CLARENCE RHODE NWR - NARRATIVE REPORT 1968 CLARENCE RHODE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE
Annual Report 1968
J * CLARENCE RHODE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE
Annual Report
J r/. CLARENCE RHODE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANOE
NARRATIVE REPORT
January 1, to December 31, 1968
Bering Sea. NWR Cape Newenham NWR * Chamisso NWR * Hazen Bay NWR Nunivak NWR
Staff Calvin J. Lens ink Refuge fianager Jerry L. Hout Assistant Refuge Manager James R. Geerdts Maintenanceman Virginia L. Cook Clerk to 1/13/68 Jimi Knight Clerk 1/29/68 - 10/15/68 Jackie Jones* Clerk 10/31/68 - 12/11/68 Edward F. Kootuck Laborer 5/15/68 - 9/6/68 Joe Panuyak Laborer 6/13/68 - 8/28/68 Pete Mickelson Biological Aid 6/10/68-8/9/68 Barbara Holden Biological Aid 7/8/6^-9/6/68
This report is prepared for administrative use within the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Because discussion is frequently based on fragmentary or preliminary data, conclusions should not be quoted without pemission of the Refuge Manager.
Deoartment of the Interior Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Fish and Wildlife Service Bethel, Alaska 99559 Jackie Jones was appointed as Refuge Clerk on October 31, 1968, and served until his untimely death on December 11, 1968. Jackie was a graduate of the Dillingham High School in Dillingham, Alaska. He Joined the National Ouard In November I960, attended Officers School at Pt. Benning, Georgia in 1962, and was a 1st" Lieutenant and Company Commander in the 2nd Scout Battalion, Alaska National Guard, at the time of his death.
I ill
s TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1 Sumnary of Activities 1 The Weather 2 Habitat Condition 3 WILDLIFE • 5 Birds 5 Winter Population 5 Spring Migration 5 Sumner Population . 6 Fall Population 6 Manmals 8 REFTrE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE 9 RESOURCE MAINTENANCE 10 FIELD LNVESTIG ATI CMS 12 Faunal Survey Wildlife Management Study No. 1 12 Family Bonds as a Factor in the Migration of Geese Wildlife Management Study No. 2 17 Waterfowl Population, Production and Habitat Ecology Wildlife Management Study No. 3 22 Census of Study Plots 22 Incidental Observations of Nests and Broods 27 Aerial Censuses of the Breeding Population 29 Black Brant ' 36 Nesting of Cackling Geese 40 Snow Geese 40 White-fronted Geese 40 Whistling Swan 46 Parasites and Disease 51 Survey of Waterfowl Populations and Habitats on Nelson Island Wildlife Management Study No. 4 55 BATOD^G 56 PUBLIC RELATIONS 58 VISITORS 59 ITEMS OF INTEREST 60 Miscellaneous 60 Money 60 • Iv
Page tio, 1. Additions to the Clarence Rhode Range 4 2. The Cape Mewenham National Wildlife Refuge 4a 3. Locations where emperor geese have observed in the Pacific States 21 4. Aerial transect routes in the Kashunuk Area 30 5. Aerial transect routes on the north flats of Nelson Island . . 31 6. Aerial transect routes on the south flats of Nelson Island . . 3? 7. Average weights of white-fronted geese during molt ...... 4S 8. Distribution of swans on Plot 17 on June 25 & August 24 .... 49 9. Growth of cygnets 50
TABLES
1. Seasons and Bag Limits for Refuge Wildlife 11 2. Occurrence of Birds Other Than Waterfowl on Census Plots ... 14 3. Comparisons of Observations on Census Plots 1967 & 1968 .... 15 4. Observations of Ptarmigan on Census Plots 1967 & 1968 16 5. Observations of Cranes and Loons on Study Plots 16 6. Locations "Where Emperor Geese Have Been Observed Away From Traditional Winterly Habitats 19 7. Breeding Populations of Ducks(Drakes Only) in 1967 & 1968 ... 25 8. Breeding Populations of Geese on Study Plots 26 9. Average Size of Class I Broods of Brant and Geese 28 10. Breeding Population Indices for Waterfowl in Kashunuk Region . 33 11. Breeding Population Indices for Waterfowl, North Fiats, Nelson Island 34 12. Breeding Populations Index for Waterfowl, South Flats, Nelson Island 35 13. Number of Brant Nests and Average Size of Clutches on Kashunuk Plots, 1966 to 1968 37 14. Status of Vegetation on Kashunuk Plots 3B 15. Weights of Black Brant During Mbit 39 16. Snow Goose Age Composition: Aerial Surveys, 1968 41 17. Measurements of Pacific White-fronted Geese 42 18. Measurements of Adult Male White-fronted Geese fron Different Locations on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta 43 19. Weights of White-fronted Geese During Molt 44 20. Proportion of Swan Pairs with Broods During July and August . . 47 21. Average Sizes of Clutches and Broods of Swans 48 22. Summary of Sneclnens Examined for Parasites 53 23. Acquisition of Helminths by Cygnets and Goslings 54 24. Waterfowl Captured for Banding in 1968 57 CLARENCE mOOE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE NARRATIVE REPORT
January 1, to December 31, 1968
INTRODUCTION
Sumnary of Activities
The staff of the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range is respon sible also for the Nunlvak, Bering Sea, Chamisso and Hazen Bay National Wildlife Refuges. The Bering Sea Refuge was not visited by Bureau personnel in 1968, nor by any other person of whom we are aware. Chamisso Island was visited by Wilderness Biologist, Will Troyer, who prepared a report of his visit, which is appended. Nunivak Island was visited on numerous occasions. A separate narrative describes activi ties there. The primary item of interest of the year was a proposed withdrawal of public domain lands for the establishment of the Cape Newenham National Wildlife Refuge of 265,000 acres, and a 1,017,000 acre addi tion to the Clarence Rhode Range. The withdrawal order was confirmed and signed by Secretary Udall at 10:00 AM, January 20, 1969. (Fig. 1 and 2. Most credit for the establishment of the Cape Newenham National Wildlife Refuge is due to James G. King, who became interested in the area while serving as the first Refuge Manager on Clarence Rhode. The new refuge is one of the most spectacular in the entire system. Habi tats include shallow lagoons that during migration provide for more than 100,000 geese and as many ducks. Sandy shores of the lagoons are loafing areas for hundreds of harbor seals, and both seals and sea lions frequent off-shore islets. Marine escarpments that jut to 1500 feet above the sea provide nesting places for millions of murres, puffins, kittiwakes and other sea birds. Relict glaciers are found in mountain cirques. Clear-water streams flowing into lagoons are home for trout and salmon which provide a ready source of food for grizzly bears. work on the Clarence Rhode Range was far from routine. An early spring followed by a beautiful sunmer got biologist and birds off to a good start. Work continued on population and production studies of brant, geese, and ducks, but most progress was achieved on studies of whistling swans and small non-game birds. The pemanent staff of the refuge was augmented during the summer by temporary appointments. Edward Kootuk and Joe Panuyak have both worked
for the refuge previously. Pete Mickelson, a first timer, is a graduate s of Montana State and will return in 1969 to start work on Cackling Geese as his thesis subject toward a PhD at the University of Michigan. Miss Barbara Holden, was employed primarily to work on narasites of Swans and other waterfowl, but entered into other phases of program as well. In addition to the refuge staff. Dr. Richard Holmes fron Dartmouth Univer-sity, and assistants, Craig Black and Matt Dick, continued a study of sandpipers on the Kolomak River. Matt later Joined the refuge crew at old Chevak as a volunteer assistant. Bill Qnison from Johns Hopkins University arrived in July to help with studies on growth and food habits of swans and later was Joined by Dr. William Sladen to help with banding of swans. Game Management Agents, Tremblay, Downs, Freeman, Coffer and Banning, wrestled bands on to more than 2,300 reluctant cackler and white-fronted geese. The sunmer field season came to a close on September 30, when Cessna N748 was returned to Anchorage.
