An 2020 Publication 5/15/2017

CROOK COUNTY SPOTLIGHT

What is a Blitz? Birders from around the state gather in a single

Friday, June 16 to county to survey as many birds in as many places as possible in just Sunday, June 18 in one weekend. Multiple stationary counts within Oregon2020 Hotspot

Blitz Squares are encouraged (click here for our protocol). Participation in Dates Prineville, OR Blitzes is free! To register, visit: http://oregon2020.com/crook/

Overview of Crook County

Located in the heart of Oregon, Crook County is known for its agriculture and forest products, as well as its fantastic recreational areas. Fishing is very popular all year-round. Below the Bowman Dam, Fast Facts the is one of the most • All-Time Bird Species productive trout streams in Oregon. Visit Total: 280 the and explore

• Breeding Season Bird geological oddities, hunt for gemstones,

Above: Just east of Bend and Redmond, and experience dense pine forests with Species Total: 249 • Total number of eBird Crook County contains the Ochoco nearly 95,000 acres of old growth. Mountains and the city of Prineville. checklists: 3,806

The Feisty and Vocal Gray Flycatcher

The Gray Flycatcher is commonly found in semi-arid woodlands, sage brush, shrub-steppe, pinyon-juniper, and yellow pine forests. This flycatcher actively defends its territories and forages for insects from srubs or branches low in trees. It maintains its territories using vocalizations and displays such as tail-pumping, crest-raising, Photo: Francesco Veronesi and elaborate fighting. Gray

flycatchers defend territories Crook County Species against both Gray and Dusky Highlights: flycatchers, because they • Mountain Bluebird cannot distinguish between • Black-billed Magpie these intruders by appearance • Brewer’s Sparrow alone. Gray Flycatchers have a • Gray Flycatcher comparatively long and

narrow bill, whitish eye ring, Top Birding Locations in and slighly notched tail. Crook County: Schlossberg, S. and Sterling. J.C. 2013. Gray • Ochoco Reservoir Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii), The Birds of North America Online (P.G. Rodewald, Ed.). • Photo: Francesco Veronesi Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

• Houston Lakes Look for Gray Flycatchers and other sage-associated birds on our Crook County Blitz

Written by Noelle Moen, Marie Rouyer, and Andrew Stokes for Oregon2020 - Jenna Curtis and Tyler Hallman, Editors.

All content © Oregon2020 unless otherwise noted.

THE HISTORY OF CROOK LODGING FOR THE CROOK

COUNTY COUNTY BIRDING BLITZ formed an imposing barrier to travel. But Our headquarters and the discovery of the daily meeting location Santiam Pass in 1859 for the Crook County and the subsequent Blitz will be Prineville, development of the Oregon. CourthouseHIstory.com Santiam Wagon Road helped spur the Prineville and the Stein’s Pillar - ChossClimbers Crook County was settlement of Crook surrounding area markets State Park. Beyond several established in 1882. It County. Prineville was itself as “forever country”, traditional hotels and named after U.S. Army and local accommodations named in honor of the motels, visitors can also Major-General George reflect this. Much of the town's first merchant, rent hotel rooms and Crook, a hero of the area’s lodging can be found Barney Prine. Primary cabins outside of town at Snake Indian Wars. The at campgrounds, crops in the region the Brasada Ranch. For area developed slowly reservoirs, and lakeside more, visit: include hay, grain, resorts, including the in early years because http://www.prinevillecha mint, potatoes, and popular Prineville Reservoir the Cascade Mountains mber.com/ seed.

Birding Hotspot: Prineville Reservoir State Park

The 15-mile long Prineville Reservoir State Park incorporates over 3,000 acres of designated wildlife management land. The reservoir was created as part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamations, Crooked River Project. Arthur R. Bowman Dam was finished in 1961, flooding a juniper and sagebrush filled canyon with mountain waters of the Ochoco Mountain Range that form the Crooked River. Fishing at the Prineville Reservoir can be good anytime of the year. The lake supports , small and , catfish, and crayfish to name a few. Many visitors also enjoy the incredible waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, Photo: Tourism paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, star gazing and wildlife viewing. Expect to see lots of waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors when visiting. FUN FACT:

Recently Reported at Prineville DID YOU KNOW… Crook Reservoir SP: County contains the • Townsend’s Solitaire oldest geological • Mountain Bluebird formation in Oregon: an • Pinyon Jay outcropping of Devonian • Cassin’s Finch limestone formed by a • Red-breasted Sapsucker Photo: Oregon State Parks reef when Oregon was still submerged Don’t forget to register for the Crook County Birding Blitz, underwater! June 16-18! Free registration and more information available here: http://oregon2020.com/crook/

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