Hands on a duck, lovely Tetlin Refuge, being part of a team with refuge staff, doing conservation work – all contribute to the allure of duck banding which Friends have helped with for 5 years. Despite the unusual event this year, we participated in banding over 400 ducks – mainly mallards and pintails, with green winged teal and widgeon. Teams of two work for a week each on the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. I worked the first week and had the time of my life. Board member Becky Wick and Dan Moultrie from Soldotna took the second week and had this to say. “It was so much fun learning about the ducks and the process of catching and banding. Joe (refuge seasonal biologist) is so interested in the ducks and willing to share his knowledge. I recommend anyone who can offer the time and have a willingness for getting down and dirty to take the opportunity to participate in the future.”
Amy Farnham and Grace Ruebling, both from Anchorage, worked the third – the drama week. Here is how Grace described it.
Unforgettable Volunteer Experience
By Grace Ruebling, Anchorage Friend
Volunteering at Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge gave me a glimpse into the realities of field biology—equal parts rewarding and unpredictable. Each morning, Brent, the lead biologist, picked us up by boat and ferried us across the lake to the duck traps. On the first day, Amy and I learned how to catch, hold, and band ducks, receiving our lighthearted “initiation” when a duck was placed on our heads before being released into the sky. The second day, however, brought a different lesson. As we crossed the lake, Brent told us something unusual had happened.
When we arrived, we discovered the traps had been smashed—presumably by a brown bear. The damage was so severe that our banding work came to an abrupt end.
Even though our time was cut short, it was an unforgettable volunteer experience. I not only gained hands-on skills in duck handling and banding, but also got to share in the camaraderie and humor of a field crew. Most of all, I left with a deeper appreciation for the challenges and joys of working in wildlife conservation, and I would gladly volunteer again in a heartbeat.
After the bear! Tetlin Refuge biologist Brent Jamison wonders what he will do next year now that there is a bear out there that has learned duck traps provide free meals. All the ducks trapped that day were eaten or escaped. PC FWS
Top Photo: Amy Farnham of Anchorage enjoying one of the pleasures of banding – hands on a duck! PC FWS