Posted
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Waterbird/raptor survey
Return to birdsightings page
11/14 — Bridget Olson, Wildlife Biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge reported the following birds on her regular Waterbird/Raptor Count: About 30,000 swans in the Great Salt Area. About 2/3 of those hang out on the Refuge and the adjacent Bear River Duck Club. Unusual sightings for this time of the year for the Refuge include Common Loon and Franklin's Gull. Only about 14 percent of total birds counted were observed from the tour route. Duck numbers are down about 100,000 from the long-term average for the Refuge, while the Great Blue Heron count of 125 is the highest recorded Refuge November count.
| Tundra Swan |
4,149 |
| Canada Goose |
2,114 |
| Mallard |
4,452 |
| Northern Pintail |
18,503 |
| Green-winged Teal |
5,820 |
| Northern Shoveler |
1,636 |
| Gadwall |
2,520 |
| Wigeon |
2,889 |
| Canvasback |
2,580 |
| Redhead |
415 |
| Lesser Scaup |
236 |
| C. Goldeneye |
3,386 |
| B. Goldeneye |
2 |
| Bufflehead |
1,702 |
| C. Merganser |
2,331 |
| Ring-necked Duck |
14 |
| Ruddy Duck |
2,440 |
| Total Divers |
13,106 |
| Total Ducks |
55,926 |
| Common Loon |
1 |
| Pied-billed Grebe |
15 |
| Eared Grebe |
4 |
| Western Grebe |
1 |
| American White Pelican |
3 |
| DC Cormorant |
2 |
| Great Blue Heron |
125 |
| Franklin's Gull |
1 |
| Ring-billed Gull |
5,686 |
| California Gull |
893 |
| American Coot |
1,083 |
| Bald Eagle |
7 |
| Golden Eagle |
1 |
| Northern Harrier |
23 |
| Red-tailed Hawk |
1 |
| Am. Kestrel |
2 |
| Peregrine Falcon |
2 |
| Loggerhead Shrike |
1 |
| Total birds |
70,040 |
