Carter Lake Continues as a Mecca for Waterbirds

During the past few days, because of the gathered variety of birds, some watchers have been focused on avifauna at Carter Lake.

The initial excitement was a female Barrow's Goldeneye, present on the eastward extent of the lake on March 2nd. It was then seen again on subsequent days as others visited. Details were indicated on the NEBirds forum.

This is the first record of this species for this lake. There are some other records for the region, but they occurred many years ago, notably in 1989 at the MidAmerican Energy Settling Ponds over in western Iowa, and earlier in the year at Desoto NWR.

A Snow Goose continues to linger about the west side of the lake. On the 6th, also in the afternoon, it was on the west bank of the lake south of the pavilion, along with a few of the many Canada geese present hither and yon.

Most recently, and newly observed at the lake is a Tundra Swan, which is certainly significant. It was present on the 6th, and had also been reported for the 5th. There is a January 2000 record at this same lake.

The occurrence of eight Trumpeter Swans is also of particular importance. Two or three had been intermittently about in past weeks, so having eight present on the 6th provides the largest count of this species at this locality, ever, based upon more than a century of known records for birds at this lake space.

Diversity of water birds present has been a dynamic situation. Currently, something like twenty different species might be easily observed. On the afternoon of March 6th, there were nineteen waterfowl species observed, spread around the ample open-water, or sitting beneath a warming sun, upon the remaining ice:

Errant goose at Levi Carter Park, Carter Lake, Nebraska. March 6, 2013.

• Snow Goose
  
• Cackling Goose
  
• Canada Goose
  
• Trumpeter Swan
  
• Tundra Swan
  
• Gadwall
  
• American Wigeon
  
• Mallard
  
• Northern Shoveler
  
• Canvasback
  
• Redhead
  
• Ring-necked Duck
  
• Lesser Scaup
  
• Common Goldeneye
  
• Barrow's Goldeneye
  
• Hooded Merganser
  
• Common Merganser
  
• Ruddy Duck
  
• American Coot

Not seen, but present in recent days have been Greater White-fronted Goose with more than a hundred present last weekend on Saturday, the usual 2-3 Pied-billed Grebe (closely looked for but not seen on the 6th), and perhaps a Bufflehead or two. There may have also been a Greater Scaup or two.

Overall, there could easily be a tally of about 23 species. Others will soon be present, such as the Blue-winged Teal and Wood Duck. There might also be some Green-winged Teal floating delicately upon the waters.

The pond in Levi Carter Park is no longer covered by ice, so it is another space to look for birds. To the north, there is the other pond across the street, which is also green-space habitat, and worth a visit to look for songbirds.

Harris's Sparrows are about, along with the typical Dark-eyed Juncos. In the arboreal realm on the 6th were the Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch and the cheery Black-capped Chickadees.

A pair of Red-tailed Hawks soared above.

Spring is ready to burst forth, and there is no better place in the area than the Carter Lake environs to enjoy a fine day, while on the prowl for birds of the season.

Supplemental Water Improving Conditions for Migratory Waterfowl

As migratory waterfowl of various sorts are winging their way into Nebraska, they are finding habitat at some state wildlife areas that has been improved by water being pumped to enhance water conditions. through .

"Having water is important for wildlife and hunters," according to Ted LaGrange, wetland program manager with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

"We add supplemental water when there is a deficit" in precipitation, LaGrange said. In portions of the Rainwater Basin, there has been a deficit for the year, though some recent rains have helped reduce the extent of pumping required.

"There are good baseline conditions which mean less pumping needs to occur," he said.

Pumping efforts have been underway this season at a number of state wildlife areas, according to La Grange, and include:

Rainwater Basin

• Clay County: Greenhead, Kissinger and Whitefront WMAs

• Fillmore County: Sandpiper and Sora WMAs

• Hamilton County: Deepwater WMA

• Phelps County: Sacramento-Wilcox and West Sacramento-Wilcox WMAs

• Seward County: Straightwater WMA

• Thayer County: Father Hupp and Prairie Marsh WMAs

• York County: Rundquist and Spikerush WMAs

Pumping started about October 7th, in the five-county region of the Rainwater Basin, managed by Brad Seitz, a wildlife biologist with the NGPC. In his district of the basin, pumping is being done at six of the nine wetland areas with a pumping capacity.

