Energy Sources>Rawhide
Energy Station>
Audubon
Christmas Bird Count
Birds at the Rawhide
Energy Station
The 2003 Ryder Report
Since 1986 Dr. Ronald A. Ryder, Professor
Emeritus, Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State
University, has conducted an ongoing study of migrating bird populations
using the Rawhide Energy Station site. His objective is to document, by
species and population numbers, birds frequenting Hamilton Reservoir at
Rawhide and the adjacent wetland and surrounding short-grass prairies at
key periods of the year. He also determines peaks of migration, routs,
places of breeding, and wintering areas for the more abundant species.
The program involves capturing
and banding various species of waterbirds. Since the start of banding
in 1986, 282
banded waterfowl have been reported as shot, found dead, or retrapped at
the bandsite or other banding sites. Most (147) have been Mallards
(Colorado 112, Alberta 9, Wyoming 7, and Nebraska 5; two each in New
Mexico, AR and Saskatchewan; one each in Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota,
Oklahoma, California and Northwest Territory). Next have been American
Coots (26) as follows:
Colorado
15;
Mexico
4; and one each in
Michigan
,
Texas
,
Oklahoma
,
Nebraska
,
Minnesota
,
Ohio
,
California
and
Alaska
. Twenty-five each Canada Geese and Redheads have been reported:
Canada Geese --
Colorado
21,
Montana
2, and one each
Saskatchewan
and
Alberta
. The 25 Redheads were Texas 8, Mexico 4, two each in Nebraska, Alberta,
Colorado and one each in Washington, California, Oklahoma, Kansas, Utah
and Montana. Eighteen Northern Pintails were reported as follows:
Colorado
10,
California
4, and one each in
Alaska
,
Oklahoma
,
Saskatchewan
and
Nebraska
. Seventeen Gadwalls were as follows;
Colorado
5,
Texas
4,
Louisiana
4,
Oklahoma
2 and one each in
Alaska
and
Mexico
. Sixteen American Wigeon recoveries were;
Mexico
7,
Colorado
4, and one each in
California
,
Washington
,
New Mexico
and
Alaska
. Eight Green-winged Teal were in
California
4, and one each in
Colorado
,
Saskatchewan
,
Alberta
and
Mexico
.
Dr. Ryder has coordinated studies for the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the U.S.
Public Health Service documenting the presence of heavy metals,
pesticides, Vibrio cholera, equine encephalitis and West Nile Virus, if
observed, in the migratory species.
|
|
Common Goldeneye
and Ringneck enjoying the pond at Platte River's Headquarters
facility. |
During 2003, 25 counts and two banding trips
were conducted. Counts indicated far fewer birds used Rawhide compared to
the previous 16 years, probably because of drought, maintenance and
construction activities, and the reduced abundance of aquatic plants
(food) resulting from efficient feeding by three species of herbivorous
carp.
Dr. Ryder
has presented findings to the Colorado Field Ornithologists, the Wildlife
Society, the International
Ornithological Congress of New Zealand, the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of
Sciences and the Cooper Ornithological Society. Dr. Ryder has hosted many
ornithological organizations on field trips to Rawhide and conducts the
National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count (an international
event) which includes the Rawhide Energy Station.
2000 Ryder Report
2001
Ryder Report
2002 Ryder Report
2004 Ryder Report
2005 Ryder Report
2006 Ryder
Report
2007 Ryder Report
Statistics
HTML pages:
Birds 1986 - 1989
Birds 1990 - 1993
Birds 1994 - 1997
Birds 1998 - 2001
Birds 2002 - 2005
Birds 2006 - 2007
Adobe Acrobat file:
(Note: To read Audubon file you need to have Adobe
Acrobat
Reader 3.0 or newer installed on your machine. The reader is a
free download from Adobe.) Get the free Adobe Acrobat Reader by clicking
here.
Birds 1986-2006
(.pdf) 8.5X14 (legal-sized)
