I left early this morning for a day in Portland.  Had lots of errands to run and met friend Bruce for lunch, some time in ProPhoto Supply and then a quick walk through at the Blue Sky Photographic Gallery  http://www.blueskygallery.org/  We also stopped at the Hartman Gallery right next door.   http://www.hartmanfineart.net/   The later has some very nice nudes and there was one in particular where the lighting was so unique as to catch our eye.   May be worth a look on-line or in person if you are in Portland although I have to say that I was not at all taken with the current show at the Blue Sky Gallery with the exception of a couple of images of Rome – they were basically street shots.

On the way up I kept looking over to the east toward the Cascade foothills as the sun made its way above the horizon and formed tracks through the clouds.  This image is another of those opportunistic shots from the edge of the freeway –  hand-held and not all that great but it was fun to take and certainly a beautiful morning.  Was scheming on the way back for locations to shoot from in the morning that were away from the traffic and perhaps closer to the hills.

Medford Christmas Bird count Area D 12-19-09 . Here’s what our team faced shortly after dawn. Daunting fog in the valley, but we had an area that included Roxy Ann and the foothills of the Cascades so we headed uphill at daybreak. This pictures was taken from about 3000 feet looking eastward over the valley that contains Agate Lake and the Cascades in the background. That perfectly conical mountain covered with snow is Mt. McLaughlan, almost 10,000 feet high. A volcano that is still active, on rare occasions. Like a typical slumbering cat. It was the fog, not the volcano, that made our team team feel Roxy “Annxious.” Our team had five more species than we had the previoys year when we faced snow and a blizzard on top of Roxy Ann. But the nasty fog lingered in the valley and crippled many other CBC teams so the Medford count was 123 for the year, four below the decades-long average. Amazingly we missed Pine Siskin which seems to be absent from the area this year. Here’s one of our two Say’s Phoebe:

SPECIES LIST: 69 Canada Goose; 2 Black Phoebe; 29 Spotted Towhee; 16 Wood Duck; 2 Say’s Phoebe; 2 California Towhee; 14 American Wigeon; 6 Song Sparrow; 234 Mallard; 5 White-crowned Sparrow; 1 Northern Shoveler; 1 Northern Shrike; 165 Golden-crowned Sparrow; 11 Green-winged Teal; 86 Dark-eyed Junco ;3 Hooded Merganser; 50 Savannah Sparrow; 3 Common Merganser; 8 Steller’s Jay; 1 Fox Sparrow; 3 Bufflehead; 45 Western Scrub Jay; 7 American Crow; 11 Common Raven; 83 Red-winged Blackbird; 1 Merlin; 8 Western Meadowlark; 2 White-tailed Kite ; 240 Brewer’s Blackbird; 5 Northern Harrier; 7 Black-capped Chickadee; 5 Brown-headed Cowbird; 5 Cooper’s Hawk; 21 Oak Titmouse; 1 Red-shouldered Hawk; 17 American Kestrel; 73 House Finch; 29 Red-tailed Hawk ;1 Red-breasted Nuthatch; 113 Lesser Goldfinch; 1 Golden Eagle; 10 White-breasted Nuthatch; 6 American ; 3 Purple Finch; 1 California Quail; 2 Bewick’s Wren; 1 Mountain Quail; 1 Winter Wren; 12 House Sparrow; 6 Great Blue Heron; 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet ;2 Great Egret;  297 Western Bluebird 18 American Coot; 449 American Robin; 1 Townsend’s Solitaire; 26 Killdeer; 5 Wilson’s Snipe; 4 Anna’s Hummingbird; 99 Mourning Dove; 6 Cedar Waxwing; 71 Rock Pigeon; 935 European Starling ; 51 Acorn Woodpecker; 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker; 3 Downey Woodpecker; 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler; 22 Northern Flicker.

Total Species 68                                             Total Individuals 3560

Team members: Edith Lindner, Keiko Thurston, Jim Hostick, Steve Runnels, Lynn Kellogg, John and Stephanie Bullock, Harry Fuller. The count was sponsored by Rogue Valley Audubon Society.

MY thanks to regular blog reader Rob Wright who emailed these pictures of homes in Hurlston Avenue, Cascades, in the Tawd Bridge area.

Rob and his neighbours have certainly got into the festive spirits by adorning their homes with a dazzling array of Christmas lights. And they’ve gone one step further by ‘renaming’ it Christmas Close!

