Cousins, Swallows, Kingfishers, and a Lost Hummingbird, Part II

Friday Kay and Carol drove to Hydaburg and got to see an uncommon event, the raising of replacement totem poles at their park.  There is always much pomp and circumstance at these special occasions.  The poles last about 100 years, then have to be replaced, so it is a very special event.


Yesterday KCA Tribal Transportation Department moved into new quarters above our previous office, which are now occupied by Alaska Department of Transportation and Alaska Interstate Construction staff.  They will be working on the Klawock Hollis Road, finally, replacing 160 culverts and getting rid of the treacherous dips in the road.  It will take about two years and employ many local residents.


My first trip up the outside stairs was greeted by a family of barn swallows, sitting on a wire above the stairs, chattering quietly and eyeing me.  They sat there, seemingly wondering what I was up to, giving me a good look at their colors and long tails, until I got near the landing right under their wire, and then off they flew.


For some reason the kingfishers were numerous and very playful as we moved our stuff upstairs.  I've never seen so many at one time.  Their blue and white colors, chattering calls, and zooming flight add a lot to the day.  


I went down to retrieve more of my stuff, and heard a lot buzzing overhead.  It sounded like a big bug, and I looked up to the ceiling immediately, curious to see what was making so much noise.  I was very wrong:  it was a hummingbird!  It was flying from light fixture to light fixture.  I raised my hands and tried to herd it toward the open door, but this just panicked him.  It took about 30 seconds for me to figure it out:  turn off the lights, and the open door would be the brightest and only target for him.  That's all it took, and away it flew.  I never heard any call, but by the glimpses I got, I think it was an Rufous Hummingbird.    


It was nice to have the special bird sightings as we moved our stuff upstairs to new offices.  The top had been dorm rooms for cannery workers, going back to about 1940 or so.  Up until last year, the Klawock Cannery was in use.  Now the cannery is not being used, and neither are the dorms.  We'll get a little better view of the harbor from our second story windows, plus welcome rent on the first floor.


Sunday, we picked up Kay and Carol at their new place in Craig, and drove down to the 20 mile Spur Trail, so-named because the trailhead is at the 20-mile mark on the Klawock Hollis Highway.  The trail itself is 1.5 miles, fairly flat, with many bridges over the many brooks crossing the trail, the bridges only a year old, and very welcome.  I have been on this trail at least twice before, and had yet to make it to the end, where there supposedly are beaver ponds.  Jared and Henry and I hiked it once, but were stopped near the end by a raging creek with no bridge, and no way to get across.  

This time, the creek was way down, but still wet.  We started to throw branches in, rocks, and make some kind of path or bridge, but it was too deep, and we just ended up wading across as quick as we could.


The air was warm enough, rain was just sprinkles and less, and so it wasn't bad to have wet shoes and socks.  We were determined to forge on to the end!

THIS is what you want to see for crossing a creek!  Solid, wide, stable, and crosscut tread.  :-)

Ah, finally to the ponds - we made it!  Unfortunately, the beavers were no where to be found.  It looked like they had been gone for a while.  It was still a nice hike, and fun to be out walking through the forest, having the trail all to ourselves.