IBA of the Month: Fernhill Wetlands
Fernhill Wetlands, co-owned by Clean Water Services (CWS) and the City of Forest Grove, was once a 160-acre effluent holding pond site that incidentally hosted wildlife. Under CWS (formerly Unified Sewerage Agency) management, the site has enjoyed both considerable expansion and restoration over the last decade and a half. It is now transformed into 600 acres of critical wildlife habitat near the confluence of Gales Creek and the Tualatin River. Just outside of Forest Grove, the site is today characterized by a mosaic of open ponds and wetlands that host thousands of migrant and resident bird species throughout the year.
Fernhill provides habitat connectivity for local wildlife, as well as critical marsh, lake and riparian habitat for resting and foraging migratory birds travelling the Pacific Flyway in Spring and Fall. What’s more, this site’s importance is underscored because of its location along the Tualatin River bottomlands, adjacent to the newly designated 4,300 acre Wapato Lake Unit of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. In this area alone, there is potential to connect over 5,000 acres of wetland habitat, and to this end, efforts are being made by Metro, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Tualatin Riverkeepers, City of Forest Grove and others to leverage funds for future Fernhill Wetlands and Gales Creek restoration opportunities. Wetlands are some of the most productive natural ecosystems in the world, acting not only as habitat, but also providing for natural hydrological function of rivers, flood protection, erosion control and water quality improvement.
The proximity of the Fernhill site to the metropolitan region also allows for accessible recreation opportunities, wildlife viewing, bird watching, education, and research. Visitors can take advantage of extensive trail access year round, and the site offers both a sense of expansive lake and wetland openness, as well as views of St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Jefferson.
Species of Ornithological Significance
In John Rakestraw’s 2007 publication of Birding Oregon: 44 Prime Birding Areas, Fernhill is listed as the top priority destination among Washington County sites for good reason. Waterfowl populations here can number in the thousands daily from November through March and may include Cackling Goose, Tundra Swan, American Widgeon, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Western, Horned, Eared and Pied-billed Grebe.
Seventeen species of shorebirds occur in numbers frequently exceeding 100 in spring, fall, and sometimes winter. These include Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Wilson’s Phalarope, and Red-necked Phalarope.
A wide variety of wetland, forest and grassland species occur. American Bittern, Sora, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Common Yellowthroat, Marsh Wren, Savannah, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln’s, Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrow, California Quail, Lazuli Bunting, Western Meadowlark, Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, American and Lesser Goldfinch have all been seen here.
Bald Eagles and Osprey nest on site, and Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine are not unusual. Rare but increasingly regular this far north in winter, the Red-shouldered Hawk may be viewed hunting the wetlands.
Visiting Fernhill
From OR 8 (Pacific Avenue) in Forest Grove, turn south on OR 47 Bypass toward McMinnville. After 0.5 mile, turn left on Fernhill Road, and after 0.2 mile, left again into a gravel parking lot. There are no bathroom facilities on site, so be prepared. 1399 S.W. Fern Hill Road, Forest Grove, OR 97116
