In March we did three Complex-wide waterfowl surveys. For the first one on March 8, there were large numbers of ducks in many locations and we even caught part of the HUGE snow goose migration at the 31 Muck. But as March progressed the numbers dwindled. This week Pete, Linda and I started our bi-weekly waterfowl surveys. I will do my best to keep you informed about what we are seeing and experiencing at the Refuge.

The Main Pool and May’s Point had a good diversity of duck species. Many ducks were in the back part of the Main Pool and could be seen from the Seneca Trail Tower and from the upper observation deck at the Visitors’ Center.  The Seneca Trail no longer has any sections underwater!!  A short distance along the southeast section was muddy yesterday afternoon but accessible.

If you are up on the Tschache Pool Tower, look to your left (southwest), you can now see many of the great blue heron nests in our heron colony (heronry). Pretty cool!! Many thanks to the Refuge staff who removed a few trees to open up that view for us.

Our adult bald eagles are mostly busy with nesting.  Some appear to have hatched.  The Spillway eagles may have had a nest failure.  Both adults were away from the nest for an extended amount of time when at least one should have been there for eggs or chicks. I’ll keep an eye on it.  The Maple Island nest tree blew down last summer but Pete found a new nest during one of the Complex waterfowl surveys! From the Spillway area, look across the Main Pool, search the trees on Maple Island and you should be able to see it. You can see the May’s Point nest from the observation deck located off of South May’s Point Road. One of the pictures I have included is of an eagle on a nest in the Tschache Pool area.  The other picture is of an immature eagle about 3 – 4 years old. It is starting to get white feathers on its head and the bill is about half yellow.

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.