A full lake and a new Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife management strategy created ideal conditions for migrating shorebirds this summer at Fern Ridge Lake, west of Eugene, Ore. Normally, ODFW refills impoundments in August to prepare for fall waterfowl and to keep invasive reed canary grass at bay, but early summer rains kept the lake full longer this year. This allowed ODFW to delay filling the impoundments, letting both shorebirds and bird enthusiasts linger to enjoy late summer at Fern Ridge Lake. Birders enjoyed a wildlife spectacle late August and early September as thousands of shorebirds of up to 25 different species of shorebirds, including the rare stilt sandpipers, ruff and American golden plover foraged in the shallow water and exposed mudflats of the Fisher Butte Unit.