Bear River Refuge Waterbird Count

[Bridget_Olson at fws dot gov]

Waterbird/Raptor Survey
3/15/05

Duck numbers continue to rise.  About 20,000 more than last week's count.
Total is around 100,000.  The average for this week is about 33,000.
Canada Geese sitting on nests.  First spring observations of Clark's Grebe,
eared grebe, snowy plover and Baird's Sandpiper.  Early record dates for
Clark's grebe, snowy plover and Baird's sandpiper.   Diver numbers continue
to be about a 1000 fold higher than any historic counts.

Still really good viewing of birds from the auto-tour loop.  1000's of
Tundra Swans using the unit along with 1000's of ducks.  About 40% of the
birds I counted can be seen from the tour loop.  The tour loop has recently
been graded so the driving is good.  The county road out to the refuge
however is still teeth-rattling bumpy.

Tundra Swan       7412
Canada Goose            575
Mallard                 5390
Pintail                 23474
GW Teal           10739
Cinnamon Teal           30
Northern Shoveler 14761
Gadwall           9565
Wigeon                  9977
Unk. Dabblers           1000
Canvasback        6812
Redhead           5087
Scaup             3852
C. Goldeneye            6770
Bufflhead         1552
Ring-necked Duck  2
Ruddy Duck        1278
PB Grebe          1
Eared Grebe       161
Clark's Grebe           10
Pelican                 18
DC Cormorant            279
Great Blue Heron  7
Snowy Plover            3
Killdeer                36
Avocet                  628
Marbled Godwit          2
Baird's Sandpiper 3
RB Gull                 984
CA Gull                 1280
Coot              3258
Sandhill Crane          17
Bald Eagle        28
Northern Harrier        18
Am. Kestrel       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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