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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 2015)
2 C SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 P UFFIN CHICK GETS EXTRA CARE AFTER ABANDONMENT NEWPORT — When a tuft- ed puffin chick hatched in the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Seabird Aviary on July 24, it seemed as if everything was going to plan. The baby bird, nicknamed Stella, weighed in at a healthy 64 grams, and was under the care of experienced parents. By Stella’s day-two checkup, something was clearly amiss. The chick was not gaining weight, as the parents were not delivering fish or brooding the chick to keep it warm as puffin parents should. Following a second day of careful observation, it was clear Stella needed an intervention. Aquarium aviculturists brought the chick behind the scenes to be hand raised. “We do not want Stella to imprint on us, so we limit inter- actions to feeding and cleaning time, and make adult puffin noises as we feed,” said CJ McCarty, Curator of Birds for the aquarium. “Stella is so fluffy it is a little hard to resist cuddling, but because we plan to reintegrate this puffin with the population in the Seabird Aviary, minimiz- ing human contact is in its best interest,” McCarty said. During the early days, a heat lamp kept Stella warm, and a feather duster stood in its par- ents’ stead for snuggling. The Aquarium’s aviculturists fed it every two hours, and even came in late and early to ensure COURTESY PHOTO it receives the nourishment it Stella the puffin chick needed human care after its par- needed. ents abandoned it. Despite its early circum- stances, Stella is growing at a up. chick feathers on its chest and healthy rate and weighed 574 Now just over one month face to make way for grown-up grams during its day 31 check- old, Stella is losing the downy feathers. A complete set of adult, waterproof feathers indi- cates the little seabird is ready for water. Aviculturists will start Stella’s practice swims in small pools behind the scenes, mak- ing sure the bird is a strong swimmer before its next transi- tion. If Stella turns out to be a male, the bird will be assigned an identification number, as all the Aquarium’s birds are, and transition to the Seabird Aviary. If Stella is a female, she will be placed with an Association of Zoos and Aquariums accred- ited facility that has requested a female tufted puffin. The Aquarium’s other puffin chicks are thriving in their bur- rows, and should start to explore the Aviary on their own in the next week or two. The common murre chick is already exploring the aviary, and main- tains constant vocal communi- cation with its parents while away from its nest site. Like Stella, the other new additions will find a home at other facilities, or take up per- manent residence in the Seabird Aviary among Black Oystercatchers, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots and Horned Puffins. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is open every day this summer from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. For more information and to buy tickets, go to aquarium.org or call (541) 867-FISH. Visit the aquarium at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Road., in Newport. County seeks public input on parks plan tomorrow SALEM — Lane County invites public comment on its draft of the 20-year Parks Master Plan, which will guide the management of county parks from 2016 to 2036. This is the first comprehensive update to the original 1980 master plan. The draft plan identifies strategic investments in parks and open space throughout Lane County that is consistent with identified recreation needs and public input. “We are excited to get citizen feedback on how the county should be investing in parks and open space during the next 20 years,” said Mike Russell, Lane County parks manager. “Our parks are a valuable com- munity resource and provide wide-ranging opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.” The drafted master plan is available online at www.bit.ly /1h3GVtW. There are opportu- nities to submit comments on that webpage. Copies of the draft master plan are also available at the Siuslaw Public Library, 1460 Ninth Street in Florence. There are five open house meetings scheduled this fall to allow community members to provide feedback and ask ques- tions of parks staff. All five meetings are open to the public and scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. The first will be held tomor- row, Sept. 10, in the Council Chambers at Florence City Hall, 250 Highway 101. Community members are also welcome to share their favorite photos of Lane County parks that may be used in the final master plan document. Photos can be submitted to laneparks@co.lane.or.us. ATHLETE OF THE Fishing from 1C SILETZ RIVER: Steelhead, cutthroat trout Summer steelhead fishing is fair in the upper river. Low flows and warming river tem- peratures are making new fish race up into the cooler holding waters of the gorge area. New fish will continually be moving into the river through the sum- mer and early fall. River flows are much lower than normal for this time of year so think small and subtle presentations. Typical steelhead tactics apply such as bobber and jig / bait, or casting spoons or spin- ners. Cutthroat trout are now also open to harvest and can be found throughout the main stem river and many large trib- utaries. WILSON RIVER: Steelhead, Chinook, cutthroat Summer steelhead