UJO n CO BACK BAY FISHERMAN ISLAND PLUM TREE ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES Virginia Beach, Virainia
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1984
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Back Bay NWR Complex Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR REVIEW AND APPROVALS
BACK BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Virginia Beach, Virginia
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1984
Refuge Ma // Dat^
Refuge Supervisor Review Date
egional Office 4BProval Date INTRODUCTION
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 to provide habitat and protection for migratory birds. Manage ment objectives have since been expanded to provide for a broader spectrum of wildlife, with special emphasis on water fowl, shorebirds and threatened and endangered species; and to provide the visiting public with opportunities for wild life oriented recreation and environmental education to the extent compatible with resource needs.
JB 11/84
Aerial view of the refuge looking southward with the Back Bay on the right.
The refuge consists of 4,608 acres located in southeastern Virginia. In addition, about 5,600 acres of open bay water within the refuge boundary were Closed to the taking of migratory birds in 1939 by Presidential Proclamation. The refuge extends 4.2 miles along the Atlantic shoreline. About 800 acres of habitat consist of barrier beach and adjacent dunes with an elevation of about 15 feet. The refuge ocean front beach has been described by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences as one of the most dynamic of the Virginia Atlantic Ocear^ beaches. The slope of the beach frequently changes radically within one tide cycle. The beach varies in width from 100 to 250 feet at low tide. Marshland, predominately black needlerush, comprises about 3,617 acres or 78% of the refuge. This wetland acreage includes 586 acres in three impoundments. Scattered woodlands, consisting primarily of loblolly pine with some live oak, red maple and sweetgum, comprise 132 acres. The remaining upland area includes 59 acres in grass managed as goose pasture. The Proclamation waters are shallow with an average depth of about three feet. Salinity ranges between four and ten percent sea strength. Bay waters are not influenced by lunar tides but wind is a major factor. Persistent northerly winds may lower the water level as much as one to two feet; while persistent southerly winds have the opposite effect. This wind action also has a pronounced effect on turbidity.
The climate of Back Bay is modified continental with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Annual precipitation averages 48 inches. The normal growing season is 251 days. Hurricanes and "northeasters" occasionally affect Back Bay and the surrounding areas, causing damage from wind and high tides.
Prior to the regulation of beach vehicular travel, non-wild life oriented visits, primarily associated with the use of off-road vehicles, exceeded 300,000 annually. In recent years, the refuge normally receives slightly over 100,000 visits annually. Public use demand will remain high because of the 325,000 residents of Virginia Beach within forty-five minutes of the refuge and 1.3 million people live within a two hours drive. The presence of mosquitoes, biting flies, greenbriars, poison ivy and cottonmouth moccasins keep visitors and employees humble and the refuge from being completely trampled underfoot or driven over. INTRODUCTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
A. HIGHLIGHTS 1
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1
C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title NTR 2 2. Easements 2 3. Other 2
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan NTR 2. Management Plan 2 3. Public Participation 3 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates 4 5. Research and Investigations 4 6. Other NTR
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel 5 2. Youth Programs 6 3. Other Manpower Programs NTR 4. Volunteers Program NTR 5. Funding 8 6. Safety 8 7. Technical Assistance NTR 10 8. Other
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General NTR 2. Wetlands 11 3. Forests NTR 4. Croplands NTR 5. Grasslands 14 6. Other Habitats NTR 7. Grazing NTR 8. Haying . NTR 9. Fire Management 14 10. Pest Control 14 11. Water Rights NTR 12. Wilderness and Special Areas NTR 13. WPA Easement Monitoring NTR G. WILDLIFE Page