My thanks to Rob for sending in these pics. If you have any similarly festive snaps, please do email them to me (contact details on the ‘About David’ page)

I sometimes wonder if God does not look down from heaven completely befuddled by our misunderstanding of him and what he wants from us.  After all, he has attempted to communicate to us in our own language(s).  He has given us a real-life example through his own son, Jesus.  And we still, somehow, seem to get it all mixed up and wrong.

It is kind of like the pilot who asked a passenger boarding a plane, “Have you ever flown in a small plane before?”  The passenger answered, “No, I have not.”  Wanting to be helpful, the pilot offered, “Well, here is some chewing gum.  It will help to keep your ears from popping.”

After the plane landed, the pilot checked on the passenger, “Did the gum help?”  The passenger said, “Yep, it worked fine.  The only trouble is, I can’t get the gum out of my ears!”

Was the problem lack of communication, the need for more information, or simple misunderstanding? Sometimes, it is “All the Above” when it comes to me and the Lord.  I am often left looking to heaven, shrugging my shoulders, and saying, “I don’t get it.”  Then I have to remember than I am the finite one with the small brain and he is the infinite one with the omniscience.  That is when I act as Job did:  I put my hand over my mouth and shut up.

The two things we learn about the nature of God right from the beginning in Genesis – the book of beginnings – are that God is creative and communicative.  The first words are, “In the beginning God created…”  The next words about God are, “And God spoke…”  This should tell us something about the Lord God.  First, he likes to interact with his creation.  Second, he likes to do it in a myriad of creative ways.

These truths about the nature and character of God are born out as we continue through the Scriptures and discover all the people he communicates to and all the different ways in which he does so.  God was always speaking and revealing, whether by audible voice, in quietness, or in dreams.  He used angels, men and women, nature, prophets, priests, and kings.  Once, He even used a jackass to get a wayward prophet’s attention.  Another time, the “writing on the wall” delivered an ominous message to a wicked king.  (I, for one, do not ever ask God for “writing on the wall” because of that example.)

If God is so willing and able to communicate with His children, then we must conclude that the line is broken on our end.  We have the problem and not him.  Could it be that we are just like the people that the Lord sent Isaiah to?  We have “eyes but do not see and ears but do not hear and no understanding.”  Are we deaf and dumb to what God is revealing today?  I often wonder if God is not on the other end of the line saying, “Can you hear me now?  How about now?”  He is always trying to get our attention.

Mount Rainier ©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

One of the things I have discovered in studying the Scriptures is that communicating with the Lord God was always his idea.  He initiated the conversation.  He made the invitation.  He stretched out His hand in friendship to us first and not the other way around.  The living God invites us to get to know his ways so that we may find favor with him and be called his friend.  After all, you cannot really call someone a friend that you do not actually spend some time with on a regular basis.

Before he left his disciples, Jesus told them, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).  A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you anyway.  A friend knows your likes and dislikes, your desires, your faults, your weaknesses and your deepest fears.  A friend in a constant – through “thick and thin”.  Our heavenly Father calls us into this kind of relationship.  You can discover and know the heart of God.  You can be his friend!

This can only happen as we take time to become his friend and learn his ways.  For his part, there is always an open invitation for you to become his friend.  One of his repeated promises in the Bible is that as we draw near to him he will draw near to us.  It may be time to take him up on that promise.  He is looking for some good friends.

©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

Male Harlequin.

He looks at me lookin’ at him.  Except his eyes are inthe the side of his head so he’s NOT really looking at me.

Taken in terrible glare from only twenty yards distance.

Glaucous-winged Gull on Whidbey Island.    And below a Yellowlegs on Penn’s Cove.

Two Common Mergansers on Hood Canal.  They gave me a merganser trifecta for the day.

An even greater showing of Yellowlegs.

Two Bald Eagles on old dock at Keystone, south end of Whidbey Island.  Gulls objected to their presence.

Eagle, with gull in pursuit.

Exit, persued by gull.  What a showing by our national bird!

Anyway, there were plenty of eagle shots around today. You get the picture even if I didn’t always get it.

Two female Hooded Mergansers above, one below.

Did I mention I saw a few eagles today?

Pelagic Cormorant in the water at Port Townsend ferryboat dock.

And then a Pelagic, on the left, sharing some pilings at Port Townsend with a Double-crested.

Not just birds on Whidbey Island:

And harbor seals were everywhere wer was to be found.

Northwestern Crow, take my word for it.

How cold was it?  Here are some erstwhile hillside springs:

Just another Puget Sound classic.    Workaday ferryboat on blue water.  Beyond the evergreen trees on an island above the everblue water.  Backdrop: the snowy peaks of the deadly, volcanic Cascades.

