Because I grew up in a small town in Northern California, nature and wildlife have always been a huge part of my day-to-day life. It has been my experience that people in rural areas learn to respect their roots and live in harmony with the Earth, taking care of the land that takes care of them. One of the ways that we are able to do so is through local wildlife reserves. I was fortunate enough to grow up with a wildlife reserve in my backyard. Located only 5 minutes away from my house, the Colusa County Wildlife Refuge (CMR) was the scene of some of my earliest childhood memories and school trips. Though only one part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, this iconic reserve plays an important role in the lives of many Colusa County residents.
I’ve recently learned that this seasonal variation in transient bird populations at the reserve drastically affected my initial impression. The first time I visited, the reserve was quite barren and dry, with few birds in view. However, when I visited later in the year, there was drastically more wildlife. Different species of birds could be spotted left and right, and there seemed to be something different at every turn of the path. I also found that these trails, which allow people to tour the refuge, are one of the best features of the Colusa CWR. There are both roads and walking paths that allow individuals to better educate themselves on the history of the reserve, and learn about those who claim the refuge as home. Audio tapes are also available. Speaking personally, these greatly enhance the visitor experience. Furthermore, all of the elementary schools in Colusa County visit the reserve at some point every year. This was actually how I was introduced to the refuge. Learning more about the refuge has inspired me to learn more about environmental law, as well as the policies that are behind establishing these safe havens for birds. For those located in Northern California and interested in wildlife, I would definitely recommend a visit to the Colusa County Wildlife Refuge. Located an hour north of Sacramento, and just outside the historic town of Colusa, the Colusa CWR is definitely a place worth visiting.
Simran Grewal is a 3rd year undergraduate at UC Davis studying Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. In her free time, she enjoys biking, playing basketball, and being involved in student government.
Sources:
1 “Plan Your Visit – Colusa – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, www.fws.gov/refuge/Colusa/visit/plan_your_visit.html.
2Seasons of Wildlife – Colusa – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2018, from https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Colusa/SeasonsOfWildlife.html
3 “Plan Your Visit – Colusa – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Colusa/visit/plan_your_visit.html.
4 “Plan Your Visit – Colusa – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Colusa/visit/plan_your_visit.html.
5Alerstam, T., & Lindström, Å. (1990). Optimal bird migration: the relative importance of time, energy, and safety. In Bird migration (pp. 331-351). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
6Nevitt, Gabrielle. “Topics 6 & 7 :Biological Timekeeping and Introduction to Migration, Orientation and Navigation.” NPB 102 . NPB 102 , Davis, Kleiber Hall.
7Nevitt, Gabrielle. “Topics 6 & 7 :Biological Timekeeping and Introduction to Migration, Orientation and Navigation.” NPB 102 . NPB 102 , Davis, Kleiber Hall.
Featured image: A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias occidentalis) [Source]