By JOAN SEARS

For the Daily News

Birders were out in full swing during a break in the last bout of storms that swept across Wysocking Wildlife Sactuary last week. There was no disappointment among those in the crowd as the impoundments had many birds taking refuge from the hunters and enjoying the wild weather.

Many birders took to the golf carts to ride out the rain-swollen path to the birders’ observation blind. The usual menagerie included red heads, buffleheads, mallards, grebes, swan, mergansers of hooded and common varieties, blue-wing teal, green-wing teal and a few blue bills. Egrets and herons were also taking up their usual posts throughout the week.

The bears are pretty much nocturnal, as they usually are this time of year, and are showing up late evenings and throughout the night. One particular bear worth special notice is a large female of about 500 pounds that appears to be pregnant. It is hopeful that the large bears that have been taken out this year in surrounding hunting lands will help curb the harassment and killing of the spring’s cubs. The large boars are known to kill the cubs, which brings the female back into courtship and reduces the threat to the boars domain. Night cameras are producing good photos of the bears, which can be viewed on the Wysocking Wildlife Sanctuary Facebook page.

For more information or to get involved in the Visitors Observation Program call Star at 252-925-1200.