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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2015)
Wallowa County Chieftain News wallowa.com February 4, 2015 A3 Weather slows bird count Wintering warbler excites birders By Rocky Wilson Wallowa County Chieftain Although more species were counted and the total overall bird count was higher than one year ago, inclement weather again contributed to lower-than-normal sightings of feathered vertebrae during the annual Wallowa County bird count held the last Sun- day before Christmas, Dec. 21, 2014. Counts turned in to the Na- tional Audubon Society noted WKUHH PRUH VSHFLHV LGHQWL¿HG than in 2013, 62, up from 59, and an overall count up to 8,111 from 6,533 one year earlier. These numbers are far lower than in most previ- ous years. In 2010 alone, the count of one popular species, the mallard duck, was at a 34- year high of 13,855. Yet the reasons for low counts the past two years are far different. In 2013, a warm winter triggered a late arrival of ducks and geese – annu- ally near the top of Audubon numbers’ lists in Wallowa County – and on Dec. 21, 2014, the count was held on a blustery day when winds var- ied between 10 and 30 mph. On such a day, many smaller birds stay hidden in the brush, says Mike Hansen, Enter- prise-based assistant district wildlife biologist for the Or- egon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Last month, 23 bird watch- ers volunteered their time to count birds within a prescribed 15-mile diameter centered about one mile northeast of Joseph. This compares with 15 bird counters one year earlier. Wallowa County Chieftain Courtesy photo/Alan D. Wilson This male Northern Shoveler was photographed at Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Ladner, British Columbia. The latest Wallowa County bird count spotted five Northern Shovelers, the highest number ever for this species in the annual local count. This was the 34th such Audubon bird count for Wal- lowa County and none of the 62 species sighted on this lat- HVWFRXQWZDVPDNLQJLWV¿UVW appearance in the county’s annual roll call. The number of mallard ducks more than doubled from those counted in 2013, from 1,966 to 4,283, and those mallard numbers far ex- ceeded the second-most seen bird on that rainy, snowy, windy day last month, the Eu- ropean starling that numbered 867 birds. As is common with Audu- bon counts, atypical numbers DUH ÀDJJHG WR GHQRWH YDULD- tions from anticipated norms LQVSHFL¿FDUHDV Highest-ever counts for two species, the North- ern Shoveler and American Crow, were reported this past Christmas. This was only the third year that the Northern Shoveler has been docu- mented during the Christmas FRXQWDQG¿YHZHUHVSRWWHG In contrast, American Crows have been seen in 24 of the 34 Audubon count years here, and this year a record 84 were spotted. Also tagged with having higher-than-normal counts were the Black-billed Magpie and Common Raven. (LJKWVSHFLHVZHUHÀDJJHG as having unusually low num- bers, although the inclem- ent weather could explain such numbers, especially for smaller birds, says Hansen. Those eight include the American Wigeon, North- ern Pintail, Mourning Dove, Northern (red shafted) Flick- er, Dark-eyed Junco, Dark- eyed (Oregon) Junco, Cas- sin’s Finch, and Evening Grosbeak. In addition to the North- ern Pintail, Mourning Dove, Cassin’s Finch, and Evening Grosbeak, solitary sightings FCCLA trio raising funds for ‘Dimes for Downs’ Wallowa County Chieftain ENTERPRISE — Col- lection jars sporting a blue- and-yellow design began to appear last week at some local businesses, where they were placed by a three-mem- ber team from the Enterprise High School chapter of Fam- ily, Career and Community Leaders of America (FC- CLA). During February, EHS students Stefany Christ- man, Reece Christman and Tiffanie George will be ac- cepting donations to “Dimes for Downs,” a project begun several years ago by Judy Adams, 16, who has Down Syndrome. According to the project’s website (dimesfor- downs.com, where there’s a link to a Facebook page), Adams began the project when she was 12, and her mission is “to collect as many dimes as I can to help grant wishes and needs to children and adults with Down syndrome.” Stefany Christman, a ju- nior at EHS, said she learned