Many refuges have specific visitor services and other recreation opportunity maps. For example, travel 30 minutes north along state highway 99 and discover another home for wildlife that was once a practice battlefield for war. We are so excited to be hosting the oregon historical society ohs exhibit. Finley national wildlife refuge, named after a respected 20th century wildlife photographer and conservationist, is one of three willamette valley refuges set up to protect habitat for wintering waterfowl, especially the. Jan 04, 2014 at 5,325 acres, the finley wildlife refuge is the biggest of the three midwillamette valley refuges, providing more habitat than ankeny and baskett slough combined. They nest on alaskas copper river delta, and winter almost exclusively in the willamette valley. In a history of the audubon society of portland, tom mcallister wrote that. We enjoy traveling to all the national wildlife refuges. We did run into so closures of trails due to the time of year since it is a wildlife refuge, but we found ways to partially get back on track and enjoyed a nice long hike on a winter day. Smithsonian book of national wildlife refuges by eric jay.
Created back in 1964, the william l finley national wildlife refuge is a preserved natural land area in the oregons greater willamette valley and is notorious for the flocks of. Proposed guadalupenipomo dunes national wildlife refuge. For access information please check on the refuge s web page or contact the refuge directly. Finley national wildlife refuge provides essential habitat for native wildlife and plants. Finley national wildlife refuge, named after a respected 20th century wildlife photographer and conservationist, is one of three willamette valley refuges set up to protect habitat for wintering waterfowl, especially the dusky canada goose branta canadensis occidentalis. Finley died on june 29, 1953, after suffering several debilitating strokes, but his legacy lives on. William finley was born in an era when wildlife photography was coming of age. It shows a flock of birds, mostly american white pelicans with some gulls, flying over malheur lake, today part of the malheur national wildlife refuge. When you come here, youll find a mixture of habitats that have all but disappeared from the willamette valley, including oak savannas, wet prairies, and bottomland ash forest. Finley national wildlife refuge is situated along the foothills of the coast range on the western edge of the willamette valley, approximately 10 miles south of corvallis. Finley national wildlife refuge wondering around oregon.
Copies of this book are available in the history of osu book collection in the special. An interpretive brochure is available at the trailhead kiosk. It was created to provide wintering habitat for dusky canada geese. Finley national wildlife refuge was named in his honor. As part of our ongoing series of events in support of the william l. Sometimes these directions want to take you to a locked interior road along bruce rd. Fish and wildlife service named a new 5,325acre national wildlife refuge in the willamette valley for finley, and the largest of the three arch rocks bears his name. Eleven years after his death in 1953, the william l. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible yearround. His efforts led to the creation of three national wildlife refuges in.
Located12 miles south of corvallis, accessible from hwy. S refuge system from its beginnings with teddy roosevelts proclamation creating the first national wildlife refuge up to todays wildlife preservation initiatives and challenges. However, possibly because of the emphasis on forest and fish resource protection, the value of this area as a wildlife refuge often escapes deserved recognition. Finley national wildlife refuge was created to provide vital wintering habitat for dusky canada geese.
Finley national wildlife refuge can be found off of highway 99w 10 miles south of corvallis, oregon. Preservation, enhancement, and restoration us fish and wildlife service. Finley national wildlife refuge cascadia prairie oak. If you are a birder or a traveler that just enjoys the sights, this book is for you. I live in corvallis which is just 20 minutes from the refuge. In 1907, he published american birds, his first book.
Parks directory of the united states national wildlife refuges address. Finley national wildlife refuge is a hotspot for a diverse array of birdlife, mammals and plants. The finley refuge was established as a wintering area for canada geese. It was created to provide wintering habitat for dusky.
Unlike other canada geese, dusky canada geese have limited summer and winter ranges. Unlike other canada goose subspecies, duskies have limited summer and winter ranges. This book is a terrific compilation of biography, autobiographical excerpts, letters, and photographs taken by finley and his colleagues in oregon and elsewhere. This photograph was taken by william finley in 1908. Fish and wildlife service who drive, hike, fish, hunt and watch, as the refuge teems with life. Bohlman, who worked with finley in the first decade of the 20th century. Tucked deep in the heart of corvallis sits a whimsical wildlife habitat. The klamath basin national wildlife refuges, which include the upper klamath. Finley national wildlife refuge is managed as part of the willamette valley nwr complex. This handsome 9 x 10 book features hundreds of color photographs and a text by nature writer eric jay dolin which surveys the history of the u.
Record of decision for the establishment of the stone lakes national wildlife refuge, sacramento county, california sacramento, calif. About the friends friends of the willamette valley nwrc. The snag boat bend unit has hiking trails and a very small parking area, but it is nowhere near as well visited as the main part of the refuge. His photographs, articles, and films remain as captivating. Finley national wildlife refuge can be reached off of highway 99w just 4 miles north of monroe, in all about an hour drive from cottage grove. Finleys photographs and written accounts of such avian treasures led to the establishment of wildlife refuges across the west totaling almost 240,000 acres, including lower klamath, designated in 1908. William finley was an amercan wildlife photographer and conservationist. With his wife, nellie irene barnhart, finley wrote three wildlife books, created popular. Malheur refuge now a quiet expanse, empty except for the.
