Thanks for the warning. Actually, I think not to worry here. I've tromped
all over the place in the past three years, and the water is seldom more than
calf deep to knee deep in places. What really is deep is obvious and you
can't move very fast through this stuff anyway, so you should have a pretty
good idea what you are getting into before you go in over your head. I don't
know what kind of grass it is but it could be canary grass as you suggest,
although I've yet to see a canary there. Of course, someone will probably
drown now, then I'll be sued. --Richard Rowlett


In a message dated 96-01-06 19:52:51 EST, Jerry Broadus writes:

>
> Grant Hendrickson:
>>
>>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.
>
>