ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORI'

Calendar Year 1992 IZEMBEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Including Izembek, Unimak, and Pavlof Units IZEMBEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Including Izembek, Unimak and Pavlof Units

Cold Bay, Alaska 99571

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1992

U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM REVIEW AND APPROVALS

IZEMBEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Cold Bay, Alaska

ANNUAL NARRA TIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1992

~~~­ Refuge Manage;

Date INTRODUCTION

A December 1960 Public Land Order established the 415,300 acre Izembek National Wildlife Range including Izembek Lagoon and its entire watershed near the tip of the Alaska Peninsula as a refuge, breeding ground, and management area for all forms of wildlife. Through the Alaska Submerged Lands Act (Public Law 100-395), about 95,300 acres of the refuge including Izembek Lagoon were determined to be state lands and the lagoon was designated the Izembek State Game Refuge in 1972. The 02 December 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA, Public Law 96-487) redesignated the range a National Wildlife Refuge containing the 303,094 acre watershed surrounding Izembek Lagoon, redefined refuge purposes and designated a 300,000 acre wilderness. The federal and state refuges were designated a "Wetland of International Importance" in 1986 by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (commonly referred to as Ramsar after the Iranian city in which it was enacted in 1971). The goal of Ramsar is to reduce the global loss and degradation of wetlands and to protect their ecological character. Izembek habitat consists of berry producing low growing bush tundra interspersed with numerous lakes, ponds and streams; thickets of alder brush in discrete zones and in riparian areas; coastal marshes: and barren glacier topped mountains. Dominant plants include crowberry, grass, sedge, cottongrass, moss, alder and willow. Eelgrass dominates lagoon habitats and is critical to staging waterfowl including the entire fall population of Pacific black brant. Elevations range from sea level to the 6,000 foot summit of Frosty Peak.

Izembek Lagoon and refuge wetlands from across Neumann Island with the Bering Sea in foreground 26 September 1992 CFZ Refuge headquarters are located at Cold Bay, a small community (148 people in 1990 census, but fewer than 130 by late 1992) adjacent to the refuge and inhabited largely by transient federal and state government employees and their families. The community is rather uniq~e among lower Peninsula villages in that it lacks a fishing industry or a native Alaskan presence. Cold Bay was first settled in recent times just prior to World War II. In excess of 20,000 troops were stationed at what was then called Fort Randall during World War II (evidence of· that presence is still apparent on the landscape). Cold Bay is served from Anchorage by two regional airlines and serves as the air transportation hub for three other local villages.

The 978,574 acre Unimak Island, a component of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, has been historically administered by the Izembek Refuge staff due to logistical reasons and the fact that the habitat and physiography of the island is very similar to that of the lower Peninsula. Several volcanos, some active, dominate the island's landscape with elevations of the island ranging from sea level to the 9,372 foot summit of active Shishaldin Volcano. Extensive fairly recent lava flows dominate portions of the island and Shishaldin Volcano is a designated National Historic Landmark, as its nearly perfect cone has guided seamen since the days of Russian explorers and undoubtedly the Aleuts before them. About 46,000 acres has been selected or interim conveyed to Alaska regional and village native corporations under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). False Pass, a fishing village of about 68 people at the eastern end of the island, is the only settlement. Two small military installations on the west end of the island were abandoned prior to 1980. ANILCA designated a 910,000 acre wilderness on Unimak Island.

Frozen Fisher Caldera, Pogromni Volcano (r), Faris Peak (rc), Westdahl Volcano (lc) and the new ('91-'92) cone, Unimak Island 12 March 1992 CPD The 1,500,000 acre Pavlof Unit, a component of the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, has been administered by the Izembek Refuge staff since establishment in 1980. The Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge was created by ANILCA. The Pavlof Unit encompasses the south side of the Alaska Peninsula from Port Moller to the tip of the Alaska Peninsula. Some of the unit's boundary is contiguous with the Izembek Refuge boundary. Terrain of the unit is dominated by volcanic peaks and other mountains that form the "backbone" of the Alaska Peninsula and end abruptly at the Pacific Ocean in rugged cliffs. Elevations of the unit range from sea level to the 8,300 foot summit of active Pavlof Volcano. Nearly seventy-five percent of the Pavlof Unit has been selected or conveyed to Alaska regional and village native corporations under ANCSA. The ultimate refuge land holdings in the unit are projected to be about 415,000 acres. King Cove, ' with a population of more than 650, is the only community within the Pavlof Unit. The village economy is based on commercial fishing and the related canning industry.

Right Fork of Cathedral River in Cathedral Valley, with Aghileen Pinnacles at headwaters, Pavlof Unit 21 May 1992 CFZ

Interest in officially incorporating Unimak Island and the Pavlof Unit into Izembek Refuge has increased since 1990. The change is expected to be accomplished through the pending Alaska Omnibus Act, but the act failed to work its way completely through Congress in 1992. ------·-.,.------·--·----·

0 20 40 60 E?\4\66J66tSj Kilometers

BERING SEA

. .·' '

Pass B lA IZEMBEK REFUGE PACIFIC OCEAN B UNIMAK ISLAND c PAVLOF UNIT

Location of the Izembek National ~ildlife Refuge, the Pavlof Unit, and Unimak Island. INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS i

A. HIGHLIGHTS 1

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1

C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title...... 3 2. Easements ...... NTR 3. Other ...... NTR

D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan...... 3 2. Management Plan...... 4 3. Public Participation ...... ; ...... NTR 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates.NTR 5. Research and Investigations ...... 4 6. Other ...... ·...... NTR

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel...... 6 2. Youth Programs...... 10 3. Other Manpower Programs ...... NTR 4. Volunteer Program ...... 11 5. ·Funding...... 11 6. Safety ..... : ...... 12 7. Technical Assistance ...... NTR 8. Other ...... 13

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General...... 13 2. Wetlands...... 14 3. Forests ...... NTR 4. Croplands ...... NTR 5. Grasslands ...... NTR 6. Other Habitats ...... 16 7. Grazing ...... NTR 8 . Haying ...... NTR 9. Fire Management ...... NTR

i F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT (Cont.) Page 10. Pest Control ...... NTR 11. Water Rights ...... NTR 12. Wilderness and Special Areas ...... 16 13. WPA Easement Monitoring ...... NTR

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity ...... 17 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species ...... 17 3. Waterfowl ...... 17 4. Marsh and Water Birds ...... 44 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species ...... 45 6. Raptors ...... 51 7. Other Migratory Birds ...... 52 8 . Game Mammals ...... 57 9. Marine Mammals...... 64 10. Other Resident Wildlife ...... 65 11. Fisheries Resources...... 65 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking ...... NTR 13. Surplus Animal Disposal ...... NTR 14. Scientific Collections...... 66 15. Animal Control ...... NTR 16. Marking and Banding ...... 67 17. Disease Prevention and Control ...... 71

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General ...... 71 2. Outdoor Classrooms -Students ...... NTR 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers ...... NTR 4. Interpretive Foot Trails ...... NTR 5. Interpretive Tour Routes ...... 73 6 .. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations ...... 73 7. Other Interpretive Programs ...... 74 8. Hunting ...... 74 9. Fishing...... 77 10. Trapping ...... 78 11. Wildlife Observation ...... 78 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation ...... NTR 13. Camping ...... NTR 14. Picnicking ...... NTR 15. Off-Road Vehicling ...... 79 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation ...... 79 17. Law Enforcement ...... 80 18. Cooperating Associations ...... NTR 19. Concessions ...... 81

ii I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES Page 1. New Construction ...... NTR 2. Rehabilitation ...... 81 3. Major Maintenance...... 82 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement ...... 82 5. Corrununications Systems ...... 83 6. Computer Systems ...... 83 7. Energy Conservation ...... 83 8. Other ...... 83

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs ...... 84 2. Other Economic Uses ...... NTR 3. Items of Interest ...... 84 4. Credits ...... 86

K. FEEDBACK 87

L. INFORMATION PACKET

(inside back cover)

iii 1

A. HIGHLIGHTS

The lid was blown off the refuge special regulation issue in May by a bear hunter and his airplane. (Section E.8)

Black brant and emperor goose productivity counts were conducted for the 30th and 26th consecutive years, respectively. (Section G.3)

Wildlife Biologist/Pilot Chris Dau participated in his 12th consecutive year of Spring emperor goose surveys and 4th consecutive year of the statewide breeding pairs survey. (Section G.3)

Twenty years after the last similar effort, post-breeding Neotropical Migratory Bird studies were conducted in support of the Partners in Flight program. (Section G.7)

A commercial guide/outfitter use area allocation process was implemented late in the year. (Section H.l9)

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Climatic conditions of the southern Alaska Peninsula typically remain etched in the minds of anyone who has lived in or visited the area. The weather is typically dominated by low cloud cover, light precipitation, and seemingly incessant winds. Roughly 304 days per year are classified as cloudy (80-100% cloud cover averaged each hour of daylight), 49 days as partly cloudy (40-70% cloud cover), and 12 days as clear (0-30% cloud cover) by the National Weather Service. Precipitation averages roughly 35" annually, primarily in the form of light rain. Measurable precipitation (~.01") falls every two out of three days on average.

The infamous Cold Bay winds average 16.9 mph with monthly sustained blows in excess of 45 mph being common. Temperatures for the area are mild by Alaska standards in both summer and winter, as the maritime influence moderates the local climate. Summertime high temperatures rarely reach 70° F and often remain in the fifties during both day and night. Wintertime high temperatures vary considerably depending on the magnitude and direction of travel of the low pressure cells which typically dominate the area's weather. Mid-winter high temperatures may be in the single digits or as high as the fifties. Typically, wintertime temperatures will range from 25-35° F both day and night. All-time Cold Bay extremes have been recorded at +78° F and -13° F.

Several noteworthy weather events occurred in 1992 (Table 1). Among those having the greatest impact on refuge operations were general drought conditions that persisted for the first 10 months of the year. In 1992, only June, November, and December received precipitation totals that exceeded the "normal" for those months. Lake levels dropped and small 2

ponds dried up completely. Most significantly, the water level drop in Blinn Lake, where the refuge float plane is kept, exposed underwater rock hazards that contributed to the float plane accident of 26 June (see Section E.6 Safety). Prior to the much welcomed rains of November and December, the precipitation total for the year was nearly 40% below the long-term average for Cold Bay. With the heavy rains of late December, we finished the year with 28.18" of precipitation, still about 20% below the long term average. Rains continued into 1993 with January recording nearly double the normal precipitation. As a result, lake levels have recovered well and we look forward to an easier year of float plane operations in 1993. Measurable precipitation occurred on 207 days in 1992 (compared to 250 in 1991). Thirteen days in 1992 were classified as clear, 59 as partly cloudy, and 293 as cloudy (Table 1).

Table 1. Weather Summary for Cold Bay, Alaska, 1992.

Month Hi h Low 1-Minute" Gust January 40 11 51 70 February 39 4 25.4 0.68 15 15.8 46 60 March 43 2 29.9 1.22 18 16.9 45 56 April 46 19 33.1 0.26 10 14.4 29 36 May 62 22 40.3 0.54 7 12.5 44 54 June 57 35 48.0 3.27 (+1.11) 19 17.9 .51 63 July 63 43 49.9 2.36 (-0.14) 17 16.3 46 58 August 64 38 50.6 2.86 (-0.84) 21 17.8 45 58 September 58 26 45.8 2.21 (-1.56) 19 14.1 37 51 October 51 27 38.9 2.59 (-1.70) 18 16.4 48 66 November 46 20 33.0 4.42 (+0.38) 23 17.4 48 66 December 47 16 32.4 +2.9 6.20 22 17.9 51 68 Yrly Means/Totals X= 38.0 (+0.1) 28.18 207 16.3 45 59 . Greatest sustained wind for a 1-minute period.

The month of May delivered some uncharacteristically beautiful weather to the area. During that month, six daily record high temperatures were set along with three daily record low temperatures. On 17 May a new daily record low of 28° F and a new daily record high of 52° F were set. These uncharacteristic temperature fluctuations were the result of the incredible clear skies that dominated the weather for over a week during May. While to many this may not sound like much, one should consider that six of 13 clear days occurring all year occurred during a 10 day period in May (along with four partly cloudy days). That period provided the longest continuous streak of nice weather that could be remembered by many long-time Cold Bay residents and many long-time bear guides that were in the area at the time. Many bear hunters experienced sunburn and snow blindness as the weather caught everyone by surprise.

The high temperature for 1992 was a balmy 64° F on 09 August. The low bottomed out at +2° F on 01 March. The average annual temperature was 38.0° F, surpassing the long term average by a measly 0.1°. 3

C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title

Two excess Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) parcels totalling about 1,300 acres have been available to the Service since 1991. Due to the perception that a World War II brick building could pose a pollution source, the transfer was not acted upon by the Service for yet another year. One wonders how the Service will ever accept Rocky Flats in Colorado!

Deputy Refuge Manager Chase attended meetings with the Nelson Lagoon Corporation on 09 December and the Belkofski and King Cove corporations on 16 December. The meetings, hosted by the Realty Division in Anchorage, were attended by representatives from the village corporations, the Aleut Corporation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, and the refuge staff. The meetings focused on Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) 12(a) deficiencies and ANCSA 12(b) reallocations of lands due the corporations. It appears that Nelson Lagoon will ultimately be awarded about 8,776 additional total acres which will likely come from the Pavlof Unit in the vicinity of Sapsuk Lake. The Belkofski Corporation is entitled to an additional 8,997 total acres which will likely come from the south side of the Alaska Peninsula in the vicinity of Pavlof Bay (Pavlof Unit) and/or the nearshore islands (Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge lands) in that same area. The King Cove Corporation has a remaining entitlement of over 19,115 acres of which conveyances will likely come from both Pavlof Unit and Izembek Unit lands. The King Cove Corporation's original ll(a)(l) area still has 5,760 acres of available lands within the Izembek Unit which will likely be chosen to meet the 5,669.47 acre 12(a) deficiency for the Corporation. The end result is 5,669.47 more acres of 22(g) lands within a critical area of Izembek Unit. The King Cove Corporation's remaining entitlement undoubtedly has the greatest potential for negative impacts on refuge resources.

D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan

The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), mandated by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), was completed in 1985. The Izembek Unit is managed under that plan, but the Unimak Unit is managed under the Alaska Maritime NWR CCP and the Pavlof Unit is managed under the Alaska Peninsula NWR CCP. In late 1991 the Deputy Assistant Regional Director directed refuge and Regional Resource Support (planning) staff to begin combining the appropriate portions of the three plans into a single Izembek NWR CCP. This March we were informed that an indefinite postponement of the task was necessary due to higher priority planning needs in the Region. Officially incorporating the Unimak and Pavlof units into the Izembek NWR through legislation also awaited Congressional action as the year ended. 4

2. Management Plan

The proposed Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd Management Plan progressed well in 1992. A draft was provided to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Regional Biologist at King Salmon for text and data completion in mid-June. A final draft was widely distributed in late October. The plan will hopefully identify population goals and management strategies to guide refuge and ADF&G staffs. Additionally, the plan will compile historic population, harvest, and research information into a single document.

The Izembek NWR Fisheries Management Plan, begun in 1985, became inactive early in the year and obsolete later when ADF&G officially closed the Russell Creek Fish Hatchery. The plan was initiated due to perceived impacts on refuge fish populations by the state operated hatchery on Russell Creek and a first draft was produced by the King Salmon Fisheries Assistance Office (KSFAO) in January 1991. Comments on a second draft were provided in November 1991. As 1992 progressed, rumors persisted that the hatchery was to be closed and it was on 31 August. As the year ended, we were trying to figure out where the draft plan was within the system. A major overhaul is warranted.

A draft Izembek NWR Operational Plan was completed in late September. The plan is intended to bridge gaps between the 1985 CCP and Annual Work Plans.

5. Research and Investigations

Refuge personnel are routinely involved in a number of investigations and surveys which many of us in refuges call "little r" research. Results of studies, surveys and everyday investigations are detailed under the appropriate headings in Section G Wildlife.

Izembek NR83- "Autumn Staging Ecology of Russian, Canadian and Alaskan Pacific Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska"

Personnel from the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center (AFWRC) continued their fall work on brant at Izembek Lagoon in 1992. Efforts included observing and reading color tarsus bands from various colonies to determine arrival dates, departure dates, and diurnal movements within the lagoon. These observations will hopefully also be of use in estimating survival rates. They also made extensive contributions to refuge efforts to collect annual brant and emperor goose production data and incidental observations of all bird species using the lagoon area. Details are in Section G.3 Waterfowl. 5

Izembek NR83- "Survival and Migration Ecology of Emperor Geese along the Alaska Peninsula"

This continuing project was down-sized in 1992 with the completion of intensive field camp monitoring of staging populations by AFWRC personnel. Spring camps were utilized to complete the last phases of the project. Izembek Refuge staff continued aspects of the project dealing with population size, migratory phenology, and annual productivity in cooperation with the Migratory Bird Management Division (MBM). Aerial surveys were conducted from late September through October to obtain the required data. Based on the data collected by AFWRC staff, survival between various survey periods suggest that over-winter survival of juveniles may be as low as 20 percent versus 60 percent for adults. Data summarized by AFWRC staff also expanded the understanding of migration phenology and habitat use, including site fidelity, at key staging lagoons. In 1992, Izembek NWR staff assisted with logistic support of the spring camp on the Kudobin Islands near Nelson Lagoon. Three winter, two spring, and two fall aerial surveys were also accomplished by the refuge staff in support of the project. MBM-North performed additional spring and fall surveys, MBM­ Juneau and MBM Regional Office personnel performed eight additional fall surveys and the latter also supplied productivity data from aerial photography.

Izembek NR84- "Brown Bear Habitat and Movements on the Lower Alaska Peninsula"

In addition to annual fall population size and composition trend surveys (Section G.8 Brown Bear), the refuge staff has previously performed in­ depth evaluations of bear biology utilizing radio telemetry. The most recent study (see abstract in 1991 Narrative Report) was finalized in a completion report in 1992.

Izembek NR90- "Range Ecology and Population Limitation of the Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd"

A cooperative investigation between Izembek NWR, ADF&G and the Alaska cooperative Wildlife and Fisheries Research Unit (ACWFRU) to investigate the continuing decline of the Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd (SAPCH) was continued in 1992. Eric Post, the principal investigator under the direction of Dr. David Klein, visited the area from early May through late July and late September to mid-October in continuing attempts to determine the relationship between qualitative and quantitative characteristics of range vegetation and body size, reproductive success, adult cow and calf survival, and parturition dates in the herd. ACFWRU field work will be completed in early 1993, with an annual progress report in June 1993, and a final product in December 1994. Other aspects of SAPCH management were conducted by refuge and ADF&G staffs (Section D.2 and Section G.8). 6

E. ADMINISTRATION

Refuge Manager Fred Zeillemaker 09 August 1992 Melly Zeillemaker

Deputy Refuge Manager Mark Chase 23 July 1992 CPD 7

Assistant Refuge Manager Julie Chase 15 September 1992 MAC

Wildlife Biologist/Pilot Christian P. Dau · File Photo 8

Administrative Technician Natalie Schlichten 24 February 1993 CFZ

Maintenance Worker Robert P. Schulmeister 15 February 1992 MAC 9

Seasonal Law Enforcement Officer Rob Barto 01 October 1992 MAC

PERSONNEL

1. C. Fred Zeillemaker Refuge Manager 11/17/91-Present GS-0485-12, PFT

2. Mark A. Chase Deputy Refuge Manager 05/07/89-Present GS-0485-11, PFT

3. Julie E. Chase Assist.Refuge Manager 10/07/90-Present GS-0485-7, PFT (to 10/31)/Intermittent

4. Christian P. Dau Wildlife Biologist/Pilot 01/30/81-Present GS-0486-12, PFT

5. Natalie Schlichten Administrative Technician 08/04/92-Present GS-0303-5, PFT

6. Robert Schulmeister Maintenance Worker 02/10/91-Present WG-4749-8, PFT

7. Rob Barto Refuge LE Officer 09/15/92-10/29/92 GS-1802-5, INT

7. JoVanna Sink YCC Enrollee 06/15/92-08/07/92 10

8. Kim Dias YCC Enrollee 06jl5j92-08j07j92

After a ten month void, the Administrative Technician position was filled in August through good fortune. A single eligible candidate applied from outside federal service in Washington state. Natalie Schlichten moved to Cold Bay with her son Kyle in early August and has become a tremendous asset to the refuge staff.

Assistant Refuge Manager Julie Chase was converted from permanent full time to permanent intermittent status in November for maternity reasons. Julie's and Mark's baby is due in February 1993.

We arranged for seasonal law enforc~ment officer Rob Barto to be detailed to Izembek NWR after his appointment at Kenai NWR ran out on 15 September. His continual presence afield through most of the high public use season was very helpful and his poking around led to four citations. He also gathered considerable harvest data for us.

The Izembek NWR five year staffing summary is indicated in Table 2.

Table 2. Izembek NWR five Year Staffing Pattern, 1988-1992.

PFT PPT PI Temporary Total FTE's

FY-1989 5 2 (YCC) 5

FY-1990 5 5

FY-1991 5 1 2 (YCC) 5.5

FY-1992 6 3 (YCC, LE) 6.0

FY-1993 5 1 2-3 (BT, LE) 6.0

2. Youth Pro~rams

Two local youths participated in the 1992 Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program in 1992. JoVanna Sink and Kim Dias of Cold Bay assisted the refuge staff in a variety of programs during the eight week program from 15 June through 07 August. Staff time conflicts and horrendous weather greatly impacted the success of the program this year.

Both YCC enrollees, along with the regular refuge staff, received cardio­ pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, bear safety and boating safety instruction. 11

Kim Dias (1) and JoVanna Sink, YCC enrollees 08 July 1992 CPO

4. Volunteer Programs

The Izembek NWR volunteer program is typically limited to one or two local residents each year, usually spouses of refuge employees. Although we invariably have plenty of work to keep a volunteer busy year-round, the logistics of travel and lodging precludes the use of many non-local people. Melly Zeillemaker, wife of RM Zeillemaker, assisted in swan banding, wildflower photography, shorebird transect surveys, Neotropical Migratory Bird banding, the Christmas Bird Count and other wildlife surveys throughout the year. ·Jens and Niels Dau, sons of WB/P Dau, ably assisted with swan banding in July.

5. Funding

Fiscal year 1993 operations and wildlife project funding looked pretty good after negotiations in November. As 1992 ended, however, we learned that only half of the "subsistence" and "migratory birds" (1230) funding survived the final cut. All that "soft" money just leaked away. The year 12

