M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

76
m* SM.YSR CB MOTJ) ma KSSM M. BAHKD MR. KUBICHM c^:- BF?U^P5 MISS MUM Opemtioss M. Land Manage^nt X3R, mrtum Habitat Is^zwaaaest MR. STILES 5H> Stenographers UPPER MISSISSIPPI - Apr 1959

Transcript of M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

Page 1: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

m* SM.YSR

CB MOTJ)

ma KSSM

M. BAHKD

MR. KUBICHM

c^:- BF?U^P5

MISS MUM

Opemtioss

M.

Land Manage^nt

X3R, mrtum

Habitat Is^zwaaaest

MR. STILES

5H>

Stenographers

UPPER MISSISSIPPI - Apr 1959

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REFUGE PERSONNEL

Donald V. Gray Refuge Manager Dr. William E. Green Wildlife Management Biologist Eartlett ¥. Foster Administrative Assistant G. Margaret Schuberg Clerk-Stenographer George H. Wins lew Maintenanceman

Harvey A. Neilson Eric B. Lawson Leroy E. HovelljJr. Victor M. Hall Harley C. Lawrence Robert V. Wade (vacant - handled by Mr. Wade)

Refuge Manager, Winona District-Refuge Manager, La Crosse District Refuge Manager. Lansing District Refuge Manager, Prairie du Chien District Refuge Manager, Cassville District (ret.3/31/ 9) Refuge Manager, Savanna District

Refuge Manager, Clinton District

This report is a summarization of reports submitted by the District Refuge Managers listed above, together with addi­tional data prepared by the Winona office staff. Mr. Gray prepared Section III on Refuge Development and Maintenance. Dr. Green prepared the portions on food and cover, ducks, geese, coot, and swan, and recreational use. The balance of text was prepared by Mr. Foster.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pa^e

I. GENERAL 1-1 A. Weather Conditions 1-1 E. Habitat Conditions 1-3 1. Water 1-3 2. Food and Cover I-l?

II. WILDLIFE II-l A. Migratory Birds II-1 1. Waterfowl H-l a. Ducks II-l b. Geese 11-21 c. Coot 11-23 d. Swans 11-21]

2. Other Waterbirds II-21] a. Egrets 11-21] b. Herons and Bitterns 11-25 c. Grebes 11-26 d. Corinarants 11-26 e. Gulls and Terns 11-26 f. Pelicans and Others 11-26

3. Shorebirds 11-27 a. Jacksnipe 11-27 b. Woodcock 11-27 c. Other Shorebirds 11-27

I]. Doves 11-27

B. Upland Game Birds 11-27 1. Pheasants 11-27 2. Ruffed Grouse 11-26 3. Quail 11-28 I], Hungarian Partridge 11-29 5. Wild Turkey 11-29

C. Big Game Animals 11-29

D. Fur Animals Predators, Rodents, and Other Mammals 11-30 1. Muskrat 11-30 2. Mink 11-31 3. Beaver 11-31 h. Otter 11-32 5. Raccoon 11-33 6. Fox 11-33 7. Skunk 11-33 8. Other Small Mammals 11-31}

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E. Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Crows, etc. 1. Grows 2. Eagles 3. Owls Ij. Hawks 5. Vultures

11-35 11-35 11-35 11-35 11-35 11-36

G. Fish 11-36

H. Reptiles 11-36

I. Disease 11-36

III. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE A. Physical Development

Ill-l in-l

B. Plantings 2. Trees and Shrubs

Ill-li Ill-h

C. Collections and Receipts 1. Seed or Other Propagules 2. Specimens

III-I4 III-I4 III-I4

E. Planned Burning III—It

F. Fires III-Ii

IV. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT C. Fur Harvest

IV-l IV-l

D. Timber Removal 17-2

E. Commercial Fishing IV-3

F. Other Uses IV-3

V. FIELD INVESTIGATION OR APPLIED RESEARCH A. Progress Report

V-l V-l

VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS A. Recreational Use

VI-1 VI-1

B. Refuge Visitors VI-2

C. Refuge Participation vi-5

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D. Hunting VI~6

E. Violations VI-7

VII. OTHER ITFi K VII-1 A. Items of Interest VII-1 Badger State Sportsmen's Club Propagating Permit - Pool 8 VII-1

Proposed Timber Harvest - Pool 10 VII-1

C. NR Forms Attached

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UPFSR MISSISSIPPI RIVER WILDLIFE AND FISH REFUGE NARRATIVE REPORT

JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, 1959

I. GENERAL

Weather Conditions

The over-all precipitation picture for the refuge for the past four months was one of very slightly below normal for January, slightly above normal in February, increasingly above normal in March, and over double the normal in April.

The La Crosse District bore the brunt of two major blizzards. Over 30" of snow fell during the first three months of the period, setting a new record. The March record of 33.5" of snow topped a 7 4 year old record. The l5.7"was the most to fall in a 2l4-hour period.

Ice records in the Lansing district showed up to 116" of ice on the river and sloughs. Lansing Big Lake had h2". Up to three or more feet of snow were present on top of the ice after the early March blizzard. Wildlife and fish conditions were severe.

Temperature conditions were below normal mean averages throughout the refuge in February and March, and all except the Winona District in January. This made for an abnormally cold, snowy, and severe winter in general.

Detailed weather is found on the following chart:

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UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER WILDLIFE AND FISH REFUGE

1959

Weather Data

Win

ona,

M

inn.

La

Cro

sse,

W

is.

Pra

irie

du

C

hie

n,

Wis

.

Dub

uque

, Io

wa

Sav

anna,

111.

MON

TH Weather Data

Win

ona,

M

inn.

La

Cro

sse,

W

is.

Pra

irie

du

C

hie

n,

Wis

.

Dub

uque

, Io

wa

Sav

anna,

111.

J an

uar

y

Maximmi temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

38 1*0 1*0 37

J an

uar

y

Maximmi temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

-16 -15 -19 -16

J an

uar

y

Maximmi temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

19.0 10.2 H* 12

J an

uar

y

Maximmi temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

17 o3 15.7 17

J an

uar

y

Maximmi temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

10.0W 8.6" 13.3" ll*"

J an

uar

y

Maximmi temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

.76 .66 1.07" 1.1*0" J an

uar

y

Maximmi temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation 1.08 1.22 .92" 1.10"

Feb

ruar

y-

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

U3 1*1 1*1 39

Feb

ruar

y-

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

-16 -21 -21 -22

Feb

ruar

y-

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

12.6 li*.3 18 18

Feb

ruar

y-

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

18.9 19.3 21

Feb

ruar

y-

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

23.5" 31.0" 25.2" 8.9"

Feb

ruar

y-

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

1.71 2.58 2.60" 1.81*" Feb

ruar

y-

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation 1.01 1.11 .90" 1.11"

Mar

ch

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

53 55 60 61*

Mar

ch

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

-2 -2 -1* 2

Mar

ch

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

29.13 28.8 32 31

Mar

ch

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

32.3 31.6 31*

Mar

ch

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

19.0" 33.5" 22.3" 30.2" Mar

ch

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

1.81 3.07 3.06" 6.5"

Mar

ch

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation 1.62 1.86 1.96" 2.25"

Apri

l

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

76 76 75 71

Apri

l

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

21* 26 25 27

Apri

l

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

li6,65 1*7.5 1*9 1*6

Apri

l

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

1*7.7 1*6.6 1*8

Apri

l

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

trace trace 0 2.7" Apri

l

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation

1.3h .65 1.82" 6.01*"

Apri

l

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Mean average

Normal average

Snowfall

Total precipitation

Normal precipitation 2.31 2.31 3.1*6" 2.69"

POTAI . PERIOD PRECIPITATION 5.65 6,96 8.55" 15.78

NORMAL PERIOD PRECIPITATION 6.02 6.30 7.21*" 7.15

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Habitat Conditions « Water

Water levels during the past four months have been unusually stable for the Mississippi River "with maximum varia­tion being less than five feet above normal. This is the third successive year that we have escaped major flooding and high levels during March and/or April. Maximum fluctuation was in the Cassville District.

While sane tributary streams such as the Root, Black, La Crosse, Wapsi, Maquoketa, and Plum Rivers did go out of their banks, the severity of flood levels predicted by the Corps of Engineers and Weather Bureau did not occur. Pool levels were dropped by the Corps in anticipation of heavy run-off, and in some pools, such as Pool 8, shallow stump areas found the heavy thick ice resting on the bottom.

Extremely thick ice resulted in some fish kill in shallow water areas.

The Coast Guard cutter "Fern" passed the Clinton area going up river on March 9 and the first commercial barge passed through Pool 13 on March 2I4.

The inlet valves at the north structure of the Spring Lake unit were opened March 2 and closed April 10. During this period river levels were higher than Spring Lake itself. At the end of the period Secchi disc readings showed 7" for river backwaters and 8"in the newly diked-off Spring Lake unit.

As reported last year, major amounts of siltation again occurred as a result of the Upper Iowa River straightening project. Studies will be made to determine what, if any, remedy can be effected to save the marshlands and water areas affected by this tributary stream siltation problem in Pool 9•

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UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER WILDLIFE AKD FISH REFUGE

159 i? • 1 rl 1

o

POOL LEVELS

Buff

alo C

: W

isco

nsi

n

Pool

^

La

Cro

sse

Wis

consi

n

Poo

l 8

Lan

sing,

Iow

a -

Poo

l 9

Pra

irie

di

C

hie

n,

Wis

consi

n

Pool

10

Cass

vil

le

Wis

consi

n

Pool

11

Sab

ula

, Io

wa

-P

ool

13

X NORMAL POOL IEVEL 60.00 14.6 20.00 n.oo 7.6 11.1

Highest stage 59.85 l4.1l 19.92 10.72 6 oh 10.1

Lowest stage 59.56 14.1 19.1)8 10.20 6.1 9.8

& Average level 59.71 14-3 19.77 10.1)5 6.2 9.9

*-7) Dates of high 1-20 11-13 28-31 21)-25 29th 1-3 3-14

Dates of low 1-6 1-3 7th l)th 9-10

Lit to 2: \ 9-30

Highest stage 60.01 li.7 20.10 10.86 6o5 10.h

& Lowest stage 59.81 14.3 19.58 10.25 6.1 9.8 CO g Average level 59.91 iu5 19.89 10.61 6.3 10.0 A-' 0) pt, Dates of high 2-23 23-28 26th 27th 28th 2h

Dates of low 2-7 14 5th 7th 6-7 15-16

Highest stage 60.08 7®8 21.81) 114.25 11.2 12.5

Lowest stage 59.35 14.6 19.60 10.70 6.6 10.0

March

Average level 59.72 20.31) 11.1)8 8.0 11.0

March

Dates of high 3-1 27 31st 31st >7&30 31

Dates of low 3-23 12-13 13th 10th L to h 10&11 6-8

Highest stage 60.02 7.14 22.1)0 11).58 12.2 13.2

Lowest stage 59.01) I4.6 19.61) 10.1)0 7.3 10.8

H •ri j. Average level 59.81) 5.2 20.31) 12.25 9.0 11.6 PH

Dates of high I)-2 l)-27 3rd 3rd 5th hss 3

Dates of low It-l) 16th 8th 19th 30th 30 _j

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1-5

Food and Cover

¥e had an unusual winter this year. The early part of the winter was nearly devoid of snow, although cold tempera­tures (even colder than usual) occurred. However, early in this report period the snows did come«©©so much so that we had some of the heaviest snowfall in many years over much of the refuge. Early cold when there was no snow permitted hard and deep freezing, and the subsequent snow cover and a cold spring kept the ice from melting until rather late in the spring«

The combination cf a hard freeze and later heavy snow cover rendered much food normally available to upland game and deer relatively unavailable, and some of these animals were hard pressed before spring came.

Ice cover held on until rather late this spring, and when the first ducks came back natural food supplies in the bottoms were not readily available0 Had it not been for flooded agricultural lands, many ducks would have also been hard pressed. As it was, the early movement of birds fed heavily in the fields and not in the bottoms.

Despite heavy local snow cover, there was comparatively little in the Mississippi watershed, and as a result run-off this spring was light and did not reach flood stage. More­over, turbidity was not too bad, and siltation very light. Consequently, when the bottoms opened up and the river dropped to normal, growing conditions were ideal for many marsh and aquatic species.

As the period closed, most marsh and aquatic species had started to grow,and early indications are that we may have excellent supplies of food and cover species this year.

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II. WILDLIFE

A. Migratory Birds 1. Waterfowl a. Ducks

There was a decrease of 2l\.hS% in peak waterfowl nunbers on the Upper Mississippi Refuge this spring compared to 1956 (which also showed a decrease of h3*5% below the spring of 1957). Much of this decrease in peak numbers resulted from the drop of 62.11 in the mallard peak and 20.11% drop in the scaup peak, as compared to 1958. Peak numbers this spring totaled only 296,870 ducks, compared to 392,95? a year ago; while mallards peaked at only 33,625 this sprang compared to 88,750 in 1956; and scaup peaked at 193 550 compared to 2li2,300 in 1958.

