BRANCH OF WILDLIFS REFUGES NARRATIVE REPORTS

MRo SALTER MISS BAUl

MRo GRIFFITH

Operations im niyyiyr HE^DUMONT-^

Land Management

MR® ACKERKNECOT DR® KORLET

Habitat Improvement

MR® KUBICHEK ______MR® STILES

Stenographers

REFUGE isfcuem. PERIOD J^JLzQfR 19SS TABLE OF CONTENTS I.

Page I. GENERAL 1 A. Weather Conditions 1 B# Water Conditions 1 C. Fires 1 II. WILDLIFE 1 A. Migratory Birds 1 B. Upland Game Birds 2 C. Big Game Animals 3 D. Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents and other Mammals 3 E. Predaceous Birds 3 E. Fish 3 III REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE 3 A. Physical Development 3 B. Plantings 3 C. Collections 4 D. Receipts of Seed and Nursery Stock 4 IV ECONOMIC USE OF THE REFUGE V. 4 A. Grazing 4 B. Haying 4 C. Fur Harvest 4 D. Timber Removal 4 E. Other Uses 4 VI PUBLIC RELATIONS 4 A. Recreational Use 4 B. Refuge Visitors 4 C. Refuge Participation 5 D. Hunting 5 E. Fishing 5 F. Violations 5 VTI OTHER ITEMS 5 A, Items of Interest 5 B. Photographs Kirwin Wildlife Kanagement Area Narrative Report January, February, March, April

I GENERAL

Weather Conditions. The weather record^, as compiled by the Kirwin office of the Bureau of Reclamation, follow.

Month Snowfall Precipitation Max. Temp. Min. Temp. Jan. 7.25" 55 4 Feb. 8.00" .70 51 -8 March 2.00" .16 77 2 April - .10 92 27 Total precipitation for the period - 1.58". Maximum temperature 92. Minimum temperature -8. The 61 year precipitation averages are: January, 039"; February, 0.68"; March, 0.98"; April, 2.32". The precipitation for the period is 2,79" below normal. Very dry conditions exist as of the end of the period.

Water Conditions. As of April 26, the water storage in the Kirwin Reservoir was 462 acre feet. This amounts to a surface area of 145 acres. Most of the storage however is contained in the channels of the Soloman River and Bow Creek. The final closure of the diversion channel through the dam em­ bankment began in February. It is estimated that this closure will be completed sometime in July, The outlet works intake structure is provided with a low level 4lx4, sluice gate through which release of water can be made during the period of filling the dead storage pool. Releases from the reservoir were made almost immediately after closure as the sill elevation of the temporary bypass is at elevation 1670.01, or about 5' above the river bed level. The fifteen 5lx5, sluice gates in the spillway structure will be left open until the dam embankment is completed. The sills of these gates are at elevation 1720.0'. Flood water will be stored up to this elevation. The elevation of the water storage in the reservoir stands at 1678.3' as of the 26th of April. It will be held at or near this elevation until the closure is complete.

Fires, None

II WILDLIFE

Migratory Birds. 1. Population and Behavior. a. Waterfowl, Other Waterblrds & Shorebirds. On February 9 mixed flock of 85 mallards and pintails were noted at the west 2

end of the Soloman arm of the refuge. As no waterfowl wintered in the vicinit;/- of the refuge it is believed these birds were from the wintering population at Harlan County Reservoir, approximately 25 miles north. The estimated January waterfowl concentration at the Harlan County Reservoir was 35,000 mallards, 1,000 mergansers (no species given), a few pintails, green- winged teal, gadwall, goldeneye and 5S to 100 Canada geese. The first migrants noted were 2 large flights of approx­ imately 500 mixed mallards and pintails each, observed on the Management Area on March 2. The first blue-winged teal noted this spring were in a mixed flight with mallards, pintails seen on March 4. Green-winged teal appeared about the same time, March 7. Baldpates and gadwall made their appearance shortly after and the divers, canvasbacks, redheads and ring-necked ducks appeared around the 20th of the month, staying with us until the end of the month. As of the end of the period, only a few gadwall, aallards, and shovellers remained. On the 3rd of March 50 Canada geese were observed feeding for a short time in com stubble on Unit 6. These were the only geese observed this period. Sandhill cranes were first observed on March 4. Twenty-two of these birds were seen feeding in com stubble in Unit 3. The last flight of cranes was noted on April 17. A small number of coots have been noted on the refuge throughout the winter and were present at the close of the period,

b. Mourning Doves. A few mourning doves remained on the area throughout the winter. The migrants began arriving about the 1st of April and the first cooing was heard on the 6th of April.

