Washoe Lake

So, in the spirit of keeping busy and expanding my resume in the environmental education department (which is what I want a job doing), Luci and I are volunteering with the Audubon Society's educational program. What that means right now is helping with school group tours at Washoe Lake.

Our first trip was Monday, and the wetalnds were spectacular. I'd always driven past Washoe Lake on my way to Carson City, but I'd never really thought much of it. It's flat, it's windy, and the Sierras to the west of it are so dynamic they tend to overshadow it. I couldn't believe what a treasure I'd been overlooking all this time. And I learned so much.

We arrived a little early and got to talk with several more expereinced Audubon volunteers who had a lot to share about the natural history of the birds we could see. For example, when you hear Canada geese (and who doesn't in this town!) the higher "hink" is the female and the lower "honk" is the male. And I guess they also mate for life (with a bit of infidelity at times). Throughout the morning we also got to see red-winged blackbirds, yellow-headed blackbirds, Northern Shovelers, American Coots, Cinnamon Teals, Northern Pintails, and Yellow-rumped Warblers (Audubon's variety).

The lake is split into several habitats at the south end of the state park. Upland sage on one side of the road transitions into a wetland marsh maintained by several canals, which then transitions into the lake itself. We had a group of 45 second graders, parents and teachers who came to learn about birds, wetlands, and the different habitats in Nevada. They got to use binoculars brought by the Audubon coordinator, and people like me were in charge of manning the spotting scopes (i.e. Find a bird, get it in the viewfinder of the scope, and then coordinate the line of kids that want to get a look). After our bird tour we collected some water samples from the wetalnds so the kids could look at the smaller bugs that live there. This last part was great for me as well since the last time I got to do anything like that was the Wetland Ecology class I took in 2002.

The look on the kids' faces when I get to show or teach them something new is amazing. And it's things I want to learn more about and share. Being outside and teaching: this is the stuff I live for! And the neat part was that when the kids got bored with birds they played with Luci and she delighted them by stealing their birding guides, and making her sign for bird and duck.