the quarterly journal of oregon field ornithologyoregon birds 24(3): 70, fall 1998 the records of...

The quarterly journal of Oregon field ornithology Volume 24, Number 3, Fall 1998 The Records of the Oregon Bird Records

Committee, 1997-98 71 Harry Nehls

.73 MEMORIAM: Janice G. "Jan" Krabbe . Merlin S. (Elzy) Eltzroth

Status of Blue-headed and Plumbeous Vireos in Oregon 74 Jim Johnson

Basin & Delta 77 Doug Foster

Birding the mouth of New River, Coos Co., Oregon ... 80 David J. Lauten

Inland observations of Red-breasted Merganser in Oregon 82 Bill Tice

News & Notes OB 24(3)

OFO BIRDING WEEKENDS

Curry County Nathaniel Wander

Baker County... Mike Bogar

Malheur NWR Paul T. Sullivan

19th Annual OFO Meeting Cindy Lawes

• 90

FIELDNOTES. • 92

Eastern Oregon, Winter 1997-98 93

Ray Korpi Western Oregon, Winter 1997-98 97

Bill Tice COVER PHOTO

American Black Duck, 4 January 1998, Hood River, Hood River Co. Photo/Skip Russell.

CENTER • OFO Membership form • OFO Bookcase • OFO Birding Weekends • Oregon Rare Bird Phone Network • Checklist of Oregon's birds • Oregon Shorebird'Festival

Oregon Birds y The quarterly journal of Oregon field ornithology OREGON BIRDS is a quarterly publication of Oregon Field Ornithologists, an

Oregon not-for-profit corporation. Membership in Oregon Field Ornithologists includes a subscription to Oregon Birds. ISSN 0890-2 313

E d i t o r O w e n S c h m i d t Assistant Editor Sharon K. Blair Associate Editor Jim Johnson

OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS President Ray Korpi, Portland (1998-99) [email protected] Secretary Mary Anne Sohlstrom, Hillsboro (1998-99) [email protected] Treasurer Reid Freeman, Eugene (1998-99) [email protected] Directors Chuck Gates, Powell Butte (1998-99) [email protected]

Ted Ernst, Corvallis (1997-99) [email protected] Vjera Arnold, Springfield (1998-2000) Tom Winters, John Day (1998-2000)

Publications Ray Korpi [email protected] Archivist Paul T. Sullivan [email protected]

OFO Bookcase Lucy Biggs [email protected]

OREGON B I R D RECORDS COMMITTEE Secretary Harry Nehls, Portland (1999) [email protected] Members Tom Crabtree, Bend (1998-2000) [email protected]

Colin Dillingham, Brookings (1998-2000) Jeff Gilligan, Portland (1996-98) [email protected] Jim Johnson, Portland (1996-98) [email protected] Gerard Lillie, Portland (1997-99) [email protected] Larry McQueen, Eugene (1997-99) [email protected] Craig Roberts, Tillamook (1996-98) Skip Russell, Beaverton (1998-2000) [email protected] Owen Schmidt, Portland (1997-99) [email protected]

Alternates Craig Corder, Hermiston (1998) [email protected] Steven Dowlan, Salem (1998) [email protected] Kamal Islam, Corvallis (1998) Kevin Spencer, Tulelake, CA (1998) [email protected] Bill Tice, Falls City (1998) [email protected]

O r e g o n B i r d s OREGON B I R D RECORDS COMMITTEE

© 1998

OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS P . O . B o x 1 0 3 7 3

E u g e n e , O R 9 7 4 4 0

O r e g o n B i r d s is looking for material in these categories: news briefs on things of temporal importance, such as meetings, birding trips, announcements, news items, etc.; articles are longer contributions dealing with identification, distribution, ecology, management, conservation, taxonomy, behavior, biology, and historical aspects of ornithology and birding in Oregon (articles cite references — if any — at the end of the text, names and addresses of authors typically appear at the beginning of the text); short notes are shorter communications dealing with the same subjects as articles (short notes typically cite no references, or at most a few in parentheses in the text; names and addresses of authors appear at the end of the text); bird finding guides "where to find a in Oregon" (for some of the rarer birds) and "where to find birds in the area" (for some of the better spots); reviews for published material on Oregon birds or of interest to Oregon birders; photographs of birds, especially photos taken recently in Oregon (color slide originals are preferred; please label all photos with photographer's name and address, bird identification, date and place the photo was taken; all photos will be returned; contact the Editor for more information).

Deadline for the next issue of Oregon Birds — OB 24(4), Winter 1998 — is 20 October 1998. The next issue should get to you by the first week of December 1998. Material can be submitted any time, and the sooner the better. Please send materials directlv to the Editor.

Printed on Recycled Paper Soy-based Ink

To get In touch Oregon Birds Owen Schmidt, Editor 3007 N.E. 32nd Avenue Portland OR 97212

503-282-9403 [email protected]

OBRC Harry Nehls, Secretary 2736 S.E. 20th Avenue Portland OR 97202


us directly .... OFO Board Ray Korpi, President


Reid Freeman, Treasurer 541-343-7488 [email protected]

OFO Publications Lucy Biggs 86701 1/2 Franklin Eugene OR 97405

[email protected]

OFO Birding Weekends Paul T. Sullivan 4470 S.W. Murray Boulevard #26 Beaverton OR 97005


Oregon Birds 24(3): 70, Fall 1998

The Records of the Oregon Bird Records Committee, 1997-98

Harry Nehls, Secretary, OBRC, 2736S.E. 20th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202 F r o m July 1 9 9 7 t o Ju ly 1 9 9 8 t h e Ore g o n B i r d R e c o r d s C o m m i t t e e ( O B R C ) c o m p l e t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g r e c o r d s . T h e first g r o u p of r e c o r d s a re t h o s e for w h i c h t h e w r i t t e n r e p o r t a n d / o r p h o t o g r a p h s o r s p e c i m e n s s u p p o r t e d t h e s t a t e d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a n d a r e a c c e p t e d r e c o r d s . If p h o t o ( s ) o r s p e c i m e n is i n d i c a t e d for a r e c o r d it w a s a c c e p t e d as ve r i f i ed . O t h e r r e c o r d s w e r e a c c e p t e d a s s i g h t r eco rds .

Of t h e 2 6 r e c o r d s r e v i e w e d b y t h e C o m m i t t e e 12 w e r e a c c e p t e d a n d 14 w e r e n o t a c c e p t e d .

I n f o r m a t i o n p r e s e n t e d b e l o w for e a c h s p e c i e s i n c l u d e s l o c a t i o n of s igh t ing , n u m b e r of b i rds , s ex a n d age if k n o w n , s p e c i a l i n f o r m a t i o n ( s u c h as c o l l e c t i o n a n d m u s e u m n u m b e r ) a n d d a t e ( s ) , in i t i a l ( s ) of t h e o b s e r -

RECORDS ACCEPTED

ve r ( s ) s u b m i t t i n g w r i t t e n o r o t h e r evid e n c e for a c c e p t e d r e c o r d s , a n d t h e OBRC r e c o r d file n u m b e r . T h e OBRC r e c o r d file n u m b e r r e a d s as fo l lows : t h e first 3 d igi ts a re t h e A O U n u m b e r for t h e s p e c i e s , t h e s e c o n d 2 a re t h e y e a r i n w h i c h t h e r e c o r d w a s o b s e r v e d , a n d t h e last n u m b e r s a r e t h e c o n s e c u t i v e n u m b e r s for t h e r e c o r d s as t h e y a re filled.

T h e m e m b e r s of t h e OBRC for 1998 a r e T o m C r a b t r e e , Col in D i l l i ngham, Jeff G i l l i gan j im J o h n s o n , Gera rd Lillie, Larry M c Q u e e n , Craig R o b e r t s , Skip Russel l , a n d O w e n S c h m i d t . T h e altern a t e s a r e Craig Corde r , K a m a l Is lam, S t even D o w l a n , Kev in Spence r , a n d Bill T ice .

T h e O B R C t h a n k s t h e f o l l o w i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s for h a v i n g m a d e financial c o n t r i b u t i o n s in t h e p a s t y e a r t o

h e l p w i t h e x p e n s e s : C a p e A r a g o A u d u b o n Society, Corval l i s A u d u b o n S o c i e t y , G r a n t C o u n t y B i r d C l u b , G r a n d e R o n d e Bird Club, Lane C o u n t y A u d u b o n Society, P o r t l a n d A u d u b o n Society, U m p q u a Valley A u d u b o n , a n d Y a q u i n a Bi rde r s a n d Natura l i s t s .

Finally, t h e OBRC sol ic i t s n o m i n a t i o n s for m e m b e r s h i p . Each y e a r t h e OBRC e l e c t s 3 of i ts 9 m e m b e r s for 3-year t e r m s ( technica l ly , t h e OBRC e l e c t s n o m i n e e s for a p p o i n t m e n t b y t h e O F O B o a r d ) . B i rde r s t h e m s e l v e s i n t e r e s t e d in s e r v i n g o n t h e OBRC s h o u l d n o m i n a t e t h e m s e l v e s . All n o m i n e e s m u s t b e m e m b e r s of O F O in g o o d s t a n d i n g a n d all n o m i n a t i o n s m u s t b e r e c e i v e d b y t h e S e c r e t a r y b e f o r e 30 O c t o b e r 1 9 9 8 . N e w t e r m s b e g i n at t h e n e w c a l e n d a r year.

Costa's Hummingbird

Little Stint 242.3-95-05 S o u t h J e t t y C o l u m b i a River, C l a t s o p Co . , 1

i m m a t u r e 10-11 Augus t 1 9 9 5 (MP, p h o t o s b y H N ) .

Costa's Hummingbird 430-96-27 G r a n t s Pass , J o s e p h i n e Co. , 1 adu l t m a l e 3-

17 N o v e m b e r 1 9 9 6 (DV, p h o t o s b y CD) .

Least Flycatcher 647-97-32 B e n s o n P o n d , M a l h e u r NWR, H a r n e y Co . , 1

s i ng ing b i r d o n 3 J u n e 1 9 9 7 (Tape r e c o r d ings b y D H ) .

Tropical Kingbird 446-96-19 B r o o k i n g s , C u r r y C o . , 1 b i r d o n 17 O c t o b e r

1 9 9 6 (EI).

Gray-cheeked Thrush 757-94-02 H q . M a l h e u r NWR, H a r n e y Co . , 1 b i r d o n 2 6

S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 4 (TJ ,HN).

Black-backed Wagtail 695 .1 -96-02 C a p e B lanco , C u r r y Co . , 1 b i r d o n 9 N o v e m

b e r 1 9 9 6 (TWa, p h o t o s b y D M u ) .

Cape May Warbler 650-92-08 Fields , H a r n e y Co . , 1 fall b i r d o n 2 0 S e p t e m

b e r 1992 (TG) .

5 f ' i l l

Blackpoll Warbler 661-96-35 C a p e B lanco , C u r r y Co . , 1 i m m a t u r e b i r d o n

2 7 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 6 ( p h o t o s b y C D ) .

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 595-96-32 H u n t e r Creek , C u r r y Co . , 1 s e c o n d y e a r m a l e

o n 8 Ju ly 1 9 9 6 ( p h o t o b y CD) .

Clay-colored Sparrow 561-94-34 N e w p o r t , L inco ln Co . , 1 b i r d o n 2 1 O c t o b e r

1 9 9 4 (CiL).


Hooded Oriole 505-95-17 Bend , D e s c h u t e s Co . , 1 adu l t m a l e o n 2 May

1 9 9 6 ( P M e ) .

Baltimore Oriole 507-91-03 B r o o k i n g s , C u r r y Co . , 1 i m m a t u r e m a l e o n 1

D e c e m b e r 1991 ( p h o t o s b y CD) .

Baltimore Oriole Contributors Col in D i l l i n g h a m ( C D ) T o n y G r e a g e r (TG) Dav id H e r r ( D H ) El izabe th Irle (EI) T i m J a n z e n (TJ) C indy Lawes** (CiL) Pat ty M e e h a n ( P M e ) D o n M u n s o n " ( D M u ) H a r r y N e h l s ( H N ) Mike P a t t e r s o n (MP) D e n n i s V r o m a n (DV) T e r r y Wahl** (TWa) ** New to the all lime contributors list.

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

Yellow-billed Loon 008-94-31 Yaqu ina Bay, L inco ln Co . , 1 w i n t e r p l u m a g e d

adu l t 21-27 N o v e m b e r 1994 . Deta i l s submi t t e d w e r e r a t h e r s k e t c h y a n d i n c o m p l e t e a n d d i d n o t c o m p l e t e l y r u l e o u t s e c o n d w i n t e r p l u m a g e d C o m m o n L o o n

008-94-32 W a l l o w a Lake, W a l l o w a Co . , 1 w i n t e r p l u m a g e d b i r d o n 2 9 D e c e m b e r 1994 . Detai ls subm i t t e d a d e q u a t e l y d e s c r i b e d a Yel low-bi l led Loon b u t t h e p h o t o s c r e a t e d s o m e ques t i ons . O t h e r b i r d e r s v is i t ing t h e a r ea a f e w days l a t e r o b s e r v e d a l o o n t h a t a p p e a r e d t o b e t h e b i r d d e s c r i b e d a n d p h o t o g r a p h e d ear-lier.After c l o s e e x a m i n a t i o n it w a s iden t i f i ed as a C o m m o n Loon.As t h e r e w a s s o m e q u e s t i o n o n t h e i den t i f i c a t i on of t h i s b i r d t h e r e c o r d n o t a c c e p t e d .

Fulvous Whistling-Duck 178-95-02 U p p e r C a m p b e l l Lake ,Lake Co . , 2 b i rd s w e r e

o b s e r v e d 18 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 5 . N o t a c c e p t e d as d e s c r i p t i o n s d i d n o t a d e q u a t e l y d e s c r i b e

a Fu lvous Whi s t l i ng -Duck o r c o m p l e t e l y ru l e o u t s imi lar d u c k s p e c i e s .

American Black Duck 133-86-03 Yaqu ina Bay, L inco ln Co . , 1 b i r d o b s e r v e d 7

S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 6 T h e d e s c r i p t i o n s u b m i t t e d i n d i c a t e d t h a t th i s i nd iv idua l w a s a h y b r i d , m o s t p r o b a b l y Mal l a rd X A m e r i c a n Black D u c k . T h e dul l o l ive -green u p p e r m a n d i b l e w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e b l a c k m o t t l i n g p l u s o t h e r p l u m a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s i n d i c a t e h y b r i d . T h e o r ig in of th i s b i r d w a s d i s c u s s e d b u t it w a s n o t t h e r e a s o n th i s r e c o r d w a s n o t a c c e p t e d .

Gyrfalcon 354-96-20

354-95-21

Bayocean S p i t T i l l a m o o k Co . , 1 s u b a d u l t gray p h a s e b i r d o n 1 J a n u a r y 1 9 9 6 . Th i s r e c o r d w a s v e r y br ie f a n d d i d n o t g ive e n o u g h de tail t o c o m p l e t e l y e l i m i n a t e a P e r e g r i n e Falc o n . A large fa lcon in f l ight is v e r y difficult t o identify" t o s p e c i e s . Baske t t s i o u g h N W R , Polk C o . , 1 d a r k b i r d o n 9 N o v e m b e r 1 9 9 5 . Deta i l s of th i s s ighting w a s of a f lying b i r d a n d w a s b a s e d m o r e o n size a n d c o l o r a t i o n t h a n a n y o t h e r field p o i n t . As t h e d e s c r i p t i o n d i d n o t e l i m i n a t e o t h e r large fa lcons t h e r e c o r d w a s n o t acc e p t e d .

Common Moorhen 219-95-07 1-84 eas t of t h e Sandy River, M u l t n o m a h Co . ,

2 adu l t s o n 31 Augus t 1 9 9 5 . T h e d e s c r i p t i o n s u b m i t t e d fit t h a t of adu l t M o o r h e n s . H o w ever, at t h e t i m e of t h e o b s e r v a t i o n n o Amer i c a n C o o t s w e r e o b s e r v e d . Yet t h e n e x t day t h e o b s e r v e r a n d severa l o t h e r b i r d e r s f o u n d t w o juven i l e A m e r i c a n C o o t s o n t h e p o n d w h e r e t h e M o o r h e n s w e r e s e e n ; t h e y c o u l d n o t find a n y M o o r h e n s . T h i s s p e c i e s is v e r y r a r e in O r e g o n , h a s o c c u r r e d on ly as s ing le ind iv idua ls , a n d o n l y d u r i n g t h e s p r i n g . T h e r e c o r d ra ises q u e s t i o n s d e s p i t e t h e g o o d de s c r i p t i o n . T h e C o m m i t t e e d e c i d e d n o t t o a c c e p t t h e r e c o r d .

Curlew Sandpiper 244-95-14 S o u t h J e t t y of t h e C o l u m b i a River, C l a t s o p

Co . . 1 b i r d o n 2 6 A u g u s t 1 9 9 5 . T h e d e s c r i p t i ons s u b m i t t e d a p p e a r e d t o b e t ha t of a Curl e w Sandp ipe r . H o w e v e r , t h e s l ide t a k e n of t h e b i r d s h o w e d c h e s t n u t o r d a r k r e d d i s h ter ta i ls e d g e s a n d a b a c k p a t t e r n i ncons i s t an t w i t h t ha t s p e c i e s . T h e C o m m i t t e e d i d n o t a c c e p t th i s q u e s t i o n a b l e ind iv idua l .

Ross's Gull 061-93-02

Yaqu ina Bay, L inco ln Co . , 1 i m m a t u r e b i r d o n 18-19 Apr i l 1 9 9 3 . T h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h i s i nd iv idua l w a s of a b i r d in t r ans i t i ona l p l u m age . It w a s s e e n a t a d i s t a n c e a n d m a n y identifiable field p o i n t s w e r e n o t s e e n a n d s o m e t h a t w e r e d e s c r i b e d c o u l d w e l l h a v e b e e n d i s t o r t e d b y l igh t ing a n d d i s t a n c e . T h i s re-


p o r t d id n o t c o m p l e t e l y e l i m i n a t e o t h e r s p e c i e s of smal l gul ls .

T h e r e w e r e e n o u g h q u e s t i o n s for t h e C o m m i t t e e t o n o t a c c e p t t h e r e c o r d .

Costa's Hummingbird 430-94-28 A g a t e B e a c h , L inco ln Co . , a m a l e f r o m 10

N o v e m b e r t o 13 D e c e m b e r 1994 . T h e de s c r i p t i o n s s u b m i t t e d d i d n o t c o m p l e t e l y d e s c r i b e a Cos t a ' s H u m m i n g b i r d . T h e f e e d e r a t t r ac t ed a g o o d n u m b e r of Anna ' s H u m m i n g b i r d s a n d t h e r e w a s c o n s i d e r a b l e c o n f u s i o n a n d d i s c u s s i o n d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d of obse r v a t i o n a b o u t a Cos t a ' s ac tua l ly b e i n g t h e r e . B e c a u s e of t h e d o u b t r a i s ed t h e C o m m i t t e e d id n o t a c c e p t t h i s r e c o r d .

Least Flycatcher 467-90-29 T h o r n t o n Creek , L incoln Co. , 1 b i rd o b s e r v e d

2 4 A u g u s t 1 9 9 0 . T h e p l u m a g e d e s c r i p t i o n p r o v i d e d w a s n o t c o m p l e t e e n o u g h t o iden tify a Least F l y c a t c h e r a n d e l i m i n a t e o t h e r E m p i d o n a x s p e c i e s . A p e r s i s t e n t l y ca l l ing b i r d in l a t e A u g u s t is h i g h l y u n u s u a l a n d ra i sed q u e s t i o n s o n w h a t w a s actual ly h e a r d .

Curve-billed Thrasher 707-95-01 T o k e t e e L a k e , D o u g l a s Co . , 1 b i r d o n 12 Ju ly

a n d 1 A u g u s t 1 9 9 5 . T h e d e s c r i p t i o n s g i v e n w e r e c o n t r a d i c t o r y a n d s o m e w h a t i n c o m p l e t e . T h e y d i d n o t r u l e o u t s imi lar t h r a s h e r s p e c i e s t h a t m a y h a v e b e e n in heav i ly w o r n p l u m a g e at t h i s t i m e of year.

Northern Parula 648-93-22 B a y o c e a n P e n i n s u l a , T i l l a m o o k C o . , 1 f ema le

o r i m m a t u r e o n 24 Ju ly 1 9 9 3 . T h e r e w e r e t o o m a n y i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s in t h e d e s c r i p t i o n t o ident i fy th i s b i r d as a N o r t h e r n Paru la a n d e l i m i n a t e o t h e r w a r b l e r s p e c i e s .

648-93-23 F l o r e n c e , Lane C o . , 1 f ema le o n 2 1 A u g u s t 1 9 9 3 T h e o b s e r v a t i o n of th i s b i r d w a s b r i e f a n d t h e c h a n c e of mis - iden t i f i ca t ion g rea t . T h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e b i r d w a s i n c o m p l e t e a n d d id n o t fully e l i m i n a t e o t h e r s p e c i e s of wa rb l e r . 0

August % 1933 - May 1 6 , 1 9 9 8

MEM0R1AM: Janice G. "Jan" Krabbe B o r n in Buffalo, N.Y., r e a r e d in Little R o c k , A r k a n s a s , af ter f in i sh ing h i g h s c h o o l t h e r e s h e e a r n e d a BS d e g r e e a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y of H o u s t o n . J a n m o v e d t o Corval l i s in 1 9 6 5 a n d rec e i v e d a Mas t e r ' s d e g r e e in M a r i n e Biology f rom O r e g o n State Univers i ty in 1 9 6 9 . H e r e m p l o y m e n t , first w i t h t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n A g e n c y t h e n w i t h t h e U.S. D e p a r t m e n t of Agr i c u l t u r e , w a s f o l l o w e d b y 10 y e a r s w i t h t h e S t u d e n t D e v e l o p m e n t Divis ion at L inn -Ben ton C o m m u n i t y college .

She J o i n e d t h e A u d u b o n Soc ie ty of Co rva l l i s i n 1 9 7 8 a n d w a s e l e c t e d S e c r e t a r y i n 1 9 8 0 . A f t e r t h a t s h e s e r v e d as e d i t o r of t h e c h a p t e r n e w s l e t t e r Chat for 2 y e a r s a n d e d i t e d o r co - ed i t ed t h e field n o t e s for 4 y e a r s . D u r i n g t h i s t i m e J a n ass i s t ed in n o n -g a m e b i r d r ehab i l i t a t i on a n d w i t h t h e b l u e b i r d trail b y field t e s t i n g differe n t t y p e s of n e s t b o x e s . T h e March-

Apr i l 1 9 8 4 i s s u e of Bird Watcher's Digest p u b l i s h e d h e r ar t ic le "Rese rved for Blueb i rds . " Jan t o o k p a r t in m a n y C h r i s t m a s B i r d C o u n t s a n d w a s Corval l is A u d u b o n Society 's r e p r e s e n t a t i v e i n h e l p i n g g e t t h e Jackson-Fraz ie rWet land es t ab l i shed as a B e n t o n C o u n t y Park.

In F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 0 s h e w a s e l e c t e d f o u n d i n g S e c r e t a r y of O r e g o n Field O r n i t h o l o g i s t s a n d h e l d t h a t p o s i t i o n for 2 t e r m s . H e r c a m p a i g n s l o g a n w a s "I c a n t y p e 50 b i r d s a m i n u t e ! " Foll o w i n g t h a t s h e w a s e l e c t e d a n O F O b o a r d m e m b e r for 2 a d d i t i o n a l y e a r s . O n e of h e r a c h i e v e m e n t s w a s organ i z i n g t h e first s t a t e w i d e Rare Bird P h o n e N e t w o r k for O F O i n 1 9 8 2 . U n t i l l a s t y e a r , s h e w a s l i s t e d a s co - l e ade r for t h e m o s t b i r d s s e e n in B e n t o n Coun ty . Ce r t a in ly a h i g h l i g h t w a s b e i n g o n e of t h e first g r o u p of o b s e r v e r s t o c o r r e c t l y i den t i fy t h e S p o t t e d R e d s h a n k at t h e s o u t h J e t t y of t h e C o l u m b i a River i n F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 1 . It w a s t h e first S p o t t e d Redsh a n k o n t h e W e s t C o a s t s o u t h of C a n a d a a n d c r e a t e d w i d e s p r e a d interes t .

— Merlin S. (Elzy) Eltzroth, 6980 N.W Cardinal Drive, Corvallis,

OR 97330-9527


Status of Blue-headed and Plumbeous Vireos in Oregon Jim Johnson, 6303 S.E. Ramona Street, Portland, OR 97206 [email protected]

Cass in ' s Vi reo (Vireo cassinii), Blue-h e a d e d V i r e o CV. solitarius) a n d P l u m b e o u s V i r e o (V. plumbeous) w e r e c o n s i d e r e d c o n s p e c i f i c u n d e r t h e n a m e Sol i tary Vi reo (V.solitarius) un t i l Ju ly 1 9 9 7 , w h e n t h e A m e r i c a n O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' U n i o n p u b l i s h e d t h e forty-first s u p p l e m e n t t o t h e Checklist of North American Birds (Amer i c a n O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' U n i o n 1 9 9 7 ) . C a s s i n ' s V i r e o is t h e c o m m o n a n d w i d e s p r e a d b r e e d e r t h r o u g h o u t t h e Pacific N o r t h w e s t , i n c l u d i n g O r e g o n , w h i l e B l u e - h e a d e d a n d P l u m b e o u s Vi reos a re r a r e in t h e s t a t e . T h e l a t t e r 2 s p e c i e s a r e i n c l u d e d o n t h e O r e g o n Bird R e c o r d s C o m m i t t e e ' s ( h e r e a f t e r OBRC) list of r e v i e w s p e c i e s .

In th i s a r t i c le I s u m m a r i z e a n d disc u s s t h e t i m i n g a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n of k n o w n r e p o r t s of B l u e - h e a d e d a n d P l u m b e o u s Vi reos in O r e g o n t h r o u g h fall 1997 , b u t n o a t t e m p t w a s m a d e t o assess t h e val idi ty of t h e s e r e p o r t s . Also, I s u m m a r i z e t h e field ident if icat i o n of B l u e - h e a d e d a n d P l u m b e o u s Vireos.All r e p o r t s in t h e t a b l e s b e l o w re fe r t o s i n g l e b i r d s e x c e p t w h e r e n o t e d . I u s e t h e n a m e "Soli tary Vi reo" in th i s a r t i c le t o re fe r t o all 3 s p e c i e s col lect ively.

Blue-headed Vireo Reports in Oregon T h e B l u e - h e a d e d V i r e o b r e e d s

t h r o u g h o u t m u c h of s o u t h e r n C a n a d a ( w e s t t o n o r t h e a s t e r n Br i t i sh C o l u m bia) , t h e Grea t Lakes reg ion , no r theas t e r n U n i t e d States a n d t h e A p p a l a c h i a n M o u n t a i n s ( A m e r i c a n O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' U n i o n 1 9 8 3 ) .

T h e r e a r e on ly 6 r e p o r t s of Blue-h e a d e d V i r e o in O r e g o n (Table l ) . T h e first 2 r e p o r t s w e r e , amazingly , f o u n d at t h e s a m e l o c a t i o n a l m o s t exac t l y 5 y e a r s apa r t : at B a y o c e a n s a n d s p i t , T i l l a m o o k C o u n t y , b y H a r r y N e h l s o n 4 O c t o b e r 1980 ; a n d b y Jeff Gil l igan a n d Stefan A d o l f s o n o n 5 O c t o b e r 1985 T h r e e add i t iona l fall b i r d s h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d — t w o i n L a k e C o u n t y d u r i n g S e p t e m b e r a n d o n e in D e s c h u t e s C o u n t y in ear ly O c t o b e r . T h e on ly

s p r i n g r e p o r t w a s in 1 9 9 2 w h e n G e r a r d Lillie f o u n d o n e o n Mt. T a b o r in Por t l and , M u l t n o m a h County , o n 29 March .

O n e p u b l i s h e d r e p o r t o f a Blue-h e a d e d Vi reo at M a l h e u r N.W.R. headq u a r t e r s ( A n d e r s o n 1989 ) is n o t inc l u d e d in th i s s u m m a r y b e c a u s e t h e o b s e r v e r is n o w u n s u r e t ha t t h e ident i f ica t ion w a s c o r r e c t .

Plumbeous Vireo Reports in Oregon T h e P l u m b e o u s V i r e o b r e e d s in

G r e a t B a s i n a n d R o c k y M o u n t a i n w o o d l a n d s n o r t h t o s o u t h e r n Mont a n a a n d w e s t t o eas t -cen t ra l Californ ia ( A m e r i c a n O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' U n i o n 1 9 8 3 ) . So far, all O r e g o n r e p o r t s h a v e c o m e f rom eas t of t h e C a s c a d e s cres t . F o r p u r p o s e s of t h i s s u m m a r y o f P l u m b e o u s Vi reo s igh t ings , t h e s p r i n g p e r i o d i s c o n s i d e r e d t o e x t e n d t h r o u g h m i d - J u n e ; t h e s u m m e r o r b r e e d i n g s e a s o n is mid - June t h r o u g h mid-Augus t ; a n d t h e fall p e r i o d s ta r t s in mid-Augus t .

T h e first O r e g o n P l u m b e o u s Vi reo r e p o r t c a m e f rom P l u s h , L a k e C o . , o n 2 8 May 1 9 7 6 b y S teve a n d Prisci l la S u m m e r s (Table 2 ) . T h e s p e c i e s w a s n o t r e p o r t e d a g a i n u n t i l 1 9 9 2 , b u t s i n c e t h e n it h a s b e e n f o u n d a n n u ally in H a r n e y C o u n t y a n d rarely elsew h e r e .

T w e l v e ( 6 0 p e r c e n t ) of t h e 20 Ore g o n r e p o r t s fall w i t h i n t h e s p r i n g p e r i o d , a n d all b u t o n e of t h e s e w e r e r e p o r t e d f r o m H a r n e y C o u n t y mig r a n t t r a p s s u c h as t h e t o w n of Fields a n d t h e M a l h e u r N . W R . h e a d q u a r t e r s . N o t e t h a t s o m e r e c o r d s , in p a r t i c u l a r t h e 22 May-12 J u n e 1 9 9 4 r e p o r t , m a y p e r t a i n t o m o r e t h a n o n e ind iv idua l .

