Oregon Hikers

Lovely afternoon/eve in Eagle Creek Canyon. Lots of water flow, in the creek and along the trail from the tributaries. (Be prepared for mud and mild fording.)

Mystery: Before leaving, around 8:45pm, 50 or so feet before trailhead, a sound of quiet, very low percussion, maybe 8 beats, with a rhythm akin to a ball bouncing and progressively shortening its distance to the floor until it stops. Separated by maybe 4 minutes, then repeating. Sounded like it came from a tree... (Though at first we speculated: gun with silencer? Attempt starting an engine, from some distance?)
Anyone know what this was? Some large bird?

Sounds like a grouse beating its wings.

Totally! Thank you Adam!

Well here's another thing that struck me as odd. Around 5:30pm, a mile or so into the canyon, saw a bat flying around. Didn't expect that in daylight, nor how long it was circling. Is that typical forest bat behavior?

I'm no bat expert, but I've never seen one flying around before sunset. If I saw that, I'd be worried maybe it was rabid and not in its right mind.

thank goodness for the google, I don't know if this is valid

https://blog.nwf.org/2012/03/5-need-to- ... e-daytime/

"Bats are indeed nocturnal but just seeing one in daytime doesn’t mean anything is wrong with it."

"The rule of thumb when encountering any wild animal, at any time of the day, applies here: it’s okay to watch and appreciate, but never approach or try to handle it – let wildlife be wild. If you follow this rule, you’ll never have a dangerous encounter with wildlife."

"If you see clear signs of illness such as erratic movement, loss of fear of humans, aggression, mouth foaming, etc. leave the area and report it to animal control."

I googled and found links on both sides of the "a diurnal bat must be rabid" question.

http://www.batremovalindianapolis.com/b ... e-daytime/ -- of course, a bat removal company might want to push the "it's rabid!" argument.

Good to know; thanks guys.

My first thought was that its nest had been disturbed or one of its kin was injured or killed...

I thought this area was closed due to COVID-19 shutdown?

pcg wrote: ↑

May 25th, 2020, 10:59 am

I thought this area was closed due to COVID-19 shutdown?

I assumed they meant the Eagle Creek down near Estacada. The more famous Eagle Creek, in the Gorge, is still closed from the 2017 fire.

Accept he said Eagle Creek "canyon". I've never seen a canyon along Eagle Creek at Estacada, but I haven't been there in many years, and when I was there it was to fish and not hike, so maybe I never got to the "canyon".