BEAR RIVER Migratory Bird Refuge NARRATIVE REPORT JANUARY - DECEMBER 1965 .NARRATIVE REPORT

BEAR RIVER MIGRATORY BIRD REFUGE

For the Period

January 1, 1965 to December 31• 1965

.REFUGE PERSONNEL Vanez T. Wilson (Retired 8/O5/65) Refuge Manager Lloyd F, Gunther (Appt, 8/06/65) Refuge Manager Gerald M, Nugent (Trans. 2/23/65). . Assist. Refuge Manager William C. Reffalt (Appt. 6/O6/65) . Assist. Refuge Manager Frank Gunnell (Appt. 3/25/65) • • Refuge Manager (Trainee) Leo T, Young Foreman John P. Valcarce ..... Mechanic Roland E. Jorgensen Maintenanceraan Leonda. A. Hansen Maintenanceman LeeBue Allen Clerk James M. Carroll, Jr. (4/19—9/08) .... Student Trainee Bruce C. Bosley . . . (6/25—7/09) . . . Temporary Laborer Thomas S. Burt . (6/07—6/11) . . . Temporary Laborer Dean W. Hawkes (6/08—9/07) . . . Temporary Laborer Spencer Stone . . (7/15—8/20) . . . Temporary Laborer Archie W. Francis (10/09—12/18 Hunting Season Week-end Duty as Temporary Laborer

WILDLIFE RESEARCH PERSONNEL G. Hortin Jensen ..... Flyway Biologist Allen G. Smith Wildlife Research Biologist Dr. Wayne I. Jensen Microbiologist Dr. Malcolm E. McDonald . . . Wildlife Research Biologist Kenneth Capelle Wildlife Research Biologist Jack P. Allen Wildlife Research Biologist Richard Gritman Wildlife Research Biologist Ellen Capner Clerk C. Dennis Hume . (7/06—9/15) . Temporary Student Assistant Archie W. Francis (6/07—9/15)• Temporary Student Assistant TABLE OF CONTENTS

PACffE I. GENERAL

A. Weather conditions 1

B. Habitat conditions if

II. WILDLIFE

A. Migratory Birds 7 B. Upland Game Birds 17 C. Fur Animals 18 D. Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Crows, Ravens & Magpies 2.8 E. Other Birds 18 F. Fish 20 G. Reptiles 20 H. Disease 20 III. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

A. Physical Development 25 B. Plantings , 25 G. Collections and Receipts 25 D. Control of Vegetation 25

IV. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

-. E. Commercial Fishing 26

V. FIELD INVESTIGATION OR APPLIED RESEARCH

A. Progress Report 2?

VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS

A. Recreational Uses 28 B. Refuge Visitors 30 C. Refuge Participation 30 D. Hunting 31 E. Violations 32

VII. OTHER ITEMS

A. Items of Interest 33 B. Photographs G. Signature 34 BEAR RIVER MIGRATORY BIRD REFUGE

NARRATIVE REPORT

CALENDAR YEAR I965

I. GENERAL A. Weather Conditions:

Late Summer, 1965 - An example of the abundant water that flowed thru Bear River this year.

As is "normal" for weather, the 1965 weather pattern at Bear River strayed considerably from the "normal". One of the most noteworthy departures from the norm occurred in the Bear River flow record for the year. Except for a short two-week period in July, the river flowed over the headquarters spillways from the time of "spring fill-up" until the "winter drawdown". Re­ sults of this record flow year are very evident on the refuge marshes. The vegetation in the units, even now in its dor­ mancy, shows by its density, size, and general appearance that

-1- 100,

90! Temperature Patterns Sd 70 60 Mo. 50 , 40 230 | 20. |l0 Mo. 1964 nax-ndn profile Min. 0 I [211X1] 1965 aax-ain profile -10 -20 25 yr. ppt. average 1965 ppt.

•H 25 yr.avll.95 1965 - 15^1

> I i iTecipitatieta ^.ttar a it was a prosperous year. The vegetation on the delta lands south of the main dike made remarkable growth as a result of nearly year long "irrigation" with the water spilled from the units - an unprecedented occurrence. These "recent" marshlands will provide class "A" habitat for the spring migrants and nesting species in 1966.

Below is a "season-by-season" account of the ,65 weather highlights:

Winter

January was generally mild at the refuge with a +10 degrees as the month's recorded minimum. Very little snow fell and none remained for more than a brief stay.

February was "seasonable" with some temperatures above the normal. The precipitation during the month was very near the long term average. The river flow in both January and February was slightly above the usual varying from 800 - 2500 cfs in January, and from 2000 - 2600 cfs in February.

March was cold, windy, and dry. The dryness, however, was only in the valley and forecasts concerning the Bear River watershed were optimistic.

Spring Lightr rains occurred on fourteen days in April opening the way td^excellent "busting-out" conditions.

Temperatures, too, were ideal for the initial burst of growth heealding a new spring. May, however, provided a set-back to spring with a killing freeze on May 6th. General water con­ ditions remained excellent. June brought additional rain and optimum temperatures to the marshes. The river flow continued, as predicted, to be above average.

Summer The continual thumping of the waters passing over the spill­ ways and control gates at headquarters remained an omnipresent sound through the 8th of July, then came silence as the river flow diminished. However, the silence lasted only until July 22nd when once again the engine-like rumbling of the waters became prevalent.

-2- August, 1965 made an indelible mark in the refuge files as the wettest August on record (1940-64) at the headquarters station. The marsh remained verdant with its luxuriant growth of vegetation.

September fell short of duplicating its predecessor's feat by a mere 0.37 inch but failing this found another means of reaching the record books. For the first time in the last 90 years the Great Salt Lake water level rose during September. Gaging stations recorded a plus one-tenth of a foot during the month instead of the usual 'minus three- tenths'. The early October lake level was recorded at 4,193*75 feet elevation - an increase of 1.15 feet during 19651 September provided another record for the book with a snow storm and freezing temperatures (30°) on the 17th.

Fall October broke the trend established by August-September and only a "trace" of moisture was recorded for this normally moist month. (See weather pattern graph, next page). November returned to the trend with ample precipitation and warm temperatures - a combination that made "Indian SuiiimerM a reality here at Bear River. December was mild for the most part with temperatures and moisture near the narm. Temperature inversions caused the hazardous fog conditions that are not uncommon in this area, and snow and ice made known the closeness of another winter as December 1965 closed the history book on another eventful year.

-3- B. Habitat Conditions:

Looking SE over Unit - Marsh conditions were generally excellent this year.

1. Water The water situation has been touched upon in the proceeding section. A general statement concerning water conditions in 1965 would have to contain the adjective "excellent" to do justice to the situation. Winter snow surveys throughout the Bear RLver watershed re­ sulted in a prediction of +20^ runoff. Not only did this prediction come true but abundant spring rains reinforced the runoff and resulted in a nearly perfect spring flow.

An unexpected abundance of water in early June resulted in minor flooding of the outer portions of marsh in Unit 2, but it is believed that nest losses were minimal and re- nesting conditions were excellent. As previously mentioned, river flow abated for only a short time in the summer and the normal deterioration of the units

-4- did not occur this year. All spillboxes along the main dike were •'buttoned-upH as the river dropped on July 8th and con­ ditions were appraised as excellent.

To our surprise, however, the river rose on the 22nd of July and flowage into all units soon had the water levels above the desired amount. Thus, the spillboxes were reopened and water flowed onto the "mud-flats" south and west of the main dike. This condition revaled throughout the remainder of the summer, fall, and early winter.

It is believed by the several crew members who have been on the refuge since its establishment that 1965 was the first year that water was allowed past the main dike during the summer since the dikes were completed.

This abundance of water provided for maximum vegetative development both within the units and on the rich delta lands south of the dike.

2. Food and Cover: Only an astute poet could completely describe the effect of the added quantity and quality of water this year. Of course the above average conditions of 1964 must be given due credit for providing conditions that allowed the vegetation to take full advantage of the phenomenal I965 situation.

Upland marsh areas within the units continued to flourish this year with additional spread of alkali bulrush (Scirpus pa ludosue) into areas previously supporting glasswort (SalicomiS a SJD«)« Seed production of the bulrushes was well above normal.

The expansion of marsh vegetation onto the once barren mud flats south and west of the main dike continued at the nearly unbelievable rate reported last year. Dense mats of glass- wort now cover soil that only a few years ago was barren and sterile. Alkali bulrush also showed significant expansion on these delta lands and the entire portion of the refuge lying outside the main dike from west of Unit One to south of Unit Five is now an impressive, apparently well established pioneer marsh. The value of this area to the migratory bird populations of the refuge is no longer a mere potential but a budding reality.

Nesting cover along the dikes did not undergo the usual deterioration this year owing to the abundant summer moisture regime. Thus, as would be expected, the nesting for most waterfowl species showed an uptrend.

-5- All weeds common to the dikes showed phenomenal growth this year and proved to be the primary nesting cover for the gadwall, mallard and pintail. Fall migrants apparently found the entire refuge appealing this year as the waterfowl use patterns were more ubiquitous than indicated in the 1964 records. The 'new marsh 1 outside the dike proved its worth by being the favorite area for the over 100,000 green-winged teal that used the refuge this year (See NR-1). The interiors of the units also were heavily used this fall, as opposed to last year when the use within the units did not occur until weather and water conditions forced the birds from the lakeshore marshes in December. Pondweed production within the five diked units was probably greater than ever before. The phenology of deterioration for the aquatic plants was retarded by the water conditions this year. However, as the seeds matured and were shed they were washed outside the units this year through the open spillboxes. The affect of this food transfer was evident in the early migrants as their use of the outside area was pronounced. Additional effects of the movement of such quantities of seeds to the outside of the dike should become evident within the next few years. It is expected that, given reasonable water conditons, the rate of succession of these new marshlands should accelerate even more than has been observed in the past two years. The ilipact of the new marsh area upon the management of the refuge is undertermined at this early date. Yet, with the extremely rapid rate of succession that is now taking place, consideration of the future management of these lands will require earlier attention than previously believed.

-6- JI. WILDLIFE A, Migratory Birds

Waterfowl:

a. Swans

-j J i J

A very small portion of the 23,500 Whistling Swan that used the refuge this fall.

1. Spring Activities: Several thousand whistling swans wintered on the refuge this year. The spring swan migration began in late February and had reached its peak by March iSib when 10,400 swans were recorded on the refuge. Except for a few cripples, the swan migration had passed by the end of April. This year's peak was nearly a full month earlier than in 1964 indicating the mildness of the spring weather. The population census compares closely with last year's peak. 2. Summer Activities: No swans were observed on the refuge from May 18th until September 17th. Thus, the fall swan migration too, was approximately one month in advance of the 1964 migration.

-7- 3* Fall Activities; A lone swan heralded the start of this year's fall iiigration on September 17th. The migration proper arrived the first week of October and thereafter the swan numbers grew until the peak of 23*500 was reached on November 29th. This peak represents an all time high for the refuge. Through December the swan numbers dwindled until only 700 plus remained as 1965 came to a close. Hunter success on the swan was very poor this year with only 14 checked through refuge headquarters. This number is Ik lower than 1964 and 350 less than 1963* There is some in­ dication that the bird's wariness has increased but a more apparent reason for the low success is the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the refuge swan hunters this year. During the early part of December it would have been possible for nearly any hunter to fill his swan permit on the refuge marshes and, in fact, most of the swans were taken at this time. However, 805^ or more of the hunters with swan permits hunt the state's Ogden Bay Refuge south of Bear River. Early reports from that area indicated that the success was low because the swans were flying higher than usual. Also, the swans were more content to stay on Bear River this year thus allowing the hunter less opportunity for filling his permit.

The Swans spent a great deal of time in the contour furrow area north of Unit 1.

.8- b« Geese:

Though she had only one. the defense bespoke many •

1^ Spring Activities; Nearly 500 Canada geese tooii advan­ tage of mild winter conditions and stayed throughout December and January. As early as mid-February the migrants began to arrive. By mid-March the breeding population of about kOO pairs had started nesting.

This year's brood counts were initiated on May 12th, and continued thru June 16th. The final dike count of 348 broods was supplemented with an aerial survey to provide a check of the production indices. The aerial census showed that 80% of the refuge broods had been counted from the dike. Thus, a total of 435 broods were raised on the refuge and 43 on adjacent areas to give a total production estimate of 2,143 geese (4.45 B average brood size). The accompany­ ing graph shows the estimated gosling production for the same area over the past 20 years.

2. Summer Activities; With the exception of Unit #4, all of the units were utilized by the pre-flight goslings and molting adults. Various reasons have been given for the

-9- Canada Qooaa Production

i > I

1946 1965 absence of the geese in this unit but nothing definite has been decided at the present time.

On June 28th, 29th and 30th 504 geese were banded; following is the tabulation of this banding by age and sex:

Table I. Tabulation of 1965 Canada Goose Banding on the Bear RLver fiefuge Male Female Total Ratio:H/100F Adults 58 52 110 112:100 Immatures 207 187 394 111:100 Ratio: 1mm/Adult 3*57:1.00 3.60:1.00 3.58:1.00 By the 1st week of August the bulk of the population had dis­ persed from the units to congregate in small flocks (20-50). 3. Fall Activities: Once this year's young found the use of their wings the refuge population dwindled as the now flying young geese explored unknown territory. After the hunting season opened in early October, however, the geese once again found the Bear River marshes.