will be a bit more challenging as a result, but if the Maintenance Management System (MMS) funds hold, we will not have too much to complain about. One of the MMS projects ($93,000) is a contingency fund more than anything else. The FAA notified all local entities late in the year that their agency will get out of the Cold Bay sewage treatment business in fiscal year 1994. If the city or some other agency assumes operation of the system, those MMS funds will go elsewhere. If nobody takes over the current facility, we will apparently get into the business for our headquarters ourselves. Oh joy! A five year refuge funding summary is included in Table 3.

Table 3. Izembek NWR five year funding summary, 1989-1993.

($x000) 1260 MMS 1230 Subsist 1411 (8610) TOTALS* (-MMS) 1260 1260 FY-1989 478 0 0 0 0 (28) 478

FY-1990 424 4 0 0 0 (47) 428

FY-1991 504 76 0 0 0 (33) 580

FY-1992 477 37 1.5 18 2 (20) 535.5

FY-1993 517 841 7 5 0 (14) 613 1

* - Totals exclude 8610 (quarters maintenance) funds 1 - Excludes $93,000 contingency funds for possible sewage treatment project (see text for details)

6. Safety

No lost time accidents were sustained in 1992. An accident in June, however, resulted in severe damage to our float equipped Super Cub when it impacted submerged rocks and flipped over on take-off from Blinn Lake.

Staff safety meetings were held more-or-less monthly throughout the year as staff was available. Topics in 1992 included fire safety and operation of the slip-on pumper unit, winter flying, boating safety, bear safety, safety training requirements, low-level flying, CPR and First Aid, and field operations safety.

A fatal bear attack occurred in the village of King Cove on the morning of July 10. A woman and her two small children were walking along a stretch of road near the King Cove landfill at approximately 6:00 am when they saw a bear and reacted by running in different directions. The young male bear overtook the six year old boy and when the mother returned with help it was too late. The bear was destroyed and ADF&G Area Biologist Dick Sellers travelled to King Cove to investigate the incident and perform an necropsy on the bear. Local reaction has been as expected, with people demanding 13

killing of all bears on sight to prevent another attack. The incident occurred just one week after the fatal black bear attack near Glenallen.

At the request of the public, DRM Chase presented a bear behavior/avoidance program for the town of Cold Bay on the 23rd. The program had been planned prior to the incident in King Cove which added further emphasis to all that was said. The program consisted of the regional bear safety training information without the regional policies and only a mention of firearm safety. Twenty-seven people attended the program.

8. Other Items

Refuge Review Deputy Associate Manager-Line Jerry Stroebele, Refuges and Wildlife Program Coordinator Fred Nolke, Migratory Bird Management Chief Bob Leedy, and Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center Project Leader Bob Gill conducted a refuge operations review 13-15 October. We believe the visit was very productive, but a report had not been received by the end of the year.

Special Regulations ANILCA abolished all Special Regulations for the Izembek and Unimak units in 1980. Special Regulation resubmissions for Izembek and Unimak units and initial submissions for the Pavlof Unit have been made in 1982, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and this year. As in all previous attempts, the effort was not supported in 1992. In October, with regional office support, we initiated a new single issue strategy to hold the line on aircraft landings in Right-Hand and Left-Hand valleys of the Izembek Unit. During the spring bear hunt a pilot/hunter landed his plane in the area and the bear guides came unglued. Everyone soon knew that we were able to keep th.e lid on the guides because nobody else had attempted to access the area before and not because we had regulations prohibiting aircraft entry. A state managed "Controlled Use Area" proposal was passed to the Alaska Board of Game late in the year. The Board will act on the proposal in March 1993.

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General

Protection of natural habitat integrity is the management strategy of this station. The areas administered from the Cold Bay office are wilderness in the adjective sense, with a large portion also being wilderness in the legal sense. For these reasons, active management in conventional terms (e.g., water level manipulations, farming, etc.) is not appropriate to meet refuge goals and objectives. Instead, habitat integrity is maintained primarily through the management of human activities on the refuge. To date, demands have concentra.ted on the fisheries and wildlife resources rather than habitat resources (e.g., mining, oil/gas development, etc.), although some challenges seem to continuously loom in the wind. Though Izembek Refuge and much of the lower Alaska Peninsula have been evaluated 14 and declared to have little to no hydrocarbon development potential, it seems the threat of Bering Sea offshore oil and gas development pressures persist. Should such development ever come to pass, Cold Bay will surely become a hub for maintenance and transportation activities in support of the offshore rigs. Increased air traffic over Izembek Lagoon and other refuge wetlands could prove disastrous to, staging and wintering waterfowl. Perhaps the greatest potential consequence would result from an oil spill in the Bering Sea. A single incident of the "Exxon Valdez" type near Izembek Lagoon during the fall waterfowl and shorebird staging period or during the winter months could nearly extirpate the Pacific black brant and gravely impact the Steller's eider and emperor goose populations.

Of the three refuge units (see map in INTRODUCTION), most management challenges have resulted from the confounding land status along the lower Alaska Peninsula brought about through ANCSA & ANILCA. Native and state selections and conveyances have been particularly widespread in the Pavlof Unit. Though specific land development plans by the villages and corporations are not known, they will surely center on economic return for the shareholders. Roads, harbors, canneries, gravel mining and hydro­ electric development have all been mentioned as potential uses. Increased development adjacent to the refuge will surely place additional demands on the refuge itself. Fortunately, most of the Izembek and Unimak units are designated wilderness.

2. Wetlands

The premier wetlands of the lower Alaska Peninsula are Izembek Lagoon and associated habitats. Nearly the entire Pacific black brant population stages on the lagoon each fall to fatten up on eelgrass prior to migrating south to winter haunts in Mexico. The lagoon also hosts significant numbers of Canada geese, emperor geese, Steller's eiders, a small semi­ migratory population of tundra swans, a variety of other duck species, and a variety of shorebirds throughout the year. Each fall wetland species seek out Izembek Lagoon and other refuge wetlands for the abundant food resources necessary to build fat reserves required to survive the arduous southward migration and/or long winter season. The eelgrass beds within the lagoon are probably the largest of their kind in the world. Izembek Lagoon eelgrass is estimated to annually produce and export (in the form of detached plants) 166,000 metric tons of carbon, 7,400 metric tons of nitrogen and 1,660 metric tons of phosphorous to the Bering Sea.

Through its attraction.to hundreds of thousands of waterfowl from both sides of the Pacific, contributions to the Bering Sea food web, and its contributions to the international commercial fishing industry, Izembek Lagoon truly is a wetland of international importance. The area was recognized as a "Wetland of International Importance" in 1986. Although Izembek Lagoon and other local lagoon systems are the wetlands of primary concern, the variety of other refuge wetland types are important as well. Excluding the lagoon, Izembek is nearly 87 percent wetlands. Of the total area, approximately 61 percent is berry producing low growing bush tundra, 15

19 percent is ponds, lakes and streams, and 7 percent is grass/sedge marsh.

The eelgrass beds of Izembek Lagoon are probably the largest of their kind anywhere in the world 10 September 1992 CFZ

These associated wetlands are critical to the health of the lagoon through their contributions to the quality of water entering the lagoon. The Pavlof and Unimak units contain substantially smaller proportions of wetlands, since the terrain of those areas are dominated by mountains. Their important wetlands are riverine and lagoon systems with associated grass/sedge meadows. As with the Izembek unit, "management" is through preservation of the natural ecosystems.

RM Zeillemaker, DRM Chase, Deputy Associate Manager-Line Jerry Stroebele and Refuge Program Specialist Bob Bartels met with ADF&G staff in August to discuss regulations and activity permits within the Izembek State Game Refuge (SGR) . Under state regulations, "wheeled-vehicle" access to State Game Refuges is by permit only. Since the lagoon and beaches below mean high tide are state owned, a permit is required to land an airplane or operate an ATV within the SGR boundary. ADF&G will continue to evaluate all requests on an individual basis, but activities on the outer beaches and landings at Moffet Point would generally be permitted while activities within the Lagoon proper would generally be prohibited. Aircraft landings at the mouth of the Joshua Green River will be handled on a case by case basis. 16

6. Other Habitats

Tundra For yet another year the U. S. Air Force did not complete investigations and corrective action at Grant Point, Izembek Unit, where suspected contaminants have been observed in the past. Letters received from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in February and September indicate that site cleanup of former Department of Defense installations at Scotch Cap and Cape Sarichef on the Unimak Unit is scheduled for some time after fiscal year 1994.

12. Wilderness and Special Areas

Large portions of the Izembek Unit (300,000 acres) and the Unimak Unit (910,000 acres) are designated wilderness. The non-designated portions of all three refuge units are also "managed" as wilderness. There have not been any serious threats to lands designated wilderness or otherwise to date. There are several areas within the Pavlof Unit that meet wilderness criteria and ate contiguous with the Izembek Wilderness . One area includes Pavlof Volcano and the surrounding uplands which are important brown bear denning areas. Designation procedures will be initiated as soon as all ownership conveyances are complete and current conveyances are finalized .

The Cold Bay side of Aghileen Pinnacles is designated wilderness, the other side, in the Pavlof Unit, is not, but should be 30 December 1991 CFZ 17

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity

There have been 169 species of birds and 26 species of mammals reported as residents or migrants on or adjacent to the three Izembek Refuge units. At least 41 species of fish have also been documented, with most being marine for at least some part of their lives. The spectacled eider was moved from the "hypothetical" bird list.to the accidental list in April. Buller's shearwater, red knot, common greenshank, Bonaparte's gull and red-flanked bluetail were added to the refuge bird list and the harbor porpoise was added to the refuge mammal list in 1992.

2. Endangered Species

The threatened Aleutian Canada goose was verified at Izembek Refuge through the observation of a tarsal banded bird in 1987. Monitoring of refuge Canada geese during fall composition counts and hunter bag checks since have resulted in no additional records. The subspecies is apparently an occasional straggler to the lower Alaska Peninsula portion of the refuge.

The Arctic peregrine falcon was recorded for the first time on the refuge in 1992. Refuge Manager Zeillemaker studied an adult bird perched on a shoreline rock at Grant Point on 25 October. The unlisted dark plumaged Peale's race is a fairly common resident along the Peninsula.

In May, the Service proposed the spectacled eider for threatened species status, the first such action for an Alaska animal since the Endangered Species Act took effect in 1973. As mentioned above, the first confirmed record of the spectacled eider for the lower Alaska Peninsula occurred this year. Also in May, the Service proposed the Steller's eider as a "Category 1" species (threatened species status warranted, but precluded from listing at the time by higher listing priorities). In both cases, attention to eiders was greatly increased at the refuge in 1992, including resumption of Steller's eider banding (Section G.3).

3. Waterfowl

Izembek Refuge supports an abundance of waterfowl in species diversity as well as total numbers. Most of the "typical" North American species as well as species and populations from the Old World visit the refuge. Eurasian wigeon and common/Aleutian green-winged teal are regular annual visitors. Tufted ducks and even a smew have also been recorded. All four species of eider have been recorded at or near the refuge. Prior to 1992 the presence of the spectacled eider was based on only one unconfirmed record over a 40 year span. The single adult male spectacled eider observed (and poorly photographed) by the refuge staff at Herendeen Bay on 07 April 1992 provided long sought confirmation. We believe the species winters in the northern Bering Sea, with only occasional stragglers 18 reaching the Alaska Peninsula or eastern Aleutian Islands. Common and king eiders regularly winter on the refuge, but are not ever considered abundant except very locally. In mild winters, common eiders tend to be the most numerous, while in harsh winters, when the south edge of the Bering Sea ice pack approaches the southern end of the Peninsula, a moderate influx of king eiders occurs. The Steller's eider is the most abundant duck observed at Izembek Refuge throughout the fall and winter. This area may be the center of abundance for the species during those times of the year.

Other sea ducks wintering at Izembek Refuge include white-winged and black scoters, common goldeneye, bufflehead, oldsquaw, greater scaup, harlequin duck, and common and red-breasted mergansers. Far less common are the surf scoter and Barrow's goldeneye. The refuge also supports wintering populations of a few thousand brant and emperor geese. Greater white­ fronted geese and snow geese are uncommon visitors during the fall staging period at the refuge, being most often observed amidst flocks of emperor ~nd Canada geese. Only one adult snow goose was observed this fall during a 13 October aerial waterfowl survey.

Tundra Swan Evaluations of refuge habitat utilization, population size and productivity of tundra swans was begun in 1977 and has proven useful in documenting the importance of wetland ecological units of the refuge. Tundra swans require remote relatively undisturbed habitats such as those characterizing most of the Izembek Refuge. Knowledge of this key indicator species continues to be our most valuable indicator of the health and stability of refuge fresh­ water wetlands and other wildlife populations using them. One of our refuge mandates is to conserve populations and habitats in their natural diversity. The annual surveys conducted on tundra swans by the refuge staff are important in fulfilling this essential purpose of the refuge. Surveys include aerial assessments to determine spring population size, distribution, habitat use, nesting density, production and wintering distribution. To facilitate and augment these investigations, numerous swans have been captured and neck collared for individual identification. Visibly marked swans have not only aided our evaluations during the nesting and brood rearing seasons, but have also identified migratory and non­ migratory trends in birds from various parts of the refuge. The importance of collecting these data on an annual basis became apparent in the late 1980's when Izembek Unit swans began to decline in numbers due to observed changes in migratory behavior.

Historically, the lower Alaska Peninsula population of semi-migratory tundra swans numbered 500-600 individuals, with most wintering in the Peterson Lagoon area of Unimak Island. It appeared that the summer population on the Unimak Unit was less than 100 individuals even during the population peak. The Izembek Unit contributed another 200-250 birds (206 in 1992), so the historic wintering population likely included birds from adjacent breeding areas on the Pavlof Unit where 500-700 swans spend the summer. Neck collaring projects conducted by refuge staff have not confirmed this assumption, as no marked swans from the Pavlof Unit have been observed in the Unimak wintering population. 19

Tundra swan pair at Koso Pond near Cold Bay 25 May 1992 CFZ

Another potential factor leading to the late 1980's decline of summering and wintering swans on the refuge is emigration into areas used by larger migratory populations . Large populations of swans from the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta, Bristol Bay lowlands , and the Selawik area, winter in the Pacific Northwest and other western states . Swans marked at Izembek Refuge have been observed in association with those populations and may have been absorbed and drawn to different breeding areas. Two I zembek Refuge swans were reported on the Y-K Delta in 1990 and another two were observed at spring staging areas used by Y-K Delta and Bristol Bay populations in the Cook Inlet area. No further sightings occurred in 1991 or 1992 in either of those staging or breeding areas.

Annual Izembek NWR breeding population surveys were conducted on the Izembek Unit 18-19 MAY and on the Pavlof Unit 19-21 May. Totals of 206 birds and 18 nests were tallied on the complete survey of the Izembek Unit (Table 3). Marshlands within six 1 : 63 , 360 scale quadrangle maps on and adjacent to the Pavlof Unit comprises the sample for that portion of the refuge and a total of 601 swans and 93 nests were observed (Tables 4 & 5) . Swan nests were checked during aerial surveys conducted 21 , 22 and 28 May and 4, 5, 8, 10 and 22 June. Seven (39%) of the nests found on the Izembek Unit were known to hatch. Six (86%) of the broods produced survived into the Class I age category and 5 (71%) survived into age classes II or III. Although individual broods could not be followed post -fledging, it appears that a minimum of 3 (43%) of the 1992 broods survived to flight stage (Tables 6 and 7) . 19

Tundra swan pair at Koso Pond near Cold Bay 25 May 1992 CFZ

Another potential factor leading to the late 1980's decline of summering and wintering swans on the refuge is emigration into areas used by· larger migratory populations. Large populations of swans from the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta, Bristol Bay lowlands, and the Selawik area, winter in the Pacific Northwest and other western states. Swans marked at Izembek Refuge have been observed in association with those populations and may have been absorbed and drawn to different breeding areas. Two Izembek Refuge swans were reported on the Y-K Delta in 1990 and another two were observed at spring staging areas used by Y-K Delta and Bristol Bay populations in the Cook Inlet area. No further sightings occurred in 1991 or 11992 in either of those staging or breeding areas.

Annual Izembek NWR Qreeding population surveys were conducted on the Izembek Unit 18-19 MAY and on the Pavlof Unit 19-21 May. Totals of 206 birds and 18 nests were tallied on the complete survey of the Izembek Unit (Table 3). Marshlands within six 1:63,360 scale quadrangle maps on and adjacent to the Pavlof Unit comprises the sample for that portion of the refuge and a total of 601 swans and 93 nests were observed (Tables 4 & 5). Swan nests were checked during aerial surveys conducted 21, 22 and 28 May and 4, 5, 8, 10 and 22 June. Seven (39%) of the nests found on the Izembek Unit were known to hatch. Six (86%) of the broods produced survived into the Class I age category and 5 (71%) survived into age classes II or III. Although individual broods could not be followed post-fledging, it appears that a minimum of 3 (43%) of the 1992 broods survived to flight stage (Tables 6 and 7). 20

The first swan brood was observed 04 June and hatching continued through at least 12 June. Flocks of non-breeders and failed breeders began forming in late June and early July. Capture attempts for those birds were conducted

Table 3. Tundra swan nesting surveys on Izembek Unit and western portion of Pavlof Unit, 1978-1992.

Number of Swans Observed (% of Total) Area Covr Density No of Collared Date Singles Single Pair Other In Groups Total (sq mi) (sq mi) Swans Seen w/nest w/nest Pairs 5/8/781 6(8) 0(0) 18(23) 26(33) 28(36) 78 315.5 .25 n/a 4/25,28/792 10(5) 0(0) 24(12) 96(47) 75(36) 205 413.9 .50 12 5/14-15/80 9(4) 0(0) 60(26) 84(36) 80(34) 233 .56 1 5/13,15/81 16(8) 0(0) 58(29) 94(48) 29(15) 197 .48 21 6/2,6/823 11(5) 0(0) 68(30) 92(41) 55(24) 226 .55 23 5/31-6/1/833 8(4) 0(0) 48(21) 94(41) 77(34) 227 .55 37 6/7-8/843 5(2) 0(0) 78(35) 54(25) 85(38) 222 .54 42 5/28,30,6/1/85 20(7) 0(0) 54(20) 52(20) 140(53) 266 .64 32 5/20/86 11(5) 0(0) 70(29) 66(28) 90(38) 237 .57 24 5/19/87 7(3) 0(0) 76(36) 50(23) 81(38) 214 .52 30 5/18-19/88 7(6) 0(0) 28(24) 42(36) 41(35) 118 .29 7 5/30-31/893 3(2) 0(0) 18(11) 80(47) 69(41) 170 .41 6 5/21-22/90 9(5) 0(0) 46(25) 32(17) 99(53) 186 .45 3 5/19/91 7(4) 1(1) 50(25) 30(15) 111(56) 197 .48 0 5/18-19/92 13 (7) 7(4) 22(11) 44(22) 120(61) 206 .47 0 Avg. 1979-1992 9(4) 0.5(0.8) 50(24) 65(31) 82(40) 207 .50 1 Cathedral lakes/lakes south of Mortensen's Lagoon/west side of Morzhovoi Bay not covered. Other areas not covered thoroughly. 2 Survey too early to include peak of nesting. 3 Survey too late for peak of nesting.

Table 4. Summary of tundra swan nesting surveys on the Pavlof Unit, Izembek NWR, 1984-1992.

Survey Singles Singles Pair Pair Pair Swans in Total Area Density 2 Date Coverage w/nest w/nest w/brood w/o nest flocks Swans Surveyed (swan/mi ) (Ma]2s~ or brood (mi'~ 6/12/84 D-5,6 11 5 16 10 39 25 171 281.6 .61 6/6-10/85 C-5,6 35 5 16 0 124 166 486 502.8 .97 D-5,6 5/16-21/86 C-5,6 46 18 38 0 92 182 506 678.6 . 75 D-4,5,6 5/27-28/87 C-5,6 48 14 .40 0 91 196 520 707.6 .73 D-3,4,5,6 5/19-23/88 C-5,6 66 17 35 0 97 287 634 678.6 .93 D-4,5,6 5/31-6/1/89 C-5,6 46 12 40 1 147 245 679 707.6 .96 D-3,4,5,6 5/20-21/91 C-5,6 57 0 57 0 125 164 585 .83 D-3,4,5,6 5/19-21/92 C-5,6 87 23 70 0 103 145 601 .85 D-3 4 5 6 Avg 1986-1992 58 14 47 0.2 109 203 586 .83 % Change in 1992 +50 +64 +49 -100 -6 -29 +3 +2

Table 5. Proportions/densities of single and paired swans in relation to flocked swans, Pavlof Unit.

Year Singles & Pairs (% total) Density Flocked birds (% total) Density (birdsLmF~ (birdsLmF~ 1984 146 (85) .52 25 (15) .09 1985 320 (66) .64 166 (34) .33 1986 324 (64) .48 182 (36) .27 1987 324 (62) .46 196 (38) .28 1988 347 (55) .51 287 (45) .42 1989 434 (64) .61 245 (36) .35 1991 421 (72) .59 164 (28) .23 1992 456 (76~ .64 145 (24~ .20 Averages 384 .54 181 .28 21

Table 6. Summary of 1992 tundra swan nests, Izembek NWR.

Estimated Clutch Brood Size Nest Number (Survey Route No.) Size Status Class I Class II/III 1 (01) Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown 2 (02) Unknown Destroyed 3 ( 14) Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown 4 ( 15) Unknown Hatched 5 ( 15) Unknown Hatched 4 4 6 (23) Unknown Destroyed 7 (29) Unknown Destroyed 8 (35) Unknown Destroyed 9 ( 36) Unknown Hatched 5 3 10 (38) Unknown Hatched 3 1 11 (39) 5 Hatched 5 4 12 (42) Unknown Destroyed 13 (43) Unknown Hatched 4 4 14 (48) Unknown Hatched 1 15 (50) Unknown Destroyed 16 (54) Unknown Destroyed 17 (56) Unknown Destroyed 18 (64) Unknown Destroyed 1 Average: 5.0 (38.9% ) Nesting Success: 3.7 3.2 1 Nests of known fate.

Table 7. Tundra swan productivity data, Izembek Unit.

No. Av, Clutch (N) 1 % Nest Success (N) 2 % Hatching Success (N) 3 Brood Size (N) 4 Year Nests Laid Hatch Total % Fledging5 Total Laid to Hatch to Class No. Class No. Class F Class F I Cyg. III/F Cyg.

1977 Unk. Unk. Unk. Unk ( 10+) 100 Unk. Unk. Unk. Unk. Unk. 3.4 34 1978 14+ Unk. Unk. Unk (9+) 100 Unk. Unk. Unk. Unk. Unk. 3.1 28 1979 17+ Unk. Unk. Unk (7+) 100 Unk. Unk. Unk. Unk. Unk. 2.4 17 1980 34 (17) 4.8 3.4 50 ( 17) 59 78 32 41 3.4 51 2.2 22 1981 47 (23) 5.1 3.8 36 ( 17) 76 65 33 50 3.8 64 2.5 32 1982 44 (22) 4.8 3.4 50 (22) 41 85 28 33 3.4 74+ 2.6 23 1983 28 (14) 5.4 4.6 68 (19) 89 90 46 51 4.6 87+ 2.9 49 1984 42 (30) 4.7 3.9 76 ( 32) 69 86 51 59 3.9 118+ 3.4 75 1985 35 (26) 4.4 3.8 46 ( 16) 63 89 42 47 3.8 57+ 2.7 27 1986 40 (32) 4.8 3.8 53 (21) 76 69 44 68 3.8 72+ 3.1 50 1987 40 (37) 4.9 3.8 53 (21) 86 77 60 78 3.8 79+ 3.4 62 1988 14 (10) 3.3 2.5 86 ( 12) 83 91 79 64 2.5 30 2.6 26 1989 9 (9) 3.6 3.7 44 (4) 25 79 21 27 3.7 11 3.0 3 1990 23 (14) 4.7 3.3 57 ( 13) 69 77 74 69 3.3 30 3.2 29 1991 26 (2) 5.5 3.0 86 ( 18) 78 36 36 92 3.0 48 3.1 44 1992 18 (1) 5.0 3.7 39 (7) 71 100 80 80 3.7 22 3.2 16 1 Nests with known clutch sizes. 2 Number of nests. 3 Number of eggs. 4 Number of broods. 5 Percent of successful nests fledging young.

23 and 27 July·. Eleven of 19 molting adults in flocks of 3 and 16 were captured for banding. Only 8 of the larger flock were captured (Table 8). Three additional birds in the large flock were collared, so numbers were read without recapture.

Table 8. Summary of tundra swans captured on the Izembek Unit, 1992.

DATE LOCATION AHY SY NECK COLLAR CODE M F M F 23 JULY VOR Lake 2 1 02,FS,(recapture XX) 27 JULY Swan Lake 2 1 4 32,46,9F,K5,M5,U3,Y7,(resight XR,02.??) 22

In 1992 (winters of 1991-92 and 1992-93) nine Izembek Refuge swans were reported wintering in the "Lower 48" states and one (XR) on Kodiak Island (Table 9). Another marked swan from the Izembek Unit (SF) provided the most interesting resighting of 1992. Originally captured in 1983, the bird had not been resighted until 26 February when it was observed with 100 unmarked swans near Batavia, New York! This is our first resighting east of the Rocky Mountains with the exception of 1989 spring migration reports of a bird (Xl) near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and two other birds (X6 and 7Z) near Calgary, Alberta. The resighting of SF and the resighting of some of our birds in California in the company of swans marked in North Carolina and South Carolina suggest that there may be more continental mixing of tundra swans than was previously thought. Swans from the North Slope of Alaska traditionally winter along the east coast of the continent. The distribution of the 1992 resightings of Izembek Refuge swans, with the marked exception of SF, did not differ from the pattern recorded in the previous three winters (Figure 1).

Table 9. Winter resightings of neck-collared swans captured on the Izembek Refuge.

Collar Ca:eture Resie;htings ~Date - State) Code Date Location 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 CF 29 JUL 85 Pavlof Unit 17,21 NOV- OR/WA RR 05 AUG 88 Pavlof Unit 28 NOV - OR/WA yp 29 JUL 85 Pavlof Unit 20,21,26 NOV - OR/WA 29 NOV,7 DEC- OR/WA 18 NOV - OR/WA Z4 25 JUL 87 Izembek Unit 17,26 NOV- OR/WA 18 NOV - OR/WA 6V 20 JUL 88 Izembek Unit 21 NOV,11 DEC,2 FEB - OR/WA R5 31 JUL 86 Pavlof Unit 16 JAN - OR/WA 2X 20 JUL 88 Izembek Unit 5 JAN - OR/WA 20 DEC - OR/WA 5F 30 JUL 83 Izembek Unit 16 FEB - NY XR 26 JUL 91 Izembek Unit 16 MAR - AK 9F 30 JUL 83 Izembek Unit 22 DEC - OR/WA 3Z 20 JUL 88 Izembek Unit 3,26 JAN - OR/WA K5 01 AUG 82 Izembek Unit 17,20,23 DEC,6,26 JAN - OR/WA Y7 31 JUL 82 Izembek Unit 2 FEB - OR F5 19 JUL 82 Izembek Unit 9,12 MAR- OR NO 30 JUL 86 Pavlof Unit 9,21.23 JAN,19 NOV - OR/WA

Tundra swans are found on the Izembek Refuge throughout the year with their numbers and distribution determined by the extent of winter ice cover. Most winter at spring fed lagoons on the Unimak Unit. The population began a dramatic distributional shift in the late 1980's when a majority of the previously resident population began migrating. Many collared birds were found wintering in the Pacific Northwest and even further south, while fewer than 100 (compared to the usual S00-600) remained to winter at Unimak Island. A corresponding decline in the Izembek Unit nesting population accompanied the change in migratory behavior (Table 10). These trends slowly began to reverse in 1989 and by 1992 the summer population approached the long-term average (Table 3).

Wintering numbers on the Unimak Unit followed suit with a low of 41 birds in January 1989. Numbers of wintering swans increased to 24S birds in February 1991 and 430 birds in February 1992. A 11 March survey of open water habitats on the Unimak Unit resulted in a comparable count of 416 swans. In 1989 a single collared swan was observed in the wintering flock None were noted in 1991 or 1992. Because extensive neck collaring was done through 1987, the lack of winter resightings from 1989 through 1992 0 ()

'

XR (91/92)

yp (91/92,92/93) KS,NO,RS,Z4,2X,3Z,9F (92/93) ___... (91/92) FS,Y7 (92/93)

Figure 1. Winter sightings of neck-collared tundra swans from the Izembek NWR. 23

suggests that our "lost" migrants did not return in subsequent years and that the population may have begun rebuilding through production alone. Immigration of swans from the adjacent Pavlof Unit appears to have little, if any, impact on the Izembek Unit population. Marked swans from the Pavlof Unit, begun there in the mid 1980's, indicate that the population is strictly migratory.

Table 10. Numbers of swans using the Izembek Refuge in relation to winter distributional shift.'

Number of Swans Observed (%) Date Singles Nesting Non-nesting In Groups Total Area Cov. Density Pairs Pairs (Sg:. Mi.) (Sg. Mi.) Average 1979-872 11 60 76 79 225 413.9 .55 (ranse) (5-20) (24-78) (50-96) (29-140) (197-266) (.48-.64) Average 1988-92 7 32 46 88 168 413.9 .41 (ranse) p-13) (18-50) (30-44) (41-120) (118-197) (.29-.48) Percent Chan!!je 3 -36 -47 -39 +11 -25 -25 1 Survey area: Izembek Unit, Pavlof Unit south of Cold Bay and Izembek Unit north to Cathedral River. 2 Period prior to shift in winter distribution and decline in summering swans. 3 From 1979-87 average.

Tundra swans breed throughout the low wetlands of all three refuge units and are highly visible indicators of seasonal phenology and habitat quality. Their wintering habitat on the refuge is very restricted during most years and they are very concentrated at that time. During summer, swans are also good general indicators of distribution and productivity of the refuge breeding duck population, as habitat preferences are markedly similar. The refuge places a high priority on tundra swan surveys, as the species serves as an indicator species for all refuge wetland habitats and wildlife species. Population surveys on the Izembek and Pavlof units require only four days of flight time annually and the 15 and 8 years of data, respectively, are among the few long-term data sets for the species.

Brant Essentially the entire Pacific Flyway brant population uses the Izembek Refuge for up to three weeks each spring and eight weeks each fall. These birds breed in the Canadian arctic and arctic and sub-arctic areas of Alaska and Russia (Figure 2). The short duration spring staging period is characterized by a gradual transition through the Izembek Lagoon area beginning in late March or early April. By mid-May most brant have departed the area for northerly breeding grounds. A few brant rarely remain at Izembek Lagoon into June and/or July (53 birds in 1991, several observations up to 3,000 birds in 1992). The birds were either non­ breeders who failed to complete the spring migration or failed breeders in a molt migration due to the timing of their migration. Some of these birds may well have molted in the area, although flightless birds were not seen.

In fall, the first brant normally arrive in the third week of August. The population builds to a peak in mid-September and remains at the peak level until departing for wintering areas in late October or early November. The fall migration from Izembek Lagoon is largely en masse. After a 55 hour 3,300 mile flight, the birds arrive in coastal Baja California. The phenology of this fall flight in relation to climatic conditions has been a subject of study by the refuge staff for over thirty years and has been the topic of presentations at scientific meetings and a published paper. () 0

IZEMBEK NWR

Figure 2 . Breeding area (8) of Pacific black brant and their fall migration route to the Izembek NWR and Pacific coast VJintering areas (0). 24

Annual refuge brant investigations are primarily directed toward the collection of data in the fall on productivity and population size. These data are collected through a variety of ground and aerial survey efforts performed by not only the Izembek Refuge staff, but also personnel with the AFWRC and MBM. The cooperative nature of the project has broadened our

Nearly the entire Pacific black brant population is present at Izembek each fall and some spend the winter 10 February 1992 CFZ perspectives and increased the quality and quantity of data obtained.

The Izembek NWR staff continued to provide assistance to the Pacific Flyway and specifically MBM-Juneau by monitoring the numbers of brant over­ wintering in Izembek and adjacent lagoons, Personnel with MBM-Juneau coordinate with Region 1 to annually complete the mid-winter waterfowl survey along the west coast of Mexico. Izembek NWR data are important in assessing the distribution and abundance of brant flyway wide. Two aerial surveys were conducted by the refuge staff during the mid-January survey period. Counts of 7,407 and 8,008 brant on 14 and 16 January, respectively, were made, Conditions were mild during the surveys with no ice present. This is only the third year during which more than 8,000 brant have over-wintered here. In .the past 12 years an average of 6,165 brant (range 2,075-9,860) have over-wintered at the Izembek NWR (Table 11). This is in contrast to subjective reports from the 1950's to the 1970's when brant apparently over-wintered in the hundreds. People who grew up on Sanak Island SO miles south of Cold Bay report that small numbers of brant regularly wintered there in the 1950's and 1960's. Milder winters in recent years may be an important factor in allowing more brant to winter in 25

Alaska. Other potential causative factors, such as nutrition or disturbance, could be preventing brant from assimilating the body reserves necessary to perform the strenuous fall migration to Mexico. Adult brant lose approximately 30 percent of their body weight during that flight.

Table 11. Winter brant surveys at Izembek Refuge, 1971-1992.

Year Aerial Surve:.:: Christmas Bird Count Peak (Date~ Other Counts (Date~ Number Date 1971 233 12/28/71 1972 22 12/21/72 1973 17 12/19/73 1974 6 12/24/74 1975 0 12/31/75 1976 8 12/31/76 1977 5 12/26/77 1978 488 12/28/78 1979 0 12/30/79 1980 4 12/29/80 1981 2075 12/23/81 1982 9860 12/28/82 1983 3337 12/27/83 1984 4700 12/24/84 1985 7665 (12/02/85) 3010 (01/24/86) 3 12/31/85 1986 5755 (02/27/87) 3050 (02/27 /87) 2.4 01/02/87 1987 8385 (01/15/88) 3975 ( 12/11/87) 0 01/02/88 1988 7050 (12/12/88) 3910 (01/17/89) 1400 12/22/88 1989 5595 (01/10/90) 2110 12/20/89 1990 4350 (01/09/91) 4 12/29/90 1991 7200 (02/10/92) 6790(12/17)/5797(01/23/92) 505 01/02/92 1992 8008 (01L16L93~ 7404 (01L14L93~ 837 12L29L92

Brant began arriving at Izembek Lagoon in late March and by the end of the month (26th) 8,386 birds were present, an increase of more than 1,000 birds over the winter counts. Incoming migrants were first observed on 6 April when a flock of 125 were seen over Cold Bay. The next observations of arriving brant were on 22, 24 and 30 April, but an aerial survey on 16 April tallied 21,095 birds, suggesting a moderate influx prior to mid-month had gone undetected. From 3 to 5 May the refuge cooperated with MBM-North in performing an annual southwestern alaska coastal waterfowl survey with brant numbers totaling 69,110.

In 1991 and 1992 the number of brant observed on the spring survey was far fewer than normal, which may be due to delayed departures from wintering areas or unfavorable weather en route. Spring migration of brant from wintering areas to Izembek Lagoon is characterized by short, northerly movements over roughly a two-month period. Brant must accumulate at staging areas which normally result in a compressed arrival period at Izembek Refuge.

Brant productivity and family group counts conducted at Izembek Refuge in 1992 marked the 30th consecutive year such appraisals have been made. The first fall migrant brant usually arrive at Izembek Lagoon in August, but this year the first observations were 2 September. The average arrival date for first migrants at the refuge over a 21 year period for which we have data is 18 August with 1992 being the latest on record. Production counts were obtained from 03 September to 20 October, with a total of 66,839 individuals classified to age. Juveniles comprised 11,044, or 16.5 26 percent, of the total compared to the long-term average of 22.5 percent (Tables 12, 13 and 14). Refuge surveys indicated that 1992 brant productivity was 40.6 percent below the 1991 level (27.8 percent juveniles) and 26.7 percent below the 30 year average (22.5 percent juveniles). Estimated composition of the 1992 population based on the observed percentages and aerial survey counts is presented in Table 15.

Table 12. Annual black brant production counts, Izembek Refuge, 1970-1992.

Year Adults Juveniles Total % Juveniles 1971 4,820 1,953 6, 773 28.8 1972 6,599 3,698 10,297 35.9 1973 12,025 4,999 17,024 29.4 1974 13,118 632 13,750 4.6 1975 9,396 5,452 14,848 36.7 1976 7,962 4,340 12,302 35.3 1977 8,856 4,092 12,948 31.6 1978 10,696 1,842 12,538 14.7 1979 13,674 2,349 16,023 14.7 1980 9,618 3,341 12,959 25.8 1981 4,109 936 5,045 18.6 1982 11,509 1,213 12,722 9.5 1983 6,149 1,947 8,096 24.1 1984 9,451 1,499 10,950 13.7 1985 12,032 1,915 13,947 13.7 1986 15,621 2,823 18,444 15.3 1987 17,411 7,882 25,293 31.2 1988 16,138 3,847 19,985 19.3 1989 13,654 4,281 17,935 23.9 1990. 24,215 5,750 29,965 19.2 1991 31,432 12,127 43,559 27.8 1992 55 795 11 044 66 839 16.5 30 Year Ave: 14 010 4 067 18 077 22.5

Table 13. Brant production counts by month/location, Izembek NWR, 1992.

Number of brant classified to age Month Location Adult Juvenile (%) Total September Operl Island 14,068 1,429 (09.2) 15,497 Neumann Island 7,693 1,452 (15.9) 9' 1451 Lucky Cove 4,143 1,251 (23.2) 5,394 Grant Point2 1,548 648 (29.5) 2,196 Outer Marker 215 73 (25.4) 288 Cape Glazenap Cove 186 171 (47.9) 357 Quarter Point 82 32 (28.1) 114 Sub-total 27,935 5.056 (15.3) 32,991 October Operl Island 9,054 1,040 (10.3) 10,094 Neumann Island 7,981 2,927 (26.8) 10' 9083 Lucky Cove 5,094 1,275 (20.0) 6,369 Norma Bay 2,680 274 (09.3) 2,954 Applegate Cove 1,595 98 (05.8) 1,693 Outer Marker 960 164 (14.6) 1,124 Kinzarof Lagoon 327 149 (31.3 476 Cape Glazenap Cove 169 61 (26.5) 230 Sub Total 27,860 5, 988 (17. 7) 33,848 Total 55,795 11.044 (16.5) 66,839 Includes 5.7% light-bellied birds Includes Grant Point Cove, Island Cove, Dirk's Cove and Rambo Cove. Includes 26.6% light-bellied birds 27

Table 14. Brant production counts by Izembek Lagoon geographic areaS 7 1992.

No. of No. of Percent Total Location Adults Juveniles Juveniles Birds Operl Island 23,122 2,469 9.7 25,591 Neumann Island 15,674 4,379 21.8 20,053 Lucky Cove 9,237 2,526 21.5 11' 763 Norma Bay 2,680 274 9.3 2,954 Grant Point Area' 1,548 648 29.5 2,196 Applegate Cove 1,595 98 5.8 1,693 Outer Marker 1,175 237 16.8 1,412 Cape Glazenap Cove 355 232 39.5 587 Kinzarof Lagoon 327 149 31.3 476 Quarter Point 82 32 28.1 114 Totals 55 795 11 044 16.5 66 839 1 Includes Grant Point Cove, Island Cove, Dirk's Cove and Rambo Cove.

Table 15. Brant population composition, Izembek NWR, 1992.

Parameters Est. Number %Change of birds from 1991 Total Count' 115,133 -8.5 Est. No. of Juveniles (i.e., 16.5% of total) 18,997 -45.7 Est. No. of Families (i.e., total juveniles at 2.8/family) 6,785 -49.6 Est. No. of Breeding Adults (i.e., no. of families x 2) 13,570 -49.6 Est. No. Sub-adult & Non/Failed Breeding Adults 82,566 +29.1 (i.e .. total count minus .juveniles and breeding adults) 1 Average of 10 surveys, 23 September and 3-13 October.

Based on Izembek NWR observations average or better Pacific brant production has occurred only five times in the past 15 years. Overall population size, determined from mid-winter surveys, has reflected poor productivity and has gradually declined toward the 120,000 bird threshold at which no harvest will be allowed.

Brant nesting success in the Tutakoke River area of the Y-K Delta this year was 72 percent versus the 90 percent recorded in 1991. The mean clutch size during incubation was 4.1 eggs/nest, down from 3.9 in 1991. These data, when compared to family group size data from Izembek Lagoon, provide an subjective index of survival from nesting to the fall staging period.

At Izembek NWR, family group size data are collected concurrently with age ratio counts for productivity appraisals. A total of 404 individual families were observed to obtain an average of 2.8 juveniles/family (Table 16). Based on family group counts, survival of young may have been below average (down 0.1 juveniles/family in comparison to the 27 year average). Brood size at Tutakoke River, Y-K Delta, averaged 3.3 goslings per brood early in the brood rearing period. Although both brood size and fall family group size were down in 1992, there appears to have been good survival through the fledging and early migration period based on a comparison of these data.

Tutakoke River colony research suggests that a considerable amount of brood mingling occurs among brant throughout the fledging period. Data are now becoming available to identify the extent or duration of this phenomenon and its implications on the interpretation of family group size data from Izembek NWR. Other goose species maintain family bonds through fall and 28

winter and sometimes even into the following spring, but brant behavior may differ.

Table 16. Black brant family group counts at Izernbek Refuge, 1980-1992.

Fre~enc~ b~ Famil~ GrouE Size No. No. X Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Families Juveniles JuvLFamil~ 1980 26 47 57 39 7 0 1 0 177 489 2.76 1981 34 38 36 27 10 8 1 0 154 431 2.80 1982 18 22 25 20 4 0 0 0 89 237 2.66 1983 25 40 55 26 21 6 0 0 173 515 2.98 1984 19 49 70 39 10 4 1 0 192 564 2.94 1985 125 223 173 73 24 6 0 0 624 1538 2.46 1986 23 46 43 19 4 2 0 0 137 352 2.57 1987 168 263 267 171 66 13 0 0 948 2587 2.73 1988 62 91 65 35 6 4 0 0 263 633 2.41 1989 42 80 72 65 28 16 0 0 303 914 3.00 1990 70 104 106 54 8 7 0 0 349 894 2.56 1991 63 144 142 45 18 2 1 0 415 1066 2.57 1992 59 142 93 72 23 5 8 2 404 1127 2.80 27 Yr Mean 45 82 75 43 15 4 <1 <1 264 710 2.69

The fall brant staging population at Izembek Lagoon includes birds from Alaska, the western and central Canadian Arctic, and the Russian Arctic. The birds are thought to mix throughout the lagoon and hence our counts should be representative of the entire Pacific Flyway population. Color banding at selected breeding locations is helping qualify the extent of mixing of the population components, their seasonal movements, and fidelity for specific estuaries or parts of estuaries within the Izembek Lagoon complex. More importantly, this extensive marking and resighting effort, organized and performed by the AFWRC, will provide the first accurate indicator of age and sex related survival for the various breeding components of the population.

Ultimately, the refuge staff hopes to determine the timing of arrivals and departures for each primary breeding location based on telemetry or observations of color marked birds. A possible preference by Arctic breeding populations for the Moffet Bay area of Izembek Lagoon has been indicated, but further research is required for confirmation. It appears, however, that Moffet Bay is very important for these and other population components when first arriving in the fall and again just prior departure in the spring.

Light-bellied brant predominate in northern and central Canadian Arctic populations. There is an east to west graduation of light to dark-bellied plumage morphs in Arctic Canada. Light-bellied brant are seldom seen at breeding locations in Alaska or Russia. The variation in plumage color .observed in Canadian Arctic brant is broad and interchange of varying degrees occurs annually at specific nesting locations. Hence, belly color is not always a positive indicator of breeding location. Colony size and production of the various "light" bellied population components is not regularly assessed. These factors complicate attempts to differentiate birds at Izembek Refuge; however, in nearly 30 years of hunting season bag checking, refuge personnel have not documented the presence of light 29 bellied forms. Radio telemetry data indicate that most of the light­ bellied and intermediate color phase brant marked in the Canadian Arctic have preferred the Moffet Bay area. This provides us with insight into why light-bellied birds have not appeared in hunter bags in that Moffet Bay is a remote virtually unhunted area at the north end of Izembek Lagoon.

In 1992, efforts continued to determine the ratio of dark-bellied to light­ bellied brant throughout the Izembek Lagoon complex. At Neumann Island, a narrow barrier island near Moffet Bay where brant come ashore and gather for sanding and roosting, 5.7% of 9,145 birds classified to age in September and 26.6% of 10,908 birds classified in October were light­ bellied. In 1991, 48 (5.3 percent) of 912 brant classified from late September to late October were'light-bellied. No other sightings of light­ bellied brant were reported from amongst the 46,786 other birds classified. Izembek Lagoon observations suggest that population segregation may be occurring in the lagoon complex, but may vary seasonally and/or annually.

Biological investigations of Pacific Flyway brant throughout their range in Alaska continued to be a high priority of the AFWRC in 1992. They continued to actively pursue cooperative work with breeding and molting birds on Wrangel Island in Russia and are continuing wintering ground investigations at Bahia de San Quintin and other estuaries in Baja California, Mexico. The AFWRC's fall 1992 investigations at Izembek Refuge were directed primarily at relocating color marked brant from various breeding locations and collecting observations on diurnal movements, habitat use and migratory timing. These data will supplement previous investigations of the behavioral, temporal and spatial responses to various forms of disturbance (both natural and man caused). Productivity counts of numerous locations were also emphasized. The information being collected will greatly enhance our abilities to cooperatively manage the Izembek Lagoon ecosystem in coordination with the State of Alaska which holds ownership of tidelands within and adjacent to Izembek Refuge.

Brant made two major departures from Izembek Lagoon on 30 October and 12-14 November, with approximately 50,000 in each exodus. Approximately, 10,000 birds remained into late November. A 16 January aerial survey revealed that at least 8,008 birds remained at Izembek Refuge all winter. The departure of brant from Izembek Lagoon in 1992 was five days earlier than the 34 year average date of 03 November.

A total of 116,097 Pacific brant were reported during the mid-winter inventory (January 1993), with 92,724 of these in Mexico (Table 17). The total is 5 percent above last winter's level. The average of 10 counts, performed in cooperation with the MBM-Division, during the peak of the fall staging period at Izembek Refuge was 115,133 brant (Table 18).

The total mid-winter survey count of 116,097 brant plus the 8,008 at Izembek NWR in January gave a total of 124,105 birds, which was 7.8 percent above the peak fall Izembek Refuge count average. The Pacific Flyway council has decided to begin including counts from Izembek Refuge in the winter. 30

Table 17. Black brant mid-winter survey data, Pacific Flyway.

Year WA OR CA Mexico Alaska Total 3 Year Moving Average wLo Alaska wLAlaska wLo Alaska wL Alaska 1975 6,163 1,507 480 115,280 No Count 123,430 126,362 1976 7,540 1,769 680 112,056 122,045 125,375 1977 14' 111 2,100 0 130,756 146,967 130,814 1978 18,100 1,110 560 143' 117 162,887 143,966 1979 8,078 1,255 10 120,070 129,413 146,422 1980 7,665 1,015 135 137,550 146,365 146,222 1981 10,107 1,790 540 181,760 194,197 156,658 1982 6, 4,51 706 485 113·, 402 121,044 153,869 1983 3,113 718 565 104,918 109,314 141,518 1984 7,097 930 700 124,703 133,430 121,263 1985 11,793 641 800 131,568 144,802 129,182 1986 12,026 1,113 706 114,725 7,665 128,570 136,235 135,601 1987 14,371 1,133 736 86,913 5,755 103,153 108,908 125,508 1988 19,831 1,104 947 116' 696 8,385 138,578 146,963 123,434 130,702 1989 18,538 871 1,033 107' 721 7,050 128,163 135,213 123,298 130,361 1990 13,756 1,399 992 129,865 5,595 146,012 151,607 137,584 144,594 1991 16,221 1,262 1,340 108' 555 4,350 127,378 131,728 138' 851 139,516 1992 13,505 1,397 2,424 93,185 7,200 110' 511 117' 711 127,967 133,682 1993 13,054 1,254 9,065 92,724 8,008 116,097 124,105 117,995 124,515 inventory. This was not done in previous years and we believe it is therefore appropriate to increase the hunting closure threshold proportionately. This and our other conservative views toward Pacific brant management enjoy little support.

Pacific brant are managed in accordance with the Pacific Flyway Management Plan which calls for a minimum population of 120,000 birds determined from a three year moving average. The current amended three year average of 124,515 brant (Alaska included for the first time) is only 3.8 percent above the current threshold. The brant management plan was reviewed and redrafted during 1991 and 1992. There was some pressure to reduce the population goal from 185,000 to 170,000 birds and raise the hunting closure threshold from the current 120,000 bird level. The Izembek Refuge staff opposed those changes during the draft plan comment period and the changes were put on hold. The belief is that until population survey estimates and survival rates become refined enough to indicate a new direction the goals of the original plan should not be tampered with.

Table 18. Aerial goose surveys Izembek Lagoon and adjacent lagoons, 1992.

Number of Birds Date Brant Canada Goose Em12eror Goose Observers 23 JAN 5,797 0 3, 770 C. Dau/F. Zeillemaker 10 FEB 7,200 0 6,721 c. Dau/F. Zeillemaker 26 MAR 8,386 0 2,101 c. Dau/M. Chase 06 APR 125,585 41,829 2,945 c. Dau/D. Ward 16 APR 21,095 0 6,813 c. Dau/M. Chase 08 JUN 1,210 0 225 c. Dau/M. Chase 04 SEP 53,761 5,655 1,257 c. Dau/F. Zeillemaker 15 SEP . 89,372 15,469 2,595 c. Dau/D. Ward 23 SEP 127,204 26,465 2,009 c. Dau/M. Chase 04 OCT 140,071 43,633 3,012 B. Butler/M. Petersen 05 OCT 107,010 60,049 2,076 B. Butler/M. Petersen 07 OCT 94,172 38,922 1,329 J. Hodges/B. Larned 13 OCT 151,074 77' 122 7,369 R. King/A. Brackney 13 OCT 97,656 52,742 3,063 J. HodgesLC. Dau 31

Noteworthy summer 1992 brant observations included about 3,000 on lzembek Lagoon from Grant Point 02 and 07 June. About 1,100 were found on Izembek Lagoon north of Grant Point 8 June, 170 were seen from Grant Point 21 June, and 20 were found there 14 July.

Emperor Goose The emperor goose population transits through the lzembek Lagoon complex each spring and fall. In recent years 4-5,000 have overwintered here. Mild weather conditions with little sea ice resulted in larger numbers overwintering in 1992 (7,871 on 16 January 1993). It appears that essentially the entire popul~tion uses the area in spring and fall, but does not congregate in large numbers during either migratory season.

Since 1981 Izembek Refuge and MBM-Fairbanks staffs have cooperated in performing an annual emperor goose aerial survey of coastal areas from the Y-K Delta to Unimak Island, including the north and south sides of the Alaska Peninsula. The twelfth consecutive survey was flown from 30 April to 07 May 1992. As with previous efforts, the count was initiated when essentially the entire population was believed to be staging in bays and lagoons within the survey area. A total of 71,319 emperor geese were observed in the survey area (Table 19 and Figure 3). Climatological charts prepared by the National Weather Service and aerial reconnaissance by refuge personnel from the Yukon Delta, Togiak, and Alaska Peninsula/ Becharof NWR's again provided essential habitat indications used to determine when to initiate the survey. ·

Emperor Geese are known locally as "beach geese." A family near Cold Bay Airport on transect segment 83 11 September 1992 CFZ i YUKON Km DELTA 0 100 NWR

Bethel

TOGIAK

NWR Dillingham /_Jf•King Salmon

22

24.27 47

PACIFIC OCEAN

Figure 3. Spring and fall emperor goose survey segments, southwestern Alaska. 32

The 1992 survey total of 71,319 geese increased the 3-year average to 69,957 (Figure 4). Limited hunting of emperor geese may be allowed again when the spring population reaches 80,000 geese based on a 3-year moving average. The Pacific Flyway Management Plan for emperor geese identifies a population goal of 150,000 birds, which is comparable to historic levels for the fall population. Our only historic indicator of spring population size is 139,000 birds observed in 1964.

