•»1

STILLWATER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA *ANAHO ISLAND WWR FALLON NWR

REFJGE NARRATIVE REPORT

CALENDAR YEAR

1970

FISH AMD WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FALLON, NEVADA Refuge Manager, SHI I water Wildlife Management Area March 5, 1971 Fallen, Nevada

Assistant Regional Refuge Supervisor Portland, Oregon , Annwat Narrative Report - L*" We found after review that your recent Narrative Report was well prepared and a meaningful summary of last year's activities.

Some notes have been taken which we wilt discuss with you during the next refuge Inspection. These are not notes of criticism/, but some questions as to how we might better assist you with on-going projects.

Jerold J. Wilson

JJWilsonftls COVER PHOTOGRAPH

WHITE-FACED IBIS AT CA&SQN IAKE PAST0R1

This ibis nesting colony on Carson lake Pasture., south of Fallon, will be studied more intensively in the future* Colonies in Utah and Texas have ejcperieaced sharp drops in the breeding population and also nesting success. These losses have been attributed to pesticides. Similar losses were not found in the Carson Igtke Pasture colony. These three areas have the largest toowa nesting concen- trations of this species. BTapier * July, 1970 WILDLIFE MAHAGEBfEBT ASIA *A!JAHQ ISLAM) FALLQN HWR

KEFUGE HASRATIVS KEPOET

XEAH

1970

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF 0POET FISBEtlEg AHD WILDLIFE SPATES PEFAHTMiro OF THE IBTERI0H FALLOI., KEVADA IT A B. R A T I V B E 1? f 0 B T

WTIDLIFS Year

1970

M. £Lair Aldotis «---***-* lefiage Manager* Jjarry H. Worden - «- -,-.«---• •* lefnge Maaager** tarry D. Hapler «--*.-,*-* Wildlife Biologist Ilia E^ Oress - ^— «..**.,,.»* lefiage 01erk Eugene E. Buffney - *• * - * — - * Biological OJeehaiGiaa Sonald 0, Drifka- -*.*,-*--- gfradent Trainee David g. faullin- --*.-*--- gtiadeat Trainee Manuel Olano>- --_-,--.--.- ~ J^tistenaaceman Foreman 0oy 0. |)yer - - - « * ~ - ~ - - - ©perator deneral (Heavy Duty) Ernest J. Brooks- - - » * - ~• <* -- JfeintenaflGemam iaymond BrazzaTaovia^ **.*--- Bagineerimg Sfiaiianent Operator Delvin 0, Heftry - — _,,.*__-> j^igiiaeeriag %iaipment Operator Marilyn Bliss « - - •» ~ - - * — Seig^borlaood loutm Corps (KI0)

transferred from McBary fiefuge, Atagust Zk, 1970 Transferred to Camas Eefugej, Augast 2k, 1970 0 0 22? E I 5 § . ~* " "" "" "" *~ ~* Page I, (Several A. Weather Conditions » «»,.,.*,..,..»..,, l B. Habitat Conditions. „<,.,...... ».,,.. 2 II . Wildlife - A. Migratory Birds ,,..»».,«..»*,..,,,. 5 B. tlplaad Game Birds «.,.,..».«. .» . . . , . . . , 13 G. Big Game Animals- « . * . „ . . * « > * . , ,....», 14 B. Fur Animals,, Predators > EodentSj, Otliej? Animals * ..... Ik 1. Predaeedws Birds. *.*,.» .. , . . « . . ... , . . , » 15 f. Other Birdi; ».,.*»*.,«.,,.,..*..,, li G. Fish. . ^ ».,*..,.«..»....,,.,.,, 16 H. Beptiles. «,,,...... , 4 .*.,»,..... 17 I» Rare and Eadwagered Species »..-.«.»,.,,«, 17 «T. Blsease .....»» ^ »,,»,...... ,.« 17

III. Befuge Developiaeiat and Hainteaaace A* Physical Developaent and }feintenaia„.. 30 .....*..*..«..»..»....»* 32 VII* Other Items A* Items of Interest • » <• « ...... 33 B. Anaho Islsmd JTatiomal Wildlife Refuge ...... 36 C, Fanon satioaal Wildlife Refuge .,.....,,,.. \Q D» Signature Page. .,,..*.».,.....«.«., 41 GENERAL

A* "{feather Conditions The year 1970 started out to be very typical with the first week of January producing our low temperature for the year. Baring February we had our usual break in weather and daytime temperatures were recorded in the 6Q-degree bracket on 13 of the 28 days-^the mercury even shot up to 71 degrees one day, Rights remained cold, however, the whole month. March, and April followed a normal pattern for this area. The wind blew and it seemed that warm weather would never arrive although temperatures were occasionally recorded in the 70'sWbtit never for more than one day. Our last frost was experienced May 12 and daytime temperatures rose into the 80 to 100-degree bracket with 100-degree temperatures recorded in June, July* and August. Hot many 100-degree days occurred this year, but there were only five days in the July-August period when the mercury failed to climb into the upper 90's. September daytime temperatures cooled afi,d our first frost of the year occurred September l4j giving 197° & 139-"day growing season. October ushered in another of fallen's "fabulous falls" and daytime temperatures continued warm throughout November. December, as is to be expected, had colder days with corresponding low nighttime temperatures. The monthly extremes for December, 60 and 9 degrees respectively, occurred only once during the month, A new norms,! precipitation,, based on a 60-year period, has been estab- lished for the Fallen area. This normal increases precipitation from the ty.90 inches we have used since inception of the Stillwater Area to 5.01 inches. The following chart summarizes weather data obtained from the U.S. Weather Bureau Station maintained at the Nevada State Experiment Farm at Fallen. Precipitation Temperatures 1970 Normal Max. Min. January 0-57 0,5^ 68 3 February ,23 ^2 71 15 March .31 .k& 72 ill- April .05 .47 75 16 my .09 -59 9i 29 Juae 1.75 ,ln 101 38 July .43 -18 101 46 August .13 .14 100 k6 September »22 91 25 October .1*5 87 13 November -31*- -34 76 17 December ,g6 .g? 60 9 Total 4.16 5.01 101 3 Extremes Bi Habitat Conditions Water* Precautionary drawdown on Lahostan Kesearvoir "began in January* *Ehis water usually goes down the rivej* to the Carson Sink, Only a small portion of it can be channelled into Indian Lakes and then to Stillwater Mursh* However, this year Coleman Dam on the river was being repaired so most of the releases during January and February were sent through canals to Stillwater Point fieservoir. All milts were filled and West Pasture was flooded* Cool and sometimes rainy weather prevailed into July which reduced water consumption is the marsh, Ifost units were maintained near operating level until August and September when hot temperatures increased water losses. At this time inflows to Willow-Millen and Swan Lake were stopped because all units eould not be maintained. With these units out of production, the others were raised to desired levels prior to the hunting season, la iovember water was again sent to Willow-Millen and Swan lake. All units were full at the end of the year. 53ie table on the following page Summarizes water receipts and require- ments by the month for Calendar fear- 1970, Annual net receipts were above minimum refuireme&ts but are not surplus to our meeds* !Ehe table shows deficiencies in the primary marsh all during spring and summer months, but surplus water from January through March actually maintained the marsh at operating levfl through part of July. Even with the large figure of nearly 18,000 aere feet surplus to the marsh, aetual defieien- aies did occur in July and August so that inflow had to be stopped from nearly 2,300 acres of habitat, 1<&ter was then siaffieient to maintain the rest of the "units at desired levels and salinities, and good eondi- tions resulted* Jtefieieacles at Pelican Island are shown only for May ant July* Actually, it was almost without water «H avamex and fall. $he large flows durigg the spring months out deep openings in the check dike so that small summer flows could not be Contained in the marsh. OSie total net receipts for the year show a surplus over 80,000 acre feet. However, 59,71^ aere feet of this iasouat cannot be charged to Stillwater* This amount passed the Lower Carson water recorder and went through the pelieaa Islafid area omto the Carson Simk, where it canmot be used. If tiie Paittte Reservoir in Indian Lakes were built, this lost water could be used to maintain units through the summer* It should be pointed out that significantly more water was received from the Canvasback Sun Club this year and less water was delivered to them, '(This is probably a temporary situation as the Club changed care- takers and the new man has not learned their water management practices yet. STIIZ,WATEH MAHASEMEHT AREA WATER SUPPLY CALENDAR YEAR 19?0 (Acre Feet )

JAB FEB MAE APR MAY JUH JPL ATJG SEPT OCT HOY DEC TOTAL

CABSOir RIVER BELOW LAHOHTAH 28960 49100 29750 42680 58980 48980 61320 65160 49100 30220 12710 169 477>129 PRIMARY MARSH WATER SUPPLY Diagonal Drain 6400 11630 3210 3530 4ioo 6380 7410 6280 4270 4980 3090 1180 62,460 Canvasbaek Club 375 700 850 1360 3240 2844 2476 950 1022 1790 3354 1300 20,261 Paiute Brain 516 672 170 560 1060 700 606 1200 1340 958 557 55 8,394 Indian Lakes 320 470 15 480 320 100 7« 60 120 232 1680 1405 5,280 Sub-Total 7611 13472 4245 5930 8720 10024 10570 8490 6752 7960 8681 3940 96,395 Less Qaa. Club Delivery 200 260 312 700 290 360 220 2,342 Receipts, Primary Marsh, HET 7611 13472 4245 5930 8720 9824 10310 8178 6052 7670 8321 3720 94,053 Marsh-Pasture Water Reg. 717 1434 3585 6657 10087 11725 13312 12493 9318 4608 2151 717 76,804 Surplus or Deficiency 689^ 12038 660 727 1367 1901 3002 4315 3266 3062 6170 3003 17,249 ODIAN LAESg WATER SUPPLY 611 1310 1240 1510 1530 1580 1390 n4o 1540 2020 2340 1810 18,021 less Irr/ Sel. (Private) 50 50 50 50 324 96 620 Sub-Total 111 1310 1240 1460 1480 1530 1340 816 1444 2020 1810 17,401 Delivered to Primary Marsh 320 470 15 480 320 100 78 60 120 232 1680 i4og 5,280 MET RECEIPTS IHDIAS LAKES 291 84o 1225 1160 1430 1262 756 1324 1788 660 405 12,121 Water Requirement 51 102 255 4*59 663 765 867 816 612 306 153 '.-51 5,100 Surplus or Deficiency 240 738 970 la 497 665 395 60 712 1482 507 354 7,021 PELICAN ISIAMD H&5M SUPPLY 8590 27820 18150 2090 905 2630 1518 1660 1840 1700 1680 185 68,768 Water Requirement -2L 190 474 852 1231 l421 1611 1515 1137 568 284 55 9,473 Surplus or Defieieaey 8U95 27630 17676 1238 326 1209 93 145 703 1132 1396 90 59,295 TOTAL ABEA BET RECEIPT 8 16492 42132 23620 9000 10785 13884 13090 1059^ 9216 11158 10661 4310 174,942 TOTAL AREA WATER EEQUIREMEKT 863 1726 4314 7968 11981 13911 15790 14824 11067 5482 2588 863 _91,377 SURPLUS OR DEFICIENCY 15629 40406 19306 1032 1196 27 2700 4230 1851 5676 8073 3447 83,565