The Weather
Just dandy. A mild winter was followed by an early spring, a , sunny summer and a pleasant fall. Temperatures as high as i450F were reached (temporarily) by raid-April and most of the ground was bare when waterfowl arrived in early May. Ice started moving in the Kuskokwlm River
on May 14, and by May 2X$ the river was clear. Hangar Lake was clear of ice by May 22, and floatplane operations were started on May 25. Most small lakes on the refuge were open by May 26, and even the large lakes by June 1, but broken ice. still filled the Kashunuk River and many tidal sloughs. The sloughs were cleared by June 5, when the camp at Old Chevak was opened. Weather during the summer was hot and dry. An average July temp erature of 57.90F was 3.2° above normal. A temperature of 33°^ on July 25, tied the all time record for this month, although a temperature of 86°^ in June 1959, still reigns. Precipitation frcm June to September totaled only 5.03 inches; 4.97 Inches lower than normal, and 2.49 inches lower than in 1967. Lichens and mosses on the tundra became dry, brittle and abrasive on dogs feet. Thunder storms, usually a rare event, were conmon, and a lightning caused fire near the ME boundary of the refuge burned about 300 to 400 acres. Habitat Condition
The warm, dry weather provided optimuin conditions for nesting and rearing of broods. Marked drawdown of many lakes was evident and a few became dry. The long term effects of such drawdown are beneficial, as nutrients are concentrated and formation of unproductive bog habitat is prevented. Berries were abundant frcm mid-July when cloudberries, Rubus Chaemenorus, ripened. Later, cranberries, Vacclnium vitis-idea, and crow berries, Empetnim nigrum, were abundant*! The berries appear to be the principal food of geese, swans and many ducks from late July through September. fnA* > ,,,e
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.Aft* CLARENCE RHODE
NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE
Area ? ,617 ,000 acree 4,375 square nclleB Scale: 1 Inch - 16 miles
Figure 1, Additions to the Clarence Rhode Range {solid lines). The Cape Newenham National Wildlife Hefuge. WILDLIFE Birds Inforrnatlcn on oirds of the refuge continues to accumulate. New species for the Refuge List usually generate most excitement; and also, at times, embarrassment when it beccmes apparent that s new soecies is one that is probably a regular migrant, but uses habitats which we do not visit, or that we have merelv failed to identlfv. Winter Populations. Observation of birds during winter are con fined to the area near Bethel, 60 miles fron the nearest border of the Wildlife Range, and ecologically quite different, beim on the boundarv between tundra and forest habitats. As usual, ravens were the most crominent species. Ptarmigan did not appear regularly until later Jan uary and were never as abundant as in previous years. However, because of the light snow cover, many ptarmigan did not migrate fron the tundra Into forest habitats as they usually do, and observations at Bethel may not have reflected the true status of the population. Snow buntings and redpolls were seen occasionally throughout the winters of 67-68 ana 68-69. A northern shrike was observed on February 16, and a gyrfalcon on April 8. McKay's buntings and pine grosbeaks were not seen during the year, although they are occasional winter visitors. Spring Migration. First migrants of the season were of unidenti fied ducks (pintails?) on April 19. Dark geese (Canada or white-front) were reported by many persons on April 20, and a major movement of geese, swans and ducks occurred before the end of April. First cranes were ob served on May 2, and the major movement of this species probably occurred on May 4, or 5. The migration pattern generally reflected the mild spring, occurring about the same period as in 1967, but a week earlier than in the cold spring of 1966. Open water and bare ground was widespread by the time of major movement and waterfowl were widely scattered and less conspicu ous than in cold springs when relatively few places are available for migrants to rest or find food. First observations of migrant birds are summarized in the follow ing list: April 19 Ducks (pintail?) April 20 Whistling Swan, dark geese, gulls April 22 Pintails April 23 White-fronted Geese, Greater Scaup April 29 Wilson's Snipe May 2 Crane May 4 Sandpiper (Western?) May 4 Canada Goose (or Cackling, Goose), Tree Swallow May 5 Common Goldeneye, Snow Goose List continued - May 6 Mew Gull, Longspur it 7 Robin H 8 Long-tailed Jaeger H 9 Western Sandpiper, Northern Phalarope Arctic Tern II 11 Golden Plover M 13 Tree Sparrow II 15 Black Turnstone, Long-billed Dowltcher H 17 Short-eared Owl June 1 Seni-palmated Plover ii 2 Yellow Warbler ii H Parasitic Jaeger
Sunmer Population. The sunmer period provides our primary source of Information on the Wildlife Range, because logistical problems associ ated with the breakup and freeze-up of lakes and streams prevents col lection of data during the spring and fall migration. Censuses on the North Unit of the Wildlife Range now cover most habitats, but neglect the important alpine and outer beach areas. The censuses and associ ated observations are discussed under "Field Investigations". Game Management Agents trapping white-fronted geese caught what ao- pears to be a barnacle goose and also a snow/white-fronted goose hybrid (identification of both birds based on color slides). Barnacle geesr do not frequently stray to Alaska, and it seems oossible that this goose could be the same individual observed at Izembec in 1967. In late July several hundred Eurasian knots were observed with oost breeding flocks of black-bellied plovers by Matt Dick. Two specimens were collected. We believe that the knots are regular sunmer visitors to the coastal tidelands, although we have not observed them previously. Sharp-tailed sandpipers were observed in marshes at Old Chevak in September and two were collected. We may have oreviously confused this species with the pectoral sandpiper which breeds sDarin.^lv on the refuse, and the sharp-tail may be a common migrant. Other species we may add to the refuge list result fron the ex pansion of the Wildlife Range to include cliff and alpine habitats fringing the Askinuk Mountains. Golden eagles, gyrfalcons, and rough- legged hawks are now nesting species, as are the cliff swallows. Pre viously, these species were recorded as visitors because nesting habitat was lacking. Fall Migration. By late July shorebirds and longspurs may start moving from breeding habitats, the former to form immense flocks in coastal flats on the refuge, but the latter have, apoarently, commenced their southward migration. Similarly, yearling or unproductive adult brant have finished molting by early August and move from the range to bays of Nunivak or Cape Newenham where beds of eel grass provide ^a Fall r^igration - conttd favored food. An estimated 18,000 brant had collected In bays off Nunivak by August 15. By the end of August young brant were fledged and families had also left.the breeding grounds, leaving only rare stragglers on the Wildlife Range. Most pintail drakes also disaooear from refuge habitats by mid-sunnier and an adult drake is rare in a hunter's bag when the season opens on September 1. By late August most white-fronted geese and many cacklers move from coastal portions of the refuge to inland regions of the delta where they forage in sedge meadows or on berries found in upland habitats. The peak of migration usually occurs about mid-September and waterfowl of any sort are rare by freeze-up in late September or early October. anperors begin their bay-hopping along the coast to Izembek and the Aleutian Islands in August, but the exodus from the Wildlife Range is a gradual process for this species, and many family groups may be seen until mid-September. Cranes were uncommon on the outer delta by September 10, and flocks moved past Bethel on September 16. Some swan families were still scatter ed over the refuge on September 18, but most had joined large flocks. Wran^el Island Snow geese were arriving on the refuge by mid-September and remained in smaller numbers until at least September 29. At this time most lakes were frozen and nearly all ducks and geese had headed for a wanner climate. Manmals i Observation of manmals on the wildlife range are not systemized and it is seldom possible to detect annual changes in abundance. Rodent population were considered to be at moderate level, and, possibly, on an increasing phase of their cycle. No obviously high rodent pooulatlon has occurred since 1963. Several foxes, both white and red, were observed in early spring but few were observed during the summer. Harbor seals were observed occasion ally in the Kashunuk and Keoklevik rivers. All sealn examined during surrmer months have been iirmature animals. Several walrus were washed ashore, as in previous years, seme with tusks intact but others with tusks removed. These animals are those which float ashore following spring hunts by Eskimos of Nunivak and Nelson Island, and represent a portion of • both the retrieved and unretrieved kill. Muskox are a new addition to the Clarence Rhode fauna, as a result of the addition of a portion of Nelson Island to the Wildlife Range. The 23 animals moved from Nunivak to Nelson Island in 1967 and 1968 range mostly off refuge lands, but if the nuclear herd survives, muskox may become a more prominent feature of the remainder of the Wildlife Range. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE
Normal maintenance of the headquarters site, vehicles, motors and various other equipment occupied Maintenance Man, Jim Geerdts, most of the year. As usual, many maintenance chores, which are easiest to can- plete in sunmer, were postponed to the more difficult winter season in order for Geerdts to participate in field studies. A major improvement in the station during 1968 was the installation of carpeting in Residences 1 and 3. The carpeting provides insulation of floors, which were frequently below freezing temperatures during winter months. Landscaping of the headquarters site included placement of drift logs (painted green) to prevent slumping of driveway gravel into the lawn. Post and rope fencing provided additional protection. Four years of battling adverse climatic and soil conditions which mitigate against eBtablisfrnent of a normal lawn were resolved by sur render. Nature is rapidly re-establishing wet tundra vegetation and, instead of blue grass, we enjoyed a beautiful stand of Alaska cotton (Erlophorum) during much of the sunmer. Storage and shelving for specimens, laboratory equipment and books reached a critical stage. Office furniture was re-arranged to permit construction of shelves so that the library could be moved frcm the lab to the office. Appearance and convenience was Improved in both. Entryways on all houses were remodeled and enlarged to provide protection from prevailing winds. An outhouse was constructed at the old Chevak field station. A one-holer, but the 12 x 16 foot dimensions will eventually permit addition of a shower and laundry facilities. 10
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Both migratory and resident fish and wildlife oopuiatlons are managed by application of regulations prescribed by the Alaska Depart ment of Fish and Game for areas adjacent to the refuge (Table 1). Physical development to enhance wildlife habitats is neither practi cal or necessary. Enforcement of game laws is difficult and is beset by logistic, socio-economic and political problems. It is one aspect of management which we knowingly, but we hope not too conspicuously, neglect. However, the law enforcement problem is one which must eventu ally be faced. Time should alleviate many asnects of the problem through decreasing emphasis on a subsistence economy, pooulatlon shifts awav from remote villages to locations where Jobs are available, and hope fully, the settlement by Congress of the land claims and native rights issue. 11
Table 1. Seasons and Bag Limits for Refuge Wildlife
Species Date of Ooen Season Bag Limit
Noose Aug. 20 - Dec. 31 1 bull MLsk')xen No ooen season Mink Nov/ 10 - Jan. 31 No limit Weasel Nov. 10 - Jan. 31 n Red Fox Nov. 10 - June 10 f» Blue and White Fox Dec. 1 - April 15 • M Muskrat Nov. 10 - June 10 It Beaver Feb. 1 - March 31 10 Lend Otter Nov. 10 - March 31 Hare and Rabbit No closed season No limit Walrus No closed season Adult bulls no.limit Adult cows and sub- adults 5 a year Sea Lion No closed season No limit beluga No closed season it Seal (harbor, ringed and bearded) No closed season Ptarmigan Aug. 10 - April 30 20 (40 in possession) EXicks Sept. 1 - Dec. Ik 6 (12 in possession) and 15 (30 in posses sion) for Scoter, Elder Old Squaw, Harlequin & Red-breasted Mergan ser. Geese Sept, 1 - Dec. 14 6 (12 in possession) excent no more than 4 daily or 8 in posses sion singly or in ag gregate of Canada and 'White-fronted Geese. Brant Sept. 1 - Dec. 14 4 (8 in possession) Cannon Snipe Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 8 (16 in possession) Little Brown Crane Sept. 1 - Oct. 15 2 (4 in possession) 12
FIELD WESTIGATICNS
^aunal Survey Wildlife Management Study No.
