Friends of Humboldt Bay NWR member Jackie Appleton helps a young birder during the 7th Annual Fly-Off at Humboldt Bay NWR. (photo: USFWS)

A view of thousands of Aleutian cackling geese "flying off" during the 7th Annual Fly-Off and Family Fun Day at Humboldt Bay NWR. (photo: USFWS)

by Sean Brophy, Humboldt Bay NWR

Every evening during late winter and spring, thousands of Aleutian cackling geese gather in a special place.  The purpose of their congregation is a safe night time roost where they can sleep undisturbed and arise early the next morning to forage on short grasses in preparation for the next stage of their migratory journey. On Saturday and Sunday March 7^th and 8^th 2009, visitors to the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge’s 7^th Annual Fly-Off and Family Fun Day were treated to an incredible display of nature’s beauty as over 50,000 geese flew off of their night time roost.  

Getting visitors inspired to be out at the refuge by 6 a.m.  is no easy task, but more than 800 people attended the event over the weekend.  This special event, presented by Humboldt Bay NWR and the Friends of Humboldt Bay NWR, provided high quality interpretation, wildlife observation and environmental education; but most importantly showed many people what a remarkable place the refuge is.  Thanks to cooperating weather and geese, this year was one of our best fly-off’s yet with multiple flocks, some comprised of over 20,000 individual geese, arising en masse like cacophonous clouds of smoke.

The refuge is amazing place but our volunteers are what make it a special experience for visitors.  The post fly-off activities made the event a true Family Fun Day.  This years activities included an Amphibian Exploration Area with FWS biologist Jamie Bettasso, birdhouse building, decoy painting with Mike Peters of Colusa NWR and Naomi Buscom of Sacramento NWR, a pondwater microscope, storytelling, birdhouse building, trail activities including the refuge trail guide and Quest and a bake sale that successfully raised funds for the Friends of Humboldt Bay NWR. The event was also a great outreach tool to bring awareness of the refuge to the local community, and included interviews and stories in local newspapers, television and CNN.com.  As this event continues to grow each year the refuge becomes more a more a place entrenched in the local communities mind as a place to take their family for a fun and safe adventure in nature.

Updates and announcements about special events and other happenings the refuge are posted to the refuge website: http://www.fws.gov/humboldtbay.