Total duck day use for the refuge amounted to 9,ll40,69lt days this spring, compared to 10,607,115 days a year ago, or a decrease in total use amounting to 13.82 as compared to the spring of 1958. The biggest drop was noted among the puddle ducks, which dropped 6li.78 in total use, compared to the spring of 1958. Mallards alone showed a drop of 5l.li7 5 blacks 23.98 ; baldpate 68.78 ; pintails 33.58$; green-winged teal 21.1,3%; blue-winged teal 16.37$; and wood ducks 16.52$. The only puddlers showing increased use were gadwall, which made 118.9h$ more use this year than last; and shovellers, which were up 15.97$.

Divers showed an over-all increase of 9.91$ above the 1958 spring use; with ring-necks down 2ii,56$; canvas-backs down 11.50$; golden-eye down 2i|.l5$; buffle-head down 29.20$; and mergansers down ll.I{2$. The over-all increase in diver use was accounted for by the increase of 143.88$ in redheads; 19.3ii$ in scaup use; and 14.93$ increase in ruddy duck use.

The major facet of the migration this spring was the dearth of puddlers over much of the refuge; and the fact that had it hot been for scaup, the spring use would have been very light indeed. The only district which did not have a decrease In mallard use was the Lansing District, where this species increased 125.95$ over 1958. The same thing was noted among black ducks, with all except the Lansing District (with an increased use of 2145.55$) showing decreased use by this species. Even with the marked increase in mallard use in the Lansing District, it was found that only 19.96$ of all mallard use was found there. The two lower districts (Savanna-Clinton)

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accounted for 5li*27% of all mallard use, although these two districts were still down over 55% in mallard use this spring. The two upper districts (Winona and La Crosse) had only 16,18 of all mallard use this spring (Winona had only Iu8l of mallard use), illustrating how much the use was down in this area, and emphasising that perhaps more and more of our spring movement of mallards is peeling off in a northwesterly direc­tion after arriving at the lower end of the refuge. This is further borne out by the fact that lj8.8I$ of all puddle duck use occurred in the Savanna-Clinton District, but only 2h»C7% of combined puddler use occurred in the Winona-La Crosse Districts.

Puddlers accounted for only 27*k6% of all refuge use this spring, compared to ii3.1 recorded in 1958; while divers accounted for 72,5h% of total use, compared to 61.*$ in 1958. It is interesting to note that scaup alone accounted for 52.97% of all waterfowl use on the refuge this spring, compared to 38,2 of total use a year ago.

While mallards are normally the most common duck found on the refuge, this spring they ran a poor second, well behind scaup. Only about l/h as much use was made of the refuge by mallards as by scaup, and similar trends were noted in all dis­tricts. Change in mallard use, by district, compared to the spring of 1958, is shown in the following table:

Comparison of Mallard Use Peak Numbers Total Days Use

District 1958 1959 %

change 1958 i 1959 *

Change

Winona La Crosse Lansing P.du Chien Cassville Savanna Clinton

10,000 8,500 3,800 15,000 2,250 80,000 7,000

1,750 5,000 11,000 5,000 3,000 30,000 5,000

82.52-1)1.12-189.1)7+ 66.66-33.33+ 62.50-28.57-

235,725": 51),698 263,771): 129,231) 100,506: 227,101 297,920 : 61),519 71,666: 1)1),625

1,216,821): 505,51)0 158,270: 112,000

76.79-51.00-125.95+ 78,31)-37.73-58.1)5-29.23-

REFUGE TOTALS 88,750 33,625 62.11-

2,3l)l),685:'l,137,717 51.1)7-

This is more clearly shown in the following table, which compares the percentage of total mallard use which occurred in the various districts in 1958 and 1959?

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Percentage of Total Use by District 19^8 - 19^9 Compared

District 1958 1959 Change

Winona 10.0 14.81 Decrease La Crosse 11.2 11-37 Same Lansing lu3 19.96 Increase Prairie du Chien 12.7 5.67 Decrease Cassville 3.1 3.92 Increase Savanna 51.9 I4I4.I43 Decrease Clinton 6.8 9.8I4 Increase

REFUGE 100.00 100.00

As previously stated, scaup were by far the most common ducks on the refuge this spring, accounting for $2.97% of total use (with l4,81jl,6lil days recorded); and also accounting for 3)4.80$ of the peak population (with 193,550 days of the total peak population of 296,870). It is interesting to note, however, that scaup use was not concentrated in the lower two districts this spring to quite the same extent as was noted in 195)8, Only 140.17% of scaup use was noted in the Savanna-Clinton Districts this spring, compared to hi.60$ which was concentrated in those districts last year. To illustrate the more uniform use of the entire refuge by scaup this year, the two springs (195)8 and 1959) are compared in the following table, which shows the percentage of total scaup use found in each district:

Comparison of Scaup Use

District

Peak Numbers : Total Days Use

District 1958 : $

1959 :Change : : : $ : 1958 : 1959 :change

Winona La Crosse Lansing P.du Chien Cassville Savanna Clinton

18,000 22,000 29,000 16,000 10,750 60,000 150,000

0

3$ ,000 : 91.1:1:+ 12,500: 1:3.18-65,000:121: .114+ 12,000: 25.00-38,000:253,1(9+ 1:0,000 : 33.33-90,000: 1:0.00-

0 • •

: 239,750: 821,l(5o[2l(3.63+ ; 1(73,025: 312,1(1(5 : 33.9h-: 1(16,962:1,002,81(1:11(0.50+ : 1(52,270: 261(,lt25: 1(1.53-: 150,1(09: 1:95,670:229.51(+ t 696,010: 616,11(0: 11.1(7-:1,628,270:1,328,670: 18.1(0-

REFUGE TOTAIS 2142,300

• •

193,550: 20.12-

• • •

il(.056,696:l(,81:1,61(1: 19.3l(+

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Again this is more clearly shown by comparing the per­centage of total scaup use which occurred in the various districts during the spring of 19 8 and 19 9.

Percentage of Total Scaup Use by District Spring of 1958 and 1959 Compared

District 1958 1959 Change

Winona 5.9 16.97 Increase La Crosse 11.7 6.1*5 Decrease Tensing 10.3 20.71 Increase Prairie du Chien 11.1 5.1*6 Decrease Cassville 3.7 10.21* Increase Savanna 17.2 12.73 Decrease Clinton 1*0.1 27.I*!* Decrease

REFUGE 100.00 100.00

As the period opened there were 3J503 ducks on the refuge. This number dropped to 1,259 the following week; and the mid-winter inventory showed 1,238 ducks present.

Following the mid-winter inventory, populations remained unchanged until the end of February, when the first migrants appeared and swelled the numbers to 14,307. This was materi­ally below the 1)4,226 the week of the first migration in 1958 or the Ii9>2lj9 in 1957. By mid-March numbers had increased to 39>3l40 birds, and the next week had jumped to lltl,883. (Note: In 1958 the third week in March showed 181,690 ducks present.) The peak population occurred the first week in April this spring, with 296,870 ducks present, compared to the 1958 peak (which occurred the same week) of 392,952 ducks. For two weeks numbers held above the 200,000 mark, dropped below that figure the third week in April; held over the 100,000 mark for the rest of the month; and the period closed with 62,119 birds on the refuge. Thus, there was a period of six weeks (from March 15 through April 25) when over 100,000 ducks were present, a situation similar to the 1958 flight. However, numbers did not exceed 300,000 this spring, while for a week last year nearly li00,000 were present.

It is interesting to note that when the refuge peak occurred this spring only the Savanna and Clinton Districts peaked. From there north, peaks occurred from one to two weeks later. The Winona, Lansing, Prairie du Chien, and Cassville Districts peaked the week ended April 11; while the La Crosse District peaked a week later, the week ended April 18.

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11-^

The Winona, Lansing, and Cassville Districts all showed greater duck use this spring than in 195>8, but the La Crosse, Prairie du Chien, Savanna, and Clinton Districts all had less use. This is shown in the following table:

DUCK DAYS USE BY DISTRICT - 19^8 and 1959 Spring Flights

District 1957 1958 1959 % Change from 1958

Winona 1,1)65,870 1,21)9,990 1,21)9,990 3.1)7+ La Crosse 1,099,91)5 1,620,115 851,788 1)7.1)2-Lansing 6,379,317 831,208 1,571,01)5 89.00+ P.du Chien 2,055,529 1,367,590 565,81)5 58,62-Cassville 2,235,786 lt69,273 789,327 68.20+ Savanna 1), 217,780 2,71)8,319 1,861),695 32.15-Clinton 3,033,730 2,320,920 2,201), 720 5.00-REFUGE

TOTAIS 20.li87.9g7 10.607.ttl5 9.ll<0.89t| 13.32-

The following tables compare duck use by species and totals for the various districts and for the entire refuge for the 1958 and 1959 spring flights on the Upper Mississippi Refuge:

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UPPER MISSISSIPPI REFUGE

COMPARISON OF DAYS USE Spring Period

1958-1959

Total Days Use % Change from 1958 Species 1958 1959 Increase Decrease

Mallard 2,3l|l4,685 1,137,717 51.1)7 Black 71,1)56 514,320 23.98 Gadwall 21,980 1)8,125 118.91) Baldpate 791),199 21)7,870 68.78 Pintail 666,568 1)1)2,701 33.58 G.w.teal 1)0,005 31,1)30 21.1)3 B.w.teal 1420,1)20 31)3,189 18.37 Shoveller 77,000 89,299 15.97 Wood duck 138,313 115,1)58 16.52

PUDDIERS l),57l),626 2,510,109 6I4.78

Redhead 328,1)75 1)72,612 1)3.88 Ring-neck 532,350 1)01,590 214.56 Canvas-back 292,261) 258,61)3 11.50 Scaup 14,056,696 1), 81)1,61)1 19.31) Golden-eye 51)9,710 1)16,91)8 21).15 Buffle-head 33,915 214,010 29.20 Ruddy 20,265 21,266 1).93 Mergansers 219,111) 1914,075 11.1)2

DIVERS 6,032,789 6,630,785 9.91

TOTAL DUCKS 10,607,1415 9,31)0,891) 13.82

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WINONA DISTRICT

COMPARISON OF DAYS USE Spring Period

1958-1959

Total Days UseChange from 1958 Species 1958 1959 Increase Decrease

Mallard 235,725 514,698 76.79 Black 21,525 9,688 514.99 Gadwall 2,lt50 2,1(50 same Baldpate 1614,500 32,900 80,00 Pintail 38,535 8,750 77.29 G.w.teal 14,690 1,1(00 70 .Hi B.w.teal 29,750 66,500 123.53 Shoveller 595 2,21(0 276.1(7 Wood duck 8,960 11,900 32.81

PUDDLERS 506,730 190,526 62.1(0

Redhead 39,200 2,91(0 92.50 Ring-neck 138,950 166,900 31.50 Canvas-back 53,550 15,1(00 71.2li Scaup 239,750 821,1(50 21(2.63

70.I4I4 Golden-eye 223,370 66,038 70.I4I4 Buffle-head 980 i,51t0 57.114 Ruddy - 70 - -

Mergansers 147,1(60 8,610 81.85

DIVERS 7li3,260 1,102,91(8 1(8.39

TOTAL DUCKS 1,21(9,990 l,293,l(7l( 3.1(7

Page 18: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

II-8

LA CROSSE DISTRICT

COMPARISON OF DAYS USE Spring Period

1958-1959

Total Bays Use % Change from 1958 Species 1958 1959 Increase Decrease

Mallard 263,7 129,231) 51.00 Black HA,663 7,1)76 1)9.02 Gadwall 6,860 5,1)60 20.1)0 Baldpate 286,050 131), 225 53.1)0 Pintail 23,030 13,71)1 1)0.33 G.-w.teal 9,695 5,355 1)1). 77 E oV ,teal 135,1)50 80,850 1)0.31 Shoveller 1)11,275 26,075 1)1.10 Wood duck Hi,525 11,270 22.1)0

PUDDIERS 800,321) 1)13,686 1)8.31

Redhead 111),275 8,568 80,65 Ring-neck 131,670 26,985 79.50 Canvas-back 38,500 13,825 6)4.09 Scaup 1)73,025 31?,1)1)5 33.91) Golden-eye 91) ,381 1)5,1)1)1) 51.85 Buffle-head 3,1)30 2,800 18.36 Ruddy 5,1)95 3,1)16 37.83 Mergansers 29,015 21),619 15.15

DIVERS 819,791 1)38,102 1)6.55

TOTAL DUCKS 1,620,115 851,788 1)7.1)2

Page 19: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

II-9

LAMSIMG DISTRICT

COMPARISON OF DAYS USE Spring Period

1958 - 1959

Total Days Use % Change from 1958 Species 1938 1939 Increase Decrease

Mallard 100,306 227,101 123.93 Black 6,363 21,987 2143.33 Gadwall - 13,076 - -

Baldpate 141,893 30,623 26.90 Pintail 12,187 214,010 97.01 G,w.teal 11,313 17,325 50.i!6 B.w.teal 1I7,670 72,975 53.08 Shoveller 10,370 13,S1I3 28.13 Wood duck 18,303 29,lt00 60.61

PUDDLERS 2149,011 1430,01414 80.73

Redhead 18,330 3,150 83.02 Ring-neck 31,323 314,930 9.78 Canvas-hack 33,859 19,773 141.59 Scaup 1416,962 1,002.8141 lhO.50 Golden-eye 314,223 31,780 7.13 Buffle-head 3,633 7,2143 28.37 Ruddy 1,890 350 81.148 Mergansers 39,753 20,930 147.33

