I 49. 44/2: R 82/3/993 P RLE Wildlife Ruby lake NatillntllWildlife Refuge

ZIMMERMAN LIBRARY UNIV. OF NEW MEXteo FEB 1 0 1994

U.S. Regional Depos1to A Refuge for Nesting and Migrating Waterfowl and Other Wildlife The Habitat

Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in The refuge, at an elevation of 6,000 feet, consists of an 1938. It encompasses 37,632 acres at the south end of extensive bulrush marsh interspersed with pockets of Ruby Valley. This land was once covered by a 200 foot open water. Fish are abundant. Islands scattered deep, 300,800-acre lake known as Franklin Lake. Today throughout provide good nesting habitat for many bird 12,000 acres of marsh remain on the refuge. Just north of species. the refuge, a 15,000-acre seasonal wetland is now referred to as Franklin Lake. Over 200 springs flow into the marsh along its west border _...)/ creating riparian habitat which is used by many songbirds, To Elko �� and Welle snipe, rail and small . They also provide a water FRANKLIN source for larger mammals. With slight increases in LAKE elevation, wet meadows gradate into grasslands and sagebrush-rabbitbrush habitat.

Pinon pines and juniper cover the slopes of the Ruby Mountains that rise to 11,000 feet along the west side of the refuge. Canyons provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. Rock cliffs provide raptors with nesting and perching sites. A mountainside of dead trees, home for ROAD cavity dwelling birds, was the result of a 1979 wildfire.

BRESSMAN CABIN LOOP

MAIN BOAT LANDING -4,__,,� ·�I! I N

� 0 3 Miles

0 2 4 Kilometer� RANCH dead pinon tree General Key BIRDS

bam ,wallow � Season 6 The following bird list includes 207 species observed on Sp - Spring (March through May) or near the refuge. In addition, 23 species are listed as S - Summer (June through August) accidentals because they have only been observed once or F - Fall (September through November) twice in the area. Species known to nest locally (*) are W - Winter (December through February) identified ..

Bird life can be seen throughout all the habitat types, Abundance from the valley floor to the mountain peaks. The refuge is a - abundant (likely to be seen in large numbers) a significant waterfowl area in providing a� im­ c - common (usually seen in proper habitat) portant feeding and resting stop in the Pacific Flyway. u - uncommon (seen regularly in small numbers) o - occasional (irregular occurrence) During summer, the marshes provide excellent habitat r - rare (rarely seen) for nesting canvasbacks and redheads along with several ? - species speculated to exist in area colonial nesters-the white-faced ibis, the great blue h - mammal species historically reported (prior to 1940) heron, and the black-crowned night heron. Greater sand­ hill cranes nest along the marsh's edge. Trumpeter swans were introduced into the valley from resulting in several pairs nesting on the refuge each year. Prairie Habitat falcons nest locally and forage on the refuge. The following symbols are used to indicate in which hab­ itats each wildlife species would most likely be found. It is important to remember that use of an area depends on the season and an 's activity, especially for Common names and taxonomic order follow the 6th birds that are highly mobile. edition of the "A.0.U. Checklist of North American Birds" (1983). 1 - Marsh 2 - Riparian 3 - Flowing Water/Collection Ditch 4 - Wet Meadows 5 - Grasslands 6 - Sagebrush/Rabbitbrush 7 - Pinon/Juniper 8 - Canyons 9 - Rocky Areas/Cliffs 10 - Caves 11 - Buildings 12 - Widespread

I Threatened/Endangered Species I > Introduced Species *Bird species known to nest locally

sparse vegetation COMMON NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT Sp s F w

