[obol] Scio BBS & Marion County Jackrabbit

[bob altman]

Back in the mid 90s when I was doing grassland bird surveys in the
Willamette Valley, I saw about 12-15 jackrabbitts at maybe 5-6 different
locations.  Almost all of the sightings were in/adjacent to Christmas
tree farms.  If I remember correctly a couple of those were just south
of Finley NWR, but there were others scattered throughout the valley
including a couple jackrabbits seen up in the northern valley near
Estacada.  I spent a fair amount of time in Christmas tree farms because
vesper sparrows were nesting there (and an occasional streaked horned
lark), but I would not call the jackrabbits common..in fact they are
pretty rare.
 
This is a species that there seems to be little interest in from a
conservation standpoint by all the various natural resource agencies and
organizations, despite the fact that their historic habitat in the
Willamette valley, grasslands and oak savannahs, gets a lot of attention
as do the bird, plant, and butterfly species associated with it.  And
add to that the fact that although it doesn't appear they were ever
common in the valley, they are almost extirpated from the valley now.
 
Bob Altman
American Bird Conservancy
311 NE Mistletoe
Corvallis, Oregon  97330
541 745-5339
baltman at abcbirds.org
 
-----Original Message-----
From: obol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu
[mailto:obol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu] On Behalf Of Darrel Faxon
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 8:37 PM
To: Jeff Harding; 'OBOL'
Subject: Re: [obol] Scio BBS & Marion County Jackrabbit
 
Jeff,
    It wasn't too many years ago I saw some along the road just a little
south of Marion.  I have also been told that they are actually common on
Christmas tree farms south of Corvallis, although I don't remember whom
it was tha told me, and can supply no details.
 
Darrel
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jeff <mailto:jeffharding at centurytel.net>  Harding 
To: 'OBOL' <mailto:obol at lists.orst.edu>  
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 4:31 PM
Subject: [obol] Scio BBS & Marion County Jackrabbit
 
Bill Thackaberry and I found 64 species on the Scio Breeding Bird Survey
this morning. The route runs from near Scio, Linn County, through Lyons,
into Marion County at Mehama, then taking back roads through grass
fields and Christmas trees to Union Hill, south of Silverton. Notable
species included:
 
A pair of Bald Eagles was on Thomas Creek, east of Scio, the first for
this route.
Wilson's Snipe were winnowing at the first stop, east of Scio.
An Olive-sided Flycatcher was singing in the hills south of Lyons, nice
to hear.
A Yellow-breasted Chat was singing near the end of the route, in Marion
County.
A Vesper Sparrow was singing in a Christmas tree Farm near the end, on
Triumph Road, Marion County.
 
There was a Black-tailed Jackrabbit at Union Hill, still out and about
at 9:00 AM. Three years ago we found one dead on the road on the way
home from this survey. There must be a small population of these rabbits
still hanging on in the area. Chris Maser, in Mammals of the Pacific
Northwest (1998), says they "formerly reached the vicinity of Salem",
but have mostly disappeared from the Willamette Valley.
 
Cheers,
Jeff Harding
 

  _____  

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