To Whom it May Concern:

Corrections- and additions to the computer printouts of 1972 refuge outputs are either noted on the printout or are documented on an inserted Output Report Form.

Printouts were received only for the period of January through June, 1972. None were provided for the period of July through December, 1972,

L.E. Refiige Manager

/

J

NARRATIVE REPORT

Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge

Dugway, Utah

January - December *

1972

PERSONNEL

John L. Venegoni Refuge Manager (transferred to Wichita Mtns W.R. 4/30/72)

Leland E. Herzberger ... Refuge Manager (EOD 7/20/72)

Rolf H. Kraft Assistant Refuge Manager (Acting Mgr. 4/30/72 7/19/72)

Ludawn Mecham Clerk Typist

Irl G. Timm Maintenanceman (converted from Intermittent to Permanent 10/29/72)

Gary M. Mecham Laborer, Intermittent

Hal D. Skinner Biological Aid (6/1/72 - 9/15/72)

John B. Anthony Conservation Aid (EOD 7/3/72, converted to Laborer, Intemittent 10/1/72)

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

Lee Herzberger Refuge Manager

Rolf Kraft Asst. Refuge Manager

Ludawn Mecham Clerk Typist

I N D E X

III.

I. GENERAL A. WEATHER CONDITIONS-B. HABITAT CONDITIONS-

1. Water 2. Food and Cover-

II. WILDLIFE A. MIGRATORY BIRDS-

1 . 2 . 3.

4. 5. 6 .

B.

C.

D. E. F. G. H. I.

Swans-Geese Ducks * -a. General b. Individual Species '• Marsh and Water Birds — Shorebirds Doves and Pigeons

UPLAND GAME BIRDS 1. Ring -necked Pheas ant 2. Chukars — -BIG GAME ANIMALS- -1. Mule Deer 2. Pronghorn- - — 3. Domestic Sheep- -FUR ANIMALS, PREDATORS, RODENTS, AND OTHER MAMMALS-HAWKS, EAGLES, OWLS, RAVENS, AND MAGPIES OTHER BIRDS FISH REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS -DISEASE ---

B. C.

D. E. F.

REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE-A. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

PLANTINGS COLLECTIONS AND RECEIPTS 1. Seed or Other Propagules---2. Specimens CONTROL OF VEGETATION PLANNED BURNING-FIRES- -

| IV. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT----A. GRAZING B. HAYING ^ C. FUR HARVEST D. TIMBER REMOVAL E. COMMERCIAL FISHING-F. OTHER USES

Page 1 1 3 3 5

7 7 7 7 8 8 8

11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 13 14 14 14 14

15 15 22 22 22 22 22 22

25 25 25 25 25 25

FIELD INVESTIGATION - - 26 A. BANDING 26 B. GREATER SANDHILL CRANE RE INTRODUCTION - — 26

1. Progress r 26 2. Care and Feeding of Young Cranes - 26

C. MARSH FERTILIZATION STUDY 30

PUBLIC RELATIONS 31 A. RECREATIONAL USES 31 B. REFUGE VISITORS - 31 C. REFUGE PARTICIPATION 32 D. HUNTING - - 35 E. VIOLATIONS : 37 F. SAFETY - - 37

OTHER ITEMS-- - 38 A. ITEMS OF INTEREST 38 B. PHOTOGRAPHS 41

NARRATIVE REPORT Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge

Dugway, Utah 84022 January - December

1972

I. GENERAL

A. Weather Conditions. Drought! Fish Springs was caught on the northeast corner of the severe drought that encompassed much of the southwest in 1972. Precipitation was far below normal* from the onset of the year. Water levels began to drop in April. By June, upland vegetation began to show signs of insufficient soil moisture. July and early August were characterized by "dry" thunder and dust storms. The drought was broken in September when we received above average precipitation, and the cooler temperatures of October allowed spring flow to overcome evaporation and raise pool levels. A severe cold snap (-180F) in December and 11 inches of snow indicated an end to the drought, but total precipitation for the year amounted to only 3.89 inches compared to the 8.10 inch normal.*

Table I. Precipitation - 1972.

Month Snow Ppt. Normal*

Jan 3.3 .11 .22 Feb .8 .01 .53 March .20 .49 April 2.5 .46 1.28 May T .79 June .04 1.33 July .27 .54 Aug .20 .51 Sept 1.09 .62 Oct .50 ,84 Nov .48 .48 Dec 11.0 .53 47

TOTALS 17,6 3.89 8.10

;12 year average 1960 - 1971

II. Temperatures - 1972

Average

Month High Low

Jan 45 19 Feb. 53 24 March 67 34 April 66 37 May 78 48 June 58 60 July 96 65 Aug 92 61 Sept 80 52 Oct 66 43 Nov 49 30 Dec 34 12

96 12

1960-1971 Extremes Extremes

High Low High Low

60 1 69 -14

74 3 72 5

79 15 78 6

79 27 88 18

90 27 93 26

101 53 105 36

104 52 , 102 47

104 49 , ' 104 42 89 34 98 29 78 26 94 9

65 16 73 1 62 -18 70 -11

104 -18 105 -14

Who says it doesn't snow in appears to be making up for last summer.

the desert? Old Man Winter precipitation we didn't get

LEti

B. Habitat Conditions,

1. Water. Average spring flow for the year was 32.75 cfs. A ]ow of 27.96 cfs occurred in January and the high was 38.87 cfs in j^y. As in the past few years, pool levels were held at optimum levels to encourage desirable emergent growth.