DIVERS 582,197 1,121,001 92.35

TOTAL DUCKS 831,208 1,371,0145 89.00

Page 20: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-10

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN DISTRICT

COMPARISON OF DAYS USE Spring Period

1958-1959

Total Days Use Change from 3.958 Species 1958 1959 Increase Decrease

Mallard 297,920 61) ,519 78.31) Black 7,980 3,791) 52.1)5 Gadwall 5,320 9,100 71.05 Baldpate 252,700 17,990 92.88 Pintail 21,350 9,590 55.08 G.w.teal 7,1)90 3,1)30 51) .20 B.w.teal 57,1jOO 63,630 10.85 Shoveller 9,660 10,535 9.05 Wood duck 63,000 2l,li20 66.00

PUDDLERS 722,820 20l),008 71.78

Redhead 22,1)00 6,650 70.31 Ring-neck 79,310 1)8,790 38,1)8 Canvas-back 39,200 11,1)1)5 70.60 Scaup 1)52,270 26li ,1)2 1)1.53 Golden-eye 17,500 9,506 1)5.68 Buffle-head 6,510 5,751) 11.61 Ruddy 2,660 1,190 55.26 Mergansers 21) ,920 ll) ,077 1)3.50

DIVERS 61)1), 770 361,837 li3.88

TOTAL DUCKS 1,367,590 565,81,5 58.62

Page 21: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-11

CASSVILIE DISTRICT

COMPARISON OF DAYS USE Spring Period

19^8-1959

Total Days Use ^Change from 1958 Species 1958 1959 Increase Decrease

Mallard 71,666 lih,625 37.73 Black 1,81(8 560 69.69 Gadwall 1(90 10,269 199.57 Baldpate 23,601, 9,100 61.1(1, Pintail 9,086 8,330 8.32 G.w.teal 525 11(0 73.33 B.w.teal 16,1,50 l,li81( 90.98 Shoveller 81(0 h3h 1(8,33 Wood duck 11,1(73 868 92.1(3

PUDDIERS 135,982 75,810 hh.25

Redhead 7,210 17,02l( 181.95 Ring-neck 127,995 66,815 1(7.79 Canvas-hack 22,855 112,518 392.31 Scaup 150,1,09 1(95,670 229.51( Golden-eye 13,1(26 11,200 16.57 Buffle-head 700 581 17.00 Ruddy - - - -

Mergansers 10,696 9,709 9.22

DIVERS 333,291 713,^17 1U.08

TOTAL DUCKS 1|69,273 789,327 68.20

Page 22: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

SAVANNA DISTRICT

COMPARISON OF DAYS USE Spring Period

1958-19£>

Total"Days Use % Change from 1958 Species 19S8 1959 Increase Decrease

Mallard 1,216,821) 505,51)0 58.1)5 Black 114,21)5 6,1)0$ 35.01) Gadwall lt,270 5,ol)0 18.03 Baldpate 12,950 10,500 18.92 Pintail 532,560 31)6,290 31) .98 G.w.teal 3,l5o 2,590 17.78 B.w.teal 73,500 28,350 61.1)2 Shoveller 5,1)60 20,650 278.20 Wood duck 7,910 18,900 138.91)

PUDDLERS 1,870,869 91)1), 265 1)9.52

Redhead 27,1)1)0 91),990 21)6.17 Ring-neck 12,250 13,930 13.71 Canvas-back 21,700 35,81)0 65.36 Scaup 696,010 616,11)0 11.1)7 Golden-eye 72,380 81),1)90 16.73 Buffle-head 5,320 1,610 69.71) Ruddy 5,320 5,250 1.32 Mergansers 37,030 68,180 81).12

DIVERS 877,1)50 920,1)30 1).90

TOTAL DUCKS 2,7lj8,319 l,86li,695 32.15

Page 23: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

CLINTON DISTRICT

COMPARISON OF DAYS USE Spring Period

1958-1959

Total Days UseChange fran 1958 Species 1958 1959 Increase Decrease

Mallard 158,270 112,000 29.23 Black 14,830 14,1)10 8.69 Gadwall 2,590 2,730 5.1)0 Baldpate 10,500 12,530 19.33 Pintail 29,820 31,990 7.2l) C-#w.teal 2,9140 1,190 59.52 B.w.teal 60,200 29,1)00 51.16 Shoveller 5,600 15,820 182.50 Wood duck lb,11)0 21,700 53.1)6

PUDDLERS 288,890 231,770 19.77

Redhead 169,1400 339,290 100.29 Ring-neck 10,850 23,2l|0 111) .19 Canvas-back 82,600 Ii9,8l40 39.66 Scaup 1,628,270 1,328,270 18,1)0 Golden-eye 914,1430 168,1)90 78.1)3 Buffle-head 11,31)0 14,1)80 60.1)9 Ruddy 14,900 10,990 121) .28 Mergansers 30,21)0 1)7,950 58.56

DIVERS 2,032,030 1,972,950 2.90

TOTAL DUCKS 2,320,920 2,20l),720 5.00

Page 24: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

It is Interesting to note the difference in use of different species on a district basis. It was found that

hh»h3% of all mallard use occurred in the Savanna District; 140.98^ of black duck use in the Lansing District; etc., as listed below:

District having greatest use, with % of total use

Mallard Savanna 1)14.113 Black Lansing 1)0.1)8 Gadwall CassviHe a.31) Baldpate La Crosse 31).15 Pintail Savanna 78.?? G.w.teal Lansing 53.12 B.w.teal La Crosse 23.56 Shoveller La Crosse 29.20 Wood duck Lansing 23.1)6 Redhead Clinton 71.80 Ring-neck Winona 1)6,51) Canvas-back Cassville 1)3.30 Scaup Clinton 27.1)1) Golden-eye Clinton 1)0.1)1 Buffle-head Lansing 30.17 Ruddy Clinton 51.67 Mergansers Savanna 35.13

The following two tables indicate first the percentage of species use by districts and second the percentage of dis­trict use by species for the 19!?9 spring flight:

Page 25: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

Percentage of Species Use (By District) Spring, 1959

District Mallard Black Gadwall Bald-pate Pintail

G.w. teal

B.w. teal

Shov­eller

Wood duck

Red­head

Ring-neck

Canvas-back Scaup

Golden-eye

Buffle-head Ruddy

Mergan­sers

Winona 4.81 17.84 3.09 13.27 1.98

« <

4.43 J •

i 19.38 »

2.31 10.31 .62 46.34 3.93 16.97 13.84 6.41 .33 4.44

La Crosse 11.37 13.76 11.33 34.13 3.10 •

17.04; 23.36 •

29.20 9.76 1.81 6.72 3.33 6.43 10.90 11.66 16.06 12.68

Lansing 19.96 40.48 27.17 12.36 3.42 33.12; 21.26 13.17 23.46 .66 8.70 7.63 20.71 7.62 30.17 1.63 10.78

P.du Chien 5.67 6.98 18.91 4

7.26 2.17 10.91: »

; 18.34 11.80 18.33 1.41 12.13 4.42 3.46 2.28 23.97 3.60 7.23

Cassville 3.92 I.03 1

21.34 3.67 1.88 .43 .43 .49 • 73 3.60 16.64 43.30 10.24 2.69 2.42 - 3.00

Savanna 44.43 11.79 10.47 4.24 78.22 8.24 8.26 23.12 16.37 20.10 3.47 13.86 12.73 20.26 6.71 24.69 33.13

Clinton 9.84 8.12 3.67 3.05 7.23 3.79 8.37 17.71 18.80 71.80 3.78 19.27 27.44 40.41 18.66 31.67 24.72

TOTALS 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00; 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 :

100.00;100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

1 H Vn

Page 26: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

Percentage of District Use (Dy Species) Spring, 1959

District Mallard Black Gadwall Bald-pate Pintail

G.w. teal

B.w, teal

Shov­eller

Wood duck

Red­head

Ring-neck

Canvas-back Scaup

Golden-eye

Buffle-head

:Mergan-Ruddy: sers

Winona 100.00 4.23 .73 .19 2.54 .68 .11 3.14 .17 .92 .23 14.43 1.19 63.30 3.11 .12 .01 .66

La Crosse 100.00 13.18 .88 .64 13.76 1.61 .63 9.49 3.06 1.32 1.00 3.17 1.62 36.68 3.34 • 33 .40 2.89

Tansing 100.00 14.46 1.40 .83 1.93 1.53 1.10 4.63 .87 1.87 .20 2.22 1.26 63.83 2.02 .46 .02 1.33

P.du Chien 100.00 11.40 .67 1.61 3.18 1.69 .61 11.23 1.86 3.78 1.18 8.62 2.02 46.73 1.68 1.02 .21 2.49

Cassville 100.00 3.63 .07 1.30 1.13 1.06 .02 .19 .03 .11 2.16 8.46 14.23 62.80 1.42 .08 - 1.23

Savanna 100.00 27.11 .34 .27 .36 18.37 .14 1.32 1.11 1.01 3.10 •73 1.92 33.04 4.33 .09 .28 3.66

Clinton J tioo.oo 3.08 .20 .12 .37 I.43 . .03 1.33 .72 .99 13.39 1.06 2.26 60.26 7.64 .20 .30 2.18 • •

TOTALS S100.00 12.45 .60 .33 2.72 4.84 .34 3.73 .98 1.26 3.17 4.39 2.83 32.97 4.36 .26 .23 2.12

H H I H On

Page 27: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-17

The following table shows the distribution along the various districts of total refuge waterfowl use this spring:

District Total days use % of total refuge use

Winona 1,293,1)71 H) .15 La Crosse 851,788 9.32 Lansing 1,571,01)5 17.19 Prairie du Chien 565,81)5 6.19 Cassville 789,327 8.61) Savanna. 1,861) ,695 20.1)0 Clinton 2,20^,720 2ll .11

93ll|0389ii 100.00

As shown in the following table, which compares percent­age of total use by district for the 1958 and 1959 flights, it can be seen that the Winona, Lansing, Cassville, and Clinton Districts had a higher percentage of the total use this spring than in 1958; while all other districts had decreases in per­centage of total use:

Percentage of Total Refuge Use - Spring Period District 1958 1959 Change

Winona 11.79 ii).i5 +

La Crosse 15.27 9.32 -

Lansing 7.81) 17.19 +

Prairie du Chien 12.89 6.19 -

Cassville li.l)2 8.61) +

Savanna 25.91 20.1)0 -

Clinton 21.88 21) .11 +

Note that the Clinton District had the highest use of any district, followed by the Savanna, Lansing, Winona, La Crosse, Cassville, and Prairie du Chien Districts in that order.

Page 28: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-18

Relative percentage use by species is shown in the fol­lowing table (based on duck days use), as compared to the springs of 1957 and 1958:

Per cent of Total Use Species 19W 1958 1959

Scaup 27.814 38.2li 52.97 Mallard 147.67 22,11 12.15 Redhead .83 3,10 5.17 Pintail 5.51 6.28 IU8I4 Golden-eye l.!i3 5.18 14.56 Ring-neck 5.914 5.02 14.39 B.w.teal 2.52 3.96 3.75 Canvas-back .97 2.76 2.83 Baldpate 2.80 7.148 2.72 Mergansers 1.50 2.07 2.12 Wood duck .I4O 1.30 1.26 Shoveller .83 • 73 .98 Black .60 .67 .60 Gadwall .28 .21 .53 G «w•teal .65 .38 •314 Buffle-head .114 .32 .26 Ruddy .09 .19 .23

Puddlers 1(3.7 143.1 27.146 Divers 56.3 56.9 72.514

The following table shows peak concentrations and total duck days use for the 1958 and 1959 spring flights on the Upper Mississippi Refuge:

Page 29: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-19

COMPARISON OF TOTAL DAYS USE AND PEAK NUMBERS

Spring Migrations - 1958 and 1959

Species

TOTAL DAYS USE PEAK NUMBERS 1959 Peak Dates

(week ended) Species 1958 1959 1958 1959

1959 Peak Dates

(week ended)

Mallard Black Gadwall Baldpate Pintail G.Woteal B.w.teal Shoveller Wood duck

2,31)1) ,685 71,1)56 21,980

791), 199 666,568 '1)0,005 1)20,1)20

77,000 138,313

1,137,717 51) ,320 1)8,125

21)7,870 1)1)2,701

31,1)30 31)3,189

89,299 115,1)58

88,750 2,231) 1,030

39,1)22 1)1,088 2,175

20,075 3,1)82 5,327

33,625 1,760 1,570

11,650 21,51)2 1,885

19,930 1),225 l),il)5

March 21 April li April n April 2^ March 21 April 18 May 2 April 25 April 25

PUDDLERS 1),571),626 2,510,109

Redhead Ring-neck Canvas-back Scaup Golden-eye Buffle-head Ruddy Mergansers

328,W; 532,350; 292,261);

1),056,696; 51)9,710; 33,915; 20,265;

219,111)!

