E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area raptor survey

[Joel Geier]

Hi folks,

Jeff Fleischer cajoled me into starting a "raptor walk" route on E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area (north Benton County).

Yesterday I did the inaugural survey, covering a 7.5 mile walking loop with a few zigs and zags to get reasonably good views of the main habitat on this 1800-acre wildlife area. It took me 3 hours and 40 minutes to complete the loop.

Here are the numbers:

Red-tailed Hawk 25 (plus 2 that I didn't count because they were in view of another route that follows Hwy 99W)

Red-shouldered Hawk 4

Cooper's Hawk 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 2

American Kestrel 1

Great Horned Owl 1

If you include the two Red-tails that I didn't count, that's one raptor per 50 acres, a higher density than I would have guessed. And no doubt I missed a few. 

Normally there should also be some Northern Harriers around, but this year most of the bigger open areas have been mowed, so there's not much harrier habitat.

Interesting exercise ... and definitely exercise! Though not as much as one runner who I met three times along the walk. The second time I asked him if he was on his second lap, and he said yes. I think he must have done 3 laps, each of 6 or 7 miles. There was a truck parked with a "26.2" sticker so guessing he's a marathoner.

--

Joel Geier

Camp Adair