Progress was made this year in combatting evaporation loss during the hot dry summer. Based on the philosophy that evaporation loss is a (D function of temperature, and running water stays cooler, several

|| culverts and small ditches were strategically placed in Avocet, Mallard, and Egret pools to improve pool circulation. Boards in outlet structures were pulled as pool levels dropped to keep the water moving. The large main distribution ditches between the springs and the marsh were mowed periodically throughout the late spring and summer with our airboat mounted Hockney Underwater Weedcutter to remove abundant growths of spiny ni^d (Najas mariana), muskgrass (Chara spp.), and coontail (Ceratophyllum"7Iemefsum) that choke the ditches and restrict flow. Underwater mowing is not necessary during the rest of the year as coots (ivory-billed teal) congregate in the ditches after pool

? freeze up and by spring the ditch bottoms are clean.

f The result of all this is encouraging. After the new culverts and ' ditches were put into operation and water routed through mowed ditches, Jve were able to raise the water level in Curlew Pool over one foot f..and resupply water to Egret in August when evaporation is highest, and without detriment to the other pools. Plans are being made to apply this technique to the rest of the refuge.

t was observed that the above mentioned aquatics require sunlight :o proliferate and will not grow in deep narrow ditches shaded by nesic vegetation; subsequently, deep narrow ditches require only mnual maintenance to remove silt, sloughed-off clods, and other iebris.

lost pools on the refuge maintained reasonable levels despite the rought. Gadwall, Harrison, Ibis, and Pintail pools were essentially iry by the end of the summer. These pools are for the most part Jiundated alkali mud flats and are characterized by extremely high alinity and relatively sterile bottoms. (Gadwall does produce a oupy algal bloom in the spring.)

f

J F M A M J J A S O W D

5

2. Food and Cover. Improved water circulation reduced stagnation in previous backwater areas and has increased lush growths of widgeon-grass CRuppia maritima), muskgrass, and coontail on pool bottoms.

The lowering and stabilizing of water levels during the spring growing period has enhanced seed head production on large stands of alkali bulrush (Scirpus paludosus). This food source is especially appreci­ated the following winter when ducks stand on the ice to strip seed heads. The wet, but exposed, mud flats produced large quantities of glasswort (Salicomia utahensis) in the spring and summer that are consumed by geese. Many of the free-running shallow sloughs produce entangled distinct communities of hooped spike rush (Eleocharis rostellata) where feeding geese consume seed heads from the fertile plants, young shoots, and tubers. The hooping is the result of vegetative reproduction.

Several previously abandoned sloughs in Mallard pool and an area north of North Spring were re-flooded this year by installation of a culvert and cutting a few small ditches. Both areas are fairly close to their respective springheads and the resulting warm water provides open winter feeding areas. Alkali bulrush in the north spring area, which survived due to sufficient ground water, responded immediately and produced a fine crop of seeds. Both areas were choked with bassia (Bassia hyssopifolia) and saltgrass (Distichlis stricta), but after inundation the ducks seemed to utilize these plants as well. Both areas are in a position to remain watered on a year 'round basis now and should return to marsh habitat in a few years. Dickey birds, principally horned larks, utilize the seeds of halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) that are abundant along roads, dikes and other disturbed areas. Canada geese spend a great deal of time resting on the . dikes and are also suspected of consuming the seeds of this plant. Some chukars shot during the hunting season, off the refuge, were^-v' found to have their crops full of halogeton seeds. The plant is considered poisonous to sheep and cattle if consumed in quantity.

A few mule deer from the Fish Springs range found the refuge to their liking, especially the Russian olives (Elaeagnus angustifolia] that were planted for ornamental purposes. A browse line appeared on the Russian olives in September, as many upland browse species succumbed to the drought. The Russian olive fruit was utilized by cedar waxwings, evening grosbeaks, and other birds. Antelope ground squirrels (Citellus leucurus leucurus) and a ring-necked pheasant were also observed up in the trees plucking the olives.

Mule deer mess hall. Browse line on these Rfsian olives at refuge headquarters shows what only 5 or 6 hungry dee^

3 Krm can do.

II. WILDLIFE

A. Migratory Birds.

1 Swans. The swans returned to Fish Springs. Two were present I nn January 1, and the population was up to 12 by January 28. Swans were last seen on March 9. It is believed that all swans present here this year were whistlers as no conclusive trumpeter evidence was observed. Personal communication by Assistant Manager Kraft of Fish Springs with Refuge Manager Lynn C. Howard of Ruby Lake NWR, Nevada raised speculation that the Fish Springs swans may be coming from Ruby Lake, as their birds seem to leave about the same time as ours show up. ??

2. Geese. Canada goose production was down. The drought may have been a factor. It was estimated that our breeding population of 150 birds produced 50 young. We estimate our total population of resident birds at about 275. A peak population of 435 Canada geese was seen on December 5. Hopefully more migrants are beginning to use the refuge. Ninteen snow geese were observed on October 27. They stayed about five days.

Canada geese "just lookin' for a home." Refuge populations fluctuated from 150 breeding birds to 435 fall peak. dLV

8

3. Ducks..

a. General - January-April. Use days for this period (535,433) were 51$ higher than the use days for this same period (406,355) last year. The increase is attributed to an increasing trend in Mallards and Pintails. Green-winged teal also contributed to this year's

[ jncrease. The peak number of green-wings increased from 910 in 1971 to 2,554 this year. Redheads, which had been increasing over the past few years, were off this year and canvasbacks are showing a steady decline.

B4ay-August. Total production fell off sharply in 1972, probably due to the drought. Estimates set the number of young produced this year at 608 compared to 1,850 last year. The principal producers this year were pintails, mallards, gadwalls, redheads, and cinnamon teal respectively. Use days also declined this period from 569,744 in 1970, ^nd 739,752 in 1971, to only 325,609 this year. Actual numbers of birds present during the nesting season were up from previous years jfcxeept for redheads and green-wings which declined slightly. The drop In use days this period is the result of over a 90$ reduction in early aigrating pintails and green-wings, and an 80$ reduction in redheads.

1 ptember-December. The fall migrations peaked in September with f,185 ducks, far below the 29,100 recorded last year. The major ecies comprising the fall migration were pintails in late August, idgeons and gadwalls in September, and green-wings in November. heads declined steadily since March while mallards increased steadily om July and peaked in December. Canvasbacks made a slight recovery October when they peaked with 16 birds. Use days for all ducks ds period totaled 573,030 compared to 1,780,785 in 1971.

b. Individual Species. Mallards. This species has shown a .eady upward trend since 1969. Total use days for mallards this year ounted to 218,748 compared to 153,479 last year. The mallard pulation showed a steady increase from July and peaked at 1,445 in ember. The late peak is attributed to additional winter habitat at was created in April and May by re-flooding some old sloughs near /•eral springs. The warm water keeps the sloughs open when everything ;e freezes up; subsequently, our duckies can dangle their tootsies 80oF water when the air temperature is -10oF!

walls. Use days this year amounted to 104,501 compared to 65,027 1971. The increase is a result of more birds spending the summer the availability of open winter habitat in the latter part of the

-ails. Pintails were our number one producers this year with 160 ^g. Use days declined from 1,319,200 in 1971 to only 399,724 this

We were actually ahead in use days during the January-April Lod this year, (125,655 compared to 74,630 during the same period year), but we lost out when the massive migration of last fall

failed to materialize again this year. The peak fall population this year was only 3,166 compared to 22,300 last year. The year closed with about the same number of birds as last year.