S u m m e r r e p o r t s o f P l u m b e o u s

Vi reos a re s c a r c e w i t h on ly 2 so far: o n e b i r d w a s f o u n d in Fields , H a r n e y County , o n 4 Augus t 1994 b y Maitreya; a n d a p a i r finishing c o n s t r u c t i o n of a n e s t in a c e d a r w a s f o u n d a l o n g Kelly Cr., s o u t h of Lakeview, Lake Co . , o n 13 July 1996 , b y Mike a n d M e r r y Lynn D e n n y . C r a i g Mi l le r ( p e r s . c o m m . ) s e a r c h e d for t h e s e b i r d s o n 24 July 1996 , b u t un fo r tuna te ly , t h e s i te w a s b e i n g l o g g e d a n d t h e v i r e o s w e r e n o t r e l o c a t e d . Gil l igan et al. ( 1 9 9 4 ) m e n t ions , w i t h o u t detai ls , t h a t P l u m b e o u s Vireo has b e e n s e e n d u r i n g t h e b r e e d ing s e a s o n in Umat i l la County , b u t t h e on ly r e c o r d t h a t I c o u l d l o c a t e w a s of a p o s s i b l e i nd iv idua l a l o n g t h e u p p e r Umat i l la River, eas t of G i b b o n , in Ju ly 1994 . H o w e v e r , t h e o b s e r v e r is n o w u n s u r e of t h e s igh t ing , so it is n o t i n c l u d e d for c o n s i d e r a t i o n .

T h e r e m a i n i n g 5 r e p o r t s a re f rom t h e fall p e r i o d f rom la te Augus t t o t h e e n d of S e p t e m b e r , w i t h 2 in H a r n e y County , o n e in Lake Coun ty , o n e in D e s c h u t e s C o u n t y , a n d 2 f r o m W a l l o w a Coun ty .

L i t t l e f i e ld ( 1 9 9 0 ) r e p o r t e d t h a t P l u m b e o u s V i r e o o c c u r r e d o n t h e M a l h e u r N . W R . d u r i n g m i g r a t i o n , b u t t h o s e r e c o r d s w e r e n o t d e t a i l e d so t h e y c o u l d n o t b e i n c l u d e d in t h i s s u m m a r y .

Identification of Blue-headed and Plumbeous Vireos C o m m e n t s r e g a r d i n g t h e field iden

t i f i c a t i o n o f B l u e - h e a d e d a n d P l u m b e o u s Vi reos a n d t h e i r sepa ra t i o n f r o m Cass in ' s V i r eo w e r e largely g l e a n e d f r o m H e i n d e l ( 1 9 9 6 ) . Refer t o t h a t a r t i c le for a m o r e d e t a i l e d disc u s s i o n of iden t i f i ca t ion a n d severa l c o l o r p h o t o g r a p h s .

P o t e n t i a l B l u e - h e a d e d a n d

Table 1. Reports of Blue-headed Vireo in Oregon. DATE LOCATION OBSERVER(S)1

Bayocean sandspit, Tillamook Co. HN Bayocean sandspit, Tillamook Co. JG, SA Mt. Tabor, Portland, Multnomah Co. GL Rosebud Ranch, Summer L. Basin, Lake Co. SS Summer Lake Basin, Lake Co. SS Sawyer Park, Bend, Deschutes Co. TC

SA, Stefan Adolfson; TC, Tom Crabtree; JG, Jeff Gilligan; GL, Gerard Lillie; HN, Harry Nehls; SS, Steve Summers AB, American Birds Field Notes; OB, Oregon Birds Field Notes

DATE 10/04/80 10/05/85

3/29/92 9/09/92 9/13/93

10/03/93

SOURCE2

pers. comm. pers. comm. pers. comm. AB47(1), OB 19(2) AB 48(1), OB 20(2) AB 48(1), OB 20(2)


P l u m b e o u s V i r eos in O r e g o n m u s t b e iden t i f i ed w i t h c a u t i o n a n d e v e r y effort s h o u l d b e m a d e t o o b t a i n p h o t o g r a p h s a n d / o r s o n g r e c o r d i n g s . N o t e t h a t s o m e So l i t a ry V i r e o s , p o s s i b l y h y b r i d s , h a v e i n t e r m e d i a t e cha r ac t e r i s t ics a n d m a y n o t b e i den t i f i ed t o s p e c i e s w i t h c o n f i d e n c e .

K n o w l e d g e of t h e So l i t a ry V i r e o m o l t s c h e d u l e is i m p o r t a n t w h e n identifying a n out-of-range b i r d A d u l t s g o t h r o u g h a c o m p l e t e p r e b a s i c m o l t o n t h e b r e e d i n g g r o u n d s in Ju ly a n d Augus t . T h e r e f o r e , a d u l t s l o o k t h e i r b r i g h t e s t d u r i n g fall m i g r a t i o n , a n d s o m e Cassin 's Vireos, especia l ly males , m a y a p p e a r c l o s e r t o B l u e - h e a d e d . C o n v e r s e l y , s o u t h b o u n d i m m a t u r e B lue -headed Vi reos , genera l ly less colorful t h a n adu l t s , m a y a p p e a r c l o s e r t o Cass in ' s a t t h i s t i m e of year. T h e p r e a l t e r n a t e m o l t b e f o r e s p r i n g mig r a t i o n is pa r t i a l , i nvo lv ing on ly s o m e o f t h e g r e a t e r w i n g c o v e r t s a n d te r t ia l s . B e c a u s e m u c h of t h e p l u m a g e is s e v e r a l m o n t h s o l d d u r i n g s p r i n g m i g r a t i o n a n d m a y b e w o r n a n d faded, s o m e Cass in ' s Vireos at th i s t i m e of y e a r m a y l o o k q u i t e gray a n d c o u l d b e c o n f u s e d w i t h P l u m b e o u s V i r e o . F o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n , s o m e s p r i n g B l u e - h e a d e d Vi reos , e spec i a l l y f e m a l e s , m a y b e f a d e d a n d a p p e a r c l o s e r t o Cass in ' s Vi reo .

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Figure I. Blue-headed Vireo records in dot represents one report.

Blue-headed Vireo Ident i f ica t ion c h a r a c t e r s t o l o o k for

in t h e field i n c l u d e : b lue-gray t o gray h e a d c o n t r a s t i n g sha rp ly w i t h b o t h a s n o w - w h i t e t h r o a t a n d a g r e e n back ; b r i g h t l e m o n o r g r e e n i s h - y e l l o w a l o n g t h e s ides a n d v e n t ; a n d o f t en e x t e n s i v e , c o n t r a s t i n g w h i t e e d g i n g s o n t h e o u t e r t h r e e tail f e a the r s . N o t e t h a t t h e r e is a d e c r e a s e in p l u m a g e b r i g h t n e s s a n d c o n t r a s t f r o m a d u l t m a l e s t o i m m a t u r e females , p a r t i c u larly w i t h r e g a r d t o h e a d c o l o r a t i o n . Any Sol i tary Vi reo w i t h a n o b v i o u s l y b l u e h e a d c a n safely b e ca l l ed a Blue-h e a d e d Vi reo , a n d is l ikely a m a l e .

Cass in ' s Vi reos a re m o r e u n i f o r m l y c o l o r e d w i t h less b r i g h t y e l l o w a n d g r e e n t o n e s a n d d i n g i e r w h i t e t h r o a t a n d b reas t , w i t h softer, diffuse h e a d / b a c k a n d h e a d / t h r o a t c o n t r a s t s . Sepa

r a t i on of b r i g h t Cass in 's a n d dul l Blue-h e a d e d Vi r eos c a n b e v e r y difficult w i t h o u t c o m p a r a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e so a lways u s e a c o m b i n a t i o n of c h a r a c t e r s t o m a k e t h e iden t i f i ca t ion ( s e e t h e n o t e a b o v e r e g a r d i n g m o l t ) .

O t h e r m o r e subjec t ive fea tures m a y b e useful . T h e s o n g of B l u e - h e a d e d Vi reo is gene ra l ly s w e e t e r a n d m o r e mus ica l , w i t h o u t t h e sl ight b u r r y quality of Cass in ' s .This d i f f e rence is c o m p l i c a t e d , h o w e v e r , b y t h e fact t h a t t h e r e is a e a s t - w e s t c l i n e in B lue -h e a d e d Vi reo songs , b e i n g c l e a r e r in t h e e a s t a n d b u r r y i n t h e w e s t e r n p o r t i o n s of t h e s p e c i e s ' r a n g e ( J ames 1 9 8 1 ) . S o n g d i f f e r e n c e s a r e h i g h l y s u b j e c t i v e e v e n w i t h c o m p a r a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e . B l u e - h e a d e d Vi reo is sa id t o b e m o r e s e d a t e t h a n Cass in ' s w i t h less wing-f l ick ing .

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Figure 2. Plumbeous Vireo records in Oregon. Each dot, and each pair of dots connected by a dotted line, represents one report.

Plumbeous Vireo Fie ld i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c h a r a c t e r s of

P l u m b e o u s V i r e o i n c l u d e : all g r a y h e a d a n d b a c k ; w h i t e e d g i n g s t o t h e f l ight f e a t h e r s , r a t h e r t h a n g r e e n i s h as in Cass in ' s : a n d d i n g y u n d e r p a r t s ( a s ide f rom a b o l d w h i t e t h r o a t ) w i t h a g r a y i s h w a s h a l o n g t h e f l a n k s . T h o u g h essent ia l ly a g ray -and-whi t e spec i e s , s o m e m a y h a v e a sl ight g reenish t inge to t h e r u m p , olive at t h e s ides of t h e b r e a s t o r p a l e y e l l o w a l o n g t h e l o w e r f l anks . B e w a r e of f a d e d a n d w o r n s p r i n g Cass in ' s V i r e o s w h i c h c a n l o o k q u i t e gray, b u t c l o s e i n s p e c t i o n s h o u l d r e v e a l f a i n t g r e e n i s h e d g e s o n t h e f l ight fea thers , a n d s o m e g r e e n i s h t o n e s o n t h e b a c k a n d / o r s ides . J u s t as w i t h B l u e - h e a d e d Vireo , P l u m b e o u s Vi reo f l icks i ts w i n g s less t h a n Cass in ' s Vi reo .

T h e G r a y V i r e o (V. viciniof), alt h o u g h u n r e c o r d e d in O r e g o n , is superficial ly s imi lar t o P l u m b e o u s Vi reo a n d h a s a c h a n c e of o c c u r r i n g in t h e s t a t e . O n t h e face , t h e Gray Vi reo h a s a t h i n w h i t e e y e r i n g a n d p a l e g ray lores , r a t h e r t h a n t h e b o l d w h i t e spec tac les a n d d a r k lo re s of P l u m b e o u s Vi reo . Also, Gray Vi reos typ ica l ly differ in h a v i n g o n l y o n e w e l l - f o r m e d w i n g b a r o n t h e g r e a t e r w i n g cove r t s , r a t h e r t h a n t w o b o l d w h i t e w i n g b a r s

Discussion T h e B l u e - h e a d e d Vi reo is c lear ly a

v a g r a n t in O r e g o n , p r i m a r i l y d u r i n g fall m i g r a t i o n . R e p o r t s of t h i s s p e c i e s a re spl i t b e t w e e n w e s t e r n a n d easte r n O r e g o n , b u t t h e r e is o n l y o n e s p r i n g r e c o r d — t h e r e s t f o u n d dur i n g fall m ig ra t i on . It is i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t t h e r e a r e n o B l u e - h e a d e d V i r e o r e c o r d s f r o m t h e w e l l - b i r d e d m i g r a n t t r a p s of H a r n e y C o u n t y s u c h as t h e M a l h e u r N. W R . h e a d q u a r t e r s a n d t h e t o w n of F ie lds , l o n g p o p u l a r w i t h n o r t h w e s t e r n b i r d e r s l ook ing for easte r n v a g r a n t s .A s ignif icant p e r c e n t a g e of O r e g o n ' s v a g r a n t w a r b l e r r e c o r d s c o m e f rom t h e s e m i g r a n t t r a p s , so it s e e m s n a t u r a l t o a s s u m e t h a t m o r e B l u e - h e a d e d Vi reos w o u l d b e f o u n d t h e r e as w e l l . T h e r e is n o e x p l a n a t i o n for t h i s a p p a r e n t anomaly .

T h e Basin a n d R a n g e a r ea of s o u t h eas t O r e g o n s e e m s t o b e jus t at t h e f r inge, o r jus t o u t s i d e , t h e P l u m b e o u s V i r e o ' s k n o w n b r e e d i n g r a n g e , b u t th i s s p e c i e s h a s b e e n f o u n d annua l l y in th i s r eg ion ' s mig ran t t r a p s in r e c e n t y e a r s , w i t h 6 0 p e r c e n t r e p o r t e d f rom t h e p e r i o d of mid-May t o mid-June . O n l y 3 of t h e 20 r e p o r t s w e r e f r o m a rea s o u t s i d e H a r n e y a n d Lake C o u n t i e s . M o r e i n t e n s i v e s e a r c h i n g m a y p r o v e t h a t t h e P l u m b e o u s Vi reo is a regular , t h o u g h u n c o m m o n , b r e e d e r in s o u t h e a s t O r e g o n , as s u g g e s t e d b y i ts a n n u a l o c c u r r e n c e a n d o n e c o n firmed b r e e d i n g a t t e m p t .

A l s o o f i n t e r e s t i s t h a t t h e P l u m b e o u s V i r e o w a s l a rge ly u n r e p o r t e d in O r e g o n un t i l 1 9 9 2 , e x c e p t for t h e 1 9 7 6 r e p o r t . Th i s w a s a b o u t w h e n r u m o r s of a p o t e n t i a l spl i t of t h e So l i t a ry V i r e o w e r e f irst g o i n g a r o u n d , a n d p e r h a p s th i s e n c o u r a g e d m a n y b i r d e r s t o real ly s ta r t l o o k i n g . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , P l u m b e o u s Vi reo is typ ica l ly d i s t i nc t e n o u g h f rom o u r familiar Cassin 's Vireo t ha t I t h i n k t h e y w o u l d b e diff icult t o o v e r l o o k . Ano t h e r poss ib l e e x p l a n a t i o n for t h e r ise i n P l u m b e o u s V i r e o r e p o r t s is t h a t t h e y a r e e x p a n d i n g t h e i r r a n g e i n t o s o u t h e a s t e r n O r e g o n f r o m N e v a d a a n d I d a h o , b u t on ly t i m e c a n c o n f i r m th i s h y p o t h e s i s .

If t h e P l u m b e o u s V i r e o d o e s ex p a n d its b r e e d i n g r a n g e i n t o e a s t e r n O r e g o n , it w i l l b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o s e e h o w it wi l l affect b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n s of Cass in ' s V i reo . T h e p r e s e n t b r e e d i n g s t a t u s of Cass in ' s V i r eo in s o u t h e a s t O r e g o n is s o m e w h a t u n -


clear, h o w e v e r : Littlefield ( 1 9 9 0 ) m e n t i o n s t h a t h e h a s f o u n d n e s t i n g Solit a r y Vi reos o n S t e e n s Mtn . in a n asp e n - j u n i p e r a s soc i a t ion , b u t d o e s n ' t s t a t e w h i c h f o r m t h e y w e r e ; Marsha l l ( 1 9 8 7 ) d o e s n ' t m e n t i o n a n y b i r d s of t h e S o l i t a r y V i r e o c o m p l e x b e i n g f o u n d o n 4 r anges , i n c l u d i n g S t eens , i n s o u t h e r n H a r n e y a n d M a l h e u r C o u n t i e s ; a n d C o n t r e r a s a n d K i n d s c h y ( 1 9 9 6 ) s t a t e t h a t Cass in ' s Vi reo b r e e d s on ly in t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n c o r n e r of M a l h e u r Coun ty .

Caveat Is it jus t c o i n c i d e n c e t h a t m o s t re

p o r t s of B lue -headed Vi reo h a v e c o m e in fall, w h e n Cass in ' s V i r eo m a y l o o k m o r e "b lue -headed" a n d colorful? And, is it j u s t c o i n c i d e n c e t h a t m o s t r e p o r t s of P l u m b e o u s Vi reo h a v e c o m e in la te s p r i n g , w h e n Cass in ' s V i r eo is in i ts m o s t w o r n p l u m a g e a n d l o o k s m o s t " p l u m b e o u s " ? D o t h e s e r e p o r t s r e p r e s e n t t h e n o r m a l p a t t e r n of oc c u r r e n c e of t h e s e s p e c i e s in O r e g o n ? It is p o s s i b l e t h a t s o m e r e p o r t s o f B l u e - h e a d e d a n d P l u m b e o u s V i r eos f rom O r e g o n are i n c o r r e c t . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , s o m e of t h e d r a b B l u e - h e a d e d Vi r eos ( s p r i n g a d u l t s a n d fa l l i m m a t u r e s ) a n d b r i g h t e r P l u m b e o u s Vi reos in fall p r o b a b l y h a v e b e e n o v e r l o o k e d . It wi l l b e intere s t i n g t o s e e h o w o u r und e r s t a n d i n g of t h e s e spe c ies ' o c c u r r e n c e in O r e g o n e v o l v e s o v e r t h e c o m i n g yea r s .

O b s e r v e r s a r e a s k e d t o c o n s i d e r t h e fo l lowing fact o r s w h e n v i e w i n g a p o s s i b l e B l u e - h e a d e d o r P l u m b e o u s V i r e o i n O r e g o n a n d s e p a r a t i n g i t f rom Cass in ' s Vi reo :

• p l u m a g e v a r i a t i o n b y s e a s o n ( b r i g h t e r , f r e s h -p l u m a g e d adu l t s in t h e fall, a n d duller, w o r n - p l u m a g e d b i r d s in t h e s p r i n g ) ;

• p l u m a g e va r i a t i on b y age a n d s e x ( a d u l t s gene r a l ly m o r e c o l o r f u l t h a n i m m a t u r e s , m a l e s genera l ly m o r e c o l o r f u l t h a n fema le s ) ; a n d

• h a v e y o u r e c e n t l y o b s e r v e d s e v e r a l C a s s i n ' s

Vi reos at t h e s a m e t i m e of y e a r for c o m p a r i s o n ?

C o n t i n u e d careful o b s e r v a t i o n a n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n b y b i r d e r s m a y s h e d s o m e l igh t o n t h e t r u e s t a tu s of t h e s e s p e c i e s in O r e g o n .

Acknowledgments I t h a n k e v e r y o n e w h o c o n t r i b u t e d

O r e g o n r e p o r t s , a n d Mat t H u n t e r j e f f Gil l igan a n d David Bailey for p rov id i n g m a n y h e l p f u l c o m m e n t s o n a n ear ly draft of th i s a r t ic le .

LITERATURE CITED A m e r i c a n O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' U n i o n .

1 9 8 3 . Check-List of N o r t h A m e r i c a n Birds. Sixth E d A m e r i c a n Orn i t ho lo g is t s ' U n i o n .

A m e r i c a n O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' U n i o n . 1 9 9 7 . Forty-first s u p p l e m e n t t o t h e A m e r i c a n O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' U n i o n Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk 1 1 4 : 5 4 2 - 5 5 2 .

A n d e r s o n , D.A. 1 9 8 9 . FIELDNOTES: E a s t e r n O r e g o n , Fall 1 9 8 8 . Oregon Birds 1 5 ( 2 ) : 1 1 3 - H 9 .

C o n t r e r a s A - a n d R.R. Kindschy . 1996 .

Birds of M a l h e u r Coun ty , O r e g o n a n d t h e A d j a c e n t S n a k e R ive r Isl a n d s of I d a h o . O r e g o n Field Orn i t h o l o g i s t s Spec ia l P u b l i c a t i o n N o . 8.

Gil l igan, J, M. Smi th , D. Roge r s , a n d A. C o n t r e r a s , e d i t o r s . 1 9 9 4 . B i rd of O r e g o n : S t a t u s a n d D i s t r i b u t i o n . C inc lus P u b l i c a t i o n s , McMinnvi l l e , O r e g o n .

H e i n d e l , M.T. 1 9 9 6 . Fie ld Ident i f icat i o n of t h e Sol i tary V i reo C o m p l e x . Birding 2 8 ( 6 ) : 4 5 8 - 4 7 1 .

J a m e s , R.D. 1 9 8 1 . F a c t o r s Affec t ing Var i a t ion in t h e P r i m a r y S o n g of N o r t h A m e r i c a n Soli tary Vi reos . Canadian Journal of Zoology 5 9 : 2 0 0 1 - 2 0 0 9 .

Littlefield, C D . 1990 .B i rds of M a l h e u r N a t i o n a l Wildlife Refuge , O r e g o n . O r e g o n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , Corval l i s , O r e g o n .

Marshal l , D.B. 1 9 8 7 . C o m p a r a t i v e Bird O b s e r v a t i o n s f rom S teens , P u e b l o , T r o u t C r e e k a n d O r e g o n C a n y o n M o u n t a i n s . Oregon Birds 13(2 ) :193 -209 . 0

Table 2. Reports of Plumbeous Vireo in Oregon. DATE LOCATION OBSERVER(S)1 SOURCE2

5/28/76 Plush, Lake Co. S&PS fide CM 5/25/92 Frenchglen, Harney Co. JG.GL.HN AB 46(3), OB 18(4) 6/05/93 Andrews, Harney Co. JG,HN OB 20(1) 6/07/93 Malheur N.W.R. hq, Harney Co. TJ.DvdB OB 20(1) 9/03/93 near Joseph, Wallowa Co. CC,JSt OB 20(2) 9/17/93 Hatch, Wallowa Co. CC,JSt OB 20(2)

5/22/94- Fields, Harney Co. JG,DB,JJ,TC,AM,HN,M AB 48(3), OB 20(4) 6/12/94

8/04/94 Fields, Harney Co. M pers. comm. 8/23/94- Fields, Harney Co.3 M pers. comm.

8/26/94 9/17/94 Indian Ford Cmpgrnd, Desch. Co. DS fide CM 5/20/95 Fields, Harney Co. M pers. comm.

5/28/95- Malheur N.W.R. hq, Harney Co.3 JSi,AM,JJ,M OB 22(1) 6/04/95

6/02/95 Fields, Harney Co. M pers. comm. 6/12/95 Fields, Harney Co. DB.JJ AB 49(5), OB 22(1) 9/30/95 Malheur N.W.R. hq, Harney Co. AM OB 22(2)

5/24/96- Malheur N.W.R. hq, Harney Co. RK,JJ,JG,TJ,HN,TK OB 22(4) 5/26/96

7/13/96 Kelly Cr, Lake Co. (pair at nest) M&MD OB 23(1) 5/23/97- Fields, Harney Co. M,M&MD pers. comm.

5/25/97 5/26/97- Malheur N.W.R. hq, Harney Co. RK,SR pers. comm.

5/31/97 6/03/97 9 mi. n. of Buchanon, Harney Co. JL pers. comm.

DB, David Bailey; DvdB, Dan van den Broek; CC, Craig Corder; M&MD, Mike & Merry Lynn Denny; JG, Jeff Gilligan; TJ, Tim Janzen; JJ, Jim Johnson; RK, Ray Korpi; GL, Gerard Lillie; JL, John Lundsten, AM, Alan McGie; M, Maitreya; HN, Harry Nehls; SR, Skip Russell, JSi, Jamie Simmons; DS, Dave Stesjkal; JSt, Judy Stevens; S&PS, Steve & Priscilla Summers

AB, American Birds Field Notes; CM, Craig Miller; OB, Oregon Birds Field Notes May pertain to more than one bird.


Greater White-fronted Geese at rest in a field in the Klamath Basin. Photo/Don Hummel.

Yukon Delta

Gulf of Alaska

Basin & Delta Doug Foster, 189 Myer Creek Road, Ashland OR 97520

Klamath Basin

T h e K l a m a t h Basin a n d Y u k o n De l t a a r e l i n k e d b y w a t e r f o w l . Mil l ions of a c r e s of w e t l a n d s a n d r o a d l e s s t un d r a m a k e t h e Y u k o n De l t a in w e s t e r n Alaska t h e m o s t p r o d u c t i v e w a t e r f o w l b r e e d i n g g r o u n d s in N o r t h A m e r i c a . T h o u s a n d s of m i l e s t o t h e s o u t h o n t h e Cal i forn ia-Oregon bo rde r , t h e Klam a t h Basin is a f u n n e l for 8 0 p e r c e n t of w a t e r f o w l m i g r a t i n g a l o n g t h e Pacific f lyway. Five federa l w a t e r f o w l refuges a n d t e n s of t h o u s a n d s of a c r e s of g ra in f ields a n d m a r s h e s m a k e t h e Basin a cr i t ica l s t ag ing a r ea for d u c k s , g e e s e , a n d s w a n s m i g r a t i n g a l o n g t h e Pacific flyway.

T h e Y u k o n De l t a — w h i c h e n c o m p a s s e s t h e b r o a d o u t l e t s of Alaska 's 2 l a r g e s t r i v e r s , t h e Y u k o n a n d K u s k o k w i m — i s a v a s t , f l a t w e t l a n d - t u n d r a c o m p l e x u n d e r l a i n w i t h p e r m a f r o s t a n d d o t t e d w i t h c o u n t l e s s p o n d s , l akes , a n d m e a n d e r i n g r ivers . Mos t of th i s l and lies w i t h i n t h e p r o t e c t i v e b o u n d a r i e s o f t h e 26-miI l ion a c r e Y u k o n De l t a Na t i ona l Wildlife Refuge . T h e D e l t a p r o v i d e s h a b i t a t for all 4 of N o r t h A m e r i c a ' s f lyways, b u t t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e of t h e mi l l i on d u c k s a n d half-mil l ion g e e s e

t h a t annua l ly n e s t in t h e De l t a a re f r o m t h e Pacific flyway.

Sky-b lacken ing swi r l s of m i g r a t i n g d u c k s a n d g e e s e c a n s o m e t i m e s still b e s e e n in Fall in t h e K l a m a t h Basin — for th i s is w h e r e t h e Pacific f lyway c o n s t r i c t s , l ike t h e w a i s t of a n h o u r glass . W a t e r f o w l w e r e o n c e d r a w n t o t h e i m m e n s e , s h a l l o w l a k e s a n d m a r s h e s t ha t filled th i s in land p l a t eau . M o s t of t h e s e w e t l a n d s w e r e d r a i n e d i n r e c l a m a t i o n p r o j e c t s , a n d t o d a y fields of alfalfa a n d g ra in g r o w o n t h e r e c l a i m e d l a n d s . Migra t ing w a t e r f o w l a re n o w d r a w n t o t h e Basin ' s c r o p lands ; t h e re fuges t h e r e c o o p e r a t i v e l y f a r m p a r t of t h e i r l a n d a n d l eave a t h i r d of t h e c r o p s o n t h e g r o u n d as h i g h e n e r g y food for w a t e r f o w l .

Historical ly, t h e K l a m a t h Basin h a s b e e n t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t Fall s t a g i n g a r e a in t h e Pacif ic f l y w a y for b o t h Cack l ing C a n a d a G e e s e a n d G r e a t e r Whi t e - f ron ted G e e s e . B o t h s p e c i e s fly n o n - s t o p for 2 0 0 0 mi l e s f rom Alaska t o O r e g o n , c ro s s ing t h e Gulf of Alaska a n d m a k i n g land-fall at t h e m o u t h of t h e C o l u m b i a River. In S e p t e m b e r , w h e n t h e g r a i n f i e lds a r e g o l d e n , w a v e s ofWhi te - f ronts d e s c e n d o n t h e

' f t ,

K l a m a t h Bas in b y t h e t h o u s a n d s , a n d b l u e a u t u m n skies se t off t h e i r o r a n g e feet a n d b lack-and- w h i t e be l l i es . In O c t o b e r , C a c k l i n g C a n a d a G e e s e arr i v e a n d t h e i r o f t - r e p e a t e d , h i g h -p i t c h e d "luk-luk, luk- luks" fill t h e air.

C a c k l i n g C a n a d a G e e s e , a w e s t e r n s u b - s p e c i e s o f t h e C a n a d a G o o s e f o u n d on ly in t h e Pacific f l y w a y a re t h e s m a l l e s t of t h e w h i t e - c h e e k e d g e e s e — on ly s l ight ly h e a v i e r t h a n a Mallard. T h e y a re c o m m o n l y k n o w n as c a c k l e r s b e c a u s e t h e i r shri l l cal ls s o u n d l ike l augh te r . Historical ly, o v e r 6 0 p e r c e n t of t h e w o r l d ' s p o p u l a t i o n g a t h e r e d a t Tule Lake N a t i o n a l Wildlife Refuge in t h e K l a m a t h Bas in e a c h Fall b e f o r e c o n t i n u i n g s o u t h t o w i n t e r in California 's S a c r a m e n t o a n d San J u a q u i n V a l l e y s . R e c e n t l y , m o s t c a c k l e r s h a v e b e e n w i n t e r i n g i n


n o r t h e r n O r e g o n ' s W i l l a m e t t e Valley; o n l y 1 5 , 0 0 0 c a c k l e r s c o n g r e g a t e d in t h e Tu l e Lake Refuge in N o v e m b e r 1 9 9 7 . O v e r h u n t i n g i n t h e n i n e -t een - s ix t i e s a n d s e v e n t i e s d e c i m a t e d Cack l ing C a n a d a G e e s e , c u t t i n g t h e i r n u m b e r s b y 9 0 p e r c e n t — b u t a 10-y e a r s t r ic t h u n t i n g b a n h a s i n c r e a s e d t h e i r p o p u l a t i o n t o 2 0 5 , 0 0 0 .

T h e b e s t p l a c e in t h e K l a m a t h Bas in t o s e e c a c k l e r s in N o v e m b e r , acc o r d i n g t o K l a m a t h Bas in N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e w i l d l i f e b i o l o g i s t Dave Mauser , is a l o n g t h e Tu le Lake re fuge t o u r r o u t e , w h e r e t h e g e e s e f eed o n alfalfa a n d g r e e n - s p r o u t i n g w i n t e r w h e a t . In N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 7 , a f l o c k o f 4 0 , 0 0 0 C a c k l i n g C a n a d a G e e s e w a s s e e n f eed ing in o n e alfalfa field n e a r Tu le Lake. ( W h i l e t h e mat u r e c a c k l e r s favor c a r b o h y d r a t e - r i c h g r a i n s e e d s , i m m a t u r e b i r d s f a v o r p r o t e i n - r i c h g r e e n forage . )

O n e of t h e la rges t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f W h i t e - f r o n t e d G e e s e i n N o r t h A m e r i c a o c c u r s in t h e K l a m a t h Basin, w h e r e m o s t of t h e Pacific p o p u l a t i o n g a t h e r s i n l a t e O c t o b e r a n d e a r l y N o v e m b e r . T h e s e Pacific f lyway g e e s e also suffered a n 8 0 - p e r c e n t p o p u l a t i o n d e c l i n e f rom o v e r h u n t i n g a f e w y e a r s a g o , b u t t h e i r n u m b e r s h a v e

r e b o u n d e d t o 3 1 8 , 0 0 0 . I n ear ly Nov e m b e r w h e n t h e i r n u m b e r s p e a k in t h e Basin, y o u c a n e x p e c t t o s e e a b o u t 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 W h i t e - f r o n t s at Tule Lake refu g e , a c c o r d i n g t o D a v e M a u s e r . T h e s e g e e s e p r e f e r t o f o r a g e i n b a r l e y s t u b b l e f i e l d s , e s p e c i a l l y f l o o d i n g fields w h e r e w a t e r lifts b a r l e y s e e d s w i t h i n ea sy r e a c h .