LOONS OSPREY, KITES, EAGLES AND HAWKS Common Loon ················· Osprey ...... 1 r I Bald Eagle ! ...... 12 0 0 GREBES * Northern Harrier ...... 12 C C C C * Pied-billed Grebe ...... C C C u * Sharp-shinned Hawk ...... 2 0 0 0 Horned Grebe ...... 0 0 * Cooper's Hawk ...... 2 0 0 0 * Eared Grebe ··················· C C C u Northern Goshawk ...... 2 0 * Western Grebe ...... r u .,. * Swainson's Hawk ...... 5,6 0 0 0 0 Clark's Grebe ...... u u * Red-tailed Hawk ...... 12 C C C 0 * Ferruginous Hawk ...... 5,6 0 0 0 0 PELICANS AND CORMORANTS Rough-legged Hawk ...... 5,6 C 0 C C American White Pelican ...... 1 0 u u * Golden Eagle ·················· 5,9 u u u 0 . Double-crested Cormorant ...... 1 u u u FALCONS BITIERNS, HERONS AND EGRETS * American Kestrel ...... 5 C C C * American Bittern ··············· 1 C C C >l Peregrine Falcon !...... 8,9 * Great Blue Heron ...... 1 C C C C * Prairie Falcon ·················· 5,9 u u * Great Egret ...... 1 r 0 * Snowy Egret ...... 1 C C u GALLINACEOUS BIRDS Cattle Egret ...... 5 r >* Gray Partridge ...... 5 * Black-crowned Night-Heron ..... 1 C C C 0 >* Chukar ...... 8 r Green-backed Heron ...... 1,2 r * Blue Grouse ...... 7 r u u * Sage Grouse ...... 5,6 C C C C IBIS AND SPOONBILLS * White-faced Ibis ...... 1,4 C a C RAILS * Virginia Rail ...... u u u WATERFOWL * Sora ·························· u u Tundra Swan ...... 1 u C C * Common Moorhen ...... r r * Trumpeter Swan ...... 1 u u u u * American Coot ...... a a a C Greater White-fronted Goose ..... 1 0 0 Snow Goose ...... 1 0 CRANES * Canada Goose ...... 1,4 C C C C * Sandhill Crane ...... 4,5 C C u Wood Duck ...... 3,2 u Green-winged Teal ...... 1 C a C PLOVERS * Mallard ························ 1 a a a C Black-bellied Plover ············ 1 * Northern Pintail ...... 1 C u a C * Killdeer ...... 4,5 C C C r * Blue-winged Teal ...... ······· 1 u u u * Cinnamon Teal ...... 1 a a C u STILTS AND AVOCETS * Northern Shoveler ...... 1 C C C u * Black-necked Stilt ·············· 0 C u * Gadwall ...... 1 a a a C * American Avocet ...... 0 C u * American Wigeon ...... 1 C u C C * Canvasback ...... 1 a a a u SHOREBIRDS * Redhead ...... 1 a a a u Greater Yellowlegs ...... 1 0 0 * Ring-necked Duck ...... 1 C u u C Lesser Yellowlegs ...... 1 u u * Lesser Scaup ...... 1 C C C C Solitary Sandpiper ...... 1 C C Common Goldeneye ...... 1 u u C *Willet ...... 4,5 C C u Barrow's Goldeneye ...... 1 r r * Spotted Sandpiper ...... 1 C C C Bufflehead ...... 1 u C C * Long-billed Curlew ...... 4,5 C C Hooded Merganser ...... 1 0 0 0 Least Sandpiper ...... 1 C C C Common Merganser ...... 1 u u u Long-billed Dowitcher ...... 1 0 u 0 Red-breasted Merganser ...... 1 r r r Western Sandpiper ...... 1 * Ruddy Duck ...... 1 C C C u Marbled Godwit ...... 1,4 VULTURES * Turkey Vulture ...... 5 C C u /7,. : Bfack-necked SW!4 COMMON NAME HABITAT Sp F w COMMON NAME HABITAT Sp s F w

