Bear River Refuge Count

[Bridget_Olson at fws dot gov]

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Waterbird/Raptor Survey
11/06/03

Almost all 26 of our wetland management units are now full of water to fall
target levels.  We've begun to pass through Bear River water out onto the
Willard Spur area of the Great Salt Lake.  Tundra Swans have arrived in
large numbers.  Though no aerial survey was conducted this past week we
estimate 15,000-20,000 in the vicinity.  Swans are tough to see from the
tour route.  They can be found on a unit north of the tour loop but bring
your spotting scope as they are at a great distance.   Almost all
shorebirds are gone, dabbler numbers are going down while divers such as
Common/Barrow's Goldeneyes and Bufflehead number are rising.  The
Goldeneyes and Buffleheads can be found packed tightly (numbers in the 500
range) in the Refuge canals that pass water as there's concentrations of
small shad to feed on.  A common loon was spotted on the tour loop along
the south side.  30% of the 63,000 birds counted yesterday were seen from
the tour loop.

Tundra Swan       6382
Canada Goose            1876
Mallard                 6126
Northern Pintail        13764
GW Teal           1090
Cinnamon Teal           2
Northern Shoveler 1149
Gadwall           5961
A. Wigeon         3454
Unk. Dabblers           200
Canvasback        9050
Redhead           539
Lesser Scaup            414
Common Goldeneye  4992
Barrow's Goldeneye      6
Bufflehead        2180
Hooded Merganser  6
Common Merganser  122
Red-breast. Merganser   125
Ruddy Duck        1403
PB Grebe          23
Eared Grebe       226
Western Grebe           8
AW Pelican        4
DC Cormorant            17
GB Heron          73
Great Egret       1
Killdeer                2
Greater Yellowlegs      3
RB Gull                 1561
California Gull         31
Herring Gull            5
Coot              1711
Bald Eagle        5
Northern Harrier        22
Red-tailed Hawk   1


Bridget Olson
Wildlife Biologist
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
58 S. 950 W.
Brigham City, UT  84302
Phone: 435/723-5887 ext. 13
Fax: 435/723-8873



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