Birding Trip Report - Ft. Lewis, Weir Prairie and Chambers Lake bchall at smumn.edu

I friend and I went to the Weir Prairies in Fort Lewis on Saturday (March 27th) around noonish. Of note, saw a pair of RED CROSSBILLs high on some snags. Also saw a pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in the same area, but low to the ground. Female eventually slinked into a nextbox.

Next visited Chambers Lake, also on Fort Lewis. beautiful place, very quiet (that day, at least) and lush. No birds of particular note there, except that we came upon a female COMMON GOLDENEYE caught up in some fishing line and with a fish hook sunk into her check. I waded in to mid-thigh depth, caught the bird (after it had tried to dive to escape) and removed the hook. It was really good to see her flying away. Carried the d*mned fishing hooks out of the area. Remember - cut and take any fishing like and hooks you might see. Another day, and that bird would have perished out there.

Brian