John Rakestraw will be teaching his popular class in gull identification
tomorrow morning from 9am - 12pm at Jackson Bottom Wetlands. Field trip by
carpool to local (Hillsboro) sites to practice is included in the class. Still
some spots available. If interested you can call 503-681-6206 or 503-681-5397
or register on line at
http://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/departments/parks-recreation/our-facilities/jackson-bottom-wetlands-preserve/camps-classes-and-programs/classes
.
In other news....snow tracking days are over (sigh). Since late Tuesday the
Tualatin River has risen 12 feet and all the trails in the Preserve are flooded
once again. Water levels rose 2 feet in the last twelve hours and continue to
rise. Ice that was up to 5" thick is quickly melting and divers and dabblers
are returning to the open areas. Red-shouldered hawks are vocal at the south
end of the Preserve. The bald eagle pair is seen frequently, occasionally
escorting other adult eagles through the area and a sub-adult bald eagle was
skulking through the riparian corridor yesterday as an adult soared overhead.
Still no clear indication of where the eagle pair might build their next nest
but they frequently perch in the stand of Douglas fir trees at the east side
and also still use their traditional sentry tree at the north end. The
cottonwood tree they built their last 2 nests in (~ 10 years' worth of nesting
seasons) - on beautifully arcing side trunks - is now a single straight trunk.
Doubtful it will be used again, but who am I to say? Two adult peregrines were
seen Monday, it appeared they were after ducks that were enjoying the only open
water around - the Tualatin river - as one of the falcons wheeled up over the
bridge, turned downstream and flew beneath the canopy with extremely rapid wing
beats. Results unknown.
Good birding to all,
Steve E.
Steve Engel, Nature Program Supervisor
City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve
2600 SW Hillsboro Highway
Hillsboro, OR 97123
Steve.engel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
503-681-6283 office phone
503-681-6124 fax