1)72,612 1)01,590 258,61)3

1), 81)1,61)1 1)16,91)8

2lj ,010 21,266

191),075

17,000 23,785 11,350

21)2,300 17,200 1,755

900 8.150

; 21,850: ; 17,080: ; 16,300: ; 193,550: ; 21,930:

935: ; 1,100: ; 8,150;

April I) April 11 April I) April 1) March 21 April 11 March 21 April 1)

DIVERS 6.032,789:6.630.785

TOTAL ALL DUCKS TOTAL ALL DUCKS

- 1958; - 1959:

10,607,1)15 9,11)0,891)

Decrease of 13.82? in total days use

Page 30: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-20

Perhaps one of the reasons for decreased use in the La Crosse District is that much of the district was icebound until after April I4.

The Lansing District reported a noticeable change in the habits of puddlers this periodj compared to last year. The most important change was the use made of the Upper Iowa River bottoms this year. Last year no use was made of the Upper Iowa by ducks. By contrast, this spring use started there the first week of April and continued until almost the end of the month. At least 11,000 ducks used the area, with mallards predominant, but with some pintails, baldpate, wood ducks, and a very few green-winged teal and gadwall mixed in. Another important change was the fact that mallards and pin­tails changed their use from the area below the Upper Iowa to the portion of the bottoms north of there, with a resultant very noticeable increase in duck use in the Reno Bottoms this spring.

In the Prairie du Chien District mallard use was materi­ally down. However, an unconfirmed report from a resort owner in lower Pool 10 indicated that for a week's time about 140,000 mallards were in that vicinity. Since this report could not be confirmed, and since no refuge observations picked these mallards up, they have not been included in the refuge figures for the district.

Some interesting notes were received from the Savanna-Clinton Districts this spring. On March 31^ during a heavy fog, approximately 100 redheads and 2^ lesser scaup were killed at Dam 13. They apparently got trapped in the fast currents after they went over the rollers of the dam.

Also from this district comes some interesting data on ducks taken in commercial fishing gear. The following losses were reported by the refuge manager there:

Page 31: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-21

Name of Location Type & amt. operator of gear of gear Birds killed

Jacobs Lower Pool 13 25 hoop nets 22 lesser scaup 2 redheads

Schaeffer Lower Pool 13 35 hoop nets 10 lesser scaup 10 hooded mergansers 5 canvas-back 3 redheads

Lampe Elk River area 60 hoop nets 3 hooded mergansers

Jambois Spring Lake 1,000 ft. gill 2 cormorants net

Note: Most commercial fishermen reported no ducks taken in their gear. Some of the nets in lower Pool 13 were in 35 feet of water, but still caught ducks.

b. Geese Canada Geese

A lone Canada wintered in the La Crosse District this year. During the mid-winter inventory 30 were found in the Cassville District, but they left the following week, and none were found there until the middle of April.

The first Canadas to move into the refuge were the 200 in the Savanna District and 50 in the Clinton District the last week of February. None moved into the upper districts until the third week in March, when all districts had a few birds present. This week also found the peak of 9^8 Canadas present, with 900 of them in the Savanna-Clinton Districts. Although there was a normal northward flight of Canadas over the river this spring, very few of them stopped on the refuge.

A total of 2i|,325 days use was made of the refuge by Canada geese this spring, which was less than half the 58,527 days recorded a year ago, but essentially the same as the 25A86 days recorded in 1957. A comparison of district use by Canada geese for the last three years is shown in the following table:

Page 32: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-22

Total Days Canada Goose Use District 1957 1958 1959 % Change from 1958

Winona 6,755 It,221 1,050 La Crosse 3,61|0 12,llt5 5,103 Lansing 6,531 It, 270 686 P.du Chien 2,198 1,211 371 Cassville 2,212 1,330 630 Savanna 2,730 27,860 12,215 Clinton 1,120 7,lt90 It, 270

75-12-57.98-83.93-69.36-5i.es­se .15-lt2.99-

Refuge 25.186 58.527 2lt.325 ltl.35-

Snow Geese

Although there was a good movement of snow geese north­ward over the river this spring, most of the movement was at night and very few stopped on the refuge. The Savanna District, with ihO days use, and the Clinton District with 175 days use were the only districts reporting snow geese stopping this spring. Last year a total of 1,1435 days use by snow geese was recorded, so the use this spring was down 78.014^ below the 1958 figure. Snow geese were observed only in the Savanna, Clinton, and La Crosse Districts in 1958.

The same can be said for blue geese as for snow geese. That is, good nighttime movements occurred, but few used the refuge. As with snow geese, the Savanna and Clinton Districts were the only ones reporting blue geese stopping. The Savanna District had 560 days use and the Clinton District 525 days use, for a total of 1,085 days for the refuge. In the spring of 1958 blues were found in the La Crosse, Savanna, and Clinton Districts, making a total of 5^075 days use, so that blue goose use was down 78.62^ below the 1958 figure.

In the spring of 1958 a total of 65,051 days goose use was made of the refuge. This included 58,527 days by Canadas, 1^35 by snows, 5,075 by blues, and lh by white-fronts. By contrast, this spring only 25,725 days use was recorded by all species, representing a decrease of 60.k5% below the 1958 use.

Blue Geese

All Geese

Page 33: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-23

G. Coot

A lone coot was found staying in the seepage and open water of the Black River below the Onalaska spillway from the beginning of the period until the week ended February II4, after which it was no longer seen.

On the third week in March the first migrants appeared in the Savanna and Clinton Districts, and the following week coot were found in all districts of the refuge. From that time on numbers increased rapidiy until the peak of 80,7^0 occurred the week ended April 25. As the period ended there were still 65,500 coot remaining.

In 1958 the peak of 50,Ij50 occurred the week ended April 19, which was a week earlier than the peak this spring. This spring's peak exceeded 1958 by 60^,

Coot did not move out as rapidly this spring as usual, and the period closed with 65,500 coot present. This popula­tion was 232.ii9^ greater than the 19,700 remaining at the close of the period in 1958.

A total of I,81jli,6l47 days of coot use occurred on the refuge this spring, which was an increase of 67.29% over the 1,102,6140 days recorded a year ago. AH districts had greater coob use this spring than in 1958 except the Prairie du Chien District. A comparison of coot use, by district, with the same period in 1958 is shown in the following table:

COMPARISON OF COOT DAY USE - By District Spring Period • - 1958 and 1959

Total Days Coot Use

District 1958 1959 ; t Change from 1958

Winona 351,1(00 770,350 119.22+ La Crosse 210,1(20 236,012 12.16+ Lansing 111,650 381i,5b5 21(1) .1(2+ Prairie du Chien 322,000 275,800 li(.32-Cassville 68,320 76,1(1(0 11.88+ Savanna 21,350 60,200 181.96+ Clinton 17,500 1(1,300 136.00+

REFUGE 1,102,6IiO 1,814^,6147 67.29+

Page 34: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

XI-2lj

d. Swans

Swans made a total of iil30lj8 days use this spring, which was an increase of 18^,90^ over the 114,357 days recorded in 1958. The peak population of 2,3)43 occurred the week ended April 18 and was 1)48.146^ greater than the 1958 peak of 9U3» However, the 1958 peak occurred the week ended March 29, or three weeks earlier than this spring.

The first swans of the season occurred the last week of March, when birds were seen in the Lansing and Prairie du Chien Districts. The following week they were present in all dis­tricts except the Savanna District (which reported no swans throughout the spring). While normally higher numbers are found in the Winona District than elsewhere on the refuge, this spring the La Crosse District had the highest peak con­centration. Even then, the Winona District recorded a greater number of days use. A comparison of swan use, by district, is shown in the following table:

COMPARATIVE SWAN USE - Spring Period

Peak Population Total Days Use District 1958 1959 1958 1959 % Change from 1958

Winona 350 730 7,875 18,522 135.20+ La Crosse 250 1,605 3,906 17,871 357.52+ Tansing 307 571 2,32l4 14,179 79.81+ P.du Chien 20 145 litO 385 175.00+ Cassville - 10 - 70 -

Savanna 2 - Ill - -

Clinton Ih 3 98 21 78.58-

REFUGE 9ii3 2,313 314,357 lll,0l|8 185.90+

2. Other Water Birds a. Egrets

Egrets made their first appearance the week ended April I4 in the La Crosse, Prairie du Chien, and Savanna Districts. An estimated 250 were present the week ended May 2, with 100 found in the Savanna-Clint on District,

Page 35: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-25

Peak Nos. 1959 Total Estimated Population Peak Date

District 1958 1959 (wk. ended) 1958 1959

Winona 30 10 5/2 30 15 La Crosse 30 20 ij/li-5/? 30 ho Lansing 75 ho 5/2 75 5o Prairie 30 50 5/2 50 90 Cassville 25 25* * 25 25* Savanna-Clinton 100 100 5/2 150 150

TOTAIS 290 2li5 360 370

•KNo data for 1959 as district vacant. Previous year's figures used to complete table.

There was a slight reduction in egret use in the northern three districts this spring compared to last year.

It is believed that the Trevino heron-egret rookery is again being used by egrets this spring for nesting.

b. Herons and Bitterns

Four great blue herons spent the month of January and early February in the northernmost Winona District, but were not observed after the week ended February 7. They again appeared throughout the refuge the week ended March 28, peaked at approximately 1,700 the week ended May 2. The Winona Dis­trict had the largest peak at 750. The West Newton, Trevino, Target Lake, Dead Haynos, and Sabula rookeries are active.

Black-crowned night herons first appeared in the Lansing District the week ended April 11, when 10 were observed. Only scattered observations have been made to date in the La Crosse, Lansing, and Prairie du Chien Districts. A peak of 38 was reached the week ended April 18.

Five green herons and two American bitterns were seen the last week of the period ended May 2 in the southernmost Savanna-Clinton District. With the exception of the blues, the heron and bittern flight is only beginning.

Page 36: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

11-26

e. Grebes

One eared grebe was observed in the Prairie du Chien District the week ended March 28.

One horned grebe was observed in the Prairie du Chien District the week ended April I4 and two in the Lansing District the week ended April 2$.

Pied bills first appeared in the La Crosse and Savanna-Clinton Districts the week ended March 21. Refuge peak occurred the week ended April 18 with an estimated 1,925 birds present. Total population was estimated at about 2,000,

d. Cormorants

Eighty cormorants moved into the Savanna-Clinton Dis­trict the week ended March 21 for their initial appearance. A peak of 2,200 was reached the week ended April 25, with an estimated 1,700 in the Winona and La Crosse Districts.

e« Gulls and Terns

Herring and ring-billed gulls remained in the Savanna-Clinton District in small numbers during January and February, A build-up started the week ended February 21, and the weeks ended February 28 through March ill found approximately 30,000 present. This concentration began decreasing after that date, with the build-up in the districts north of Savanna-Clinton peaking the weeks ended April li and 11.

The largest concentration of common terns was noted in the La Crosse District, with 50 being present the week ended May 2. A black tern was noted in the Prairie du Chien Dis­trict the week ended April 11, and 20 in the Savanna-Clinton District the week ended May 2.

Fifty Franklin gulls were noted in the Lansing District the week ended March 21.

f. Pelicans and Others

One common loon was observed in the Prairie du Chien District the week ended April 11.

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3. Shorebirds a. Jacksnipe

The first appearance noted was in the Lansing District the week ended March 21, with 20 birds. A peak of approxi­mately 825 occurred the weeks ended April 25 and May 2. The total population was estdjnated at 1,200.

b. Woodcock

None were noted this period.

c. Other Shorebirds

Killdeer were first noted the week ended March 21 in the Lansing and Prairie du Chien Districts. Peak was reached the week ended April 11 with an estimated 1,700 present. The total population was estimated at 2,000.

lellow-legs were first observed the week ended April 11. Peak of 830 occurred the week ended May 2. Estimated popula­tion was 1,000.

First observations of sandpipers were during the week ended April 11.

h. Doves

Mourning doves remained over winter throughout the refuge in small numbers. A major build-up began the week ended March 28 and continued to increase until a peak of 1,280 eas reached at the end of the period. Principal concentra­tion of 750 was in the northernmost Winona District at the end of the period.

B. Upland Game Birds 1. Pheasants

As shown in the following table, the pheasant population showed a marked decline in estimated numbers. Extremely cold weather and deep and crusted snow combined to eliminate the birds or force them to move to nearby farming areas for food.

Our pheasant habitat is only marginal, and a high pop­ulation never exists.

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Pheasant population District 19^8 1S59

Winona 100 125 La Crosse 25 15 Lansing - 15 Prairie du Chien 20 10 Cassville 250 125 est.* Savanna-Clint on 230 100

Total for refuge 625 390

^Station vacant.

Sportsmen's clubs in Whiteside and Carroll Counties in Illinois in the Savanna-Clinton District plan on raising 35,000 pheasants, and many other clubs the length of the river also contribute to pheasant stocking in counties adja­cent to the refuge. A large portion of this program must be considered a put-and-take operation.

2. Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed grouse total populations remain essentially the same although showing a variance in districts. The Lansing District has the largest population, with the district manager stating they show additional increase.

Ruffed Grouse District 1958 1959

Winona 25 ho La Crosse 30 20 Lansing 200 225 Prairie du Chien i40 10

REFUGE TOTALS 295 295

3. Quail

Quail suffered from the severe winter conditions, as did the pheasants. Manager Wade of the Savanna-Clinton Dis­trict reports finding two co-veys of quail having six and ten birds frozen in their usual circular sleeping formation on the Thomson farm.

