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September 2019 Volume 53, Number 1

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September 2019 Volume 53, Number 1 Salem Audubon Society The Kestrel September 2019 Volume 53, Number 1 www.salemaudubon.org facebook.com/SalemAudubonSociety In This Issue President’s Message Tim Johnson 1 President’s Message One of the reasons I was motivated to volunteer to be chapter president was the 2 Upcoming Field Trips opportunity to be closely involved in the planning, development and operations of the Nature Center at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. As originally envisioned, 4 Making Wildlife Memories the Nature Center will provide opportunities for our community to learn more 4 Birder’s Night about the natural resources, especially the wildlife and plant species of the Willamette Valley, and install a sense of stewardship. Activities we can anticipate being part of the 5 Oregon Birds: See, Learn, and Nature Center include: Share – Sex Life of Birds • Educational workshops for the general public 5 What’s Happening at the Reserve • Nature walks, both leader lead and self-guided • Native plant restoration projects 5 Spotlight on Education • School environmental class activities 6 Essay – The Screech Owl • Environmental education project kits for use by teachers, home school families and others. Chronicles • Citizen science projects: 8 Essay – Salem's Rock-Star Bird surveys: using eBird River Raptors o o Butterfly counts 9 Upcoming Events o Bee counts Dusky Canada Geese neck band surveys Need to update your mailing o A demonstration project for reducing bird window strikes address? o Please call or email Salem Our ability to interest volunteers in being involved in leadership roles with one or more of these Audubon at (503) 588-7340 or kinds of activities will be critical to our success in realizing the full potential of the Nature Center. [email protected] If you wish to be part of the future of the Nature Center, I would very much like to talk with you. You can reach me most anytime at my email address below or by calling (503) 507-8552. American Kestrel Photo © Jim Leonard If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for the Board of Directors, please feel free to contact chapter president Tim Johnson at [email protected]. THE KESTREL | September 2019 2 Upcoming Field Trips – compiled by Glen Lindeman Salem Audubon field trips are open to the public, and we usually have a mixture of experienced and novice bird watchers. These trips are a great way to become more familiar with the birds of Oregon, and you will find some great new places to go birding and possibly meet some new friends. There is no fee for the trips, but we do encourage carpooling to try to reduce our impact on the environment, with riders helping to cover the cost of driving. If you have a suggestion for field trips or have any questions, contact Glen Lindeman at (503) 930-1492 or [email protected]. SAS-SHORTS are abbreviated versions of our popular field trips. These trips are in the local area, typically last one to one and a half hours, and cover no more than a mile of walking. They are primarily designed for new birders, although everyone is welcome. Due to their short duration, please arrive before the start time. The outings will begin at precisely the advertised start time. Refer to the outing descriptions below for specifics. Many of our field trips meet at the Airport Road Park and Ride located on the east side of Airport Road, between Mission and State Streets, next to the State Motor Pool and just south of the bridge over Mill Creek. To reach the park and ride, follow Mission Street to Airport Road (the first stoplight east of 25th Street) and turn left. Follow Airport Road north one block to the park and ride. Note that there are no restrooms at this site. Wednesday, September 4, 7:00 AM – Minto-Brown Monday, September 9, at 9:00 AM – Keizer Rapids Island Park Park (SAS with West Keizer Neighborhood (Upcoming – Tuesday, October 1 and Sunday, November 3, both Association) at 8:00 AM; note the change in time) Keizer Rapids Park, in Keizer, is a local, undiscovered gem for Leaders: Mike Unger (503) 930-8998, Fred Stephens (503) 378- birding enthusiasts. The park has a variety of habitats that 1364, and Barbara Dolan (971) 772-4589 attracts a wide variety of birds including sparrows, finches and towhees, but many other birds can be found here including September is the second month of four of fall bird census and waterfowl, raptors, woodpeckers, warblers and creepers. recording. It is one of the peak months for migration of neo- Swallows, ospreys, kingfishers and an occasional eagle can be tropical migrants which have visited us for the summer to nest in seen near the river. our rich food area. Young birds, and adult birds that may be in molt after breeding, can be seen along with resident birds, Meet at 9:00 AM at the far parking lot (at the end of the road making a nice mix and providing identification challenges. We leading to the boat ramp). Bring water and a snack for the trail. will look for plumage changes, listen for song structure changes, Directions: From Salem: Take River Road N, turn left onto and see a change in status of birds gathering in flocks from the Chemawa Road N, turn left onto Walsh Way N and proceed to traditional breeding families. Juvenile raptors like Osprey, the parking lot at the at the end of road near the boat ramp. Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks and accipiters will be honing their hunting skills. Osprey and Turkey Vultures begin to move south. Many passerines or perching birds will be fattening Saturday, September 14, 7:00 AM – Ankeny National up on berry and bug food choices, building up energy for takeoff Wildlife Refuge to the winter grounds. We will begin to see more shorebird (Upcoming – Sunday, October 13 and Wednesday, November 13, variety. Waterfowl in eclipse will begin plumage changes that both at 8:00 AM; note change of time) bring beauty in the winter months. Join us to enjoy this time of Leaders: Mike Unger (503) 930-8998, Fred Stephens (503) 378- change in our season, watching for the woodpecker, wren, 1364, and Barbara Dolan (971) 772-4589 creeper, sparrow, warbler and even waterfowl species with fledged young that will be on the move or are utilizing the All of the Willamette Valley Refuges are exciting places to view habitat in preparation for cooler weather. shorebirds in the fall. The month of September is one of the best times at Ankeny Refuge to observe birds during fall Meet at 7:00 AM at parking lot #3 (the last parking lot in the migration. Shorebirds are fond of the invertebrates and the park). Dress for the weather and bring snacks and water to keep mudflats when water remains at Pintail Marsh or Eagle Marsh. energized. Wear appropriate footwear for uneven trails and There are also back ponds at either site. Trails to them are plan for considerable walking. We will plan to finish by 11:00 mostly lacking in shade and are frequently uneven but are worth AM the effort for sightings. Directions: From River Road South, turn west at the signal at Field Trips continued page 3 Minto Island Road and proceed to the last parking lot. www.salemaudubon.org THE KESTREL | September 2019 3 Field Trips We will carpool to visit specific sites looking for sandpipers, SAS SHORTS phalaropes, and wading birds. We have been treated in the past with sightings of Green Heron, American Bittern, Sora, Wilson’s Monday, September 23, 9:00 AM – Cascades Snipe, and Virginia Rail, both adult and young birds. Gateway Park Meet at the Pintail Marsh Parking at 7:00 AM. This will be the Leader: Fred Stephens (503) 378-1364 only portable restroom stop until the Nature Center off Ankeny We will walk the approx. 1-mile trail around Walter Wirth Lake, Hill Rd. is completed. Plan on carpooling. Wear footwear for looking for waterfowl, raptors, woodpeckers and songbirds. walking uneven trails. Bring water and snacks. We will plan to Location: 2100 Turner Rd SE, near Walmart, Lowe’s and the finish by 11:00 AM. Salem airport. Directions: From Salem, take I-5 south to the Ankeny Hill Rd. exit (Exit 243), and turn right (west). At the Ankeny Hill Rd./Wintel Thursday, October 24, 8:30 AM – Brown’s Ferry Park, Rd. intersection go straight (south) on Wintel and continue Tualatin about 3 miles to the Pintail Marsh parking lot. You will pass by the Rail Trail on your left, with a sign that sits low; continue and Leaders: Barbara Dolan (971) 772-4589 and Fred Stephens (503) look on your left for the landmark sign “SEASONAL PHOTO 378-1364 BLIND”. The unmarked parking lot is on your right. (If you get to This fall bird walk is an extended SHORT due to the mileage from the railroad crossing you just missed it.) Or, follow Liberty Rd. Salem to Tualatin. The park is 28 acres, historically known as a south to Ankeny Hill Rd., turn left and follow Ankeny to Wintel riverside wetland with trees and foliage that have adapted to the Rd., then turn right and follow the directions above. terrain and flooding. Its first highlight includes that the trail is along the Tualatin River with Nyberg Creek entering it at one Saturday, October 12 – Oregon Coast point. Secondly, a pond on this suburban park property allows Leaders: Tim Johnson (503) 507-8552 close observation of water birds, including occasional Green Herons, Wilson’s Snipe, ducks (last year a good number of October is a great month to witness the fall migration on the Gadwall and a male Eurasian Wigeon), and Osprey.
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