October 29, 2014
Save the Ancient Oaks in Salem
NOTE: The Oregon White Oak is a slow-growing tree and supports many native species of animals --- activism around the trees should be focused on saving the Oaks.
October 28, 2014
California Oak Symposium slated for Visalia
From the Porterville Recorder,
The foremost oak researchers in California and the Pacific Northwest, plus researchers from Spain and South Korea, converge in Visalia (California) for the seventh California Oak Symposium Nov. 3-6. This is the symposium’s first appearance in the San Joaquin Valley since its inception 35 years ago.
“The drought will be a major focus of the symposium,” said Rick Standiford, UC Cooperative Extension forest management specialist based at UC Berkeley, and symposium coordinator. “We will also have cutting-edge research and policy presentations on sudden oak death, gold-spotted oak borer and conifer encroachment in black and Garry oak woodlands, among much more.”
Since 1979, the California Oak Symposium has been held every five to seven years; the last one was in Rohnert Park in 2006. Visalia was selected for the symposium because of its geographic convenience for both northern and southern California oak scientists, and the city’s commitment to the preservation and protection of native oak trees.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
The foremost oak researchers in California and the Pacific Northwest, plus researchers from Spain and South Korea, converge in Visalia (California) for the seventh California Oak Symposium Nov. 3-6. This is the symposium’s first appearance in the San Joaquin Valley since its inception 35 years ago.
“The drought will be a major focus of the symposium,” said Rick Standiford, UC Cooperative Extension forest management specialist based at UC Berkeley, and symposium coordinator. “We will also have cutting-edge research and policy presentations on sudden oak death, gold-spotted oak borer and conifer encroachment in black and Garry oak woodlands, among much more.”
California’s oak woodlands cover
10 percent of the state, and oaks are a key ecological component of
conifer forests. There are more than 20 species of native California
oaks; several are found nowhere except within the state’s borders and
some others range only as far as Canada and Mexico. Oak woodlands are
the most biologically diverse habitat in the state, making conservation a
policy and management priority.
The symposium begins with tours
of regional oaks on Nov. 3. One group will tour the Visalia urban oak
forest; a second group visits the Kaweah Oaks Preserve and Dry Creek
Preserve. Over three days, scientists will present 58 research papers on
oak management, wildlife, ecosystem services, ranching and utilization,
gold-spotted oak borer, oak restoration, and sudden oak death. Ten of
the projects focus on oak conservation, touching on such topics as
economic incentives for oak conservation, the oak conservation program
at Tejon Ranch, and the establishment of Oregon white oak and California
black oak in northwestern California.
The wildlife series of
presentations provides new information about native and introduced
species that make their homes among the oaks, including European
starlings, Pacific fishers, bats and wild pigs. Some of the ranching
topics to be discussed include the public and private incomes from
forests in Andalusia, Spain; economic incentives related to recreational
use of private oak woodland; and acorn production and utilization in
South Korea.Since 1979, the California Oak Symposium has been held every five to seven years; the last one was in Rohnert Park in 2006. Visalia was selected for the symposium because of its geographic convenience for both northern and southern California oak scientists, and the city’s commitment to the preservation and protection of native oak trees.
October 16, 2014
Threatened species found at Salem Hospital site
Text from Willamette Live, October 15, 2014
Photos from copyright free sources
A Willamette University student and several local educators are
concerned that the “clear cutting” development of the Salem Hospital
property where the School for the Blind was may predict the end of two
species of native wildlife in Salem’s city core.
Maya Kaup, a sophomore Biology student is studying the Western Grey Squirrel population in the Salem area. The Western Grey Squirrel, which evolved to reside here millions of years ago, is rapidly losing ground to the Eastern Grey Squirrel, a competitive species introduced by humans in 1919, as well as by human-caused loss of habitat.
In 2006, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) identified
the Western Grey Squirrels as a “species of concern in need of
conservation”. The animals receive legal protection in the State of
Washington. In the Willamette Valley, the Western Grey is classified as
a State Sensitive Species – Vulnerable,” according to ODFW. According
to the Portland Audubon Society Western Grays have “almost completely
disappeared” from the Portland area.
In her research, Kaup found that Western Grey Squirrels had no foothold within Salem city limits – in any park or neighborhood – with the exception of two individuals she discovered on the land east of South Church Street between Pringle Creek and Mission Street S.E. – the hospital property. Kaup noticed the two in January, a sight traditionally seen every five years or more, but for only a few weeks. However, Kaup continued to see the two and later, two additional, smaller others, which suggests that the first are a breeding pair who have settled on the property. The group can still be seen, living off the large trees that are currently slated for cutting.
This “mature oak-conifer habitat,” Kaup says, “is crucial for the survival of Western Gray Squirrels… Westerns are closely associated with oak woodlands, and due to the loss of these in the Willamette Valley they are losing their habitat, in addition to being driven away by invasive squirrels and the roar of human development.”
Kaup’s advisor, Dr. David Craig, is chair of the Department of Biology at Willamette University, is equally concerned. If the trees on the hospital property are cut, as currently planned, he says, “only one thing will happen; the Western Grey Squirrel will be quickly gone and we’ll have local extinction.”
