Hi all,
After a rainy-day visit to Luckiamute State Natural Area (where camas is
now coming up in abundance though still far from blooming), I looped
back home by way of Suver/Airlie Rd. as far as Maple Grove (southern
Polk County).
I saw ZERO (0) SWANS along this route. Not a big surprise since
Trumpeter Swan flocks normally leave this area around the end of
February, but I wanted to confirm that ... plus I was curious to see if
there might still be a few Tundra Swans around.
I also paused to scope the big irrigation pond at the intersection of
Airlie Rd. and De Armond Rd, which was constructed a few years ago, and
has had a few reports of Canvasback and Common Goldeneye this winter.
The only ducks on the pond today were about 20 RING-NECKED DUCKS and a
couple of MALLARDS.
One notable recent development for this pond is that the area between
the roads and the pond have been planted (within the past few weeks)
with filbert (hazelnut) trees. So as these trees mature in the coming
years years, the view of the pond from the roads will gradually be
obstructed.
This is doubly disappointing as the vicinity of this pond, prior to
construction, used to reliably have several pairs of Streaked Horned
Larks during nesting season.
Some folks have suggested that creation of a new pond for birders to
view diving ducks might provide a bit of a silver lining, to compensate
for the loss and fragmentation of Streaked Horned Lark habitat. Now it
appears that, in the long run, we'll end up with neither lark habitat
nor good views of the pond. Enjoy those views while they last, I guess!
--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis
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