From the Contact Station June 2019

Trucks and Ducks on the Road

On May 4^th we had an emergency Saturday closure of the River S. If you follow the www.Refuge2020.info webpage, you probably know the details, but suffice to say the concrete had to be poured for the bridge pilings and there was no waiting until Monday. We did our best to get the word out on social media as soon as we knew on Friday morning, but we still had some disappointed visitors. I had the morning duty of standing with the company flagman helping visitors while he staged truck traffic. It was fascinating watching how the cement truckers stopped to balance their loads before descending the road to the bridge. I learned a lot about the construction process while there. They had about 45 truck loads of cement delivered and poured that day. The process was choreographed throughout the day. We’ve had other similar days for the additional pilings, but everything else has happened during the Monday to Friday schedule. FWS staff have been inconvenienced a few times since, but they know to bring extra water and an extra sandwich if they are working in that section of the refuge. It is always a good idea to check www.Refuge2020.info or www.ridgefieldfriends.org. These two sites are nimble enough that very quickly, after knowing there is a closure, we can post.

So, what is the impact of the work on the bridge on the refuge wildlife? I asked our biologist, deputy project leader and our habitat manager just that question this last week. Had they noticed anything different?  Interestingly, they said the refuge seemed calmer. Huh? How is that reflected? Well, when they are moving between projects on the refuge, they find a lot more animals close to and on the roads. Which reminds me, when you are out of the car on the River S road, watch where you step. There is a lot more goose fertilizer all over the roads this year. With less public traffic on the River S, the wildlife has spread throughout the area in a more leisurely pace.

A couple weeks ago, I had to take some materials out to the Bachelor Island workshop after my Sunday shift. The trip took a lot longer than usual because of the large flocks of geese, ducks and coots on the road beyond the hunt gate. It is fun to sit back and wait for them to go from pond to pond, but there are always some stragglers who can take a while. Now, with the goslings and ducklings, you really must watch out to make sure everyone has made it across the road before proceeding. But they are not just crossing the road. Watching the flocks, they are picking at the road materials. Many birds, such as geese and ducks, pick small rocks from our roads. These rocks end up in their gizzards, the second part of their stomachs, where muscular grinding of hard to digest foods takes place. The small stones help that process. In addition, some rocky material provides much needed minerals such a calcium and phosphorus which are important for bone and feather development. Calcium is also important for eggshell production and we know this is the season for that activity. With the week-long closures, a lot more of this road grazing is taking place on the River S.

Still, some of the wildlife seem to be adapting to the construction crews. The Double-crested Cormorant roost just north of the old bridge on the east side of Lake River is still in use. During the latter part of April, early May, the Cackling Goose flock was seen multiple days on the camera overlooking the sight. If you look at the area now, it is where the sludge dug for the bridge pilings has been spread. But before that started, the Cacklers were busy chomping grass on that field right next to the orange barrier fence. They were undeterred by the set-up activity. Of course, now they are well north for nesting. And our Purple Martins are coming into the condo set up by the bridge. The only problem there is the folks that are tracking the birds are having a harder time of observing the nests. The construction crew has reported beaver sightings along Lake River. That is a rare sighting indeed, but the work crew has been out late into the night for some of the work that can’t be stopped until done. Refuge staff hasn’t seen the beaver themselves, but they have seen the evidence of their presence. An otter was also spotted coming down from the bank to check out the barge on the river. They are as curious as we are. It didn’t stay long but when do they ever. So, it looks like the wildlife may be enjoying the visitor hiatus during the week while working around the activity at the bridge. An early morning visit on Saturday is probably the best time to see some of the road activity, before the number of visitors picks up and the wildlife moves back off the road for the day.

Now that you can walk the Kiwa Trail, start using those ears. The Black-headed Grosbeak are in. They are usually a challenge to find in the tall trees, but just listening to them is a joy. Robert, our Saturday volunteer, did an early drive around the River S to start his shift end of May. He reported seeing seven different American Bittern. They are so good at blending into the grasses. Take your time to find them along the edges of the water, it is well worth the wait. Yellow, Yellowthroat, Wilson’s and Orange-crowned Warblers should still be singing and insect hunting in the trees and reeds (Yellowthroat) for insects.

Enjoy Spring on the refuge before things quiet down for Summer rearing of babies.