Tom Pearce Park
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Location
This is Josephine County’s largest day use park. From I-5 exit 55 go west and quickly turn left (south) on Agness Street. Take Agness for 2 blocks and turn left (east) on Foothill Road. Turn right onto Pearce Park Rd. in about a mile, just before passing under the freeway. Take Pearce Park Rd. for a mile to the park entrance. The park doesn’t open until 8:00 AM so early birds can park across the railroad tracks in a small gravel lot and walk into the park. Tom Pearce Park Website
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
Like most of the local “river parks” this one can be good for migrating birds in the spring and fall and waterfowl associated with the river. Check the large trees in the park and the riverfront areas for birds attracted to the river. Common birds here include Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, California Quail, Spotted Sandpiper, Vaux’s Swift, Anna’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Acorn Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Hutton’s Vireo, Steller’s Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Dipper, Brown Creeper, Bewick’s Wren, both kinglets (this is a great location to spend some time comparing Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Hutton’s Vireos), Varied Thrush, Wrentit, Orange-crowned Warbler, California Towhee, Purple Finch, and Lesser Goldfinch. Source: OFO Publication No. 19, Guide to Birds of the Rogue Valley, Massey & Vroman.
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