The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites you to explore Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) during a series of twelve guided canoe and kayak trips during June, July, and August 2012. During these paddle trips visitors will spend about two hours paddling through the heart of Siletz Bay Refuge while learning about its wildlife and natural history.

Participants must provide their own canoe or kayak for each trip. If you don't have one available, single person kayaks can be rented from the Siletz Moorage or other venues in the Lincoln City area. For your safety please dress appropriately for paddling in all weather conditions and wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) is mandatory.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can provide binoculars, field guides, and PFD’s to use during the trip if needed. Space & parking is limited; therefore you must call ahead to make a reservation. Once you are registered we will send out additional information regarding the trips. All trips will launch within 15 minutes of the time listed. The tours will take place on the following dates so call and register today.

Wednesday, June 13: 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 24: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 26: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, June 29: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, July 8: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 10: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 26: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 28: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, August 9: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 11: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, August 23: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 26: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Siletz Bay Refuge includes some of the most scenic estuarine habitat along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. On either side of Highway 101, starched skeleton trees jut forth from the estuary and are reminiscent of a time when the salt marsh was diked for pasture. Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, and occasionally Bald Eagle can be seen roosting at the top of these snags. A variety of estuarine dependent birds including Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and some species of waterfowl can be seen foraging in the tidally influenced waters. The refuge also provides nursery grounds for Coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout. Don’t miss your chance to participate in our interpretive paddle tour of Siletz Bay Refuge!

To make a reservation contact Octavia Solá at 541-961-2212 or octavia_sola@fws.gov. For more information visit www.fws.gov/oregoncoast.

An overwhelming percentage of visitors to Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge and State Scenic Viewpoint (Cape Meares) in 2010 and 2011 were favorably impressed with its recreational opportunities and services according to a peer-reviewed government survey released today. Some 90 percent of respondents gave consistent high marks to all facets of their outdoor experience.

The survey was commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and designed, conducted, and analyzed by researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey. It evaluated responses from 205 visitors surveyed at Cape Meares between July 2010 and November 2011. Cape Meares was one of 53 refuges surveyed across the nation.

Cape Meares Refuge was established in 1938 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Cape Meares Refuge has been managed in cooperation with Oregon State Parks since its establishment and is defined by vertical coastal cliffs that support nesting seabirds, rocky outcroppings, and rolling headlands with old-growth forest dominated by Sitka spruce and western hemlock. Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, managed by Oregon State Parks, is adjacent to the Refuge and harbors the famous Octopus Tree and the Cape Meares Lighthouse.

The Visitor Satisfaction Survey was conducted at Cape Meares and the results reflect the close partnership between both agencies. Of the surveyed visitors 75% had been to Cape Meares once in the last 12 months. The other 25% had visited multiple times averaging 12 times during the year. Half of the visitors first learned about Cape Meares from signs on U.S. Highway 101, another 34% from friends or relatives and the remainder from brochures or websites. An overwhelming majority of visitors (88%) lived more than 50 miles from Cape Meares.

Some survey participants volunteered enthusiastic comments, “Cape Meares is unique because of the opportunity to see migrating gray whales in the spring and winter; to learn about the history of the lighthouse; to see what the largest Sitka spruce in the state looks like; to wonder about the mystery of the Octopus Tree; to experience the rocky Oregon coast on a clear day; and, maybe to catch sight of a Peregrine falcon.”

Of survey participants,
• 96 percent reported satisfaction with recreational activities and opportunities;
• 95 percent reported satisfaction with information and education about the park and the refuge;
• 96 percent reported satisfaction with services provided by state park or refuge employees or volunteers; and
• 90 percent reported satisfaction with the conservation of wildlife and their habitat at Cape Meares.

The most popular outdoor activities that visitors engaged in at Cape Meares were whale watching, photography, bird watching and hiking. Many visitors also spent time touring the Cape Meares lighthouse and gift shop.

Staff at Cape Meares will use survey results to help guide transportation, facilities and services planning. USGS social scientist Natalie Sexton was the lead researcher on the report. The full survey is available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/685/.

The Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex held its first photography contest to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). IMBD, which highlights the migration of nearly 350 species of migratory birds between nesting habitats in North America and non-breeding grounds in Latin America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, will celebrate its 20th anniversary Saturday, May 11. The 2012 IMBD theme is “Connecting People to Bird Conservation.”