The abundant food supply, especially the glasswort, provided plentiful feed for the geese and the refuge attracted and held most of the honkers in northern Utah through the remainder of October and most of November. The peak of 6,850 occurred on Nov. 3rd. Reports from surrounding state and other public hunting areas indicated that the geese were well provided for on the refuge. This year's total of 203 Canada geese taken in area one of the refuge hunting grounds is a record harvest for the refuge thus adding further proof of the attraction the abundant habitat had to the goose population. With the freeze-up late in December the majority of the geese migrated leaving only a few wintering birds. The period closed with an estimated refuge population of 217 Canada geese.

The snow goose population peak of 9,000 is an increase of 5»700 birds over the 1964 estimates. Hunters harvested only eleven snows on the refuge, thus pointing out that the snow geese use the refuge principally as a rest area feeding in the Howell Valley and Southern Idaho for the most part. A Ross's goose, apparently suffering from the Bear River Plague (Botulism), was collected on the refuge this fall. Although recorded here previously, it has been many years since the last recorded observation was made on the refuge. It is planned to have Dr. McDonald of the Research Unit conduct a parasitologies! examination on the carcass and the skin has been live«#mounted for the refuge office. -10- c. Ducks

Pintails, but the peak this year was 6^ below 1964's.

1, Spring Activities; The spring movement of ducks thru this area reached its maximum on March 26th with an estimated 155,200 ducks on the refuge marshes and 57»850 on the adjaeent areas. Below is the tabulation of the census:

-11- Table II. Duck Migration Peak, Spring I965

Numbers Species Species Refuge Adj. Areas Total Composition {%) Mallard 4,000 1,500 5,500 2.6 Gadwall 8,500 3,900 12,400 5.3 Pintail 60,500 19,000 79,500 37.5 G.W. Teal 26,200 11,000 37,200 17.4 Cinn. Teal 5,600 1,500 5,100 2.4 Am. Widgeon 5,800 4,000 9,800 4.6 Shoveller 5,600 2,700 8,300 3-9 Redhead 9.500 3,550 13,050 6.1 Canvasback 19,800 3,500 23,300 11.9 Lesser Scaup 2,900 2,400 5,300 2.5 Goldeneye 1,710 1,300 3,010 1.4 Bufflehead 565 400 965 .04 Ruddy duck 6,150 3,000 9,150 4.3 Am. Merganser 305 75 380 .01 R-B Merganser 75 ?o - TOTALS 155,205 57,855 213,060 99.95S* Data in this table represent the overall spring migration peak for this area. The weeks following this census brought a steady decline in total numbers of waterfowl using the refuge and by the end of May only 28,720 ducks remained on the refuge<

2. Summer Activities; The duck nesting and brooding activi- ^ ties are treated separately and may be found on page 13, Duck use days this year for the period May 1 to August 31 amounted to approximately 8.6 million. This is an increase of 2.1 million over 1964 and 0.3 million over I963 indicating the ideal conditions that existed this year. Coot use showed a slight decline of 0.2 million use days from the 2.35 million recorded in 1964.

The duck use this year was more evenly divided between the refuge units and the outside areas than was indicated in 1964. However, it must again be emphasized that the marsh area outside the main dike constitutes a tremendous potential for waterfowl as the past two years have shown.

A noteworthy increase of Redheads from 470,500 use days during the summer period of 1964 to 913,350 in I965 compares nicely with the general flyway situation. Canvasback use dropped 9,500 use-days from the 1964 records but this may have been due to the recent completion and filling of the Willard Bay Reservoir which is highly attractive to the "Cans".

-12- 3« Pack Nesting & Brooding Activities; The annual duck nesting survey was initiated on June 10th this year and completed about two weeks later. A total of 640 nests, containing 6,470 eggs, were recorded. This represents a 125^ decline from 1964. However, the nesting period was much longer this year due to ideal weather and renesting was common. According to the weekly brood counts, started on July 7th, the renests this year were highly successful. Class I broods were seen well into August and the average brood size for the renests was higher than normal.

The accompanying graphs show the weekly brood count trends for 1965 and production indices trends for four duck species over the eighteen year period 1948-1965. The first graph (weekly count trends) shows several anomalies that tempt one for interpretation. However, it will be necessary to draw similar graphs from several years of data if the interpretations are to be relatively free from bias; thus we will reserve our initial interpretations of these graphs until next year when we plan to have developed the composites from data in the files.

The second graph, an eighteen year trend for four species, shows the relative position of these species and the pro­ duction trends over the years. The spectacular increase in gadwall production on the refuge can probably be attributed to ecological changes that have occurred on the nesting areas.

It will be noted that the production estimates for the refuge this year are a marked departure from last year's figures. This departure is due to a change in the aethod of estimating production to compensate for ecological changes that have occurred since the original formulae were established.

4 study of the refuge nesting surveys, production trends by species, and vegetation maps all lead to the conclusion that a considerable change in the vegetative communities has occurred since the 1940-1950 decade when the production surveys were initiated. Inland saltgrass (Distichlis stricta) now occurs as a climax monotype in many areas previously occupied by bulrush and mixed pioneer communities. Marshland vegetation along the upper edges of the refuge units has receeded, thereby further reducing the original nesting area. Shrubs (mostly Rosa sp.) have established dense stands along the edges of the several channel banks and nesting has dropped markedly.

-1> 1963 Weekly Brood Count Trends

Class I Class II C I Broods Broods ^3Broods Bedhead Gadwall Mallard Clan. Teal Pintail 100

90

8o

70

60

VJ4 50

ko

30

20

10

Bate Seen ^^V.VW^mi' IMi/'l1 i1 nf'iil Mi1! \nnnw3MnfuMfiM Young) 1965 Weekly Brood Count Trends Class I Class II Class III Broods Broods Broods

Shorellar Ruddy All Species Coablned 100

i i H 1350 7 s

30 -!

20 -

10 A

Date No. Seea inmifTimnM (Young) 5750 Production Indices Trends for Four Duck Species on the Bear River Refuge, Utah 5500 1948-1965 r

4000 Gadwall Redhead Mallard 3750 Cinn. Teal

3500

3250 The dike surveys now produce a large percentage of the nests whereas the marsh area along the north edge of the units Mas previously the preferred area. The rather specacular increase of gadwall production since 1948 is itself an indication of ecological change.

The above changes, described for the flora primarily, are only a small portion of the total environmental changes that would occur as the Vegetative communities changed. However, we have very little information on the other elements of the marsh biome and reactions that would result from the afore­ mentioned floral changes. We may be assured, however, that changes equal to the magnitude of the floral change have occurred for this is a natural law.

The net result of all the environmental changes that un­ doubtedly have taken place is still largely an unknown. Therefore, although we have recognized that modification of the production formulae is necessary we do not as yet know the exact changes that will be necessary to provide reliable estimates. This year's estimates reflect an attempt to compensate, in a general way, for the ecological changes.

In addition, the formula used this year is based entirely upon the brood counts whereas the previous estimates have used the nesting survey data for several species. Thus, the change renders the Bear River data more comparable with flyway production figures.

This year's estimates are derived from a combination of aerial and ground brood counts and the weekly census data. Collectively, these three separate surveys showed that the use of the original formulae would not produce accurate estimates from the 1965 data. The decision to depart from the existing method, coming as it did at the close of the brood counts, created the difficult task of formulating a method of producing estimates for 1965 that would better represent the actual production. The resulting figures, as shown on the NR forms, are probably not highly accurate but they are considered the best available estimate for this year.

It is planned that an intensive effort will be programmed during 1966 to derive new formulae for the production data.

-14- I H > I

BOUNDARY LINES FCNCC LINES PRIMARY ROADS SECONDARY ROADS TRAILS CANALS & DITCHES GREAT S JL L T LAKE E aSOUPINQ OF DUCK BROODS B? AERIAL SURVEY GENERAL MAP Major Brooding Areas BEAR RIVER Brood areas not counted SCALE MIGRATORY BIRD REFUGE 0 14 I S MILKS by ground census. •A BOX t-LOfcR COUNTY UTAH 4, Fall Activities; The fall migration, already underway, at the beginning of this period, continued at a leisurely pace through September. Mild weather prevailed not only here in northern Utah, but throughout the northern areas of the flyway. Thus, the birds were not hard pressed to obtain their living requirements and moved southward in tourist fashion. fiefuge food supplies remained adequate even under the pressure of the peak duck movement. The total use days for September- December period amounted to 27,923,141 or an increase of 5,329*024 days over the 1964 fall migration records. The following table shows the 1965 peak for each species;

Table III. 1965 Fall Migration Peaks, by Species, on the Bear River Refuge Date Peak Peak Number as Change from Species Recorded Numbers % of Total Peak 1964 Whis. Swan 11-29 23,500 100.0 Can. Goose 11-3 6,850 44.2 —TO— Snow Goose 11-29 9,000 56.8 +135.8 Mallard " 11-29' "25,700 5.7" _+172.7 Gadwall 10-14 32,600 6.0 - 10.5 " Baldpate 10-14 33,600 6.2 + 44.9 Pintail 9-30 197,000 36.4 + 3.1 G.W. Teal 10-27 134,000 24.6 - 6.0 B.W. Teal 9-24 700 Trace + 11.6 Cinn. Teal 10-14 16,000 2.9 +300.0 Shoveller 10-14 17,500 3.2 +220.0 Redhead 10-14 22,000 4.0 - 10.0 Caoyasback 10- 20 53,700 9.9 +1000.0 L. Scaup 11- 3 2,600 Trace + 14.3 Goldeneye 12- 14 750 Trace Bufflehead 12-14 125 Trace Ruddy 10- 7 7,200 1.3 - 24.0 Merganser 11- 12 600 Trace Totals 99^ + 9*2% Coot 9-24 34,200 100.0 The fall migration peak for Redheads shows the greatest percent change from 1964, however, much of this can be attributed to the unusual use patterns exhibited by the birds in 1964. The figures listed above are for the refuge lands only and in 1964 much of the duck use occurred on adjacent lands as reported in the 1964 Narrative Report.

The Pintail and Mallard declines are not as severe as indicated since the peak figures for the refuge and adjacent lands com­ bined shows a slight increase in both species, as predicted in the flyway forecast.

-15- The mildness of this year's fall and early winter months accounts for the increase in use-days. However, when the freeze-up came we lost nearly all of the birds in a short while and at the close of 1965 only about 1/3 of the number recorded for the previous year's wintering population were left.

2. Other Waterbirds: Except for the Great Blue Heron and the Pied-billed Grebe, the end of March and early April brought the spring movement of the waterbirds. The Western Grebes made their appearance on the 26th of March and immediately started their "water ballet." Downy young were seen on the backs of their parents as late as September 30th. The Eared Grebes arrived on the l8th of March and were gone by the end of May. They returned in ©ctober in greater numbers than have been seen for the last four years. The White Pelicans started fishing on the 26th of March and thrived on our "Utah Tuna" through November. The Double-crested Cormorants, Black-crowned NightHerons, Snowy Egrets and Bitterns appeared around the first of April and remained on the refuge throughout the summer and early fan. The Great Blue Heron and the Pied-billed Grebe made up for their late arrival in the spring by being present in unusually high numbers through the summer and late fall months. One hundred five Great Blue Herons were counted on December 27» an all time high for this date.

Newly hatched California Gulls, and one on the wayI

-16- COMPARATIVE TABLE OF CALIFORNIA GULL NESTING SURVEY - BEAR RIVER REFUGE

TEARS - 1950 - 1965 Areas Year , P-Line O-Line W. Lat. West West East East Channel Total Banks up Total P-Line Island Island Island Island Nests Eggs Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 4 Unit 4 Unit 3 End Unit 5 1950 628 1529 174 4l7 286 347 45^ 3,835 8,936 1951 511 1630 112 394 250 303 443 3,643 8,540 1952 2 759 1424 79 301 180 203 327 3,275 7,780 1953 721 2174 90 351 125 351 892 4,504 10,300 1954 663 2104 268 152 357 1077 4,821 11,186 1955 806 2430 70 406 131 273 998 5,114 10,699 1956 837 2039 84 431 136 303 1426 5,256 12,912 19?7 2 1164 2083 105 430 116 410 1515 5,825 15,710 195« 1352 1836 127 698 139 345 1732 6,229 14,870 1959 10&4 2197 91 440 124 349 2101 6,386 14,942 > I960 927 1599 101 415 316 320 2526 6,205 13.913 1961 1 1085 1607 109 459 184 369 2399 6,213 13,147 1962 22 1372 1785 152 470 170 4o8 2794 7,173 16,686 1963 1013 1156 108 354 144 243 1670 4,679 7,793 1964 1260 2033 119 633 233 368 3396 8,042 19,410 1965 89^ B33 94 488 202 372 6640 9,573 15,334 3- Shorebirda, Gulls and Ternsi

The Avocets were the only species of shorebirds that increased in numbers over the past year. The ibis, stilts, curlews, godwits, phalaropes, dowitchers, willets, sandpipers, and yellowlegs were all present in their usual populations. The Avocets were the last to leave, staying until the freeze-up in mid-December. Once again the California Gull increased during the nesting season with a considerably greater use of Unit 3 for a nesting area. With the State Game Department continuing their control of the California Gull on surrounding areas, there will probably continue to be an increase in their use of the refuge. Plans are underway for the placing of Xmas trees and orchard limbs over one of the nesting areas as a means of discouraging them from further nesting intensities on the refuge. Results will not be known until after the coming spring.

