Early December Avifauna of a Missouri River Region

Ongoing surveys at locations along the lower Missouri River provide details - once again - for a comparison of the occurrence of different species of the valley.

Records are available of one sort or another from:

¶ Desoto NWR - an oxbow lake- as conducted by refuge staff

¶ Carter Lake - an oxbow lake - including Levi Carter Park; bird observations were focused on waterfowl on the lake due to weather and as done via motor vehicle rather than bicycle, thus fewer songbirds were noted among what habitat where they would have occurred

¶ Lake Manawa - a riverine lake - as done by Loren and Babs Padelford on a Sunday outing across the river

¶ Squaw Creek NWR: Nic Allen spent five hours on Sunday during Eagle Days, doing a wonderfully thorough survey of all species that he and a couple of other observers could determine. The regular survey by refuge staff during this period was not considered as the birder survey was more comprehensive in its extent, and included many species not denoted during the government counts.

¶ Lake Contrary, an oxbow lake; another great seasonal survey done by Larry Lade, a local bird watcher whose has done many surveys at this locality and other places in the region

Overall, the number of species seen at each locality were:

• Desoto NWR: five species, with the occurrence of waterfowl diminished by ice-covered water
• Carter Lake district: 19 species - waterfowl present at only a very limited extent of the lake
• Lake Manawa: 15 species
• Squaw Creek NWR: 71 species
• Lake Contrary: 34 species

The best comparison that could be made for the number of species observed overall would be for the sites in Missouri. This is not being considered.

Information given in the following table is limited to those ca. 40 species which were commonly denoted, rather than a comparison of all species present as survey methods do not allow a reasonable and viable comparison.

Common Name	Desoto NWR - 7 December	Carter Lake District - 5 December	Lake Manawa - 4 December	Squaw Creek NWR - 4 December	Lake Contrary - 6 December
Greater White-fronted Goose	- -	- -	- -	2000	- -
Snow Goose	- -	- -	- -	200000	- -
Ross's Goose	- -	- -	- -	25	- -
Cackling Goose	- -	10	- -	16	4
Canada Goose	640	1375	100	200	250
Trumpeter Swan	- -	- -	- -	19	- -
Wood Duck	- -	- -	- -	1	3
Gadwall	- -	35	- -	100	5
American Wigeon	- -	11	- -	12	- -
Mallard	- -	225	80	400	8000
Northern Shoveler	- -	90	3	50	15
Northern Pintail	- -	- -	- -	50	- -
Green-winged Teal	- -	- -	- -	500	- -
Canvasback	- -	18	- -	12	- -
Redhead	- -	18	- -	24	- -
Ring-necked Duck	- -	7	1	100	30
Lesser Scaup	- -	15	20	6	10
Bufflehead	- -	- -	20	35	- -
Common Goldeneye	- -	50	80	6	- -
Hooded Merganser	- -	- -	- -	4	- -
Common Merganser	- -	- -	- -	2	2
Ruddy Duck	- -	15	300	60	15
Ring-necked Pheasant	4	- -	- -	- -	- -
Wild Turkey	67	- -	- -	10	- -
Pied-billed Grebe	- -	4	1	8	8
Horned Grebe	- -	- -	2	- -	- -
American White Pelican	- -	- -	- -	16	- -
Double-crested Cormorant	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Great Blue Heron	- -	- -	- -	15	- -
Cattle Egret	- -	- -	- -	2	- -
Bald Eagle	7	- -	3	25	1
Northern Harrier	- -	- -	- -	6	- -
Red-tailed Hawk	5	1	- -	10	2
Rough-legged Hawk	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Golden Eagle	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
American Kestrel	- -	- -	- -	2	1
Merlin	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
American Coot	- -	875	4	300	- -
Sandhill Crane	- -	- -	- -	2	- -
Killdeer	- -	- -	- -	6	- -
Franklin's Gull	- -	- -	2	- -	- -
Bonaparte's Gull	- -	- -	12	- -	- -
Ring-billed Gull	- -	4	75	7	7

The variety of species present at the various habitats of the places presented, continues to indicate the importance of having a diversity of habitats beneficial to typical wildbirds.

Squaw Creek NWR, near Mound City, Missouri, has the greatest number of fowl, with its multitude of Snow Goose and Mallard. This locale is distinct in the occurrence of Trumpeter Swan and other species — the Ross's Goose, for example — as it is further south with somewhat milder weather and not frozen waters. Pelicans, cormorants and herons continued to occur, whereas if surface waters were frozen, they would have gone further southward. Sandhill Cranes still being present is quite unique. Elsewhere on the plains, thousands have lingered along the Central Platte River.

The Greater White-fronted Goose at Squaw Creek NWR continues their presence in the river valley. The had been noted at the end of November at Desoto NWR. These two places are the only locales where they have been noted this autumn.

A hefty number of Canada Goose continued to find Carter Lake as their site of preference. Among which were a number of Cackling Goose. During this period, both species were noted flying southward in the skies above Omaha. Pied-billed Grebe continued to be present, the few birds taking advantage of the bits of unfrozen waters.

Considering ducks, many like the environs at Squaw Creek NWR but others continue in numbers elsewhere. Diversity was the best at the federal refuge and upon the waters of Carter Lake.

The numbers of Canvasback - a diver sort of waterfowl - at Carter Lake was greater than elsewhere among the localities visited by dedicated bird watchers.

Lake Manawa continued to host a greater number of Ruddy Duck, as well as having the best variety of gulls.

Numerous coots continued to like Carter Lake. Its water still provided a suitable setting for them. This has been the situation during the autumnal season along this stretch of the river considered.

A highlight of this period were the two Cattle Egret, pictorially documented with an Ebird checklist (S9282278). Their presence is perhaps the latest date of occurrence for this species in the state of Missouri, according to Allen.

Another period of snow and its cold temperatures during December 8-9 at the Omaha metro area will influence the presence of birds in this vicinity. Further south, conditions also will change. With ameliorating conditions in the next few days, the conditions for fowl at riverine lakes and habitats will change. Perhaps observations by local bird watchers will get the details.