To some unlucky people, seeing these animals may give them an allergic reaction. Being placed in the Willamette Valley, Springfield is the headquarters for allergies. The reason for this is that all of the pollens settle down between the hills. Some people sneeze, others cough, and there are even those who get hay fever. One plant that is well known to the allergens is called the Scotch Broom bush. This is a shrub that grows lots of little yellow flowers containing massive amounts of pollen. Just driving by them with your window down can make people sneeze. Early April to mid July is Springfield's normal allergy season. When the day is hot, and the pollen high, the best place to go is either the McKenzie or the Willamette River. Both flow from the mountains, carrying fresh, cool water. This is just the thing to jump into. Many people enjoy rafting, tubing, or even just drifting down the rivers. These rivers border Springfield running parallel to each other. These rivers give a healthy habitat to trout, salmon, beavers and other aquatic creatures. Along with these animals, are many species of birds. An Osprey is a common bird which lives near both these rivers. These birds are equipped with sharp, strong claws and a sleek body allowing it to splash into the water to retrieve a fish. An Osprey is only the size of a small chicken but it has the ability to fly at tremendous speeds with virtually no sound. Other birds living in Springfield are crows, seagulls, hummingbirds, blue jays, vaulters and many more. |