Several Caspian Terns were noted throughout the summer and early fall. The Forester Tern and Black Tern were also present in their usual numbers.

October brought an unusual visitor to the refuge. A Bonaparte's Gull was seen fishing by the boat ramp just outside the refuge office.

B. Upland Game Birds Pheasant production on the refuge, believed to be fairly stable, continued to have good success in spite of apparently adverse weather conditions. The most apparent reason for this situation is the excellent cover and food resources that the refuge offers to these birds. It was decided to mow the vegetation along the edges of all dike roads this year to alleviate the pheasant road kills that have occurred in previous years. After the mowing of 4-5 foot strips on either side of the roads a decided improvement in the situa­ tion was noticed.

A three year study is being proposed to investigate the charac­ teristics of the refuge pheasant population. This study will investigate such things as the sex and age ratios, production trends, density patterns and movements. Once completed the results of the project should provide sound management proposals for the refuge ring-necks. Although the Mourning Dove does not nest on the refuge, several were observed along the dikes and at headquarters during the late

•17- summer. It Is probable that the gun-wary doves make use of the "refuge" offered by our lands during the early September dove hunt. The fall migration of doves began in the latter part of August and was essentially completed by mid-September.

Assistant Manager Seffalt and a visiting Sudanese student ob­ served a White-winged Dove on the main dike in Mid-July. This is one of the few White-wings ever recorded in Utah.

C. Hawks, Eagles, Owls, and Magpies Havens were the only species in this group that showed a major change in number from the previous years. A very noticeable increase in ravens was recorded during the latter part of December when a total of 250 of them were seen.

The Short-eared Owl population was near normal and the pro­ duction estimate of 20 young is very similar to the 1964 figures.

The other birds of prey apparently had a "normal,, year. Both Bald and Golden Eagles were using the refuge at the close of the period. The annual magpie control program was conducted in the spring with 69 nests and 162 eggs and young destroyed. This is a con­ siderable decline from the 1,200 eggs and young destroyed in 1964 and we hope it is an indicator that the control measures do offer some degree of control.

D. Other Birds An interesting observation, reported by three different visitors during the summer, was the presence of Sharp-tailed Grouse on the refuge. One of these visitors was a University of Delaware Zoology Professor. Sharp-tails have never been seen by refuge personnel, and we were not able to find and confirm the ones reported this year.

E. Big Game None F. Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents and Other Mammals The muskrat house count, flown in December 1964, recorded 903 houses. Using the factor of 4 muskrats per house the estimated population was 3,612 plus the uncounted "bank rats". Seven trapping permits were issued and a total of 3»554 muskrats were trapped during the spring months of 1965* The trappers

-18- CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Lloyd F. Gunther

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Brigham City, Utah. From Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Headquarters west along canal road, south and east over dikes to Perry, north following highway along foothills to Brigham City, west through fields and over salt flats, touching points along Bear River and back to headquarters; marsh and ponds 50/^; fields and farm lands 25%'i open pasture lands and river banks 25%*

December 27, 1965) 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday. Mostly cloudy, skiff of snow on ground. Temperature 33 to 35 degrees. No wind. Four observers in one party. Total party hours 8, 2 on foot, 6 by car. Total party miles 69i 3 on foot, 66 by car.

Canada Goose 6? Short-eared Owl 1 Mallard 37 Red-shafted Flicker 5 Gadwall 1 Common Raven 66 Green-winged Teal 11 Long-billed Marsh Wren 2 Redhead 5 Robin 4 Canvasback 3 Cedar Waxwing 1 Red-breasted Merganser 10 Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 American Coot 37 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Killdeer 14 Rough-legged Hawk 14 Common Snipe 2 Pied-billed Grebe 63 Ring-billed Gull Great Blue Heron 106 Downy Woodpecker 1 Whistling Swan 72? Horned Lark 47 Pintail 22 Black-billed Magpie 30 Am. Widgeon 2 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Common Goldeneye 42 Water Pipit 304 Bufflehead 26 Loggerhead Shrike 3 Ruddy Duck 43 Western Meadowlark 22 Common Merganser 130 Brewer's Blackbird 30 Golden Eagle 1 Rufous-sided Towhee 2 Marsh Hawk 45 Oregon Junco 2 Sparrow Hawk 1 Tree Sparrow 4 Ring-necked Pheasant 234 White-crowned Sparrow 34 Herring Gull 5 Starling 2,283 House Sparrow 410 Red-winged Blackbird 4 Am. Goldfinch 143 Song Sparrow 23

52 Species 5,082 Individuals

Participants: Jack P. Allen Frank Gunnell Malcolm E. McDonald Leo T. Young

-18A- indicated little difficulty in obtaining their quota as the weather was generally very good. Fur prices remained low and the trappers were allowed to re­ tain 100% of the proceeds. The following two tables show the I965 data and the comparisons with previous years. The December I965 "rat" house count showed a significant in­ crease in these fur animals - apparently the mild weather and improved water and food conditions enhanced the production last spring. The I965 count totaled 2,1^5 houses - the highest count since the 1932 census. Thus, the muskrat population is currently estimated at 8,580 plus the "bank rats". A total of 22 feral cats were removed from the refuge during 1965.

-19- , MUSKRAT HOUSES COUNTED AND NUMBER OF RATS TAKEN Urp.ts 3, Outride Winter of Unit 1 Unit 2 Total Number qi 4 and 5 Dike Rats Taken 1939-40 739 2,503 1. 436 — 3,677 6,380 1940-41 868 1,406 115 — 2,389 3,584 1941-42 1,319 1,779 116 — 3,264 4,639 1942-43 921 1,188 204 — 2,313 5,082 1943-44 701 905 143 25 1,774 5,027 1944-43 500 1,609 15 23 2,147 4,234 1945-46 548 995 131 12 1,686 3,584 1946-47 435 566 49 64 1,114 2,759 1947-48 453 816 368 164 1,801 4,580 1948-49 499 974 478 239 2,190 5,695 1949-50 803 1,077 731 257 2,868 8,054 1950-51 684 902 863 442 2,891 8,464 1951-52 760 607 1,036 1,?91 3,694 9,280 1952-53 431 444 746 1.809 3,430 9,236 vO > 1953-54 609 732 541 129 2,011 7,261 1954-55 151 170 93 24 438 1,584 1955-56 157 217 83 3 46o 1,686 1956-57 159 147 119 — 425 1,632 1957-58 516 344 452 25 1,337 2,563 1958-59 244 "3^5 366 50 1,005 2,557 1959-60 301 483 530 25 1,339 2,459 1960-61 311 422 100 — 833 2,279 1961-62 146 342 159 — 647 593 1962-63 303 623 195 6 1,127 3,359 1963-64 461 831 348 68 1,708 3,633 1964-65 237 301 270 95 903 3,554 1965-66 441 712 754 257 2,145 Total Muskrats taken 110,399 . TABLE

FUR HARVEST

Trapper Permit Unit Take Amt.Rec. Av.Price Clarence Hewlett 1-A 436 $364.80 $ .80

Willard Jensen T-5251f 2-E 323 420.00 .80

Irvin F. Jensen T-5253 2C & 2B 433 407.70 .90

Lynn Nelson T-5256 1-B 433 346.40 .80 Floyd Johnson T-3257 2-D 523 323.00 1.00 Delore Jensen T-5258 2-A, 3-A 491 392.80 .80

LaMar Davis T-5259 3B, kA, 3A, Outside Dike 673 603.70 .90 3,53^ $3,060.40

TABLE NUMBER OF MUSKRATS TAKEN DURING THE LAST 32 YEARS

Year Total :ear Total 193 199 1950 8,054 1935 819 1951 8,464 1936 1,242 1952 9,280 1937 2,101 1953 9,301 1938 3,416 1939 6,963 1954 7,261 1940 6,380 1955 1,584 1941 3,384 1956 1,686 1942 4,639 1957 1,632 1943 3,082 1958 2,563 1944 3,027 1959 2,559 1943 4,234 1960 2,459 1946 3,384 1961 2,279 1947 2,759 1962 593 1948 4,580 1963 3,359 5,695 1964 3.633 1949 1965 3,554 GRAND TOTAL 128,565

-19B- G. Fish Units 1A and 2 were drained and treated with rotenone to control the carp this year. The results were very noticeable, not only from a biological standpoint, but also from the fragrant aroma in the surrounding area.

In Unit 1A it was estimated there was a 70% kill producing 60-70 tons of fish. In Unit 2 there was an estimated 85-90% kill producing kOO tons of fish. Commercial fishermen removed a number of these fish (about ko tons total) and the rest were flushed out on the surrounding flats.

According to Dr. Jensen of the Research Station, although there has been no obirious relationship between carp control and botulism losses in the past, this year's situation was unusual in that sufficient water was available to flush out Unit 2, carrying both nutrients and maggots from the fish carcasses into the south bay where the major botulism outbreak occurred. Dr. Jensen said nothing had been definitely proven but since the fish kill operation began on August 17* and sick birds were observed on the 20th and the peak of the botulism outbreak had occurred by the 25rd, one could speculate that there might be a relationship between the fish kill and the botulism outbreak.

H. Reptiles

The two species of garter snakes found on the refuge apparently hadoa good year. The latter part of July the snakes around headquarters were very numerous with all sizes represented.

Visiting children found the temptation too much and continually played and teased the snakes. As expected, one child finally found out that even garter snakes will reach a point when they must strike back. The resulting bite, though upsetting to the little girl, and the parents, was just sufficient to draw blood.

I. Disease As briefly mentioned in the Fish section above, we experienced a rather serious outbreak of the "Bear River Plague" this year. The major concentration area of sick and dead birds was located off our refuge land, about 2J4 miles south of the Unit 2 main dike. Losses in this area were estimated at 20,000 birds, 75-80% pintails. Refuge crews inoculated birds in this area but owing to the usual physical problems of such an operation, only a total of 873 birds were treated and removed from the outbreak area.

-2©- Loading the airboat during rotenone operation; note fish already affected.

Coramerical fishermen harvested about 50 tons of rotenoned fish.

Refuge visitors were impressed with the operation; and the kids harvested some fish too. SUMMARY OF CARP TAKEN AT BEAR RIVER REFUGE FROM 19^0 TO DATE

POUNDS POUNDS TOTAL INCOME POUNDS OF COST OF ,YEAR c TAKEN , TAKEN WITH . POUNDS . FROM, ROTENONE ROTENONE SEINING ROTENONE^ TAKEN SALE USED USED 19^0 43,030 0 45,030 1941 23,000 0 25,000 1942 21,000 0 21,000 1943 41,000 0 41,000 1944 38,000 0 38,000 1943 23,000 0 25 j 000 1946 43,330 0 45,350 1947 31,430 0 31,430 ^667.68 1948 41,620 0 41,620 1,248.60 1949 27,716 0 27,716 983.91 1930 11,113 0 11,115 394.57 1931 31,002 0 31,002 1,132.30 rvi ) 1932 20,320 0 20,320 769.23 o > 1933 22,420 0 22,420 872.31 i 1954 232,737 336,000 568,757 1,233.57 822 383.40 1953 99,740 349,310 449,050 736.78 1,300 585.OO 1936 37,043 966,000 1,003,045 258.68 1,570 816.40 1937 13,333 326,000 341,355 116.79 1,400 812.00 1938 13,371 220,000 233,571 73.74 720 410.40 1939 48,213 133,400 181,615 147.34 620 365.80 I960 74,633 96,000 170,655 334.25 565 271.20 1961 39,039 0 39,039 195.21 0 0 1962 29,583 0 29,585 147.92 1963 30,792 0 30,792 153.96 1964 24,462 0 24,462 122.33 1963 4,000 800,000 804,000 0 720 367.20 TOTAL 1,075,219 3,226,716 4,301,929 9,589.17 7,717 $3,725.76 Releasing a shoveller after injecting it with Botulinus anti-toxin.

The outbreaks occurring within the refuge units took a toll of approximately 5,000 ducks this year. For the first time in the history of the refuge was there suffiaient water supply to raise the levels in the units where the outbreaks occurred. This procedure caused the birds to move to another area, thus alleviating the losses.

As mentioned in the Fish section, there is some speculation concerning the relationship between the refuge carp control and the botulism outbreak this year. Whether the control program actually initiated the outbreak or not is quite questionable, however, it is quite probable that the decaying protein resulting from the fish operation did add to the out­ break.

The conditions preceeding this year's epidemic again followed a pattern that has been observed in the past. Whenever the water flow is sufficient during the late summer to require

-21- the flooding of lands that have been dry for several years, of if a heavy rain occurs that is sufficient to cause temporary flooding of such lands, a serious outbreak results.

