missing from the count.   Ruddy Turnstone is not commonly reported but it's absence is still noted on this count.  No Sabine's Gulls were seen though this species was noted both before and after the count in different locations.  Black & White Warbler is often found on the fall count but none were reported this year.  The same goes for Northern Waterthrush  and American Redstart. 

So far, it appears that more people participated this year than last.  County Coordinators have reported 201 participants in 116 teams.  Volunteers logged over 5000 miles driving and 200 miles on foot.  These people have tallied, to date, 183,000+ individual birds.  Thirty people participated as feeder watchers and another 28 as stationary observers.  Only 8 people reported doing any owling.  The average "noon-time" temperature for the weekend was 59 degrees F and winds were generally mild around the state. 

See what you're missing?  It is the goal of the ECBC to increase the coverage of the state and the number of participants involved in this project.  You may have missed the fall count but the spring count will come around soon enough and you can get involved with it on the second weekend in May.  No special skills are required and we can set you up with an experienced team if you lack the experience to confidently identify birds.  We need your help to make this count become a survey that more accurately represents the migrant numbers in the state of Oregon.  For more information, check out the ECBC website at http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69 or contact me at mailto:cgates326@gmail.com.

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Oregon Swift Project - [Contact Nicole Nielesn-Pincus]

 

Oregon volunteers for the Vaux’s swift project completed another successful migration season of counts.  This fall volunteers from the ECBC, Portland Audubon Society, Oregon Field Ornithologists, Salem Audubon, Audubon Society of Corvallis, Lane County Audubon, Klamath Bird Observatory, and several non-affiliated volunteers counted swifts at 17 roosts with a high count total of 37,768.  The peak in migration came to the larger sites, Chapman School in Portland and Agate Hall in Eugene, early in September.  However, it is worth noting that at some of the smaller roosts in Silverton and Albany, peak numbers of swifts came at the end of September.  A list of roosts and high count data are available to view on the web here ... 

 

We made some interesting observations this season in respect to Vaux’s swift roosting behavior.  In some places, the swifts switch which roost they prefer.  This may happen on a year to year basis or within the window of a migration season.  In Corvallis, earlier in September the swifts roosted in a chimney at Madison and 2nd Steets, but on September 12 they were counted at Weigland Hall on the OSU campus.  Albany and Silverton also have several different roosts.  Additionally, also in Corvallis, a NAMC volunteer observed swifts going to roost at 7 a.m. just before it rained.  Other volunteers have noted roosting at all hours of the day in inclement weather.

 

In our third season of counting, we made an attempt to become better organized and wider spread.  While we were successful in learning about some new roosts this fall, most were only counted on September 12.  Given the unpredictable nature of the peak in migration, our goal in the future will be to have counters at roosts more often during the season.  Additionally, our list of roosts continues to be a work in progress.  Please let Nicole Nielsen-Pincus know if you have further information on Vaux’s swift roosts so these places can be monitored and protected.  A big thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this project this fall.

 

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Bluebird Project - The Bluebird Population in Central Oregon is Literally in Our Hands, by Miriam Lipsitz.

 

Generations ago, bluebirds were common in the North American rural landscape. Over the years, however, land has been cleared for housing and industrial developments, shopping malls, highways and the row crops of big agriculture.  Wooden fence posts that provided nesting cavities have now been replaced with metal posts.  The old apple trees and other venerable trees that offered housing for bluebirds and other cavity nesters have been cut down and greatly reduced in number.  Compounding the problem of habitat loss has been the introduction of two non-native bird species – the House Sparrow and the European Starling.  Both these birds are cavity nesters and both are very aggressive.  They out-compete the more timid bluebirds for woodpecker holes and other available natural nesting cavities.

 

Bluebirds are usually found in fields, parks, along golf courses or other open areas with scattered trees. In the mountains they are found in clearings and meadows.   Both the Mountain and Western bluebird nest in Central Oregon.  In 1990, when the Delicious Fire occurred, 2,000 acres of Deschutes National Forest burned, opening a very large area.

 

Within a few years the regeneration of indigenous understory shrubs provided the flowers that attracted insects that bluebirds eat during nesting season. However, there were few natural cavities where bluebirds could nest. When ECBC member Don McCartney observed the bluebirds in the Delicious Burn and saw the lack of appropriate housing, he built nestboxes and placed them in the area to create a bluebird trail.   The birds responded immediately by setting up housekeeping and they came back year after year.  This bluebird trail is unique to Central Oregon because it is the only bluebird project consistently monitored on a weekly basis during the nesting season.  Observations are recorded on the website of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.  The project is in need of one to four new volunteers who might like to share the weekly visits from May to July.  Bluebirding is a great hands-on project that people of all ages can enjoy, and best of all, with our help, the future of bluebirds can be promising again.

 

The Delicious Burn is located north and west of the Tumalo Reservoir.  It is easily accessed off Peterson Ridge Road which connects with Highway 20 just east of the Sisters rodeo grounds.  Decent gravel roads run throughout the burn and there are short walks across brushy ground to each nestbox - no ladders needed. There is another access off Kohfield Road which is located at an intersection with Sisemore Road in Tumalo which would be more appropriate for volunteers with a four-wheel drive vehicle.  Training is provided to all volunteers and no prior experience is necessary – just a desire to help the birds.

 

For more information, e-mail Dean: mep@q.com, Miriam: hollyhob@earthlink.net, Rachel: dhcgrc@comcast.net

 

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Green Ridge Raptor Migrationby Kim Bodie

 

The first weekend of the Green Ridge Hawkwatch Project is now behind us.  Saturday, Sept. 20, started out with a bang.  We had three sightings during the first five minutes, even before we got our chairs unfolded.  The observers were Jay Smith from Portland and Kim Boddie.  We had a lot of competition from NAMC.  Sightings quickly slowed down until after 11.00 and we had several birds an hour until 2:00 then it pretty much shut down.  The weather was cool in the low 60s with a good wind blowing up out of the canyon from the SW.  Mt Jeff and the crest was socked in all day and it started to rain lightly off and on at 3:30.  We had a total of 36 raptors for the day, see list below.  The accipiters were flying low down the west side of the ridge and we feel we may have missed several birds below our line of sight.

 

The highlight of the day was when a juvenile Sharpie decided to take on Owliver our Great-horned Owl decoy.  The Sharpie came out of nowhere and made a pass at the owl and instead of passing on as usual, it landed close by and started calling.  It then took off made a couple more passes, landed and cussed the owl out again.  It did this about six times for over five minutes.

 

Sunday, Sept. 20, was the opposite of Sat.  The weather was clear the wind was lighter from all directions and the birds were flying high and coming down the east side of the ridge.  Activity was pretty slow until 3:00 when the Sharpies started to pick up and we had a kettle of 22 Turkey vultures go right over us.  A little later a kettle of 26 and one of 6 TVs came by.  About 4:30 we had a strange looking, to us, Buteo circling to the east.  I got the scope on it and it wasn’t a red-tail, but a light morph Broad-winged Hawk.  This was the first for Green Ridge that I know of.  Bonney Butte has had 5 this year.

