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[From Fall 1994]

Visitors "Flock" to Refuge During Waterfowl Week

They arrive by the hundreds. Some are first time visitors, others have made the journey many times. They arrive singly and in family groups. Many are on their own for the first time, others are parents whose young have finally left the nest and are now seeking a warmer climate for the winter months.

While this description may fit many of the humans who visit the refuge, it also describes the migratory waterfowl that depend on the refuge during the coming months. Early migrants, such as blue-winged and green-winged teal, will begin to arrive in September. However, the peak of waterfowl migration is usually at the end of November when the moist soil management units are filled with snow geese, shovelers, mallards, black ducks, gadwalls, pintails and tundra swans. (See Waterfowl Migration in this issue.) To fully appreciate the importance of the CNWR as a migratory and wintering stopover, schedule a visit during the annual Waterfowl Week celebration. This year, Waterfowl Week will run from Saturday, November 19, until Sunday, November 27.

As part of this annual celebration, the Service Road will be open to private vehicles from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m on November 19 and 20, and from November 24 (Thanksgiving Day) until November 27. Closing the road for a few days, and limiting the hours, decreases the amount of disturbance to waterfowl and provides better viewing opportunities. This unsurfaced road is usually closed to private vehicles, with bicycles not allowed at any time. Also, stop in at the Refuge Visitor Center for a schedule of guided walks offered during the week.

So whether you are a first time or repeat visitor, here with friends or family, young or old, join us as we celebrate the annual spectacle of migration.

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