Questions about BOGS?
EMAIL: priscilla@blog.priscillanhk.com
SPRING SPEAKER SCHEDULE:
PRESENTATIONS:
May 6: BOGS member Rick Ahrens, will talk on “Bird Migration”
May 20: William Sullivan, “New Hikes in Oregon”. This is a new lecture,
bringing former information about hikes up to date after the covid-19 shut down.
He will bring his books to sell and sign, as always.
June 3; Bruce Newhouse,a field ecologist, botanist and
environmental planner specializing in ecology, botany, ornithology, lepidoptery and mycology,
will present “Native Pollinators and Native Plants: Your Tiny ”Visitors
and the Plants they Love”
BIRD WALK: Friday, May 13 9-Noon
(We have bird walks on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Fridays of each month from September through May).
Friday, May 13, we'll meet at 9am at the Millrace Trailhead in Springfield.
This is a different starting location than our usual one! The starting point of the Millrace trail
is actually just south of Downtown Springfield and the trail heads west through mostly open meadow lands
alongside a stream channel and past the former old mill pond
Steve says: "Meet at the south end of 5th Street just across the railroad tracks.
There are no restrooms at this site! I will have maps available at the May 6 meeting.
We will be done by noon."
CASCADES RAPTOR CENTER VISIT
Steve has arranged for us to tour the Cascades Raptor Center on Friday, May 27, at 10am.
Additional Details from Steve:
"The fee will be determined by how many show up, but it should be in the $5-$8 range per person.
Parking is limited in their small lot, but there are additional spots across Fox Hollow at the Ridgeline Trailhead
(be careful crossing the road!). I'll have a signup sheet at the next couple meetings; 35 maximum.
We will be able to wander around their facility after the program."
SUMMER BIRDING 2022:
Summer Bird Walks this year will be on THURSDAYS.
(We chose Thursday because many people schedule "extended weekend" out-of-town trips
which include Fridays or Mondays - or both! Also, Thursdays have been our traditional day for both bird walks
and meetings for many years)
It looks like we have enough people available to lead at least TWO bird walks each month for June, July and August.
If we get more leaders, we can expand this to perhaps three walks per month.
If you would like
to throw your hat in the ring to lead a walk this Summer, we'd be glad to hear from you.
Contact me by email. Use my email address if you have it, or use the following
if you don't have my usual address: priscilla@blog.priscillanhk.com
PHOTO-BLOG: PHOTOS BY MEMBERS:
I've uploaded Steve's GREAT GRAY OWL photographs on a page which
I first created in 2018, but which has been inactive these past few years.
(Click on photo-blog link below)
I've also upoaded two photos of newly arrived Evening Grosbeaks taken by BOGS member Ginny McVickar of Pleasant Hill
to the photo-blog page, and Photos by Carolyn N, of Osprey, Wood Duck, Band-tailed Pigeon and C. Geese with chicks.
(In the future you can get to the photo-blog by going to the top of this page to the black menu bar
and clicking on "Blog(new)" at the right right end of the menu bar.
I will be adding photos taken by YOU! Any members with a few bird photos they would like to share with everyone
can send them to me at my usual email address,
or send them to priscilla@blog.priscillanhk.com and I will upload them to the Photo-Blog page on this website.
Members Photo-Blog
PRESENTATIONS (HAVE RESUMED!)
NEW DAY: MEETINGS/PRESENTATIONS (and bird walks) ARE NOW ON FRIDAYS
NEW ROOM: We meet in the new Great Hall.
Masks are optional but recommended.
In these unpredictable times, our policy regarding masks may change according the the prevalence of local cases of Co-Vid.
Meeting times are 9am - 11am.
We have the room from 8:30 to 11:30
and will need to set up and take down our chairs for the meetings.
We had a glorious first meeting on Friday April 1 and I think it is safe to say that everyone's spirits
were raised by seeing each other again and enjoying an interesting presentation by the McKenzie Land Trust
about their work on the McKenzie watershed after the long-lasting 2021 Holiday Farm Fire.
I'm thrilled that several volunteers have stepped up to
help with arranging speakers for the Fall and several more volunteered to help with registering members
