On the way to an Audubon meeting in Bandon last night, Eric Clough
mentioned seeing the BC Night-heron roost at the Coos Bay post office which
some of us found a few years back. Anyhow, he was there on Wednesday
mid-day and said there were maybe10 birds and they were vocal even then!
This is a very busy intersection area. Of interest, which I have seen in
previous years, is that most of the birds roost in some non-native maple
trees there early on, not large either maybe 30 to 40 feet high, pretty
young really. Once the leaves drop (not quite yet) they move over to the
Doug-fir and shore pine behind the post office. There are many large trees
in the surrounding neighborhoods that look like better roost, but they seem
to do fine in some pint size trees near the post office. All that said,I
stopped by tonight to see the birds and yes indeed the birds were up in the
30 foot maples as I have seen before! Later this evening, I was outside a
few minutes ago unloading my truck, when a BC Night-heron flew over
squawking away, a first for us at the house!
Working up in the Coast Range today saw a Ruffed Grouse, but pretty quiet
otherwise as usual for the Coast Range in the winter. Gray Jays and such,
but not much activity compared to the coastal zone. Been working up there
for over 20 years now and it is amazing how quiet it can be this time of
year (and all winter as I survey year-round up there).
Merry birding all!
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