Crccn-winged Teal. Use days this year totaled 184,490 compared to 3^)1,850 in iy/1. Use days this year were ahead of 1971 figures by 51% during the January-April period, but again, this year's fall migration peak of 1,400 couldn't begin to compete with the 7,200 bird peak of last year.

American Widgeon. Refuge census shows a decrease in this species tlus" year. The fall migration peak in late September was only 3,050 compared to 7,100 last year. Total use days amounted to 145,908

i compared to 418,631 in 1971. The severe drought is considered a factor in the reduction.

Redheads. Populations continued to increase over last year, with a cak of 3,829 in early March, producing 93,618 use days the first third compared to 90,632 use days during the same period in 1971. ut as the effects of the drought began to shrink pools in April and

ideep water began to disappear, the redheads soon followed and copulations declined steadily the rest of the year. Use days for the ^car totaled only 145,771 compared to 210,262 in 1971. The drought fas considered over by the end of the year and redhead populations ire expected to recover in 1973.

Canvas backs. As with redheads, canvasbacks populations were hit hard y the lack of deep water. The spring peak was 16 birds compared to 50 last year. The population declined through the summer with a light peak of 16 birds in October. Production was nil, only one >rood of four was seen. Use days for the year totaled 1,989 compared* :o 7,636 last year. With the drought over we are hoping for increased opulations in 1973.

I ing-necked ducks, lesser scaup, buffleheads, ruddy ducks, common Dldeneyes, common mergansers, red-breasted mergansers, and hooded ergansers accounted for 98,932 use days.

btal use days for all ducks amounted to 1,434,072 compared to 1926,892 last year. For the first time since 1969 we are under the TiUP (65-69 average 1,551,003 U.D.) guidelines. Maybe if we dry up ic marsh every year we can keep duck use days down!

^pts^ Total use days totaled 734,424 this year compared to 1,665,427

10

Table HI. Waterfowl use days and peak populations, 1965-1972.

Swans Geese Ducks

Year Use Days Peak No. Use Days Peak No. Use Days Peak No.

1965 368 20 33,125 219 1,334,137 10,181 1966 625 22 49,990 226 1,339,200 7,129 1967 130 11 68,732 315 1,943,830 13,310 3968 356 1 78,761 329 1,921,804 12,635 1969 303 22 89,998 330 1,216,045 20,217 1970 628 33 67,746 403 1,979,861 27,600 1971 491 19 77,718 303 2,926,892 29,100 1972 573 12 72,311 435 , 1,434,072 9,185

Table IV. Goose and duck production, 1966-1972.

itSpecies 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

Canada Geese 63 70 135 125 25 125 50

Ucks

jroup I* jroup II Group III

ears Total

738 1360 1475 1675 1050 1025 384 57 160 400 150 390 175 120 195 1000 405 550 300 650 104

990 2520 2280 2375 1740 1850 608

in Group I: WRH-4, Part 2, Appendix 3; , pp 7.

11

4. Marsh and Water Birds. There were no sightings of wild greater sandhill cranes on the refuge this year; however, "Old Sarge" of Trout freek reports having seen a few in the Snake Valley near his home. The refuge's greater sandhill crane reintroduction program is progressing rather well and is covered in more detail in Part V of this report.

Snowy egret and black-crowned night heron numbers were down this year. Ihey established and shared two rookeries on the refuge this year. Both rookeries were in dense Olney's bulrush over water. Snowy egrets produced an estimated 110 young while the night herons brought off about 60. Snowy egrets and black-crowned night herons accumulated IS,334 and 10,015 use days respectively.

5. Shorebirds. American avocets and black-necked stilts arrived in March and were gone by early November except one avocet who stayed through December. ^

Long-billed curlews arrived in early April and stayed until mid August. They accumulated 885 use days. Snowy plovers arrived in mid April. A peak population of 32 birds and three broods were seen. A spring migration of 637 Wilson's phalaropes moved through on May 9. The fall peak was only 260 in mid September. Lesser yellowlegs and long-billed dowitchers are the only shorebirds that winter over at Fish Springs.

6. Doves and Pigeons. Mourning dove numbers were down this year. Use days amounted to only 4,534 compared to 10,220 last year. A few banded "carrier pigeons" showed up during the summer, but none were caught. /?7«2-7/ .^4?-

B. Upland Game Birds.

v 1. Ring-necked Pheasant. The resident flock came out of the

/inter with about 30 breeding birds. Production was estimated at about 60.young, bringing the fall population to about 90. By December the number had fallen to an estimated 70 birds. Total use days for the year amounted to 20,200.

2. Chukars. Fifteen chukars were sighted on the refuge in early Jgust. They accumulated 170 use days on the refuge. Flocks of 30-40 )irds have been observed in the Fish Springs Range adjacent to the xfuge.

Big Game Animals.

1. Mule Deer. The refuge "herd" amounted to about 5 or 6 animals Jhis yeaT] Two four point bucks and a doe were the most seen at one -nne. They were regular night visitors to the refuge headquarters Tea during August and September when the drought reduced available Towse in the Fish Springs Range. By early September a browse line appeared on our ornamental Russian olives.

12

f

2. Pronghorn. Only one pronghom was sighted on the refuge this year. He was seen several times NE of North Spring. Other antelope were seen on the west side of the Fish Springs Range.

3. "Domestic Sheep". Sloppy sheep herding left us with a flock of 12 sheep over the summer. They trailed into the refuge every few jays for water. Efforts were made to get the sheepmen to come and get the strays, but they weren't really interested. One guy said he would pick them up if we would catch and corral them until he got there. The number of sheep declined steadily through the summer - no self-respecting coyote is going to turn down a mutton banquet!

D. Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents, and Other Mammals. The coyote population was fairly low at the beginning of the year (about 15 animals) but picked up sharply after the denning season. After the fall sheep drives, coyotes began collecting on the refuge in droves. We estimated about 70 of the "critters" were here in December. Undoubtedly, the ban on poisons has had an influence on coyote popu­lations. We are planning to remove a number of coyotes early in 1973, and if most of the rest don't follow the spring sheep drives out, we will have to begin intensive coyote control next year to protect nesting waterfowl. 5

A few bobcats are using the refuge. One big "cat" killed one of our — .

, c a p t i v e s a n d h i l l c r a n e s , d r a g g e d i t t h r o u g h a h o l e h e m a d e i n t h e f e n c e , .

'and consumed it. All that was left was a pile of feathers, two legs,

a n d a b i l l . W h i l e i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e a r e a w e f o u n d a t r a p w i t h t h e ^ 0 ^ '

kbobcat's foot still in it. "Trapper Jim" said it was a trap he set j

| ..it Cane Springs six miles south of the refuge. The foot found in the \y

ftrap had the ends of two toes missing where he had been trapped before. \

An emergency trap line was set around the crane pen in an attempt to

catch the three-footed varmint if he came back. No new sign or /

\ evidence of his return was ever seen. A r ^ ^ • 'J* i-

No control work was necessary on skunks this year. 'Trapper Jim", our ^ ^ resident trapper permittee, had a civet cat for a bed fellow for awhile, but the spotted stinker was dispatched when Jim "cleaned up" his dugout. During the clean up Jim also caught three gallon cans full of mice. V

A porcupine was observed on the refuge in August. This is a new v-f. | addition to the refuge mammal list. Several badgers were also seen. ^

!Jack-tailed jackrabbits reached extremely high population levels again Hiis year. By late August we estimated the population on the refuge at 7>200. Large die offs occurred in September and October, probably the z'x result of tularemia, and reduced the population to about 4,000 in December. I

r •'

11

13

- v,

I

^ 3

3 2?

^ ^ s V

*

2 s:

a :

VI N

5 o

Prolific fellow by day - efficient lawn mower by night. 7,200 jackrabbits can mow a lot of lawns! LEH

-.1 a ^aucvc, 0

£ L> ' \L CuOt^.-ijo PcsufCU u r- /Vr.

E. Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Ravens, and Magpies. A peregrine falcon and a bald eagle were sighted in early November. Golden eagles accumulated 414 use days this year with a peak population of eight on the 30th of March.

Ospreys were sighted in April and November.

Marsh hawks are common year 'round; rough-legged hawks are present throughout the fall, winter, and spring; while Swainson's hawks occurred in the spring and summer. Prairie falcons are seen occasion­ally throughout the year. One Cooper's and one sharp-shinned hawk visited the refuge from late October through early November.

Great horned owls were seen during the summer and fall and began to prey heavily on ducks, coots, and pheasants in December as evidenced by bird remains and entrails hanging from fence post tops. Short-eared avis were also seen occasionally.

About a half dozen ravens make the refuge their home and a few black-billed magpies were seen several times during the year.

14

j:# Other Birds. Clark's nutcracker, evening grosbeak, rufous sided I touhee, and the yellow-shafted flicker were added to the refuge bifd

]ist this fall. A black-legged kittiwake, common egret and the chestnut-collared longspur were added last spring.

Urge numbers of common nighthawks were seen evenings during the summer. Townsend's solitaires, cedar waxwings, and water pipits migrated through in October, a loggerhead shrike was observed carrying

1 a mouse, and a parasitic jaeger showed up on the last day of July.

| A Western grebe was found dead the first day of the hunting season. I ]t was in perfect condition and was frozen for a future mount.

IG. Fish. Mosquito fish (Garabusia spp.) and Utah chubs (Gila atraria Girard) are the only species of fish known to inhabit the Fish Springs tnarshes. These fish provide a valuable food source for herons, egrets, grebes, and mergansers. ^ •

Reptiles and Amphibians. Two rattlesnakes were captured on two J I separate occasions in the residential area. Both were caught by the, u issistant manager, and after examination were transplanted__alive to ire suitable habitat - for us as well as them. Gopher snakes were jeen occasionally along roads and around the shop~and wareyard areas, iorned toads and spiny lizards are common in the rocky horsebrush-»hadscale uplands.

illfrogs continue to inhabit the springheads. "Bullfrogs are not time's fool, though smooth green skin and muscled legs beneath the (ragline's bucket come. They succumb not, but alter when they Iteration find."

|. Disease.

None.

15

III. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

a. Physical Development. Most o£ our efforts this year were oriented towards reducing evaporation loss in the marsh by improving pool . ^ circulation, and providing more winter waterfowl habitat. y 0 ]jO lJ j "

1. We cut a few small ditches NE of North Spring to reflood some previously abandoned sloughs.

2. Installed a 12M culvert through the west end of Mallard dike to improve circulation.

3. Cleaned a ditch on the south end of Avocet which feeds the cast pool in the Avocet Impoundment.

4. House Spring was cleaned. s1

5. Replaced an old abandoned culvert and cleaned the ditch associated with it to reflood some abandoned sloughs on the west side of Mallard pool with water from House and Mirror Springs.

6. Installed a culvert under the Mallard-Avocet road to improve circulation and provide additional winter habitat by pulling water off the Structure #8-Structure A-2 distribution ditch.

7. Cut some small ditches in Shoveler and Egret to improve circulation.

8. Cut and removed aquatic weeds as necessary from the main distribution ditches.

9. Cleaned muck from the Structure #6 ditch.

10. Managed water as to keep it moving, rerouting where necessary.

11. A used Chrysler A-15 engine was purchased and installed in our Pettibone Loader (Sorry fellas, but it looks like this was the last one in existence).

12. All pickups received white roof tops and rear window safety screens.

13. Raised and guyed a 60' telescoping radio antenna tower for our Fish Springs-Bear River radio net. A repeater was installed by Array personnel in their Cedar Mountain repeater station on the Dugway Proving Ground. A mobile unit was installed in the manager's pickup along with the army radio. (The pickup now sports two roof mounted antennae). A pack set is available for use in other vehicles. The radio net went into service in February.

