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Birds
at the Rawhide Energy Station - The 2001 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 involves capturing and banding various species of waterbirds.
Banded birds have been recovered from such distances as Alberta,
Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Canada; Sinaloa, Guadalajara, and
Jalisco in Mexico; and Alaska, Missouri, Ohio, California, Louisiana,
and Mississippi in the U. S.
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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
cholerae, and equine encephalitis, if observed, in the migratory species.
In 2001, Dr. Ryder banded 141 birds as follows: American Coot,
73; Mallard, 27; American Wigeon, 5; Green-winged Teal, 13;
Gadwall, 9; Redhead. 2; Canada Goose, 3; Northern Pintail,
10.
During 2001, 25 counts and 15 banding trips were conducted.
Counts indicated far fewer birds used Rawhide compared to the
previous 14 years, probably because of maintenance and construction
activities, as well as 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
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) from the Rawhide Energy Station
Visitor's Overlook.
2000
Ryder Report
2002 Ryder Report
2003 Ryder Report
2004
Ryder Report
2005 Ryder Report
2006 Ryder Report
2007
Ryder Report
Statistics HTML pages:
Birds
1986-2011 (pdf) 8.5X14 (legal-sized)
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