What’s left?
Or, more to the point, what will remain of Colorado’s bird populations when the trauma of recent snowstorms finally abates, perhaps as long as two weeks from now?
Of most immediate concern is survival of pheasant and quail blasted by deep snow and blizzard conditions in eastern Colorado, particularly the part south of Interstate 70.
Waterfowl enthusiasts also worry that deep snow will cause hungry geese and ducks to flee the territory in search of food and open water.
Just three days after the storm abated, here’s the outlook: Cross your fingers for the pheasants, cross off most of the southeast quail and hope the waterfowl are tough enough to hang on.
Thus far, things aren’t as bleak as one might imagine. Word from farmers in both the southeast and northeast indicate that considerable numbers of pheasant made it through the blow.
At the same time, waterfowl hunters report that many birds remain in northeast Colorado – in part because they don’t have any place else to go.
“I saw geese flying nonstop along Highway 85 near Eaton,” reported veteran hunter John Young of Windsor. “I don’t know where they’re coming from or what they’re feeding on, but they haven’t left. At least not yet.”
By best estimate, waterfowl defection has been restricted primarily to lesser Canada geese, more vulnerable to the stresses of deep snow.
Northeast Colorado’s top waterfowl guide services, Stillwater Outfitters and Woods and Waters Outfitters, both report good goose hunting in recent days, with big birds high on the menu.
“I think we’ve lost some birds, but we still have huntable numbers,” said Mark Beam of Still- water. “We seem to be living right.”
Jim Gammonley, Colorado Division of Wildlife waterfowl chief, will direct an aerial survey of the South Platte River Valley later this week.
This count will determine whether birds simply have shifted east away from the heavier snow depths along the Front Range or left the region completely.
“We’ve definitely moved some birds out of the country, at least temporarily,” Gammonley said. “There still are plenty of geese around. Hunting has been pretty decent. It’s not as if the majority has moved out or anything like that.”
Wholesale migration from the northeast may have been forestalled by the blizzard that struck southeast Colorado late last week. The storm extended through northern New Mexico, southwest Kansas and the Texas Panhandle, sealing off the traditional escape route.
Much to the delight of hunters who could reach them, ducks have been concentrated along the river. Gammonley noted that both ducks and geese have flocked to places where wind patterns scoured snow to the ground, providing access to grain, grass or green wheat.
Beam echoed the observation, saying: “They’re eating whatever is available. Where there’s exposed ground, they’re all over it.”
The veteran guide has heard reports that large numbers of geese remain on the bare prairies of eastern Montana and the Dakotas. He worries that when these finally migrate, they’ll over-fly Colorado should lots of snow remain.
Of greater concern is the fate of upland game birds, particularly in stricken southeast Colorado. The region remains under emergency restrictions following what is being called the worst bizzard since 1957, with drifts as deep as 18 feet.
Wildlife officials fear an almost total loss of quail populations, both bobwhite and scaled. Pheasants may have fared somewhat better.
“I’ve seen some pheasants. They’re out there looking for food,” said James Hume, who farms near Walsh. “They’re tough birds.”
This assessment was echoed by Ron Thompson of Holyoke.
“I’ve seen 200 to 300 birds. A lot of them are bunched up along the roads where they’re getting hit by cars.”
The solid snowscape also has made upland birds highly vulnerable to predators, particularly great horned owls that pluck them off when they leave shelter belts to search for food.
Charlie Meyers can be reached at 303-954-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com.