The researchers tell us that this may be due to a concentrating of the toxin within the organic debris that is scattered abund­ antly throughout the dry flats areas surrounding the marsh areas. This entire phenomenon, though observed, has not been proven under the controlled conditions necessary to provide a detailed analysis.

The following tables show this year's inoculation and dead birds removed.

-22- BOTULISM REPORT - I965

TABLE SHOWING SICK BIRDS GATHERED

South Species Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Total Pintail 79 28s 52 33 4^7 659 Mallard 3 1 15 12 27 58 Baldpate 1 1 6 5 13 Gadwall 1 1 1 3 Shoveller 6 1 1 6 15 29 Cinn. Teal 3 11 14 G. W. Teal 32 10 50 92 Redhead 1 1 Ruddy 1 1 Canada Goose 3 3 TOTAL 124 30 84 59 576 . 8??

TABLE SHOWING DEAD BIRDS GATHERED

Species Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 4 South Total Unit 3 Unit 5 Bay Kit ail 199 460 15 674 Mallard . 3 9 5 19 Baldpate 1 8 9 Gadwall 2 2 4 Shoveller 2 12 4 18 Cinn. Teal 1 1 G. W. Teal 24 24 Redhead 1 1 Canada Goose 1 1 TOTAL 210 518 24 752

-22A- Ill. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE A. Physical Development

Pouring the cement base for the new refuge entrance sign.

Several projects, started in 1964, were completed this year. The courtyard and entrance road which had been black-topped in 1964 received its sealer coat this summer. The new radial gates in the headquarters water control system were set in place; they had been purchased last year. Additional rip-rap was hauled for the parking area expansion jub begun in FY 1965 • The never-ending task of hauling rip-rap for the protection of the refuge dikes contunied on a substantial scale. A total of 3,704 cubic yards of coarse rock rip-rap was put in place in Units 1, 2 and 5. Five miles of boundary fence in the arid northern reaches of the refuge were rebuilt and repairs of the remaining fenceline (34 miles) was checked and repaired.

Several new projects were begun this year. As shown on the above picture we are preparing to install a new entrance sign

-23- at the headquarters. The sign was built for the refuge by the U. S. Forest Service Sign Shop in Salt Lake City. The base for this new sign will be similar to those seen in our National Forests.

The new entrance sign is merely a part of a much larger project. The refuge has undertaken an overall "Recreation Improvement Project" that will feature several new signs as well as additions to the historic 12 mile self-conducted tour around Unit 2. These additions include five turnouts for observing the habitat and wildlife, two short observation towers to provide an over­ all view of the refuge, and an interpretive program featuring a leaflet keyed to the tour and several interpretive signs.

New signs have also been designed for the road leading to the refuge and for the refuge headquarters area. Nearly one-half of the signs have been completed to our specifications again by the Forest Service, and will be installed when the weather will permit.

One of the visitor's observation towers recently installed on the auto tour.

-24- Other projects during 1963 include the installation of a fresh water drinking system at headquarters. The system water is hauled from Brigham City and stored in a 1000 gallon tank at headquarters. This marks the first time since the refuge was established that the residences, and the visiting public have had drinking water so readily available.

A new concrete floor was poured for the barn, the original floor had settled badly over the years. General maintenance of the headquarters area was made easier with the installation of a new, larger pump for the irrigation system. The holding pond used for the experimental flock of birds was given a general face lifting with a new chain link fence and other needed improvements. A raft to allow hunters on foot to cross the channel into hunting area two was installed and received many favorable comments from the sportsmen.

A yard light was installed at the entrance gate to headquarters. Two lights on the observation tower were installed to facilitate hunters in launching their boats and in finding their way after dark. B. Plantings About 150 yards of dike shoreline in Units 1 and 2 were planted with hardstem bulrush sod. This was accomplished by utilizing two Boy Scout troops in fulfilling conservation projects.

C. Collections and Receipts About 250 pounds of fresh sago pondweed seed was collected and transferred while still wet to Fish Springs Refuge.

D. Control of Vegetation None accomplished this year, the abundance of water in the tamarisk areas precluded an effective spray program. A survey of the area in the spring indicated that a 60-65% kill had resulted from last year's aerial spraying but the optimum conditions that prevailed this year allowed the plants to re­ cover much of the loss.

E. Planned Burning

None F. Fires The area surrounding the refuge dump burned this year when a

-25- gust of wind apparently carried some burning debris from the dump hole to the cheatgrass,i This land-fill is located on one of the "islands" north of the units and the area is surrounded by bare mud flats. Thus, the fire was contained to a small area of about 10 acres and did nothing more than burn off the dry grass and salt bush.

IV. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

A. Grazing None B. Haying None

C. Fur Harvest The fur harvest has been discussed in the "Fur Animals, Predators, etc." segment of the Wildlife Section of this re­ port. No receipts were received from this harvest. The total reported value of the 3»554 furs taken amounted to $3,060.40.

Timber Removal

None £. Commercial Fishing Due to the abundance of water this year the commercial fishermen found it impractical to seine for carp. One commercial fisherman, William Li»y, was able to salvage approximately 40 tons of rotenoned carp; no fee was assessed for this operation however. The following table summarizes the carp removal on the refuge over the past 25 years.

-26- V. FIELD INVESTIGATIONS OR APPLIED RESEARCH

Below, in condensed form, a»e extracts from the Bear River Research Station^Annual Report for 1965. This report was prepared by Dr. Wayne Jensen, station director.

The popular belief that avian botulism is associated with low water levels and the resultant stagnation found no support in the waterfowl mortality records of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in 1965.

South Bay, a marsh just beyond the main refuge dikes, was the site of the first and most severe losses. Two factors may have influenced the initiation and sererity of the outbreak in this area. First, a large area of South Bay that had been dry for several years in the summer of 1965 was under water. It has been postulated that such areas retain the dormant spores of toxigenic strains of Clostridium botulinum which are able to germinate and produce toxin when the soil is again flooded. The bacteria in areas that are under water each year, on the other hand, may more quickly lose their capacity to produce toxin much as do laboratory strains that are transferred through a series of subcultures.

Secondly, Unit 2 was treated with rotenone for carp control three days prior to the first observed bird losses. While there»has been no obvious relationship between carp control and.-botulism losses in the past, this year's situation was unusual in that sufficient water was available to flush out Unit 2, carrying both nutrients and maggots from the fish carcasses into South Bay.

During the outbreak, samples of various materials were collected for toxicity tests. Many blowfly larvae, probably washed from both fish and duck carcasses, were suspended in the slow-moving stream of water passing through South Bay. Numerous adult midge carcasses and pupal cases were entangled in strands of green algae. Blowflies, which earlier had been unusually low in numbers, swarmed over the duck carcasses. Routine toxicity checks of the maggots collected yielded at least 8,000 mouse MLD of type C toxin per gram of sample. The midge-algae extracts were toxic, but 1:10 dilutions failed to kill mice. The Blow­ flies were also toxic but the level of toxin has not been determined.

-27- Malathion may decrease avian botulism mortality rate. Repeated oral doaes of malathion (totaling 280 mg) were given to a test group of mallards, starting about one day before the administration of a mixture of types C and E toxins by the same route and continuing until the following day. An equal number of control birds were given the mixture of toxins alone. Ten of the 12 birds given toxins alone died, and two were paralyzed to the point of prostration. Only two of the twelve birds treated with malathion died, eight lost the ability to walk but recovered, and two showed only slight leg weakness.

VI. PUBLIC RELATIONS A. Recreational Uses

Part of the 108 Ogden school students that visited the refuge on Nov. 5»

-28- Comparieon of 1965 refugo us« with 1960-1964 averages. 3600 -, \

3200 -

2800 -

| 2400 CO

(8 CO i 2000 Begin fee collection. G I t3 3 o 1600 end fee season « [Sept. 30, 1965 S •H (0 > 1200

800 -

400 -

200 -

Months

-28A- Bear RLver was designated as a fee area under the 1965 Land and

Water Conservation Fund Act. Beginning August lt 1965 refuge visitors were required to exhibit or purchase the $7 Conservation Sticker or purchase either a 250 daily permit or the $1.25 seasonal permit for Bear River Refuge. This year^ fee season lasted only until September 50th, hence it is still somewhat premature to attempt a complete analysis of the affects of the fees on visitor use. A report was prepared however, as a preliminary survey of visitor-use as influenced by the charging of fees. Below is a condensation of that report:

General

Only the people that made the twelve mile auto tour of the refuge management Unit 2 were required to pay the fee. Educational groups were excluded from the fee as outlined in PL 88-578.

Visitor hours were extended on weekends from 4:30 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. however, the refuge leaflet and many years of tradition pro­ claimed the 4:30 closing hour and undoubtedly deflated the potential use during the extra hours. News releases and personal contacts with local civic groups were used to explain the fee collection and the extended weekend hours.

The access road to headquarters has been in a very deteriorated condition and that condition worsened this year. Undoubtedly this road adversely affected the fee program on the refuge.

Findings The 1965 visitor-use pattern was similar to the 1960-64 average through the month of April (see accompanying graph). During May the '65 use surpassed the average and this remained the case in June and July. Once the fee collection began however, the number of visitors dropped sharply, a definite break from the usual trend. September brought some recovery but was still well below the average. Once the fee collection terminated, the use again returned to the trend started in May and remained higher than the average for the balance of the year.

A close analysis of the visitors' record shows that the major declines in August and September were a result of "resident visitation". Thus, it was the local people who probably had already seen the refuge and felt that they did not want to pay to see it again. The following two graphs depict the resident vs. non-resident use of the refuge.

-29- 1200 Comparison of state vs. out-of-state ^visitor use for August. 1960-1

Gr^ph 3

-29A- Comparison of state vs. out-of-state visitor use for Sept., I96O-I965 uraph 3A 1900

1500

1000

300

400

300

200

100

o YF.APS -29B- Conclusions

A total of 1,188 daily passes were sold in the 6l days of the I965 fee season. There were no seasonal passes sold this year. From April through September 52 Recreation/Conservation Stickers were sold and only 10 of the 52 were sold in August and September. A total of 197 annual stickers were presented at the headquarters in lieu of the daily passes. The economic feasibility of the fee program could not be accurately predicted from this year's data. The shortness of the season, the newness of the program, the lack of complete refuge preparation and other factors complicate any interpretation of the figures. This year's visitor-use on the refuge amounted to 20,495 (See NR-6 for breakdown by categories).

A total of 4-7 states were represented on the records (Delaware, Maine and South Carolina were the three holdouts), and 15 foreign nations had representatives visit Bear River Refuge. B. Refuge Visitors

During the year some 60 official visitors were registered at the office. Many of these represented Box Elder County Road Commissioners, employees of Utah State Road Dept., U. S. Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, Fish and Game Departments, Members of Nature Photographic Society, University students, and Bureau personnel.

A few of these included the following:

Cecil S. Williams Director, Denver Research Center Larry Merovka Regional Game Agent Supervisor Marcus G. Nelson Regional Supervisor of Refuges E. R. Kalmbach Retired, former director of Denver Research Center E. 0. Hassaballa Fish & Wildlife Dept. of Sudan Misses Mori & Neepmi Nippon Television Network, Japan N. Chaffer Game Dept., Sydney, Australia E. Aoffen •» " H « C. Refuge Participation Our refuge personnel were very active this year in giving talks, slide shows, and presenting films to students, civic clubs, and business groups. The film "Bear River Refuge"was shown to 105 Ogden students, the Bureau film "Behind the Flyways" was shown to over 400 persons, and three other Bureau films were shown to over 1000 students and sportsmen's groups in this area.

-30- Opening day of hunting season, 1938; 403 hunters bagged 2,189 birds.

Opening day, 1963. Quite a change in type of outfits; 620 hunters bagged 2,575 birds. Slide talks were presented to the Utah Chapter of the National Audubon Society and the Brigham City Kiwanis Club, General information talks were also given to the local Jaycees and the Brigham City Motel Association. D. Hunting The waterfowl hunting season in Utah opened at 6:00 a.m. October 9th and closed January 6, 1966. On the opening day 620 hunters checked in 2,575 ducks and geese for an average bag of 4.15 birds per hunter. East year on opening day 746 hunters had am average of 1.51 birds per hunter. The hunters soon received the word and had a very profitable hunting season. For the entire season 4,326 hunters bagged 13,099 ducks, geese and swan for a season average bag of 3.03 birds per hunter.* The highest seasonal average since 1958, not bad considering some of the novices we get that call themselves hunters. The marked in­ crease in the total waterfowl kill this past season can undoubtedly, be contributed mainly to the good fall weather and additional food supply created by the abundance of water. By the third week in December our California-like weather had turned to Utah-like weather and the hunting success slowly dropped off with a large extent of the marsh being frozen. Green-winged teal, pintail, and mallards were the principal species bagged. Total figures show 4,158 green-winged teal, 4,015 pintails and 1,358 mallards. One note of interest:: there were more green-winged teal checked in opening day than during the entire season of 1964.

