Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge - WPBO trip

[Steve_Kahl at fws.gov]

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory took their annual birding auto tour at
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge on March 22.   Many thanks to Jerry
Ziarno for guiding the tour.  The refuge's wetland impoundments are still
mostly frozen and the day was cold.  However, spring is underway and many
migrants were found.  The complete list included:

greater white-fronted goose - 4
snow goose - 6
Canada goose - 1000s (16,000 counted by staff earlier in the week)
tundra swan - 60
gadwall - 2
American wigeon - 2
American black duck - 50
mallard - 100s
northern pintail - 25
green-winged teal - 12
canvasback - 20
redhead - 100+
ring-necked duck - 60
lesser scaup - 30
bufflehead - 4
common goldeneye - 2
hooded merganser - 13
common merganser - 50
ruddy duck - 2
bald eagle - 9
northern harrier - 2
red-tailed hawk - 7
rough-legged hawk - 2
American coot - 12
sandhill crane - 1
killdeer - 1
ring-billed gull - 100s
rock pigeon - 8
mourning dove - 20
blue jay - 4
American crow - 50
horned lark - 50
black-capped chickadee - 2
European starling
American tree sparrow - 30
song sparrow - 8
dark-eyed junco - 6
northern cardinal - 2
red-winged blackbird - 100s
common grackle - 50
house sparrow - 2

Steven Kahl
Refuge Manager
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
6975 Mower Road
Saginaw, MI  48601-9783
P (989) 777-5930 ext 16
F (989) 777-9200
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/shiawassee/