- RBA
* Oregon
* Portland
* February 15, 1996
* ORPO9601.15

- Birds mentioned


Tundra Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Ross' Goose
Cinnamon Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Oldsquaw
Common Goldeneye
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Gyrfalcon
American Avocet
Costa's Hummingbird
Say's Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Northern Mockingbird
American Tree Sparrow
Hutton's Vireo
Lark Sparrow
Cassin's Finch
White-winged Crossbill


- transcript


hotline: Portland, Oregon, Audubon RBA (weekly) date: February 15, 1996
number: (503) 292-0661
to report: Harry Nehls (503) 233-3976 <hnehls at telleport.com>
compiler: Harry Nehls
coverage: entire state, concentrating on NW Oregon


Hello, this is Portland Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert. This recording
was made Thursday February 15. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls
at 233-3976.

Severe weather the past two weeks have been stressful to humans and birds
alike. It appears the birds fared much better than the humans.

A stunning male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD is now coming to an Ashland feeder. If
interested in seeing this bird call Bob or Claudia Law at 488-4129 in
Ashland.

Up to 30 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS are now in the Timberline Lodge area of
Mount Hood. They are feeding on Mountain Hemlock cones. Up to 20 CASSIN'S
FINCHES are also being seen there.

An OLDSQUAW was in the slough along Fenk Road near Tillamook February 13.
Many diving birds can now be seen on small ponds and lakes as most rivers
and the ocean are too high and dirty to obtain food.

The immature gray phased GYRFALCON continues to be seen along Clatsop
Beach. On February 11 it was seen near parking lot B along the road to the
South Jetty.

VIOLET-GREEN, TREE, and BARN SWALLOWS are now being reported from many
areas of the Willamette Valley. The BARN SWALLOWS are unusually early.
There have been many reports of birds singing in the warm sunny weather.
HUTTON'S VIREOS have been especially vociferous.

A TRUMPETER SWAN was with many TUNDRA SWANS on the flooded field across
from the Forest Grove Ponds February 11. At the small pond just south of
the Tualitan River in the same area have been many diving ducks including
both scaup, two REDHEADS, many CANVASBACK, and COMMON GOLDENEYES.

An AMERICAN AVOCET, first found February 9, continues to be seen in the
East Coyote Unit of the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area near Eugene. Many
shorebirds and waterfowl are in the same area. An OSPREY was there February
11 and an male CINNAMON TEAL and an EARED GREBE were there February 14.

On February 3 an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was at Fisher Butte at the southeast
corner of Fern Ridge Reservoir. The MOCKINGBIRD is still being seen at the
south end of Alton-Baker Park in Eugene.

On February 5 a ROSS' GOOSE was in Ashland. Two early BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHERS were on Roxy Ann Butte near Medford and six LARK SPARROWS were
near Agate Lake north of there the same day.

The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK continues to be seen at the Miller Island Wildlife
Area Headquarters in the Klamath Basin.

Two GREATER SCAUP were on Hatfield Lake near Bend February 11. That day
several SAY'S PHOEBES were in Wheeler County. Two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were in
that county February 9.

Thats it for this week.


- end transcript

Harry Nehls, Portland, Or.
hnehls at teleport.com (503) 233-3976