The objective of this study is to determine the relative abundance of all indigenous and migrator/ species of fish, manmals and birds on the wildlife range. To achieve this objective, systematic procedures for collecting information on all species are incomorated into other wildlife management studies and operational programs. However, as most studies and programs are aimed at one or more species of waterfowl, tecnniques are most satisfactory for providing data on the avian fauna. Observations on waterfowl census plots provide a primary source of information on all species of birds (Tables 2 and 3). Although censuses do not give total counts for birds other than waterfowl, if survey procedures are consistent, the counts should provide a reliable index to changes in the population. In 1968, reduction in the size of clots (80 acres vs. 160 acres in 196?) resulted in more intensive cover age and may have increased the relative count of some species. Further, six plots were added to the sample which extended coverage to new habi tat types. Thus, the data from the two years are not entirely ccmpar- able. Despite the change in procedures, indicated abundance in the two years is generally similar. A total of 30 species were observed on study plots during the June survey of 1968, as compared to 26 species in 196?. Of the 32 species seen in either 196? or 1968, six (rock sandpiper, northern waterthrush, rusty blackbird, redpoll, and tree sparrow) were not observed in 1967, out only two (greater yellowlegs and pectoral sandpiper) were not ob served in 1968. The species first observed in 1968 are all found in alder or willow thickets, a habitat type that was not present on any of the 13 plots surveyed in 1967. Such habitat is quite common on lake margins on inland portions of the refuge and birds listed above, that are associated with them, are quite abundant. Two species have been recorded during census in July that have not been encountered in June; golden plover in 1967, and whimbrels in 1968. Species observed in 1968, but not present on study plots, include common loon, gyrfalcon, pigeonhawk, marsh hawk, golden eagle, pelagic cormorant, Eurasian knot, golden plover, bristle-thighed curlew, pomarine Jaeger, tree swallow, cliff swallow, tree swallow and raven. Large reductions in the population of most species occurred between the time of the first census (June 2-15) and the second (July 20 - Aurast 3). Similar differences were noted in 1967. The changes result from extremely early southward migration for sane species such as sabines 13
gulls, long-tailed jaegers and Alaska longspurs; others may merely be-" cane less obvious in the non-breeding season (yellow warbler), or may move to different habitats^ as do many of the shorebirds which congregate In iinnense flocks along the outer coast. Observations of ptarmigan on the study plots an of unusual interest because this species is cyclic and its large fluctuations in ponulation may be used to evaluate our ability to detect population changes in other species. Cock ptarmigan are readily visible In spring when thev are In bright plumage and occupy prominent locations on their territories. Hens are not as readily observed and may be nesting, Bv July, both sexes become inconspicuous as a result of changes in both plumage and behavior. Hence, observations of cocks in June may be critical to pooulatlon analy sis, but July censuses may (we are not vet sure) orovide useful informa- ' ion on annual production. The adult (breeding) nopulation was not sig nificantly different in 196? and 196R, but production aoneared to be improved (Table 3). Our samples of nests (1 in 1967 and 3 in 196P) is too smell to be meaningful. However, increased oroductlon in 1968 war sug gested also by the observation of 11 broods, as conpared to only 3 In 1967. Little brown cranes and Arctic loons appear to be sampled effective ly on the study plots; cranes because of their vocalizations during the breeding season, and loons because of their use of habitat we examine most closely. Cranes become shy and less vocal after hatching in July, but censuses then resulted in even longer counts, suggesting that nesting birds are missed. Young cranes are very secretive and it is doubtful that we see more than a small portion of them. Red-throated loons occur in small numbers, but are not as vocal when on the water, and are more shy than their larger relative, so, are probably not censused as effective ly. Frequently their presence is known only from nests or from raucous calls given in flight. A sumnary of observations of these species on census plots is provided in Table 5. Common loons and, rarely, yellow billed icons are also found on the Wildlife Range but are too few to be picked up by our small sample. 14
Table 2. Occurrence of Birds Other Than Waterfowl on Census Plots in June and July.
Total Individuals Mo, of Plots on Which Species Observed June July
Arctic Loon 29 28 14 11 15 Red-throated Loon 2 8 1 4 5 Red-necked Grebe 2 4 1 2 3 Willow Ptarmigan 36 102 15 13 16 Lesser Sandhill Crane 19 41 12 11 16 Black-bellied Plover 15 7 9 6 11 Ruddy Turnstone 10 0 4 0 4 Black Turnstone 72 15 7 5 8 Wilson's Snipe 12 18 6 7 • 9 Whlmbrel 0 1 0 1 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 0 6 0 2 2 Rock Sandpiper 1 0 1 0 1 Dunlin 174 117 9 9 11 Long-billed Dowltcher 25 9 7 3 10 Western Sandpiper 330 156 19 10 19 Bar-tailed Godwit 27 9 10 2 10 Red Phalarope 46 5 8 1 8 Northern Phalarope 508 454 19 16 19 Parasitic Jaeger 7 16 5 9 12 Long-tailed Jaeger 24 5 11 4 11 Glaucous Gull 10 15 4 10 10 Mew Gull 29 32 13 13 16 Sabines Gull 62 26 14 8 14 Arctic Tern 56 77 16 15 16 Yellow Warbler 20 11 3 3 5 Northern Water Thrush 3 0 2 0 2 Rusty Blackbird 2 0 1 0 1 Alaska Yellow Wagtail 65 74 8 5 8 Redpoll 12 28 3 7 8 Savannah Sparrow 225 562 19 19 19 Tree Sparrow 60 13 8 4 9 Alaska Longspur 178 155 19 15 19
Total Individuals 2061 1894 _ _ _ Tvotal Species 30 -32- 28 8.38 6.71 9.94 1. A total of 19 plots of 80 acres were censused, giving a total census area of 1,520 acres (2,357 square miles).. The first census was conduct ed between June 1, and 16, and the second between July 25, and August 3. 15
Table 3. Comparisons of Observations on Census Plots 1967 and 1968
Average \'unber Per Plot opecies June June 1968 196/ Arctic Loon 1.5 1.4 Red-throated loon .1 .1 red-necked Grebe .1 . ± willow Ptannigan 1.9 1.8 Lesser Sandhill Crane 1.0 1.2 dack-bellied Plover .p .9 'iuddy Turnstone .5 .4 black Turnstone 3.8 1.7 Wilson's Snipe .6 .3 Greater Yellowlegs 0 .1 Pectoral Sandpiper 0 .3 T Rock Sandpiper . J- • 0 Dunlin 9.2 5.3 e Long-billed Dowltch 1.3 . J Western Sandpiper 17.4 12.3 Bar-tailed Godwit 1.4 1.7 Red Phalarope 2.4 1.8 Northern Phalarope 26.7 13.1 Parasitic Jaeger .4 .6 Long-tailed Jaeger 1.3 .9 Glaucous Gull .5 1.0 Mew Gull 1.5 1.3 Sabines Gull 3.3 3.8 Arctic Tern 3.0 1.9 tellow Warbler 1.1 0 Northern Waterthrush .2 0 Rusty Blackbird .1 0 Alaska Yellow Wagtail 3.4 .4 Redpoll .6 0 Savannah Sparrow 11.8 4.7 Tree Sparrow 3.2 C Alaska Longspur 9.4 5.1 16
Table h. Observations of Ptannigan on Census Plots 1967 and 1968 1
Number Observed Number oer Square Mile 1967 1968 1967 1968
June Censuses Cocks 33 37 10.1 11.3 Hens 11 8 3.4 3.4 Nests 1 3 0.3 1.3 July Census Broods 3 11 0.9 4.6
1 Plots Included 13 of 160 acres in 1967 and 19 of 90 acres in 1968 to provide a total sample area of 1,520 acres in 1968.
Table 5. Observations of Cranes and Loons on Study Plots 1
Species Singles Pairs Flock Total Nests or Broods
Little Brown Crane June 7 6 3 22 6 July 6 8 17 39 2 Arctic Loon June 16 8 0 32 3 July 9 7 3 26 1 Red-throated Loon June 0 1 0 2 2 July 1 2 0 5 1
1 Sample Included 19 plots of 80 acres 17
Family Bonds as a Factor in the Migration of Heese Wildlife Management Study Mo. ?
This study involves the exchange of eggs between nests of em- poror and white-fronted geese to determine if young will follow their foster parents on migration, or if they will use routes that are traditional with the species. White-fronts from '.he Clarence Rhode Range normally winter in the interior valleys of California, while etaperors winter in the Aleutian Islands. Questicnaires distributed to Game Department and Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife personnel, and to various interested persons taroughout the Pacific Flyway, were used to evaluate the normal inci- aence of emporors away from their Aleutians habitats. In addition, tne open literature was surveyed for records that might not otherwise be reported. Questionalres or letters providing this basic data were received from 32 individuals representing many wildlife refuges and all game departments in the Pacific states. The reports usually covered specific areas, but in some cases included regional or state summaries, newspaper clippings etc. Many respondents obviously made considerable effort to obtain accurate reports. Observations tended to be clustered in one or two vear periods, (Table 6) suggesting multiple observations of one or a few birds, and repeated migration to California by individual birds in successive years. In Alaska, British Columbia and Washington, reports of emperor geese were all fron coastal regions, indicating casual straying of emperors through areas which are similar to traditional winter habitats, In seme instances, observations in Oregon and California are of similar character, but the relatively large number of observations in these states as compared to more northern regions, and the fact that manv reports are from inland habitats (Fig. 3) which differ significantly frcm traditional wintering areas, suggest that emperors have arrived there with flocks of white-fronted or cackling ^eese. Most reports consist of observations of one or two geese, or occa sionally more, but usually with numbers that could be included bv a single family. Information on species with which emperors were associ ated was usually not available, but in two observations they were present in flocks of white-fronted geese and in one instance were as sociated with black brant which also share their nesting habitat. Ex ceptions included a flock of about 20 occurring in Los Angeles County, California in the mid 1950^ and of 25 observed at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in November 1964. The latter maintained a separate flock from the other geese. Nine were observed at the same location in the following year, still maintaining a discrete flock. None were seen in 1966 and only one in 1967. 18
During the nesting season of 1968, a total of ?8 clutches (14 of i each species) containing 74 eggs of emperor geese and 81 eggs of white- fronted geese were exchanged. It was not oossible tc determine survival of young in the exchanged clutches, but at least two clutches of ernner- ors and three of white-fronts are known to have hatched. One brood of white-fronts was seen at the nest site when nearly half grown. The foster parent emperor's were not observed, but nay have been present. Wildlife Refuges, Oarne Departments and other interested persons were again solicited for information on occurrence of emieror geese in the Pacific states, and of white-fronts in the Aleutians, during the winter of 1963-69. A detailed analysis of the preliminary questionaire survey and the egg exchange was submitted as a Progress Report in September. 19