After s t ag ing in t h e K l a m a t h Basin t h e s e g e e s e fly s o u t h t o w i n t e r in Cal i fornia 's Cen t r a l Valley, w i t h s o m e Whi t e - f ron t s c o n t i n u i n g o n s o u t h t o M e x i c o . T h e y b e g i n m o v i n g b a c k n o r t h in F e b r u a r y — b u t in a m o r e g radua l , less c o n c e n t r a t e d m i g r a t i o n t h a n in Fall. In Sp r ing t h e y a re scatt e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e Basin, as h u n t ing p r e s s u r e d o e s n o t d r ive t h e m t o t h e safety of t h e refuges.A g o o d p l a c e t o see cack le r s a n d Whi te- f ronts in t h e K l a m a t h Basin in Apri l , a c c o r d i n g t o Mauser , is t h e Mil ler I s l and Wildlife M a n a g e m e n t Area s o u t h of K l a m a t h Falls.

T h e Y u k o n D e l t a is t h e n e s t i n g g r o u n d for v i r tua l ly all t h e w o r l d ' s Cack l ing C a n a d a G e e s e a n d for m o s t of t h e Pacific p o p u l a t i o n of G r e a t e r W h i t e - f r o n t e d G e e s e . In May, w h e n t h e t u n d r a is o f t en still c o v e r e d w i t h s n o w a n d t h e lakes a re jus t b e g i n n i n g

t o o p e n , t h e s e g e e s e d e s c e n d o n t h e De l t a t o n e s t .White-fronts a re t h e first t o n e s t , a n d s o m e t i m e s l a t e s n o w s t o r m s c o v e r t h e b a c k s of t h e s e incub a t i n g g e e s e .

T h e p r i n c i p a l d u c k s p e c i e s t o n e s t o n t h e De l t a a r e G r e e n - w i n g e d Teal, G r e a t e r S c a u p , a n d N o r t h e r n Pintai ls . A b o u t 5 p e r c e n t of t h e P in t a i l s in N o r t h A m e r i c a n e s t o n t h e Delta; o v e r t h r e e - q u a r t e r s of t h e s e Pinta i ls mig r a t e t o California t o w i n t e r . Pintai ls , t h e m o s t a b u n d a n t d u c k in t h e Pacific f l y w a y a r e o n e of t h e first d u c k s t o mig ra t e s o u t h in Fall; a n d t h e y a re also o n e of t h e first t o r e t u r n n o r t h in Spr ing . Early arr ivals at t h e De l t a feed o n t h e t u n d r a ' s o v e r - w i n t e r e d b lue b e r r i e s a n d c r o w b e r r i e s .

T w o i m p o r t a n t p i n t a i l m i g r a t i o n c o r r i d o r s t h a t c o n n e c t Alaska a n d t h e K l a m a t h Basin a re a n i n l a n d r o u t e via A lbe r t a a n d a coas t a l r o u t e f r o m t h e t i p of t h e Alaska P e n i n s u l a d i r e c t t o t h e K l a m a t h Basin, a c r o s s a c o r n e r of t h e Pacific O c e a n . N o r t h e r n Pinta i ls m a s s in t h e Basin in p e a k n u m b e r s in ear ly N o v e m b e r , a c c o r d i n g t o Mauser, a n d y o u c a n t h e n e x p e c t t o s e e a b o u t Tundra Swans on snow-covered ice, Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Siskiyou Co., CA. Photo/ Otis Swisher.


3 0 0 , 0 0 0 p in t a i l s at L o w e r K l a m a t h Na t iona l Wildlife Refuge. ( T h e US Fish andWild l i fe Serv ice c e n s u s at t h e e n d of O c t o b e r 1 9 9 7 c o u n t e d 5 7 0 , 0 0 0 N o r t h e r n Pin ta i l s at L o w e r K l a m a t h Re fuge ) . After s t a g i n g in t h e Basin , Pinta i ls fly o n s o u t h t o w i n t e r in t h e C a l i f o r n i a ' s C e n t r a l Va l l ey , w i t h smal le r n u m b e r s c o n t i n u i n g o n t o t h e w e s t Coas t of M e x i c o .

T h e Y u k o n De l t a p r o v i d e s n e s t i n g h a b i t a t f o r 4 5 p e r c e n t o f t h e c o n t i n e n t ' s T u n d r a S w a n s . In t h e first w e e k s of M a y T u n d r a S w a n s a r r ive at t h e De l t a a n d b e g i n t o b u i l d n e s t s alm o s t as s o o n as t h e y l and . Eighty pe r c e n t of n e s t i n g s w a n s o n t h e De l t a s e l ec t s i tes o n smal l i s l ands in l akes o r o n t h e s h o r e s of l akes a n d p o n d s w i t h i n 2 0 y a r d s of t h e w a t e r ; t h e r e s t p i c k h u m m o c k s i n m a r s h e s , h e a t h t u n d r a w i t h i n 100 ya rd s of w a t e r or, m o r e rarely, l eve l m e a d o w a reas .

Mos t T u n d r a S w a n s t h a t n e s t o n t h e De l t a w i n t e r in t h e Pacific flyway. Mig r a t i n g s w a n s s ta r t t o leave t h e De l t a in m i d - S e p t e m b e r , a l t h o u g h s o m e rem a i n un t i l f reeze u p in O c t o b e r . T h e i r Fall m i g r a t i o n is m o r e le i sure ly t h a n in Sp r ing — t h e T u n d r a S w a n s g radually m o v e s o u t h as f r e e z e - u p over t akes t h e m . T h e y are in te r io r migran ts , u s i n g t h e s a m e c o r r i d o r s Fall a n d

S p r i n g , m i g r a t i n g t h r o u g h A l b e r t a . M o s t Pac i f ic f l y w a y T u n d r a S w a n s s t age a t G r e a t Salt Lake e n r o u t e t o Cal i fornia ' s C e n t r a l Valley, b u t la rge n u m b e r s v e e r f rom A l b e r t a t o s t age at t h e K l a m a t h Basin b e f o r e c o n t i n u i n g s o u t h t o t h e i r w i n t e r i n g g r o u n d s . T h e y d o n ' t a r r ive in t h e Basin in sub s tant ia l n u m b e r s un t i l ea r ly D e c e m ber .

In t h e Pacific f l y w a y T u n d r a S w a n s a re t h e last t o a r r ive in Fall a n d t h e first t o leave aga in for t h e i r b r e e d i n g g r o u n d s in t h e n o r t h . W i t h t h e first Sp r ing t h a w , T u n d r a S w a n s b e c o m e res t less a n d b e g i n t o p u s h n o r t h . T h e y usua l ly b e g i n t o leave c e n t r a l Californ i a i n m i d - F e b r u a r y a n d w i t h i n 3 w e e k s a lmos t all h a v e d e p a r t e d . M a n y n o r t h - b o u n d T u n d r a S w a n s s t age in t h e K l a m a t h Basin in t h e Spr ing ; b u t b y m i d - M a r c h t h e y a re d e p a r t i n g t h e Basin o n t h e i r n o r t h e r l y m i g r a t i o n .

T h e b e s t t i m e t o s e e T u n d r a S w a n s in t h e Basin is ear ly t o mid-Februa ry , a c c o r d i n g t o Mauser , for t h e y s t age t h e r e in g r e a t e s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in Spr ing . You c a n e x p e c t t o s e e 5 0 0 0 t o 1 0 , 0 0 0 t h e n , a l t h o u g h p e a k n u m b e r s o f t en e x c e e d 3 0 , 0 0 0 . ( T h e U.S. F i sh a n d Wi ld l i f e S e r v i c e K l a m a t h Basin w a t e r f o w l s u r v e y for 17 Feb ru a r y 1 9 8 8 , c o u n t e d 1 9 , 1 4 0 T u n d r a

S w a n s just at L o w e r K l a m a t h Na t iona l Wildlife Refuge . ) In Februa ry , f l ocks of T u n d r a S w a n s t r a c e o b l i q u e w h i t e l ines ac ross t h e Basin 's skies: t h e i r big, w h i t e w i n g s b e a t a s low, s teady, shall o w c a d e n c e , t h e i r l oud , e e r i e " h o o -ing" cal ls f l o w c o n s t a n t l y a c r o s s t h e a i r — e a c h n o t e p r e c e d e d b y a w h e e z y , w h i s t l i n g e x h a l a t i o n . T h e s ights a n d s o u n d s of mig ra t i ng s w a n s , o n c e e x p e r i e n c e d , a re n e v e r forgott e n .

T h e K l a m a t h Basin is h o m e t o t h e first w a t e r f o w l re fuge c r e a t e d in th i s c o u n t r y : P r e s i d e n t T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t se t a s ide L o w e r K l a m a t h N a t i o n a l Wildlife Refuge in 1 9 0 8 T h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r R o o s e v e l t s e t a s i d e l a n d in t h e Y u k o n De l t a as a p r e s e r v e a n d b r e e d i n g g r o u n d for b i rds . Th i s a r e a w a s g r e a t l y e x p a n d e d in t h e n i n e t e e n - t w e n t i e s , th i r t ies , s ixt ies , a n d e i g h t i e s ; a n d n o w t h e Y u k o n D e l t a Na t i ona l Wildlife Refuge is m o r e t h a n 100 t i m e s t h e s ize of all t h e federa l re fuges in t h e K l a m a t h Basin . But today — as h a s b e e n t r u e for m i l l e n n i a — b o t h Basin a n d De l t a a r e c r i t i ca l l inks in t h e Pacific flyway. 0

Tundra Swan closeup, Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Siskiyou Co., CA. Photo/Otis Swisher.


Birding the mouth of New River, Coos Co., Oregon David J. Lauten, Suite 130, 181 S.Broadway, Coos Bay, OR 97420 [email protected] T h e r e a r e 2 r e l a t i v e l y e a s y a c c e s s p o i n t s t o N e w River. Travel ing s o u t h of B a n d o n o n Hwy. 101 t h e r e is a Wildlife Pa rk a n d Z o o . I m m e d i a t e l y after t h e p a r k i n g lo t of t h e p a r k is L o w e r F o u r Mile Road .Tu rn r igh t here .Travel o n th i s r o a d a n d it wi l l b e c o m e gravel, c u r v e p a s t s e v e r a l h o u s e s , a n d s t r a i g h t e n t o w a r d t h e d u n e s t o t h e w e s t . T h e r o a d b e n d s sha rp ly t o t h e r i g h t w i t h a d r i v e w a y a n d h o u s e con t inu ing s t ra ight a h e a d . O n t h e left s ide of t h e p r i v a t e d r i v e w a y is a f e n c e d 2-r u t t e d r o a d t h a t l e ads i n t o a f ie ld .Just t o t h e s o u t h is a n o t h e r p r i v a t e resid e n c e . T h i s field is t h e p r o p e r t y of t h e BLM, a n d is a p u b l i c a c c e s s p o i n t t o N e w River. Park a l o n g t h e r o a d a n d f e n c e , b u t p a r k c l ea r of t h e p r i v a t e dr iveway.

Walk t h r o u g h t h e f e n c e a l o n g t h e r u t t e d o l d r o a d , a n d f o l l o w it o u t t h r o u g h t h e field. K e e p w a l k i n g w e s t w h e n t h e grass g e t s t h i ck . S o o n y o u wi l l s e e N e w River in f ron t of y o u , w i t h Four Mile C r e e k just t o t h e sou th . D u r i n g mid - t o l a t e - s u m m e r t h e r iver s h a l l o w s t o d r y c o n d i t i o n s , a n d it is a l o n g h e r e t h a t m u d f l a t s fo rm. T h e c o n d i t i o n s m a y c h a n g e yea r ly , s o s o m e s c o u t i n g m a y b e n e e d e d t o f ind t h e c u r r e n t b e s t a r eas .

T h e mudf l a t s a t t rac t exce l l en t n u m b e r s of m i g r a t i n g s h o r e b i r d s , w i t h W e s t e r n a n d Least S a n d p i p e r s b e i n g t h e m o s t c o m m o n . O t h e r c o m m o n s h o r e b i r d s i n c l u d e Black-bel l ied Plov e r s , S e m i p a l m a t e d P l o v e r s , a n d Shor t -b i l led D o w i t c h e r s , b u t a l a rge v a r i e t y of s h o r e b i r d s a r e a l s o freq u e n t l y f o u n d i n c l u d i n g Golden-P lov e r s , Bai rd ' s S a n d p i p e r s , a n d W h i m -bre l s . Scan t h e s h o r e b i r d s carefully for t h e u n u s u a l , as t h e p o t e n t i a l t o f ind jus t a b o u t a n y t h i n g is e x c e l l e n t h e r e .

T h e m u d f l a t s c a n b e s c a n n e d f rom t h e e d g e of t h e river, o r o n e c a n g e t o n t o t h e m u d f l a t s a n d w a l k t o t h e n o r t h for a m o r e t h o r o u g h c h e c k . R e m e m b e r h o w e v e r t h a t t h i s is pr i va t e p r o p e r t y , w i t h t h e p r o p e r t y l ines g o i n g all t h e w a y o u t t o t h e b e a c h ! T h e r ive r o n c e w a s n o t h e r e , b u t h a s f l o w e d n o r t h w a r d o v e r t h e y e a r s f o r m i n g a n e w r ive r c h a n n e l (a " n e w r iver" ) , sp l i t t ing t h e p r i v a t e p r o p e r t i e s . T h e l a n d o w n e r s t e n d t o b e v e r y

fr iendly, b u t a lso en joy t he i r p e a c e , so it is b e s t t o b e s e n s i t i v e w h e n o u t t h e r e . O n e c a n w a l k a d i s t a n c e n o r t h , b u t a b e t t e r w a y t o t \ p l o r e is t o c r o s s t h e r ive r , a s t h e w e s t e r n s i d e is e a s y t o w a l k a l o n g a n d m u c h m o r e o p e n . ,

T o g e t a e r o - r o n e m u s t w a d e o r w e a r h i g h b o o t s — or, d r a g a can o e , kayak, o r in f l a t a b l e b o a t d o w n t o t h e river. T h e d e p t h of t h e r ive r va r i e s f r o m s p o t t o s p o t a n t t i m e of year , br; t e n d s t o b e n m o r e t h a n t h i g h d e e p i n m a n y spo t s .The m u d on t h e o t h e r h a n d c a n b e sof t a n d d e e p , so c h o o s e y o u r s p o t c a r e fully. A n o t h e r alt e r n a t i v e is t o g o t o a c c e s s p o i n t / n u m b e r t w o , de - / s c r i b e d b e l o w .

F u r t h e r s o u t h after t h e wildlife p a r k o n Hwy. 101 y o u w i l l c r o s s F o u r m i l e Creek , a n d t h e n e x t r igh t is Croft Road ( w i t h t h e b l u e b e r r y f a rm s i g n ) . T u r n r i gh t h e r e ( w e s t ) a n d fo l low th is r o a d un t i l t h e p a v e m e n t e n d s a n d t h e r o a d forks . Stay r igh t , a n d d r ive p a s t t h e c r a n b e r r y fields, t h e n s tay left at t h e e n d of t h e field, g o u p t h e hill a n d o n t o t h e BLM's S to rm R a n c h p rope r ty . Th i s p l a c e h a s m a n y of t h e c o m m o n b i r d s t h a t i n h a b i t t h e coas ta l s h r u b a n d s h o r t p i n e fores t , a n d def in i te ly h a s b o t h A l l e n ' s a n d R u f o u s H u m m i n g b i r d s , as w e l l as Anna ' s . It is a fine p l a c e t o s tudy t h e d i f ference b e t w e e n d isp lay ing m a l e s (T im Rodenk i rk , per sona l c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) .Also c h e c k t h e h u m m i n g b i r d f e e d e r a t t h e h o s t ' s

C o o s C o u n t y Curry C o u n t y

t r a i l e r . T h e r e a r e t r a i l s l e a d i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e p r o p e r t y . See Birding in Southwestern Oregon for b e t t e r deta i l s .

D u r i n g s u m m e r , v e h i c l e s a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d t o d r ive all t h e w a y d o w n t o t h e b o a t r a m p ( th i s is t o r e s t r i c t a cce s s t o N e w River d u r i n g t h e b r e e d ing s e a s o n of t h e S n o w y Plover ; N e w River is o n e of t h e b e t t e r n e s t i n g loc a t i o n s in t h e s t a t e ) . T h e w a l k d o w n is on ly a b o u t a mi le , a n d is re la t ively flat a n d easy .The w a l k a l o n g t h e r o a d w i l l b e e x c e l l e n t for p a s s e r i n e s . In S e p t e m b e r t h i s a c c e s s p o i n t i s o p e n e d a n d o n e c a n d r ive d o w n t o t h e river.

At t h e b o a t r a m p t h e r e is a n e e d t o c r o s s T h e b e s t t h i n g t o d o is b r i n g a n


inf la table a long ( o r c a n o e , kayak, e t c . ) a n d f loat a c ro s s , b u t o n e c a n w a d e h e r e . B e w a r e h o w e v e r t h a t d i r ec t ly off t h e r a m p is a d e e p h o l e , so d o n o t c ros s h e r e ! G o d o w n r iver ( n o r t h ) b e t w e e n 2 5 t o 7 5 ya rd s o r so , a n d c ros s . It m a y b e as d e e p as y o u r w a i s t in p l a c e s , b u t y o u m a y f ind a p l a c e n o d e e p e r t h a n t h i g h d e e p . Of c o u r s e e v e r y w i n t e r th i s c o u l d all c h a n g e , so b e carefu l — a n d h o l d y o u r o p t i c s h i g h !

T h e a r e a j u s t s o u t h o f t h e b o a t r a m p a n d a c r o s s f rom t h e b o a t r a m p is g o o d t o c h e c k for "grass - lov ing" s h o r e b i r d s s u c h as Buff-breas ted a n d P e c t o r a l S a n d p i p e r s . T h e a rea is m o r e m a r s h y h e r e a n d o f t e n d u c k s a r e p r e s e n t . Rails m o s t l ikely u s e t h e s e s h o r e l i n e s , t o o .

O n c e a c r o s s h e a d n o r t h ( d o w n s t r e a m ) a long t h e w i d e w e s t b a n k a n d s h o r e b i rd! After a m i l e y o u wi l l c o m e t o F o u r Mile C r e e k o n t h e eas t s ide of N e w River, a n d t h e BLM a c c e s s p r o p e r t y . N o r t h of h e r e is t h e p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y . You m a y c o n t i n u e a long , as th i s h a s b e e n a n e x c e l l e n t area . If y o u c h o o s e t o c o n t i n u e n o r t h t h r o u g h p r i v a t e p r o p e r l y s o o n t h e d u n e s o n y o u r left wi l l fade o u t a n d a l o n g s a n d sp i t wi l l b e in f ron t of y o u . T h i s is t h e N e w River spi t T h e r iver s ide m a y still h a v e s o m e g o o d a r ea s for s h o r e b i r d s . A l o n g w a l k o u t t h e sp i t b r i n g s y o u t o t h e m o u t h of t h e r ive r , w h i c h c h a n g e s e v e r y year .The m o u t h a lmos t a lways h a s gul ls a n d C a s p i a n T e r n s in s u m m e r , a n d B r o w n P e l i c a n s a n d D o u b l e - c r e s t e d C o r m o r a n t s m a y sit o n t h e b e a c h h e r e t o o .An Elegant T e r n w a s n o t e d h e r e on ly o n c e d u r i n g t h e b ig s u m m e r 1 9 9 7 invas ion .

T h r o u g h o u t all t h e d u n e s , t h e sp i t , a n d a l o n g t h e h i g h b e a c h is p r i m e S n o w y P l o v e r n e s t i n g h a b i t a t . It is genera l ly a r e s t r i c t ed a rea t h r o u g h o u t t h e s u m m e r , a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e n o s igns t o i n f o r m y o u of th i s . P l ease b e v e r y sens i t ive if y o u p a s s t h r o u g h a n y of t h e s e a reas . P love r n e s t s a re v e r y c r y p t i c ; y o u m a y n e v e r s e e a n adul t , as t h e y s e e y o u b e f o r e y o u s e e t h e m a n d t h e y sneak off t h e n e s t u n n o t i c e d . N e s t s a re eas i ly s t e p p e d o n a n d y o u w o u l d b e s u r p r i s e d h o w o u t in t h e o p e n t h e y c o u l d b e , y e t i n c r e d i b l y h a r d t o s ee . If y o u s e e a n adu l t feigni n g in jury o r anx ious ly f lying a n d run n i n g a b o u t , p l ea se b a c k away f rom t h e a r ea as t h e r e is e i t h e r a n e s t o r c h i c k s nea rby . D o n o t g o n e a r a n y f e n c i n g

e x c l o s u r e s as t h e s e a re p l o v e r n e s t s a n d a p p r o a c h i n g an e x c l o s u r e m a y b e a v io la t ion of l a w for h a r a s s m e n t .

So if y o u e l ec t t o go o n t o t h e b e a c h p l e a s e b e careful , b u t p l e a s e d o enj o y t h e p l o v e r s , as t h e r e a r e g o o d n u m b e r s h e r e a n d s h o u l d b e re lat ively easy t o find. In fact t h e y a r e oft e n e a s i e s t t o s e e a l o n g t h e r iver , w h e r e t h e y b r o o d c h i c k s , c h a s e m e a l s , a n d h i d e f rom t h e w i n d .

T h e o c e a n h e r e c a n b e p r o d u c t i v e f o r M a r b l e d M u r r e l e t s . C o m m o n

M u r r e s a re c o m m o n , a n d Cass in ' s a n d R h i n o c e r o s Auk le t h a v e b e e n s e e n . S h e a r w a t e r s t e n d t o b e o u t p r e t t y far at N e w River, d e p e n d i n g o n t h e w i n d . C h e c k t h e o c e a n for l o o n s , g r e b e s , s c o t e r s , a n d o t h e r w a t e r f o w l .

If y o u h a v e w a l k e d all t h e w a y t o t h e m o u t h of t h e river, y o u c a n r e t u r n via a l o n g w a l k u p t h e b e a c h o r via t h e river. E i the r w a y b e p r e p a r e d t o s p e n d 6 h o u r s h e r e , b u t it is a m o s t r e w a r d i n g a n d i n t e r e s t i n g p l a c e w i t h i n c r e d i b l e p o t e n t i a l . 0


Inland observations of Red-breasted Merganser in Oregon Bill Tice, 750 Wood Street, Falls City, OR 97344

T h e Red-b reas t ed M e r g a n s e r (Mergus serratof) is a re la t ively c o m m o n b i r d i n N o r t h A m e r i c a a n d Euras ia , a n d n e s t s a c r o s s t h e e n t i r e N o r t h e r n H e m i s p h e r e , i n c l u d i n g all of Alaska, m o s t of C a n a d a , s o u t h e r n G r e e n l a n d , I c e l a n d , S c a n d i n a v i a , a n d n o r t h e r n Siberia . It w i n t e r s ch ief ly o n all t h e c o a s t s n o r t h of t h e T r o p i c of C a n c e r ( 2 3 d e g r e e s l a t i t ude ) e x c e p t Africa. D u r i n g t h e w i n t e r m o n t h s , it is f o u n d m o s t o f ten in O r e g o n o n coas ta l bays , e s t u a r i e s , a n d t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t b e y o n d t h e surf. Mos t s i gh t i ngs a re of ind iv idua l s , pa i r s , o r smal l g r o u p s .

R e d - b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r s a r e a lso o c c a s iona l l y f o u n d o n i n l a n d w a t e r s in O r e g o n . T h e s e b i r d s a r e e i t h e r w i n t e r i n g o r a r e s e e n d u r i n g m i g r a t i o n . In r e c e n t y e a r s , d u e t o g r e a t e r cover age of c e r t a i n a reas of t h e s ta te , m o r e i n l a n d s i gh t i ngs h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d . In fact, o v e r half of all s i gh t ings h a v e b e e n s i n c e 1990 ! W i t h t h o r o u g h cove r a g e t h r o u g h t h e n e x t d e c a d e , w e m a y c o m e t o e x p e c t t h e s p e c i e s t o b e r egu la r b u t v e r y u n c o m m o n a l o n g t h e C o l u m b i a River d u r i n g w i n t e r .

O v e r a h a l f o f a c e n t u r y a g o G a b r i e l s o n a n d J e w e t t s a i d i n t h e 1 9 4 0 p u b l i c a t i o n Birds Of Oregon ( l a t e r r e - i s sued b y D o v e r B o o k s as Birds of the Pacific Northwest,which it is n o t ) :

First reported by Lewis and Clark (1814) from the mouth of the Columbia River on March 27, 1806, the Red-breasted Merganser is now known as a winter bird on all the larger bays and river mouths along the coast, where it replaces the American [= Common] Merganser, which is abundant over the fresh waters of the state. It arrives in November and remains until early May (our earliest date Nov. 22; latest May 23, both Tillamook Co.) during which time it may be seen as single birds or as little flocks. All Oregon specimens [of Red-breasted Merganser] that we have been able to obtain have come from the coastal district, and so far as we know the species is at best only a casual visitor to the interior. Bendire (1877) and Merrill (1888) recorded it from Fort Klamath, and Bendire (1877) from the Blue Mountains. Although the adult males can be distinguished easily in

life, it is possible to tell the young males and females only [italics supplied] by specimens in hand. We feel, therefore, that many of the Red-breasted Mergansers reported on sight observation from Malheur and Klamath basins are in reality the American Merganser.

D u e t o b e t t e r o p t i c s , field m a r k s r e c o g n i t i o n , a n d g r e a t e r field cover age b y c o m p e t e n t b i r d e r s , f e w w o u l d h e s i t a t e t o ident i fy t h e s e b i r d s w i t h c e r t a i n t y o n in l and w a t e r s 5 7 yea r s later. W h i l e w e a re still a t r isk for mist a k i n g C o m m o n M e r g a n s e r s for Red-b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r s in c e r t a i n p l u m ages , w e m a y w i s h t o r e c o n s i d e r t he i r c o n c l u s i o n :

We feel, therefore, that many of the Red-breasted Mergansers reported on sight observation from Malheur and Klamath basins are in reality the American Merganser.

B e c a u s e t h i s s p e c i e s normally7 app e a r s t o p r e f e r c o a s t a l w a t e r s , t h e ma jo r i t y of b i r d e r s d o n o t a n t i c i p a t e o r l o o k for it i n l and . T h e i n c r e a s e in t h e n u m b e r of ski l led b i r d e r s in Ore g o n h a s r e s u l t e d i n a n i n c r e a s e in t h e n u m b e r a n d f r e q u e n c y of s igh t ings of t h e s p e c i e s in t h e last 10 y e a r s . M o s t of t h e s igh t ings l i s ted be l o w w e r e g a t h e r e d f r o m p a s t i s sues of Oregon Birds, American Birds. Audubon Field Notes, a n d f rom pe r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h C r a i g Mi l l e r a n d o t h e r b i r d e r s . In as m u c h as field n o t e s edit o r s s c r u t i n i z e r e p o r t s , it c a n b e ass u m e d t h a t t h e s e r e p o r t s a re for t h e m o s t p a r t val id.

I h a v e b e e n ab l e t o find a to ta l of 125 r e c o r d s of th i s s p e c i e s o n in l and w a t e r s in O r e g o n . For ty-e ight r e c o r d s a re f r o m t h e C o l u m b i a River, 4 1 a r e f r o m o t h e r l o c a t i o n s eas t of t h e Casc a d e s , a n d 34 f rom s i tes w e s t of t h e C a s c a d e s . T h e r e are i n l and r e c o r d s for a l l i n l a n d c o u n t i e s e x c e p t P o l k , Yamhil l , J o s e p h i n e , Wa l lowa , U n i o n , a n d Gran t .

RECORDS EAST OF THE CASCADES:

Lake Co., 12 Records: 4/13/88 (1 adult drake) Summer Lake WA, River

Campground, Marty St. Louis 5/4/88 (5) Summer Lake WA, C. Miller, Marty St.

