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Colorado IBAs
Brush Prairie Ponds State Wildlife Area
Morgan County
Size: 1,600 acres
Elevation: 4200 feet
Habitats:
Primary – mixed sandsage
Secondary – grassland, wetlands
Ownership:
State (CO Division of Wildlife)
Municipal (City of Brush)
Land Use:
Primary – water supply, hunting/fishing
Secondary – nature and wildlife conservation
IBA Criterion: 4 (waterfowl)
Site description
Location:
Brush Prairie Ponds State Wildlife Area is located approximately 2 miles south of the city of Brush, in northeastern Colorado.
Vegetative/natural features:
The site consists of a restored prairie grassland with an irrigation ditch running through it. Approximately 840 acres have been planted with tallgrass species for wildlife cover. The site also contains 30 ponds at various sites along the ditch, which are controlled by inlet and outlet gates.
Ornithological Importance
The natural and man-made ponds on the site provide excellent habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.
Migrant species:
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Average #
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Maximum #
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Mallard
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22,500-37,500 (fall, spring)
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Blue-winged Teal
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3,00-5,000 (fall, spring)
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Gadwall/Wigeon/Northern Shoveller
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4,500-7,500 (fall, spring)
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Conservation/Management Issues
Minor threats:
- invasive/non-native plants;
- cowbird parasitism;
- predators;
- pollution;
- habitat conversion and development;
- disturbance to birds and habitat.
Potential threats:
- introduced animals (bull frogs);
- hydrologic changes.
Management details:
The Colorado Division of Wildlife leases the site from the city of Brush, and manages it primarily for waterfowl production and limited hunting. It is managed for hunting during the fall, and is open for wildlife observation during the rest of the year. These uses, however, are subordinate to water supply purposes. Funding for the development of the property has been provided by Ducks Unlimited through the M.A.R.S.H. program.
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