Russ and all,
Thanks for the further information about the basis for this report. It
certainly sounds credible to me.
By range it can reasonably be presumed that this bird belongs to the Western
distinct population segment which is Federally listed as "threatened":
[
https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Birds/yellow_billed_cuckoo/ ;
|
https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Birds/yellow_billed_cuckoo/ ;
]
This is significant as another example, within recent years, of a Yellow-billed
Cuckoo being found in potentially suitable breeding habitat in the Willamette
Valley. Other recent past examples have been at Grand Island and the Sandy
River Delta.
As very detailed coordinates and directions have now been shared on this
list-serv, we can only hope that all birders will take into consideration the
threatened status of this bird. It's important not to disrupt any potential
breeding which could be a first step toward this species returning to and
recovering as a breeding species in western Oregon.
Use of playback (recordings) should be avoided, as this could detrimental to
the efforts of this bird to establish a territory and find a mate. Or to put it
more strongly (as Craig Tumer wrote a few years back):
The western population of yellow-billed cuckoo is now listed
[as] Threatened under the Endangered Species Act; therefore,
using recordings to attract them is illegal. Using playback to
attract a listed species can be considered harassment, which is
a form of "take" under the ESA.
There could be some opportunities for volunteers to participate in ongoing
efforts by USFWS biologists based in Portland to survey for Yellow-billed
Cuckoo in other examples of potential breeding habitat. There is a specific,
structured protocol that needs to be used within a coordinated effort, in order
to provide quantitatively useful information toward the species recovery
effort, while minimizing impact.
Good birding,
Joel
--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis
From: Russ Morgan < morganreid@xxxxxxxxxxxx >
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 14:34:42 -0700
Subject: [obol] More on Stayton Y-B Cuckoo sighting
Hi folks,
I talked with the originator of this report, retired biologist Mark Henjum, and
can share the following information. On Tuesday May 26th at 11:30am Mark was
walking a trail to fish the North Santiam River, about 5-6 miles downstream
from Stayton, when he heard the distinctive and repeated calling of a cuckoo.
Upon approach he saw the bird skulking in a cottonwood tree. No binoculars but
he believed he got brief but diagnostic views of the bird at about 25’ distance
before it flew off. He’s pretty sure the bird was a yellow-billed cuckoo. Mark
is an experienced birder.
Google map coordinates to the tree where the bird was sighted [
callto:44.7570837, -122 | 44.7570837, -122 ] .8670530. This is at the
Buell-Miller County Park. From Shelburn take Hess Road north to the N Santiam
River. A trail goes west from the boat ramp parking area. The cottonwood
gallery where the bird was seen was approximately 200-250 yds in on that trail.
I believe this is in Linn County.
Hope this helps,
Russ Morgan, La Grande
