Our visitors from the north, the Aleutian Cackling Geese, will begin their long migration back to the Aleutians any time now. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (HBNWR) invites you to “Sunrise at the Refuge” on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, to celebrate this harbinger of spring. The entrance gate will open at 6:45 a.m., 45 minutes before sunrise, rain or shine, to allow visitors the opportunity to view the habitats of southern Humboldt Bay at sunrise. Bring a mug for coffee, tea, or cocoa. Baked goods will be available.
On Sunday only, paint a waterfowl silhouette anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Meet at HBNWR, Richard J. Guadagno Headquarters and Visitor Center, 1020 Ranch Road in Loleta. For more information, call (707) 733-5406 or visit www.fws.gov/refuge/humboldt-bay.
Aleutian Geese typically arrive in California in early October each year. After spending the fall and winter in the Humboldt Bay area they return to their summer grounds in Alaska. If you’re interested in learning more about the geese, check out the video Conservation Success Story: the Aleutian Cackling Goose produced by Cal Poly Humboldt Wildlife Professor Jeff Black (you may know him from his Otter-Spotter citizen science program), filmed in Arcata: