Today, Saturday April 10, 1999 Phil Kelley led a small group of birders
on a Nisqually birding walk sponsored by the Black Hills Audubon
Society. Phil will probably send in a full report. Saw 35 to 36 species
(depending on whose count you want to believe) within a mile radius of
the Twin Barns, from the new Nature Center to "The Willows" (or
"Duckpond") on the road to McAllister Creek to the Ring Dike Loop.

On the new boardwalk to the Twin Barns observed a fight between two
Canada Geese, presumably males. There was a female in the water but
adjacent to a cleared out circle within the reeds on the other shore.
There was a larger male near her and a slightly smaller male some 20
feet away. We saw the whole encounter, from the initial honking to
engagement to the "post-traumatic" high-pitched honks of the defeated
male. It actually did sound like a whine.

I figured I'd be able to go home and read a blow-by-blow explanation in
the Stokes Bird Behavior books. But was disappointed that the Stokes
book only treated displays, not the actual engagement. So I thought some
of the ornithologists on Tweeters might be able to offer insights into
what we observed today.

Briefly, the smaller male was approaching the nesting area and both he
and the defending male were making particularly loud, noticeable honks.
(This part the Stodkes do describe.) The smaller one, about 30 feet away
from the nesting site took flight and both the female and defending male
took flight also in the same direction as the smaller male. Still very
noisy. Then, all of a sudden the two males seemed to fling themselves
down onto the water, and suddenly it became clear that each had his bill
firmly attached about a third of the way down the neck of the other. So
attached at the head, each seemed to rise up out of the water "on its
feet" and did administer powerful wing flaps in the direction of the
other bird. It was all so suddenly fascinating I really couldn't tell if
either was actually touching the other with its wings, or just
directling powerful thrusts of air. After about two minutes, the smaller
male broke off and tried to swim away, but was harried for about 10 feet
or so by the victor.

Then the winner, the larger goose, swam over to the female, who had been
patiently watching. She began swimming with her long neck and head down
in the water, and the male similarly positioned his head and neck down
in the water and swam next to her, their necks parallel. At the time,
those of us on the bank had thought she was avoiding him, but with the
nest area already so well established, and now having read the Stokes
material, it appears clear the large male and the female were a pair
already.

When our little group walked on, the female was up in the nest area.

If anyone has some insights on these things, please share on Tweeters.
In anticipation, Thanks!

One more note on the Nisqually trip though. We were also intrigued by
the strange sight of a rather soggy and disheveled looking Red-tailed
Hawk perching on a log lying across the marsh or creek area just north
and west of the northern extent of the new boardwalk. Then we were even
more surprised when a female Rufous Hummingbird twice flew right "in the
face" of the raptor. Then, we were outright amazed when Phil Kelley, who
had been following the flight of the hummer with his binocs announced,
"Any of you interested in seeing a hummingbird nest?" Sure enough, he'd
spotted the nest by following the hummer and seeing her light and sit on
it. Otherwise, it would have just appeared to be a naturally occuring
mass of moss and lichen. The nest is there, just a few yards off the
road to the Ring Dike, and the female is sitting, so for the next week
or so it should be good fun for others to try to find it --- but others
will not have the help of the Red-tailed Hawk! Good luck!!!

Bill Ward
wward at cco.net
Lacey WA