Towheeblog

Fairview Wetlands, Salem–The Cackling Geese make good use of the decorative lawns in the industrial/office park around these wetlands. Today over a hundred of them landed briefly on the mown grass before the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Dept. offices, then departed. Within a few minutes smaller birds scattered across the grass. The geese simultaneously feed and fertilize, dine and defecate. Once the geese depart there are certain six-leggers attracted to the remaining organic matter deposits. Attracted to those small creatures are some slightly bigger–this day it was yellow-rumps (at least one Audubon’s), Western Bluebirds, House Finch flock and an amalgam of sparrows. That sparrow gang included a White-throated. Earlier I’d seen a Lincoln’s in the marsh-side shrubbery. It’s always pleasing to see a bluebird. I find they’re not that common in town or in areas where ag chemicals are used.

Fairview Wetlands, Marion, Oregon, US
Nov 20, 2021
19 species

Cackling Goose  130
Northern Shoveler  50
Gadwall  30
American Wigeon  X
Mallard  X
Northern Pintail  X
Green-winged Teal  120
Bufflehead  3
American Coot  X
Bewick’s Wren  1
Western Bluebird  2
House Finch  15
White-crowned Sparrow  3
Golden-crowned Sparrow  8
White-throated Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  2
Lincoln’s Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  4
Yellow-rumped Warbler  10