At four in the morning on December 20th, the Sunriver forest was so quiet, you could hear the light snow patting the frozen trees.  It was just above freezing.  Suddenly, startlingly close, a deep hoot pushed through the silence.  This was the bugle sounding the start of the Sunriver 2022 Bird Count.  Species number one:  Great Horned Owl.

By sunrise, volunteer birders had three Great Horned Owls on our list.  As these owls closed their eyes to roost for the day, around fifty Bird Count volunteers were setting out, bundled up (many with coffee in hand), to start their routes. Their mission: As part of the 123rd Audubon ‘Christmas’ Bird Count, to spot and identify on one day, as many birds as possible in a fifteen mile diameter circle around the Sunriver area.

Sunriver’s Circle includes the frozen waterfalls of Fall River, the gurgling of never frozen springs at Spring River, the icy slopes of Lava Butte, golf courses turned winter tundras such as Crosswater and Quail Run, rarely visited snow-encased buttes west and south of Edison Ice Cave Road including Kuamaski and Wake, the feeders and neighborhoods of Sunriver and Three Rivers, and the Deschutes river trails across from the lava flows at Dillon Falls all the way down to where the river flows into La Pine State Park. 

The majority of volunteers were beginners, willing to help scour trees and skylines to find birds for their experienced team leaders to identify and record. Volunteer ages ranged from nine to around ninety.  Some teams took all-wheel drive high clearance vehicles down forest service roads, some hiked with traction boots and poles along the icy river trails and there was a stationary count at the Sunriver Nature Center, where people could equally contribute in a more accessible location, by watching the critical lake and meadow habitats.  

In addition to finding over 3,923 individual birds in one day, volunteers also made new friends, learned from each other, had a lot of fun, experienced beauty and the joy of nature, and meaningfully contributed to citizen science. 

Despite many frozen waterways, deep snow cover, and recent below zero temperatures, these volunteers were able to confirm 58 bird species.

Some highlights of the day:

• A family in the community welcomed a team of birders into their yard where they caught a good look at a very unusual Pinyon Jay.  
• A couple in their off-road truck discovered an American Dipper foraging on Fall River.
• Nature Center bird walk leaders recorded four wild Trumpeter Swans by Cardinal Bridge.
• The La Pine State Park team was thrilled to spot the elusive Northern Goshawk.  
• The Nature Center team, after being delighted by a flock of Pygmy Nuthatches emerging from a tree cavity, spied a Rough-legged Hawk which is an arctic breeding species.  A visiting teenager at the Nature Center, there to practice his nature photography hobby, was able to help identify the Hawk by showing the birders a close-up on his camera of the bird’s markings.  
• A kid found a Great Gray Owl and was able to take a great photo with his parent’s iPhone.
• A group of mostly beginners, as part of the twenty-one species on their list, enjoyed watching a Merlin hunting by the river as well as seeing two Bald Eagles on their route.
• One river trail team found themselves looking for ducks alongside a group of hunters.  The hunters and birders talked of their shared interest in conserving natural beauty and future bird populations and the hunters asked for more information about how they could join a Nature Center team next year to help with the effort.
• Thanks in large part to the residential area team (who had to dig their hybrid out of a snow bank more than once during the count process), our final bird list included over seven hundred Pygmy Nuthatches and over seven hundred Mountain Chickadees! Many volunteer smiles were inspired by seeing so many cute little fluffs in just one day!

On Count Day evening, teams were able to share these and many more stories as they warmed up at the Nature Center with volunteer donated hot cocoa and cookies.  The count ended around 9pm with one last determined volunteer sloshing around looking for owls in the snow-turned-rain.  

The final count numbers as seen below will be available on Audubon’s CBC site after the official tally is approved.

We are already planning the 2023 Count!  It will again be on December 20th with the same Circle area.

Audubon’s Participation Mission Statement:

“Protecting and conserving nature and the environment transcends political, cultural, and social boundaries. Respect, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, perspectives, and abilities will attract the best ideas and harness the greatest passion to shape a healthier, more vibrant future for all of us who share our planet. We welcome everyone who finds delight in birds and nature. Participation in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count brings us together as a caring community of people who are inspired by birds and want to protect them.”

