The west pool on Giese Waterfowl Production Area, Stevens County, is in drawdown right now and playing host to at least 200 shorebirds. Already significantly more birds than were seen there on Wednesday and I imagine it continue to be a good site for the next couple of weeks as we get closer to the peak of the shorebird migration. Currently about 50 acres of mudflat and shallow water. Took a quick look this morning and saw:
Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Killdeer Pectoral Sandpiper Dowitcher Solitary Sandpiper and lots of peeps that I don't feel confident identifying (my best guess would be Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers) Wilson's Phalarope (seen on Wednesday) This is a restored wetland with a county ditch running through the middle - park where the ditch crosses the road at the south or northwest of the WPA and walk along the levee on the west side of the ditch. For a map of Giese WPA or any other WPA managed by the Morris Wetland Management District, go to http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Morris and follow the maps link. As always, we love to hear about interesting observations on our WPAs so feel free to call or email me with your sightings. Sara Vacek Wildlife Biologist US Fish and Wildlife Service Morris Wetland Management District 43875 230th St. Morris, MN 56267 320-589-4973