1. Wildlife Diversity NTR 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 14 3. Waterfowl 16 4. Marsh and Water Birds 21 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 22 6. Raptors 22 7. Other Migratory Birds 23 8. Game Mammals 24 9. Marine Mammals NTR 10. Other Resident Wildlife NTR 11. Fisheries Resources NTR 12. Wildlife Propogation and Stocking NTR 13. Surplus Animal Disposal NTR 14. Scientific Collections NTR 15. Animal Control 26 16. Marking and Banding 28 17. Disease Prevention and Control NTR
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General 28 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 30 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers 31 4. Interpretive Foot Trails 32 5. Interpretive Tour Routes, Motorized 33 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations 33 7. Other Interpretive Programs 33 8. Hunting 34 9. Fishing 34 10. Trapping 34 11. Wildlife Observation 35 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation 37 13. Camping 37 14. Picnicking 38 15. Off-Road Vehicling 39 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation 40 17. Law Enforcement 41 18. Cooperating Associations 44 19. Concessions NTR I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES Page
1. New Construction 45 2. Rehabilitation NTR 3. Major Maintenance 47 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 47 5. Communications Systems NTR 6. Computer Systems 48 7. Energy Conservation 49 8. Other NTR
J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs 49 2. Other Economic Uses NTR 3. Items of Interest NTR 4. Credits 49
K. FEEDBACK 50
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Office Location - Back Bay Coiriplex Manned Stations Unmanned Stations A. HIGHLIGHTS
- Construction of the refuge office/visitor contact station began in June 1984 and was near completion by the end of December.
- The beach vehicular access situation was monitored seven days/week, twenty-four hour/day from April 4 until July 31.
No significant changes resulted but the refuge staff has a better understanding of permittees, time-of-travel patterns and types of permit abuses/violations.
- Guards George Batie and Lester Walizer were notified of impending reassignments to Cape Charles National Wildlife Refuge in September. Mr. Batie transferred to Department of Defense at the Norfolk Naval Operations Base on November 11, 1984. Mr. Walizer accepted the reassignment which was effective on November 25, 1984.
- Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge became an independent field station on October 1, 1984 after being a Back Bay satellite since its establishment in 1960.
- Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge was transferred to the administration of the Cape Charles National Wildlife Refuge effective October 1, 1984.
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The following table is compiled from on-site readings at the Official Weather Bureau Station maintained at the refuge.
Precipitation (inches) Temperatures (F)
Variance TOTAL From Rain Snowfall Normal Normal Maximum Minimum
January 3.31 T 3.37 - 0.06 60 10 February 4.80 0.40 3.81 + 0.99 68 22 March 3.87 3.69 + 0.18 67 26 April 2.11 3.97 - 1.86 75 32 May 5.72 3.48 + 2.24 98 41 June 0.48 3.59 - 3.11 93 51 July 7.40 5.14 + 2.26 96 58 August 3.59 6.30 - 2.71 91 60 September 6.43 5.05 + 1.38 94 46 October 0.47 4.39 - 3.92 86 44 November 2.42 2.97 - 0.55 79 29 December 1.84 2.90 - 1.06 73 20 42.44 0.40 48.66 - 5.82 2
C. LAND ACQUISITION
2. Easements
The State of Virginia Division of Parks made known their desires for a "less than fee title" easement through the refuge to False Cape State Park. Access to False Cape State Park located between the refuge and the North Carolina - Virginia State line to the south, has been the subject of both an Environmental Assessment and an Environmental Impact State ment. No resolution to the False Cape access issue was achieved during 1984.
An easement to reroute an underground telephone cable through the refuge to False Cape State Park was granted to the Con tinental Telephone Co. for $896.00. The cable was buried along the berm of existing dike roads.
3. Other
Mr. Sam Riggs of the Kabler and Riggs Realty Co. called the refuge office to inquire if the Service would be interested in acquiring about 1,665 acres of predominately marshland. The property, located north of the refuge, is bounded by North Bay to the South, Hell Point Canal to the west, Sandbridge Road to the north and the community of Sandbridge to the east. A field reconnaissance of the tract was made by Manager Keel and Walt Quist and Joe McCauley of the Regional Office on October 26. Appraisal of the tract was not finished by the end of 1984. The tract would provide additional wetland acreage to the refuge system but other lands in the region have higher priority at the present.
