Klamath Basin Audubon Society
The Grebe
July/August 2005
Bird of the Month
American Dipper
Cinclus mexicanus
The spring session of the Oregon Audubon Council was held in Bend, Oregon during the first weekend of May. During the conference, we found windows of time to go birding and visited a Sage Grouse lek in Melikan Valley, where we watched in awe the courtship strutting and drumming of the males in the lek. In Bend we also went birding on the Deschutes Trail, which follows the river through town. Mallards, Canada Geese, Robins, Scrub Jays, Violet-Green Swallows, a Rough-Winged Swallow, a yellowish warbler (species?), a Belted Kingfisher, and nesting Trumpeter Swans were some of the birds we observed.
On the opposite bank right next to the swiftly flowing water, a pair of Water Ouzels was busily feeding two babies, which were so large as to be nearly indistinguishable from the parents. I focused my new spotting scope on them and we watched as the parents entered the water to disappear under the surface and later to reappear with a beak full of food, which was then deposited into the gaping, begging mouths of the youngsters. This behavior was repeated constantly as we watched, and the youngsters and adults all did their signature dipping dance during the feeding process. The dipping behavior as they stand on shore or on rocks in the water gives the Water Ouzel its common name.
According to Stokes guide, the ouzel is "one of nature's true anomalies, the dipper is a land bird that spends its life in, on, and under water!" A song bird whose toes are neither webbed nor lobed for swimming, its feet are more adapted for perching, but it overcomes this handicap by propelling itself under water with its short wings. It literally "flies" through the water as it swims and can dive up to 20 feet under water, where it walks along the bottom catching small fish, snails, flatworms, and insect larvae.
Dippers are slate-gray with a brownish tinge on their heads and are7 to 8_ inches in length. They are chunky and short tailed, but it is their dipping stance and affinity for fast water that make them easily recognizable.
They have special adaptations for going underwater: a large oil gland to waterproof the plumage, which is dense and resists saturation; and scales that cover the nostrils when diving.
Their nest is a bulky, arched-over, domed mass of mosses and fine grass lined with moss and has a side entrance overlooking the water. Nests are sometimes placed on a rocky ledge, under a bridge, or behind a waterfall, but they are always in a damp location.
Three to six white eggs are laid in the nest and are incubated from 15 to 17 days. The young are altricial and fledge in 18-25 days.
Dippers have always been associated with babbling brooks and rushing mountain streams, and we look for them whenever we are close to a creek or river. This summer while hiking in the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, we saw the European cousin to our American Dipper in the River Arga, which flows to Pamplona. The European counterpart (Cinclus cinclus) was as easily recognizable as the dippers we saw in Bend; however, the European cousin has a large white breast above a chestnut chest and holds its tail more upright, like a wren. Otherwise its behavior and other markings are similar, and we delighted at recognizing a fluvial feathered friend in a far-away-place and at the same time adding a new species to our life list.
Your Help Needed to Save Arctic Refuge
The fight over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is heating up -- YOUR HELP NEEDED IN AUGUST & SEPTEMBER! Audubon is making a big push to save the pristine wilderness in Alaska from destructive oil drilling, and you can help!
After 25 years of fighting, our last best chance to protect the refuge will be in the House of Representatives on a vote quickly approaching in September. In August, members of Congress that will be casting deciding votes will be back home talking with their constituents - like you! All Audubon chapters and Audubon members around the country will be using this opportunity to weigh in with their members of Congress and fight at this critical time for one of the most pristine places left in America!
Critically important targets in the House of Representatives include: Bradley (NH), Ehlers (MI), Frelinghuysen (NJ), Ferguson (NJ), Smith (NJ), LoBiondo (NJ), Gilchrest (MD), Kelly (NY), Kennedy (MN), Kirk (IL), Gerlach (PA), Reichert (WA), Schwarz (MI), Ramstad (MN), Castle (DE ), Bass (NH), Boehlert (NY), Johnson (IL), Shays (CT), Simmons (CT), Johnson (CT), Leach (IA), Saxton (NJ), Fitzpatrick (PA), Walsh (NY), Bartlett (MD), and Inglis (SC).
Even if your lawmaker is not represented above, please make a point to call, write or e-mail your elected officials today! Every member of Congress will be voting on this measure and right now, it's too close to call.
Log on to Audubon's special "Protect the Arctic" website - accessed via www.audubon.org, or contact Desiree Groves in Audubon's public policy office in Washington, DC at 202-861-2242, x. 3038 () to find out more about how you can help!
Public Policy & Advocacy
Barred Owl Vs Spotted Owl
Audubon--including state offices in Oregon, Washington, and California--has decided not to sign onto a resolution being circulated that proposes to kill about 20 Barred Owls in order to assess that species impact on Spotted Owl populations. Among Audubon's concerns with the resolution in its current form: it goes too far in singling out the Barred Owl as the cause for the decline of the Spotted Owl, while neglecting the real cause of Spotted Owl declines--habitat loss.