Dr. Jason Niedermeyer teaches Biology and Animal Behavior at South Salem High School and did several undergraduate research projects on squirrels when he was a Willamette student. “We’ve seen occasions,” Niedermeyer says, “of the Western Grey Squirrel attempting a comeback here, but they never seem to make a toehold.” From an aesthetic standpoint, he adds, “they’re just a beautiful squirrel. They’re a beautiful slate grey; their vocalizations are very musical. For 53 million years they’ve been the quintessential squirrel here, and now in Oregon’s state capital it’s kind of sad they aren’t the tree squirrel any more. There’s something sad about our leaving the world less dense than we found it.”
The hospital property is also a successful breeding site for several pairs of the slender-billed white-breasted nuthatch, another animal identified by the ODFW as a “species of concern.” For both the Western Grey Squirrel and the nuthatch, the Oregon Conservation Strategy specifically identifies private development and removal of Oregon white oaks as contributing problems and asks for voluntary conservation action.
On October 2, Craig wrote to Alan Costic, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Salem Hospital, identifying the two species and saying that if the hospital elected to cut the significant trees on the property, “you choose to destroy some of Oregon’s unique natural heritage, and increase the likelihood that we will end up with two more endangered species requiring expensive investments to prevent extinction.“
In his letter, Craig asked Costic and Salem Hospital to “return to the drawing board” and develop a site plan that preserves at least 30 of the 40+ trees currently targeted for removal. He expressed particular interest in saving most, if not all, of the ancient Oregon White Oaks, Douglas Firs and trees of greater than 24” diameter.
“The Western Grey Squirrels were here first,” Kaup says. “It seems sad that people drove them out and then, just when they’re trying to come back, we decide to cut their trees down.”
Photos from copyright free sources
 |
| Western Grey Squirrel |
Maya Kaup, a sophomore Biology student is studying the Western Grey Squirrel population in the Salem area. The Western Grey Squirrel, which evolved to reside here millions of years ago, is rapidly losing ground to the Eastern Grey Squirrel, a competitive species introduced by humans in 1919, as well as by human-caused loss of habitat.
 | |
| Eastern Grey Squirrel * |
In her research, Kaup found that Western Grey Squirrels had no foothold within Salem city limits – in any park or neighborhood – with the exception of two individuals she discovered on the land east of South Church Street between Pringle Creek and Mission Street S.E. – the hospital property. Kaup noticed the two in January, a sight traditionally seen every five years or more, but for only a few weeks. However, Kaup continued to see the two and later, two additional, smaller others, which suggests that the first are a breeding pair who have settled on the property. The group can still be seen, living off the large trees that are currently slated for cutting.
This “mature oak-conifer habitat,” Kaup says, “is crucial for the survival of Western Gray Squirrels… Westerns are closely associated with oak woodlands, and due to the loss of these in the Willamette Valley they are losing their habitat, in addition to being driven away by invasive squirrels and the roar of human development.”
Kaup’s advisor, Dr. David Craig, is chair of the Department of Biology at Willamette University, is equally concerned. If the trees on the hospital property are cut, as currently planned, he says, “only one thing will happen; the Western Grey Squirrel will be quickly gone and we’ll have local extinction.”
Dr. Jason Niedermeyer teaches Biology and Animal Behavior at South Salem High School and did several undergraduate research projects on squirrels when he was a Willamette student. “We’ve seen occasions,” Niedermeyer says, “of the Western Grey Squirrel attempting a comeback here, but they never seem to make a toehold.” From an aesthetic standpoint, he adds, “they’re just a beautiful squirrel. They’re a beautiful slate grey; their vocalizations are very musical. For 53 million years they’ve been the quintessential squirrel here, and now in Oregon’s state capital it’s kind of sad they aren’t the tree squirrel any more. There’s something sad about our leaving the world less dense than we found it.”
The hospital property is also a successful breeding site for several pairs of the slender-billed white-breasted nuthatch, another animal identified by the ODFW as a “species of concern.” For both the Western Grey Squirrel and the nuthatch, the Oregon Conservation Strategy specifically identifies private development and removal of Oregon white oaks as contributing problems and asks for voluntary conservation action.
On October 2, Craig wrote to Alan Costic, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Salem Hospital, identifying the two species and saying that if the hospital elected to cut the significant trees on the property, “you choose to destroy some of Oregon’s unique natural heritage, and increase the likelihood that we will end up with two more endangered species requiring expensive investments to prevent extinction.“
In his letter, Craig asked Costic and Salem Hospital to “return to the drawing board” and develop a site plan that preserves at least 30 of the 40+ trees currently targeted for removal. He expressed particular interest in saving most, if not all, of the ancient Oregon White Oaks, Douglas Firs and trees of greater than 24” diameter.
“The Western Grey Squirrels were here first,” Kaup says. “It seems sad that people drove them out and then, just when they’re trying to come back, we decide to cut their trees down.”
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NOTE: to read more about Western Grey Squirrels, see Neighborhood Naturalist's Winter 2012-13 Newsletter.
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* Eastern Grey Squirrel photo by BirdPhotos.com (BirdPhotos.com) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
October 1, 2014
WOODLANDS WORKSHOP, 10/22/2014, The Dalles, Ore.
Oak Woodlands Workshop at the Gorge Discovery
Center, The Dalles
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Free
Continental Breakfast provided, “BYO” Lunch.
Topics will include plant
and wildlife communities unique to Oregon white oak woodlands, fire
ecology, vegetation management for specific goals, grazing management in
oak woodlands, and conservation programs.
Please RSVP by 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16, to karen.lamson@or.nacdnet.net or call her at
541-296-6178 ext 121
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