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Birding Meadowlark Prairie from the new Fern Ridge Path
by Steve Gordon
New overlook at Meadowlark Prairie
You may know the 400-acre site by many names: “Lower Amazon,” ”Amazon Flats,” “the Spectra-Physics Mitigation Site” or even the bureaucratic “1135 Project Area.” Now the site between Royal Avenue, the Railroad, Greenhill Road and Terry Street is called Meadowlark Prairie. It was renamed in an attempt to develop more uniformly accepted names for the various wetland sites in West Eugene.
Meadowlark Prairie has been called the heart of the wetlands project (with Willow Creek being the soul). Here Amazon Creek winds through a large area teeming with wildlife. And the newly opened multiple-use path provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy it all on foot or bicycle.
You can gain access to the trail from the northern stub of Terry Street (off West 11th Avenue), from the western end of Roosevelt Boulevard (at Terry Street), or from the new Meadowlark Prairie Overlook (off Greenhill Road about one-quarter mile south of Royal Avenue). This latter spot has ample automobile and bus parking on an experimental pervious surface, as well as restroom facilities and three covered picnic tables. Soon to come this spring will be signs and a site guide. A web camera will be set up and linked to the City of Eugene’s wetland web page. But virtual birding cannot replace a tour of this site. Later this summer another access point, named “Checkermallow,” is scheduled for construction on the south side of Royal Avenue at Amazon Creek.
Wetlands restoration
Meadowlark Prairie is the site of a $6 million City of Eugene, Army Corps of Engineers and BLM restoration project. In the dream stage since 1991 and under construction since 1999, this project was undertaken through the federal Water Resources Development Act, section 1135. Under this act, the Corps of Engineers can undo environmental damage caused by its past projects, such as Amazon Creek flood control channelization in the 1950s and 60s. Hence, the levees along Amazon Creek and the Diversion ”A” and “A-3” Channels have been removed. Now runoff can spread over the floodplain onto restored wetlands.
Birding hot spot
From the path atop the new berm, you get a catbird’s view of a current birding “hot spot.” You can find ducks, shorebirds, swallows and birds of prey. Among exciting observations here in the past several years are Eurasian Wigeon, Black-necked Stilt, Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes, Solitary Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Ross’s Goose, Brandt (Black), Blue-winged Teal, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Rough-legged Hawk, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier and five species of swallows (Tree, Violet-green, Northern Rough-winged, Barn and Cliff). One of the real treats here is the numerous nesting and wintering Western Meadowlarks (the origin of the site name). Come in the evening and park at the Meadowlark Prairie Overlook; watch closely and you may spot Short-eared Owls hunting over the fields.
The path provides opportunities to view many other kinds of wildlife; butterflies and dragonflies abound in the warmer seasons. Look carefully and you might see a Western Pond Turtle along Amazon Creek. And while you’re here on the Willamette Valley floor, take time to look around. To the east, view the Coburg Hills and the Three Sisters up McKenzie Gap. To the south, the Eugene South Hills frame Spencer Butte at the headwaters of Amazon Creek. To the west, Oak Hill sits in front of the Coast Range.
The future
The wetland partners recently purchased 75 acres north of Royal Avenue between the Amazon Diversion and “A” Channels. Once additional key properties are purchased, a future leg of the Fern Ridge path may take you closer to a connection between Fern Ridge Reservoir and the West Eugene Wetlands. The City of Eugene will continue wetlands restoration efforts within the site through its Wetland Mitigation Bank. Wetlands restoration is also taking place on the west side of Greenhill Road just southwest of Meadowlark Prairie Overlook. Enjoy this new addition to our community’s open space system. And know that it will get even better over time.