|
The noise resonated high overhead. It was a weird, melodic trumpeting,
bugling, gargling call that almost sounded prehistoric. A mixture
of notes, impossible to duplicate or describe, but once heard, would
never be forgotten. The call came from one of the oldest living
birds; a species which fossil records reveal has existed for over
9 million years. No wonder the sound seems lifted from a Jurassic
Park movie.
Route north
The bird is the Sandhill Crane. There are 15 crane species in the
world today, and the Sandhill is the most abundant of the world's
cranes. 20,000-25,000 Lesser Sandhills pass through the Bulkley
Valley on their spring and autumn migration each year on the Pacific
Flyway. They winter in the Central Valley in California. In spring
they wing their way north through Oregon and Washington, entering
BC via the Okanagan. They cross the interior plateau, stopping to
rest and feed in the Bulkley and Kipiox Valley in late April, early
May.
Alaska
The migration continues north to the Stikine River. From there
they turn west over the Stikine Delta, following the Alaskan coast,
to the breeding grounds in the Alaskan Peninsula, Bristol Bay, Kenai
Peninsula and Cook Inlet.
Lesser Sandhills are large birds, standing one meter tall, with
a wingspan of two meters. Very long legs, long necks and a dagger-like
bill make for a very imposing and stately bird. Weight is usually
3-4 kilograms. Mature birds are ash gray but these northern Lesser
Sandhill often exhibit a brownish-rust coloring picked up from the
iron stain in the nesting bogs and swamps in Alaska.
Red crown
Adult birds posess the bright red crown. Juveniles are a mottled
copper rusty combination and don't show the red forehead until two
plus years.
Cranes are a long-lived bird and can survive to 30 plus years. Cranes
mature at 3-5 years and mate for life. The mating dances can begin
on the migration route and peak on the nesting grounds. Sandhill
cranes, just like their close cousins, the Whooping Crane, display
elaborate courtship rituals. They will bow to each other, often
picking up sticks and tossing them. The dance progresses with great
leaps, turns, skips, wing flapping and more bows. It is a truly
great viewing experience. Nesting in bogs, swamps and meadows the
nest usually contains only two eggs. Because their bill is such
a formidable weapon, the parents often separate the chicks, called
colts.
(All previous issues are stored in the ARCHIVE
for your convenience)
|
Diet
Sandhills are not picky eaters. The omnivorous diet
includes frogs, rodents, insects, grains, bulbs, seeds and berries.
The sight of a flock of sandhills descending in a spiral into a
feeding and resting field all the while calling to each other is
a memorable sight.
In the morning they ascend in great circling columns
to a barely discernible height before heading to the next stop.
Late September, early October finds them on their way back to California.
Sandhills will cover up to 550 kilometers per day.
The Sandhills will soon show up in the Bulkley and
Kispiox valley fields. Listen for them high overhead and find a
good vantage point to watch them in the field. Cranes are a very
wary bird and should not be approached. On the migration they need
to rest up and shouldn't be disturbed. Watch from a distance. It
is worth the effort.
Trout lakes
Trout lakes will soon open. Ice is weakening along the edges and
some wind and rain will complete the job. After the lake turns over,
usually within a couple of weeks of ice-off, the trout seek the
warmer water of shallow south- facing shores. As the water warms,
insect activity increases, and the trout feed more aggressively.
Creek mouths, reefs, shoals and springs are all good early season
hotpots.
Finder
If you have a fishfinde or depthfinder with a surface temperature
sensor, you can find these shallow warmer water choice areas. Don't
worry that your fishfinder doesn't pick up fish in these shallow
areas. The cone of your depth probe doesn't have a big footprint
in the shallow water and fish will move away from your boat overhead.
Don't worry the fish are probably there.
Troll
Troll your fly or lure about 35 meters back and make sure you troll
in lazy S curves to cover more ground. Note whether bites come on
the inside or outside rod. Bites on the inside rod suggest a slower,
deeper presentation would be best. Outside rod takes would require
a higher, faster presentation.
Flyfishers will enjoy the most success with dragon, damsel and
leech patterns. These should be retrieved with a strip-strip-pause
motion. Early season action with chironomids can be spectacular,
and if you haven't yet fished the little midges you need to know
this technique.
Don't forget new angling licences are now due.
Check for new photos on the Photo page
|
.gif){kind=spacer}
