NORTHWEST WILDFOWL

The Farm

Whistling (Tundra) Swans with Cygnets

History

In 1971 I obtained the farm from the heirs of a friend and wildlife advocate, and after negotiating the donation of a part of the sanctuary to The Department of Game in his honor, began the move of my waterfowl collection from Seattle to the farm.

Both the farm and sanctuary grew steadily, and today consists of 32 ponds, 8 acres of grain fields, about 4 miles of trails, a salmon stream, forestry improvements for grouse, a wildlife garden and about 5 acres of aviaries. From the 5 species originally moved to the farm in 1971 the captive collection has grown to over 50 species as listed below. Well attended public tours of the sanctuary and aviaries are held on weekends in February and March to witness unique waterfowl courtship behaviors and to observe nest box programs and habitat improvements. Occasionally a university extension office asks to use the habitats as part of their forest management and wildlife pond construction curriculums. Special tours are provided for Washington State University veterinary students to study the husbandry and disease prevention techniques.

Charles Pilling, one of the waterfowl breeding greats in the US and the first to breed Buffleheads, Hooded Merganzers and Harlequins became my mentor and advisor with the captive collection. As the list of breeding successes grew, invitations to work with additional species came from zoos, wildlife agencies and universities. Opportunities to study species in the wild further enhanced understanding of habitat and social needs of new species and often resulted in breeding successes through manipulation of these parameters in captivity. Aviaries were designed to as close as practicable resemble preferred wild habitats. These aviary improvements are an ongoing process and continue today.

Part of the reward for the work it takes to maintain such an operation is the public recognition for our efforts. Our tours and classes have been well received by the attendees for close to 20 years. Marty Stouffer Productions has used the sanctuary to film wild Ruffed Grouse for portions of his TV documentary "The Grouse & the Goshawk" released late in the 1980's as part of the "Wild America" series. In August 1996, The Seattle Times newspaper did a feature on the farm entitled "The Birdman", and on April 5, 2000 The Marysville Globe ran an article entitled "Landscaping with wildlife in mind".

Species Kept

Species currently maintained in the collection are as follows:

Diving Ducks	Puddle Ducks
Bufflehead Barrows Goldeneye American Goldeneye Smew Hooded Merganzer American Merganzer Canvasbacks Redheads Lesser Scaup Greater Scaup Ringneck Duck King Eider Spectacled Eider Northern Eider American Eiders Pacific Eider Stellers Eider Old Squaw Harlequin Ruddy Duck	Northern Pintail American Widgeon Gadwall Mallard American Black Duck Common Shelduck Fulvus Tree Duck Eyton's Tree Duck Whitefaced Tree Duck Wild Muscovy Woodduck Mandarin Duck American Greenwing Teal Bluewing Teal Cinnamon Teal South American Versicolor Teal Ring Teal African Hottentot Teal Cape Teal Eurasian Garganey Teal Baikal Teal Northern Shoveler
Geese	Swans
Altantic (Light bellied) Brant Pacific (Black) Brant Emperor Geese Ross Geese Siberian Red Breasted Geese Lesser Whitefronted Geese Lesser Snow Geese	Trumpeter Swan Whistling (Tundra) Swan
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse Blue Grouse Franklin Spruce Grouse

A few Lesser Sandhill Cranes, Mountain Quail, and Ringneck Pheasant species are also kept. Small numbers of India Blue Peafowl are permitted to run loose around the aviaries to serve as an "Early Warning System" against marauding farm dogs and hungry Coyotes.

Any surplus of the above species is made available each fall to zoos, wildlife parks and agencies, universities and private collections. Birds are not raised for shooting or taxidermy, although on occasion a deceased specimen is made available to a museum or taxidermist for educational purposes. Inquiries regarding our surplus can be made by e-mail or to the address, phone or fax numbers provided below.

The Feminine Touch

Lynn's influence on the farm became increasingly apparent after our marriage in 1992. Although I had long been active in planting shrubs and trees benefitting wildlife, flower beds and flowering shrubs began to appear around our home and around and in our aviaries. Formal walkways, trellises, shade gardens and water lilies were added. Instead of being attractive only to wildlife, the property became more of a lure for humans as well. It is open to the public by appointment only, except during the prescheduled public tours mentioned earlier.