 

We ended up with a total of 100 raptors for the day.  I just got a call from Nichole at Bonney Butte and they had 0 birds for Sat, socked in, and 78 birds for Sun.  Green Ridge observers for Sunday were Jay Smith, Carol Cwildinski & Steve Small of Tillamook, Don & Mardi Jensen, Nancy & Sach Esperancilla, Shey Hyatt, and Kim Boddie.

                                                         9/19                       9/20

Turkey Vulture                                      6                            63

Bald Eagle                                            2                            1

Sharp-shinned Hawk                              13                           16

Cooper’s  Hawk                                     4                             6

Red-tailed Hawk                                    3                             6

Broad-winged Hawk                               0                              1

Golden Eagle                                        3                              1

Unid Buteo                                           1                              0

Unid. Accip.                                         0                              4

Unid Raptor                                          3                              1

 

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Conservation Committee - Bringing Back the Wetlands by  Eva Eagle

 

On the first Saturday in October, ECBC partnered with the Deschutes Land Trust for some habitat restoration at Camp Polk Meadow, helping to bring back the wetlands.  We planted along the new channel at a point within what we bird surveyors refer to as the “Middle Ponderosa” section of the Preserve, which happens to be a personal favorite of mine already thanks to the diversity of the habitat there.  Kim Cathol, Bill Mitchell, Kevin Tanski, and I were joined by two dozen or more others who had signed up through the Land Trust, a group ranging in age from seven to seventy and all devoted to the task.

 

The Land Trust has diverted some water into the new channel, which winds around in the old streambed.  Lower down in the meadow the channel had to be dug quite deeply, but at the place where we were planting the sides are not very steep.  Still, Kevin and Bill began by contouring the west bank a bit before we started planting the sedges, willows, and other shade loving plants that Sherry Berrin had brought out for us to plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The group put a lot of plants into the ground in a very short period of time, which was a good thing because the promised storm was brewing as we worked.  Having completed an early morning bird survey in cold, clear weather, we birders knew that our luck wouldn’t hold, and when the showers came we were dressed for it.  By the time we finished planting, the showers were fairly white and it felt good to get back in the warm car to go home.
It also felt really good to give that bank a good start, planting them well and getting a shower directly after.  Most of these plants had been raised from seeds gathered in the Preserve last year, so they are truly natives.  When I go to Camp Polk Meadow to survey, I will always go past that section of stream channel to see how ‘our’ plants are doing.  And I hope to go back in the spring with other ECBC members to turn another section of bare stream bank into a wetland in waiting.

 

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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 us.

 

  

Offer a Variety of Foods for a Variety of Birds - Kevin Lair, Wild Birds Unlimited

To attract the greatest diversity of birds to your yard, offer a variety of foods.  Different species have different food preferences, and their favorite foods can vary seasonally.  Foods to consider offering include:

Black Oil Sunflower: High in oil and fat, this is the one seed that is preferred by the majority of seed eating songbirds in Central Oregon. Can be offered in the shell or shelled if the shell waste and germination are a concern.
White Proso Millet: A favorite of ground feeding birds like California Quail, Mourning Doves, Juncos and other sparrows. Millet should be offered in open tray feeders on or near the ground.
Peanuts: Very high in calories, energy-packed peanuts are a favorite of many species. Provide them in the shell for Clark’s Nutcrackers and Jays, or shelled for smaller birds like Chickadees and Nuthatches.
Nyjer (Thistle): This is the preferred seed for our small billed finches, the Goldfinches and Pine Siskins.
Suet: Calorie-rich suet is enjoyed by many bird species, especially during the colder months when insects are less numerous. Common suet eating birds in Central Oregon include woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Bushtits.
Mealworms: Offering mealworms is a great way to attract insect species that do not regularly visit feeders, such as Bluebirds, Wrens, and even Warblers.
Fruit: Species such as Robins, Thrushes, and Orioles will visit feeders to eat fruit. One can offer sliced pieces or even dried fruit to birds.
With the arrival of fall, now is a great time to add to the menu of food options available to the birds. 

USFWS - News from Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge,  -by Marla Bennett

2009 Hunting Results

Six of the 8 hunting seasons for Hart Mountain have been accomplished.  Below is a table indicating hunting results thus far.

Season	# killed	hunter success (%)
Pronghorn bow	15	71
Mule deer bow #1	3	15
Mule deer bow #2	6	33
Bighorn (2 hunts)	4	80
Pronghorn rifle	28	97

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because of high pronghorn numbers and the curiosity pronghorn exhibit towards humans, most hunters are able to kill a pronghorn each year.  Mule deer numbers have declined across the west, so most hunters on Hart Mountain in the last years have not been able fill their tags.

 

Volunteers

Each summer, more volunteer hours are logged than employee hours. More than 4,335 hours were volunteered to Hart Mountain in the 7 months between mid-March and mid-October, most of them by 9 regular volunteers that live for weeks or months on the mountain.  852 hours were volunteered by Oregon Natural Desert Association. 

 

Volunteers counted sage grouse and mule deer; built a fence at the CCC Campground; cleaned outhouses; made maps; mowed the pasture; removed interior fencing; arranged for inholdings purchases; applied for grants; set points for bird point counts; built a picnic pavilion at the CCC Camp; searched for raptor nests; fixed, cleaned, and organized the buildings and grounds; copied and folded brochures; made spread sheets; greeted visitors; accomplished office work and MORE!  We could not get along without our volunteers.  Thank you volunteers for all you do!

 

Sage Grouse Lek Counts

Sage grouse gather each spring in historic lekking grounds to participate in elaborate sunrise displays.  Males put on new spring outfits, including plumes atop their heads and bright green patches above their eyes. They fill air sacs on their chests and flop them up and down, erect tail feathers into perfect stars, and droop their wings while they strut majestically, often bumping chests to show their amazing machismo.  Female grouse trundle along in cryptic colors, seemingly paying no attention to the male show as they pluck sagebrush buttercups or new spring grasses.  Mating takes mere moments, after which the female shakes her feathers and mosies away from the lek. The male will continue his displays unabated.  Nest building begins shortly.

 

This year Hart Mountain employees and volunteers counted sage grouse on their leks from March 16-May 1.  The total number of males seen at leks was higher this year (543) than last (312), which was the lowest count since 2001.  The increase could well be attributed to better access, so more leks were counted.  Trend leks (leks that are counted each year) indicate higher numbers this year (276) than last (198) although we noticed that many leks had few or no birds, indicating that birds had moved off historic leks and possibly moved to other leks.  We also found birds lekking where no leks were present in the past.  This renders yearly comparisons by lek impossible. Tricky birds!  We can only hope that sage grouse numbers are climbing on Hart Mountain.

 

The Christmas Bird Count will occur on Thursday, Dec. 17.  If you would like to participate in Hart Mountain’s Christmas Bird Count, please contact Marla Bennett at 541-947-2731 or marla_bennett@fws.gov.  Bunkhouse space is available for people traveling from a distance.  We hope some of you can attend.