Louis (1 pair at Duchy Lake, 2 females, 1 drake at Schoolhouse Lake) OB 14(3) :370

5/7-9/88 (4) Thompson Res., Steve &PriscillaSummers. Jim & Judy Carlson, 1 drake, 3 females OB 14(3):370

5/9/90 (1 female) Summer Lake WA, Schoolhouse Lake, Merle Archie

9/26/90 (1) Summer Lake WA&vicinity, Steve Summers

11/21/90 (1 female) Summer Lake WA, C. Miller, E.J. Miller OB 17(2):52

4 /17 /91 (5 birds) Summer Lake WA, Steve Summers, OB 17(4):125

5/2/91 (1) Summer Lake W.A., Steve Summers 5/13/91 ( 1 ) Thompson Reservoir, C. Miller, OB

P (4 ) :125 4/18/92 (1 male) Thompson Reservoir, C. Miller;

Central Oregon Audubon field trip, OB 18(4): 125 4/4/94 (1) Schoolhouse Lake, Summer Lake WA,

Craig Miller photos, OB 20 (4): 132 10/23/96 (1 female or immature) Thompson Res

ervoir. C. Miller

The Mouth of the Deschutes River - W a s c o / S h e r m a n Cos. , 10 Records

3/21/90 (3) Roy Gerig, Floyd Schrock, OB 16(4):315

1-2/91&-4/22 (2) Donna Lusthoff & Verda Teale, OB17(3):90;OB17(4):125

1/11/92 (2 adults) Donna Lusthoff, 0B 18(3)89 2/8/92 (2 adults and 1 imm.) Donna Lusthoff &

Craig Corder, OB 18(3)89 3/14/92 (1 female) Skip Russell, OB 18(4):125 2/12/94 (1 imm) Donna Lusthoff, 0B 20(3):102 3/15-4/23/94 (1-2) Dave Bailey, 0B 20(4):132 11/27/94 (1 female) Mike & Merry Lynn Denny,

OB21(2):58 4/14/95 ( 1 ) Craig Corder & Judv Stevens, OB

21(4):124 4 /2 /96 (1 female) Dave Bailey, OB 22 (4): 120 Wasco Co., 10 Records 12/20/88 (1 male) 3 miles west of Celilo Falls rest

area on the Columbia River, Mike & Merry Lynn Denny, 0B 15(3):182

11/21/90 (2) Pine Hollow Reservoir, Donna Lusthoff, OB 17(2):52

12/7/91 (1) Pine Hollow Reservoir, Donna Lusthoff, OB 18(3):89

3/6/93 (1 female) Mosier, Donna Lusthoff, OB 19(4):114

4/25/93 (1 female) Wamic, Donna Lusthoff, OB


19(4):114] 10/30/93 (1) The Dalles Dam, Donna Lusthoff, OB

21(2):65 2/19/95 (1) Mayer State Park near Rowena, Donna

Lusthoff, OB 21(3):93 1/15/95 (1) Mosier, Donna Lusthoff, OB 21(3):93 10/28/95 (2) Wamic, Donna Lusthoff, OB 22 (2) :60 10/11/96 (1 female) Pine Hollow Reservoir, Donna

Lusthoff

Deschutes Co., 8 Records: 11/1-8/87 (4) Wickiup Reservoir, Tom Crabtree &

Craig Miller, OB 14(2):195 5/1/88 (1) Wickiup Reservoir, Craig Miller, Eagle

Eye Juivjul 88, p5; OB 14(3):370 11/3/88 (1) Hatfield Lake, Craig Miller, Eagle Eye Dec 88, p2; OB 15(2):114

8/31/89 (1) Wickiup Reservoir, Craig Miller, Eagle Eye Sep 89 p5

10/13/91 (1) Wickiup Reservoir, LewRems, Eagle Eye, Nov91p2

5/17/92 (1 female) Hatfield Lake, Craig Miller 11/17/96 (2) Tumalo Reservoir, Dean Hale, OB

23(2): 70 5/20-28/97 (1 female) Hatfield Lake, Dean Hale,

OBOL.^feJ. Meredith

Crook Co., 6 Records 4/21/83 (1) Ochoco Reservoir, Christy Steck, Eagle

Eye May 1983 p.5 11/10/90 (1) Prineville sewage ponds, Craig Miller

& Lew Rems, Eagle Eye Dec 90 p.2. OB 17(2):52 11/16/90 (1) Ochoco Res, Craig Miller & Lew Rems 9/8/91 (1) Ochoco Reservoir, Lew Rems, Eagle Eye

Nov. 91 p.2 11/3/91 (1) Ochoco Reservoir, Tom Crabtree, OB

18(2):59 12/28/96 (1) Barnes Butte Reservoir, Tom Crabtree

& Craig Miller, OB 22(3):89 Sherman Co., 8 Records 11/23/89 (71 male and 6 females) John Day Dam, Jim Johnson

11/26/89 (1) John Day Dam, Craig Miller 11/9/91 (1) John Day Dam, Nick Lethaby, OB

18(2):59 1/11/92 (2 adults) Donna Lusthoff & Craig Corder,

OB 18(3) :89 2/8/92 (2 adults and 1 imm) Donna Lusthoff &

Craig Corder, OB 18(3):89 12/4/94 (1) John Day Dam, Jim Johnson & Dave

Bailey, OB 21(3) :93 3/14/95 (1 female) John Day Dam, Dave Bailey,

OB 21(4): 124 10/27-11/5/95 (1) John Day Dam, Harry Nehls & Jim Johnson, OB22(2):60

Umatilla Co., 5 Records 11/18/84 (2 females) McNaryDam, Craig Corder,

OB 11 (4): 186

1/6/85 (pair) McNary Dam, Craig Corder, OB 11(4):186

1/11/87 (1 male) 1 mile below McNary Dam, Craig and Marion Corder, OB 13(2):307

8/23/92 (1) near Hermiston, Judy Stevens, OB 19(2):53

12/4/95 (1 female) McNary Dam, Jim Johnson, Dave Bailey

Hood River Co., 5 Records 12/14-21/88 (1) Mouth of the Hood River, David Anderson, OB 15(3):182

4/2/89 (4) Mouth of the Hood River, Donna Lusthoff, OB 15(-t):292

Winter of 1990-91. "One male wintered at Government Cove" OB 17(3):90; OB 17(4):125

1/1/95 (1) Mouth of the Hood River, Jim Johnson & Dave Bailey, OB 21(3 ) :93

10/19/96 (1) Hood River mouth, Jim Johnson, OB 23(2): 70

Harney Co., 4 Records 11/23/76 (1) at Dry Lake (See CD. IMefield; Birds

of Malheur NWR.pg. 88-89 11/25/83 (lmale) near00Ranch,MerleandAnn Archie, OB 9(4):27

4/16/83 (3 males) Boca Lake (See CD. Littlefield; Birds of Malheur NWR. pg. 88-89)

6/11/96 (1 imm. male) Borax Lake, Dave Bailey, OB23(l):23

Klamath Co., 2 Records 5/2-9/81 (1 female) Link River, Steve Summers,

OB7(3):115 3/2/85 (2 males) Link River, Steve Summers, OB

11(4):186 Jefferson Co., 2 Records 11/20/90 (1) Haystack Reservoir, Lew Rems, OB

17(2):52 4/21-5/2/90 (3-7) Haystack Res. Walt Yungen, Paul

Sullivan, OB 17(4):125

Wheeler Co., 1 Record 2/13/93 (3) Donna Lusthoff Malheur Co., 1 Record 5/3/88 (pair) Ontario Sewage Ponds, Jammie

Simmons, OB 14(3):370

Morrow Co., 1 Record 10/13/90 (1) Boardman, Craig Corder, OB

17(2):52

Baker Co., 1 Record 5/7/76 (14 Birds!) Phillips Lake, Ann Ward, AB

30(4): 866

RECORDS W E S T O F T H E CASCADES:

Multnomah Co., 14 Records 1/11/58 (5) Swift's Pond, VerdaTeale (pers. com.

Verda Teale) 3/16/58 (1) Sturgeon Lake, Verda Teale (pers. com.

VerdaTeale) 12/14/63 ( 1 ) Sturgeon Lake, Verda Teale (pers.

com. VerdaTeale) 1/2/84 ( 1 ) Columbia River near Portland, Jeff

Gilligan, OB 10(2):37 1984, Portland CBC (1) OB 11(2&3):101 12/27/86 (1) Jim Johnson (Columbia River off

Sauvie Island), OB 13(2):313 12/27/87 (1) Jim Johnson, Columbia River near

Portland, OB13(2):313 10/22/88 (2) Columbia River near Portland, Jim Johnson

1/15/90 (1) Columbia River near Portland, Dave Irons &Dave Fix, OB 16(3):245

1/5/91 (1) Pordand, OB 17(3):95 2/15/91 (1) Sauvie Island, OB 17(3):95 4/21/91 ( 1 ) Bull Run Reservoir, C. Corkran &

Donna Lusthoff (fide Tim Janzen) 11/16/91 ( 3 ) Near Dalton Point on the Columbia

River, Jim Johnson, OB 18(2) :62 12/29/96 (1) Columbia River off Sauvie Island,

Anthony Floyd, OB 22(3):91

Jackson Co., 8 Records 11/22/64 (2 females) At a pond north of Medford,

R.B.,W.C.,J.H.,AB19(1):69 2/10-mid March/65 (pair) At a pond north of

Medford, W.C,AB 19(3): 410 11/6/87 (1) Lost Creek Reservoir, Dave Fix, OB

14(3) :287 12/90 (4) ("4 were in the Rogue Valley during

December. M.ob.") OB 17(3)95 9/10/92 (2) Agate Reservoir Howard Sands, Jerry

Wahl, OB 19(2):57

Lane Co., 6 Records 4/21/58 (1 Female, 5 males) Fern Ridge Res. John

Bodly,AFN12,#4pg. 378 12/73 (2) Fern Ridge Res. Alan Contreras & Harry

Nehls, AB 28(3): 684 84 Cottage Grove CBC, OB 11(2&3):101 1/7/90 (1) Fern Ridge Res. Dave Irons, Jim Johnson, OB 16(3):245

3/15 /94 (1) On The Willamette River, Tom and Allison Mickel, OB 20(4):138

10/21/96 (2) at Lookout Point Reservoir, ReidFree-man, OB23(2):80

Washington Co., 6 Records 12/9/83 (1 female and imm. male) Forest Grove

Sewage Pond, Verda Teale (pers. com. Verda Teale)

83-84 One wintered at the Forest Grove Sewage Ponds, Dave Irons, OB 10(2):37


1/2/85 (2) Forest Grove Sewage Ponds, Jeff Gilligan, OB11(2&3):101

12/2/90 (1) Forest Grove Sewage Ponds, OB 17(3)95

12/15/91 (1) Forest Grove Sewage Pond, Verda Teale, Donna Lusthoff, Nancy McDonald (pers. com. Verda Teale)

12/15/92 (1) Forest Grove Sewage Ponds, Harry Nehls, OB 18(3) :93

Douglas Co., 4 Records 11/4/83 (2 imm.) Diamond Lake, Dave Fix, OB

11(1):6 11/17/87 (1) Diamond Lake, Dave Fix, OB

14(3):287 11/11/88 (1) Diamond Lake, Dave Fix, OB

15(2):124 11/11/88 (3) Lemolo Lake, Dave Fix, OB 15 (2): 124

Benton Co., 4 Records 12/2/73 (1) Finley NWR, William Elliot, AB

28(3) :684 12/2/95 (1 female) Philomath Sewage Pond,

Hendrik Herlyn, Rich Hoyer, Jammie Simmons 11/2/96 (1 female) N.E. Elliot Circle, Anthony Floyd

(fide Hendrik Herlyn) 5/10/97 (1 imm. male) E.E. Wilson Game Refuge,

Bill Tice Clackamas Co., 3 Records 1/21/86 (1 male) Above Oregon City on the

Willamette River, Rob Furgus, OB 12(4):35 10/88 (1 male) Burnside Park in West Linn, Dan

Van Den Broek (fide Tim Janzen) 12/31/94 (1) Lake Oswego, OB 21(3):97

Marion Co., 3 Records 1/3/89 (3) Cascade Gateway Park, Merlin and Elsy

Elzroth, OB 15(3):190 11/25-12/1/94 (1 female) Cascade Gateway Park,

Steve Dowlan, D. Copeland OB 21 (2) :64 12 /1/94 (1) Detroit Lake, by Dave Copeland Linn Co., 1 Record 12/1/94 (1) Detroit Lake, by Dave Copeland (Same

bird as in last entry for Marion County)

Total 125 Inland Records Discussion

R e d - b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r a p p e a r s t o s t rongly favor large in l and w a t e r w a y s , s u c h as t h e C o l u m b i a a n d W i l l a m e t t e Rivers , a n d as w e l l as la rge l akes a n d r e se rvo i r s . E ighty-seven p e r c e n t of all s i g h t i n g s h a v e o c c u r r e d o n l a r g e r l akes , r e s e r v o i r s , o r r i v e r s . T h e o t h e r 13 p e r c e n t w e r e f rom p o n d s o r s ewage l a g o o n s . It m a y b e a s s u m e d t h a t a n a d e q u a t e s u p p l y of fish m u s t b e p r e s e n t in t h e s e s m a l l e r b o d i e s of w a t e r t o s u s t a i n a n y w i n t e r i n g m e r g a n s e r s .

It s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t 7 6 ( 6 1 pe r c e n t ) of t h e s e r e c o r d s a r e f rom ob se rva t i ons w h i c h w e r e r e p o r t e d after

1990 a n d t h e d e c a d e is n o t over .There w e r e 3 8 ( 3 1 p e r c e n t ) r e c o r d s f rom t h e 1980s , 4 in t h e 1970s , 3 in t h e 1960s , a n d 3 in t h e 1950s . It s h o u l d b e o b v i o u s t h a t t h i s da t a r e p r e s e n t s g r e a t e r c o v e r a g e b y m o r e b i r d e r s , r a t h e r t h a n a n i n c r e a s e in o c c u r r e n c e for t h e spec i e s , w h i c h is a lso pos s ib l e .

It is a l so i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t t h e r e w e r e n o r e c o r d s f r o m L a k e A b e r t , t h e W a r n e r Valley, C ra t e r Lake, Hills C r e e k Reservo i r , F o s t e r Reservoir, G r e e n P e t e r Lake, Lake Billy Chin o o k , o r T i m o t h y Lake. It is l ikely t h a t th i s s p e c i e s h a s u s e d t h e s e la rge bodies of w a t e r . P e r h a p s i n t h e f u t u r e b i r d e r s wi l l o b s e r v e t h e s p e c i e s o n t h e s e lakes as we l l . O b s e r v a t i o n s h a v e o c c u r r e d a t s imilar s i tes nearby , s o m e of w h i c h w o u l d a p p e a r t o b e jus t as a t t rac t ive t o t h e Red-breas ted Merganser.

M a n y p a r t s of l a rge b o d i e s of wat e r a re s i m p l y i n a c c e s s i b l e o r largely r e s t r i c t e d , s u c h as U p p e r K l a m a t h L a k e , G o o s e L a k e , H a r n e y L a k e , M a l h e u r Lake , Lake A b e r t , S u m m e r Lake .These lakes a n d o t h e r s c o m p r i s e m a n y s q u a r e m i l e s of w a t e r w h e r e R e d - b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r s c o u l d res t w h i l e m i g r a t i n g t h r o u g h i n l and Ore g o n , o r p r o v i d e w i n t e r i n g hab i t a t .

Th i r ty -n ine p e r c e n t ( 4 8 r e c o r d s ) of all s igh t ings a re f rom a l o n g t h e Co

l u m b i a River, m o s t f r o m t h e 1990s . Very l i t t le of t h e C o l u m b i a River is a c c e s s i b l e f rom I n t e r s t a t e 8 4 , a n d it is i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t all b u t 2 of t h e 4 2 s i gh t i ngs w e r e r e c o r d e d f rom 6 loca t ions : M c N a r y J o h n Day, a n d T h e D a l l e s D a m s , t h e m o u t h s o f t h e D e s c h u t e s a n d H o o d Rivers , a n d t h e S a u v i e I s l a n d / P o r t l a n d a r e a s . T h i s l e a d s t o t h e pos s ib i l i t y m a n y m o r e b i r d s m a y b e f o u n d if m o r e of th i s r ive r c o u l d b e a c c e s s e d f r o m s h o r e . T h e fo l lowing e n t r y in a r e c e n t AB i s sue h e l p s c o n f i r m this:"As u sua l , all b u t o n e of t h e 19 R e d - b r e a s t e d Merg a n s e r r e p o r t s f rom t h e i n t e r i o r w e r e a l o n g t h e C o l u m b i a R ive r . " (AB 4 9 ( 2 ) : 1 9 0 . ) T h i s w a s in w i n t e r 1994-9 5 .

Of n o t e a l so is a s igh t ing of 7 5 Red-b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r s o n t h e Co lumb ia River n e a r Longv iew, W a s h i n g t o n o n 2 0 M a r c h 1 9 6 6 b y Alan Ba ld r idge a n d D a v i d M a r s h a l l , w h i c h w e r e t h o u g h t t o b e a t t r a c t e d t o t h e s m e l t r u n w i t h C o m m o n M e r g a n s e r s ( o v e r 1 0 0 ) t h e r e . (AB 2 0 ( 3 ) : 4 5 0 . ) T h i s is i n d e e d a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d n u m b e r t o b e f o u n d in land! Be ing f o u n d in assoc i a t i o n w i t h C o m m o n M e r g a n s e r s m a y b e a he lp fu l h i n t t o s c a n o v e r f locks of th i s s p e c i e s in s e a r c h i n g for R e d - b r e a s t e d s . It m a y a l so o c c a s i o n ally a s soc i a t e w i t h o t h e r s p e c i e s of

Columbia River

West of the Cascades

East of the Cascades

Figure 1. Red-breasted Merganser records in Oregon along the Columbia River, east of the Cascades (away from the Columbia River), and west of the Cascades (away from the Columbia River).


3

OFO B o o k e a & e , OFO publications.... Special Publication No. 1 $3.00 $_

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Mountain Forest Birds 1 Seventy-two species of western birds and a few small squirrels that may sound like birds. This cassettes complements the next one listed to cover almost all birds to be generally found in wooded habitats. 90 minutes. Birds of Foothill Woodland 1 Newly-revised. 75 species of the more common lowland birds. Songs and calls in a format that is easy to use for reference and familiarity. 90 minutes. Birds of the Wetlands 1 Songs and calls from lakes, marshes, and streams. Covers loon, grebes, herons, waterfowl, shorebirds, and riparian species etc. 58 species, and marsh choruses to practice identification. 90 minutes. Birds of the High Desert Calls and songs of the birds east of the mountains in the Great Basin and northern high desert, arranged according to the special favored habitats of desert fauna. 60 minutes. Birds of the Southwestern Low Desert Calls, songs, and other sounds of 42 species of the Sonoran Desert primarily. 60 minutes. Backyard Bird Songs .. Songs and calls of 28 species of birds that generally come to landscaped backyards and feeding stations. In-depth samples of the variety of sounds in their musical language. 60 minutes. Wintering Birds of the Rogue Valley 1 Eighty-two species, with calls. Includes grebes, ducks, and others commonly found over the winter. 90 minutes. Learn to Identify Birds by Ear (Western) 1 A self-guided workshop with hands-on practice, back-to-back comparisons of confusing species; generous samples of recordings, including an easy quiz to review species you already know. 68 species. 90 minutes. Learn to Identify Birds by Ear (Eastern) 1 Same as above, using 47 eastern species; calls and songs. 90 minutes. Confusing Species 1 Back-to-back comparisons of the calls and songs of 56 species, including some shorebirds and visually confusing birds, with tips on distinguishing each by ear. 90 minutes. Night-Birding: Owls and Others Seven species of owls and 12 other species of birds that call and sing in the dark. 60 minutes. Warblers of the West 1 This is the same as Warblers I and Warblers II. Twenty species, with in-depth comparisons of variations, and tips to identification, especially of, "those confusing spring warbler songs", and call notes. 60 minutes. Shorebirds and Rails 1 Various sounds of these birds of the wind and water as they are found In the 3 contiguous Western states. 25 species of shorebirds, 3 species of rails. . Wildlife Voices by Family (Choose any 2 per cassette) 1 Owls, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, 4 Difficult Flycatchers, Wrens, Thrushes, Finches. Sparrows I (humid), Sparrows II (arid), Warblers I, Warblers II. Swallows 8 Swifts, Mammals, Pacific Coastlands, Fall Comes to NW, Shorebirds and Rails (both sides)

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Games - Wildlife by Ear 1 A special cassette of the sounds of familiar native animals are identified on one side. On the other side, the animals are mixed up and unidentified, in order to play at least five different games. Instructions and a pack of special cards are included. 60 minutes. Did You Ever Hear? 1 A cassette designed to encourage all ages to LISTEN, learn, and explore natural sounds in many habitats. Calls of 47 animals, birds, and insects are arranged in short sections, by habitat. A LISTENER'S GUIDE contains many suggestions, activities, study questions, and information. Excellent illustrations suitable for realistic coloring are included. 60 minutes.

CASSETTES WITH NO VOCAL NARRATIVE, FOR UNDISTRACTED LISTENING Beautiful Bird Songs of the West Twenty-six species; generous selections of pleasant songs, as heard in the wild. Enclosure; 60 minutes. An Almanac of Western Habitats, Volume I. Northwestern 1 A series of "sound walks" in various habitats, throughout the year. Enclosure describes events and lists species for each walk. 90 minutes. Pacific Tidelands/Fall Comes to the Northwest Special sounds along the Pacific Ocean shore and coastal forest-land. Includes shorebirds and bugling elk. Enclosure describes events. 60 minutes. Write for a complete list. Recorded, edited, and produced by Eleanor A. Pugh. High quality normal bias ferric oxide tape will be sent unless high bias tape is specified. Please check your tape player for a "High Bias" switch to be sure.

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19 September Fall NJV. Migration Count

26-27 September Malheur NWR Come enjoy the crisp air at Malheur NWR and look for fall migrants. This trip will be led by Tim Janzen. Base: Malheur Field Station.

10-11 October NE Umatilla County We will search for that "most wanted" owl, the Boreal Owl, and enjoy the fall colors of the Blue Mountains. Base: Walla Walla, WA.

14-15 November Columbia River We will check out the fall migrants on the Columbia River from the John Day dam to Hood River. Base: The Dalles.

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Number of persons Amount enclosed $15 per participant

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ed]

Lodg

ing in

OIM

B d

orm

/per

son/

nigh

t Fr

i (br

ing yo

ur ow

n be

dding

and

towels

] Sa

t T-

Shirt

(S, M

,L,X

L)

T-Sh

irt L

ong

sleev

e

$12.

00

$2

0.0

0

$4

0.0

0

$4

0.0

0

$9

.50

$2

0.0

0

$2

0.0

0

$12.

00

$15.

00

Plea

se m

ake

your

che

ck p

ayab

le to

Cap

e Ar

ago

Audu

bon

Soci

ety

For m

ore

info

rmat

ion,

con

tact

: Ly

n To

pits

541-2

67-72

08

Barb

Griff

in

541-

756-

5688

Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon Common Loon Red-hilled Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe •ark's Grebe Black-footed Albatross Laysan Albatross Northern Fulmar Pink-footed Shearwater Flesh-footed Shearwater Buller's Shearwater Sooty Shearwater Short-tailed Shearwater Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Leach's Storm-Petrel American White Pelican Brown Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Brandt's Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant American Bittern Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Cattle Egret Green Heron Bl.-crowned Night-Heron White-faced Ibis Tundra Swan Trumpeter Swan Gr White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross' Goose Emperor Goose Brant Canada Goose Wood Duck Green-winged Teal Mallard Northern Pintail Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Harlequin Duck Dldsquaw Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Turkey Vulture Osprey White-tailed Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Ferruginous Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Merlin Prairie Falcon Peregrine Falcon Gray Partridge Chukar Ring-necked Pheasant Spruce Grouse Blue Grouse Ruffed Grouse Sage Grouse

_ Wild Turkey _ Northern Bobwhite _ California Quail _ Mountain Ouail _ Yellow Rail _ Virginia Rail _ Sara _ American Coot _ Sandhill Crane _ Black-bellied Plover _ American Golden-Plover _ Pacific Golden-Plover . Snowy Plover

_ Semipalmated Plover _ Killdeer _ Black Oystercatcher _ Black-necked Stilt . American Avocet

_ Greater Yellowlegs _ Lesser Yellowlegs _ Solitary Sandpiper _ Willet _ Wandering Tattler _ Spotted Sandpiper _ Upland Sandpiper _ Whimbrel _ Long-billed Curlew _ Marbled Godwit _ Ruddy Turnstone _ Black Turnstone _ Surfbird _ Red Knot _ Sanderling _ Semipalmated Sandpiper _ Western Sandpiper _ Least Sandpiper _ Baird's Sandpiper _ Pectoral Sandpiper _ Sharp-tailed Sandpiper _ Rock Sandpiper _ Dunlin _ Stilt Sandpiper . Buff-breasted Sandpiper _ Ruff _ Short-hilled Dowitcher _ Long-billed Dowitcher _ Common Snipe _ Wilson's Phalarope _ Red-necked Phalarope i, Red Phalarope _ Pomarine Jaeger _ Parasitic Jaeger _ Long-tailed Jaeger

South Polar Skua _ Franklin's Gull

Bonaparte's Gull _ Heermann's Gull _ Mew Gull . Ring-hilled Gull _ California Gull _ Herring Gull _ Thayer's Gull

Western Gull . Glaucous-winged Gull _ Glaucous Gull . Black-legged Kittiwake

Sabine's Gull . Caspian Tern

Elegant Tern Common Tern Arctic Tern Forster's Tern Black Tern Common Murre

. Pigeon Guillemot

. Marbled Murrelet

. Ancient Murrelet

. Cassin's Auklet Rhinoceros Auklet

. Tufted Puffin Horned Puffin Rock Dove Band-tailed Pigeon

. Mourning Dove

. Barn Owl

. Flammulated Dwl Western Screech-Owl

. Great Horned Owl

. Snowy Owl

. Northern Pygmy-Owl Burrowing Owl

. Spotted Owl Barred Owl

_ Great Gray Owl _ Long-eared Owl _ Short-eared Owl _ Northern Saw-whet Owl _ Common Nighthawk _ Common Poorwill _ Black Swift _ Vaux's Swift _ White-throated Swift _ Black-chinned Hummingbird _ Anna's Hummingbird _ Calliope Hummingbird _ Broad-tailed Hummingbird _ Rufous Hummingbird _ Allen's Hummingbird _ Belted Kingfisher _ Lewis' Woodpecker _ Acorn Woodpecker _ Red-naped Sapsucker _ Bed-breasted Sapsucker _ Williamson's Sapsucker _ Downy Woodpecker _ Hairy Woodpecker _ White-headed Woodpecker _ Three-toed Woodpecker _ Black-backed Woodpecker _ Northern Flicker _ Pileated Woodpecker _ Dlive-sided Flycatcher _ Western Wood-Pewee _ Willow Flycatcher _ Hammond's Flycatcher _ Dusky Flycatcher _ Gray Flycatcher _ Pacific-slope Flycatcher _ Cordilleran Flycatcher _ Black Phoebe _ Say's Phoebe _ Ash-throated Flycatcher _ Western Kingbird _ Eastern Kingbird _ Horned Lark _ Purple Martin _ Tree Swallow _ Violet-green Swallow _ N. Rough-winged Swallow _ Bank Swallow . Cliff Swallow _ Barn Swallow _ Gray Jay _ Steller's Jay _ Blue Jay _ Western Scrub-Jay _ Pinyon Jay . Clark's Nutcracker _ Black-billed Magpie . American Crow _ Northwestern Crow _ Common Raven _ Black-capped Chickadee _ Mountain Chickadee . Chestnut-backed Chickadee . Oak Titmouse

Juniper Titmouse . Bushtit . Red-breasted Nuthatch . White-breasted Nuthatch . Pygmy Nuthatch . Brown Creeper . Rock Wren . Canyon Wren . Hewick's Wren . House Wren . Winter Wren , Marsh Wren

American Dipper . Golden-crowned Kinglet . Ruby-crowned Kinglet . Blue-gray Gnatcatcher . Western Bluebird . Mountain Bluebird . Townsend's Solitaire . Veery

Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush

. American Robin

. Varied Thrush

. Wrentit

. Gray Catbird

. Northern Mockingbird

. Sage Thrasher

. American Pipit ; Rohemian Waxwing . Cedar Waxwing . Northern Shrike

Loggerhead Shrike

_ European Starling _ Cassin's Vireo _ Hutton's Vireo _ Warbling Vireo _ Red-eyed Vireo _ Tennessee Warbler _ Orange-crowned Warbler _ Nashville Warbler _ Yellow Warbler _ Yellow-rumped Warbler _ Hlack-throated Gray Warbler _ Townsend's Warbler _ Hermit Warbler _ Palm Warhler _ Glack-and-white Warbler _ American Redstart _ Ovenbird _ Northern Waterthrush _ MacGillivray's Warbler _ Common Yellowthroat _ Wilson's Warbler _ Yellow-breasted Chat _ Western Tanager . Black-headed Grosbeak j Lazuli Bunting _ Green-tailed Towhee _ Spotted Towhee _ California Towhee _ American Tree Sparrow _ Chipping Sparrow _ Clay-colored Sparrow _ Brewer's Sparrow _ Vesper Sparrow . Lark Sparrow _ Black-throated Sparrow . Sage Sparrow _ Savannah Sparrow . Grasshopper Sparrow . Fox Sparrow . Song Sparrow . Lincoln's Sparrow . Swamp Sparrow . White-throated Sparrow . Golden-crowned Sparrow _ White-crowned Sparrow . Harris' Sparrow . Dark-eyed Junco . Lapland Longspur _ Snow Bunting . Bobolink , Bed-winged Blackbird . Tricolored Blackbird . Western Meadowlark . Yellow-headed Blackbird . Brewer's Blackbird . Brown-headed Cowbird . Bullock's Oriole . Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch . Black Rosy-Finch . Pine Grosbeak . Purple Finch . Cassin's Finch . House Finch . Red Crossbill . White-winged Crossbill . Common Redpoll . Pine Siskin . Lesser Goldfinch . American Goldfinch . Evening Grosbeak

House Sparrow

This is a list of the 352 species most -likely to be encountered in LTregon. This list is based an the records of the Oregon Bird Records Committee and uses the taxonomic sequence and nomenclature of the American Ornithologists' Union, as published in their 1983 Check-list of North American birds, 6th edition, as supplemented. Any bird seen in Oregon that is not listed here is considered to be a "rare bird" and a report of its occurrence is requested by the Oregon Bird Records Committee. 0

RA

RE

BIR

D R

EPO

RT

FOR

M -

19

94

Ore

gon

Bird

Rec

ords

Com

mitt

ee —

OB

RC

OB

RC

P.O

. Box

103

73

Euge

ne,

OR

974

40

DO

NO

T W

RIT

E IN

TH

IS

SP

AC

E

DATE

REC

EIVE

D B

Y O

BRC

SECR

ETA

RY

1.

YO

UR

NA

ME

AN

D

AD

DR

ES

S

TE

LE

PH

ON

E

DO

NO

T W

RIT

E IN

TH

IS

SP

AC

E

DATE

REC

EIVE

D B

Y O

BRC

SECR

ETA

RY

1.

YO

UR

NA

ME

AN

D

AD

DR

ES

S

TE

LE

PH

ON

E

This

form

is in

tend

ed a

s a

conv

enie

nce

and

a gu

idel

ine.

It m

ay b

e use

d fle

xibl

y an

d ne

ed n

ot

beus

edata

ll. A

ttach

add

ition

al sh

eets

if n

eede

d.

Plea

se ty

pe, o

r writ

e le

gibl

y. Yo

u m

ay fi

nd it

ea

siest

to us

e sep

arat

e sh

eets

of pa

per k

eyed

to

the

gene

ral

guid

eline

s in

this

form

.

2.

BIR

D

IDE

NT

IFIC

AT

ION

. Wr

ite in

th

e na

me

of th

e sp

ecies

you

have

ide

ntifi

ed

and

info

rmat

ion

on n

umbe

rs, s

ex,

plum

age,

and

age.

3.

DA

TE

(S).

Mon

th, d

ay, a

nd y

ear.

If th

ere

are

mul

tiple

obse

rvat

ions

, eac

h da

te.

4.

LO

CA

TIO

N.

Be sp

ecifi

c; de

scrib

e ha

bita

t. Al

ways

list

the c

ount

y; gi

ve c

ompa

ss o

rient

atio

n to

the

near

est

nota

ble

geog

raph

ic fe

atur

e. Us

e th

e DeL

orm

e O

rego

n A

rias

an

d G

azet

teer

with

ve

rsio

n nu

mbe

r, pa

ge n

umbe

r, an

d co

ordi

nate

s.