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Quail District 19W 193'9

Winona La Crosse Lansing Prairie du Chien Cassville S avanna-Clint on

100 1^0 36 25

0? 13'0 95 1^0 75 est.* 280 120

REFUGE TOTALS 716

-"-Station vacant

h. Hungarian Partridge

Huns suffered from the severe winter. The only birds are found on the Fulton to Galena portion of the river bottoms in the Savanna District. Population a year ago was estimated at £0 as compared to an estimate of 20 this period.

5. Wild Turkey

A few of the wild turkeys released by the Illinois Department of Conservation at the Savanna Ordnance Depot made it through this harsh winter. The majority of the turkeys left the Depot and moved to higher nearby farm woodlands.

The DeWitt Ikes released a few full-grown wild turkeys several miles west of the refuge. If these birds survived, they should show up on the Clinton District's Wapsi bottoms in a few years.

It is estimated that two wild turkeys are on the Iowa side and 5 on the Illinois side of the Savanna-Clinton District. This figure is the same as last year.

• Big Game Animals

White-tailed deer suffered population losses due to deep snows and harassment by dogs in all but the southern end of the refuge. Many were forced to leave the river bottoms and con­centrate on southern slopes. The Winona, La Crosse, Lansing, and Prairie du Chien Districts all note losses from deer-running dogs. State wardens were active in elimination of dogs found chasing deer. District Manager Neilson reports 32 deer present at the Trempealeau Refuge unit and procurement of several bales

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of hay from farmers^ which was well utilized. Manager Hovell of the Lansing District reports he could have caught two deer while he was on snowshoes as the deer could make little or no progress in the deep snows. Manager Hall of the Prairie du Chien District reports further predation in Iowa by night shiners near the refuge. The southern Savanna-Clinton District showed a noticeable increase in population.

The Nelson-Trevino closed area at the north tip of the refuge provided a considerable amount of archery hunting dur­ing the month of January and was sometimes called "Little Mecedah".

Deer Population End of Period District 1958 1959

Winona 200 225 La Crosse 225 125 Lansing 300 200 Prairie du Chien 100 30 Cassville 10 10 Savanna- Clint on 370 575

REFUGE TOTALS 133Q5 1,155

D. Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents, and Other Mammals 1. Muskrats

Although an estimated 80,1451 muskrats were trapped last fall, based on 77*3% trapper returns, for the second highest catch in 19 years, the muskrat population is again estimated at a higher figure than last year at this time, as shown in the following table:

Muskrats District 1958 1959

Winona 3,000 7,1^0 La Crosse 6,500 5,200 Lansing 60,000 60,000 Prairie du Chien 14,000 14,000 Cassville 1,500 1,500 Savanna- Clinton 8,000 9,000

REFUGE TOTAL 83,000 87,1140

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Barring unforeseen happenings between now and late fall and winter, it is anticipated that recommendations will be submitted for another long trapping season to harvest this abundance of rats.

Despite severe winter conditions, little evidence has been observed of dead rats. Some travel was noted, and Manager Neilson reported 21 road kills observed during the winter in the Winona District. One rat even visited the Prairie du Chien District office, probably for the purpose of asking directions, according to Manager Hall, However, Mr. Hall was not the only one favored with distinguished visitors, as it was necessary to remove one sassy muskrat from a window well of the Winona post office. He no doubt believed in going to the head office for assistance!

2. Mink

Despite the third highest catch in 19 years of l,[i86 mink, over-all mink populations are estimated slightly higher than last year. Mink were distributed among the districts as follows:

District 1958 1959

Winona 250 100 La Crosse 125 80 Lansing 750 1,000 Prairie du Chien 100 100 Cassville 200 200 Savanna-Clinton 600 800

Refuge Totals 2,025 2,280

It will be noted frcm the table that populations of the two northernmost districts are lower, while major increases are reported in the Lansing and Savanna-Clinton Districts further south.

3. Beaver

The beaver take of an estimated 866 animals was slightly over half of last year, although populations carried over from trapping seasons are slightly higher than last year. The Reno Bottoms in Minnesota were closed for the first time after several years of such recommendations, and this eliminated a portion of the take, which in the past had been high from this

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area. Closure of this area will again permit our free con­struction engineers to work unhampered in the development of waterfowl habitat. The northernmost districts were hampered in trapping due to heavy snows and ice5 and this perhaps acted as a conservation measure on the rather limited population in this area despite the long and then extended Wisconsin seasons. We anticipate recommending a closed season on beaver trapping this coming fall for the areas of the Winona and La Crosse Districts in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

District 1958 1959

Winona 250 250 La Crosse 12 12 Tansing 800 800 Prairie du Chien 220 200 Cassville 2h0 2l»0 S avanna- Clinton 2,600 2,800

TOTAIS 1),122 14,302

It will be noted that the major portion of our beaver are in the southernmost district in Illinois and Iowa. Pressure there is light because of extremely poor pelt prices. Beaver caught south of the Grant River in Wisconsin are classed as similar to Montana reds, being noticeably lighter in color and lower in price. Manager Wade estimates 2$% of the beaver taken in his section of Illinois were for meat, and pelts were buried rather than going to the work of preparing them for market,

h. Otter

The northernmost and southernmost districts of the refuge report noticeable increases in and the highest otter populations, with the rest of the districts remaining about the same. A small number were harvested during the past trapping seasons.

District 1958 1959

Winona 50 75 La Crosse 0 0 Lansing hO 140 Prairie du Chien 20 15 Cassville 2h 214 S avanna-Clinton W 70

TOTALS 179 2214

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Raccoon

The over-all coon population is approximately the same as last year at this time. However, the Lansing and Prairie du Chien Districts report decreases from last year, believed due to disease, which are overcome by the build-up in the La Crosse and Savanna-Clinton Districts.

District 1958 1959

Winona 250 225 La Crosse 250 1)00 Lansing 800 5oo Prairie du Chien 300 250 Cassvilie 600 600 Savanna-Clinton 1,100 1,1(00

TOTALS 3,300 3,375

Low value provides little incentive for harvest of coon and only an estimated 392 were taken the past season.

Little hunting pressure is exerted due to the difficulty of navigating the bottomlands in hunting with dogs and also due to low pelt prices.

6. Fox

Fox show an increase, varying up to 100%, throughout the refuge, particularly reds. Wisconsin has eliminated their State bounty, although some counties still retain theirs, and this will probably affect populations to some extent. High water has not forced fox out of the bottoms, and denning will probably be more prevalent on the refuge itself.

Winter freeze-up creates a transient migration of fox into the bottoms, and Manager Hovell notes that the primary food of fox in the winter appears to be muskrats according to den observations.

Hunting and trapping pressure is extremely light due to no value fur and discontinuance of bounty in some States. Some hunting is done for sport, but this is very limited.

7. Skunk

Principal skunk populations are in the Winona and La Crosse Districts, with an estimated population of 75 and

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nQj respectively. Scattered animals are found south of these two districts. Lack of flooding this spring has helped the skunk to utilize the bottomlands and accounted for a small increase, where ordinarily the only suitable habitat are the higher ridges of the bottoms.

8. Other Small Mammals

This heading covers rabbits, squirrels, opossum, and woodchucks. District Managers' comments are as follows: Winona District - Occasional reports of possum adjacent to refuge boundaries. La Crosse District - Possum double that of a year ago and continue to extend range northward in this district. Rabbit and squirrel populations lower, probably due to severe winter. lansing District - A $00% increase in possum and local residents ribbing manager about following him from the south - could be I Rabbits down 80^, Prairie du Chien District - Reports that a large possum was appre­hended in a rabbit hutch with 20 freshly killed rabbits and had gained access through a hole bitten through chicken wire enclosing hutch. Now, the resident manager is new to this district and not addicted to drinking, but he also reports that rabbits occupying refuge islands are becoming adapted to periodic flooding as he flushed a cottontail on a two-thirds flooded island, and the rabbit mastered the situation by promptly climbing a tree! He later admitted the tree was on a angle when queried. Savanna-Clint on District - Reports rabbits and squirrels down due to severe winter conditions and lack of mast crop. Woodchucks have increased and a local control program is planned for protection of the newly repaired Spring Lake dike.

Rabbits Opossum : Squirrel Woodchuck District 1958 : 1959 195)8 1959 : 1958 : 1959 1958 1959

Winona 250 : 300 i I 0 • •

0 : 200 : IjOO 15 2 La Crosse 1)0 : 25 12 25 : 100 : 75 6 10 Lansing 300 : 100 50 250 : 500 : 500 ho ho P.du Chien 150 : 200 200 300 : 500 : 500 10 10 Cassville*- 750 : 750 2,000 2,000 : 600 : 600 20 : 20 Savanna- : • •

Clinton 3,000 :2000 600 600 :1,800 :1,300 20 30

TOTAIS «

11,1)90 13375 2,862 • •

3,175 i3.700 13,375 111 112

^District vacant. 195>8 figures used for 192?9 to gain refuge total.

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E. Hawks, Eagles3 Owls, Crows, etc. 1. Crows

Crows winter throughout the refuge during this period. The est mated peak of l^jh'OO occurred the week ended April 11. Total use was estimated at 20,000.

2. Eagles

Two golden eagles were observed in the Prairie du Chien District the week ended January 31 and one in the Lansing Dis­trict the weeks ended February lli and March 28.

Bald eagles remained throughout the refuge the entire period, with the major concentration of wintering birds in the Savanna-Clinton District, where 60 were present during January. Birds began building up in February and reached a peak popula­tion of 228 the week ended February 28, with 80 in the Savanna-Clinton District and IOI4 in the Cassville District. An estimated 25)0 birds used the refuge during the period, and a total of 12 remained at the end of the period.

3. Owls

From two to forty horned owls were estimated present in each district, with an estimated total use of 115) horned owls.

Total population of barred owls was estimated at 210 and screech owls at 30.

^ • Hawks

Up to 5>0 red-tailed, red-shouldered, marsh, and rough-legged hawks are found in each of the six districts of the refuge. One duck hawk was noted in the Prairie du Chien District the week ended April U- 'Two osprey were noted in the La Crosse District the week ended April 18 and one April 25), and two in the Prairie du Chien District the week ended May 2.

Cooper's hawks were noted occasionally, with one in the La Crosse District the week ended April It, two in the Lansing District the week ended January 10, and one in the Cassville District the week ended February 28.

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One sparrow hawk was recorded in the Cass vine District the week ended February 25, two in the Prairie du Chien Dis­trict, and one in the La Crosse District the week ended March 28 .

Manager Hovell of the Lansing District noted a definite hawk migration in his area on March 19.

Vultures

Turkey vultures appeared the week ended April Li in the Prairie du Chien and Lansing Districts, with 60 observed. The peak was estimated at 75 the week ended April 11, with no data from the Cassville District. One vulture was observed in the La Crosse District the week ended May 2.

G. Fish

Unusually heavy ice up to hO inches and heavy snow cover caused considerable winter kill in a great many shallow dead water areas. Principal species affected were panfish such as sunfish, crappies, shad, and carp. Ice fishing was generally spotty and somewhat curtailed by thick ice and heavy snow cover. Panfish are the principal target of winter ice fishermen, followed by wall-eyes and sauger fishing Immed­iately below the navigation dams of the Corps of Engineers.

H. Reptiles

Grass, bull, water, blow, and some rattlers are common to the river valley and refuge. Soft-shell and snapping turtles are harvested commercially, and smaller painted turtles are abundant.

I. Disease

As has occurred the past several spring seasons in the Lansing District, sick and dead waterfowl have been found, and coccidiosis was diagnosed at Patuxent. This year 37 sick and 17 dead ducks were observed. Manager Hovell estimated the loss at 50. Three sick coot were sent to Dr. Haugen at Iowa for diagnosis, his report following:

"Post mortem examination of the coot revealed an anemia, numerous white nodules on the peritoneum, and a slight enteritis. Microscopic examination of the intestinal smears revealed the presence of coccidia. Bacteriological examination did not

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reveal the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Tissue sections

were taken for microscopic examination and you will be notified

later of resulta.n

The coot were taken from Rube Bakewell Slough immed­iately west of Lansing Big Lake in Pool 9 in Iowa.

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III. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

• Physical Development

The following items carried on during the period:

1. Access Development:

Landings and parking areas were scheduled for a start as soon as road weight limitations and spring breakup permit­ted. Little was accomplished on the ground, but plans for work were completed on the following areas:

La Crosse District

Brice's Prairie - Surfacing completed and informational sign erected.

Lake Onalaska - Informational sign erected and place­ment of gravel contracted for.

Lansing District

Bad Axe - Some trees cleared, and contractor ready to go as soon as ground conditions permitted.

Millstone - Contractor ready to go as soon as breakup settles. It was gratifying to note that the ditch north of the entrance road, dug in last year's development, carried the water from the bluffs away from the road, preventing washouts.

Prairie du Chien District

Ambro Slough - A work party of the Prairie Rod & Gun Club cleared the parking area of brush and trees. Arrange­ments were completed for fill and surfacing of the area.

