Subject: Re: Stanley Park & 6 Species
Date: Apr 04 17:54:32 1998
From: John Shipley - goldeneye at ior.com


> Just a few thoughts on Stanley Park, from an outsider. I applaud
> Michael Price's astute evaluation of the situation there. I spent a few
> hours there last week, after my last visit of 2 years ago. After
> walking around Lost Lagoon about 4 times, we had great views of the
> drake Tufted Duck, which was the target bird there, for my 3 clients.
> This is indeed a fine locale for viewing and photographing waterfowl.
> And, there aren't many places where one can observe the likes of
> Buffleheads, Goldeneyes, and Hooded Mergansers feeding on bread,
> do-nuts, and other preferred foods. However, it is also easy to discern
> that much is amiss there. It is sad to see the quantity of non-native
> vegetation planted in the Park; even sadder to see the marauding
> Raccoons. They will have a rabies problem there, if they have not
> already had one!
>
> It sounds like a complex and discouraging situation is in place there,
> and I would encourage more of the local birders to adopt the tenacious
> attitude that Michael Price has displayed. It is a Park that obviously
> has held considerable meaning for him.
>
> Birding on our week-long trip went very well. My clients were all from
> St. Louis, MO, and they are closing in on the 700 species mark. They
> had 6 species on their target list, and we achieved those in 5 days.
> Some of our sightings included:
>
> March 21: Gray Partridge--1 male, 1 female viewed at the side of the
> road, on the Rathdrum Prairie, NW of Coeur d'Alene.
>
> March 22: Hwy 2 from Spokane to Coulee City, yielded 12 Rough-legged
> Hawks (including 2 dark phase birds), 200+ Tundra Swans, 1 ad. Bald
> Eagle, and many species of waterfowl.
>
> March 23: A Sage Grouse lek, N. of Moses Lake, had 10 males early this
> morning. A brief stop at Stevens Pass produced about 20 Red Crossbills,
> in a heavy snowstorm. Late this afternoon, we managed 2 pairs of
> Crested Mynas in Vancouver.
>
> March 24: The Xantus' Hummer in Gibsons required about a 2 hour wait.
> It was a gorgeous day, and 20+ other species occupied our time, during
> the wait.
>
> March 25: The male Tufted Duck mentioned above, was followed by a
> couple hours at Reifel Sanctuary, and then the ferry to Victoria. We
> found 4 Skylarks at the airport there. The small picnic area adjacent
> to the main terminal provides a good vantage point, from which to
> observe their displays. One bird landed in the grass, about 30 m from
> us.
>
> March 26: We added several new species to our trip list, during the
> crossing to Port Angeles, and the return trip to Spokane. We drove
> 1,200+ miles during the trip, and saw only about 140 species. But,
> diversity was not the objective!
>
> I'm happy to provide details or directions, for the above.
>
> Bonsoir,
>
> John Shipley
> Goldeneye Nature Tours, Inc.
> P.O. Box 669
> Post Falls, ID 83877
>
> Phone 800-308-6444
> Fax 208-777-0449
> E-mail goldeneye at ior.com