at the door before meetings.
We have been worried because without new volunteers this organization would not be able to continue to function.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO THESE VOLUNTEERS!
Carolyn, Diane, Cindy and Neena! (and I think there is one more of you whose name I have not yet been given)
"WhatsApp" App Birding Groups
These groups in our area (all over Oregon) originated in Spring 2021. Prior to the formation of these groups,
the two main means of communicating bird sightings were OBOL (Oregon Birdrs Online- which is an email listserve)
and eBird.org. Neither of those methods are as instantaneous as the WhatsApp App.
This App allows real-time messaging to a group of people all at once.
The advantage is that there is virtually no delay from sending a message to the others getting it.
In contrast posts to eBird.org may be delayed several hours in some cases especially if an uncommon bird is reported.
The WhatsApp app is free. Download it from the "google playstore" for android, or where-ever iPhone people get Apps.
Once the app is downloaded, one has to click an active link to join any of the WhatsApp groups.
If you want the link, write to me and I'll tell you who to write to.
They change the link for joining now and then to
avoid spammers getting in and posting.
The most interesting group for our area is the "Lane County RBA" group.
(RBA means Rare Bird Alert). There are no special requirements for joining.
Each group has guidelines mostly pertaining to inclusivity and no hate speech. The RBA type groups
ask members to limit their posts to information specific to a rare bird being seen; i.e.; the location,
time and any tips for finding the bird. There are "OPEN" bird chat groups as well (such as "Lane County OPEN Birdchat"
for Lane County), and in those groups any kind of discussion pertaining to birds can be posted freely.
There are also WhatsApp groups for the "MidValley" area, (both "Open" and "RBA"). These are a group of counties to our north.
Another "OPEN" group serves the entire state. There are several groups also for the Oregon coast, Central Oregon and
a few for the Portland area.
If you want the link for any of these groups, write to me and I'll find out
who you will need to contact to join.
SLIDESHOWS FOR 2021 Spring/Summer BIRD WALKS
For convenience, I have always posted links to recent slideshows added to the website further down on (this) home page.
There is a much more complete listing of BOGS bird walk slideshows and trip reports on this website, going back to 2013.
I am putting a link to that immediately below, but it can also be accessed directly from the black menu bar at the top
of this page. Simply click on the "BOGS-LINKS" item in that black menu bar.
The listings on that page are chronological with most recent at the top.
(The link below takes you to that same page)
The further back in time you go on this website, the more pages you will find which need repair. On some pages
the entire slideshow is missing. On other pages all the formatting is gone - font types, sizes and colors are wrong
as well as text boxes and background colors. It took me a very very long time to figure out why these things were happening.
I'm happy to say, I have finally found the sources of ALL these types of problems
and will be restoring the pages - a few at a time. My repair work will be directed at the most recent
material first. I think all of 2021, 2020 and 2019 are already repaired but some work needs to be done yet on pages from 2018
and even more so for the years preceding 2018.
UPDATE: Dec.2021: I recently fixed most of July-Dec of 2018.
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT BOGS - (during NORMAL TIMES)
BOGS PRESENTATIONS:
In a normal year, from September through May, We have presentations by speakers on 1st and 3rd FRIDAYS of the month,
(and bird walks on the 2nd, 4th and 5th FRIDAYS of the months from Sept - May).
The presentations during the academic year cover a wide range of science-related topics.
Presentations and bird walks during those months run from 9-11am
*(The exception to the 9am starting time for presentations is the end-of-term Potluck,
which begins at 10am and runs until Noon)
Bird Walks
From September through May, our bird walks are led by Steve Barron.