Deschutes National Forest - Sisters Ranger District,

Written by Regina O’Brien, wildlife biological technician on the Deschutes National Forest. She is now working as a fisheries biologist on the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Eaglet Rescue, June 2009

 

We were dodging storm cells a good part of the afternoon, doing a regular check on the various raptor nests on the Sisters Ranger District. We had two nests left to check and our work day was almost over. There was debris scattered throughout the forest, mostly blow down from a fairly violent and long-lived thunderstorm the previous day.

 

The eagle nest site could only be seen from the road if you knew where to look. It was a simple process of stopping the vehicle in the right place and looking through the right set of trees with a spotting scope. Simple, fast, and with almost no impact to the nesting birds since we never had to leave the vehicle. The problem was that we couldn’t see the nest.

After going forward and reverse on the same 30 feet of road several times, straining to see the nest through the trees, we opted to walk in. Without the nest, the tree looked different, and we couldn’t be 100% sure we were looking at the right tree. As we got closer to the tree, nothing remained of the nest in the branches. Coming around a clump of vegetation, we saw the branches and boughs that used to be the nest littering the ground at the tree’s base. The previous day’s storm had totally demolished the eagles’ nest.

Walking up to the tree, we cleared a dense screen of brush and were suddenly confronted by a large, juvenile eagle with bedraggled feathers standing on the ground. Both of us muttered expletives of consternation, which quickly modified into alarm as an adult eagle wheeled into the clearing. We beat a hasty retreat and called in reinforcements.

Reinforcements came within thirty minutes, in the shape of a bird rehabilitator by the name of Gary Landers. He asked if any adults had been seen as he gently and causally walked up to the juvenile eagle. He quickly had it on its back, one hand competently holding its lower legs as the other hand checked the wings and chest for injuries. He picked the bird up, cradling it under one arm as he assessed the debris on the ground, the height and girth of the tree, and its branches.

 

After some deliberation, Gary concluded that, since the juvenile seemed uninjured and at least one of the adults were in evidence, it would be better to leave the eaglet in the wild rather than transporting it to a wildlife rehabilitation center. He put the eaglet down and left to get what he needed to put the bird up in the tree out of harms’ way. He returned shortly with a ladder, rope, a small, plastic tub and a satchel to move the supplies and bird up into the tree.

 

The new “nest” was attached to both limb and trunk, and padded with boughs and pine needles in short order. The juvenile sat quietly in the satchel as it was hoisted up and settled into the tub. As a parting gift, Gary left three fish. The last thing we saw as we left the area was an adult eagle, food in foot, circling low around the tree.

 

After a weeks’ time, both adults were seen at the site, with the juvenile, who had been named Gary, after the rehabber, observed busily feeding. The following week, we went into the area to check on the eaglet. The nest-tub was located lower down on the trunk, on the side of the tree facing away from the road.  Consequently, it was more difficult to find. We were still exploring better ways of approaching the nest without disturbing the birds, when a juvenile bald eagle flew over our heads. Was this Gary?

 

The juvenile wheeled around the area of the nest tree and was soon joined by an adult. They flew in tandem, making wider and wider circles until the treetops blocked our view. At this point, we finally found the nest box. Hunkered down inside the nest, facing the tree trunk, was Gary. It seemed that there had been a second juvenile in the nest. When the nest had first been discovered on the ground, we did a cursory search for other nestlings but none had been found. That a second juvenile show up, fully fledged and healthy, astounded us. Where had it been before?

 

After hearing our news that there was potentially a second juvenile, Gary—the rehabilitator—checked on the adults and eaglet a few days later. After arriving, he immediately saw that the nest-tub was empty! Not long afterwards, he saw an adult with a fledgling that he assumed to be Gary. He waited in the area until dark to see if he could detect a second young. But while both adults and Gary stayed in the area, a second juvenile was not detected. He concluded that the other eagle flying with the adult must have been an unrelated subadult.

 

The nest tub will be taken out of the tree and with their nest blown out, the eagle pair will either have to start a new one or perhaps return to build on a previous years’ nest. The Forest will be monitoring their progress next year.  Around the first of July, both juveniles had fledged.  Great success story!

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone to the ECBC.  Currently we are going through an exciting period in our history and we are actively working towards joining forces with the other birding organization in Central Oregon.  If all goes to plan, the resulting Audubon chapter will be formed in January 2010.

As we move through the transition process we will keep you informed of the steps we are taking and have provided a Q&A section that will hopefully answer the most frequently asked questions, details …  

Winter is coming on and our statewide winter raptor surveys have just started for the sixth year.  I would also like to wish Jeff Fleicher, the project coordinator, a happy retirement from his work with the postal service … now he can spend more time with the raptors!   Chuck Gates generated great enthusiasm for the North American Migration Counts in September and the Green ridge project headed up by Kim Bodie produced good numbers of raptors, great views and our first Broad-winged Hawks ever.

Most importantly though, we would like to show our appreciation to all our members, volunteers and supporters and invite you all to our 7th annual fun-raiser on November 14 at the Senior Center in Bend.  This is a great opportunity to catch up with friends, meet other members and find out what has been happening with the organization.  As ever we treat you to food, music and a fantastic guest speaker.  Come support the ECBC … details.

Volunteer in 2009 / 2010 - We need you:
ECBC 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].

 

Board Member Liz O'Connell has already contributed a lot to the organization. She spent a lot of effort preparing for the re-publishing of the Cascades Birding Trails brochures.  This little story will help get to know her better..... 
 
My acute awareness of birds happened on my way to march in a parade, as a teen. In my drum and bugle corps white uniform shirt. I was bombed by a bird.  Kind of humiliating for a teen but it got lots of laughs and the parents got me dressed in a new white shirt quickly. 
 
Living in Alaska gave me a unique birding awareness.  Although we didn't have feeders at our log cabin close to Anchorage, we did have great windows to observe the seasonal birds feasting and passing through our neighborhood.
 
I'm a video producer/editor and we produced natural history programs about Alaska that have aired on Discovery Channel about Alaska, such as "Alaska's Whales and Wildlife" and "Alaska's Arctic Wildlife."  We relied on naturalists to be the guides in our programs.  They were the teachers that filled our programs and us with important information about what we were observing. Recently I produced a program titled "Alaska's Coolest Birds" incorporting some of the wonderful shots over the years and collaborating with another Alaskan filmmaker.  It's funny, the filmmakers aren't the experts. To make up for my lack of knowledge, I began going to Birders Night while editing "Alaska's Coolest Birds" to get a better feeling for birds that would translate to the program. ECBC members were generous to view a rough cut of the program to make sure I had the birds identified correctly.
 
My birding interest has flourished, I enjoy the bounty of birds to observe in Central Oregon, and the unique places that the ECBC birding field trips take me.  And it's great to be with all the personalities in ECBC.  It's also critical to recognize the ecosystem bounty still available in Central Oregon.  That's why birding is so great here!