Yes, here are three Red-breasted Mergansers in the harbor at Keystone where the ferryboat lands on Whidbey Island, Washington State.  Nice ocean-going birds here in the winter.  Oh, that little guy with all the splotches on his face, that’s merely a male Harlequin Duck.  Only the second male I’ve ever seen in the wild.  He gives me one hit.

Yes, that is four Oldsq…Long-tailed Ducks in the middle of the channel between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island.  The ferryboat captain refused to turn around and let me get another, closer shot of them.  That’s two.  And as we pulled near to Whidbey Island at least two male White-winged Scoters scooted across the water.  That’s three.  I missed Black Scoter, giving me 3 for 4 on the day’s difficult sea ducks.  Too far south to expect eider.

Despite driving over 300 miles today, I got in some fierce birding.  Fiercely cold.  The car said it was 8 degrees ouside at one point.  When I got out at Nisqually Wildlife Preserve it was still below 20, though it felt much like 2o below. Most of the ground and still water was covered with ice.  Northern Shrike, Common Goldeneye, Kestrel, Bald Eagle, Green-winged Teal, Pintail and more.   Another Pileated for the trip.  He was also calling loudly, near the Nisqually Visitors Center.

Also at Nisqually:

He was not puffed up with ego, just the cold.

That tiny creature is the Creeper next to the “x.”

On hot days it’s good to have a hot meal.  Today I saw Bewick’s Wren and Song Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets picking food particles off the ice covering the frozen sloughs at Nisqually.

In two and one-half days of birding and eight hundred miles of driving, I have over 90 species from Portland to Whidbey Island.  One of them: Red-necked Grebe off Port Townsend.  Today’s checklists below, more pictures to come.

Location:     Nisqually NWR
Observation date:     12/9/09
Number of species:     20

Canada Goose     120
Mallard     2
Green-winged Teal (American)     1
Common Goldeneye     2
Great Blue Heron     1
Bald Eagle     1
Northern Harrier     1
Red-tailed Hawk     2
American Kestrel     1
Killdeer     1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     1
Pileated Woodpecker     1
American/Northwestern Crow     20
Black-capped Chickadee     3
Brown Creeper     1
Bewick’s Wren     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     2
European Starling     50
Spotted Towhee     2
Song Sparrow     6
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     12

Location:     Potlatch State Park
Observation date:     12/9/09
Number of species:     9

American Wigeon     50
Mallard     10
Northern Pintail     6
Bufflehead     12
Common Goldeneye     4
Red-breasted Merganser     3
Double-crested Cormorant     6
Killdeer     10
American/Northwestern Crow     4
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     25

Location:     Dosewallips State Park
Observation date:     12/9/09
Number of species:     12

American Wigeon     60
Mallard     15
Northern Pintail     40
Bald Eagle     1
Killdeer     2
Western Gull     5
Glaucous-winged Gull     10
Northwestern Crow     10
American Robin     1
Spotted Towhee (Pacific)     2
Song Sparrow     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     20

Location:     Port Townsend
Observation date:     12/9/09
Number of species:     17

Surf Scoter     4
Long-tailed Duck     8
Common Goldeneye     40
Common Loon     1
Horned Grebe     3
Western Grebe     1
Double-crested Cormorant     3
Pelagic Cormorant     15
Great Blue Heron     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
Mew Gull     1
Western Gull     2
Herring Gull     1
Glaucous-winged Gull     6
Common Murre     4
Pigeon Guillemot     40
Northwestern Crow     16

Location:     Whidbey Island
Observation date:     12/9/09
Number of species:     31

Tundra Swan     6
American Wigeon     75
Mallard     2000*
Northern Pintail     50
Green-winged Teal     25
Harlequin Duck     1
Surf Scoter     8
White-winged Scoter     2
Common Goldeneye     120
Hooded Merganser     3
Common Merganser     12
Red-breasted Merganser     6
Horned Grebe     2
Red-necked Grebe     1
Western Grebe     15
Double-crested Cormorant     4
Pelagic Cormorant     16
Great Blue Heron     2
Red-tailed Hawk     2
Killdeer     4
Greater Yellowlegs     8
Dunlin (Pacific)     120
Western Gull     4
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)     2
California Gull     12
Herring Gull     2
Glaucous-winged Gull     20
Common Murre     2,  Pigeon Guillemot     6
Rock Pigeon     30
Belted Kingfisher     1
American/Northwestern Crow     30
Song Sparrow     4                                                                                                                                        *most of the Mallards were settling into a field at dusk, dropping out of the sky like falling leaves, surrounding the six Tundra Swans already settled into the pasture.  How did the Mallards find this place?  Do they fly around at night looking for a safe overnight roosting spot?

