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About Sandy post. (Sandy, Oregon) 1938-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1980)
* Donkey Basketball Sandy High teacher John White Hop» finds a less-than-graceful method of getting off a shot Meanwhile, the Sandy Fire Department’s Ron Smith fleft > just tries to stay on the donkey. A final touchoup on the makeup is necessary for these two FT'A members (middlei before they go out on the court and ride as tough as Sandy FFA leader l^es Geren (right). photos by Mark Floyd Bald eagles a rare but impressive sight F irst I heard a splash. then I saw the osprey in the water about 50 yards from the boat. It was pushing on the surface of the lake trying to get back into the a ir after a breakneck dive on a fish When the bird did manage to break free from the water it was ob vious the dive had been a success The osprey had a large fish clasped in its talons The fish looked like it might outweigh the bird The osprev spiraled slowly up w ard: w orking to gain altitude and fly away over the lodgepole pines that lined the lake. Some minutes were in volved in this struggle, but finally the bird was high enough to begin its flight home An eagle came out of nowhere; diving from the sun with talons extended In one fluid motion the eagle forced the osprey to drop its fish then picked the morsel off before it hit the water The osprey, without looking back, continued its flight away from the lake It was luck to be witness to a bit of natural competition There are not many places in Oregon where such a confrontation can be seen N either bald eagles or osprey s are numerous in the state, but both species shar»- a preference for the chain of lakes and reservoirs along the Century Drive Highwa) in the Cascades west of Bend It was on one of these lakes that the eagle stole the fish, and on yet another that I saw an osprey swooping down on an eagle like a fighter plant1 harassing a bomber The bald eagle and the osprey eat the same food — fish. In the chain of lakes that include Crane P ra irie and W ickiup reservoirs. Elk lake , Davis Lake and others, there is an abundance of fish and many good nesting sites OREGON Fish & Wildlif« This unbeatable com bination is why this chunk of Deschutes and Klam ath counties is home to more than one-third of the nesting ospreys and 17 percent of the nesting eagles in the state. A large share of the osprey nests are located at Crane Prairie Reservoir. In many cases, adult ospreys fly in over fishing boots to reach nests. The birds w ill begin nesting soon on stick nests perched precariously atop a dead tree snag or broken topped pines The osprey will raise two to three young annually. The birds w ill often use the same nest site year after year The eagle also prefers the broken-top trees as a nest site In a count made in 1979. 24 nesLs were located in the general area of Century Drive. Twelve of the sites were actually being used. The reason for the d if ference between nest sites and eagle numbers is that the same pair of eagles may have more than one nest in an area The turds may alternate nest use from year to year. While ospreys tend to concentrate in areas like Crane Prairie, eagles control a larger territory with nests scattered w idely over several hundred square miles. Accurate information on nest sites and activity for the eagle has been slim in the past. A continuing study of eagle populations in the Century Drive area has only been active for the last two y e a rs . C o o p e r a tiv e agreements between land- owners and managers have allowed far reaching in fo r m a t io n g a th e r in g programs to be started The Department of Fish and Wildlife may begin to take an even more active role in the work when money becomes available through the new non-game wildlife tax checkoff program started this year In the meantime, the bald eagle and the osprey shall continue to share and fight over their piece of territory in central Oregon. BILL TAYLOR A ASSOCIATES V75S E S*nd> Portland Oregon *>7214 STATEWIDE REALTORS • Both populations appear to be holding their own in the C entury D rive area. If further study reveals that is the case, then that chain of lakes becomes even more important The eagle is not doing too well elsewhere in the state and the osprey requires very specific types of habitat in order to nest and breed. Good nesting areas are becoming scarce as other land and water uses move these two birds aside bowling M xrebcm J Sandy Early Birds March 10.1980 W Sandy Shoe Repair 24 Alpine Hut 21 Sandy Lmbr & Hdwe 20 Toni’s 18 Zigzag Inn 18 Deane’s Auto Repair 17 L 12 13 16 18 18 19 Eagle Foundry 16 20 S.J. Pounder 10 26 High Game: Clarene Smith 184 High Series: Tinker Hutchins 482 Team Game: Toni’s 716 Team Series: Sandy Shoe Repair 2008 KNOW SOMEONE NEW TO THE AREA? Call Newcomers S ervice............. Our Greeters provide important community information -------- and---------- complimentary coupons for gifts and services from local businesses M STRlBirrORSHlPS • RESTAURANTS • LOUNGES • taverns • RESORTS 207-3340 C o n /id t n tu l B U S IN E S S /u n w our SFECI ALT Y! Orar «O Bt SlNESSE-S io c h o o tt fro m CALL PETE HELEY ( M il 1 M -IU I a U A W Vovr community r«pt Since 1928 Betty Wolf Mik-HHX | , Ruby Eliason. 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