U) Water Negotiations* Interior's Operation Criteria Committee continues ~ to meet to establish operating criteria of the Truckee and Carson Rivers to maximize flows to Pyramid Lake, The Pyramid Lake Task Force also meets to attempt to provide siaff lelent water to preserve Pyramid Lake and also satisfy beneficial needs of other water users. The group's final report is due in December, 1971* t&en the Task Force was established, only the Interior Solicitor, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and Bureau of Indian Affairs represented the Department of Interior* The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, who has important responsibilities at Pyramid Lake and Lahontan Valley, was not a member. This year as the Task Force began looking at the costs involved, some changes were made in the membership* BSFW is now an "advisory" member, which mesyas that Regional Director Findiay gets to voice his opinion at the meetings, but does not get to vote on issues. For this privilege, we get to pay 18$ of the Task Force expenses' Several committees have been formed. On the Betterment Committee, Stlllwater personnel are Involved with the section pertaining to wildlife areas in Lahontan Valley. Robert Me Vein, Engineering, Portland, with assistance from Biologist Napier and Hevada Fish and Game, prepared a Phase I Study. This was essentially an inventory of wildlife areas in the valley* Phase II of this report will be prepared early in 1971 and will involve determining tfce changes in the wildlife resource and habitat under different cutbacks in water receipts to Lahontan Valley. The Task Force will use these committee reports to formulate recommenda- tions to the Secretary of the Interior and the two Governors. Food and Cover. Marsh conditions were very good* Only East Alkali Flat $2 and Division Pond were dry in the summer. Although inflows were stopped during the hottest months to Willow-Millem and Swan Lake, they were nearly full the rest of the year. Salinity was kept below harmful concentrations* Sago pondweed ($tota>- mogetoa)pectiaatue), a low salinity tolerant plant, increased 1956 over 1969.Itos&grass (Chara spp.) and wldgeongrass (Ruppia maritima), needing a brackish environment, decreased 8$ and 5^> from last year. The three above mentioned aquatics comprised over 80$ of the s-ubmergent vegetation* Sago pondweed alone made up 55$ of all submergents. Algae (Aphanizomenon sp») Increased as several lakes had large floating mats. Traces of eoontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) were recorded for the first time since 1965. About 35$ of all the open water (18,^90'acres) contained submergents. 2!his compares favorably to 25$ vegetated ia 19&9, sua^ equals almost 10 square miles of solid aquatic vegetation, an attraction to many waterfowl. The table on the following page presents a summary of aquatic plant production by units* Goose.* Cattail and Dry lakes, Pintail Bay and Nutgrass Unit produced Vegetation over 69$ or more of the lake bottoms. Tule Lake returned to productivity from nearly nothing last year. The 3756 production is still below recent years production, however. Plans were to leave Tule Lake dry this year, but excessive water receipts in January forced us to fill it thea. Conditions were favorable for emergent aquatics also. Alkali bulrush (gcirpus robuetus) comprised 75$ o? this vegetation. Growth was vigor- ous^ and seed production was excellent. Stands expanded principally in the Nutgrass Unit and Willow-Millen* Baergents covered 3>Q5<5 acres. Marsh conditions were fair at Pelican Island. Wkter was very low during the summer months> so an &irboat could not travel over the unit. Vege- tation continues to be heavily graced by livestock, Waterfowl use was good during the fall months. Principal nesting areas were But grass Wait, pintail lay, and Tule Lake, Diver dueks primarily used alkali bulrush for nesting cover, and dabblers used saltgrass (Distichlis striota).

II WILDLIF! A» Migratory Birds Swans. Spring use by whistling swans was the highest since 1966. The recorded 15^,133 use days was 118$ higher than last year. They peaked at kf^2$ during January 25-31, Final departure was March £4, only a week earlier than normal. These magnificent birds were first sighted in the fall on October 12, again one week earlier than normal. Usually birds continue to increase through December and peak in January, but this year's cold temperatures in December pushed most of the swans out of the valley. The birds appeared to have a premonition of the coming winter, for they peaked at 4,390 on November 1§, the highest fall peak since 1958. Total fall use of 198,^50 days was also highest since that year. (Soose Lake, Foxtail Lake, and Pintail Bay received the heaviest use by swans both spring and fall. As would be expected, these impoundments contained large beds of Sago pondweed, Waite tails pointed towards the sky and black feet paddling was a common sight as swans probed the lake bottom for pondweed tubers. All swans brought through the checking station were weighed. The heaviest was an adult male tipping the scales at 20 pounds. All birds were in fine condition with thick layers of fat. No one reported tough or unpalatable swans. 6

STILLWATER WILDLIFE MAmGEMH? AREA. Fallen, Nevada

GF JEGEEAECVE SURVEY, 1970

of Bait Unit With Dominant Spscies Stillmter ft.. Res. 21*2 Sago and Western pomdweeds Upper Foxtail Lake UM Western and Sago pondveeds Foxtail Lake 51-3 Sago and Western Pond-weeds Dry Lake 70,6 Sago Fondweed, Muskgraes Cattail Lake 69.0 Sago and Western pondweeds, Algae Goose Lake 69.0 Sago Pondveed, Algae 0?ule Lake 37*0 Sago Pondweed South Hutgrass 73-0 Sago Pondweed, Muskgrass North Tfatgrass 77,8 Widgeongrass, Muskgrass, Algae Swan Lake 42,3 Sago Poadweed^ Algae pintail Bay- 89.0 Sago Pondwedj Muskgrass, Widge©ngra88 last Alkali Flat $ 56.6 Sago Pondweed 7

Seese. Saow geese did mot linger this spring oa their "way to tlae breeding grounds. |fo group larger than 500 birds was recorded. They were present only from March 1 to S3U In the fall, white geese reappeared on schedule, on September SO, Total •use of 187,838 days was highest since 1967* fhey peaked at 4*990 oa Kbvember 30th, and gradually departed until only 100 were present by the end of December. Snow geese ranged widely over Stillwater Marsh. In the refuge use was concentrated on Foxtail Lake and East Alkali Flat. In, the public hant- ing area, they were mpst frequently found at Pelican Islasid, Pintail Bay and the Sutgrass Unit* On November five white-fronted geefee were observed. This was the only confirmed sighting* !owever> goose hunters occasionally report this species flying with Canada geese . Although no black braat were seen on the Sf/illwater Marsh, two sightings were made off the refuge. In late April & lone individual kept company with a pair of Canada geese on Rattlesnake Reservoir. It was present for several weeks and was easy to observe* H0rmaa Saake, Nevada fish and Game, observed a flock of Ik brant on the Greeahead, Club (Carson Lake Pasture) on October 28, Spring Canada goose use was the highest elnee 1966. The peiak nutaber of this species occurred January ^-10 when ls 6^5 were counted. Geese gradually departed until the summer population was reached in, !Ehe breeding populatioa of go pairs was 26$ lower than last year* Water- was abundant early la spring to create good nesting habitat, but cold, wet weather in April had some adverse effect om goose production. 53aere were two hatching peaks j one on April g6-3Q was normal, but another ©a May 10-1^ indicated some revesting. Overall reproductive success was 75<$ and average brood size was k*B, which is considered good* *Potal productloB of T2 goslings is i6.5^ below last year. Principal nesting habitat continues to be Leter Reservoir and Willow-MlHea Lake,, fall buildup of geese "began in August, ^ September they numbered around 1?000* 1!he peak of 1,500 oc«urred in mid-Hovember. Use daring the fall period was 133>175 daye> highest since the peak year of 1965. Bucks, gprlng Migration. !Eh« year began with a duck population of less than £, 000, ' Baiibers gradually insreased until the peak popula- tion was recorded la mid^March* Pintails, ruddy dueks and shovelers were most abundant since 1966* (jreea^winged teal us© was about the same as last year, but only 28$ of the average spring use for that species. fae ducks mentioned above aceom&ted for 78$ of the spring migration* Total duck use this spring was 76$ higher than last year. 8

Production. On April 15th an aerial census of early nesters was attempted. Results were poor as the preponderance of other species hindered obser- vations of mallards and pintails. With the limited number of flights, we were attempting an entire waterfowl population census also. The- two objectives can't be met on the same flight. High vinds and cold temperatures prevailed during most of April* Only partial ground counts were conducted, on May 13th another aerial census was completed. Results from this census, in addition to ground counts, formed the dabbler pair estimate. On Tule Lake, where shoreline cover consists entirely of saltgrass, ground counts revealed that only 1036 of the cinnamon teal were seen from the airplane. This year's sightings of blue-winged teal include four pairs and two single males. These are scattered over the Stillwater Marsh and Indian lakes, Biver pair counts were conducted between May 25-27 from the ground. Difficulties were encountered because excess redhead and ruddy duek males were present* The breeding population was 32.8$ higher than last year. All major nesting spesies increased significantly* A table showing the breeding pairs is on page 9, A mallard brood seen on May 6 was the first of the year," Ibis was about the same time as last year, but the late spring affected this speeies most, Their hatching peaked Jane IJj-tl, six weeks later than 1969. Other ducks were act affected as much, mostly only a week later, latch- ing of ruddy ducks, the latest neater, peaked during July 13-19, three weeks late. The Reproductive rate was applied to pairs to determine the number of broods produced. Hatching peaks and average brood sizes were obtained from several brood counts. Total estimated production was completed by multiplying broods by brood size. The table on page 10 stanmarizes production by species. Avian predation, principally ravens, had a great effect on production this year. Gadwall nesting success dropped from ^2$ last year to 20$. Birds destroyed nests of other species, also, but to a lesser extent. The higher duck breeding population was offset by increased predation, which made total production almost identical to last year* fiext spring, p3?ior t© and during the nesting season, axt effort will be made to reduce raven numbers around the marsh. Buck nesting success will also be investigated to check the effect of predator control. Fall Migration. A general impression of the fall duck migration was that it was pretty poor* With forecasts of excellent production in Canada and high duck populations present early in the fall, a high population peak was expected. However, by the end of October duek IKMDIIKJ PAIR SUB7EY

