Meeting at Cascades Montessori the Four Shielders, along
with a volunteer named Owen Bamford, loaded their gear in vehicles for an
exploration to the Skagit Wildlife Area. Passing through the town of Conway we
crossed over the South Fork of the Skagit River and marveled at the farm fields
covered with Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese feeding in the mud.
Pulling up to a beautiful wooden shelter we circled up for
an opening meeting.
The mentors explained that we had arrived at the Headquarter
Unit of the Skagit Wildlife Area, and that the group would be exploring a 190-acre
tidal marsh of Cat Tail and Sedge used extensively by waterfowl. The Skagit Wildlife Area
contains over 16,700 acres of wildlife habitat composed primarily of intertidal
estuary and agricultural lands, which is managed by the WDFW - Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Shielders showed great preparation for our outing and we
ended up having enough binoculars and field guides for everyone to have a set.
After a short natural history lesson on the Skagit River Delta and the impact
of agricultural practices on the estuarine ecosystem we were all but ready to
go. Before heading out Greg shared some birding wisdom he had gleaned over his
years in the field:
- Binoculars- Look at your bird first, and then bring up
the binoculars to your eyes (you’ll get pretty close).
- Field
guides- They are distracting in
the field, when you see a bird keep looking at the bird, don’t whip out
the FG because you will miss either the bird, or some spectacular behavior.
Train your minds eye to remember details of strange birds.
- ID
101- We don’t ID familiar birds, but we recognize them
(Owen’s tip). To be able to recognize a bird, you have to see it
again and again, or it must be distinctive (like a pileated WP) Then its
shape/ type (is a duck like bird? Is it like a gull? Is it an
owl, Hawk, small songbird, shore bird?) Then Size- larger or smaller
than a crow/robin etc.? General coloration dark/ light/ colorful?
- Edges
between habitats are great places to bird, track,
and botanize…these are the Ecotones and they are typically richer with
wildlife.
- Ethics- Be considerate of other birders (quiet) don’t
chase after birds to get a better photo etc.
Setting out along the dyke the mentors realized they did not
properly explain why Owen had joined the outing. Owen Bamford, a board member
for the North Cascades Audubon
Society, was attending the outing to observe and find ways that the Audubon
Society could contribute to our programing and engage younger audiences.
The landscape was unlike anything that the group had ever
explored in. Dead snags stood throughout muddy channels and waterways of the Cat
Tail laden marsh. The WDFW is currently in the process of resorting a section
of the farmland back to native tidal estuary by diverting fresh water from a
slough and flooding the old field and trees that grew at it boundaries.
Entering into a hunting blind that faced a slough adjacent
to a farm Greg pulled out his spotting scope and the group got to take a good
look at a Northern Harrier’s flight patterns while it patrolled the edge of the
fields. It was not the last Northern Harrier we would see that day. This
solitary long-winged and long-tailed Hawk nests on the ground and prefers to course
low over the marshlands when it hunts.
Hiking out further along the dyke the group spotted a Bald
Eagle perched on a Birch snag. Getting the spotting scope in place the group
got close view of its talons and coloration. Once we had a good look we turned
to leave and the Eagle’s partner flew up and attempted to swoop down on what
was identified earlier by Owen as a raft (flock) of Wigeon (ducks). The Eagles
were unsuccessful but did manage to catch a rodent, shredding it bits right in
the field.
Later, while identifying some raccoon tracks in the
sediment, the group observed the same pair of Eagles mating. The group did not
get to observe their acrobatic and majestic mating flight ritual, just the latter
half of the process.
The biggest power of the day was the Shielders ability to
sustain their focus through the duration of the outing. As engaged birders they
displayed keen awareness and curiosity to delve deeper and ask questions. Not
to mention their great attitudes through the day as steady southern winds and
rainy weather tested their physical and mental preparedness. It was truly a
pleasure to join in fellowship with the group at this special location.
Stopping for lunch the group bundled up as a Cinnamon Teal
duck buzzed through a channel in the reeds. Feeling some inspiration the
mentors circled up for a game of Jays and
Juncos. After our game finished it was clear that morale had shifted from
cold and wet to energized and joyful. The mentors reminded the Shielders that
the shift in group energy we were feeling was a tool that field staff use in
programming frequently, and encouraged them to apply it to their mentoring in
the EMA program.
Picking back up where we left off the group traveled the
last stretch of the dyke finding: beaver
chews, coyote scat, nests, and signs of fresh bird kill. Stepping out onto a vast salt marsh we gazed
out at the inland waterways and the East side of Whidbey Island. This was the
perfect place for the group to wander while treading lightly on the land. We
followed along a river channel through the Cat Tail and sedge watching
Trumpeter Swans take off and taking a good look at their giant tracks registers
in the mud.
This was an ideal place for a sit spot. Spreading out on the
massive logs sent down stream by the mighty Skagit River, the group relaxed
into the peace of the place. In the shallows of the delta a large group of what
we inferred were Sandpipers or Dulin moved in a synchronized and tight
formation spiraling in on itself in an endless loop called murmuration. Click here to watch a video!
This behavior is normally displayed as a defense mechanism when a predator is in
active pursuit. As we sat the sun broke through the clouds and illuminated the
water while warming our faces and hands. It was truly a magical moment of
connection to the place.
Headed back towards our vehicles, Owen spotted Merganser and
helped the group better understand the difference between Dabbling and Diving
ducks. He explained that Dabbling ducks prefer shallower waters and marshes
while Diving ducks prefer deeper waters. Dabbling ducks are specifically
adapted to feed in the shallows by upending themselves to reach deeper for food
sources where as Diving ducks feet are farther back allowing them to feed by
diving underwater. Dabbling ducks have evolved to able to take off directly
from the water without running whereas Diving ducks must take a running start.
Circling back up under the shelter we shared our gratitude
for the day and debriefed our experience. Greg and I would like to express our
gratitude for our volunteer Owen Bamford for attending on behalf of the Audubon
Society and sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world, wisdom, and
naturalist knowledge gleaned over many outings and years in the field. We would
like to also thank Rachel Budelsky, WW’s Board President, for letting us borrow
her family vehicle for our excursion. Our mentors are thankful to for each
opportunity we get with your boys and for all your support throughout the
years.
For more photos from our outing please visiting the FS’s
photo album from the day.
Four Shields Birding
List:
Skagit Wildlife Area:
Headquarters Unit - March 11, 2017
Dabbling Ducks: Cinnamon Teal, Mallard, Wigeon, Northern
Pintail
Diving Ducks: Bufflehead, Merganser
Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Downy Woodpecker, Northern
Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Red Breasted Robin, Trumpeter Swan, Canada Geese,
Double Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Sandpiper or
Dunlin, Spotted Towhee, Black-Capped Chickadee, Marsh Wren, Song Sparrow, Tree
Sallow
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