William Finley Wildlife Refuge

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Learning a little something at Finley Wildlife Refuge

My partner is an ornithologist, and one of my stock jokes is that I am on the 200-year plan to get a degree in Birds. So far, after three years, I can identify about six species. Actually, with 900 species of birds in the US, if I learn an average of two species a year my degree will take more like 450 years ...

Anyway, I tend to associate new species with the context in which I first learned to identify them. Finley Wildlife Refuge, a few minutes south of downtown Corvallis, Oregon, was where I first figured out Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)! Finley is entirely accessible for even the most novice wildlife observer; just turn off of Highway 99W at the sign, drive a bit, park, get out of your car, and point your binoculars at anything that moves.

Red-winged Blackbirds are black, with red epaulets at the tops of their wings; watch closely to see the males puff up their wings.

Check out the Refuge home page for more official information on Finley, and the Corvallis Audubon Society for expert bird information.

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