 

2022 Totals

Photos: Sevilla Rhoads

by Sevilla Rhoads, SNCO Volunteer

Pause to marvel at how these Chickadees hang like monkeys on the pine cones, leaves, and feeders. Not only do they eat seeds, but they are also hunting insects. Mountain Chickadees are one of our best free pest control services. In one Arizona study, a Mountain Chickadee was found with over 275 tree pest larva in its stomach! These tiny birds help our beautiful conifers stay healthy.

This species likes to hang out on the Western side of the country. They tend to breed and live near evergreen forests, and many live in the mountains. Depending on the weather, some of these birds visit lower elevations to find more find food and warmth in the winter.

Mountain Chickadees can die during a cold night if they do not eat enough calories each day. Unlike many other small birds in this area, such as Pygmy Nuthatches which snuggle up together for warmth, this Chickadee usually braves the winter nights alone in a hole or under a loose piece of bark. The need for fat at the end of the day is the reason you might notice more Chickadees on the feeders in the late afternoons. If you find a dead Chickadee on a chilly morning, it probably could not eat enough the day before to survive. So, if you have feeders, think about checking if there is enough left for the Chickadees in the afternoon. They enjoy both suet and seeds.

Mountain Chickadees can live up to ten years and often stay in the same area most of their lives. Frequently, they form life-long pair bonds, and both parents help raise the young. They usually nest in preexisting holes (it is hard to peck a deep hole in a tree with a little bill unless the wood is soft). They line the cavities with soft materials like fur and even make fur plugs or ‘doors’ to cover the entrance when they are out. You may have seen coyotes hunting rodents around the Sunriver airport. Coyote fur is a favorite for Mountain Chickadee bedding. However, these birds also can pull off fur (and maybe ticks and lice) from live animals like raccoons and dogs. A couple of years ago, a Mountain Chickadee nested near the Nature Center’s Golden Eagle aviary. The Eagle cast pellets every day after it ate its rodent meal. The intelligent Chickadee would fly into the aviary several hours later and pull out the rat fur for its nest lining!

One ‘note’ about this bird we should not overlook, is their astonishing variety of songs and calls. One local birder explained their calls have over a dozen variations. Some calls warn of predators, some are social ranking and territory proclamations, some are for courting, and, we are convinced, some are just for fun! It is amusing to imagine what they are saying if you listen as you watch. If you spend time learning all their local dialects, research suggests you will discover Chickadees even have special calls which identify different predator types. Specific call patterns may alert the flock how an attack is likely to occur so they can mount the best defensive tactics. 

By the way, the ‘gambeli’ in this bird’s scientific name honors the naturalist William Gambel who had an interesting, but ultimately tragic life: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gambel

According to Cornell’s All About Birds, while listed as a species of “Least Concern,” from 1966 through 2014, the Mountain Chickadee population declined around 1.5 percent a year which is about a fifty-three percent loss of these birds.

Photos: Sevilla Rhoads

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Each year between December 14 and January 5, birders set out to census birds for the nation’s longest-running community science bird project. The Christmas Bird Count is administered by the National Audubon Society and has been occurring yearly since 1900. Today the count occurs in over 20 countries in the western hemisphere and dozens of counts take place in Oregon.

On Saturday, December 18, Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory volunteer Sevilla Rhoads, conducted her own bird census in and around SNCO, in the spirit of the Christmas Bird Count. With partly cloudy skies, snow covering the ground, and temperatures in the mid-30s, Sevilla set out armed with binoculars, a camera, and her e-Bird checklist.

Over the course of 1.5 hours and covering just over half a mile, Sevilla and one other birder documented 149 individual birds comprising 14 different species. (See below for the full list.) Pine Siskin and Canada Goose made up the majority of sightings. Bird activity was found throughout Lake Aspen which was partially frozen. A Pied-billed Grebe was observed actively diving for food. A very active American Coot was found diving for food but also chasing the Grebe for food. At one point, Sevilla observe the Coot actually peck at the Grebe! Last but not least, a statuesque Great Blue Heron maintained a one-legged stance on the ice. Up in the canopy, Dark-eyed Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, dozens of Pine Siskins, and a Northern Flicker were observed.

