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Corfu Woods and
Lower Crab Creek |
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HABITAT: |
Private pasture, farmland, creeks, and shrub-steppe; plus 45 acres of cattail wetlands and deciduous woods managed by CNWR and WDFW. |
| BIRDING: |
Mid-March through mid-April, thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese feed in refuge fields while Mallards fly overhead in clockwise swirls at dusk. Later in spring, woods attract migrating songbirds, especially warblers: Nashville, Orange-crowned, Townsend’s, Wilson’s, Yellow, and Yellow-rumped. Also watch for Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Western Tanagers, 4 species of flycatchers, and 5 of sparrows. Bullock’s Orioles and Western Kingbirds are common nesters. Great Horned Owls and Downy Woodpeckers live here year-round. |
VIEWING: |
At beginning of Gillis Rd/Lower Crab Creek Rd (private land - stay on road easement), look in row of pines for Barn and Long-eared Owls. Along Crab Creek Rd, springtime alkaline wetlands host migrating American Avocets, Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes. Marsh birds include Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons, and Great Egrets. In summer, watch for Chukars on ground and Lark Sparrows in shrubs.
South of Corfu Woods and adjacent to Rd B SE/Corfu Rd are mostly public lands for 3 miles. Eastern and Western Kingbirds, and Northern (winter) and Loggerhead Shrikes (year-round) sit on fence lines, Prairie Falcons perch on utility poles, and Golden Eagles soar overhead. In winter, American Tree Sparrows along with White-crowned, Song, and Savannah Sparrows gather along Corfu Rd.
From parking area, walk across road, enter through pedestrian access and skirt woods. In spring, look for Long-billed Curlews displaying over refuge fields. |
ACCESS: |
From Hwy 17 at milepost 29.4, turn west onto Cunningham Rd/Main St. Drive 1.8 miles into Othello. Stop by CNWR office at Main and 7th Ave for free refuge map! Turn left (south) onto First Ave. Drive 0.9 mile. Turn right (west) onto Hwy 26. Drive 8 miles. At milepost 32.5, turn left (south) onto Gillis Rd/Lower Crab Creek Rd, which curves west. Drive 5.5 miles. Turn right (north) onto Rd B SE/Corfu Rd. Drive 2.5 miles to WDFW parking area on west. Drive north to return to Hwy 26 at milepost 26.5. |
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