Wildlife lovers that walk the Carty Lake Trail at the Port of Ridgefield will be greeted by flocks of trumpeter and tundra swans. The birds will start arriving about Thanksgiving and will stay for the winter. T. Anderson/for The Columbian Photo Gallery
Autumn is here, and Southwest Washington is squarely in the cross-hairs of the annual bird migration.
The crosshairs in this context refers to the double migration corridors that bless the region. There is the north to south migration of birds seeking warmer climes, and there is the east to west migration of birds along the Columbia River.
The confluence of these migration corridors is centered right at Vancouver, and treats local wildlife lovers to some amazing sights and sounds. Local marshes and woods play host to enormous flocks of waterfowl, wading birds, raptors, and songbirds.
Some are just passing through, and some will stay for the whole of fall and winter.
But it’s not just birds. Columbian whitetail deer, Roosevelt elk, beaver, coyotes, muskrats, and other animals are also more active in the fall as they forage for calories to survive the winter. They are more visible right now since they spend more time in the open.
Listed here are a few options for those that enjoy walking with wildlife.
Carty Lake Trail
This may be the best wildlife walk for catching sight of the flocks of trumpeter and tundra swans that make use of Carty Lake every fall and winter. Currently this trail is a short three-quarter mile walk from the Ridgefield public boat launch along the southeast side of Carty Lake. However, in the future this will be a part of an extensive trails system.
The system will link the Carty Lake Trail with the Oaks to Wetlands Trail on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, the trails around the Port of Ridgefield, and a system of trails within the city of Ridgefield itself. In a couple years, wildlife lovers will be able to walk from downtown Ridgefield to the local refuges without having to drive.
“We are seeking to improve the system to make it more accessible to the communities,” said Chris Lapp, the Refuge Project Leader for the Ridgefield NWR. “We are going to combine the trail systems, and eventually there will be photo blinds and overlooks.”
A section of the Carty Lake trail that runs between Carty Lake and the Lake River is currently closed for construction of one of the viewpoints. That section is expected to reopen this May.
The system of trails, viewpoints, and more will provide access for wildlife enthusiasts to walk and watch the flocks of ducks, geese, wading birds, herons, and egrets that temporarily call the lake home.
However, the big draw here are the swans.
“The swans are definitely a sight to see,” said Ethan Perry, the Brand Affinity Architect for the Port of Ridgefield.
He explained that the swans start to show around Thanksgiving and will entertain viewers through the winter.
The two species are very similar in appearance, and are white with black bills and feet. Trumpeter swans are the larger of the two, with wingspans up to ten feet. Tundra swans are smaller, with a wing span closer to six feet.
While fall and winter are when the best numbers of birds are around, Perry said other birds are active at other times of year. He points to the flocks of pelicans that use the lake and refuge in the summer.
A recent sunny day offered some excellent views of the lake from the open segment of the trail. Large flocks of ducks and shore birds were using the lake, as well as a couple snowy egrets.
One of the egrets seemed to know he was being photographed, and posed nicely as he lunched on tiny fish and other marsh fare.
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This is a smooth, ADA accessible roadway of paved asphalt, and there are a number of benches and a gazebo that afford rest with a view. It is a gentle, family friendly walk along an easy, level roadway that offers good views of the lake from an elevated position.
The trailhead is located at the northwest corner of the Mill Street boat launch parking lot near the picnic tables. The Carty Lake trail project is expected to be completed in December 2018.
If you park at the boat ramp there is an $8.00 parking fee. There are a few free parking spots available at the Kayak Launch just north of the boat ramp.
Oaks to Wetlands Trail, Ridgefield NWR
For birders that are more interested in song birds, this trail is a good bet. The trail is at the southern end of the Ridgefield NWR, and starts near the popular tribal plankhouse exhibit. This walk passes through oak bottom woodlands and eventually reaches a series of marshy meadows.
The plankhouse is open to the public on weekends only.
The trail is a little over 2 miles in length, and is an easy, level trail that is good for kids and elder members of the family.
“It is a real great place to look for woodland birds,” said Lapp of the trail.
There is an elevated Bridgeway at the trailhead that affords prime views of tree-level bird activities. As the trail expansion continues, this trail will be linked with the Carty Lake trails.
Note: the Kiwa Trail in the River “S” Unit is closed for the winter.
Columbia Dike Trail, Stiegerwald Lake NWR
The Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers some good public hikes with great wildlife views. The eastern end of the Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail is closed for the winter to protect wintering waterfowl from being disturbed, but the Columbia River dike trail is open, and can be accessed from the west section of the Gibbons Creek trail.
The Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art trailhead is located on Highway 14 about 2 miles east of downtown Washougal.
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