Once again, this is something that did not originate with me.  I think it’s hilarious.  Someone passed this along to me in 2005.  I enjoy rereading it and sharing it every year with my friends.  It brings out the holiday spirit in me…

DATE: December 1st
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

I’m happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd at Luigi’s Open Pit barbecue. There will be lots of spiked eggnog and a small band playing traditional carols ..feel free to sing along.  And don’t be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus to light the Christmas tree!

Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
———————————————————————-
DATE: December 2nd
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

In no way was yesterday’s memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday that often coincides with Christmas. From now on we’re calling it our “Holiday Party.” The same policy applies to employees who are celebrating Kwanza at this time. There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols sung.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
———————————————————————-
DATE: December 3rd
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

Regarding the anonymous note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, I’m happy to accommodate this request, but, don’t forget, if I put a sign on the table that reads, “AA Only,” you won’t be anonymous anymore.

In addition, forget about the gifts exchange — no gifts will be allowed since the union members feel that $10 is too much money.

Pat Lewis, Human Researchers Director
———————————————————————-
DATE: December 7th
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

I’ve arranged for members of Overeaters Anonymous to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women closest to the restrooms.

Happy now?

Pat Lewis, Human Racehorses Director
———————————————————————-
DATE: December 9th
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

People, people — nothing sinister was intended by wanting our CEO to play Santa Claus! Even if an anagram of “Santa” does happen to be “Satan,” there is no evil connotation to our own “little man in a red suit.”

Patricia Lewis, Human Rat Races
———————————————————————-
DATE: December 10th
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

Vegetarians — I’ve had it with you people!! We’re going to hold this party at Luigi’s Open Pit whether you like it or not, you can just sit at the table farthest from the “grill of death,” as you put it, and you’ll get salad bar only, including hydroponic tomatoes. But, you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I’ve heard them scream.

I’m hearing them right now…..

Ha! I hope you all have a rotten holiday!

The Witch
———————————————————————-
DATE: December 14th
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

I’m sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery from her stress-related illness.

I’ll continue to forward your cards to her at the sanitarium. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

We hope that this change does not offend anyone.

Terri Bishop
Acting Human Resources Director

Mountain Flowers 4 on Mountain Hike BW, July 2003 ©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

While driving in Pennsylvania in their gas-guzzling SUV, a family caught up to an Amish carriage.  The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign:  “Energy Efficient Vehicle: Runs on oats and grass.  Caution: Do not step in exhaust.”

That is a very funny look at a clash of cultures.  Something akin to this happens every day, though it might not be as humorous.  Our world is quickly changing.  So much so that the difference between generations is like the difference between cultures.  One generation cannot relate to, let alone speak the language of, the next generation.  Not only that, but within the emerging generations there is a ‘tribalism’ taking place that fragments them into multiple ‘mini-cultures.’

Kids from the same city today could be broken up into a ‘multi-cultural’ mix of dress, language, and behaviors, each distinct from one another: “Preppies,” “Metalheads,” “Goths,” “Geeks,” “Rappers,” “Cowboys,” “Rockers,” “Punk Rockers,” and “Jocks,” among other group names.  Notice these do not revolve around ethnic identities.  This is because these groups transcend ethnicity.

The overarching question for the church is this: How do we influence this generation?  Many within the church would like to ‘bury their heads in the sand’ and just wait until Jesus’ return.  Is that the way?  Others throw up their hands in frustration and hopelessness and pronounce our world as beyond redemption.  Is that true?  What do you think?  Do you think the Great Commission is irrelevant for today’s world?  Do you believe that the Gospel message is impotent to affect today’s generation?  Do you think that the promised power of the Holy Spirit is insufficient to confirm the Gospel’s message to today’s world?  (Now, before you answer too quickly with words, what do your actions say?)

The danger in the Church among God’s people is to always see the generation following as beyond help, to persecute the next generation for its perceived moral decline and to scofflaw the attempts of the next generation’s leaders.  History seems to indicate this pattern.  Unfortunately, a generation that has nothing to offer to the future generation often grows nostalgic.  For every generation, polished memories of the past become more important than hopeful faith for the future.