The"goose hunters had a successful year also, bagging 203 honkers for a refuge all time high. Hunting remained fairly good up to the end of the season, with 9 honkers killed on the refuge the day after Christmas. Once again the Bureau issued 1,000 permits to take Whistling Swan in the State of Utah. There were plenty of swan, but very few hunters. Only 14 birds were checked in compared with 28 in 1964 and 42 in 1963.

* These figures do not include the hunters using Hunting Area 2. We do not have a registration into that area tad thus estimate the use. This year's estimate for that area was 484 hunters for a grand total of 4,810 hunters on the refuge and an estimated kill of 14,574 birds.

-31- Opening Day Hunters and Harreat - 1951-1965

5000

Opening day waterfowl harreat. Number of hunters on opening day. 'OOO

3000

2000

1000

1951 52 53 54 -31A- Total Waterfowl Harreat and Number of Hunters at Refuge Checking Station, 1951-1963

Waterfowl Harreat

Nuaber of Hunters

1951 52 53 55 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65

-31B- COMPARATIVE TSBLE SHOWING BY SPECIES, THE NUMBER OF WATERFOWL TAKEN ON AREA OF REFUGE OPEN TO PUBLIC HUNTING AND NUMBER OF HUNTERS FOR THE SEASONS 1956 to I965.

SPECIES ;DOTA L KILL

YEAR 1956 1958 1959 I960 1961 1962 1963 1964 196? Pintail 28S9 4838 4027 3324 3198 915 3900 4304 2584 4013 Mallard 1542 1816 1698 727 701 521 1229 1197 1705 1358 A* Widgeon 295 819 1523 210 382 177 352 4l8 380 401 Goldeneye 122 195 13? 79 86 31 86 86 70 Gadwall ?95 925 234 128 19a7 214 517 254 Shoveller 1255 1823 166M2 491 744 908 910 795 711 1053 Cinn. Teal 66 558 532 85 109 89 122 376 10? 547 G.W. Teal 2594 4l48 5348 3915 2178 1245 1195 2334 713 Scaup 43 52 22 11 18 6 11 18 km24 Redhead 191 766 413 67 6 1 21 5 92 290 Canvasback 187 395 165 37 0 4 3 50 161 1 Bufflehead 46 68 61 88 140 44 126 51 20 o Ruddy 45 12 29 9 13 13 6 32 12 17 1 Can. Goose 73 67 140 49 82 31 189 188 160 203 Snow Goose 11 2 12 3 18 18 10 16 5 11 Merganser 13 1?4 22 15 15 7 4 7 10 13 Whist.Swan -- - - 28 42 28 i4 Misc. 6 13 9 10 5 3 0 2 1 Coot 4 B.W. Teal 1 Wh-Ft.Goose 1 TOTAL 16592 16592 9338 7764 4341 8266 10459 6963 1^099 HUNTERS 3636 4866 5268 3661 3405 2459 3700 4102 4020 4326 Av. KILL 2.63 3.40 3.14 2-55 2.28 1.76 2.23 2.54 1.73 3.0? Percentage Qoaparlaon of lat Day Honiara to lat Day Harreat

3<* lat day hunters {% of total hunters) lat day harreat (* of total harreat)

20%

i V>4

10% S% 6%

4%

2% 0% TABLE SHOWING PERIOD OF OPEN SEASONS AND EXTENT OF BAG LIMITS FOR THE SEASONS l'' 19^6 to 1965

YEAR LENGTH OF SEASON DATES OPEN TOTAL BAG MIXED BAG 1946 45 days - continuous October 26 - December 9 7 1947 35 days - continuous noon open October 21 - November 24 4 1948 40 days - continuous noon open October 29 - December 7 5 1949 50 days - continuous noon open October 14 - December 2 5 44 days - split noon open Oct. 13 - Nov. 3 & Nov. 24 - Dec. 15 6 1951 60 days - continuous noon open October 12 - December 10 6 1952 70 days - continuous noon open October 17 - December 25 8 6 & 2 1953 75 days - continuous noon open October 10 - December 23 11 7 & 4 1934 80 days - continuous noon open October 8 - December 26 9 6 & 3 i 1933 80 days - continuous 6:10 a.m. October 15 - January 2 9 6 8: 3 H 1936 80 days - continuous 8:00 a.m. October 13 - December 31 9 6 & 3 1937 95 days - continuous 8:00 a.m. October 5 ~ January 7 8 5 8c 3 1958 95 days - continuous 5:56 a.m. October 4 - January 6 9 5 & 4 1959 94 days - continuous noon open October 7 - January 8 5 I960 90 days - continuous noon open October 8 - January 5 5 1961 75 days - continuous noon open October l4 - December 27 5 1962 75 days - continuous noon open October 13 - December 26 5 1963 90 days - continuous noon open October 5 - January 2 5 1964 90 days - continuous noon open October 10 - January 7 5 1965 90 days - continuous 6:03 a.m. October 9 - January 6 5 * *Bag limit: 5 not more than 3 pintails or 3 mallards, Or 3 in the aggregate. E. Violations Nine hunting violations were processed by refuge personnel during the hunting season. The most common violation involved over-limits of pintails but when considering the total number of hunters using the refuge the rate of incidence appears small. The U. S. Game Agent, James Hogue, assisted by Refuge Personnel, also apprehended several violators on refuge lands. These cases frequently involved the pintail-mallard regulations.

All violators were fined $25 with a usual suspension of Sl0-$15 of this amount.

F. Safety

The above picture portrays the installation of guard posts behind the garage at headquarters. These posts would prevent a vehicle from backing off into the channel in case a foot slipped on the clutch or some other unforeseen incident sent a vehicle in the direction of the river.

-52- The above idea and several other hazard-elimination ideas were brought out in a recent staff-safety meeting. Some of these "other ideas" included lengthening the line attached to the life-bouys around headquarters, ordering two "curve" signs for the public tour road, and making certain to replace the covers of the underground sprinkler controls to avoid broken legs.

We had another near-drowning this summer when a young boy attempted to retrieve a jacket that had fallen in one of the headquarters canals. The boys were being supervised fortunately and one of the group leaders went to the boy's aid. The steep­ ness of the channel banks in the headquarters area make the waters especially hazardous.

One other innovation now used at the refuge to keep safety consciousness an ever-present part of the employee's job is a "Thought for Today" poster in the office. Sayings and quota­ tions pertinent to our jobs are displayed on the poster and many of them deal with safety - below is an example:

"There are old pilots and there are bold pilots. But there are no Old-Bold Pilots." VII. OTHER ITEMS A. Items of Interest 1.^ Personnel changes: Van Wilson's retirement, August 5th, climaxed a long, faithful, and eventful career with the Bureau. His 58 years at the Bear River Refuge is something of a record we believe, for one being stationed at a single refuge. The refuge staff and other Bureau employees held a dinner party in Van's honor at which time he was presented with a camera, an album of pictures depicting events of his refuge experience and letters from his co-workers and friends. Regional Supervisor Marcus 0. Nelson presented Mr. Wilson with the Departments Commendable Service Award (see accompanying new release).

Lloyd F. Gunther, who had been serving as Assistant Regional Refuge Supervisor, in Albuquerque, took over the reins as Refuge Manager August 9th. Mr. Gunther began his career with the Bureau at Bear River as Refuge Manager trainee 23 years ago.

-55- i *1

Supervisor Nelson 8e Retiring Mgr. Wilson recalling memories via photo album presented to Van,

• •

Van inspects Instaroatic 700 presented to him by his friends and co-workers.

i Retiring Refuge Manager Honored at Brigham Fete

Vanez T. Wilson, retiring Lloyd F. Gunther who replaces manager of the Bear River Mi. Wilson as manager of the world, gratory Bird refuge was hon- famed refuge. ored at a dinner held In Brigham The evening was highlighted City last week. with the presentation of a Com. Among those attending was mendable Service award to the retiring manager. This award was presented by Marcus C. Nelson, a native of Brigham City, and who is now the re. glonal refuge supervisor sta. tloned in Albuquerque, N.M. Other out.of.town visitors at­ tending the dinner included Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scott and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Ritter of Salt Lake City, and refuge mana. gers and their wives from Ouray and Fish Springs National Wild, life refuges. Wilson was also presented with an album of congratulatory letters and a camera from his co-workers and friends. The album was headed by a letter from John Gotts chalk, director of the bureau, commending Wll. son for his contribution to the field of natural resource man. agement. Interspersed with the many letters were pictures of the refuge showing the stages in its development and of person, nel having worked there. Over the 38 years of Wll. son's federal service some 22 assistant managers were train, ed and served under his guid. ance. Many at these are now in prominent supervisory posit. Ions. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson plan to continue their residence In RECEIVES HONOR • Vanez T. Wifoon, right, receives a commendable service award their new home in Brigham City. from Marcus C. Nelson, regional refuge supervisor, Albuquerque, N.M. Wilson was Gardening and fishing will re. honored at a special dinner by friends and co-workers upon retirement as Bear River celve a significant portion of Bird refuge manaeer. Wilson's attention.

-33B- THE 80X ELDER JOURNAL, Brighom City, l>ah 15 Thursday, October 14, 1965

0n the 0per,ing da of Utah s RiveRUSr refuge! . (Burea? u off'S? Spor* t Fisheries and Wildlif>' e photo.' ) waterfowl season at Bear Waterfowl Opener Great at Refuge Bear River Refuge waterfowl, Refuge census figures show ers were a happy group last that nearly double the 1964 num­ Saturday as the 1965 waterfowl ber of birds were present on season opened. Refuge hunters the refuge for this year's hunt. bagged 2,537 ducks and 38 This Is due, however, to a Canada geese on the opening later migration this year and not day. to a greater abundance of birds. This marks the 1965 refuge In fact, the refuge's peak bird opening as the best since 1958. popuiaUor* this year was con­ Teal were the most common sider ably below the 1964 peak. birds In the bag with a record Hunting after the opening day 1,837 of these sporty little ducks r*--mains excellent accordlm to being harvested. This is more reports with the average bag teal than were shot on the fed- per man dropping coly slightly. eral refuge In the entire 1964 The refuge bird population, season. though declining as some birds Next In the order of number move on, Is still high lor this shot were the pintail and then time of year. the mallard. These two species collectively made up 26 percent Water and food conditions are of the total bag. excellent and, if the weather continues to hold, the high duck Only 620 hunters were regis, numbers should continue for tered on this opening day com. this coming weekend. pared with 746 on the 1964 opening. However these hunters averaged only 1.51 birds per man. BR Refuge Employees Get Awards Frank Gunnell and John Val carce, members of the Bear River Refuge staff, were recent recipients of cash awards and letters of commendation from the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The awards were madebytha Bureau's incentive awards com- mlttee for a time and money saving suggestion forwarded by the two refuge employees.

RECEIVE AWARDS - Frank Gunnell, left, and John Valcarce, center are presented JOHN, A RESIDENT of Perry, with checks and letters of commendation for a time and money saving suggestion. has served as the refuge's heavy The awards were presented by Floyd F. Gunther, Bear River Reiuge Manager. (Photo duty mechanic for six years. courtesy of Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.) This is not the first award John has received as he has forwarded other excellent sug. gestlons in past years. Frank is the yountsst mem. ber erf the refuge staff. He join, ed the refuge's ranks as as. slstant manager in April of 1965 shortly after receiving his B.S. Degree from Utah State university, Frank is currently residing in Hyrum. The suggestion offered an Improved method of servicing air cleaners cm heavy equip, ment. The award was based on a monetary savings to the gov­ ernment resulting from the use of the suggestion.

-33D- Counfjr Tackles Project To Rebuild Refuge Road

Box Elder county has launch­ ed a full-scale rebuilding ef. fort on the U-mlle stretch of road leading from West Brig, ham to Bear River Bird re­ fuge. This is a project long-sought in south Box Elder county but which has been bogged down in some frustrated attempts to gain federal help. Uncle Sam has icfused to chip in with fi­ nancial assistance and so now the county has decided to tack- le the ambitious road job alone. Up to 10 trucks, carrying from 10 to 20 cubic yards of gravel in each load, have been lum- be ring over the route for the p&St 10 working days. They've only made a meager start. ROAD DEPARTMENT chief Ed Silvester said the project - to lay a new gravel bed and widen the road • will require about 120,000 cubic yards of fill material. "This portion of the project wll take about three nwntha to complete," Silvester ^aid. Chairman of the county com­ mission, Grover Harper, said this past we

Gerald M. Nugent, Assistant Refuge Manager, transferred to Job Corps in Cache, Oklahoma as work director, February 23rd. Robert Karges, Manager Trainee, transferred to Washita NWR, at Butler, Oklahoma as Assistant Manager, January ^fth,

Frank Gunnell Appointed Manager Trainee March 27th, former student at Utah State University. William Reffalt, Transferred to Bear River as Assistant Refuge Manager, from Deer Flat NWR, Idaho, June 4th. Fortunately for the refuge the main crew. Young, Jorgensen, Hansen, Valcarce and Allen, stayed on the job and held the pieces together while all these changes were taking place. A vote of thanks and appreciation is due the crew for maintain­ ing a high standard of work and keeping the refuge operating smoothly during the transition period.