5.

DE

TA

ILS

. Inc

lude

onl

y wha

t was

act

ually

obs

erve

d, no

t wha

t sho

uld

have

bee

n se

en or

hea

rd.

Stre

ss fi

eld

mark

s: bi

ll, ey

e. w

ings

, tail

, leg

s, sh

ape,

prop

ortio

ns, "

jizz"

, etc

. Inclu

de b

ehav

ior:

feed

ing,

rest

ing,

flyin

g, in

tera

ctio

ns w

ith o

ther

spec

ies, e

tc. D

escr

ibe v

oice

— so

ng, c

alls,

or n

otes

—

if h

eard

. If y

ou h

ave

mad

e fie

ld n

otes

and/

or fi

eld s

ketc

hes,

inclu

de th

em (o

r cop

ies o

f the

m).

Flor

enc

Bill S

tork

997

-897

8

Jeff

Gilli

gan,

231

-097

1 Ha

rry N

ehls,

233

-397

6 O

wen

Schm

idt, 2

82-9

403

[ Por

tland

sSal

em

'Bar

bBel

lin\3

93-0

243

Bob

Luca

s, 3

53-9

710

Alba

ny

Rick

& K

athy

Krab

lje, 5

Co

rval

lis/P

hilo

mat

h El

zy &

Elsi

e El

tzrot

h, 7

4fj-7

806

I Um

atilla

/Her

mist

on

Craig

Cor

der,

567-

0305

/Pho

ne n

umbe

r in

ital

ics^

m

eans

you

may

reac

h an

\a

nsw

erin

g m

achi

ne.

) Can

yon

City

To

m W

inter

s, 5

75-2

570

kige

ne

ffm C

arlso

n, 4

85-4

491

Clar

ice W

atso

n, 4

85-6

137

Kit L

arse

n, 3

44-9

574

Tom

Mick

el, 4

85-7

112

Barb

Com

bs, 6

89-6

660

Zoos

Bay

/Nor

th B

end

//Bar

bara

Grif

fin, 7

56-5

688k

jf Ly

n To

pits,

267-

7208

La

rry T

horn

burg

h, 7

56-4

281

JPor

t Orfo

rd

Jim R

oger

s,

I Car

ne O

sbor

ne, 3

32-2

555

) Bro

okin

gs

: Coli

n Di

llingh

am. 4

69-9

624

Rose

burg

/Glid

e Al

ice P

arke

r, 67

2-15

49

Mer

edith

Jone

s, 6

72-6

367

Ron

Mae

rtz, 4

96-3

847

lAsh

land

/Med

ford

area

M

arjor

ie M

oore

, 535

-513

8 Do

uglas

Kirk

patric

k, 7

72-2

232

V

.mw

rn

'Gra

nts

Pass

Ba

rbar

a Ho

ffman

, 471

-601

9 J Be

nd

Tom

Cra

btre

e, 3

88-2

462

Rule

s fo

r a n

etw

ork

are

sim

ple:

rare

bird

s on

ly (n

o ea

st/w

est o

r wes

t/eas

t Ore

gon

bird

s); b

irder

s

who

get c

alls

hav

e to

mak

e ca

lls (t

his

mea

ns lo

ng d

ista

nce

tolls

); an

d on

ce on

the

netw

ork,

kee

p it

going

by k

eepi

ng y

our a

ddre

ss a

nd ph

one

num

ber(s

) cur

rent

. M

inim

um in

form

atio

n on

a ra

re b

ird c

all s

houl

d

incl

ude

spec

ies,

age

and

sex

(if n

ot kn

own,

say

so)

, num

ber o

f bird

s, wh

o fo

und

it (th

em),

and

who

to c

all

for

mor

e in

form

atio

n, if

any

one.

Bird

ers

who

would

like

to re

pres

ent t

heir

loca

l bi

rdin

g ar

eas

shou

ld w

rite

to T

he E

dito

r, Or

egon

Bird

s, 3

007

N.E.

32n

d Av

enue

, Por

tland

, OR

972

12

Plea

se fe

el fr

ee to

sen

d id

eas

and

sugg

estio

ns, t

oo!

•Alb

any

Rick

& K

athy

Kra

bbe,

103

5 La

wre

nce,

Alb

any,

OR

973

21 ,(

H)

541-

928-

1803

•

Ash

land

/Med

ford

are

a M

arjo

rie M

oore

, 472

9 S.

Pac

ific

Hw

y. #

11; P

hoen

ix,

OR

975

35, (

H)5

35-5

138

(W)7

76-7

293

or

776-

7294

D

ougl

as K

irkpa

trick

, 330

Har

vard

Pla

ce, M

edfo

rd, O

R 9

7504

, (H

) 77

2-22

32 (

W)7

79-1

672

• Ast

oria

M

ike

Patte

rson

, 133

8 Ke

nsin

gton

Ave

nue,

Ast

oria

, OR

971

03,

(H)3

25-1

365

•Ben

d To

m C

rabt

ree,

166

7 N

.W.

Iow

a, B

end,

OR

977

01, (

H)3

88-2

462

(W)3

89-7

723,

1-80

0-76

2-66

16

• Bro

okin

gs

Col

in D

illin

gham

, 437

Aza

lea

Park

Roa

d, B

rook

ings

, OR

974

15,

(H)4

69-9

624

• C

anyo

n C

ity

Tom

Win

ters

, P.O

. Bo

x 11

1, C

anyo

n C

ity, O

R 9

7820

, (H

) 541

-542

-200

6 (W

) 54

1-57

5-25

70

• C

oos

Bay

/Nor

th B

end

Ben

Faw

ver,

793

John

son,

Coo

s Ba

y, O

R 9

7420

, (H

)267

-648

5 Ly

n To

pits

, 888

Tel

egra

ph, C

oos

Bay,

OR

974

20, (

H)2

67-7

208

(\N

)888

-476

2 Ba

rbar

a G

riffin

, 16

91 G

rant

Stre

et, N

orth

Ben

d O

R 9

7459

, (H

)756

-568

8 La

rry T

horn

burg

h, 2

058

Ced

ar C

ourt,

Nor

th B

end,

OR

974

59,

(H)7

56-4

281

• Cor

valli

s/Ph

ilom

ath

Elzy

& E

lsie

Eltz

roth

, 698

0 N.

W.

Car

dina

l, C

orva

llis,

OR

973

30,

(H)7

45-7

806

• Eug

ene

Jim

Car

lson

, 156

0 C

hasa

St.,

Eug

ene,

OR

974

01, (

H) 4

85-4

491

(W) 6

87-4

436

(leav

e m

essa

ge)

Barb

Com

bs,

1466

Elk

ay D

rive,

Eug

ene,

OR

974

04, (

H)6

89-6

660,

(W)3

78-6

190

Kit L

arse

n, 2

162

Kinc

aid

Stre

et, E

ugen

e, O

R 9

7405

, (H

)344

-957

4 (W

) 68

6-43

94

Tom

Mic

kel,

5259

Ove

rbro

ok L

ane,

Eug

ene,

OR

974

05, (

H)4

85-7

112,

(W

) 93

5-22

83

Cla

rice

Wat

son,

378

7 W

ilshi

re L

ane,

Eug

ene,

OR

974

05,

(H)4

85-6

137

• Flo

renc

e Bi

ll St

otz,

130

5 La

urel

, Flo

renc

e, O

R 9

7439

, (H

)997

-897

8 •

Gra

nts

Pass

Ba

rbar

a H

offm

an, 2

51 B

rook

e La

ne, G

rant

s Pa

ss, O

R 9

7527

,541

-471

-601

9 •

Port

land

Je

ff G

illig

an, 2

6 N

.E. 3

2nd

Aven

ue, P

ortla

nd, O

R 9

7232

, (H

)23?

-097

/(W)3

26-3

057

Har

ry N

ehls

, 273

6 S.

E. 2

0th,

Por

tland

, OR

972

02,

(H)2

33-3

976

Ow

en S

chm

idt,

3007

N.E

. 32n

d Av

enue

, Por

tland

, OR

972

12, (

H)2

82-9

403

(W)3

26-3

268

• Po

rt O

rfor

d Ji

m R

oger

s &

Car

rie O

sbor

ne, 9

5187

Elk

Riv

er R

d., P

ort O

rford

, OR

974

65,

(H)3

32-2

555

• Ros

ebur

g/G

lide

Alic

e Pa

rker

, 313

W. H

icko

ry S

t., R

oseb

urg,

OR

974

70,

(H)6

72-1

549

Mer

edith

Jon

es, 2

224

N.W

. Cal

kins

, Ros

ebur

g, O

R 9

7470

, (H

)672

-636

7 R

on M

aertz

, 257

Bro

wn

Stre

et, G

lide,

OR

974

43,

(H)4

96-3

847

• Sal

em

Barb

Bel

lin, 4

730

Eliz

abet

h St

reet

N„ S

alem

, OR

973

03, (

H)3

93-0

243

Bob

Luca

s, 3

92 H

olde

r La

ne S

.E.,

Sal

em, O

R 9

7306

, (H

)363

-971

0 •

Tilla

moo

k C

raig

Rob

erts

, 288

0 O

ld N

etar

ts R

oad

W„ T

illam

ook,

OR

971

41,

(H)8

42-5

782

• U

mat

ilia/

Her

mis

ton

Cra

ig C

orde

r, 88

0 E.

Tam

arac

k, H

erm

isto

n, O

R 9

7838

, (H

)567

-030

5 (W

)567

-641

4 Ph

one

num

ber i

n ita

lics

mea

ns y

ou m

ay re

ach

an a

nsw

erin

g m

achi

ne.

Desc

ribe

your

rea

sons

for y

our

iden

tifica

tion:

you

r fa

mili

arity

with

the

spec

ies,

field

gui

des

used

, sim

ilar s

pecie

s tha

t wer

e el

imin

ated

, ref

eren

ces t

hat w

ere

cons

ulte

d, et

c.

Desc

ribe

the c

ircum

stanc

es o

f the

obs

erva

tion:

light

con

ditio

ns, p

ositi

on o

f the

sun

, dist

ance

to

the

bird

, dur

atio

n of

obse

rvat

ion,

equi

pmen

t us

ed, t

ime

of da

y, tim

e of

tide

. etc

.

Add

the n

ames

(an

d ad

dres

ses

and

phon

e nu

mber

s if

know

n) o

f oth

er o

bser

vers

who

may

hav

e id

entif

ied

the

bird

.

6.

PH

OT

OS

, RE

CO

RD

ING

S. S

tate

whe

ther

phot

os w

ere t

aken

or vi

deo o

r sou

nd r

ecor

ding

s we

re m

ade.

OBR

C wi

ll du

plica

te a

nd re

turn

orig

inal

slide

s and

tape

s pro

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d i v i n g d u c k s w h e r e s m e l t r u n s c a n b e l o c a t e d . F r o m t h e f o l l o w i n g o b s e r v a t i o n , i t m a y b e w e l l t o figure o u t w h e n s m e l t r u n s o c c u r o n t h e C o l u m b i a R i v e r : " T h e s m e l t r u n u p t h e C o l u m b i a R i v e r i n e a r l y A p r i l a t t r a c t e d a n e s t i m a t e d 5 0 , 0 0 0 g u l l s , m o s t l y C a l f o r n i a s ( H . N . ) . " A B 3 2 ( 5 ) : 1 0 4 7 .

I t is a l so i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t b i r d s h a v e n o t b e e n f o u n d a t t h e m o u t h o f t h e D e s c h u t e s R i v e r p r i o r t o 1 9 9 0 . T h i s c u r i o u s s t a t i s t i c c o u l d b e e x p l a i n e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t b i r d e r s h a v e f i g u r e d o u t t h a t t h e c o n f l u e n c e o f r i v e r s p r o v i d e a n a b u n d a n c e o f f o o d f o r w a t e r f o w l a n d o t h e r t y p e s o f b i r d s , a n d c a n b e h o t s p o t s f o r b i r d e r s . A l s o , c e r t a i n b i r d e r s h a v e t a k e n i t u p o n t h e m s e l v e s t o d o ext e n s i v e b i r d i n g i n a f e w o f t h e lesser-b i r d e d c o u n t i e s east o f t h e Cascades . T h i s p a r t i c u l a r l o c a t i o n is w e l l w o r t h c h e c k i n g , s i n c e s i l t b u i l d - u p p r o v i d e s a l a r g e s a n d b a r w h i c h is u s e d h e a v i l y b y w a t e r f o w l , g u l l s , a n d s h o r e b i r d s , e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g m i g r a t i o n . O t h e r g r e a t f i n d s h e r e i n c l u d e H e e r m a n n ' s a n d Sabine 's G u l l s .

A n o t h e r l o o k a t t h e l o c a t i o n o f these r e c o r d s reveals t h a t w h e n D a v i d F i x l i v e d at a h i g h e l e v a t i o n l o c a t i o n i n t h e C e n t r a l Cascades , h e c a m e u p w i t h 4 r e c o r d s f r o m t h a t area, a l l i n t h e m o n t h o f N o v e m b e r . W i c k i u p

R e s e r v o i r , t h e o n l y o t h e r h i g h e levat i o n s i t e , has p r o d u c e d 4 r e c o r d s , o n e o f w h i c h w a s a lso i n N o v e m b e r . T h i s is n o t a m o n t h d u r i n g w h i c h b i r d e r s c h e c k t h e h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n lakes , b u t i t is the t i m e w h e n t h i s s p e c i e s m o s t o f t e n a p p e a r s at i n l a n d si tes , so i t m a y b e t h a t R e d - b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r s are a l s o u s i n g t h e s e areas m u c h m o r e t h a n r e c o r d s m i g h t i n d i c a t e .

W h e n R e d - b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r s h a v e b e e n f o u n d i n l a n d , 2 o u t o f eve r y 3 s i g h t i n g s w e r e o f i n d i v i d u a l b i r d s T w e n t y - o n e s i g h t i n g s h a v e b e e n o f p a i r s ( o r t w o 2 b i r d s t o g e t h e r ) F i v e o b s e r v a t i o n s h a v e b e e n o f g r o u p s o f 3 , a n d 3 e a c h w e r e o f g r o u p s o f 4 a n d 5 . T w o o b s e r v a t i o n s o f u p t o 7 b i r d s h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d . T h e o n l y o t h e r s i g h t i n g o f a l a r g e r g r o u p w a s o f 14 b i r d s , w h i c h w a s a lso B a k e r C o u n t y ' s o n l y s i g h t i n g . T h i s is t h e size o f g r o u p s g e n e r a l l y f o u n d o n t h e coas t .

R e d - b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r d o e s i n f a c t w i n t e r i n l a n d i n O r e g o n ( F i g u r e 2 ) . B i r d s b e g i n t o t r i c k l e i n w i t h t h e s t a r t o f f a l l m i g r a t i o n i n l a t e s u m m e r a n d b u i l d t o a p e a k f r o m N o v e m b e r t h r o u g h J a n u a r y . T h e r e is a n o t i c e a b l e

d r o p b y F e b r u a r y , b u t n u m b e r s t h e n b e g i n t o p i c k u p a g a i n w i t h s p r i n g m i g r a t i o n . W h i l e t h i s m i m i c s t h e spec ies ' p a t t e r n s o n t h e coas t , i t is n e v e r t h e l e s s i n t e r e s t i n g t o see i t a d d r e s s e d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e .

A s p r e v i o u s l y m e n t i o n e d , o v e r h a l f o f a l l i n l a n d s i g h t i n g s h a v e o c c u r r e d s i n c e 1 9 9 0 . D u r i n g t h e 1 9 8 0 s , 4 . 4 b i r d s p e r y e a r w e r e seen . S i n c e t h e n , 9 2 b i r d s h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d p e r year. P r i o r t o 1 9 8 0 t h e r e w h e r e 10 r e c o r d s d a t i n g as f a r b a c k as 1 9 5 8 . H a v e w e r e a c h e d a p l a t e a u i n t h e n u m b e r s o f R e d - b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r s w e w i l l see i n l a n d e a c h year? O n l y t i m e w i l l t e l l . S i g h t i n g s b e g a n t o i n c r e a s e a n d b e c o m e m o r e c o n s i s t e n t s i n c e 1 9 8 3 . F i v e w e r e r e p o r t e d i n t h a t y e a r a n d b i r d s w e r e r e p o r t e d e v e r y y e a r s i n c e t h e n .

W h i l e i t is r a t h e r d o u b t f u l t h a t R e d -b r e a s t e d M e r g a n s e r s are o n t h e i n crease h e r e i n N o r t h A m e r i c a , m o r e s i g h t i n g s are t o b e e x p e c t e d h e r e o n i n l a n d w a t e r s i n O r e g o n . W i t h b i r d i n g b e c o m i n g m o r e p o p u l a r as t h e y e a r s g o b y , a n d m o r e b i r d e r s b e c o m i n g m o r e e x p e r i e n c e d , i t is c e r t a i n t h a t t h i s s p e c i e s w i l l b e s e e n w i t h at leas t t h e s a m e f r e q u e n c y i n t h e f u t u r e , a n d w i l l b e f o u n d i n p l a c e s w h e r e i t has n o t p r e v i o u s l y b e e n seen . 0

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Figure 2. Red-breasted Merganser inland. "Birds begin to trickle in with the start of fall migration in late summer and build to peak from November through January. There is a noticeable drop by February, but number then begin to pick up again with spring migration."

Oregon B i r d s 2 4 ( 3 ) : 85 , F a l l 1998

News and Notes OB 24(3)

Please c h e c k y o u r m a i l i n g l a b e l . T h e v o l u m e a n d issue n u m b e r o f

y o u r l a s t i s s u e o f Oregon Birds i s p r i n t e d i n t h e u p p e r r i g h t h a n d c o r ner . O B is s e n t o n a 1-year basis , n o t o n a v o l u m e - y e a r b a s i s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , y o u r m e m b e r s h i p r u n s f o r 4 q u a r t e r s — 4 issues o f O B — f r o m t h e q u a r t e r i n w h i c h y o u j o i n e d o r r e n e w e d . I f t h e n u m b e r 2 4 ( 3 ) a p p e a r s

— this is your last issue. So i t ' s t i m e t o s e n d i n y o u r m e m b e r s h i p d u e s ! I f t h e n u m b e r 2 4 ( 4 ) o r h i g h e r a p p e a r s , f e e l f r e e t o s e n d i n y o u r d u e s early. Y o u ' l l b e g u a r a n t e e d a n e x t e n s i o n o f 4 i ssues at t o d a y ' s r a t e s , y o u w o n ' t h a v e t o w o r r y a b o u t y o u r s u b s c r i p t i o n f o r m o r e t h a n a year , a n d y o u ' l l m a k e t h e a c c o u n t i n g a t O F O a l i t t l e eas ier .The e n t i r e O B t e a m t h a n k s y o u ! S e n d i n y o u r r e n e w a l n o w , a n d h e l p u s o u t at O B !

Th e O r e g o n F u n d f o r O r n i t h o l o g y sets as ide m o n e y f o r w o r t h w h i l e

p r o j e c t s r e l a t e d t o t h e p u r p o s e s o f O F O , t o b e d e d i c a t e d a t t h e O F O B o a r d ' s d i s c r e t i o n . E x a m p l e s i n c l u d e s p e c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n s , i m p r o v e m e n t s i n Oregon Birds, s u p p o r t f o r o r n i t h o l o g i c a l r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s , e t c . A l l d o n a t i o n s are t a x - d e d u c t i b l e . A h a n d y c h e c k b o x o n t h e O F O m e m b e r s h i p f o r m m a k e s i t easy t o e a r m a r k c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e F u n d . B i r d e r s w i s h i n g t o c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e F u n d s h o u l d s e n d c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o O F O T r e a s u r e r , P.O. B o x 1 0 3 7 3 , E u g e n e , O R 9 7 4 4 0 .

Or e g o n B i r d e r s O n L i n e ( O B O L ) h a s b e c o m e e s s e n t i a l b i r d i n g

e q u i p m e n t , i n a sense , as m a n y o f O r e g o n ' s m o s t a c t i v e b i r d e r s a re " o n l i n e " e x c h a n g i n g n e w s a n d n o t e s v i a I n t e r n e t e m a i l . T o s i g n o n t o O B O L , y o u n e e d e m a i l access t o t h e I n t e r n e t

— u s u a l l y t h r o u g h a p e r s o n a l c o m p u t e r a n d a n I n t e r n e t p r o v i d e r . H o w d o I s u b s c r i b e t o O B O L ? S e n d t h e c o m m a n d b e l o w t o L i s t S e r v @ m a i l . o r s t . e d u :

SUBSCRIBE obol firstname lastname H o w d o I u n s u b s c r i b e t o O B O L ? S e n d t h e c o m m a n d b e l o w t o L i s t S e r v @ m a i l . o r s t . e d u :

SIGNOFF obol H o w d o I s e n d a message t o a l l b i r d e r s w h o s u b s c r i b e t o O B O L ? S e n d y o u r m e s s a g e t o

[email protected] H o w d o I c o n t a c t t h e l i s t o w n e r f o r q u e s t i o n s ? S e n d y o u r q u e s t i o n s t o

[email protected] H o w d o I set O b o l t o d i g e s t m o d e ? S e n d t h e message

set obol digest t o L i s t S e r v @ m a i l . o r s t . e d u . H o w d o I r e t r i e v e a q u i c k c o m m a n d s u m m a r y ? S e n d t h e message

HELP t o L i s t S e r v @ m a i l . o r s t . e d u . H o w d o I r e t r i e v e i n f o o n t h e O b o l list? S e n d t h e m e s s a g e

INFO obol t o L i s t S e r v @ m a i l . o r s t . e d u . H o w d o I find o u t w h o is o n O B O L ? S e n d t h e message

REVIEW obol t o L i s t S e r v @ m a i l . o r s t . e d u . H o w d o I c o n c e a l m y e m a i l a d d r e s s f r o m p u b l i c u s e r s a n d s u b s c r i b e r s ? S e n d t h e message

SET obol conceal t o L i s t S e r v @ m a i l . o r s t . e d u . P lease n o t e : f i r s t n a m e l a s t n a m e i s y o u r a c t u a l first n a m e a n d last n a m e . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o O r e g o n State's L i s t S e r v e W e b p a g e , w h i c h is : h t t p : / / w w w . n e t . o r s t . e d u / I s / l s u s e r r e f . h t m l . T h e O B O L l i s t o w n e r is L u c y B i g g s , l b @ c y b e r - d y n e . c o m .

T h e t e x t f o r a l l o f t h i s is o n t h e W o r l d W i d e W e b a t h t t p : / / w w w . c y b e r - d y n e . c o m / - l b / s u b s c r . h t m l . S e t a b o o k m a r k o n y o u r b r o w s e r ! O n seve r a l o c c a s i o n s O B O L s u b s c r i b e r s h a v e a s k e d t o h a v e a n e m a i l message re - sent b e c a u s e t h e y i n a d v e r t e n t l y o r

p r e m a t u r e l y " t r a s h e d " i t f r o m t h e i r I n B a s k e t . T h e r e is a n o t h e r w a y t o acc o m p l i s h t h i s i f n o t v e r y m u c h t i m e has p a s s e d . Y o u c a n g o t o w w w . c y b e r -d y n e / ~ l b / o b o l . h t m l , t h e n se lec t e m a i l d i g e s t s . L u c y B i g g s , l b i g g s @ o r e g o n . u o r e g o n . e d u , U n i v e r s i t y o f O r e g o n , M a t e r i a l s S c i e n c e I n s t i t u t e , E u g e n e , O R 9 7 4 0 3 , 5 4 1 - 3 4 6 - 4 7 8 4 f a x ( 5 4 1 ) 346-3422 .

Bi r d s o n g s o n t h e W e b . H e r e ' s a s u m m a r y . ( 1 ) T h e r e is a s i te b y

P a t u x e n t t h a t has q u i t e a v a r i e t y a n d g o o d s o u n d q u a l i t y . h t t p : / / w w w . m b r . n b s . g o v / i d / s o n g l i s t . h t m l ( 2 ) T r y t h e C o r n e l l w e b s i t e , : h t t p : / / w w w . o r n i t h . c o r n e l l . e d u a n d f o l l o w t h e l i n k t o t h e L i b r a r y o f N a t u r a l S o u n d s . I ' v e f o u n d t h a t d o w n l o a d i n g b i r d s o n g s r e a l l y t a k e s a l o n g t i m e . I ' d r e c o m m e n d t h e C D R O M Thayer's Birds of North America ( a r o u n d $ 7 0 ) . G r e t c h e n O o s t e r h o u t , P h . D . , d m a t r i x © e u r o p a . c o m

Th e 1 9 9 8 m i d w i n t e r eag le c o u n t f o u n d 8 3 3 B a l d Eagles i n O r e g o n ,

a n i n c r e a s e o f 2 2 p e r c e n t o v e r last year . A b o u t t w o - t h i r d s w e r e a d u l t s . G o l d e n Eagles w e r e d o w n t o 8 8 f r o m

Midwinter eagle counts in Oregon, 1988 - 1998. No attempt has been made to adjust for differences in weather, observers, or routes. The population of Bald Eagles in Oregon in the first half of January appears to be stable or increasing. Citation: Isaacs, F.B. 1998. Results of the 1998Midwinter Eagle Count for Oregon. Oregon Eagle foundation, Klamath Falls, Oregon. 1 page, 2 tables.

900-

800-

700-

600-

500-

400-

300-

200-

100-

0-

B a l d Eagle

G o l d e n Eagle

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

O r e g o n B i r d s 2 4 ( 3 ) : 86, F a l l 1998

9 3 t h e y e a r b e f o r e . O r e g o n E a g l e F o u n d a t i o n , I n c . , F r a n k B . Isaacs, Secr e t a r y , 3 3 7 S o u t h G Street , L a k e v i e w , O R 9 7 6 3 0 - 1 8 2 3 , 5 4 1 - 9 4 7 - 2 5 4 4 f b i s a a c s @ t a l l t w n . c o m .

M e e t i n g s , e v e n t s & d e a d l i n e s m a d e k n o w n t o Oregon Birds:

- 28 - 30 September 1998, Western Bird Banding Association, annual meeting, Marshall, California. Kay Loughman, 393 Gravatt Drive,Berkeley, CA 94705, 510-841-7428 [email protected]

- 30 September - 4 October 1998, Annual Meeting of the Raptor Research Foundation, Ogden, Utah. Carl D. Marti, Department of Zoology, Weber State Univ., Ogden, UT 84408-2505,801-626-6172 fax 801-626-7445 [email protected].

- 30 September - 4 October 1999, international scientific conference at Ebeltoft, Denmark, to celebrate 100 years since Hans Christian Cornelius Mortensen started to band birds systematically. Ib Clausager, [email protected] or http://www.dum.dk/ news/birds.htm.

- 1 - 4 October 1998, Western Field Ornithologists, 23r d annual meeting, Areata, California. Carl D. Marti, 801-626-6172 [email protected] http://www.weber.edu/rrf WFO Conference, Mad River Biologists, P.O. Box 3020,, McKinleyville CA 95519, 707-822-6393 [email protected]

-18 December 1998 through 3 January 1999,99th

Christmas Bird Count, National Audubon Society. - 29 March - 3 April 1999, Cooper Ornithological Society, 69th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR. Symposia and workshops will include "The effects of habitat fragmentation on western bird populations" and "Conservation of avian diversity in an urbanizing world". The plenary speaker Gordon Orians will address "Four and ninety blackbirds: a lovely long- term dish." The 1998 Miller Awardee Russell Balda will speak on "The use of natural history information in predicting cognitive abilities of corvids: clever corvids and cooperative colleagues." Concurrent general paper sessions are scheduled as well as poster sessions. For infor

mation on the scientific program contact Martin G. Raphael, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 3625 9 3 r d Avenue S.W., 01ympia,WA 98512,360-753-7662 [email protected]. For information on local arrangements contact Erick G. Campbell, BLM, 1515 S.W. 5th Avenue, Portland, OR 97201, 503-952-6382 [email protected]. Visit the COS home page at http://www.ets.uidaho.edu/coop/cooper/ coshome.htm for more information.

-16 December 1999 through 3 January 2000,100th Christmas Bird Count, National Audubon Society.

-15 December 2000 through 2 January 2001,101st Christmas Bird Count, National Audubon Society. 0

29 March - 3 April 1999, Cooper Ornithological Society,

69th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR

mm

The Western Meadowlark Recovery Project

T h e O r e g o n D e p a r t m e n t o f F i s h & W i l d l i f e ( O D F W ) p l a n s t o c o n d u c t a n i n t e n s i v e l a n d o w n e r e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m t o m a i n t a i n a n d i m p r o v e p r i v a t e l y - o w n e d h a b i t a t f o r t h e s e grassl a n d - a s s o c i a t e d b i r d s i n t h e W i l l a m e t t e V a l l e y i n 1 9 9 8 a n d 1999-T h e o b j e c t i v e s f o r t h i s p r o p o s a l are t o : ( 1 ) c r e a t e a n d d i s t r i b u t e a b r o c h u r e f o r p r i v a t e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d o w n e r s t h a t i n t e g r a t e s m a n a g e m e n t f o r g r a s s l a n d b i r d s w i t h e c o n o m i c a l l y v i a b l e c o m m o d i t y p r o d u c t i o n ; ( 2 ) %, c o n d u c t " h a n d s - o n " w o r k s h o p s f o r i n t e r e s t e d l a n d o w n e r s t o l e a r n a b o u t i n t e g r a t i n g h a b i t a t m a n a g e m e n t w i t h p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e i r s p e c i f i c c o m m o d i t y ; a n d ( 3 ) w o r k w i t h l a n d o w n e r s as t h e y i m p l e m e n t o n - t h e - g r o u n d h a b i ta t i m p r o v e m e n t r e c o v e r y p r o j e c t s . I n a d d i t i o n , O D F W w i l l d e v e l o p s p e c i e s a c c o u n t s f o r t h e s e g r a s s l a n d b i r d spec ies f o r i ts p u b l i c a t i o n Species at Risk. T h i s p u b l i c a t i o n is w i d e l y u s e d b y m a n a g e r s , e d u c a t o r s , s t u d e n t s a n d t h e p u b l i c . T h e b e a u t i f u l s o n g o f O r e g o n ' s state b i r d — t h e W e s t e r n M e a d o w l a r k — w a s c o m m o n l y h e a r d b y r e s i d e n t s o f t h e W i l l a m e t t e V a l l e y as r e c e n t l y as 3 0 y e a r s a go . N o w i t ' s d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d t h i s s p e c i e s as w e l l as o t h e r g r a s s l a n d

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta Length 9 1/2 in. (24 cm) Best distinguished by its voice Common in field and meadows Male picks the nest site on the ground Female will sit on 3-7 eggs for 13-15 days Voted the Oregon State Bird in 1927 by

Oregon's school children Once common in the Willamette Valley . . .

now scarce i On the Oregon Sensj he Species List in the

Willamette Vailed

b i r d spec ies . T h e P r o b l e m . . . T h r o u g h r e c e n t

s t u d i e s c o n d u c t e d b y t h e " W i l d l i f e D i v e r s i t y P r o g r a m " o f O D F W w e n o w k n o w t h e d e c l i n i n g t r e n d s are d u e t o c h a n g e s i n h a b i t a t .

