Smith and Bybee Wetlands

We went for a ramble at Smith and Bybee Wetlands.  This spot is always lovely, any time of year.  We noticed a remarkable absence of water birds, which normally can be found here in large numbers.  On our way back we noticed a sign that explained that in September, dead birds started turning up here.  A specimen was submitted to a lab, which identified the culprit as avian botulism, a bacteria that is not dangerous to humans.  But more than 2,500 bird corpses turned up here.  Until the rains started, there were daily exercises to discourage the birds from landing here, including "explosives, air horns, sirens, lasers, paintball markers and people on boats scaring off waterfowl." Dead birds were collected, because otherwise maggots in their bodies would appeal to other birds as a food source and thus spread the disease.  The Audubon Society of Portland took in at least 158 sick birds for treatment.  Rain and cold weather were expected to dilute the botulism concentration and kill it off.  Many, many people mobilized to help out in the crisis.  Apparently by the time we visited, the crisis was over.  But we found the lakes a good deal quieter than we've found them before.