Although the SNCO count was outside of the official areas for this year’s Christmas Bird Count, we are planning to participate in Audubon’s 2022 count. If you are interested in assisting with a Christmas Bird Count effort or would like to get more involved with birding in Sunriver, email us at programs@snco.org.

SNCO Christmas Bird Count Results

Canada Goose (45)
Pied-billed Grebe (1)
Mourning Dove (1)
American Coot (1)
Great Blue Heron (1)
Northern Flicker (1)
California Scrub-Jay (1)
Common Raven (2)
Mountain Chickadee (7)
European Starling (1)
House Finch (2)
Pine Siskin (75)
Dark-eyed Junco (9)
Song Sparrow (1)

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Photos: Sevilla Rhoads

The new year has arrived, and good intentions abound. Instead of setting improbable goals for yourself that fade after a month or two, consider making a resolution for the birds. One simple commitment can help support our winter songbirds and improve your record of fulfilling new year’s resolutions. Throughout the year, but especially during the winter months, you will want to spend some quality time cleaning your bird feeders and bird baths on a regular basis.

Last winter, those of us in the wildlife community received many reports of sick and dead birds, specifically wild Pine Siskins. The tiny, heavily striped, yellow-accented finches are a common visitor to bird feeders. A shortage of food in their northern home range last year, meant that many more Pine Siskins moved south, crowding bird feeders. Although reports of salmonellosis occur yearly during the winter, last year’s ecological conditions in Pine Siskin habitat may have contributed to the substantial outbreak.

At the same time, from January through April 2021, the CDC and public health officials documented a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in people. The affected area included Oregon, Washington, and California, and nine other states, and 29 people were reported sick, some requiring hospitalization. The common denominator in almost all these cases – wild birds. People reported owning a bird feeder, having contact with a sick or dead bird, or having a pet that had access to or contact with wild birds.

Birds can transmit salmonellosis, the disease caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Salmonella, to humans and to other birds by fecal contamination of food and water and even by bird-to-bird contact. Bird feeders and bird baths, and the areas surrounding them, can become a vector of the disease. This is more of concern in the winter as resources are scarce and birds rely on feeders more. Many of us place bird feeders outside our homes with a goal of supporting wildlife and bird feeder hygiene is an important responsibility we assume. Removing bird feeders completely from the landscape may sometimes be warranted in cases of outbreaks and the best way to support birds.

If you host birds at feeders and bird baths, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure healthful conditions for the birds and yourself. Bird feeders should be cleaned on a regular basis throughout the year. Monthly cleanings are generally sufficient, but during the winter, we recommend cleaning your bird feeder or bath on a weekly basis. Disinfect feeders by soaking or dousing them with a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) for about ten minutes. Then scrub feeders, inside and out, with warm soapy water. Make sure to thoroughly rinse the feeders and then allow them to dry completely before refilling and setting them back out. Make sure you sanitize the area where you cleaned your feeder. We recommend avoiding your kitchen sink and cleaning your feeder outside or in a bathtub. Salmonellosis can also be transmitted to ground dwelling birds who gather under your feeder. On a weekly basis you will also want to rake up and discard seed and debris under your feeders. To protect yourself, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching or cleaning your feeders and keep your pets away from feeder areas.

During the next few months keep an eye out for birds, especially Pine Siskins, that may appear lethargic, puffed up, or with swollen, irritated, or partially closed eyes. If you see these signs or suspect that a bird may be sick contact SNCO, another wildlife rehabilitation center, or Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. If you find a dead bird in your area, wear gloves to collect the bird and double bag it before bringing it to a wildlife rehabilitator.

Photo: Tom Lawler

by Kelli Neumann, Animal Program Coordinator and Amanda Accamando, Nature Center Manager

Over the last few weeks, we have welcomed each new sign of spring to Sunriver. The return of the red-winged black birds; Belding’s ground squirrels popping up out of their subterranean hibernacula; mason bees taking flight; and willows beginning to flush and bloom. Birds especially come to life as courtship displays, territorial disputes, and nesting behaviors are all readily observed. For us at Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, the nesting season also brings many calls from concerned residents who suspect an abandoned nest or chick or who may be dealing with nests placed in undesirable locations. Knowing how to tell when a bird truly needs help and intervention from humans is paramount to being a friend to wildlife during the busy baby season. In many cases, picking up or rescuing an animal will not be the preferred course of action.

