[mou] 8000+/- Tundra Swans, 117 Bald Eagles,Pool 8, Miss. R.,Houston Co.

[fred lesher]

Subject birds viewed from the new viewing
deck/pull-off area at Mile Marker 11, Hwy 26 south of
Brownsville.

This facility is under construction. The plastic
orange fence means DO NOT DRIVE ON THE AREA UNDER
CONSTRUCTION. YOU WILL GET STUCK! There is room to get
off the pavement onto the shoulder.

Some swans are within 100yards of the area. Do not get
out of your car, slam the door, rattle your tripod,
and march across the area. At least that's my advice.
You may scare off the closest swans.

These swans are stretched out for two miles mid-river.
Some are packed so tightly they form a snowbank of
white.

Watch for those other big white birds: Am. White
Pelicans, Am. Egrets, & Snow Geese. The latter least
likely.

Trumpeter Swans have been sighted south of Pool 8
along Hwy 26 on the ponds near Reno. Not today.

The 117 Bald Eagles (BAEA) are by actual count. Most
perched on snags like Halloween characters, draped
like dark shrouds on brooms. Mostly immature birds. I
presume this concentration of eagles is because 
waterfowl are a source of food. Over many years
watching, I have witnessed two BAEA kill waterfowl, as
recently as last week. 

This note makes no mention of the 10,000s+ other
waterfowl seeking refuge currently on the River.

Now is the time to see and hear swans along the
Mississippi R. Hearing them howl & wail is an
invitation to get out and dwell among them. This
spectacle brought to you most noticeably by the USFWS
and Migratory Bird Stamps. Owned by no one & everyone.

Fred Lesher
LaCrosse, Wis.


 
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