National Wildlife Refuges

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California, 1973

For those of you who have been following my posts on the National Wildlife Refuges, you may be thinking, "Is he really going to do a post on all 555 NWRs?" Well, the short answer is: "No." The longer answer is, "I've only been to about 75 or so. And, not all of those produced photos. Some NWRs like Leslie Canyon and San Bernardino in Southeast Arizona, are less than spectacular and don't yield great wildlife photos. They were set aside to preserve endangered fish and/or amphibians. Many of these NWRs not only don't have "Visitor's Center's," they may not have any roads -- 4x4 or otherwise. Many of them must be explored during different seasons. And many, if not most, need to be visited several times to fully appreciate and know where to look to be able to get close to various species.

But, also sometimes I am just passing through and don't have much time to explore. One such NWR is Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I am not going to do it justice. I took a short hour and a half hike once and have wanted to go back. But haven't found the time yet. This is a NWR that you could spend days at.

Humboldt Bay NWR is located, where else, on Humboldt Bay on the northwest California coast. The refuge has two main purposes: to protect and enhance wetlands and bay habitats for migratory birds, especially black brant, and to protect endangered species and their habitats, including the Humboldt Bay wallflower. The refuge includes one of the most pristine dune ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. It  includes a 14-acre island located less than a mile off the California coast, which contains the largest breeding population of common murres in California and provides a roost for Aleutian cackling geese during migration.

Concentrations of migratory water birds--especially shorebirds--occur in the fall, winter, and spring. In winter, it is not unusual for over 100,000 birds to use the Bay as a feeding or resting site. The main reason for these waterbird concentrations are the eelgrass beds and extensive mudflats. These also make the Bay an important spawning, nursery, and feeding area for fish and other marine life. 

You count 'em shorebirds.

Willet

Shorebirds

Shorebirds. Trying to group "Shorebirds" is as easy as trying to get a cat to obey. Are they birds only found on sea or lake "shores?" Are they part of, or a larger group that includes "waders" like heron? Do they include Gulls which hang around sea shores -- although, not inclusively. So, depending on your definition it could include as many as 200 or more species. Suffice to say, they typically are associated with wetland or coastal environments. Many species in Arctic and temperate regions are migratory, but tropical birds are often resident, or move only in response to rainfall patterns. The majority of species eat small invertebrates picked out of mud or exposed soil. Different lengths of bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Many waders have sensitive nerve endings at the end of their bills which enable them to detect prey items hidden in mud or soft soil. Some larger species, particularly those adapted to drier habitats will take larger prey including insects and small amphibians.  In the first photo you see a huge flock of sandpipers (of some sort) that seemed to sway with the wind, while on the ground there are ducks, geese, herons, and all sorts of waterbirds.

photo taken at Humboldt Bay, California

White Faced Ibis, American Avocet, Black Necked Stilt, Wilson's Phalarope, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, and Western Sandpiper

photo taken at Lake Cochise, Arizona

Tomorrow, I'll begin with the Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies of which 36 species can be found in North America.