The photography contest supports this year’s theme by connecting people to birds through the lens of a camera. All photographers were encouraged to enter, either as a professional, amateur or youth. The judging was held this past week and the winners are as follows.

Amateur category
1-Great Blue Heron (wading in tidal slough) by Rick Sorensen
2-Two Eagles by Jared McArthur
3-Homeward Bound (Osprey) by Gloria O’Rourke
Honorable Mention-Bald Eagle with Common Murre by Susan Glarum
Honorable Mention-Fast Food (Scrub Jay) by Virginia Ledesma

Professional Category (limited entries)
1-Sanderling with food by Steve Dimock
2-Great Egret in nest by Lynda Bare

Best of Show
Sanderling with food by Steve Dimock

Visit our Facebook page to view the winning photos.

Registration for the ninth annual Pacific City Birding and Blues Festival is now open at the event’s web site, www.birdingandblues.com, or by phone at (503) 965-6247.
Held April 13-15 in Pacific City, the event features a slate of birding experts including Terry Steele, a photographer whose striking bird images punctuate his passionate approach to the appreciation of nature. His presentation is part of three days of lectures by respected regional birding experts, as well as two live birds of prey exhibitions. Seminars will address topics ranging from bird conservation to the natural history of seabirds, from the Characteristics of the Dusky Canada Goose to Beginning Birding and Gardening for Birds — and much more.
For the outdoor minded, the festival features 14 birding hikes led by experienced birders to a wide variety of local habitat. Amongst the offerings are trips to Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Clay Myers State Natural Area, Camp Winema and Neskowin Marsh.
Registration for three days of excursions and seminars is $50 for immediate families, $25 for adults and $10 for students. Birding & Blues has something to offer all ages and interests — even a free Community Open House on Friday afternoon.
A free birds of prey demonstration will be offered Friday afternoon and kids can help decorate the Kiawanda Community Center’s great hall in a children’s workshop on bird-themed art led by Kim and Mark Cavatorta of Slug Soup. Following the free community open house at 7p.m. Friday, for a nominal fee, the festival is proud to be showing the feature film, “The Big Year”, starring Steve Martin and Jack Black.
For a different vantage point, birders can opt for one of the festival’s kayak excursions. Trips include a 2-hour kayak expedition on the Little Nestucca River on Saturday and Sunday. Or take an all-day birding journey on the Three Capes Scenic Tour, a 60-mile round trip that features stops along the Pacific Ocean, Netarts Bay, Cape Lookout, Cape Meares Forest and Tillamook pastures — each a unique birding habitat. Additional fees apply to add-on excursions.
Music is always a part of any Birding and Blues celebration and this year is no exception. We welcome the ‘Cajun Swampytonk-style’ blues sound of the Purple Cats on Friday, April 13 from 8:30-11 p.m. at the Oar House Bar & Grill (no charge, 21 or older), and the festival’s first ever double bill on Saturday, April 14, featuring the Sandy Saunders Band from 8-9:30 p.m. and The Strange Tones from 9:30-11 p.m.. Both Saturday bands will perform at the Kiawanda Community Center and are open to all ages. Admission to the Saturday bands is $10; or purchase a special pass that includes festival field trips, seminars and both concerts.
To complement the major acts at the Oar House and Community Center, Rob Richter will play two solo guitar performances on Friday and Saturday from 5-7p.m. at Twist Wine Co. (no charge, 21 or older).
For more information on the 2012 Birding & Blues Festival or to register in advance, visit www.birdingandblues.com. Early registration secures a space on your preferred hiking excursion or kayak trip.
The 2012 Birding & Blues Festival is presented by its many generous sponsors and the Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Bandon Marsh Restoration Team Recognized by the
Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and its valued tidal marsh restoration partners have been recognized by the Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) for the recently completed Ni-les’tun Tidal Marsh Restoration Project on Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The restoration partners were presented Oregon’s “2012 Fishery Team of the Year Award” at the Awards Luncheon held during the 48th Annual Meeting of the Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in Eugene, Oregon on March 1, 2012.

The 418-acre tidal marsh restoration project was completed on Bandon Marsh NWR in the summer of 2011. It is the largest tidal marsh restoration project ever constructed in Oregon. In addition to the Service, restoration partners recognized at the luncheon included the Federal Highway Administration, the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, and the Estuarine Technical Group of the Institute for Applied Ecology.

