[obol] Sandhill Cranes in Oregon

Tue Feb 12 17:36:28 PST 2008

  OBOL,
   So Sorry for my semi-post.
   Yesterday's  scouting was on Sauvie Island.
   Rentennaur(sp) Rd   directions are as follows:
   Upon crossing over the bridge from Hwy 30 you will be traveling  
North.  Take the first major right which is Reeder Rd. Stay on Reeder  
Rd ,(Right) past Oak Island rd, (Stop and then straight) Past  
Gillihan Rd (traffic from Gillihan doesn't stop). Keep heading NOrth,  
you will pass the ODFW observation platform, a marina, the big red  
barn on the left, and about another 1/2 mile or so there is a small  
Grey building (A hunting check station) to the left. An open gate   
there is Rentennaur Rd.
   Rentennaur Rd itself is open year round but  that whole area off  
the road, (as well as Oak Island)  is closed to foot and vehicular  
traffic until the migration is over, I think April 15th.  This of  
course is to allow the birds to feed and rest in peace. I had a good  
conversation  with an Oregon State Police trooper yesterday who is  
out there checking permits and running people out of the closed  
areas.   At the end of "R" Rd, is a corral, a Porta-pot and a gate  
that you can go through and access the top of the dike which is where  
I saw the Sandhills. Just poke your head  up to see what's over the  
dike. Usually a good number of Canada types there too.  In the summer  
you can drive that  whole area and  is great for Bovine photography.
There is a parking permit requirement, not sure of the day rate, but  
it's $11.00 a year. Both stores on the island have them. (Cracker  
Barrel by the bridges and the one way out Reeder rd.)
  This is all off the top of my head, and as I just turned 50, is  
deemed to be somewhat inaccurate and may just put you into some hot  
water. (hehe)
   Best,
Vern

On Feb 12, 2008, at 10:24 AM, David Stone wrote:

> Vernon,
>
> Can you be more specific as to location?
> That is, where in Oregon are the roads you mention?
>
> Thanks
>
> David Stone
>
> Wildland Photography
>
> dns at efn.org
>
> http://www.wildlandphoto.net
>
> 541-683-6127
>
> Our mission: To explore, reveal and celebrate the natural world
>
>
> On Feb 12, 2008, at 9:08 AM, Vernon DiPietro wrote:
>
>>   I counted 214 SANDHILL CRANES at the end of Rentennaur (sp) rd  
>> yesterday.
>>  Also 1500 SNOW GEESE  just North of the Obs blind on Reeder.
>>  Vern
>> On Feb 12, 2008, at 6:30 AM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote:
>>
>>> Mary Jo,
>>>
>>> In Oregon we have breeding Greater Sandhill Cranes at Malheur NWR  
>>> south of
>>> Burns, at Ladd Marsh state wildlilfe area near LaGrande, and at  
>>> many other
>>> high meadows scattered about the state (Fox, Whitney, etc).   
>>> There is a
>>> Crane Prairie south of Bend, for example.  There is a pair in the  
>>> meadow
>>> near Little Crater Lake up near Mt. Hood. They winter in the  
>>> central valley
>>> of California and return to Oregon each spring.  There is also a  
>>> population
>>> in eastern Washington.  Othello WA holds a Sandhill Crane  
>>> Festival each
>>> spring with tours, speakers, etc.
>>> http://www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org/
>>>
>>> We also have migrant Lesser Sandhill Cranes which pass through  
>>> Oregon on
>>> their way to breeding grounds in the arctic, including Siberia.   
>>> They come
>>> north in late February (soon!) over Crater Lake, cut downslope  
>>> along the
>>> west face of the Cascades and pass over Lebanon, Silverton, and  
>>> Portland.
>>> The lucky people who live along this route get to hear them while  
>>> they go
>>> about daily life, but you have to be outside on "the day" they  
>>> pass north.
>>> I was even lucky enough to hear them over my Beaverton apartment  
>>> ONCE in 16
>>> years. They stage in large numbers at Sauvie Island and  
>>> Ridgefield NWR
>>> before continuing north.  You can see great numbers of them there  
>>> in March.
>>> They return in the fall (Oct- Dec.) to gather at Sauvie Is and  
>>> Ridgefield
>>> and feast on the waste corn, etc.  They are here for the  
>>> Christmas count.
>>> Again, you can see great numbers and enjoy their music.  They  
>>> leave when
>>> things freeze up and pass south over their traditional route.
>>>
>>> Sandhill Cranes are hard to find west of the Willamette River in  
>>> Washington,
>>> Yamhill, Polk, & Benton counties, but regular around Fern Ridge  
>>> Reservoir
>>> and at Creswell in the Eugene area.  Only a few are seen at the  
>>> coast.
>>>
>>> Good crane-watching,
>>>
>>> Paul T. Sullivan
>>> ------------------------------------------
>>> Subject: Sandhill Cranes
>>> From: Mary Jo Harper <mjoharper AT comcast.net>
>>> Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:35:32 -0800
>>>
>>> Sandhill Cranes have been mentioned a couple of times since I've  
>>> been
>>> reading on this list, and I was surprised to learn that they are  
>>> around
>>> here!  Where I was in Nebraska, we were on a major flyway.  The  
>>> big deal of
>>> the spring was the annual resting of them on the Platte River  
>>> near Gibbon,
>>> Nebraska.  There is a wonderful sanctuary built there for viewing  
>>> and
>>> learning more about these birds, the Rowe sanctuary.  A good  
>>> friend and
>>> master birder was a docent there, spending a month or more each
>>> season.  Back up where we lived, a privilege it was for me to see  
>>> these
>>> beauties high, high overhead, and to hear their calls.  Back to  
>>> us on the
>>> ground, however, there was the barest sound, only enough to know  
>>> they were
>>> up there, crane our necks and watch the flights.  I didn't know  
>>> we had them
>>> in Oregon.  Tell me more about them being here, please?
>>>
>>> Mary Jo
>>>
>>> MJ Harper
>>> mjoharper AT comcast.net
>>>
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>>>
>>
>> Vern DiPietro
>> Between Ada and Portland Oregon.
>> www.vernondipietrophotographer.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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Vern DiPietro
Between Ada and Portland Oregon.
www.vernondipietrophotographer.com

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