Table 6. Locations where Qnperor Oeese have been observed awav from traditional wintering habitats
Area Number Date Remarks
Alaska Wrangell 4 2/16/17 British Columbia Cape Scott o 12/? /12 3, Vancouver Is. ? 11/20 or 12/ Praser River ll/?/22 Tlell 12/7/42 Discovery Is. 7 3/26/43 Masset 7 1/3/43 & wir 40 - '45 California humboldt Bay 7 1894-winter Davis • 12/7/06 Modesto 7 11/15/13 humbolt Co. 3 12/23/20 Colusa 7 11/7/22 Sacramento NWR 2 11/27/41 (Adjacent area) Big lagoon 1 10/20/45 Carmel Bay 7 12/29/45 Los Angeles Co. (about) 20 Mid 50rs Lower Klamath NWR 1 10/7/55 Tule Lake NWR 1 4/18/55 Crescent City 5 12/31/57 Crescent City ? 1/3/58 Crescent City 1 1/4/58 Lower Klamath NWR 1 11/7/58 Sacramento NWR 1 11/11/60 Sacramento NWR 1 12/2/60 Sacramento NWR 1 2/17/61 Elk River 1 11/8/61 Tule I.ake NWR 25 11/7/64 Woodland 1 2/6/65 Tule Lake NWR 9 11/7/65 Colusa NWR 1 12/7/65 Morro Bay 2-3 2/13/67 Tule Lake NWR 1 10/7/67 Lower Klanath NWR 1 11/7/67 Eel River 1 12/3/67 (5 observed in 1952) Imperial Wildlife Area 1 7/7/67 (Adjacent area) Ihgomar 7 12/12/7 Dixon, Solano Co. 7 - 20
Table 6.(cont'd) Locations where Emperor Geese have been observed awav from traditional wintering habitats. ^
Area Number Date Remarks
Oregon Netarts Bay 1 12/31/20 Eugene 1 10/7/23 Netarts Bay 1 12/3/23 Oold Beach ? 4/1/43 Newport 1 1964 or '65 Upper Klamath NWR 2 10/7/65 Lincoln, Multnomah 10/3/ Earllei '-(Gabrielson &Jewett Tillamook Co. 2/17/ Latest Birds of Oregon)
Washington Starwood 7 1/1/22 Sk^lt Area 1 1922 Seattle 1 1948 (Could be the same as lake Union) Lake Union (Seattle) 1 1/8/48 (Could be the same as Seattle Ridgefield NWR 2 1962 McNary NWR 1 Unknown (^ran Refuge Bird List) 21
Figure 3. Locations where emperor geese have been observed In the Pacific States. ^ National or State Wildlife Refure where emperors were observed. • Other areas where emperors were observed, ^ ^ Locations where emperors were not observed. 22
Waterfowl Populations, Proauctlor. and Habitat Ljcology
wildlife Management Study Mo. M ij&S
Thiis study encompasses nearly all aspects of the biology of water fowl, but enphasizes collection of infomaticn of value In improving precictions of annual production. The study is dr. Into two main p Surveys and censuses to assess populations .arc oroductlon of waterfowl Include both ground and aerial surveys of a general nature that are adaptable to many species, as well as more intensive surveys de igned to study a single species. The latter surveys are used when Important species are not sampled adequately bv the general surveys, or w! en significant additional data may be obtained with a minimum of effort by the special surveys. Habitat studies have not been initiated except for the evaluation of the various plots and study areas used for sampling waterfowl popula tions. Census of Study Plots Censuses of study plots located at random on the North Unit of the "D Wildlife Range provide a primary source of information on the composition § and the distribution of waterfowl populations in relation to habitat w type. Initial surveys were conducted on trial plots of .25 to 1.0 square a rrilles in size during 1965 and 1966. During the summer of 1967, a total Table 7. Breedir^ Populations of Ducks (Drakes onlv) in 1967 and 1968 > opecies Drakes/Sq, Mile Percen': Composition 1967 1968 196- 1968 Green-winged Teal 6.1 3.4 4 Mallard 1.2 .8 1 Pintail 42.5 43.4 41 49 Shoveler 0 5.9 0 7 Widgeon __ 2 0 - 0 Greater Scaup 12.3 9.3 12 10 Comnon Goldeneye 0 2.5 3 Barrow's Goldeneye 0 .4 0 T Old Squaw 24.0 13.1 23 15 Conrnon Eider 9.2 4.2 9 5 Spectacled Eider 3.1 3.4 3 4 Cannon Scoter M 2.9 4 3 Total - 102.7 89.3 1 Data are based on censuses of 13 plots totaling 3.25 snuare miles in 1967, and on 19 plots totaling 2.375 square miles in 1968. 2 A flock of 78 widgeon drakes observed in 1967 are excluded, as this soecies is not known to nest on the Wildlife Range. 26 Table 8, Breeding Populations or Geese and Number of Nests Observed on Study Plots in 196? and 1968 Number per Square Mile 1 Species Geese Nests 1967 1968 1967 1968 Cackler & Canada 50.6 47.2 6.2 18.5 Emperor 20.5 40.4 3 2.8 5.1 White-front 17.8 15.2 3.7 4.6 Total - 95.2 134.4 12.7 28.2 * Figures are based on censuses of 13 plots totaling 3.25 square miles in 1967, and of 19 plots totaling 2.375 square miles in 1968. 2 Nests were located during censuses of the adult population, and do not represent complete searches of the plots. 3 The Indicated Increase in emperors resulted from the presence of a non-breeding flock of 41 birds on one plot. If these are excluded, the figure for emperors becomes 9.3 per square mile, and that for the total 103.3 per square mile. This may be a better estimate of the breeding population than that indicated above. 27 Incidental Obgervations of Nests and Broods All observations of nests and broods are recorded in an attempt to show seasonal changes in clutch or brood sizes that 'nay result from fluc tuations in environnental conditions. Our samples for most species are too small to reflect such changes, but accumulated data provides in creasingly accurate.estimates of average sizes. Date must be treated with caution even when sanqples are large, however, because geographical variation in our activities may bias records of clutch or brood sizes. For instance, nests of brant on the Tutakoke River consistently contain amaller clutches than those a mile or two inland on the Kashunuk Fiver, and a shift in sampling intensity between the two areas would alter estimates of clutch size. Ihe average sizes of clutches for brant and geese do not suggest a clear relationship to spring conditions, but this may in part result frcm our inability to evaluate all pertinant factors. The average clutch size of geese, all species weighted equally, are conpared to break-up dates at Bethel below: Year Average Clutch Break-up W OT June 3 1965 4.05 May 19 1966 4.85 May 23 1967 4.43 May 11 1968 4.47 May 14 Small clutches were recorded in 1964, the latest spring, but also in 1965 which was much earlier. Ihey were largest in 1966, a moderately late year, but smaller again in 1967 and 1968, the earliest years, and hypothet1cally with most favorable nesting conditions. We believe we can explain the small brood size in 1965 by late snow melt along the coast and the presence of snow over most of the region when migrants arrived. The large clutch size in 1966 we cannot explain on the basis of our knowledge of spring conditions as conpared to later years. However, it is possible that low production in 1964 and 1965 resulted in an older class of breeding birds in 1966, which could have been more successful than the young ages that nested in subsequent years. Average counts of goslings in broods of brant and geese were made frcm both the ground and the air (Table 9). 0round observations were obtained mostly in the vicinity of the Kashunuk River, but aerial surveys covered all coastal habitats. Both ground and aerial surveys suggest that broods were scmewhat smaller in 1968 than in 1967. Differences indicated by the ground surveys were not significant. Larger differences noted during air surveys, particularly for black brant, may have re sulted frcm a change in aerial observers. 28 Table 9. Average Size of Class I Broods of Brant and Oeese. 1 1967 1966 No. of Average No. of Average Broods Size Broods Size Ground' Surveys Brant 108 3.27 144 3.15 Cackler 45 4.78 66 4.24 Bnperor 42 3.81 66 3.75 White-front - - 27 4.48 Air Surveys Brant 219 3.27 68 2.54 Cackler 14 3.71 9 3.44 Qnperor 150 3.99 112 3.65 White-front - - - - Observations were recorded from the ground by all staff members. Aerial observations were made by C. V. Lensink and J. G. Geerdts in 1967 and by Lensink and J. L. Hout in 1968 29 Aerial Censuses of the Breeding Population Aerial surveys were lr.ltlatea which are similar to operational breeding ground surveys, but of much increased intensity in order to pro vide relatively precise deliniatlon of the distribution of each species. Because of linlteo personnel and enuinment, only a anall oortion of the refuge can be surveyed each year. Hence, a check area near Old Chevak will be used to provide continuity. Sach survey area is selected for distinct natural boundaries, usually rivers, large lakes, the coast or some other prominent feature. Transects were spaced at approximately 2 mile Intervals. Directton of flight differed between transects of each area, but were approximately parallel within the area. Length of transect segments was determined by flight time rather than fixed point of reference, initial transects used one or two minute intervals called off by the pilot. Later transects were not timed during the survey, but were flown with tape recorders operating continuousso that transect length could be determined at the ccmnletion of the survey. This procedure reoulred minimum effort by the pilot for navigation and other flight chores, thus pemitting more concentration of effort as an observer. Areas surveyed in 1968 included the region bounded by the Aphrewn, Kashunuk and Keoklevik Rivers, and the lowland portions of Nelson Island (^igs. 4 & 6). The Kashunuk transects covered a linear distance of 180.2 miles, a sample of approximately 6.8 percent of the 330 square miles of habitat. This area is typical of coastal habitats which are the most productive portions of the Wildlife Range. Nelson Island transects sampled approximately 16.0 percent of the 86 square miles of habitat on the North Flats, and 5.1 percent of the 238 square miles in the South Flats. The North Flats are similar to the extreme coastal fringe of the Kashunuk Region, both coastal and inland type habitats are present on the South Flats, but inland areas are much influenced by their proximity to the coast. The Kashunuk region was the most productive of the three areas that were surveyed, having an average density of about 212 geese and 214 ducks per square mile (Table 10). Populations of geese, except for black brant, are similar on the North Flats cf Nelson Island, .but duck copulations are only half as dense as on the Kashunuk (Table 11). Both ducks and geese are in lower numbers on the South Flats of Nelson Island (Table 12) thar. in the Kashunuk region, although our surveys there may be somewhat biased by failure to record data on several transects where previous experience has shown geese to be most abundant (Table 1? and figure 6). Unadjusted counts of black brant and cackling geese are indicated for each transect segment In Figures 4 to 6. — KasmnuVc area. • w- tl • routes U A.eri,«ai transect •T RA'KGK ARE - J" 0 cs-s - r - " 1 C-r HAZEN BAY MIGRATORY WATERFOWL REFUGE CLAFEiNCE RHODE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE North Flats. Nelson Is. / Figure 5. Aerial transect routes on the north flats of Nelson Island. p Ugchirrjak Mtn'w Qn^k Bay Vancouver Ktqui CLARENCE RHODE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE Nelson la.. South Flats Scale: .25 Inch = 1 mile Figure 6. Aerial Transect routes on the south flats of Nelson Island. rvi 33 Table 10. Breeding Population Indices for Waterfowl in the Kashunuk Region 1 Species No. Unadjusted Visibility" Adjusted No. Per Observed Index Factor Index So. Mile Swans - single & 1,084 .37 292 pairs 54 (probably all observed) 1.226 flocks 1.226 1,518 4.60 Total- 1,280 Geese - Brant 1,176 17,240 1.53 26,377 Cackler 386 5,659 4.87 27,559 Qnperor 3 05 4,471 1.36 6,080 White-front 450 6.597 1.54 10.159 Total- 27517 3W 70,lt5 Ducks - Mallard 4 59 8.89 524 1.59 Pintail 636 • 9,319 3.97 36,996 112.10 Shoveler 12 175 40.24 7,042 21.34 Scaup 68 937 2.66 2,492 7.55 Old Squaw 64 993 10.32 10,248 31.05 Elder 218 3,194 3.58 11.435 34.65 American Scoter 14 205 9.35 1,917 5.81 Unidentified 14 205 — - - Total- 1,030 15,090 70,654 214.08 Transects sampled 22.52 square miles of the total area of 330 square miles. Visibility factors for ducks, except scoter and mallard, and for geese on 7 ground study plots, totaling 480 acres, which sample the same area as the transects. Those for scoter and mallard were based on all of the 19 study plots on the North Unit of the Range. The visibility factors for swans is based on 6 plots of 9 square miles that were censused frcm the air. 34 Table 11. Breeding Population Indices for Waterfowl, North Flats, Nelson Island, June 12, 1968. 