It is no secret that birds will sometimes nest in inconvenient locations for us humans. For example, in Sunriver it is common for birds to nest on top of outdoor lighting fixtures. In one case a few years ago, a homeowner delayed putting away their Christmas decorations, and unknowingly invited a robin to construct a nest tucked into an artificial wreath on the front door. Active nests of native species, those that have eggs or chicks, are off limits to human meddling. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects most bird nests and makes it illegal to destroy the nest. What do you do if a bird nests on your lighting fixture? If the nest is active, you will need to leave it until the chicks are no longer dependent on the nest. At the same time, to prevent a serious fire hazard, remove the lightbulb. After the chicks have fully fledged, you can remove the nest and make modifications to the light fixture to prevent future nesting. We recommend installing a suitable nest box nearby to provide alternative habitat for the bird.

A baby bird found on the ground, outside of the nest is another common scenario. Determining whether a bird is truly orphaned will depend on their age, species, and behavior. Birds that are nearly or mostly featherless, called hatchlings or nestlings respectively, are still reliant on their parents. If you can see the nest and the bird is not clearly injured, you can return this age bird to its nest. However, if the bird is fully feathered, perhaps with reduced tail feathers, you likely have an adolescent bird, also called a fledgling, who has left the nest. Fledglings may spend a lot of time hopping on the ground as they learn to fly. This is completely normal. Observe the fledging from a distance and you can expect to see the parents flying by to check on them and feed them. It is a good idea to keep cats, dogs, and even tiny human beings out of this area until the fledging is fully able to fly. If you cannot find the nest in the case of a hatchling or nestling, or you are positive that the parents are not returning to feed the fledglings on the ground, contact the nature center or a wildlife rehabilitator in your area.

If a baby bird needs the help of a professional wildlife rehabilitator because it is visibly hurt, sick, or you have determined that the bird is truly orphaned, you will want to provide the animal with a secure space that is quiet, dark, and warm until help is available. A cardboard box or pet carrier lined with a towel will make a secure container for transport. Do not feed or give water to the bird as many have specialized diets and feeding can do more harm than good. Last, but certainly not least, resist the urge to continuously check on the bird. The peering eyes of a giant predator will cause unnecessary stress to the bird.

Whether to actively intervene, let nature take its course, or reach out for professional help, is rarely a black and white decision. If you have any doubt at all about which course of action to take, reach out to the nature center or a local wildlife rehabilitator who can guide you and ensure the best possible outcome for the animal. If you are looking for a deep dive into this subject join us for our upcoming Living with Wildlife virtual workshop, Looking Out for Neonatal Wildlife, on Tuesday, May 25 at 6pm.

It’s time to clean your birdfeeders! In fact, you should clean your birdfeeders regularly to help keep our songbirds healthy year-round.

Why should I clean my birdfeeders?
Birds can spread diseases through feeders. These diseases include avian pox, avian conjunctivitis, and salmonellosis (caused by the salmonella bacteria). In particular, salmonella outbreaks are often reported in the winter months when birds are more reliant and crowded on feeders.

How do I clean my feeders?
Take apart your feeders as much as you can and spray with or dunk them in a 10% bleach solution which will disinfect harmful bacteria. Use soapy hot water to finish cleaning and then rinse and dry thoroughly before refilling with fresh seed and hanging your feeder back up.

How often should I disinfect feeders?
A monthly cleaning for feeders will help deter bacteria, but more frequent disinfection is recommended if your feeders are heavily used, if there is wet weather, or if salmonella has been reported in your area. We recommend weekly cleaning of your bird feeders in the winter in Sunriver.

What else can I do to help keep birds disease-free?
Keep an eye on the ground beneath your feeders as feces and seed debris can accumulate and contribute to the spread of disease, especially among ground-feeding birds. Rake and shovel up the debris in this area, especially if there has been a lot of moisture. Debris around the feeder can be minimized by using an optimized seed mix such as the “No Mess Blend” from Wild Birds Unlimited. You can also reduce crowding at your feeders by giving the birds more room to spread out with additional feeders and variety in your feed.

