Winter Waterfowl at Muskegon Lake Channel

One unfortunate irony sometimes lost on birders is that weather patterns which promote great birding are generally very bad for the birds themselves. This has been especially evident at Muskegon Lake Channel this winter. The frigid temperatures have generated outstanding rewards for birders and photographers, and extended stays by a male Barrow's Goldeneye and an immature male King Eider (still present) have been notable. However, these same conditions have also devastated the local population of winter ducks.

I have been able to complete six surveys along the channel wall between January 12 and March 5 this winter. Numbers peaked on January 29 when 6,867 waterfowl of 13 species were concentrated in the channel.  By that time, ice was already extending several miles from shore, and forage availability was severely limited. Since then, as ice cover on the Great Lakes continued to increase, duck numbers have inexorably declined.

Here are my figures for the four most numerous species:

Jan. 29 (Lake Michigan 45% ice covered)

Long-tailed Duck - 3,137

Greater Scaup - 2,258

Common Goldeneye - 912

White-winged Scoter - 463

Feb. 3 (Lake Michigan 41% ice covered)

Greater Scaup - 1,409

Long-tailed Duck - 1,118

Common Goldeneye - 588

White-winged Scoter - 445

Feb. 11 (Lake Michigan 66% ice covered)

Greater Scaup - 1,157

White-winged Scoter - 341

Long-tailed Duck - 290

Common Goldeneye - 147

Feb. 19 (Lake Michigan 72% ice covered)

Greater Scaup - 147

White-winged Scoter - 78

Long-tailed Duck - 38

Common Goldeneye - 36

March 5 (Lake Michigan 92% ice covered)

Greater Scaup - 439

White-winged Scoter - 62

Common Goldeneye - 44

Long-tailed Duck - 26

While much of that reduction is due to emigration, mortality also accounts for a substantial portion. As the extensive near-shore ice prevented access to benthic invertebrates, ducks concentrated where they could still reach the lake bottom. However, food depletion (and possibly disease) severely stressed these birds. Many desperate scaup, goldeneye, and long-tails moved to inland creeks and ponds that remained open, and stronger birds likely continued further east and south.

The toll on those that have remained has been depressingly evident. Dozens of dead waterfowl, particularly Greater Scaup and Long-tailed Ducks, have floated in the channel or lain on the ice during my last four visits. I even found a dead Long-tailed Duck at the Muskegon Wastewater, where they rarely occur. I do not ever recall seeing so many dead waterfowl as I have this winter. But on a more positive note, the birding has indeed been outstanding, and the birds have been very cooperative for photographers.

Other high counts that I have obtained at the channel this winter include:

Mute Swan - 28 on Feb. 3

Mallard - 5

Canvasback - 4 on Jan. 29

Redhead - 35 on Jan. 29

Lesser Scaup - 1

Surf Scoter - 2

Bufflehead - 3 on Jan. 12

Common Merganser - 16 on Jan. 12 (many more favor Lake Harbor)

Red-throated Loon - 3 on March 5

Common Loon - 2 on March 5

Horned Grebe - 5 on Feb. 3

Red-necked Grebe - 7 on March 5 (a very good total for Muskegon)

- Brian Johnson