| A monthly publication providing news for Gustavus, Alaska |
 | |  | |  |
| Gustavus Bird Bits By Bruce Paige |
| May 1, 2008 |
I plead guilty to wanderlust the past two months. Sharon and I thought about another February and March
shoveling snow and decided instead to drive around North America, birding and seeking new experiences. We
traveled highways from Washington, California, and Arizona, to Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Indiana
then flirted with snowstorms along Canada’s Cassiar Highway to Skagway before returning on April 12. We
found an unusual bird or two, like a northern jacana (actually seldom crosses the U S/Mexico border), relaxing
on a golf course near Phoenix, a tropical brown booby aggressively panhandling fishermen on a San Augustine
pier, a normally far-at-sea Laysan albatross that has spent 13 straight winters near Point Arena’s dock, and a
spectacular flame-colored tanager in a deep Arizona canyon. We saw plenty of magnificent places, met many
good and friendly folks, and were constantly reminded of things back home that we have, but take too much for
granted, like complete quiet, starry skies, and knowing most folks by name.
The most discussed local topic where ever we went during the entire trip centered around “We’re ready for
Spring!” Winter conditions persisted into March and April in areas that are typically warmer, both snow and
rain were plentiful, and we capped the trip off by following the snow-covered shoreline of frozen lakes for the
last several hundred miles. Then we flew home from Juneau and nighttime temperatures dipped to the teens
and over 6 inches of new snow fell on the 17th. This will make the third straight cold, late Gustavus Spring, and
“early” blueberries are only now beginning to bloom, a month and a half later than some years.
Yet it’s time to think about the Spring bird migration! The snow cover has retreated, and large areas of beach
lands are bare and beginning to show green vegetation. Insects are once more plentiful along the tide strands
and freshwater ponds. The sun has climbed high enough to have some warmth to it again, and day length has
surpassed darkness. The stage is set, but it is still mainly empty. I was reminded on this trip, of how vast a
country there is to the south of us. Most birds were not in a hurry to move into lands of leafless trees and dried
grasses. Conditions must be just right to provide food and cover along the way.
The earliest migrants are arriving. American robins, varied thrushes, and ruby-crowned kinglets are heralding a
melodious spring. “Hoots” of blue grouse and northern saw-whet owls can be heard early and late in the day.
Even flocks of sandhill cranes, white-fronted, and snow geese, plus a very few rufous hummingbirds have been
seen. These are the high risk individuals, daring to brave freezes, snows, meager food supplies, and predators to
get to nesting areas first.
The real safety for birds lies in migrating together. Most “birds” have learned to hold until the time is right, then
they fly en masse, by day and night, over lowlands and seashores. During the next three weeks, most of the
millions of bird migrants will arrive or pass us by. By the time you read this, the migration will have started in
earnest. Be sure to take time to enjoy it! See you out there!
shoveling snow and decided instead to drive around North America, birding and seeking new experiences. We
traveled highways from Washington, California, and Arizona, to Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Indiana
then flirted with snowstorms along Canada’s Cassiar Highway to Skagway before returning on April 12. We
found an unusual bird or two, like a northern jacana (actually seldom crosses the U S/Mexico border), relaxing
on a golf course near Phoenix, a tropical brown booby aggressively panhandling fishermen on a San Augustine
pier, a normally far-at-sea Laysan albatross that has spent 13 straight winters near Point Arena’s dock, and a
spectacular flame-colored tanager in a deep Arizona canyon. We saw plenty of magnificent places, met many
good and friendly folks, and were constantly reminded of things back home that we have, but take too much for
granted, like complete quiet, starry skies, and knowing most folks by name.
The most discussed local topic where ever we went during the entire trip centered around “We’re ready for
Spring!” Winter conditions persisted into March and April in areas that are typically warmer, both snow and
rain were plentiful, and we capped the trip off by following the snow-covered shoreline of frozen lakes for the
last several hundred miles. Then we flew home from Juneau and nighttime temperatures dipped to the teens
and over 6 inches of new snow fell on the 17th. This will make the third straight cold, late Gustavus Spring, and
“early” blueberries are only now beginning to bloom, a month and a half later than some years.
Yet it’s time to think about the Spring bird migration! The snow cover has retreated, and large areas of beach
lands are bare and beginning to show green vegetation. Insects are once more plentiful along the tide strands
and freshwater ponds. The sun has climbed high enough to have some warmth to it again, and day length has
surpassed darkness. The stage is set, but it is still mainly empty. I was reminded on this trip, of how vast a
country there is to the south of us. Most birds were not in a hurry to move into lands of leafless trees and dried
grasses. Conditions must be just right to provide food and cover along the way.
The earliest migrants are arriving. American robins, varied thrushes, and ruby-crowned kinglets are heralding a
melodious spring. “Hoots” of blue grouse and northern saw-whet owls can be heard early and late in the day.
Even flocks of sandhill cranes, white-fronted, and snow geese, plus a very few rufous hummingbirds have been
seen. These are the high risk individuals, daring to brave freezes, snows, meager food supplies, and predators to
get to nesting areas first.
The real safety for birds lies in migrating together. Most “birds” have learned to hold until the time is right, then
they fly en masse, by day and night, over lowlands and seashores. During the next three weeks, most of the
millions of bird migrants will arrive or pass us by. By the time you read this, the migration will have started in
earnest. Be sure to take time to enjoy it! See you out there!