Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:29 am, sunset 8:37
pm for a total day length of 14 hours and 33 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5
minutes and 29 seconds longer.
The “big winter storm” never
materialized, though the north wind certainly did with occasional,
much-appreciated breaks. Freezing temperatures at night and above-freezing
temperatures in the day have spirited away much of the ice and snow without the
mess of breakup. Spring is here, tidying up after Winter, nice and easy with a
smile.
My crocuses are just peeking
above the leaf mulch, and Sitka willows are starting to bloom. I even saw the
bright yellow stem of a skunk cabbage confidently emerging along a small
stream. More sun with temps continuing in the 20s to low 40s is in the forecast
until Wednesday, then a chance of rain or snow showers.
Tasha reported a
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER at Afognak Beach on March 19, and refound it on March 24,
all alone. A BALD EAGLE struggling with the wind while hauling a huge stick for
the DYI nest project was reported on March 20. That evening, a pair of WESTERN
SCREECH OWLS was reported hooting in the Lost Lake neighborhood. I heard the
red FOX SPARROW singing on March 22, and sporadically since then, so sweet! On
March 25, I saw and heard just one SNOW BUNTING, though two were also reported,
also a pair of GADWALL which may have been here since the Christmas Bird Count. On March 26, I received a report of a RAVEN
plucking a grapefruit-sized wad of stuffing for a nest from a dog’s toy left in
a yard. I watched a Raven tearing up gobs of moss in the same yard a bit later;
maybe the toy was safely tucked back inside.
Seward is extremely fortunate
to have resident TRUMPETER SWANS, a new record of 15 overwintering here,
including five cygnets. With so many, it’s hard to differentiate them. One
family seems to have only one adult and two cygnets. Another family has two
adults and two cygnets. The remaining eight contain at least two solid pairs.
They have survived this alternately bitter cold and relatively mild winter by
feeding near eel grass beds in Resurrection Bay and at the mouths of streams at
the head of the bay. It’s remarkable that they have found enough food to
survive.
As a tiny bit of open water
appeared at the back of the Mile 1 Nash Road wetlands on March 24, a pair of Swans
was reported staking it out. However, on March 25, I counted two adults and two
cygnets feeding there. Last year’s family? The next day, I only saw two adults,
but it is far and it is easy to miss napping or hidden cygnets. Now it seems
there are just two adults there consistently, not the Swan family. Previous
residents?
The Swan family of 4 was
spotted with a pair of adults peacefully sharing a small pond on the afternoon
of March 27. That evening around 7:15 pm, I happened to be driving by the
Lagoon on my way to listen for the Western Screech Owls. I glimpsed a swan
through the trees, so I pulled in to the Benny Benson Memorial Park to count.
As I quietly opened the door, I heard trumpeting. I didn’t think it was an
alarm about me, so I continued to quietly approach.
The Lagoon remained mostly
frozen, but this north end was partially open. I crept into view and instantly took
in the scene: one cygnet rested on the ice on the west side, one parent rested
on the ice on the south side, and the other parent and cygnet fed near the ice
on the southeast side. A pair of agitated Swans bobbed heads and trumpeted on
the north side. Were they discussing flight plans to head out for the evening?
The trumpeting, that wild and
thrilling music, got louder and more frequent as did the deep head bobs.
Suddenly, one Swan took off, giant white wings stroking, black webbed feet
splashing across the calm water aiming straight for feeding parent Swan. The
alarmed parent didn’t wait to discuss the situation, but wisely shot off and
landed on the ice a safe distance away. The attacker, satisfied, broke off the
chase and landed on the ice.
O my! What a magnificent
display! He looped his neck back, puffed out his chest, and held his gorgeous
angel wings out stiffly, tail bent down. Turning slowly, still displaying and
impressive, oozing with aggression, he faced the pond and the remaining parent.
Dropping the display, he raced across the ice with giant strides, flying
directly at his target. That parent beat it out of there and landed far away on
the ice.
Veering course, the
triumphant Swan landed in the water and, trumpeting, swam towards his adoring
mate, who trumpeted right back. Facing each other, they bobbed their heads up
and down, excitedly replaying the great roust. After congratulations and meritorious
awards, they settled down and paddled slowly in the pond, side by side.
Meanwhile, one parent
cautiously reentered the pond on the far southeast side. A very docile cygnet that
had watched the whole show decided to paddle across to join his parent. As he
eased past the pair, ever so innocently, it seemed that this would be OK. They
watched, he paddled. But then, BAM! The adult erupted over the water after the
cygnet. The poor little Swan fled for his life just ahead of the avenger. I
wonder if he had EVER been threatened like this! Off they went, the attacker’s
splashy footprints overstepping the cygnet’s before splash had even
settled.
The cygnet landed on the near
ice, the attacker paused, then kept coming. The cygnet dashed off. The rest of
the chase continued by foot with wing assist until the cygnet was far down the
ice. Again the adult held out his mighty wings in that impressive display,
facing the vanquished, and then turned slowly to face the others and his beloved.
After a minute or two of glory, he flew low, back to celebrate with head bobs
and trumpeting. Afterwards, they both preened unperturbed on the shore.
Again the parent eased back
into the water, followed by the smart cygnet that knew not to rustle a feather
during the battle. The vanquished cygnet preened on the ice; the other parent
took a nap on the ice nearby with one eye open.
By and by, the aggressive
pair paddled serenely across the open water to feed by the ice on the south
side. First one cygnet, then the other, and then one parent swam back in the
middle. Nothing happened. The five Swans tipped up and fed while the remaining
parent napped on the ice with one eye open. After twenty minutes of high drama,
all was peaceful. Wow. I slowly eased away, so elated to have witnessed this
powerful drama.
I wondered why the pair was
so fiercely defending this area; it has never been a nesting habitat. There are
very few suitable sites in the Seward area: Nash Road mile one being the best,
and Bear Lake subjected to harassment by people and marauding Eagles. The
Lagoon would not be optimal, but when the killer power lines are finally buried
underground, maybe a floating nesting platform would be a possibility.
I continued my trip to listen
for the WESTERN SCREECH OWLS with Louann and was not disappointed. After the
barking dogs went home, and the Ravens finally said their final goodnights,
there in the dusk came the bouncing ball call. After a short time, the low call
was answered by a similar but higher call. We thought we heard yet another low
call across the road.
Quite close by, a NORTHERN
SCREECH OWL began beeping, alternating low and high pitches for a very nice composition.
There was a possibility of a BOREAL OWL as well, though I didn’t hear it well
enough to count it.
Quite the evening!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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