This 1,858-acre wildlife area is located about five miles north of Medford in Jackson County, southern Oregon. The area is bordered by the Rogue River and offers an impressive variety of habitats for birds including oak woodlands, grasslands, ceanothus shrublands, riparian habitat, and intact vernal pools, which are all considered to be at-risk habitat. The area is located within the former
Camp White U.S. Army Cantonment, which was deactivated in 1946 after the end of World War II. In 1954, the area was conveyed to the Oregon Game Commission and the wildlife area was established. Several ammunition bunkers are still in place.
While the major function of the wildlife area’s management is to provide waterfowl, upland bird
and deer hunting opportunities, it is also a very accessible area to consider if you are looking to do some bird watching in southern Oregon not far off the beaten path. Be aware that a $10
parking permit is required. There is an 0.7-mile
interpretive trail in the southwestern region of the Little Butte Creek Unit of the wildlife area with many opportunities for bird watching. The interpretive trail is on the south side of Touvelle Road. Another trail on the north side of the road will lead you to the former Camp White ammunition bunkers.
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| Map showing approximate bunker locations. Original USFWS map can be found here |
We visited the area in late February, which is a bit early for migrating birds. Based on our anecdotal observations, the Acorn woodpeckers and common merganser ducks were most abundant during our visit. I was able to find a bird species list for nearby Agate Lake, which is another popular birding spot 11 miles east of the Denman Wildlife Area.
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| Checklist of Birds found at Agate Lake (Adapted by Otis D. Swisher from Janes et al., 1996) | | | | | | | |
(R) Year long resident; (S) Summer visitor; (W) Winter; (P) Passing through on migration; co = Most likely seen on coast; la = Most likely seen in lake basins of Klamath and Lake Counties; mo = Most likely seen in mountains
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| Panoramic view of Table Rock and wetlands |
There was plenty of evidence in dead snags that the
acorn woodpeckers (
Melanerpes formicivorus) use the area heavily.
This wildlife management area contains the largest known area of vernal pool areas in the Rogue Valley (
ODFW Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp Survey 1999). I really wish that the interpretive trail and vernal pools were better marked with more detailed information on their importance and the conservation status of associated species. According to EPA, the unique environment of vernal pools provides habitat for numerous rare plants and animals that need them to survive. Many plants and animals spend the dry season as seeds, eggs, or cysts, and then grow and reproduce when the ponds are again filled with water. In addition, birds such as egrets, ducks, and hawks use vernal pools as a seasonal source of food and water. A 2007
paper from the Agate Desert Technical Advisory Committee describes the importance. The vernal pool ecosystem is valued for its role in supporting biological diversity of unique plant and animal assemblages, including federally listed species.
The Hall Tract is another part of the wildlife area to the south of Antelope Road. Most of the irrigated farm land found on the wildlife area is located on this tract. The land is flood irrigated through a system of reservoirs and ditches. Public areas consists mainly of a large fishing pond. To my knowledge, there are no access trails for bird watching.
We will definitely return to this site during the peak migration and update this post on the outcome.
