Can't answer for your area, but here in NW Montana, at least where I
live, for several weeks, we've had double the number of BAGO that we
had the past several winters, out-numbering COGO by 3 to 1 or more
[ at 75-100 BAGO counted last week on the small lake at Thompson Falls]
- we've had open water on most lowland lakes throughout western MT
since middle of February. Past two winters, we had mostly frozen
lakes until April. Thus, there may be regional "shifts" by the birds
themselves in response to the open water, unrelated to "normal" or
"abnormal" population dynamics - and perhaps also unrelated to
wildlife agency limits on which ducks are off limits to hunt in
particular year(s) in order to allow their numbers to recover from
the myriad pressures they may face - Jim Greaves

At 01:03 PM 3/18/2010, tweeters-request at mailman2.u.washington.edu wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>I've been birdwatching at Burien's Seahurst Park since 1999. Over the
>years I've noticed a significant decline in the number of Barrow's Golden
>Eyes and other waterfowl (Surf Scoters, Common Merganers, etc.). There
>used to be hundreds of Barrow's Goldeneyes now I'm lucky if I see three.
>Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? Is their a disease affecting
>Barrow's Goldeneyes? I understand that populations can fluctuate but this
>downward trend doesn't seem to be abating. Any info much appreciated.
>Thanks! :)
>
>Heidi Narte
>Gregory Heights, Washington