A special use permit to the Iowa Conservation Commission authorized construction of an access road, parking area, and boat launching ramp in the Sny Magill area north of Clayton, Iowa. No work has been done to date.

Informational signs were erected on Ambro Slough and Glenn Park landings.

Jay's Lake - This is a new development planned south of Bagley, Wisconsin, to provide a badly needed access to the

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river. This is to be a cooperative venture of the Corps of Engineers, Upper Mississippi Refuge, and interested local groups,

Savanna-Clinton District

Informational signs were erected at Mickelson and Esmay Slough landings.

Mickelson Landing - Plans have been completed for enlarging the boat launching ramp. The State of Illinois wishes to enter into cooperative agreement to more intensively develop this landing. They wish a direct license from the Corps, but we feel it should be done by the Bureau making the area available to the State, since it is on the Upper Missis­sippi Refuge proper as differentiated from Corps of Engineers lands in Lower Pools.

2. Posting

Much effort has been expended in posting boundary lines along main traveled highways and points of access, with a blue goose sign atop of the red public hunting area or white closed area sign. There are still mary miles to so revise, but a good start has been made.

3. Signs

Mr. Winslow made up seven refuge entrance signs for the various units of the Mark Twain Refuge, four being inscribed on both sides. One similar sign was made up for the Trempealeau Refuge. Five frames for the 7x9 redwood plank signs were completed and will be erected soon. New signs (directional) for the Trempealeau Refuge, Girl Scout Camp, and Trempealeau County Clubs pheasant pens were also completed, as were many other miscellaneous signs. The six large redwood signs were refinished, and the one at the Wabasha-Nelson dike was replaced when painted.

ii. Knockdown of dead black locust at Trempealeau Refuge -

Original plantings of black locust strips and groups were hard hit several years ago by a severe infestation of locust borers, killing most of the trees. While making good woodpecker habitat, it was rather unsightly.

During the past period we obtained a 22 Cat from the Necedah Refuge and proceeded to knock down the dead stems, most

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being under three inches in diameter. Manager Neilson esti­mated acres were thus treated and some underplanting with conifers is planned to replace the locust. The elimination of the standing dead stems improves the appearance of the area considerably, and those knocked down should rot away in not too many years.

5. Encroachment Survey

An encroachment survey of the entire refuge listing each known instance of unauthorized use of Government lands was made so that better information on the scope of the problem would be on hand. The completed listing and accompanying maps make quite a volume. It gives us a good base from which to work, and it is hoped that a policy for handling such uses will be worked out. This is complicated by Corps of Engineers and Bureau regulations being different when handling same.

6. Wood Duck Nest Box Survey

Each district manager made a survey of the wood duck nest box numbers in his district. The purpose was to locate all sound boxes and destroy unsuitable ones. Each box was noted on a map and whether or not it was erected properly in the best area. Closer control is to be maintained by the managers on indiscriminate nest box erection, especially as to construction, erection, and location.

7. Spring Lake - Savanna District

Water gauges are set inside and outside the dike to main­tain information on water levels of the river and impoundment.

A fish screen of one inch mesh was installed at each out­let structure to control rough fish movements.

Ten camp sites were located and two brushed and cleaned up. These are for summer use only.

8. Maintenance of Equipment

Maintenance of vehicles, boats, outboard motors, and small tools continued. Safety and J^OOO mile checks of all vehicles were completed as required.

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B. Plantings 2. frrees and Shrubs (Savanna District)

Two thousand each red pine and Jack pine (2-0) seedlings were planted on the Thomson Farm on April 19. They were planted as windbreaks, mainly on the west side of the crop lands. Six foot spacing in two rows six feet apart was the plan of planting. The State of Illinois furnished the seed­lings and tree planter with operator. Farm cooperator Ben Merboth loaned his tractor, while Manager Wade operated it.

C. Collections and Receipts 1. Seed or Other Propagules (Savanna District)

Forty pounds of sericea and bicolor lespedeza were received from the Crab Orchard Refuge. It is planned to seed this in a strip on the west side of the Thomson farm to form a wildlife planting. This location may be borderline as to range of lespedeza, but we feel it is worth a try.

2* Specimens (Lansing District)

One dead canvas-back, 3 dead scaup, 2 live scaup, one dead coot, 2 live coot, and one dead swan were sent to the pathologist of Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, for posting. These birds were picked up in Pool 9 between Lansing, Iowa, and L/D 9. This pool has a history each year of some diseased birds, and collections are made for possible determination. No comparable situation has been experienced in other parts of the refuge.

E. Planned Burning (Savanna District)

On April 7 three islands, totaling 10 acres, were burned in Spring Lake. Most of the area was high marsh containing brush, herbaceous plants, smartweed, etc. The purpose was to furnish browse species for migrating geese.

?. Fires

One fire on the refuge was reported from the Winona District. Twenty-five acres of marsh grass and brush were burned, apparently started by a smoker.

Conditions for wild fires were very favorable most of the period following run-off and snow melt as rain was very scarce. Winds were somewhat more prevalent and of slightly greater force. Railroad section crews do quite a bit of right-of-way burning, and constant care has to be maintained to see that they take adequate precautions where refuge lands abut the railroad.

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IV-1

IV. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

C. Fur Harvest

Complete fur harvest statistics have not been compiled for the 1958-5)9 trapping seasons on the refuge. This material is submitted in a detailed special report annually.

The number of trapping permits - 551 - represents the lowest trapping pressure since the 1953-5^4 season, as illus­trated in the following table. At least a portion of this reduction in permit demand is due to low fur prices.

Season Permits Issued

1958-59 551 1957-58 600 1956-57 618 1955-56 571 (No Minnesota & limited Wisconsin beaver season) 1951i-55 I482 (No Minnesota muskrat season) 1953-51j 805

Excellent success was enjoyed by trappers during the 1958-59 season just concluded. h26 reports or 77.3^ have been received to date, and the projected total take is shown and compared to last year in the table following:

Species :1958-59 Est. 1957-58 Estimated Total Take itotal take on Based on :77.3$ returns 83.83$ Returns 59.09$ returns • •

Muskrat : 80,ii5l ! i 59,386 66,009 Mink : l,l|86 1,0914 1,096 Beaver : 866 1,5146 1,533 Raccoon : 392 1411 1437

An interesting corelation of total take figures is shown above where last year's trapping season takes were com­puted on 59.09^ return and again on 83.83% return. The 59^ return totals ran from "on the head" to 11$ high when compared to the computation on 83$ returns.

The past season's muskrat harvest is approximately double the past 19-year average harvest and was topped only by the 1939-19140 take, when 1,752 trappers took 87,325 rats as compared to 551 trappers taking an estijnated 80,1451 this

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19^8-^9 season. Only two other seasons in 19 years approached this harvest, with 1,063 trappers taking 67,6ii3 rats in 19l48-i49 and 805 trappers taking 71,753 rats in the 1953-^ season.

The mink harvest of 1,1486 shows a 28^ increase from 1,0914 harvested a year ago, and is the third highest harvest recorded in 19 years. This harvest of 1,1486 mink has been topped only in 19f)3-5?li and 19149-^0, when 1,^80 and 2,2148 were harvested.

The beaver harvest this year was slightly over half of last year's. This was brought about by a reduction in the number of beaver present and the fact that we finally were successful in getting the Reno Bottoms area of Minnesota closed to beaver trapping. We feel certain that recommendations will be made to close the Minnesota and part or all of the Wisconsin portions of the refuge to beaver trapping next year.

Some interesting figures were noted in the trappers1 returns this season. The record mink catch was ££, muskrat 989, and beaver 1^0. Twenty trappers caught over ^OO muskrats.

The final total figure for trap tag sales for the 195>8-59 season was 22,1714 tags, for a total of $2,217,140. Of this, $141.90 was remitted this period.

Minnesota provided a short emergency extra rat season beyond the normal season, but few trappers took advantage of it due to cold and heavy ice. Wisconsin extended their beaver seasons in late winter due to heavy ice and cold.

D. Timber Removal

Our only major timber operator, J.J. Hingtgen, removed 203,000 board feet of timber for a total of $2,101.06 from the Pleasant Creek Bottoms of the Clinton District. A new permit for an additional 200,000 board feet has been issued to this operator.

Two cords and 1,000 feet of timber were removed on the Becker permit in the Savanna District.

One permit for 2^0 cords of pulp and two firewood per­mits totaling 20 cords were issued during the period. Ten cords of firewood have been removed to date. A total of $60.00 was remitted in down payments.

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Informal bids were issued for merchantable timber in the Prairie du Chien District or Pool 10, but no award was made when a furor broke loose from various civic and sportsmen's groups who were not in favor of having this timber removed and desired the river bottoms to remain as is.

E. Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishing represents an important resource in the Mississippi River valley. Catfish, buffalo, carp, and sheepshead make up the principal commercial fish harvest. Winter under ice operations produce an occasional tremendous haul such as the record 100,000 pound seine haul in the Black River of the La Crosse District and 140,000 pound and 32,000 pound hauls in the Lansing District.

Commercial fishing has generally been good although prices have not been high, and most fishermen are unable to rely on this for a livelihood,

A rough fish removal plan was started in Spring Lake in the Savanna District with the cooperation of the Illinois Department of Conservation. Two permits have been issued authorizing rough fish removal. Further details on success will be included in future narratives.

F. Other Uses

Winona District;

1 Girl Scout Camp permit at Trempealeau Refuge -1100 per year

1 Sportsmen's club pheasant project at Trempealeau 1 Sportsmen's group boat harbor and facilities at

|25 per year 1 Commercial fish holding pond at $3'0 per year 1 Power cooperative expansion pending land exchange 1 Garden permit at |6 per year

La Crosse District:

2 cabin site permits at |25> per year 1 Sportsmen's club duck and pheasant project.

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Lansing District:

2 cabin perirdts at |25 per year 2 Commercial fishing site permits at |5>0 per year 1 State of Wisconsin parking area construction and

maintenance

Prairie du Chien District:

1 Sportsmen's group public parking and landing develop­ment

1 Iowa Conservation Commission access and parking development permit

1 Cash crop permit at $30 per year

Cassvllle District:

1 Sand and gravel dredging permit at 2^ per ton for gravel and |l per load for sand

1 Boy Scout Camp permit

Savanna-Clinton District:

5 Cabin site permits at |25> per year 2 Sportsmen's groups development of public recreational

area 1 Iowa Conservation Commission artesian well tap 1 Cash rent of farm permit at $272.10 per year 2 Garden permits for 3 acres at $5 per acre

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V-l

V. FIELD INVESTIGATION OR APPLIED RESEARCH

A. Progress Report

Wood Duck Hanagement

The primary area of field investigation this period was with the following phases of study relative to improved wood duck management:

a. Location and mapping of existing artificial wood duck houses.

b. Reconditioning, remounting, or relocating houses as needed.

c. Evaluation of present wood duck breeding and nesting, habitat, nesting frequency and success, and arti­ficial house utilization.

d. Breeding pair counts.

The work was greatly hampered by unfavorable weather and travel conditions late in the period.

Kain's Lake Survey

Manager Hovell surveyed the Kain's Lake area for possible development, which was found to be too costly to consider.

New Albin Big Lake Flood Damage

Manager Hovell prepared a report on this subject and surveying damage from spring flooding.

Canvas-back Sex Ratio Study

Various personnel collected sex ratio data on canvas-back during the spring flight. A special report or summary will be prepared on this subject.

Ducks in Commercial Fishing Gear

Personnel are collecting data from commercial fishermen on this subject and a special report will be prepared.

Spring Lake Vegetation Survey

With water controls and gauges installed, vegetative transects have been established for study of the anticipated

Page 57: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

V-2

comeback of aquatic vegetation. A special report will be prepared as this study progresses.

Page 58: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

VI-1

VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS

A. Recreational Use

During this reporting period an estimated 237>^0 days of recreational use occurred on the Upper Mississippi Refuge. This was 7735?20 days less than the 3114,970 days for the same period in 1958, and represents a drop of 2I4.6I/0 below 1958. Much of this drop can be directly attributed to the winter we experienced, which made the refuge unattractive to many who would have other­wise been out.

Fishing use dropped 29.17^, with a total of 1147,865 days this spring as compared to 207,350 days a year ago. Unusually thick ice, heavy snow cover, and the fact that the river closed to within the 300 foot limitation below the dams, thus prevent­ing legal fishing there, contributed to this drop.

Miscellaneous use dropped l6o55$ below 1958, with only 89,800 days recorded as compared to 107,620 days for the same period a year ago.

There was a total of 685 days of small game hunting early in the period this year.

Recreational use was distributed among districts as follows:

Number of Days Spent % Change

District Fishing Misc. Hunting TOTAL USE from 1958

Winona 28,750 7,100 35,850 13.75-La Crosse 26,500 16,650 1)75 1)3,625 31) .15-Lansing 7,1)00 1,880 - 9,280 1)0.58-P.du Chien 14,765 2,285 60 7,110 79.39-Cassville 8,050 5,085 - 13,135 36.97-Savanna 3lt, 700 28,100 - 62,800 12.29-Clinton 36,700 28,700 150 65,550 6.08-

REFUGE 11)6,865 89,800 685 237,1)50 2k.61-

The Winona Girl Scout Council has furnished the follow­ing recapitulation of recreational use provided by the Girl Scout Camp on the Trempealeau Refuge unit covered by special use permit:

Page 59: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

VI-2

Winona girls served: Year 1958 Year 195>7 Established Camp lOB 105) Pioneer Camp 91 57 Day Camp 68 159 Senior Trips 28 21 Troop Camp hclj 296 Total Girls 719 638

Total girls served: Established Camp 190 209 Pioneer Camp 91 57 Day Camp 90 159 Senior Trips 28 32 Troop Camp I42I4 296

Total Girls 823 753

B. Refuge Visitors Winona District

Jan. 6 : State Refuge Manager Meyers of White-water Refuge in re bag check and waterfowl populations.

