![\"SouthWell3CecalTar\"](\"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SouthWell3CecalTar.jpg\")
<\/a>Greater Sage Grouse Cecal Tar<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Greater Sage Grouse Clockers<\/p><\/div>\n
After I surveyed the leks that I was assigned to, I was ready for the next adventure. \u00a0This turned out to be conducting wildlife clearance for Juniper thinning. \u00a0A little bit of background here about Junipers. \u00a0Junipers have been rapidly encroaching on the western landscape from their traditional distribution. \u00a0They are cleared by ranchers and farmers because of the water that they hold, but they are also a major threat to Greater Sage Grouse (GSG). \u00a0GSG lek and live in open habitats that are optimally free from tall structures. \u00a0Raptors and Ravens perch on these structures and use them as a vantage point from which to hunt. \u00a0Depredation from raptors and ravens has a highly deleterious effect of GSG populations, so we are trying to reducing perching locations for these predators. \u00a0It turns out that Junipers are perfect structures for raptors and thus need to go. \u00a0However, due to the Migratory Bird Act of 1918 that we cannot destroy nests of birds, so that is where I come in. \u00a0I go out to the areas that are prioritized for Juniper thinning and check for nests. \u00a0If I see a nest I take a GPS point and mark it with flagging tape.<\/p>\n
Before I embarked on this new field assignment I took advantage of a three day weekend and planned a birding itinerary. \u00a0Earlham College, my alma mater, has an annual bird count and I was eager to be a part of it this year. \u00a0I left Prineville and traveled to Smith Rock and the Sisters area, where I located many species of woodpecker, the highlights being Black-backed woodpecker and the White-headed woodpecker.<\/p>\n
<\/a>White-headed Woodpecker<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Black-backed Woodpecker<\/p><\/div>\n
I then traveled to Corvallis before stopping by the coast. \u00a0I managed to find many of the shore birds thats I was searching for including the Black-bellied Plover, Western Sandpiper and Whimbrel as well as many other species including Common Murre, Black Oystercatcher, Harlequin Duck and Brown Pelicans.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Whimbrel<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Western Sandpiper and Black-bellied Plover.<\/p><\/div>\n
Then I spent the morning in William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge and saw a wide range of species from the Black-throated Grey Warbler to the Western Tanager and Black-headed Grosbeak. \u00a0Then I returned to Prineville and picked up a couple of species before heading home and calling it a weekend. \u00a0All in total I had seen 130 different species over the weekend, a fairly respectable showing.<\/p>\n
Shortly after this, I headed out into the field and started to search for nests in Juniper trees. \u00a0This consisted of a heavy dose of hiking, but through a wonderful landscape. Not only was the scenery beautiful, but is provided me another opportunity to search for birds while looking for nests. \u00a0The highlights so far have been a long-eared owl, a variety of sparrows, as well as a very photogenic Wilson’s Snipe.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Vesper Sparrow<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Gray Flycatcher<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Nest in a Juniper tree<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Wilson’s Snipe<\/p><\/div>\n
I am loving working with the BLM in Prineville and cannot wait to report on my next adventures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This last month has been chalked full of activity. \u00a0At the start of the month I participated in a week long AIM training. \u00a0AIM stands for Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring. \u00a0It is a protocol used to evaluate landscapes on their flora. … Continue reading