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 view the Seasonal
Bird Checklist for the Complex.
Click here
to view the most recent Wildlife Sightings report (May 1, 2012).
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, Animals, 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