Some would like to encapsulate the Church and Christian faith within a particular time period and tell us that unless you practice your faith like a 19^th century Anabaptist, or a 4^th century orthodox, or a 1960’s or 70’s Pentecostal or Charismatic, then you’re not “genuine.”  Others want to encrust the faith within a certain church fashion or practice so that unless your church service sounds or looks liturgical, Jewish, orthodox, Southern gospel, or “Pentecostal/Charismatic” then as such your are not “genuine.”  For 2000 years, every “innovation” brought about through renewal and revival in the church has ended up becoming an untouchable “sacred cow.’

I believe none of these hold the complete solution for our future.  They may help us discover part of the answer, but they will not bring us to a conclusive solution.  Knowing our history is important to our identity and sense of historical theology.  However, neither should it prevent us from presenting the Kingdom of God and the Gospel in a relevant and effective manner.  Too often we have confused method with message.

Someone once said, “You can’t answer tomorrow’s questions with yesterday’s answers.” How true.  Nevertheless, I believe the gospel message can transcend every language barrier, every cultural and ethnic wall, every era and generation and every human question.  Truly, the Word of God is a “mighty two-edged sword.”  The important thing is to keep the answer we present the same.  The challenge is presenting it in a way that our generation and the one behind us can receive and apply to their lives.

Ice Covered Evergreen on Mountain Hike, July 2003 ©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

The question put before us is whether we still believe the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is here today to enable us to be witnesses of Christ to this generation and so fulfill his Great Commission.  I believe that one of the toughest challenges to this generation of believers is regaining the “missionary mindset” that attempts to translate the gospel message into the culture and language of the generation following us.  Will we attempt to encrust the gospel in a time and generational code that dies with us?  Or, will we attempt to loose the power of the timeless gospel message into the new ‘cultures’ being formed around us in the next generation?

What will a 21^st century Christian look like? What does a genuine follower of Christ look like in their daily lifestyle?  What are his or her spiritual practices on a daily and weekly basis?  How do we identify whether someone is really “growing in the Lord”?  What journey or steps should people take toward spiritual maturity?  Does the Church remain relevant with its timeless message?

One author claims the Church is in danger of becoming, “Islands of irrelevance in a sea of despair”.  Is it too late?  Are we so far gone into a post-Christian age as some claim that our generation is deaf to the Gospel and spiritually lost? I don’t think so.  When the Apostle Paul was preaching the Kingdom of God in Christ in the first century, the odds looked grim.  There have been spiritually bleak times since then in every generation and culture since.  Yet, God continues to work and call people into his family.  We are told in the Book of Revelation that at the of the end ages, all the kingdoms and cultures of this world will be the Lord’s and he will reign over them forever and ever.  So, when cultures clash, Jesus’ Kingdom culture wins!

Our job is to effectively present that Kingdom culture to the generational cultures nearest us.  We will only be able to successfully do this by:

1) Remaining positive in our actions and outlook concerning the next generation.  Or, at least act like we are on the winning side!

2)  Remaining grounded in the Gospel’s message and claims.  Our message must never change.  This also requires a vigilance about how our methods shape our message.

3) Remaining relevant to the needs and challenges of the next generation.  This means meeting real needs and not the sentimental needs we have grown comfortable in meeting but that are not relevant anymore to the actual needs and challenges around us.

In these ways, we need no look behind us with worry but look forward with hope to the coming of Christ and his Kingdom to every culture and every generation.

©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

Check this out.  “The Passing of the Marshlands.”   Provided by: OSU Archives

 By William L. Finley and Arthur N. Pack of the American Nature Association. Includes title panels: The Reclamation Service turns Lower Klamath over to land promoters; Clear Lake Reservation in 1912; A waterfowl refuge partly drained and leased to stockmen; Malheur Lake Reservation in 1915; and A dry lake, no birds and a world of dust.

There’s also a link to a photo collecton provided by: US Fish & Wildlife Service Image Library

William L. Finley was an important early conservationist of wetlands in Oregon.  Finley was instrumental in convincing President Theodore Roosevelt to create the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in 1908.   He worked tirelessly to educate Oregonians about the value of wetlands for birds and other wildlife.  This is a collection of over 200 of his photographs, most of them hand colored in the days before color photography.

October 10th approximately 8pm, I was leaving the woods after an unsuccessful night of hunting in Hood County. I had to make a decision; spend another night at camp or pack-up and drive home to make sure I made my soccer game on Sunday (we lost). I decided to pack up and go surprise the girlfriend back home, and allow myself some more sleep in the morning, but don’t let her know!

I arrived home around 1am after a long drive, which I always enjoy.