 

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September Pelagic Trip: by  Mary Yanalcanlin
 
Less than a year ago I couldn't identify a house sparrow yet in September I was lucky enough to go on a pelagic birding trip out of Newport.  Back in the spring when I asked the kids (now known as The Fledglings) if they were interested in doing the Bird-A-Fun fundraiser I had no idea I would be one of the recipients of this trip, the prize donated by Greg Gillson and The Bird Guide Inc
 
I would have been quite happy just to be on that small boat out in the ocean riding the swells up and then down, watching the slate gray motion of water rippling gently over each crest and then cascading down like sand over desert dunes on a windy day.  I would have been thrilled just seeing the ocean sun fish waving their fins and puckering their lips as they floated by or watching the humpback and gray whales spouting and cavorting or seeing the seals and the dolphins and the sea lions or the fin of a blue shark cutting through the water.  I would have had a great time birding along the coast with fellow birders so willing to share their skill and knowledge with me.
 
But--I had all of that--and more.  I saw BIRDS!  Lots of birds!  Pelagic birds!  There was the excitement when I identified a Pink-footed Shearwater for the first time by myself (after seeing dozens and dozens of them I might add).  I struggled to distinguish between the Rhinoceros and the Cassin's Auklets and between the Pelagic, the Brandt's, and the Double-crested Cormorants.  These were all new to me so when a Manx and a Buller's Shearwater flew by they were just two more new birds...some (okay, most...if not all) of the other birders didn't seem to share that viewpoint.  The same thing happened with the Xantus's Murrelets.
 
Then I really became overwhelmed!  There were masses of birds surrounding two huge fishing boats.  Fork-tailed Storm Petrels and Albatrosses and three species of Jaegers---birds previously only encountered in field guides and on nature shows...EVERYWHERE!  I did appreciate the Laysan Albatross separating from the hoards and flying right by our boat so I got a close-up view.  Of course, I was in just as much awe at the Black-footed Albatrosses that did the same even if there were more of them.
 
Later I realized I had witnessed globalization at its best...in a display as old as nature itself...birds from around the world sharing food and space as they pass by with the birds who call these waters as home:  the South Polar Skua who breeds in the Antarctic region, the Sabine Gull who nests in the high arctic but winters in tropic waters, Albatrosses that may nest thousands of miles away, Marbled Murrelets that nest in our own old growth forests, and so many more that elude me at this moment (time for research).
 
Simply put...it was good.  Really good!

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Summer field notes: by Chuck Gates

In the bird world, summer sometimes gets a bad rap.  The spring migration is over.  The chance for rare birds is diminished.  Hard core birders are just a little tired.  However, summer can produce some very nice birding experiences.  Below, you will find the best Central Oregon bird sightings for the months of June and July, 2009.

 

Most of the waterfowl leave our area to take advantage of the long summer days up north.  However, some stay around and grace us with their presence and some even seek the waterways of Central Oregon to raise their young.  BLUE-WINGED TEAL are sporadic summer nesters here and sightings came in from a couple of spots in Deschutes and Crook counties.  A single CANVASBACK spent a few days at the Redmond Sewage Ponds and late COMMON GOLDENEYES (they nest up north) were found as late as June 6.  BARROW'S GOLDENEYE nest here in our high mountain lakes and birds were found at locations like Suttle Lake, Cache Lake, Scout Lake, Dark Lake, and Clear Lake.  HOODED MERGANSERS usually take their cue from the Common Goldeneyes and head north to nest too but a few stuck around in our high lakes.

 

Besides ducks, other good water birds were seen in the area this summer.  CLARK'S GREBES summered at Prineville and Ochoco reservoirs and AMERICAN BITTERNS were found in their traditional nesting sites at Houston Lake near Powell Butte.  It was a big year for AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN.  Ochoco Reservoir had as many as 420 at one time while most major lakes in the low lands hosted at least a few.  A single WHITE-FACED IBIS rested at the Redmond Sewage Ponds for a few days and SANDHILL CRANES could be heard cavorting in eastern Crook County.  A few STILTS & AVOCETS could be found here and there which is normal but a report of a WANDERING TATTLER from the River Trail in Bend was completely unexpected (The bird was only seen by one observer who was from out of state).  A SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was seen at Hatfield Lake in July and a FRANKLIN'S GULL was there in early June.  BONAPARTE'S GULLS were found at Hatfield and Prineville Sewage Ponds.  A few FORSTER'S TERNS were seen in June and BLACK TERNS nested in their usual locations in eastern Crook County.

 

Summer can be the best season to find the chicken-like game birds.  During summer, these birds call and display often so they can be easier to find.  CHUKAR were located near Green Ridge and RUFFED AND DUSKY GROUSE were reported from Wheeler County.  SOOTY GROUSE are the form of Blue Grouse found in the Cascades and "Sootys" were found at the Metolius Preserve, Camp Sherman area, and Trout Creek.  WILD TURKEY reports came in from Green Ridge and MOUNTAIN QUAIL were located at Green Ridge, Squaw Flat, and Lake Billy Chinook.  EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continue their advance on Central Oregon and sightings in every Central Oregon community are becoming commonplace.

 

Raptors are birds of prey.  They come in two flavors; the owls that hunt during the night and the hawks that hunt during the day.  Central Oregon hosts summer raptors of both ilks and occasionally the more unusual ones get sighted.  A WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was heard at Ochoco Ranger Station in Crook County near the end of July and BARN OWLS could be found in a few barns in the Prineville area.  NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were found in the Metolius Preserve and the Ochoco Mountains. 

BARRED OWL reports came in from Cold Springs Campground and Jordan Creek in Wasco County.  A GREAT GRAY OWL was located in Deschutes County and a LONG-EARED OWL was calling from Cold Springs Campground in early June.  A pair of NORTHERN GOSHAWKS nested in eastern Deschutes County near Sisters and SWAINSON'S HAWKS summered around Prineville.  FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were seen around Crook County while a Peregrine Falcon took up residence at St. Charles Hospital in Bend (it was still there at the time of this writing).

 

Hummingbirds, Swifts, and night-jars are favorites among birders because of their specialized ways of life.  COMMON NIGHTHAWKS began arriving around June 2nd and COMMON POORWILLS were heard calling from Powell Butte all summer.  WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS could be found were rock promontories exist in places like Smith Rock or Peter Skene Ogden Wayside on Hwy 97.  Hummingbirds in the area included BLACK-CHINNED, ANNA'S, CALLIOPE, and RUFOUS. 

 

Central Oregon hosts the annual Woodpecker Wonderland Festival so you can bet that summer woodpeckers are going to be included in this summary.  The festival was a great success and many good woodpecker species were seen by the attendees.  LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS could be found west of Bend near the Entrada Burn.  WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS were easy to find in the Cascades and Ochocos.  RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS were abundant around Sisters while RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS were the more common species in the Ochocos.  RED-BREASTED X RED-NAPED hybrids were seen in several places which reflects the range overlap of these two species in the Sisters area.  WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS were abundant in the large ponderosa pine habitats and AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER could be found in the Dry Creek area near Sisters.  BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were relatively easy to find in the big burned areas west of Sisters.  PILEATED WOODPECKER reports came in from Scout Lake, Trout Creek, Abbott Creek, and Elk Lake.