2. Food and Cover. a. Waterfowl, Other Waterbirds and Shorebirds. Green wheat and barley was available but was not utilized. Some com left in the fields was utilized by waterfowl and sandhill cranes.

b. Mourning Doves. Adequate feed was available for the limited number of doves present this period,

3. Botulism. No known losses in this area.

4. Lead Poisening. No known losses in this area.

Upland Game B irds. 1. Population and Behavior. a. Ring-necked Pheasant. No losses were attributed to adverse weather conditions as this has been a mild winter. Nesting started about the first of April and young were noted the last few days in the month.

b. Bob-white Quail. No winter loss due to adverse weather. The quail have paired off but no nesting activity has been noted.

2. Food and Cover. The snowfall this year has not stayed on the ground long enough nor was it heavy enough to impart any, parti­ cular hardship on the birds as far as food and cover was con­ cerned. Food and Cover have not been a problem this period. Lack of moisture this soring may prove a decimating factor in this year's hatch of both pheasants and quail,

3. Disease. No known losses.

C. Big Game Animals. No notes for the period.

D. Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents and other Mammals. Racoons, skunks, opposums, jack and cottontail rabbits have been observed during the period. Mink and muskrats are known to be present but have not been observed b^ refuge personnel. Prairie dogs are prev­ alent and will require some control.

E. Predaceous Birds. Great horned owls, Swainsons and Red-tailed hawks are common and Marsh and Sparrow hawks abundant. Crows have been common through the latter half of the period and a few magpies have been present.

F. Fish. No notes for the period.

Ill ! REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

A. Physical Development. 1. Boundary fencing, ij miles. 2. One grain bin erected. 3. Boundary posting, approximately 27 miles. 4. Wareyard constructed. 5. Approximately 6 miles of telephone line removed. 6. Approximately 9 miles of fence removed. 7. Excavation work at the headquarters site completed. The following farming equipment vras received during the period. Grain drill, disc harrow, spike-tooth harrow, and Minneapolis Moline UB tractor.

B. Plantings. 1, Aquatic and Marsh Plants. None

2. Trees and shrubs. None

3. Upland herbaceous plants. None

4. Cultivated Crops. The Economic Use plan for the Management Area has been approved and 12 cooperative agreements were issued. Much of the spring plowing was completed bv the cooperat- ors in preparation for planting spring crops and for summer fallowing for wheat. The wheat and barley planted last fall is in dire need of 4

moisture. Some wheat and barlev less than a foot above ground, is heading out.

C. Collfections. 1, Seed or other Propagules. None, f 2, Specimens. None

D, Receipts of Seed and Nursery Stock. Four thousand pounds of Buffalo alfalfa and 420 pounds of alta fescue seed were received in January, Nine hundred pounds of Siberian millet seed was purchased locally. This millet was grown on refuge lands and produced a very heavy seed crop. Two hundred pounds of Birdfoot Trefoil and 250 pounds of Ladino clover were received during the period. All seed received appeared to be in good condition and is stored in one of the refuge grain bins.

IV ECONOMIC USE OF THE REFUGE

A. Grazing. None

B. Haying. None

C. Fur Harvest. None

D. Timber Removal. None

E. Other Uses. None

VI PUBLIC RELATIONS

A, Recreational Use. The Recreational Development Plan has been approved but no funds have alloted this fiscal year for this type of development. Little or no recreational use was made of the Management Area this period other than small amount of fishing in April.

B, Refuge Visitors.

