Waterfowl
On July 3, 2006, there were 362 waterfowl on the 28 acres of Furman Lake, including 250 Canada geese. By most wildlife estimates, a density of 2 geese/acre is appropriate, 6-times less than our resident population. Through a combination of direct removals by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, publicity campaigns to discourage public feeding of the waterfowl, and habitat change, the Canada geese population is now near appropriate levels (See figure). In order to evaluate the impact of the restoration project on Canada geese behavior, Ecology students monitored the patterns of habitat use in areas with different vegetation types around the lake. Here is link to their spring 2010 report:
The Effect of the Lake Restoration Project on Habitat Use by Waterfowl
Denae Buzzell, Clay Evans, Hannah Shirley, and Lin Lin Zhao