TtmiS % CHANGS SPECIES 1967 1968 1969 1970 fRO M 1969 GAHADA GOOSE 12 18 27 20 - 25. 9# DOCKS Dabblers Mallard Sto 280 233 382 + 63, 9% Gadwall 269 428 442 619 -f- 4o*o Widgeon l 6 Pintail 35 122 137 1A5 4- 5,8 Green-winged Teal 19 Cia/BW Teal S* 780 819 1,094 + 33-6 ghoveler 4o 57 103 •f 80.7 2^ Subtotal 1,172 1,650 1,689 2,368 •f 40. £$ Divers Bedhead 784 694 857 955 * 11,1* Blag-wort n*k 1 Caavasback 12 9 10 * 11.1 Buddy Duek 179 186 320 485 * 51.6 Subtotal 975 880 1,187 1,450 •4- gg.ajt tfoidentified 24 13 a»L PAIRS 2,171 2,543 2,876 3,818 + 32,8^

2,346 2,100 1,926 2,440 PRODUCTION - 1970

Beprodiaotive No. Average Estimated % Change Species Pairs Success Broods Brood Size Production From 1969

GAffiDA SOQSE 20 75.<# 15 4.8 72 - 26.556 DUCKS Dabblers

Mallard 382 40.036 153 6,6 1,010 + 12,656 \ 37-8 Gadwall 619 20.0 124 7.0 868 Widgeon 6 50.0 3 6.0 18

Pintail 145 50.0 73 6.2 ^53 - 15.0 Green-winged Teal 19 55.0 10 5-5 55 Cin/BW Teal 1,094 55-0 602 5.5 3,311 •l- 22.0 Shoveler 103 60.0 62 6.f-: 372 + 100.0 Siabtotal 2,368 *3.« 1,027 5.9 6,087 + 6.456 Divers

Bedhead 955 60.036 573 5.0 2,865 - 20.456 Canvasback 10 60.0 6 5.0 30 - 16.7

Buddy Duck 485 60.0 291 4.4 1,280 + 42.9 Subtotal 1,450 60.036 870 4.8 4,175 - 7.916 TOTAL DUCKS 3,818 49*7* 1,897 5.4 10,262 + 0.156 COOTS 2,440 80,036 1,952 4.0 7,808 -i- 44.836 11 hiantlng success dropped and everyone wondered where the birds were~- including us. Usually ducks, especially pintail and green-winged teal, remain abundant through November. \s situation did not materialize this year. But, upon analyzing tjae complete migration, we were surprised to find our total use was one of jbhe highest in recent years.' August through December, H,£9G,83Q duck use days were recorded. This was 7,9$ higher than 1967 vhjLch was considered our last "good" duck year, and is the highest recorded since 1965 • 194,205 ducks, highest since 1967irs 210, Pintail and green-winged teal were the most abundant speeies, which is normal, but their numbers were down. Pintail use was highest between August and October, with the peak! being August 16-22, about seven weeks earlier than usual. Total use by; this species wag 11.6$ less than 1969. Green-Winged teal use was similar | to pintails* Their peak wa.s only 26,300., and total use was 8$ beloir last year. These figures do not reveal the actual population stattts of teal and pintail* Conditions existed in this -part of the state! which created the situation described, on Stillwater Marsh. Good water &onditloas made more habitat for these species^ i.e.,, flooded brushlamdsj and broad shallow ponds which caused their dispersal. The Sumboldt Sijik had abundant water which held abnormally high numbers of pintaiJL. The Carson Lake Pasture, about 20 miles. south of Stillwater, had its normal number of these birds* It also had extensive mudflats* | I Water flows increased to Stillwater during late October through December. Most units had to be filled to accommodate the water receipt's. Practic- ally all mudflats were inundated, j which eliminated loaf lag areas needed by pintail and teal* The additioiaal water depth probably made some aquatic foods on pond bottoms unavailable to dabbler ducks. Gadwall use was impressive this yfear. The peak population of 86,135 was only exceeded in 19&3 ^&^ 26^350 were recorded. American widgeon also were present la exceptional numbers. They peaked in mid^Qetober at 3^,585. Total use during the migration was 1>V93>£$& days, which was exceeded o^ly *& 1958* As one of its primary objectives, \r provided adequate habitat for migrating canvasbseks. They jjaigrated through during €5ctober and early November. The peak number pf &7A95 T*8-® *he highest ever recorded on Stillwater, Use September thrbugh Seeember amounted to 8^9*555 days, which was exceeded only in 1958, |L965, and 1967* This marsh is the only principal area for "sans " between! Malheur Refuge in Oregon amd Saa Pranelsco Bay, Calif ormia* I i Two unusual ducks were collected -bhis year, ©n Harmon Reservoir an adult male white-winged scoter was shot. In Becescaber Herman Saake, Hevada Fish amd Game, collected am adult male oldsquaw; on Carson pasture (Qreenhead Club)* 12

Coots. As usual, Stillwater was not short on coots* The spring migra- tion peaked at 32,100 and 197,505 in the fall. Annual use was, nearly 8-1/3 million days, 38$ higher than last year. This abundaace of birds presents direct competition with more desirable species for aquatic food. Production was estimated to be 7,808— highest sines 1909. Water and Marsh Birds. Grebes werle quite abundant this year. Eared grebes peaked at 2,000+ late in April, Small nesting colonies were noted on Eaejt Alkali Flat #1 and Foxtail lake with production estimated to be 100, The first western grebe brood was seen on May 19 > about the usual time. Production appeared to be somewhat lower than last year. Pied-billed grebes are present ^in small numbers. A brood of two was firstj seem on May 5- They continued to be present all year in small numbers.; pelicans first appeared in the marsh on March 3rd, The peak, 3,000 birds, occurred during mid-August. This is below last year's peak of lt-,000. The last bird was seen on December ill-. Seven wing-marked pelicans from Anaho Island were observed In the marsh this fall. Great blue herons expanded their nesting as three nests were found in a tree on East Canal. This extensiota of their nest site is good, for their reproductive efforts in the irefuge will not be jeopardized by vandalism as they are in the colony on West County Road. An immature green heron was observed by Trainees Paullin and Drifka at the outlet of the Big Indian Lake.! This species has been observed in the valley j but not previously on ^fche Management Area. No white-faced ibis production was! found at Stillwater. The peak number of 700 is below last year's 800. Carson Lake pasture has a colony of 600 nests, Ws were asked to investigate this colony for comparison with the decreases of up to 83$ in Utahj breeding colonies. A cursory cheek on June 26 revealed all stages of ^production, from nests containing eggs to young nearly capable of fljight. Some thin eggshells were found but not enough nests were checked to determine total effect on produc- tion. Ho reliable population figures were available for 1969, but our general impression was that the population may be down from last year, but not significantly. ; We learned from Allen Snith, Bear River Research Station, Ubah, that three major nesting colonies exist: in the 'West* They are in Texas, Utah, and the Lahontan Valley, levada, It seems that birds are getting a heavy dose of DOT on their wintering grounds in Mexico as well as their breed- ing grounds in Utah. ! Due to their secretive nature we hjave little to report about birds belonging to family Rallidae. A gjsneral impression is that rails, both the Virginia and sora were less abundant this year. One common 13 gallinule was seen in Wfest Marsh on September 19. J&ese birds also are probably wore common than generally believed* j Galls, and Terns . The spring shorebifd migratioa peaked latfe ia April. Most speeies were- more abundant than last year, particularly noticeable was the ttaalia, an occasional visitor to Stillwater. On May 1st they numbered over 200 OR Big Water. The first young killdeer was noted am April 9* Production ©f was kOfi higher than. last year, and blaek-neeked stilts, 6"C$ higher* Wilson's phalarope production remained about the same, The fall movement of shorebirds began in July. A ruddy turnstaae became a new refuge record when o»« was observed on &wsai lake (3heck by Biologist JJapier and Trainee panllin, July 31st, Most of the stilts had left by mid~ September* The last avocet vas seen on Hbvember l6th. Both the Caspian and forster's tern arrived early in April, Blaek terns were first seen on May 1st. A few were present all summe* tfhleh is unus-aal. They can usiaally be found oa Carson Lake Pasttire duriag the sianmer months, bmt do act appear at Stillwater toatil late July. Their nesting stat-us is taiknomi. A ForSter's tern nest containing one egg and two ehieks was located on a m-aekrat house in the South artgrass Unit. Blaek terns departed in mid-September and the last Forster's tern was seen October 5* Moiaming Dove. A few doves spend the winter in the valley, but migrants were noted arriving in early February. Habitat is limited on Stillwater -. Ifestiag oqa-uirs in trees along the Carsoa giver and to some extent in greasewood-shadscale sites* As Tasual, most birds departed Just prior to the opening of dove season 0n September 1. In this area nesting begins early in the year. !Oie following is a history of nesting attempts in a wire mest eon® placed in Biologist Kapler's yard. Four broods were hatched before the end of July, The first fledgling left the nest on March 2,^h . The fourth family departed from their home on July 15th» It is not known if the same pair oeeiapied the nest during all f©«r nestings— but it is possible* The nest tone was not used during the rest of the stammer* Two young featherless doves were found early is September which, spreads the nesting season from mid- Febraary through early September— quite a breeding potential for a pair of ambitious, enthusiastic doves.

B.« Upland Game Birds Upland game habitat continues to be minimal oa Stillwater. Use is on and off the Area adjaeent t© private farmland. Small pockets of bird habitat occur along the Carson River, Timber Lake> Cottonwood lake, atad the paiute Pasture. Ring-necked pheasants and California

0, Big Game Animals Jfcile deer are the only big game animals on Stillwater. They have been seea only in the Timber Lake area. Three sightings were made during the year with 15 head being the highest counted. One three-point buck was observed in August* With increased public use in the small area, we wonder how long these creatures will continue to exist there.

D* Fur Animals, predators, Rodents and Other Animals Fur Animals. The present method of estimating the muskrat population appears to be unreliable. The main problem is that the majority of muskrat s live in burrows and do not build houses. For this reason, transects to record muskrat sign probably under estimate the population. As a check on population estimates and possibly to obtain a "base" population, a trapping program was initiated this fall purely as a population management tool. It is further described in Section V. In the fall of 1969 the 'rat population was estimated to be 2^500. predators , We have been fortunate in not having raccoons as a predator problem to our waterfowl nesting. No sightings have been made for many years--until this year. Research Biologist Boa Knapp reported seeing a 3/4-grown atiimal along the HFutgrass Dike this summer. As interesting and mite as they are, we will attempt to prevent them from gaining a foothold in the marsh, Ho badgers were seen this year^ but their sign was again present for a brief time. In July the past several years, the shoulder of the Indian Lakes Road near Big Indian Lake and Cottonwood Lake has contained numer- ous diggings} apparently for kangaroo rats. No diggings are found during the rest of the year. The status of the kit fox is indefinite on Stillwater. On le*s than ten. t3?%>8 through Indian Lakes at night, a kit fox was recorded on two different occasions. They are very tame and approach •within, two feet of the observer, The coyote continues to spread his influence on man, H economic problems for the stockmen or can, give a rich aesthetic experience to those taking the time to watch him in the marshy We cannot help but feel that the coyote would get a chuckle if he knev of the furor he causes when groups of people gather to discuss efforts to eliminate him through poisons arid trapping, or on the other hand efforts to completely protect him, 15

Some control work has "been done lay Division of Wildlife Services, on areas adjacent to the refuge ia answer to livestock predatloa complaints. In February, e. large 1080 poison station was placed on Serpa's land near Timber Lake, In April coyotes were shot from the airplane on the Canvas- back Gun Club. Other than recreational hunting> no control was done on the Management Area. gome coyote census ing has been done using Kay Alcorn's coyote response to siren method. A transect route 1*8.8 established through Stillwater Marsh and Indian Lakes. Bata have been gathered since 1968. This technique vill be included in the Wildlife Inventory Plan for coyote censuaing. Trend data on rodents, rabbits and possibly kit foxes can be gathered also* July prior to the breeding season, the loir population of the year is reached* Coyote numbers were estimated to be 20* The fall population was higher than last year and about.equal to 1968—estimated at 150 coyotes * Rodents. Antelope ground squirrels are the most often seen small mammals on the Area. They became quite tame around the shop area. Kangaroo rats are another common mammal of the desert. The population is slightly higher than last year. Rabbits, This spring and summer black-tailed jackrabbits increased above the population of 1969. But by the end of the year they had dropped back to last year's level. Cottontail rabbits remain unchanged in their limited habitat.

E. predaeeous Birds Eagles. Bald eagles were present in small numbers* Two were the most seen at one time. They were last seen ia the spring oa Jfereh 16, aad reappeared on October g6--over a month earlier than normal. Golden eagles have been recorded every month of the year at Stillwater, They are most often seen between Ifovember and March. This year the only summer sighting was one on July 27* Three were recorded in January aad two in December, One Immature golden eagle was brought to us in August from Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area, It had an injured wing and was unable to fly. After several weeks recuperation ia the hospital pen, it was released. It was abfhe to fly but stayed around the pen where it was given an Occasional jackrabbit. Finally it disappeared, hopefully to fend for itself. Hawks. Rough-legged hawks and prairie falcons *re present during the winter months* Both species left the Area in mid-March. The falcons reappeared September 25, about a month earlier than normal. Three falcons were the most recorded oa a single trip through the Area. Marsh hawks are present all year but numbers increased in September as the wintering birds arrived. Sparrow hawks are the most abundant nester, but Swainson's and red-tailed hawks are also common* An osprey made a rare appearance in April when it was present for several days at Rattlesnake Reservoir. During one observation, it caught a carp about It inches long. Owls. Few observations were made of owls this year. Short-eared owls are most common la winter^ but this year the stammer population seemed higher than usual. A nest containing five young was discovered in salt grass on Tale Lake on June 23» Burrowing owls appeared to be less abundant this year. Several areas previously used for nesting were vacant. Scorpions continue to be an important part of the owl's diet, for four of five pellets contained their remains. Ravens. This bird was more abundant this year. Hew nests appeared in trees around the marsh. Ravens became adept at locating bird nests as evidenced by the number of broken eggs found. 0n#several occasions they were seen carrying an egg in their bill.

F. Other Birds A mockingbird was a rare visitor, noted on May, 20 on Cfcttonwood Lake in the Indian Lakes area. eastern kingbird became a new refuge record, sighted by Biologist lapier near Cattail Lake on June 4.

G. Fish Ihls year the Nevada Department of Fish and Game established a fishery biologist In the Fallen Office. Gill setting operations have been conducted in the marsh and Indian Lakes. We have never received any reports of proposed programs, nor the results of completed programs. We have no record of'any fish planting ©n the Area this year. We happened to be on the scene and recorded a 5~1/^ pound largemo\jtk blaekbass gill netted in Lead Lake in connection with a pesticide analysis study. Channel and white catfish and bullheads provide most of the recreational fishing. Some small white Grapple are in the system, but no white bass have been found yet. Carp are still abundant in most ponds. No chemical control was done this year. H* Reptiles aad A&phibians Reptiles^ Jfo further work was accomplished on a refuge list. Homed lizards aad several others are common in the brushlaads of Indian Lakes* Gopher snakes are commonly seen in summer both in the marsh and Indian Lakes * Amphibians. H© species in this group are abundant. The Great Basin spadefoot toad is found here. Leopard frogs are common. Bullfrog serenades can be heard old stammer nights around Lead Lake. They provide limited recreation.

I, Bare and Endangered Species redbook of Rare and Endangered Fish and Wildlife contains the follow- ing species that may occur on Stillwaters prairie falcon, rarej pere- grine falcon* endangered! and ferruginous hawk, status undetermined. The only species recorded this year on the list is the prairie falcon. Its abundance is discussed under the lawks Section of this report.

J. Disease Minor botulism losses occurred in September. Ho sick birds and only occasional dead ones were picked up. Pintail, widgeon and mallard ware the principal species affected. The Hutgrass Unit and Pintail Bay were the only problem areas. Total estimated loss was 200 birds, A much larger problem existed on Carson Lake pasture when botulism affected birds were discovered in late August* Refuge personnel assisted Bevada Department of Fish and Game in picking up birds. A total of 685 birds was sent to Stillwater's duck hospital, Birds were mot treated with antitoxin but given fresh water and food. Recovery rate of dueks was 8i$ and shorebirds, 6l#» During the outbreak, 2,200 dead birds were also picked up. -principal species were 65$ green-winged teal, 20$ shov^ler, 10J& pintail and 5$ miscellaneous. The affected shorebirds were avoeets, dowitchers, phalaropes and stilts. Additional water was sent to the affected area and the U. S* Jfavy Cooperated by harassing the birds from that area with helicopters. Most of the problem was cleaned lip by the end of September.

Ill DEViLOPMEHT and M&IKOTAHCE A» Physical Development and Maintenance The 3/4-yard Hbrthwest dragline was out of service the first half ©f the year undergoing a $6,000 face lifting. Maybe "face lifting" is a misnomer as the work cannot be seen, but it is appreciated by the operator. Following are the major repairs: 18

Rebuilt the vertical and rotating shafts| Rebuilt the horizontal reverse shaft and controls! Installed lagging and bushings OR drive shaft} Relined and rebuilt drum sontrolsj Rebuilt drum shaft clutch controlsj Relined drum $haft brakes) Rebuilt vertical travel shaft) Rebuilt steering eontrolsj Rebuilt worm boom hoist controlsj Removed independent boom hoistj Rebuilt sheaves Qfl booms Installed new cables} Converted to automatic oiling system* A new sign program was nearly completed during the year. Twenty-six new signs were constructed (see photos). The frames are of 3" pipe and set In concrete. Particle board stained redwood with white letters makes the sign, $hem these are shot up> replacement is no problem* Remove two nuts, lift off the top pipe and the old sign can be pulled out and a new one inserted. The heavy steel pipe set in oonecete make the frames nearly vandal-proof. Ma^or maintenance at the k-^ay Structure (No * 5) beeame necessary when stoplog channels in two different bays gave way. It was necessary to coffer dam all four ehannels leading to the structure and pump the area dry (see photos). With two failures, we decided to replace the HtQplog channels in all 2:2 bays. The old ohannels had lasted 15 years* With the same life expectancy, we should all be retired before this Job has to be repeated. !Ehe Olano LaHding and parking area was completed. This lauaehing ramp is the first double width ramp we have. The l^-acre parking area was well gravelled (500 yards). This is the most congested spot on the Area on opening weekend of the waterfowl, hunting season, These new facilities should help a great deal. All this area leeks now are permanent toilet facilities* The 3|-mile Goose Lake Bypass was nearly completed this year. All that remains to be done is installation of th« pipe and riser under Division Road and the pipe under the Wutgrass Road. Following are minor Jobs accomplished during the year: Built and painted five fire extinguisher boxes Repainted and built five new pair of swan-goose silhouette® and installed them Built roll bar for IHC 2706 tractor Ground sprayed tamarisk Built and installed bulletin board in front of Office (see photos) Repaired East Lake, Paiute and Indian Lakes corrals Field crew contributed 20 mandays of eowboying In connection with Irb trespass case 19

Made and painted additional garbage cans (j>5-gallon drams) Aoopalred excess radio shacks and placed them on the Area for stopleg, storage. Hopefully > this will stop the burning, dragging off and floatlng away of flashboards Repaired East Pasture bridgi Put drain pipe ia East pasture Canals and drains 'were cleaned -with dragline and Toy chaining as Pintail Bay outlet cleaned and repaired Timber lake dike built mp to eliminate river flooding Riprapped eroding sections on east side of Foxtail Unit Twenty-nine maadays were spent irrigating paiute and East Pastures Spot gravelled Kavy Cabin Road Replased redmJed "boxes washed out in East Pasture A SAFETY hazard was eliminated by leveling and -widening the intersection of Hunter and Stillwater Roads Ninetjfj*twD maadays were speat grading the 55 miles of refuge roads and parking areas SAFETY cheeked and installed foam to bring airboat up to flotation standards Chemical toilets ware pumped as needed and moved seasonally to best meet the needs of the using public Salvaged two miles of Pintail Bay fenee Built new access road to Swan lake Check Repaired CR Dike and extension Built up low dikes in paiute pasture to keep water frota flooding area to the west Wfcjved our office from the old location on Maine Street to a converted home a block south and across the street. Incident ally, this is the bxrase Tom Horn, first Stillwater Refuge Manager^ lived iiu All equipment was serviced and repaired as necessary

B* Plantings Hb planting was done this year, but a report should be given, ©n the alkali bulrush that was planted last year. Bulrush la the West Pasture Plot and ©a tlie eastern shoreline of tjppfer Foxtail take covered the seme area and about equal density as last year. In Division Pond about 30^ germination was achieved last year and a one-half acre stand was established. The sta&d was robust this year and covered about one acre. Muskrats made several houses there* In the other plots., no plants were noted.

