Both Ducks at Channel on Friday

February 7 to Mich-Listers:

Both the adult male Barrow’s Goldeneye and the 1st winter male King Eider were seen this afternoon in the Muskegon Channel.  There appears to be a pattern to where these birds are located.  Viewing from the parking area directly behind the U of M research vessel, the eider seems to like the area directly out from the parking lot.  A couple days ago it was near the far bank, but today it was near the boat (only about 30 yards away).  The goldeneye seems to like the far shore west of the parking lot.  Today it was about about 300-400 yards west of the parking lot.  We walked the path west along the river to get better views.  The water is now open all the way to Lake Michigan, but the birds so far are staying in the channel.  They are finding lots of food in the shallow water along the river bank (looks like mollusks of some kind as well as small fish).  The open water is a big area (probably about 1/3 mile along the channel) and there are thousands of birds.  The weather isn’t supposed to change much tomorrow, so I believe there is an excellent chance the birds will be there on Saturday.

Good luck,

- Chip Francke