D. PLANNING
2. Management Plan
A deer hunt plan, drafted by Assistant Manager Brandwein, was submitted to the Regional Office for review and approval. The plan also allows for taking feral hogs. Indications are that the refuge will have its first deer hunt in the fall of 1985 with three days of bow hunting followed by a nine-day gun hunt.
A fire management plan which incorporated and revised an existing presqribe burn plan was submitted. The plan was reviewed by Regional Office staff and returned for revision. The cooperative fire fighting agreement with the City of Virginia Beach was also returned for revision.
A buffalo contigency plan was drafted but not finalized. The need for the plan arose after one of about seven bison owned by Ernie Bowden in Corova Beach, North Carolina broke through 3
a three-strand barbed wire fence and was encountered heading north on the refuge by two refuge employees. The female bison was shot and two Congressional inquiries followed soon after. The plan will be finalized in the early spring of 1985 before the adult bull comes into rut and decides "the range" to the north looks better.
3. Public Participation
A news release on the preparation of a refuge deer hunt was published in a local paper to invite public comment. Only one telephone call was received to inquire how one could get a permit to hunt,
4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates
An environmental assessment on the proposed deer hunt was prepared and submitted along with the hunt plan.
5. Research and Investigations
Special Use Permits were issued to the below named individuals for research and investigations as described.
Thomas R. Nichols - Vehicular access privileges to band peregine falcons, and storage of pigeons and fuel to facilitate activity.
Frank Perronot, Richard Gebrosky - Collecting fish samples from impoundment Virginia Beach canals for educational purposes. Junior High School
Dr. James Matta - Collect invertebrate species, primarily Old Dominion aquatic insects, from impoundment canals. University
Dr. Grant Goodall - Conduct ocean-to-bay transects to obtain University of geophysical measurements on extent of Virginia salt water intrusion into surface aquifers.
Paul J. Paris - Collect samples of beach sand for analyses Virginia Poly- of sediment sizes and mineralogical com- technic Institute position, and State University 4
1. Personnel
1. Ralph M. Keel, Jr. Refuge Manager GS-12 PET EOD 04/01/84 2. Douglas L, Parr Assistant Refuge Manager GS-11 PET EOD 02/10/80 3. Richard D. Poetter Assistant Refuge Manager GS- 7 PET EOD 01/27/80 4. Daniel R. Dinkier Outdoor Recreation Planner GS- 9 PET EOD 03/28/80 5. Edna M. Ford Administrative Clerk GS- 6 PET EOD 01/18/65 6. Ernest Maddron Maintenance Worker WG- 8 PET EOD 02/26/73 7. Andrew Orsargos Maintenance Worker WG- 7 PET EOD 03/27/77 8. Michael R. Panz Park Technician GS- 6 PET EOD 01/08/84 9. George A. Batie Guard GS- 5 PET EOD 06/09/74 10. Lester W. Walizer Guard GS- 4 PPT EOD 05/09/76 (35 hrs/wk) * 11. Teresa M. Cherry Clerk-Typist GS- 2 700 EOD 03/23/78 hour 12. Jared Brandwein Assistant Refuge Manager GS- 7 PET EOD 03/05/84 13. Donna A. Dewhurst Coop Student GS- 5 4 EOD 09/16/84 MO 5
Significant personnel actions during the year included the follow ing actions:
1. Transferred from Koyukuk NWR, Galena, AK effective 04/01/84.
3. Transferred to Des Lacs Complex (Lake Ilo), North Dakota effective 03/04/84.
5. Converted to Secretary effective 02/05/84.
8. Transferred from the National Park Service, Pennsylvania effective 01/08/84.
9. Transferred to the Defense Department, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, VA effective 11/11/84.
10. Converted to PFT effective 05/27/84. Transferred to Cape Charles NWR, Cape Charles, VA effective 11/25/84.
11. Converted to TFT effective 05/27/84.
12. Transferred from BLM, Rock Springs, WY effective 03/05/84.
13. Coop Student from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
14. Sherman Stairs, Assistant Manager at Great Dismal Swamp NWR reported on board 03/05/84 as Acting Project Leader until Ralph reported for duty on April 01, 1984.
