From the Contact Station May 2021

At a distance still

Mid-April, the Contact Station bird feeder went back up.  It will be filled on Fridays, or Saturday mornings, and should last through the weekend at least.  You can look forward to Red-winged Blackbirds at this time of year, California Scrub Jay, Black-capped Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch as our usual visitors.  New to the feeder on Sunday, April 25, were two Eurasian Collared Dove. They take up a lot of room on the dish at the bottom, so we are hoping they share.

You will recall that last year around this time we had Sandhill Cranes preparing to nest near

the Kiwa Trail so there was a delayed opening of the trail to allow the cranes to establish a nest, lay an egg, and attempt to fledge a colt. This year, staff is watching closely, and saw some activity April 27^th that could indicate interest in the area for a possible nest location.  Breeding pairs establish territories 2-4 weeks prior to building a nest and laying eggs. The presence of standing water with emergent aquatic vegetation is an important characteristic of the nest site.  They generally construct nests in water where floating piles of aquatic vegetation, grass, mud, sticks, and moss separate vulnerable eggs and chicks from terrestrial predators. Sandhill Cranes lay 1-3 eggs per clutch, at 2-day intervals. The average incubation time is 30 days. Surviving to adulthood is difficult for newly hatched cranes so each attempt is precious.  We are waiting for the Sandhills to decide if they will nest near the Kiwa again.  If so, the opening of the trail will be delayed again.

About that American Kestrel with the band on its leg reported last month? FWS staff put me in contact with Dr. Brad Tripp, from the Department of Natural Sciences and Health at Warner Pacific College in Portland, who has been running a kestrel nest box project on the Ridgefield NWR since 2004. In those 17+ years he and his students have banded over 200 kestrels.  “American Kestrel populations at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge have declined steadily since 2005 as measured by nest box occupation and productivity. Our data suggests that one reason American Kestrels are declining on the refuge is due to the increase in competition for nesting cavities by European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).” One of the boxes can be seen near the big oak viewed toward the SE from signpost 13.  This is close to where the banded Kestrel was photographed last month.  American Kestrels are declining nationally due to many factors.  Dr. Tripp’s article, published with Ben Durham, explains some of the factors affecting American Kestrel decline. Here is the link to the article for further details on their study: http://classpages.warnerpacific.edu/BTripp/AK%20Web/default.htm.  If you can read a band, report the finding to the US Geological Survey to further the studies on these wonderful raptors. You can report your findings here:  https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/.

Meanwhile, in the mudflats, there has been a lot of migrating shorebird activity. Visitors who spend the time to scan edges of all the water are finding some nice shorebirds as the ponds/lakes recede.  In the last two weeks of April, we have had several small flocks of Dunlin and Least Sandpiper coming through.  They are so much fun to watch as they fly together over the lakes.  As they turn and reverse in synchrony, the flock color changes for a delightful view of nature in action.  The Dunlins are beginning to show their breeding plumage of black belly patches. Long-billed Dowitcher were the latest arrivals. They wade around in the water up to mid-leg, probing with their long bills into the muddy pond bottoms like a sewing machine.  It is hard to sort out an occasional Short-billed Dowitcher among the Long-billeds, but by call is the most reliable method. Short-billed Dowitcher have been heard. The Long-billed’s body was described to me once as a grapefruit shape, while the Short-billed’s body is football shape.  This can work when they are together but is a bit challenging when trying to decide how round that one body really is.  Least Sandpipers are

up on the banks pecking for bugs (photo).  Another “peep” coming through is the Western Sandpiper.  They are the little ones with black legs and a slightly droopy bill.  The Least, which are the smallest, have the lighter yellow legs unless they have been out in the mud getting dirty just to be confusing.  Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are on the refuge.  It is nice when you can get them together to see the finer, more delicate lines of the smaller Lesser Yellowlegs.  They too have slightly different calls with the Greater Yellowlegs being more assertive with their Tu Tu Tu, and sometimes an extra Tu.   Of course, Wilson’s Snipe are around the muddy edges and calling frequently and starting their mating flights.   And there are Killdeer, both of which will stay to nest here.  One big treat was Black-bellied Plover. A few have dropped in over the last couple weeks.

Enjoy this spring migration.  Start listening for our Black-headed Grosbeak.  Usually singing from high in the trees, they can strain your neck looking for them, but they are worth the time.  And, the gourds are up for the nesting Purple Martins. Check them out to the right as you reach the bottom of the bridge entering the refuge.

-Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer

Feeder and Kestral photos by Susan Setterberg

Sandhill Crane 2020 by Eric Anderson

Least Sandpiper by Richard Kuehn