The Eagle Outdoors

It's funny the things that make me smile. Just this morning, I'm sitting on the back porch, coffee in one hand, dog at my feet. I'm listening to the rooster down the valley greet the day and my girl-chickens waking up for another; when, from stage right, a tiny rufous hummingbird makes his jet-like appearance. As they often do, he makes the rounds of the many blossoms on the porch. A sip from the impatiens, a drink from the Albutilon, a split second to check out the early mums; the geraniums. He's a busy man, or a hungry man, or both.

Before he leaves, he takes another instant to hover closer until he's a foot - perhaps less - from my face. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I could have sworn he nodded, "Thanks" before spinning in place and flying off toward the clump of river birch. Thanks? Maybe he's just a nice guy and appreciates his free, all-you-can-eat nectar breakfast. Maybe I hadn't had enough coffee? Either way, it's incredible to see the little ones first thing in the morning. Fascinating creatures hummingbirds are, and all you have to do is look and watch. There's the price of admission to one of the greatest shows on Earth.

Buoy 10 opener

It's that time of year again, ye salmon fishers. The annual Buoy 10 salmon fishery is slated to open on Friday, Aug. 1, with a daily bag limit of two adult fish, those being one king/chinook, two silvers, or one of each. All silvers/coho during this initial period of Aug. 1-6 must be clipped, i.e. have the adipose fin removed (visible scar). Any chinook is legal from Aug. 1-6. This fishery extends from the mouth of the river (Buoy 10 area) to the western end of Puget Island.

However, this changes on Aug. 7 through Aug. 25 to only clipped fish - chinook or silver - being permitted. Clipped fish only! Then from Aug. 26 through Sept. 6, the daily bag limit, though remaining at two fish, can include any chinook, but hatchery silvers/coho only.

And I thought the waterfowl regulations were tough to understand! Thank goodness, come the end of August - and if the 'cricks' don't rise - we'll have plenty of silvers in the freezer and I'll be afield in search of chanterelle mushrooms, the harvest regulations for which are much easier to interpret.

Did you know?

The annual "Swim Across The Columbia," an event held before but still as part of Astoria's Regatta Festival, began in 1934. The course, per se, begins at the Knappton Heritage Center on the Washington side of the river and ends at Oregon's Maritime Museum. As the crow flies, the distance is 5.1 miles; however, given the flood tide, swimmers actually tread water for some six miles before hitting dry ground again. Understandably, this event is for experienced swimmers only, which means me and my Spongebob Squarepants water-wings are probably out of consideration.

Fall ain't far

I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that the small family group of seven Canada geese I heard and eventually saw this morning were headed to the Town of Taylor's little pond (the late Dale Strueby's old farm), where they were hatched and raised this summer. Canada geese, like many bird species, will remain in what's called family groups...say, four to eight or nine blood-related individuals, well into the fall.

While I'm not wishing the days go quicker, fall is right around the corner. The geese are telling me this. The mama deer and their little ones that come nightly to feed on the King apples across the street, the small flocks of American goldfinches (Washington and Iowa's state bird, if you didn't know) feeding on ripe Canadian thistle along the refuge road. The apples are beginning to turn. Our blackberries are getting ripe.

My guess - and I'm certainly no Old Farmer's Almanac - is we're looking at a colder, snowier, longer winter this time 'round. I don't consider it voodoo magic or rolling chicken bones trying to tell the future; but, if you watch, the animals will tell you what's in store. Me? I see the wild critters around our place stocking up, laying in stores, putting on the pounds. After three parades, three bags of candy, and always having cookies on hand "for the two-year-old next door," maybe I'm the one putting on the pounds.

Before signing off, a special "tip of the cap" goes to newly certified Wahkiakum District 4 Firefighter Jason Lewis who donned his Class B uniform for the first time as part of Cathlamet's recent Bald Eagle Days parade. Congratulations, Jason!