Date Name Purpose

2/9/55 Gorman Larson, Missouri River Basin Courtesy Call Studies, Grand Island, Neb. 2/9/55 Arthur Hale, Fishery Biologist, River Courtesy Call Basin Studies, Grand Island Neb. 2/15/55 Dean Schacterle, U.S. Bureau of Recla­ Courtesy Call mation, Agronomist, McCook, Neb. 2/17/55 Roy Schonover, Kansas Fish and Game Courtesy Call Fisheries Biologist, Pratt, Kansas 2/17/55 Arthur Hale, Fishery Biologist, River Courtesy Call B asin Studies, Grand Island, Neb. 3/3/55 Roy Keefer, Kansas Fish and Game Warden Courtesy Call 5

Refuge Participation. The Refuge Manager gave talks concerning the refuge program to the following service clubs. Phillips- burg Rotary, January 11; Smith Center Lions Club, January 13; and Stockton Rotary Club, April 12. Items concerning different phases of the refuge program were given to the local newspapers and items concerning general wildlife conservation we e given to the Kirwin School paper.

Hunting. None.

Fishing. Very little water in the Soloman River or Bow Creek and fishing has been fair to poor. Catches of small numbers of catfish, bullheads and carp have been reported during April.

Violations. No cases.

VII OTHER ITEMS

Items of Interest. Mrs. Marguerite Reid, residing in Smith Center, reported for duty at this station as Clerk-typist on January 10. Mr. Kenneth George reported for duty at this station as refuge maintenance man, general, on January 24. Mr. George lives in Phi Hips burg. Four 0 and MLaborers were hired on the 28th of February, Bid invitations for the construction of a service building and residence were distributed and to be opened the 20th of April. The opening date was extended to the 4th of May. The Kirwin Dam, a 19 million dollar Reclamation project is approximately 98 % complete. The spillway was completed in April and the final closure is up to the 17201 elevation.- The dam is expected to be completed by July 1, Dedication cere­ monies are to be held on June 10. Respectfully submitted:

/ n. ^ t} ;:/•: - a e Gerald E, Duncan' Refuge Manager

Approved: jy^Wsr/ Date , ^Lssistant Eegipnai Director 3-1750 ( Form NR-1 (Rev. March 1953) WATERFOWL January REFUGE Klrwin National Wildlife Kanagemoit Area MONTHS OF TO , 19 55

(2) Weeks of reporting period (1) Species 1 8 : 10 Swans: Whistling Trumpeter Geese: Canada 50 Cackling Brant White-fronted Snow Blue Other Ducks; Mallard 45 56 56 Black Gadwall 70 70 Baldpate 14 14 40 329 329 Pintail Green-winged teal Blue-winged teal 16a 168 Cinnamon teal Shoveler Wood 56 56 Redhead Ring-necked a4 84 Canvasback Scaup Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy- Other

Coot: 3*1753* (continuation sheet) r Foto SH-I V A TE HFOWL (Her* Kerch 1953) May IOHTH OF January TO ]1955 ft -maK Kirvdn National VJildltfe Mgfc. Area foial Water- foul Use (1) W E E S 5 Of RIFO&TIBGPERIO0 Species i4_» H 1^3 ? lif t ii-i zin ii ii li: "wans: Whistling Trurapeter

Geese> Canada 50 Cackling Brant White-fronted 5>now Blue Other

Duckst "Hard 1053 56 840 KUkok Gadwall 315 B Idpate 70 105 252 210 Pintail U 7747 Green-winged teal 329 6720 210 Blue-winged teal 210 336 Cinnamon teal Shoreler Wood Redhead 938 56 525 245 Ring-necked 84 462 CanTasbaek 210 770 Scaup 525 245 Goldeneye Buffiahead Ruddy 42 Other 42

''ootj 100 100 60 60 60 80 460 3-1751 L 8 i c Form NR-1A MIGRATORY BIRDS (Nov. 1945) t *--L{0'ther than waterfowl) 3 Months otJmmX. to....HP* 195?.

