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Saturday, November 29, 1997

Millions of wintering birds find South Plains to their liking

By MARK BABINECK Associated Press

MULESHOE - Millions of visitors make their way to the brown, chilly plains around Lubbock at wintertime with nary a suitcase, windbreaker or room reservation.

West Texas winters don't attract much in the way of human tourists, but they're downright balmy for the ever-growing flocks of waterfowl that descend from Canada, Alaska and even Siberia.

"Anyone who's lived in Lubbock for any period of time, at least the last 15 years, has noticed an increase in the populations of Canada geese," said David Haukos, regional migrating bird specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "There's been a nationwide increase in goose populations. The birds in the city are concurrent with the increased populations overall."

The stereotypically drab plains come alive in the fall, aflutter with migrating flocks of geese, cranes, ducks and other waterfowl. Some are passing through to warmer climes; many are content to stay here.

About 1 million Canada geese and sandhill cranes reside in northwestern Texas this time of year. Of the geese, an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 inhabit small "playa" lakes in the immediate Lubbock area.

"Geese have discovered the city of Lubbock has permanent water, and areas around Lubbock have very good food sources," Haukos said.

The Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, 60 miles northwest of Lubbock, once was a Mecca for ducks and, more recently, sandhill cranes. Because of irrigation and low rainfall recently, not as many birds are stopping here anymore.

"When I came here in 1987, we'd been saying that Muleshoe held the largest numbers of sandhill cranes in the wintertime," said Don Clapp, manager of Texas' oldest wildlife refuge. "Since then it's changed because of the grasslands planted in the Conservation Reserve Program."

The CRP, a federal enticement for farmers to grow grass on some of their cropland, is credited for the dramatic rebound of many bird species. More grassy cover for nesting areas up north has resulted in the largest duck numbers since the early 1970s.

However, CRP also has caused fewer fields around Muleshoe to be planted in the grains cranes love to eat. Many have moved elsewhere across the South Plains to find shallow water and abundant food.

"Back in 1981 we had half the population, about 250,000 cranes," Clapp said. Only about 13,000 cranes now reside here during the peak season in late November, and just 4,000-5,000 of those stay the winter.

Haukos said Canada goose and sandhill crane numbers remain fairly constant from year to year. They move around during drier winters looking for water, but always seem to find it.

"Geese use larger, more permanent water sources," said Haukos, which explains why they're attracted to Lubbock's many city lakes. "Those are different habitats than ducks use. Ducks like smaller playa lakes with native vegetation."

The flocks of mallard, pintail, wigeon and gadwall ducks will eschew the South Plains altogether if the amount of surface water isn't to their liking.

"In years with estimated good water on the High Plains we will winter 2 million ducks," he said. "In bad years, maybe 200,000."

Even as the crane numbers at the refuge decrease, Clapp still welcomes bird watchers and campers from across the country.

"People with the Audubon Society that are really into wildlife drive here," he said. "But there are people from Muleshoe that have been here all their lives and they'll tell me 'I've never even been out there.' "Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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