American Bittern, often heard if not seen on Clary Lake!

In what is becoming a most welcome annual event, experienced Clary Lake birder Malcolm Burson has offered to guide a small group of kayakers and canoeists on an early summer Birding event up into the great Marsh at the outlet of Clary Lake. Both Malcolm and his partner Eleanor Goldberg are long time birders with considerable experience spotting and identifying birds. The tentative date of the tour (to be confirmed as it nears) is Saturday, May 27th, with Sunday the 28th as a rain date. The event is expected to last about an hour and a half. To keep the group small and intimate, we’d like to limit participation to no more than 5-7 kayaks or canoes (no motorboats please, but electric motors are OK). We’ll be filling slots on a first come, first serve basis. If there is sufficient interest we’ll schedule a second event later in the summer on a date to be determined.

Participants are asked to gather at 6:30 AM at the shoreline of the property of Malcolm Burson and Eleanor Goldberg, located at the far northwesterly end of the Lake, near the entrance to the channel (Google Map). Their camp is the last place down at the end of Hornpout Lane if you’re coming by car, but be advised parking is limited! It’s much easier to simply paddle over to their place. Traveling down the channel and through the marsh that leads to the dam is a world of wonder. The particular focus on this tour will be the bird life that lives there with the goal being to listen to birds as much as look for them! Bring a pair of binoculars!!

If you’re interested in attending but don’t have a watercraft of your own, we can arrange for you to borrow one, either a kayak or canoe, which ever you’re most comfortable using. Please supply your own floatation device.

To sign up for this Birding event or if you have questions about it, please send an email to paddle@clarylake.org and we’ll get back to you.