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<br />r....OOlGOS <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />'. The National Hetland Inventory (FIlS 1979) revealed 43,122 acres of wetlands in <br />the Closed' Basin project area. As shown in table 1, the project area produces <br />approximately 13,620 ducks annually at a density of .31 ducks/wetland acre. <br /> <br />A resident population of Canada geese breed in the San Luis Valley. Approximately <br />100 of those utilize the Closed Basin project area for nesting and prodltce 160 <br />young (80 percent success, 4 yg./brood). <br /> <br />B. Other Water Bird Use <br /> <br />Other water bird data is very limited for the project area. The Bureau of <br />Reclamation conducted aerial surveys within the area to determine the general <br />seasonal use by wetland type. However, the collected data is not sufficient <br />to extrapolate production estimates. Use-day information for Alamona and <br />Monte Vista ~WR may be more appropriate in determining other water bird use of <br />the project area. <br /> <br />In general, the species have been classed into three types: raptors, <br />shorebirds, and marsh and water birds. Use by these species in the San Luis <br />Valley varies with each individual species. Some of the species such as <br />American avocets, Hilson's phalarope, killdeer, common snipe, rails) black- <br />crowned night herons, snowy egret, marsh hawk, Swainson's hawk, and short-eared <br />and great horned owls breed in the valley. The majority of the other species <br />are either fall and spring migrants or winter visitors. Most of the breeding <br />species either leave during winter months or remain in reduced numbers. <br /> <br />The quality and quantity of the wetlands in the San Luis Valley probably have <br />the greatest effect on the breeding species that breed there. Hetland vigor and <br />abundance will determine how ma.ny of the species can rind nesting places. and ho~r <br />many young the.y can produce. For migratory species and winter visitors, wetland <br />health plays an important role, but not as critical as for the breeding species. <br />Nll::lDers of nig;:-ar-:.ts are affected by the availability of suitable breeding <br />habitat, storms during migration periods, winter weather, and the available <br />winter habitat. <br /> <br />The follo;/ing lists in tables 2, 3, and 4 are by no means a complete species <br />lis t for '''e tlands in the San Luis Valley in 1979 and 1980. They are the "105 t <br />conspicuous species and hence the most frequently seen. In addition to these <br />specIes, numerous songbirds also use wetlands and wetland edges.. <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />~ "':0"', ~-...,., . ,,"..""""""'Z'",- ...,..-.,. ~ r;.,.-.' <br /> <br />~. ,;~. ~ <br /> <br />>:- ,'1',->'7 ,""'-.J)" , .. ''''!".~".. _~.,.; '-::;;.,'._ ~...\-;;..' <br />