................Once upon a time........in a land far away called Vanc.
Lake and Ridgeport unit of Ridgefield NWR, there lived thousands of
CANADA GEESE ( 1 with a red neck band and 3 with yellow bands) along the
way. But wait........above the din there could be heard and seen 16
TUNDRA SWANS, and........what to a wondering eye was seen 4 GREAT
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the middle of these Swans. Not to be unnoticed
and left out above all this racket, several SANDHILL CRANES flew
overhead and made themselves noticed.
...............Among all these "kings" there were many of their doting
subjects: PINTAILS, SCAUP; RING-NECKED DUCKS; SHOVELERS, etc. etc. etc.
...............And...........in the trees and blackbery brambles were the
"least of the brethren": FOX SPARROWS, JUNCOES, STELLARS JAYS;
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, and in fleeting glimpses what appeared by
size, shape and color to be several RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS.
..............RED-TAILED and HARRIER HAWKS patrolled the skies looking
for smaller members of this kingdom. Then there were the BALD EAGLES
reported around the island area of Vanc. Lake.
...........And now, my friends, I leave you with the biggest question
from my journey through this land called Vanc. Lake--Columbia River
lowlands. *What* did I see fly overhead into the trees as I drove
south on narrow Lower River Road in the evening's waning light??? A
black crow-sized bird with a somewhat wide white band on the outer edge
if its tail feathers (since I could not stop and all I saw was the under
parts, your guess is as good as mine!! (-: ).
.............Oh well.....cheers!!!

Gerald Hamilton
Brush Prairie, Wash.
gerald at e-z.net