The number of fowl present at some few places along the Missouri River from near Omaha, Nebraska to near Mound City, Missouri convey a difference in species occurrence./P>
Squaw Creek cannot be surpassed for total number of birds, but Carter Lake also had many waterfowl — as it has all winter — with other species not recorded elsewhere. Lake Manawa has been a habitat of lesser extent.
It needs to be noted that the survey at Squaw Creek NWR denotes waterfowl and eagles, and the occurrence of other species is usually provided by efforts of visiting birders.
Observations occurred on February 19, 21 and 22, based upon a personal visit to the Carter Lake environs, with Bellevue birders going to Lake Manawa (thanks to their contribution posted on NEBirds), and from the tally given at the Squaw Creek NWR web-site. The number of species recorded were:
- Carter Lake District: 24; which includes Levi Carter Park and associated localities
- Lake Manawa: 10, with a focus on the littoral setting not the park-scape
- Squaw Creek NWR: 19
Overall there were the following 34 species recorded.
Common Name |
Carter Lake District |
Lake Manawa |
Squaw Creek NWR |
Greater White-fronted Goose |
- |
2 |
9389 |
|
Snow Goose |
- |
- |
1025002 |
|
Cackling Goose |
4 |
2 |
- |
|
Canada Goose |
241 |
160 |
100 |
|
Trumpeter Swan |
- |
- |
155 |
|
Gadwall |
133 |
- |
42 |
|
American Wigeon |
3 |
- |
- |
Mallard |
167 |
0 |
14414 |
Northern Shoveler |
232 |
- |
876 |
Northern Pintail |
- |
- |
385 |
Green-winged Teal |
- |
30 |
216 |
Canvasback |
54 |
- |
30 |
|
Redhead |
96 |
4 |
11 |
|
Ring-necked Duck |
152 |
- |
1007 |
|
Lesser Scaup |
- |
- |
15 |
|
Bufflehead |
- |
- |
2 |
|
Common Goldeneye |
142 |
3 |
161 |
|
Hooded Merganser |
- |
- |
28 |
|
Common Merganser |
- |
- |
157 |
|
Ruddy Duck |
2 |
- |
32 |
|
Pied-billed Grebe |
2 |
- |
- |
|
Bald Eagle |
1 |
2 |
58 |
|
Red-tailed Hawk |
1 |
- |
- |
|
American Kestrel |
1 |
- |
- |
|
American Coot |
310 |
- |
- |
|
Killdeer |
2 |
- |
- |
|
Ring-billed Gull |
6 |
10 |
- |
|
Herring Gull |
- |
1 |
- |
|
American Crow |
1 |
- |
- |
|
Black-capped Chickadee |
2 |
- |
- |
|
American Robin |
1 |
- |
- |
|
European Starling |
1 |
- |
- |
|
Northern Cardinal |
1 |
- |
- |
House Sparrow |
3 |
- |
- |
The habitats of the Fish and Wildlife Service refuge at Squaw Creek obviously provide a superb setting for swans and geese. There is nowhere else in the valley where the number of Trumpeter Swans, Snow Goose and Mallards could occur.
With spring encroaching on the central plains, the refuge also had a fine number of arriving Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal and Ring-necked Duck.
Carter Lake had the largest number of two diving ducks, the Canvasback and Redhead. This situation has been prevalent for many weeks this winter.
The federal marshlands and Carter Lake had a somewhat similar number of the Common Goldeneye.
Just a couple or three Pied-billed Grebe have also continued to occur at the Carter Lake waters. This is a phenomenal occurrence as they have been present since last autumn, despite frigid winter conditions and a limited extent of ice-free water.
Carter Lake continues to be the place to see the greatest number of American Coot. Their extent has been pervasive for weeks and months, and whereas they were have not been seen elsewhere, they continued their presence at the oxbow lake of the Missouri River.
The removal of rough fish has certainly made a difference in the use of this place by a myriad of waterfowl.
The waters of Lake Manawa were still mostly lacking in birdlife, but once winter breaks and fowl of the valley arrive, there will be an increased number and diversity of species. This riverine setting has attracted a greater diversity of species than the lake by the City of Carter Lake.