Area geese have been slow to nest this spring, and Bella Vista Village volunteers haven't oiled many eggs so far.
In his report last Wednesday to the Joint Advisory Committee on Lakes, Bob McGrath, coordinator of the Goose Reproduction Intervention Program, said eggs in only three nests have been oiled. Two of the nests were located on Lake Bella Vista and the third one was on the island at the south end of Lake Windsor.
He expected that nesting activity would pick up in the next three to four weeks as the geese quickly move into nesting season.
"We are still seeing a dramatic drop in the (goose) population over the last couple of years," he said.
He said the committee's members are in a holding pattern and are ready to go. The recent winds also have made it hard to get on the lakes to find any nests.
Under GRIP, volunteers oil the eggs to keep them from maturing, but the geese continue to care for the nest and don't move on to a new location and lay more eggs.
With lake rangers only on the lakes Friday through Sunday, committee members expressed concerns about nonmembers using the lakes.
Vern Olafson, lakes and parks superintendent, said there were 574 member-guest contacts in March, when there are usually thousands of contacts. There were 39 verbal warnings issued for not having proper identification, including 36 people who were fishing from the shoreline.
He expected to see an increase in lake activity as the weather warms up.
Chairman Walter Hinojosa appointed a committee of Lynn Manske, John Doyle and Alan Akey to formulate activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of Bella Vista Village next year.
Hinojosa also reported that Darrell Bowman, lakes ecologist and fisheries manager, was busy conducting his electrofishing studies. Through his work this spring, Bowman has found a 10-pound bass and several 5- to 6-pound crappies, he added.
He also reported that 969 rainbow trout were added last week to Lake Brittany. There were some large golden trout in the delivery as well.
Olafson told committee members that a security system with five cameras had been added to the marina at Loch Lomond, and is up and operating.
"It gives a great view of all the dock area," Olafson said of the system.
Sports on 04/23/2014