Duck Survey Report
Posted 2/26/02
I have just returned from the fourth SSAS
Duck Survey of the 2001-02 season, led by Joe Grupp, the chairman of our research
committee. Since 1989, this survey has compiled data on the numbers of waterfowl
on our local ponds in winter. Two groups perform this survey five times each
season, one led by Joe and the other by Paul Butkereit. Following is a brief
summary of today's sightings by Joe's group.
As expected, it appears that numbers of birds
are decreasing overall since our last count (February 2). This is to be expected,
as our past years' data have indicated that the peak month for these birds
in our area is January, after which overall numbers decline through our final
survey in March. The birds are dispersing at this point, in anticipation of
the forthcoming nesting season. Many ducks, especially Mallards, were seen
performing courtship displays. Black Ducks overall appeared to be notably
decreased, with the large concentrations of the last two counts no longer
present at such locales as Hempstead Lake and Milburn Pond.
A pair of Wood Ducks continue to be present
at Hendrickson Park in Valley Stream. The male of this pair typically associates
with a female Mallard instead of the female Wood Duck. These birds came right
out of the water to join the handout-seeking Mallards, unusual behavior for
these birds, in my experience. This afforded excellent views of both birds
for our group. A male Wood Duck was also observed at Mill Pond on Merrick
Road along the Bellmore/Wantagh border.
Black-crowned Night-Herons seem to be regular
daytime roosters at two of our count sites, Cammann's Pond on Merrick Road
in Merrick and Tackapausha Pond in Seaford. At Cammann's the birds (mostly
immatures) may be seen at the pond edge or on the island in the middle of
the water. At Tackapausha, they roost in the trees near the duck pond and
may be readily observed from the bridge that crosses over the pond.
Other non-waterfowl species observed today
included Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, yellowlegs sp., Fish Crow, Black-capped
Chickadee, and Northern Mockingbird. Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Carolina
Wrens were among the birds heard at Silver Lake in Baldwin shortly before
sunrise.
The survey started at approximately 7:00 A.M.
and ended approximately 3:30 P.M. Approximately 10 SSAS members were with
our group at various times during the day. The next (and last) count of the
season is Saturday, 3/23/02.
mailto: scienceguy1998@yahoo.com
Hello everyone:
I have just returned from the fifth and final SSAS Duck
Survey of the 2001-02 season, led by Joe Grupp, the chairman of our research
committee. Since 1989, this survey has compiled data on the numbers of waterfowl
on our local ponds in winter. Two groups perform this survey five times each
season, one led by Joe and the other by Paul Butkereit. Following is a brief
summary of today's sightings by Joe's group.
Typically, March is a low count month for waterfowl, and
this year was no exception. Usually, the numbers of birds are lower for this
count than for any of the others, and although we must wait for final data
analysis, it seems like March 2002 will follow the typical pattern.
Mallards, Black Ducks, and Canada Geese all seemed lower
in numbers than in previous counts. A large flock of Canada Geese which had
been frequenting the northeast pond in the Hempstead Lake watershed was not
present today (only 22 geese seen on this pond versus 700-900 on previous
counts); likewise the large numbers of Black Duck seen on the main lake at
Hempstead Lake early in the season have apparently dispersed.
Wood Ducks continue at Hendrickson Park in Valley Stream
(two males and a female). A pair of Wood Ducks was also observed at Cammann's
Pond on Merrick Road in Merrick.
For non-waterfowl sightings, the day was quite exciting.
A Peregrine Falcon was seen this morning on the water tower on Sunrise Highway
near Ocean Avenue (roughly on the Lynbrook/Rockville Centre border). The bird
had been seen by our group before at this locale, but until today had been
absent on count days this season.
Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons were also seen today,
and Ospreys have returned to Twin Lakes and Massapequa Preserves. At the north
end of Seaman Pond at Twin Lakes, Joe Grupp and I observed a pair of Ospreys
perched in the trees, from a distance of no more than 50 feet. Through binoculars,
we could see one of them tearing apart a fish, and periodically raising the
hoodlike ruff of feathers on its head.
At Massapequa Prserve, we observed four Common Snipe at
the second pond north of Clark Avenue, as well as Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs
in close proximity, where the differences in the species could readily be
seen. Oddly enough, there were no ducks or geese on this pond. The first pond
north of Clark Avenue yielded two more Common Snipe (one observed at length
from a distance of no more than 15 feet) and a Swamp Sparrow. (This is the
pond we normally walk to on our bird walks).
We wish to thank all the SSAS members who helped us in
the field this season. Hopefully, Joe will have a report on the data collected
on this count in the near future. He is currently logging this data, plus
that which he has received from members counting birds at their feeders.