A January visit to our wildlife refuge

George Walter

Photo by Jill Severn

 Last Sunday was a beautiful blue-sky day, inspiring an afternoon walk at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. So many people shared this inspiration that the parking lots were jammed. Luckily, some of the morning folks were leaving just in time to make room for those of us who slept late. 

The Nisqually Dike Trail looking east toward the Twin Barns.

By George Walter

There were lots of interesting birds, but the best observation I made was of all the young parents and their offspring. There must have been more than 200 children, guided by their parents, energetically pursuing nature. I never heard one “I’m tired.” Those kids seemed to understand how wonderful it is to get outside on a sunny January day.  

Greater White-fronted Goose.

Photo by Liam Hutcheson

The highlight for birds had to be a group of Greater White-fronted Geese. They were hanging out right beside the dike trail west of the Twin Barns.  

On Sunday they were nearly stepping on the shoes of visitors. They graze the newly green grass along the trail and pick up gravel from the trail bed to add to their gizzards to aid in digesting that grass.  

They are somewhat smaller than a Canada Goose and are brownish overall, with black bands across their breasts and a white rump. Their feet and bills are orange and there is a narrow white “front” on their faces. 

These geese breed on the Arctic Ocean coast near Barrow, Alaska. This arctic population has been studied for decades, including numerous banding studies. The birds from Barrow winter in only three locations: the Central California Valley, the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and right here at Nisqually. 

Other impressive birds seen from the dike trail were Northern Harriers of both sexes. These are medium-sized raptors that hunt by soaring low over the marsh grasses (which is how they got an older common name, Marsh Hawk). They have long wings that they hold in a “V,” a long-striped tail and a distinctive white rump patch.  

Northern Harrier - male.

Photo by Liam Hutcheson

Northern Harrier - immature.

Photo by Liam Hutcheson

Male harriers are grayish with dark streaking, and females are brown with a bold brown streaking on the breast. Immatures are similar to females but have a cinnamon breast and belly with little or no streaking. Look for these birds arcing low over the grass and tipping back and forth to help you spot their white rump patch. 

Bald Eagle in flight.

By Rene Bracero

Many of Sunday’s human visitors were happiest to see the Bald Eagles. These birds are beginning their breeding routines (there are two nest trees on or near the refuge) and on this afternoon there were two pairs of adult eagles perching in trees along the Nisqually River. Another adult eagle often hangs out on the roof of the first viewing site along the McAllister Creek boardwalk. 

The weather this coming weekend is predicted to be sunny, and I expect that our local refuge will have many visitors again. When you go, be sure to dress warmly because the cold winter wind regularly blows across the open dike and boardwalk trails. I guarantee you will see birds I discussed here, and many more. 

This year, the winter chum salmon run that comes up the Nisqually River has been bountiful, and consequently there have been huge collections of bald eagles feeding on the spawned-out salmon. Last week, a one-day count of eagles along only 4 miles of the river peaked at nearly 200.  

Bald Eagle in flight

By Rene Bracero

Bald Eagle in flight.

By Rene Bracero

One of our young Nisqually fisheries technicians, Rene Bracero, often takes photos while he’s in the field and here are two of his recent eagle shots. Yesterday, he sent me this note: “I missed a great opportunity today at Yelm Creek. There were 30 in one tree and just as I realized it, they all flew away simultaneously. It was like watching a dandelion blow in the wind, just bald eagles out of a Doug fir – 30 at least!”  

Seeing all these eagles reminds me of how much things have changed in the decades since the federal Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act were signed into law. It’s become popular for some folks to question the need for regulations – after all regulations necessarily place limits on freedoms.  But that included the freedom to pollute.  

The reason we have abundant Bald Eagles is primarily because of the success of regulations and restrictions. When you find yourself enjoying nature, I urge you to remember that the nature we are enjoying is protected by laws and thus is also vulnerable to those people who would weaken those laws. 

Sometimes I can get scared, sad and grumpy when I think of the continuing threats the world is facing. But then I remember young folks like Rene Bracero, and those 200 youngsters I saw last Sunday, and our favorite photographer Liam, and I realize that there are abundant reasons for hope that our refuge, and our natural world, will be in good hands far into the future. 

George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 45+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com 

Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, a 17-year-old Olympia area birder and an avid Bird photographer.