May 31, 2009
Waste-Management's Mitigation Ponds-Elmwood Road
This report is a summary of the field investigations completed over a two month period that includes much of the spring bird migration period. The most time was spent observing the ponds near the viewing platform. Additional time was spent on wooded area and ponds to the west.
Twenty-two visits were made between April 8, 2009 and June 2, 2009. Observers included Dale Leitzke, Joan Campbell and Marlene Nelson. Dale Leitzke did most of the field observations. Each visit lasted between ½ hour and two hours. The average visit lasted slightly more than one hour. Most of the visits were in the early morning hours. Birding visits were chosen on the better birding days; days with lower wind and limited or no rain.
The least number of birds species observed on one visit was 15 on April 15. The most was 53 bird species on May 7th. The average bird species per visit was 30. May visits had more bird species than April visits. Overall, 96 bird species were observed.
Observation of birds around the ponds area was the primary objective. These species are those that may not commonly occur in areas with no open water. 32 water related species were observed.
Number of species: 96
Observed:
Pied-Billed Grebe a single bird was observed on 3 visits between April 27 and May 7th.
Double-crested Cormorant 4 visits between 4/24 and 5/8.
Great Blue Heron - flying birds seen 5/8 and 5/22.
Great Egret Up to 4 were seen at on time. Wading and feeding birds were seen on 8 visits between May 7th and June 2nd.
Green Heron Arrived on May 7th and were seen on six visits. Pairs commonly seen. Often seen on the stump piles at the edge of the main pond.
Canada Goose Flocks of up 10 or more were common. Geese chicks observed on May 7th. Birds observed on 21 of 22 visits.
Mallard Nesting is likely but was not observed. Observed on 20 visits
Blue winged Teal Migrating birds observed on 4 visits between 4/24 and 5/18.
Northern Shoveler Seen on 4/17 and 5/2.
Green-winged Teal - Seen on 4/10 and 4/14.
Ring necked Duck Observed on each of nine visits between April 10th and May 5th.
Lessor Scaup Migrating birds observed on 9 visits between 4/8 and 5/10.
Bufflehead Typically 2 to 4 birds observed. Seen on 9 visits between 4/8 and 5/10.
Hooded Merganser Chicks seen in early May. Observed on almost every visit.
Red breasted Merganser - Observed only on April 8th.
Sandhill Crane Up to 48 birds seen sitting at the pond at one time. Observed on almost all visits.
Killdeer Commonly observed on a shoreline or near a pond. Seen on almost ever visit after April 14. Probably nesting.
Greater Yellowlegs - One or two birds seen on 3 visits between May 5th and May 8th.
Lessor Yellowlegs - One or two bird seen on 5 visits between May 5th and May 22nd.
Solitary Sandpiper One bird seen on the 5th and 7th of May.
Willet This large and uncommon shorebird was seen on the 18th and 22nd of May.
Spotted Sandpiper - About 4 of these tail-bobbers appear to live along the ponds. Seen on most visits after May 7th.
Least Sandpiper This little sandpiper was seen on 6 visits between May 7 and May 22. It likes to scamper along the open shoreline. 8 bird were seen at one visit.
Bairds Sandpiper Three observers found this uncommon bird on May 7th.
Short billed Dowitcher Seen on 5/11 and 5/22.
Long billed Dowitcher - Seen on May 10th
Ring- billed Gull - occasionally seen with Herring Gulls
Herring Gull seen in large numbers on almost every visit.
Caspian Tern seen on 5 visits after May 5th.
Belted Kingfisher one to three birds were seen on almost every visit after April 24. May be nesting nearby.
Northern Waterthrush A singing male was observed on four occasions. A confirmed sighting occurred on May 29. This warbler may be nesting along a watercourse toward the west side of this property.
Red winged Blackbird This common marsh visitor was seen on every visit.
Other bird species observed include:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood Pewee
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great-crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black and White Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Wilsons Warbler
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
