Jackson-Frazier Wetlands
Seasons
Checklists
Location
From downtown Corvallis, follow Hwy 99W north 2.5 miles to the intersection with NE Conifer Blvd. Turn right onto NE Conifer Blvd and travel east for 0.5 mile. Turn left onto NE Lancaster Street and follow it 0.3 mile to its end. Parking is on the street. The trail into the wetlands starts at the north end of Lancaster Street.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
The Jackson-Frazier Wetlands is 4 acres of public access managed by Benton County Natural Areas and Parks, and is part of a larger protected area including the Owen’s Farm property, just to the east, which is partly managed by the Greenbelt Land Trust. The 0.7 mile boardwalk trail through the wetlands is wheelchair accessible, and includes interpretive signs. The public area supports rushes, sedges, and a variety of grasses, and includes a large cattail marsh. The larger managed area includes native wetland prairie, mixed forest-shrub habitat, and a small riparian ash forest.
Mallards are joined by smaller numbers of Wood Duck and Green-winged Teal in the spring. Virginia Rail are present most of the year, with smaller numbers of Sora in the spring. Wilson’s Snipe and Greater Yellowlegs are also sometimes seen in the spring, along with reports of Great Egret and Great Blue Heron. Green Heron is present in the summer. Bushtit and smaller numbers of Wrentit are reported year-round, and Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets in the cooler months, along with Yellow-rumped Warbler. Several other warblers migrate through in the spring, along with Black-headed Grosbeak. In the winter, brushy areas attract wintering sparrows, including Fox, White-crowned, Golden-crowned, White-throated, Song, and Lincoln’s Sparrow.
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