2. The deteriorated, and sometimes hazardous access road to headquarters is being rebuilt finally. The attached copy of a news release tells the story. Efforts to get this road underway has a long stormy history. The completion of this "new" road sometime in 1966 will be a long-awaited improve­ ment. 3. Biological Review Biologist Arthur Halloran was assigned to Bear River Refuge for two weeks this summer for the purpose of summarizing some of the volumes of records held in the files. Though Art was only here for that short two weeks he was able to gather together and organize an initial report that will be most useful to the refuge and some of our administrators. C. Signature Compiled by: Submitted by:

WHliam C. Beffalt tloyd F. Gunther Assistant Refuge Manager Refuge Manager

Report Completed: January 21, 1966

Reviewed by: rffo^Zs/ZZ?/ X^^^r^ ? > ;? li&tar ^

-3A- Jan. - Apr. 3-1750 Form NR-1 (Rev. March 1953) WATERFOWL

REFUGE MONTHS OF TO 19J1

_ ^ Weeka of reporting period (X) 1-% * Speciee 1 : 10 Swans t Whistling Trumpeter uss. Geeset mm. am Canada J2L Cackling MS. ja JOB. J* Brant White-fronted Snow Blue Other Ducks; Mallard Black Gadwall Baldpate Pintail Green-winged teal Blue-winged teal Cinnamon teal Shoveler % I MM JSB. 1^^111 JSi. Wood Redhead i20o_ Ring-necked Canvasback Scaup Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy otheij^ wmtmumm Nia ipnMi Coot: Int. Dup. Sec.,

Wash., D. C0379^k 3 -175)Oa Cont, NR-1 (Rev. March 1953) WATERFOWL (Continuation Sheet)

REFUGE MONTHS OF TO

Weeks of reporting period r—HJ— 1—nn : Estimated : Production (i) 11 2 t Broods: £ stimated Species 18 : waterfowl Swans; i ^ ^ i ^ i^u LiyJ^J^gJ days use t seen : total Whistling Trumpeter Geese; Canada Cackling Brant White-fronted Snow Blue Other Ducks; Mallard Black Gadwall Baldpate Pintail Green-winged teal Blue-winged teal Cinnamon teal Shoveler Wood Redhead Ring-necked Canvasback Scaup Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy Other

Coot: TS) r?)— m " SUMMARY Total Days Use Peak Number Total Production Swans Principal feeding areas Geese Principal nesting areas Ducks j^iai^te. X2LMSL 4^ Coots 9t dudui dowa 11.7^ frwi paet Reported ty 20

INSTRUCTIONS (See Sees. 7531 through 753U, Wildlife Refuges Field Manual) (1) Species: In addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appropriate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and national significance. (2) Weeks of Reporting Period: Estimated average refuge populations. (3) Estimated Waterfowl Days Use: Average weekly populations x number of days present for each species. (h) Production: Estimated number of young produced based on observations and actual counts on representative breeding areas. Brood counts should be made on two or more areas aggregating 10^ of the breeding habitat. Estimates having no basis in fact should be omitted. (5) Total Days Use: A summary of data recorded under (3). (6) Peak Number: Maximum number of waterfowl present on refuge during any census of reporting period. (7) Total Production: A summary of data recorded under (U).

Interior Duplicating Section, Washington, D. C. 1953 3-1751 Form NR-1A MIGRATORY BIRDS (Aug. 1952) (Other than Waterfowl) Refuge.... .Mm&-.MHpm&QW-Mx!i~2mi*8* Months of... Januery.X •to,..A|arn..3a 19ft- mam (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Species First Seen Peak Concentration Last Seen Production Total Inclusive Number |Total # Total Estimated Common Name Number Date Numbfer Dates Number Date Colonies! Nests Youns Use

I. Water and Marsh Birds Still lared Grebt present a. Western Grebe aed-billed Grebe MS Pelican T 3SL Us. Great f lue ueron i|»iyaaBt ^eaent "l" £9SSi

II. Shorebirds. Gulls and Terns: Killdeer Mi. KLk.balUed Flgyer liong-billed Curlew

100

Stilt J2. jpyaaant T California Gull 12000 Franklin Gull 20 12^ (over) : 0} 121 ^1 (4) (5) i6_ III. Doves and Pigeons Mourning dove White-winged dove Jim

IV. Predaceous Birds: Golden eagle Duck hawk Horned owl* Magpie Raven Crow BeX4 mglm m.

Reported by.

INSTRUCTIONS (See Sec. 7532. Wildlife Refuges Field Manual) (1) Species: Use the correct names as found in the A.O.U. Checklist, 1931 Edition, and list group in A.O.U. order. Avoid general terms as "seagull", "tern", etc. In addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appro­ priate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and National significance. Groups: I. Water and Marsh Birds (Gaviiformes to Ciconiiformes and Gruiiformes) II. Shorebirds. Gulls and Terns (Charadriiformes) * III. Doves and Pigeons (Columbiformes) IV. Predaceous Birds . (Falconiformes. Strigiformes and predaceous Passeriformes) (2) First Seen: The first migration record for the species foi^ the reporting period.

(3); Peak Numbers: Estimated number and inclusive dates when peak population of the species occurred.

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

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

(6) : Total: Estimated species days use (average population X no. days present) of refuge during the reporting period. Interior—Duplicating Section, Washington, D. C 26Q14 3-1752 UPLAND GAME BIRDS Form NR-2 (April 1946) Refuge Bnwr Biwer ftfrd m&m* »t«h Months of__ Janwary 1

(l) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Species Density Young Sex Removals Total Remarks Produced Ratio T3 oo xi cu o Estimated Pertinent infor­ J-) CO — i-t Acres number mation not specific­ rQ O - a TO U Cover types, total SOW 4-1* 4-1 n o using ally requested. List per CO O O +J 0) Common Name acreage of habitat Bird W H Percentage ft, CO Refuge introductions here. ring-necked X3»l*00 «ei*«* «f 15-20 6-700 fiaareh land and naai (KNMUI ftTiM^c

• - INSTRUCTIONS

Form NR-2 - UPLAND GAME BIRDS.*

(1) SPECIES: Use correct common name.

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

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

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

(5) REMOVALS: ; Indicate total number in each category removed during the report period. ' • ' I i ! • j (6) TOTAL: Estimated total number using the refuge during the report period. This may include resident birds plus those migrating into the refuge during certain seasons

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

* Only columns applicable to the period covered should be used. 3-1754 SMALL MAMMALS Form NR-4 jeer ending April 3° = (June 1945 Refu^e ftfrar /gty^y ?li,ifr«twy h±T4 I

(1) (2) (3) (U) (5) Species Density Removals Dlsoosltion of Birs Total Share Trapping © Popula­ u CO c tt O rH o >» Cover Types & Total Acres PI o © © o o tion rH IH o M Per «s ^ o M CO Permit o ® U ^ CO Comnon Name Acreage of Habitat Animal •r) Number o © t~©> ofl EH o 353* 5,000 Mstiehlla

% CW acres f / •

873

Feral Cat® 22 10

0 2

• List removals by P RmAHKS:

Reported by INSTRUCTIONS

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

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

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

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

(U) DISPOSITION OF IUR: On share-trapped furs list the permit number, trapper1s share, and refuge share. Indicate the number of pelts shipped /to market, including furs taken by Service personnel. Total number of pelts of each species destroyed because of unprime- ness or damaged condition, and furs donated to institutions or other agencies should be shown in the column provided.

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

REMARKS: Indicate Inventory method(s) used, size of sample area(s), introductions, and

any other pertinent information not specifically requested. ii6oo7 -1 May - Aug. 3-1750 Form NR-1 (Rev. March 1953) WATERFOWL

REFUGE tm Wm Migratory Bird Bafaga. Ctah MONTHS OF TO Am*. 51 f 19 ^5 (2) Weeks of reporting peri o d (1) May 6 : fey 22 : May 28 : May 26 : Juaa 6 : Jaaa 11: Jnaa 171 taa 2%: SS 1 : Hi 6 Species 1 2 t 3 /, « h t 5 _J 6 : 7 : Swans: 8 : 9 : 10 Whistling Trumpeter Geese: Canada 1400 xkoo xkoo 3600 3800 Cackling aooo 22° Brant White-fronted Snow Blue Other Ducks: Mallard koso 5100 6250 Black Mm Gadwall utao 9900 10200 12225 12300 12250 Baldpate 22. 90 XP7? Pintail •ar H101I 2° TO 11900 Green-winged teal 32. IT MOO Blue-winged teal 2 220 Cinnamon teal m 3 i ill Shoveler •520 Wood 1 Redhead ^§10 ^0 6000 6000 6200 8600 Ring-necked Canvasback Scaup Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy loco "5I55" Other m Tssar uss

Coot: 6600 300 jsoo ^600 6200 33SSL 7700 35SS. Int. Dup. Sec., Wash.. P. Co779^ 3 -1750a Cont. NR-1 (Rev. March 1953) WATERFOWL (Continuation Sheet)

REFUGE Baar River Migratory gird MONTHS OF TO 1—m Weeks of r—u)— : Production (i) : Estimated : Broods: £ stimated Species waterfowl Swans; s use i seen : total Whistling Trumpeter Geese; Canada Cackling Brant White-fronted Snow Blue Other Ducks; Mallard Black Gadwall Baldpate Pintail Green-winged teal Blue-winged teal Cinnamon teal Shoveler Wood Redhead Ring-necked Canvasback Scaup Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy Other

Coot; — m _ — Peak Number ~ m SUMMARY Total Days Use Swans Total Production Principal feeding areas m 4 « and iinita Sfi Gaese _J^^, 2.mf tttlligai aft ffwding —i plri^ t.ha fmrrniindlng mamh. Ducks y ^ y99 Principal nesting areas Hggg wfr, w^^ya, a^ t t mum. Coots tO&M want ntniaatf for nftnt1ng> Reported ty

Interior Duplicating Section, Washington, D. C» 579^ 1953 3-1751 Form NR-1A MIGRATORY BIRDS (Aug. 1952) (Other than Waterfowl)

Refuge..9m*.m9m.m0m*m&.mM.&tm» Months of....!*?..*.. .to... ImQu&.Sk 19565.

(i) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Species First Seen Peak Concentration Last Seen Production Total Number Total # Total Estimated Use

II. Shorebirds. Gulls and

(over) m (2) 1 (3) (4) (5) (6) III. Doves and Pieeons: .. Mourning dove 0 0 «J16 White-winged dove • IV. Predaceous Birds: Golden eagle Duck hawk Horned owl : Magpie it m 190 50 100 Raven t* 1 Crow ""Tl ftarfc-osred owl •m « ao 5 20 |%rsh Hawk IS 1 """fi 10 - " i" 5 5 A - 3A - - i4o -

•

Reportec1 by

INSTRUCTIONS (See Sec. 7532. Wildlife Refuges Field Manual) (1) Species: Use the correct names as found in the A.O.U. Checklist, 1931 Edition, and list group in A.O.U. order. Avoid general terms as "seagull", "tern", etc. In addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appro­ priate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and National significance. Groups: I. Water and Marsh Birds (Gaviiformes to Ciconiiformes and Gruiiformes) II. Shorebirds. Gulls and Terns (Charadriiformes) III. Doves and Pigeons (Columbiformes) IV. Predaceous Birds (Falconiformes. Strigiformes and predaceous Passeriformes) (2) First Seen: The first migration record for the species fogj the reporting period.

(3) Peak Numbers: Estimated number and inclusive dates when peak population of the species occurred.

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

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

(6) Total: Estimated species days use (average population X no. days present) of refuge during the reporting period. Interior—Duplicating Section, Washington, D. C. 26014 3-l750b UNITED STATES Form NR-1B DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Rev. Nov. 1957) FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OS SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE WATERFOWL UTILIZATION OF REFUGE HABITAT

Refuge y^y UH Rffft^ For 12-month period ending August 31^ 196^

Reported by Lloyd Title

(T) (3}— —TO Area or Unit Hahitat Breeding Designation Type Acreage Use-days Population Production Crops Ducks Upland Geese Asm. Ml 1 Marsh l 2v;0 Swans t 502»600 Water ^QPQ Coots -5SCL 1,000 Total Total 5t20Q 6,63817»5 U210- Crops Ducks -3^ca Upland Geese 028. 800 Mt 2 Marsh MM Swans Water Coots 921.956 1000 Total Total 8.3QI.%71 2^028 Crops • Ducks 5.546.142 Upland _ Geese -4oa Unit 3 Marsh l.HMI Swans 178.114 Water % gQQ Coots t —4212.653 Total 6 iOQ Total t 1.640

Crops Ducks 7.120,000 loi^. Upland Geese 82.614 Unit 4 Marsh yoe Swans Water f y)0 Coots 245,854 tj - 455.14? Total ESi .._. Total 7.903.615 I*2fiQ. Crops Ducks 6.4U.384 Upland ______Geese 8246l4_ Unit 5 Swans Marsh l^^QO 245.854 Water jyg^ Coots J&QQL Total Total »t700 2^194.999 1.193 Ar«« otttsid* af aaltfrops ______Ducks 5.642.678. JM. dik« proriottBly Upland Geese 214,242 included units 6, Marsh 7y2QQ Swans —12.635 7. 8t 9. 10, Water 6t2QO Coots .618.590 -950. Total UJm - Total MIMii tJii Crops Ducks •£m_ 3,gao 15.165 Grand Total Upland BMML Geese JpjM Marsh Swans Water Coots 3.560, y6 Total Total 42,56^ .•366- 1,265 30.131 (over) INSTRUCTIONS

All tabulated information should he based on the best available techniques for obtaining these data. Estimates having no foundation in fact must be omitted. Refuge grand totals for all categories should be provided in the spaces below the last unit tabulation. Additional forms should be used if the number of units reported upon exceeds the capacity of one page. This report embraces the preceding 12-month period, NOT the fiscal or calendar year, and is submitted annually with the May-August Narrative Report.