What do I do if I suspect a bird is sick?
If you suspect a bird may be sick, contact Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory at 541-593-4394. Take down your feeders and give them a good clean and refill with fresh food before hanging them back up. If a salmonella outbreak has been reported in the area, you should take down your feeders for a few weeks to minimize the spread of the disease.

Photo: Tom Lawler

On Thursday, February 18^th, NASA’s Perseverance Rover will blaze through the atmosphere on Mars, at 12:30pm PST. The one ton, six wheeled vehicle the size of a small car is expected to attempt the difficult challenge to land on Mars. NASA calls the entry, descent and landing phase the “seven minutes of terror”. After a 7 month voyage from Earth to Mars, traveling at a speed of over 50,000mph, the final seven minutes from the top of the atmosphere to touchdown on the surface will be the most complex portion of the entire mission. The goal of going from the highspeed entrance to the atmosphere down to zero in seven minutes, while trying to hit the target landing area is difficult. Only about 40% of all mission sent to Mars, by any space agency have been successful. Perseverance is only the fifth rover to try to attempt this type of landing. This is all done by itself, with no help from those that control the spacecraft on Earth, due to the time delay for signals to reach the spacecraft. The great distance involved takes about 11 minutes to receive the news that the Perseverance has entered the Martian atmosphere. We will not know if the spacecraft is on the ground successfully for about 11 minutes after it happens.

In addition to the rover, Perseverance carries a very sophisticated, lightweight (4lb) helicopter called Ingenuity. This is the first of its kind and is the first test of flying in the thin Martian air. After landing on Mars, the rover will release the drone that is strapped to the belly of the rover. After release the rover backs away from the drone and watches with it’s camera as the drone is ordered to spin it rotors. The rotors spin to about three time faster than the helicopters on Earth, in order to get any lift in the Martian atmosphere that is 99% less dense than Earth. It will be undet control of the rover and the cameras on board the drone will relay the images back to the rover. The real time images of the terrain that if flies over will then be relayed back to Earth. We will all witness the first flight on an alien planet! After releasing Ingenuity, the Perseverance rover will focus on its primary goal of looking for signs of ancient microbial life in the rocks and sediment of the Jezzero crater basin. Be sure to check out the updates on NASA’s web site or check out the link below for live coverage.

Be sure to follow the landing on Mars at https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/watch-online/

Seven Minutes of Terror

First Flight On Another Planet

Countdown To Impact on Mars- Details of the Mission

By Amanda Accamando, Nature Center Manager

It is safe to say that all of us at Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory are enthusiastic about owls; just see our logo above. Our organization has served as a home to a variety of species over the years and hundreds of owls, mostly Great Horned Owls, have come to our center for rehabilitation over the years.

The United States is home to 19 species of owl and 14 of those can be found in Oregon. Some of the species are very common – like the Great Horned Owl, whereas others are rare or uncommon, such as the Snowy Owl who infrequently drifts down into Oregon during the winter months but is more likely to be found in Washington. Of those 14 owls, five are considered Oregon Conservation Strategy Species by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and one, the Northern Spotted Owl, is federally listed as an endangered species.

Owls are endlessly charismatic and intriguing – from their large piercing eyes, their impressive neck rotation, to their extraordinary hunting skills and silent flight. Oregon’s owls are a diverse cast of characters. There are owls that migrate (Flammulated Owl) and those that nest underground (Burrowing Owls). There are a few species that weigh just a few ounces (Boreal Owl and Northern Pygmy Owl), whereas a Great Horned Owl can weigh over three pounds. Although there are certainly owls that are nocturnal, many are considered crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) with the notable Northern Pygmy Owl primarily diurnal (active during the day).

