[obol] Swans in Klamath Basin

[Kevin Spencer]

OBOL, and Millers, 

I've noticed the quite above normal number of dead Tundra Swans in the Klamath Basin this winter.   You came (your trip through this last weekend), quite a bit after the above average snowpack melted. A month ago, when a good number of swans were in the Basin, there wasn't very much access to the ground, or even open water. The swans prefer open muddy fields, or very shallow water. There was very little of that around. Below average temps kept the fields frozen all day long also. The abnormal weather conditions concentrated the swans into close proximity to one another, and also weakened their conditions. I believe some avian colera has taken out the weak. The Bald Eagles, and other raptors have had an easy time waiting for them to perish and have had ample eating opportunities. That's my take on why so many swan deaths this winter. 

I haven't had any conversations with any biologists lately, but if I do and find out for sure, I'll pass it along.

Kevin Spencer
rriparia at charter.net


---- Craig Miller <gismiller at gmail.com> wrote: 

=============
Hi all,

Today (2 March 2008) Marilyn and I went to Klamath Falls where we saw 
thousands of Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, and Ross's Geese. Of interest, we 
also saw at least 80 (and more likely hundreds) of dead swans scattered 
along the Straits Drain area north of the Lower Klamath Refuge. We've 
never seen so many dead swans in one day and we wondered if anyone on 
OBOL knows anything about this.

We also saw two TRUMPETER SWANS and one beautiful BEWICK'S SWAN near the 
junction of Stateline Road and Merril Pit Road.

I was hoping to find flocks of Horned Larks to sort through, but the 
fields were flooded and we didn't find a single one.

Good Birding!

Craig Miller
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