1 Species No. Percent Unadjusted Adjusted2 Mo. Per Observed Conposltion Index Index Sq. Mile Whistling Swan- single & pairs 32 - 200 74 - flocks 18 _ 18 18 Total- 50 - 218 92 1.07 Geese- Brant 154 17.2 963 1,473 17.13 Cackler 191 21.3 1,195 5,820 67.69 aaperor 356 39.8 2,227 3,029 35.23 idhlte-front 194 21.7 1,213 1,868 21.72 Tbtal- 895 100.0 5,598 12,190 141.77 Ducks - (Qreen-winged Teal) 2 .6 13 536 6.23 Pintail 184 51.7 1,282 5,090 59.20 Scaup 84 23.6 582 1,548 18.00 Old Squaw 28 7.8 194 2,002 23.28 Elder 54 15.2 375 1,342 15.61 American Scoter 4 1.1 25 234 2.72 Unidentified 40 — — - - Total- 396 100.0 2,471 10,752 125.05 1 Transects sampled 13.75 square miles in a total area of 86 square miles. 2 Visibility factors are the same as those described in Table 10. 35 Table 12, Breeding Population Index for Waterfowl, South Plats, Nelson Island, June 12, 1968 1 Species No. Percent Unadjusted Q 11 us ted 2 No. Per Observed Canoosition Index ] n iex So. Mile Whistling Swans 38 - 800 096 1.24 Geese - .^rant 7 3.4 145 222 .93 Cackler 62 30.5 1,304 6.350 26.67 Emperor 55 27.1 1,157 1,574 6.61 White-front 79 38.9 1.661 2.558 10.74 Total- 203 99.9 4,267 10,704 a4.96 Ducks - Mallard 2 .8 42 373 1.57 Pintail 138 55.4 2,904 11,529 Scaup 47 • 19.0 989 2,631 11.05 Old Squaw 18 7.4 379 10,248 43.04 Elder 25 9.9 526 1,883 7.91 American Scoter 18 7.4 37? 3.544 14.88 Total- 248 99.9 5,219 30,208 126.87 1 Transects sample was 12.06 square miles of the total- area of 238 square miles. Visibility factors are the same as those described in Table 10. 36 Nesting success of black brftrt was evaluated by census on 12 plots, each consisting of 5 sub-lots of ' acres, as described in previous Annual Reports. A total of 156 nests were located, 21 fewer than in 196?, but alflost Identical to the number found in 1966 (Table 13). The apparent decrease in nesting density for .^68 was not statist! :al] / significant (t « .428;p> .5). At least one egg hatched in 77% of nests started as conpared to 89^ in 1967 and 7555 in 1966. The proportion of eggs that hatch is only slightly less than that of successful nests - 76^ in 1968, 891 in 1967, and 72% in 1966. Predation by glaucous gulls and perhaps bv long-tailed or parasitic Jaegers was the primary cause of egg losses. No nests were known to have been destroyed by foxes or other mammalian predators or to have been lost by tidal flooding. Important causes of losses in seme vears. distribution of nesting brant has varied considerably from year to year, but at present we cannot say what factor causes shifting of the population. Most changes in distribution do not appear to be related to changes in vegetation, although on a few plots stom tides have eroded nesting habitat. Loss of vegetation on the Kashunuk plots averaged about 6 percent of that present in 1967 (Table 14). During banding operations weights of brant were obtained frcn e sample of each age and sex group (Table 15). Males averaged significantly heavier than fenales for all ages. Age classes (yearling, subadult and adult) also differed significantlv, although the group we classified as subadult undoubtedly contained many adult birds. Weights will be sampled in subsequent years to detemine ifraid-summer weights reflect changes in soring conditions and reproductive success. 37 Table 13. Number of Brant Nests and Average Size of Clutches on Kashunuk Plots, 1966 to 1968. Plot Number of Nests/Plot 1966 1967 1968 1 8 q 9 2 16 21 8 3 17 10 4 4 2 5 2 5 6 6 16 6 26 4 6 7 0 5 38 8 1 5 20 9 12 25 9 10 0 4 4 11 62 56 37 12 17 27 13 Total- 167 187 166 Mean 13.9 15.6 13.8 Average Clutch 3.43 3.68 3.52 38 Table 14. Status of Vegetation on Kashunuk Plots Sample Points with Vegetation Plot Subplot Total Potal xDercent 12 3 4 5 1968 1967 Chanre 1 60 44 78 32 60 274 313 -12.4 2 43 94 65 61 80 343 ' 376 '; - 8.7 3 30 53 67 92 39 281 316 -11.0 4 36 59 93 62 65 315 327 - 3.6 5 17 30 41 47 45 180 237 -24.0 6 75 47 95 75 95 387 403 - 3.9 7 51 68 18 65 63 265 287 - 7.6 8 14 41 35 10 65 165 192 -14.0 9 60 71 67 63 56 317 315 + 0.6 1C 93 97 93 • 1 86 370 366 + 1.0 11 41 63 94 88 88 374 388 - 3.6 12 100 93 94 93 88 468 462 + 1.2 Total - -- -- 3,739 3,982 - 6.1 Sample consisted of 100 points per subplot. 39 Table 15. Weights of Black draht Oaring Molt ^ Age and Sex Sarncle Size '/eight in Ounces •lean S.E.' vales Yearling 16 ^6.6 9? Sub-adult 45 ^9.6 54 Adult 41 41.6 65 Feriales Yearling 18 33.5 51 Sub-adult 45 34.6 49 Adult 58 36.5 .44 Sub-adult groups were distinguished bv a relatively small penis In males and lack of a brood patch on females. Many adult brant were probably classified as sub-adult, but few sub-adults as adult. 40 Nesting of Cackling Oeese Trial censuses of nests on 3 plots similar to these used for studies of black brant were conducted in an area with nesting cacklers. Nine nests of cacklers and 8 of other species of waterfowl were located on the plots, suggesting that in this and other similar areas nesting densities are sufficiently high to permit sampling of this type, figures obtained frcm this selective sampling would not permit estimation of the size of the nesting population, but should show changes in productivity. However, because observations on the 80 acre plots appear to orovide data of equal value, we will not extend the sampling on small plots to cackling geese without further evaluation for advantages over other procedures. Snow Geese Snow geese are present during the fall when many thousands, per haps nearly all of the Wrangel Island flock, use the Wildlife Range as a staging area before resuming their southward migration. Aerial sampling of migrant flocks between September 18 and 29, revealed only 5 to 8 percent immature birds (Table 17). This low tally indicated almost complete reproductive failure of geese on Wrangel Island. A relatively low proportion of irmature brant among samples tallied at Izembek NWR suggests that reproductive failure extended to this species. White-fronted Geese Discrete studies of white-fronted geese were limited to the collection of weights and measurements during banding operations by personnel of the Branch of Management and Enforcement. The primary purpose of the measurements was to deliniate the size parameters of Pacific white-fronted geese, to check for the possible presence of tule geese on the delta, and for study of relative physical condition of laoltir^ birds in seasons with early or late springs. Measurements of males average significantly larger than those of females, although there was much overlap between sexes (Table 17). There was a slight tendency for measurements of the tarsus and the middle toe to be larger in adults than in yearlings but the difference is small and could not be detected except in a very large sample. Bill measurements did not differ with age. Averages of measurements from different loca tions were remarkably uniform with no suggestion that different flocks comprised discrete populations (Table 18). There were no anomalous indi viduals and few anomalous measurements. The tule goose was not present or accounted for. Weights differed with sex, age, location and date of banding - alto gether a confusing mess (Table 19). Although there was considerable overlap in all groups, males were significantly heavier than females, and adults (2 years or older) heavier than yearlings. Although birds entering 41 Table 16. Snow Goose Age Composition: Aerial Surveys, 1968 Date Observers Flocks No. in Corrposition Samples Sampled blocks Im Im & Ad % Im 9/18 Lensink 29 463 6.2 Hout 78 1,285 6.1 Total- 11 13,000 107 1,748 6.1 9/23 Lens ink 4 173 2.3 Geerdts 10 207 4.8 Total- 3 3,000 14 380 3.7 9/29 Lens Ink 30 358 8.4 Geerdts 49 3.3 Total- 79 1,853 4.3 Grand Total 19 22,500 200 3,981 5.0 Counts In some Instances may be low for Immatures (9/29 Geerdts): However, there is no possibility the Immatures exceeded 10% of the population on any day or for any flock and correct percentage Is probably between 5 and 8 percent. 42 Table 17. Measurements of Pacific .ihite-frented Geese Yukon Delta, July 1968 Adults 2fearilngs Male Female Male ^emale Wei/Jit (pounds) Mean 5.0 4.5 4.7 4.2 Range 4.2-6.2 3.6-5.8 3.8-5.8 3.3-5.2 Culmen (mm) Mean 51.7 48.6 51.8 48.9 Range 46 - 67 42 - 56 45 - 60 43 - 56 Nares (mn) Mean 36.3 34.8 36.3 34.7. Range 31 - 43 30 - 39 33 - 43 30 - 39 bill Depth (rrm) Mean 30.3 28.4 29.9 28.5 Range 26 - 36 25 - 32 25 - 32 Tarsus (Total) (mm) Mean 91.6 86.8 90.4 86.5 Range 82 -102 79 - 97 84 - 98 79 - 95 Tarsus (Diagonal) (ran) Mean 76.4 72.1 75.3 71.8 Range 67 - 89 64 - 88 68 - 87 66 - 80 Middle Toe (mm) Mean 68.3 65.5 67.7 65.1 Range 62 - 78 59 - 75 61 - 79 57 - 77 Sample Size 170 £8 13^ TO^T Table 18. Measurements of Adult Male White-fronted Geese fron Different Locations on the Yukon-Kuskokwlm Delta 1 Sample Measurements In an. Location Size Nares Culmen Bill Tarsus Tarsus Middle Depth Total Diagonal Toe Dall f^ke 21 3.64 5.28 2.98 9.24 7.80 6.92 Azun River 23 3.56 5.08 3.05 9.50 7.73 6.84 Anerkochlk River 42 3.59 5.16 3.01 9.11 7.60 6.79 Manoklnak River 35 3.67 5.11 3.03 9.08 7.55 6.78 Kokechlk River 39 3.63 5.20 3.03 9.08 7.68 6.87 Kashunuk 10 3.73 5.20 3.14 8.98 7.44 6.77 Including Kuttak River -Cr Table 19. Weights of white-fronted freese During Molt Location and ASY (Male) SY ASY (Besnale) SY Date N M R N M R N M R N M R Dall L. 6/29 14 5.2 4.8-6.2 5 4.6 3.8-5.8 14 4.8 4.5-5.8 6 4.5 4.0-5.2 Dall L. 6/30 7 5.2 5.0-6.0 5 4.8 4.2-5.2 8 4.7 4.3-5.0 4 4.4 4.0-5.2 Azun R. 7/1 16 5.1 4.8-5.8 4 4.9 4.8-5.1 13 4.7 4.1-5.2 6 4.2 3.6-4.8 Anerkochlk R. 7/2 26 5.1 4.8-5.8 4 4.8 4.4-5.5 19 4.4 4.0-4.9 11 4.2 3.9-4.6 Manoklnak R. 7/3 19 4.9 4.2-5.4 8 4,8 4.0-5.5 21 4.6 3.9-5.2 6 4.2 4.0-4.4 Kokechlk R. 7/6 25 4.9 4.4-5.9 10 4.8 4.4-5.2 22 4.5 3.9-5.3 25 4.3 3.8-5.1 Kokechlk R. 7/9 7 5.1 4.