The refuge staff has stressed the difficulty in reaching and maintaining a population of 150,000 emperor geese when hunting is allowed at a level of only 80,000 birds. A more biologically sound approach would be to prohibit hunting if the populations falls to a level 25 percent below the identified goal, similar to the approach for Pacific brant (i.e., at 114,000 emperor geese). Our conservative viewpoint has gained little support due to pressure to begin hunting emperor geese as soon as possible by both "sport" and "subsistence" hunters. An initial population model is in preparation, and a change in population thresholds would require renegotiation of the "Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Goose Management Plan."

Based on comprehensive spring and fall aerial surveys in the late 1980's, the emperor goose population was low, but gradually increasing. The trend was welcomed after abrupt declines between 1981 and 1986 (from about 100,000 to 40,000 birds). Surveys in 1989 were the exceptions, suggesting further declines in both spring and fall numbers. In 1992, the population increased by 0.5 percent in the spring survey and increased by 10.2 percent in the fall (Table 18). Given favorable nesting conditions, the emperor

Table 17. Observed emperor goose numbers by segment, 1992.

Segment No. Description Number (30 April 1992, wind N at 10 kts, sky overcast, temp.+35°F, Time 1115-1540 hours) 1. Cape Romanzof to north tip of Panowat Spit (Kokechik Bay) 0 2. North tip of Panowat Spit to south tip of Hooper Bay 0 3. South tip of Hooper Bay to mouth of Kashunuk River. , ...... , . 0 4. Mouth of Kashunuk River to west shore Apherwn River 0 5. West shore Apherwn River to north shore Ninglick River 0 6. North shore Ninglick River to Cape Vancouver. . . . • . . . . . 0 7. Cape Vancouver to west shore Kolavinarak River 0 8. West shore Kolavinarak River to south tip Kinak Bay 0 9. South tip Kinak Bay to west shore Ishkowik River...... 0 10. West shore Ishkowik River to west shore Johnson River NS' 11. W shore Johnson R. to S tip Big Island 20 nautical mi S of Bethel NS (01 May 1992, wind Nat 10 kts, sky overcast, temp.+35°F, time 1130-1845 hours) 12. South tip Big Island to mouth of Kanektok River ...... 0 13. Mouth Kanektok River to Jacksmith Bay 0 14. Jacksmith Bay 0 15. West side spit of Jacksmith Bay to Carter Bay ...... 0 16. Carter Bay 0 17. Carter Spit to Goodnews Bay 0 18. Goodnews Bay. . . . , ...... 0 19. Platinum to Chagvan Bay 0 20. Chagvan Bay 2 21. South spit of Chagvan Bay to Nanvak Bay ...... 0 22, Nanvak Bay 11 23. Cape Pierce to Asigyugpak Spit 0 150-r------~--~--~------cn POPULATION GOAL ---- "'0 c: t13 en ~ 120-· J:: - 3-YEAR AVERAGE -w (f) w 90 w C!:J u. HUNTING THRESHOLD ------·------0 a: 60 w m ~ :::> .z 30

1981 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92

Figure 4. Emperor goose spring survey totals and 3-year average in relation to population thresholds and goal. 33

Table 17 (continued).

Segment No. Description Nwnber 24. Asigyugpak Spit to Tongue Point 0 25. Tongue Point to Togiak 0 26. Togiak to point east of Summit Island 0 27. Point east of Summit Island to Right Hand Point ...... 0 28. Right Hand Point to Kulukak Point 0 29. Kulukak Point to Protection Point 30 30. Protection Point to Dillingham. 0 31. Dillingham to Etolin Point 0 32. Etolin Point to Nakeen River 0 33. Nakeen to mouth of Naknek River •••..•. 0 34. Naknek River to King Salmon 0 (02 May 1992, wind Nat 10 kts, sky overcast. temp.+25"F, time: 1125-1820 hours) 35. Mouth Naknek River to north point of Egegik Bay 0 36. Egegik Bay ·...... 242 37. Goose Point to Smoky Point 12 38. Smoky Point to Cape Menshikof (Ugashik Bay) 1,357 39. Cape Menshikof to Cinder River Lagoon. . . 405 40. Cinder River Lagoon 4,367 41. South spit Cinder River Lagoon to north shore Hook Lagoon 0 42. Hook Lagoon ...... • • 0 43. South spit of Hook Lagoon to Chistakof Islands 22 44. Chistakof Islands to Meshik River Mouth (east Port Heiden Bay) 1,390 45. Meshik River Mouth to Strogonof Point (west Port Heiden Bay) .. .23,939 46. Strogonof Point to north spit Seal Islands 785 47. Seal Islands Lagoon to Ilnik (Seal Island Lagoon) 9,304 48. Ilnik to Cape Seniavin ...... • 0 49. Cape Seniavin to Port Moller spit 0 50. Port Moller Spit to Point Divide (Port Moller Bay) 59 51. Point Divide to south_spit of Mud Bay (Herendeen Bay) ...... 220 52. South spit Mud Bay to east spit Mud Bay (Mud Bay) 1,662 53. East spit Mud Bay to south tip Cape Rozhnof (Deer Is.) 2,195 54. South tip Cape Rozhnof to north tip Cape Rozhnof ...... 4 55. N tip Cape Rozhnof to 3 nautical mi E Nelson Lagoon (Nelson Lagoon) 4,897 56. 3 nautical miles east Nelson Lagoon to east end Kritskoi Island 1,001 57. East end Kritskoi Island to east end Walrus Island ...... 4,084 58. North side Lagoon Point to David River air strip 0 59. David River air strip to Moffet Point 0 (03 May 1992. wind NW at 15 kt, sky partly cloudy. temp+35"F, time 1345-1825 hrs) 60. Moffet Bay ( Izembek Lagoon) ...... 6, 788 61. Round Island to Strawberry Point (Izembek Lagoon) 343 62. Tern Island to Round Island (Izembek Lagoon) 0 63. Banding Islands to Tern Island (Izembek Lagoon) ...... 0 64. Applegate Cove (Izembek Lagoon) 315 65. Norma Bay (Izembek Lagoon) 0 66. Cape Glazenap to Cape Krenitzin ...... 0 67. Cape Krenitzin to Isanotski Islands (Hook Bay) 0 68. Isanotski Islands to Chunak Point (St. Catherine's Cove) 0 69. Chunak Point to east end Swanson Lagoon (Unimak Island) ...... 0 70. East end Swanson Lagoon to Cape Lapin (Unimak Island) 1 71. Cape Lapin to Cape Mordvinof (Unimak Island) 0 72. Cape Mordvinof to Cape Sarichef (Unimak Island) ...... 0 73. Cape Sarichef to Sennett Point (Unimak Island) 101 74. Sennett Point to Cape Lutke (Unimak Island) 0 7 5. Cape Lutke to Red Conical Hill (Unimak Island)...... 0 76. Red Conical Hill to Cape Aksit (Unimak Island) 4 77. Cape Aksit to Ikatan Point (Unimak Island) 0 78. Ikatan Point to Kenmore Head ...... 0 79. Kenmore Head to Little Lagoon 0 80. Big, Middle and Little Lagoons 0 81. North Point Big Lagoon to Little John Lagoon (Little John Lagoon) .. 104 82. Little John Lagoon to Thin Point 0 83. Thin Point to Cold Bay Airport 320 (05 May 1992, wind N at 10 kts. sky clear, temp.+30"F, time 1440-1910 hours) 84. Cold Bay Airport to west spit Kinzarof Lagoon...... 0 85. W spit Kinzarof Lagoon to E spit Kinzarof Lagoon (Kinzarof Lagoon) 91 86. East spit Kinzarof Lagoon to Kelp Point (Lenard Harbor) 0 34

Table 17 (continued).

Segment No. Description Number 87. Kelp Point to Indian Head ...... 0 88. Belkofski Bay 0 89. Belkofski Point to Volcano Bay 0

90. Volcano Bay to Arch Point (Volcano Bay) ...... 0 65 91. Arch Point to point east of Pavlof volcano 0 92. Point east of Pavlof volcano to north spit Canoe Bay 457

93. Canoe Bay ...... 0 0 94. South spit of Canoe Bay to Cape Tolstoi 0 95. Cape Tolstoi to Seal Cape 27 96. Seal Cape to south side Beaver Bay. .86 97. Beaver Bay 3 98. Cape Aliaksin to South shore Balboa Bay 86

99. Balboa Bay...... 0 0 100. East point Balboa Bay to south shore Dorenoi Bay 0 101. Dorenoi Bay 100

102. Chichagof Bay 0 0 103. American Bay 0 104. Orzinski Bay NS 105. Waterfall Point to north point of Clark Bay (Clark Bay) ...... 32 106. Grub Gulch Bay 6 107. Ramsey Bay to Island Bay 75 108. Island Bay ...... NS 109. Fox Bay NS 110. Boulder Bay to Bluff Point NS 111. Bluff Point to 3 nautical miles north Fox Cape .. .NS 112. 3 nautical mi N Fox Cape to E point of Ivanof Bay (Ivanof Bay) 460 113. Humpback Bay to 2 nautical miles south Perryville 0 114. 2 nautical miles south Perryville to south point of Ivan Bay .. 0 115. East point of Perryville to south point of Ivan Bay 0 116. Ivan Bay 0 117. Mitrofania Bay...... 0 118. SE pt of Mitrofania Bay to N most bay of Kuiukta Bay (W Kuiukta Bay) NS 119. N most bay of Kuiukta Bay to SEpt of Kuiukta Bay (E side Kuiukta Bay) NS 120. Southeast point of Kuiukta Bay to northeast point of Devils Bay ....NS 121. Northeast point of Devils Bay to Ship Mountain NS 122. Ship Mountain to Castle Cape NS 123. Castle Cape to northwest point of Castle Bay (Castle Bay) ...... NS 124. Northwest Point of Castle Bay to south shore Chignik Lagoon NS 125. Chignik Lagoon 30 126. North spit of Chignik Lagoon toE side of Cape Kumliun (Chignik Bay) .. 90 127. Cape Kumliun to Kumlik Island (Kujulik Bay) 197 128. Kumlik Island to south point Amber Bay (Aniakchak Bay) 512 129. Amber Bay to Cape ~unmik ...... 855 130. Cape Kunmik to northeast point of Yantarni Bay 0 131. Yantarni Bay to south side Nakatilok Bay 119 132. Nakatilok Bay ...... 0 133. Cape Kuyuyukak to Cape Providence (Chiginagak Bay) 153 134. Cape Providence to south Point of Agripina Bay 0 135. South point o£ Agripina Bay to Cape Kilokak ...... 0 136. Cape Kilokak to Wide Bay 0 137. Wide Bay to Coal Point 3,661 138. Coal Point to Cape Igwak...... 250 139. Cape Igwak to Cape Kanatak (Portage Bay) 0 140. Cape Kanatak to Cape Unalishagvak 0 141. Cape Unalishagvak to Cape Aklek (Dry Bay) ...... 0 142. Cape Aklek to Cape Kekurnoi (Puale Bay) 0 143. Cape Kekurnoi to Cape Kubugakli 0 Total Emperor Geese 71.319 1 NS = Not Surveyed goose population has shown the potential for growth necessary to return to historic levels in a short period of time, however, the 71,319 bird 1992 35 spring population was still 51.3 percent below the historic (mid-1960's) level of 139,000 birds.

Table 18. Population size and productivity trends in Emperor geese.

Year Spring Population Production• Family Group Fall Population Size (% young in fall) Size Size {% change Erev yr) {% change Erev yr) 1980 No Survey 24.8 2.3 65,971 1981 91,267 31.7 3.2 63,156 (-04.3) 1982 100,643 (+10.3) 7.8 2.7 80,608 (+27.6) 1983 79,155 (-21.4) 27.1 3.2 72,551 (-10.0) 1984 71,217 (-10.0) 22.3 2.8 82,842 (+14.2) 1985 58,833 (-17.3) 17.4 2.8 59,792 (-27.8) 1986 42,228 (-28.2) 26.1 2.6 68,051 (+13.8) 1987 51,655 (+22.3) 33.6 3.1 65,663 (-03.5) 1988 53,784 (+04.1) 24.2 3.1 76,165 (+16.0) 1989 45,712 (-15.0) 23.0 3.1 70' 729 (-07.1) 1990 67,581 (+47.8) 25.2 3.2 109,451 (+55.1) 1991 70' 977 (+05.0) 25.1 3.0 74,660 (-31.8) 1992 71.319 {+00.5) 15.5 3.0 82,355 {+10.3) 1 Data Izembek 1980-84; from Izembek and other AK Pen areas 1985-91.

Emperor geese began their fall influx at Izembek NWR on 1 September when a single bird was seen at Izembek Slough near Grant Point. Peak numbers were present beginning in late September as determined from aerial surveys (Table 19). MBM-North (Rod King and Alan Brackney) conducted the annual fall southwest Alaska emperor goose survey 3-8 October and tallied 82,292 birds which was used to estimate the composition of the fall population (Table 20). The fall 1992 population was 10 percent above the 1991 fall level of 74,660 birds.

Table 19. Composition of the emperor goose population based on fall surveys in southwestern Alaska.

Number of Birds __l2.§l_ ~ ~ __l22Q__ __!221_ _l22.L Fall Count 65,663 76,165 70' 729 109,451 74,660 82,355 Est.juvenile birds o: young x total)· 22,063 18,432 16,268 27,582 18,740 12,765 Est. families (no.HY-ave.family grp.size) 7' 117 5,946 5,248 8,619 6,247 4,255 Est.max.breed'g adults w.young (Fam x 2) 14,234 11 '892 10,496 17,238 12,494 8,510 Est.sub-adults/non-breedrs/failed breedrs 29,366 45,841 43,965 64,631 43,426 61,080 {total count-juveniles & breeding adults) {44. 7%) {60.2%) (62.2%) (59 .1%) (58.2%) (74.2%)

Emperor goose productivity counts were performed this year by Izembek NWR, AFWRC and MBM staffs during the period 6 September to 21 October. Productivity based on Izembek Refuge counts resulted from aerial photographic surveys and conventional ground counts using spotting scopes. Combined aerial and ground productivity counts through October resulted in 10,638 emperors classified to age, with 1,347 (12.7 percent) being juveniles (Table 20). Three aerial photographic ·surveys by the refuge staff in the Nelson Lagoon area 8-21 September resulted in a sample of 1,125 birds having 21.5 percent (242) juveniles.

Izembek Lagoon information was combined with similar counts from other bays and estuaries along the north side of the Alaska Peninsula during the mid­ September to early-October period (Tables 21 and 22). The 1992 proportion of young in the population based on all aerial photographic sampling (n=l4,832 geese) was 14.5 percent. 36

Table 20. Emperor goose productivity counts, Izembek Refuge, 1970-1992.

Year Adults Juveniles Total % Juveniles No.of Family Family Group Size 1972 4,680 2,270 6' 950 32.7 210 3.1 1973 1974 2,025 377 2,402 15.7 50 2.6 1975 744 405 1,149 35.2 51 2.9 1976 1' 023 324 2,247 14.4 207 2.7 1977 996 683 1,679 40.7 108 2.8 1978 1,395 495 1,890 26.2 62 3.0 1979 841 113 954 11.8 53 3.3 1980 1,777 586 2,363 24.8 40 2.3 1981 1,067 495 1,562 31.7 181 3.2 1982 1,653 140 1,793 7.8 32 2.7 1983 1,058 393 1,451 27.1 192 3.2 1984 2' 753 795 3,548 22.4 80 2.9 1985 2,245 503 2,748 18.3 125 2.8 1986 3,283 1,381 4,664 29.6 266 2.6 1987 2,989 1,523 4,512 33.8 186 3.1 1988 3,884 1,242 5,126 24.2 200 3.1 1989 3,811 1,136 4,947 23.0 145 3.1 1990 4,002 1,068 5,070 21.1 97 3.2 1991 8,599 2,882 11' 481 25.1 147 3.3 1992 9 291 1 347 10 638 12.7 151 3.0 26 Yr Av 3,448 1,227 4,687 26.2 148 3.0

Table 21. Emperor goose productivity based on north side Alaska Peninsula photography, 1985-1992. 1

Year Adults Juveniles Total Percent Juveniles Average Weighted 1985 2,657 536 3,193 16.8 16.5 1986 4, 721 1,659 6,380 26.0 25.4 1987 7,760 2,417 10,178 23.7 22.8 1988 8,407 2, 773 11,180 24.8 24.4 1989 10,044 2,686 12,730 21.1 21.9 1990 10,123 3,418 13,541 25.2 24.0 1991 10,388 3,376 13,764 24.5 23.2 1992 12 678 2 154 14 83 14.5 15.5 1 Compiled by Bill Butler, MBM-Anchorage.

Table 22. Percent juvenile emperor geese from Alaska Peninsula aerial photographs, fall 1992.

Location: Egegik Ugashik Cinder Port Seal Nelson Izembek River Heiden Islands Lagoon Lagoon 7.6 (381) 1 8.9 (418) 18.1 (3296) 12.2 (2430) 6.9 (2888) 17.6 (4681) 23.3 (738) 1 Number of emperor geese classified from photographs at each location is in parentheses.

Comprehensive surveys using aerial photography provide the most accurate assessment of productivity in the emperor goose population. Temporal variation in the percentage of juveniles using various lagoons along the Alaska Peninsula suggests that family groups migrate later than non­ breeders and failed breeders. Data also suggest that some individuals or components may show a high degree of fidelity for certain estuaries and that there is a possibility that specific geographic breeding populations segregate during migration.

Family group sizes of emperor geese observed in the Izembek NWR area averaged 3.0 young per family (n=l51 families) over the period 6 September to 21 October (Table 23). The average combined Class I and Class II brood 37

size at one study site on the Y-K Delta was 4.5 goslings per family group (n=45), according to Craig Ely of the AFWRC. These data suggest a minimum attrition rate of 44 percent for young emperor geese from hatch into the fall migration period. In 1992, the average Class I/II brood size in comparison to the fall family group size at Izembek, suggested a juvenile attrition rate of 32 percent versus 12 percent in 1991. The historical 1969 to 1980 average of 29 percent, suggested slightly lower than average survival of young.

Table 23. Estimated emperor goose juvenile mortality indicated by clutch and average family group size during summer and fall from historical (1969-1980) and current data.•

X Clutch X Class !/II X Class III/F X Fall Family Date Size (n) Brood Size (n) Brood Size (n) Group Size (n) 1969-80 5.0 (806) 4.1 (517) 3.5 (497) 2.9 (1,805) 1992 5.4 (51) 4.4 (45) NA 3.0 (151) X loss from pre- 1969-80 18% 15% 17% age classification 1992 19% 32% (Class !/II) % loss in relation to 1969-80 42% 29% 17% f"'ll f'tmi ly grnnr ~;?A 199;> '•'•% 32% 1 Summer data Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta study areas (C.R.Ely, pers.comm); fall data Izembek Refuge.

Neck-collaring of emperor geese at research study sites on the Y-K Delta was discontinued in 1991. However, birds captured in previous years and fitted with yellow neck-collars having black number/letter combinations were again part of the focus of the spring and fall 1992 work by AFWRC field camps at Nelson Lagoon, Seal Islands/Port Heiden and Cinder River Lagoon in spring and Izembek Lagoon in fall. Data were gathered on emperor goose migration, productivity, and habitat use from the camps, in addition to intensive efforts to locate and read codes on the neck-collared birds. Data continue to suggest that some individuals show a high degree of fidelity for certain staging areas with the birds using preferred lagoon systems for prolonged periods in the fall and then apparently shifting directly and rapidly to Aleutian wintering areas.

In 1992, AFWRC personnel observed 110 neck-collared emperor geese at Nelson Lagoon and a total of 238 for all areas monitored during the spring along the Alaska Peninsula. During fall, four observations of four separate birds were made at Izembek Lagoon from Neumann Island and the Outer Marker area.

A noteworthy emperor goose sighting in 1992 was of about 225 late migrants at Moffet Bay, Izembek Lagoon, on 08 June.

Canada Goose Taverner's Canada geese are an important component in the fall waterfowl concentration on the Izembek Refuge, but the species is rarely seen in spring. The first 1992 fall arrivals were detected on 28 August. The influx of birds continued gradually through September. Largest numbers were present in October. Aerial surveys indicated the peak population was 77,122 birds on 13 October (Table 24). The average of ten surveys during the peak Canada goose fall staging period was 55,855 birds. 38

Canada geese feed on eelgrass throughout nearshore areas of Izembek and adjacent lagoons and, when there is an abundant crowberry crop, disperse across the tundra. There was a very poor crowberry crop in 1991 and only a slightly better crop in 1992, so little upland use occurred except to roost. Fall waterfowl surveys concentrate on water bodies, and since Canada geese on the tundra are extremely difficult to sight, survey totals for this species reflect minimum population sizes.

The Canada goose is the primary species in the hunter's bag at Izembek Refuge. Canada geese are of increasing importance due to the harvest restrictions or closures on other waterfowl species. Canada geese made up 80.1 percent of the estimated goose harvest and 61.5 percent of the total estimated waterfowl take at Izembek Refuge in 1992. The adult to juvenile ratio in the hunter harvest based on our bag check data was 1.15:1.0. Adult males were 44.4 percent and juvenile males were 50.6 percent of the respective takes of adults and juveniles.

The fall departure of Canaqa geese from the Izembek Refuge area began on 19 October, and continued intermittently during daylight hours through 31 October. Peak departures were on 19 and 22 October. Canada geese initiate their migration during weather conditions similar to those used by brant, but leave predominately during daylight hours. All Canada geese usually depart the area by late November. The numbers of Canada geese declined to aerial survey estimates of 6,540 on 10 November and 6,902 on 14 November.

Small numbers of cackling Canada geese occur among the masses of Taverner's seen at Izembek NWR each fall. Of the numerous cacklers banded on the Y-K Delta in recent years, none have been recovered by hunters at Izembek Refuge. Considering the relatively large number of cacklers that have been either standard banded or neck-collared, the few sightings in recent years at Izembek Refuge seem to confirm the current "uncommon" status of this subspecies on the southern Alaska Peninsula. The total cackling Canada goose population is increasing, however, so we anticipate an increase in use here based on historical estimates (1950's and 1960's) of up to 100,000 Canada geese at Izembek NWR each fall. Those estimates correspond to the period when the cackler population was at its peak. It seems likely that Izembek Refuge was an important fall staging area for cacklers as well as Taverner's Canada geese.

Noteworthy 1992 Canada goose observations included birds at Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 28 April, 30 April, 05 May, 06 May and 07 May; thirty over Izembek Refuge Headquarters 17 May; two at Izembek Lagoon 18 May; one near Cold Bay on 25 May and five along the Caribou River north of Pavlof Bay 01 June.

Steller's Eider The Steller's eider is becoming the subject of increasing emphasis for research and investigation by refuge staff and cooperators. The Steller's eider is an obscure species frequenting remote, largely uninhabited, coastal areas adjacent to the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea. Few biologists have seen the species in the wild, however, at Izembek Refuge it is common from fall through spring. Rare and little studied elsewhere, the Steller's 39

eider has been studied at Izembek Refuge since the 1960's. In 1992 the species became a threatened species candidate and the importance of the available historical data is now being realized. Throughout 1992 the Service was scrambling to generate the information necessary to manage this new "species of concern."

Steller's eiders molt in large numbers throughout Izembek and adjacent lagoons. From 1961 to 1992, a total of 7,709 birds were banded. Of those, 428 (5.6 percent) have been recaptured in the same area in subsequent y~ars (Table 24). See Section G.l6 Marking and Banding for 1992 banding information.

Table 24. Steller,' s eider band recoveries, Izembek NWR, 1992.

Year Originally Banded Sex Total 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1984 1991

Male 1 3 2 4 4 1 5 20 Female 2 1 3 Age' 19 18 17 16 15 14 11 4 1 Minimum age at recapture. Adult birds are 3 or more years old at captute.

Through December 1992, a total of 165 (2.1 percent) banded Steller's eiders have been recovered (shot or otherwise found dead), and of those, 105 were reported from potential breeding areas (Figure 5). These data have helped identify the breeding distribution of the Steller's eider in Alaska and Russia. A total of 101 (96 percent) of the breeding ground recoveries of Izembek Refuge banded Steller's eiders have been from Russia.

In Alaska, the Steller's eider is now a rare breeding species with small numbers remaining on the North Slope and totally absent from historical range on the Y-K Delta. The situation is cause for considerable concern, even though Steller's eider continues to be common in greatly reduced numbers at spring and fall staging and wintering areas. The concern was heightened in December 1990 when the Service was petitioned to consider the species for endangered status (see Section G.2 Endangered Species). Although the Service has chosen not to list the Steller's eider, it has designated it a Category I species which should help direct additional survey and research effort toward understanding the dramatic population decline.

Aerial survey data for Steller's eiders have been collected annually by the Izembek Refuge staff since 1975 and MBM personnel since 1980 (Figures 6). These data suggest the Steller's eider population decline and that this trend may be continuing at Izembek Refuge and throughout all staging and wintering areas in Alaska (Figure 7). The Izembek Lagoon area is only one of several important use areas, so declines here could be indicative of either an overall population decline or just a distributional shift. However, downward population trends in Steller's eiders have also been observed in comprehensive spring and fall surveys elsewhere in southwestern Khatanga River

2

lndlglrka

2

d. 0 • ALASKA

!zembek NWR

0

Figure 5. Distribution of 171 recoveries of Steller's eiders banded at Izembek Lagoon (Russia-108, Alaska 63). 2

120·

90 rn -"'0 5 c: ctl (/) 8 ::J 5 0 .t::.- -Cl) 0 60 0 0: 1 . m u. 4 0 • 0: 6 7 w 2 0 0 2 m 1 1 ~ 22 ~ 30 4 ::J - z 2 3 2 1 ¢ 6 1 4~ • 1 • ? •

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY AUG SEP beT NOV DEC

·Figure 6. Average (+ 1SE) monthly aerial survey counts of Steller's eiders in Izembek Lagoon form 1975-85 (I) and 1986-93 (0). Sample sizes at top. 120 108407 UJ • 103 B52 'Dc: en 100 UJ 92123 • 85359 ~5 ~ +-' 80 ;-- -UJ 'B 1- ·rl 60 .0 45120 • 47823 4-1 39866 49986 0 40 • 38729 -·--- H 32876 • 31289 Q) • 27505 • .0 • ~ 20

0 . 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

Figure 7. Spring survey results and population trend in Steller's eider, southwestern Alaska. 40

Alaska, suggesting that a distributional shift is not a factor leading to the observed population decline.

In 1992 MBM initiated an intensified effort to monitor the Steller's eider population. Wildlife Biologist/Pilot Bill Larned was hired and given responsibility for the project. Spring aerial surveys in the Yukon­ Kuskokwim Delta and Alaska Peninsula were conducted from 10 April to 10 May. Although 4 surveys were attempted, weather precluded obtaining exact replicates. Three surveys were near replicates with numbers increasing from 64,408 during the period 09-13 April to 109,645 during the period 23- 27 April and peaking at 137,904 during the period 2-6 May (Table 25). A total of seven observers with MBM and the Yukon Delta NWR were involved in the project.

Table 25. Steller's eider aerial survey results, southwest Alaska, 1992.

Area (Segment No.) Survey Date1 9-13 APR 21-27 APR 30 APR-5 MAY 2-6 MAY 7-10 MAY Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (1-10) 0 5292 589 29,659 53,534 Kuskokwim River-Kivchak River (11-34) 1,170 3,069 4,943 6,022 6,630 Kivchak River-Moffet Point (35-59) 25,191 58,492 66,819 74,724 NS 3 Moffet Point-Cold Bay (60-83) 38,047 46,685 41,988 27,499 NS Cold Bay-Seal Cape (84-95) NS 870 1,569 NS NS Cold Bay-Cape Kubusakli (84-143) 3.290 Totals 64 408 109 645 117 629 137 904 60 164 1 Observers: 9-13 APR B.Larned/B.Eldridge, 23-27 APR B.Larned/B.Butler/M.Petersen/J.King, 30 APR-5 MAY R.King/C.Dau, 2-6 May B.Larned/J.King, 7-10 MAY B.Larned/J.King. 2 Observers: M.Wege/B.McCaffery 3 NS = Not surveyed

The refuge staff completed eight replicate Steller's eider counts during 1992 in the Izembek NWR survey area and seven in the Nelson Lagoon survey area (Table 26). Although more intensive survey efforts are needed from fall through spring, the available data when compared to historical estimates seem to indicate that the Steller's eider population is in trouble and in need of irnrnedia~e attention throughout its range in Alaska and the Russian Far East.

