While running errands this afternoon I made a few quick stops to check the
status of waterfowl. Much of Hoover Reservoir is still iced over but open
areas  are popping up. The area below the dam is more fit for surfers than
for ducks.  The water is coming over the dam and out the release pipe with an
extremely high  force. The spillway directly below the dam and the creek are
running high, fast  and with debris. The area was sans ducks.

In the past week the reservoir has risen from about 5 feet below normal to
above normal. With last nights rain it will likely come in multiple feet
above  normal.

Oxbow Road had Canada geese, mallards, American black ducks, red-breasted
mergansers, wood ducks, redhead, and ring-necked ducks. The drake
red-breasted  mergansers were displaying for all they were worth, they would rush
forward  with their heads low and stretched out then stop and do an over
exaggerated head  toss. The hens didn't seem overly impressed.

The cove at Dustin Road had many Canada geese, 7 wood ducks and over 50
ring-necked ducks. There was a barred owl perched just north of the old road
bed  near the entrance to Area L. After a brief stare back and forth it flew
deeper  into the woods.

Area I near Lewis Center Road had Canada geese, wood ducks, 4 canvasback
and 12 hooded mergansers.

I'm sure that with more free time to explore, many additional birds would
be found. The areas off the Baldridge Boat Ramp, the boardwalk in  Galena,
the Redbank Boat Launch and near the Walnut Boat Launch likely will  be
productive.

Charlie Bombaci

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