Ted Buerger and I led a bird walk this morning at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. A chilly 33 degrees started the day with birds obviously gearing up for the breeding season. An adult BALD EAGLE was on its nest in the center of the marsh with the other adult close by (the adult off the nest later brought in what appeared to be a gadwall for a snack). By 10am, a large flock of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and a few TREE SWALLOWS were working close over the water and later moved up along the forest canopy. As we were heading back to the visitor's center, four TURKEY VULTURES flew across the refuge from the south heading north. They were not in sight very long. A fifth turkey vulture could be seen a few miles to the west after these first four had passed.
Other highlights for the day included WESTERN MEADOWLARK, GREAT HORNED OWL, and HUTTON'S VIREO. We ended the day with 54 species.
On the way back home, a turkey vulture was soaring over the Willamette Falls and a band-tailed pigeon was working the ridge above Kraxberger Middle School in Gladstone.
Jeff DillonGladstone, OR
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