Table 26. Steller's eider aerial survey results, southern Alaska Peninsula, 1992. 1

Izembek Lagoon. St.Catherine Cove (Unimak Island), Hook Bay. Morzhovoi Bay and Kinzarof Lagoon 23JAN 10FEB 26MAR 06APR 16APR 04SEP 15SEP 23SEP 040CT 050CT 070CT 130CT 130CT 11NOV 21.317 16.728 29,468 40.170 45,134 24.460 25,615 23,685 24.665 21.255 13,627 14,850 21.600< 22,650 Nelson Lagoon. Mud Bay (Herendeen Bay) and Kudobin Islands 12FEB 27MAR 07APR 16APR 09SEP 21SEP 120CT 11 988 17 076 23 964 20 514 47 125 33 212 20 779 1 0bservers: 23JAN,10FEB,12FEB,06APR,07APR,04SEP C.Dau/F.Zeillemaker; 26MAR,16APR,09SEP,23SEP C.Dau/M.Chase; 27MAR C.Dau/R.Schulmeister; 11NOV R.Schulmeister/N.Schlichten; 040CT,050CT B.Butler/M.Petersen; 070CT J.Hodges/B.Larned; 120CT,130CT R.King/A.Brackney; 130CT J.Hodges/C.Dau

A further noteworthy observation of Steller's eider was approximately 2,000 late birds at Moffet Bay, Izembek Lagoon, on 08 June which was well beyond their normal departure date. 41

Other Waterfowl In 1992 the refuge staff established an experimental project designed to estimate breeding duck populations. A low altitude aerial survey was performed on 4 June by WB/P Dau and DRM Chase in the Piper PA-18 Super Cub to sample the estimated 350 mi2 of wet marsh habitats of the Izembek Unit (Figure 8). A total of 19 north-south transects were flown. The transects varied in length from 1 to 17 miles due to the distribution of lowland habitats. Transects were established at·l mile intervals from a random starting point and alternate transects were flown in this initial sampling scheme. Transects were ~mile in width and divided into one mile increments. A total of 116 transect segments were flown covering 29.0 mi2 or 8.3% of the total area of lowlands.

Greater scaup was the most abundant species observed on the survey, followed by black seater and mallard. Expanded totals calculated using established visibility ratios were 2,835 greater scaup, 1,135 black seaters and 4,309 mallards (Tables 27 and 28). Estimated breeding pairs of mallards were most abundant (1.83/mi2 ) followed by greater scaup (1.45/mi2 ) and black seater (0.90/mi2 ). Northern pintail, gadwall and red-breasted 2 merganser were observed in low densities of less than 0.15 pairsjmi •

Table 27. Summary of aerial duck surveys on the Izembek Unit, 04 June 1992.

Sample Area Total Area

Species Est.Total Pairs Flocks Total Birds Est.Total Pairs Est.Total Birds 1 (pr/mi ) (No.Birds) Mallard 22 9 53 9 (34) 96 640 1,159 ( 1. 83) Gadwall 2 2 1 4) 8 24 97 ( 0. 07) No. Pintail 4 4 1 3) 11 48 133 (0.14) Greater Scaup 3 36 42 6 (56) 131 507 1,581 ( 1. 45) Black Seater 2 22 26 4 (39) 87 314 1,050 (0.90) R-br Merganser 1 1 2 12 24 0.03 1 Estimated total pairs - Males x 2 + Pairs

Table 28. Expanded duck population estimates, Izembek NWR 1

Total Visibility Population Species Birds Ratio Index2 Density ~T~ ~v~ ~p~ ~birdsLmi 1 ~ Mallard 96 4.0079 4309 12.3 Gadwall 8 3.0350 276 0.8 Northern Pintail 11 3.0487 373 1.1 Greater Scaup 131 1. 9330 2835 8.1 Black Seater 87 1.1667 1135 3.2 Red-br.Merganser 2 1.2735 29 0.1 1 Using standardized MBMO procedures. 2 P = Population Index = A x (T/S) x V, A= Total mi2 I= Total Birds, S = Mi 2 Sampled, V =Visibility Ratio

Before this year little was known about the species composition, distribution and abundance of breeding ducks on the Izembek Refuge. The experimental survey was designed to supply baseline data and to supplement existing information on the occurrence of breeding species. Additionally, N 7 /

>-- r

( :::k I PavWf Unit Boundary

Figure 8. Aerial transects to enumerate duck populations, Izembek Unit. 42 the survey, or a modification of it, will hopefully provide useful data for comparison with annual aerial and ground production surveys. The survey, conducted on the Izembek Unit, and additional efforts planned for 1993 will be used to design an efficient annual monitoring program to estimate the species composition, number, and population trend in ducks nesting on the Izembek refuge.

In 1992 statewide efforts to gather duck brood information were continued in an effort to relate productivity data to spring breeding pair survey strata within Alaska. Izembek Refuge is in the Bristol Bay strata segment as are the Togiak and Alaska Peninsula/Becharof NWR's. Fourteen plots were randomly selected throughout portions of the strata on or near Izembek NWR. The brood survey in the Bristol Bay strata was accomplished by helicopter with Alaska Peninsula/Becharof Refuge WB Donna Dewhurst and Jim McCarthy as the observers. A total of 13 broods were observed on the 14 plots in the Izembek NWR area, with from 0 to 4 broods occurring per plot (Table 29).

Table 29. Helicopter brood survey results, Izembek Refuge, 1992.

Area Date Plot Number Broods Observed (Size) PAVLOF UNIT Caribou River 17 July 36 None 62 MALL (2) 70 GRSC (5,7) Jackson Lagoon 17 July 37 None David River 17 July 61 None Cathedral River 17 July 71 MALL (1) IZEMBEK UNIT Moffet Bay 18 July 38 NOPI (6) GRSC (5,5,7) BLSC (BH)' 72 None 75 MALL (5) COTE (BH) 76 MALL (BH) COTE (BH,BH) Mortensens Marsh 18 July 74 MALL (9) Norma Bay 18 July 39 MALL (1,7,BH) Morzhovoi Bay 18 July 73 COTE (BH) Bechevin Bay 18 July 40 NOPI (7) 1 BH = Broody Hen

The Izembek NWR staff did not ground truth the random plots selected on or near the Izembek and Pavlof units, but we did monitor duck production by foot for trend data on road system lakes known to be important to ducks (Table 30). Lamprey Lake (locally known as Red Salmon Lake) and Bluebill Lake were the sample areas chosen for the annual refuge survey. The survey crew consisted of WB/P Dau, DRM Chase and YCC Enrollees Dias and Sink. Two surveys were conducted at each site due to the wide variation in dabbler and diver hatching dates and to obtain an indication of brood mortality rates. Trend data from these known high density areas are not directly applicable to attempts to estimate brood densities and annual productivity for the refuge; however, the two lakes (water bodies) selected along the Cold Bay road system will provide useful data and due to their accessibility, size, and the cost effectiveness of checking them on an annual basis. 43

Table 30. Ground duck brood surveys, Izembek Unit, 1992

Location Date Species Broods Brood Class I II III F BH 1 Bluebill Lake 8 July Mallard 9 5 2 2 Gr Scaup 1 1 21 July Mallard 3 3 Gr Scaup 12 10 1 1 N Pintail 1 1 Lamprey Lake 8 July Gr Scaup 1 1 21 July Mallard 1 1 Gr Scau 7 6 1 1 BH = Broody hen.

Seasonal aerial surveys for brant, emperor geese and Steller's eider provided other waterfowl numbers for established survey areas on or adjacent to the Izembek, Pavlof and Unimak units of the refuge (Table 31).

Table 31. Incidental counts of waterfowl, Izembek NWR, 1992.

Izembek Lagoon, St.Catherine Cove (Unimak Island), Hook Bay, Morzhovoi Bay and Kinzarof Lagoon 23JAN 10FEB 26MAR 06APR 16APR 04SEP 15SEP 23SEP 040CT 050CT 070CT 130CT Mallard 0 0 0 0 0 2,409 0 733 64 660 852 50 No Pintail 0 0 0 0 0 5,028 730 9,352 8,275 6,334 3,934 1,403 No Shoveler 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 Amer Wigeon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 150 45 12 0 Gr Scaup 1, 384 1,871 1,392 1,460 1,574 50 105 164 50 0 880 258 Common Eider 663 94 23 54 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 King Eider 2, 416 667 391 0 308 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 Surf Scoter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Black Scoter 0 0 1,820 1,851 4,539 8 0 48 134 31 51 186 Wh-wing Scoter 0 0 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R-b Merganser 0 0 0 0 0 316 3 262 0 0 90 0 Nelson Lagoon, Mud Bay (Herendeen Bay) and Kudobin Islands 30DEC 12FEB 27MAR 07APR 16APR 09SEP 21SEP 120CT Mallard 0 0 0 0 0 138 24 0 No Pintail 0 0 0 0 0 7,058 3,345 2,110 Amer Wigeon 0 0 0 0 0 60 0 0 Gr Scaup 0 0 660 1,552 1,546 0 0 180 Common Eider 2,245 0 425 670 1,464 630 1,264 50 King Eider 14,305 14,941 6,425 5, 772 2,051 0 1,350 0 Black Scoter 0 0 10,288 9,762 9,391 8,486 8, 728 5,470 Surf Scoter 0 0 0 1 0 131 734 0 Wh-wing Scoter 0 0 51 35 40 387 803 0 R-b Merganser 0 0 0 0 0 530 155 0

Noteworthy incidental observations of other species included a Greater White-fronted Goose at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 26 April and about 40 at Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 28 April, two adults and an immature at Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 05 May, and one at Nelson Lagoon 09 September. Two Snow Geese were at Moffet Bay, Izembek Lagoon, 13 October. All though not regularly recorded through the spring season in the past, Aleutian Green-winged Teal were regularly found throughout the period, including a pair as late as 21 May and two drakes near Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 06 June. The first Northern Shoveler of the year was at Franz Point, Nelson Lagoon, on 25 April and the first Cold Bay area record was at Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 29 April. A hen Gadwall with 7 class Ia ducklings was at Swan Lake near Cold Bay 27 July. A drake Spectacled Eider was photographed (poorly) at Nelson Lagoon 07 April for the first verified 44

record on the lower Alaska Peninsula. In addition to the Surf Scoter sightings above, singles were near Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 22 September, 01 October, 07 October and 20 October. A pair of White-winged Scoter remained on Cold Bay as late as 08 June. A Barrow's Goldeneye was at Franz Point and Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 25 April, 27 April and 28 April) and a drake was at Red Salmon Lake, Outer Marker Road, 01 November. A flying drake Bufflehead at Bluebill Lake 22 July was likely a recovered cripple.

4. Marsh and Water Birds

The annual Breeding Bird Survey (BBS, 1982-1992), annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC, 1963-1992), and incidental observations provide indices of population trends, production, and habitat use by a variety of unstudied refuge bird species. In this category, only common and red-throated loons, red-necked and horned grebes, double-crested and pelagic cormorants and sandhill cranes occur regularly in the area. During the 1992 BBS (Table 35, Section G.7), common loon and red-throated loon were encountered. During the 1992 CBC (Table 36, Section G.7) four species of loons, two species of grebes and pelagic cormorant were found.

Noteworthy observations included the first Red-throated Loon of the year at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 24 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins), with the first one at Cold Bay 15 May (C Dau). Most depart in the fall, but one was on Cold Bay 29 December (F Zeillemaker/CBC). Two Pacific Loons 14 May off the Cold Bay dock were the only spring record (F Zeillemaker). The first fall bird was near the Cold Bay dock 20 September, with 57 there 12 October, 23 there 11 November and seven there 29 December (M&F Zeillemaker/ CBC). Single Yellow-billed Loons were near the Cold Bay dock 02 and 19 January (F Zeillemaker). The first "fall" bird was near the Cold Bay dock 15 November and two were there 29 December (M&F Zeillemaker/ CBC).

Horned Grebes wintered in 1991-1992 with up to 15 near the Cold Bay dock through April, 13 on 02 May, 10 on 10 May, and the last two of the spring there 12 May (M&F Zeillemaker). The first 2 fall birds were in vicinity of the Cold Bay dock 29 September with a 144 peak on 17 October, and 28 remaining in the area through 29 December (M&F Zeillemaker/CBC).

Four Northern Fulmars were 4-6 mi south of Unimak Island 22 May and three were 4-6 mi south of the island on 23 May (6 observers on the ferry "Tustumena"). One flew along the Bering Sea side of Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 11 September, 3 were there 28 September and 1 was there 18 October (J Pratt). A Buller's Shearwater was about 18 mi south of Unimak Island on 23 May for the first refuge area record (M Chase, F Zeillemaker). Two Sooty Shearwaters were 2-4 mi off Ikatan Peninsula, Unimak Island, 22 May (six observers). A Short-tailed Shearwater was on the water near Round Island, Izembek Lagoon, 06 September (D Ward, J Mason); 35 were near the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 08 September (F Zeillemaker, C Dau); 1 was near Operl Island, Izembek Lagoon, 10 September (F Zeillemaker, R Schulmeister, et al); and 1 was near Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 11 45

October (J Pratt). A Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel was at Kinzarof Lagoon, Cold Bay, 04 September (F Zeillemaker) and another was offshore of the Cold Bay dock 26 September (M&F Zeillemaker). A Leach's Storm-Petrel was over Operl Island mud flats, Izembek Lagoon, 25 September (J Mason).

Two Double-crested Cormorants were at St.Catherine's Cove, Unimak Island, 23 January (C Dau, F Zeillemaker). Up to 150 were at Nelson Lagoon/Kudobin Islands 08-21 September (C Dau, D Ward, M Chase, F Zeillemaker), one was at Neumann Island (Izembek Lagoon) 21 September and singles were at the Cold Bay dock 04 October (N Chelgren) and 17 October (M&F Zeillemaker).

The first Sandhill Crane of the year was at Franz Point, Nelson Lagoon, 24 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins). Three arrived near Cold Bay on 25 April (J&M Chase, R Schulmeister) and the last two of the year were at Kinzarof Lagoon, Cold Bay, 04 September (F Zeillemaker).

5. Shorebirds. Gulls, Terns and Allied Species

Semipalmated plovers and rock sandpipers are the most common breeding season shorebirds on the refuge. Some rock sandpipers remain through the winter. Shorebird numbers peak during the fall migration, with a less intensive peak also occurring in spring. Extensive refuge inter-tidal flats strewn with detached decaying eelgrass provide ideal shorebird foraging habitat year-round. Unfortunately, most of the prime shorebird habitat is extremely difficult to access, let alone survey; however, forty­ three formal censuses were conducted at three Cold Bay area sites accessible from the Cold Bay road system in 1992. Two of the sites were regularly visited during the spring and another was added in the fall (Tables 32 and 33). The sites were the Cold Bay shoreline immediately adjacent to the mouth of Stapp Creek including a cutoff slough called "Stapp Creek Slough" that is part of Nurse Lagoon, the head of an inlet called "Dunlin Cove" off Izembek Lagoon along the northwest side of Outer Marker Road, and the shoreline and associated coves at Grant Point in Izembek Lagoon. A single census was also conducted by AFWRC staff at the Kudobin Islands (Kristkoi and Walrus), Nelson Lagoon, in the spring.

Table 32. Summary of spring shorebird transects on Izembek and Pavlof Units, 1992.

LOCATION': sc GP GP 1P SC GP SC GP SC GP SC GP SC GP SC GP SC GP SC GP SC sc GP SC GP SC sc 2 SPECIES DATE : 15A 21A 24A 25APR 26APR 29APR 02MAY 03MAY 06MAY 09MAY 10MAY 13MAY 19M 20MAY 25MAY 31M Semipalmat.Plover 1 2 1 1 2 3 2 1 10 1 14 19 Red Knot 2 Western Sandpiper 2 4 Least Sandpiper 8 4 10 Rock Sandpiper 60 7 7 3 59 5 4 32 32 11 28 42 18 1 10 12 4 18 1 10 59 4 56 4 71 45 Dun lin 16 4 2 7 4 5 •9 Sht-bill.Dowitchr 1 1 5 4 4 Common Snipe 1 Rd-neck.Phalarope 2 2 1 GP = Grant Po1nt, SC = Stapp Creek Slough and Beach 2 A or APR = April, M or MAY = May 46

Table 33. Summary of fall shorebird transects on Izembek and Pavlof Units, 1992.

LOCATION': sc GP GP sc DC GP sc DC GP sc DC GP sc DC DC DC GP 2 SPECIES DATE : 05JUL 14JUL 01AUG 02AUG 09 AUG 23 AUG 05 SEP 19SEP 090CT llOCT Black-bell.Plover 5 Semipalmat.Plover 25 1 37 5 7 4 2 Ruddy Turnstone 1 500 10 Semipalm.Sandpipr 2 Western Sandpiper 300 19 100 600 5 122 415 20 340 2000 Least Sandpiper 2 2 Sharp-tail.Sandpr 21 Rock Sandpiper 1 14 1 21 36 31 4 2 1 Dunlin 2 1500 41 260 80 4 Sht-bill.Dowitchr 6 1 Common Snipe 2 Rd-neck.Phalarooe 1 1 DC= Dunl1n Cove (west s1de Outer Marker Road), GP =Grant Po1nt, SC. =Stapp Creek Slough and Beach 2 JUL = July, AUG= August, SEP = September, OCT= October

Noteworthy shorebird observations included Black-bellied Plovers at Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 25 April, 26 April and 12 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins) with one at Outer Marker, Izembek Lagoon, 17 September (J Mason), five at Dunlin Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 19 September (F Zeillemaker), at least one at Operl Island, Izembek Lagoon; 26, 27 and 29 September (J Mason), 6 at Rescue Lake 02 October (F Zeillemaker), singles at Cold Bay 03-04 October (J Mason) and Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 10-12 October (J Mason). The first Lesser Golden-Plover of the year was at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 24 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins), with the first at Cold Bay 29 April (R Schulmeister). From 3 to 15 were near Cold Bay 02-08 May (F Zeillemaker), while others were near Nelson Lagoon through 14 May (J Schmutz). Fifteen flying across Frosty Road near Cold Bay 24 July were the first of the fall (C Dau), with a peak of 20 on 01 August (F Zeillemaker) and the last one was over Cape Glazenap, Izembek Lagoon, 19 October (J Mason). A Semipalmated Plover arrived at Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 29 April (M&F Zeillemaker) and one arrived at Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 14 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins). Broods observed 21 June to 31 July (M&F Zeillemaker, R Schulmeister). The last bird of the year was at Izembek Lagoon 27 September (J Mason).

The first refuge record for Common Greenshank occurred 27 September when R Schulmeister, experienced with the species in the Aleutian Islands, spotted two-three birds at a marsh between Baldy Village and Izembek Lagoon. Fourteen Greater Yellowlegs were at Bluebill Lake near Cold Bay on 8 July (C Dau); others were on the refuge 14 (F Zeillemaker) and 22 July (M Chase); at Red Salmon Lake, Izembek Lagoon, 09 August (M Zeillemaker); Rambo Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 07 (J Mason), 10 (N Chelgren) and 13 September (F Zeillemaker); Dirk's Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 23 September; Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 03 October (R Schulmeister); with two at a pond near the Air Force Radar Site 15 August (J&M Chase); and two at a marsh between Baldy Village and Izembek Lagoon 08 October (M Chase). Two Wandering Tattlers were at the Russell Creek Fish Hatchery, Cold Bay, 15 May (M&F Zeillemaker) and at Walrus Island/Franz Point/Channel Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 16-21 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins). Two fall birds were near the Cold Bay dock 02 September and one was on Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 12 47

A portion of the Grant Point Shorebird Transect Other transects were at Dunlin Cove and Stapp Creek Slough 18 May 1992 CFZ

Semipalmated Plover with one of three chicks near First Bridge , Frosty Road, Izembek Unit 21 June 1992 CFZ 48

September (J Pratt). A Whimbrel was at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 08-09 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins). Flocks of 3 and 22 migrated over Izembek Lagoon near Operl Island 06 September (J Mason), at least one was heard above Operl Island 15 September, and over Dirk's Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 24 September (J Mason). Bristle-thighed Curlews were recorded almost daily at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 02-20 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins). One was at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 21 September (N Chelgren). A Bar­ tailed Godwit was at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 28 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins), with others there almost daily through 15 May. A flock of 24 was at Operl Island, Izembek Lagoon, mud flats 06 September (J Mason), with singles near Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 11 September (J Pratt), at Operl Island 27 September (killed by gyrfalcon, stolen by bald eagle, J Mason) and at Neumann Island 30 September (J Pratt), two at the mouth of Frosty Creek, Izembek Lagoon, 10 October (J Mason) and three roosting with brant at Operl Island 16 October (J Mason). Ruddy Turnstones were recorded at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 01-21 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins). Fall migration was first detected 01 August when 205 were on Izembek Lagoon (M&F Zeillemaker), migration apparently peaked at over 500 at Dunlin Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 02 August (F Zeillemaker), and the last few were at Operl Island, Izembek Lagoon, and Cold Bay 15 October (J Mason). Two Red Knots, the first for the refuge, were carefully studied at Stapp Creek 09 May (F Zeillemaker) and about 300 were flying in a southeasterly direction at about 1000' altitude above Izembek Lagoon 17 October (C Dau). The first Sanderling of the year was at Operl Island, Izembek Lagoon, 06 September (J Mason), with a peak during the first week of October at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, (N Chelgren) and the last there 01 November (J Pratt). Two Semipalmated Sandpipers were at Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 09 August (M&F Zeillemaker). Western Sandpipers were first recorded near Stapp Creek, Cold Bay, 20 May with others there 31 May (M&F Zeillemaker). Fall migrants suddenly arrived in numbers at Izembek Lagoon and elsewhere on the refuge beginning 04 July (1,000 at Outer Marker Inlet, Izembek Lagoon, F Zeillemaker), peaked on about 19 September (2,000 at Dunlin Cove, Izembek Lagoon, for example, F Zeillemaker), with the last few near Cold Bay 03 October (D Ward). Least Sandpipers were at Franz Point, Nelson Lagoon, on 05 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and the first for Cold Bay was at Stapp Creek on 10 MAY (M&F Zeillemaker). A bird apparently on territory was photographed while perched atop a willow bush near Grant Point on 21 June (F Zeillemaker) and two at Stapp Creek Slough (Cold Bay) 09 August were the last of the year (F Zeillemaker).

The first two Sharp-tailed Sandpipers of the fall were at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 10 September (J Pratt), with a peak on about 11 October (21 at Grant Point Inlet, Izembek Lagoon, M&F Zeillemaker), and the final one at Applegate Cove (Izembek Lagoon) 31 October (R Schulmeister). The 78 Rock Sandpipers tallied during the 02 June Cold Bay Breeding Bird Survey was 3% below the 1982-1991 average (C Dau, M Chase) and a nest containing 4 eggs was discovered at Refuge Headquarters 19 June (Carla Dau) with the chicks being first observed 26 June (F Zeillemaker). Dunlins were first recorded at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 22 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and at Cold Bay 03 May (M&F Zeillemaker) with courting birds at a Grant Point marsh 21 June (F Zeillemaker). Fall migration began in July, 49

Male least sandpiper "wing flagging" a female on shorebird transect at Stapp Creek Slough 21 May 1992 CFZ peaked about 26 September (1,000 at Operl Island, Izembek Lagoon, for example), with the last birds observed at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 30 October (N Chelgren). The first Short-billed Dowitchers of the year were at Cold Bay and Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 26 April (F Zeillemaker) and at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 29 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins). One to five were at Stapp Creek, Cold Bay, 08-25 May (M&F Zeillemaker) and others were at the Kudobin Islands through 19 May. Thirty were at Izembek Lagoon 01 August, 6 at Dunlin Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 02 August, one there 09 August and 130 northeast of Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 15 August (F Zeillemaker) and four were near the Applegate Trail, Izembek Lagoon, 13 September (M Chase), three near Dirk's Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 22 and 24 September (J Mason), ten near Applegate Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 11 October (J Mason), one at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 19 September (N Chelgren) and one in the Cold Bay area 11 October (J Mason). The first Common Snipe of the year was at Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 27 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and near Cold Bay along Grant Point Road on 11 May (M Chase, R Schulmeister), with singles along Frosty Road (between First Bridge and Second Bridge) 15 August, % mi west of First Bridge OS September, west of First Bridge 06 September, Refuge Headquarters, Cold Bay, 09 September and Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 12 September. Four were at Bluebill Lake 03 October, one was at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 12-13 October, and one was near Cold Bay 24 October (N "Chelgren). The first two Red-necked Phalaropes of the year were at Stapp Creek, Cold Bay, 25 May (M&F Zeillemaker) and some remained all summer, with the last one of the year at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 15 October (J Pratt). A Red Phalarope was 50 at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 29 September (J Pratt) and one was near Cold Bay 01 October (D Ward).