MRP 11/84
Guard George Batie with commemorat ive plaques received at his farewell party 6 I
A summary of on-board personnel over the past five years is as follows:
Permanent Temporary Full-Time Part-Time FY 84 10 0 1 FY 83 8 2 1 FY 82 7 3 1 FY 81 7 3 2 FY 80 7 3 3
The organizational chart is included to show division of responsi bilities of various positions.
2. Youth Programs
Back Bay hosted a four-person YCC camp in 1984. Enrollees assisted in a variety of maintenance tasks and management surveys.
DRD 08/84
1984 YCC crew pictured with their "monument" project. The Shorebird Trail boardwalk
•£- 7
ORGANIZATION CHART BACK BAY NWR
CY 84 EOD TERMINATED
15. Gretchen E. Bedenbaugh 06/11/84 08/10/84 16. Elizabeth (Misty) D. Bleicher 06/11/84 08/10/84 17. Matthew E. Moore 06/11/84 08/10/84 18. Wayne (Butch) A. Snow 06/11/84 08/10/84
The YCC program without staff is an awkward program for us to administer properly. With our office location and other constraints, we have to put these young people under the day-to-day guidance of maintenance personnel, a situation with which no one is really happy, and consequently lessens the effectiveness of the program.
5. Fund ing
A six-year funding summary is shown on the following chart. During FY 84, Back Bay Refuge obligated $86,537 in Accelerated Refuge Management and Maintenance (ARM's) funds or 23.4% of the total operating budget.
$46,637.50 of ARM's funding was contracted to W. L Tate Con struction Company of Coinjock, NC for the impoundment reha bilitation work in B Pool.
An additional $478,455.63 in Jobs Bill funds was appropriated for the construction of a new office/visitor contact station and paved parking lot. J. D. Horton & Son Construction Company in Virginia Beach, Va. was awarded the contract.
FY 85 funding was increased by 14.3% over FY 84. ARM's monies accounted for $65,480 or 15.5% of the budget. $12,600 of the FY 85 budget was designated to fund the YCC program.
The increase in FY 85 funds will be needed in part to defray the increase in fixed operating and maintenance costs when we move out of GSA leased office space and into the new office/VCS building on the refuge sometime in early spring, 1985. $60,000 in Special Resource Problems funds of ARM's monies were allocated to increase the refuge law enforcement presence. This does not mean an increase in the "Big Brother" attitude but simply an increase in resource and visitor protection.
Protection for the visitor most often entails protection from other human beings.
6. Safety
The refuge safety program was very active this year. Project Leader Keel appointed a safety committee of three for CY 1984 and CY 1985. The members included Assistant Manager Brandwein, Park Technician Panz, and Maintenance Worker Maddron. BACK BAY FUNDING
FY 80 - 85 o o 450,000 ~vo„.
CO CO COr—I CT) UD 00 400,000
350,000
300,000
o o o o o o o o o orv ors or* CO r-H 00 CO I—t CO CO CO CO CO CO 250,000
C/O Cd
B 200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000 •
80 81 82 83 84 Fiscal Year 10
Topics covered this year were:
DATE LEADER SUBJECT
03/13/84 Brandwein Fire Hierarchy as related to safety 05/23/84 Ogden (VA CPR Game Commission) 05/25/84 Dinkier Stress 06/29/84 Maddron Heavy Equipment Safety 07/27/84 Panz First Aid 08/31/84 Parr Boating Safety 09/28/84 Keel Fire Fighting/Prescribed Burns 10/26/84 Ford ATV Operator Training & Self Inspection Program 11/30/84 U. S. Coast Guard Small Boating Safety 12/28/84 Brandwe in Safety Committee Meeting
DRD 5/84
Jim Ogden, Virginia Game Commission, put on a CPR Course for refuge staff at the Mackay Island Shop.
