>
>If anyone is thinking about looking for these birds, take seriously the
>statement that this is swamp. It looks like an easy walk over matted dry
>grass. That mat today was floating on top of knee deep water in many
>places. Next time I'll wear hip or chest waders! I came home worn out and
>soaking wet, but pleased with the results.
>

I have not gone looking for these swamp sparrows, but have been reading these
posts about the "matted dry grass" over knee deep water. Assuming, as I am,
that this is canary grass growing over a flooded boggy sort of spot, then I
would definitely second the warnings to be careful. While surveying wetlands
(as a land surveyor, not as a biologist) I have come to respect areas like
this as some of the most dangerous in these parts. Once, while out of sight
of my wife who was running the instrument, I was blithely crossing such an
area in chest waders and stepped in a beaver trench which I could not begin
to see from the surface. I went straight down in water over my head, and the
waders instantly filled up. My head went completely under. My only way out
was to use my 25 foot long collapsible level rod as a pole against one side
and work my way up, which left me lying on my stomach in the flooded grass,
which still wasn't too good. Since I couldn't swim with the waders on in the
grass I had to pull my self along till I found a willow tree that was strong
enough to support my now considerable weight to get up on my knees and get
out of the waders. Of course, Clarice never saw any of this and my radio was
dead from the bath, so it was a rather scary walk back out. I try to stay
out of such areas in the winter now.

Name: Jerry Broadus
jbroadus at seanet.com
901-16th. St S.W.
Puyallup, Wa. 98371
206-845-3156
Time: 20:18:56