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Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Birds at the Rawhide Energy Station
The 2005 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, routes, places of breeding, and wintering areas for the more abundant species.

The program involved capturing and banding various species of waterbirds. No birds were banded in 2004 or 2005 due to few birds coming to the bait site (high water level).

During 2005, 23 counts were conducted, bi-weekly in spring and fall, bi-monthly most months. Counts indicated fewer birds used Rawhide compared to the previous 19 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.

See counts by clicking here.

Counts showed a decline in many species but an increase in American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants. In fact, 2005 might be called the year of the pelican and cormorant. Cormorants were observed on 20 of the 23 counts; pelicans on 14 counts. Over 100 cormorants and 100 pelicans were tallied on 7 counts; 230 pelicans were seen on 1 July. Only Canada Geese and Mallards were more numerous, mainly in January and December. There was probably a super-abundance of small fish to support so many pelicans and cormorants. Favorite roosts for cormorants are the inverted concrete weir by the intake and the solar panels on the aerator rafts! Pelicans prefer to roost on the rock rip-rap protecting the islands in the northwest corner of Hamilton Reservoir.

Common Goldeneye and Ringneck enjoying the pond at Platte River's Headquarters facility.

Dr. Ryder has coordinated studies for U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and 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. Dr. Ryder has presented findings to the Colorado Field Ornithologists, The Wildlife Society, the International Ornithological Congress in 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. See PRPA’s web page for results.

2000 Ryder Report
2001 Ryder Report
2002 Ryder Report
2003 Ryder Report
2004 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)

 

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