On Saturday, April 29th, I was helping the Water Resources
Education Center in conducting a "Critter Count" with groups of students
at various locations in Clark County. Although the primary target of our
census were reptiles and amphibians we did look at all of the natural
history of each area. The group I was with visited Fallen Leaf Lake in
Camas (aka Dead Lake), this small lake is owned by the Georgia-Pacific
Camas paper mill. We found very few of the target species but did spot
seven TURKEY VULTURES roosting in snags around a forested wetland and as
we walked around the lake we noted two T.V.s perched in a tree near the
lake that allowed us to walk right under them. They were in a spot where
there is a small cave in the sandstone formation at the water's edge.
This cave, which is only about ten feet deep, is a favorite play area for
kids and after I told the students about it they investigated it and
found two large eggs spotted with purple that I photographed. At home I
checked several references and they match the pictures and description of
the eggs of Turkey Vultures. I will have the area posted with notices and
roped off but doubt that we will be unable to limit the disturbance at
this site since it is in the middle of town.
Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA