A CRESTED CARACARA (previously reported on slim details last week)
was relocated Sunday just south of Corvallis, OR. I have combined
the best of the location details.

Subject: Corvallis Crested Caracara
From: "Molly Monroe" <monroemolly AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 20:38:51 -0800

We were so lucky to be around this afternoon as our friend Nancy drove by
and stopped to tell us her friend Jenny had just called and was looking at a
CRESTED CARACARA! We followed her down and found the bird feeding on a skunk
on the side of Airport Rd just after the first part of the "S" curve. The
bird was very cooperative letting us drive by to get pics. It then flew up
to a nearby tree and as the sun began to set, flew off into some oaks to the
SW of the road.
So the rumor last week was true, I'm guessing this is the same bird seen in
the Blodgett area! Now I think the question will be: Is this just someone's
escaped bird hungry enough to eat skunk or could it really be sooo off its
beaten track? It was not banded. In either case, what a treat... thanks so
much to the ladies for informing us, was one of those you just had to see
for yourself to believe!
I do have a couple of nice photos but no website, so let me know if you'd
like to see them.

Molly Monroe and Jarod Jebousek
Corvallis, OR

Subject: Corvallis Crested Caracara
From: "Molly Monroe" <monroemolly AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 20:54:36 -0800

Sorry, here's some better directions:
South of Corvallis on Hwy 99W, west on Airport Rd a few miles past airport,
the road goes into some curves. The bird was on the west side of the road
past the house with the bikes on the fence and before the next 90 degree
turn, last seen flying off into oaks sw of this little straight stretch.
Hope that helps!

Subject: More info for Crested Caracara searchers
From: Joel Geier <jgeier AT attglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 06:39:13 -0800

Hello folks,

The location that Molly Monroe described for the caracara is at the very
top of p. 47 in the DeLorme atlas, in the A6 grid square, just under the
"6." Or maybe a bit onto p.53 just above that.

Two other roads just south of there -- Llewellyn Rd. and Greenberry Rd.
-- have similar habitat and could also be possibilities, also Decker Rd.
which runs west from Bellfountain.

If you travel Bellfountain Rd. between these locations, please be aware
that there is a rural SCHOOL ZONE between Llewellyn and Greenberry Rds.,
at the Inavale School. The 20 mph signs are easy to miss as you come
over the hill, if you're not expecting a school out there.

I will be there dropping off our kids this morning, and will report on
anything I spot on the way there or back. Good luck everyone!

Joel

P.S. You might want to keep your windows rolled down and listen for
Chestnut-collared Longspurs while trolling around this general area, as
there have been rumors. Also, please report coordinates of any singing
Horned Larks.

--
Joel Geier
jgeier AT attglobal.net

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

Scale, nature and our infinite capacity to rationalize
http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/003674.html