SNIPE LARKS * Common Snipe ...... 1,2 u C u u * Horned Lark ...... 5 C C C C PHALAROPES SWALLOWS * Wilson's Phalarope ...... 0 0 0 * Tree Swallow ...... 2,7 C a a Red-necked Phalarope ...... 0 0 * Violet-green Swallow ...... 7,9 C a a * Northern Rough-winged Swallow 11,9 C C GULLS AND TERNS Bank Swallow ...... 11,6 C C C Franklin's Gull ...... 0 0 0 * Cliff Swallow ...... 11,9 a a a Ring-billed Gull ...... 0 0 u * Barn Swallow ...... 11 C C C Gull ...... 0 0 0 Caspian Tern ...... 0 u 0 JAYS, MAGPIES AND CROWS * Forster's Tern ...... C C u * Scrub Jay ...... 7 u u u * Black Tern ...... C C u * Pinyan Jay ...... 7 u u u C 0 0 DOVES * Clark's Nutcracker ...... 7 0 0 * Black-billed Magpie 12 C C C C Rock Dove ...... 11 0 ...... * American Crow ...... 12 0 u u 0 * Mourning Dove ...... 7,5 a C a * Common Raven ...... 12 C C C C OWLS CHICKADEES AND TITMICE * ··············· 2 C C C C * ...... 5,6 u u u Black-capped Chickadee ...... 8,2 0 * Long-eared Owl' ...... 7,2 u u u * Mountain Chickadee ...... 2,8 u u u C * Short-earedOwl ...... 5,6 C C C * Plain Titmouse ...... 7 C C C C * NorthernSaw-whet Owl ...... 7 u u u BUSH TI TS GOATSUCKERS * Bushtit ...... 7 C C C C * Common Nighthawk...... 12 C C u * Common Poorwill ...... 7,6 u u u NU THATCHES * Red-breasted Nuthatch ...... 7 C C C SWIFTS * White-throated Swift ...... 8,9 u u u CREEPERS * Brown Creeper ...... ······ 7,2 u u u HUMMINGBIRDS * Black-chinned Hummingbird ...... 8,5 u u u WRENS * Calliope Hummingbird ...... 2,8 u u u * Rock Wren ...... 9 u u u * Broad-tailed Hummingbird ...... 2,5 u u u * Canyon Wren ...... 8,9 u u u r C C Rufous Hummingbird ...... 2,5 u * House Wren ...... 2,4 C C C KINGFISHERS * Marsh Wren ...... 1 a a a u * Belted Kingfisher ...... 2 u u u u DIPPERS WOODPECKERS American Dipper ...... 2,3 0 0 0 0 * Lewis' Woodpecker ...... 7,8 u C u Red-naped Sapsucker ...... 2 0 0 0 KINGLE T$, BLUEBIRDS AND THRUSHES * Downy Woodpecker ...... 2,7 u u u u Golden-crowned Kinglet ...... 7 u u u * HairyWoodpecker ...... 2,7 u u u u Ruby-crowned Kinglet ...... 7,2 u u u * Northern Flicker ...... 5,7 C C C u * Mountain Bluebird ...... 5 C u C * Townsend's Solitaire ...... 7,3 u u u u FLYCATCHERS Veery ...... 8,2 C * Olive-sided Flycatcher ...... 2,7 u Swainson's Thrush ...... 2,4 u u u * Western Wood-Pewee ...... 2 u u Hermit Thrush ...... 2,7 0 0 0 * Willow Flycatcher ...... 2,8 C * American Robin ...... 12 C C C 0 * Hammond's Flycatcher ...... 7 u • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ...... 7 r * Dusky Flycatcher ...... 6,2 C C C * Gri!y Flycatcher ...... 7,6 u u u MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS • Cordilleran Flycatcher ...... 2,8 u u Gray Catbird ...... 2 0 0 0 • Say's Phoebe ············...... 8,9 C C C Northern Mockingbird ...... 11,2 u * Ash-throated Flycatcher ...... 5,6 u u u .I * Sage Thrasher ...... 5,6 u u u * Western Kingbird ...... 5,6 C C C WAG TAILS AND PIPITS American Pipit ...... 4,5 COMMON NAME HABITAT Sp s F w COMMON NAME HABITAT Sp s F w

