More swans, geese than people

Birds will outnumber Basin’s human population

By LEE JUILLERAT

H&N Regional Editor

February 17, 2008

   The influx is part of the seasonal migrations of waterfowl. 

   Based on an aerial survey conducted Wednesday by biologist Jim Hainline for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are as many or more tundra swans and snow geese as people. (The population estimate for the Klamath Basin is about 70,000 people).

   Hainline counted 67,570 tundra swans and 44,700 snow geese in the Klamath Basin . Historic figures indicate those totals will double, triple and multiply even higher as those and other waterfowl species seasonally migrate into the Basin. 

   They number 440,000 and more are coming. 

   It’s likely population figures for tundra swans and snow geese in the Klamath Basin will pass the million mark in another few weeks.  

   “I don’t think those numbers are too atypical,” Hainline said. “That will build considerably through the next month. It might be a million or so.” 

   Aerial surveys done two weeks apart in previous Februarys show the steep increase, especially in snow geese, is just beginning. The early survey in early February 2006 counted about 56,000 tundra swans and 98,000 snow geese. 

   A survey two weeks later showed the number of swans was nearly the same, but snow geese numbers spiraled to 255,550. In 2005, the early February count showed 35,000 swans and 46,000 snow geese. Less than two weeks later those figures flew to 52,000 and 163,500, respectively. 

   Hard winter 

   Hainline said the numbers of snow geese, tundra swans and other waterfowl seems more spectacular than usual because of the hard winter, which has concentrated most birds to the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges and the Klamath Wildlife Area on Miller Island . Other usual sites, including most of Upper Klamath Lake , remain frozen. 

   “ We have so much snow cover and ice, they’re not many places the birds can be,” he said. 

   Where to look 

   Dave Menke, a spokesman for the Klamath National Wildlife Refuges, says people can view concentrations of waterfowl by driving along Stateline Road near Merrill and Tulelake or by driving designated auto tour routes on the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake refuges.

Photo by Dave Menke - A bald eagle feeds along Lower Klamath Refuge auto tour route.

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