Posted Tuesday, April 20, 2004

04/23 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge conducted the Waterbird/Raptor Survey of the refuge and reported the following conditions and bird observations: Total number of ducks is about 20,000 off from the long-term average at about 40,000. I think most of them are around, they're just out on Willard Spur. Total number of shorebirds of about 24,000 is close to the long-term average of 17,000 for this time of year. Shorebird migration appears to be about a week ahead of schedule as far as the avocets and stilts. Highest use of the Refuge by all birds is in Unit 6 out on the spur. New birds this week include Forster's Tern, Prairie Falcon, Wilson's Phalarope, Sora and a Eurasian Wigeon in Unit 1.

• Canada Goose, 182
• Mallard, 2,672
• Northern Pintail, 2,991
• Green-winged Teal, 2,282
• Cinnamon Teal, 4,223
• Northern Shoveler, 6,771
• Gadwall, 8,226
• American Wigeon, 5,248
• Canvasback, 217
• Redhead, 2,208
• Bufflehead, 16
• Common Merganser, 3
• Ring-necked Duck, 2
• Ruddy Duck, 2,601
• Total ducks, 40,043
• Pied-billed Grebe, 6
• Eared Grebe, 10
• Western Grebe, 86
• Clark's Grebe, 99
• American White Pelican, 326
• Double Crested Cormorant, 412
• Great Blue Heron, 51
• Great Egret, 7
• Snowy Egret, 62
• Cattle Egret, 1
• Black Crowned Night Heron, 37
• White-faced Ibis, 4,077
• Snowy Plover, 3
• Killdeer, 32
• Black-necked Stilt, 4,955
• Avocet, 12,823
• Willet, 28
• Greater Yellowlegs, 14
• Lesser Yellowlegs, 217
• Long-billed Curlew, 4
• Marbled Godwit, 5,623
• Wilson's Phalarope, 2
• Total Shorebirds, 23,776
• Franklin's gull, 1,048
• Ring-billed Gull, 19
• California Gull, 1,907
• Caspian Tern, 11
• Forster's Tern, 1
• Sora, 2
• Coot, 7,771
• Sandhill Crane, 4
• Northern Harrier, 1
• American Kestrel, 1
• Prairie Falcon, 1