| February 2004: Exploring
Sauvie Island |
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Sauvie Island is located in the Columbia
River, about 15 miles northwest of Portland, OR. About half of this flat island
is farmland. The other half has been designated as the Sauvie Island Wildlife
Area. This is a typical winter view in the Wildlife Area. |
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Much of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area is
made of wetlands. This habitat supports a large variety of wildlife, including
hundreds of bird species. Here a Great Blue Heron hunts for its next
meal... |
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This miniature "lighthouse" is at the
northern end of the island. It's really more of a beacon, as there is no light.
The lighthouse is reached by a 4-mile trail that winds along the Columbia
River, through the woods, and near some of the wetlands. The trail can get a
bit muddy in places. |
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This Red-Tailed Hawk was perched near one of
the many parking areas along the road in the Wildlife Area. Sauvie Island is a
popular birding (birdwatching) destination, and it's not hard to understand
why... The birds are everywhere one looks and listens. |
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While a group of fellow visitors were fixated
on the hawks and waterfowl, this Song Sparrow flitted among the reeds just a
few feet away. |
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Much of the wetland areas are off-limits to
the public from October through April (when the bird population peaks) unless
you have a valid hunting license. This seems a bit odd. The areas are closed to
protect habitat and give the birds a real refuge from people. However, the
group of people who least want to disturb the birds - the birders - are
restricted, and those who want to kill the birds - the hunters - are allowed
in. Huh? Of course hunters are a major reason the Wildlife Area exists, they
give tons of money to ensure places like this can exist... so they have birds
to hunt. But, it seems to me, they should also issue "birding licenses" to be
fair. I suppose a birder could get a hunting license, and just bring a spotting
scope instead of a gun... I wonder if some people do that... |
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Hunters and Birders aside, there's another
interest group who calls part of Sauvie Island home! |
