Wildlife Viewing
July 7, 2006
Statesman
Journal / Salem, OR
Turtles to be released: The Oregon Zoo will release 58 endangered western pond turtles into the wild in the Columbia River Gorge in the coming week. The turtles were hatched in the zoo's Cascade Streams exhibit, where they have spent the nine months growing large enough to avoid being eaten by non-native bullfrogs and large-mouth bass -- threats that have decimated the species in the wild. Some of the juvenile turtles will be equipped with radio transmitters so biologists can learn more about post-release dispersal, habitat use during active and hibernation periods and their survival rate. Scientists tracking the released turtles estimate that 95 percent of the turtles released back to the Columbia River Gorge in previous years have survived.
Columbia corridor: A chat was seen at Smith/Bybee Lakes in North Portland. A pair of western kingbirds, a pair of eastern kingbirds, several red-eyed vireos, a chat and a number of Lazuli buntings are on the Sandy River Delta east of Portland. Four western kingbirds and several Lazuli buntings have been at Powell Butte Park in Gresham. An immature red-shouldered hawk was seen at Two Rivers County Park at Kennewick, Wash., near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers. Birders in the area say this is only the second time this species has shown up in Washington's Benton County.
Willamette Valley: Two swifts believed to be black swifts were reported doing a fly-over at the South Salem home of Michel Kleinbaum on June 28. A great horned owl has been hanging out on power poles on the north side of the road west of Crabtree Hill, just across the street from an unused osprey nest platform, near Fern Ridge Reservoir. Birders at Fern Ridge Reservoir reported a white-tailed kite, a yellow-bellied chat, grasshopper sparrows, a black swift, a lesser yellowlegs and a greater yellowlegs.
Summer Lake: Sandhill cranes have dispersed to breeding territories and hatching is under way all across Summer Lake Wildlife Area. Pairs are secretive and very difficult to observe, but can be heard calling in the early morning hours and occasionally newly hatched colts -- sandhill crane chicks -- can be observed. Non-breeding sub-adults can be found in small groups along the lakeshore of Summer Lake and in farmed fields and meadow areas. Great-horned owls at the River Ranch barn have fledged and can be viewed roosting inside the structure. For information on viewing opportunities; contact the wildlife area at (541) 943-3152 or
odfwslwa@gooselake.com
Baby season: This is baby season for Oregon wildlife, where deer fawns and elk calves can be seen regularly. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking people not disturb them, even if they appear to be left alone. It's common for doe deer and cow elk to leave their young alone while they are feeding. The only time a fawn or calf should be assumed orphaned is when the mother is known to be dead.
Oregon Coast: Common murres, tufted puffins and other seabirds are nesting on coastal rocks, including more than 200,000 birds at Three Arch Rocks alone. Three Arch Rocks are a half mile offshore from Oceanside, a small community 10 miles west of Tillamook, so binoculars or spotting scopes are necessary to watch their nesting antics.
Central Oregon: Blue-winged teal and green-winged teal have been in a water hazard at Quail Run Golf Course at LaPine. A gray catbird was seen and a northern waterthrush was heard at Little Deschutes Crossing.
Southern Oregon: Ann Chamberlain of Myrtle Creek reports on "The Oregon Birding List" that she went outside June 30 to hang clothes to dry when she heard a big ruckus and could see a male and female tanager low in the bushes, so climbed into the brush to find out what was going on. "I found a rat snake no bigger than my thumb had dragged an almost-ready-to-fledge tanager off. The baby was clearly dead by the time I got there. The snake had the entire head in its mouth, but I cannot fathom how the snake could plan to swallow the bird, which must have been five or six times bigger around than the snake."
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