[obol] Re: Is there any estimate of Tundra Swans wintering in the Willamette Valley?
- From: Priscilla Nam Hari Kaur <priscillanhk@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Mark Nikas <elepaio@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2015 12:28:28 -0800
Thank you Mark;
That is a more thorough answer than I expected anyone could even give.
I realize, as Lars posted, that these birds do move around quite a bit,
which complicates any counting unless it is all done the same day.
However, I was only really wanting to know if the Swans numbered in the
high hundreds,
or several thousands, or tens-of-thousands. Or if anyone even knew.
You've provided the answer nicely.
I had had the impression back in the late 70s, that there might have only
been
a thousand or less "Whistling Swans" in the valley at that time.
I have no clear idea where I got that impression from;
and perhaps had no basis for it other than some estimate I'd heard
for the Fern Ridge flock being near 500 at that time.
I probably got that number from Corvallis Audubon in the mid-70s
but don't hold them accountable for it; as memory and time have
certainly put all this through the wash-cycle a few times since then.
I appreciate your providing such detailed information.
Thanks!
By the way, I did leave out one sentence in my original posting,
though I don't think the post suffered much by its absence.
I meant to say that after the "children's voices" were suddenly much louder;
as if they had traveled miles in a few minutes; a flock of almost pinkish
large birds appeared about 1/2 mile away, flying low over Cabell Marsh,
the pink coming from the last light of the setting Sun.
That was my first sighting of the Swans.
Now, inspired by Jack Williams quandary over Marsh Hawks;
I offer a perhaps philosophical or technical/terminology and
tongue-in-cheek question:
Is it wrong, when speaking of observations of birds
made back at a time when they were known by a different name,
to use the name the birds were called by at that time;
or must one use the name in use today?
Would it be accurate to say I saw Tundra Swans in the mid-70s when at that
time
there were no birds of that name? What I saw were Whistling Swans, right?
:)
Priscilla Sokolowski
On Fri, Feb 20, 2015 at 10:33 PM, Mark Nikas <elepaio@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 2532.
>
> At least that's the average total for the valley Christmas Bird Counts
> since 2000. Before I looked that up I had guessed 2300. 1000 for Linn
> county, 800 for Lane County and 500 everywhere else. Not too far off but
> just by dumb luck. The Forest Grove count has the highest average at 723.
> I wasn't aware there were that many that far north. The Brownsville
> average was 489. Most years there are around 1000 in Linn County near
> Brownsville so many of them stay outside the count circle on count day. Not
> his year though. I had the east sector and counted 1204 swans. Surely many
> more manage to avoid the nearest CBC circle. I'd guess now that 3000 -
> 4000 winter in the valley.
>
> Mark Nikas
>
> On Fri, Feb 20, 2015 at 11:51 AM, Priscilla Nam Hari Kaur <
> priscillanhk@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Dear OBOLites;
>>
>> I know Tundra Swans winter in the Willamette valley, and are found in
>> numerous
>> places, all the way as far south as Fern Ridge Reservoir. But what I am
>> wondering is if there is any approximate estimate of just how many of them
>> there are here in Oregon? I haven't looked at range maps to see where
>> else they spend the Winter, but I suppose there are lots of other
>> locations.
>> When I lived in Alvadore a mile from Fern Ridge dam in the late 70s,
>> a flock of 400-600 Whistling Swans (their name in those days) would fly
>> low over the house most every evening at dusk. That was such a sweet
>> pleasure
>> as they "whistled" melodiously the whole time. I would often "prime
>> myself" before hand and go out on the covered porch and sit and listen for
>> them.
>>
>> I had only heard-seen them a year or two before that for the first time
>> back at Finley Refuge near sunset (when I lived in Corvallis). I was on
>> Woodpecker Loop hill enjoying the sounds and sights of sunset, when I heard
>> children playing way off in the distance somewhere. Hooting and hollering
>> or so it seemed. Then a few minutes later I heard it again only it was much
>> closer and I realized it wasn't children's voices at all ...
>>
>> At the very earliest crack of dawn, before I can even detect light, the
>> entire flock spending the night on the water at Fern Ridge all rises up at
>> once,
>> all calling, hooting and whistling as they head out to the farm fields
>> for the day. I've only gone out there to hear that a few times, and not at
>> all recently.
>>
>> Priscilla Sokolowski
>>
>
>
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