Golden Gardens Recap

From our recent trip to Golden Gardens Ponds, A City of Eugene Park with a lot of life!

We had 7 attendees brave the rain for this Wetland Wander on January 12th. Although wet and stormy that morning, we saw an amazing diversity of wetland animals including 3 river otters, Canada and Cackling geese, Nutria, evidence of Coyotes, Pied-billed Grebe, a Great Egret, a group of Bushtits, Red-winged Blackbirds, and several other bird species. With the guidance of City of Eugene Ecologist, Lauri Holts, we found remnants of Western Pond Turtle nests as well as egg shells from the invasive Red-eared Slider turtle. Lauri talked about the history of Golden Gardens Park, Western Pond Turtle ecology, the invasive aquatic plant, Ludwigia, and much more. Tracker and Expert Naturalist, David Walp was able to point out several Nutria "highways", a devoured carp, and coyote scat with Nutria fur, bones, and even a Nutria claw!

We hope you'll join us for our next Wetland Wander at Meadowlark Prairie on February 9th, 9am-11am.

WREN Volunteer, Steven Fletcher found this tiny snail.

Nutria toenail found in Coyote Scat

Nutria trail adjacent to the walking path.

Wetland Wander at Golden Gardens Ponds

Tuesday, January 12th

9AM-11AM

Join us for our first Wetland Wander of 2016 at Golden Gardens Pond!

Formerly an excavation pit to provide gravel for the construction of Beltline Road, the ponds are now home to 222 acres of native trees, shrubs and grasses, western pond turtles, and abundant wildlife. We’ll follow a looped, soft-surface walking path around the ponds. Expert Naturalist David Walp and City of Eugene Ecologist Laurie Holts will be there to guide our adventure!

 Directions: From Hwy 99, west on Barger, Right on Golden Gardens St. Meet at the pull-off located north of Barger Drive, at the intersection of Golden Gardens Street and Jessen Drive. 

For more information contact WREN at info@wewetlands.org or call (541) 338-7047

 

Leucistic Northern Flicker

Here is a photo of a leucistic Northern Flicker that Rick Ahrens captured on our last Wetland Wander, December 8th at Stewart Pond. You can see that there is partial pigment loss on his back, and other photos reveal a similar coloring on his chest.

Learn more about Leucism here:

Wrap up of December's Wetland Wander

Here is a list of all the birds we saw/heard on our Wetland Wander December 8th. Despite being a still and gray morning, Stewart Pond was bustling with life.

Bald Eagle
Scrub Jay
Cackling Geese
American Robin
European Starling
Canada Geese
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Western Meadowlark
Dark-eyed Junco
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Anna's Hummingbird
Pine Siskins

As we followed the bark trail from the parking area, we wove our way through open prairie, upland oak woodlands, Oregon ash swales, and followed levees along side the Amazon creek. We also saw many lichens, fungi, wetland and ash swale plants, heard Pacific Chorus frogs calling, and discussed species succession, invasive species impacts, and the behavior of raptors such as the Red-tailed hawk and American Kestrel. We saw a leucistic Northern Flicker, learn more about Leucism here.

Thank you to all who joined us and WREN hopes to see you on our next Wetland Wander on January 12th, 2016 at Golden Garden Ponds.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 Naturalist Rick Ahrens describing Western Red Cedar. 

There are 3 different lichen species, and a moss on this one tiny twig.

 Fungi and Slime mold, cool!

WREN's Wetland Wander at Stewart Pond

Tuesday, December 8th

9:00am-11:00am

Our fourth and final "seasonal" walk of 2015, Bertelsen Nature Park and Stewart Pond offer the highest diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (odonates) in the West Eugene Wetlands. Western pond turtles are present in the ponds, and river otters have also been observed using this natural area. WREN Naturalist Rick Ahrens will lead this wander. Participants should bring water. Waterproof clothing and footwear is ideal for late Autumn outings. WREN will provide binoculars.

Directions: From West 11th Ave, North on Bertlesen Rd, right on Stewart Rd, approx. 1/2 mile on left. 

For more information 

call 541.338.7047 

or 

email info@wewetlands.org

FREE!