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William L. Finley
National Wildlife Refuge
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Refuge Overview: Located in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge was first approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission in 1963 to preserve wintering habitat for dusky Canada geese. Since that time, nearly all of the refuge’s 5,673 acres have been purchased using Migratory Bird Conservation funds, which include Federal Duck Stamp dollars.
GLenn Chambers/USFWS |
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| Wildlife and
Habitat: William L. Finley is part of the Willamette
Valley Refuge Complex, which also includes Ankeny and Basket
Slough National Wildlife Refuges. All three are managed to provide
critical winter forage (annual and perennial ryegrass and fescue)
for seven subspecies of Canada geese, but in particular dusky
Canada geese. The complex also provides winter habitat for thousands
of geese, ducks, and swans. In the summer, the refuges serve
as nesting areas for mallards, hooded mergansers, and wood ducks.
A number of different habitat types are protected by the William
L. Finley Wildlife Refuge. Some of the most critical are those
referred to as Willamette Valley habitats and include native
prairies, oak woodlands, and riparian forests. The most recent
addition to the refuge (1999) included 341 acres of riparian
land along the Willamette River in Linn County. This tract
includes black cottonwood riparian forests, shrubby willow
stands, backwater sloughs, and pasture lands. In addition to
providing habitat for migratory waterfowl, this refuge annex
also protects a great blue heron rookery.
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| Recreation Opportunities: During
the winter, when migrating Canada geese descend on the area, William
L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge is closed to the public. The remainder
of the year, the refuge is open for wildlife viewing. Besides waterfowl,
visitors may have a chance to see a herd of Roosevelt Elk, endangered
Fender’s Blue Butterflies, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles. |
Additional Resources
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