 

The summer passerines fill our forests with bird song every year.  We have many dozens of species that nest here and occasionally we'll get some of the more unusual summer passerines.  Sometimes they are visitors and sometimes they choose this area to call home in the nesting season.  Willow Flycatchers nest in small numbers at places like Summit Prairie in Crook County and Calliope Crossing in Deschutes.  A rare LEAST FLYCATCHER made a showing for a couple of weeks in early July (this is only the 2nd Deschutes County record of this species).  EASTERN KINGBIRDS were located in their usual Crook County haunts but a bird at Lake Billy Chinook in late June was unusual.  One usually thinks of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES as being a Coast Range or western slope of the Cascades bird but a few were spotted on this side of the Cascades crest.  BEWICK'S WRENS continue to expand into Central Oregon and birds were seen at Lower Bridge and Calliope Crossing.  For several consecutive years now, VEERY have been heard at Metolius Preserve.  VARIED THRUSH are usually nesters in the dark, wet forests of the Cascades and Coast Range but singing birds were located in the Ochoco Mountains this summer.  A GRAY CATBIRD spent a few days showing off at Calliope Crossing and HERMIT WARBLERS could be found at many high Cascade locations like Suttle Lake. 

One of the best birds of the summer was an OVENBIRD found at Cold Springs Campground.  YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were seen along North Shore Road in Crook County and several BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS were found nesting near Painted Cove in Wheeler County.  Three (presumably) different ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS showed up in Bend this summer and BOBOLINKS were found on Puett Road in eastern Crook County.

 

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COBOL keeps Central Oregon Birders Connected and Informed - by Jim Moodie

COBOL, Central Oregon Birders OnLine, has continued to grow since its inception on April 2006.  By May 2007, the number of subscribers to our online listing service passed the 200 mark.  Today we have over 250 subscribers to COBOL.  This is the place to post and share your birding observations for the enjoyment of the Central Oregon birding community.  Rare bird sightings, trip reports, backyard bird observations, interesting bird behavior, odd plumages and out of place or time sightings are all reported on COBOL.  Occasionally, discussions of how to identify tough to ID species /genders/ages or announcements about upcoming birding events are posted as well. 

What is inappropriate to post on COBOL?  Opinions about cats, exotic species, hunting, etc. should not be posted to this site.  Attaching photographs is a no no as many folks still have slower dial up connections.  Instead, post a link to a website that hosts your photographs (e.g. Flickr).  We also discourage posts with the intent of making a sales pitch to our members.  The general rule is: is my post directly related to Central Oregon birds and birding?  If not, please post it somewhere else. 

COBOL is how Central Oregon Birders and others keep up to date with what people are seeing in Central Oregon.  And apparently, people are increasingly willing to post their observations and share them with other members of the list (figure 1).    While Spring always seems to excite people to share their observations, the general trend has been an increase in postings to the listserve over its three and one half year history.   That is good news, but we can do better.  As Chuck Gates has pointed out, it is also good and data worthy to post the dates of when you last see migrants in the fall.  Sure this takes a bit more effort, but the information is just as valuable as the first reports of migrants in the spring. 

How can you join Central Oregon’s bird reporting community?  It is easy to subscribe.  Just go to the web site: http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol and subscribe.  You have the option of receiving postings to the list serve as they are posted or receiving all the postings  for a day all at once.  If you have trouble subscribing, send me, the moderator, an email jmoodie@cocc.edu

 

 

Figure 1.  Number of posts on COBOL per month (May 2006-Sept 25, 2009)

 

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Recent Field Trips:trip report by Kevin Smith on the Sisters and Calliope Crossing trip in September.

 

WOW! ECBC did it again. 14 of us started out in Sisters and traveled to Cold Springs Campground. The springs there attract all sorts of good birds. I don't have the entire list, but we saw SIX of the eleven woodpeckers which nest in the area, all three nuthatches, towhees, juncos,3 sparrows, and more. We moved up hill a bit and saw some warblers, but not as many as we had hoped for and headed for Calliope Springs where we saw 3 juvi goshawks and a Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tail, TV's and more warblers. Again, not a lot. Somebody needed Pinon Jays for their 'life' list so we went back in to Sisters. Near the commercial district we saw about thirty (as usual in one spot!), more Pygmy Nuthatches and a Willow Flycatcher getting water from a ROCK! No kidding! We finished off with an attempt at a Dipper as Sisters Campground. It usually is there near the bridge but the water is REALLY murky now (and doesn't smell good either) and we got skunked. Well, no big loss. Many of our group got more than one 'lifer' for the day so it was a GOOD DAY! You REALLY MUST come next time. As a scientific note reported from California there are many birds showing up in places that they have not been before and the culprit seems to be 'Global Warming'/Climate Change. Maybe that explains the three folk from Texas who joined our group. Too HOT down there.

 

 

There were other trips too this fall.  Summer lake where there were lots of Snowy Plovers, a fantastic Peregrine and Bitterns, Egrets and Night Herons.  Later in September, everyone was treated to great views of pectoral sandpipers at the Redmond Sewage lagoons after fumbling with the multiple locks at the main gate.  Up on Green Ridge the raptors were slow and were moving at high altitudes.  Still, it was fun to pick out the specks way up in the sky as they headed south.  Throw in a Pileated Woodpecker and 3 Sooty Grouse feeding by the road to round off the day. 

 

Our final trip this fall was to Wickiup Reservoir and the high lakes.  Lots of loons and some unusual species that are more likely to be found on the coast.  Also, the biggest surprise of the fall, a female Harlequin Duck that is the first record for Deschutes County at Crane Prairie.  A big surprise and a great way to end the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Upcoming ECBC Field Trips:

 

• Nov 14 The Annual ECBC fun-raiser ... save the date

 

  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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The fall North American Migration Count was held on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday September 20.  It usually takes about 6 weeks to gather all the data from around the state so, needless to say, this report is a bit incomplete.  This count happens on the third weekend in September every year.  This year, the third weekend was just about as late as it can be and numbers reflected this fact with many species vacating the state before the count and unusually low numbers were posted for some other species.  With about 2/3 of the counties reporting, 263 species have been tallied and some very interesting sightings have emerged.

