A persistent flock of eight to ten Western Meadowlark along the Clackamette
Cove and River Access Trail in Oregon City recently sparked my curiosity
about the habitat needs of this species. I usually find meadowlarks
there in an area just three acres in size and less frequently in an
adjacent sparsely covered site of about five acres. It wasn't until my dog
walk yesterday that I began to suspect the flock might be inhabiting the
place year-round. And, I doubt most people viewing the location on Google
Maps would think to search for meadowlark in this isolated, mostly urban,
mixed-use residential and commercial wasteland of sorts . . . .
According to a 2011 study of the Western Meadowlark habitat in the southern
Willamette Valley, the mean habitat size per breeding pair was 14 acres,
which would suggest the Clackamette Cove site might support one pair. So
what's up with the small flock that seems to always be in a location that,
for all useful purposes, is less than 10 acres in size.
https://www.jack-n-jill.net/blog/2019/11/western-meadowlark-habitat---how-much-is-enough
https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S61337707
Jack Williamson
West Linn, Oregon