&-5.4 3 4.9 4.8-5.1 2 4.6 4.4-4.9 8 4.2 4.0-4.4 Kashunuk R. 7/9 10 4.9 4.8-5.1 11 4.9 4.4-5.2 10 4.5 3.8-5.3 11 4.4 3.9-5.1 Kuttak R. 7/10 7 5.3 4.8-5.7 3 4.9 4.8-5.0 4 4.4 4.1-4.8 6 4.4 4.1-4.8 Azun R. 7/11 7 5.1 4.9-6.0 2 4.7 4.5-4.9 7 4.4 4.0-5.1 5 4.2 3.9-4.4 Anerkochlk R. 7/15 10 4.7 4.2-5.2 7 4.2 4.0-4.4 4 4.2 4.2-4.2 7 4.0 3.8-4.3 Manoklnak R. 7/15 16 4.6 4.2-5.2 4 4.5 3.8-4.9 12 4.0 3.6-4.6 8 3.9 3.3-4.3 Anerkochlk R. 7/19 6 4.9 4.4-5.2 2 4.4 4.3-4.6 — — - 3 4.2 4.3-4.4 Totals- 170 5.0 4.2-6.2 68 4.7 3.8-5.8 136 4.5 3.6-5.8 106 4.2 3.3-5.2 Average - 6/29-7/5 5.08 4.78 4.61 4.28 7/6-7/12 5.00 4.85 4.48 4.31 7/13-7/19 4.66 4.32 4.05 3.99 45 o ^ o T T • 1 Figure 7. Average weights of white-fronted geese during molt at different locations. • 46 White-fronted Geese-contf d the molt are already much lighter than when they arrived on the breeding i grounds, they continue to lose weight throughout the molt. This weight loss is most clearly examined by comparing soecific locations samnled at different dates (Azun River on 7/1 and 7/11; Anerkochlk River on 7/?, 7/11, and 7/15; and the Manoklnak River on 7/3 and 7/15). The extent of weight loss is obscured in our data by the fact that individuals composing different flocks varied considerably in stage of molt. Although our samples are small, the similar patterns exhibited by age and sex groups (Figure 7) suggested flocks banded at different loca tions varied in weight, however, such differences were obscured by the loss of weight as the molt progressed. We are uncertain why weights should vary (other measurements did not) but possible causes may include slight differences in availability of food, variance in condition of migrant flocks and their coherance throughout the sunmer, and variation in dates that different flocks molted. Whistling Swan Whistling swans are the most conspicuous of the wild residents of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the principal nesting grounds for swans of the Pacific Flyway. The ease with which swans are viewed frcm the air oermits detailed observations of many individuals with a minimum effort. EXiring 1968, observations of swans on most flights over the delta were recorded as described in previous annual reports. In addition, swans were censused on 19 study plots, each of 9 square miles. The combined data provides a much larger, and, we hope, more meaningful sample than in previous years. Indices based on operational breeding ground surveys of the Yukon- Kuskokwim Delta since 1956 indicate an average spring population of about 5?,000 swans, whereas winter Inventories in the Pacific ^lyway account for only 38,000. Population density is higher on the Wildlife Range (1.48 territorial adult per square mile on the North Unit) than on most other portions of the delta. Densities in favorable habitat may approach 2 pair per square mile (Fig. 8). Productivity of swans appeared to be higher than In recent years with 52 percent of pairs observed in July and August being accommpanled by broods (Table 20). Clutch size was nearly identical to that of 1967, but survival of cygnets was much higher (Table 21). The survival of cygnets was attributed to the unusually dry and sunny weather that persisted through most of the sunmer. As in the previous sunmer, most mortality of cygnets occurred at hatching. A second period of high mortality may occur when cygnets are 3 to 4 weeks old and begin straying from parents, but there after, mortality is negligible. Ihe development of cygnets was followed by taking weights and measure ment of cygnets in three captive broods at Intervals of approximately one week, and by weighing free living cygnets whenever they were encountered. 47 Table 20. Proportion of Swan Pairs with Broods [Xiring July and August. Year No. of Pairs No. of Broods Percent of Pairs With Broods 1965 176 63 36 1966 153 54 35 1967 277 97 35 1968 1,282 664 5? Table 21. Average Sizes of Clutches and Broods of Swans During 10 Day Periods frcm June to October Date 1965 1966 1967 1968 Sample Av. Clutch Sample Av. Clutch Sample Av. Clutch Sample Av. Clutch Size or Brood Size or Brood Size or Brood Size or Brood Clutches 4.3 21 4.1 42 5.0 59 4.8 Broods 1* 2 5/21-30 26 4.0 7/1-10 33 3.9 7/11-20 60 3.0) 37 4.1 43 4.0 7/21-30 38 3.4) 53 3.4 7/31-8/9 38 3.8 8/10-19 30 3.4 60 3.6 8/20-29 62 2.3 47 3.0 150 3.6 8/30-9/8 79 3.0 330 3.7 9/9-18 32 3.0 177 2.7 35 3.4 129 3.6 9/19-28 246 2.6 lo0 3.0 52 3.4 9/29-10/8 114 2.4 77 2.9 Samples of less than 30 broods are emitted Most cygnets are fledged by mid-Sentember. 00 Figure 8. Distribution of swans on Plot 17 on June 25 and August 24, 1963; S, singles; p, pairs; and circled location point are nests (June 25) or broods (August 24). XT 50 T 2,1 3 2 4 + 3 1 JS 26 4 + v • « 2 X J. X X 10 20 30 40 SO to fo Figure 9. Growth of* cygnets. Range of weights for each samole; to the left for males and to the right for females. 51 Whistling Swans-cont1d Most of the later cygnets were obtained durincr bandinr operations in ^ August and early September. Growth of free living cvgnets is illustrated in Figure 9. Weights varied considerable between broods and even within broods. Males averaged slightly heavier than females within a few davs of hatching and continued to diverse in size. Occasionally, hov/ever, a female was lar^r than males In the sane brood. The anomaly of choice was in a brood of two banded on September 3, In which the female weighed 3.9 kg, but the male only 2.6. Most other cygnets at this time were much larger - females averaging 4.9 kg (range 3.6 to 6.1 for 26) and males 5.3 kg (range 4.7 to 6.3 for 17). Parasites and Disease The Incidence of parasites or disease in waterfowl populations has been noted primarily in wintering populations, where it is a more obvious factor of mortality, and specimen material is more available. We do not have any reasonable estimate of the influence of this factor of mortality on arctic breeding grounds. Because large numbers of birds are handled during banding and other activities on the refuge, Miss Barbara Holden was employed to assist in examining birds as they became available. Her primary Interest, however, was the study of the heartworm, Sarconema eurycerca, which is Imolicated in mortality of Whistling Swans in Chesapeake Bay. Fortunately, or unfortunately, denending on the point of view, no birds died as a result of banding activities and this anticipated source of specimens did not beccme available. Ccmplete autoosies were per formed on 34 birds. Blood smears were obtained from a samole of 3^4 additional birds (Table 22). Snecimens for autopsy included those which died in captivity and a few swans that were sacrificed for the purpose of the study. Blood smears were fixed in methanol, stained with Giemsa, and examined for presence of microfilaria. All were negative. However, as smears of swans were mostly frcm cygnets, the negative smears are not conclusive proof of non-infection, as the worms may not have been oatent at age of autopsy or the infection not sufficiently common among young birds to be detected by our sample. After examination for heart worm infection, all smears were sent to Dr. Carleton Herman, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, to examine for the occurrence of other blood parasites. Autopsies were performed on 13 sv/ans, 16 geese, 4 ducks and 1 crane (Table 23). Most of these birds were birds of the year, so that am helminthic infection would have been acquired in the breeding grounds. Three types of helminths were found: Cestodes, tnematodes and nematodes. 52 Parasites and Disease-cont'd No acanthoceohala were found. Autonslec were negative until July 11, i when a cestode war. found in the intestine of a brant gosling apnroxljTiatelv 11 days old. In a preliminary study of the collection, it anoeared that most of the cvgnets and goslings had acquired nearly the same parasites, and that there was little variety and little evidence of host soecificitv among the helminths. This lack of variety was particularly noticeable in the tapeworm collection. However, species may he similar externally and nulte different in their internal momhology. Since the latter was not visible at this stage of observation, an accurate statement must await their identification by Dr. Malcolm McDonald of the Bear piver Refuge, Utah, whc was provided with the entire collection. A single species of trematode was found in the caecum. The first was collected fron a cackling goose on July 12, and was found in each sr^ecies of bird autopsied thereafter. Another type of trematode was found commonly in the intestine of cygnets and of emperor goslings. This was not collected until August, by which time no further autopsies on the other three species of goose were performed. Its absence in those species may not indicate specificity, but rather that these birds were autopsied before the trematodes reached their intestines. Gizzard nematodes were encountered in all species of geese and in swans after July 12. Nineteen of a total of twenty seven birds (twenty three after July 12) contained nematodes. Pathology due to these worms appeared to be minimal, with the exception of that in the gizzard frcm an adult white-fronted goose. In this case, hemorrhagic areas were common. Caecal nematodes were encountered only in the cackling and the emperor goose. With the exception of a few tiny soecimens in the intestines, no other nematodes were found. 53 Table 22, Sunnary of Specimens Examined for Parasites Species Autopsied Blood Smear Only Local Adult Total Local Adult Total Swans 12 1 13 157 12 169 Geese - Black Brant 2 0 2 45 44 89 Bnperor 7 1 p 15 6 21 Cackler k 0 k 11 6 17 White-fronted 1 1 2 8 5 i q ••-J IXicks - Pintail 2 0 2 0 3 3 Spectacled Eider 0 1 1 2 0 2 Shoveler 1 0 1 n 0 0 Sandhill Crane 1 0 1 0 0 0 Total - 30 k 34 238 76 314 54 Table 23. Acquisition of Helminths by Cyfuets and Goslir^s on the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Rar^e, Alaska, Dtrrlnp- Intestinal Caecal Caecal Gizzard Species Cestodes Trematodes Trematodes Nematodes Nematodes Swan 7/4 0 0 0 0 0 7/4 0 0 0 0 0 7/5 0 0 0 0 0 7/15 30 0 0 0 4 7/24 Many 0 7 0 5 8/2 Many 94 0 0 18 8/2 Many 101 Sev. hund. 0 11 8/11 Many 235 15 0 19 8/13 Many 60 150 0 18 8/20 Many 0 78 0 23 8/27 Many 13 25 0 10 • 9/2 Many 115 60 0 0 Goose - Black Brant 7/11 I 0 0 0 0 7/12 1 0 0 0 2 Cackler 7/18 4 0 2 0 1 7/23 2 0 1 10 23 7/23 0 0 0 0 31 7/25 Sane 0 0 0 11 Snperor 7/18 3 0 0 0 0 7/20 12 0 0 0 0 7/20 7 0 0 3 0 7/21 9 0 0 2 I 7/30 Sane 0 0 31 2 8/5 Many 23 0 4 17 8/9 Many 0 74 0 13 8/11 Many 0 33 0 45 White-fronted 7/22 10 0 3 0 1 55 Survey of Waterfowl Populations and Habitats on Nelson Island Wildlife Management Study No. 4 This project was initiated in 196? with the cooperation (financial) of the bureau of Indian Affairs, whose chief Interest was the oossible conflict between waterfowl and reindeer, which went- t D be introduced (see cur 1967 Annual Report). Subsenuently, the Bureau of Land Management be- came nuch interested, both from the standooint of the waterfowl-reindeer relationship, and the high value of waterfowl habitats that had been demonstrated. As a result, the Bureau of Land Managenent assisted in the continuation of the project bv funding all flight time expended in tne 1968 surveys of the breeding population on Nelson Island. An/ever: more^important result of their interest was the considerable support the Bureau of Land Management Alaska staff provided In obtaining the with drawal of the orime Nelson Island habitats as an addition to the Clarence Rlode National Wildlife Range. Results of studies on Nelson Island in 1968 were discussed In ".he previous section, as surveys on Nelson Island are most aporopriately discussed with similar surveys on the older portions cf Clarence Rhode. The cnange to refuge status eliminates the need for separate project Identification. Reindeer have not been Introduced, and until such; time as they may be, this project will be inactive. 