The Western U.S. population of trumpeter swans, Cygnus buccinator —Cygnus from the Latin for swan, and buccinare for “to trumpet”—fell into deep trouble when their feathers and skin became a valuable commodity in the late 1800s. That same species you see today on the Deschutes River, Lake Aspen and Sunriver’s ponds, were at one time threatened with […]
Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Keeping Geese at Bay
As recently as 10 years ago, Bend parks were being overrun by Canada geese. The birds pluck out lawns, erode riverbanks, soil the ground—and can scare off visitors. Former Bend Park and Recreation District Natural Resources Manager Paul Stell was troubled by the once-prevailing method of eradicating—translation: euthanizing—the offenders. He approached the Oregon Department of […]