Friday Feathered Feature

Barred Owl

Barred Owl

Being from the east (relative to Oregon), any opportunity to hear or see a North American owl is exciting, barred or otherwise. However, this is not the case out west, where the Barred Owl is reviled as an invasive species.

Photo by Phil Brown

Sparrows in the prairies

Sparrows in the prairies

As summer progresses, the sounds of insects begin to fill the void created by the waning of the calls of our resident birds, but there is still lots of avian activity at Fair Meadows. In late summer I look forward to the arrival of migrating sparrows.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

White-crowned Sparrow: The bird of many songs

White-crowned Sparrow: The bird of many songs

Despite their difficult-to-describe song, White-crowned Sparrows are one of easier sparrows to identify by sight. As their name suggests, these sparrows sport crisp white stripes on the crowns of their heads.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

We’re in full-swing of fall seed collection, and goldfinches are in full-swing of fall seed eating. We frequently find ourselves crossing paths with them in our search for native seed, and the goldfinch often wins out.

Photo by Mick Thompson

Nighthawk Meadow

Nighthawk Meadow

Above the swallows and dragonflies, about 100 to 200 feet above the prairie, I observed about 60 birds flapping, gliding, then changing directions suddenly. Their wings were longer and pointed, with white patches—Common Nighthawks!

Photo by Gary Shackelford