T h e G o o d N e w s . . . is t h a t w i t h m i n i m a l m o d i f i c a t i o n s i n t h e w a y l a n d is m a n a g e d , t h e status o f t h e s e grass land b i r d s c a n b e i m p r o v e d .

T h e W e s t e r n M e a d o w l a r k a n d o t h e r W i l l a m e t t e V a l l e y grass land b i r d s n e e d y o u r h e l p ! R e c o v e r y p r o j e c t s t a k e m o n e y ! Please make a donation toward this very important project. C h e c k s s h o u l d b e m a d e p a y a b l e t o t h e O r e g o n W i l d l i f e H e r i t a g e F o u n d a t i o n a n d m a i l e d t o t h e a ddre s s b e l o w .

Let 's w o r k t o g e t h e r so t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n c a n w a k e u p t o t h e m e l o d i -

u s s o n g o f O r e g o n ' s State B i r d . " A l o w t h r o a t y , e x p l o s i v e c h u c k a n d a r a t t l i n g f l i g h t c a l l - v a r i a b l e ser ies o f b u b b l i n g f l u t e l i k e n o t e s , a c c e l e r a t i n g t o w a r d t h e e n d . "

F u n d R a i s i n g G o a l : $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 . C o m m i t t e d F u n d s : $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 . H e l p N e e d e d : $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 .

W e s t e r n M e a d o w l a r k F u n d , P.O. B o x 3 0 4 0 6 , P o r t l a n d , O R 9 7 2 9 4 - 3 4 0 6 , 5 0 3 - 2 5 5 - 6 0 5 9 f a x 5 0 3 - 2 5 5 - 6 4 6 7


OFO Birding Weekend in Curry County Nathaniel Wander, P.O. Box 301, Port Orford OR 97465

A b o u t 1 1 9 s p e c i e s w e r e t a l l i e d d u r i n g t h e O r e g o n F i e l d O r n i t h o l o g i s t s b i r d i n g w e e k e n d i n C u r r y C o u n t y , 25-2 6 A p r i l 1 9 9 8 . P a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e T o m B u r n e t t , L i n d a G i l b e r t , M a e v e L o f t o n , J i m R e g a l i , L i b a S t a n e k , M a r g a r e t S t e p h e n s , H a r o l d a n d V o y l a Steves , P a u l S u l l i v a n , a n d N a t h a n i e l W a n d e r . T h e t r i p w a s g u i d e d b y l o c a l e x p e r t D o n M u n s o n .

A t B r o o k i n g s o n S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g , a p e e k i n t o C h e t c o C o v e f r o m t h e n o r t h b a n k o f t h e r i v e r t u r n e d u p o n e o f t h e f e w l o c a l P u r p l e M a r t i n c o l o n i e s , n e s t i n g i n h o l e s u n d e r t h e H i g h w a y 1 0 1 b r i d g e . O n t h e b e a c h t o t h e w e s t , B l a c k - c r o w n e d N i g h t H e r o n s , a n d b r e e d i n g p l u m a g e d S p o t t e d Sandp i p e r s w e r e seen .

A l o n g t h e W i n c h u c k R i v e r a b o v e L u d l u m H o u s e , a n A m e r i c a n D i p p e r n e s t e d o n a b r a c e i n a c o r r u g a t e d ret a i n i n g w a l l . I t m o s t l y b o b b e d b e f o r e t h e n e s t , o c c a s i o n a l l y t u r n i n g a n d p o k i n g i t s h e a d i n s i d e . P e r i o d i c a l l y , i t w o u l d d r o p t o t h e r i v e r b e d , a n d s t r o l l a b o u t i n t h e s h a l l o w f l o w .

F u r t h e r u p t h e East F o r k , w e s a w t h e d a y ' s f i r s t r e d - g o r g e t e d g r e e n -b a c k e d A l l e n ' s H u m m i n g b i r d , a l i f e -b i r d f o r at least o n e p a r t i c i p a n t . P a u l a lso c a l l e d i n a N o r t h e r n P y g m y O w l ,

w h i c h w a s m o b b e d b y c h i c k a d e e s a n d o t h e r s m a l l f r y . D e s p i t e t h i s r u d e r e c e p t i o n , t h e o w l c o n t i n u e d t o f o l l o w o u r g r o u p i n a n a t t e m p t t o d ia l o g u e w i t h P a u l , t h o u g h i t is n o t cer t a i n w h o g o t t h e b e s t o f t h e d e b a t e . A c o r n W o o d p e c k e r s a n d t h e i r t a n o a k l a r d e r s , a b s e n t o n t h e c o a s t a l p l a i n , w e r e p l e n t i f u l at t h i s a l t i t u d e .A M o u n t a i n Q u a i l c o u l d b e c l e a r l y h e a r d across t h e v a l l e y , b u t w o u l d n o t b e i n d u c e d t o e x h i b i t h i m s e l f .

D o n s h o w e d s o m e o f u s B l a c k P h o e b e s n e s t i n g i n a n o l d b a r n a l o n g t h e r i v e r , a n d a n o t h e r n e a r h i s h o m e i n H a r b o r . W e h e a r d V i r g i n i a Rails o n t h e L o w e r C h e t c o R i v e r — b u t g o t n o v i e w s . I n a f i e l d a b o v e H w y . 1 0 1 o f f P e l i c a n B a y D r i v e , a t a p e c a l l e d i n a Y e l l o w - b r e a s t e d C h a t . R e m a r k a b l e f o r i t s a l l - o v e r - t h e - m a p r a n g e o f v o c a l i z a t i o n s , t h i s g r a y a n d y e l l o w , w h i t e -s p e c t a c l e d b i r d is t h e la rges t w a r b l e r t o s u m m e r i n C u r r y . D o n also p o i n t e d o u t a n A m e r i c a n K e s t r e l , g r o w i n g scarce as m o s t h a v e d e p a r t e d f o r t h e i r n o r t h e r n b r e e d i n g g r o u n d s .

O n a w i r e f e n c e s o u t h w e s t o f t h e C h e t c o V a l l e y M u s e u m , D o n s h o w e d us a W e s t e r n K i n g b i r d , d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m o t h e r y e l l o w - b o t t o m e d t y r a n t f l y c a t c h e r s b y t h e w h i t e p a r e n t h e s i s

o f i t s o u t e r t a i l f e a t h e r s . T h e y are m o d e r a t e l y c o m m o n h e r e f o r a m o n t h as t h e y m i g r a t e t h r o u g h , a n d w e s a w t w o m o r e f r o m O c e a n v i e w D r i v e , a n d a n a d d i t i o n a l t r i o o n t h e s o u t h f o r k o f P i s t o l R iver .

A l u n c h s t o p at t h e h a r b o r t u r n e d u p a B r o w n P e l i c a n a n d a n i m m a t u r e H e e r m a n n ' s G u l l . B e c a u s e b o t h l i n g e r e d h e r e t h r o u g h o u t t h e w i n t e r , i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o d e c i d e w h e t h e r t h e y w e r e e a r l y s p e c i m e n s o r la te T h e h a r b o r a l s o h e l d b l a c k - h e a d e d B o n a p a r t e ' s G u l l s , p a s s i n g t h r o u g h i n f a i r n u m b e r s o n t h e i r w a y t o n o r t h e r n b r e e d i n g g r o u n d s .

W a d i n g i n t h e C h e t c o R i v e r b e t w e e n L o e b P a r k a n d t h e b r i d g e , w e r e a p a i r o f b l a c k - b e a k e d , y e l l o w - f o o t e d S n o w y Egrets , s m a l l e r t h a n t h e l o c a l l y c o m m o n G r e a t Egrets . W e also h e a r d a R e d - s h o u l d e r e d H a w k , t h o u g h i t n e v e r c a m e i n t o v i e w . T h e f i e l d s a r o u n d P i s t o l R i v e r w e r e f u l l o f b o t h n e o n - b r i g h t A m e r i c a n G o l d f i n c h e s , a n d o l i v e - b a c k e d Lesser o n e s , t h e la t t e r c o m m o n e n o u g h i n C u r r y , b u t u n c o m m o n f u r t h e r n o r t h . A p a i r o f R u d d y D u c k s , n e a r i n g t h e e n d o f t h e i r l o c a l season , p u d d l e d i n t h e r i v e r .

G o l d B e a c h b o a t b a s i n h e l d a g o o d Curry Co., continued next page.

OFO Birding Weekend, Baker County, 23-25 May 1998 MikeBogar, 6536 S.E.Apple, Milwaukie, OR 97222

P a u l S u l l i v a n , M a r t i A n d e r s o n , J i m N o r r i s , M a r g a r e t S t e p h e n s , L i b a S tanek , a n d M i k e B o g a r t r a v e l l e d t o B a k e r C o u n t y o n M e m o r i a l D a y w e e k e n d f o r 3 f u l l days o f e a s t e r n O r e g o n b i r d i n g . W e m e t at 6 : 0 0 a m S a t u r d a y t o e x p l o r e t h e e n v i r o n s s o u t h o f B a k e r C i t y , b i r d e d a l o n g t h e B u r n t R i v e r a n d U n i t y R e s e r v o i r , a n d r e t u r n e d v i a W h i t n e y a n d P h i l l i p s Rese r v o i r .

N e a r B a k e r C i t y , P a u l c a l l e d a p a i r o f Y e l l o w - b r e a s t e d C h a t s i n t o v i e w . A p a i r o f V i r g i n i a Ra i l s r e s p o n d e d t o c a l l s a n d c a m e o u t o f c o v e r . O n D o o l e y M o u n t a i n , w e w a t c h e d a p a i r o f W i l l i a m s o n ' s Sapsuckers n e s t - b u i l d i n g a n d m a t i n g . T w o C l a r k ' s G r e b e s

w e r e m i x e d w i t h w e s t e r n G r e b e s o n U n i t y R e s e r v o i r . B i r d s d e t e c t e d i n t h e B u r n t R i v e r V a l l e y i n c l u d e Sora, Sand h i l l C r a n e s , E a s t e r n K i n g b i r d s , L a r k S p a r r o w s , a n d B o b o l i n k s ( i n h a y f i e l d s . r i g h t w h e r e P a u l s a i d t h e y ' d b e ) . Ret u r n i n g t o B a k e r C i t y , w e v i s i t e d P h i l l i p s R e s e r v o i r a n d s a w n e s t i n g O s p e y , a T u n d r a S w a n , a n d a P y g m y N u t h a t c h . Saturday 's t a l l y i n c l u d e d a l l 6 o f O r e g o n ' s s w a l l o w s .

Sunday, l o c a l b i r d e r s H e i d i a n d L o u j o i n e d us o n t h e s o u t h e d g e o f t h e W a l l o w a s , h e a d i n g u p t o B a l m C r e e k R e s e r v o i r a n d d o w n a l o n g E a g l e C r e e k t o R i c h l a n d . G o o d s i g h t i n g s i n c l u d e L o n g - b i l l e d C u r l e w s , L a z u l i B u n t i n g s , L e w i s ' W o o d p e c k e r s , D i p

p e r s t a k i n g f o o d t o a nes t , a n d t h e f i r s t C o m m o n N i g h t h a w k s o f t h e season . M a r g a r e t s p o t t e d a G o s h a w k . N e a r Eagle C r e e k , w e w e r e f r u s t r a t e d i n o u r a t t e m p t s t o see a F o x S p a r r o w , w h i c h w a s s i n g i n g i n t h e b u s h e s a f e w f e e t a w a y . N o t e v e n Paul ' s h o o t i n g a n d p i s h i n g d r e w i t o u t o f c o v e r . W e h a d m u c h b e t t e r l u c k w i t h a R e d F o x t h a n t h e F o x S p a r r o w , h a v i n g c l e a r v i e w s o f t h e f o x f o r 15 m i n u t e s . N o p i s h i n g r e q u i r e d .

M o n d a y m o r n i n g , w e e x p l o r e d t h e g r a v e l p o n d s j u s t n o r t h o f B a k e r C i t y . N o t a b l e s p e c i e s h e r e w e r e B l u e -w i n g e d T e a l , B l a c k T e r n , B a n k S w a l l o w s , B a r n O w l s i n t h e s h e d , a n d

Baker Co., continued next page.

O r e g o n B i r d s 2 4 ( 3 ) : 88 , F a l l 1998

OFO Spring Birding Weekend at Malheur NWR Paul T.Sullivan, 4470 SW Murray #26, Beaverton, OR 97005

N i n e t e e n p a r t i c i p a n t s g a t h e r e d a t M a l h e u r F i e l d S t a t i o n o n t h e m o r n i n g o f 3 0 M a y 1 9 9 8 , f o r i n t r o d u c t i o n s a n d a s k e t c h o f t h e days s c h e d u l e b y o u r l e a d e r , S t e v e S h u n k . T h e n w e h e a d e d o v e r t o R e f u g e h e a d q u a r t e r s f o r e a r l y m o r n i n g b i r d i n g . O n t h e w a y w e s a w t h e e x p e c t e d G r e a t Egre ts , B l a c k - n e c k e d S t i l t s A m e r i c a n A v o c e t s , a n d L o n g - b i l l e d C u r l e w s . A t h e a d q u a r t e r s w e f o u n d t h e p r e d i c t a b l e l e g i o n o f Y e l l o w W a r b l e r s , a f e w C o m m o n N i g h t h a w k s , e t c . Severa l i n t h e g r o u p g o t t o see a n E a s t e r n W o o d - P e w e e w h i c h h a d b e e n c a p t u r e d at t h e b a n d i n g s t a t i o n a c o u p l e days b e f o r e . O t h ers s a w a B l a c k p o l l W a r b l e r .

M i d - m o r n i n g w e set o f f d o w n " r a p t o r a l l e y " t o w a r d P r i n c e t o n . A l o n g t h i s r o u t e S w a i n s o n ' s H a w k s w e r e m o r e n u m e r o u s t h a n Red- ta i l s , b u t w e a lso t a l l i e d F e r r u g i n o u s H a w k s , P r a i r i e F a l c o n s , a n d G o l d e n E a g l e s . A r e c e n t l y - t i l l e d f i e l d w i t h i t s e x p o s e d r o d e n t s h a d a t t r a c t e d s o m e 15 r a p t o r s t o o n e c e n t e r - p i v o t i r r i g a t i o n r i g n e a r C r a n e .

W e w e n t o n t o L a w e n R d . , w h e r e

Curry Co., continued. a s s o r t m e n t o f s h o r e b i r d s , b r e e d i n g -p l u m a g e d D u n l i n s at t h e e n d o f t h e i r season h e r e t h e m o s t n o t a b l e . Sand-e r l i n g s w e r e a l r e a d y n o t i c e a b l y abs e n t . B l a c k - t o u p e e d , o r a n g e d a g g e r -b i l l e d C a s p i a n T e r n s w e r e i n t h e t h i c k o f t h e i r m i g r a t i o n . A s m a l l C a n a d a G o o s e h a d i n s i n u a t e d i t s e l f i n t o a f l o c k o f d o m e s t i c s .

S a t u r d a y n i g h t , a b a n d o f d i e - h a r d o w l e r s a t t e m p t e d t o c a l l i n a N o r t h e r n S a w - w h e t n e a r Q u o s a t a n a c a m p g r o u n d s . T h e i r t a p e b r o u g h t i n a m u c h m o r e c o m m o n S c r e e c h O w l i n s t e a d .

S u n d a y ' s r e t u r n v i s i t t o t h e G o l d B e a c h b o a t b a s i n a d d e d a p a i r o f B r a n t . I n t h e m i d s t o f t h e i r n o r t h e r n m i g r a t i o n , t h e s e s m a l l , d a r k geese pass n o i s i l y o v e r t h e C u r r y c o a s t i n l a r g e V s , b u t t o u c h d o w n o n l y rare ly . F ish-b e a r i n g O s p r e y w h e e l e d o v e r h e a d i n n o s h o r t s u p p l y .

A h a r d h i k e o v e r s a n d d u n e s t o C r o o k ' s P o i n t p r o d u c e d s i g h t i n g s o f T u f t e d P u f f i n s f l y i n g t o a n d f r o m t h e i r

w e s a w n u m e r o u s w a t e r f o w l , i n c l u d i n g a p a i r o f G r e a t e r S c a u p , F r a n k l i n ' s G u l l s , B l a c k - c r o w n e d N i g h t H e r o n s , S n o w y Egre ts , a n d t h e u s u a l w a d i n g b i r d s . H u r r y i n g b a c k t o t h e F i e l d Stat i o n f o r s u p p e r w e s p o t t e d a p a i r o f B u r r o w i n g O w l s n e s t i n g a b o u t a m i l e n o r t h w e s t o f t h e F i e l d S t a t i o n . A f t e r s u p p e r s o m e o f t h e g r o u p r e t u r n e d t o h e a d q u a r t e r s t o a d d a f e w m o r e s p e c i e s t o t h e l i s t . W e e n j o y e d t h e 2 r e s i d e n t G r e a t H o r n e d O w l s r e i n f o r c i n g t h e i r p a i r b o n d . T h o s e w h o c h e c k e d h e a d q u a r t e r s o n S u n d a y m o r n i n g f o u n d a B l a c k - a n d - w h i t e W a r b l e r .

O n S u n d a y m o r n i n g w e m e t f o r b r e a k f a s t o n Steve's t a i l g a t e at B u e n a V i s t a s t a t i o n . T h e r e w e f o u n d a n Easte r n P h o e b e f l y c a t c h i n g a n d c a l l i n g a r o u n d t h e o u t b u i l d i n g s o f t h e s t a t i o n . C l i m b i n g t o t h e o v e r l o o k w e t a l l i e d Sage, L a r k , a n d B r e w e r ' s S p a r r o w s , p l u s A s h - t h r o a t e d a n d G r a y F l y c a t c h ers .

A t Page S p r i n g s w e t a l l i e d Lesser G o l d f i n c h e s , B l a c k - t h r o a t e d a n d M a c G i l l i v r a y ' s W a r b l e r s , a n d Y e l l o w -

nest b u r r o w s o n t h e sea stacks, as w e l l as v i e w s o f b r e e d i n g - p l u m a g e d Pac i f i c L o o n s . O n t h e r e t u r n , w e a l l b u t s t u m b l e d across t h e w e e k e n d ' s p i e c e d e r e s i s t a n c e : a n A s h - t h r o a t e d F l y c a t c h e r i n a w i n d - s h e l t e r e d b o s k b e t w e e n t h e h i g h w a y a n d t h e d u n e s . A b i r d o f t h e m e s q u i t e a n d o f o p e n p i n -y o n a n d j u n i p e r f o r e s t , i t has b e e n r e c o r d e d i n C u r r y C o . o n o n l y a h a n d f u l o f o c c a s i o n s .

F r o m t h e s o u t h b a n k o f t h e R o g u e w e w e r e a f f o r d e d a l o o k i n t o a G r e a t B l u e H e r o n c o l o n y , a n d t h e r e m a r k a b l e s p e c t a c l e o f p a i r o f W h i t e - t a i l e d K i t e s e x c h a n g i n g a n o b j e c t i n m i d - a i r — a p p a r e n t l y p a r t o f a c o u r t i n g r i t u a l . A t t h e r i v e r ' s m o u t h a l o n g t h e N o r t h Jetty, w e w e r e p r o v i d e d a d i s t a n t v i e w o f a C l a r k ' s G r e b e , m o r e w h i t e - f a c e d a n d y e l l o w - b e a k e d t h a n t h e c o m m o n W e s t e r n .

A f t e r b r i e f l o o k s a t t h e " C u r r y C o u n t y B u f f l e h e a d P r e s e r v e , " a .k .a . t h e D o y l e P o i n t s e t t l i n g p o n d s , a n d t h e f i e l d s s u r r o u n d i n g E u c h r e C r e e k , t h e g r o u p m o v e d o n t o G a r r i s o n L a k e

b r e a s t e d C h a t . W o r k i n g o u r w a y n o r t h f r o m t h e P R a n c h o n t h e C e n t e r Pat r o l R o a d , w e t a l l i e d B o b o l i n k s , Sora, E a s t e r n K i n g b i r d s , a n d W i l l o w F l y c a t c h e r s . Steve s a w a s u s p i c i o u s f l y c a t c h e r t h a t e l u d e d f u r t h e r s c r u t i n y . W e d r o v e b y t h e s p o t w e r e a Y e l l o w -b i l l e d C u c k o o h a d b e e n s e e n t h e aft e r n o o n b e f o r e , b u t d i d n o t see i t . ( I t w a s s e e n t h e r e 2 0 m i n u t e s l a t e r ! ) A t K n o x P o n d w e t a l l i e d C a s p i a n , F o r s t e r ' s a n d B l a c k T e r n s .

S e v e r a l p a r t i c i p a n t s d e p a r t e d a t m i d a f t e r n o o n , b u t t h o s e w h o s t a y e d a d d e d T r u m p e t e r S w a n t o t h e l i s t . G o o d b i r d i n g a n d n e w b i r d s w e r e e n j o y e d b y a l l , b u t e s p e c i a l l y b y 2 lad i e s f r o m E n g l a n d s e e i n g t h e area f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e .

P a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e T o m B u r n e t t , K a t h l e e n E h r e n b e r g , K r i s F a l c o , Barb a r a H a n e y A n g e l a H a r v e y , C i n d y & J o h n . L a w e s , C a r o l L e d f o r d , M a e v e L o f t o n , M a l c o l m & J o a n M a c d o n a l d , J i m N o r r i s j i m R e g a l i , R i t a S m i t h , L i b a S tanek , H a r o l d & V o y l a Steves, M a r y A n n e S o h l s t o r m , P a u l S u l l i v a n , a n d S t e p h e n S h u n k . 0

i n P o r t O r f o r d . W e h e a r d M a r s h W r e n s a n d R e d - w i n g e d B l a c k b i r d s , b u t w e r e d i s a p p o i n t e d i n a t t e m p t s t o c a l l o u t Soras o r V i r g i n i a Rai ls . B e f o r e b r e a k i n g u p , t h e g r o u p m o v e d o n t o t h e o l d m i l l p o n d n o r t h o f B u f f i n g t o n P a r k . W e s a w t h e p r o m i s e d W o o d D u c k s , as w e l l as a b o n u s p a i r o f C i n n a m o n Tea l , f a m i l i a r i n t h e W i l l a m e t t e V a l l e y , b u t r e l a t i v e l y u n c o m m o n h e r e .

0 Baker Co., continued. G r e a t H o r n e d O w l . F a r t h e r o n w a s a h e r o n c o l o n y , C a l l i o p e H u m m i n g b i r d s o n a f e e d e r , H o r n e d L a r k s , a n d R e d - n e c k e d P h a l a r o p e s . A t L a d d M a r s h , w e w a t c h e d a p a i r o f S a n d h i l l C r a n e s w i t h a c o l t , s o m e g r e a t N o r t h e r n H a r r i e r d i s p l a y s , a n d m o r e B o b o l i n k s ( i n h a y f i e l d s , r i g h t w h e r e P a u l s a i d t h e y ' d b e ) . A f t e r n o t i c i n g us , t h e c r a n e c o l t d i d a n i m p r e s s i v e j o b o f d i s a p p e a r i n g b y b l e n d i n g i n t o t h e b r o w n grasses.

A n e x t r a t r e a t f o r P a u l , L i b a , a n d m e w a s s p o t t i n g B u r r o w i n g O w l s a l o n g

Baker Co., continued next page.


Baker Co., continued. 1-84. E n r o u t e t o B a k e r C i t y Fr iday , w e f o u n d p e l l e t s w h e r e o w l s w e r e re p o r t e d last year , at m i l e p o s t 2 9 4 . 5 . I n t h e last f e w m i n u t e s o f t w i l i g h t , w e s p o t t e d a n o w l h o v e r i n g o v e r t h e a d j a c e n t f i e l d . H e a d i n g h o m e o n Sunday, w e f o u n d 2 B u r r o w i n g O w l s o n

t h e n o r t h s i d e o f t h e f r e e w a y a t m i l e -p o s t 173 , n e a r t h e U m a t i l l a a r m y d e -p o t . T h e o f f i c i a l t a l l y f o r t h e f i e l d t r i p w a s 1 2 8 s p e c i e s . P a u l d i d n ' t i n c l u d e N o r t h e r n P y g m y - O w l , t h o u g h I d i s t i n c t l y h e a r d t h e m c a l l i n g m a n y t i m e s a n d o f t e n s a w l o t s o f l i t t l e ' d i c k i e b i r d s ' m o b b i n g i n r e s p o n s e . C u r i o u s l y ,

P a u l w a s a l w a y s s t a n d i n g n e a r b y , m a k i n g f u n n y faces . I n e v e r d i d see o n e o f t h e l i t t l e o w l s , b u t I t h o u g h t t h e c a l l s w a r r a n t e d a p o s i t i v e I D . P a u l d i d n ' t a g r e e , f o r s o m e s t r a n g e r e a s o n . H e d i d , h o w e v e r , o r g a n i z e a g r e a t w e e k e n d a n d l e d u s t o a l o t o f g o o d b i r d s . 0

19th Annual OFO Meeting Outgoing Secretary Cindy Lawes, 13380 S.WButner Road, Beaverton, OR 97005 [email protected]

OF O h e l d i t s 1 9 t h A n n u a l M e e t i n g t h i s y e a r i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e

S o u t h w e s t e r n I d a h o B i r d e r s A s s o c i a t i o n a n d t h e G o l d e n Eagle A u d u b o n Society . F i f t y - f i v e b i r d e r s a t t e n d e d t h e m e e t i n g h e l d i n O n t a r i o , O r e g o n , at t h e F o u r R i v e r s C u l t u r a l C e n t e r . T h e b i r d c o u n t f o r M a l h e u r , B a k e r , a n d G r a n t C o u n t i e s a n d w e s t e r n I d a h o w a s 1 7 1 s p e c i e s . H i g h l i g h t s i n c l u d e d C o m m o n L o o n at M a l h e u r R e s e r v o i r , G r e e n H e r o n o f f D o u g l a s R o a d n o r t h o f O n t a r i o , P a c i f i c - s l o p e F l y c a t c h e r n e a r O n t a r i o , a n d B l u e G r o s b e a k at B r o g a n . I n I d a h o , h i g h l i g h t s i n c l u d e d S n o w G o o s e , G r e a t - t a i l e d G r a c k l e , a n d C o m m o n G r a c k l e .

T w o a w a r d s w e r e g i v e n i n r e c o g n i t i o n f o r c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o O r e g o n O r n i t h o l o g y .

A n n W a r d f r o m B a k e r C o u n t y has b e e n a l o n g - t i m e c o n t r i b u t o r f r o m n o r t h e a s t O r e g o n . She a n d h e r h u s b a n d s t a r t e d t h e B a k e r C o u n t y C B C i n 1 9 5 7 T h i s is o n e o f t h e l o n g e s t - r u n n i n g C B C s i n O r e g o n . F o r m a n y y e a r s A n n w a s t h e o n l y b i r d e r r e p o r t i n g f i e l d n o t e s f r o m t h i s p a r t o f O r e g o n . A b i o g r a p h y o f A n n m a y b e f o u n d i n O B 2 1 ( 1 ) , S p r i n g 1 9 9 5 . A l a n C o n t r e r a s p r e s e n t e d t h e a w a r d f o r A n n , w h o c o u l d n o t b e at t h e m e e t i n g .

A l a n C o n t r e r a s f r o m L a n e C o u n t y is m o s t l y k n o w n f o r h i s p r o l i f i c w r i t i n g a b o u t O r e g o n ' s b i r d s . H e has p u b l i s h e d n u m e r o u s b o o k s a n d a r t i c l e s , a n d s e r v e d as P r e s i d e n t o f O F O i n 1 9 8 7 a n d 1 9 8 8 . S o m e o f h i s b o o k s i n c l u d e Northwest Birds in Winter. Birds of Northeast Oregon, Birds of

Oregon, w h i c h h e c o - a u t h o r e d , a n d h i s m o s t r e c e n t p u b l i c a t i o n , Cumulative Index to Oregon Birds, Volumes 1-22, 1975-1996. H i s c u r r e n t p r o j e c t is c o - a u t h o r i n g a n e w Birds of Oregon i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e B r e e d i n g B i r d A t l a s . A l a n has a lso p u b l i s h e d at leas t 6 0 a r t i c l e s i n Oregon Birds.

N o m i n a t i o n s a c c e p t e d f o r O F O B o a r d p o s i t i o n s f o r t h e 1998-99 t e r m :

President, Ray Korpi Secretary, Mary Anne Sohlstrom Treasurer, Reid Freeman Board Members: Ted Ernst (continues his 1997-1999 term) Chuck Gates (finishes 1998-1999 term vacated

by MAS) Vjera Arnold (1998-2000) Tom Winters (1998-2000)

Three new publications from OFO S p e c i a l P u b l i c a t i o n N o . 1 0 . Cumulative Index to Oregon Birds, Vol. 1-22. Alan Contreras. $5.50 A fine cross-listed index to Oregon Birds as well as an index to the Journal of Oregon Ornithology

and other resources. ISBN 1-877693-24-3.

S p e c i a l P u b l i c a t i o n No. 1 1 . A Guide to Birds and other Wildlife of the Columbia River Estuary. Mike Patterson. $ 7.50 A guide for exploring the wildlife of the Columbia River Estuary from Ft. Canby and Baker Bay.

Washington, south to Cannon Beach, Oregon, and east to Brownsmead and Nicolai Mountain. Topics include timing a visit, tips on targeting specific kinds of wildlife, site guides to the region's best areas, an annotated list by species describing where to find the most interesting birds and mammals and a complete checklist and seasonal bar chart the for birds of Clatsop County. ISBN 1-877693-25-1.

S p e c i a l P u b l i c a t i o n N o . 1 2 . Birds of Coos County, Oregon: status and distribution. Alan Contreras. $16.00 The book is a joint production of Cape Arago Audubon and Oregon Field Ornithologists. Species

accounts, habitat information and photos, 25-year CBC tables, a table of pelagic trip results, maps and detailed histograms. ISBN 1-877693-26-X.

Oregon B i r d s 2 4 ( 3 ) : 90, F a l l 1998

Ann Ward. Photo/OB Archives. Alan Contreras. left, Ray Korpi. Photo/Cindy Lowes.