In Sunriver, we reliably see or hear at least three species of owls – the Great Horned Owl, Great Gray Owl and the Western Screech Owl. The Western Screech Owl, a diminutive owl that nests in tree cavities, is often heard in our area but can be much more difficult to spot. Great Horned Owls are one of the most commonly encountered species, not only in Oregon, but throughout North America. They are a superb generalist predator feeding on a wide variety of prey including small rodents, frogs, scorpions and even other birds. By contrast, the Great Gray Owl, another inhabitant of our mixed conifer forests, has a more specialized diet feeding mainly on voles and pocket gophers and seeking out marshland for hunting. Great Gray Owls lack the distinctive ‘horns’, called plumicorns, of the Great Horned Owls, but are distinctive for their pronounced facial disc and large size. Although the Great Gray Owl is the largest species of owl in the world by height, they are mostly fluff and weigh less than a Great Horned Owl. If you look at a range map of the Great Gray Owl you will see that they primarily occupy the northernmost reaches of Canada. However, a small pocket of their range extends through the Cascades allowing us the opportunity to see this spectacular species on a regular basis in Sunriver.  

February and March are a great time to head outdoors to study and search for owls. However, if you set out with a goal to see an owl, you may return home disappointed. You will be much more successful if you adjust your expectations and set out at dusk to listen for owls. During the mating, nesting, and fledgling season for owls which takes place in later winter through late spring, you are likely to hear owls calling to one another. Owl vocalizations, such as the Great Horned Owl’s hoot, are used in communication between males and females for courtship and to advertise territory among pairs. The calls of the Great Horned Owl, Great Gray Owl, and Western Screech Owl are all very distinct, and can be confidently identified even by beginners with a little practice. Before you head out, you can listen to a few sample calls on your favorite birding app or on YouTube, however it is important to not play those calls while out in the field birding during the mating season. Later in the spring, listen for calls from the nest as young owls beg for food. If you happen to hear an ear-piercing scream in the middle of the forest you may be able to follow it to a nest or spot a branchling – a young owl who is fledging but still remains close to its parents for the occasional meal.

Sunriver is rich with great habitat for owls. In addition to the three commonly encountered species, birders have also spotted Barred Owls, Short-eared Owls, and Long-eared Owls in our area. With a little patience and perseverance, owls can become less elusive. Of course, there is one place you can reliably see owls in Sunriver – the nature center. You can visit Joe, our resident Great Horned Owl, and Luna, the Eurasian Eagle-owl, daily if you need an owl fix. Or make a reservation and join us for a Raptor Tour on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 11am throughout the winter to learn more about the owls, and other resident birds of prey of the nature center. Last, but not least, we look forward to resuming our Saturday Bird Walks this spring led by expert birder, Tom Lawler – our inside source for all Sunriver’s feathered residents. Whether you are birding on your own or with us, we always recommend reviewing the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics from time to time for a reminder on how to practice respectful and thoughtful birding so that future generations can enjoy these same wonders.

Amanda Accamando, Nature Center Manager

7/31/2020

Large piercing orange eyes. A 6 foot wingspan. 10 pounds of muscle, bone, and feathers. Prominent ear tufts. And no natural predators. Meet Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory’s (SNCO) newest animal ambassador – a Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo). At just two months old, however, the yet-to-be-named female owlet, is still very much fluff and only beginning to learn how to fly.

Eurasian Eagle-owls are known as the world’s largest owls, with females significantly larger than their male partners. As their name suggests these owls are found throughout Europe and Asia as well as in northern Africa. They occupy many different habitats through their range including woodlands, deserts, mountains, and open grasslands. Their large size and silent hunting capabilities makes this species a formidable apex predator having no natural predators of their own once they reach maturity. Their expansive range, the many different types of habitat they occupy, and their position at the top of the food chain, is not unlike that of the Great Horned Owl which occupies a similar ecological niche in the Western hemisphere.

After nearly a year of quiet but intense anticipation, the one-month old owl finally made the journey via car from Buffalo, New York to Sunriver accompanied by a member of SNCO’s animal care staff. The owlet, who was born at a wildlife center, spent the first couple of weeks with its owl parents and was then hand raised, along with its sibling, by humans. Owls that are reared by humans during formative periods of their development, a process known as imprinting, are known to generally adapt well to life in human care and make the best co-workers in ambassador animal programs. By contrast, owls that are raised by their own species, such as those that may come to live in human care after rehabilitation from an injury, may not adapt well to regular human contact. Joe, the Great Horned Owl that lives at the nature center, is an example of the latter case. Although his caretakers work patiently with him every day in a minimally obtrusive way, his lack of experience with the human world means that he is most comfortable out of the spotlight and helping to educate our visitors from the safe space of his aviary. It’s important to note here that although research has shown that owls thrive when raised by humans, owls never make good pets and it is illegal to possess an owl as a pet.