14. A severe wind bent our flagpole. It had to be cut off and shortened.

16

Irl Turnn found out what it takes to repair a Pettibone loader - one used Chrysler A-15 engine, a dash of grease

T t nf h ?£ yellow Paint, and a lot of hard work. DlJir

z , -p KHK

-

tnn^86 i4ght We,ight vehicle fleet received white roof doesn't getSsoChot!re ra0re ViSible bUt interior heat ,

RHK

17

Venegoni (left) and Mecham (right) attach tvro-way radio antenna to our 20-100 foot telescoping tower. Sixty feet of tower are sufficient to reach Bear River Refuge via a inid-wray repeater at Dugway Proving Ground. The setup is the closest thing to a telephone we could find. RHK

18

15. The wa$h rack drain was cleaned of rocks, grass, and cans and a grate was fabricated to prevent future clogging.

16. The Utah Department of Highways was contacted by Acting Manager Kraft resulting in "a Highway Department "Fish Springs Refuge" sign being installed on Highway #36, 1/2 mile south of the Faust tumoff.

17. A broken axle and backhoe swing gear put our Bombardier Muskeg Tractor out of service for over two months while waiting on parts. Repairs were completed by refuge personnel.

18. Six, one-week-old, greater sandhill cranes were received from Grays Lake NWR via Bear River to increase our captive flock.

19. A new portable arc welder/generator was purchased with year-end funds.

20. An underground power line was laid to quarters #39 to provide 220 V. power.

21. Underground communications lines were laid to the three occupied residences for future installation of remote refuge radio sets.

22. New wiring and safety switches were installed by U.S. Army electricians in preparation for commercial power. A monitor light was installed on the generator house to indicate the return of commercial power after an outage when we are on our generators. The monitor light can be seen from the office and all residences and saves a lot of steps to check on the return of commercial power. It also serves as a shop yard light.

23. A cinder block back yard fence was constructed behind quarters #39. Final touches, gates, sidewalk, etc. will be completed next spring.

24. Fire Extinguisher boxes were attached on the outside of all infrequently used buildings and those housing flammables.

25. A new larger crane pen was built in the Avocet Unit to provide suitable nesting habitat for our captive sandhill cranes. We are hoping for a nesting pair next spring. A new feeder was also built.

26. A new $1000 "Corps of Engineers approved" rollover canopy was installed on our D-6 Cat.

27. Commercial power from Nevada was turned on at 1:15 pm on November 30. Since the power is single phase, a new well pump motor had to be purchased and installed, and the old single phase compressor motor was found, checked out, and reinstalled. The single phase motors were needed to replace the three phase motors previously used.

"That's what the sign says." What it doesn't say is that there's 65 miles of rough, dusty, desert "road" before you get there. Sign furnished by Utah Department of Highways and erected near Faust, Utah. RHK

Yep! A NEW portable arc welder/generator was actually purchased. Isn't that a jolt! Its portability makes it a very handy piece of equipment. RHK

Pouring: Anthony operates the screeder and ... "Is that Kraft on the end of the #3 mucker?"

kO

yA-*

Mixing: Cinder block back yard fence at Qtrs. #39 starts to get its footing. LM

Inspecting: Kraft and Mecham measure ... 'That's right, isn't it?" LM

Mecham sets new "Corps of Engineers approved" rollover

canopy on our D-6 Cat ...

Timm welds it in place. Looks like a thousand bucks!

22

28. The office windows were weather stripped and the office furnace ducting was improved to prevent drafts and conserve propane. ^11 exterior doors were refinished.

B. Plantings. Planning was begun for the experimental planting of alkali bulrush (Scirpus paludosus) utilizing a new seed scarification method developed by Edward J. O'Neill, BSF^W, Tulelake, California.*

C. Collections and Receipts.

1. Seed or Other Propagules. None

2. Specimens.

Species

greater sandhill crane black-legged kittiwake canvasback

western grebe

No. Distribution

1 USU, Logan 1 U. of Utah, SLC 1 retained for

mounting 1 retained for

mounting

Cause of Death

died in transit found dead on refuge shot illegally (confiscated) shot illegally (found)

D. Control of Vegetation. Dense aquatic vegetation was cut and removed from the main spring collection and distribution ditches as necessary. Salt cedars (Tamarix pentandra) were cut where necessary to maintain control. Approximately 180 plants were removed.

E. Planned Burning. Experimental controlled burning was accomplished on 465 acres to determine the usefulness of this technique to improve food and cover. The experimental burns were conducted on three basic vegetative types, juncus (J. balticus) meadows, saltgrass (Distichlis stricta) meadows, and sloughs densely vegetated with Olney's bulrush (Scirpus olneyi). The bums were conducted during March with daily clearance from the Utah Division of Health, Utah Air Conservation Committee (UACC) which issues agricultural burning permits. A special radio-telephone communications hookup was initiated by UACC through Dugway Proving Ground to provide the daily clearance and to comply with Utah Air Quality Control regulations. In August the burned areas were compared to similar unburned areas by plot sampling where height of green shoots and number of green shoots per square foot were taken to determine the effect of the burn. The results follow:

sL balticus is primarily a cover species for goose and duck nesting. The number of green stems and the average height was decreased by over 501. Whether this is beneficial or not is ? yet to be determined. /-)<-,j parted .

*1972. O'Neill, E.J. Alkali Bulrush Seed Germination and Culture. J. Wildlife Mgmt. 36:2:649

23

The saltgrass meadows are used by grazing geese in the spring and also provides goose and duck nesting cover. The number of green stems per square foot increased from an average of 66.1 in the unburned areas to 329.1 in the burned areas providing an abundance of additional spring goose browse. Stem height showed no significant difference P(.05).* j ttecA *<*+•7

Olney's bulrush is an increaser in old sloughs, provides very little in the way of feed, and gets so dense that penetration by ducks for nesting is limited. Burning opened up the stands by removing old dead stems, but by August the number of green stems and stem height was not significantly different P(.05) from the unburned areas. Olney's bulrush is used extensively for snowy egret and black-crowned night heron rookeries.