Finley national wildlife refuge was initially known as the muddy creek division of the willamette national wildlife refuge, which also. Look for bruce road on your left, just before the rfp family store. Finley national wildlife refuge is a natural area in the willamette. Finley national wildlife refuge can be reached off of highway 99w between monroe and corvallis. Oregons birds have had few better friends than william lovell finley. Fish and wildlife service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve americas fish, wildlife, and plants. Finley papers document the wildlife conservation work of finley and his wife irene, and the photography work of herman t. Homer campbell memorial trail follow finley refuge road from hwy 99 into the refuge past turtle flats restrooms and turn left at the sign for homer campbell memorial trail trailheads are well marked along the road. Gorgeous coffeetable book, celebrating the 100th anniversary or the refuge system, with dramatic text, and more than 200 color images. Finley national wildlife refuge was initially known as the muddy creek division of the willamette national wildlife refuge, which also comprised the baskett slough and ankeny units. Finley refuge loop hike hiking in portland, oregon and. Tags elk, photography, oregon, parks, public land, wildlife, ricardo small, willamette valley, oregon parks and recreation department, roosevelt elk, beaver creek state natural area, dean creek elk refuge, fort stevens state park, finley. Finley wildlife refuge for those seeking to experience the variety of animal species that oregon has to offer, the wildlife refuges of the midwillamette valley offer three large tracts of land that are home to a variety of species and, in particular, are dedicated to preserving the winter habitat of the canadian geese.
Check out the new willamette valley national wildlife refuge complex bird checklist. Finley national wildlife refuge in corvallis, oregon. History of the national wildlife refuge system wikipedia. During a willamette valley ecoregion field class at finley national wildlife refuge in may, as we were beginning to settle into the conference room for a short presentation, the refuge manager walked in and interrupted the class to say every now and then something really exciting happens here. The finley wildlife refuge south of corvallis is named for him. Explore the finley wildlife refuge, finley refuge visitor center.
I do recommend bringing good hiking boots and possibly a spare pair of shoes for after since it was very muddy in certain parts of the trails. In all it is about an hour drive from cottage grove. Finley was born in california, but his uncle was president of corvallis college, the predecessor to oregon state university. Unlike other canada geese, duskies have limited summer and winter ranges. Finley wildlife refuge october 22, 2017 derwoodynck leave a comment another weekend of snow in the mountains and rain in the valley combined with plans to get together with a friend in town from mississippi made it a perfect. The place has attracted people too about 65,000 per year, according to the u. This book saves you time by offering detailed info about most of the refuges in a certain region. Jan 04, 2014 thousands of canada geese landing at william l. A blue heron takes flight in oregons finley wildlife. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. San luis obispo and santa barbara counties, california ventura, ca p.
Finley refuge, ee wilson wildlife area and peavy arboretum. All lands and boundaries depicted in the above web map are not survey quality and should not be used for survey or legal purposes. Mar 17, 2018 this photograph was taken by william finley in 1908. Oct 22, 2017 finley wildlife refuge october 22, 2017 derwoodynck leave a comment another weekend of snow in the mountains and rain in the valley combined with plans to get together with a friend in town from mississippi made it a perfect time to finally visit the william l. Ankeny national wildlife refuge an alluring i5 stop south of. His photographs, articles, and films remain as captivating today as they were in the first years of the twentieth century. Apr 16, 2014 preserving wildlife and history at william l. Finley national wildlife refuge in westcentral oregon was named in his honor. In 1903 theodore roosevelt signed a proclamation that created the first of what, a century later, would become a system of 538 wildlife refuges spread across all fifty of the united states. Finleys american birds, published in 1907, and subsequent books and. Best bird watching trails in william l finley national. Finley photographic exhibit on display at the refuge, finleys biographer worth mathewson will present an overall view of finley and his lifes work, highlighting the significance of finleys influential role as one of the very few westerners involved during the important early years of wildlife. At 5,325 acres, the finley wildlife refuge is the biggest of the three midwillamette valley refuges, providing more habitat than ankeny and baskett slough combined.
A blue heron takes flight in oregons finley wildlife refuge. Finley national wildlife refuge is a natural area in the willamette valley in oregon, united states. The collection includes published and unpublished manuscripts, lecture and field notes, reports, correspondence, photographs, and motion picture films. Fish and wildlife service page images at hathitrust. These centuryold photos inspired some of the wests first. Finley archives special collections and archives research center. Finley was a photographer, filmmaker, and author who wrote and lectured extensively on wildlife conservation issues. Finley national wildlife refuges primary management goal is to provide wintering habitat for dusky canada geese. Finley national wildlife refuge south of corvallis, honors one of our nations great wildlife biologists.
Finley national wildlife refuge, one of our seven wonders of corvallis and benton county, will celebrate their 50th anniversary during natural areas celebration week, on may 10. Smithsonian book of national wildlife refuges by eric jay dolin. Finley national wildlife refuge, near corvallis was named in his honor. With habitats ranging from wetlands to upland oak savanna, the william l. The bruce road access to get to mcfaddens marsh is just 4 miles north of monroe while the finley road access to get to cabell marsh is a couple miles beyond that. The action showed, in its executive history, that wildlife concerns were a paramount element in the proposal. William lovell finley august 9, 1876 june 29, 1953 was an american wildlife photographer and conservationist from northern california. Now the refuge provides sanctuary for elk, falcons, egrets, and many other forms of wildlife. The friends are a group of volunteers who are passionate about the willamette valley national wildlife refuges, and who love and appreciate the refuge lands, flora, and fauna as natural resources which deserve to be cherished and protected. Refuge has 12 miles of trail through varied landscape. This order also established the first reservation for fish. Finley national wildlife refuge corvallis 2020 all you.
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