Gibson Island
From Lane Co Oregon
Gibson Island is on Fern Ridge Lake near Elmira at the longitude 44.08, latitude -123.27.
This area is excellent for sparrows. West of the Royal Avenue gate, the road leads into canary grass and cattail marsh, and eventually into bulrush. Virginia rail, sora, American bittern, mallard, American coot, Canada geese, pied-billed grebes, common yellowthroat, white-tailed kite, marsh wren, short eared owl, and northern harrier are birds that can be seen here. During the winter and during water level decline one can walk beyond the vegetation area to the mudflat expanse exposed at low pool. Old gravel roads provide access to Gibson Island during low pool conditions, however boots are recommended for this lengthy hike. Gibson Island is accessible only by boat or by foot during drawdown periods.
Extensive upland and lowland grassland habitats are located near the eastern shore of the lake, north of Kirk Pond, and on Gibson Island. Upland and wetland grasses in these areas include fescue (Festuca spp.), bentgrass (Agrostis exarata), brome (Bromus spp.), reed canarygrass, reed grass (Phragmites australis) and a few alkali grasses.
The unit consists primarily of large areas of emergent aquatic plants along the shoreline and surrounding Gibson Island. Within the emergent plant zone are numerous small potholes of open water. Upland areas consist of upland grasses fringed by lowland wet prairie grasses. Gibson Island consists of upland grasses, fringed by woody shrubs and small groves of coniferous and deciduous trees. Non-native invasive blackberries have created a perimeter barrier along many sections of the island.
A low water winter marsh was developed in 2001, in the unit on the south side of Gibson Island. During summer months at lake full pool, the dike impoundment is under approximately five feet of water. In the winter, when the lake is drawn down to low pool level, a restored historic roadbed serves as a dike to impound over 80 acres of shallow water ideal for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and furbearers. The roadbed serves as an access route to Gibson Island for hunters, trappers, hikers, and birdwatchers. A second similar low water winter marsh impoundment to the east of Gibson Island was completed in 2005.
The shoreline near Gibson Island, the area adjacent to Highway 126 east of Perkins Peninsula, and managed impoundments have the highest shorebird use during fall. As fall migration tapers off in October, shorebird diversity subsides and the wintering species return. Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and merlin (Falco columbarius) take advantage of the shorebird migration and are frequently seen hunting the mudflats in September and October.