Noteworthy Larid observations included a light phase adult Pomarine Jaeger about four mi south of Unimak Island 23 May (F Zeillemaker), one at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 29 September (J Pratt) and one near Cold Bay 01 October (D Ward). Parasitic Jaegers were recorded at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 11 and 14 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins), a dark bird was about four mi south of Unimak Island 22 MAY (6 observers), and one was near Cold Bay 02 June (C Dau, M Chase). A Long-tailed Jaeger was recorded over the Bering Sea about 1.2 mi northwest of the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 16 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and an adult was about four mi south of Unimak Island 22 May (6 observers). A Bonaparte's Gull, the first for the area, was over the Bering Sea about 1.2 mi northwest of the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 20 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins). Two immature Glaucous Gulls were near Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 06 April (F Zeillemaker), others were at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 22 April-15 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and an immature was about four mi south of Unimak Island, 22 May (M&F Zeillemaker). The first Black-legged Kittiwakes of the year were at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 19 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and Cold Bay 15 May (M Zeillemaker). Three Red-legged Kittiwakes were about six mi south of Unimak Island 22 May (5 observers). Two Sabine's Gulls were about four mi south of Unimak Island on 22 May (5 observers). the first Arctic Terns of the year were at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 03 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and near Cold Bay 19 May (M Chase, C Dau). Eight were tallied at Cold Bay and Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 20 May (F Zeillemaker). the first Aleutian Terns of the year were at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 16 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and Thinpoint, near Cold Bay 18 May (C Dau, F Zeillemaker).

Noteworthy Alcid observations included a Marbled Murrelet near the Cold Bay dock 17 October (D Ward) and one at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 17-19 October (N Chelgren). Three Kittlitz's Murrelets were near shore on Cold Bay 05 July (F Zeillemaker), two were near the Cold Bay dock 08 August and one was there 26 September (M&F Zeillemaker). About 50 Ancient Murrelets were found from the mouth of Cold Bay to Umga Island 22 May (6 observers) and the last one of the year was near Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 28 September (J Pratt). Hundreds of thousands of Crested Auklets apparently spend at least some winters in the waters off the north side of Unimak Island. On 13 February, "smokes" (so many that the birds appear of.puffs of smoke in the air and on the water from a distance) of crested auklets were observed offshore between Swanson Lagoon and Cape Lapin, with a few thousand more off Cataract Cove, during the annual Unimak Island winter survey. Several Tufted Puffins were found from the mouth of Cold Bay to mid-way along the south shore of Unimak Island 22-23 May (6 observers) and one that died at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 24 September (J Pratt) was the last of the year. Several Horned Puffins were recorded from within Cold Bay to mid-way along the south shore of Unimak Island 22 May (6 observers), at least 48 were feeding on fish schools near the Cold Bay dock 31 May (M&F Zeillemaker), and the last two of the year were well off of the Cold Bay dock 07 November (F Zeillemaker). 51

6. Raptors

Although no specific raptor studies are conducted by refuge staff, known aeries are monitored annually. Bald eagle, rough-legged hawk, golden eagle, gyrfalcon and short-eared owl nests have been recorded in previous years on the refuge. All five species are uncommon here and apparently only the bald eagle is a regular breeder. In 1992, we monitored a bald eagle nest near Cold Bay where both adults were observed feeding the two large nestlings at the nest atop a large rock near Frosty Road 15 July, the eaglets were banded 21 July, and the eaglets fledged during the period 09- 15 August, but continued to frequent the nest area as late as 05 September.

Noteworthy incidental observations of other species included an Osprey circling above Refuge Headquarters, Cold Bay, 24 May (R Schulmeister, F Zeillemaker). Single migrant Northern Harriers passed by Refuge Headquarters, Cold Bay, 03 September, 26 September and 29 September, with another on the slopes of Frosty Peak at Third Creek Valley 29 September (M&F Zeillemaker), singles at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 21, 26 and 27 September and 10 October (J Pratt), Lucky Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 19 September and the last at Operl Island, Izembek Lagoon, 29 September (C Salek). A Rough-legged Hawk at Refuge Headquarters, Cold Bay, 21 April was the first of the year (R Schulmeister, F Zeillemaker), a dark phase adult was along Frosty Road near a former nest site 04 July and 30 July (M&F Zeillemaker) and the last one of the year passed by Refuge Headquarters, Cold Bay, 30 September (F Zeillemaker). An immature Golden Eagle was near Kayak Lake 29 February (M&F Zeillemaker), one was near Nelson Lagoon 07 April (C Dau, F Zeillemaker), one was near Moffet Bay, Izembek Lagoon, 20 April (F Zeillemaker), one each at Cathedral Valley and Chinaman Lagoon, Pavlof Bay, on 22 April (C Dau, F Zeillemaker), one near Cold Bay 03 May (F Zeillemaker), and one at Morzhovoi Bay 18 May (C Dau, F Zeillemaker), with at least two near Frosty Road, Frosty Peak, 12 September (N Chelgren), one between Second Bridge and Third Bridge, Frosty Road, 22 October (R Barto, N Schlichten) and one near Baldy Mt. 29 December (M Chase/CBC). A Merlin was near Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 02 January (M&F Zeillemaker/ CBC), one was at Refuge Headquarters, Cold Bay, 05 February, another there 11 March (M Chase, F Zeillemaker), one at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 09, 12, 13 and 16 September (J Pratt), one harassed Steller's eiders being released after banding at Cape Glazenap, Izembek Lagoon, 10 September (J Chase, C Dau, F Zeillemaker, et al), one at Rambo Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 23 September (J Mason), and one was between Baldy Village and Izembek Lagoon 27 September (R Schulmeister). A heavily spotted Snowy Owl was near Cold Bay 05 February (R Schulmeister), one was near the Sapsuk River, Nelson Lagoon, 12 February (C Dau, F Zeillemaker), and one was near Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 29 December (C Dau/CBC). The first Short-eared Owl of the year was at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 23 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and Cold Bay 20 May (M&F Zeillemaker), with singles along Frosty Road, one mi east of Third Bridge 12 September (J Mason), at Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 21 September (J Mason), and at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 26 September (J Pratt) and 17 October (J Pratt). 52

7. Other Migratory Birds

WB/P Dau and DRM Chase conducted the annual BBS along 15 miles of the Cold Bay road system on 02 June. A total of 28 species and 334 individuals were observed and/or heard. Rough-legged hawk was observed on the BBS for the first time in 1992. The results indicate that the late spring negatively influenced the abundance of golden-crowned sparrows and Lapland longspurs (Table 34).

Table 34. Results of 1992 Cold Bay Breeding Bird Survey, 02 June. 1992" Range 1982-1992"" Total Years Species No.Birds No.Stops No.Birds No.Stops Observed/10 Red-throated Loon 1 1 0- 3 0- 2 4 Common Loon 4 4 0- 5 0- 4 8 Pelagic Cormorant 0- 1 0- 1 1 Tundra Swan 9 6 2- 23 1- 8 9 Brant 8 1 0-350 0- 1 3 Green-winged Teal 3 2 0- 5 o- 2 4 Mallard 1 1 o- 9 o- 4 8 Northern Pintail o- 5 o- 2 7 Northern Shoveler o- 1 o- 1 1 Gadwall 4 1 o- 4 o- 1 2 American Wigeon 0- 2 0- 1 2 Greater Scaup 11 5 2- 32 1- 9 10 Black Seater 4 1 4- 25 1- 6 10 Common Merganser 0- 18 0- 1 1 Bald Eagle 1 1 o- 3 o- 3 5 Northern Harrier o- 1 o- 1 1 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 0- 1 o- 1 1 Willow Ptarmigan 45 20 3- 67 3-27 10 Sandhill Crane o- 2 0- 2 3 Semipalmated Plover 6 5 1- 17 1-10 10 Yellowlegs, sp. 0- 1 o- 1 1 Least Sandpiper 1 1 o- 10 o- 6 9 Rock Sandpiper 78 29 52-105 23-30 10 Dun lin 1 1 0- 5 o- 4 6 Common Snipe 3 3 1- 20 1-10 10 Red-necked Phalarope o- 1 0- 1 1 Red Phalarope o- 2 0- 1 1 Parasitic Jaeger 1 1 o- 1 0- 1 2 Long-tailed Jaeger 0 1 0- 1 1 Mew Gull 9 4 4- 21 3-13 10 Glaucous-winged Gull 28 13 1-204 1-19 10 Arctic Tern o- 5 o- 2 3 Aleutian Tern o- 1 o- 1 1 Pigeon Guillemot o- 3 o- 1 1 Tree Swallow o- 7 o- 4 4 Bank Swallow 3 1 o- 16 o- 3 3 Black-billed Magpie 2 2 o- 2 o- 2 4 Common Raven 1 1 0- 16 0-13 8 American Pipit 25 19 7- 35 6-20 10 Northern Shrike o- 1 o- 1 1 Savannah Sparrow 38 22 .3- 41 2-22 10 Song Sparrow 0- 1 o- 1 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow 9 8 3- 20 3-13 10 Lapland Longspur 36 20 36- 92 20-30 10 Rosy Finch o- 1 o- 1 1 Common Redpoll 1 1 o- 8 o- 6 7 Total Species: 28 Ten Year Range: 18- 31 A thirty (30) three-minute stop (half mile interval) automobile route. "No. Birds" = total heard and/or seen for entire survey. "Stops" = nwnber of stops on which the species was encountered. No 1986 survey. 53

The 1991-1992 CBC was conducted by refuge staff and two other participants on 02 January 1992 (details in 1991 Narrative Report). The 1992-1993 (27th) CBC was conducted by the same observers on 29 December. A total of 6,195 individuals of 41 species (a record high) were observed (Table 35). Three species were observed on the 1992-1993 CBC for the first time (red­ throated loon, golden eagle and Kittlitz's murrelet). In addition, eight species observed had record high numbers for the CBC. The record high numbers are thought to be the result of favorable weather and broad vehicle and foot coverage due to the lack of snow.

Table 35. Results of 1992 Izembek NWR Christmas Bird Count. 29 December. Species' 1992 Average Number• % Change from (No. years seen) average Red-throated Loon 1o 1 ( 1) 0 Pacific Loon 7 4 (3) +75 Common Loon 1 3 (9) -67 Yellow-billed Loon 2 2 (5) 0 Horned Grebe 28 14 ( 16) +100 Red-necked Grebe 12• 3 ( 13) +300 Pelagic Cormorant 29 18 (25) +61 Tundra Swan 6• 4 (2) +50 Emperor Goose 2266 1199 (27) +89 Brant 837 1349 (19) -38 Green-wing Teal (Amer.) 41• 10 (10) +310 Mallard 202• 48 (19) +321 Northern Pintail 14 29 (8) -52 Gadwall 1 3 (3) -67 Greater Scaup 45 29 (9) +62 Common Eider 18 43 (20) -58 Steller's Eider 1197 1019 (27) +17 Harlequin Duck 81 38 (26) +113 Oldsquaw 246 210 (27) +17 Black Seater 184 146 (24) +26 White-winged Seater 61 22 (23) +177 Common Goldeneye 134 106 (26) +26 Bufflehead 3 9 ( 19) -6 7 Common Merganser 1 12 (15) -92 Red-breasted Merganser 44 104 (25) -58 Bald Eagle 25 (15a;l0i) 12 (27) +108 Golden Eagle 1°(li) 1 (1) 0 Gyrfalcon 3 2 (15) +50 Willow Ptarmigan 345• 26 (18) +123 Rock Sandpiper 12 39 (10) -69 Mew Gull 1 2 (2) -50 Glaucous-winged Gull 29 145 (27) -80 Common Murre 14• 3 (6) +366 Pigeon Guillemot 8 6 (19) +33 Kittlitz's Murrelet 1° 1 (1) 0 Snowy Owl 1 1 (2) 0 Black-billed Magpie zo• 5 (19) +300 Common Raven 42 85 (27) -51 American Dipper 1 2 ( 15) -50 Snow Bunting 150• 45 (27) +233 Rosy Finch (Gray-crowned) 83 55 (27) +51 Total number of species: 41 Total individual birds: 6,195 Number of observers: 6 (N.Chambers, J&M.Chase, C.Dau, F&M Zeillemaker) Observation time: 8:00 hours Distance covered: 51 miles 1 A total of 57 species have been observed in the 27 years of counts. 2 Average for year during which the species was observed. New Christmas Bird Count high number observed. 0 New Christmas Bird Count species. 54

In anticipation of increased emphasis on neotropical migratory birds (NTMB) through the "Partners in Flight" program in future years, refuge staff conducted three trial song bird efforts in 1992. The first was to evaluate the potential for conducting a NTMB "Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship" (MAPS) mist netting program near cold Bay. In May a single 13m (42') mist net site was established in riparian alder habitat along Russell Creek about 0.7 km (0.4 mi) upstream from the fish hatchery facilities. The net was operated opportunistically from late May to early July. It appeared that a MAPS program would be possible along lower Russell Creek. The second effort was the banding of post-breeding NTMB using the MAPS trial net site and a second net site in an alder thicket on the lower slopes of Frosty Peak along Frosty Road 0.8 km (~ mi) west of the First Bridge in August and September. That program was also operated on an opportunistic basis. Some interesting encounters resulted (see below and Section G.l6 Banding). The final effort was in preparation for the pending "Alaska Breeding Bird Atlas" program. The breeding status of 12 passerine species was documentation. Nests, adults carrying food to nestlings, and begging fledglings were recorded during June and July.

Noteworthy incidental observations included a Belted Kingfisher at Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 03 September (J Adams, et al.), 04 September, 06 September, 14 October and 19 October (M&F Zeillemaker), with two there 25 October (R Barto). A Say's Phoebe was reported at the Caribou River cabin, Pavlof Unit, 11 October (E Post), but the observation was brief and without ocular aids, so the bird was placed on the "unsubstantiated" list. The first Tree Swallow of year was at Franz Point, Nelson Lagoon, 18 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and at Trout Creek, Cold Bay, 28 May (C Dau). A pair began using a nesting box at Quarters 3/Refuge Headquarters, Cold Bay, 16 June (J&M Chase), the adults became aggressive 16 July, and 2-3 chicks fledged late 20 July (M Chase). The first Bank Swallows of the year were at Cold Bay 24 May (R Schulmeister), with at least 20 nests in a colony near Trout Creek, Cold'Bay, being still active 02 August, and two adults and a fledgling chick there for the last record 09 August (F Zeillemaker). An active Black-billed Magpie nest was discovered in a mostly dead transplanted Sitka spruce near the Reeve Airport Terminal 08 June (F Zeillemaker) and the two young were fledged and being fed by the adults 28 July (C Dau). Black-capped Chickadees were at Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 27- 28 April and 14 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins), two appeared in alder~ mi west of the First Bridge, Frosty Road, 15 August and two were netted/banded nearby 06 September (M&F Zeillemaker), four were in alder at Baldy Village west of Cold Bay 04 October (M Chase, F Zeillemaker), and 2 were in alder along Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 17 October (M&F Zeillemaker). A male Red­ flanked Bluetail was well studied in dune grass at the north end of Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 07 October (J Mason) and a completed Alaska Record Report has been forwarded to the Alaska Rare Bird Committee. The species has been recorded previously in Alaska on Attu Island.at the western tip of the Aleutian Islands (e.g., June 1982), but not elsewhere in the state. The first two Hermit Thrushes of the year were singing in Baldy Mt., Cold Bay, alder thickets 06 June (M&F Zeillemaker, C Roberts) and others were regularly heard or observed in Frosty Peak alder thickets through July. The species was difficult to detect after singing ceased, but two were 55 between First Bridge and Second Bridge, Frosty Road, 09 August, three were in the same area 15 August, an adult and immature were again in the area 05 September, a fledgling was netted/banded~ mi west of the First Bridge 06 September (M&F Zeillemaker), and singles were at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 28 and 30 September (J Pratt). A male American Robin at Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 21 June was the sixth record for the Cold Bay/Izembek NWR area (F Zeillemaker). A Varied Thrush at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 21 September was found dead there 22 September (N Chelgren) and represented the second refuge record (04 June 1977). The first American Pipit of the year was in the Cold Bay area 06 May (M&F Zeillemaker). The 25 tallied during the 02 June Cold Bay Breeding Bird Survey was 25% above the 1982- 1991 average (C Dau, M Chase) and fledged broods were evident from 13-25 July, and the last one of the year was at Lucky Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 14 September (M&F Zeillemaker). The first fall Northern Shrike was along Frosty Road 21 September (R Schulmeister). An Orange-crowned Warbler was in alder west of First Bridge, Frosty Road, 09 August and 2 were netted and banded~ mi west of First Bridge 06 September (M&F Zeillemaker). The first Yellow Warblers of the year for Cold Bay were three singing from Baldy Mt. alder thickets 06 June (M&F Zeil+emaker, C Roberts), adults were feeding young in a lakeside alder thicket near Grant Point 14 July, and 10 birds along Frosty Road and at Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 06 September were the last of the year (M&F Zeillemaker). A Wilson's Warbler near Outer Marker Road 02 June was the only spring record (C Dau, M Chase). The first fall migrant was noted along Frosty Road 09 August, with a peak of more than 15 birds there 15 August, and the last of the year were along Frosty Road 06 September (M&F Zeillemaker). The first Savannah Sparrows of the year were at the Kudobin Islands, Nelson Lagoon, 27 April (J Schmutz, H Stabins) and the first in the Cold Bay area were at Grant Point 05 May (M&F Zeillemaker). The 38 tallied during the 02 June Cold Bay Breeding Bird Survey was 58% above the 1982-1991 average (C Dau, M Chase), an adult was carrying food to nestlings 14 July, fledglings were observed 15-26 July (M&F Zeillemaker, J&M Chase), and the last one of the year was at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 17 October (J Pratt). The first Fox Sparrow of the year was at Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 24 May (F Zeillemaker), fledged young begging from parents were near Grant Point 14 July, other fledglings were observed 15 and 18 July, and the last one of the year was in alder west of First Bridge, Frosty Road, 11 September (M&F Zeillemaker). Single Song Sparrows were at the base of the Cold Bay dock (M Zeillemaker) and at Refuge Headquarters (M Chase) 29 September, three were at the base of Cold Bay dock 05 October, four were there 09 and 10 October, two were there 12 October, and five were along the Cold Bay shore between Refuge Headquarters and the dock 18 October (M&F Zeillemaker). One was at mouth of Trout Creek, Cold Bay, 02 November (C Dau), singles were at Strawberry Point, Izembek Lagoon, 31 October (N Chelgren) and Grant Point, I.zembek Lagoon, 02 November (N Chelgren, J Pratt), two were on a small island in the northern part of Applegate Cove, Izembek Lagoon, 08 November, and one was still there 09 November for the last record of the year (N Chelgren). The first Golden-crowned Sparrow of the year was at Russell Creek, Cold Bay, 05 May (M Chase) and one was at Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 14 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins). An adult was feeding nestlings at Frosty Creek near Cold Bay 15 July and the first fledgling was observed 18 July (F Zeillemaker). All had 56 apparently departed by 12 September, but two birds (representing a late re~ord) were in alder between First Bridge and Second Bridge, Frosty Road, 09 October (F Zeillemaker). Only one White-crowned Sparrow was recorded this spring at Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 17 April (M Chase) and the only fall record was two immatures at Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 09 August (F Zeillemaker). The first Lapland Longspurs of the year was at Grant Point, Izembek Lagoon, 21 April (C Dau) and at Big Hill, Nelson Lagoon, 14 May (J Schmutz, H Stabins). The 36 tallied during the 02 June Cold Bay Breeding Bird Survey was 42% below the 1982-1991 average (C Dau, M Chase), fledglings were observed,from 14-25 July (F Zeillemaker), and the last of the year were at Neumann Island, Izembek Lagoon, 15 October (J Pratt) and the Cold Bay area 17 October (J Mason). A male McKay's Bunting was with snow buntings at Quarters 1/Refuge Headquarters, Cold Bay, feeding station, 30 January, two males were there 31 January-01 February, a single male was there 02-03 February (M&F Zeillemaker), a male was caught in the refuge office trap, banded and photographed OS February (M Chase, F Zeillemaker), it returned 06 February, all buntings dispersed during a period of nice weather until cold and snow returned 21 February when a male and a female were captured, banded and photographed. Five birds frequented the area through February (M Chase, M&F Zeillemaker), up to three visited the Quarters #1 feeding station through March, a peak count of 9 birds 02 April, and the final observation of one was 15 April (M&F Zeillemaker, J&M Chase, C Dau, R Schulmeister).

Male McKay's Bunting banded at Refuge Headquarters 02 April 1992 CFZ 57

A Rosy Finch pair with 3 begging fledglings arrived at the Quarters 1 (Refuge Headquarters) feeding station 22 July (M&F Zeillemaker). A Pine Grosbeak pair was near Third Bridge, Frosty Road, 21 June, a pair acting territorial near First Bridge, Frosty Road, 15 July, but not relocated the next day, and a singing male in alder ~-1 mile west of the First Bridge 09 August represented the second through fourth records for the area (F Zeillemaker) . The first Common Redpolls of the year were on the Cold Bay Breeding Bird Survey 02 June (C Dau, M Chase), the species was regularly observed in the vicinity of Frosty Road alder thickets throughout July , August, September and early October (M&F Zeillemaker), and the final two were along Frosty Road 17 October (F Zeillemaker).

8. Game Mammals

Big game species found on units of the Izembek refuge include brown bear, caribou, moose, wolf and wolverine . Of these, moose are rare while wolverine, although fairly common, are the most seldom observed. Moose are regularly seen in low numbers in the eastern portion of the Pavlof Unit where willow (Salix spp.) is common. The taller species of willow preferred by moose are rare on the remainder of the Pavlof Unit and on both the Izembek and Unimak Units . Hence moose do not prefer this area. A single animal seen near King Cove in August of 1989 and a single medium bull seen on Unimak Island in September of 1990 and 1991 comprise our most recent s.ightings.

Red fox are common on the lower Alaska Peninsula 02 May 1992 CFZ 58

Fur bearers hunted on the refuge include arctic ground squirrel, coyote, gray wolf, red fox and wolverine. Coyotes appear to be slowly pioneering into the area with an unconfirmed report in 1949 and documented reports 'of single animals in 1984 and 1985 . A specimen was taken at Pavlof Bay in the fall of 1989. The red fox is a commonly hunted species on the refuge with most taken by people who are also engaged in trapping activities. There is essentially no harvest of ground squirrels on the refuge in that Aleut people have not traditionally used the species for clothing.

The interest in game mammals on the refuge by both consumptive and non­ consumptive users centers primarily on brown bear and caribou populations . Both species are hunted with non-resident hunters accounting for most of the bear harvest while local residents are the primary users of caribou. Declining herd size, due to low recruitment and poor survival in the Southern Alaska Peninsula caribou herd, has brought about management decisions that limit the harvest and that also provide preferential use to local residents.

Brown Bear Management activities associated with the lower Alaska Peninsula brown bear population in 1992 consisted of aerial surveys of study areas on the Izembek and Unimak Units and continued monitoring of the sport harvest. The sport harvest of brown bears is allowed both spring and fall during alternate regulatory years (i . e . , spring hunts in odd years and fall hunts in even years). So, in 1992 there was a spring season from 10 to 25 May but no fall season. Annual spring and fall brown bear seasons are allowed on Unimak Island via drawing permits (15 per year, 7 in spring and 8 in fall) .

Brown Bear sow and twin cubs near First Bridge 15 August 1992 CFZ 59

The Izembek staff monitors hunter activity on the refuge which is primarily in the form of commercial guiding of non-resident hunters. The Izembek Refuge, in cooperation with ADF&G, is a designated sealing office for species such as brown bear for which both hide and skull must be sealed prior to transport outside Alaska. A total of 39 brown bears were sealed by the refuge staff in 1992.

Refuge aerial surveys provide an index of population size and productivity on both the Izembek and Unimak units. The surveys are conducted during crepuscular periods (morning or evening), as bears are most active then and throughout the nocturnal hours. In 1992, the indicated population size of the Izembek Unit was 14 percent below the 1991 level and 2 percent above the 1978-1992 average. Similar data for northeast Unimak suggests a population one percent above 1991 and 47 percent above 1978-1992 average. A population index was not obtained for the southeast Unimak sample area in 1992. Available survey data are only trends which suggest that brown bear populations in these remote areas are healthy.

Refuge aerial surveys are timed to provide an annual index of population trends. Seasonal phenology, the timing of salmon runs and the magnitude of salmon runs in and adjacent to the survey areas and observer experience are potential biases that may affect survey results. In combination with data on the magnitude, age, and sex of the harvest, these surveys help guide refuge and State management strategies for brown bear in the lower Alaska Peninsula.

Caribou The Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd (SAPCH) has been in steady decline since 1983. The herd ranges primarily from Herendeen and Canoe Bays southwest to the tip of the Alaska Peninsula (Figure 9). The main portion of the herd has wintered in the Cold Bay area, with smaller wintering populations occurring north of Pavlof and Morzhovoi bays. Normally in March and April the herd migrates to calving and summer ranges between the Black Hills and Trader Mountain. Up to 100 animals summer in the Morzhovoi Bay area.

Since a peak of roughly 10,200 animals in 1983, the herd has declined due to poor recruitment and low survival of both calves and adults. Cooperative work by ADF&G and Refuge staff was intensified beginning in 1990 in an effort to more closely monitor population trends and to determine the cause, or causes, of the decline. The low rate of recruitment observed in the SAPCH (average 11%) appears to be due to low survival resulting from poor nutrition in both pregnant cows and their .calves and possibly due to a combination of predation and hunting mortality. A draft management plan for the SAPCH was completed by the refuge staff in 1992. When internal comments and those of the ADF&G are incorporated, we believe this document will provide the guidance necessary to manage this herd. lZEHBEK NATIONAL \HLDLIFE REFUGE

A Izembek Unit B Pavlof Unit

C Unimak Unit

