February 9, 2009

RIVER WATCHER

CHOICE OF A BUFFLEHEAD

Rex Burress

Down by the riverside at Oroville, CA, along Middle Lake (between the Fish Barrier Dam and Diversion Dam), a handsome male bufflehead duck came plunging out of the rain-washed sky to land in Hammonís Cove.

Maybe the migrant was testing its wings up in the cumulus clouds, as it was February and soon it would be time to fly, but on that day there was a return to the snug niche it had found in-between the shore and the Rock Island. I had watched it diving there alone before as if it had slipped away from the flock to a private food source, and those still waters with lovely reflections make an attractive location. It is surprising that very few waterfowl land there, although it takes a brave diver to ply those murky depths where mysterious monsters might dwell.

All winter a few bufflehead had brightened the dark river waters, but soon they would disappear for the summer, drawn to the Far North to nest in some snag in a swamp, while many other water fowl, including snow geese, journey on to the treeless tundra. The little loner would be gone to, as none stay behind to frolic in the Feather River.

Was it the buffleheadís choice to make that strenuous journey along perilous passageways? It could spend the summer on the river, enjoying the cool water and feeding on the choicest aquatic foods, without making that long flight into the uncertain wilderness .

But no; it is dictated in the birdís brain to seek out new worlds where possibly no duck had ever gone before, although once they find a suitable swamp, they return, just like they have found the Feather River and return to their second home every winter season. It is the call to reproduction, and a rich food source, tucked away beyond the Feather River where man walks and watches their personal life. Very few old private hollow snags are found along the river where they like to build their nest, and wood ducks usually take any available crevice.

At least, wood ducks have learned they can do it just as well here as there! They even have adapted to box nests erected by bird lovers. Did they go against the Choice Maker? But bufflehead are shy, and tend to wander away from the haunts of man.

Some Canada geese have also chosen the easy life around city parks and local ponds to stay and nest. No winging over marshes where bullets buzz, or storms beat down with an Arctic intensity, and the wolf and eagle wait to pounce. Lake Merritt in the middle of the City of Oakland has over 2000 Canada geese, born there on the duck islands, and the mobile geese thrive on the watered lawns with even brown-bag handouts by the kind people!

The bufflehead and goldeneyes have a choice as to which tree they choose and where to pluck their food, but there is no choice but to follow the flocks to far away places with strange sounding names!

Seemingly, neither do the countless other bird species have a choice. They know without knowing they know, directed by a master brain beyond human understanding. They are birds of the sky and children of nature.

"Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away and be at rest."

ñPsalms 55:6