If you’ve ever thought about joining the ODFW Adopt-A-Lek program, it’s a
hoot. On the way to and from my assigned leks in the Owyhee uplands this
week, I spent some time in the Greater Harney County Basin and on the
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. I now have a new standard for quiet.
Three days without hearing a truck or seeing another person. Sure wish they
required mufflers on small planes that are flying *low* search patterns.
Grumph.
Sunday 20 March
Shortly before Hampton there was a field swarming with Sage Rats and at
least 11 Bald Eagles feeding on them (Hwy 20, mp 61, south side). Did not
stop and count the smaller raptors. This could have been the place
mentioned in the recent *New York Times* article about the Malheur
recovery. It includes a lyric description of why so many become birders:
*I may not have understood the point of birding when I was off looking for
courting sage grouse, but in that moment I understood why birders are about
to return to Malheur with a vengeance. We fly through life on cruise
control, going 75, not knowing what we’re missing. Birding forces us to
slow down, to be observant, to savor our surroundings. As the last bald
eagle I saw soared out of sight, I thought of the last bit of advice that
Mr. Blount had given me, “Just pay attention,” he said. “Look around,
because you never know what you might see.”*
— Dave
Seminara, March 21, 2016
Link shared on BOO list by Dolores Porch; see
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/travel/oregon-standoff-bird-watching.html.
The reservoir at Chickahominy was substantially fuller than I’ve seen it
the last five springs. Not even close to the high water mark, but 3–4 feet
over previous years. The fence in the gully under the powerlines was
underwater. I did not cross the fence and could not see the stream mouth
which was up around the corner. There was no water flow below the dam. This
area drains past Riley and into Harney Lake west of the Narrows. There were
two Avocets and some Killdeer, plus typical dabblers and diving ducks. Zero
grebes and no loons. The roadside reservoir at Riley looked low as usual.
Monday 21 March
Greenhouse Lane Loop
Unfortunately it is time for ECAS to update the description of the former
wetland at the 90 degree turn on Greenhouse Lane (see
http://media.wix.com/ugd/2c5973_49d28c62acb34f869cbd5614ebd0df54.pdf). It
is my understanding that the springs here have gone dry due to pivot pumps
drawing down the groundwater. The current use is a winter cattle feeding
yard. The Oregon Department of Water Resources is currently holding public
hearings about approval of additional pumping (see
http://www.oregon.gov/owrd/Pages/law/Department_Rulemaking.aspx). Standing
here I can hear the geese on Porter Swamp Road. They are loud and that must
be a BIG flock to be audible at that distance. I decide not to spend time
waiting for a flyout.
Moving east I found a trio of Black-necked Stilts across the road from the
lone cottonwood. The field here is starting to fill and must have a high
priority water right. Birders who enjoy sorting through blackbird flocks
will find plenty of opportunity to indulge their hobby at the cattle feed
lot. There was a scattering of large Sandhill Cranes that are in pairs and
acting territorial. Also present are loose groups of smaller cranes. They
are in small scattered flocks of 20–50 birds. Did not observe any dancing.
At a gas station in Hines I was able to joke with the owner about being
relieved that the invasion of wannabe rodeo clowns had been relocated to
more suitable habitat. He laughed and stated that some of the militia
demonstrators had become stranded in town, unable to make it home. They
were welcome to go home.
The large flock of white geese across Egan Road from the Fairgrounds was
mostly Ross’s. Drove in and parked by the back. The Poo Ponds were mostly
empty. Received a friendly wave from a stockman loading horses. The area
south of the ponds had scatted flocks of white geese and about 100 swans.
They were spread from there down toward the BLM headquarters.
Island Ranch–Emblee Bridge Road is a well-graded wide gravel road. There
were Rough-legged Hawks and a Great Horned Owl. Did not see any Egrets in
the willow grove where they congregate in the spring. I was surprised by
how few Red-tailed Hawks were present. This was a substantial decrease from
December 2015.
Thursday 24 March
The Princeton-Narrows Road had been recently graded, is two lanes wide and
might even have been regraveled with the light colored 3/4-minus that the
county uses. This dirt road is a pleasure to drive on. There were two
Turkey Vultures soaring low over a field on the north side of the road that
had some Sage Rats. I did not notice the two shooters in the shade of a hay
pile until after I stopped. They gave me a friendly wave. There was a pair
of Loggerhead Shrikes near an old BLM experiment sign. It was windy and
late so few birds were up and active. The bay where the road bypasses
Vanguard was dry and winter dormant. No Ferruginous Hawks or Short-eared
Owls. There were a few Harriers and the usual coyotes.
It was quiet at the Malheur NWR headquarters entrance. There was no sign of
security. A Turkey Vulture was roosting in a tree above the Visitor Center.
I scoped Malheur Lake, and it was a long way past the boat ramp to where
the water starts. It was gray-blue and looked far healthier than the roiled
muddy brown of last spring. The vegetation still had the brown tones of
winter dormancy. Traffic included two work trucks bearing the name of a
national insurance repair service. They were departing, as it was about
quittin’ time. A white government pickup arrived about then. They did not
wave or stop to talk. A 30-something Irish couple stopped and chatted. They
were Twitchers and asked if any unusual birds had been seen. A large flight
of Snow Geese was circling down somewhere to the south along the Patrol
Road. The ruins of Camp Ridiculum had subsided to a white plastic mound at
the lower end of the parking lot. It had been surrounded by temporary chain
link fence panels.
The Golden Eagle nest west of the Narrows was not visibly occupied but
appeared to have fresh construction. Enjoyed a fantastic sunset over Harney
Lake.
Out of time — more soon.
--
*Happy birdingClay*
*There's more Birders than Golfers*
