Inflatable Dam Proposal Comments
R. L. Wasilewski, Vice President, Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society
Species Observed
During my early monitoring efforts, and subsequently over the course of several months, I observed a number of species of passerines, including rock dove (Columba livia), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), American robin (Turdus migratorius), gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus), yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia), common grackle (Quiscalis quiscula), brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), and several unidentified species of swallow. Since all of these species were observed in early June, they can be presumed to breed in the area. Belted kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon) were present throughout September, and American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) were a constant feature of the River's avifauna.
Several species of waterfowl were present on the Susquehanna River. These included mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), wood duck (Aix sponsa), and common merganser (Mergus merganser). Both male and female mallards were present, and females of all three species, with their young, were present throughout June. Young wood ducks were still present in early July. Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) were present from early June, when I observed at least two adults, through mid-October. Beginning in late August, both adult and immature cormorants were present. The highest number of cormorants I observed was six on September 4, 1998. On October 2, a pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) was present near my observation station below the North Cross Valley Expressway (PA Route 309) bridge, and Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were present from late June through mid-October.
Several species of wading birds were present at various times throughout the summer and autumn. Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) were present from early June and throughout the autumn months. Since this period encompasses the "safe dates" for presumption of breeding (PABBAPH 1986), this species probably nests in the Wyoming Valley. On June 13, I observed an adult black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in breeding plumage perched in a tree near the River in Kingston, PA. The bird's plumage and presence within the safe dates (PABBAPH 1986) suggest that this species nests in the Wyoming Valley. On July 4 and July 17, I observed a spotted sandpiper (Actitus macularia) foraging along the River's shoreline. On July 7, a great egret (Casmerodius albus) flew downstream past my observation station, and great egrets, a Pennsylvania endangered species as a breeder (D. Gross, pers. comm.) were present regularly from August 3 through September 9. On August 18, I observed eighteen great egrets. Fifteen of these birds were foraging along the upstream shore of the island near the Veterans Memorial (Pierce Street) Bridge.
In addition to the pair of peregrine falcons that have established residence in the Wilkes-Barre area, I observed several other raptor species. Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) were present in late June. A broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) was present in the area of my observation station on June 11, and again on August 21. The former might have been a breeder; the latter probably was a migrant. A Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) was present on July 2, and an unidentified accipiter, probably a Cooper's hawk or a sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), was present on June 21. On June 16 and June 18, an immature bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was fishing in the River between the North Cross Valley Expressway bridge and Monocanock Island. An immature eagle was again present on August 24. Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) were present between the Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Eighth Street Bridge in Jenkins Township from August 26 through October 11. These birds probably were post-breeders that disbursed from their breeding territory and remained in the Wyoming Valley during this period before continuing their migration. An American kestrel (Falco sparverius) was present in early September, and on September 23, an adult bald eagle soared high over the River near the North Cross Valley Expressway bridge. Ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) were present on several occasions during July and September.
Along with the above-noted birds, several mammals were present near the shores of the Susquehanna River. A white-tailed doe and fawn (Odocoileus virginianus) frequented the area of the North Cross Valley Expressway bridge from early to mid-June during periods when the River's shoreline was adequately exposed to allow browsing of the shoreline vegetation, and white-tailed bucks were present in mid-July and early November. On October 3, I observed a mink (Mustela vison) near the North Cross Valley Expressway bridge, and a fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), a "potentially threatened" species, depending upon which subspecies resides in the area (M. Steele, pers. comm.), was present throughout June, July, and August.