Jan. 27 : Biologist Buselmeier, Corps of Engineers^ re mutual problems. Stan Daly, Minnesota Conservation Department^ in re access areas.

Feb. 19 : Messrs. Saari and Casey, Minnesota Dept. of Con­servation, in for brief visit. Arrowsmith from Necedah Refuge here with load of surplus equipment.

Feb, 2li : Messrs. Smith and Hall. Wisconsin Conservation Dept., in re Goose Island.

Feb. 25 : Messrs. Jorgensen and Carpenter here to confer posthumous Meritorious Service Award to Mrs. Steele.

March 9 ' Wisconsin Wardens Weitz, Hammes, and Peterson in re trapping regulations, etc.

March 10 : Refuge Manager Pospichal and Arrowsmith, Necedah Refuge, to pick up equipment.

April 15 ' Game Agent Conover and Refuge Managers Pospichal and Dundas for brief visit.

April 21 : Game Agent Ellerbrock called. April 26 ; Fred Glover of Washington visited re dogs,banding. April 27 1 Biologist Morse, Minnesota Department of Conserva­

tion, in on short visit. April 29 : Game Agents Davis,Ellerbrock,Duncan,and Hague, re

dogs, banding, etc. April 30 : Game Agent Waters for trailer.

Page 60: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

Vl-3

La Crosse District

Jan.?8-29 : Agent Hanson up briefly re waterfowl. Feb. 7 : Agent Hanson up briefly re waterfowl. Feb. 12 : Agent Waters over re violations. March $ : Manager Gray down on inspection. March 9 : Mr. Rrenback of Forestry Service in after informa­

tion on water levels, frost depths, etc. March 12 : Mr. C. F. Smith, Wisconsin Conservation Depart­

ment, up re Badger State Sportsmen's Club, Inc. using mallards and wood ducks at Sport Show.

March 12 : Agent Waters over to check duck pickers and violators.

March 23 : Mr. Holmlund of La Crosse Tribune up numerous times.

April 2 : Manager Gray on inspection. April 22 : Agent Ellerbrock in briefly. April 27 : Mr. Genschow, Lockmaster Dam #7^ on boundary

surveys. Numerous visits from local Minnesota, Wisconsin Conservation Officers and Winona office personnel.

Lansing District

Jan. 19 Phil Ham, Minnesota Warden, re deer violations Jan. 22 Vic Hall, Prairie du Chien District. Feb. 11 Hall. Feb.16,18 Gray and Foster. Feb. 18 Ham. March 10 Gray. April 11 Haugan, April 15 Winslow. April 16 Gray.

Prairie du Chien District

Jan. 13 : Harold Stagman, rural store owner, re permit to keep mallards.

Jan. 19 : Daniel J. Tobin, NFS, Effigy Mounds Ntl. Monument, Iowa, land exchange, cooperation.

Jan. 19 : Bill Howe, Courier-Press, newspaper of Prairie du Chien, weekly, for news items.

Jan. 20 : Bob DeCook, Iowa Conservation Commission Fisheries Biologist, Guttenberg, river fishery conditions.

Feb. 3 : Holland W. Little, Manager, Telephone Co., Prairie du Chien, metered service.

Feb. 9 : W. Shaffer, outdoor lover and conservationist, Prairie du Chien, local bird sight records.

Page 61: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

VI

Feb, 9 : Joe Steiner, local trapper, local conditions and trapping report.

Feb. 10 ; Clarence Mara, local fanner, farm pond fish man­agement .

Feb. 12 : Bob Cook, Internal Revenue Service, Lancaster, use of office,

Feb. 20 : Clyde Allen, local logger, re permit to log on refuge.

Feb. 26 : Harvey Peterson, Wyalusing State Park, re coop­eration.

March 9 : Earl and Bob Fuller, Fuller Logging Co., Prairie du Chien, re logging on refuge.

March 30 : Mrs. Robert Timmerman, Dawson, N. Do, courtesy visit.

Other visitors include Wisconsin and Iowa State Wardens Hiebing, Frankl, Kawallek, and Valley, also Refuge Managers Hovell and Lawrence, and Messrs. Gray, Green, and Winslow of the Winona office•

This list does not include numerous postal employees, extension office personnel, military recruiters, trappers. Social Security representatives, and information seekers who regularly visited the office.

Clinton-Savanna District

The following is a list of refuge visitors to the district this period. It does not Include the many visits made by Winona officer personnel or local State wardens.

Jan. 15> : Wes Newcomb, G.M,A. Iowa, public relation and law enforcement.

April 19 : Dave Porter, Illinois Wildlife Manager, planting pine trees.

April 22 : Leo Rock, Illinois Fisheries, Spring Lake fish study April 22 : Bob Klant, Illinois Fisheries, Spring Lake fish

study. April 22 ; Paul Beebe, Illinois District Supervisor. April 2f> : Forrest Carpenter, R.O., inspection Spring Lake

area. April 2!? : Oswald Recroft, R.O., inspection Spring Lake area,

Page 62: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

71-5

Refuge Participation

Winona Staff

Jan. 6 : Gray and Green attended Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee meeting at Chicago.

Jan. 12 : Gray and Green visited Game Agent Waters at Eau Claire and met with group of Eau Claire sportsmen for dinner and meeting on closed areas.

Jan. 30 : Gray visited Regional Office and conference with Corps of Engineers on proposed tube through dike of L/D 10.

Feb. 2 : Green visited Regional Office. Feb. 6 : Gray and Green visited Illinois Dept. of Conserva­

tion office3 discussion on access3 rough fish removal at Spring Lake, and forthcoming Rock Island Rock Island Corps of Engineers conference. Visited D.O.Rettinger of Illinois Dept.of Conservation re bag checks and recreational zoning; Chautauqua Refuge; Illinois Natural History Survey office and Frank Bellrose.

Feb. 12 : Gray and Wade attended conference at Rock Island, 111., with members of 111. Dept. of Conservation Game Division and Manager Mehrhoff of Mark Twain Refuge on zoning. Green visited Regional Office.

Feb. 17 ; Gray, Foster, Hovell, Hall, and Wade attended Iowa spring waterfowl and enforcement conference at Burlington, Iowa.

Feb. 2i4 : Gray attended conference with Red Cross officials re water safety and small boat programs for the summer. In evening Gray and Green met with Fountain City, Wis., Rod and Gun Club re closed areas.

March ii ; Gray and Green met with Board of Directors of Winona Rod and Gun Club re closed areas.

March 11 ; Foster addressed DAR meeting on Upper Mississippi Refuge and showed slides.

March 12,13: Gray and Green attended recreational zoning meeting at Corps of Engineers office. Rock Island, 111., and mosquito control meeting at Savanna Ordnance Depot.

March 2I4 : Green at Iowa State University to interview appli­cants for student assistant jobs.

April 17 : Gray visited Union Slough Refuge for corn. April 22 : Gray and Green attended zoning meeting at Corps of

Engineers at St. Louis.

Page 63: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

vi-6

April ?8 : Gray and Green attended joint meeting of repre­sentatives of Winona sportsmen's clubs re closed areas.

April 29 : Green talked on refuge and showed herbarium to group of 19 students from Winona State College.

April 30 : Foster spoke and showed Canadian dog crew banding slides at Winona Archery Club.

Field staff

Manager Neilson: Attended three sportsmen's club meetings and supervised repair work on club pheasant rear­ing pens on week-ends.

Manager Lawson: Met with La Crosse County Board of Supervisors re mutual problems on January 26. Officiated at two rifle matches and assisted at two club fish fries. Attended two sportsmen's meetings. Showed slides at one and films at another club during period.

Manager Hovell: Cooperated with volunteer fire department, attending all meetings, and helped on fires throughout period.

Manager Hall: Attended nine club meetings. Recorded 16 radio ten minute programs. Attended joint meeting of all agricultural agencies on changes to be recommended on ACP practices.

Manager Wade: Attended five sportsmen's club meetings. Showed slides at 3 additional meetings. Recorded two radio programs. Attended farm planning meeting with SCS personnel on March 30,

D. Hunting

Hunting was quite limited this period. An Archery deer season in Wisconsin provided considerable pressure in the Nelson-Trevino closed area during the last Wisconsin archery season. Several deer were taken. Some squirrel and rabbit hunting occurred in January.

Page 64: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

VI-7

E, Violations

Principal activity consisted of closing cases from the previous period as tabulated on the following chart.

Manager Wade and Iowa Warden Lovrien stopped seven minors holding 22 target practice on Schricker Slough, ending a dan­gerous practice by these youths of shooting over water with rifles.

Page 65: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

SUMMARY OF ARRESTS 1/1/59 to 1/30/59 (From 3-300 Reports)

FINE & DEFENDANT ADDRESS WARDEN POOL OFFENSE DATE COSTS JUDGE

Dohnal, Leo LaCrosse,Wis# Foster 8 Possess wa7leye pike closed I4-I9 28,50 Schini season

ARRESTS PRIOR TO 1/1/59 NOT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Flatten, Arlyan Dakota,Minn, Winslow 8 Kandzora, Ervin Waukesha,Wis® Lawson 7 Petrosino,Frank Fayette,Iowa Hovell 9

Possess wood duck 10/h Possess wood duck 10/1 Hunt waterfowl from motorboat

I8e50 Leske No pros,- disabled veteran 5.00 U.S.Com, Van Meter

GASES PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PENDING NOW COMPLETED

Shadl8,R, H, Clinton,Iowa Wade Hi Hunt refuge before 9/13 fllO.OO U, S. Judge Hicklin Clinton,Iowa waterfowl season

Honts,Roy Clinton,Iowa Wade Hi Hunt refuge before 9/13 JljO.OO U. S, Judge Hicklin Honts,Roy waterfowl season

Reideman, Donald Milwaukee, Wis. Foster 5A Non-resident hunting on 5/10 $53.50 Alberts resident license -1958

M

CO

Page 66: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

VII-1

VII. OTHER ITEMS

A. Items of Interest Badger State Sportsmen's Club Propagating Permit - Pool 8:

The Badger State Sportsmen's Club, Inc. of La Crosse, Wisconsin, are again engaged in rearing mallards, wood ducks, and Canada geese at their project on Goose Island. Their brood stock was returned to the island shortly after the waterfowl season ended and survived the winter with a mini­mum of loss.

The heavy snowfalls in February and March did consid­erable damage to the fences of the rearing pens. The wooden frames of the pheasant pens were broken down, and the metal frames of the wood duck pens were bent and twisted. The club intends to rebuild and repair, but at the end of the period they had not started yet.

This season so far there are a large number of mallards setting, and the first ducklings are expected early in May. Ten geese are nesting, but there are only eight pairs. One gander has mated with two geese and is getting away with it.

So far the wood ducks have laid a total of 210 eggs as compared to only ££ at this time a year ago. Some wood duck eggs have been set under mallard hens and are expected to hatch near the end of May.

Proposed Timber Harvest - Pool 10

Considerable public opposition was aroused to a pro­posed timber harvest which would have encompassed all mer­chantable timber in Pool 10. An invitation to bid on the timber was circulated and representatively posted following enthusiastic Inquiry on the part of a transient logging firm. However, all bids were relatively low, and this fact, coupled with numerous letters of protest from responsible area groups, enabled refuge personnel to recommend and subsequently receive approval to refuse all bids. The consensus of feel­ing was that the Mississippi River bottomlands represent virtually the only area in this part of the country left unspoiled by "progress" and in nearly a virgin condition, and that commercial interests should be kept out. Several other

Page 67: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

VII-2

factors were also taken into consideration in rendering this decision, but the most surprising and gratifying was the pub­lic response to this proposal, based largely on aesthetic grounds.

Refuge Manager Harley C. Lawrence retired!

After 36 years of Government service, more than 30 being with Wildlife Refuges as Ranger and/or Manager of a district of the Upper Mississippi Refuge, interrupted only by short stints at White River and Mattamuskeet, we regret to announce Harley served notice of intent to retire effective March 31 and accept the City Clerk's job at Cassville, Wisconsin, where he is living.

A staff party was held at Prairie du Chien to present Harley with a beautiful pair of gifts and the Commendable Service Award of the Service. Fortunate are we that Harley is remaining in his home station so we can fall back on his vast knowledge of his district, when needed. His address is Cassville, Wisconsin, if anyone cares to write him.

