2019 Oregon Wings & Feathers calendars available

The 2019 "Oregon Wings and Feathers" calendar is coming soon to a shop near you. Wildlife Photographer Douglas Beall of Camp Sherman has assembled this year's calendar from his favorite photographs of birds taken in the past year. Beall photographs and writes the "Sisters Country Birds" feature for The Nugget.

Beall donates the proceeds of sales to Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center, a nonprofit organization that provides injured and orphaned animals a second chance at life, and promotes the wellbeing of wildlife through public outreach, education, and involvement. The calendar, printed in Sisters, sells for $16, is available at Sisters Gallery and Frame Shop and Paulina Springs Books, both on West Hood Avenue. They can also be ordered by emailing [email protected]

The pair of great horned owlets (Bubo virginianus), pictured on the cover of this year's calendar, had just fallen from their nest when Beall discovered them on a log in the middle of a pond at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Washington.

Although a breeding pair of owls will almost always have two or more babies, the larger owlet, more developed, was given more nutrition, Beall explained.

He spotted the owl parents about 50 feet up in the trees, but didn't see the nest. If these owlets make it to maturity, they will become fierce predators, capable of taking down other raptors, along with rodents, frogs, and scorpions. They will have extremely soft feathers, capable of insulating them from the coldest temperatures, and helping them fly quietly in pursuit of prey. This photograph, taken from about 15 feet away from the owlets, won an award from the Ridgefield NWR.

The January bird is the Oregon junco, (Junco hyemalis), a kind of sparrow, and it may be the most common bird around. While most juncos wear shades of brown, sometimes striped, a male's pinkish-brown sides and black head distinguish the Oregon junco; females have a gray head.

"It's a great interesting color when seen close up," Beall said.

It's mostly a ground bird, and Beall feeds them regular bird mix right on the ground in his backyard at Camp Sherman. This bird appears to be very puffed up against the cold January winter. The calendar marks Fruitcake Toss Day on January 3, National Bird Day on January 5, and Winnie the Pooh Day on January 18.

February is mating season, so appropriately pictured are a pair of hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus), female and male, in their mating plumage. Beall is delighted with this photograph, taken at the Klamath NWR, because it's rare to capture such a pair of birds together, especially upon takeoff, as they run on water, leaving a splashy wake behind them. Once airborne, they will dive for their prey that includes small fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it in their thin serrated bills. February 14, in addition to being Valentine's Day, is Statehood Day in Oregon. February is also National Bird Feeding Month, so give your feathered friends some extra love and handouts.

Turn to March for a stunning shot of an American robin, (Turdus migratorius), perched in a thatch of budding pussywillows. Its rusty belly perfectly matches the buds of the pussywillow. You can easily spot these birds bounding across your lawn or in the forests, especially those that are regenerating after wildfire. The robin's happy chirping, delivered in a steady rhythm, is a welcome sound of spring, although many spend the entire winter in their breeding range. Winter may be dragging on by now, a good reason to celebrate National Napping Day on March 12. Take heart, the Spring Equinox is March 20, and Major League Baseball starts just nine days later.

The calendar carols its way into December with the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), photographed at Basket Slough, outside of Salem. Beall says they're easy to spot, and even easier to locate by their songs, which start with two or three shrill chirps, followed by a trill of notes. Reach outside the box to celebrate Gazpacho Day on December 6, and Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, December 15. The bird photography and calendar date notations continue through the year.

More avian and wildlife photographs are available at Beall's website, www.abirdsingsbecauseithasasong.com.