We meet inside the Campbell Center before 9am to arrange car-pooling
and drive to our destinations.***(This may change as we resume in the new building)
Once there, we usually walk for 1-1/2 to 2 hours,
and get back to Campbell Center around 11:30. Some destinations are further away,
such as Finley Refuge and Elijah Bristow Park, so our return might be Noon or even as late
as 1:00pm. Usually at least some people want to get back earlier so they arrange to ride
together in one (or two) car(s). Trips with later return times are always announced as such ahead of time.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
BOGS PRACTICES & PROTOCOLS
HISTORY OF BOGS
BIRDING RESOURCES - other group bird walks,
Oregon online Birding site guides etc
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Below I have included a list compiled by both Doris and myself,
of all the places Steve Barron has taken us,
as well as a few additional places we have gone
only during previous Summers.
Here is a list of places BOGS has gone birding in the past
- Delta Ponds at the Valley River Center Bike Bridge
- North Delta Ponds area - with parking on Goodpasture Island Road.
- Fern Ridge Reservoir at the end of Royal Ave. (park on road unless you have a permit from Fish and Wildlife),
- Perkins Peninsula off West 11th, with the Cantrell Rd. addition
- Kirk Pond, at the base of Fern Ridge Dam and nearby park area.
- Mt. Pisgah arboretum, note parking permits very important here, day passes can be purchased at the parking area.
- Golden Gardens, take Barger Dr. off 99, then right at Golden Gardens St., (just past Beltline) to end of road.
- EWEB Wetlands, west side of EWEB building off Roosevelt, between Beltline and Bertelson.
- Millrace bicycle path in Springfield.
- Dorris Ranch
- Clearwater Landing
- Alton Baker Park - walking from Campbell Center.
- East Alton Baker Park, access by walking south on utility road east of Auzen Stadium and east of BMX track
- Skinner’s Butte - walking from Campbell Center.
- Heron Park, at Aspen and D street in Springfield
- Checkermallow Access to Meadowlark Prairie: (on Royal Ave, east of Greenhill Rd).
- Halsey Raptor run, a car tour through areas northeast of Eugene.
- Stewart Pond, off Bertelson on Stewart Rd.
- Hileman County Park, 2.5 miles north of Beltline turn right on E Beacon. At junction turn left on Hileman Ln
- Elijah Bristow State Park, off Hywy 58, between Trent and Dexter
- Zumwalt County Park, Vista Dr., Veneta
- Riverbend Hospital. The south end of the building has trails in a shady, very nice area for hot weather.
Is that a (give bird name) that I hear singing?
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BIRD SONGS: Online Resources - listen to any bird's songs or calls
If you have a smartphone, there are numerous apps for birding which can play the songs and calls of birds,
but if you don't have one, you can go online and explore the songs and calls of any bird.
Here are two exceptionally good websites for this:
XENO-CANTO Bird recordings
Here is an example recording from xeno-canto.org. This is a recording of several Short-eared Owls harassing a Northern Harrier.
The owls are doing a lot of their "barking" calls. The Harrier can be heard at 0.55 seconds and there-after.
The McCaulay library includes not only recordings of songs and calls, but also has photographs and videos of birds, mammals, reptiles
and amphibians! Here is the "How to" page with instructions for using this website:
McCaulay Library
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ONLINE TUTORIALS
MOST RECENT SLIDESHOWS AND TRIP REPORTS ADDED TO WEBSITE:
NOTE: Click on the "BOGS-LINKS" menu item on the black menu bar
at top of the page for the most complete listing of BOGS slideshows and trip reports
dating back to 2013.
In the list below,the more recent additions are nearer to top;
but not precisely in chronological order. Also the following list only goes back about two years
TRIP REPORT:
BOGS Riverbend Trails
Aug 26, 2021
Cedar Waxwing photo by Priscilla Sokolowski
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Raptor Run #2, Winter, 2021-22
Dec. 16, 2021
Rough-legged Hawk-photo by Steve Kilpatrick
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Raptor Run #1, Winter, 2021-22
Nov. 6, 2021

