There are plenty of cars in and out of the fence line of the refuge this week. The humans are here to see the birds - thousands of migratory waterfowl and songbirds land and lounge in the open space off College Road.
“There’s hope in the air. It’s Spring. You’re seeing animals. It’s fun,” said Steve Sandquist.
Steve Sandquist walked along the fence with his family. His son, Soren Sandquist, looking through his brand-new binoculars he won in a contest, said it was the sound geese make that he likes.
“That they all honk. Looking through the binoculars, uh, you can see closer and see if they have bands on their legs,” said Soren Sandquist.
His mom, Shawna Henderson explained her connection to viewing the birds at Creamer’s Field:
“This is our family tradition. This is how we know it's spring and fall is by the birds coming. When I was a kid, my parents were both teachers and so they always worked and we always had the same routine until the birds came to town. And we would wake up extra early, we'd stop by McDonald's and get takeout breakfast, and then we'd come here and watch the birds -- before school started, which was a big deal. And so we're trying to do the same thing with our kids,” she said
Melanie Graeff is the Programs and Events Coordinator for Friends of Creamer’s Field. She says it has been a cold April and the snow has been melting slowly. This year the birds showed up on the later side of the average.
“Last year, the first swans arrived on April 6th, and then the geese arrived here on April 7th. This year, the swans arrived on April 14th, and then the next day, April 15th, the geese arrived. So they're about a week, little over a week late.”
And it’s not just the waterfowl. Snow buntings should have moved on to their Arctic breeding grounds by now.
“So this year, because of all the late snowfall and cold temperatures, the Snow Bunting numbers have built up, so they've been hanging out here this morning we saw a large flock of snow buntings in the field, and we're just like, Hey guys, you need to go -- it’s time to go!”
Saturday is the Spring Migration Celebration at the Refuge.
Graeff says from noon to 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, there will be bird viewing with scopes provided by Arctic Audubon in the front field. Back at the Farmhouse Visitors Center there will be tables from outdoor organizations in the parking lot. There will be crafts for kids and families. And a different nature and birding walk every hour.
“ We're gonna have a Parade of Swallow event to welcome hopefully the first sighting of the Violet Green swallows to the Interior.” “We’re just going to go up and down the lane with any crafts made from the craft table.”
There is a schedule for the Spring Migration Celebration on the Friends of Creamer’s Field website.
Back at the fence, Mike Demoski was looking for those big, white birds.
“ I like, I'm looking for swans, but I don't see any tonight. Not close anyway, and I think my second one would be the cranes. Oh, I love coming here when they're, um, migrating through. Usually, I do most every day during the migration. It's just so peaceful out here too.”
Glenn Taylor has come every day this week and managed to photograph Trumpeter swans and Sandhill cranes.
“ They fly over my house and I see big flocks of 'em come in and one after another, and it's just nice to know that we have this wildlife sanctuary here in town. That's what keeps them bringing me back.”