Table V. The effect of controlled burning on juncus meadows, saltgrass meadows, and bulrush choked sloughs - 1972.

Species Burned Unburned

Juncus balticus Distichlis stricta Scirpus olneyi

Average Stems*

8 0 . 2 329.1 96.9

Average Height

19.3" 6.9" 55.0"

Average Stems*

146.9 66.1 90.8

Average Height

33.4" 6.4" 53.4"

*The average number of green stems in 10 randomly selected one square foot plots.

F. Fires.

None.

AThe chi-square test was used to determine if the differences were significant.

Controlled bum on 465 acres. J. Balticus decreased, saltgrass increased, and Olney's bulrush showed little change (see text). Mecham using conduit with fusee in end as a fire starter. ^

25

IV. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

A. Grazing.

None.

B. Haying.

None.

C. Fur Harvest. Resident trapper permittee James P. Harrison took 1175 muskrats in 1972 on a trapper-take-all basis. His earnings averaged $1.40 - $1.60 per pelt. Muskrat populations are good (from a trappers point of view) and require annual removal to prevent dike and habitat damage. B,

D. Timber Removal.

None.

E. Commercial Fishing.

None.

F. Other Uses.

None.

26

V. FIELD INVESTIGATION

A. Banding. Only three Canada geese were banded this year and one recapturedT The drought left the airboat stuck on the mid flats so the birds were chased on foot and caught with dip nets. Phew!!!

The five youngest additions to our captive greater sandhill crane flock were banded with Patuxent approved red vinyl covered aluminum bands.

B. Greater Sandhill Crane Reintroduction.

1. Progress. The crane reintroduction project is proceeding quite well despite a few setbacks.

Six, one-week-old birds were acquired at Grays «Lake NWR and transferred to Fish Springs. One died due to pecking wounds in his third week, and another youngster turned up missing in August. The remaining four have grown into fine additions to the refuge flock.

One of the adult birds was killed and consumed by a bobcat last January. The three free-flying birds migrated in late May and have not been seen since.

A new 6 acre crane pen was constructed in the Avocet Unit to provide more suitable nesting habitat and we are hoping for at least one nesting pair next spring.

2. Care and Feeding of Young Cranes. The new sandhill crane chicks added to the refuge flock in mid-June were extremely precocial despite their age of one week or less. They required almost constant attention to prevent injury as they established their peer group pecking order.

Pecking injuries on the submissive birds were usually isolated to the back of the head. Injured birds were temporarily separated from the rest of the birds and the injury treated with spray-on antiseptic plastic bandage. The incidence of pecking wounds seems to be inversely proportionate to the size of the pen.

Feeding is time consuming. Upon their arrival the birds were spoon fed pablum, all they would eat, five to six times a day. Oatmeal and Cheerios were added for variety. Hard boiled eggs were crushed with a potato masher (shells and all) and fed once or twice a day to supplement the pablum. The crushed shells provided needed phosphorous and calcium. Stools were examined and digestion of the egg shells was complete.

After about a week, moistened Friskies puppy chow was introduced and as the birds accepted it the pablum was phased out.

27

pappy chow was-chosen because of its higher protein and calcium content compared to regular dog food. At five weeks of age the youngsters were almost adult size and were moved into a larger pen. The hard-boiled eggs were continued until the birds reached about six weeks and soon after dry puppy chow was introduced and the moistened food gradually eliminated. At about nine weeks of age regular dog food replaced puppy chow and com and milo were made available to introduce the birds to the adult diet. Available insects supplemented their diet and by mid-September the dog food was discontinued.

An interesting note is the behavior of "Charlie", a yearling crane so named by the woman who found him "orphaned" as a chick in Colorado.

When the young brood was placed in an enclosure inside the adult crane pen, Charlie immediately recognized that we humans were not providing adequate parental guidance and maintained a constant vigil outside their fence challenging all intruders with distress calls. The other adults couli have cared less, but Charlie persisted, so after a few days we let him in with the young birds and he immediately began to catch insects and feed them to the youngsters. Charlie soon became known as 'TJncle Charlie" and was charged with the responsibility of teaching his "adopted" brood everything young cranes need to know. A human interest article was written about the observations by the refuge staff and was later published in a local paper.

"Charlie" (left), points out a bug to six-week-old junior. Often the young cranes would pick an insect directly from "Uncle Charlie's" bill. - RHK

-f*! Deddy Dixon Mgr's. neice) shed hard boiled eggs to two-week-old cranes. RHK

hannP^H^K3 peck;ng order can be damaging. This fellow WnSw., J11 l01ver end- sPray-on antiseptic healed the wound, however.

CVr/, lc*C' /•t'- 7

J-— --- '-r' r"" " 'T es V iq?0 ) ' K ct.nU

bo&-

Herzberger, Tinm, Anthony, and Mecham help transfer adult cranes to their new 6 acre nesting pen.

. .r* V*

Tiram demonstrates how the opened lid o£ our new crane

feeder also serves as a filling chute. Back aching ^

lifting is minimized. v

r" PiTHiiiFiiwrrr^TO

30

Marsh Fertilization Study. Prelimijiary work was done this year in preparation for a saline marsh fertilization study to be conducted on the refuge by Scott Stenquist, an M.S. candidate at Utah State University, Logan. Dr. Jessop B. Low, Utah Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, USU, Logan is the Project Supervisor, and Lee Herzberger, Refuge Manager, Fish Springs NWR will serve as Project Consultant.

The objective of the study is:

1. To determine the levels and types of fertilizers needed to measurably increase the levels of productivity of aquatic foods on a western saline marsh.

2. To determine the response of marsh vegetation and invertebrate populations as a result of fertilization.

3. To estimate the response of waterfowl and water birds to any change on the project area as a result of treatment.

Plant specimens and associated disseminules were collected this fall for the greenhouse phase of the project. Actual fertilization on the marsh is scheduled for next spring.

Widgeongrass being collected by Utah State University graduate students. Samples to be used in greenhouse phase of a Marsh Fertilization Study. -Steasgsnt 6^d--from left) supervises! /i^PHK

31

VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS

A Recreational Uses. Most wildlife observation and wildlands appreciation recreation is in the foiro of impromptu visits by desert Sightseers. A total of 1,608 visits were recorded at the visitor contact station this year. Unfortunately, very few people come to the refuge with pre-determined plans for wildlife oriented recreation. Refuge personnel often take interested weekend visitors on spur-of-the-moment conducted tours. The bulk of visitors are waterfowl hunters.

