Yakutat
8-11 am Mist Netting and Bird Banding Demonstration
Licensed bird bander Denise Turley and her helpers set up
the bird banding operation in the large roofed pavilion behind the high school.
Five black mist nets waited quietly, tucked into narrow clearings in the nearby
alders and willows. Periodically, these were checked for entangled birds.
The first bird was a female ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER who
lacked a brood patch. She was banded, measured, weighed, and examined before an
eager volunteer was allowed to release her back to her busy life, bearing
bling. The next bird was a female FOX SPARROW with a large brood patch,
probably en route to get a bite to eat or gather food for her newly hatched
babies. She was quickly banded, processed, then released.
I was impressed with the knowledge and interest of the
school kids, many of whom have participated in previous bird banding
demonstrations. They are learning a lot!
At this point, I had the opportunity to join an impromptu
field trip to Strawberry Point. This is where the famous Situk River enters the
Situk-Ahrnklin Estuary. Fishing shacks lined the slough, waiting for the
subsistence and commercial salmon runs. Strawberries bloomed just about
everywhere.
We strolled along the sandy beach, strewn with driftwood.
The usual BALD EAGLES festooned several of these perches. As I watched several
eagles circling upwards in the rising morning breeze, an odd gull-like bird
caught my eye. It was already pretty high, but it turned into an OSPREY! This
is a rare species, according to the Yakutat Birds Checklist.
Black Sand Spit to the west across the slough is home to one
of the world’s largest nesting colony of Aleutian Terns. ARCTIC TERNS and
ALEUTIAN TERNS flew past, frequently diving with a big splash for small fish.
The terns were mostly silent, but occasionally the Aleutian Terns chirped
sweetly like a song bird, and the Arctic Terns let loose their raspy growl. A
giant CASPIAN TERN joined the other terns fishing. What a huge red bill! And a
prehistoric-sounding BLAAARRRRHHHH!
MEW and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS joined the Terns fishing. Ten
male COMMON MERGANSERS, then a mixed flock flew past. Going the opposite
direction, a WHIMBREL flew by. It was quite a surprise to see one so late; they
are frequent in the spring but rare in summer.
TREE SWALLOWS and a few BARN SWALLOWS swooped along the sand
snapping up insects. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS called in the distance. Away from the
beach, FOX, LINCOLN, and SAVANNAH SPARROWS sang from the scattered willows and
alders. We watched ROBINS and a STELLER’S JAY.
We also found brown bear scat on the roadway, deer
tracks, and possibly mink or ermine tracks in the sand.
This is a place one could observe for a long time and continue
to make cool discoveries, but lunch called and we headed back. On the way, we
stopped at a stream and found a SPOTTED SANDPIPER along the bank, bobbing its
tail. The next stream had a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, a wonderful comparison. CLIFF and TREE SWALLOWS zipped up and down
the stream feasting on insects. Bright yellow marsh marigolds bloomed by the
stream. Chocolate lilies, yellow paintbrush, and magenta salmonberry flowers
bloomed nearby. VARIED THRUSHES and HERMIT THRUSHES sang from the spruce. Lots
going on!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Traveling Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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