~~~~Primary calving area ""'~~'Primary

0

/ ~ / / / ~ • //\ . c ~tate Game Management Unit - 9D .·: . .:· / ") \ .. v \ t / \ 0 / \ / \ / \~~/ \.__ ---C37

Figure 9. Primary range of the southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd. 60

Wintering caribou along the Cold Bay Road System Outer Marker Road at junction with VOR Road 06 February 1993 CFZ

In 1992, the Refuge and ADF&G continued financial and field support for Eric Post, a graduate student with the Alaska Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Alaska (Fairbanks). Field work was initiated on 28 May by Eric Post and his assistant Pernille Boving from Denmark, with their primary emphasis being concentrated on the relationship between qualitative and quantitative characteristics of range vegetation in the Caribou River flats and Black Hills summer use areas. These data should be useful in conjunction with information on body size, reproductive success, adult cow and calf survival and parturition dates for the two primary subgroups of the herd collected by the ADF&G in cooperation with the Izembek refuge.

Winter range evaluations have been conducted by Eric Post and Pernille Boving since 1991. Their efforts have been concentrated along the Cold Bay road system where the bulk of the herd winters. Aerial radio tracking flights are performed each winter to determine the distribution and habitat use by marked animals and those in association with them. The percentage of calves in winter herds is determine to estimate overall survival rates. The timing of calf losses is determined by the monitoring of radio collared cows.

Weather and snow conditions did not allow a complete census of the SAPCH by years end. The first opportunity for a 1992/93 caribou census did not occur until the third week of January when a low count of 1,929 was obtained, 466 scattered north of the Black Hills and 1,463 from the Black Hills south to the end of the Alaska Peninsula. Snow cover in areas north 61 of the Black Hills was over 90 percent and 80-90 percent further south and we believe few animals were missed. Five wolves and a single brown bear were observed during the January 1993 survey versus eleven and 5, respectively last winter. We are hoping for conditions suitable for a second survey. The winter 1991/92 survey conducted in December of 1991 found 1,263 animals in areas north of the Black Hills and another 1,567 south of this area for a total of 2,830 animals.

Caribou on a frozen lake during population survey 17 December 1991 CFZ

A maximum of 19 radio transmitters were active in June of 1992. By early September one of these animals (150.131) was known to have died. By mid­ winter three more animals had died (150.161, 150 . 190, 150.690). Signals were not heard from three other animals (150.210, 150.270, 151.190) suggesting possible radio failure. The status of two other animals (151.141, 151.330) is uncertain. Only eight animals were known to be alive and well during the winter 1992/93.

Productivity surveys are conducted jointly by ADF&G and the refuge staff in June to obtain an indication of population size and calf recruitment. The post-calving population was estimated at 2,500 animals. Samples of 378 caribou in the Black Hills and 183 in the Caribou River flats indicated calf percentages of 10.0 and 20.2, respectively for these two components of the herd. Survival to fall appeared excellent with 15.3 percent calves near Cold Bay (n=606) and 15.7 in the Caribou River flats (n=l40). Observations by the refuge staff in December suggested that the percentage 62

of calves in the Cold Bay area had dropped to 9. 2 percent (n=l85) · (Table 37). This is the best rate of recruitment and survival that has been documented for the SAPCH since 1987. Calving normally begins about 1 June with a peak by 10 June. Most caribou in the SAPCH calve near the Black Hills/Trader Mountain area. Calving distribution and population size was documented by Izembek Refuge staff until 22 June during four flights. Toby Boudreau of ADF&G performed an aerial photographic flight on 22 June. The ADF&G survey indicated a post­ calving population size of approximately 2,500 caribou. Few bulls are associated with post-calving concentrations of cows and calves which were found near the Black Hills.

Post-calving observations are primarily keyed to determining distribution and abundance as productivity data are difficult to collect from large herds when using fixed-wing aircraft. However, ADF&G personnel were able to classify 561 animals, of which 15% overall were calves (Table 36). Observations of small peripheral herds sampled for composition by the refuge staff on 5,8,22 June indicated that 12 percent of the caribou aged (n=716) were calves. Additionally these data indicated that production was higher in the Caribou River area (19% calves, n=l88) than in the Black Hills (10% calves, n=528). Differential recruitment between the two primary use areas (Black Hills/Trader Mountain and Caribou River flats), appears to be a regular occurrence related to range condition, animal density or predation.

Table 36. Annual recruitment/population size, SAPCH, 1983-1992.

Calf ComEosition Population Year Fall Winter Index 1983 15% NA 10,203 1984 15% NA NA 1985 9% NA NA 1986 13% NA NA 1987 16% NA 6,401 1988 12% 13% 3' 407 1 1989 3% NA 3,957 1990 6% NA 3' 3002 1991 13% 9X 2,830 1992 15% 8% 2 5001 1 Post-calving census. 2 Estimated total based on December and January efforts.

Another important goal of post-calving survey efforts was to determine the reproductive status of female caribou with radio collars. Reproductive status was determined for eight of sixteen collared cows. No calves were produced by those eight cows. The eight remaining cows were located in the post-calving herds, but were not individually observed.

Productivity was not estimated again until late December when a portion of the herd was entered the Cold Bay road system. Seventeen calves (9%) were observed in a sample of 185 animals. By late February, our sampling indicated that the herd was composed of 7 percent calves (n=357) for an overall winter 1992/93 estimate of 7.6 percent. These data indicate better than average calf survival from the October level of 15 percent. 63

There are few large bulls in the SAPCH (ADF&G estimates 22 bulls:lOO cows and 15% overall with 3% overall being large bulls); however, pregnancy and birth rates are high (comparable to other Alaskan herds), so the bull component is apparently adequate to allow for good production. Dick Sellers'(ADF&G) counts in October indicated 8,0 percent of the herd was medium and large bulls. Our ground counts in December indicated 4.3 percent large bulls present. As indicated, bulls (small, medium and large combined) comprised 15 percent of both the Black Hill/Trader Mountain and Caribou River segments in mid-October. The 4.3 percent large bulls found in late December near Cold Bay, although higher than the 3 percent found in the October survey, may be biased due to small sample size or variations in migratory phenology of different population components.

The age structure of the hunter harvested animals is also indicative of the sustained poor recruitment to the SAPCH. Since 1986, Refuge staff has been collecting lower jaws from hunter killed animals. Jaws collected from 1986-1990 were aged by ADF&G personnel based on tooth wear and replacement. In 1991 (n=l8) and 1992 (n= 10) jaws collected were aged by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at New Mexico State University using sectioned incisors. Over the past six seasons, 77 percent of the reported caribou harvested, for which jaws were collected, has been at least five years old. The 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 seasons were restricted to bulls, of which nine (50 percent) and two (20 percent), respectively were five years old or older. Results of the jaw aging are contained in Table 37. There is normally selection for larger bulls, and thus the age structure may be biased high due to a large number of the bulls being taken prior to dropping their antlers. The number of available bulls of any age is reduced from previous years and this situation, along with continuing hunter selection for larger bulls, increases our concern for male cohorts in the population. The 1991-1992 and 1992-1993 seasons were closed during the months of October and November to reduce harvest. By early December most bulls have shed their antlers so it will be interesting to see if the age structure of the harvest varies when body size rather than antler size becomes the primary selection criteria.

Intuitively, it is believed that poor nutrition may be the key factor affecting calf survival during the summer. The population increased through the 1970's, placing more demand on the forage resources. Preferred forage species such as lichens may have not been able to keep pace with demand. The graduate project of Eric Post was begun in 1990 to address these concerns by comparing analysis of ground cover and biomass in summer

Table 37. Summary of sex/relative age of hunter harvested caribou jaws.

SEASON n TOTAL (%) AGED TO 5+ YEARS (%) M F u M F u ALL

86/87 40 16(40) 14(35) 10(25) 10(63) 12(86) 9(90) 31(78) 87/88 51 28(55) 22(43) 1(02) 24(86) 19(86) 1 44(86) 88/89 40 20{50) 19(A8) 1(02) 18(90) 16(84) 0 34(85) 89/90 20 13(65) 7(35) 0 11(85) 5(71) 0 16(80) 90/91* 18 17(94) 1(06) 0 9(50) 1(100) 0 10(56) 91L92* 10 10(100) 0 0 2(20) 0 0 2(20) TOTAL 179 104(58) 63(33) 12(07) 74(54) 53(39) 10(07) 137(77) * Bull only season. 64 and winter habitats and actual food habits of the caribou based on fecal pellet analysis. The high percentage of mosses found in the winter diet may be an indication that this herd is nutritionally stressed and that preferred lichens, which are often associated with mosses, are actively sought even though their abundance and biomass are low. However, the quality of spring vegetation available to caribou prior to c'alving may be a critical factor affecting not only annual recruitment but also survival of cows and calves. Systematic evaluations by Eric Post in important segments of the summer as well as winter portions of the SAPCH range will help quantitatively address these questions concerning herd nutrition.

Scant data are available on caribou resident on Unimak Island. From over 4,000 animals in the early 1970's, the herd has continually dwindled to fewer than 200 in 1992. Caribou occur in all lowlands but prefer the area from Urilia Bay to Swanson Lagoon on the north side of the island and to a lesser degree the southeast section from Lazaref River to Ikatan Bay. There are historical records of caribou interchanges between Unimak Island and the Alaska Peninsula, but no recent sightings are available and no radio-equipped animals have made the one mile swim to the island.

Due to the aircraft accident in late June, we were not able to obtain an indication of caribou production on Unimak Island in 1992.

9. Marine Mammals

Gray whales are common spring and fall migrants in nearshore waters along both the Bering and Pacific sides of the Alaska Peninsula. They prefer shallow water during migration and are occasionally seen in estuaries including Izembek and Nelson lagoons. First spring reports for Cape Sarichef (west end of Unimak Island) have typically occurred during the last week of March and Izembek Lagoon area early reports typically occur during the first week of April. The first sighting of a gray whale during spring migration was on 14 April at Cape Glazenap. Spring migration normally ends by mid-June. Fall migrants are less commonly reported, but that passage may extend well into October or even November.

An orca (killer whale) was in Cold Bay 09 September and three were observed there 01 October (M. Zeillemaker). The harbor porpoise was added to the refuge mammal list when five were observed in Cold Bay close to shore at refuge headquarters 31 May (F. and M. Zeillemaker).

Sea otters occur in all salt water areas, where they are common to abundant. Harbor seals are also commonly observed, with small concentrations (<50) of hauled out animals occurring in Izembek and Kinzarof lagoons.

Two Steller (northern) sea lions were observed during the annual winter Unimak Island survey 13 February (F. Zeillemaker). Three were in Cold Bay immediately offshore of refuge headquarters 23 August (F. and M. Zeillemaker) and two were observed there 19 October (M. Zeillemaker). 65

10. Other Resident Wildlife

Tundra hares were observed during the year in alder on the lower seaward (southeastern) slopes of Pavlof Volcano (04 and 22 April) and in alder 1h mile west of First Bridge near and on Frosty Road (15 July (photographed), 01 August and 15 August).

The first refuge headquarters Arctic ground (parka) squirrel of the year appeared on 04 April (M. Zeillemaker), the first young emerged from a burrow on 16 July (M. Chase) and the last sighting of the year (in snow) was 10 November (F. Zeillemaker).

Willow ptarmigan are abundant in the lowlands of the lower Alaska Peninsula and Unimak Island. Rock ptarmigan are uncommon, occurring only in higher elevations. Ptarmigan are not intensively studied by the refuge staff. Their harvest levels are also not monitored; however, an index to their general abundance is obtained from our annual breeding bird survey (Table **) and from ADF&G collections of subjective impressions of small game abundance from a randomly selected sample of hunters in various geographic areas of the state. Casual observations of broods during the summer and hunter contacts in the fall suggest 1992 was another excellent year for willow ptarmigan of the lower peninsula. Along with the apparently larger numbers of ptarmigan, numbers of voles and ground squirrels were also observed in 1992. The strong numbers are possibly related to a depressed red fox population caused by a 1990 rabies outbreak that continued at a lower level into 1992.

The ptarmigan hunting season opened on 10 August and locals pursued them prior to the opening of waterfowl season in September. After the Canada geese and brant departed the area, interest in ptarmigan hunting picked up again through the end of the year (the season ends 30 April 1993). The bag limit is 20 birds per day.

11. Fisheries Resources

Primary resident and anadromous fish species include arctic char, Dolly Varden, pink (humpback) salmon, sockeye (red) salmon, coho (silver) salmon, and chum (dog) salmon, threespine stickleback and, in much smaller numbers, steelhead and chinook (king) salmon. The marine species have been found in Izembek Lagoon and Cold Bay. Although the anadromous fisheries resources are not directly "managed" by the refuge staff, they are of particular interest in that they are an extremely important part of the Izembek Lagoon and Cold Bay drainage food chains, especially for brown bears and bald eagles. The King Salmon Fishery Assistance Office (FAO) conducted field work on Izembek Refuge in 1985, 1986 and 1992.

Refuge staff, along with Service Fisheries staff, became involved with the annual operational planning for the Russell Creek Hatchery in 1991. The refuge expressed concerns over the fate of brood stocks destined for refuge waters which were being effected by hatchery weir operations downstream from the refuge boundary. The ADF&G, in a cost cutting action, closed the 66

Russell Creek Hatchery in August 1992 . No immediate plans for resumption of Russell Creek fishery activities have surfaced since the closure.

Willow Ptarmigan cocks are bold during spring courtship, but hens are not quite so sure of the wide open spaces 25 May-10 May 1992 CFZ

14. Scientific Collections

No scientific bird or mammal collections occurred in 1992. However , several specimens have been salvaged from beaches, obstacle strikes, or donated by hunters over the years. Two birds and one mammal were prepared for display and another 26 birds and two mammals were prepared as study skins during the year . The refuge maintains local fauna for use during school programs, visitor inquiries and pre-season waterfowl seminars , as well as scientific purposes. 67

As part of continuing ADF&G-Izembek Refuge investigations of the demography of the southern Alaska Peninsula caribou herd, refuge staff organized the collections of jaws and stomach contents from hunter killed animals. Age and measurement data were also obtained (see Section G.8 Caribou).

Flora collections are maintained for all three units of the refuge. They are used in a fashion similar to the vertebrate .collections. Although the herbarium provides examples of all common and most of the uncommon species, the refuge staff endeavors to make additions and fill some voids each year. A number of wildflower photographs were obtained by Volunteer Zeillemaker during the summer months.

16. Marking and Banding

The tundra swan banding effort was continued in 1992. Refuge staff, volunteers, and the YCC students banded and placed individually coded neck collars on nine swans on 23 and 27 July. Details, including individual neck codes, can be found in Section G.3 Tundra Swan.

The 1992 Steller's eider banding efforts occurred on 10 and 11 September at Cape Glazenap and Neumann Island, respectively. A total of 607 birds (including 23 recaptures) were caught near Cape Glazenap and 117 (no recaptures) at Neumann Island (Table 38). Bands on 17 of the 23 recaptures were too worn to read, but were chemically etched by the Bird Banding Laboratory. Recaptures were from 1976 to 1991 bandings and longevity records for males and females were extended to minimums of 19 and 16 years, respectively.

Table 38. Steller's eider banding summary, Izembek NWR, 1992.

New Banding Reca12ture Total Location ASYM SYM AHYF uu ASYM AHYF New Banding Reca)2ture Cape Glazenap1 263 23 297 1 20 3 584 23 Newnann Island• 43 28 46 0 0 0 117 0 Total 306 51 343 1 20 3 701 23 1 10 September z 11 September

A single black five shelf m~st net (13m (42') by 3m (10') with 30 mm (lW') mesh) was set up in a streamside alder strip adjacent to Russell Creek 0.7 km (0.4 mi) upstream of the fish hatchery facilities 30 May. A second net site was established in the Frosty Peak alder thicket zone along Frosty Road 0.8 km (~ mi) west of First Bridge 15 August. The Russell Creek net was operated on four occasions between 30 May and 08 July to sample breeding passerine birds as weather conditions and time constraints allowed. Both nets were operated in August and September (two dates at Russell Creek, four at Frosty Peak) to sample post-breeding passerines as weather conditions and time constraints allowed. If what was netted was any indication, the fall passerine migration peaked on or shortly after 06 September this year (see Table 39). During the efforts, several techniques were developed for net operation in windy, rainy, brown bear frequented conditions. 68

Tundra Swan banding at Swan Lake by refuge staff, YCC staff and volunteers 27 July 1992 CFZ

The Russell Creek net site was selected to approximate the site of a four (sometimes six) continuously operated 2m (7') to 5~ m (18') 30 mm (l~") mesh net operation conducted along lower Russell Creek continuously from 01 April to 30 November 1972. Netting was also conducted at the same site in 1970, 1971 and briefly in 1973, but the nets were taken down during periods of bad weather. Comparisons between 1970's effort and our effort are difficult due to the differences in netting effort (open 24 hrs a day in 1972 vs. 1~-5~ sessions during periods without precipitation, light breezes and as time allowed this year).

Winter rosy finch and snow bunting trapping and banding was resumed during the period 01 January to 03 April 1992. A total of 104 snow buntings and 11 rosy finches were banded. Three McKay's buntings and eight black-billed magpies were also banded during that period. Single magpies were also banded OS November and 24 December.

ADF&G personnel recaptured seven of the adult cow caribou equipped with the visible radio collars in April. Radios were replaced and weights and measures taken to determine the seasonal variability of body condition of the animals (see G. 8 Caribou) . 69

Rounding up flightless Steller's eiders for banding through the use of boat and a walk-in corral trap Cape Glazenap Bay, Izembek Lagoon 10 September 1992 CFZ

An "ATY" and an "ASY" drake Steller's eider and banders with picric acid hands Cape Glazenap Bay, Izembek Lagoon 10 September 1992 CPD 70

Volunteer Melly Zeil lemaker at one of two mist nets used to sample refuge Neotropical Migratory Birds 08 July 1992 CFZ

Table 39. Results of spring-fall 1992 passerine banding near Cold Bay, Alaska.

LOCATION': RusCr RusCr RusCr RusCr FroPk RusCr FroPk FroPk RusCr FroPk FroPk FroPk SPECIES DATE2 : 30MAY 07JUN 21JUN 08JUL 15AUG ---22AUG--- 05SEP ---06SEP--- llSEP 20SEP Black-capped Chickadee 2/2 Hermit Thrush 1/1 1/1 Orange-crowned Warbler 2/2 Yellow Warbler 1/0' 2/1 12/12 2/2 5/5 Wilson's Warbler 3/3 1/1 1/1 2/2 Savannah Sparrow 1/1 2/2 Fox Sparrow 1/1 1/1 Golden- crowned Sparrow 1/0 2/0 2/2 1/1 4/3 1/1 2/2 C01m10n Rednoll 1/1 2/2 4 START TIME : 1915 1015 0945 1930 1600 1430 1145 1430 1200 1100 1930 1200 STOP TIME: 2045 1145 1115 2030 1730 1615 1715 1630 1500 1430 2030 1400 HOURS OPEN5 : 1:30 1:30 1:30 1:00 1:30 1:45 5·30 2:00 3:00 3:30 1:00 2:00 1 RusCr • Russell Creek, FroPk • Frosty Peak 2 MAY • Hay, JUN s June, JUL • July, AUG • August, SEP • September • Netted birds/Banded birds (some birds escaped before banding due to wind caused net tightening) • Military time/24 hour clock (e.g., 1915 • 7:15pm) 5 Hours and minutes (e.g., 1:30 • 1 hour and 30 minutes) 71

17. Disease Prevention and Control

For the second year out of the past three, a red fox rabies outbreak was documented. In addition, two river (land) otters from the False Pass area of Unimak Island were diagnosed with rabies. There had only been one previous case known from the lower Alaska Peninsula.

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General

The majority of Izembek NWR public use is received from the residents of Cold Bay, King Cove, Nelson Lagoon, and, to a lesser degree, False Pass and Sand Point. Consequently, our public use and interpretive programs are geared primarily for that audience. The presence of the refuge in this area greatly influences those people's lives. They in turn, have the potential to greatly influence refuge resources. Therefore, it is imperative that we reach local residents through effective interpretation and environmental education programs.

Refuge staff conducted annual visits to the communities of King Cove and False Pass in February, and Nelson Lagoon in April. During the visits, time was scheduled during the school day to meet with students and teachers and then an evening open house was hosted for the entire community. During the school visits, environmental education activities geared to the local scene were introduced and the refuge staff presented information on issues of local concern, refuge management, and career opportunities with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Community meetings were informal, with refuge staff leading discussions on caribou, emperor geese, subsistence management, and other topics of local concern. While teachers and students are always responsive, enthusiasm for the evening gatherings is highly variable between communities, often depending on whether or not there is a current "hot" issue (i.e., subsistence, bear attacks, etc.).

Refuge staff coordinated a "Take Pride in Cold Bay Day" on 16 May which was celebrated with a trash pick up event and cook out afterwards. ROS Chase took the lead in coordinating the event and enlisted the help of the school and local businesses. During the entire week leading up to the 16th, refuge staff accompanied local school classes picking up trash around the outlying areas of the community, including local wetlands and streams. The trash pick up went extremely well and was well received by both the community and visitors alike. We plan to make this an annual event. · 72

)

WB/P Dau and False Pass School students "tracking caribou" (a radio collar found hidden in school yard brush) 27 February 1992 CFZ

The first annual "Take Pride in Cold Bay" day was a big hit with the community 16 May 1992 CFZ 73

THE GREA-r COLD BAY CLEANUP

The first annual "Take Pride in Cold Bay" day was a meaningful event for refuge families too 16 May 1992 CFZ

5. Interpretive Tour Routes

Although Izembek NWR has no tour route per se, the road system does provide recreational access for visitors and thus provides another "avenue" for interpretive information dissemination. Four covered "L.C. Haney" billboard/bulletin board-type signs are maintained on Grant Point Road, Outer Marker Road, and Outpost Road . Maps, hunting information, general interpretive materials, and general refuge information are posted on each billboard. Displays are changed frequently so that information remains current and the public remains interested. The billboards are disassembled over winter to reduce wear-and-tear. The road to Grant Point terminates at the Grant Point Wildlife Observ~tion Facility. The octagonal building contains bird identification, local history, physiography, and lagoon ecosystem interpretive panels. The deck binoculars housed in the facility are mounted on a locking pedestal and swivel to provide 360° viewing through the seven picture windows and even the door.

6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations

The refuge has several year-round interpretive displays located at Cold Bay. Large plexiglass map panels with accompanying wildlife/habitat panels describing the I zembek Refuge are on permanent display at the Reeve Aleutian Airways terminal. Some of the smaller wildlife panels and a Service shield emblem are displayed at the smaller MarkAir terminal . 74

Bulletin boards at the Reeve terminal and the local store provide information about the refuge, the Service, and local wildlife events.

7. Other Interpretive Programs

As an ongoing effort to keep the user public informed, several outreach activities are routine to the Izembek Refuge staff. Open houses, periodic letters to box-holders, visits to local communities, providing assistance to area teachers, and participating in school activities are all informal public relations activities.

The environmental education (EE) initiative of the station made several gains in 1992. As part of the total EE program, the refuge staff developed an EE resources library that makes materials available to the educators in the Aleutians East Borough School District. Response to the program has been steadily increasing as more teachers begin to utilize the service.