(l) Area or Unit: A geographical unit which, because of size, terrain characteristics, habitat type and current or antici­ pated management practices, may be considered an entity apart from other areas in the refuge census pattern. The combined estimated acreages of all units should equal the total refuge area. A detailed map and accompanying verbal description of the habitat types of each unit should be forwarded with the initial report for each refuge, and thereafter.need only be submitted to report changes in unit boundaries or their descrip­ tions .

(2) Habitat: Crops include all cultivated croplands such as cereals and green forage, planted food patches^and agricultural row crops; upland is all uncultivated terrain lying above the plant communities requiring seasonal sub­ mergence or a completely saturated soil condition a part of each year, and includes lands whose temporary flooding fgtcilitates use of non-aquatic type foods; marsh extends from the upland comimnity to, but not including, the water type and consists of the rela­ tively stable marginal or shallow-growing emergent vegetation type, including wet meadow and deep marsh; and in the water category are all other water areas inundated most or all of the growing season and extend­ ing from the deeper edge of the marsh zone to .strictly open-water, embracing such habitat as shallow playa lakes, deep lakes and reservoirs, true shrub and tree swamps, open flowing water and maritime bays, sounds and estuaries. Acreage estimates for all four types should be computed and kept as accurate as possible through reference to available maps supplemented by periodic field observations.. The sum of these esti­ mates should equal the area of the entire unit.

(3) Use-days: Use-days is computed by multiplying weekly waterfowl population figures by seven, and should agree with information reported on Form NR-1.

(h) Breeding Population; An estimate of the total breeding population of each category of birds for each area or unit.

(5) Production: Estimated total number of young raised to flight age.

Interior Duplicating Section, Washington, D. C. 27580 3-1752 UPLAND GAME BIRDS Form NR-2 (April 1946) Ref uge_ Months of ^ 1 to A»ffist 331 , 19_65.

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

0) X! i d o Estimated Pertinent infor­ i-i CO — CU 'H O) > 6 ^ CO number mation not specific­ Acres O - u CU •H CO u o using ally requested. List Cover types, total per g o co 4-1* 4J O 4J w Common Name acreage of habitat Bird CO O Percentage PL, CO CU Refuge introductions here.

IMMMM 15,400 mmrm of 15-20 none 6-700 sarste littd and i^d ar^us aloag dlkaa INSTRUCTIONS

Form NR-2 - UPLAND GAME BIRDS.*

(1) SPECIES: Use correct common name.

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

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

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

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

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

(7) REMARKS: Indicate method used to determine population and area covered in survey. Also include other pertinent information not specifically requested. .'/" 1 • * Only columns, applicable to the period covered should be used, t Sept, - Dec. 3-1750 Form NR-1 (Rev. March 1953) WATERFOWL

REFUGE Bear River Migratory Bird Hafajge MONTHS OF Sapt* 1 TO Sac, 51 .> 19. (2) Weeks of reporting period (1) 9-2 8 : 10-14 : 10-20 : 10-2?s 11-3 Species 1 Ht : 7 : 8 : 9 : 10 Swans: : 2 Whistling 1 2 25 200 1400 6800 7812 Trumpeter Geese: Canada 1200 1539 1290 2000 2275 1785 3525 5350 5225 6850 Cackling Brant White-fronted Snow 200 200 450 200 900 1400 Blue Other Dncks: Mallard 6700 5600 5800 10,400 22,400 10.200 20,500 17.000 11,200 18,000 Black Gadwall 11,200 14.650 16,700 27,100 21,500 18,400 52,600 22.500 12,500 16.000 Baldpate 10.500 18.000 18,800 7/7P0 1 9.300 33.600 29.100 27,300 9.500 Pintail 70,000 95.200 95.400 L10,300 197.000 116,500 193.000 160,000 91.000 20.000 Green-winged teal 20.900 36.650 39.500 67.000 .0^.500 39.500 .08,200 128.000 .34,000 .31.500 Blue-winged teal 500 500 TOO Cinnamon teal 3.000 2.100 1.550 5,700 1.550 *.800 16.000 7.500 2,800 Shoveler 1.900 2,400 3.100 7.200 9.200 8.700 17.500 14,000 7.700 15.600 Wood Redhead 10.600 6.900 6,400 9.400 10.300 4,400 22.000 11,100 13.500 10,500 Ring-necked Canvasback 3.000 26,800 48,000 53.700 45.000 41,000 Scaup 15 250 2,600 Goldeneye 1 25 75 Bufflehead 10 10 25 30 Ruddy 2,100 1.950 2,100 2,200 1.300 7.200 3.800 4,000 3.500 2,000 I R-B. Merganseri 20 Coot: 54,000 16,500 18,000 34.200 34,000 14,400 11,500 6,000 2,400 500 Int. Dup. Sec., Wash.. P. 00779^ 3 -1750a Cont. NR-1 (Rev. March 1953) WATERFOWL (Continuation Sheet)

REFUGE Baar Biver Migratory Bird RefUge MONTHS OF S*Dt. 1 TO Dec. 31 , 19Ji "TO Weeks of reporting period r—m — 11/12 : 11/20 : 13/29 s 22/4 « 12/10 « 12/14 « 12/23 1 12/27 : : Estimated : Production 11 : 12 J 13 : 1U ; 15 » 16 ? 17 s 18 ;: waterfowl :Broods:Estimated Swans: Whistling 10,400 12.000 23.500 20.500 13.500 16.000 11,800 727 833.590 Trumpeter Geese: Canada 4.825 4.450 5.21C 4.610 4.170 4,175 57? 217 399.420 Cackling Brant White-fronted Snow 2.200 8.500 9.000 161.280 Blue Other Ducks: Mallard 9.000 12.000 25,700 24,500 18.000 23.100 3.710 4,050 1.735.020 Black Gadwall 8.000 6.000 17.000 16.000 500 300 75 1.687.063 Baldpate 8.500 14.500 18.000 15.500 _4.300 1,020 50 2 1.713.600 Pintail 64.000 80.500 79.500 71,000 35.500 32,500 2,000 1,200 11.130,230 Green-winged teal 40.500 44,000 100.000 80,000 57.000 28,000 75 1,000 8.122.210 Blue-winged teal Cinnamon teal 300 200 200 100 50 15 16,436 Shoveler 7.800 9.000 13.000 14,000 6.000 1.100 200 323.0&5 Wood Redhead 6.000 3.900 300 400 5 808.500 Ring-necked Canvasback 25.300 25,000 8,8oo 75 3 2.017.470 Scaup 1.700 2,400 1.600 1,000 66.885 Goldeneye 450 500 460 550 200 750 405 150 24.948 Bufflehead 50 45 40 75 75 125 20 26 3.538 Ruddy 2.700 5.500 550 4^0 175 145 390 43 263.214 Otheifc^ Merganser 200 15 30 30 80 130 -3249?- R-B. Merganser 400 HO 140 150 125 50 75 10 7.560 260 70 4 1,218,798 Coot: 806 550 400 500 57 (ov er) - &r r^r (?) — SUMMARI Total Days Use : Peak Number : Total Production Swans Principal feeding areas All units of refuge -farm

Geese 56Q.t7QO fields 10-15 ailes north of refuge, surrounding marshes. ; : Ducks 27,923.141 Principal nesting areas ; ; Coots 1.2lSt798 Reported by Iliyd Tm Qunther, Refuge Manager

INSTRUCTIONS (See Sees. 7^31;through 753U, Wildlife Refuges Field Manual) , (1) Species: In addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appropriate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and national significance. ^ (2) Weeks of Reporting Period: Estimated average refuge populations. (3) Estimated Waterfowl Days Use: Average weekly populations x number of days present for each species. (li) Production: Estimated number of young produced based on observations and actual counts on representative breeding areas. Brood counts should be made on two or more areas aggregating 10^ of the breeding habitat. Estimates having no basis in fact should be omitted. (5) Total Days Use: A summary of data recorded under (3). (6) Peak Number: Maximum number of waterfowl present on refuge during any census of reporting period. (7) Total Production: A summary of data recorded under (U).

Interior Duplicating Section, Washington, D. C. 1953 3-1750c Form NR-1C "fcClTERFOWL HUNTER KILL SURV (Sept. I960)

Refuge Bear Rlrer Migratory Bird Refuge Year 1965__

- "TIT Hunter TO TFT" TTT Weeks of w— Total —rsr Total ~m— —m— No. Hunters Hours Waterfowl Species and Nos. of Each Bagged Crippling Hunting Bagged Kill Est. No. Est. Total 10/9 Checke1,190 d 7,140 Pintail (896), OV Teal (1403), Mallard 4410 No Losdatsa o1,30f Hunter9 s 4,85Kil1 l 10/16 (554), Cinn. Teal(426), Shoveller <313)» Gadwall (304), Redhead (20$), Widgeon (126 Can. Goose (8l), Canvasback (71), Ruddy (10), Scaup (7), Bufflehead (5), Coot (4), Goldeneye (3), Snow goose (1) • • • • » • * * •^^ * * * * • * * « « * • • * • * * * * • * * * • * * * * * * * « * * * * * * * • • * • * 10/17 276 1,656 Pintail (281), GW Teal (116), Mallard (76) 745 304 819 10/23 Shoveller (64), Widgeon (52), Gadwall (47) Canvasback (43), Redhead (26), Can. Goose (19), Cinn. Teal (17), Goldeneye (3), Ruddy (1) ****** * * * « * * * * * * * * * «•«*•• * * * * * 10024 179 1 1,074 Pintail (186), Shoveller (62), GV Teal(60) 464 197 510 10/30 Mallard (39), Gadwall (34), Widgeon (SB), Cinn. Teal(20), Canvasback (14), Bedhead (13), Can. goose (7), Goldeneye (1) * • * * « *«**•* • * * * ********************** * * * <« * * * * * * * * * ****** * * * * * 10/51 197 1,182 Pintail (243), G¥ Teal (210), Shoveller 643 217 707 11/6 (64), Mallard (43), Widgeon (30), Gadwall (28), Redhead (5), Can. goose (5), Clan* Teal (4), Goldeneye (3), Merganser (3), Canvasback (2), Bufflehead (2), Scaup (1) ***** ****** * * * * i********************* * * • * * * * * * * * * ****** * * * * * 11/7 363 2,178 Pintail (431), SW Teal (404), Mallard (83) 1088 399 1.197 11/15 Shoveller (69), Gadwall (33), Widgeon (31) Redhead (10), Can. goose (10), Cinn. Teal (6), Canvasback (5), Bufflehead (2), Merganser (2), Goldeneye (I), Snow goose (:. ) ****** * * * * !***«**•*«**«******* ** * * * * * * * * * * * * ****** * * * * * 11X14 420 2,520 Pintail (378), GW Teal (253), Mallard (122 1026 462 1.129 11/20 Shoveller (100), Gadwall (69), Widgeon (31 Goldeneye (15), Cinn. Teal(l4), Canvasback (8), Redhead (8), Can goose (13), Snow goose (4), Scaup (3), Bufflehead (3), Merganser (2), Swan (2), BW Teal (1) • (over) INSTRUCTIONS

(1) The first week of hunting begins with opening day and ends at the close of hunting 6 days later. Successive weeks follow the same pattern, (2) The goal is to survey a minimum of 25 percent of refuge hunters each week and to record data.bnly from those who have completed their day's hunting. This information should be collected during each day of the week and in each area hunted in relative proportion to the hunter effort expended. When the 25 percent goal cannot be achieved, particular care should be taken to collect representative data,

(3) Record the total number of hours the hunters spent hunting on the refuge. • ' ... \ .... . , . k l •• (U) List waterfowl species in decreasing order of numbers bagged. Sample entry: Mallard (6l), Pintail (36), Redhead (16), Gadwall (ll). Widgeon (6), Coot (i*), Canada Goose (3), Green- winged Teal (1). (5) Record total numbers of waterfowl bagged. (6) Record total numbers of waterfowl reported knocked down but not recovered. (7) Total of Columns 5 and 6. (8) Estimate the total number of hunters who hunted on the refuge during the week, including hunters checked (Column 2).

