Whiffling

Whiffling is a term used in ornithology to describe the behavior whereby a bird rapidly descends with a zig-zagging, side-slipping motion.

We spent a good part of the day walking the trails at Fernhill Wetlands today.  As it turns out, the Cackling Geese are migrating through on their way to their arctic nesting grounds and we ended up seeing probably several thousand of them.  At this point I should mention that Cackling Geese occasionally show up on the east coast but are a rarity, so seeing thousands of them was spectacular.  Other highlights were a number of baby nutria - an invasive species in the US, but the babies are still cute.  (Extra)

A bit more about Cackling Geese...you probably notice that they look an awful like like a Canada goose and until 2004 they were considered a sub-species.  Now they are their own species with 4 subspecies including Minima, the only one that winters in OR and CA and also the smallest and darkest of the subspecies.  Not only are they smaller and stubbier than Canada geese, but their vocalization is distinctly different.  This is the first time I've ever had a chance to hear them and this made it very easy to identify them.  All very interesting to a geek like me.  And my parents, who evidently gave me some of my geeky genes, seemed to find this interesting too.  

Lots of walking and talking.  Then Starbucks, then home where I had a quick nap.  Salad for dinner and settling down for a quiet evening.  Tomorrow if the weather holds, we will head over to the OR coast where a bowl of clam chowder awaits and probably some interesting birds.

Dark with marzipan tonight.  

xo
Debbi