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The 5,325-acre William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge protects wintering habitat for dusky Canada geese. Unlike other Canada geese, duskies have limited winter ranges. They nest on Alaska's Copper River Delta and winter almost exclusively in the Willamette Valley.
Habitat loss and hunting have dramatically decreased their numbers.
In addition to wintering geese, wood ducks, hooded mergansers, northern pintail, northern shoveler, California quail, an occasional peregrine falcon and bald eagle can be seen.
There are also black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, western pond turtles and numerous species of songbirds.
Several threatened and endangered species are known to reside on the refuge, including Oregon chub, Nelson's checker-mallow, and Bradshaw's desert parsley. The refuge's habitat includes Oregon white oak savanna, meandering creeks, Oregon ash forest and native prairie.
The refuge was named for William L. Finley, a conservationist who persuaded President Theodore Roosevelt to establish the first national wildlife refuge west of the Mississippi. Parts of the refuge are closed from Oct. 31 to April 1 to protect wintering waterfowl.
The refuge roads are open from a half hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset.
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