Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Wetlands and Wings Program is Full

Thank you so much for your interest in Wetlands and Wings!
 So many applied to participate that the program filled up quickly.
We appreciate your support in promoting this wonderful opportunity for our youth!

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Canvasback Tule Duck Shirts Available!

Check out our the custom artwork of the historic Canvasback duck decoy on our 100% cotton, pre-shrunk shirt! Scroll to the right of the page www.springwings.org to purchase your own for just $20 and free shipping.

The following is a brief history on the Tule duck:

"The Canvasback duck decoy made from tules is an icon of the Lahontan Valley wetlands in Nevada. These decoys date back over 3000 years to the time of the early Paiute people who thrived in the Stillwater marsh. They developed a method of constructing lifelike duck decoys from tightly woven marsh plants, painted them with mineral dyes and sometimes wrapped feathers on the form.  Small groups of these were floated in the marsh ponds to 'decoy' other waterfowl into landing within range of the hunters' arrow. A well-preserved group of these decoys was discovered in a cave near Lovelock, NV in the 1920's, and are on display at the Smithsonian Institution.  Today, a handful of Paiute tribal members continue to create these decoys as fine art for sale, using traditional methods passed down through the generations."
 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Great new link for beginners to bird watching

We just added a new site under Birder Links tab:http://bebusinessed.com/bird-watching/. Thanks for the share from a fellow birder and her family!

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Recent Stillwater Sightings

Wildlife and Bird Update October 31, 2015:
Stillwater NWR:

The refuge sanctuary along the Foxtail Lake driving tour route is holding the most visible bird numbers on very limited water. Enter the route across from the Stillwater Pt. parking area. 

The one-way road is about 6 miles long, and exits onto Hunter Road.  The covered pavilion, tables, restroom, boardwalk, and viewing platforms are about 3 miles into the tour route. A viewing blind is located on the West shore of the first pond,  just beyond the pavilion; parking is on the south side of the road, and an easy 200yd walk leads to the blind.

Wildlife sightings on the refuge included the following:
(weather: 68F air temp, clear, slight breeze)  

Great Blue Heron
Mallards
Green Wing Teal
Ruddy Duck
N.Shoveler
American Coot
American White Pelicans
Tundra Swan
Snow Geese
Canada Goose
Dowitcher
Dunlin
Gulls
Avocet
Eared Grebe
Clark's Grebe
Marsh wren
Gr. Yellowlegs

Common Raven
Loggerhead Shrike
Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Great Horned Owl
Barn Owl
Dove
Quail
Magpie

Says Phoebe
Blackbird
Starling
White-crown Sparrow
Flicker
Savannah Sparrow
W Meadowlark
Am Robin
Song Sparrow
Horned Lark
No. Mockingbird
Yellow rumped Warbler

Coyote