No accidents resulting in lost time were incurred this year.
8. Other Items
A refuge revenue sharing check in the amount of $97,208 was delivered on March 23, 1984 to the City of Virginia Beach for payment in lieu of taxes for Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge properties and the portion of the Mackay Island National Wild life Refuge located in Virginia. 11
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
2. Wetlands
Bids for the marsh rehabilitation project, opened on September 20th, with the W. L. Tate Construction Company of Coinjock, North Carolina, the low bidder. The project consisted of lowering the ground level on the east side of B impoundment, essentially changing the habitat type from upland shrub/scrub to wetland emergents. Work commenced in October and was com pleted by November 20th, with 7,950 cubic yards of earth re moved. Although the actual project was completed to the refuge's satisfaction, Mr. Tate left the roads (particularly the east dike) in less than desirable condition. After a meeting on December 3rd, with Graham Curtis (Engineering - RO), Mr. Tate agreed to leave 30 tons of gravel, so that refuge personnel could rehab sections of the road left in poor con dition. Wintering snow geese were observed moving onto the site immediately after project completion and continued to use this area for feeding and loafing during crepuscular periods.
DAH 10/84
Pool marsh rehab site before... 12
DAD 11/84
....and after....
In October, maintenance worker Maddron began drum chopping a section of wetland wax-myrtles, willows and red maple. A Caterpillar D7-E was used to pull a drum chopper rented from the Virginia Division of Forestry. Approximately 47 acres of small trees and shrubs were drum chopped by November 8th, fol lowed by the plowing of six fire lanes with a 2-blade fire plow by Mike Bryant from Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. 13
DAD 10/84
D7-E with drum chopper clearing brush
HI
JB 11/84
47 acres were drum chopped to enhance area for waterfowl. 14
5. Grassland
Approximately 60 acres of fescue, orchard grass and clover, on Long Island, were maintained at low vegetational heights with periodic mowing. Maintenance workers Maddron and Orsargos mowed the field in July, September, and November. Moderate use of the field by Canada and snow geese was ob served throughout the following winter.
9. Fire Management
Prescribed burning plans were cancelled due to a directive requiring all personnel involved in burning to have completed required fire behavior/fire fighter training.
A draft Fire Management Plan was submitted to the Regional Office in 1984 and returned for minor revisions. The revised plan will be submitted in FY 85.
10. Pest Control
Three specimens collected in June and July from gypsy moth traps in the Green Hills section of Back Bay were confirmed as male gypsy moths by U. S. Forest Service Entomologist William A. Carothers. This is the second year of gypsy moth captures at the refuge.
G. WILDLIFE
2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
Species which were observed utilizing the refuge this year included the peregrine falcon, bald eagle, brown pelican, Atlantic green sea turtle, and the Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle.
The Annual Bald Eagle Midwinter Survey was conducted during the period of January 2-16. The staff kept a watchful eye for any eagles during daily operations both on and off the refuge, but no sightings were made.
On May 24th an immature bald eagle was sighted flying over the refuge, in addition, three immature bald eagles were observed using the refuge beach for most of the month of June.
Except for several observations by refuge staff, surveys on the refuge fort peregrine falcons are conducted almost exclu sively by Thomas R. Nichols. This year, from September 23rd through November 11th, Mr. Nichols made 193 peregrine sightings and 78 captures, including all retraps from Back Bay Refuge, south to Duck, North Carolina. Many of these sightings were, no doubt, repeat observations of the same bird. Of special interest was a peregrine that was banded in August 1984 on the 15
Porcupine River of Alaska by Bob Richie; recovered the 25th of September in Wisconsin by Bob Berry; and then retrapped by Tom Nichols on October 3rd at Penny's Hill, North Carolina. This is the first recovery of an Alaskan peregrine east of the Mississippi River. Two other retraps were of a Cornell re leased bird and a Greenland bird.
