Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Eurasian Wigeon Bonanza
Date: Mar 31 15:55:44 2008
From: miechel - mtabak at shaw.ca


To add to Wayne Weber's information for the Metro Vancouver area of BC( including Westham Island, Brunswick Point, Boundary Bay etc.,) : I counted 215 Eurasian Wigeons along 88 street at Boundary Bay on March 10 of 2007. On certain days very high numbers of wigeons can be seen feeding in the agricultural fields and provide an opportunity to gauge the true numbers of Eurasian Wigeons present in our areas. At the time I counted the 215 Eurasian Wigeon, there were also large wigeon numbers in many of the nearby agricultural fields with good numbers of Eurasian Wigeons. Based on counts I made in those other areas on other days, I know there were more than 500 Eurasian Wigeon in the above mentioned areas during mid March of 2007. In March of 2006 I also saw similar high numbers of Eurasian Wigeon in those areas. During March of 2008 I did not see the same large numbers of wigeon in these fields. Often the wigeon feed in the fields at night, or tide and weather conditions are not optimal to allow accurate waterfowl counts. Of those 215 Eurasian Wigeon I counted along 88 street, I identified about 1/3rd as females, although I'm sure there were more I was not able to identify due to distance. Unlike Wayne, I feel many Eurasian Wigeon females can be identified with confidence under good viewing conditions with high quality optics by an experienced observer. Mike Tabak Vancouver BC