A Male King Eider, Dry Creek Waterfowl Sanctuary
Given that we have our fair share of rain here on the peninsula, it wasn’t surprising that on this particular day, we had a downpour. And although I covered up and tried to avoid getting drenched, this King Eider seems to relish in it.
Like many others in our area, this was the first time I’d seen or photographed this species, and I was surprised by its unusual features and colors. Considering it survives in the arctic, it seems well equipped to tolerate its environment and undoubtedly considers a little rain to be a comfort.
And to quote the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on the All About Birds website, “Among the waterfowl of the world, none is more ornately adorned than the male King Eider, its black-and-white plumage accented by a red-and-orange bill, pearl-blue crown, and spring-green cheek. Females are a rich marbling of rusty brown and black. King Eiders nest in tundra of the far north and winter largely at the edge of sea ice, foraging on shellfish.”
The festival website explains that this fabulous sanctuary is “Owned and managed by Arnold and Debbie Schouten since 1980, Dry Creek Waterfowl Sanctuary has many unique waterfowl and shorebird species. It is a private collection and wildlife sanctuary near Port Angeles, Washington. Dry Creek Waterfowl Sanctuary raises 14 species of waterfowl commonly known as sea ducks, all of which are rarely seen up close in the wild. Sea ducks spend most of their lives in salt water, coming to fresh water only during the breeding season. The sea duck group includes some of the most spectacular and highly specialized waterfowl such as Harlequin Ducks, Long-tailed Ducks, Scoters, Eiders, Mergansers and Goldeneyes”.