Brown pelican sightings remained consistant with 1983 sightings. During June through September, groups of 3 to 60 pelicans could be seen intermittently cruising the beach, averaging one per day. A good percentage of these birds were in mature plumage. Three years ago it was very rare to see even one brown pelican during the year.
Daily sea turtle patrols for crawls or stranded turtles started at the beginning of June and ended at the beginning of September, In past years, refuge personnel patrolled the beach from the northern boundary to the North Carolina state line, four days a week, and Raise Cape State Park personnel covered the same area Thursdays through Sundays, This year, the State Park declined to patrol their ocean front beach for turtle crawls and agreed to let refuge personnel patrol their beach area for crawls as long as any nests needing to be relocated were relocated on the park area. Reasons for the State's change in policy are unknown. The result was that only refuge personnel were officially patrol ling the beaches for turtle sign. Fortunately, due to our tempor ary 24-hour beach access monitoring posture, weekend coverage for turtle patrols ran concurrently with access monitoring and did not require any extra staff time.
In Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay and adjacent marine waters serve as a major feeding area for subadult loggerheads which feed on the abundant horseshoe crabs. Throughout the summer and fail, dead sea turtles wash up on the area beaches. This year a total of eleven Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles and one Atlantic green sea turtle were found on the refuge, or nearby beaches (six miles north or south of the refuge). All turtles were dead. This compares with three loggerheads found last year. Causes of death include disease, drowning by entanglement in fishing nets, and being struck by ship propellers. As in pre vious years, the turtles were measured and reported to the local data gathering agency for sea turtles - the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Gloucester Point, Virginia. Occasionally, when a fairly fresh specimen is washed up, it is picked up by VIMS for necropsy. No nesting crawls were found this year. JB (08/84)
Refuge Guard George Batie and VIMS personnel Sarah Bellmund and Ruth Ellen Klinger perform field necrosy on Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle on refuge beach.
3. Waterfowl
Back Bay Refuge is primarily a feeding and resting area for migrating and wintering waterfowl. Limited nesting by ducks was documented the refuge. No swan or goose nesting was observed.
Waterfowl censusing techniques used at Back Bay Refuge are designed to cover the major portion of the land and water areas. The impoundment areas are surveyed by land vehicle utilizing the network of dike roads surrounding these areas. The bay, which includes open water and marsh islands, is sur veyed by boat if water levels and ice conditions permit. During the year, waterfowl surveys were conducted bi-weekly, except during winter months when they were done weekly if manpower demands permitted. Usually, they didn'tl During the higher waterfowl use periods, aerial flights were made once a month to facilitate anc^ improve earth-bound survey figures. DAD 84
Back Bay Refuge is located in the mainstream of the Atlantic Flyway.
Waterfowl population trends, in the form of peak population numbers, are presented for the past thirteen years on Table 1
Ducks
Neither Back Bay Refuge nor the proclamation waters are open to waterfowl hunting, but adjacent areas of Back Bay and Currituck Sound are hunted heavily. Prior to the hunting season the refuge holds approximately 35 to 50% of the area's total duck population. When hunting commences, up to 30% of the total population leave the area completely, and 80 - 90% of the remaining ducks can be found on the refuge. Once the season closes in January, the ducks tend to disperse again, thus reducing the refuge population.
Species of ducks which comprise the majority of the refuge population, consist of black duck, American wigeon, mallard, pintail, blue-winged teal, gadwall, and green-winged teal. Species which .normally do not exceed 200 individuals are the shoveler, wood duck, redhead, ring-necked duck, canvasback, bufflehead, ruddy duck, common merganser, hooded merganser, common goldeneye, and scaup. Other species of ducks which can be seen beyond the surf of the beach include the scoters (black, surf, white-winged), oldsquaw, and red-breasted merganser; however, these birds are not inventoried because they occur off the refuge and the proclamation waters. DUCKS TUNDRA SWANS GREATER SNOW GOOSE CANADA GOOSE AMERICAN COOT CY Peak Pop. Month Peak Pop. Month Peak Pop. Month Peak Pop. Month Peak Pop. Month
1972 47,030 Jan. 2,500 Jan. 20,000 Dec. 6,100 Nov. 10,000 Jan./ Feb.
