Wildlife Project

As the fields were cleaned, planted, and became pasture, they appeared empty without
animals so we stocked them. The old orchard, left unattended for so long, had become a
home for birds, their nests filling all the rotted limbs and recesses. Deer wandered across
the fields and in the fall flocked to the orchard to eat apples as they fell.

Here was the best of all worlds: a farm and nature sharing the land. We decided to
implement a state Wildlife Habitat Conservation Management Plan. Christopher Yee,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, developed a plan to return part of our land to its
original state. The depressional wetland broadleaf forest, upland prairies and savannas,
and oak woodlands needed our help to return to their natural state and encourage the
Northern red-legged frog, Western pond turtle, Oregon Vesper sparrow, Purple martin,
Western bluebird, and Western meadowlark, as well as the large variety of migratory
birds. This plan will preserve and enhance the native habitats. The invasive non-native
plants need to be removed, the pond configuration changed to serve the water birds and
pond turtles, and native vegetation need enhancement.
The objective is to reestablish the area as it was when the pioneers came to this valley.
As a designated area within a working farm, this project is a model for others, showing
that wildlife and farming can successfully co-exist.
When completed, there will be easy-to-use trails and clearly marked flora, allowing
individuals and groups to tour and see the land as it was before it was a farmed. Saving
nature must be a mainstream goal, and that means making it important to our children.
White Oak Farm Wildlife Project will be used for that purpose by making regular tours
available to local schools. The Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife has already been very
involved with the reconfiguration of the pond area that now provides shallows and plant
life preferred by local and migrating birds. The Long Tom Watershed Council helped with
some costs of reconfiguring the pond and native vegetation. Over 200 natural plants have
been planted and the grounds will be seeded with natural grasses this fall. During this last
year, the project area has seen a tremendous increase in wildlife use with many water
birds frequenting the pond.
Our work is proving itself by the increase of wildlife, but the project is not finished. A
large area still needs the removal of non-native plants (blackberry, canary reed grass,
etc.). The trail needs to be developed and built, and plant identification signs need to be
made. Although the project area is comparatively small, it can be an important
educational tool, plainly illustrating what we are losing.
To date many individuals investing their labor and expertise have put many man-hours
into this project. More than $ 15,000.00 has been spent configuring the area and for the
native grasses, bushes and trees. It is estimated that an additional $ 25,000.00 will be
needed to take the project to completion. This would be used to clear the blackberries
and non-native brush and replant the area with native species. It would also cover the
cost of materials for the nonprofit Northwest Youth Corps to build the trails and bridges
that will provide easy access to the entire wildlife area.
This project is an important educational wildlife area. We are looking for help: grants
and/or donations to make this wildlife project a reality. Please feel free to contact Kris or
Don at White Oak Farm with your help and suggestions.