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Beavers are a keystone species, engineering wetland habitats for themselves that also benefits fish, amphibians, and mammals like otters and muskrats. The water, food, and shelter found in beavers' riparian habitats are among the many benefits to birds. Beaver dams are known to double the probability of Willow Flycatchers and the density of Song Sparrows compared to areas without beavers. The story of the Fairfield beavers is a story of how people can coexist with beavers in an urban setting.
First we will watch the beavers near sunrise for about an hour and then bird the creek (about 1 mile long and then back again) that they have dams on.
We hope to be joined by 1-2 local Fairfield beaver believers to give us the latest updates on these beavers. Extra: Raffle of book on beavers, and beaver hat.
Registration opens at 1pm on Friday, February 28 and closes at 11pm on Thursday, April 17.
Date/Time: Saturday, April 19 — 5:45 to 9am
Location: Fairfield
Fee: $125
Trip Leader: Elizabeth Winstead, ecwinstead@gmail.com
Trip Size: 12
Accesibility
Distance: ~ 2 miles
Trail Type: mostly flat trail, dirt with partial paved portions
Facilities: We will be in a residential neighborhood, so there are no bathrooms or water nearby, and no places to sit. We suggest visiting a gas station for a bathroom prior to the walk. The nearest public bathroom is at the Laurel Creek Park, which opens at 6am, but note that the bathroom stalls do not have doors.
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