Photo: American Bald Eagle by Don Delaufer
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Kirk Pond
July 22, 2021
Northern Flicker - photo by Priscilla
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Perkins Peninsula
July 8, 2021
Cedar Waxwing - photo by Don Laufer
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Delta Ponds (north)
June 24, 2021
Kingfisher - photo by Don Laufer
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Heron Park (east Alton Baker)
June 10, 2021
Great Blue Heron - photo by Priscilla
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Clearwater Landing
May 27, 2021
Cedar Waxwings in nest - photo by Chris Kilpatrick
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Mt Pisgah Arboretum
May 13, 2021
Western Tanager - photo by Priscilla
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Jasper Millrace Path
April 29, 2021
Green Heron - photo by Priscilla
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Fern Ridge Royal
April 22, 2021
Marsh Wren- photo by Don Laufer
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Great Horned Owl fledglings!
Mar.26, 2021
Young GHO Fledgling-photo by Priscilla
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NON-BOGS: SIX Winter Raptor Trips
Nov. 2020 - Mar. 2021

Burrowing Owl & Rough-legged Hawk
Linn County-photos by Priscilla
Birding trips were done from separate cars using two-way-radio communcations
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BOGS Raptor Run #4
Feb. 27, 2020

Burrowing Owl - photo by Don Laufer
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BOGS Checkermallow
Jan 23, 2020

BOGS Group - photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Raptor Run #3
Jan. 16, 2020

Say's Phobe - photo by Priscilla
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Non-bogs Williamson's Sapsucker in Eugene
Jan 9, 2020

Williamson's Sapsucker - photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Stewart Pond
Jan 9, 2020

Western Meadowlark - photo by Priscilla
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Non-bogs Oakridge Christmas Bird Count
Jan 9, 2020

Great Gray Owl - photo by Don Laufer
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Raptor Run #2
Dec 19, 2019 - Linn County

Bald Eagle - photo by Priscilla
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Faptor Run #1,
Dec 12, 2019 - Linn County

American Kestrel - photo by Priscilla
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Three November Birding Trip SLIDESHOWS
Nov 7 (Finley); Nov 14 (Delta Ponds); Nov 21 (Hileman County Park);

Swan (Don Laufer); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Priscilla Sokolowski); Red-breasted Sapsucker (Priscilla Sokolowski)
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Five OCTOBER BOGS bird walk slide shows
Oct 3; 10; 17; 24; 31, 2019


Western Bluebirds, (Don Laufer); Green Island Ferry remnants, (Priscilla Sokolowski); Fox Sparrow, (Don Laufer);
Anna's Hummingbird, (Greg Hyde); Townsend's Warbler, (Don Laufer)
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Four SEPTEMBER BOGS bird walk slide shows
Sept 5, 12, 19, 26, 2019

Yellow Warbler (Don Laufer); Western Tanager (Steve Barron); Flower (Don Laufer);
Chorus Frog (Priscilla Sokolowski)
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Five AUGUST BOGS bird walk slide shows
August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2019
Western Kingbird; Greater Yellowlegs; California Quail;

Western Wood Pewee; Black-headed Grosbeak
- photos by Priscilla and Don
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Green Heron eating Lamprey larvae (ammocoetes)
July 2, 2019; 9am

Lamprey Larvae - photo by Priscilla Sokolowski
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Summer Annual Birding at Finley Wildlife Refuge
July 25, 2019

Acorn Woodpecker
Photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Summer Birding
Whilamut Area (east Alton Baker)
July 18, 2019

