Stephen Ingraham (who?)

the unofficial site for birders and digiscopers using Zeiss equipment.

The Godwit Days: Redwood Enthuasiam (not exactly birding)

One of the advantages of my job is that I get to travel to some of the most striking natural areas in the US (and Europe). The Godwit Days Festival is held each spring in Arcata, California, on Humbolt Bay, in the heart of the Redwood country. This year I flew into San Jose and drove up to Arcata, breaking my drive in Ukiah, and going on the morning when I was fresh. I had the whole day to get to Arcata, so I took my time, stopped when I wanted as I wound up through the mountian passes, drove the Avenue of the Giants that parallels 101 for 30 miles through, arguably, the best of the remaining groves of redwood forest and hiked the little loop trails through several of the groves. I stopped at the visitor center south of Weott.

It is impossible to capture the grandure of the redwoods, either in words, or in images (maybe a painting...but I have yet to see one that did it for me). You have to stand beside the trees and look up, and up, and up. These creatures have a presence that goes beyond their size (many are more than 10 feet through at the base, some are 12). Maybe it is their age (800-1600 years, with a few that are believed to be over 2000 years old). There is no forest in the world to match the redwoods.

It is a miracle, one of the human spirits and the creator's best, that any of these trees remain...and the constant stream of log trucks coming down 101, and the two story high piles of redwood trunks at Pacific Lumber are testimony to how fragile their hold on existence is. Still, the redwood groves that remain are enough to waken thankfullness in any human heart.

So, if you have ever considered visiting Godwit Days in Arcata, the birds are, of course, enough of a draw...consider the redwoods and the amazing scenery a bonus. Still, it is enough of a bonas, maybe to tip the scale of your decission. I look forward every year to the good fellowship and good birding at Godwit days, but I look forward just as much to spending a few hours with the redwoods.

Though, as I say, no image can capture the true effect of being there, look below for some images that might inspire you. There is even a little movie of some trees, base to crown, at the bottom. If the controls don't show, just double click the image to strat and single click to stop.