Th e O F O B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s g a v e 2 a w a r d s t o o u t s t a n d i n g O r e g o n

b i r d e r s at t h e N i n e t e e n t h O F O A n n u a l M e e t i n g i n O n t a r i o , 2 7 J u n e 1 9 9 8 .

T h e f i r s t a w a r d w a s g i v e n t o A n n W a r d o f B a k e r C i t y f o r h e r m a n y years o f c o n t r i b u t i n g s i g h t i n g s f r o m easte r n O r e g o n . W h e n s h e m o v e d t o B a k e r C i t y i n 1 9 5 4 , s h e w a s c o a c h e d b y t h e l o c a l p r i e s t - b i r d e r t o g e t t h e P e t e r s o n ' s g u i d e a n d G a b r i e l s o n & J e w e t t ' s Birds of Oregon. W i t h h e r l a t e h u s b a n d , A n n s t a r t e d t h e B a k e r C i t y a n d B a k e r V a l l e y C h r i s t m a s B i r d

C o u n t s a n d she w a s t h e c o m p i l e r f o r m a n y y e a r s . She p a r t i c i p a t e d i n v a r i o u s b i r d s u r v e y s a n d d i s c o v e r e d A m e r i c a n R e d s t a r t s b r e e d i n g n e a r B a k e r C i t y . I n t h e e a r l y y e a r s A n n h a d t o o v e r c o m e t h e i n c r e d u l i t y o f s o m e " e x p e r t s " f r o m w e s t e r n O r e g o n . A l l o f t h i s w a s d o n e i n h e r c h e e r y , u p b e a t w a y . A l t h o u g h h e r h e a l t h is n o t w h a t i t u s e d t o b e , h e r s p i r i t c o n t i n ues . I t w a s a j o y t o v i s i t w i t h h e r a n d p r e s e n t t h i s a w a r d .

T h e s e c o n d a w a r d w e n t t o A l a n C o n t r e r a s . A l a n has b e e n Past Pres i

d e n t o f O F O , a n d a m e m b e r o f t h e O r e g o n B i r d R e c o r d s C o m m i t t e e . H e has w r i t t e n n u m e r o u s a r t i c l e s a n d severa l b o o k s o n O r e g o n ' s b i r d s . A l a n f o u n d e d t h e F l o r e n c e a n d C o q u i l l e V a l l e y C h r i s t m a s B i r d C o u n t s . H i s o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s k i l l s h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d g r e a t l y t o o u r k n o w l e d g e a n d e n j o y m e n t o f O r e g o n ' s b i r d s .

Paul T. Sullivan, paul. t.sullivan@bangate. tek.com

Oregon B i r d s 24 (3 ) : 91, F a l l 1998

Oregon Birds and Audubon Field Notes have synchronized reporting areas, periods, and deadlines. Field reports for eastern and western Oregon are due to the OB Regional Editor and AFN Regional Editor at the same time.

Season Months to Editor Spring March—May 10 June Summer June—July 10 August Fall August—November 10 December Winter December—February 10 March

To OB 20 October 20 January 20 April 20 July

Eastern Oregon

Oregon Birds R e g i o n a l E d i t o r s Western Oregon Jeff Gilligan 26 N.E. 32nd Avenue •Fall 503-231-0971 Portland, OR 97232

Western Oregon Gerard Lillie •Spring 503-257-9344

Western Oregon Bill Tice • Winter/Summer 503-787-3436

329 S.E. Gilham Portland, OR 97215

750 Wood Street Falls City, OR 97344

Eastern Oregon • Fall/Spring

Eastern Oregon • Winter

Paul T. Sullivan 4470 S.W. Murray Blvd. #26 503-646-7889 Beaverton, OR 97005

Ray Korpi 503-289-1676

9112 N.Tyler Portland, OR 97203

Eastern Oregon Kevin Spencer P.O. Box 353 •Summer" 916-667-4644 Tulelake, CA 96134

Audubon Field Notes R e g i o n a l E d i t o r All of Oregon BillTweit P.O. Box 1271

206-754-7098 Olympia, WA 98507

Audubon Field Notes S u b - R e g i o n a l E d i t o r s Western Oregon Harry Nehls 2736 S.E. 20th

233-3976 Portland, OR 97202

Rogue Valley Howard Sands 10655 Agate Road 826-5246 Eagle Point, OR 97524

Or e g o n F i e l d O r n i t h o l o g i s t s m e m b e r s b i r d a l l o v e r t h e s ta te , a n d o f t e n f i n d b i r d s t h a t are o f i n t e r e s t t o l o c a l

b i r d e r s . O F O s u p p o r t s p u b l i c a t i o n o f l o c a l f i e l d n o t e s a n d e n c o u r a g e s O F O m e m b e r s t o c o n t a c t l o c a l n e w s l e t t e r p u b l i s h e r s o r f i e l d n o t e s e d i t o r s w h e n e v e r b i r d i n g i n o r n e a r

t h e O r e g o n l o c a t i o n s l i s t e d b e l o w . I f y o u w o u l d l i k e t o a d d a l o c a l n e w s l e t t e r o r r e v i s e a n y o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n b e l o w , p l e a s e c o n t a c t t h e E d i t o r , O r e g o n B i r d s , 3 0 0 7 N . E . 3 2 n d A v e n u e , P o r t l a n d , O R 9 7 2 1 2 .

Area Publication Publisher j Address Fieldnotes editor Phone

Bend Eagle Eye Central Oregon Audubon Society

PO Box 565 Bend OR 97709

Craig Miller [email protected]

541-389-9115

Coos Bay i n - Tattler Cape Arago Audubon Society

P.O. Box 381 North Bend OR 974! ••

541-267-7208

Corvallis The Chat Audubon Society of Corvallis

PO Box 148 Corvallis OR 97339

Jonathan Plissner [email protected]

541-929-6207

Eugene The Ouail Lane County Audubon PO Bo> 5086 Allison Mickel 541-485-71 1? Society Eugene OR 97405

Florence Florence Bird Club

Grants P a s s - ; : j v w The Siskin Siskiyou Audubon ; PO Box 1047 Grams Pass OR 97526

Eleanor Pugh 541-866-2665

Hood River Columbia Gorge Audubon Society

PO Box 512 Hood River OR 97031

John Day The Upland Sandpiper Grant County Bird Club P.O. Box 111 Canyon City OR 97820

Tom vVinteM:Q€K& 541-542-2006 (h) 541-575-2570 (w)

Klamath Falls The Grebe Klamath Basin Audubon Society

PO Box 354 Klamath Falls OR 97601

Kevin Spencer 916-667-4644 (h)

La Grande Tii.. Ra\n Grande Ronde Bird Club PO Box 29 La Grande OF: 97850

Bill & Chris Dowdy 541-963-4768

Medford The Chat Rogue Valley Audubon 6045 Foley Lane Central Point OR 97520

Ric Thowless 541-535-3280

Portland Audubon Warbler Audubon Society of Portland

5151 NW Cornell Road Portland OR 97210

Harry Nehls hnehl . teleport com

503-233-3976

Port Orford The Storm Petrel Kalmiopsis Audubon Society

PO Box 1265 Port Orford OR 97465

Colin Dillingham 541-247-4752 (h) 541-247-3644 (w)

Roseburg Winq-Tips : Umpqua Valley Audubon Society

Box 381 Ro •' 'hi iri] OR 974 70

Salem The Kestrel Salem Audubon Society 1313 Mill St S E Salem OR 97301

John Lundsten 503-585-9442 [email protected] I


FIELDNOTES: Eastern Oregon, Winter 1997-98 Ray Korpi, 9112 North Tyler Avenue, Portland, OR 97203

The number of reports overall was down this winter, which is surprising given the mildness of the winter. Kevin Spencer reported from Klamath Falls that temperatures were above normal and rain predominated in December and January; snow came to Klamath in February. In the north, fog seemed to loom large in December.

Those species in italics are review species. The author wishes to ask that observers start differentiating Fox Sparrow races in light of need for data on ranges of these birds. Counties, when known, are in italics and abbreviated using the first 3 letters; I did not include counties for CBC reports unless I knew for sure where the sighting was. Abbreviations

WA Wildlife Area SP State Park

NWR National Wildlife Refuge Publications Cited

Rv The Rav-on (Grande Ronde BC) US Upland Sandpiper (Grant Co.)

Common Loon 1, Willow Creek WA, Gil, 7 Dec (CC, JS)

Pied-billed Grebe l.John Day CBC, 20 Dec (US)

Horned Grebe 5 at Sand Station, Uma, on the Columbia, 16 Jan

(MM, MID) Red-necked Grebe

1, Hood River, Hoo, 31 Jan (WC) Eared Grebe

1, PrineviUe Sewage Lagoons, Cm, 11 Dec (CG); 1, Bend CBC, 20 Dec (TC); 2, Hood River, Hoo, 4 Jan (HN) Western Grebe

2 at Sand Station, Uma, on the Columbia, 16 Jan (MM, MID) Clark's Grebe

1 , Bend area, Des, 20 Dec - 2 Jan (TC, DH). This was a first-record on the Bend CBC. American Bittern

Reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG) Great Egret

2, Lower Klamath NWR, Kla, throughout (CB, KS, etal.) Cattle Egret

2 in Hermiston, Uma, continued into December (CC,JS) Black-crowned Might-Heron

Reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG) Tundra Swan

1, west of Moon Creek, Gra, 5 Dec (US); 4, Pine Creek, Gra, 19Jan (US); 4 adults, Conform Ranch, Uma, 14 Feb (MID, MD) Bewick's Tundra Swan

4 in close group, Lower Klamath NWR, Kla, 31 Jan (AH); 1, HQ, Malheur NWR, Har, 21 Dec (DE) Whooper Swan

up to 5, Lower Klamath NWR, Cal., W '97, with 1

at or over Oregon st. line, Kla, 24 Jan (KS) Wood Duck

220 at wildlife area, McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Mandarin Duck

1 female, probably an escapee (?), paired with a Wood Duck drake, McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD). American Black Duck

1 pure adult male, Hood River, Hoo, 4 Jan to end of period (SR, DB, et al.). However, no write-ups had been received by the OBRC as of 5 July. Northern Pintail

1 male, McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Blue-winged Teal

1, Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan (CC) E u r a s i a n Wigeon

1, PrineviUe Sewage Lagoons, Cro,\\c - 4Feb (CG, CM, CC, SSh, JM); 1, John Day, Gra, 20 Dec, 27 Dec, and again 24 Jan (US); 1, Wingville, Bak, 9 Jan (SS) American Wigeon

400+, Hat Rock SP, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Redhead

6, McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Ring-necked Duck

17, Hat Rock SP, Uma, 16 Jan (MLD, MD) Tufted Duck

1 female, John Day Dam, She, 13 Dec (LR); 1 pure male at Bingen, WA, 31 Jan to end of period (WC, et al.) Greater Scaup

1 male, Hat Rock SP, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD); "Usual large numbers in the Columbia River Gorge" (HN) Oldsquaw

1, Summer Lake, Lak, 23-27 Dec (BT, RG); 1, Sutde Lake, Jef, 1 Jan to end of period (LR, SSh, DH, CM, JM, etal.) S u r f Scoter

2, SuttJe like, Jef, 4 Jan (DH, CM, JM, et al.) Common Goldeneye

22 at McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Barrow's Goldeneye

"Usual numbers in Columbia River Gorge" (HN); 2 males at McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Bufflehead

37 at McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Hooded Merganser

1 male at McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Turkey Vulture

1, Sisters, Des, 3 Feb, broke the early arrivals in Central Oregon by 20 days (LR fide CM) White-tailed Kite

1, Klamath Marsh NWR, KM, Jan.-Feb. (DL, WW, etal.) Bald Eagle

5 in the desert reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG); 1 adult and 1 immature, Hat Rock SP, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Cooper's Hawk

1 immature female, Conform Ranch, Uma, 14 Feb

Northern Goshawk 1 wintering at Fields, Har, noted as "atypical" (M);

1, Canyon Creek, Gra, 20 Dec (US); 1, Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan (CC) Red-shouldered Hawk

1 imm., Miller Island WA, Kla, throughout period (KS); 1 other in Klamath Falls, Kla, Dec-Jan. (EO, KW.KS, etal). Red-tailed Hawk

1 wintering at Fields, Har, noted as "atypical" (M) Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk

1, Malheur HQ, Har, 9 Dec (DE) Ferruginous Hawk

1 wintered south of Klamath Falls, Kla (KS); 1, PrineviUe CBC, 4 Jan (TC) Rough-legged Hawk

1 dark morph, Emigrant HiU, Uma, 3 Jan (MID, MD, SM) Peregrine Falcon

1, Dog Creek, Gra, 1 Dec (US); 1, Malheur NWR CBC, 20 Dec (DE); 1, Irrigon, Mor, 25 Dec (CC, JS) Gyrfalcon

1 imm., Klamath Marsh NWR, Kla, 28 Feb (KS); Gray Partridge

20, OFO Weekend in WaUowa County, 12 Jan (PS) Mountain Quail

2, Cottonwood Creek between Long Creek and Monument, Gra, mid Feb (MD) Virginia Rail

Reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG); 1, John Day CBC, 20 Dec (US); 1 wintered at Fields, Har (M); 4, PrineviUe CBC, 4 Jan (CM) Sora

1, Hatfield Lake, Des, 1 Jan (JM) foUowed closely by 1, PrineviUe CBC, 4 Jan, were Central Oregon's first two winter records (CM). KUldeer

10, AUaUa Rd., Johnson Rd., Des, 7 Feb Greater Yellowlegs

2, Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan (CC) Least Sandpiper

1, PrineviUe CBC, 4 Jan, for an unusual midwinter record (TC); "Handful" in with DunUn, White Lake, Cal.-Or. border, 15 Feb. (DF) Dunlin

1, AlfaUa Pond, Johnson Rd., Bend, Des, 7 Feb (DH); "large flock" at White Lake, Cal.-Or border, 15 Feb (DF) Mew (• uII

1, Klamath FaUs CBC, 3 Jan (EO); 1 imm., Klamath FaUs, Kla, 15 Feb (DF) Herring GuU

4, Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan (CC) Glaucous-winged Gull

2, Lake Ewauna, Klamath FaUs, Kla, 3 Jan (KS; FM); 1 at Sand Station, Uma, on the Columbia, 16 Jan (MM, MID) Black-legged Kittiwake

1, John Day Dam, She, 13-16 Dec (CR, CM) B a r n Owl


10 in 2 communal roosts, Malheur NWR CBC, 20 Dec (DE); 1, PrineviUe CBC, 4jan (TC); 2, McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD) Western Screech-Owl

1, John Day CBC, 20 Dec (US) Northern Pygmy-Owl

Reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG) Short-eared Owl

1, Malheur NWR CBC, 20 Dec (DE); reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG) Northern Saw-whet Owl

1, Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan (CC) Anna's Hummingbird

1 wintered in Bend, Des, for an unusual aU-win-ter record (DH.PM, CM). Red-naped Sapsucker

1 adult female, Adel CBC (CM) Red-breasted Sapsucker

1, nearFossU, Whe, 11 Jan (BS) Downy Woodpecker

A bird wintering in Fields, Har, was noted as "atypical" (M). White-headed Woodpecker

Reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG); 1, PrineviUe CBC, 4 Jan (TC) Black-backed Woodpecker

Reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG) Northern Flicker

1 yeUow-shafted bird, 20 Dec to end of period, Bend, Des (DH, TC) Say's Phoebe

1, Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan (CC) Blue Jay

1 wintered in Enterprise (CC, PS, et al.); 1 wintered in Bend (SW, DH, TC, et al.); 1, Burns, 28 Feb (CD) Western Scrub-Jay

15, Bend CBC, 22 Dec; 4, Moro, She 24 Dec (PS) Black-capped Chickadee

2, Klamath Falls, Kla, 3 Jan -15 Feb (MK, 3t al.) Chestnut-backed Chickadee

1 detected near McKenzie Pass, extreme western Deschutes County, 23 Feb, is noted as difficult to find in the county (CM) Juniper Titmouse

6, Adel CBC (CM); 2 birds reported as "Junipers" on the Klamath FaUs CBC, 3 Jan (why not Oaks?) Bushtit

Reported in January in Canyon City, Gra (US). Canyon Wren

1, John Day CBC, 20 Dec (US); 3, Smith Rock, Des, 1 Feb (DH) Bewick's Wren

1, Hatfield Lake, Des, 28 Dec (DH, JM); 7 at Mission, Uma, 3 Jan (MID, MD, SM); 1 , 1 mUe below Troy on Grande Ronde R.,Wal, 4 Feb, is a significant sighting (Rv) Marsh Wren

Reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG) American Dipper

1, Canyon Creek, Gra, 11 Jan (US) Ruby-crowned Kinglet

3 wintering at Fields, Har, noted as "atypical" (M) Western Bluebird

15, Klamath FaUs CBC, 3 Jan (KS) Townsend's Solitaire

"Scads" reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG) Hermit Th rush

2, La Grande, 9 Dec (Rv); 1, Malheur NWR CBC, 20 Dec; 3, McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD); 1, Bend, 11 Feb (DH, PM); 1, Link River, Klamath FaUs, Kla, 21 Feb (KS, FM) American Robin

Large movements reported in Was on 14 Feb (DL, PB) Varied Thrush

1, Klamath FaUs, Kla, 3 Jan (MK) Northern Mockingbird

1, Klamath FaUs, Kla, 1-15 Jan (KM) Sage Thrasher

2, near Silver Lake, Lak, 28 Dec (BT, RG) Brown Thrasher

1, Summer Lake, Lak, 12 Dec through period (CM, et al.) Cedar Waxwing

Reported throughout region in average numbers. Bohemian Waxwing

1, Bend, Des, through Dec (SK, et al.); high of 128 at P Ranch, Har, during period (DE, et al.); 2, Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan; high of 500 in Joseph, Wal, through period. Northern Shrike

7 at Emigrant HiU, Uma, 3 Jan (MID, MD, SM); "no shortage" in Lake County, week around Christmas (BT, RG) Yellow-rumped Warbler

2, Klamath FaUs, Kla, 3 Jan (KS); 40 in one flock, PrineviUe CBC, 4 Jan; 8, Hat Rock SP, Uma, 16 Jan (MID, MD); an Audubon's form wintering at Fields. Har, noted as "atypical" (M) Townsend's Warbler

1, Bend, Des, 1 Dec (HH)—2nd Deschutes County winter record. American Tree Sparrow

1, Paisley, Lak, 26 Dec (BT, RG); 2, Hart Mm. CBC, 31 Dec; 1 , Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan; regular numbers in Northeast Oregon (fide HN). Chipping Sparrow

1 adult in Joseph, Wal, to 18 Dec (CC, PS, et al.): 1, Mffler Island WA, Kla, 15 Feb (KS) Sage Sparrow

Reported on Malheur NWR CBC, 20 Dec (DE) Fox Sparrow

1, Bend CBC, 20 Dec (TC); 1, McNary NWR, Uma, 16 Jan (MLD, MD) Lincoln's Sparrow

1 on John Day CBC, 20 Dec, was a first for the count (US) Swamp Sparrow

1, Hatfield Lake, Des, 20 Dec-10 Jan (DH, TC) White-throated Sparrow

1, Adel CBC (CM); 1 , tan form, Klamath FaUs, Kla, 3 Jan; 1, white form, Moore Park, Klamath Falls,

Kla, 15 Feb (both by KS) Golden-crowned Sparrow

1, Heppner, Mor, 7 Dec (CC, JS); 1 immature, Mount Vernon, Gra, 4 Jan into February (US) Harris' Sparrow

3, Fields, Har, 2 Dec (M); 1, Moro, She, 24 Dec (PS); 1 wintered near Sun River, Des (DH); 2, Pendleton CBC, 3 Jan (CC); 1, Hood River, Hoo, 12 Jan (HB); 1, Mount Vernon, Gra, 21 Jan into February (US) Dark-eyed Junco

Pink-sided forms reported at Fields during period (M); 2 Slate-colored and 1 Pink-sided reported from Bend CBC (TC); an Oregon form with an aU-white head seen on UmatiUa CBC (MD). Lapland Longspur

15, south of Burns, Har, 15 Dec (DE); 1, near Grass VaUey, She, 24 Dec (PS); 10, Township Rd., Kla, 19-22 Jan Snow Bunting

8, south of Burns, Har, 15 Dec (DE) Western Meadowlark

Singing birds at Ladd Marsh, Uni, 15 Feb (Rv) Purple Finch

Reported at Mount Vernon, Gra, 4 Jan (US) Red Crossbill

80+ at Poverty Flat, Uma, 3 Jan (MLD, MD, SM) White-winged Crossbill

10, Moro, She, 24 Dec (PS); 25 at OdeU Lake, Kla, 21 Feb (JH) Common Redpoll

No reports this period. Lesser Goldfinch

1, Bend, Des, 9, 10 Jan; 8, 23 Feb (DH, P M ) — 4th or 5th Deschutes record (fide CM). American Goldfinch

Reported in Lake County the week after Christmas (BT, RG) Evening Grosbeak

Very few reports during the period. Observers

PB-Patti Bernardi; CB-CUnt Brumitt; HB-Henry Burton; WC-WUson Cady; CC-Craig Corder; TC-Tom Crabtree; MID-MerryLynn Denny; MD-Mike Denny; CD-CoUn DiUingham; DE-Duncan Evered; DF-David Fix; RG-Roy Gerig; AH-Arlen Hagen; DH-Dean Hale; HH-Howard Horvath; MK-Mark KeUey; DL-Dave Letter; DL-Donna Lusthoff; M-Maitreya; FM-Frank Mayer; PM-Patty Meehan; JM-Judy Meredith; KM-Karen Mieloszyk; CM-Craig Miller; SM-Shirley Muse; HN-Harry Nehls; EO-Eddie; Olmedo; LR-LewRems; CR-Craig Roberts; BS-Brian Sharp; SSh-Steve Shunk; SS-Stanley Speegle; KS-Kevin Spencer; JS-Judy Stevens; PS-Paul SuUivan; BT-BiU Tice; KW-Karl Wenner; SW-Steve WiUer; WW-WendeU Wood. 0

Yellow-billed Loon, 2 December 1997, mouth of the Chetco River, Curry Co. Photo/Alan Barron.


FTJELDIXOTES: Western Oregon, Winter 1997-1998 Bill Tice, 750 Wood St., Falls City, OR [email protected].

Most will point the finger at El Nino as the cause of the mild winter. Many marginal wintering species were present in fair numbers, while some of the more northern species such as Snow Buntings, Snowy Owls, and Rosy Finches were absent. Heermann's Gulls were not only found as far north as Astoria for the entire period, but staged an impressive movement north during mid-February. Many of these sightings were gleaned from OBOL (Oregon Birders On Line), The Chat, The Kestrel, The Sandpiper, The Quail, and The Storm Petrel.

Abbreviations ANWR Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

BSNWR Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge CBC Christmas Bird Count

EEWGMA E.E. Wilson Game Management Area FNWR Finley National Wildlife Refuge

FRR Fern Ridge Reservoir MSC Marine Science Center MSP Monmouth Sewage Ponds

m.ob. many observers S.I. Sauvie Island w v Willamette Valley

Pacific Loon Inland away from the Columbia River 1 was at

Selmac Lake (Josephine) 4-29 Dec (DM,PS); it or another was there on 9 Feb with fishing line wrapped around it's wing (DV). Yellow-billed Loon

The only report was of one at the mouth of the Chetco River (Curry) from 19 Nov-5 Dec (JR,AB,CD). Common Loon

Away from the coast Yamhill County's 2n d record was still at the Brigantine Monastery 1 Dec (PS); 4 were on Selmac Lake 0osephine) 4 Dec (DM); 1 was at ANWR (Marion) 14-17 Feb (SD, then AM). Eared Grebe

1 was on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD); 6 was a high for the Columbia Estuary CBC (Clatsop) 21 Dec (fide MP); 1 was on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide JP): 1 was on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV); 1 was at the Mollala Sewage Ponds (Clack.) 25 Jan (TJ,ES,DVB). Horned Grebe

75 was a high for the Columbia Estuary CBC (Clatsop) 2 IDec (fide MP); 1 was on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide]Y): lwas on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV); 1 was near Salem (Marion) 1 Jan (fide MC); 22 were on Selmac Lake (Jose.) 29 Dec (PS); 2 were on the Portland CBC (Mult) 3 Jan (DB JJ JG); 1 was at the Mollala Sewage Ponds (Clack.) 25 Jan (TJ,ES,DVB). Red-necked Grebe

2 were on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD); 1 on the Forest Grove CBC (Wash) 21 Dec (MS); 1 was near Salem (Marion) 1 Jan (fide MC); 1 was on Richardson Rd (Lane) 2 Jan (SM); 1 was at FRR (Lane) 1 Jan (RR); 1 was at Henry Hagg Lake (Wash.) 19 Jan (GG).

Clark's Grebe 2 were at Millacoma Marsh (Coos) for much of

the period (TR). Laysan Albatross

A dead bird was found near Thiel Creek Beach (Lincoln) 27 Feb (B&SLo). Pelagic Trip

The pelagic trip out of Depoe Bay on 28 Feb. found the following:

1 Laysan Albatross 9 Black-footed Albatross 1 Fork-tailed Storm Petrel 1 jaeger sp.

312 Black-legged Kittiwake Short-tailed Shearwater

4 were on the Columbia Estuary CBC 21 Dec (fide MP): 1 was found on the Tillamook CBC (Tillamook) 20 Dec (fide HN); 7 were off Orford Head (Curry) 14 Feb (JG,TW). BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER

1 was seen 11 Feb off Cape Blanco (Curry) which would be Oregon's 5th sight record if accepted by the ORBC (JR). Northern Fulmar

One was near Coos Bay (Coos) 7 Dec (DL); 1 was seen prior to the Columbia Estuary CBC (fide MP); 38 were found on the Coos Bay(Coos) CBC 20 Dec (fide HN); 1 was found on the Tillamook CBC (Tillamook) 20 Dec (fide EN); 19 dead were found on the 4.5 mile stretch of beach near Thiel Crk. during November (B&SLo; S&DBrfide m); 5 were on the Port Orford CBC (Curry) 27 Dec OR fide AC); 31 were found along a 3 mile stretch of beach south of Yaquina Head (Lincoln) 2 Jan (AF); 3 were found dead along Sunset Beach (Clatsop) 18 Jan (MP).

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 1 was on the Columbia Estuary CBC 21 Dec (fide

MP). Leach's Storm-Petrel

1 was seen prior to the Columbia Estuary CBC (fide MY). White Pelican

2 wintered at FRR (m.ob.). Brown Pelican

Pelicans were seen throughout the period: 55 were at the Pistol River (Curry) 2 Dec (DM); 8 were at the mouth of the Chetco River (Curry) 15 Dec (DM); 3 were seen flying past Yaquina Head (Lincoln) 27 Dec (RB); 5 were seen beyond the surf at Manzanita (Clatsop) 29 Dec (BG); 1 was at Tierra Del Mar (Tillamook) 2 Jan (WG); 11 were found on the Port Orford CBC (Curry) 27 Dec QR,fide AC); 3 were at Boiler Bay (Lincoln) 25 Jan (AC.KA); 1 was at Newport (Lincoln) 8 Feb (JC); 1 was at Bandon (Coos) 9 Feb (TR); 3 were off Cape Blanco (Curry) llFeb(TW,JR, SB). American Bittern

1 was at Eckman Lake (Lincoln) 3 Dec (JW, SaL, fide RB); 1 was at Cedar Canyon Marsh (Wash.) 8 Feb (GB). Great Egret

14 on S.I. 31 Dec (SP) and an amazing 63 were

on the Portland CBC (Mult) 3 Jan (fide RK); 71 were on the Coquille Valley CBC (Coos) 3 Jan (fide AC); These and the many scattered reports throughout the period attest to the mild winter. Snowy Egret

1 was at Kentuck Inlet (Coos) 7 Feb (TR); 1 was at Empire (Coos) 11 Feb through the end of the period (TR). Cattle Egret

One was on S.I. 1 Dec (HN); 2 were on the Eugene CBC (Lane) 31 Dec-11 Jan (BC); 1 was along AirlieRoad(Polk)5Jan(CK). Green Heron

1 was on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD);1 on the Forest Grove CBC (Wash) 21 Dec (MS); 1 was on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV); 1 was found on the Silverton CBC (Marion) 3 Jan (fide RF); 1 wintered near Fred Meyer's in Astoria (DFfide MP); 1 was found on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec thatwas seen into January 0S); 1 was along Seavy Loop Rd (Lane) 9 Feb (RF). Black-crowned Night-Heron

2 were on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV); 36 were seen at a roost near Eugene on 12 Jan (DD); up to 5-6 were at a roost in Roseburg (Douglas) for some of the winter (GC); 1 was at Pony Slough (Coos) 10 Jan (TR); 1-2 were near the MSC (Lincoln) 17 Jan to the end of period (fide RB) for an unusual winter record for the mid coast; 7 were at the roost along Marine Dr. (Mult) 14 Feb (SO). Sandhill Crane

700 on S.I. was an unseasonably large number on 31 Dec, attesting to the mild December (HN); 3 landed briefly at the mouth of the Chetco River (Curry) 22 Dec (JF fide CD) for a rare coastal record; migrating flocks were seen by mid Feb. in the Willamette Valley. Tundra Swan

15 were very unusual at Idaho Flats (Lincoln) on 25 Dec (B8dMn,fide RB). Trumpeter Swan

More unusual sightings were 1 on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD); 1-2 were at Cedar Canyon (Wash.) 4-22 Feb (GG,m.ob.); 1 was 4.5 miles downstream from Coquille (Coos) 24-25 Feb (TR.BFJT); 2 at the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant (Col.) 31 Jan (RK). WHOOPER SWAN

Oregon's 2nd record reported late last period was seen 1 Dec in the Maplegrove area (Polk) (M.Ob). White-fronted Goose

5-7 "Tule" White Fronts were at BSNWR (Polk) 15 Feb through end of period (HN, BT); 48 near the Eugene Airport (Lane) was a nice sized winter flock for the Willamette Valley on 5 Dec (AC). Snow Goose

Unusual locations were 1 near Tillamook (Till,) 17 Jan (S&KS) and 1 at Eucre Creek (Curry) during Jan (CD); Up to 1500 spent the winter on Sauvie's Island (HN); 1 spent the winter near CanyonvuTe (Douglas) (KG); As usual a few were reported from the WV during the period.