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Species First Seen Peak Numbers Last Seen Production Total Number Total # Total Estimated Common Name Number Date Number Date Number Date Colonies Nests Young; Number

I, Water and Marsh Birds:

None observed

II. Shorebirds. Gulls and Terns:

Killdeer 2 U/U/55 12 4/30 12

•

(over) (JLJ (2) (4) 15) (6)

III. Doves and Pigeons Mourning dove 4/4 50 4/30 50 White-winged dove

IV. Predaceous Birds: Golden eagle Duck hawk Horned owl Resident 15 Magpie Raven Crow

--&wuL"d E»" Duneah"|""jtefiige "Manage*1

INSTRUCTIONS (1) Species: Use the correct names as found in the A.O.U. Checklist, 1931 Edition, and list group in A.O.U. order. Avoid general terms as "seagull", "tern", etc. In addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appro­ priate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and National significance. Groups: I. Water and Marsh Birds (Gaviiformes to Ciconiiformes and Gruiiformes) II. Shorebirds. Gulls and Terns (Charadriiformes) III. Doves and Pigeons (Columbiformes) IV. Predaceous Birds (Falconiformes, Strigiformes and predaceous Passeriformes) (2) First Seen: The first refuge record for the species for the season concerned.

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

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

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

(6) Total: Estimated total number of the species using the refuge during the period concerned. INT.-DUP. SEC.. WASH., D.C. 9870 3-1752 Form NR-2 UPLAND GAME BIRDS (April 1946) Refuge Kirwin National Wildlife Mgt, AreaMonths of January to May ,

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Species Density Young Sex Removals Total Remarks Produced Ratio

Estimated Acres number Pertinent information not Cover types, total per using specifioally requested. Common Name acreage of habitat Bird Percentage Refuge List introductions here. stocking For For Re­ Total Hunting obs'v'd. Research Number broods Estimated

Ring-necked Short grass pralrl* » 54 200 Estimated number from ob­ Pheasant Agriculture lands servations throughout the and waste land. period. 10,800 acres

Bob-white Quail Same as for pheasant 27 400 Estimated number from covies flushed.

- r r INSTRUCTIONS

Form NR-2 - UPLAND GAME BIRDS,*

(1) SPECIES; Use correct common name.

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

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

U) SEX RATIO: This column applies primarily to wild turkey, pheasants, etc. Include data on other species if available.

(5) REMOVALS: Indicate total number in each category removed during the report period.

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

(7) REMARKS: Indicate method used to determine population and area covered in survey. Also include other pertinent information not specifically requested.

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

1613 3-1754 SMALL MAMMALS Form NR-4 (June 1945) Refuge Kirwin National Wildlife Kgt» Area Year ending April 30, ^955

(1) (2) (3) (U) (5) Species Density Removals Disposition of Birs Total © tl Slaare Trapping © •f> Popula­ u sC O «H , % to MS d « © -H A o >> Cover Types & Total Acres o « © n o tion *> O © rH u Per u t © a f-t o Permit a A <*} © © ,0 s s aJ to A © Comnon Name Acreage of Habitat Animal ^ o Number o ri I as Ah O Ah a AH © EH £H I

Stripedl Skunk Coimnon

Raccoon Common Badger Common

Coyote Uncommon

HLacktall Prair .e Dog AbundwUt

Eastern Gray Ssfldrrel Cosoncm

Eastern Pox Squ .rrel Common

Eastern Cottont^l Abundant

Black-tailed Jack Rabbit Abundant

• List removals by Predator Animal Hunter

REMARKS:

Mo population studies made to date* INSTRUCTIONS

Form NR-U - SMALL MAMMALS (Include data on all species of importance in the management program; i. muskrats, "beaver, coon, mink, coyote. Data on small rodents may "be omitted except for estimated total population of each species considered in control operations.)

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

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

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

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

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

REMARKS: Indicate inventory method(s) used, size of sample area(8), introductions, and any other pertinent information not specifically requested. ngoo? 3-1755 Form MR-5 DISEASE ( 60701 Klrwin Natlcgial Wildlife Mgt. Area Tear 19. 55

Botulism Lead Poisoning or other Disease

Period of outbreak Kind of disease

Period of heaviest losses Species affected_

Losses: Number Affected Actual Count Estimated Species Actual Count Estimated (a) Waterfowl (b) Shorebirds (c) Other

Number Hospitalized No, Recovered % Recovered Number Recovered_

(a) Waterfowl Number lost (b) Shorebirds (c) Other Source of infection^

Areas affected (location and approximate acreage) Water conditions

Water conditions (average depth of water in sickness areas9 reflooding of exposed flats,etc. Food conditions

Condition of vegetation and invertebrate life< Remarks

Remarks ITo known losses