Winter Waterfowl Walk: Feb 24 Outdoor Tour!

We’re offering a limited attendance, RSVP-only guided walk on Thursday, February 24th, 3 – 5 p.m., at the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. This walk is in cooperation with our partners at ODFW and Ducks Unlimited. Click to read more and register for the lottery drawing to attend! (limited to up to 30 guests)

[Header Photo: Geese at the Coyote Creek South trail cam, courtesy of ODFW]

**Registration for the lottery drawing is now closed. If you previously registered, we will follow up on Tues, Feb 22nd**

 

Read our February Newsletter here!

Winters in the Willamette Valley are often marked by the sound of geese honking overhead or the sight of them swimming alongside the bobbing shapes of ducks in our ponds and wetlands. Over 20 species of ducks and geese inhabit our area this time of year — from diminutive dabblers like the green-winged teal to the elegant and enormous tundra swans. The Fern Ridge Reservoir and surrounding area, in particular, provides important habitat for thousands of migrating winter waterfowl, as well as recreational opportunities for hunters and bird watchers.

LTWC is teaming up with our partners at ODFW  and Ducks Unlimited to offer a special opportunity to observe and learn about migrating waterfowl in the Long Tom Watershed at the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area (FRWA), just a few miles west of Eugene. FRWA is typically closed to the public after the close of regular duck season to minimize the impacts of repeated human disruption to migrating waterfowl. ODFW has granted LTWC special permission to host this walk.

Attendees will learn about waterfowl species, habitat, and conservation in the Willamette Valley and the Long Tom Watershed, and the importance of management at sites like the FRWA as well as on private properties through voluntary restoration projects to sustaining waterfowl. Also learn about rare species like the Dusky Canada Goose, as well as how climate change is having impacts on waterfowl migration patterns and timing.

For many years, the Long Tom watershed Council has partnered with ODFW, the Army Corps of Engineers, Ducks Unlimited, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and private landowners to steward and restore wetland and wet prairie habitat that support waterfowl and other migratory species throughout the Long Tom Watershed and the Southern Willamette Valley. Many of these projects have been conducted with our public agency partners and are directly experienced by sportswomen and sportsmen throughout the duck hunting season each year. Others provide key anchors on private lands that support the health of waterfowl populations as they move throughout the Willamette Valley.

Speakers will include: Kelly Warren (Ducks Unlimited), David Speten (ODFW), and Jed Kaul (LTWC)

People of diverse ages and ambulatory abilities can enjoy this walk, less than a mile, on largely flat ground over a trail. Register by Monday, February 21st to enter your name in the drawing.

Questions: lorette@longtom.org

Register for Feb 24 Winter Waterfowl Walk!

In order to ensure the safe distancing for all attendees, our maximum threshold for the guided walk is up to 30 people.

We will be choosing participants via a lottery system. Those interested in participating can fill out a form below to enter the lottery.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER: Monday, Feb 21st, at 5 p.m. If you are interested in attending the walk with someone, please submit one form with both of your names and contact information (limit one entry for a maximum of two people). Lottery winners will be chosen and all who entered will be notified on Tuesday, Feb 22nd. Directions will provided to those folks who are randomly selected to attend.

All tour attendees will be asked to wear masks for the duration of our exposure to one another and attendees are asked to maintain 6-foot physical distance between households. There will be another drawing for those not selected to win prizes, including an LTWC hat, steel pint glass, and otter!

**Registration for the lottery drawing is now closed. If you previously registered, we will follow up on Tues, Feb 22nd**