Bird sanctuary a year-round treat

GANNETT NEWS SERVICE

DELTA, British Columbia -- It doesn't take long to figure out the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a family-friendly place -- for both humans and their fine-feathered friends.

Visitors who wander by the warden's home near the sanctuary's entrance experience the point first-hand when they are greeted by two resident Lesser Sandhill Cranes and their newborn chicks.

Welcome to the magic of Reifel, a nongovernment, self-supporting sanctuary nestled on Westham Island six miles west of Ladner, British Columbia, and only a 30-minute drive from the U.S.-Canadian border.

While the sanctuary is known for the thousands of snow geese that descend on nearby farmers' fields in autumn, the Fraser river estuary is open year-round, with dozens of migratory bird species on display and several other species nesting year-round.

The sanctuary itself is a range of marshes, ditches and nesting islands that intertwine with two miles of trails. Visitors can also climb an observation tower with an eagle's-nest view of tidal mudflats bordering the nearby Fraser River and Gulf of Georgia.

Children and adults enjoy the easy terrain and the chance to see some of more than 200 species, from marsh hawks to Harris' sparrows, say sanctuary staff.

On a recent trip, Riley Monpas of Monroe was up to his 4-year-old ankles in green-headed mallards and loving every minute of it.

The boy spent most of his family's first outing to Reifel scooping treats from a bag to feed hungry flocks of ducks, stray coots and the occasional Canada goose.

His mom and dad, Lynnette and Scott Monpas, watched him next to a stroller holding his 18-month-old twin siblings, Megan and Cole.

Like most kids, Riley loves to be outdoors and be an active participant.

Reifel was a good, safe and secure place to go, Lynnette said.

"Riley loves to be outside, and he loves to feed the ducks," she said.

The Monpas family wanted to go to a kid-friendly place, and Reifel lived up to the challenge, she said.

Birdseed is sold at the sanctuary, but it is more economical to buy a larger amount of duck feed and black sunflower seeds before entering the park.

Bread is banned as bird food.

September to early November is when the birds migrate from the north to the sanctuary. Most return to their northern nesting grounds at the end of March. For those that stay, May and June are the best times to see ducklings and goslings. July and August are quieter.

Sanctuary officials ask that kids give the ducks and geese their space, and don't get too close if the birds seem aggressive. They can be quite secretive and protective during this time.

While not many Americans know about the sanctuary, Canadians have discovered it, according to Vancouverkids.com, a Web site highlighting family outings. According to the group's Web site:

n¿Babies: This is a nice outdoors outing for babies. They'll be intrigued by all the ducks on the ground and may notice a variety of other birds flying about.

n¿Toddlers: This is a wonderful place for toddlers to run around outdoors (weather permitting) and see wildlife. Feeding the birds is a big hit, as is climbing the observation tower.

n¿Older children: As with younger kids, older kids will enjoy the freedom to run around and feed the birds. Bring binoculars and a bird identification manual and help your kids identify the many varieties.

The biggest struggle for parents is to get their kids out of the park's parking lot -- all the ducks outside the sanctuary entice kids by their sheer numbers, said Richard Murray, a Bellingham resident and Reifel regular who discovered the sanctuary by chance about six years ago.

The sanctuary's eastern-most trail is home to black-capped chickadees, a brazen bird species that will swoop onto an outstretched hand holding black sunflower seeds. Murray delights in giving seeds to kids and their parents so they can share the experience.

"It is like a touch of magic because they just light up," Murray said. "They become so animated, and so do the adults around them. It's powerful stuff."

On a recent trip, Murray saw thousands of mallards as well as wood ducks, coots, Ross' goose, buffleheads, bald eagles and several other species.

"That whole place to me signifies the true meaning of sanctuary, for both the birds and for people like," Murray said. "I become the little kid."

George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

- Where: About 22 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, at the northern end of Westham Island. From the junction of Highways 10 and 17, follow Highway 10 (Ladner Trunk Road) west. Continue on this road as it becomes 47A Avenue and then River Road. Watch for the sanctuary sign at Westham Island Road and turn right, crossing the Canoe Pass bridge. Follow this road to the sanctuary entrance.

- Visitor hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

- Admission: Adults $4, ages 2 to 14 and 60 and older, $2. School groups (by arrangement): adults $2, ages 2 to 14 and 60 and older $1.

- For information: Call (604) 946-6980.

The Olympian Copyright 2001