An early CACKLING GOOSE was reported from Linn County along with an early COMMON GOLDENEYE at the Burns Sewage Ponds.  Another early duck was the EURASIAN WIGEON found by Tim Rodenkirk at Krumbo Reservoir in Harney County. Ray Korpi managed to find a few GRAY PARTRIDGES in Gilliam County and no more were reported from other counties.   A RED-NECKED GREBE was found by Judy Meredith on Suttle Lake and AMERICAN BITTERNS were found in Marion and Crook Counties.  WHITE-TAILED KITES were found in 5 counties with Benton being the only "non-coastal" county to report this species.  RED-SHOULDERED HAWK reports came in from 6 counties including a single Eastern Oregon tally in Deschutes County.  MERLIN were found in several counties and PEREGRINE FALCONS continue their "sprint" back from the brink of extinction having been seen in 9 counties during this count.  A PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER report came in from Curry County and SNOWY PLOVERS were seen in Lake County.  So far, only one BLACK-NECKED STILT has been reported but southern counties will certainly add more.  Single LONG-BILLED CURLEW and MARBLED GODWIT reports have trickled in and lone  RED KNOTS were found in Douglas and Coos counties.  PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were found in 6 counties and BAIRD'S SANDPIPER reports came in from 4 different counties.  A single PARASITIC JAEGER was seen in Curry County.  The only Bonaparte's Gulls found were in Klamath County.  So far, only one HERRING GULL report has come in and Sherman County has produced the only COMMON TERN reports to date.  MARBLED MURRELETS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were found on several coast counts.  Owl species included SAW-WHET, FLAMMULATED, WESTERN-SCREECH, PYGMY, SPOTTED, BARRED, LONG-EARED, and of course, GREAT HORNED.   ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS were found in their usual Curry County haunts and THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were located in Deschutes County.  Just a smattering of flycatchers were found which is not too surprising given the late date of the count this year.  EASTERN and WESTERN KINGBIRDS were equally represented with 3 birds a piece being seen.  An early NORTHERN SHRIKE report came in from Baker County.  PINYON JAYS were found in only 2 counties but the total of 483 birds was pretty impressive.  The only BANK SWALLOW to make the count was seen in Crook County at Houston Lake.  A Deschutes County BEWICK'S WREN is pretty unusual for this count and the only YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT yet reported was seen in Benton County.  BREWER'S SPARROWS were all but gone with a single bird making the list from Deschutes County.  A slightly early WHITE-THROATED SPARROW showed up in Linn County.  A couple of lingering BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS also made the count.   Though not yet officially reported, it is probable that someone saw the NORTHERN WHEATEAR that was being seen around the time of the count in Tillamook County.

As in most years, there are breeding birds that do not get surveyed on our count.  Either they have limited ranges, leave early, or simply lack an observer to check them out.  Breeders NOT seen on the count included Spruce Grouse, Sage Grouse, and Yellow Rail.  Black Terns and Willet were not found and neither were Common Poorwill even though the latter was heard before and after the count date.  White-throated Swifts seemed to have abandoned the state before the count as did most of the hummingbirds (no Black-chins reported!).   Ash-throated Flycatcher was not found in any county in the state.   Tricolored Blackbirds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and Snowy Egrets have not been reported but several of the counties where these birds are possible have yet to report their numbers.  No Grasshopper Sparrows made the list which is not all that abnormal.  Lazuli Bunting and Bobolinks were absent but were not really expected in a late count year and Bullock's Orioles were long gone by September 19. 

There were also migrants that did not appear on the report this year.  At this date, there are no reports of Solitary Sandpiper or Semipalmated Sandpiper.  Whimbrel is, so far, missing from the count.   Ruddy Turnstone is not commonly reported but it's absence is still noted on this count.  No Sabine's Gulls were seen though this species was noted both before and after the count in different locations.  Black & White Warbler is often found on the fall count but none were reported this year.  The same goes for Northern Waterthrush  and American Redstart. 

So far, it appears that more people participated this year than last.  County Coordinators have reported 201 participants in 116 teams.  Volunteers logged over 5000 miles driving and 200 miles on foot.  These people have tallied, to date, 183,000+ individual birds.  Thirty people participated as feeder watchers and another 28 as stationary observers.  Only 8 people reported doing any owling.  The average "noon-time" temperature for the weekend was 59 degrees F and winds were generally mild around the state. 

See what you're missing?  It is the goal of the ECBC to increase the coverage of the state and the number of participants involved in this project.  You may have missed the fall count but the spring count will come around soon enough and you can get involved with it on the second weekend in May.  No special skills are required and we can set you up with an experienced team if you lack the experience to confidently identify birds.  We need your help to make this count become a survey that more accurately represents the migrant numbers in the state of Oregon.  For more information, check out the ECBC website at http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69 or contact me at mailto:cgates326@gmail.com.

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Oregon Swift Project - [Contact Nicole Nielesn-Pincus]

 

Oregon volunteers for the Vaux’s swift project completed another successful migration season of counts.  This fall volunteers from the ECBC, Portland Audubon Society, Oregon Field Ornithologists, Salem Audubon, Audubon Society of Corvallis, Lane County Audubon, Klamath Bird Observatory, and several non-affiliated volunteers counted swifts at 17 roosts with a high count total of 37,768.  The peak in migration came to the larger sites, Chapman School in Portland and Agate Hall in Eugene, early in September.  However, it is worth noting that at some of the smaller roosts in Silverton and Albany, peak numbers of swifts came at the end of September.  A list of roosts and high count data are available to view on the web here ... 

 

We made some interesting observations this season in respect to Vaux’s swift roosting behavior.  In some places, the swifts switch which roost they prefer.  This may happen on a year to year basis or within the window of a migration season.  In Corvallis, earlier in September the swifts roosted in a chimney at Madison and 2nd Steets, but on September 12 they were counted at Weigland Hall on the OSU campus.  Albany and Silverton also have several different roosts.  Additionally, also in Corvallis, a NAMC volunteer observed swifts going to roost at 7 a.m. just before it rained.  Other volunteers have noted roosting at all hours of the day in inclement weather.

 

In our third season of counting, we made an attempt to become better organized and wider spread.  While we were successful in learning about some new roosts this fall, most were only counted on September 12.  Given the unpredictable nature of the peak in migration, our goal in the future will be to have counters at roosts more often during the season.  Additionally, our list of roosts continues to be a work in progress.  Please let Nicole Nielsen-Pincus know if you have further information on Vaux’s swift roosts so these places can be monitored and protected.  A big thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this project this fall.

 

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Bluebird Project - The Bluebird Population in Central Oregon is Literally in Our Hands, by Miriam Lipsitz.

 

Generations ago, bluebirds were common in the North American rural landscape. Over the years, however, land has been cleared for housing and industrial developments, shopping malls, highways and the row crops of big agriculture.  Wooden fence posts that provided nesting cavities have now been replaced with metal posts.  The old apple trees and other venerable trees that offered housing for bluebirds and other cavity nesters have been cut down and greatly reduced in number.  Compounding the problem of habitat loss has been the introduction of two non-native bird species – the House Sparrow and the European Starling.  Both these birds are cavity nesters and both are very aggressive.  They out-compete the more timid bluebirds for woodpecker holes and other available natural nesting cavities.

 

Bluebirds are usually found in fields, parks, along golf courses or other open areas with scattered trees. In the mountains they are found in clearings and meadows.   Both the Mountain and Western bluebird nest in Central Oregon.  In 1990, when the Delicious Fire occurred, 2,000 acres of Deschutes National Forest burned, opening a very large area.

