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The Quill Lakes, a Paradise for Birdwatchers

by Joan Eyolfson-Cadham, The Lure of the Lakes

Reprinted courtesy of the Advance Gazette, Wynyard, Sask.

...Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing recreational activities in North America. Amateur casual or serious bird-watchers will be delighted by a never ending array of color and birdsong. Year round, birds make their home in the Lakes Settlement. Migratory birds add to the numbers and varieties

Birdwatching at the Quill Lakes

...The Quill Lakes marsh system has been identified as RAMSAR site, a wetlands area of international importance, and has been declared a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Site.

..The mud flats that form the shores of the alkaline Quills and the surrounding marshes are a haven for shorebirds, including the endangered piping plovers and great blue herons. There are whooping cranes in season and white pelicans.

...A major migration flyway crosses the area and countless thousands of Canada geese, white geese and Sandhill cranes pass through in spring and fall. Colonies of these birds as well as gulls, terns and several species of duck nest here.

...The Quill Lakes and surrounding marshes are not accessible directly from any of the major highways. An Municipality map is the best source of trails that lead down to the shoreline.

...Wadena has built a viewing tower and interpretive area to facilitate birdwatching in the area. The Wadena and District Economic Development Committee has prepared the Little Quill Lake East Shore Nature Walk; a Wetland Bird Sampler, a do it yourself nature walk and bird study

...Large-scale maps of shoreline access roads are available through the local rural Municipal offices. Wadena and the top part of the Quills are on the RM map of Lakeview No. 337. The RM office is 150 Main Street South in Wadena (Highway 35). The bottom end of the Quills can be found on the RM map for the RM of Elfros No. 307. The Elfros RM office is on the main street of Elfros across from the grain elevator

...Wynyard Tourism provides a large-scale map providing specific instructions for reaching sections of Mud Lake and Little Quill Lake. Of particular interest to the birder is the Campbell Marsh near Mozart which was dedicated on May 1994. The Rural Municipal map of Big Quill No.308 is available at the RM office, 320 Avenue B West in Wynyard.

Birdwatching at Ponass Lake Heritage Marsh

...Ponass Lake was the first heritage marsh dedicated in Saskatchewan. Fosston is 21 kms north of Wadena on Highway 35. The best access to the marsh is to continue 6 km north of Fosston on Highway 35 then go west about 9 km to the main entrance. The best possible map for the marsh would be the RM of Ponass Lake No. 867 which is available at the RM office, 303 Center Street, Rose Valley. Rose Valley is north of Fosston on Highway 35.

Birdwatching at Foam Lake Heritage Marsh

...The easiest access to the Foam Lake marsh is via Highway 16, five km west of Foam Lake then north for 2 km to the marsh. Large numbers of migratory waterfowl congregate at the marsh in spring and fall. The map for RM No. 276 is available at the RM office at 410 Cameron St., Foam Lake.

Birdwatching along Major Highways

Bird fanciers enjoy driving the prairies. Countless sloughs, potholes and wet ditches dot the landscape and every bit of water has its bird family. Many species of ducks live along Highways 5, 35 and 16. There are large Canada goose populations on the edges of some of the bigger sloughs. The ditches are filled with cattails and many of them are topped with a red-winged blackbird, Canada's most common bird. Other cattail stands are adorned with a less common bird, the yellow-headed blackbird. The males who are about the size of robins, are the decorative ones, with bright orange-yellow heads and breasts and a sleek black body. Their lady friends are brown with a patch of yellow on their chests and throats.

...Hawks perch on fence posts or circle high overhead, sometimes arrowing down into a field in pursuit of a meal. Small birds alone or in groups dart and dive as they chase hawks or crows out of their territory; and be alert, you may see a bald-headed eagle, as they also make the lakes area their home.

...Familiar-looking birds follow the farm implements across the fields. These are not seagulls that have strayed off course. These are Franklin gulls, a part of prairie life. Occasionally terns stray from the marsh areas to the roadside.

...Owls sometimes appear at night, swooping down onto the road intent on investigating roadside carrion.

...Chickadees and saucy black-and-white magpies brighten the winter landscape.

...Meadowlarks serenade the passing motorist and warblers provide a flash of gold and black.

...Photographing a flock of ducks and geese takes some clever timing. A flock apparently at rest on a slough will usually take flight immediately when a car stops. Have the camera ready and be prepared to get some fine pictures of birds taking flight.

General Advice for Watching Shorebirds

--The conditions that make this area a paradise for shorebirds makes it somewhat less than easy access for humans. The mud flats are on an alkaline base. The ground is slippery and sticky. Except for the specified viewing stations, in particular near Wadena, access by car is by gravel road or dirt trail.

--Do not try to drive on alkaline mud flats ( the alkali leaves a readily identifiable white residue.) The mud flats have no secure bottom and vehicles get stuck. Because farms are getting larger and some farm families live in town where one or both spouses have an off-farm job, going for help can be a long walk.

--Dress for a nature walk. Wear comfortable walking shoes or hiking hoots. Wear a sun hat-the prairie son is hot. Waterproof boots or shoes make a lot of sense.

--Carry insect repellent.

--Don't forget your binoculars, a camera with a good zoom lens or your camcorder and bird book. Pick up pamphlet on bird-watching in Wadena and Wynyard.

--If you don't have a good bird book but you are a member of a Saskatchewan regional library, check the local library shelves. You can borrow books at the local library on your Saskatchewan regional library card. Please don't take our books out into the field with you, but keep them in your vehicle or your motel room or at your campsite for reference.

--Do not drive across stubble fields or hay fields to reach the shoreline. Vehicles leave ruts and churn up stones which can damage seeding and harvest equipment. Farmers harvest the hay flats and vehicle traffic damages the crop. Driving over tall stubble or tall drying hay in a vehicle with a catalytic converter can cause spontaneous grass fires. Stay on recognizable trails.

Birdwatching at Fishing Lake

...The beaches and the golf course of Fishing Lake are alive with bird song and the flash of color from songbirds. The list of birds is almost endless: meadowlarks and hawks, robins and goldfinches, wrens and orioles, hummingbirds and woodpeckers, cedar waxwings and bluebirds. There are shore-birds and waterfowl: killdeer, grebes, pelicans, great blue herons, geese, ducks and terns.

...Carry binoculars and a long lens on your camera, or just enjoy the bird songs.

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