ACFL North 02.08.2023

Little Cranberry Lake, Big Beaver Pond, Wildlife

This morning I headed to a new area for the first time. After hiking around Whistle Lake, the other day, I wanted to check out and see if there was more diversity of wildlife at Little Cranberry Lake. Beautiful area with great trails that follow along the lake. I could hear a pair of River Otters out on the island but could not see them anywhere. There were some Canadian Geese at the north end of the lake. Not much wildlife to be found on the lake from the mid-section to the north. Located some Double-crested cormorants on the far south end of the lake. Headed off to Big Beaver Pond next in hopes of finding more wildlife there. Working my way into the area I could see recent activity from the resident Beavers. Several trees were being worked on and getting close to falling. It was fantastic to know that the Beavers are keeping the area’s water enriched for the many other forms of animals to thrive. As I approached the center section, I could see many different varieties of birds. There were Trumpeter Swans, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, a Belted Kingfisher, and a Bald Eagle gliding in. I was surprised to see so much wildlife around Big Beaver Pond. I’m wondering why there is such a difference from Whistle Lake!

Trumpeter Swans

Trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl in North America. They are majestic birds that can grow to a wingspan of up to 9 feet and can fly at speeds of up to thirty mph. 

They are migratory birds, spending the winter in the southern United States and Mexico. 

Trumpeter swans are herbivores and eat a variety of plants, including aquatic plants, grasses, and seeds.  

Trumpeter swans are monogamous birds and mate for life. They build their nests in marshes or on islands in lakes and rivers. The female lays 3-5 eggs, which hatch after about 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks). Adult swans will fiercely defend their nests and young, and they have been known to kill predators with their powerful beaks. However, predators can still sometimes successfully prey on swan eggs and young, especially if the swans are not present. The young swans are called cygnets and are cared for by their parents for about 6 months. 

The Trumpeter Swans eggs and young are vulnerable to a variety of predators, such as: Bears, Coyotes, Raccoons, Ravens, Eagles, Owls, and Mink. 

Trumpeter Swans help the ecosystem in numerous ways: 

• They help to control aquatic plant growth. Trumpeter swans eat a variety of aquatic plants, including algae, pondweed, and cattails. By eating these plants, swans help to prevent them from overgrowing and choking out other aquatic plants. 

• They help to improve water quality. Swans help to improve water quality by aerating the water with their feet and spreading nutrients around. This helps to keep the water clear and healthy for other wildlife. 

• They help to spread seeds. Swans swallow seeds as they eat aquatic plants. These seeds are then passed through the swans’ digestive system and deposited in other areas, where they can germinate and grow into new plants. This helps to spread plant life around and create new habitats for other animals. 

• They help to attract other wildlife. The presence of trumpeter swans can attract other wildlife, such as fish, waterfowl, and raptors. This helps to create a more diverse and balanced ecosystem. 

Overall, trumpeter swans are an important part of the ecosystem. They play a variety of roles that help to keep the environment healthy and balanced. 

Columbian Black-tailed Deer

This was the first time I saw deer around the ACFL. They were both in the same area. This beautiful buck was just standing there looking at me, great to see them both in good health. Good to know that the AFCL conservation areas are a safe zone for the deer.

Hooded Merganser, Male

This male Hooded Merganser was looking around for its mate. They are beautiful birds, and many to be viewed in the area on this day.  

America Bald Eagle

I was watching a Belted Kingfisher zipping from tree to tree in the Big Beaver Pond. The Kingfisher was too busy to see a Bald Eagle coming into the area and landing. Once the Kingfisher noticed the Eagle, she was on a mission to get the Eagle out of the area. She was continually divebombing the Eagle with hopes of moving it out. The Eagle had no intention of moving anywhere at the time.

Ring-neck Duck

The Ring-neck Ducks are colorful ducks with striking colors when hit exactly right by the sunlight. The vivid purple color on the males head just glows and fantastic shimmering green on its back. The female has beautiful greens and purples also, with a very distinctive body of tones of brown. 

Canada Goose

There were many Canada Geese at the north end of Little Cranberry Lake, close to the parking area. If you love watching them this is a great area for easy access for viewing them. 

Little Cranberry Lake, Big Beaver Pond, Anacortes

02.08.2023

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