Over the next few months, the owl will be learning all about its environment, carefully guided by her caretakers. At this age, exposure to many different sights, sounds, people, and places will help her prepare for just about anything she may encounter in her role as an ambassador of bird conservation at SNCO. As she learns to fly, we will introduce training sessions to her daily routine. These training sessions, based in positive reinforcement, will foster a long-term trusting relationship with her caretakers and give her the ability to make choices in her environment. Training behaviors such as voluntarily stepping on a scale, or lifting a foot up to be examined, will also help her caretakers and veterinarian monitor her health in a minimally invasive way without force. For now, the SNCO team is enjoying getting to know our newest co-worker. We have discovered that she loves shredding old issues of the Sunriver Scene. She takes long naps in the most surprising of ways – flat on her stomach with her legs stretched behind her. She is starting to explore new foods, though mice remain her favorite so far. And she’s met numerous families during our weekly animal storytime. The owl does not have a name however, so we are asking for suggestions from her peers – children. You can submit a name online at: www.snco.org/nametheowl. Once she is able to fly, you’ll be able to visit the owl in her aviary at the nature center. Until then, check out our calendar for a schedule of our family-friendly animal storytimes and private meet and greets with the owl.  Lastly, if you are interested in sponsoring our newest animal ambassador, please contact us at give@snco.org.

By Amanda Accamando, Nature Center Manager

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. This event is celebrated world-wide each year on April 22 and in its inaugural year in 1970, signaled a shift in world-wide mindsets and the birth of the modern environmental movement.

The first Earth Day was co-founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin to bring the issue of the environment to the forefront of American politics and media. Through a remarkable grass roots effort, twenty million people attended events throughout the country on that day, launching what would be considered the ‘Environmental Decade’. However, Earth Day and the environmental movement did not spring out of nowhere; it was a reaction to a number of significant events and feelings of deep concern for the environment that were building through the 1960s. Rachel Carson, whose name is now synonymous with environmental activism, published Silent Spring in 1962 – a ground breaking book that revealed the dangers of pesticides. In 1969, an oil slick formed by decades of industrial waste pollution on the Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean off Santa Barbara in 1969 destroying beaches and habitat and killing wildlife. Threats of overpopulation, automobile emissions, industrial pollution, and deaths linked to smog also contributed to the environmental awakening of the 60s and 70s.

Collectively, these events provided the impetus of the environmental movement. Within five years major advances in legislation were made including the Endangered Species Act (1973), the Clean Water Act (1972), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972), the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974), and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1968), just to name a few. Additionally, in 1970 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Natural Resources Defense Council (1970) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were established.

It’s no coincidence that the community of Sunriver and Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory (SNCO) are just a couple of years older than Earth Day. Sunriver, founded in 1968, was born of the same modern environmental movement. John Gray, the visionary and developer behind Sunriver envisioned an alternative to cities and suburbia – a place where people would rediscover nature and where nature could be built into the framework of the community. This concept was so important, that SNCO, originally named the Ecologium, was conceived and established as a fundamental unit of the Sunriver development.

For 52 years, Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory has embraced the ideals of Earth Day. Among our staff and volunteers, we often joke that Earth Day is every day for us. Similarly, for many of us that have chosen Central Oregon and Sunriver as our home, it is likely we have done so because we value the natural world and have a desire to share it with our families and preserve it for our children and grandchildren. That’s why today, in the light of climate change, our mission to inspire present and future generations to understand and cherish the natural world carries an even heavier responsibility. We find ourselves at another turning point in history. We have begun to view the impact of our personal actions through a global lens with enduring consequences. From the everyday choices we make in how we shop and travel, to the values we choose with our votes at local, regional and national scales – the impacts will be felt for generations to come.

I think we can all agree that one day a year is not enough for Earth Day. Transformative change for our planet will happen through the collective actions of billions of people, mobilized each and every day. The concept is daunting, but we know the result is positive and the impact is real.