12-13-2007, 07:10 PM
Join in the Christmas Bird Count
Across America, Audubon chapters and volunteers will be conducting one-day bird counts from December 14, 2007 to January 5, 2008 in a tradition that dates back 108 years. In Oregon, you can join a group of birdwatchers or stay home and report on the birds that visit you feeder. The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is the oldest and largest citizen science event in the world-get involved, have some fun and help contribute to our knowledge base.
Every Recreation Zone in this week's reports offers a list of Bird Count events. Download a copy of the Portland area Bird Feeder Watcher form (pdf)
Hunting: Good time to hunt predators
With deer and elk general seasons over and some bird seasons winding down, this is a good time of year to hunt predators. Snow can make it easier to locate and follow tracks. Hunting coyotes and cougars in the vicinity of wintering deer and elk using a predator call can be effective. Bobcats and foxes may also come to a predator call-remember you must have a furbearer licenses and a bobcat record card to take these animals. Remember bear season is closed in eastern Oregon. Many western Oregon bears have also denned up for the winter.
Fishing: Winter steelhead and trout; shellfish closed north of Yaquina Bay
Chinook fishing is winding down but winter steelhead fishing continues to pick up. There are also good spots to fish for trout during the winter; see the zone reports.
If you are heading to the coast, remember that shellfish is closed on beaches, bays, and estuaries from Yaquina Bay north to the Columbia River. The closure is a precautionary measure to minimize exposure to potentially contaminated waters and will remain in effect until additional sampling and testing indicates that water quality has returned to pre-flood-event levels. The closure does not affect shellfish harvesting south of Yaquina Bay on the Oregon coast.
Across America, Audubon chapters and volunteers will be conducting one-day bird counts from December 14, 2007 to January 5, 2008 in a tradition that dates back 108 years. In Oregon, you can join a group of birdwatchers or stay home and report on the birds that visit you feeder. The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is the oldest and largest citizen science event in the world-get involved, have some fun and help contribute to our knowledge base.
Every Recreation Zone in this week's reports offers a list of Bird Count events. Download a copy of the Portland area Bird Feeder Watcher form (pdf)
Hunting: Good time to hunt predators
With deer and elk general seasons over and some bird seasons winding down, this is a good time of year to hunt predators. Snow can make it easier to locate and follow tracks. Hunting coyotes and cougars in the vicinity of wintering deer and elk using a predator call can be effective. Bobcats and foxes may also come to a predator call-remember you must have a furbearer licenses and a bobcat record card to take these animals. Remember bear season is closed in eastern Oregon. Many western Oregon bears have also denned up for the winter.
Fishing: Winter steelhead and trout; shellfish closed north of Yaquina Bay
Chinook fishing is winding down but winter steelhead fishing continues to pick up. There are also good spots to fish for trout during the winter; see the zone reports.
If you are heading to the coast, remember that shellfish is closed on beaches, bays, and estuaries from Yaquina Bay north to the Columbia River. The closure is a precautionary measure to minimize exposure to potentially contaminated waters and will remain in effect until additional sampling and testing indicates that water quality has returned to pre-flood-event levels. The closure does not affect shellfish harvesting south of Yaquina Bay on the Oregon coast.