Muskegon Channel Ducks 2013-2015

As we can too vividly recall, the winter of 2013-14 was viciously cold.  Temperatures for December, January, and February averaged 26°, 20°, and 18° respectively.  Those were 4°, 5°, and 9° below their corresponding monthly normals. Consequently, all five Great Lakes experienced an early and ultimately epic freeze.  By late January, ice had extended several miles from shore, and peak extent occurred on March 6, when 92% of the Great Lakes was covered by ice.

With so much water frozen or too deep for effective foraging, ducks congregated in the few remaining pockets in astounding numbers.  Totals at the Muskegon Lake Channel peaked in late January.  My count from January 29, 2014, yielded 2258 Greater Scaup, 463 White-winged Scoter, 3137 Long-tailed Ducks, and 912 Common Goldeneye.  Other ducks included smaller numbers of Canvasback, Redhead, Surf Scoter, Common Merganser, and Red-breasted Merganser.  Thereafter, emigration and attrition drastically reduced the local population. I noted 106 dead ducks in the channel on March 11.

This winter, December was slightly warmer than normal and January was somewhat colder. However, February was downright frigid, and the monthly average of 13° was far colder than even last year.  Combined with low water temperatures at the onset of winter, the bitter conditions again ushered near record ice coverage.

Duck numbers have recently peaked at Muskegon Lake Channel, and totals today included 584 Greater Scaup, 84 White-winged Scoter, 46 Long-tailed Duck. and 314 Common Goldeneye. Hundreds of Long-tailed Ducks have also been flying far offshore over the ice pack, but the extraordinary waterfowl densities of 2014 will not be repeated this year.  This may be due to more open water in the Great Lakes this year, although a peak ice cover of 89% (on February 28) does not leave a lot of suitable habitat.  Possibly, local winter duck populations have not yet recovered from devastating losses sustained last year.

Other birds today included the Red-throated Loon above.  Sadly, a close look at the Red-breasted Merganser photo below shows that the bird is hopelessly mired in fishing line.  I also noticed this among a few ducks last winter, and I strongly suspect that the number of birds that starve this way is significant.

- Brian Johnson