Trip Report: Bird Walk at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge with Blue Star Families
After numerous perfectly lovely sunny days, Saturday June 21st dawned drippy and gray. What a sad bit of bad weather luck, for today was the day that Blue Star Families had booked a nature and bird walk at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge with us. Blue Star Families is a national organization which encourages service-members, veterans, and their families to get out and explore the natural riches in the states where they live.
26 adults and young children showed up at the Refuge despite the weather, with approximately equal numbers of adults and children. All were great sports in the wet and cold.
We were six leaders and divided the families among us to walk the Refuge’s paths. In my group, a young boy berated me for talking to the adults and missing seeing birds. Four different swallow species soared, swooped, and dove around us. We saw a Bald Eagle, a young otter (or beaver?), one deer, three American Goldfinches, and several more of Nisqually’s usual summer birds. None of my adults knew of the Merlin app and downloaded it there and then.
I always feel anxious leading a bird walk, but in the end, I always have a good time. I get to do a little educating, socializing, and bird-watching. Participants always seem to appreciate leaders’ efforts.
So, bravos and thanks go to Sam Merrill, Hank and Helen Henry, Anne Van Sweringen and Keith, Maureen Bieker, and Sally Nole for helping lead. If Blue Star Families asks us to do this again next year, I will insist on a sunny day!
Bonnie Wood