Getting side tracked, I must say I am a big fan of the Columbia River Gorge & Hood River County commissioners for there efforts and protections to keep both the Gorge & Hood River County such a beautiful and recreation filled place. Oregon & the rest of our country could take a page from there book on Urban Growth Boundaries.

Ok, sorry, getting back to the story!

I’m not one bit tired and lucky for me she wakes up the same. So I hopped into bed and grabbed Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Project Wilderness had already began plans to submit habitat restoration/biodiversity improvement in Hood River County, so I figured it would be a good chance to review the guide and see what animal and plant species we could assist with the project. The first page of the species table the fisher catches my eye. At that point I held no knowledge of the animal (oh how that has changed), but something about it stuck with me. I made notation to do further research at another time, it’s listed outside the area we’re working. As I turn the page, there is a short description and history of the fisher in Oregon. This only further intrigues me.

Image courtesy of extirpated.org

Historically the fisher inhabited from British Columbia to California. Preferred resting and den areas generally coincide with late-successional coniferous and mixed coniferous-deciduous forest. High forest canopy closure or multiple canopies and shrubs. Areas supporting diverse prey base are most used. Dens & rest sites are generally used in large diameter trees, large snags, tree cavities, and logs. To sum it up, they prefer forest which have the characteristics similar to old growth forest.

Terry Farrell, Oregon Fish & Wildlife assistant wildlife biologist in Roseburg is quoted stating he estimates there are less than 100 fishers total in Oregon. Those are in thanks to reintroductions in 1961, 1977 and 1981, when fishers were taken from British Columbia and Minnesota and released in Oregon forests to help control porcupine damage to timber. However very little to no tracking was done to track population growth or success of reintroduction.

In 2003 Keith Aubrey & Jeffery Lewis wrote an article; “Extirpation and reintroduction of fishers in Oregon”. In this article they researched sightings of fishers throughout Oregon. Categorizing the reliability of sightings with a number value of 1 to 6, one being the highest reliability (photographic data or trapped fisher) and 6 being the lowest (visual sighting only, no tangible evidence). Rankings 1 through 4 are then mapped. The highest volume of reliable reports came from the two populations in Southern Oregon. However reliable sightings are also mapped in or around Joseph, Tillamook and Mount Hood. Then research was done on any previous surveys, which, is greatly limited. The largest areas in Oregon surveyed included those where the 2 known populations call home. Which of course received positive identification of fishers habiting the area. No real data has ever been taken from other parts of the state. Leaving these couple questions open;

Are the populations in Southern Oregon growing, declining or stagnant?

Have fishers from Southern Oregon expanded to new areas?

Are their unknown populations of fishers in other parts of the state?

These and many other questions Project Wilderness would like to answer. We have submitted our initial proposal to receive authorization to formally assess the status of the fisher within Oregon.

Dominic Aiello

Founder & President

www.projectwilderness.org

www.facebook.com/projectwilderness

www.twitter.com/prowilderness

]]> http://ericephoto.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/mt-bakerartist-point-full-moon-camping/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:49:38 +0000 ericephoto http://ericephoto.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/mt-bakerartist-point-full-moon-camping/ http://ericephoto.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/montana-thanksgiving-road-trip/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:24:39 +0000 ericephoto http://ericephoto.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/montana-thanksgiving-road-trip/ http://atowhee.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/tom-duane-does-emigrant-lake/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:51:26 +0000 atowhee http://atowhee.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/tom-duane-does-emigrant-lake/

Golden Eagle in flight.   You can see the line between dark and light feathers on the underwing of what appeared to be an adult bird.  No clear white on this underwing.

Tom used a very long lens to get this portrait of an Acorn Woodpecker, resting between sessions of hammering on an oak.  Extra padding in the cranium prevents woodpeckerly headaches, they say.

Tom did catch up with this upside-down (as usual) White-breasted Nuthatch.

Below: Tom’s favorite male Bluebird.

This handsome buck was in the shadows of Lithia Park.  So, too, this Wood Duck:

When he’s not chasing kignlets around tree limbs, Tom makes some pretty fine cartographic art, which you can enjoy on his website.  Good place for Christmas shopping.

They were flashing some bright colors around Emigrant Lake the day after Thanksgiving.  I was there with my friend, Tom Duane, who’s visiting with his camera from San Francisco.  And he wanted photos.  The Bluebirds were in the mistletoe as expected.  But one of the first birds we saw was this one:

Great Egret in a treetop.  They are regular in fall and winter at Agate Lake but I rarely see one at Emigrant Lake. I have four previous sightings there in over two years, mostly in late summer.

American Robin enjoying the winter afternoon solar heating.

