Posts: 3,079
Threads: 203
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
About 15 miles away from Anacortes, in the middle of the Skagit River valley, is a wildlife refuge to which Trumpeter Swans and Snow Geese migrate for the winter from Canada and Alaska. The flock can number over 4000 birds, but it's usually around 2000.
These photos were taken last February.
![[Image: web-gooseflight.jpg.w560h372.jpg]](http://mysite.verizon.net/eandfdamp/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/web-gooseflight.jpg.w560h372.jpg)
![[Image: web-geese253.jpg.w560h372.jpg]](http://mysite.verizon.net/eandfdamp/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/web-geese253.jpg.w560h372.jpg)
Frank
Frank Damp (wife Eileen, nee Nixon)
Leyland resident 1941-1965, emigrated to the US in 1968,
retired to Anacortes, Washington State, USA in 1999.
Posts: 244
Threads: 11
Joined: Oct 2004
Reputation:
0
Frank, you should read the book, Carusoe Of Lonesome Lake, it will tell you where the geese migrate from. I was in there about ten years ago, I spent a week fishing and hiking the chain of lakes, I met John and Stanley {from the book}. It,s also called Ralph Edwards of Lonesome Lake. Bryan.
Posts: 9,242
Threads: 140
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
The Snow Geese reach 50,000 feet when migrating.. that's higher than most jet planes fly. Frank's photo is very reminiscant of Martin Mere when the birds are arriving from Siberia. Always makes me wonder how do they know where to land? Is there a big arrow somewhere in the sky pointing the way?
Posts: 3,079
Threads: 203
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
The birds are attracted by an annual planting of winter barley by the farmers around the reserve. It's not intended as a commercial crop. I guess the amount of organic fertiliser they get makes it worthwhile. In the spring, the fields are used for peas and broccoli production.
I don't have to wash the car that often, David, as the flight patterns of the geese and swans are some distance away. A bigger problem in our neighborhood is the bombarment by the local colony of blue herons. There about a dozen of them, and many overfly our house on the way to feed at the marina across the street.
The bomb doors aren't linked to whether the landing gear is down!
Frank
Frank Damp (wife Eileen, nee Nixon)
Leyland resident 1941-1965, emigrated to the US in 1968,
retired to Anacortes, Washington State, USA in 1999.
Posts: 4,654
Threads: 200
Joined: Apr 2002
Reputation:
0
LOL! Sorry about the typo I obviously pressed the shift key when I tried to type the 5! I've misspelt atitude too! Must have been a bad night.
] [}
] . I went to Martin Mere last year to see them arrive and the placards that are located around the hides quoted that figure. Now at 54000 feet the temperature must be around -50 Celsius?I have been worrying about the poor little mites ever since. Nevertheless that's what was written on them. A silly mistake maybe? Or a wind up by me. which was it now....[:p]