Monitoring is Done

        With the month of June behind us, it is time to start analyzing the data we collected during monitoring. Cameras, maintenance, success/failure, etc. can now be examined with the data we recorded. All islands were visited, with the last few being completed about a week ago. Saw more goslings, resighted a few more collared Duskies, photographed bustling wetlands filled with life, and enjoyed some unusual sunny Cordova weather. Besides dusky goslings, I was able to come across Mallard, Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, and Green-wing Teal ducklings. One pond even had a Horned Grebe chick accompanied by its parents. With monitoring done, I was able to take some time off and do some personal recreation on the Delta with family, and was able to photograph some larger game species like Mountain Goats and Black Bear, and even a collared pair with goslings while fishing the fish weir in town! 

Pair of collared Duskies with their goslings at the fish weir. The weir was put in place after the 1964 earthquake to raise water levels in Eyak Lake back to its previous state, preserving critical Salmon spawning habitat. Every year, the Salmon pile behind the wear where fishermen gather to try and catch their share. 

Green-winged Teal hen keeping an eye on a possible predator.

Like many birds, Mallard hens with ducklings will create an illusion that looks like they have a broken wing, attracting as much attention as possible to themselves and away from their ducklings. Their goal is to have the predator follow them away from the ducklings. If the hen gets far enough away from her ducklings with the predator trailing her, she will then "fix" her broken wing and reunite with her ducklings. 

Hen Common Merganser and her brood of ducklings scooting across Eyak River as our airboat glides back to the launch. 

Ring-necked Duck nest.

Collar 312 winging in front of the Heney Range. 

Short-billed Gulls relaxing on an island in desperate need of some maintenance. Out of the frame is the clump of vegetation that was somehow dislodged from its island resting place. 

Bald Eagle leaving it's perch on Eyak River. 

Wilson's Warbler staying alert in it's shaded territory. Enjoyed some sunny weather on a hike to Saddlebag Glacier before we saw this guy on the way back. 

Black Bear browsing in the Salmonberries. 

Glaucus-winged Gull. 

Horned Grebe.

Hen Ring-necked Duck causing a distraction by replicating a broken wing, with one of our nest island cameras in the background. 

Mountain Goats on Mount Eyak, 2,398 ft. The highest point in Wisconsin is only 1,949 ft. 

Nelson Bay (saltwater) to the left and Crater Lake (freshwater snow melt) to the right. 

U.S.A.F. plane coming into Merle K. "Mudhole" Smith Airport.

Fishing the weir. 

Human's aren't the only ones fishing the weir. Common Merganser with an airborne Spike Stickleback, trying to situate it just right to be swallowed whole. 

Wigeon ducklings. A Wigeon's short, stubby bill is even noticeable on the ducklings. 

Sea Lion soaking up some faint sunshine on the Hawkins Island Cutoff marker.