If you love viewing birds and animals - both wild and domestic - this is a great time of year to explore the backroads of northeast Oregon. It's calving season in the huge meadows of ranches throughout Union, Baker, Wallowa and Grant Counties. In Union County, your best bet for seeing playful young calves is along Oregon Highway 237 connecting Cove, Union and North Powder; also along Foothill Road just south of La Grande, and Highway 82 between Elgin and Wallowa. Please respect private property, and remember, mother cows can get pretty cranky when protecting their newborn, so stay in the public right-of-way and carry binoculars or a zoom lens for a closer view of the calves. Union County herds tend to be mixed breed, with red and white hereford, red or black angus, white charlais and red limosin, so the colors and marking patterns are fascinating and adorable on calves.
For wildlife, bald and golden eagles are frequent visitors to calving meadows, so keep your eyes on willow trees, along river shores and in the skys over meadows for the magnificent birds. Rocky Mountain elk, Pronghorn antelope and mule or white-tail deer are often spotted from the freeway through Ladd Canyon and through Pyles along Highway 237 between Union and North Powder. Below is a wildlife viewing report from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Union County
Look for eagles and Rough-legged hawks along Peach road. Watch for river otters, beaver, mergansers and wood ducks along the Grande Ronde River; driving west on Highway 244 from La Grande provides good access to river viewing. Sandhill Cranes and White-Fronted Geese have started arriving and can be viewed along Pierce Road and Foothill Road.
Pronghorn Antelope can be viewed on Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, often along Pierce Road and Hot Lake Lane. Deer and elk can be seen around the edges of the valley.
Turkeys are congregating in the lowlands within the county. Look for large numbers of birds in the Catherine Creek Valley east of Union and the Palmer Valley north of Elgin. The Palmer valley north of Elgin is a good area to view both Whitetail and Mule deer.
There are still many elk at the Anthony Creek feed site on the Elkhorn Wildlife Area. 2/23/10.
ODFW’s Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, La Grande
The auto route on the Tule Lake Public Access Area and auto route has been opened for the season. It was opened a little early to take advantage of the nice weather.
There are also numerous quality viewing opportunities from county roads that pass through the area. Binoculars or a spotting scope will help as many animals are best viewed from a distance. The Glass Hill Unit, west of Foothill Road, will be closed to all entry from January 1 through April 1 to minimize disturbance to wintering wildlife.
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New Viewing Platform at Ladd Marsh |
Waterfowl recently observed on Ladd Marsh include mallard, northern pintail, American wigeon, redhead and common goldeneye along with good numbers of Canada goose and greater white-fronted goose. Many Canada goose pairs have begun to stake out nest sites.
Sandhill cranes have begun to arrive and can often be heard before they are seen. Watch for cranes in meadows and fields and please report all observations of banded cranes to the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area headquarters 541-963-4954. Please note the color and position of leg bands and whether the bands are on the left or right leg of the bird.
Red-tailed hawks have begun building their nests and great horned owls are incubating eggs. Northern harriers can be seen doing their aerial displays in preparation for nesting.
Rocky Mountain elk, from both Glass Hill and Craig Mountain, have been moving down slope into the wildlife area regularly, although not daily. These movements can best be observed during the first light of morning and the fading light of evening (along Foothill Road, south of La Grande).
Dogs are not permitted within the Wildlife Area, on or off leash except during authorized hunting seasons. For more information on access rules for the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, please consult the Oregon Game Bird Regulations or call the wildlife area (541) 963-4954. 2/23/10.
