Ouray National Wildlife Refuge General Bird Survey

[Diane_Penttila at fws dot gov]

Ouray National Wildlife Refuge
General Waterbird Survey
1/25/05

 We had quite a bit of snow (for
here) the first week of January following the last survey that probably
pushed the waterfowl we had out of here.  I thought the warmer weather
we have been having the last couple of weeks may coax them back.  But
who knows with the fog we've been in.  Finally had a clearer day today.
 Not much for birds but the pronghorn, mule deer and elk were very
numerous.  We've been looking for that elk herd for a couple months.
 They are spending the winter in Leota instead of Sheppard Bottom.
 You would think we would always be able to find a herd of about 90
elk a lot more easily.  The following birds were seen within the survey
route:

Bald eagle  8
Rough-legged hawk  1
Northern harrier      
   1
American kestrel   3
Great horned owl   1


Diane Penttila
Ouray NWR
Randlett, UT
(435)545-2522 x 223
diane_penttila@fws.gov