Some of the early spring migrants started to show up as is normal for February. Fern Ridge Reservoir was the place to be this past month, with the sighting of the Falcated Duck and the extremely high numbers of Bald Eagles. The Falcated Duck was found at midday on February 14, and a number of people got to see it before it flushed with the rest of the ducks in the late afternoon. It wasn't found again until March, when many people from throughout the West arrived for a viewing. The large numbers of Bald Eagles were attracted to Fern Ridge Reservoir to feed on dying fish. With all the media coverage of the eagles, we saw an unprecedented number of people with binoculars walking around the reservoir!

WATERFOWL
Falcated Duck Feb 14; Kirk Pond; JH,DT
Eurasian Wigeon (5) Feb 12; Kirk Pond; AP
Eurasian Wigeon (10) Feb 14+; Kirk Pond; m.ob.
Cinnamon Teal Feb 21; Fern Ridge Reservoir; AC
Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) Feb 8; Creswell; NS
Harlequin Duck (8) Feb 29; South Jetty; RR
Long-tailed Duck Feb 2; South Jetty; BBr,JM
Long-tailed Duck Feb 29; South Jetty; RR
Common Goldeneye (22) Feb 2; Dexter Reservoir; DF
Common Goldeneye Feb 18; Deflation plain; B&ZS
Barrow's Goldeneye Feb 20; Jasper Park; PS
Ruddy Duck (600) Feb 3; Siltcoos Lake; DI

WATERBIRDS
Short-tailed Shearwater Feb 2; Sea Lion Caves; M&MD
Short-tailed Shearwater Feb 29; Tokatee Kootchman; RR
Northern Fulmar (2) Feb 2; Sea Lion Caves; M&MD
Double-crested Cormorant Feb 2; Island Park; VA
Great Egret (55) Feb 13; Kirk Pond roost; SG
Green Heron Feb 9; Cottage Grove; SG

VULTURES & RAPTORS
Turkey Vulture Feb 11; Alton Baker Park; AM
Osprey Feb 11; Alton Baker Park; AM
Osprey Nov 26; Row River; DHy
Bald Eagle (14) Feb 22; Fern Ridge Reservoir; RR
Bald Eagle (32) Feb 25; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
Bald Eagle (62) Feb 25; Fern Ridge Reservoir; fide DF
Northern Goshawk Feb 22; Florence; DD
Rough-legged Hawk (4) Feb 1; Meadowview Rd. area; JS
Rough-legged Hawk (5) Feb 4; Alvadore-Franklin area; A&DHy
Prairie Falcon Feb 1; Greenhill Rd. & Awbrey Ln.; JS

CRANES, SHOREBIRDS, GULLS, & ALCIDS
Sandhill Crane (flock) Feb 20; Hayden Bridge; BBg
Sandhill Crane (flock) Feb 21; Lorane Hwy. & Fox Hollow Rd.; JH,DT
Black-bellied Plover (27) Feb 22; Fern Ridge Reservoir; RR
Black-bellied Plover (45) Feb 25; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DF
Semipalmated Plover (2) Feb 4; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
Black-legged Kittiwake (15) Feb 8; South Jetty; AC
Marbled Murrelet (5) Feb 8; South Jetty; AC
Rhinoceros Auklet Feb 23; South Jetty; DP

PIGEONS & OWLS
Band-tailed Pigeon Feb 22; Fox Hollow Rd area; MS
Short-eared Owl (3) Feb 1; FRR (Royal Ave); JS
Short-eared Owl (3) Feb 1; Meadowview Rd; JS
Northern Saw-whet Owl (3) Feb 11; Mt. Pisgah; JS

PASSERINES
Rufous Hummingbird Feb 21; Florence; DP
Rufous Hummingbird Feb 25; Fox Hollow Rd. area; MS
Three-toed Woodpecker Feb 29; Fuji Mtn area; JS,LJ
Black Phoebe Feb 5; Cottage Grove; DHn,JH
Black Phoebe Feb 21; Fern Ridge Reservoir; AC
Northern Shrike Feb 8; W Eugene; MP
Horned Lark (many) Feb 8; Eugene airport area; JS
Horned Lark (2) Feb 14; Mt. Pisgah; JS
Tree Swallow (100) Feb 13; FRR dam; SG
Barn Swallow (5) Feb 2; Kirk Pond; DF
Western Bluebird (10) Feb 12; Alton Baker; RR
Western Meadowlark (40) Feb 16; Eugene airport area; DD
Brown-headed Cowbird (25) Feb 26; Mt. Pisgah; NS
Purple Finch Feb 7; SE Eugene; AC
Pine Siskin Feb 22; Eugene; RS

Abbreviations:

FRR Fern Ridge Reservoir, m.ob. Many observers, South Jetty South Jetty of the Siuslaw River, Deflation plain South Jetty of the Siuslaw River deflation plain, Tokatee Kootchman State Wayside north of Heceta Head.

Thank You, Contributors!

VA Vjera Arnold, BBr Bob Bender, BBg Betsy Berg, AC Alan Contreras, M&MD MerryLynn & Mike Denny, DD Don DeWitt, DF Daniel Farrar, SG Steve Gordon, A&DHy Anne & Dan Heyerly, DHn Diane Horgan, JH John Houle, JH Jill Hubbard, DI Dave Irons, LJ Laura Johnson, LM Larry McQueen, AM Allison Mickel, TM Tom Mickel, JM John Mundall, MP Margie Paris, DP Diane Pettey, AP Al Prigge, RR Roger Robb, PS Paul Sherrell, RS Randy Sinnott, MS Maeve Sowles, B&ZS Bill & Zanah Stotz, NS Noah Strycker, JS John Sullivan, DT Daphne Turner.