Animals of the Brandis Oaks Savannah Restoration Project

These are the main animals that the study will look at:

Western bluebirds - Bluebirds began to visit the site before the logging had been completed. Schreiber and Eltzroth agree that the changed habitat should benefit local bluebird populations. Birdhouses are currently being set up to augment and better manage bluebird nesting habitat, but long-term plans are to provide nesting habitat through the gradual and episodic dying of limbs, tops, and trees in the oak savannah area. Birdhouses may continue to be used in the residential and staging (rocked) areas indefinitely.

Western gray squirrels - Schreiber, Hoyer, and Eltzroth all agree that western gray squirrels will likely begin to occupy the new habitat almost immediately, if they aren't there already. Apparently, most of the gray squirrels in Corvallis are natives (as opposed to Salem, where most of the gray squirrels are exotics), and the wildlife experts seem to agree the opening of this canopy should result in increased local populations of the animal.

Sharp-tailed snakes - Both Schreiber and Hoyer believe these animals may already exist on the site. I am preparing to go out with Hoyer in the next few weeks to try and verify their existence. Snakes live principally on slugs and, according to Hoyer, may actually develop greater population densities in the residential development than in the oak savannah.

Fender's blue butterfly - These animals haven't been sighted on the project site yet, but the Kaye report indicates they may well migrate to the area

Other Animals the Brandis Oaks Savannah Restoration Project Will Look at:

Mammals

Invertabrates

Feral pets