Kay 26, 19S9

> ighature

Donald V. Gray (Name)

Refuge Manager (Title)

Approved, Regional Office:

(Date)

(Signature)

(Mamef' ^ ' /?c/i'«i Chief, Division of Wildlife

(Title)

Page 68: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

3-1750 FORM NR-1 (Rev. March 1953)

REFUGE Upper Mississippi

W A T E R F O W L

MONTHS OF January TO April 19 59

TO W e e k s o f r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d

(1) ~ Species :

: 1 2 ;

: 3 x

: U t

: 5 :

: 6 ;

• •

7 s :

8 : :

9 : 10 Swans: Whistling Trumpeter

Geese: 601 Canada 1 31 31 1 1 1 1 250 221 601

Cackling Brant VJhite-fronted Snow Blue Other

Ducks: Mallard 53li $22 M 327 2li9 286 316 1,1*06 16,206 Black 83 83 89 78 76 92 62 2t6 52 302 Gadwall 50 Baldpate 50 Pintail 1 1 1 1 801 11,016 Green-winged teal Blue-winged teal Cinnamon teal Shoveler 220 VJood Redhead 1,J»00 Ring-necked 15 Canvasback 2,600 Scaup 10 31 1 1 3,870 Goldeneye 82il liTO 52l| 607 639 61*9 866 1,583 2,370 2,550 Bufflehead 2 7 7 27 Rudcfy 120

126 liil 166 192 210 190 289 2.355 1.871 779 TOTAL DUCKS

Coot:

Int. Dup, Sec.,

3,^03

X 1

1,303

1

1,223

1

1,2$2

1

1,181

1

1,500 1»,307 o,507 39,31|0

oU n n

Page 69: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

3 -1750a Cont. NR-1 (Rev. March 19^3)

REFUGEgpp^y Missiselppj

W A T E R F O W L (Continuation Sheet)

MONTHS OF ,T flni,flT*y TO April 19_S1

(2) (3) (U) W e e k s o f r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d : Estimated ; Production

(1) : : : : • • : i : waterfowl : Broods: E stimated

Species : 11 : 12 : 13 : 1U : 15 : 16 : 17 : 18 : days use : seen : total Swans:

Whistling Trumpeter

Geese: Canada Cackling Brant White-fronted Snow Blue Other

Ducks: Mallard Black Gadwall Baldpate Pintail Green-winged teal Blue-winged teal Cinnamon teal Shoveler Wood Redhead Ring-necked Canvasback Scaup Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy ptex Mergamere TOTAL DUCKS

Coot;

9lt8

10 US

33,62$ b07 $3 7$

21,SU2 30 10

US

17,0114 810

2,875 1(0,1(00 21,930

532 1,100 1.1(35

11(1,883

300

76

265

25 75

20,61(5 635 920 915

17,055 US Uo

130 95

17,520 6,800 7,1(05

76,950 6,785

318 ZJJI

1,519

201

5 25

17,700 1,760 1,325 3,850 7,065

95 215

195 1,025

21,850 ll(,l»00 16,300

|l93,55o 8,200

1,116

268

159,063

1,1(95

(70 8J50

•96,870

13,150

5 10

26,060 1,675 1,570 6,1(20 2,700 1,1(70 7,802

1,785 3,652 7,782 17,080 1(,100

186,500 7,750

$ 5.32?

283,081

1(0,1(00

2,31(3

1(85

19,250 1,370 1,1(80 7,930 1,905 1,885 7,1(00

2,300 3,927 l.5?S

11,185 2,69l(

100,800 3,200

;25 (00

2.675 170,351

61,920 (over)

810

160

15,620 690 985

11,650 1,070

735 13,630

1(,225 U,1US 1(00

5,970 895

69,000 575 321 135

1,050 131,100

80,750

7,000 260 1(92

1(,520 85

230 19,930

3,857 3,650

25 975 60

20,550 25 20 20

JjOO 62,119

65,500

1(1,01(8

2l(,325

315 1,085

1,137,717 Sli,320 1(8,125 47,870 1(1(2,701

31,1(30 31(3,189

89,299 115,1(58 1(72,612 1(01,590 258,61(3

b, 81(1,61(1 1(16,91(8

» Iflt.QTS

9,ll(0,89l(

1,8UI,61J7

Page 70: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

(5) Total Days Use

(6) Peak Number

(7) Total Production SUMMARY

>

Swans ia,oii8 2,S»3 Principal feeding areas

Geese 25,725 1,030 • | 1 ' .

Ducks j.Ujo.ejit 296,870 Principal nesting areas

Coots X,6Ui,61t7 80,750

• J ^ , 1

• - - - - - -- - - - • - - • • - - - - • • - -

Reported ty

INSTRUCTIONS (See Sees. 7^31 through 753U, Wildlife Refuges Field Manual)

In addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appropriate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and national significance.

(1) Species:

(2) Weeks of Reporting Period:

(3) Estimated Waterfowl Days Use:

(L) Production:

(p) Total Days Us©:

(6) Peak Number:

(7) Total Production:

Estimated average refuge populations.

Average weekly populations x number of days present for each species.

Estimated number of young produced based on observations and actual counts on representative breeding areas0 Brood counts should be made on two or more areas aggregating 10^ of the breeding habitat. Estimates having no basis in fact should be omitted.

A summary of data recorded under (3).

Maximum number of waterfowl present on refuge during any census of reporting period.

A summary of data recorded under (U).

Interior Duplicating Section, Washington, D, C. 195>3

Page 71: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

3-1751 Form NR-1A (Nov. 1945)

Rel^ige....?PP®?Jfi!?sissippi

MIGRATORY BIRDS (other than waterfowl)

Months ofJ.«iuaa-y: to. kyriXy

' (6) Total

(1) Species

Common Name

I. Water and Marsh Birds:

Holboell1s Grebe "Homed Grebe Eared Grebe Pied-billed Grebe White" PelicW ' ' D^^le^restod Cormorant Great Blue H®?®*1, Green Hercn _ American Egret Black-crovnried Night Heron Least Bittern American Bittern KtoFltoil . J ' 111 HZ Virginia, Rail

ajij* CWB® .lese... II. Shorebirds. Gulls and

Terns:

KiUdser Wood cock Cbmnibn" Snipe Yellbw-legs Herring GiiH" Hing-BmeBTGulI T^hkBnTs'GuIX Coramoi" Tern Gasplah'Tern filick'Tein" Sandpipers

(over)

Page 72: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

ai III. Doves and Pigeons

Mourning dove

12)

jresfent

Wko endec m D I4j

Wko ended iwk. en dec

1.280 gieiil

m .161

3.080 White-winged dove

IV. Predaceous Birds: .Golden eagle i. 1/3L Duck hawk Horned owl presbafe

H75F

1 -3^1

3M SHBlS m;

135 .Mmnm Qsprey ? Raven Crow Bald Eagle Showy Owl Barred Owl

2W -War

¥m~ JE®:

Screaoh Owl present present

residep fc resident

Bed-tailed Hawk

present present

m

m Ra d- s houl do re d Hawk JEMMfc JESBgSi Rough-legged Hawk Marsh Hawk -Turkey Vulture Black Vulture

jrgi pre so a

eperted by. m

INSTRUCTIONS (1) Species:

(2) First Seen:

Use the correct names as found in the A.O.U. Checklist, 1931 Edition, and list group_inJV.OAlh„. order. Avoid general terms as "seagull", "tern", etc. In addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appro­priate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and National significance. Groups: I. Water and Marsh Birds (Gaviiformes to Ciconiiformes and Gruiiformes)

II. Shorebirds. Gulls and Terns (Charadriiformes) III. Doves and Pigeons (Columbiformes) IV. Predaceous Birds (Falconiformes, Strigiformes and predaceous

Passeriformes) The first refuge record for the species for the season concerned.

(3) Peak Numbers: The greatest number of the species present in a limited interval of time.

(4) Last Seen: The last refuge record for the species during the season concerned.

(5") Production: Estimated number of young produced based on observations and actual counts.

(6) Total: Estimated total number of the species using the refuge during the period concerned.

Page 73: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

3-1752 Form NR-2 UPUND GAME BIRDS (April 1946)

Refuse TTppp'r Months of Jamiany

(1) Species

(2) Density-

(3) Young

Produced

M Sex Ratio

(5) Removals

(6) Total

(7) Remarks

Common Name Cover types, total acreage of habitat

Acres per Bird

e Ti

•9. 0 "

s o

-d CD

1H s s

Percentage

•H •P

K

j ^ & O !3 0)

U CO ^ s

Estimated number using Refuge

Pertinent information not specifioally requested. List introductions here.

Ring-necked pheasants S,oc>o 350

Ruffed grouse 1,000 295

Bob-white quail 5,ooo Ii65

Hungarian partridge 5,ooo 20

Wild turkey 1,000 7

. / 1 6 1 3

to ipcll .

Page 74: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

INSTRUCTIONS

Form NR-2 - UPLAND GAME BIRDS,*

(1) SPECIES;

(2) DENSITY;

Use correct common name.

Applies particularly to those species considered in removal programs (public hunts, etc.). Detailed data may be omitted for species occurring in limited numbers. Density to be expressed in acres per animal by cover types. This information is to be prefaced by a statement from the refuge manager as to the number of acres in each cover type found on the refuge; once submitted, this information need not be repeated except as significant changes occur in the area of cover types. Cover types should be detailed enough to furnish the desired information but not so much as to obscure the general picture. Examples: spruce swamp, upland hardwoods, reverting agriculture land, bottomland hardwoods, short grass prairie, etc. Standard type symbols listed in Midlife Management Series No, 7 should be used where possible. Figures submitted should be based on actual observations and counts on representative sample areas. Survey method used and size of sample area or areas should be indicated under Remarks,

(3) YOUNG PRODUCED: Estimated number of young produced, based upon observations and actual counts in representative breeding habitat.

(4) SEX RATIO;

(5) REMOVALS:

(6) TOTAL:

(7) REMARKS:

This column applies primarily to wild turkey, pheasants, etc. Include data on other species if available.

Indicate total number in each category removed during the report period.

Estimated total number using the refuge during the report period. This may include resident birds plus those migrating into the refuge during certain seasons.

Indicate method used to determine population and area covered in survey, include other pertinent information not specifically requested.

Also

* Only columns applicable to the period covered should be used.

1613

Page 75: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

-

3-1754 Form NR-4 (June 1945

SMALL MAMMALS

R efu^ge Upper Miss isaippi Year ending April 3°.

(1) Species

Comnon Name

Muskrat Mink Beaver Otter Raccoon Feat Skunk Rabbits Opossum Squirrel Woodchuck

(

(2) Density

Cover Types & Total

Acreage of Habitat

lemovals under trap tag system @ 10# a tag

1^186 866 *

392 *

Acres Per Animal

List removals by Predator Animal Hunter

(3 ) Removals

a> u ^ £S

• U O iH z e - s? f-i o fU O

® -r* O u o

o •> a

i <1 « g

s s

(U) Disposition of Mirs

Share Trapping

Permit Number

0 u ®

1 «h

(S 'S

© W) © ^ pu fX ©

<i} ffl o rJ EH £«

tJ ©

+> « c .§

©

I

tj & o >4 a 0

R IK ARKS: *No data - amount small > |2,217.hO remitted to Treasury for 22,17h trap tags sold.

(5 )

Total

Popula­

tion

87,11(0 2,280 1,302

22i| 3,375 250 225

3,375 3,175 3,375 112

Reported by

Page 76: M. BAHKD MR. STILES MR. KUBICHM

INSTaaCTIONS

Form NR-U - SMALL MAMMALS (Include data on all species of Importance in the management program; i, e . t

mustrats, beaver, coon, mink, coyote. Data on small rodents may be omitted except for estimated total population of each species considered in control operations.)

(l) SPECIES: Use correct common name. Example: Striped skunk, spotted skunk, short-tailed weasel, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, white-tailed Jackrabblt, etc. (Accepted common names in current use are found in the "Field Book of North American Mammals" by H. E. Anthony and the "Manual of the Vertebrate Animals of the Northeastern United States" by David Starr Jordan.)

(2) DENSITY: Applies particularly to those species considered in removal programs. Detailed data may be omitted for species occurring in limited numbers. Density to be expressed in acres per animal by cover types.- This informa­tion is to be prefaced by a statement from the refuge manager as to the number of acres in each cover type found on the refuge; once submitted, this information need not be repeated except as significant changes occur in the area of cover types. Cover types should be detailed enough to furnish the desired information but not so much as to obscure the general picture. Examples: spruce swamp, upland hardwoods, reverting agriculture land, bottom land hardwoods, short grass prairie, etc. Standard type symbols listed In Wildlife Management Series No. 7 should be used where possible. Figures sub­mitted should be based on actual observations and counts on representative sample areas. Survey method used and size of sample area or areas should be indicated under Remarks.

(3) REMOVALS:

(U) DISPOSITION OF 3UR;

Indicate the total number under each category removed since April 30 previous year, including any taken on the refuge by Service Predatory Animal Hunter. Also show any removals not falling under headingslisted.

On share-trapped furs list the permit number, trapper^ share, and refuge share. Indicate the number of pelts shipped to market, including furs taken by Service personnel. Total number of pelts of each species destroyed because of unprime-ness or damaged condition, and furs donated to Institutions or other agencies should be shown in the column provided.

(5) TOTAL POPULATION: Estimated total population of each species reported on as of April 30.

RmARXS: Indicate inventory method(s) used, size of sample areaCs), Introductions, and any other pertinent information not specifically requested.