Audubon Magazine Needs Your Help
Creative Mulching and Deer Issues
New York, NY, Summer, 2005 - Historic Ivory-billed Woodpecker habitat in Louisiana and Florida is being logged for - of all things - cypress mulch. Fortunately, there are better mulch alternatives for gardeners looking to cut their water use, control weeds, and insulate against temperature extremes. Leaves, pine straw, compost, even cocoa hulls make perfectly good mulch, and they're also environment friendly. If you use mulch that's both creative and easy on the environment, Audubon magazine would like to hear from you. Please send an e-mail titled "mulch" to .
Audubon is also looking for homeowners with deer problems. Have deer left you with nothing but nubs for shrubs? Do you hold the secret to keeping those leggy visitors from nibbling in the garden? Send us your story, titled deer, at .
Field Trip Follow Ups
Butte Valley Swainson's Hawks On June 5, 2005
by Charlotte Ann Kisling
Ten Klamath Basin Audubon members and guests joined leader Charlotte Ann Kisling and traveled Butte Valley in search of Swainson's Hawks and other raptors. Just south of Dorris, the group saw a small group of Bald Eagles and was able to identify every age plumage except one which was seen later in the trip. An obliging Golden Eagle landed nearby to give us a chance to compare those two species. A little down the road from that, a pair of Swainson's Hawks gave us our first look at that species. After viewing another pair of Swainson's with young in the nest, we had the opportunity to view nesting Golden Eagles. One of a nesting pair of dark morph Red-tailed Hawks gave us a memorable look at that species in a beautiful plumage. After lunch, and what a spread the Rouge Valley folks had!, we went through Meiss Lake where we saw several duck and wader species. The Cinnamon Teal gave us great looks. There was a possible Blue-winged teal, but somehow that was missed by several of the group. On the way to our last stop, a Horned Lark parked itself in the middle of a dirt road so we all saw that one well. The last location was only visited after everyone took an oath never to come any closer to a special nest than we were. We were a half mile or more from a Ferruginous Hawk nest that had three young. Both adults could be seen as well. One did come close enough to give us the once over and we repaid the favor by giving it a good look in return. This is only the second Ferruginous Hawk nest ever known in California, so it was a very special occasion.
Bonanza Pinion Jays On Sunday, May 15by Jean Van Hulzen
Only two adventurous folks braved the pouring rain on Sunday, May 15, to drive out to Bonanza to check out the birds in our backyard-especially the Pinyon Jays. The Pinyon Jays didn't dissappoint, drifting in and out all morning, plus we had numerous Evening Grosbeaks, 5 Blackheaded Grosbeaks, Cassin's Finches and other of the regulars. The star attraction, however, was the gorgeous male Costa's Hummingbird who showed up here Saturday evening. This little beauty put on quite a show, at times sopping wet, while we watched and photographed from the comfort of our chairs by the window.
After two hours we drove to Gerber Reservoir where the most notable birds found were 3 Bald Eagles, (none at a suspected nest), an excellent close-up of a Willet, Black Terns, Wilson's Phalarope, assorted swallows and grebes, Spotted Sandpiper and several stunning Mountain Bluebirds.
We returned home to Bonanza to check out the pair of Barn Owls nesting in our hay barn. As we turned into our drive, the resident pair of Swainsons Hawks also put on quite a show, swooping down after some small prey, and flew up into a nearby tree for a prey exchange. A nest is suspected, but has not yet been located.
Be a Birdingpal
By Charlotte Ann Kisling
Recently, I discovered a great birding web-site. It is birdingpal.org. This site links birders from all around the world. It lists the names of those who are willing to provide information about their local birding areas. If you are traveling to a new location, you can get up-to-date information on that area from someone who lives and birds there. You can likewise provide visitors with the same service in our area. I have already used it to help plan a trip for next spring. Take a look at the site and become a birdingpal.
Audubon Society Of Lincoln City
For the first time in 22 years, there is a new chapter in Oregon: AS of Lincoln city (formerly referred to here as "Central Oregon Coast AS"). Approved for "provisional" chapter status, they next have to sign up 35 national members, develop Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and the like.
They give special thanks to AS of Corvalis and Salem AS for their willingness to have some of the zip codes currently assigned to their respective Chapters be re-assigned to AS of Lincoln City. As a result, the new Chapter will have an assigned territory that includes coastal Tillamook and Lincoln counties, roughly from Yachats north to Tillamook.
Trivia Question: Prior to AS of Lincoln City, which Oregon Chapter was the last to be established?
Answer: The last Oregon Chapter to be established (prior to AS of Lincoln City) was Siskiyou AS in 1983. The Cape Aragoand Klamath Basin Chapters were founded in 1982.
