Friday Feathered Feature

Swamp Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

At Fair Meadows Sanctuary, the Swamp Sparrow is a common migrant and summer resident. The occasional winter birds that I have seen are invariably found feeding on invertebrates in the shallows of a pond that has year-round open water due to brisk upwelling from underground springs.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

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