81 (9) Kill sample projected to 100 percent. Column 9 £2j™^i-£ x Column 7. - Column 2

80348-60 3-1750c Form NR-1C WATERFOWL HUNTER KILL SURT (Sept. I960) Page Refuge Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Year 196|[_

(1) —— (3) (5) (6) (7) (9) Weeks of No. Hunters Hunter Total Crippling Total —m— Est. Total Hunting Checked Hours Waterfowl Species and Nos. of Each Bagged Bagged Loss Kill Est. No. Kill 11/21 601 3,606 Pintail (485), OW ffeal (465), Shoveller 1,^84 of ooHunterl s 1^32 11/27 (150), Gadwall (100), Mallard (137), Widgeon (61), Redhead (18), Goldeneye (10) Can. goose (21), Canvasback (9), Cinn. Teal (8), Snow goose (5), Scaup (4), Whis. swan (4), Bufflehead (5), Ruddy (2) Merganser (1), White-fronted goose (1) ****** • • • ****************** * * * * * « * * * * * • * • • • • ** * 13/21 419 2,514 GW Teal (535), Pintail (496), Mallard (1301,42 0 1,562 12/4 Shoveller (111), Gadwall (80), Cinn. Teal (24), Widgeon (15), Scaup (8), Can* goose (8), Goldeneye (5), Canvasback (3), Buffle­ head (2), Whis. Swan (2), Redhead (1) • * * • • • * * * • » • • • ****************** • • * * * * • • • »**•** *****: ****** 2,034 12/5 339 GW Teal (451), Pintail (319), Mallard (83) 1,019 373 1,119 12A1 Shoveller (80), Gadwall (25), Cinn. Teal (20), Can. goose (19), Widgeon (12), Goldeneye (5), Scaup (1), Canvasback (1), Bufflehead (1), Ruddy (1), Merganser (1) * * * * • ****** * • * * * * * • « ****** * • * * ,****************** * * * * * * * 702 12/12 251 t,506 Pintail (246), GW Teal (237), Mallard (63) 638 276 12/18 Shoveller (36), Gadwall (18), Widgeon (11) Can. goose (9), Cinn. Teal (8), Goldeneye (6), Redhead (1), Canvasback (1), Buffle­ head (1), Whis. swan (1) * * * •.•^f • * *• * * * * • * * * * * t t * * * * * * * * * ****** * * * * * ****** Pintail (46), GW Teal (23), Mallard (18) * 10§ 11§ 12A9 59 354 12/25 Goldeneye (5), Shoveller (4), Widgeon (3) Gadwall (3), Canvasback (1), Bufflehead (1), Can. goose (1), Whis. swan (J) * * * * * ****** t************** ******* * * * * * * * * * ****** * « * * « 12/26/65 28 Goldeneye (13), Mallard (10), Can. goose 54 30 59 VV66 (10),Pintail (6), Merganser (4), Canvas­ back (3), Ruddy (3), Whis. swan (2), Redhead (2), Widgeon (1) » * * • t********************* ****** * * * * * * * * * * * * ****** * * * * * 4 24 Nona '6/66 0 0 • • -. .r • (over) INSTRUCTIONS

(1) The first week of hunting begins w?th opening day and ends at the close of hunting 6 days later* Successive weeks follow the same pattern, (2) The goal is to survey a minimum of 25 percent of refuge hunters each week and to record data .'only from those who have completed their day's hunting. This information should be collected during each day of the week and in each area hunted in relative proportion to the hunter effort expended. When the 25 percent goal cannot be achieved, particular care ; should be taken to collect representative data, ( . • •. ••, • .. • ^ (3) Record the total number of hours the hunters spent hunting on the refuge. (U) List waterfowl species in decreasing order of numbers bagged. Sample entry: Mallard (6l), Pintail (36), Redhead (16), Gadwall (ll). Widgeon (6), Coot (U), Canada Goose (3), Green- winged Teal (1). (5) Record total numbers of waterfowl bagged. (6) Record total numbers of waterfowl reported knocked down but not recovered. (7) Total of Columns 5 and 6. (8) Estimate the total number of hunters who hunted on the refuge during the week, including hunters checked (Column 2). (9) Kill sample projected to 100 percent. Column 9 * ^SSS | x Column 7. •

80348-60 3-1751 Form NR-1A MIGRATORY BIRDS (Aug. 1952) (Other than Waterfowl) Refuge_ Mgg Mrd Refuge Months of Sept. 1 to December 31 19 : (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Species First Seen Peak Concentration Last Seen Production Total Inclusive Number Total # Total Estimated Common Name Number Date Number Dates Number Date Colonies Nests Young Use I, Water and Marsh Birds: Eared Grebe 3S0 9A7)(9/217) 4 12/10 10,465 Western Grebe 17.200 Pied-billed Grebe 115 io/7)(io/in IVesJnt White Pelican 4900 39- D-C Cormorant 50 [972) (9/24 SSL Great Blue Heron V2H9A7) W?7 16.0C^ B»C* Night a»aa 400 2950 11/12 W-F Gloasy IMs JOgO

21,168 Lesser Yallowlega ia Loug-bi lied Dowitc ler ^00 100 12i Marbledd Godwit 100 75.824 American Avocet Black-necke•d Stilt 4000 TM.100 6ll600 IX. CalifShorebirds. Gull" . 2050 Ring-billeGulls andd Gull 900 "^50 Franklin'Terns: s Gull 1350 200 KilldeeForster'r s Tern a. Caspian Tern mmmm

• (over) • (» 12) 121 152 161 III. Doves and Pigeons! Mourning dove White-winged dove ML

IV. Predaceous Birds: Golden eagle 6 moiia/*) 12/2? Duck hawk MM: korned owl m Magpie 175 |u/3)(ia/y) 75 12/27 Raven drew 12/2? 1^

Marsh Hawk

Reported by j^nyd F> ftmtw. R^ftio ^r. INSTRUCTIONS (See Sec. 7532. Wildlife Refuges Field Manual) (1) Species: Use the correct names as found in the A.O.U. Checklist, 1931 Edition, and list group in A.O.U* order. Avoid general terms as "seagull", "tern", etc. in addition to the birds listed on form, other species occurring on refuge during the reporting period should be added in appro- priate spaces. Special attention should be given to those species of local and National significance. Groups: I. Water and Marsh Birds (Gaviiformes to Ciconiiformes and Gruiiformes) II. Shorebirds, Gulls and Terns (Charadriiformes) III. Doves and Pigeons (Columbiformes) IV. Predaceous Birds^ (Falconiformes^ Strigiformes and predaceous - Passeriformes) (2) First Seen: The first migration record for the species for the reporting period.

(3) Pea k-Numbers: Estimated number and inclusive dates when peak population of the species occurred.

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

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

(6) Total: Estimated species days use (average population X no. days present) of refuge during the reporting period. 3-1752 UPLAND GAME BIRDS Form NR-2 (April 1946) Refuge Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Months of Sept. I to Dec. $1 19 65

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Species Density Young Sex Removals Total Remarks Produced Ratio n3 60 JS CU o J 1 i S Estimated Pertinent infor­ u m - / - |H 0) TD > CU -H CO Acres co PH ^ number mation not specific­ X) O - o CU Cover types, total per 6 o to M o CO using ally requested. List CO O O -M 01 Common Name acreage of habitat Bird Percentage P4 W Refuge introductions here. Ring-necked 13,400 acres of 15-20 none 700 Pheasant marsh land aad weed areas along dikes and roadways INSTRUCTIONS

Form NR-2 - UPLAND GAME BIRDS.*

(1) SPECIES: Use correct common name.

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

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

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

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

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

(7) REMARKS: Indicate method used to determine population and area covered in survey. Also include other pertinent information not specifically requested. M 5 * Only columns applicable to the period covered should be used. NR-6 Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife

PUBLIC RELATIONS (See Instructions on Reverse Side)

Refuge Bear River Calendar Year

1. Visits b. Fishing 935 a. Hunting 4fSxo c. Miscellaneous l4f750 d. TOTAL VISITS 20.495 4= la. Hunting (on refuge lands) 2. Refuge Participation (groups)

TYPE HUNTERS ACRES MAMAGRD RV NO. OP NUMBER IN "NO. Of NUMBER IN Waterfowl TYPE OP ORGANIZATION GROUPS GROUPS GROUPS 12r8«5S Refuire GROUPS- Upland Game Sportsmen Clubs 1 63 3 75 Big Game Bird and Garden Clubs 2 203 Other Schools 57 2.TO 450 Service Clubs Number of permanent blinds B 2 53 3 55 Youth Groups Man-days of bow hunting Included above —^ 11 148 Pr0fesslonal-Sc1entlf1c Estimated man-days of hunting on lands adjacent to' - . Religious Groups refuge 3*0QO 8 161 m State or Federal Govt, lb. Pishing (area open to fishing on refuge lands) 1

TYPE OP AREA ACRES MILES other Beet Bo*ee 2 32 Ponds or Lakes 3.' Other Activities TYPE NUMBER TYPE NUMBER Streams and Shores 10 Press Releases Radio Presentations 1c. Miscellaneous Visits "1 «r Newspapers . 1> (P.R.»s sent to) Exhibits Recreation iltgi Official 60 4 TV Presentations Est. Exhibit Viewers Economic Use Industrial

3-1756 (Rev. If/63) INSTRUCTION,—S Item 1: Total of a, and c, equal d. "Visit" - definition. Any person who is on refuge lands or waters during a day or part thereof for the purpose of: hunting, fishing, bird-watching, recreation, business or economic use, official . visit, or similar interest. INCLUDE - those, who stop within the refuge while traveling on a public highway because of an interest in the area. EXCLLDU - persons engaged in oil or other industry not directly related to the refuge, persons using refuge as most direct route or principal avenue of traffic, and those boating on navigable rivers or the Intercoastal Canal, unless they stop to observe wildlife on the refuge.

Computing visits. Where actual counts are impractical, "sampling" is used with midweek and weekr end samples varied by season or weather. A conversion factor of 3*5 (of passengers per car) is" used when accurate figures are not available. Each refuge will develop a conversion factor for boats based on range of usage. Count a camper once for each 24-hour period or fraction thereof.

Item la: Acres - of refuge open for each type of hunting.

Managed hunts require check in and out of hunters, issuance of permits, or assignment of blinds.

Other - INCLUDE crow, fox, and similar hunting.

Lands adjacent to refuge. Normally considered within 1 mile or less of boundary, unless established sampling procedures cover a wider area. For big game hunting, the distance may be greater.

Item lb: Acres of streams open to fishing, if practical; otherwise just miles open. Information on "shores" is primarily for coastal fishing.

Item 1c: Recreation. INCLUDE photography, observing wildlife, picnicking, swimming, boating, camping, visitor center use,, tours, etc. TOTAL Recreation, Official, and Economic, Use visits under Item 1.

Industrial. INCLUDE persons engaged in industry, i.e., bil industry or factories. EXCLUDE these from Item 1.

Item 2: INCLUDE the "On Refuge" groups in Items 1c and 1. In "Off Refuge" column include only those group meetings in which refuge employees actually participate. EXCLUDE these from Items 1c and 1. Item 3: Exhibits - INCLUDE displays, fairs, parades, and exhibits OFF the refuge; EXCLUDE those ON.

31902 3-1570 K-f REFUGE GRAIN REPORT Refuge _ Bft^.Mvar Mgratory Mrd Refuge Months of &ept_« 1 through JD.ec .Jl , 19^5.

(i) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) GRAIN DISPOSED OF PROPOSED OR SUITABLE USE* ON HAND RECEIVED ON HAND VARIETY* BEGINNING DURING TOTAL END OF OF PERIOD PERIOD ferred Seeded Fed Total PERIOD Seed Feed Surplus

None None

(8) Indicate shipping or collection points

(9) Grain is stored at

(10) Remarks *See instructions on back. Nit-8a

REFUGE GRAIN REPORT

This report should cover all grain on hand, received, or disposed of, during the period covered by this narrative report. Report all grain in bushels. For tl/e purpose of this report the following approximate weights of grain shall be considered equivalent to a*bushel: Corn (shelled)—55 lb., corn (ear)—70 lb., wheat— 60 lb., barley—50 lb., rye—55 lb., oats—30 lb., soy beans—60 lb., millet—50 lb., cowpeas—60 lb., and mixed—50 lb. In computing volume of granaries, multiply the cubic contents (cu. ft.) by 0.8 bushels. (1) List each type of grain separately and specifically, as flint corn, yellow dent corn, square deal hybrid corn, garnet wheat, red May wheat, durum wheat, spring wheat, proso millet, combine milo, new era cowpeas, mikado soy beans, etc. Mere listing as corn, wheat, and soybeans will not suffice, as specific details are necessary in considering transfer of seed supplies to other refuges. Include only domestic grains; aquatic and other seeds will be listed on NR-9. (3) Report all grain received during period from all sources, such as transfer, share cropping, or harvest from food patches. (4) A total of columns 2 and 3. (6) Column 4 less column 5. (7) This is a proposed break-down by varieties of grain listed in column 6. Indicate if grain is suitable for seeding new crops. (8) Nearest railroad station for shipping and receiving. (9) Where stored on refuge: "Headquarters granary," etc. (10) Indicate here the source of grain shipped in, destination of grain transferred, data on con­ dition of grain, unusual uses proposed.

INT.-DUP. SEC, WASH., D.C. 17065