fishing is slow. Fishing for cutthroat trout should be fair. Use lighter gear for best results as the water is extremely low and clear. Spring Chinook fishing is closed. All angling is closed after 2 p.m. above tidewater until further notice. YAQUINA RIVER: Cutthroat trout Cutthroat trout fishing is slow to fair. The best opportu- nities are coming in the early mornings when river tempera- tures are the coolest. River conditions are very low and warm for this time of year. The mainstem Yaquina and Big Elk Creek are good places to try casting small spinners or spoons as well as bait fishing near the head of tide. UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: Steelhead The South Umpqua River, including all tributaries, is closed to fishing for trout, steelhead, and salmon from 2 p.m. until an hour before sun- rise. The mainstem South Umpqua upstream to Jackson Creek Bridge is open to fish- ing, with trout fishing being strictly catch and release. Catch and release trout fishing in South Umpqua tributaries below Jackson Creek Bridge is also open, with fishing restrict- ed to the use of artificial flies and lures. Smallmouth bass fishing, which remains open under nor- mal rules, should be productive especially in the morning and late afternoon/early evening. COOS COUNTY LAKES/PONDS: Largemouth bass, bluegills Fishing for largemouth bass and bluegills has been good in many of the Coos County lakes. Fishing for bass will be best in the mornings and late evenings. Fish for bluegills around structure like sub- merged logs and weed lines. TENMILE BASIN: Trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch Streams in the Tenmile Basin are open for trout although there is a 2 p.m. fishing closure for trout, salmon and steelhead in streams above tidewater. Most of the larger rivers will be too warm for trout and the water level in many of the smaller streams is extremely low. Fishing is restricted to arti- ficial flies and lures in streams above tidewater. The water level in Tenmile Lakes is extremely low and boat anglers should use caution when boating in the lakes. Tenmile Lakes is open all year for trout but trout fishing has been slow. Bass anglers have been catching several largemouth bass in Tenmile Lakes. Bass can be found this time of the year in shallow water near structure like logs or weed lines. WINCHESTER BAY: Bottomfish, perch Fishing for bottomfish in the Triangle and South jetty has been successful. Perch fishing has been productive in the bay, and it was reported that good size striped perch were being caught along the jetty. Crabbing has been improv- ing, and there have been reports of coho and Chinook being caught in the ocean off of Winchester Bay. PACIFIC BEACHES: OCEAN and Bottomfish, salmon, Dungeness crab, tuna The ocean is open for har- vest of Dungeness crab and it’s been good outside of Coos Bay and Winchester Bay. Recreational ocean salmon season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. is open for Chinook salmon. The non- selective coho season opened Sept. 4. The bag limit is two salmon per day, and a mini- mum size for Chinook salmon at 24 inches or larger. Fishing for Chinook from Bandon to Winchester Bay has been slow. Tuna fishing along the south coast was spotty. Some boats did very well with most fish caught 20-30 miles off shore. The nearshore halibut season opened on July 1. The fishery is open 7 days per week inside the 40-fathom line. Anglers have been catching a few halibut near Bandon inside 40-fath- oms. The Summer All-Depth hal- ibut season opened this past weekend and will be open every other Friday-Saturday until the quota of 43,908 pounds is met. Fishing for bottom fish is restricted to inside the 30 fath- om curve. • SALMON Much of the Oregon coast (Cape Falcon to the OR/CA border) is open for all salmon, including coho as of Sept. 4 for non-selective coho salmon sea- son from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. North of Cape Falcon, the fin-clipped coho fishery remains open and has been very good to anglers. Anglers fishing in this area are remind- ed that no more than one Chinook is allowed in the daily limit of two salmon. The Columbia River Control Zone is closed. Scott Gordon Siuslaw H.S. Football Fri.-Sat. 9/11-9/13, 8am-3pm, 88035 Windjammer S., tools, household, fishing & misc. Sat.9/12 10am.-? 89555 Hwy.101 Antique gun,oil lamps, tools & much more. Fri.9/11-Sun.9/13 9am.-5pm. Corner of Collard Lk. Rd. & Collard Lp. Rd. Large Sale plus furniture of all kinds Dodge Dakota P/U, Suzuki SUV-11,500 ml., 20ft. class C motor home. FREE garage sale signs 541-997-3441 with your ad ...need a friend? 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Appliances, sofa and dinette are included. $85,000. #2474-15514152 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 WEEK Friends of the Humane Society, if you would like to help a friend call the Siuslaw News 541-902-3525. The senior receiver caught 8 passes for 65 yards, including one for a ten yard touchdown in the Vikings’ 29-6 season opening victory over the Newport Cubs. Honorable Mention Elyssa Rose Viking hitter Elyssa Rose led the volley- ball team in kills last week, including 15 in a non-league win over the Elmira Falcons. Sponsored By: The Siuslaw News , KCST and The Sports Club Fresh Detailing Integrity Plumbing Aero Legends Central Coast Disposal Alan Twombly, H&R Block River House and Old Town Inns J.L. Walker and Sons Dutch Bros. 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