Spring arrives in the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

BONNERS FERRY — Spring is a magical time, especially in the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. Although it’s coming later this year, the first signs are arriving in the form of migratory birds, turtles emerging from hibernation, plants and trees beginning to leaf out, and fresh grass sprouting, turning the landscape a brilliant green.

“A lot of the different birds have been coming in and setting up nesting sites,” says Wildlife Refuge Manager Dianna Ellis. “Canada geese have moved in and are probably already sitting on eggs right now.”

Some of the other early migrant waterfowl to arrive include Pintails, Mallards, Coots, and three different kinds of Teals: Cinnamon, Blue-winged and Green-winged.

Snow geese have also been visiting the Refuge. They do not nest here; instead they use the Refuge as a spot to stop, feed, and rest during their long migration.

The Refuge is alive with the sweet sound of songbirds. Meadowlarks perch on fence posts and plants, singing loudly with a flute-like sound, defending their nesting sites. They can be sighted especially on the north end of the Refuge.

Red-winged and Yellow-headed blackbirds are among the first to arrive this year. Swallows arrived a couple weeks ago and are nesting now. They can be seen performing aerial acrobatics as they feed on flying insects, often skimming just over the water’s surface.

Ellis likes to hang the hummingbird feeders by Earth Day, April 22. The Refuge makes its own Hummer Juice, consisting of one part sugar to four parts water, bringing it to a boil then letting it cool down before putting it in a hummingbird feeder.

There are three different hummingbird species that come to the Refuge: Rufus, Black-chinned, and the Calliope. The Calliope is the smallest bird in North America, measuring about three inches long and weighing about one-tenth of an ounce.

“Kind of neat seeing those little guys coming back,” says Ellis.

The Friends of Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that supports the Refuge, has started their bird walks. They meet the third Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. Birders of all levels of experience, from beginner to more advanced, are invited to join. It is free to the public.

“Just get together and go out on the Refuge and look for different species,” says Ellis.

The Western painted turtles, an aquatic turtle that lives in the wetlands, are emerging from hibernation. They can be spotted sunning themselves on semi-submerged logs or crossing the roads. Visitors are encouraged to be careful when driving through the Refuge, and to watch for turtle traffic.

Whitetail deer are seen throughout the Refuge, feeding on the fresh spring grass and preparing to give birth to fawns. Fawning season begins late May or June depending on the weather. While the mule deer have remained elusive, most sightings are in the forest along Westside Road.

Although Ellis has not seen any moose recently, she did see one young cow moose a couple of months ago, passing through the Refuge. She suspects that the young moose was one that might have been weaned, due to her mother getting ready to calf this spring. The moose do occasionally calf on the Refuge. There are a few areas that they frequent, out of the way of most predators and out of the public’s eye.

“Usually in springtime we will have more moose that will come in, and once the water warms up, you’ll see them in some of the wetlands eating the aquatic vegetation. Probably next month you will be seeing more moose,” says Ellis.

The Refuge is struggling with the vast amount of rain and snowmelt that has settled into its wetlands this year.

“So here on the Refuge, we do plant some grain crops for waterfowl. We don’t harvest them or knock them down. It’s just grown grain for waterfowl. So in the springtime Jim (Tucker) will plant spring barley and then also wild millet,” says Ellis. Tucker hasn’t been able to plant those crops yet because the fields are too wet.

“We have tons and tons of water... Haven’t seen this kind of water in years,” Ellis says.

The Refuge normally has the ability to manipulate water levels through a series of wetlands that have water control structures.

With the Kootenai River level currently so high, it creates a backwater effect up Myrtle Creek. The water level is now higher that the outlet pipes, halting the ability to do any drawdown.

Despite the overwhelming water, the wildlife of the Refuge continue to move forward into spring, feeding, singing, and preparing to bring new life into the world.