Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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SEA DUCKS

Bufflehead  Bucephala albeola

WINTER:  Casual Visitant.  Occasional Uncommon Resident.  See Remarks section for CBC data, Mid-Winter Aerial Survey data and high counts.

SUMMER:  Accidental.  One male at Kyger Creek Power Plant and two female at Gavin Power Plant on 04 June 1977 (HS); one female on 12 June and 18 June 1977 at Gavin Power Plant (HS).   

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Fairly Common to Common Migrant from late February to mid-April.  Uncommon from late April to early May.  Late dates, one on 23 May and 22 May 1976 at Gavin Power Plant, Gallia Co., OH (HS); one male on 22 (GR) and 24 (WA, MG) May 2011 at Gallipolis Ferry, Mason Co., WV;  one on 21 May 1978 at Gavin Power Plant (HS); one on 06 May 1989 (Century Day Count, WA, AT, LW).  See Remarks section for high counts.

 Fall:  Uncommon to Fairly Common Migrant from early November mid-December.  Early dates, six on 28 October 1990 on the Ohio River in Mason Co., WV (WA); 01 November 1951 (Edeburn et al. 1960); fifty-four on 03 November 1951 (HKL, HCL) (Edeburn et al. 1960); 07 November 1967 (RS); seven on 08 November 1987 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA); seven on 09 November 1970 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS).  See Remarks section for high counts.

REMARKS:

Winter High Counts:  75 on 02 February 2004 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA); 40 on 27 February 1988 at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA, MG, JF);  23 on 17 February 1976 Kyger Creek Power Plant (20) and Gavin Power Plant (3) (HS); 20 on 25 January 1976 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS).

Spring High Counts:  60 on 09 April 1985 at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (Smith 1996); 50 on 27 March 2002 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA); 30 on 19 March 1966 (WA); 25 on 10 March 2003 in Mason Co., WV (WA, JB).

Fall High Counts:  54 on 03 November 1951 (HKL. HCL) (Edeburn et al. 1960); 30 on 17 November 2002 at Beech Fork Lake (GR); 26 on 12 November 1997 at Harris River Front Park (HS); 24 on 16 November 1980 on the Ohio River at Huntington, WV (GR); 14 on 29 November 1987 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA).

Banding Data:  2 (<1.0% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  There were no recoveries (Donnelly 1967).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 30% of Counts.  Total Birds: 50.  Range: 1 to   7.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 67% of Counts.  Total Birds: 62.  Range: 1 to 15.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 43% of Counts.  Total Birds: 40.  Range: 1 to   8.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Total Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 60.4.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Total Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:   5.7.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Total Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 45.4.

MID-WINTER AERIAL SURVEY DATA (WVDNR)
OHIO RIVER, POINT PLEASANT TO HUNTINGTON, WV

Recorded on 6 surveys from 1989 to 2005:  03 January 1990:    6.  03 January 1996:  1.  04 January 1999:  3.
                                                                    02 January 2001:  12.  07 January 2002:  2.  05 January 2004:  5.