C. Colleetieas and Reselpts - None

B« Control &£ Vegetation In July approximately ©ae acre of tamarisk (Tamarlx galllaa) was sprayed with silvex from » truck mounted spr^reF* T&e area was the shoreline of Willow-Millen near South Lead lake Landing. Kill was estimated to be Tamarisk is a large consumer of water and can establish itself in dense stands. Much money has been spent over the years attempting to sontrol this plant. A long hard look will be given to this control program. On certain areas of little ground, cover, a patch of tamarisk may be better than ao clover at all.

E. Planned Burning - None F* Fires - Hone

I? RESOURCE MANAGEMENT A. Grazing I&nge conditions were quite comparable to last year* Fair forage was produced. Excess water -was again spilled into the Carson Sink provid- ing some additional forage. A milestone was reached this year when the Robert Erb ease was settled to our satisfaetiQa. Mr* Erb has been a thorn in our side for over 20 years. In October, Mr. Erb was found to still have cattlft on the Area in violation of a qourt order. Mr. Erb was brought back into Federal Court asad jailed for a week then ordered to remove the rest of his cattle. After two more court appearances, Judge Bruce Thompson amended the previous court order and from December §5, 1970, any-of Mr. Brb's cattle found on the Area can, be gathered and sold through a local auction yard. Uq new permits were issued and none will be until such time as the range improves considerably or we develop some additional improved pasture. fe-uekee-Carsott Irrigation District's Board of Directors are trying to get ws t© develop additional pasture. 'We have indicated that we are net adverse to this idea providing they will assure us adequate water far irrigation. Eheir eagerness for additional pasture stems from th« fast that they are the recipients of all grazing fees collected, Many permittees In the past have run cattle in excess of permitted njambes>s« With the settlement of the Erb case and a full time rider, there is a new attitude* Many have wasted to do right but have been pressured—the old story of getting there firstest with the mostest. life are optimistic that a new era in our grazing program is here. GRAZING RECORD 1969 1970 No. Permittees 22 21 No. Cattle 2,376 2,199 NO. Horses 80 62 Revenue $ 9>80t $ 10,695 B» Haying - Hone G« Fur Barf set - See Section 7 D» Timber Bemoval Several free us© permits wsre issued for cutting dead and down oottoa WDods oa the lower Oarsoii liver* We are jealously guardiag the dead saags as these are much used during the winter moaths by bald and golden eagles, E< ConBBercial Fishing - lone

? FIEID IlfVESTIQAfI0K or APPLIED BESEAKCH A. Wtldllfes Management Study 1 - Duels lest ing Success on the 0tillwater Marsh ABSTBACT - .Progress Jteport Ho* 3 fhis dompletes the third year of a proposed three-year management to determine the reproductive rate for daefe aestitig oa Sfclllwater Ifersh, Beetilts vill be ^sed to develop a different method of estimating water- fowl production. Paly counts were conducted to determine the size and dintributloa of the breeding population, fhe stople af 9^ located nests v&a 2.y$> of the estimated total, Bnphasis was placed on finding diver nests, particularly redheads (Aythya. gmagicana)> I/BSS than 1J& of the redhead and ruddy duck (Q^yura gaasiceSsieT aeete wtre located. Searly 5$ of the eianajaoa tgal (AfflS. cyaaoptera) aests and 3?i of the g^dvall (Aaas etrepera) nests were 'found. Saltgrasa (Slstichlia strlistia ) tws the principal negting co-^er, as Tij..5^ of the nests found vere ia this vegetative type* Most diver ducJke used alkali bulrush (Scirpus robustug). Sh® cover Might of 13 to 18 inches contained Mfr.6^ o# the atsts, Resting success for Giaaamoa teal was k$*Q$ aad 15 *B^ for gadTmll. Although the sample of redheads was small, f otir of seven neste had hatched,, indicatiag reasonably good nesting success, Ifest destruction mg again the leading cause of failure* laveas (Corvug cerax) accounted for most of the 33*3$ that were destroyed. Desert ioa remalas fairly high at 11«5^« Only one aest was kaowa to be lost from flooding* B. Banding He waterfowl banding was done on Stillwatei' this year. Nevada Fish and (3ame assumed the responsibility for quotas in Western IJevada. In June we assisted the Fish and Game Departments of Hevada and Calif- ornia in their cooperative Canada goose banding project. Manager Worden helped band 800 geese era ipyramid lake. Biologist Hapier assisted in banding 206 geese on Honey Lake in California. Avocets were banded on @tillwater by Bon Kaapp, Division of Wildlife Research, in conjunction with his shorebird study (Section E). A -total of 133 avocets was banded, with green streamers attached to their leg bands* On Page 23 is a list of unusual band returns received during the year.

C. Wood Buck Nest Boxes Fifteen wood duck nest boxes were placed along the Carson River on the Wolf Ranch in 1968. These have been home to birds ranging from owls, sparrow fcawks, starlings> flickers, to wood ducks. In 1968, one wood duck brood was raised. A check of boxes early in 1970 revealed that two boxes were successfully used by wood ducks in 1969, This year, three boxes were used by wood ducks and all hatched. Box No. 8k produced a brood all three years.

13, Vegetative Survey The annual aquatic plant survey was conducted by Student Trainees Faullin and Drifka, with Trainee Paullin given the task of writing the report. The objectives are to determine species composition, distribution, and relative abundance. Water and salinity conditions are related to plant production. Data were collected between August and 24, The men did an excellent job. The annual report is filed under separate cover and results are summarized in Section 1>B of this report.

£. Shorebird Study Don Kiaapp, Division of Wildlife Research, continued his study of avocets and stilts* He is assessing the breeding status aad productivity of avocet populations in the Lahontan Talley. This is a preliminary por- tion of a larger study relating effects of insecticides to the avocet biology. Portions of pinta.il Bay and Kutgrass Dikes w»re closed to vehicle traffic to facilitate his study. To date, no progress report om his activities has been received. SFBCIES BAHEUKJ SHI RESIftlKS Starling iFallom Area - 2/1/64 So©dlng, Idaho - 5/31/70 Ceasmon Egret Near Burns, Oregon - 7/11/69 Fallon, Ue^rada - %/23/7Q Avoeet Sear Falloa,, HV - 6/27/69 10.elaoa@an, Ifexico - 12/17/69 land comcHtlQa of

Sparrow Bawfc Fallen Area - 7/2/67 Sea Jaeiato, GA - 11/15/69 in trap otner tlian birds, ^aad rea©-yed, "bird released. Coot Stillwater ¥. M« Area - 3/20/67 City, CA - 2/21/70 Geot StUlmter V, M. Area - 8/30/67 Mickoaean, Mexieo - 12/22/68 Boss (loose Saskatoon, Sask. - 8/62 Stillmter ¥. M. Area - 11/69 Fistail Arlington, Ariaona - 1/27/70 Sear Fallom - 3/^2/70 Fallen - 8/16/57 Stillwster ¥» M. Area - 11/22/68 11-year record^ Reported "by reliable iraater* Steoveler „ Area ~ 10/8/52 Los laaoa, CA - 1/69 l6-year record. Perssibly »OB» hianter is trying to ptill oar leg. Raby Lake BWK, NV - 8/69 StUlwater ¥« M. Area - 10/69 Indicates direct (5

oo U) !» Muskrat Trapping The purpose of this program was a eensusing tool aftd an aid im deter- mining the elsie of the muskrat population* Our pepulatioa estimate last year was t,500 muskrats * A leeal trapper felt that toe eould trap 1,000 muskrats. A permit was issued to him with certain stipula- tions, to take 1,000 (r%ts, Three units were selected ae having different habitat types. Maps of these units were given to Mr, Donald Austin, the trapper, $e wag required to trap each of these units anil delineate the area and number of trap days spe&t on eaeh area* From this, a general idea of muskrat density can be established for differ- eAt habitat types. Also, if Mr. Austin is successful in ebtaining 1,000 musirats, ©urr population estimate of 2,500 muskrata IB fuite likely to be low* From information supplied by Mr. Austin, a more realistic "base" population may be established. This summer (1971) there are plans to further refine this effort. If time permits, a selected miuaber of muskrats till be live trapped, marked and released. Through trapping next year> the lino ©In -index could "be applied to determine population levels.