American Goldfinch
Photo by Don Laufer
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Rasor Park and Riverbend Trails
July 4 & July 11, 2019
Lesser Goldfinch
photo by Don Laufer
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Summer Birding: Fern Ridge Reservoir - Royal Ave
June 27, 2019
Western Bluebird
photo by Don Laufer
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BOG 32nd St. Millrace
First SUMMER BIRD WALK
June 13, 2019
Green Heron
photo by Priscilla_
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Delta Ponds along River - led by Steve Barron
May 30, 2019
Osprey
photo by Don Laufer
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BOGS Mt. Pisgah Arboretum
May 23, 2019
Very young Robin
photo by Priscilla
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Birds of Eugene area; Swallow Pond; Fisher Unit & Skinner Butte
May 4-7, 2019
Raven with stolen egg
Photo by Priscilla
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BOBS Fern Ridge Royal, led by Floyd Weitzel
May 9, 2019
Marsh Wren Singing
photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Dorris Ranch w/ arborist Alby Thoumsin
May 2, 2019
Heritage Big Leaf Maple Tree
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Fisher Unit, Perkins Peninsula, Warren Slough, Fern Ridge Royal
Spring Migration, April 27 & 28, 2019

Red-winged Blackbird & Yellow-headed Blackbird
- photos by Priscilla
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BOGS Golden Gardens Bird Walk led by Donna Albino
April 25, 2019
Warbling Vireo
photo by Priscilla
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Skinner Butte Warbler Migration
April 15 and April 19, 2019
Cassin's Vireo
photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Checkermallow (Meadowlark Prairie)
April 11, 2019
Barn Swallow
photo by Don Laufer
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BOGS Skinner Butte,
Mar. 28, 2019
Red-breasted Nuthatch
photo by Don Laufer
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BOGS Finley Wildlife Refuge,
Mar. 14, 2019
Western Bluebird
photo by Don Laufer
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BOGS Alton Baker Park
Feb. 14, 2019
Great Blue Heron on nest
photo by Don Laufer
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Raptor Run #2
Jan. 31, 2019
Sub-adult Bald Eagle,
3rd year, 2nd basic plumage_
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BOGS Heron Park along millrace
Jan. 24, 2019
Red-winged Blackbird
Photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Delta Ponds along bike path
Jan 10, 2019_
Downy Woodpecker
Photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Meadowlark Prairie (Checkermallow) TRIP REPORT, Nov 8, 2018
Nov. 8, 2018_
Rough-legged Hawk
photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Meadowlark Prairie (Checkermallow) SLIDESHOW,
Date: Nov 8, 2018
Belted Kingfisher
photo by Don Laufer
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Kirk Pond - led by Floyd Weitzel_
Oct 25, 2018
Great Egret
photo by Don Laufer
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Clearwater Landing_
Oct 11, 2018
Spotted Towhee
photo by Don Laufer
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Fern Ridge (Royal)
Sept 27, 2018
American Pipit
photo by Priscilla
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BOGS first Fall bird walk. Delta Ponds along the river
Sept 13, 2018
Osprey
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ROAD SCHOLAR TRIP TO MAINE: "A Birder's Dream; Birding Down East Maine"
Aug 19-24, 2018
This first page is a slideshow to Monday's Machias Seal Island (10 miles out to Sea) where Atlantic Puffins were very approachable
Jody took some fantastic photographs there!
There are also links to the rest of our trip for Tues-Thurs. but you can access that page separately (see below).
Atlantic Puffin
photo by Jody Fairchild
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ROAD SCHOLAR TRIP TO MAINE: "A Birder's Dream; Birding Down East Maine" - PART 2
Aug 19-24, 2018
This webpage has everything else after the Puffin Boat trip we did on Monday.
It ends with another boat trip out to Head Harbor Passage where tides range 16 feet
and whales and gulls congregate to feed on shrimp and krill caught up in massive currents
and upwelling waters.
Minke Whale
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ANNUAL SLIDESHOW, Best Photos, Sept 2017 to Sept 2018
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
photo by Don Laufer
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BOGS Alton Baker Park,
Aug 30, 2018
MINK!-photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Zumwalt County Park
Aug 2, 2018
Western Grebe with babies riding on her back
photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Fern Ridge Royal
July 26, 2018