56 BANDING Banding operations continue to be an Important phase of the summer program. Emphasis by the refuge staff was on bandinr of known age (local or yearling) brant, whistling swan and goslings of all soecies of g^ese. Bill Unison, Dr. WlUiam Sladen, Jim Kinr and Jim Bdrtonek assisted with banding of swans. A banding crew consisting of Game Management Agents, Ray Tremblay, Keith banning. Jack Downs, Bob Preeman and Eugene V. Cofferj concentrated on white-fronted geese. A total of 3,33^ birds were banded (Table 24), 1,531 adult brant were released without bands after examination for age, sex and old bands, and Pi brant, 40 white-fronts and I cackler were released with old hands. The actual operation of catching and banding birds has become a minor portion of the banding nrogram as increased emphasis has been placed on deriving all possible benefit from the thousands of birds that are handled annually. Supplementary data collected at banding included me-asurements and/or weights of 470 white-frents, banded bv the Game Management Agent crew, all swans, 224 brant and most geese banded by the refuse staff. Blood smears were obtained from lfi2 swan, 91 brant, 21 emperors, 17 cacklers and 13 white-fronts. The data which are sunrie- mentary to nonnal banding infomatlon are discussed in other sections of this report. Sex ratios for brant were not significantly different from 1:1 ratio for locals, but differed significantly from 1:1 for yearlings and adults (p< .005), both groups having females in oreponderanee. The distortion of the sex ratio in the yearling groun has been noted in all previous vears. However, in 1967, males were more abundant than females in the adult group. The sex ratio for white-fronted geese was slightly distorted in favor of females (p> .05) for yearlings and distorted in favor of males for adults (p^.0005). We have no exnlanation for the extreme distortion In sex ratio of the adult group in either brant or white-fronted geese, as our sampling procedures were similar to those of 1967 when both yearlings and adults (white-front) were trapned in nearly 1:1 ration and adult male brant were more abundant than females. Returns of banded brant and white-fronts were most common in the site of original banding, although a few returns from both soecies were from other locations on the refuge. Foreign retrars of white-fronted geese were all (7) from the Tule^Lake national Wildlife Refuge in Cali fornia. Table 24. Waterfowl Captured for Banding In 1968 Species and Status Local AHY SY ASY M F U M F i F M P Total Pintail Banded 4 i 3 3 11 Black Brant Banded 43 32 64 144 31 194 508 Rebanded 5 11 16 Released with old bands 32 28 60 Released without bands 740 715 1455 Total Brant- 43 32 • 64 144 ' BOB m 2050 CackUng Goose Banded 37 63 20 10 9 6 30 36 189 Released with old bands 1 1 2 Total Cackler- 3? 63 ^1 10 9 6 31 37 191 Lesser Canada Goose Banded 10 1 11 Bnperor Goose Banded 44 30 10 3 1 7 95 White-fronted Goose Banded 9 8 340 390 987 604 2338 Released with old bands 1 19 39 Total White-front - 9 8 34l 390 100^ 623 2377 Whistling Swan Banded 85 82 2 6- 2 1 179 Ihe totals do not agree with listing by age and when the latter are unknown. 58 PUBLIC RELATIONS As in preceding years, the staff participated In various conmunity organizations and projects - Lions, V.F.W,, boy Scouts, Winter Carnival, Clean-up Day, etc. Assistant Refuge Manager, Hout, crave illustrated talks on the refuge program to the bethel Lions, the Bov Scouts and to the high school students during "Career Day". Generally our relations with the oublic are good - and will be until we issue the first citation for a spring shot goose. However, a nearly total lack of understanding of the refuge nrogram, or of conser vation issues of any sort, prevails in outlying villages, even those such as Mekoryuk with which we have much contact, ftn Informational pro gram able to reach all villages on or near the refuges is much needed. Even with such a program, however, progress might be negligible until the gap in culture and language between Eskimos living in remote villager and that of a modem society closes. We anticipated reaction from the pronosed withdrawal of nubile lands for new refuges, but local and Alaska-wide comment was surorisingly lignt, either pro or con. Withdrawals for new National Parks proposed at the same time did not fare as well. CXir hit of the year was a news release concerning esnolovment of Miss Barbara Holden. This eoual opportunity niece was used in newspaners in Alaska as well as in many of the smaller states. In June, Refuge Manager Lensink gave a paper at the AOU meeting neld in Fairbanks. The paper discussed censuses and populations of birds on the wildlife range with emphasis on non-game species. Another paper bv Jim King on birds of Bristol Bav was also riven by Lensink when King was unable to attend the meeting. The two papers were comnlimentary and supported a resolution, dirented to the Secretary of Interior by the AOU, which called for protection of oristoi bay from nolution as a result of Impending oil exploration, and a moratorium on any drilling until there can be assurance that no oolution could occur. A subsequent statement by Secretary Udall In reference to the bristol bay oroblem was in complete sympathy with this resolution. 59 VISITORS The "working" visitors to the refuge were acknowledged more appro priately in previous sections of this report, Many other visitors also contributed in sane manner to the refuge program. Jim Blaisdell, National Parks Service, San Francisco, visited the Wildlife Range in late May to evaluate its potential as a National Land mark. The range was subseouently designated as a Natural Landmark bv the Secretary of Interior. Wes Moholt, Game Management Agent, Moses Lake, Washington, assisted Jim King on breeding ground surveys during May and June. Rudy Stocek, a graduate student of the University of Western Ontario, collected eggs of cackling geese, in late June, to be used for studies involving ccmparative taxonomy, growth and behavior of different races of Canada geese. Abram Tunison, Deputy Director, Bureau Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Washington, D.C. and John ^tndley. Regional Director, Portland, arrived with Associate Refuge Supervisor, Dave Spencer and Game Management Agent, Ray Tremblay, for a brief inspection on July 1 and 2. Mr. Tunison pro fessed disappointment in the relatively few ducks to be seen from the air - (our breeding population is about 800,000). He admitted we had lots of geese. Delbert Neuhart, Morris Blaylock and Ed Nygard, Bureau of Indian Affairs, visited the Bethel office on several occasions, either together, or separately. All are involved with Nunivak reindeer project. Roland Doerfer, Hamburg, Germany, visited refuge headquarters on August 14, and later our field camp at Old Chevak, where he assisted on various projects for several days. John Tener, Director, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, and Dave Marshall, Regional Refuge Biologist, Portland, visited the refuge head quarters in mid-July while enroute to Nunivak to examine muskox range conditions. Will Troyer, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Anchorage, also visited while enroute to Nunivak for a preliminary review of the island's potential as a wilderness area. Jim Shaw, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Portland, conducted a housing evaluation of Bethel Quarters in September. We were prevented from showing him refuge wildlife or our "luxurious" field quarters at Old Chevak by violent weather. 60 ITEMS OF ItfTEREST S Miscellaneous Refuge Manager Lensink participated in a "Peonle to People" tour of South America during February and March, whlch^'ccmposed of veterinar ians and wildlife biologists. Biologists were in the minority, but most of the veterinarians had much experience with diseases of wild animals. Seminars were held at universities or research institutions in seven countries. Perhaps the most contrast with biological oroblems we face on our refuges was in Peru, where the hatching success at high altitudes is extremely low unless incubators are placed in a pressure chamber. Our problem is having nests destroyed by high tides. Low production in llamas and alpacas was also a concern, while we are faced with excessive oro ductlon and populations of muskox and reindeer. Assistant Manager Hout, ccmpleted flight training at Kenal and re ceived his Private Pilot license on November 13. Checkout in Bureau aircraft and qualifying for a seaolane rating will wait until the soring of 1969. Ihe refuge gets frequent requests for birds (dead and alive), eggs, mammals or their skulls. We respond to very few, usually limiting assistance to research projects which will provide information of Interest to us. This year we assisted in collection of cackler eggs for the University of Western Ontario, sent swans and eiders to the San ^rancisco Zoo and swans and emperors to Jim King. We furnished blackfish to the University of Alaska. ^The blackfish appears to be one of our most popular items, probably because of its supposed ability to survive freezing. Money A September 1968 survey by the U. S. Deoartment of Labor reoorted that the retail price index for Bethel was 185* that of Seattle, the highest of any major carmunlty in Alaska. Price Indices for other Alaska cities are: Ketchikan 1?