Re: [cobirds] Missing Waterfowl, Jim Hamm Nature Area, Longmont Boulder Co

Jay

I'm guessing all the changes you describe have affected their food supply along with the disturbances.  Wild ducks don't seem to tolerate disturbances well.

Ira Sanders

Golden

On Sun, Nov 17, 2019 at 8:49 AM Jay Hutchins <jay1125@gmail.com> wrote:

All:

Wanted to pose a question to the group on possible explanations for the missing (or severe lack) of waterfowl I HAVEN'T been seeing at Jim Hamm Nature Area on the east side of Longmont this fall. Based on personal observations for the past five years and the historical data from ebird https://ebird.org/barchart?r=L282352&yr=all&m= , there are "usually" many hundreds (500+) across multiple species on the water in the fall.  This year though?  Nada, zilch, goose eggs.  Other than a few Pied-billed grebes, coots and a few dabblers, it's strangely empty.

There was the expected bumper crop (50k+ birds) of red-winged/yellow-headed blackbirds, grackles and starlings in late Sept and early Oct, but the waterfowl are MIA.  Two variables this year that may or may not have an impact are:  an increase in the water level and new, multi-strory  apartment construction across the road on the SW corner of County Line Rd & 17th St. 

Curious to ask if others are seeing a lack of waterfowl at your normally reliable local wetland?  I'm not sure if the new buildings across the street are scaring them off, or if something else is going on? 

Jay Hutchins

Longmont, CO

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Ira Sanders

Golden, CO

"My mind is a raging torrent flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."

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