A new refuge leaflet was produced this year with emphasis on refuge history and the identification of the common species the refuge visitor will usually see, but may not know. The design, narrative, and artwork was the effort of the assistant manager (copy appended).

k !

Fish Springs Super Service is still in business - out of necessity rather than desire. During 1972 the "standby attendant" assisted on three one-car accidents, two "rollovers" on the refuge and one "off the road and through the rocks and greasewood" off the refuge. The accidents were attributed to speeding on unfamiliar gravel roads. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Refuge personnel pulled several vehicles out of the mud, including the truck delivering our diesel fuel, and two cars out of snow drifts. Most of the stuck vehicles are the result of venturing out on the mud flats, and require refuge personnel to go as far as 20-30 miles off the refuge to assist. It shouldn't be our problem, but when a man shows up on foot after walking eight to ten hours, one instance, in ankle to knee deep mud, and next nearest help is over 80 miles away, what can you do? What is the government's responsibility? ^

We also assisted with four flats, one punctured transmission, one punctured gas tank, two punctured oil pans, one broken fan belt, and eleven people out of gas. Since the government gasoline is not for sale, we are, more or less, coerced into parting with our own limited supply of personal gas. We limit visitors to five gallons, enough to get them back to civilization. The gasoline price has to be adjusted to discourage repeat customers; however, all other help was free.

B. Refuge Visitors.

Jan. 25 Lt. Fritz Faulkner, David M. Hardy, Mark Rosenfeld, U.S. Axmy, Deseret Test Center (DTC), Ecology ^ Epideaiology (EfjE). Small mammals collections in surrounding area.

Feb. 7-11 Lt. Fritz Faulkner, et. al., U.S. -Army, DTC, E^E. Small mammals collections.

Feb. 15

Mar. 16

Bill Coffman, Mt. Wheeler Power Co. Ely, Nevada. Business

Gary Tanous, Motorola, Inc. Salt Lake City. Business

32

Apr. 22 Harry E, Stiles, John Jones, BSF^W, Washington D. C., Jane S. Lewis BSF^W, Portland. Inspection.

July 12 Dr. Hinzte, Geological Survey, Salt Lake City. Mapping surrounding area.

Aug. 8 Lt. Fritz Faulkner, Dr. R. Elbel, et. al. DIG, E§E. Mosquito collections.

Aug. 15 Vance A. Turner, BIM, Fillmore, Utah. Water quality test. Ralph E. Smith, USGS, Denver. Water quality test.

Aug. 28 Bob Oppenheimer, Ike Pomel, Dale Booth, Wildlife Services and J.M. Christensen, State Pilot. Coyote control.

Sept. 21 Scott Stenquist, BSF^W, Utah Coop. Unit Logan. Tom Beck, USU, Logan. Marsh Fertilization Project, collect samples.

Sept. 22 Lowell Decker, Karl Simonson, BIM. Courtesy.

Oct. 12 Bob Thoesen, Area Supervisor, Don Donahoo, Wildlife Services BSF§W, Salt Lake City. Inspection ^ coyote control. Bob Oppenheimer, Wildlife Services, Delta, J.M. Christensen, State Pilot. Coyote hunting.

Oct. 13 H.S. and 0. Cuellar, U. of Utah, Salt Lake City. Collecting lizards in surrounding area.

Oct. 17 Dean Hirschi, Weather Service. Weather station check.

Oct. 29 S/Sgt. Ed Davis, et. al., USAF, Cambridge Research Labs, ' Chico, Calif. Locating downed high altitude electronic equipment.

Nov. 10 Scott Stenquist, BSF^W, Utah Coop. Unit, Logan. Marsh proj ect.

Nov, 15 Lloyd Carpenter, BLM. Courtesy.

C. Refuge Participation. The big event of the year was the West Desert Fair at Callao. The country get-together is held annually at the Bagley Ranch .with a wide variety of local faming talents displayed. The refuge constructed a display which featured 'Uncle Charlie", and one of his adopted chicks, from the captive greater sandhill crane flock. Over 175 people attended.

*r!

33

The refuge participated in the West Desert Fair at Callao, Utah. The display highlighted^ "Charlie" and one of his adopted youngsters.

RHK

34

Conducted tours' were arranged for an Audubon Bird Group, a Senior Citizens Group from Delta, students from Weber State College, Ogden, and two Boy Scout Troops, Nephi and Grantsville. A one hour slide talk was presented for 5th and 6th graders at Dugway Elementary School, followed two days later by an all day "ecology" outing on the refuge. The boys liked the homed toads and gopher snakes best. The girls screamed a lot.

Asst. Mgr. Kraft points out the finer details to Boy Scouts. LEH

"Now that's a muskrat house.." LM

35

Acting Manager Kraft discovered a small grove of netleaf hackberry trees in the Fish Springs Range adjacent to the refuge and reported the find to Carl M. Johnson, Extension Forester, at Utah State University, Logan. Mr. Johnson said the find provided previously unknown information about the range of hackberries in Utah.

D. Hunting. The public hunting area again included 7,200 acres of refuge marsh. Due to the drought, waterfowl populations were down from last year while hunter populations were up. Beyond our wildest expectations, 195 hunters "signed in" opening day compared to only 124 hunters last year. Our refuge objectives planned for a peak need (OTU) of 150 in 1978. Now what? ^ .

A total of 383 ducks were taken in 1,093 A.H. opening day. After the opening weekend, hunter use dropped off and accumulated a total of only 550 hunter visits, 2,764 A.H., and a bag ofIi 1,091 ducks for the entire 72-73 season. Hunter success opening day was somewhat less than last year, 2.0 birds/man compared to 2.8 birds/man. The difference was the result of lower bird availability rather than loss of hunting quality. Many hunters enjoyed limit shooting.

Table VI. Waterfowl hunting and harvest, 1966-1972.