“The Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society is one of the most respected, progressive, and productive chapters in the country”, noted Roy W. Lowe, Project Leader for the Oregon Coast NWR Complex. “Its membership is comprised of the top fisheries researchers and managers in the state from academia, federal, state, and local agencies, Tribes, watershed councils, and the private sector and all of the team members are deeply honored to be recognized by this group of professionals”, said Lowe.

“Estuarine habitat is incredibly important for a wide array of species that includes not only Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead, but coastal cutthroat trout, lamprey, and a variety of marine fish. This project has dramatically increased the ecological value of the Coquille River estuary”, said Demian Ebert, Oregon AFS Past President. “The immediate success of the project was made possible only by a team of people working together for years to plan and implement the project. The Bandon Marsh Restoration Team exemplifies what the Fishery Team of the Year award is all about.”
The Coquille River Estuary has suffered the greatest percentage loss (94%) of tidal wetlands in the state of Oregon. The restoration project is benefiting a host of estuarine- dependent fish, particularly salmonids including coastal cutthroat trout, juvenile Chinook salmon and threatened coho salmon. Recent survey work by Service fisheries biologists documented juvenile coho salmon present throughout the five miles of the newly constructed sinuous tidal channels within the Bandon Marsh restoration area.

The Oregon AFS Fisheries Team of the Year Award recognizes outstanding collaborative team work to understand and manage fisheries resources, and acknowledges that these efforts frequently cross geographic, disciplinary and socioeconomic boundaries.

Since restoration construction activity stopped last September, we have been watching wildlife respond to the return of the tides to Ni-les'tun, and it has been very exciting. Probably the most obvious response has been by waterfowl; geese have been grazing on the fresh grass growing on the disturbed areas, and mallard, northern pintail, American wigeon, American coot, and most spectacularly a flock of up to 500 green-winged teal are taking advantage of the channels and pools filled by the tides. The teal fly around in tight flocks wheeling like shorebirds when they are flushed by northern harriers or peregrine falcons. Speaking of shorebirds, there has also been persistent flocks of sandpipers, plovers, dowitchers, and scattered Wilson's snipe; particularly down on the incipient mudflats developing at lower Fahys Creek. There is now also a greater presence of great blue herons and great egrets than before the restoration and they can be seen foraging throughout the marsh, indicating that there is plenty of food for them.

With the restoration of fish passage along the entire length of Fahys Creek, we are anxious to see if any stray salmon will discover the new gravel spawning beds available to them. Biologists with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife installed an adult salmon fish trap in Fahys Creek just below North Bank Lane in late October for the purpose of monitoring salmon migration up the creek. The habitat is most suitable for Coho salmon, but the only fish we have captured to date is a single hatchery Chinook. Any Coho captured will be marked and released above the trap, where they will have to negotiate a few beaver dams to reach the gravel beds. The peak of Coho migration is still to come, though, and we still hold out hope that some fish will move into the new habitat. We are also conducting weekly redd and carcass surveys along the creek to document actual spawning.

In late November we supplemented the woody plantings at Smith Tract with another 2,000 trees and shrubs. These new plants replace some of the previously planted (last March) trees that died, and add species, such as evergreen huckleberry, cascara, and rhododendron, that we were not able to get from nurseries last winter. We contracted with Professional Reforestation of Oregon, Inc. of Coos Bay to do the planting and their crew also removed thousands of invasive scotch broom, gorse, and blackberry sprouts from the site. The planting crew also weeded and planted to repair disturbance associated with the Fahys Creek fish passage projects upstream of the Refuge.

This week we have a team from USFWS Columbia River Fisheries Program Office down to sample fish in the new marsh for the first time since the tides have returned. They use fife nets and seines to capture fish at various locations throughout the refuge. So far, they have found lots of coastal cutthroat trout and juvenile Coho in the non-tidal waters of Fahys Creek. The intrusion of brackish water into the marsh has brought with it typically estuarine species found for the first time including larval smelt, crabs, and jellyfish, along with plenty of stickleback, sculpin, and juvenile Coho that were all present before restoration.

The November King tides were spectacular to see as the tidal water flowed all the way to North Bank Lane, the DeFazio Marsh Overlook Deck and nearly submerged the new marsh spur trail.