Bear River Refuge Waterbird/Raptor Count

[Bridget_Olson at fws dot gov]

Waterbird/Raptor Count
12/19/03

Most of the units are frozen over with just a few pockets of open water
where the birds are concentrating.  The River and canals are open and host
the gulls, herons and Goldeneyes.   A total of 14,000 dabblers and 1,400
divers were counted.  I don't have a survey from this time last year to
compare to.  Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier and Great Blue Heron numbers are
the highest recorded for any date in December.  The 3 Great Egrets are
apparently over-wintering here this year.  Of special interest is the
Baird's Sandpiper that was found on the Refuge and documented during the
Christmas bird count on 12/17/03.

Tundra Swan       709
Canada Goose            822
Mallard                 5224
Northern Pintail        4419
GW Teal           1590
Northern Shoveler 1320
Gadwall           762
A. Wigeon         440
Unk. Dabbler            300
Canvasback        127
Scaup             225
C. Goldeneye            733
Bufflehead        143
C. Merganser            3
Ring-necked Duck  52
Ruddy Duck        119
Pied-billed Grebe 16
Great Blue Heron  225
Great Egret       3
Ring-billed Gull        1358
California Gull         429
Bald Eagle        26
Northern Harrier        35
Red-tailed Hawk   2
Rough-legged Hawk 2


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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