Riverdog Notes – Mergus Mergansers

Cache Creek, one of our primary sources of irrigation, is also home to many species of migratory water birds. Last week while checking out the creek’s water level, for the first time since we moved here in 1995, we spotted two very large mergus mergansers, a type of diving duck with a long, scarlet-orange, thin bill. Although our three river-loving dogs plunged into the water without noticing the birds, the ducks continued to calmly paddle around in the shadow of a tree. Hopefully, lots of rain (we need about 12 inches!) will fall in February and March to replenish the current low water level for irrigating our crops and for the water birds that frequent Cache Creek in their annual migration.
Editor’s Note: According to John Ceteras at Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey, we’ve had 4.25″ of rain since Sunday (2/15/09) bringing us to 11″ for the year. Even with the recent showers, the valley’s less than half of its 24″ average.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 1:19 pm.
Categories: , FarmTales.
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