Juvenile Robin
photo by Priscilla
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Riverbend Hospital Trails
July 12, 2018
Baby Robin calling for food
photo by Priscilla
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Kirk Park (below Fern Ridge dam)
July 5, 2018
Violet Green Swallow - photo by Don Laufer
River Otter
photo by Priscilla
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East Alton Baker Park (Whilamut Natural Area)
June 28, 2018
Brown Creeper - photo by Priscilla
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Mt Pisgah Arboretum - First Summer 2018 Bird Walk. The action was HOT!!
June 14, 2018
Male Bullock's Oriole feeding young. Photo by Don Laufer
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LAKEVIEW 3-day Birding Trip
May 22-24, 2018
(TWO PHOTO SETS!! One by Priscilla and one by Don Laufer)
Black-crowned Night Heron, photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Perkins Peninsula
May 10, 2018
Acorn Wooddpecker - photo by Priscilla
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BOGS Golden Gardens; trip report and photos by Don Laufer
April 26, 2018
Killdeer; photo by Don Laufer
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BOGS Skinner Butte
April 12, 2018
Black-throated Gray Warbler. Photo by Don Laufer
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BOGS Walterville Reservoir
Mar. 29, 2018
Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Photo by Don Laufer
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Red Foxes Slideshow!
March 15, 2018
Red Fox
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TRIP REPORT: BOGS Delta Ponds along river
Mar. 8, 2018
Anna's Hummingbird
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MAP: Steve's Hand Drawn Map
Route of Raptor Run we drove Jan 25, 2018
Thumbnail view of Map
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BOGS Heron Park bird walk
Feb 8, 2018
Mallard and Bufflehead
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Don Laufer: Ruff Park
Fox Sparrow & Pileated Woodpecker
Jan 19, 2018
Slideshow
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VIDEOS:
Fox Sparrow & Pileated Woodpecker
Fox Sparrow scratching for grubs
Pileated Woodpecker Slow-Motion
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Jennifer, Janet, LaRue and I visited D-Hill Owls
Feb 9, 2018
Short-eared Owl
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Don Laufer's Short-eared Owls at Diamond Hill_
Feb 5, 2018
Short-eared Owl
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Exploring locations for Short-eared Owls and revisiting Diamond Hill Wetlands
Feb 3, 2018
Short-eared Owl
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Short-eared Owls at Diamond Hill
Jan 27, 2018
Short-eared Owl
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Raptors: Belts and Diamond Hill area roads,
Jan 26, 2018
Red-tailed Hawk
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VIDEO: Dunlin Flock in flight
VIDEO: Second video Dunlin Flock in flight
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BOGS Raptor Run,
Jan 25, 2018
American Bald Eagle
Steve's hand drawn Raptor Run Route Map, (coming ...)
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Raptor Route Drive-Check with Steve
Jan 16, 2018
Juvenile Tundra Swan
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Raptor Route Research Trip
Jan 16, 2018
Short-eared Owl
Raptor Run Computer Drawn Maps
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BOGS Finley Refuge
Jan 11, 2018
American Kestrel
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THE LATEST BIRDS REPORTED to eBIRD in Lane County
Back in February or April, the folks who do the computer programming at Cornell's eBird.org website, re-did much of the website.
While their work made improvements, especially in the ease of use by smartphones, one unfortunate result is that the widgets
by BirdTrax, which use eBird data, no longer function. This will probably be a permanent state of affairs, so I have removed the widgets
from the "Recent Sightings" page of this website. I still have a frame with working links from the eBird.org site,
so plenty of information can still be gleaned that way.
RECENT SIGHTINGS reported to eBIRD for Lane County
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ALL BOGS TRIP REPORTS & SLIDESHOWS
ALL Non-BOGS SLIDESHOWS from Trips, Festivals, Projects
WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE DO THINGS:
About the thumbnail photos:
The rows of thumbnail-sized photos adorning the home page
are some of my best photos or else some of my most interesting. Most of them were taken
on non-BOGS birding outings. If you click
on a thumbnail it will give you a full screen view of the image.
Use the back button/arrow on your browser to return to the home page.