WAXWINGS BLACKBIRDS, MEADOWLARKS AND ORIOLES Cedar Waxwing ...... 2 0 0 0 0 * Red-winged Blackbird ...... 1,4 u a a u * Western Meadowlark .....······ 5 C a a u SHRIKES * Yellow-headed Blackbird ...... 1 a a C Northern Shrike ...... 7 0 * Brewer's Blackbird ...... 12 C C C * Loggerhead Shrike ...... 5,6 0 0 0 Great-tailed Grackle ...... 4,5 r r * Brown-headed Cowbird ...... 12 C C C STARLINGS AND MYNAS * Northern Oriole ...... 2 u u u * European Starling ...... 12 C C C 0 FINCHES VIREOS Rosy Finch ...... 5,6 u Solitary Vireo ...... 2 u u u * Cassin's Finch ...... 7 u u u Warbling Vireo ...... 2 u u u * House Finch ...... 5,6 C C C Red-eyed Vireo ...... 2 r * Pine Siskin ...... 7 C C u Lesser Goldfinch ...... 5,2 0 0 WARBLERS * American Goldfinch ...... 5 u u u Orange-crowned Warbler 2 u u u Evening Grosbeak ...... 2,7 0 0 0 * Virginia's Warbler ...... 8,7 u u u * Yellow Warbler ...... 2 C C C WEAVER FINCHES * Yellow-rumped Warbler ...... 2 C C C House Sparrow ...... 11 0 0 0 * Black-throated Gray Warbler ..... 8,6 u u u Northern Waterthrush ...... 4,2 r * MacGillivray's Warbler ...... 2 u u u * Common Yellowthroat ...... 1,2 u C u * Wilson's Warbler ...... 2 u u u * Yellow-breasted Chat ...... 2 0 0 0 Accidentals TANAGERS Western Tanager ...... 7 u u u

GROSBEAKS AND BUNTINGS Least Bittern Black-headed Grosbeak ...... 2 u u u Ross' Goose * Lazuli Bunting ...... 2 u u u Eurasian Wigeon Indigo Bunting ...... 5,2 r r Greater Scaup Oldsquaw TOWHEES AND SPARROWS Surf Scoter * Green-tailed Towhee ...... 8,6 u u u White-winged Scoter * Rufous-sided Towhee ...... 2 u u u Red-shouldered Hawk American Tree Sparrow ...... 5,4 0 0 Bonaparte's Gull * Chipping Sparrow ...... 5,8 u u u * Brewer's Sparrow ...... 6 C C C Band-tailed Pigeon * Vesper Sparrow ...... 5,6 C C C Common Barn Owl Lark Sparrow ...... 5 C C u Flammulated Owl * Black-throated Sparrow ...... 6,8 u u u Western Screech Owl * Sage Sparrow ...... 6 C C C Eastern Kingbird * Savannah Sparrow ...... 5 a a a White-breasted Nuthatch Grasshopper Sparrow ...... 5 0 0 0 Bohemian Waxwing Fox Sparrow ...... 6,7 u Blackpoll Warbler * Song Sparrow ...... 2,1 0 0 C 0 American Redstart Lincoln's Sparrow ...... 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak White-throated Sparrow ...... 2,6 Blue Grosbeak Golden-crowned Sparrow ...... 2 r Western Bluebird White-crowned Sparrow ...... 2,6 C C C Varied Thrush Harris' Sparrow 2,6 r r ...... California Quail * Dark-eyed Junco ...... 7 C 0 u C Little Blue Heron * Bobolink ...... 5,4 0 0 0 Mammals

The following list of mammals includes those found on Habitat Abundance the refuge and adjacent lands. Species that are suspected of occurring in the area(?) and those that have been Pocket Gophers identified prior to 1940 with no recent observation (h) Pygmy Pocket Gopher ...... 2,5 c are also included. All are considered resident species Northern Pocket Gopher ...... 9 c except the bats that migrate. Visibility of mammals varies seasonally because some species hibernate during winter Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats and others migrate between summer and winter ranges. Pocket Mouse ...... 6 c Small mammals may remain active throughout winter Dark Kangaroo Mouse ...... 6 u but out of view in tunnels under the snow. Ord Kangaroo Rat ...... 6 c Great Basin Kangaroo Rat ...... 6 c The common names and order follow "A Field Guide to the Mammals of America North of Mexico" by Burt and New World Rats and Mice Grossenheider(1976). Western Harvest Mouse ...... 6,5 u Canyon Mouse ...... • ...... 8,9 h Habitat Abundance Deer Mouse ...... 12 c Shrews Pinon Mouse ...... 7,9 h Merriam Shrew 6 ? Northern ...... 6 ? Vagrant Shrew 4 u Bushytail Woodrat ...... 9,10 u Mountain ...... 4 c Bats Longtail Vole ...... 2, 8 u Little Brown Myotis ...... 11 ? Sagebrush Vole ...... 6 ? Long-eared Myotis ...... •..... 10,11 C Muskrat ...... c Small-footed Myotis ...... 10 C Silver-haired Bat ...... •...... 7,11 r Old World Rats and Mice Big Brown Bat ...... 10 ? House Mouse ...... 11 c Mexican Freetail Bat ...... •..... 10 New World Porcupines and Relatives Porcupine ...... 2,4 C Shorttail ...... 2,4 Longtail Weasel ...... 2 u Hares and Rabbits Mink ...... 1,2 ? Whitetail Jackrabbit 6 Badger ...... 12 C Blacktail Jackrabbit 6 C Spotted ...... •...... 7.8 Mountain Cottontail ...... 6,2 C Striped Skunk ...... 11 Pygmy Rabbit ...... 6 u