about Adams’ project while watching television. “I ac- tually was watching a TV program and it came up as a commercial,” Christman said. Rob Ruth/Chieftain Enterprise FCCLA members Stefany Christman (left) and Reece Christman, cousins, display one of the containers they’ve placed inside local businesses to collect donations to the “Dimes for Downs” project. Not pictured is FCCLA member Tiffanie George, who is also part of this effort during February. She said the types of wishes that Dimes for Downs seeks to grant to people with Down Syndrome vary widely — from providing them trips to Disneyland, to buying them an iPad or even a stroller. EHS FCCLA members were being encouraged to pursue charitable efforts during the month of Febru- ary, and Christman thought raising money for Dimes for Downs would be a good way WR IXO¿OO WKDW GLUHFWLYH 6KH formed a team with her sister, sophomore Tiffanie George, and cousin, Reece Christman, a freshman. In addition to collecting money in jars they’ve set out at businesses, the three FC- CLA members can be con- tacted directly by donors: Stefany Christman at 541- 398-1480; Reece Christman at 541-398-0693; and Tiffanie George at 541-398-0857. were recorded of eight ad- ditional species. They were the Canvasback, Osprey, Eagle, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, Ameri- can Dipper, and Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco. Hansen says other vari- ables besides the weather can affect bird counts. One variable he mentioned con- cerned the time of day when bird counters visit certain areas within the prescribed bird-counting diameter. The example he gave was Wal- lowa Lake, where many birds may have relocated on the day of the annual count be- fore the bird counters arrived. ENTERPRISE — Dozens of birders who journeyed to Enterprise in recent weeks spent a chunk of their time trying to glimpse something that all agree is rather rare: a Cape May Warbler wintering in Oregon. Among the visitors was Eugene resident Alan Con- treras, co-editor of the 2003 guide, “Birds of Oregon: A General Reference.” Accord- ing to Contreras, Wallowa County normally attracts birders during January from various locales — because “several kinds of birds are found there in winter that DUHKDUGWR¿QGHOVHZKHUHLQ Oregon,” he says — and this year’s sighting of the Cape May Warbler, early in Janu- ary, added to the allure. The warbler has been located generally near the southern end of Enterprise City Park. This is only the second time a Cape May Warbler has been spotted wintering in Oregon. Con- WUHUDV VDLG WKH ¿UVW WLPH ZDV in 2001 in relatively balmy Brookings. He said the spe- cies, which breeds in central to eastern Canada, normally winters in the Caribbean or in Central America. After visitors from Port- Courtesy photo Tristen Hynes, of Albany, shot this photo of the Cape May Warbler that has been wintering in Enterprise. land made the initial sighting here, birders visiting from Eugene, Albany and Corval- lis relocated the warbler on Sunday, Jan. 18, Contreras said. The following week- end brought groups from the Salem Audubon Society and the Bend Bird Club. In all, roughly 50 such enthusiasts made the trip during January, Contreras estimated. Contreras said Enter- prise’s Cape May Warbler has been living “off of suet feeders and whatever it gets out of old apples.” He ex- pects it to remain here until winter ends, but its survival can’t be assumed. The Most Comfy Shoes Ever! Choose from several styles to wrap your feet in comfort! ( yes, these are the ones that are great for bunions ☺ ) Open Daily 10 am – 5 pm Uptown Clothing & Accessories in Downtown Joseph 12 S. Main St. • 541-432-9653 Enterprise Cemetery Board will meet with the public Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 4 PM, County Courthouse, to discuss resuming cemetery irrigation. Paid by Friends of the Enterprise Cemetery Info: Sondra Lozier 426.3229 February BARGAINS of the MONTH Wallowa Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Connect with customers and increase revenue! No matter what your business is, the Wallowa County Chieftain has the audience you need! We have many options to market your business in an affordable and effective manner. 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