Oregon B i r d s 24 (3 ) : 96 , F a l l 1998

Ross' Goose 3 or 4 were present in the Willamette Valley: 1

was seen on and off at BSNWR (Polk) from 2 Dec (TJ) through 19 Jan; 1 was at FNWR (Benton) 20 Dec (AF fide JP); an imm. bird was at FNWR (Benton) 6 Jan (BC); another was seen north of Florence (Lane) 6 Dec (DBe) through 22 Jan. Emperor Goose

The Sandy River bird has apparently moved to Oregon as it has been seen here for over one year, and stayed through the period (m.ob.). Brant

1 was along Elkins Rd (Polk) 19 Jan (HNJS); 2 were at FNWR (Benton) 15-1" Feb (SM, etal.); 1 was at BSNWR (Polk) 28 Jan to end of period (Dkn, etal); 1 was at Scappoose Bottoms (Col.) 29Jan (HN). Exotics:

There have been a Red-breasted Goose, Bar-headed Goose, and several Black Swans in the Willamette Valley this winter. Blue-winged Teal

2 females were in Coquille (Coos) 6 Dec (AC,RH); 1 was at the Cannon Beach Sewage Ponds (Clatsop) 3 Jan (MP); 3 males were on the Portland CBC (Mult.) 3 Jan (fideM). Cinnamon Teal

Wintering birds and early migrants were as follows: 1 was on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 20 Dec (AF f ide]?); 5 were on the Dallas CBC (Polk) 30 Dec (fidem);\ near Tillamook (Till.) 17Jan (S&KS); 10 were in Scappoose Bottoms (Columbia) 2 Feb (SO); 5 were at the Beaverton Creek Wetlands Park (Wash) 5 Feb (GG); 2 were at BSNWR (Polk) 15 Feb (HN); after which time there were numerous reports of other early migrants. Gadwall

1 was seen 4 Jan along Euchre Creek (Curry) in a county where they have been hard to find in recent years (CD). E u r a s i a n Widgeon

9 were found at ANWR ((Marion) 20 Dec (EK); 6 males were in the large widgeon flock at BSNWR (Polk) 8 Feb (HN). American Widgeon

2,000 were seen at BSNWR (Polk) on 8 Feb (HN) which was thought to be a healthy sized flock for the Willamette Valley. Canvasback

100 at the Fernhill Wetlands (Wash.) on 13 Dec was a large flock for the WV (DLu, PS). Redhead

4 on the Dallas CBC (Polk) 30 Dec {fide RG) which stayed through 7 Jan ; 10 were on the Portland CBC (Mult.) 3 Jan (DBJJ, JG); 1 was on the Brownsville CBC (Linn) 4 Jan (fide PA); 24 at Sally's Bend, Yaquina Bay (Lincoln) were a nice find (KM); 1 was on the lower Rogue River (Curry) 25 Dec (DM); There were scattered reports of small numbers from various places. Ring-necked Duck

250 were at the Fernhill Wedands (Wash.) On 13 Dec (DLu). Oldsquaw

A female was at the effluent pond north of Coos Bay (Coos) 6 Dec (SR); 1-5 were at Yaquina Bay 14 Dec-17 Jan (KM, AS, etal); 1 was at Alsea Bay (Lincoln) 21 Dec (YM,fide RB); 2 were on the Coquille Valley CBC (Coos) 3 Jan (fide KC); 1 was

at Astoria (Clatsop) 18 Jan-8 Feb (MP); 1 was at Charleston Harbor (Coos) 23 Jan -11 Feb (TR); 1 was at the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River (Lane) 31 Dec (B&ZS)1 was near Seaside (Clatsop) 12 Feb (SJ); 1 was on the Necanicum Estuary (Till.) 14 Feb MP. S u r f Scoter

1 was found on the Portland CBC (Mult.) 3 Jan {fideW). Black Scoter

64 was a high for the Columbia Estuary CBC (Clatsop) 21 Dec (fideM?). Barrow's Goldeneye

3-4 were unusual at a pond at Mt. Hood Community College (Mult.) 13-28 Feb (S],etal.). Common Goldeneye

A female was at MSP (Polk) 4-6 Feb (BT.RG) where they have become rare this decade. 2 were more regular at Dexter Reservoir (Lane) 11 Jan (DS, PSh) as were 5 at Fernhill Wedands (Wash.) 13 Dec (DLu). Virginia Rail

1 was on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV); an amazing 70 on the Port Orford CBC (Curry) 27 Dec OR fide AC); 1 was on the Silverton CBC (Marion) 3 Jan (fide RF); near the end of period were widely reported. Sora

3 were on the Columbia Estuary CBC 21 Dec (fide MP); 4 were on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV); 1 was found on the Coquille Valley CBC (Coos) 3 Jan (fide AC); 5 were on the Port Orford CBC (Curry) 27 Dec (CD); 1 was at Cedar Canyon (Wash.) 22 Feb (DR). Snowy Plover

8 were found on the Coquille Valley CBC (Coos) 3 Jan (fide AC). Semipalmated Plover

1 was at FNWR (Benton) 7 Feb (MH). Black-bellied Plover

1 was on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide JP): a "small flock" was along Goodman Rd. (Lane) 2 Jan (DPe); 75 were at BSNWR (Polk) 9 Feb (RGu). Black Oystercatcher

23 was a large gathering at Seal Rocks (Lincoln) 14 Dec (KM, fide RB). Marbled Godwit

Up to 36 were in the Coos Bay area for the winter (TR, etal.). long-billed Curlew

Up to 6 were at Pony Slough (Coos) for much of the winter (lR,etal.). Greater Yellowlegs

20 were at Beaver Crk. (Lincoln) through 15 Dec (]S,KM,W, fide RB);1 was at Minto Brown Park (Marion) 19 Dec (BT, TL); 6 were at FRR (Lane) 20 Dec (LM); 4 were on the Brownsville CBC (Linn) 4 Jan (/WteJS);8wereatBrownsmead (Clatsop) 8 Feb (MP); 8 were along Tangent Road (Linn) 12 Feb (SD). Lesser Yellowlegs

1 was on the Columbia Estuary CBC 21 Dec (fide MP); 1 was found on the Coos Bay (Coos) CBC 20 Dec {fide EN). Willet

3 were at Pony Slough (Coos) for most of the winter (TR, etal.). Wandering Tattler

1 was near the MSC (Lincoln) 1 Feb (KM). Spotted Sandpiper

1 was on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD); 9 were on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV). Red Phalarope

2 were at E.E. Wilson on 1 Dec (Benton) (AF); 2 were on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide JP): Many were blown to coastal areas from a storm on 6-7 Feb. Ruddy Turnstone

1- 2 were in Florence (Lane) for much of the winter (B&ZS). Red Knot

1 was at Yachats (Lincoln) 12 Feb (SL). Rock Sandpiper

2- 4 were at Depoe Bay (Lincoln) for much of the period (AM,PS,et al.); 2 were at Cape Arago (Coos) for the winter (TR); 2 were at Florence (Lane) for the period (B&ZS). Dunlin

10,000 at BSNWR (Polk) on 23 Feb was a large inland flock (BT). Long-billed Dowitcher

55 at FNWR (Benton) 28 Jan (AM); and 30 at BSNWR (Polk) 8 Feb (FS) were a fairly large inland flocks. Jaegers

A probable Parasitic Jaeger was near Coos Bay (Coos) 7 Dec (DL, AC,RH,); 2 probable Pomarine Jaegers were at Boiler Bay (Lincoln) 25 Jan (KA). Heermann's Gull

Very unusual were many reports of 1 s t year, 2n d

year, and adult birds along the entire coast throughout the entire period. These were more common in Curry and Coos Counties where DM,DL, KC.TW, TR, were witnesses. As winter progressed these became more numerous, especially in the counties mentioned. Here are a few of the reports: 1 first winter bird was at Yachats (Lincoln) 25 Jan (DFfide RB); 1 first winter bird was at Warrenton (Clatsop) 8 Feb (MP); "several" were at Newport (Lincoln) 8 Feb 0C); 1 was near Tillamook (Till.) 8 Feb (CL); 2 were at Cape Meares (Till) 13 Feb (MT); 5 were at Lincoln City (Lincoln) 14 Feb (SLa); 2 were at Seaside (Clatsop) 14 Feb (MP); 6 (4 ad. 2 imm.) were at Sunset Bay 14 Feb (RM); 1 was at Boiler Bay (Lincoln) 15 Feb (SD); 2 were at the D River Mouth (Lincoln) 14 Feb (DBa); 2 were at Oceanside (Till.) 15 Feb (DBa); 5 were at Cape Kiwanda (Till.) 15 Feb (DBa). Larger winter flocks in the south were 40 at Port Orford (Curry) 15 Feb 0G, TW); 35-40 (20 adults) were in Brookings (Curry) 12 Feb (DM). SLATY-BACKED GULL

1-2 adults were on S.I. at the Pellet Plant (Mult.) 27 Dec-18 Feb 0J, m.ob.); another, described as a 3rd winter bird was there 1 Feb (DB); another 3rd

winter bird was found at Westmoreland Park (Mult) 8-18 Feb (PMJG). Glaucous Gull

Away from the coast and S.I where they are regular there was a first winter bird at the Coffin Butte Landfill (Benton) on 1 Dec (AF) and was seen again nearby on 21-28 Feb (RK,BT); 2 (1 imm. and 1 adult) were 1 mile west of McMinnville in a large gull flock 17 Jan. The next day 2 adults were there and at least one stayed through the end of the period Feb (FS) which were also Yamhill County's 2n d

record.


Western Gull Inland, and away from the Columbia River there

was one at the Coffin Butte Landfill (Benton) on 1 Dec (AF) and 2 or more wintered in the vicinity (BT,SD); 1 was on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD); a bird of the Wymani race was well described from the Pellet Plant on S.I. (Mult) 2 Jan (GG, JG); 1 adult was 1 mile west of McMinnville in a large gull flock 17Jan-8 Feb (FS) which was only Yamhill County's 2nl1 record. Black-legged Kittiwake

Most interesting was a 2ai winter bird in the large gull flock in Southern Polk/Northern Benton Cos. Found on 23 Feb along Airlie Rd. (Polk) it stayed through 28 Feb (BT, etal.). Caspian Tern

An extremely early bird was at Bandon (Coos) 20 Jan (AP). Cassin's Auklet

3 were found dead along Sunset Beach (Clatsop) 18 Jan (MP); 10 dead were found on S. Newport Beach (Lincoln) 24 Jan (BW). Raptors:

It was thought that the mild winter helped bolster the vole population in the Willamette Valley (RHs.) which accounted for the impressive numbers of raptors this winter. Two observers in 5 hours counted 230 raptors in Polk Co. (BT,RT) on 5 Dec. Turkey Vulture

A late bird was seen along Airlie Rd. (Polk) 1-3 Dec (JS, BA); another or the same was 4 miles south of Monmouth (Polk) 4 Dec (BT); 4 were in the Grant's Pass CBC area during count week (Jackson) 21 Dec (fide DV); 1 was found on the Port Orford CBC (Curry) (JR, fide AC); 2 were on the Eugene CBC (Lane) 31 Dec (fide BC); 1 was at EEWGMA (Benton) 17 Jan (DaveBudeau/fcfeAM); 1 was at FRR (Lane) 19 Jan (SD); 1 was north of Lebanon (Linn) 8 Feb OH) ; 1 was on Cape Blanco (Curry) 12 Feb (TW); 1 was along Livermore Rd (Polk) 14 Feb (BT); 1 was at Glide (Douglas) 15 Feb (BK); after mid Feb migrants were widely reported. Bald Eagle

23 was a high for the Columbia Estuary CBC (Clatsop) 21Dec (fideM?). Golden Eagle

I was along Airlie Road (Polk) 1-4 Dec (m.ob.); 1 was on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide JP): 1 was on the Tillamook CBC (Tillamook) 20 Dec and was seen through 26 Jan 0G, MT); 1 was seenatLanglois(Curry)27Dec (TW); 1 was found on the Coquille Valley CBC (Coos) 3 Jan (fide AC); I was on the Brownsville CBC (Linn) 4 Jan (fide PA); an imm bird was see along Gap Road (Lane) 27Dec (ESh); 1 was at BSNWR (Polk) 17Jan (BT) which stayed through the period; and imm was seen there 21 Feb (PS); 1 was east of Lebanon (Linn) 18Jan 0H); 1 was at ANWR (Marion) 31 Jan 0S); 1 was at FNWR (Benton) 31 Jan (AF). Osprey

Late or wintering birds were: 1 at Pony Slough (Coos) 10 Dec-23 Jan (TR, DL,KC); it and another one were on the Coos Bay CBC (fide RM); 2 at Eugene (Lane) 12 Dec (DL,KC) which may have been the 2 on the Eugene CBC (31 Dec) (fide BC); 2 were in Forest Grove (Wash.) 15 Dec (BS); 2 were on the Grant's Pass CBC 0ackson) 21 Dec (fide DV); 1 on the Portland CBC (Mult.) 3 Jan (fide

RK); 1 was on the Port Orford CBC (Curry) 27 Dec 0R fide AC); 1 was at Eckman Lake (Lincoln) 9 Jan (AC); 1 was over the MSC (Lincoln) 16 Jan (RO). White-tailed Kite

10 were found in the Maplegrove area (Polk) while looking for the Whooper Swan 2 Dec (TJ); 7-8 were in the FRR (Lane) area for the period (LM, etal); 7 were in the Coquille area 6 Dec (AC, RH); 7 were on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV); 13 were reported on the Coquille Valley CBC (Coos) 3 Jan (fide AC); 8 individuals were seen about Douglas Co. during the period (fide RM); scattered reports of 1-2 birds from many areas. Northern Goshawk

1 was found on the Tillamook CBC (Tillamook) 20 Dec (HN): 1 was in Astoria (Clatsop) 11 Jan (MP); 1 was in Eugene (Lane) 31 Jan 0Ca); 1 was found in the North Umpqua Ranger District (Douglas) 2 Dec and again 28 Feb (RM). Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawks put on an excellent showing north of their usual range. (Where does their usual range now include?) They were reported from 14 of the 19 counties in W. Oregon. An imm. and an adult were at E.E. Wilson (Benton) on 1 Dec (AF) through end of period ; 4 were in the FRR (Lane) area from 4 Dec (LM) through end of period; 1-2 were along Farmer Rd. (Polk) 5 Dec-through end of period (BT). 1 was at Jackson Bottoms 13 Dec (fide HN); 4 were found on the Coos Bay (Coos) CBC 20 Dec (fide HN); 1-2 were at FNWR (Benton) 20 Dec-through end of period (fide JS); 4 were on the Grants Pass CBC 21 Dec (DV); 2 were on the Roseburg CBC (Douglas) 20 Dec. (fide RM); 1 along River Rd. (Marion) 25 Dec (MP); 1-2 continued on at ANWR (Marion) for the entire period 0L); 8 were reported on the Coquille Valley CBC (Coos) 3 Jan (fide AC); 2-3 were near the North Spit Coos Bay (Coos) for the period (SR) et al; 1 was in Newport (Lincoln) 7 Jan (CP fide RB); 1 was along Rt. 99 south of Monmouth (Polk) 17 Jan (MC); 1 was north of Tillamook (Till.) 17 Jan through end of period (S&KS); Yamhill had it's first on 4-11 Feb where one was found 1.5 miles north of Hopewell (FS); 1 was just west of Otis (Lincoln) 15 Feb (PS.MLo); 3 were seen near Whitehorse County Park 0ose.) 25 Feb wherein territorial disputes looked evident to the observer and where a pair nested 3 years ago (DV) ; How long will it be until they breed in the Willamette Valley?.

Red-tailed Hawk A Harlan's Hawk returned to the Suver area (Polk)

for its 6 , h winter 1 Dec (AC, m.ob.); another was near the Scappoose Waste Water Plant (Columbia) 27 Dec 0G); A few others were reported. Care needs to be given to the ID of Harlan's Hawks due do similarity with other dark morph buteos. Ferruginous Hawk

An imm. bird was west of White City 0ackson) 28 Dec (PS) for a rare west side find. Merlin

6 were found on the S.I. CBC (fide}}); 4 were on the Dallas CBC (Polk) 30 Dec (fide RG); It was thought that numbers were high in the region this winter. Prairie Falcon

One was just east of E.E. Wilson (Benton) on 4

Dec (BT); One along Farmer Rd. (Polk) on 5 Dec (BT); 1 was on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD); 1 was in southern Polk Co. 1 Jan (fide MC); 1 was on S.I. 10 Jan (WG); 1 was near FRR (Lane) 11-17 Jan (DH, RR); 1 was along Tartar Rd. (Polk) 22 Feb (RK); 1 was north of Helmick Park (Polk) 22 Feb (FS). Peregrine Falcon

7 were on the Port Orford CBC (Curry) 27 Dec 0R fide AC); many inland reports as usual. Gyrfalcon

One was reported (AF) along Airport Rd (Benton) 6 Dec; it or another was on the Corvallis CBC (Linn) 23 Dec (fide}?): another probable one was at Jackson Bottoms (Wash.) 28 Dec 0Bfide HN); 1 was on S.I. 17 Jan (fide HN); a tan colored bird was along Livermore Rd (Polk) 8-11 Feb (PS) for Polk's 3r d record; a different tan bird was at FNWR (Benton) 21 Feb (PS). Band-tailed Pigeon

1 was found on the Dallas CBC (Polk) 30 Dec (fideRQ). Burrowing Owl

1 was along Farmer Rd (Polk-4th County Record) 10 Dec (HH). Barred Owl

2 were reported from Mary's Peak (Benton) 18 Jan (AF); 1 spent the winter at Mary S. Young Park in West Linn (Clack.) (fide HN). Long-eared Owl

1 on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide}?):. COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD

1 male was on the Grant's Pass CBC 0ackson) 21 Dec which was said to have been around since summer (DV) and continued to at least 22 Feb when it was joined by another; 1 was found on the Medford CBC 0ackson) (fide DV); 1 in Portland (Mult.) 7 Jan (DBu fide HN) and was seen for a few days after. Rufous Hummingbird

1 male on the Portland CBC (Mult.) was a rare winter find (fide RK); 1 male was at the North Spit Coos Bay (Coos) 19 Jan (fide TR); a male was in Mapleton (Lane) 15 Feb (Dbt). 1 was in Coos Bay (Coos) 6 Feb (BG) and another 11 Feb (TR). Mien's Hummingbird A male was quite early at Harbor (Curry) 27 Jan

(DM). Lewis Woodpecker

1 was near the intersection of Llewellyn and Fern Roads (Benton) 6 Dec (AF); 1 was on the Roseburg CBC (Douglas) 20 Dec (fide RM); 2 were at Lower Table Rock 0ackson) on 13 Jan (DV). TROPICAL KINGBIRD

One was still hanging around the effluent ponds north of Coos Bay (Coos) 13 Dec (TR); another was near Rocky Point County Park (Coos) 6-13 Dec (DL,SB). Black Phoebe

One was in Albany (Linn) on 3 Dec 0F); 1 was found on the Roseburg CBC (Douglas) 20 Dec; 1 wintered again at the Emerald Valley Golf Course near Cresswell (Lane) (KN). Say's Phoebe

One returned to E.E. Wilson Game refuge (Benton) for the 5111 or 6 t h year on 1 Dec (AF); 1 was along Simpson Road (Polk) 2 Dec (AF); 1 was found on the Roseburg CBC (Douglas) 20 Dec; 1 was along the Chetco River (Curry) 25 Feb (DM).


Western Flycatcher 1 was seen well on 30 Jan in an observer's yard

(KC) in Finn Rock (Lane) for one of very few empid winter records. Tree Swallow

1 was found on the Coquille Valley CBC (Coos) 3 Jan (fide AC); by mid Feb were common. Violet-green Swallow

Early migrants were widely reported during the last week of Feb. B a r n Swallow

1 was at the LCC Campus 4 Jan (RR); 2 were on the Eugene CBC (Lane) 31 Dec (fide BC). Black-billed Magpie

19 was an unusually large flock for the Emigrant Valley (Jackson) 3 Jan (DK). House Wren

1 was at John Lundsten's home 1 Dec (Marion) and 1 on the Eugene CBC (Lane) 31 Dec (fide BC) were certainly far north of their usual winter range. Northern Mockingbird

1 was on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD); 1 was found on the Tillamook CBC (Tillamook) 20 Dec (fide HN) and stayed through end of period (CL); 1 was found in Corvallis (Benton) early in the period and relocated 20 Dec (AF); 1 was in Eugene (Lane) 18-25Jan (RFr); 1 was in Creswell (Lane) 21 Dec (RR); 1 was near Grants Pass (Jose.) 20 Jan (DV); another one near Grants Pass 25 Jan was thought to be a different bird OH) ; 1 was north of Medford Oackson) 1 Feb (SH); 2 were at the Sevey place near Gold Beach (Curry) in Dec-Jan (fide AB, CD). BROWN THRASHER

A bird was found along Bond Butte Road (Linn Co.) 28 Feb (DH,PSh,RF). Bohemian Waxwing

1 was seen at Minto Park (Marion) 22 Feb (LA) in a flock of Cedar's. Cedar Waxwing

50 near Rickreall (Polk) on 4 Feb (BT) and 100 in Springfield (Lane) 26 Feb (VA) were nice midwinter flocks for the WV. Loggerhead Shrike

1 was at White City Oackson) 28 Dec (PS); 1 was at Lower Table Rock Oackson) on 13 Jan (DV). Cassin's Vireo

A rare winter find was of one in a suburban yard in Oak Grove (Clack.) 31 Dec (JG). Orange-crowned Warbler

1 was at Millicoma Marsh (Coos) 9 Dec (DL, KC); 1 was on the Salem CBC (Marion) 20 Dec (fide SD); 1 was on the Columbia Estuary CBC 21 Dec (fideM?). Nashville Warbler

1 was at Pony Slough (Coos) 22 Jan (TR). Palm Warbler

3 were at the effluent pond north of Coos Bay (Coos) 6 Dec (SR); then 6 were on the Coos Bay CBC (fide RM); 1 was at Coquille Pt Wildlife Refuge (Coos) 9 Dec (DV); 3 were at the BLM parking lot in North Bend (Coos) 9 Dec (TR); 1 was on the Yaquina Bay CBC (Lincoln) 3 Jan (fide RB); 2 were along the lower Elk River (Curry) 8 Feb (TW); 1 was found in a Eugene Backyard (17 Jan) for a rare inland sighting (CS). Black-throated Gray Warbler

1 near Pony Slough (Coos) 2 Feb QTfide TR).

Townsend's Warbler 53 was a high for the Columbia Estuary CBC

(Clatsop) 21Dec (fide MP); 7 was a high for the Dallas CBC (Polk) 30 Dec (fide RG). Common Yellowthroat

1 was at Millicoma Marsh (Coos) 9 Dec (DL, KC); 1 on the Columbia Estuary CBC 21 Dec (fide MP). Lark Sparrow

1 adult was found on the Brownsville CBC (Linn) 4 Jan through the end of the period OS). Sage Sparrow

1 was at the Sandy River mouth (Mult.) 15 Feb (BA, DVB) for Multnomah's 3rd record. American Tree Sparrow

One remained at Minto Park (Marion) through 20 Dec (TJ, m.ob.) (3r d county record); 1 at FRR (Lane) 17 Dec (LM): 1 was a few miles south of Independence (Polk) 21 Dec (MLi) (5lh county record); 1-2 were at ANWR (Marion County's 4l h

record) 14-28 Feb (SD,m.ob.). Chipping Sparrow

One was at BSNWR (Polk) on 1-2 Dec (ML) it or another one was there 21 Jan (BT); 1 was on the Roseburg CBC Oackson) 21 Dec (fide RM); 1 was on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide}?); 3 were found on the Dallas CBC (Polk) 30 Dec (fide RG); 1 was on Farmer Road (Polk) 19 Jan (TS); 1 was at ANWR (Marion) 31 Jan OS); A flock of 13 west of West Salem (Polk) 14 Feb were early migrants (BT, RC). Clay-colored Sparrow

1 was near Canby (Clack. Is 1 county record) 11 Dec-27Jan (TJ,ES, m.ob.). White-throated Sparrow

4 coming to a feeder in Roseburg for most of the period (D&EP, fide RM) and 12 at Minto Park (Marion) 7 Feb (RC) as well as numerous reports of individuals were evidence of another good winter for this species, and that it is increasing as a wintering species in the west. Harris Sparrow

One was at Minto Park (Marion) 1 Dec-12 Jan (FS); 1 was near Coquille (Coos) 6 Dec (DL); 1 was on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide JP): 3 were found on the S.I. CBC (fide}}); 1 was on the Dallas CBC (Polk - 4,h record) 30 Dec (SD, BT); 1 was on Cantrel Rd. (Lane) 2 Jan (SM); 1 was at Aurora (Clack.) 15 Jan (TS) that was first seen late last period. 1 came to a feeder on Riverside Rd (Marion) 19 Jan (PBR); 1 in Dayton (Yamhill's 1st) during Feb (MSt). Fox Sparrow

A Rusty (Eastern) Fox Sparrow of the iliaca race was at Minto Brown and Riverfront Park (Marion) from 7 Dec-25 Jan (TS, m.ob.); another came to a feeder at the Robb's in Eugene (Lane) for the entire period. At Minto Park were 2 grey headed Fox Sparrows seen on and off during the period (SD, JL). Swamp Sparrow

Away from the coast there was one at E.E. Wilson (Benton) on 1 Dec (AF); 2 were at Minto Brown Park (Marion) through Dec (TJ, m.ob.); 1 near Riverton (Coos) 6 Dec (DL); 1 was near Herbert Av (Benton) 6 Dec (AF); 1 on Van Well Rd (Polk) on 12 Dec (RG); 1 was on the Corvallis CBC (Benton) 23 Dec (fide}?); 1 was on the Dallas CBC (Polk) 30 Dec (fide RG); 1 was at EEWGMA

26Jan (AM). Lapland Longspur

3 on the Port Orford CBC (Curry) 27 Dec (CD). Red Crossbill

This species received only 2 reports. Were they mosdy absent from the area this winter? American Goldfinch

Very low numbers this winter from the WV. Lesser Goldfinch

36 was a healthy number on the Portland CBC (Mult.) 3 Jan (fide RK); 8-9 coming to a feeder in Salem (Marion) for most of the period (AC) and 8 coming to a West Salem feeder (Polk) were also healthy (RG). Lawrence's Goldfinch

1 was observed coming to a feeder before Xmas (SF fide JH) but not made known until about 1 Feb in Jacksonville Oackson). This would be the 2n d or 3r d state record if accepted by the ORBC. Observers

JA Jon Anderson; BA Bob Airman; VA Vjera Arnold: LA Laurie Ashworth; DBa Diane Bagues: DB Dave Bailey; DBt Doug Barrett; AB Alan Barron: DBu Debbie Bush; DBe Dick Bell; DBr Dave Brown: JB Joe Blowers; GB Greg Boyce; SB Stephen Brc S&DBr Sara & Dan Brown; JCa Jim Carlson: GCG.L Casebolt; KC Kathy Castelein; RC Ron Cnadvricfc JC Jean Chard; AC Alan Contreas; KC Kurt Cox; MC Marcia Cutler; DD Don DeWitt: AD Angie Dillingham; CD Collin Cillingham: SF Stacy Fauaia. BF Ben Fawver; DF Dan Fay; JF Jeff FiiesherAF Anthony Floyd; RFr Reid Freeman; RF R: i r r :~— -man; JF Jim Furlong; RG Roy Gerig: JG Jef <s—ZL-BG Brian Godfry; KG Kieth Graves; WG Wink Cam RGu Rick Guadagno; SH Sherry Hager. JH Hef Harding;JHJimHarleman;HHHerbH .L--^- : H Dan Heyerly; RH Rich Hoyer; RHs Rich Hover Sr MH Matt Hunter; TJ Tim Janzen; SJ Steve Jasgers SK Steve Kapillas; CK Carol Karlen: DK Doag Kirkpatrick;DknDougKnutson: EKEn-Ray Korpi; BK Brian Kruse; ML Margaret LiFir-e SLa Skip Lauback; DL Dave Lauten; CL Cindy Lawes MLi Mike Lippsmeyer; SL Sally Lockyear: B&SL: Barb & Shirley Loeffel; MLo (Maeve Lofton): TIT: -Love; RL Roy Lowe; DLu Donna Lusthoff: RM R: r. Maertz; AM Al McGee; SM Sylvia Maulding: RM Robin McCreery; LM Larry McQueen: KM ( u r Merrifield; B&LMu Barb & Lyndon Mosolf: PM Pal Mueller; DM Don Munson; HN Ham Nehls: MS Mark Nikas; RO Robert Olsen; SO Sue Orlowski: LO Laimons Oris; AP Alice Parker; D&EP Dale & Elva Paulson; DPe Diane Pettey; DP Dave Pitkin: JP Jonathon Plissner; SP Steve Powell; PBR Phil Berg-Rempel; RR Roger Robb; DR Doug Robberson: TM Tim Rodenkirk; JR Jim Rogers; SR Skip Russell: DS Don Schrouder; ESh Eva Schultz; FS Fred Shipley: ES Elmer Spect; PSh Paul Sherrill; JS Jamie Simmons; AS Alan Schmierer; CS Cynthia Stockwell: S&KS Stuart & Karen Sparkman; MS Mary Anne Sohlstrom; BS Barbara Story; MSt Martha Stewart: PS Paul Sullivan; B&ZS Bill and Zanah Stotz; JT Jack Thomas; BT Bill Tice; RT Rosie Tice; RTh Rick Thowless; MT Margaret Tweelinckx; DV Dennis Vroman; DVB Dan VanDenBroek; TW Terry Tahl; JW Jean Weakland; BW Barbara Wilson. 0 '


Slaty-backed Gull, 15 February 1998, Westmoreland Park, Multnomah Co. Photo/Skip Russell.

Oregon Birds O r e g o n F ie ld O r n i t h o l o g i s t s P .O . B o x 10373 E u g e n e , O R 97440

F o r w a r d i n g a n d R e t u r n P o s t a g e G u a r a n t e e d A d d r e s s C o r r e c t i o n R e q u e s t e d

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Portland, OR Permi t #11

• Check your mailing label; if your label reads "24(3)" — this is your last issue! Please renew now!

•11-13 September 1996, Oregon Shorebird Festival

• 20 October 1996, deadline • for OB 24(4), Winter 1998 • 10 December 1998, fall

(Aug-Nov) field notes to fieldnotes editors

• 18 December 1 9 9 8 - 3 January 1999, 99th Christmas Bird Count

D e n n i s P . V r o n a n

2 6 9 S h e t l a n d O r .

G r a n t s P a s s OR 9 7 5 2 6

2 4 ( 2 )

Oregon B i r d s 24 (3 ) : 100, FaU 1998

the quarterly journal of oregon field ornithologyoregon birds 24(3): 70, fall 1998 the records of...

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