Canids Deer C 12 Mule Deer ...... 12 C

Cats Pronghorn Mountain Lion ...... 8 u Pronghorn 6,5 u Bobcat ...... 8 u

Squirrels Yellowbelly Marmot ...... 9, 8 u Townsend Ground Squirrel ...... 6 ? Richardson Ground Squirrel ...... 4 ? Belding Ground Squirrel ...... •.. 5,6 C Golden-mantled Squirrel ...... 9 u Least Chipmunk ...... 6 C Uinta Chipmunk ...... 7,9 -== ���- . -:i::=!--' · t �- Id-· I�� ... �-�* . � ��' ..- \� �...... '� 1s:: muskrat tracks . muskrat Fishes Viewing Wild I ife

Eight species of fish are present in refuge waters. The Viewing wildlife is best done during morning and relict dace is the only species that is native to the marsh. evening hours. Binoculars or a spotting scope greatly This species is present in only a few other basins in north­ assist in identifying wildlife and observing their behavior. eastern Nevada. Largemouth black bass were stocked in Best wildlife viewing from a car can be done by taking 1932 or 1933 and have successfully reproduced. Rainbow, the Bressman Cabin Loop passing Unit 10, the North and eastern brook, and brown trout are stocked annually with East Sumps, and Unit 13; and/or by taking the Brown occasional stocking of cutthroat and tiger trout. A small Dike-Short Dike Loop around Unit 21. For a unique oppor­ population of Lahontan speckle dace has maintained itself tunity to see the marsh wildlife close up, the South Sump is from a 1950 stocking. The following names are in accor­ open during part of the year for canoeing and electric dance with the checklist presented in "Fishes and Fisheries motors. of Nevada" by LaRivers (1962). For further information, contact: Habitat Abundance Refuge Manager Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge Trouts HC 60, Box 860 > Eastern Brook Trout ...... 3 a Ruby Valley, Nevada 89833 >Cutthroat Trout ...... 3 u Telephone (702) 779-2237 >Rainbow Trout ...... C > Brown Trout ...... 3,1 u > Tiger Tr out (hybrid) ...... 3 u Notes Minnows Relict Dace u > Lahontan Speckle Dace Important wildlife observations have been contributed Sunfishes throughout the years by you - the refuge visitor. Please > Largemouth Black Bass a continue to share your observations with us at refuge headquarters in order that we may all increase our understanding of our environment. Amphibians and Reptiles Date ______Time Afield ______

Observers ------

Amphibians live both in water and on land. Reptiles Weather ------­ usually occur on drier sites. Both amphibians and reptiles hibernate during the winter and therefore are only seen Observation and Remarks ------during the spring through the fall. Because they are small, secretive , they are not highly visible to the refuge visitor. The Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) and gopher snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) are most often seen crossing roads. Lizards are occasionally seen around the shrub uplands while frogs are seen along the marsh's edge. A species list has not yet been compiled for this area.

A special thank you to L. Ports and M. Ports from Northern Nevada Community College and M. Green from Nevada Department of Wildlife forthei r help in leopard frog preparing this list.