This morning Bob Altman and I surveyed for Vesper Sparrows and other
grassland birds on private property near Creswell. Within an area of
about two square miles of grazing land interfingering with oak woodland,
we found more than 30 singing VESPER SPARROWS.
Based on the amount of similar habitat that we didn't manage to cover,
we think there are likely 40 to 50 pairs nesting on this site. Even the
lower-bound estimate is enough to make this the largest known population
of "Oregon" Vesper Sparrows in the Willamette Valley.
For comparison, the Bald Hill Park / Bald Hill Farm complex on the west
side of Corvallis hosts about 25 pairs, and OSU's Soap Creek Ranch hosts
another 10 to 15 pairs.
Among other birds noted in the course of these, some recent arrivals
included WESTERN KINGBIRD, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.
--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis
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