VI HJBIIC HEIATIQN6 A. Recreational Uses Visitor use is estimated from traffic counter data and spot checks of various activities. Combined total use la categories shown on the summary page amounts to 22,^26 visits. Ihis is a decrease of 1$ frsim last year, principally a drop la hunting and hunting related eampimg> Other activities increased. Consumptive uses remain high. Hunting was the highest at k^fr of tfetal activities, but dropped 16$ from last year* Fishing increased kCtjo over last year and accounted for 23$ of Area aetivities. Jfea-eoasumptive wildlife related activities such as photography and observations Increased 13$. Ibn-wildlife recreation is minor and poses no problems, Savlronmental education activities increased this year*. Thirteen percent of our public use was in this category. An outdoor bulletin board was erected in front of the office where current conservation issues are posted, ftithethe high school only a block from the office, fuite a number of young people stop to peruse the information* The peak load day occurs on the opening day of waterfowl hunting* This year 1,100 hunters were present compared to 775 1» 1969, Facilities for parking, camping, and sanitation are crowded on this weekend. Bat, by the second weekend of the Season, public use dropped 75$- FOP the rest of the year, facilities meet the public's need. biweau 01 ...poK i isiieries and Wildlife Division of Wildlife Refuges

Refuge name . ; AMUAL RECREATIONAL USE REPORT Stillwater w» M. 'Area State Nevada

State Congressional Refuge Report Yr. |Mo, Code District-Code Code Period fT (1-2) (3-4) (5-7) (8-11) 12-13 ) (14-18) (19-25} 12-13 ) (14-18) (M> VISITS FOR THK-Manrfat VISITS. FO^THE&Bftg* ACTIVITY Code .Total Total ACTIVITY Code Total Total Number Hours NumDer Hours Hunting: Big Game 01 On-Site Programs 22 5 . 5 Upland Game 02 50 125 •Miscellaneous Wildlife 23 365 7^ 03 Waterfowl 9; 365 in, 59^

Other Migratory 04 25 25 Swimming 24 80 102 Other 05 230 7^5 Boating 25 160 306 Bow 06 Water Skiing 26 5 5 Camping 27 'g' Salt Water 07 10 2k Warm Water 08 5A75 16,325 Group Camping 28

Cold Water 09 Picnicking 29

Environmental Education 10 1,6*5 511 Horseback Riding 30 Wildlife Photography 11 175 ^35 Bicycling 31

Wildlife Observation 12 2,276 U,860 • Winter Sports 32 5 1Q Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Conducted Programs 13 Collecting 33

Field Trials 14 •Miscellaneous Non-Wildlife 34 290 1*96 •

Wildlife Trails 15 Peak Load Day 35 1,100 k,koo • Wildlife Tours /Routes 16 U5 225 Actual. Visits 36 12,727

Visitor Contact Stations 17

Camping (wildlife related) 18 1,500 20, 9UO Fee Area Use 37 (14-18) Picnicking (wildlife related) 19 Ugo k90 Number of Fee Areas 38

JBtilife Interpretive Center 20 Fee Collections 39 $

Off-Site Programs 21 530 6ko Collection Costs 40 $

Form 3-123 •Use reverse side .to indicate types of activities summarized under (Revised July 1969) miscellaneous codes 23 and 34. MAKE NO OTHER ENTREES ON tot A 49 n *2MTJ CIS *. T3tje* ta JAO A I B« Refuge Visitors Name Affiliation Purpose Date M. McKeeley U of H, iemo Economic Study 1/2/70 C. tittle y of JT> Keno Soonomic Study i/a/7o J. McCormick U of H Farm/ Fallen Plant List 1/5/70 J. Sanders Kooskia Hateliery Excess Property 3/8/70 B. lAngford Sunayside Marsh Management 3/16/70 R. GlaJan ^ Portland Aerial Census 5/12/70 P* Helaert > San Francisco Office Space 5/15/70 S. Grossman Photographer Anaho Bird Data 5/19/70 3. Good Bart Motitttain Refuge Irb Trespass Case 5/20/70 R. McVein BSFW, Portland Area Study Plan 5/27/70 p. Hebert GSA, San Francisco Office Space 6A/70 W. Broadbeat BF&Gj Reno Area Tour 7/15/70 J. Payae tJ of H, Reno Area Tour 7/15/70 L. Wenzel BR> Sacramejito Valley Tour 7/ai/TO C* Christ enson BR, Carson City Valley Tour 7/21/70 W* Sweeney RBS, Portland Area Tour 7/22/70 J. Young RBS, Sacramento Area Tour 7/22/70 V, Wlese RBSj Sacramento Area Tour D. Marshall BSFW, Portland Area Photos R, McVein BSFW, Portland Area Study Plan R. McVein BSFVT, Portland Area Study Plan F. jacox BiFW, Portland Area Tour 9/23/to J4 Jones BSFW, Washingtom SAFETY Tour 9M/70 F* Jacox BSFW, Portland SAFETY four 9M/70 R* Glahn BSFWj Portland Aerial Census 9/30/70 E. Morris Sogiaeering, Porbland Area Bench Markers 11/12/70 R. Sllis Sea Refuge Eiceess pKfpe^y 11/18/70 J. Martinez # Portland Ada. Inspection H. Preston BSF¥> Portland Adm. Inspection FA, Portland Area Tour 12/16/70 WSt&s Reno Area Tour 12/16/70 J* Greenley KF&S, Reno Area Sour 12/16/7© @. Millazzo KF&G, Falloa Area Tour 12/16/70

C» Part id ipat ion January 15 Worden attended Pyramid Lake Task Foree meeting in Reno January 27 Wbrden attended Governor ^ Satural Resources Council meeting im Carson City January 30 attended Annual Calif ox-nia-HtevaAa Section meeting of The Wildlife Society held in Fresno ^February 19-20 Worden attended Pyramid lake Task Force hearings In Reno February 26-27 Wbrden and Napier attended mosquito control class held in Fallon April 3 Worden and Napier attended meeting with Bureau of Reclamation in Carson City on water management on Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, April 9 Wbrden attended Governor's natural Resources Council in Las Vegas April 10 Napier attended Pyramid Lake Task Force Meeting in Reno April 17 Worden attended Prospectus Study Group A on Pyramid Lake Task Force in Reno April 23 Worden attended Operating Criteria meeting in Reno April 28 Worden and Napier attended Nevada Refuge Managers* Workshop in Reno May 9 Napier participated ia Lahontan Chapter of the Audubon Society's Spring "Shorebird" Field Trip to Stillvater Jfey Ik Worden and Napier participated in a presentation at Foresta Institute for Lahontan Auduboa Society, Sierra Club and other interested people. Subject: Recreational and wildlife oriented imter uses in Lahontan Valley May 21 Napier escorted a group of i5 from Seventh Day Adventist Church School in Reno on tour of Area June 6 Napier took Breeding Bird Survey on Thorns Route near H&vthorjBLe* Nevada June 7 Napier took Breeding Bird Survey on Rye Patch Route at Rye patch Reservoir near Lovelock^ Nevada June 8 Worden attended Pyramid Lake Task Foree meeting in Reno June 10-^12 Worden and Napier assisted California Fish and Game in their goose banding at Pyramid Lake, Nevada, and Honey Lake, California July 11-12 Student trainees Paullin and Drifka acted as ehaperones to a group of Indian students at the Clear Creek Camp vmlch was sponsored by VISTA vorkers fig

July 31 Warden attended Pyramid Lake $ask Force meeting at Lake Tahoe August S Warden, Uapier and Paullin attended Board ©f Directors meeting at Caevasbaek Gun Club. Marsh and water manage- ment ©a the Clab was diseuss,ed and it •was agreed to do visual reconnaissance of Club ponds to estimate aquatic plant growth \, Kapler sad Srifka attended Betterment August 10 Committee meeting in Reno September 10-11 Aldous and Napier attended the Operating Criteria and Pyrfioid Lake $ask Force meetings in Reao September 14 Aldo-us addressed tne League at their dinner meeting in Fallon, September 18 Aldoias attended Sesource Action Council ateeting in Fallon September 21-22 Aldous attended t)ae Systems Ifenagement Wsrkslaop in Sacramento October 15 attended pyramid Lake Task Force meeting in Sen© October 19 Aldous attended lesouree Action Council aeeting in Fallon Qetober tl Aldous gaT«s a presentation for S. S. Waeeler's Resnewable Hiatural Resources Class at tlte tSalverslty of Itevada in Rea© Bovember 3 Aldous aad Ifapier attended the Betterment Committee of IFyrsunid lake fask Force meeting in Hem© 5 Aldous and papier attended the Weed Conference in Sparks

30 Aldous attended the Governor's natural Resoiarcfes Council meeting in lemo

December Jfc Aldous and attended the Betterment CoHtaittee meeting in Reno In addition to above, JSanager Aldous is also a member of the Lalaontan Chapter of the Audubon Society and the Fallon Kivanis Club, £, Communication With and Service Te The Public Wildlife Week - March lg-21j Theme "Seen Any tftldlife Lately?" A display ' ! " "was plaeed in the Library showing variolas mounted birds along with a brief descrip- tion of their habits and habitat. This display was viewed and appreciated by many people. A display was also put in the refuge's outdoor bulletin board* Boring the Schoolday week Manager Warden showed the film "The River Must Live" to approximately 450 students in the Fallen School System* A presentation including Bureau films was prepared for the Library auditorium. T&& event was given adequate publicity in the newspaper and on the radio. Plans were to give a presentation each night from Tuesday through Friday. Tuesday night 10 people attended; Wednesday night one person eame and Thursday night—no one appeared. Friday night we cancelled the program.' Magazines and Leaflets. An article was prepared during the year and appeared in January, 1971* issue of Western Outdoors, titled "GAKS—COMIir1 ATCHAJ" It described the quality ©anvasbaek hunting available on Stillwater. The refuge bird list was revised and sent in for printing in May. An Annotated List of Accidental Bird Sightings was also prepared. By the end of the year, aei^er of these publications had been printed.

E. Hunting Stillwater hunters are principally interested in waterfowl. Magazine and newspaper articles are informing more people of the quality, uncrowded Conditions at Stillwater. A few people regularly hunt coyotes in winter. Other wildlife is not present in numbers large enough to interest many hunters* Nevada Department of Fish and Qaae operated a waterfowl checking station on weekends, Biologist Hapier assisted early in the season when pressure was heaviest. The duck season ran from October 3 through January 3, goose hunting did not open until October 17 and continued through January 17- Five hundred permits were issued for whistling swans to be hunted im Lahoatan Y«tlley between Kovember 1 and January 3» The daily duck limit was 6 birds with no limitation on species, which was hard on esnvasbaeks. On opening day of the duck season, the population was over 155,000 and the peak was reached two weeks later. This was also the peak period for redheads which accounted for their high harvest. Principal species in the season's bag were redhead, pintail, gad-wall, eanvasbaek and shoveler* Bedheads were the number one bird dir ing the first two weekends, then canvasbacks took their plaee for three weekends. Species increasing in the bag eomparM to last year were redheads, caarvasbacks, gadwalls,, ruddy ducks and snow geese. She harvest of pintails and especially green-winged teal dropped considerably, The whistling swan, kill increased, as 79 were' cheeked sompared to k6 last year. The largest were two aiales, each weighing 30 lb,, t oz», and the smallest, 8 lb,, 9 02* She sex ratio was about egaal.«yad the age r«ti© was nearly e^ual taatil December, when the ratio tipped heavily t©ward adtilts for some reason. Best Derating areae were Nutgraas tFnit> Pintail Bay and Qoos® lake. West Marsh and Swan lake were filled later In the season, but birds did net respond to these areas like they did last year*

The total ntaaber of waterfowl hunters for the 1970-71 s«asom was $t^.6kt a drop of 17$ from last year. Success for the season was 1.83 birds eompared to 1»99 last year. Beported crippling loss was 18.$$, about the same as last year, but probably eonsiderably below the aet"aal» The total kill was estimated to be 21,226 birds.

