Wildlife & Habitat
The 5,325 acres of William L. Finley NWR protect fine examples of
many of the Willamette Valley’s historic habitats. Fields of wildlife
food crops are interspersed with Oregon white oak savanna, meandering
creeks with bottomland Oregon ash forest, mature big-leaf maple in
mixed coniferous forest and native prairie.
Click here to download the Seasonal Bird Checklist for the Complex.
Wetlands - includes creeks, ponds and seasonal marshes
With the depleting number of wetland habitats in the Willamette
Valley, William L. Finley NWR is a great way to see what the valley
once looked like. The wetlands on the refuge provide a sanctuary for wintering waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds. Cabell Marsh and McFadden Marsh are the two largest wetland habitats on the
refuge and will hold water throughout the year. Smaller ponds that are worth visiting are Beaver Pond, Cattail Pond, Finger Ponds and Display Pond.
Many trails on the refuge allow excellent views of these different
habitats. McFadden Marsh Observation Blind is a great way to observe
many different species on the marsh. Head to Cabell Marsh Kiosk
and look through the viewing scope to spot wildlife on the marsh. Hike the new Homer Campbell Memorial Boardwalk to the Observation Blind for an upclose look at water birds, geese, bald eagles, and other wildlife.
Wetland Birds, Animals and Plants
Birds: Canada Geese, mallard, Northern pintail, and great blue
heron
Animals: Red-legged frog, Pacific tree frog, beaver, and Roosevelt
elk
Plants: Broad-leafead pondweed, water plantain, American sloughgrass,
Englemann's spikerush
Riparian Forest
Along Muddy Creek and Gray Creek on William L. Finley NWR is where
you will find a riparian forest habitat. The plants that live in
this area are accustomed to flooding in the winter and low water
levels in the summer. They have adapted to be able to live in the
harsh environment of the riparian forest. The dense understory of
this habitat provides refuge for many different types of wildlife.
Many birds build nests among the thick brush and shrubs along the
banks of the creek. Beaver are commonly seen along the creeks building
dens and playing in the water. Keep an eye out for a river otter
that might be swimming in the water. There are nest boxes along
the creek that provide homes for many different species of wildlife.
Wood ducks, warblers and downy woodpeckers are some of the species
that use the nest boxes.
Riparian Forest Birds, Animals and Plants
Birds: Wood duck, hooded merganser, great horned owl, northern flicker
Animals: Beaver, river otter, rough-skinned newt, black-tailed deer
Plants: Oregon ash, lady fern, skunk cabbage, salmonberry, thimbleberry
Upland Forest
A mix of douglas fir, Oregon white oak and big-leaf maple trees
make up the upland forest habitats on the refuge. This mixture of
trees allows for a variety of animals and plants to live in this habitat.
Mill Hill Loop and Woodpecker Loop trails take you through upland
forest habitats. In the summer the canopy provides shade and cooler
temperatures along the trail. Many migratory songbirds spend time
in the upland forest during their migration. Along the edge of the
trail you will see sword ferns, wild rose, Oregon grape and Himalayan
blackberry.
Upland Forest Birds, Animlas, and Plants
Birds: Common bushtit, dark-eyed junco, pileated woodpecker, red-breasted
nuthatch
Animals: Townsends chipmunk, Western grey squirrel, deer mouse,
raccoon
Plants: Douglas fir, Oregon white oak, big leaf maple, snowberry,
wild rose, poison oak
Grasslands - includes brush and hedgerows
Many different types of crops are grown on the refuge to provide
browse for wintering waterfowl. They like to feed on the
short, tender new growth that follows the fall rains. In turn, waterfowl
browsing stimulates the grass to grow more rapidly. By the time
the birds leave on their spring migration, the fields are thick with
strong new shoots of grass. Other wildlife species benefit from
the bushy edges and hedgerows that are left around the farm fields.
Many of these animals feed in the fields but seek cover and protection
from predators among the thick bushes around the edges.
Grassland Birds, Animals, and Plants
Birds: California quail, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, red-winged
blackbird
Animals: Gray-tailed vole, coyote, red fox, Roosevelt elk, brush
rabbit, common garter snake
Plants: Ryegrass, tall fescue, annual ryegrass, corn, hawthorn
Oak Savanna
Oak savanna habitats were a common sight in the Willamette Valley
during the period that the Kalapuya Indians lived here. Scattered
large Oregon white oak trees on dry grassy hillsides made up the
typical oak savanna. Many of these habitats were cleared and turned into agricultural fields when white settlers moved into the
valley. Now one of the last remaining oak savanna habitats is present
on Bald Top on William L. Finley NWR. The broad, spreading shapes
of the Oregon white oak indicate they grew without competition from
other trees for space and light. Currently prescribed burns and
removal of non-native species allows the oak trees to continue to
grow without any competition.
Oak Savanna Birds, Animals and Plants
Birds: White-breasted nuthatch, American goldfinch, Western bluebird,
acorn woodpecker, Northern harrier
Animals: California ground squirrel, gray fox, bobcat, camas pocket
gopher, grey-tailed vole
Plants: Oregon white oak, large camas, field cluster lily, Nelsons
checkermallow
Native Prairie
The prairies of Oregon’s Willamette Valley were once widespread
in the valley bottom. They remained open because of prairie burning
by the native Kalapuya prior to Euro-American settlement. As the
burning stopped by the 1830's the prairies were invaded by woody
species and non-native weeds brought in by settlers. Many areas
were developed for agriculture and urban uses. Today much less than
one percent of the native prairies remain. William L. Finley has
one of, if not the largest, continuous tract of native prairie habitat
within the Willamette Valley. Active restoration is continually
going on to preserve the last remaining native prairie habitat. Many
endangered and threatened plant and animal species rely on the native
prairie habitat for survival.
Native prairie Birds, Animals and Plants
Birds: Western meadowlark, Lazuli bunting, barn swallow, cliff swallow,
Northern harrier
Animals: Oregon vole, coyote, shrew mole, raccoon
Plants: Tufted hairgrass, silver hairgrass, farewell-to-spring,
peacock larkspur, yellow monkey flower