1966-7 1967-8 1968-9 1969-70 1970-1 1971-2 1972-3

Hunters

Opening Day 58 45 109 111 101 124 195 Season 244 255 371 293 352 367 550 Ave. Hrs. Hunted 4.9 5.7 5.3 5.2 5.1 5.8 5.1

Total Harvest (Ducks)

Opening Day 221 141 319 365 384 358 385 Season 537 510 602 733 703 970 1091 Ave- Bag (season) 2.4 2.0 1.6 2.1 1.96 2.64 1.98

• -—; — . m ' • w • • «

r^fevijftSi it i -iiiii i rniMl S59

36

Above: Now who says there's no traffic on Fish Springs? A record 195 hunters ventured to the refuge on the opening weekend of duck season. j.FH

Right: "All aboard..." LEH

Below: Even though the refuge was closed to goose hunting, geese decided to head for the closed area anyway. jLv

tea m

J

37

E. Violations; The manager and assistant now have Utah State Game and Fish Enforcement Commissions. Two juveniles were apprehended opening day of the duck season, one for illegal possession of a canvasback, and the other for shooting off the dike. Neither case was filed due to the violators ages. Nine persons were apprehended on 10/20/72 by Assistant Manager Kraft for shooting in a closed area. Four persons in the group were found to be in possession of shotguns, and cases were filed against them by GMA Ritter in Salt Lake City. All plead guilty and paid fines of $25 each. The tragedy is that 14 ' j * warm coots were found dead, floating in the water at the shooting (jf Cu# scene, but charges for that could not be filed because of lack ,of "/ja

prOOf. Ztw

F. Safety. Monthly safety meetings were held throughout the year. This station has never had a lost time accident, and the safety record stands at 11,551 man-days. «

C (J* C I 7 « -)-o Co i—-N f

• J l c y C d K b I - c / ' v , I rh e 5 i & A y ' ! K < ? r * c c A * '

>/ y $ if /V 7^

VII. OTHER ITEMS

38

A. Items of Interest. Refuge Manager John L. Venegoni transferred to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on April 30, 1972.

Assistant Manager Rolf H. Kraft assumed the duties of Acting Manager for the period April 30, 1972 to July 19, 1972.

Mrs. Ludawn Mecham, Refuge Clerk, received a $100 Special Achievement Award for extraordinary services rendered during the vacancy of the refuge manager's position this spring.

Manager Herzberger congratulates Clerk Typist Ludawn Mecham. She received a $100 award for her extra efforts rendered during the 3 months between refuge managers. SH

Refuge Manager Lee Herzberger and his wife Sharon arrived from Monte Vista NWR on July 19, 1972. * , uH,

D Jjf

Maintenancemn Irl G. Timm was converted from Maintenanceman, Intermittent to Maintenanceman, permanent part-time (36 hr.) this fall. Thanksgiving was Irl's first paid holiday since he served with the Merchant Marines in WWII.

39

Manager Herzberger and Assistant Kraft attended the CSC course "Super­vision and Group Performance" in Denver in October and August respectively.

Assistant Manager Kraft received a $25 Suggestion Award for a suggestion made at Wichita Refuge last year.

Old "Trapper Jim" Harrison made the news again this year when he discovered a black-legged kittiwake on the refuge. Jim found the strange bird dead in the marsh and brought it to Manager Venegoni exclaiming "That ain't like no kinda gull I've ever seen" John Venegoni tentatively identified it as a black-legged kittiwake and the bird was frozen and sent to Dr. Malcolm McDonald at the Bear River Research i Station. Dr. McDonald, in turn, donated the bird to the University of ,<\ Utah at Salt Lake City where Dr. William H. Behle, curator of omithol-zv ogy? confirmed the identification and reported the find as the first (f official record for the black-legged kittiwake in Utah. Dr. Behle complimented Jim for his astuteness in recognizing that the bird was unique and thereby saving it for science. A news release was written by the refuge staff and submitted to the local (Salt Lake City and surrounding towns) news media. The find received intermountain TV coverage on Salt Lake's major TV news and front page coverage by a Salt Lake Daily. The bird was preserved as a study skin and placed in the University of Utah research collection.

Another item for "Trapper Jim" followers: Old Jim achieved immortality this year when a full page color photo of him in front of his dugout appeared in the National Geographic Society hardback publication "Great American Deserts". Jim's picture is on page 161 beginning the chapter "Desert Rats".

History was made at Fish Springs on 11/30/72 when commercial electrical power was hooked up and turned on at 1:15 pm! Yes, June 1, 1972 (proposed hook up date) finally rolled around!

A short informal "ceremony" to commemorate the occasion was conducted when Bill Koffman of Mt. Wheeler Power, Jnc. presented the refuge meter to Manager Herzberger/^

The Refuge is at the "end of the line". 'Power is supplied by an Ely, Nevada firm. The new system of lines supplies a number of small communities on its way to the refuge.

Only after our rparing generators were shut down, was the quietness and serenity of the refuge fully realized. We hope the switch-over will preclude the necessity of making any 3 a.m. emergency generator repairs.

Now we must concentrate on the telephone company and the return of the Pony Express mail service!

40

Mgr. Herzberger accepts meter. RHK 11/30/72, 1:15 pm... Finally! l.EH

41

Refuge Manager Herzberger presented our Refuge Revenue Sharing Act check in the amount of $1,104.15 to the Juab County Treasurer in Nephi, Utah.

Assistant Manager Kraft and Conservation Aid Anthony saw a large full-scaled daylight meteor pass over the refuge on August 10, 1972. Local newscasters said the fireball's speed was estimated at 50,000 mph. It was first seen overj^as. Vegas^and disappeared over northern Canada. ]

freeze ^

For those aviators wishing to visit us, a new windsock was installed f along the runway at Fish Springs International!

Assistant Manager Kraft wrote Sections I-VII and prepared all Narrative Report forms. Manager Herzberger prepared the spring flow graph and edited the final draft. Typing was done by Clerk Typist Ludawn Mecham.

B. Photographs. All photos are identified by tTie photographer's initials: John L. Venegoni (JLV) , Lee E. Herzberger (LEH), Rolf H. Kraft (RHK), Ludawn Mecham (LM) , and Sharon Herzberger (SH). Photo layout and captions by Lee Herzberger, . ,

/

February 22, 1973

Refuge Manager