Volume XXIII Issue X The Ogden Valley news Page 3 June 15, 2016 Letters to the Editor Caitlin Gochnour Will Be “Extremely Valuable” to Weber County Commission I am a long-term resident of Weber County and Ogden Valley and retired from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources with over 30 years of wildlife management experience. Utahns have always valued farmlands, open space, wildlife habitat, and wildlife and they have employed a variety of land use and public management programs to protect and perpetuate these important components that enhance the quality of life we all enjoy. Considering our future growth, it is criti- cal that our County Commission keep these traditional values in mind to insure that Weber County continues to be the place we all desire it to be. Caitlin Gochnour has a demonstrated history of considered public management, which would be extremely valuable to the Weber County Commission. I certainly endorse her for this position. John Kimball, Huntsville Information Sought about Shooting of Osprey near Wolf Creek Golf Course Someone has wrecked the bucolic beauty wing and caused significant blood loss. She of the Wolf Creek Golf Course and threat- required surgery. Despite several days of care ened the safety of its golfers and wildlife. On to help her recover some strength, she did not Wednesday afternoon, April 20, while golfers survive the operation. were on the course, a female osprey was shot We are heartbroken, having watched ospreys there and later died—despite the best efforts of hunt for fish at Wolf Creek for years as well as the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern enjoying the other plentiful wildlife there. We Utah (WRC). always look forward in the While finishing our round According to the Jamaica Bay spring to seeing if the two of golf late in the afternoon, Wildlife Refuge, “osprey mate for osprey nesting platforms at my wife Ann and I, long- life, but part ways each year for the end of Pineview Reservoir time members at Wolf Creek, the fall migration. They migrate are showing signs of new noticed something struggling as individuals, not in groups or activity. on the ground between the 9th flocks. Usually, females leave the There are so many things fairway and the large pond nesting area first, followed by wrong about what happened south of the fairway. As we the males. Mates do not see each here. As John Lewis, the golf slowly approached, we saw other again until they return to course owner, reminded me it was an osprey that was when I talked to him, Wolf their nest in spring.” unsuccessfully attempting to Creek is an Audubon Bird fly, and noticed blood on her Refuge. Not only are raptors, left side and wing. including ospreys, protected by federal laws, Ann monitored the osprey while I returned but the weapon must have been fired toward the to the Pro Shop. With Bruce Summerhays’ golf course, endangering any golfers who might help, I was able to get a box, and Steve Smith have been present. What was anyone doing loaned his own towel to the rescue effort. Using shooting near the golf course? my experience Concerned Form the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “Unique as a bird docent about such activiwith HawkWatch among North American raptors for its diet of live fish ties near this facilInternational, I and ability to dive into water to catch them, Ospreys ity, which Lewis is placed a towel over are common sights soaring over shorelines, patrolling committed to develthe osprey and waterways, and standing on their huge stick nests, oping as a comwith Ann’s help white heads gleaming. These large, rangy hawks do munity asset, he got the injured rap- well around humans and have rebounded in numbers has made inquiries tor enclosed in the among local resifollowing the ban on the pesticide DDT. Hunting box with minimum Ospreys are a picture of concentration, diving with dents but, thus far, upset to the bird. We feet outstretched and yellow eyes sighting straight with no results. If then transported her someone has any along their talons.” to the WRC where information about the staff, under the this incident, please direction of Dalyn Erickson, examined the bird contact John Lewis directly at 801-430-1507. and began efforts to save her. The osprey had multiple wounds from a pel- Winston Brundige, let gun or shotgun, which had broken her right Eden Live Here? Let’s All Do Our Part to Give Here! In the last few years, a lot of things have improved in our Valley. I personally love the pathways. Our grandchildren can now ride safely from their home in Eden to ours in Huntsville without being on the edge of a busy roadway, or crossing any busy highways. Adults and children alike use them daily for a safe place to exercise. The tennis courts at Snowcrest are also busy with lessons and patrons. In the winter, Ogden Nordic in North Fork Park provides 20 kilometers of groomed trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The community parks have all been improved with new amenities, and both schools have received money for extra programs and improvements. I think also of the contributions of CERT, K-9 Rescue, and Mountain Arts and Music, to name just a few of the non-profits that enrich and aid our Valley. How are these beneficial things made possible? Through the efforts of a wonderful, generous group of volunteers who love this Valley and serve on the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Ogden Valley (CFOV). Dennis and Diane Shaw are the Presidents of CFOV this year. It is my second year on the board, and have discovered that the same people who generously gave last year to support our Valley non-profits, are giving again this year. While we all benefit from the improvements, only a few give to theses good causes. Instead of 25 donors giving a lot, how about 2,500 households giving a little? Maybe we could consider it our dues for living in this beautiful place. I’m already looking forward to next year’s improvements—pickleball courts, more pathways…who knows?! One-hundred percent of everything you give stays here in the Valley. Live Here—Give Here If you do feel inclined to contribute, please visit <cfogdenvalley.org> Thank you, Kathy Jensen, Huntsville A Big Thanks to All Involved With Establishment of New, Safe Home for Huntsville Ospreys This edition of The Ogden Valley news has an article and picture about the movement of an osprey nest along Highway 39, east of Pineview Reservoir in Huntsville. This process happened very quickly and was made possible by a number of parties working together for a common goal— establishing an alternative nesting location for ospreys and eliminating a potential risk to the area’s electrical power infrastructure. Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) was notified, via email, of the establishment of the nest atop their power pole. They responded within 24 hours, explaining the process and options they had to address the issue. When informed that the property (Fowers Farm) across Highway 39 had a conservation easement established on it, and was part of the Ogden Valley Land Trust, RMP acted quickly and contacted the Ogden Valley Land Trust whose chair was able to get permission from the landowner for RMP to install a new nest pole on the property. While phone calls and emails were being made, RMP personnel removed the nest from the power pole, which supported the live wires, since there were no eggs present yet in the nest. Within a couple of weeks the new pole was installed nearby at Fowers Farm, and days later the ospreys started to establ i s h their n e w nest. F r o m s t a r t to finish, the process t o o k around three weeks. A b i g thanks to all involved, and I will be watching to see if the osprey pair has any offspring this year. Ron Gleason, Huntsville