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Waterfowl Surveys
Throughout the year the Refuge Biologist conducts monthly waterfowl counts on specific lakes and wetlands. During spring and fall migrations, the counts are taken bi-weekly to monitor the populations of waterfowl using the Refuge. Some species of waterfowl that use the Refuge as a resting spot during migration are: Northern shovelers, bufflehead, canvasback, common goldeneye, Northern pintail, common and hooded mergansers, tundra swans and white pelicans. Mallards, wood ducks, Canada geese, and blue-winged teal nest on the Refuge.

Great Blue Heron Colony
Floodplain forest is a habitat on the Refuge that is well suited to colonial nesting birds such as the great blue heron. The Refuge contains a large colonial bird rookery of over 650 nests that produces an average of 400 birds annually. The colony is also home to small populations of green herons, great egrets, double-crested cormorants, and black-crowned night herons. Monitoring is conducted each year to help biologists determine population trends.

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