An EE workshop was included in the Aleutians East Borough School District small school in-service in February. Educators from the all district schools except for the Sand Point and King Cove large schools staffs attended the workshop coordinated by refuge staff and conducted by Regional Office Resource Support staff. Response to the workshop was excellent.

Refuge staff participated in the Cold Bay School's "mini week" once again in 1992. During this activity each year, "crash courses" are offered to the students in subjects ranging from jewelry making to che.ss competition to hunters safety. Refuge staff taught the hunter safety course in 1992. Refuge staff also served as judges for the 1992 Cold Bay School Science Fair.

National Wildlife Week occurred 19-25 April this year. Refuge staff distributed National Wildlife Week packets to all area educators. This year's theme was "Endangered Species -We're All In This Together."

8. Hunting

Waterfowl Waterfowl hunting is responsible for the majority of public use occurring on the refuge. The 1992 waterfowl season opened on 1 September and continued through 16 December. For all practical purposes, the season is "over" when the brant and Canada geese initiate the migration out of the area in late October or early November. In 1992, Canada geese began filtering out of the area on 19 October and had pretty much completed their exodus by mid-November. Brant apparently departed in two major flights. Roughly one half of the birds departed on 31 October with the other half following between 12 and 14 November. Anecdotal observations indicated fewer available ducks in the area this year and hunter bag checks seemed to support those observations. 75

Monitoring the waterfowl hunting pressure and harvest at Izembek Refuge has always been a priority task for the refuge staff. In addition to monitoring compliance with regulations, biological information on the composition of the harvest is obtained. Much of the information is anecdotal, as sample sizes are small. However, the overall juvenile to adult ratios of the various species are useful when compared with other production and survival data collected in other parts of the bird's ranges. Age ratios in the harvest provide another "piece of the puzzle" for many species.

In 1992, we intensified our efforts to enforce regulations and collect harvest information by employing a seasonal law enforcement officer from 15 September to 31 October. Rob Barto, who had been working at Kenai NWR during their summer high public use season, was detailed to Izembek Refuge for the busy portion of the waterfowl season. Although we have two collateral duty officers at the station, other commitments prevent us from devoting more time to waterfowl regulation enforcement. Although hunter checks typically yield much more biological information than evidence, enforcement is a full time job during the peak of the season. No waterfowl cases were made, but word was out that the "Feds" were checking hunters.

Statistics that are always of interest to the refuge staff include age ratios of harvested birds and the number of geese and ducks per hunter-hour of effort. From the 374 bag checks this year, the average hunter spent approximately 3.5 hours in the field per hunt, devoted 3.5 hours per Canada goose bagged, 14.9 hours per brant bagged, and 10.0 hours per duck bagged. In other words, on the average hunt of 3.5 hours, the average harvest is 1.0 Canada goose, 0.23 brant and 0.35 duck. The Canada goose age ratio of checked birds was 1 adult to 0.88 juveniles. This is up slightly from 1991 which had an age ratio of 1:0.6.

Caribou Due to the federal subsistence responsibilities and the continued decline of the SAPCH, regulations for the 1991-92 season underwent some changes. In light of the 1991 population, refuge and ADF&G personnel met in order to establish guidelines for the future harvest. It was agreed that the total harvest for the herd should target no more than 100 bulls. In order to protect the animals during their most vulnerable period, the season was split with a total closure implemented for October and November. This is traditionally the time when the caribou enter the Cold Bay road system and are targeted by a majority of local hunters. The traditional opening day of 10 August was restored and a minimum threshold population of 2,500 was agreed upon. Should the population fall below 2,500 animals, a closure to all hunting, subsistence and otherwise, would be implemented. Current federal subsistence regulations permit only residents of Game Management Unit (GMU) 9D and False Pass (GMU 10-Unimak Island) to hunt caribou on federal public lands in GMU 9D.

Since the caribou season spans two calendar years, both the season completed in March 1992 and the season initiated in August 1992 are discussed. Information on the 1991-92 regulatory year is provided as a completed summary of the entire season which ended 31 March 1992. The 76 information on the current (1992-93) season is a progress report of the season to the end of 1992.

1991-92 Season: The implemented changes in season dates appeared to have been highly successful in substantially reducing the caribou harvest. Documented harvest for the Cold Bay road system was only 14 animals compared with 35 the previous year. In the past, we have estimated that the harvest that we know about is probably 40-50% of the actual take. However, with the reduced hunting effort that was apparent during the 1991- 92 season and the relative inaccessibility of the animals, we believe that the 14 reported animals constitutes a majority of the harvest occurring in the road system. The total harvest for all of Unit 9D and GMU 10-Unimak Island reported to ADF&G was 35 bulls through a mandatory harvest report form. Although the report is mandatory, it is well known that compliance is less than 100%. Of the reported harvest, 13 were taken by non-Alaskans, six by Alaskans that are not residents of the GMU, and the remaining 16 by residents of GMU 9D and Unimak Island. Population characteristics (sex and age) of harvested animals are summarized in Section G.8 Caribou.

1992-93 Season: Thus far during the current caribou season, a known harvest of 25 animals has occurred. It includes 24 bulls and one illegally taken cow. Twelve of the animals were taken in September by non-Alaskans, and the other 13 have all been taken in the vicinity of the Cold Bay road system by residents of the GMU.

Brown Bear The 1992 Brown Bear season for GMU 9D was 10-25 May. The persistent winter weather with deep snow made for a slow start to the season, but things picked up during the second week. Sunshine and light winds dominated the weather through most of the season, giving everyone a pleasant surprise with the respite from the normal situation here. Approximately 85 hunters (best guess) participated in the hunt and took a reported 69 bears. Of the 69 bears, 51 (74%) were boars and 18 (26%) were sows. The average age of the boars taken in GMU 9D was 7.9 years and the average skull size was just under 63.5 em (25 in). Thirty-nine·bears were sealed through the Izembek Refuge office, with 32 being boars and seven being sows. A number of exceptional bears were taken, including six with a Boone & Crockett score (length+ width) of over 71.1 em (28 in), three of which were over 73.7 em (29 in). Izembek Refuge brown bear study "participant" IZ-72 was taken during this season. The sow was marked as a four year old in 1985 at the Cold Bay dump. Two months later her radio went dead and she was not seen again until taken on the south side of Frosty Peak this spring.

Concurrent with the regular GMU 9D hunt, the Cold Bay Road System registration permit hunt and the Unimak Island drawing permit hunt also occurred. Three of the seven Unimak Island permit holders checked in, but only one actually hunted. No bears were taken on Unimak Island this spring to our knowledge. The Cold Bay Road System registration permit hunt opened on the lOth and closed on the 19th after the two bear quota was reached late on the night of the 18th. Four persons participated in the Road System Hunt, accumulating 18 hunter-days of effort. 77

The Fall 1992 Unimak Island drawing permit hunt was held 01-21 October. Four hunters checked in and participated in the hunt. One bear was reported to have been taken.

9. Fishing

Sport fishing within Izembek Refuge proper is somewhat limited due to access and is basically confined to Frosty Creek, upper Russell Creek, and a few lakes. The majority of sport fishing in the area is concentrated on lower Russell Creek and to a lesser extent, Trout Creek. Both of these streams flow out of the refuge onto state or private lands where the majority of fishing activity occurs.

Sport fishing high-use seasons are basically the months of June through October. Non-local use is typically greatest in September when fisherman can combine their trip with some goose hunting. Silver, or coho, salmon are the species of primary interest.

Abuse of the silver salmon resource continued in 1992. Non-local parties come to Cold Bay for a limited time with the only apparent intent of taking home as many fish as possible through snagging and "double-dippin' ." Since the fishing is off-refuge, staff LE officers have been unable to take action against blatant violators. Attempts to convince Alaska Fish and Wildlife Protection (FWP) Officers, who are in Cold Bay for the commercial fishing season through 30 August, to stay in town until mid-September have been ongoing since 1989. We believe the extra two weeks would be well worth their while. To date, the FWP officers have been unable to stick around for any period in September. Numerous requests to pursue a State commission for Refuge Officer Chase, including the writing of issue papers and a draft policy covering the subject, have fallen on deaf ears. Consequently, the spawning stocks of salmon, destined for refuge waters, continue to suffer. Due to past Russell Creek Hatchery practices and the timing of the sport fishing effort, the wild stock of Russell Creek silver salmon may be in jeopardy. A KSFAO study along lower Russell Creek in 1992 provided valuable opportunities for Service interaction with local and non­ local fishing interests.

In support of National Fishing Week, the refuge staff sponsored a youth fishing day in June. Area youth, as well as adults, were invited to go fishing at Quonset Pond at the base of Grant Point. A fishing derby was held for the youth, with prizes for all who participated. This year's big fish winner checked in a 40.6 em (16 in) char surpassing the standing record of 33 em (13 in) for that particular pond set by his sister in the 1991 derby. A cookout for all followed the day of fishing. Prizes for the participants and food for the cookout were donated by refuge staff members. Fourteen kids and 13 adults participated in the event which was conducted for the second consecutive year. 78

National Fishing Week Youth Derby participants Quonset Pond, Izembek Unit 06 June 1992 JEC

10. Trapping

Izembek Unit (Izembek NWR) and the Unimak Unit (Aleutian Islands Unit of Alaska Maritime NWR) require trapping permits per 50 CFR Part 36. No permits were issued for Unimak Unit and three were issued for Izembek Unit during the 1992-93 trapping season. All trapping is basically "recreational" in nature.

The two Unimak Island permit holders for the 1991-92 season reported a total take of 41 red fox, one wolf, and five mink. Five permit holders for the Izembek Unit reported a total take of four mink and one river (land) otter.

11. Wildlife Observation

Wildlife observation is a common past-time for residents of Cold Bay. With the road system access, many residents drive the area year-round to view and photograph wildlife. Bears, caribou and a variety of birds are the primary species of interest for this activity, since many of the residents come from outside of Alaska and have never seen brown bears, caribou or great concentrations of waterfowl before. Although this type of use is difficult to measure, it appears that this non-consumptive recreational use may be increasing, especially at the Grant Point wildlife observation facility, during the spectacular fall concentrations of waterfowl. 79

15. Off-Road Vehicles

All-terrain vehicles (ATV) are a common mode of transportation in Cold Bay and other area villages, so the potential for off-roading problems is high. Actual problems are typically isolated instances of people driving off-road to retrieve a caribou or people off-roading in an ATV for a short distance to gain access to the beach. The latter is most common at the end of the Pintail Lake Loop where it is less than 100 yards to the beach. Most of the off-roading occurs during waterfowl season by hunters who are too lazy to walk. Use of the beach within the Izembek SGR with any wheeled vehicle requires a permit from the State of Alaska. This became an issue in 1991, as the regulation had not been recognized in the past. After the initial reaction to the "new" restriction, compliance has been good. Permits for wheeled vehicle access to the SGR are issued by the ADF&G Habitat Division in coordination with the refuge staff.

Vehicle travel is limited to the designated Cold Bay road system through 50 CFR and is also included in the preferred alternative of the Izembek Refuge CCP. The preferred alternative of the CCP also provides for refuge maintenance of the existing road system without any further road construction on the refuge. The current road system was so designated at a public meeting in the 1970's. The drivable portions of the roads remaining from military occupations during the 1940's and 1950's remained open and were designated the Cold Bay road system. At that time Cold Bay vehicular traffic was mainly passenger four-wheel drive vehicles, as ATV's were unheard of in those days. If a portion of a road had become impassable to a 4x4 passenger vehicle, it was closed at that point. With the surge in ATV popularity, a few challenges to the decision have occasionally cropped up. As the road system stands now, access is excellent for all refuge public use activities. Opposition to points where a road has been closed is occasionally voiced by a few individuals wanting to drive somewhere else to hunt or trap, but the system has remained unaltered.

16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation

Beachcombing is a popular pastime among local residents. The beaches of the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in the local area are littered with "treasures" and junk from nature and civilization, past and present. Much of the beachcombing is accomplished during the summer when temperatures are warm and in the fall in conjunction with waterfowl hunting. The beachcombers are usually content to find a small glass fishing float and call it a day. There are also a few very serious beachcombers who concentrate their efforts on the outer beaches in the late spring. The primary trophies of interest are walrus tusks and large (12-16 in) glass fishing floats. The idea is to get out to the outer beaches in'the spring as soon as the weather permits, thereby having first crack at the bounty brought ashore or exposed by winter storms.

Most of the animal parts collected on the beaches must be registered pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The Izembek Refuge office is a designated sealing agent for beach found marine mammal parts. 80

A new procedure for sealing beach found walrus ivory was initiated in 1991. The process includes lead seals and ultra violet markers, instead of engraving as in the past.

17. Law Enforcement

The law enforcement staff was restored to two collateral duty officers when RM Zeillemaker renewed his commission in March. Though more than adequate for most of the year, two collateral duty officers are insufficient during high use periods of the year (i.e., bear and waterfowl seasons). This fall Robert Barto was detailed from Kenai NWR to work waterfowl law enforcement during the peak of the hunting activity. Rob is a summer seasonal at Kenai and we simply extended his tour through October. Following his stint at Izembek Refuge, Rob was able to continue working by migrating to Umatilla NWR in Oregon where he remained employed through the end of the year.

In addition to Rob's full time presence during the fall, Special Agents Wally Soroka and Jill Schweiger provided additional assistance during the Columbus Day weekend. The weekend typically draws the greatest waterfowl hunting pressure of the season and the additional help was sincerely appreciated. No citations for hunting violations were issued during 1992, but the increased presence of officers did not go unnoticed and the deterrent effects were evident.

Five Notices of Violation were issued in 1992 for caribou hunting violations. All were issued during the current (1992-93) season. Four individuals in one hunting party were cited separately for taking caribou during the closed season in October. The group had all of the required licenses and tags, but had failed to note the season closure from 1 October to 30 November. Another individual was cited in December for taking a cow caribou during the "bull only" season.

Izembek NWR law enforcement staff continued to support the Region 7 policy on enforcement of migratory bird hunting during the closed season (spring waterfowl hunting) in 1992. No evidence of spring hunting was observed on the southern Alaska Peninsula, but Refuge Officer Mark Chase was detailed to Bethel, Alaska, in April to assist the Yukon Delta NWR staff with enforcement of the closed season policy. RO Chase, along with refuge officers from Tetlin NWR and Alaska Maritime NWR/Aleutian Islands Unit, spent a week in Bethel, but never spent any time in the planned field camp. Miscommunications between the local governments delayed the deployment of the camp. By the time RO Chase returned to Cold Bay in order to deal with the upcoming brown bear season, the situation remained.unresolved and the field camp was still pending.

A formal request to obtain a State of Alaska law enforcement commission so RO Mark Chase can enforce Title 5 (wildlife related regulations) of the Alaska Administrative Codes and Part 16 (wildlife related) of the Alaska Statutes was initiated in 1991. As a result, a regional policy on the issue was drafted by Special Agent Roy Owens who had been detailed to the Alaska Associate Manager's office as part of his Mid-level management 81

training. Nothing has been done to further the process since the draft policy was written. The issue remains "on hold."

RM Zeillemaker and DRM Chase attended the annual refresher training at Marana, Arizona, in March.

19. Concessions

The only "concessioned" activity on the refuge is big game guiding. Extensive changes in the way Region 7 will select big game guides were initiated in 1992. A competitive bid process was developed and implemented to select big game guides that will receive special use permits on Alaska National Wildlife Refuges. Throughout the early part of the year refuge staff were involved in delineating guide areas for the lands under refuge management and describing the areas for the refuge prospectus eventually issued to interested guides. Maps and descriptions of the six identified use areas on lower Alaska Peninsula were submitted to the Regional Office in May. The refuge prospectuses and a solicitation for proposals were sent to the public on 30 June. Proposals from all interested parties were due at the refuge office by 15 October. Sixteen individual guides submitted one or more proposals for use of one or more of the six available areas. Under the structure of the new system, a maximum of nine separate guides may be provided opportunities to guide in either a sole-use or joint-use area on the three refuge units.

For three weeks in December four Service selection panels met in Anchorage to rank all proposals submitted for guiding on Alaska NWR's. The selection panel for the six Izembek Refuge use areas consisted of an employee from Izembek, Togiak, and Alaska Peninsula refuges. All proposals were ranked and notification of winners will begin in January 1993.

Special Use Permitting: Nine special use permits were issued in 1992. Eight were for big game guiding and one was for gravel removal. One special use permit request was denied in 1992. A previously unpermitted guide applied for a permit to conduct guided big game hunts. The request was denied based on the Service's moratorium policy implemented in 1989 following the Oswichek decision.

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

2. Rehabilitation

Roads: The final 1.4 km (0.9 mi) stretch of Grant Point Road from the Quonset Hut storage facility to the wildlife observatory was rehabilitated by the State of Alaska Department of Transportation in spring 1992. The State crew hauled in large rock to provide a stable base where large mud holes had formed as a result of precipitation and traffic. The road was then topped and graded smooth. The work brought the final stretch of this 82

important public use route to "all-weather" status, the same as the remainder of the Grant Point Road.

Fuel Storage Tanks: Two underground storage tanks (UST's) containing refuge headquarters heating fuel and one containing aviation fuel were removed and replaced with above ground models (AST's) in 1992. A double walled 500 gallon AST was installed at the bunkhouse, a 1000 gallon AST tank was installed at the office, and a 1000 gallon AST was installed at the hangar in compliance with state and federal regulations. A 500 gallon double walled AST was also placed at the Blinn Lake float plane facility. Along with the installation of the tanks, we were instructed by the Division of Engineering to construct a lined containment berm around each tank to prevent spills. Shortly after the berms were completed, they filled with rain w~ter and snow, thus preventing them from containing spilled fuel if it should occur. We were further instructed to maintain the berms, which at Cold Bay means pumping them out almost continuously. We decided to question the berm requirement, thinking they were for "secondary containment" that was already being provided by the double­ walled tanks. We then learned that the berms were required in the event the tanks were overfilled during replenishment, so we requested alternatives. We then learned that special valves and/or alarms to alert a fueler that the tank was near capacity were possible, so we requested them. We're still waiting for the conversion to the alarms at a cost of roughly $1700 per tank. Replacement of the Quarters 1, 3, and 4 UST's with AST's is scheduled for 1993.

3. Major Maintenance

In 1992, a $4,000 MMS project was funded to allow replacement entrance and other signs for the Cold Bay road system. The funds were used for various . signs, including new boundary signs to be fabricated by the Regional Sign Shop at Kenai NWR. The MMS program has provided critical funds to the Izembek Refuge budget during the past several years and has allowed us to complete many badly needed maintenance projects. A few more years of good support and we should be up to speed for a while.

4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement

Super Cub N745 was abruptly decommissioned on 26 June when it struck some submerged rocks during take-off from Blinn Lake. WB/P Dau was unscathed, as all personal protective equipment including flight helmet and shoulder harness was in proper use. The plane's left float hit first, causing the plane to veer to the left and pitch forward, resulting in the floats impacting two large rocks and causing the plane to flip over. Though the plane was damaged, things could have been much worse. Low water levels in the lake due to the exceptionally dry spring contributed to the accident. A replacement Piper PA-18 was originally contracted for by OAS, but was it was later determined that N745 could be rebuilt. A contract was let for the job and work continued through the end of the year. 83

Replacement ranges, washing machines, and clothes dryers were acquired and installed in all four residences during the year. The new items replace an assemblage of older appliances that were experiencing more frequent breakdowns and creating an ever increasing replacement part challenge.

5. Communications Systems

Three mobile radios with telephone patch capabilities and radio/telephone interconnect units were acquired in 1991. After several attempts to have the system put on line, we were finally told that the base station we have is incompatible with the phone patch system as the generations of involved technologies are so different. At the same time, we were informed that the new mobile units were also incompatible with a phone patch system and would have to be sent to Anchorage to have an additional part installed. The mobile units and phone patch interconnect were ordered at the same time and the specifications for them were developed in the same office. It is incredibly frustrating to experience short distance flat terrain communications difficulties due to a substandard system in 1992! An MMS project proposal to allow upgrading of the radio system was submitted and funded for FY93. We have the money now, but we still need to carefully acquire the proper compatible hardware.

6. Computer Systems

A 486 desk top, a 386 desk top, and a 386 lap top computer were acquired this year to provide a work station for each office employee. We moved further into the automation age .with the purchase of current software upgrades and several new software packages. More and more capabilities beyond the typical word processing functions are being realized by all employees.

7. Energy Conservation

Electricity costs were reduced in 1992 by approximately 20 percent. The decrease can be attributed to several factors, including physical facilities upgrades (automatic set back thermostats, water heater timers, improved door weather sealing and storm doors) and conscientious conservation practices by the refuge staff.

8. Other

A replacement shop building is the station's number one priority Refuge Needs Information System project. A replacement facility would allow for refuge vehicle maintenance to be performed without requiring the removal of a building's contents before beginning work and would provide a bay for storage of the Case backhoe/loader and Bobcat. The Case backhoe/loader is currently being stored off-site at a leased former U.S. Air Force storage building which is scheduled for removal in the not too distant future or left outside if other equipment is stored in that building. 84

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Pro~rams

Alaska Volcano Observatory Westdahl Volcano, an unimpressive peak near the west end of Unimak Island began erupting in November 1991. The volcano continued to erupt through 09 January 1992 when pilots reported a persistent black cloud rising to an altitude of 2,135-2,440 m (7,000-8,000 ft). Activity had apparently diminished significantly by 16 January when the only action reported by pilots was a small amount of steam at ground level in the vicinity of the eruption. On 14 February, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) declared that eruptive activity had ceased because "yesterday, during a period of clear weather, observers in a small plane noted only scattered steaming from the new lava flow on the lower east flank of the volcano [and] minor steaming was also observed from a small cinder cone located near a steep, ice walled canyon that marks the location of the fissure vent cutting the eastern part of the summit glacier." The "observers in a small plane" were WB/P Dau and RM Zeillemaker. The peak is more impressive now. Photographs taken during the flight were sent to the AVO on 13 March, which resulted in the response "without exception, each of us at AVO let out a cry of delight upon seeing the photos you sent!" Once the negatives were duplicated by AVO, all material was returned to the refuge.

On 12 March, WB/P Dau was again able to visit Westdahl Volcano under good viewing conditions. Photographs from that flight were also sent to the AVO staff for duplication on 14 April.

Bureau of Land Management Refuge staff assisted the BLM in May by conducting field examinations of easements donated by the King Cove Corporation. Each site was identified from the air and photographed from the same angle as the 1990 BLM verifications. We discovered that BLM had misidentified one of the sites, so we provided photographs of the correct site as well as the incorrect site. We requested copies of the photographs so we could maintain a binder with site maps accompanied by a photograph and BLM provided them.

3. Items of Interest

This report was printed on "xerojbond" paper containing 50 percent recycled fiber. 85

New Westdahl Volcano cinder cone, fissure cutting the summit glacier and lava flow, with Shishaldin and Isanotski volcanos in the background 10 February 1992 CFZ

Steam continued to rise from the Westdahl Volcano lava flow two months after the eruption ceased 12 March 1992 CPO 86

4. Credits

Photos: CFZ - RM Zeillemaker MAC - DRM Chase JEC - ARM Chase CPD - WB/P Dau

Introduction Zeillemaker A (Highlights) M. Chase, Zeillemaker B (Climate) M. Chase C (Acquisition) Zeillemaker D (Planning) 1-4 Zeillemaker 5 Dau, Zeillemaker E (Administration) 1-2 Zeillemaker 4 J. Chase 5 Zeillemaker 6 M. Chase 8 Zeillemaker F (Habitat) Zeillemaker G (Wildlife) 1-2 Zeillemaker 3 Dau 4-7 Zeillemaker 8 Dau, Zeillemaker, M. Chase 9-11 Zeillemaker 14 Dau 16 J. Chase, Zeillemaker 17 Zeillemaker H (Public Use) M. Chase I (Equip/Facilities) M. Chase J (Other) Zeillemaker K (feedback) Zeillemaker L (Info Pack) Schlichten Typing J. Chase, M. Chase, Dau, Schlichten, Zeillemaker Layout and Editing Zeillemaker

Final Edit J. Chase 87

K. FEEDBACK

Funding, funding and funding

The national parks are the foundation of the National Park Service. The national forests are the cornerstone of the National Forest Service. But, I am increasingly concerned that the national wildlife refuges have lost their position of primary importance within the Fish and Wildlife Service!

We keep reading in the media that funding for refuges is improving, but by the time the bucks have found their way to the field station budget, few seem to remain for actual refuge operations. What is going on? Why, in Region 7 for example, does the upstart Subsistence Management division (which, in my opinion, is performing functions that should technically be performed by state government) continue to receive funding to add staff at an incredible rate (six positions in January .1993 alone), while Alaska refuges, most of which are incredibly understaffed, are denied the opportunity to fill vacant primary assistant refuge manager positions due .to funding constraints? Then there's the factor of "soft" money. Our fiscal year 1993 budget, for example, was created so that five percent of it .was "soft" money from other divisions. A month or so later, the "provider" divisions informed us that the funding was not forthcoming. So we tighten our belts because we are dedicated and still expected to complete those basic biological tasks that were to be accomplished with those "soft" funds!

It appears that the Washington Office (Virginia Office?) Division of Refuges staff has little or no say in what slice of the Service pie is fed to the starving refuge field stations throughout the system. I wonder what the cornerstone program of the proposed National Wildlife Refuge Service would be? Thinking about it feels kind of right at the present time.