Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, July 2, 2003
Page 9
The Savvy Senior
by Carol Martin
OSU Press ‘Birds of Oregon’ available now
Oregon State Univer-
sity (OSU) Press has pub-
lished the “mother of all
Oregon bird books” -- a
comprehensive, 768-page
reference guide to the 486
bird species known to in-
habit the state.
The new book, "Birds
of Oregon: A General Ref-
erence," was co-edited by
David B. Marshall, Mat-
thew G. Hunter, and Alan
L. Contreras.
It offers information
on each species of bird,
and their habitats and life
histories.
More than 100 contrib-
uting authors volunteered
their work and expertise
for "Birds of Oregon,"
which includes line draw-
ings by wildlife artist Elva
Hamerstrom Paulson and
data from the Oregon
Breeding Bird Atlas Pro-
ject.
The editors say they
hope the factual nature of
the book transcends politi-
cal polarization to provide
Oregonians with important
facts on the diversity of
birds in the state.
In the preface, Mar-
shall wrote, "One of my
hopes is that the book will
dampen some of the rheto-
ric and misunderstanding
that have emerged from
resource extractors on one
side, and environmentalists
on the other, regarding the
needs of controversial spe-
cies.”
"And by describing
habitat requirements,” he
said, “we also show that
habitat destruction for one
group of species invariably
creates habitat for another
group; yet maintaining
habitat diversity is neces-
sary to sustain all of the
state's birds."
This is the first com-
prehensive reference to
Oregon's birds published
since Ira N. Gabrielson and
Stanley G. Jewett's land-
mark book of the same
name, "Birds of Oregon,"
published in 1940, also by
OSU, according to Tom
Booth, marketing manager
for OSU Press.
"It really is an incredi-
ble resource," Booth said.
"Bird watching and identi-
fication, or 'birding,’ is one
of the fastest-growing ac-
tivities around, and it cer-
tainly has become popular
in Oregon in recent years.
This new book should
prove to be an invaluable
reference guide for birders
of all levels, as well as bi-
ologists, students and wild-
life enthusiasts in general."
Since Gabrielson and
Jewett's work, another 150
species have been added to
the official list of state
birds, maintained by the
Oregon Birds Records
Committee.
Most of those species
comprises "vagrants"
found at various times by
the increasing number of
birders, the editors point
out, but other species have
expanded their territory
into Oregon either as mi-
grants, breeders or a com-
bination of both.
One of the most spec-
tacular examples of new
species is the cattle egret,
which came to the Ameri-
cas from Africa, landing
first on the East Coast,
eventually migrating to
Oregon.
Also moving westward
into Oregon were the
barred owl and grasshop-
per sparrow.
From the northeast
came the Franklin's gull,
least flycatcher and north-
ern waterthrush.
And from California
came the white-tailed kite,
red-shouldered hawk,
Anna's hummingbird,
black Phoebe and blue-
gray gnatcatcher.
Some of the biggest
changes since 1940 have
been in the number of
birds.
Oregon has been
"inundated" by the Euro-
pean starling, the editors
say, and the northwestern
part of the state has be-
come a haven for the west-
ern scrub jay and the house
finch.
The world's largest
Caspian tern colony now
lives on manmade islands
near the mouth of the Co-
lumbia River, where none
historically had nested.
Another dramatic
change has been the ap-
pearance of hundreds of
thousands of Canada geese
that now winter in Oregon,
primarily in Willamette
Valley, but also in the Co-
lumbia Basin east of the
Cascades.
"Much to the conster-
nation of farmers, the
geese are attracted to the
Willamette Valley by the
grass seed industry that
developed after World War
II," Marshall said.
Success stories in Ore-
gon include population
increases of bald eagles
and ospreys, and the re-
establishment of peregrine
falcons after their popula-
tion had been decimated,
primarily because of the
widespread use of the in-
secticide DDT.
Oregon also has had
some losses, the book re-
veals. Two formerly com-
mon breeding species --
the yellow-billed cuckoo
and the sharp-tailed grouse
-- have disappeared,
though attempts are being
made to reintroduce the
grouse.
The state's upland
sandpiper population, once
among the largest in the
West, is all but gone.
And several other spe-
cies -- including the can-
vasback, snowy plover,
blue grouse, mountain
quail, yellow warbler,
horned lark, and others --
are in serious decline for a
variety of reasons.
Habitat loss or change,
hunting pressure, preda-
tion, disease, and loss of
food sources can all result
in the decline of species.
Contributors to "Birds
of Oregon" ranged in age
from 17 to 77, and are
from all over Oregon.
More than two-dozen
individuals or organiza-
tions helped sponsor
"Birds of Oregon," includ-
ing federal agencies, tim-
ber companies, environ-
mental groups, scientists,
and utilities.
"Birds of Oregon" is
available at bookstores or
phone 1 (800) 426-3797.
United Seniors Association Chairman and Chief
Executive Charles W. Jarvis urged Democrats
and Republicans to join together to pass respon-
sible Prescription Drug legislation for seniors,
like that passed by the House in 2002. The
United Seniors' Health Care Freedom ad cam-
paign features Art Linkletter, recipient of the
2003 Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
"Our friends at the AARP have had Members of
Congress sign a pledge on a prescription drug
benefit, but seniors can't take paper pledges to
the pharmacy. United Seniors Association is in-
terested in creating tangible results for seniors
NOW," said Mr. Jarvis.
"The critics of the House-passed plan must be
asked a simple question: 'Why are you willing to
allow millions of seniors to suffer for two, three,
or four years before receiving benefits when they
could have them this year?'" questioned Jarvis.
"Prescription drugs are a major concern for sen-
iors. President Bush has been extraordinarily
focused on helping seniors in the area of pre-
scription drugs," continued Jarvis. "The House of
Representatives has answered the call for help
twice in the past three years by passing legisla-
tion establishing a prescription drug benefit with
choices under Medicare. That kind of dedication
to creating results, not just rhetoric, is supported
by the vast majority of senior Americans."
The USA Health Care Freedom Project is a posi-
tive multi-year effort focused on educating, moti-
vating, and activating seniors and their families
in support of policies that make sense economi-
cally and provide effective and efficient health
options. USA's television and radio ad campaign
on prescription drug legislation is a part of that
effort to encourage policies that are economi-
cally wise and deliver tangible health results to
millions of seniors quickly.
"Seniors strongly supported the 2002 House-
passed legislation because it produced tangible
results in the areas of greatest concern for sen-
iors: affordability, accessibility, choices, less red
tape, fiscal responsibility, and respect for the
doctor-patient relationship," said Mr. Jarvis.
"Seniors want personal health care choices now,
not more layers of bureaucracy and rhetoric."
(c) 2003 DBR Media, Inc.
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