One of the reasons that the Falcated Duck at Fern Ridge Dam some years was
considered of wild origin is that it arrived with 11 male Eurasian Wigeon. You
never know what might be in those wigeon flocks.
Alan Contreras
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
Eugene, Oregon
www.alanlcontreras.com
On Nov 25, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Roy Lowe <roy.loweiii@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From 1986-2001, I conducted aerial waterfowl surveys from Nehalem Bay to Goat
Island at Brookings. Initially, I did monthly surveys from October to March
but over the years that was reduced to a single January survey. At Tillamook
Bay I recorded 9,639 American Wigeon on 10.28.86 and 10,654 on 11.2.87. Our
data is not broken down to specific areas within each estuary but I can tell
you from my experience and memory that at least 50% of the wigeon were
located in a large extended flock along Bayocean Road. Numbers on Tillamook
Bay and most estuaries were greatest in the fall before birds dispersed to
flooded pastures or left the coast completely. The wigeon numbers in
Tillamook Bay would be 50-65% lower by January.
In the area along Bayocean Road where the wigeon were located there were
small depressions in the tide flats and I could see eel grass growing there.
There was a west coast research project on eel grass so I collected some from
this area for the researchers. The mud out there was like quick sand and I
almost got stuck. Luckily I found a board when I was out there which allowed
me to escape on all fours pulling myself along. Oh, and the bummer was when
I got out there I discovered that all of the eel grass was invasive Zostera
japonica which was of no use to the research! Japanese eel grass loses most
of its leaves in the winter so perhaps that contributed to the lower number
of wigeon there later in the season. Somewhere buried in my field notes is a
note about ground survey I did from Bayocean Road one year in the late 80’s
or early 90’s where I counted 24 Eurasian wigeon in the flock! Doubt that
I’ll ever see that many again at one location in North America.
Roy Lowe
Waldport, OR
On Nov 25, 2020, at 12:43 AM, Robert O'Brien <baro@xxxxxxx> wrote:
More precisely along the main, paved, Bayocean Road.
(Apology for misspelling Wigeon as Widgeon, I just can't get it straight)
I birded this area pretty heavily in the 1980's 1990's and early 2000's.
After that too d****ed busy.with trivia such as work.
In those early days every fall/winter trip I encountered 500-1000+ American
Wigeon
along this road. They wintered there. Had they been absent I would have
noticed it and
been surprised. When I only found 4 a few days ago I jumped to the
conclusion they
were 'gone'. Just like the summer/fall shorebirds from the flats. (more on
that later).
So I now checked eBird which I should have done before making the comment.
Not much data, surprisingly. But perhaps not many birders go there nowadays.
Anyhow the attached data gives a somewhat spotty picture. At times there are
numbers in the 1000's, other times not so much.
The low numbers often found agree with the 4 wigeon I found a few days ago.
I wonder why they are so variable these days.
Now a few days ago I did see a flock of 50 or so at the NE end of the Bay,
(I covered the entire Bay in my recent trip.)
This also made me think there should have been many more along the
Bayocean Road. So perhaps they have not just moved elsewhere in the Bay?
Bob OBrien Carver OR See attached.
<AMWI-Tillamook.xls.jpg>
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