F. Violations Most of the lav enforcement on Stillwater is eonducted by Kevada Fish and Gaffle. The refuge staff and U.S« Game Management Agent Wsndler from Reno lend assistance. !Ehe ehooting of protested species mistaken for snipe has been a problem in the past. This year we placed an article in the newspaper telling of the problem and describing differences between snipe and dotritchers, It seemed to help for no dowitehers same through the cheeking station, b\at a few actiial snipe did. Hevada Fish and Game supplies the following list of violations, larl Dudley is the warden in Fallon, Herman Saake is a waterfowl biologist in Fallon and Clifford Msiss is a warden from Reno. Officer Kame Violation "Disposition Ifepier W« ¥. Norris Sheoting/Possession Heno, Nevada of swam v/o permit $50.00 Dudley D. E» Brown Loaded gun in vehicle $50.00 Carson City, HV Meis« P. Webber Fishing w/four poles $50.00 Reno, Nevada 31

Dudley G. E. Chambers lunting illegal hours Handled by Reno, Nevada Juvenile Officer

Dudley G. N. O1 Sullivan Loaded shotgun in car $50.00 Reno, Nevada Dudley J. H» Stevens Hunting, unplugged gua $50.00 Sparks, NV Dudley M* L, Petersoa Banting, unplugged gun $50,00 Reno, Nevada Ml* J, A, Loff Hu&ting illegal hours Handled by Carson City* N? Juvenile Officer Dudley L. R* Chambers Hunting illegal hours $50.00 Reno, Nevada Meiss C» B. Cross NO Boat Registration $25.00 Tahoe City, CA Dudley left, D* M Hunting illegal hours $50.00 Garson City, JTV Meiss §« M. lasen Hunting v/o lieense/stamp Handled by Bparks, NV Juvenile Off ioer Meiss L. LaBzarotto Hunting illegal hours $50,00 Reao, IV Meiss J, ¥» Mayer Hunting illegal hours $50.00 Sparks, W

Meiss E« L. Niehols Hunting illegal hoars $50*00 Reno, Nevada

Meiss R, A. Mitchell Hunting, unplugged gun $50.00 Reno, NV Meiss C, B. Cress Hunting w/o stamp $50.00 Tahoe City, CA Meiss J. A. Mathias Hunting w/o stamp Handled by Sparks, W Juvenile Off ieer

Meiss K. R« Morgan Hunting w/0 stamp Handled by Juvenile Officer Meiss J, J. Chavarria Overlimit of daeks $50.00 So. Lake Tah©e Dudley, If. L» Sato Pishing w/o license $50* 00 Sapier Reno, Jfevada Saake • W» Jackson, Jr. Fishing w/o license $50*00 Reno, Bevada Saake tf, C. Carter Fishing w/o license $50,00 Reno, In addition to the above* Biologist Sapier apprehended Jerry Cole for shooting a rough-legged hawk which he Identified ae a "chicken hawk\e he was a juvenile, ao citation was Issued, Taut a long stern lecture was administered/ after whieh he was retired to write a paper about the habits and characteristics of various hawks. Another incident began when a call was received from the Junior High School informing us that they had an injured gull, Biologist Ifepier picked it tap and learned that a student, Tim Derleeo, was the culprit causing the injury* Be wa» instructfed to appear at our office where he admitted that he hit the bird with a stoae as it flew overhead. Actually, he> was probably more siarprised than anyone else when he brought the bird down! Mother lecture was given and another paper, (this tine about the habits of gulls) was received. It will not be long until we have a library of natural history papers*

@. SAFETY Monthly SAFETY meetings were conducted. Variotas SAFETY filaps- were shown and articles discussed. Student Trainee David G* paullin conducted one meeting covering first aid to be rendered in the case of being the first person upon an accident scene. Trainee Rrifka presented the film "!Pulse of Life" and one of the defensive driving techaitus refresher slide series at a SAFETY meeting. 0& August k Engineering Equipment Operator Raymond Braazanovich, a temporary employee, was injured while assisting Maintenanceman Daffney loading heavy pipe sign frames on the lowboy trailer* The sign frame slipped on the hook which was holding It suspended and Struck Braazano- vlch's left leg, breaking the femur. Brazzanovicb was hospitalized ±n Reno, spending eight weeks in traction and then spent eight weeks In a body east. He was released to return to duty effective December 18, Another lost time accident was chalked up against Stlllwater in September when biting insects swarmed into the northwest Dragline house, biting Operator General Coy C* Dyer oa the head. Infection set la and Coy was instructed by his doctor to refrain from any activity for a week. Dyer returned to work September 14, 33

IB December SAFETY award, plus were presented to the following employees for SAFETY records up through December, 1969? 5 years - Ernest J, Brooks and Larry D» Kapler 10 years - M. Glair Aldous 15 years - Coy C. Dyer 20 years - Ilia 38, Cress During 197Q refresher training for defensive driver teehnitues was reseived by the following Stillwater persoianel who viewed slides and participated dua discussion sparked by the showing of Part II, "Limited Access Highways" and Fart III, "Highways and Byways" of the Perception of Driving Hazard Slide Series, Eight hours of refresher training is required i» a three-year period. M. Glair Aldous k^ hours Iraest j. Brooks 3 hours Ilia E. Gress 3 hours Boaald 0. Drifka 1^ hsars Eugene E. Duffney 3 hours Coy C. Dyer 3 hotars Larry D. Kfepler 3 hours David 6. Paullin 3 hours Larry H. Warden 1^- hours At the close of the year Stillwater'e accident free days stood at only U.k days. The same figure applies to days without a lost time accident, as both records were shattered this year*

VII OTHER ITEMS Probably our biggest item of interest this year was the moving of ©ur office from the building which we had occupied since July, 1951. In the ensuing 19 years, we had attempted to eonvlnee our Bureau that purchase of the building would be a good investment—but never got the job done. We could have purchased the building—with practically half a block of parking space—^for approximately $13>000 in the early '^O's. It sold for $25,000 in May, 1970. W« are now housed (by ehoiee) in an old rejsidenoe^—which leaves much to be desired as office spaee—a bloek south of our old office. However, we understand plans are in tke making for construct ion of a new Post Of flee building for Fallen. The present teilding will be converted to ©^veraaMint office spaee and Stillwater Is included in the list of potential occupants- S© our stay here may be of short duration—five to ??t??? years. Larry D* Bapier, our biologist, received a promotion to (3i-ll effective in June. Stillwater's battle for wat-er eontinues and it has fallen to Larry's lot to do a great deal of the ground work for the various plans, reports, studies, etc *, that are being called for by the Task Force Committees in the water battle. Stillwater had two Student Trainees this summer* David Q. Paullin and Ronald C. Drifka, both students at Humboldt State College in Ax-eata, California, reported for duty in June. During the summer Dave made the annual vegetative survey of the Management Area and Ron comple-feed a plant cheek list for Stillwater, Both Trainees returned to school in September, planning t© graduate in 19?1» August seems to "be the month for the animal Stillwater Refuge picnic, It was held ©a the 15th at Likes Laket A group of approximately 30 persons —Refug e > Wildlife Services, and Nevada Fish and Game personnel and guests — gathered to share the potluck lunch, visiting, games, swimming* etc., that filled the day. A 10-year federal service pin was presented to Mainteaanceman Ernest J» Brooks in August "by Manager Aldous, A going away no-host dinner party -was given Manager Larry Warden and wife, Carol, on August il» Larry traasferared to the Manager's position at Camas Refuge and we wish the best for him on his new area. Refuge Manager M. Clair Aldous effected his transfer to Stillwater from MeNary Refuge August £k. Claiar is no stranger to Stillwater. He was on the Area making a range survey in 195^- 55 > s° k® is familiar with activities at Stillwater and is busy renewing old acquaintances. Manager Aldous had hardly unpacked hie household furnishings aad settled in his newly purchased home when he was elected 71ee President of the Fallen Kiwanis Club* Clair vsts a Kiwanian for seven years in Pasco, while Manager at MeUary Refuge. Jennifer Hieks, who has been assigned to the Stillwater office by the Inter-Tribal Council under the KYC program since the first of the year> completed her summer program on August 11 and elected not to participate in the Im-Sehool Program. Marilyn Bliss, under the same HYG program, started at Stillwater on September 28. Onder this HYC program, wfeich is administered by 010, the Bureau provides supervisory personnel to acquaint the high school student with office procedures and practices and the Inter-Tribal Council furnishes salary and related other features, The grazing program at Stillwater has been carried on since 1952 at a rather low level priority. This has been largely due to tke fac-fe that AT-tt.- grazing receipts are turned over to Truckee-Garson Irrigation; Stlstriet . With a limited budget and a shortage of manpower, it has Tseea the feeling that grazing administration would be done as best as could be with available resources --and this procedure has been followed throughout the years. The pendalum hs,s now swung to the other side. It is aow the feeling that the grazing program should be given high priority aad an all out effort to police livestock moves, numbers, etc., is in effect, in December, Maintenaneemaa Eugene E. Duffney was promoted to Biological Technician, GS-7> and it will be his duty to take ever the grazing program. He is also "io take over water management aad related feat-ores of the Area,, freeing Biologist l&pier for more biological studies and programs. Our annual no-test Christmas party was held at Leno's Dinner House ia December* A fun-gift exchange among the 25 persons present "brought much hilarity to the occasion. Misfortune seemed to frowa upon our Refuge this year. It seems that two lost time aceidents were not sufficient,1 n&e first of October, Maintenaneeman, Ernest J« Brooks entered the hospital for 3?em0val of a tumor and tests found that it was malignant. Further surgery was recommended which Brooks elected to forego. The major surgery performed oa his hip in If69 had left him severely handicapped in his ability to walk and moTe around with any degree of alacrity, and with this new found health impairment^ it was determined that retirement would be best for both Brooks and the lareau. Application for disability aretirement was made the middle ©f October and at the close of the year we are still awaiting notification that the retirement has been approved. ANAIO ISIAffi) N&flOML WIlDLIFi REFUSE I GEHERAL A. Weather Conditions father at pyramid lake is not significantly different from Stillwater., B. Habitat Conditions Water* !Ehe table belov presents the level of Pyramid Lake during the year* Readings tmre supplied by TJ. S. GeologlGal Survey, FERAMID LAKE LEVELS - 197° Bate Lake Elevation January 20, 1970 3792.3^ February Sk 379^20 March 30 379%.90 April 8 3794.98 May 4 379^.98 June 1 379^-90 July 2 379^ 92 August 5 379^«62 September 3 379^-05 October 5 3793.60 November 10 3793-20 December Ik 3793-00 January 20, 1971 3793*20 Lowest Level - January at 3792.3^ Highest Level - April/May at 379^-98 Rise la Lake Level - S,.6k feet Annual Change in Lake Level - Gain of .86 feet Receipts January-Deeember - it-9t,60Q acre feet

