ENHS Nature Trails September 2000 Article 3

"Birds of a Feather" Exhibit Soon to End
by Nadine Smith

A small yet very interesting exhibit is on display at the Oregon History Center in Portland. It's found in a hallway of the museum and is packed full of information about William Finley, the man that Finley wildlife Refuge is named for. It has pictures that Finley and his childhood friend, Bohlman, both from Portland, took on their birding expeditions throughout Oregon. Finley and Bohlman organized the Northwest Ornithological Association in 1894. They helped organize the Oregon Audubon Society in 1902. As president (Finley) and treasurer (Bohlman) they led the society for many years.

In 1900 Finley enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley to study under a distinguished ornithologist, Joseph Grinnell. Bohlman remained in Portland to work in the family plumbing business. He joined Finley on summer vacations to photograph birds. Expeditions took the photographers around Oregon, into Washington, and California.

During a trip to Three Arch Rocks in 1901 they witnessed the wholesale slaughter of sea lions and sea birds by hunters and sport shooters. They used their photography to document the wildlife of Three Arch Rocks and bring public attention to the slaughter. In early 1905 Finley was on a tour to the east about the same time as an article and Bohlman's photos appeared in Pacific Monthly. An invitation to visit with President Teddy Roosevelt persuaded the president that the Three Arch rocks deserved protection. In October, 1907, President Roosevelt established the first federal wildlife refuge on the Pacific Coast, to protect the birds from plume hunters and men shooting for sport. Then the President designated parts of Klamath and Malheur Marshes as wildlife refuges in 1908. Finley was instrumental in the passage of the Oregon "Model Bird Law" in 1903, to protect non-game species. In 1907 Finley produced anti-plume leaflets which the Audubon Society sent to every woman in the Portland Blue Book.

Photographing the birds wasn't easy. At Klamath and Malheur they camped on the reed islands and were eaten by mosquitoes. going to Three Arch Rocks in 1903 meant taking a 14-foot boat through breakers even experienced sailors refused to do. Timing the unloading of cameras and supplies to prevent their equipment from smashing onto the rocks and then winching the boat up the cliff was tough. they put a flat board down on a narrow shelf of rock for cooking and eating. They used seaweed for mattresses to sleep on.

Differing approaches to life eventually led Finley and Bohlman down separate paths. Bohlman continued in the plumbing business and turned his leisure time from photography to painting.

Finley founded the State Fish and Game Commission in 1919. Through service as commissioner, game warden, and biologist his emphasis on education over enforcement got him fired in 1919. He had won the admiration of Portland school children, who petitioned the governor to reinstate Finley as biologist. Portland newspapers praised Finley as, "the foremost apostle of practical useful conservation of wildlife in Oregon and to the school children of the state he has proved ...a wonderful illuminating instructor."

By 1910 a motion picture camera was added to his arsenal and he continued to produce films as well as still photography the rest of his life. Finley's film, "Cute Animals," was produced long before Walt Disney made the concept popular. Finley and his wife, Irene, wrote the book "Little Blue Bird."

I am not sure when the exhibit is to close. I was told November 5 but the latest OHS newsletter said it was October 29. Anyway, it will end soon so if you want to see it you had better visit promptly:

Oregon History Center
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland, OR 97205

Admission: $6 adults, $3 students with i.d., $1.50 children 6-12 years, free to OHS members, kids 5 and under, and seniors on Thursday.

Museum hours: Sun. noon - 5 pm; Tues.-Sat, 10 am - 5 pm; Thurs. eve. until 8 pm.

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