Winter still has a pretty firm grip on the area, despite the start of
Spring on Wednesday.  Consequently, the rate of spring arrivals has
diminished. The first Great Blue Herons arrived early in the week near Fort
Road. They probably didn't appreciate the temperature going down into the
teens at night. The first Brown-headed Cowbirds appeared at the
headquarters feeders Wednesday. Singing activity has increased
substantially among American Robins, Song Sparrows, Mourning Doves,
Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, Horned Larks,
and Red-winged Blackbirds. Even the Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree
Sparrows are starting to sing around the headquarters birdfeeders.

Wintering raptor numbers continue to remain substantial. Visitors are still
reporting Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, Rough-legged Hawks,
Red-tailed Hawks, and American Kestrels.  You don't have to go far to see
them. They are often seen near the Bishop Road Observation Platform. One
visitor reported an adult Bald Eagle that perched atop one of the dead
trees next to the platform and obligingly allowed its picture to be taken.
Another visitor saw an adult Bald Eagle circle low and slow over the
Woodland Trail parking area. The adult male Merlin was seen from Ferguson
Bayou Trail and it seems two Northern Shrikes are calling that area home
now.

The Weekly Waterfowl Survey yielded more diversity. The rivers running
through the refuge are open now, but our marshes are still frozen solid.
Consequently, numbers are still low. The results included Canada Goose -
2394, Tundra Swan - 332, Gadwall - 39, American Wigeon - 61, American Black
Duck - 78, Mallard - 124, Northern Pintail - 18, Green-winged Teal - 101,
Canvasback - 21, Redhead - 44, Ring-necked Duck - 138, Lesser Scaup - 3,
Bufflehead - 4, Hooded Merganser - 10, Common Merganser - 94.

Sandhill Crane numbers have crept up to about a dozen. We've had more
sightings of Opossums and two mink sightings.  The latter were seen along
Bishop Road.

Did you know it was 83 degrees in Saginaw on March 20 last year?

If you want to see a superb picture of a hunting Northern Harrier that Doug
Jackson captured near the Bishop Road Observation Platform Thursday, check
it out on our Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shiawassee-National-Wildlife-Refuge/437597322966257
.
Like us there and see many other refuge updates.

Steven F. Kahl
Refuge Manager
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
6975 Mower Rd.
Saginaw, MI 48603-9783
P (989) 777-5930 ext 16
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/shiawassee/ <http://www.fws/midwest/shiawassee/>
Find us on Facebook!<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shiawassee-National-Wildlife-Refuge/437597322966257>

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