II WILDLIFE A, Migratory Birds frfeterblrdS. White pelieaas were scattered in seveo, TOMill nesting colonies. Birds deserted the northernmost soloay early in the breeding season* A total of 1*822 nests •was estSaa%ed to be staoeessful, Aa average of one young per nest tfas f ledgsd iyrith total peliean produotion at 1/822* Several deserted nests imre noted irith crushed eggs. Pelican production data was received from Don Knapp, Research Biologist. He spent many days on the Island during the nesting season. Young pelicans have been •wingtagged for four years* !Ehe Division ©f Wildlife Location of the 1970 nesting colonies Is shown oa the photo of Anaho Island.

White Pelican Colony - Shovn in

Double-crested Cornoraat^ Colony - Shown in Production - 1,000 from 576 nests

Great Blue Heron Colony - Shown In Production - 230 from 60 nests

C^iJ.fjraiu Cull Col--&;;• •- 3-,ws.» in Pro-auction - li,625 from 2,500

Caspian Tern Colony - Shovn in Production -•

38

Research is attempting to determine the breeding history of these pelicans^ such as breeding age and their statue in a colony by record- ing the breeding activity of tagged birds. One wingtagged pelican was sighted in the breeding eolony. It was tagged at one of the California colonies. Double-erested cormorants returned to their ©riginal nesting eolony sfc the shoreline. Last year this site was deserted and cormorants nested in the interior among the pelicans, Seating success was not cheeked from the groiand. A total ©f ^j6 occupied nests was counted from an aerial photo. A conservative estimate of production is 1,000 based on 70$ nesting success and 2.| young per nest. Production was not checked from the ground for disturbance on the colony increases lessee from gull predation. Most great blue heron* again nested in the greasewood on the east side of the island. Some birds continued to use the older site on the south side. Production was estimated at 13^ f#om 60 nests. Galls and Terns. California gulls continue to nest on the gravel bar at the southeast comer of Anaho Island. Production increased over last year's ^000, with 4,625 chicks raised from, 2,500 nests. Twenty-five Caspian terns were present in the gull colony, but no nest- ing was known to occur.

B. Reptiles Several rattlesnakes were seen this summer.

Ill SEVELOPMEIO1 and MAIHTEHANCE The Anaho Island Refuge recognition sign was refinished at the Still- water shop and reset on the mainland at Sutcllff• A new 65 h.p. Mercury outboard motor was purchased for the refuge boat. This boat is used only on pyramid Lake travelling to Anaho Island from Suteliff, a trip of fiv* miles. This trip can sometimes be hazardous^ for high winds quickly create waves in excess of five feet.

V FIELD IBTV18TICJATIOKS or APPLIED RESEARCH The refuge staff assisted Doa Knap, Researeh Biologist, In banding 101 immature white pelicans. One hundred of these were also fitted with green fabric pataglal wing markers and streamers on their leg bands. The purpose is to gala additional life history information. This year concludes banding activities by the Division of Wildlife Research* VI PtJBLIG BEIATIOHS only known trip to Ana&o Island Refuge during 1970—otiier than those made for Mologitsai reasoas—^was made May 19, -wiiea Manager Wordcn escorted plaotograplaer Sfeelly ©rossmaa to t&fe Islamd to olaeefc om the AaaJao birds in eoajimetion with a W film Gr©ssiaa» -was producing.

til ©HER See Section 1^ Water HegotiatJens, of Stillwater Report, FALI0JT B&FIONAL WIIDUFE BEFtJSE

eomsetnisg the Failoa leftige is similar t® th» Island tJai*. tEhese areas overlap aad casttaQt be SIGHATORE PAGE

GJredlts - Befiage Manager Aldotis - Section? III^Aj IV~A* IV-B Biologist $a$der - jSeetioas l-i) TL', III-B# III-B; V| VI VI-B, VI-I> Vl-Fj Aaaiio Island Refuge Report j All HE Forms

Clerk Cress - Sections I-Aj tl-B, H-C, VII; OJypiag aad assembly of Report.

Baerfcograpfcy Credit - As Phot© Captiona - lapier

Eespeotfally Biibjaitted,

M« 01air Aldous Eef iage Manager

Date? February 18, 1971

Approved^ Regioaal

Date;

(Signatxi3?e

Ipfcle) !Ehe Stlllvater Sefuge Office had to he moved this year. !Eae old building (upper photo - Wiseman, 1958) had been leased for 19 years •when it was sold. Ihe sew office (bottom photo) is a reconditioned residence. !Ehe nev building has more office space, including a laboratory iw place of the kitcheni but the parking area is exfy&emely limited, lapier - December, 1970 I

--.-

ssar 1 - ..' A typical redhead nest in alkali bulrush. These nests were extremely difficult to .locate ia this habitat type. Only aine redhead nests -were found in the But grass "Unit. Seven of them were relocated and four were successful. More data is neeessary to determine the reproductive rate of this species. Napier - June, 1970

*Chis year nest destruction by ravens increased. Fifty-three percejat of located gadwall nests were destroyed, principally by ravens. Hapier «. July, 19?0 !V Ml $5> ;

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* These are a new type of information sigo used on the Area. The legs and frame were made from pipe> obtained from surplus. The sign itself is particle board, covered with redwood stain and given a final coat of plastic varathane. Legs are set ia. concrete and should resist rubbing by eattle *

lapier> September, 1970

A weekend was spent at the Big Greek Campground in Central Bevada, Bay Aleorn, Division of Wildlife Services Biologist> (Center) showed Student Trainees and mtc "boys how to establish rodent trap line for censusing, and also instructed in preparation of mamaa! study skins. Trainees Ion Drifka (left center) Dave Paullin (right center) Bapier - July, 1970

The cinnamon teal hen must have been surprised when She hatched this clutch of eggs. The nest contained four teal eggs, two redhead eggs and the newly hatched ruddy duck. With the high population of redheads, nest para- sitism is quite common* Hapier - July, 1970

In the past year, tvo f lashboard channels in the It-Way Structure (No* 5) gave way, Repairs entailed placing coffer dams ia each of the fcrar canals, pumping water out of the structure* and replacing all channel iron. Foreman Olano used a piston stud driver gun to seat the channels on the concrete structure* Mapier - May, 1970 '.-' " • .a -; "—•» * :• r, .*fc ,.% *• J J,r- --.-*T ." * >V"i • , - \.+ ••.•••*. "* ' '

^* Befuge personnel assisted permittees in repairing the East Lake Corral, Corrals such as this one axe necessary to gather and check livestock grazing on the Area Warden - February, 1970

ifois spring all the cattle grazing on the Area were gathered and tested for brueellosis by the Federal Veterinarian, Dr, John J. Wbolsey. Only one positive reaction was found, and this was the result of brucellosis vaccination. Warden - February, 1970

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[y;w«sf«Wf.k., .>VS\ •1 /qI i?Tv;?«^fe^fe^y^ii^J^ A few good sized largemouth blackbass still exist in itillwater Marsh. 2&is 5**lA pounder was gill netted in lead Jjake. Napier ~> Qstober, 1970

Two happy hunters return from Sfcillwater Marsh with principally canvasbacks. Many hunters in this area have airboatSj for ponds are generally too shallow for outboard motors. Kapier - October^ 1970

outdoor "bulletin board was placed In front of the office. Current environmental and eonservation topics are posted^ as well as hunting and fishing information. With the High Bchool only a block from, the offlee, this helps some young people become aware of important issues. OSiis display was up during Rational Wildlife Week., Napier - March, 1970

flapper Donald Austin and Refuge Manager Aldous grading and dividing part of muskrat fur harvest•* This trapping program was initiated as a muskrat population study,

UTapier - Decemfeer> 197°

After deserting this site on Anaho Island last year, double-crested cormorants returned to nest here this summer. Boaters moving along the shoreline have an adverse effect on nesting success. Birds flush from their nests, allowing gull predation on eggs and young. How many nests are there in the colony? If you estimated 576> J°® were correct. Glahn - May, 1970

Aerial view of Pyramid lake with Anaho Island in the center. !Ehe entire lake Is within the Paiute Indian Seservation. Much time and money is being spent attempting to stabilize the lake's level for the Indians. T3ae additional water needed to accomplish this can only some from a reduction of !Eruckee Hlver diversions to the Lahontan Yalley. A cutback of water to the valley would have disastrous effects on Still water Marsh. However, with the present rate of decline of Pyramid lake's level, in 20 to 30 years a land bridge may appear from the mainland to the southeastern tip of Anaho Island. Present water depths are about 25 feet over this area. If this occurs, nesting colonies could be adversely affected by mammalian predators or probably worse, by human intrusion. Preventive measures have been planned if and when the island does become a peninsula, Glahn - May, 1970 •';:;,r>.

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