Zumwalt Prairie: Important Bird Area of the Month
by Mary Coolidge, Assistant Conservation Director
- Zumwalt Prarie - J Fields - The Nature Conservancy
At the time when this remote area of northeastern Oregon was home to the Joseph Band of the Nez Perce, this sprawling grassland would have stretched a good 330,000 acres between the majestic Wallowa Mountains and the chasm of Hell’s Canyon. Today, Zumwalt Prairie covers approximately 160,000 acres or over 200 square miles of land. High grassland plateau may not be what we think of as iconic Oregon terrain, but many of us have probably not made the trek to stand on this rolling prairie.
Zumwalt, named for German pioneers, is the largest remnant of a system of Palouse grasslands which extended into Washington, Idaho and Canada. It is home to the one of the highest diversity of breeding raptors in North America, including the grassland-dependent Ferruginous Hawk and the Argentine-wintering Swainson’s Hawk. The prairie also hosts a number of sensitive grassland songbird species including grasshopper sparrow and vesper sparrow as well as other wildlife including Rocky Mountain elk, gray wolf, black bear, cougar, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
- Zumwalt Praire - R V Taylor - The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) owns and manages the 33,000-acre Zumwalt Prairie Preserve, a 51 square mile area within the larger prairie area which has been recognized as an Important Bird Area as well as an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Opportunity Area. Much of the critical restoration work being done on the prairie is happening on TNC land. The Preserve contains both shallow and deep-soiled bunchgrass prairie, steep canyon grasslands, pine woodlands, quaking aspen groves, spring-fed meadows and riparian ecosystems. TNC’s work here is, in a nutshell, to manage invasive species and protect sensitive species, and research and develop sustainable grazing and other land management practices. They have approached this work creatively, and in partnership with local landowners, conservationists, and government agency staff, and with countless hours of on-the-ground work.
Prescribed fire and managed grazing are among the varied approaches to grassland management used on the Preserve. Oregon State University helps to study the effect of various livestock-grazing intensities on soil, native plants, insects and birds. TNC has planted native willow, alder and dogwood in riparian areas, fenced sensitive wetland areas, and removed stream dams. This helps to improve watershed function and water quality, a benefit to both fish and birds. They’ve planted chokecherry, currant, and elderberry in the Zumwalt uplands, and fenced elk, cattle and deer out of fragile aspen stands, which protects critical nesting area for birds.
In all, the prairie hosts over 491 plant species, including over a dozen native bunchgrasses and a federally-listed threatened flower known as Spalding’s catchfly. Blooming wildflowers (over 100 species!) make for a spectacular display both early in the season (hoary balsamroot, yellow fritillary, cous biscuitroot,) and late-season (goldenrod, pleated gentian, Gardner's yampah). And, as you can imagine, over 54 species of butterflies make good use of this plant diversity.
I’m planning my 340-mile trek.
Ornithological Significance
Breeding raptors include Prairie Falcon, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Ferruginous Hawk, Swainson's Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Golden Eagles are a common site soaring high above the prairie. The Zumwalt also supports important breeding populations of grassland songbirds many of which are experiencing range-wide declines. These grassland species include: Savannah Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Vesper Sparrow, Horned Lark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, and Brewer’s sparrow. Wintering species include Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, Snow Bunting, Northern Shrike, and Rough-legged Hawk. Extirpated from the area in the 1940’s, the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse was reintroduced by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1991, and there is ongoing monitoring of a small persisting population.
The species list for the TNC Zumwalt Prairie Preserve includes, among others: Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Tundra Swan, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American, Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Chukar, Gray Partridge, Ring-necked Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, Dusky Grouse, Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Mountain Quail, California Quail, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Eared Grebe, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk, and Northern Goshawk.
If you plan to go:
You would be wise to first call the Enterprise TNC office (541-426-3458), or visit The Nature Conservancy Oregon’s website for more information and for directions to specific public access trails and a driving tour: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/oregon/
Keep in mind: access is day use and by foot only. Dogs, horses, bicycles, camping and campfires are not permitted on the preserve. Collecting (plants, animals, shed antlers, artifacts, etc.) from the preserve is not allowed. TNC asks that you leave all gates as you find them and that you do not disturb scientific research markers during your visit.
Last, for more information on the management and resources of the Preserve, visit:
http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/ZumwaltPrairieWorkspace
