Re: Common Goldeneyes nesting in WA

Common Goldeneyes are at the edge of their range in Washinton's NE corner
and some factor(s) favor Barrow's this far south. Just north of the border
all three Bucephala that regularly nest in the Pacific Northwest occur
(Common and Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead) do so commonly in the
"Cariboo" region. The only place I have seen this in Washington is at Big
Meadow Lake west of Ione in the NE corner of WA (a wonderful place by the
way, with N. Waterthrush and Am. Redstart both common and moose!) The
Cariboo is an upland plateau with an extensive history of past glaciation
which now has many lakes. It is several hundred miles north of the WA/BC
border. It would be interesting to get a handle on what Common's (and
Buffleheads) prefer in their lakes to the north that work against them being
more widespread as breeders in Washington.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA


>>Burt Guttman wrote:
>
>>Peggi, what region does that refer to? Just Oregon? The Pacific
>>Northwest? North America generally? Where is this additional habitat
>>begin recreated?
>
>At a Department of Fish and Wildlife Program meeting last week, Jim Tabor
>provided an overview of some of the projects made possible by state duck
>stamp funds. These projects include bulldozing ponds where natural
>succession has produced meadows as well as building dikes to create ponds
>isolated from sources of carp. Rotenone is then applied to kill the carp
>and provide improved habitat for duck broods. Most of these projects are
>being carried out on Department of Fish and Wildlife lands near Moses Lake
>(Potholes and Frenchman Hills areas). Perhaps Oregon is creating or
>improving habitat using similar techniques.
>
>Also of interest to me was a conversation I had with Steve Zender, the Area
>Wildlife Biologist in Chewelah. Steve has conducted waterfowl surveys in
>the northeast corner of the state for many years. He has noted goldeneyes
>on many northeastern Washington lakes and, based primarily on observations
>of the males present on the early season survey, he indicated that Common
>Goldeneyes nest on many lakes from Curlew Lake (near Republic) eastward.
>Barrows goldeneye is the species which he sees west of Curlew lake. I
>briefly reviewed the Breeding Bird Atlas maps last night (one of Michael
>Smith's extremely useful accomplishments) and saw that confirmed Common
>Goldeneye nesting in the northeast corner is limited to one location while
>Barrows Goldeneye nesting locations are shown at locations that Steve Zender
>indicated to be the domain of Common Goldeneyes. I am not sure what to
>think about this discrepancy. Any thoughts?
>
>Kelly McAllister
>alleyes at mail.tss.net
>
>