Russ Vandehey, CGCS
Superintendent

Habitat surrounding Hole #12

Western Bluebirds at nesting box.

The Oregon Golf Club is a private, 18 hole golf course located in West Linn, Oregon, which is in the northern end of the Willamette Valley. The golf course is situated on rolling terrain that includes a variety of wildlife habitat ranging from open, grassy areas to densely wooded sections surrounding and within the golf course.

The Oregon Golf Club is committed to environmental stewardship as evidenced by its certification through the Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Program. The Oregon Golf Club golf course Superintendent, Russell Vandehey, has received peer recognition of this commitment from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, who recently presented Russ with his third Environmental Stewardship Award from the organization. As an extension of this commitment and a means of encouraging community involvement and education, The Oregon Golf Club is a participant in a broad effort to enhance the recovery and sustainability of the Western Bluebird population in the area.

At the turn of the century, Western Bluebirds were prevalent throughout the Willamette Valley owing to the combined habitat of clearings and woodlands associated with small farms in the valley. Over time, farms increased in size with a corresponding reduction in woodland areas. The reduction in available habitat and competition from other bird species introduced from Europe (Starlings and House Sparrows) resulted in migration of the Western Bluebird to habitat located at higher elevations. Although the Western Bluebird is a cavity nester, the subtle, yet significant lowering in temperature resulting from situating nests at increased elevation greatly reduced the survival rate of offspring. The impact of this habitat displacement depleted the Western Bluebird population to the point that by the 1940’s, they could only be observed in a few, very isolated locations.

In the 1970’s. a group of volunteers established the Prescott Western Bluebird Recovery Project which included the installation of nesting boxes, and the banding and monitoring of bird migration. As of 1996, over 600 nesting boxes have been placed, 607 nestlings and 47 adults had been banded, and the birds were returning to establishing nests at lower elevations.

In 1996, The Oregon Golf Club established a partnership with the Prescott Western Bluebird Recovery Project to assist in the recovery effort. Under the direction of Prescott volunteers, at total of 30 nesting boxes have been installed at strategic locations on the golf course, and birds are banded to track their migration. Over this time period, at total of 21 known fledglings have been produced from 10 of the nesting boxes. In addition to the actual introduction of nesting boxes, a dedicated effort to support nesting activity continues by the staff and members of The Oregon Golf Club. One member in particular, Tom Monaghan, monitors nesting box status every Monday, and actively participates in the develop of enhanced habitat to increase bird survival rates. These efforts include the addition of small trees near nesting boxes, the placement of perches above boxes, and providing fledglings with mealworms during periods of bad weather.

Participation in the Western Bluebird Recovery effort has provided a tremendous learning opportunity for the staff and membership of The Oregon Golf Club, and has established a "living laboratory" on the golf course for the education of golfers and community members who regularly visit the golf course to watch and monitor bird populations.

For further information regarding the Western Bluebird recovery effort at The Oregon Golf Club, please contact Russell Vandehey, golf course Superintendent at (503) 655-4533.