 

Within a few years the regeneration of indigenous understory shrubs provided the flowers that attracted insects that bluebirds eat during nesting season. However, there were few natural cavities where bluebirds could nest. When ECBC member Don McCartney observed the bluebirds in the Delicious Burn and saw the lack of appropriate housing, he built nestboxes and placed them in the area to create a bluebird trail.   The birds responded immediately by setting up housekeeping and they came back year after year.  This bluebird trail is unique to Central Oregon because it is the only bluebird project consistently monitored on a weekly basis during the nesting season.  Observations are recorded on the website of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.  The project is in need of one to four new volunteers who might like to share the weekly visits from May to July.  Bluebirding is a great hands-on project that people of all ages can enjoy, and best of all, with our help, the future of bluebirds can be promising again.

 

The Delicious Burn is located north and west of the Tumalo Reservoir.  It is easily accessed off Peterson Ridge Road which connects with Highway 20 just east of the Sisters rodeo grounds.  Decent gravel roads run throughout the burn and there are short walks across brushy ground to each nestbox - no ladders needed. There is another access off Kohfield Road which is located at an intersection with Sisemore Road in Tumalo which would be more appropriate for volunteers with a four-wheel drive vehicle.  Training is provided to all volunteers and no prior experience is necessary – just a desire to help the birds.

 

For more information, e-mail Dean: mep@q.com, Miriam: hollyhob@earthlink.net, Rachel: dhcgrc@comcast.net

 

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Green Ridge Raptor Migrationby Kim Bodie

 

The first weekend of the Green Ridge Hawkwatch Project is now behind us.  Saturday, Sept. 20, started out with a bang.  We had three sightings during the first five minutes, even before we got our chairs unfolded.  The observers were Jay Smith from Portland and Kim Boddie.  We had a lot of competition from NAMC.  Sightings quickly slowed down until after 11.00 and we had several birds an hour until 2:00 then it pretty much shut down.  The weather was cool in the low 60s with a good wind blowing up out of the canyon from the SW.  Mt Jeff and the crest was socked in all day and it started to rain lightly off and on at 3:30.  We had a total of 36 raptors for the day, see list below.  The accipiters were flying low down the west side of the ridge and we feel we may have missed several birds below our line of sight.

 

The highlight of the day was when a juvenile Sharpie decided to take on Owliver our Great-horned Owl decoy.  The Sharpie came out of nowhere and made a pass at the owl and instead of passing on as usual, it landed close by and started calling.  It then took off made a couple more passes, landed and cussed the owl out again.  It did this about six times for over five minutes.

 

Sunday, Sept. 20, was the opposite of Sat.  The weather was clear the wind was lighter from all directions and the birds were flying high and coming down the east side of the ridge.  Activity was pretty slow until 3:00 when the Sharpies started to pick up and we had a kettle of 22 Turkey vultures go right over us.  A little later a kettle of 26 and one of 6 TVs came by.  About 4:30 we had a strange looking, to us, Buteo circling to the east.  I got the scope on it and it wasn’t a red-tail, but a light morph Broad-winged Hawk.  This was the first for Green Ridge that I know of.  Bonney Butte has had 5 this year.

 

We ended up with a total of 100 raptors for the day.  I just got a call from Nichole at Bonney Butte and they had 0 birds for Sat, socked in, and 78 birds for Sun.  Green Ridge observers for Sunday were Jay Smith, Carol Cwildinski & Steve Small of Tillamook, Don & Mardi Jensen, Nancy & Sach Esperancilla, Shey Hyatt, and Kim Boddie.

                                                         9/19                       9/20

Turkey Vulture                                      6                            63

Bald Eagle                                            2                            1

Sharp-shinned Hawk                              13                           16

Cooper’s  Hawk                                     4                             6

Red-tailed Hawk                                    3                             6

Broad-winged Hawk                               0                              1

Golden Eagle                                        3                              1

Unid Buteo                                           1                              0

Unid. Accip.                                         0                              4

Unid Raptor                                          3                              1

 

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Conservation Committee - Bringing Back the Wetlands by  Eva Eagle

 

On the first Saturday in October, ECBC partnered with the Deschutes Land Trust for some habitat restoration at Camp Polk Meadow, helping to bring back the wetlands.  We planted along the new channel at a point within what we bird surveyors refer to as the “Middle Ponderosa” section of the Preserve, which happens to be a personal favorite of mine already thanks to the diversity of the habitat there.  Kim Cathol, Bill Mitchell, Kevin Tanski, and I were joined by two dozen or more others who had signed up through the Land Trust, a group ranging in age from seven to seventy and all devoted to the task.

 

The Land Trust has diverted some water into the new channel, which winds around in the old streambed.  Lower down in the meadow the channel had to be dug quite deeply, but at the place where we were planting the sides are not very steep.  Still, Kevin and Bill began by contouring the west bank a bit before we started planting the sedges, willows, and other shade loving plants that Sherry Berrin had brought out for us to plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The group put a lot of plants into the ground in a very short period of time, which was a good thing because the promised storm was brewing as we worked.  Having completed an early morning bird survey in cold, clear weather, we birders knew that our luck wouldn’t hold, and when the showers came we were dressed for it.  By the time we finished planting, the showers were fairly white and it felt good to get back in the warm car to go home.
It also felt really good to give that bank a good start, planting them well and getting a shower directly after.  Most of these plants had been raised from seeds gathered in the Preserve last year, so they are truly natives.  When I go to Camp Polk Meadow to survey, I will always go past that section of stream channel to see how ‘our’ plants are doing.  And I hope to go back in the spring with other ECBC members to turn another section of bare stream bank into a wetland in waiting.

 

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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 us.

 

  

Offer a Variety of Foods for a Variety of Birds - Kevin Lair, Wild Birds Unlimited

To attract the greatest diversity of birds to your yard, offer a variety of foods.  Different species have different food preferences, and their favorite foods can vary seasonally.  Foods to consider offering include:

Black Oil Sunflower: High in oil and fat, this is the one seed that is preferred by the majority of seed eating songbirds in Central Oregon. Can be offered in the shell or shelled if the shell waste and germination are a concern.
White Proso Millet: A favorite of ground feeding birds like California Quail, Mourning Doves, Juncos and other sparrows. Millet should be offered in open tray feeders on or near the ground.
Peanuts: Very high in calories, energy-packed peanuts are a favorite of many species. Provide them in the shell for Clark’s Nutcrackers and Jays, or shelled for smaller birds like Chickadees and Nuthatches.
Nyjer (Thistle): This is the preferred seed for our small billed finches, the Goldfinches and Pine Siskins.
Suet: Calorie-rich suet is enjoyed by many bird species, especially during the colder months when insects are less numerous. Common suet eating birds in Central Oregon include woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Bushtits.
Mealworms: Offering mealworms is a great way to attract insect species that do not regularly visit feeders, such as Bluebirds, Wrens, and even Warblers.
Fruit: Species such as Robins, Thrushes, and Orioles will visit feeders to eat fruit. One can offer sliced pieces or even dried fruit to birds.
With the arrival of fall, now is a great time to add to the menu of food options available to the birds. 

