Sophia ran back-and-forth between the trail and the river while Matt and I explored the logs for mollusks and pond-breeding amphibians. Far from the duck hunters, it proved to be a quiet, pleasant trail, easy to walk and relaxing to spend time on. Our first destination was Willow Bar Islands trail, a 3-mile out-and-back alongside the Columbia River on the eastern edge of the island. This subspecies spends its winters almost exclusively within the Willamette Valley and Sauvie Island. These are Small Cackling Geese, a smaller, blunt-nosed cousin of the Canadian Goose. Across from the grocery, geese foraged in huge numbers alongside a smattering of gulls and cranes. We started by buying day-use permits at the Cracker Barrel Grocery just past the bridge (required for anyone visiting the reserve). (Don’t hate, hunters were the ones with the foresight to set aside a preserve in the first place!) One cold November morning, Rosey, Sophia, Matt and I set out to see what we could discover in the spots still open in winter. Unfortunately winter is duck hunting season and thus much of the area is closed to hikers. Winter is the best time to view the waterfowl. The Multnomah County half showcases berry, fruit, and vegetable farms, while the Columbia County side is occupied by the 11,643 acre Sauvie Island Wildlife Area, a waterfowl preserve that comprises the bulk of Columbia County’s public lands. Perhaps most important was the wapato, an aquatic potato-like root cultivated in the fertile wetlands as a dietary staple. They were blessed by multitudes of ducks and geese, sturgeon and salmon. Well before Lewis and Clark were annoyed by the birds, the Multnomah tribes of the Chinook people used the island as a gathering spot. Sauvie Island has long been renowned for its abundant life. on a Small Sand Island … they were emensely noumerous, and their noise horid.” Diary entry of William Clark, 5 November 1805 “I lept but verry little last night for the noise Kept dureing the whole of the night by the Swans, Geese, white and & Grey Brant Ducks &c.
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