WHERE BIRDS SAY: FILL 'ER UP.Byline: Bill Becher Special to the Daily News DELANO - A half-million acres of lakes, rivers and wetlands in the Southern San Joaquin Valley Noun 1. San Joaquin Valley - a vast valley in central California known for its rich farmland Calif., California, Golden State, CA - a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes once provided a home for fish, migrating birds, herds of tule elk and pronghorn pronghorn or prongbuck, hoofed herbivorous mammal, Antilocapra americana, of the W United States and N Mexico. Although it is often called the American, or prong-horned, antelope, it does not belong to the true antelope family of Africa and even grizzly bears. But humans need to eat, and starting in the 1800s the land was drained for agricultural use and the rivers were dammed for irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. and flood control. The Kern National Wildlife Refuge  National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1960 to replace a fraction of those vanished wetlands and provide habitat for migrating and wintering birds along the Pacific Flyway flyway: see migration of animals. . ``It's like a gas station for the birds,'' said refuge manager David Hardt of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ``The birds need to stop and refuel re·fu·el v. re·fu·eled also re·fu·elled, re·fu·el·ing also re·fu·el·ling, re·fu·els also re·fu·els v.tr. To supply again with fuel. v.intr. .'' The refuge draws bird watchers from as far away as Germany who come to view the 211 species of birds landing for a fill-up. In the fall, about half of the flooded wetlands at the refuge are open for public waterfowl hunting two days a week. Hunters can free-roam hunt or choose areas with 10 blind locations. Hunters may reserve slots though the California Department of Fish and Game public hunt system or take a chance on a daily lottery at the reserve. Most hunters who show up will likely get in, though not necessarily in the area of the refuge that's their first choice, Hardt said. Hunter groups, including Ducks Unlimited and the California Waterfowl Association The California Waterfowl Association is a non-profit organization established in 1945 and dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of California's waterfowl, their habitats and hunting heritage. External links
On a recent visit there were more than two-dozen bird species, including cinnamon teals, avocets, ruddy ducks in breeding plumage plumage, of birds: see feathers. , black-necked stilts This article is about the poles. For the type of bird, see stilt. For other uses, see Stilts (disambiguation). Stilts are poles, posts or pillars used to allow a person or structure to stand at a certain distance above the ground. , a great blue heron, great and snowy egrets and lots of white-faced ibis. Raptors that visit the reserve include bald and golden eagles, hawks, harriers and peregrine falcons. The best time to see waterfowl waterfowl, common term for members of the order Anseriformes, wild, aquatic, typically freshwater birds including ducks, geese, and screamers. In Great Britain the term is also used to designate species kept for ornamental purposes on private lakes or ponds, while in is from November to early February. Nesting and shore birds can be seen March through May. Migrating songbirds appear April through June. Late summer is burning hot and dry and not the time to visit. Crisscrossed criss·cross v. criss·crossed, criss·cross·ing, criss·cross·es v.tr. 1. To mark with crossing lines. 2. with levies and canals, the refuge looks more agricultural than wilderness. Growing food for the migrating birds is key, and the reserve operates like a farm growing swamp timothy, wild millet and other plants favored by birds. Part of the reserve is operated as a tule tu·le n. 1. Any of several bulrushes of the genus Scirpus, growing in marshy lowlands of the southwest United States. 2. tu·les Northern California Marshy or swampy land. marsh where cattails wave in the breeze. Other areas are maintained as moist soil wetlands. Burning, discing and mowing are used to manage plant species. The 10,000-acre refuge is enjoying a banner year. This season, for the first time since it was established, enough water is available to fully flood the refuge. The refuge originally was designed to use well water, but the wells were expensive to operate and couldn't provide enough water. In 1992 Congress passed an act requiring the Bureau of Reclamation to furnish a reliable water supply to the refuge. It's taken more than 10 years to implement, but now more water means that the population of birds visiting the sanctuary has increased dramatically. Thousands of white-faced ibis, a species rarely seen in Kern County a decade ago, are nesting at the reserve, which also has a great blue heron rookery. Gasoline prices may be high, but the birds are filling up at this Kern County service station. IF YOU GO The reserve is at the intersection of Garces Highway and Corcoran Road, 19 miles west of Delano. The reserve has a six-mile self-guided auto-tour route on gravel roads that is open sunrise to sunset. Numbered points along the auto-tour route are keyed to an informational pamphlet available at the entrance kiosk. Stop at the reserve office Monday through Friday for tips on wildlife viewing and other information. During hunting season - October to January - the tour route is closed Wednesdays and Saturdays when hunting is open to the public on a portion of the reserve by permit only. Restrooms are available, but no fishing or camping is permitted. Information: (661) 725-2767. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Bird watchers from as far away as Germany come to the Kern National Wildlife Refuge in Delano to view the 211 species of birds, one of which is this snowy egret. (2) Dowitchers, migrating shorebirds, visit the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. Bill Becher/Special to the Daily News Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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