Missouri River

• Dixon County: Elk Point Bend WMA

• Nemaha County: Langdon Bend WMA

These sites have been acquired in recent years by the NGPC, and pumping capacity - new wells, electrical connections and other improvements were only recently developed.

Two additional areas are Clear Creek WMA in Keith County, and Wilkinson WMA in Platte County.

"Pumping is driven by hunter dollars," LaGrange said, with the "primary funding source is from our Habitat fund, which includes funds from the sale of habitat stamps and state duck stamps. Ducks Unlimited and the Nebraska Environmental Trust have helped to pay for wells, pumps, and pipelines."

"We have recently added to the pumping capacity on our WMAs and are expending all our funds" on the state wildlife areas, LaGrange said.

Well installed at Sandpiper WMA. Photographs courtesy of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Wildlife officials met in September to discuss the condition of water and to determine if they could make a difference in improving conditions by pumping water, LaGrange said.

Pumping water and providing good habitat conditions is beneficial for different types of waterbirds - including shorebirds - in addition to ducks and geese, LaGrange said. "Birds survive better when we provide habitat that may otherwise not be available. In dry years with limited habitat, pumping especially provides suitable habitat."

"We prefer not to pump," Seitz said, referring to 2008, when there were optimal water conditions and "waterfowl were everywhere across the landscape."

"We set the table," Seitz explained. Aquatic food plants that grew during the summer and early fall draw lots of waterfowl once it is flooded. "This is a condition preferable than having permanent water that can result in a dense growth of cattails and other vegetation that can reduce the value of a wetland for fowl.

"Once waterfowl start migrating they will flock to these pumped areas naturally because of the available water and than they stay on these areas longer if there is a flooded food source (barnyardgrass, annual smartweed, burreed, sprankletop, etc). Sandpiper WMA had a tremendous growth of barnyardgrass this year so I kept cattle off of that part of the wetland and then after we had pumped the area for a few days we had a weather event on October 15th and there was 500 ducks using the area the next day!"

Straightwater WMA after pumping.

Creating suitable habitat for a variety of water birds provides opportunities for bird watchers and hunters, Seitz said.

"I want to pump if we can afford it," he said, adding that "if we can provide habitat, I want to do it," Seitz noted. "People really appreciate" when we pump water to create habitat for migrating waterfowl.

A vast number of wild birds certainly also appreciate the habitat being provided in the different areas that help them to meet their habitat and food requirements as they migrate through Nebraska.

Waterfowl Migration Shown by DU Map

An interactive map developed and supported by Ducks Unlimited is being used to show the current migration of waterfowl.

"As we seek to engage and provide value to our members, we have found that applications, such as the migration map, truly provide that value people are looking for," said Anthony Jones, director of internet services for DU. "We realize that the majority of our supporters and members are waterfowl hunters. As such, we know that these hunters have a specific interest in migration patterns and information during the season."

"The DU Migration map is made up of user-submitted reports of waterfowl activity in a given geographic area," according to the Frequently Asked Questions page for the map.

Information is presented for a particular location, with a few words about the waterfowl activity. Reports are available from across the continental United States, with a greater number available from the eastern states.

"Any visitor to the DU Web site may submit a report," the FAQ says. "We encourage everyone to participate to make the map as effective and useful as possible."

"We encourage anyone who is passionate about waterfowl, bird watching or migration patterns to submit reports regularly to the map."

A separate map provides reports on different fowl hunts.

"We encourage users to add comments about their observation or waterfowl encounter," the FAQ says. "For example, if you observed waterfowl during a hunt, feel free to add your take on the hunting experience, which species you saw, or any other related commentary."

"At the end of the day, we believe that if we can provide additional value to our members – in addition to the conservation work we do as our mission – we will retain those members for longer periods of time," Jones said. "As a result, we’ll be stronger financially, thus enabling us to provide even 'on the ground' conservation work that will benefit waterfowl, wildlife and hunters alike."