Bluebirds, bluebirds, bluebirds.  Giving their excited tweets as they moved from one large mistletoe cluster to the next.

We spotted a lone Lewis’s Woodpecker among his numerous Acorn cousins.

And then we chased little birds through the oaks, happy to be shooting digital images not costly film, mostly we got pics of limbs and leaves just after the bird had flown or hopped away.

My not very good but still best image of one of the Golden-crowned Kinglets busily gleaning limbs and the few leaves still hanging about.  You can see the face stripes.

Looking over the shoulder of an Oak Titmouse.

Titmouse working on an oak bud. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet and White-breasted Nuthatch both eluded me this time.

We’d seen two Golden Eagles far up on the slopes of thre cacades when we went to the cul de sac on Corp Ranch Road.  Then while we were shooting pics of the little birds in the Emigrant Lake Recreation Area, one soared overhead.  Tom got pics of him.  See next blog.

We saw a total of one duck on the greatly shrunken surface of the reservoir.

Location:     Emigrant Lake
Observation date:     11/29/09
Number of species:     24

Canada Goose     15
Bufflehead     1
Western Grebe     1
Great Blue Heron     1
Great Egret     1
Golden Eagle     3
American Coot     6
Ring-billed Gull     1
Belted Kingfisher     1
Lewis’s Woodpecker     1
Acorn Woodpecker     25
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     3
Western Scrub-Jay     10
Black-capped Chickadee     2
Oak Titmouse     6
White-breasted Nuthatch     2
Golden-crowned Kinglet     8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     2
Western Bluebird     30
American Robin     10
Spotted Towhee     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     16
Red-winged Blackbird     12
Lesser Goldfinch     6

It was such a nice morning here – and an even better afternoon – that I just could not stay in town – the mountains were calling.  I would normally have headed up the McKenzie River drainage to some familiar spots that I have shot many times but this morning – for some reason – I went up the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette drainage.  It has been a while since I was there so in some regards this was a bit of a scouting trip for future shoots.  The river sits in a pretty deep canyon and with the sun tracing a rather low arch across the sky I did not need to be there at the crack of dawn to experience the light coming on to the water.   Actually made it to my morning spin class.    About 5 miles upriver from Westfir I came across a delightful little waterfall/riffle and spent the first bit of my time watching the sunlight play on the smooth water above the turbulence.

This was one of those times when you get reminded by the spirits to take a look behind you and in doing so I was treated to the sun brightening a small side channel of the river.  The colors were amazingly rich – almost surreal.

I drove upriver for another few miles to the Canyon Stretch.  A cliff on one side of the river and the road on the other.  The channel is very constricted through this area and it makes for some dramatic shots but also some dramatic access.  I have to admit to having to capitalize on my assets to get down to the river.  There are so many shots to take and I did a lot of shooting but will just leave you with this rather close up one.

Friends told me earlier this autumn that the Middle Fork was ablaze in color and that I should go up there – should have listened to you David.  Instead I opted for the McKenzie which was also nice.  However, I could tell just from looking around at all the bare hardwood trees along the river that it must have been spectacular at its height and it will certainly go on the list of places to shoot next autumn.

I just wanted also to take a line to give Thanks to all of you for visiting, reading and commenting on my blog.  It is a gift that I am very grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Steve Runnels is hosting a birder visiting from the far north.  Well, not too far, but Portland is about 3o0 miles away.  The birder was hoping to see some of the species that are found here in southwestern Oregon but not much further north.  And we dd pretty well with the list.

California Towhee at North Mountain Park.  Oak Titmouse in the oaks at Emigrant Lake.  Wrentit was coaxed out of the berry brambles along the Greenway near the Sue Snmith Bridge over Bear Creek.  We also got a good look at two soaring Golden Eagles near Emigrant Lake.  Three Hooded Mergansers on the lake itself.  And a White-tailed Kite hunting at the south end.

We were zero for three on attempts at finding a Screech-Owl.  Missed the Dipper, though I later encountered one along Ahsland Creek in ithia Park.

Here’s the Dipper launching itself from a rock.

And here’s that same Dipper dipping his head underwater to look for food. 

There was a covey of California Quail near the bird feeders at North Mountain Park.

American Goldfinch, North Mtn. Park.

Two Western Bluebirds in oaks overlooking Emigrant Lake.

One of two male Wood Ducks we saw in Ashland Creek near the bandstand.