USFWS - News from Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge,  -by Marla Bennett

2009 Hunting Results

Six of the 8 hunting seasons for Hart Mountain have been accomplished.  Below is a table indicating hunting results thus far.

Season	# killed	hunter success (%)
Pronghorn bow	15	71
Mule deer bow #1	3	15
Mule deer bow #2	6	33
Bighorn (2 hunts)	4	80
Pronghorn rifle	28	97

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because of high pronghorn numbers and the curiosity pronghorn exhibit towards humans, most hunters are able to kill a pronghorn each year.  Mule deer numbers have declined across the west, so most hunters on Hart Mountain in the last years have not been able fill their tags.

 

Volunteers

Each summer, more volunteer hours are logged than employee hours. More than 4,335 hours were volunteered to Hart Mountain in the 7 months between mid-March and mid-October, most of them by 9 regular volunteers that live for weeks or months on the mountain.  852 hours were volunteered by Oregon Natural Desert Association. 

 

Volunteers counted sage grouse and mule deer; built a fence at the CCC Campground; cleaned outhouses; made maps; mowed the pasture; removed interior fencing; arranged for inholdings purchases; applied for grants; set points for bird point counts; built a picnic pavilion at the CCC Camp; searched for raptor nests; fixed, cleaned, and organized the buildings and grounds; copied and folded brochures; made spread sheets; greeted visitors; accomplished office work and MORE!  We could not get along without our volunteers.  Thank you volunteers for all you do!

 

Sage Grouse Lek Counts

Sage grouse gather each spring in historic lekking grounds to participate in elaborate sunrise displays.  Males put on new spring outfits, including plumes atop their heads and bright green patches above their eyes. They fill air sacs on their chests and flop them up and down, erect tail feathers into perfect stars, and droop their wings while they strut majestically, often bumping chests to show their amazing machismo.  Female grouse trundle along in cryptic colors, seemingly paying no attention to the male show as they pluck sagebrush buttercups or new spring grasses.  Mating takes mere moments, after which the female shakes her feathers and mosies away from the lek. The male will continue his displays unabated.  Nest building begins shortly.

 

This year Hart Mountain employees and volunteers counted sage grouse on their leks from March 16-May 1.  The total number of males seen at leks was higher this year (543) than last (312), which was the lowest count since 2001.  The increase could well be attributed to better access, so more leks were counted.  Trend leks (leks that are counted each year) indicate higher numbers this year (276) than last (198) although we noticed that many leks had few or no birds, indicating that birds had moved off historic leks and possibly moved to other leks.  We also found birds lekking where no leks were present in the past.  This renders yearly comparisons by lek impossible. Tricky birds!  We can only hope that sage grouse numbers are climbing on Hart Mountain.

 

The Christmas Bird Count will occur on Thursday, Dec. 17.  If you would like to participate in Hart Mountain’s Christmas Bird Count, please contact Marla Bennett at 541-947-2731 or marla_bennett@fws.gov.  Bunkhouse space is available for people traveling from a distance.  We hope some of you can attend.

Deschutes National Forest - Sisters Ranger District,

Written by Regina O’Brien, wildlife biological technician on the Deschutes National Forest. She is now working as a fisheries biologist on the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Eaglet Rescue, June 2009

 

We were dodging storm cells a good part of the afternoon, doing a regular check on the various raptor nests on the Sisters Ranger District. We had two nests left to check and our work day was almost over. There was debris scattered throughout the forest, mostly blow down from a fairly violent and long-lived thunderstorm the previous day.

 

The eagle nest site could only be seen from the road if you knew where to look. It was a simple process of stopping the vehicle in the right place and looking through the right set of trees with a spotting scope. Simple, fast, and with almost no impact to the nesting birds since we never had to leave the vehicle. The problem was that we couldn’t see the nest.

After going forward and reverse on the same 30 feet of road several times, straining to see the nest through the trees, we opted to walk in. Without the nest, the tree looked different, and we couldn’t be 100% sure we were looking at the right tree. As we got closer to the tree, nothing remained of the nest in the branches. Coming around a clump of vegetation, we saw the branches and boughs that used to be the nest littering the ground at the tree’s base. The previous day’s storm had totally demolished the eagles’ nest.

Walking up to the tree, we cleared a dense screen of brush and were suddenly confronted by a large, juvenile eagle with bedraggled feathers standing on the ground. Both of us muttered expletives of consternation, which quickly modified into alarm as an adult eagle wheeled into the clearing. We beat a hasty retreat and called in reinforcements.

Reinforcements came within thirty minutes, in the shape of a bird rehabilitator by the name of Gary Landers. He asked if any adults had been seen as he gently and causally walked up to the juvenile eagle. He quickly had it on its back, one hand competently holding its lower legs as the other hand checked the wings and chest for injuries. He picked the bird up, cradling it under one arm as he assessed the debris on the ground, the height and girth of the tree, and its branches.

 

After some deliberation, Gary concluded that, since the juvenile seemed uninjured and at least one of the adults were in evidence, it would be better to leave the eaglet in the wild rather than transporting it to a wildlife rehabilitation center. He put the eaglet down and left to get what he needed to put the bird up in the tree out of harms’ way. He returned shortly with a ladder, rope, a small, plastic tub and a satchel to move the supplies and bird up into the tree.

 

The new “nest” was attached to both limb and trunk, and padded with boughs and pine needles in short order. The juvenile sat quietly in the satchel as it was hoisted up and settled into the tub. As a parting gift, Gary left three fish. The last thing we saw as we left the area was an adult eagle, food in foot, circling low around the tree.

 

After a weeks’ time, both adults were seen at the site, with the juvenile, who had been named Gary, after the rehabber, observed busily feeding. The following week, we went into the area to check on the eaglet. The nest-tub was located lower down on the trunk, on the side of the tree facing away from the road.  Consequently, it was more difficult to find. We were still exploring better ways of approaching the nest without disturbing the birds, when a juvenile bald eagle flew over our heads. Was this Gary?

 

The juvenile wheeled around the area of the nest tree and was soon joined by an adult. They flew in tandem, making wider and wider circles until the treetops blocked our view. At this point, we finally found the nest box. Hunkered down inside the nest, facing the tree trunk, was Gary. It seemed that there had been a second juvenile in the nest. When the nest had first been discovered on the ground, we did a cursory search for other nestlings but none had been found. That a second juvenile show up, fully fledged and healthy, astounded us. Where had it been before?

 

After hearing our news that there was potentially a second juvenile, Gary—the rehabilitator—checked on the adults and eaglet a few days later. After arriving, he immediately saw that the nest-tub was empty! Not long afterwards, he saw an adult with a fledgling that he assumed to be Gary. He waited in the area until dark to see if he could detect a second young. But while both adults and Gary stayed in the area, a second juvenile was not detected. He concluded that the other eagle flying with the adult must have been an unrelated subadult.

 

The nest tub will be taken out of the tree and with their nest blown out, the eagle pair will either have to start a new one or perhaps return to build on a previous years’ nest. The Forest will be monitoring their progress next year.  Around the first of July, both juveniles had fledged.  Great success story!