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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Fred Dobler, Wildlife Program Manager

March 20, 2006

Wildlife Diversity

The Oregon Zoo pygmy rabbit enclosure. Pygmy Rabbit Artificial Propagation– Biologist Sue VanLeuvan has been doing work for the pygmy rabbit restoration program. She reports that this week she finished screening the gable end of the Oregon Zoo pygmy rabbit enclosure that has double doors at one end. There is no more major work to do there. The only work remaining is to caulk the empty screw holes in the roof, but the weather has not been agreeable for that. We assume that she is done there for the time being.

The first sighting of a male rufous hummingbird was made near Centralia.

Small winter elk group.

Peregrine Falcon– District Biologist Anderson and Wildlife Biologist Woodin attended WDFW's Peregrine Falcon 2006 survey meeting for Western Washington. This years' survey is the second of five surveys that will be conducted on known and potential Peregrine Falcon nesting territories. These surveys occur every three years, and are intended to monitor falcon populations since they were de-listed from Federal Endangered Status in 1999.

Surveys will be conducted at all known nesting sites. Observers will be watching for courtship behaviors like food exchanges between adult peregrines and attempting to located nesting sites. If possible, visits later in the year will be made to attempt to determine if young have been produced.

Watchable Wildlife– The first sighting of a male rufous hummingbird was made near Centralia on Monday, March 13th. Males arrive earlier than females and are typically coincident with the blooming of the native shrub, Indian plum, and the first salmonberry blooms.

Game Division

Winter Elk Survey– Wildlife Biologist Woodin participated in a winter elk survey of the Upper Cowlitz River Valley. The survey was being conducted by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians as part of their research on elk in the area. The Cowlitz valley from Randle upstream through Packwood is an important wintering area for elk.

One group of approximately 2,000 Cackling Canada Geese were seen near the Chehalis Airport recently. Watchable Wildlife– Flocks of geese have been seen heading north the past weeks. One group of approximately 2,000 Cackling Canada Geese were seen near the Chehalis Airport recently. See them in a pasture with cows and moving northward in the photos to the right.