A few shots of the areas wild inhabitants in and around the creek
Photography: Cheryl Reynolds
Month: February 2008
Ahhh this morning’s crisp dawn began with a visit to the dam where several beaver loyalists with alot of expensive camera equipment met up for a chat and compare. The beavers were in full view, working on the main dam and feeding on the banks. One frisky young racoon went into the lodge again while they were foraging, this time having a good sniff around before exiting through the back door. Our carnivorous ducks are back in large numbers: the scaups hopped or flew over the dam in sets of three or four, heading for the annex area. They are definately finding something to their liking under those waters.
A raucous plop and slap was heard towards the visit’s end, with a large splash at the dam where someone seemed to duck under just in time. One issue we are trying to pull together is a logo for the nonprofit interest. Ultimately it would be great to have a graphic artist work on putting one together for us, but how do people feel about this for now? Email your thoughts as always to mtzbeavers@gmail.com. Remember that the beaver subcommittee meeting resumes tuesday at 5:30. The ESA students will be there with a presentation and Igor will be freshly back from the beaver conference. It should be an interesting night. Bring a friend, or make one there.
This song sparrow and his friends have been making music at the lodge…
Photo: Cheryl Reynolds
Heidi Perryman
I went down this morning for a beaver visit and was interested to see the entire family returning from the downside of the dam. They are obviously using the new area to feed and forage, especially since the upstream areas are less accessible with the shallow water. The secondary dam is looking no larger, and Moses says they have been working on the main dam only. The reedy bank near the secondary was wet and trampled with beaver activity. Looks like tonight’s dinner was tulle roots.
The flock of scaups were back, this time coming over the dam and past the lodge and into the “annex” area above the bridge. Also a great egret and a lovely songbird whose tune was impressive but whose identity remains a mystery. All the family swam up from the second dam and crossed over the main dam. The moral of the story is that if you go looking for beavers now in the mornings, you might do better to stand on the footbridge.
A fine idea from Paul Craig, by way of the Martinez News Gazette:
It’s time to institutionalize the Beavers. A great place to start is Martinez’ huge I-680 billboard.
As you swing off the Benicia-Martinez bridge you’ll see a 10 foot tall beaver with a couple of kits. “Martinez: Nature & People In Harmony. Eat, shop; relax.”
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