Birders flock to Whitesand Veterinary

Wednesday, (Sept. 28) birders from Saltcoats, Melville, Yorkton and Saskatoon, all members of The Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association (YFBTA), spent a few hours as guests of fellow-birders Ken and Nancy Wood. The 24 enthusiasts responded to an invitation to explore and observe lands in the vicinity of Cussed Creek, just north of Yorkton

The tour began with a discourse, given by Kenn, on the Wood families involvement with the land. Kenn described characteristics of the sandy-loam soil and the challenges it presents to land managers. Kenn shared his vision of increasing soil productivity through sustainable practices and described various practices that he has been employing during his tenure on the land. He gave an overview of the tour to come. The birders were then invited to hop aboard a trailer with rows of bales to be used as seats. Kenn pulled the trailer with his tractor.

During the tour Kenn shared his passion for land, for cattle and for natural processes. He also shared observations that he has made during his many years on the land. He talked of periods and abundance and then disappearance of Richardson's ground squirrel (gophers). He philosophized about relationships among Northern Pocket Gophers and soil fertility, touching on the interrelationships among mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds. The group stopped at a couple of sites to observe the impact of beavers upon the land. Kenn pointed out the beneficial effects the beavers have provided for his cattle. The group was shown a maple forest which Kenn believes exists as a result of the beaver continuously removing poplar and birch trees from the area while rejecting maple.

The group stopped at one point to view a section of Cussed Creek where Kenn had observed an interaction among two otters and a coyote stating that "that was one of the best nature sightings I have ever experienced" Other stops were made to observe remnants of earlier settlement and there was conversation about earlier occupation of these areas by Aboriginal people.

The group recorded sightings of geese, hawks, various species of warblers and migrating sparrows. A Great Blue Heron was one of the more notable sightings.

Upon their return to the Wood farm home the group enjoyed a weiner roast as they sat around a warming fire. As a perfect cap to the afternoon and evening the birders were accompanied on their homeward journeys by a not-to-be-ignored display of northern lights.