Emigrant Lake showing the snow level in Cascades down below 4000′ after overnight storm.                                                                                                                     Location:     North Mountain Park
Observation date:     11/21/09
Number of species:     14

Canada Goose     40
Mallard     8
California Quail     6
Acorn Woodpecker     4
Western Scrub-Jay     6
Spotted Towhee     1
California Towhee     1
Fox Sparrow     1
White-crowned Sparrow     6
Golden-crowned Sparrow     18
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     10
House Finch     2
Lesser Goldfinch     6
American Goldfinch     2

Location:     Emigrant Lake
Observation date:     11/21/09
Number of species:     18

Canada Goose     70
Bufflehead     2
Hooded Merganser     3
Western Grebe     4
Great Blue Heron     3
White-tailed Kite     1
Golden Eagle     2
American Coot     4
Rock Pigeon     10
Acorn Woodpecker     16
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     1
Western Scrub-Jay     10
Oak Titmouse     1
Western Bluebird     25
American Robin     4
Golden-crowned Sparrow     4
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     6
Lesser Goldfinch     4

We didn’t find a great variety of birds in the weed-choked field next to the northeast cornerof Medford Airport.  But it was great birding.  Even the notorious sticky mud was less pernicious than it can be.

My best shot of one of the Short-eared Owls aloft.

This small picture gives you the ratio of wing to body length.  Wings: >3′    Body: 15″

White-tailed Kite kiting.

And then in his very sleek profile speeding past.

The field was alive with Savannah Sparrows, Mourning Doves in pear trees (no partridges), Meadowlarks serenading the unseasonable mild afternoon (near 50 degrees).  And on the gravel pile in the middle of the field: one American Pipit and one Say’s Phoebe.  And more Savannah Sparrows.  Here’s one in a pear tree:

And then below one in profile.

Western Meadowlark, also in a pear tree.

MODOs in a pear tree.  Actually a pair in the pear.

Western Bluebird against the blue yonder.

Kestrel, not in a pear tree.

Location:     Medford Airport
Observation date:     11/19/09
Number of species:     14

White-tailed Kite     2
Northern Harrier     2
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Kestrel     1
Short-eared Owl     2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     2
Say’s Phoebe     1
Western Bluebird     6
American Robin     2
American Pipit     1
Savannah Sparrow     75
White-crowned Sparrow     15
Western Meadowlark     80
Lesser Goldfinch     2

Golden-crowned Kinglets working a Ponderosa.  A Golden Eagle gliding across the Ashland Creek Canyon.  And a little weak golden sunshine on a cold morning.

Here you can clearly see a Golden-crowned Kinglet.  Well, you can clearly see his chest.  That clearly marked head is tucked behind the limb, of course.  The GCKIs were too fast for both me and the digital camera.  When the tiny bird was in frame, the camera was too slow to focus or zoom.  When they were moving, I was too slow to keep up with their jumps, flutters, parachute drops to a lower perch.

They’re  gregarious birds, unlike their cousin, the Ruby-crowned who is often quarrelsome, querulous and quirky. The Ruby-crowned will flock with other species, like chickadees or Bushtits, but eschews his fellows except on migration.  The Golden-crowns breed in our local high elevation forests.  The Ruby-crowns are only here in Ashland in the off-season, breeding further north and east of the Cascades crest.

Location:     Glenview Dr.
Observation date:     11/19/09
Number of species:     5

Golden Eagle     1
Steller’s Jay     16
Western Scrub-Jay     4
Golden-crowned Kinglet     10
American Robin     4

The mighty Cascade Range of Washington State offers, I dare say, the best combination of alpine, rock, and glacier climbing in the Lower 48.  From the steep splitter cracks of Index to the amazing glaciers of the North Cascades, there are lifetimes of excellent climbs that await you.

Here is a short list of classic ascents that I offer in the Cascades.

• Mount Baker – Easton Glacier, Coleman-Deming Glacier, North Ridge
• Mount Shuksan – Fisher Chimneys, North Face, Hanging Glacier, Sulphide Glacier
• Mount Adams – Adams Glacier, South Spur
• Mount Stuart – West Ridge (5.6), North Ridge (5.9), Stuart Glacier Couloir, Ice Cliff Glacier
• Dragontail Peak – Serpentine Arete (5.7), Backbone Ridge(5.9)
• Liberty Bell – Beckey Route (5.6)
• Forbidden Peak – West Ridge (5.6), North Ridge (5.0), East Ridge (5.8)
• Eldorado Peak – East Ridge, Northeast Face

Mt. Shuksan, a Cascade classic

Slab climbing in the Icicle Canyon outside Leavenworth.

Descending Mt. Baker's Easton Glacier after a successful summit

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