Improving habitat for birds is one of the major goals of the restoration efforts at Rasor Park. Now, 25 years after native tree and shrub plantings, it is gratifying to see hawks, kestrels (and even bluebirds!) perched on the growing oak and pine trees. Swallows circle over the meadows catching insects, and sparrows and finches feast on the oil-rich seeds of Madia and other native wildflowers in our Prairie Patches. Many species of birds nest every year in trees, shrubs, and tall grass—Juncos, Spotted towhees, Bushtits, Hummingbirds, Chickadees and more. Even Gadwalls are nesting in the park in recent years, much to everyone's surprise!
Recent Sightings at the Park!
Thanks to Linda Gilbert, Phil Henderson, Sally Hill, Rick Ahrens, and Lori Howard for these sightings and wonderful images!
Birds of Rasor Park
Rasor Park eBird Hotspot
Check out our Rasor Park eBird Hotspot to see what birds have been spotted at the park recently! Hotspots are public birding locations linked to the eBird online database where birders can enter their sightings. We are excited that numerous local birders have been contributing regular checklists. Thank you, all!
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Community Science!
Anyone can participate! Submit your bird sightings or checklists to the Rasor Park Hotspot. The more people who contribute, the more we will know about which birds use the park. It's a fun way to help!
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Birds spotted (or heard) at Rasor Park:
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Brown creepers, Bushtits, Eagles & Hawks (8+ species), Finches (5+ species), Flycatchers (4+ species), Gadwalls, Grosbeaks, Herons (2 species), Hummingbirds (2 species), Kildeer (Plover), Kingbird, Kinglets (2 species), Nuthatches (2 species), Orioles, Sparrows (7+ species), Swallows (5 species), Tanagers, Thrushes, Towhees, Oregon Vesper sparrow, Vireos, Warblers (6 species), Waxwings, Western bluebirds, Woodpeckers (5 species), Wrens, Wrentits
140+ Bird Species and Counting!
Listen Up!
Many birds are easier to hear than to spot.
Here are a few bird songs you might hear at Rasor Park.
Bird 1
Bird 2
Bird 3
Do you know what birds these are?
1. Song sparrow
2. Western Wood-peewee
3. Yellow warbler
Check your
answers here.
Birds of Rasor Park Brochure
Can you match the bird images in this brochure with their names? See pgs. 2-3 inside!
What We Are Losing:
Disappearing Prairie and Birds
Willamette Valley prairie, including tall bunch grasses and wildflowers, and Oregon grape (Oregon's state flower), make quality bird habitat. Most of the Valley's historic savanna-prairie has been lost to agriculture or urbanization. Many prairie species, including at least 40 bird species, are in significant decline according to Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.
What Makes Good Bird Habitat?
Food:
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Lots of insects!
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Trees and plants that have berries, nuts, seeds, and nectar flowers.
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Native plants are especially valuable because some specialist insects and birds have evolved to require very specific native host plants.
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Different bird species have different needs, so a diversity of plants and habitat types (prairie, savanna, thickets, edges, woodland) is important to support a diversity of birds. What do birds eat?
Safe Nest Sites and Nest Materials:
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Trees, snags, shrubs and thickets, tall grass or protected areas on the ground.
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Protection from human activity, noise, pollution, and artificial light intrusion.
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Protection from predators such as cats, dogs, hawks, and raccoons.
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Protection from management activities (mowing, spraying, etc.), especially during nesting season, April-July.
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Water & Habitat Connectivity:
All wildlife needs water. Many birds also need relatively large contiguous "territories" or habitat
corridors to support themselves and
their young. Here at Rasor Park, the
Willamette River and Greenway offer
water and a habitat corridor for many
birds, including year around residents
and those that migrate through. Major rivers are part of the Pacific Flyway followed by many migrating species.
Photo: Rick Ahrens
Photo of Vesper Sparrows: American Bird Conservancy, Suzanne Beauchesne
​Can We Bring Them Back?
Many once-common birds of oak and grassland habitats in the Willamette Valley are now in decline, some even facing extinction. Hover over the images below to read about some of these birds and the habitat they need to thrive. Amazingly, vesper sparrows and chipping sparrows have been sighted in Rasor Park in recent years. In addition, Western bluebirds discovered the park and even nested here for two years! This is very rewarding for those of us working to restore oak savanna-prairie habitat—ringing endorsement that even a relatively small patch of prairie in an urban zone and can be found and used by wildlife here along this Greenway corridor.
Western Bluebird
Photo: Rick Ahrens
This beautiful cobalt blue bird was previously abundant in Western Oregon, but has suffered a precipitous decline in recent decades through degradation of habitat and avian competition. Bluebirds need large open grassy areas for foraging, and nest cavities in dead trees. They have keen eyesight and like to perch on lower branches of trees or shrubs to pounce on insects on the ground. There have been efforts to provide artificial nest boxes for bluebirds, but according to Audubon, it has not been enough to offset loss of natural nest cavities.
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Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the
Willamette Valley
Acorn Woodpecker
Photo: Rick Ahrens
Acorn woodpeckers are oak woodland specialists, but will also occupy oak savannas. They live in small colonies, and use dead snag trees (pines and firs are preferred) to serve as "granary trees" where they horde large numbers of acorns. They also use tree cavities for nesting and roosting. They re-use nest holes for many years. The birds are usually found in areas with more than one oak species, to ensure adequate acorn production every year. They also eat some insects, seeds, and fruits, and tap trees for sap.
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Sensitive in Oregon
Western Meadowlark
The meadowlark's cheerful song was once common in Willamette Valley meadows. Breeding populations have been in steady decline for many years. They are ground nesters, and territorial. They need ~10-20 acres of protected grassland for nesting and foraging. They are sensitive to human intrusion during the nesting season, and will abandon a nest if disturbed. They avoid wooded edges. They eat insects in the soil, and weed seeds. In winter they forage for seeds on nearly bare ground.
Oregon State Bird
Sensitive in Oregon, especially in the
Willamette Valley
Photo: ODFW, Greg Gillson
Sensitive in Oregon, especially in the Willamette Valley
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping sparrows are typically found in open forests and drier oak woodland edges; they like trees interspersed with grassy openings. They eat mostly grass seeds and the seeds of herbaceous plants, though they also eat insects during breeding season. They forage in sparse herbaceous understory, and nest low in trees and shrubs. Chipping sparrow nests are susceptible to predation by cowbirds, crows, and domestic and feral cats.
Photo: Rick Ahrens
More Info About Birds:
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Audubon Plants for Birds: Why Plant Native?
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Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants
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Did you know most song birds migrate at night? Tracking Birds at Night; The Dark Side of Light
Garden as if life depended on it—
it does!
Photo: Rick Ahrens
Highly imperiled throughout range (CA, OR, WA, BC)
Oregon Vesper Sparrow
The Oregon Vesper Sparrow is a species that was once common in Willamette Valley grasslands and beloved for its clear and musical evening song, sung from many a fencepost. Now this bird is very rare (and in steep decline) in the Valley—there are perhaps 200-400 nesting birds left here. Vesper sparrows require open grasslands, where they spend most of their time foraging on the ground. They like a few clumpy grasses or scattered shrubs to conceal their (vulnerable) ground nests and help protect their fledglings from predators. Amazingly, solo vesper sparrows were sighted in Rasor Park in 2021 and 2023.
