Since 1986,
Dr. Ronald A. Ryder, Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Biology,
Colorado State University, has conducted an ongoing study of 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. 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. 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.
During 2007, 21 counts were conducted. Counts indicated, in
general, fewer birds used Rawhide compared to previous years,
probably due in large part to continued maintenance and construction
activities, as well as reduced abundance of aquatic plants
(food) resulting from efficient feeding by three species of
herbivorous carp in Hamilton Reservoir.
In contrast, on the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, Canada
Geese were at the second highest number recorded in 22 years
(8,784). Mallards (1,219) showed a modest increase over the
past 10 years. The newly arrived Eurasian Collared-Dove reached
an all-time high of 379 birds, mainly at a feed-lot in the
southern part of the circle
2000 Ryder
Report
2001 Ryder Report
2002 Ryder Report
2003 Ryder Report
2004
Ryder Report
2005 Ryder Report
2006 Ryder Report
Statistics HTML pages:
