The Vision for Putnam's Point

[Kevin Spencer]

Vision at Putnam's Point for this message really does have that double meaning, in that it means future outlook, and what can be seen now.

Some thirty years ago a fence was brought down at Putnam's Point, and later, a parking area established. It became a regular stop for me, on those trips to Klamath Falls when I used to live in Tulelake. Apparently, before I arrived in the area, in Klamath Basin, before 1990, Putnam's Point was not really accessible. I think I may have skirted the fence once or twice before it was removed. I hope there is some forgiveness by the city for those trespasses. But I couldn't resist while on my way to Moore Park, another great Klamath Falls stop. 

Over the years the area has slowly changed. Birds still were found there, and the real bonus attraction of watching Western and Clark's Grebes rushing upon the water, doing weed dances, and then in the fall, watching late young juveniles riding on parent's back, becoming one of Oregon's must see bird attraction, we're still being seen. Well, Grebe dancing was considered close to the thrill of the winter congregation of Bald Eagles. But the area changed, like a teenager whose hair starts blocking the eyes. Sure, the kid still can see through it, and dad seems to tolerate it, but come on. Archie Manning is really the only person I know who could function at a high level with hair flying all over the face. For most, the vegetation had slowly changed things, and not for the good. But, removing too much would change things in a much worse way.

Birds were still there, but I noticed a decline in truly amazing sightings. In early years there was a late fall day, sort of like today. It was cold, and cloudy, but along with Frank Mayer, we happened to see Common, Pacific, and one Red-throated Loon from Putnam's Point. I can't put all of the blame on more tolerant fall weather systems, but vegetaion may have been involved with reduced rare bird finds. I  found that I just didn't go there as much with reduced vision. Then there's Dave Menke's record of a White-winged Scoter. That's going back a few years. Recently, noteable finds have been a lone Red-breasted Merganser among the hoards of Common Mergansers, or a seemingly brave American White Pelican that wants to skip migration and hang out at Putnam's Point. There's been a few close to making it through a winter, but I don't know any that have actually made it to Spring. But those aren't the real rare finds.

So, this year, in cooperation with the city, Klamath Basin Audubon, and I think the Wendt family, among other contributors, a statue will be erected at Putnam's Point, to highlight the location's significance to Grebe development, but really focusing on the grebe rituals that people get a thrill watching. The statue will show rushing grebes. The artist: Stefan Savides.

One of the goals for this project was to increase "accessibility" to the grebes, and "cut back" vegetation to increase visual alleys and hopefully increase photography opportunities. That pruning portion of the project started this last week. I happened to see some of the early pruning to the larger trees in the center. I saw good techniques used for pruning trees up. I held hope that the park would continue to have other bird viewing opportunities besides grebes, with rare finds such as a Black-throated Green Warbler, or a Blackpoll Warbler, both found at Putnam's Point in the past.

Driving by in the late afternoon today, I was really quite impressed with how Putnam's Point looked. Numerous younger trees that had grown up and blocked the original viewing alley where Frank and I scoped the loons many years ago, were gone. I could envision myself standing with others on the berm along the parking lot, looking west, with a clear view of any waterfowl out there, like I did some 25 years ago. It was at that same berm that Dave Haupt pointed out a first year Herrmann's Gull out on the rocks from that berm. Wow. Maybe with this vegetation renewal there will be some real "Deja Vu" sightings. 

So, the future vision of Putnam's Point, seems to have been met, and that is to have increased vision of the grebes we have here in the Klamath Basin.  It will be a great addition to Klamath Falls. I'm very pleased with the city's vegetation treatment. So, now let the dancing begin!

Kevin Spencer

Klamath Falls

[Nagi Aboulenein]

Thanks for that update, Kevin - the improved visibility for seeing (and photographing) rushing Grebes sounds great, and I look forward to future visits.

Cheers,

Nagi

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[kirsten potter]

Kudos to City Parks, a job well done by that hard working outfit!

                                                      Dave Potter

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/klamathbasinbirdnews/7c3c8d5e-55ac-46b3-ae94-f8ecf1fd850b%40Spark.

[Polly Strahan]

Thank you  for this Putnam's Point posting and all of your postings, Kevin. I have learned so much through your posts.

Polly