^, Juneau 12R^, Kenai 13^, Anchorage 1?8^ and Fairbanks 138^. Prices of a few major food items at Bethel and Seattle are listed below: Food Item Seattle Price Bethel Price Bread .29 .72 Round steak (lb) 1.16 1.88 Hamburger (lb) .50 1.18 Milk 1/2 gal. .54 1.49 Ice cream 1/2 gal. .94 2.04 Butter .81 1.46 Eggs .50 .94 Apples .31 .57 Potatoes .08 .28 1 • 61 Money-cont1d The problem a housewife faces in stretching a 25% cost of living allowance to an 85? higher cost for goods and services is not much different than that faced by the Refuge Manager, In the past three years fixed costs (before anv work is accomollshed) have Increased $15,000 and now total approximatelv 80^ of our budget, which was itself cut by $2500 in fiscal year 1969. At present we have approximately $18,000 to use for maintenance of headquarters, field camps and equipment, freight, travel (a large item), temporary employees and office and field supplies. Because all refuges are remote from the head quarters or any source of supply, costs for field studies are high. To keep a man in a field carrp costs about $10 - $15 per day (excluding salary) but merely getting him there costs more than $100 by refuge aircraft and $300 by conmercial charter. It costs $5 an hour for gas to run an out board motor and $4 more for an Eskimo aide operating it. It costs $107 to ship snow machines to Mekoryuk for muskox surveys and gas to get them going about $1.05 per gallon. We didn't have funds to bring them back. We are, perhaps, one of the fev; stations that view the oroposed fiscal year 1969 salary Increases with treplditlon, as a RIF is a likely result. One refuge, Ihe Bering Sea, is the only known nesting nlace of the McKay's bunting. Nunivak contained the onlv herd of muskox in the United States until the transplant of a few animals to Nelson Island in 1967 and 1968. Sea bird colonies on Nunivak, Cane Newenham, and Bering Sea refuges are among the largest known. None of the refuge staff have visited Chamisso or the Bering Sea refuges; A comolete survey of the distribution and species composition of^waterfowl on Clarence Rhode has not been completed, nor do we have accurate figures on ponulation density for any area. Esti mates of production are little more than guesses. Sea bird colonies on Nunivak, Cape Newenham and Bering Sea refuges have been seen only when flying by or from boats off-shore. Mining, and conmercial fishing on Cane Newenham require monitoring. Range and snov; survevs on Nunivak are not conducted, although the herd of muskoxen is believed to exceed the capacity of winter range, and a number of reindeer starved in the winter of 68-69. Two Eskimo villages on Clarence Rhode have never been visited and another was visited only once - to borrow a winch for the National Guard. Spring hunting of geese on the delta exceeds the legal kill in all of Alaska and molting flocks of ducks and geese on the Wildlife Range are still driven to shore and clubbed during summer. Exploration for oil proceeds In Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea and the threat of polution faces one of the world's richest faunal envlrorments. Consequences of the Torrey Canyon or Santa Barbara spills would be insignificant conpared to that of spill in Bristol Bay, but we can make only crude estimates of the number of species and individuals that might be affected or their distribution. We can feel that the title of the Bureau's prize winning film accurately describes our situation - "SO LUTLE TIME" (AND MONEY). APPENDIX vl Draft Copy WILDERNESS STUDY REPORT , CHAMISSO WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (Chamisso National Wildlife Reguge) Kotzebue Sound, Alaska By Will Troyer U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Soort Fisheries & Wildlife LNTRODUCTION The Chamisso National Wildlife Refuge was established by Executive Order #1658 on December 12, 1912, as a. oreserve and breeding ground for birds. The area Is relatively remote, but is accessible bv air and boat frcm Kotzebue and provides a nesting area for large colonies of murres, homed puffins, black-legged kittiwakes and other species. It receives little use by man and is primarily proposed for Wilderness review because of its natural state and scientific values. HISTORY Chamisso Island was discovered August 3, 1815, by the Russian explorer. Otto von Kotzebue, who ccrrmanded the vessel Rurik. Aboard the vessel was the scientist of the expedition, Louis Adelbert von Chamisso, for whan the Island was named. The Island was probably occupied or at least used by prehistoric man. Recent historical native use is quite evident. The flat sand spit on the eastern side of the island has numerous deoresslons remaining from barabaras. * A weather-worn marker in the form of a 2nxl2" plank still exists in an upright position in the rock formation at the center of Chamisso Island. Initials or names of several individuals are still legible, but what appears to be the name of a ship and date are not readable. Whether this was an exploratory party leaving a marker is not known, but it orobably was left by a Coast and Ceodetic Survey team. A deoression similar in form to a stone lamp is chipped into one of the rocks at the sane location, but appears of recent origin. LOCATION The Chamisso National Wildlife Refuge is located in Kotzebue Sound at the mouth of Eschscholtz Bay in latitude 66013,N, longitude l6l052,W, It lies approximately 65 miles south of Kotzebue, Alaska, a village of about 1,200 Inhabitants serviced by scheduled airline. PHYSICAL CHAPACTERISTICS Chamisso Island is approximately one mile wide and a little more than a mile in length. Puffin Island is less than ten acres in size. A few sharp rocky Islets are also located in the vicinity makir^ the total refuge 6^1 acres. Most of the refuge is sandstone with same shale and granite covered with a thin layer of soil* The edges of Puffin Island are extremelv precipitous. The eastern portion of Chamisso Island is a sand spit but the remainder of the island shoreline consists of sandy coves and rocky points with several fairly steep cliffs. The island terrain slooes from all sides to the 246-foot elevation center. This gradual even slope gives one the feelinr of standing on a large balloon. Only at the very center is the even terrain broken by a rock outcropping. Apparently, this is the result of volcanic action. Ihe vegetation cover is a tundra of crowberry, cranberry, Labrador tea, bearberry, sedges, bog birch, mosses, lichens, and short willow. In a few of the draws near shoreline are alder shrubs which reach heichts of 12-15 feet. The climate is arctic with long., cold winters, short, cool summers, and little precipitation. RESOURCES Birds. The featured attraction of Chamisso are the sea bird colonies. The major rookeries are located on Puffin Island. I was unable to get on this island, but with the aid of a spotting scope, large colonies of puffins, murres, and black-legged kittiwakes were visible. In fact, the island appears literally covered with these birds, numoering many thousand. The homed puffin is the most numerous of all birds. Tufted puffins are also present, but comprise less than 5 percent of the total puffin population. Both the thick-billed and common murres were abundant. Again, the major rookeries were on Puffin Island; however, one small colony was found on the southwest shore of Chamisso Island. A colony of glaucous gulls also nested on Chamisso Island. The Savannah sparrow was the cannon passerine seen while the wheatear and yellow wagtail were the most unusual. Pollowing is a list of the birds identified while on the island during July 27 and 28, Blrds-cont'd Species Remarks Red-throated loon 1 bird Pintail About 20 near shore Pacific eider A number with downv young Red-breasted merganser About 20 Surf scoter About 150 offshore Sandhill crane 3 flying over Western sandpiper A few Seml-palmated sandpioer A few Glaucous gull Small colony Black-legged kittiwake Large colony Arctic tern Saw one Common murre Large colonies present Thick-billed murre Most abundant murre Homed puffin Most abundant bird on refuge Tufted puffin About 5% of all puffins Raven One on sand spit Wheatear Several pairs Yellow wagtail Saw 2 Water pipit Saw 6 Comnon redpoll Comnon Savannah sparrow Very conmon Tree sparrow Very common Pox sparrow A few Lapland A few Dr. Ira N. Gabrieison visited the refuge in July, 1946. In addition to the birds I saw, he identified the following species. Pelagic cormorant King eider Surfbird Wilson's snioe Short-billed gull Say^ phcebe Gambel's sparrow ?ioary redpoll Snow bunting The remains of a willow ptarmigan were found, indicating thev occasionally get on the island during winter months. Mammals. Harbor seals use the rocks between Puffin and Chamisso Island for hauling out. No other manmals were seen, but signs indicated arctic hare and fox were residents during part of the year. Daring the winter months when the bay is frozen, land mammals could easily cross to the island from the mainland. Resources-cont1d Fish. Any fish on the refuge would be those found in saltwater surrounding the islands, as there are no freshv;ater nonds. Timber, Grassland and Shrub. The vegetation has already been de- scribed and there is none of significant conmercial value. Mineral. No minerals have been reported in the area and it is doubt ful whether any occur on the refuge. The refuge is so small that even if valuable minerals were oresent they would not be of major commercial Importance. Recreation. Except for the attraction of the large bird colonies to photographers and bird watchers, the area crobablv has little recreational value. Since the town of Kotzebue has a major tourist industry, a tour of the refuge for bird observations may very well become part of the tourist program in the future. The area is accessible by boat and light planes may be landed on the waters on the leeward side of Chamisso Island. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSIDERATION Ihe Chamisso Refuse harbors the only extensive colonies of birds in this portion of Alaska. Natives from Kotzebue often travel here in the spring to collect eggs. Aoparentlv this has not had a long range detrimental effect on the birds. The island is so small and distant from human pooulations that the general public will show little concern whether it is placed in the Wilderness System or not. Currently no uses of the area are made bv people which would conflict with wildernes. DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT No develonment or management of any type is planned. The islands serve their objective as an undisturbed sanctuary. SlFW.py AND CONCLUSIONS 1. The 64l-acre Chamisso National Wildlife Refupr.e consists of Chamisso Island, the smaller Puffin Island, and a few rock outcroppings. Chamisso is covered with a tundra vegetation. The rocky ledges of the islands harbor large colonies of murres, puffins and kittiwakes. 2. Located 65 miles south of Kotzebue, Alaska, and established as a bird reservation in 1912, it harbors the only large seabird colonies in this part of Alaska. 3. Because of its natural state and scientific values it is recomnended for Inclusion in the National Wilderness System. Submitted by Refuge Manager Date Approved by Hefuge Supervisor Date ; wc - ^ ^ T W . < / / -^ ± L/ ;late Refuse S Associate Refuge Supervisor Date /^T PHOTOGRAPHS Cygnets only a few days old appeared to be quite contented with their new existence . . . . . . not anticipating the frequent measuring routine they would endure or the sharp needle used to sample their blood. Photo by J.L. Hout X Photo by J. L. Hout Later in the season they were weighed and stuck again, . . . (Bill Emlson and Eddie Kootuk) . • • and even had black die mess up all their neck feathers. ensink Photo by C.J. Lensink Game Management Agents were serious about their banding duties, . . . • • . but sometimes one would crack a funny Trembaly didn't get It. .L. Hout Photo by J.L. Hout Jim Bartonek visited the Wildlife Range to assist with spring censuses and fall banding of swans. Here he examine a collection of shells the remalndlng after depredation of nests by gulls. Green-winged teal are abundant, but are rarely observed during aerial surveys. Photo by J.L. Hout Photo by J.L. Hout