1973 34,085 Oct. 4,000 Dec. 20,000 Dec. 4,000 Nov. 10,000 Oct.
1974 37,365 Dec. 6,000 Dec. 20,000 Dec. 4,130 Nov. 25,000 Dec.
1975 28,265 Dec. 8,000 Dec. 25,000 Jan. 4,000 Dec. 12,000 Feb.
1976 22,280 Dec. 4,000 Jan. 15,000 Jan./ 1,500 Jan. 10,000 Jan./ Feb. Feb.
1977 13,135 Dec. 3,380 Dec. 32,000 Jan. 3,000 Jan. 32,000 Jan.
1978 17,430 Nov. 7,400 Nov. 1,500 Jan./ 1,200 Nov. 5,000 Nov. Dec.
1979 22,390 Nov. 3,465 Dec. 2,525 Dec. 1,040 Nov. 9,700 Nov.
1980 20,150 Nov. 10,000 Dec. 13,000 Jan. 2,000 Dec. 1,000 Nov.
1981 15,089 Jan. 8,550 Jan. 12,600 Jan. 1,530 Jan. 25 Mar.
1982 12,722 Nov. 1,280 Dec. 6,250 Jan. 1,240 Dec. 354 Dec.
1983 5,677 Dec. 825 Jan. 4,000 Dec. 1,318 Jan. 360 Jan.
1984 8,269 Nov. 4,000 Jan. 7,500 Dec. 625 Dec. 45 Apri 1 19
DAD 11/84 Several species of clucks take haven from hunting on 5,600 acres of proclamation waters
As stated above, very little duck nesting data were documented. The principal nesting species are black ducks, mallards and wood ducks. Gadwalls and blue-winged teal have nested in the past but no broods were seen in 1984. Only four broods of black ducks (30 young) and one brood of mallards were observed. Wood duck habitat on the refuge is marginal but production potential is much greater than the two broods with a total of 15 ducklings recorded this year. Only nine nesting boxes were available. An evaluation of our nest box program revealed we need to relocate and/or replace existing boxes to improve production. These improvements will be implemented in CY '85.
The peak wintering duck population occurred in November, following a colder than normal October. Leading the list (tor November) were American wigeon, with a peak of 3,000 birds. In addition, the weather brought in 2,100 mallards, 1,200 pintails, and 1,000 black ducks. The peak population of ducks for 1984 was 2,592 more than was recorded for 1983 (see Table 1), however, when one considers the populations present in the 1970's, this year was nothing to brag about.
Geese
The year began with the refuge holding 5,350 geese, of which 5,000 were snows and 350 were Canadas. By the end of January the population had decreased to 800 and 150 respectively. By the beginning of April the last goose had departed the refuge for the breeding grounds. 20
The first Canada geese to arrive in the fall were observed in late September, and consisted of twenty birds. By the end of the year the population reached its peak (for the year) of 625.
DAD 84
Greater snow geese peaked at 7,500 in December.
In the beginning of November the first major influx of snows moved into the impoundments. By December 19th the population peaked at 7,500 birds for the year.
Swans
The year began with 4,000 tundra swans using the refuge. This turned out to be the peak population for the year. Only two swans remained by mid-March. These two swans remained on the refuge all summer and were last seen on November 2nd when they were lost in an influx of 3,000 birds. This influx turned out to be the peak fall population. DAD 84
Although 4,000 thousand tundra swans used the refuge, most "just passed through "on their way to and from North Carolina".
American Coots
As seen in by Table 1, coot numbers on the refuge have dropped substantially since 1975. In February - March, 1975, over 24,000 coots died during an avian 'cholera outbreak on Back Bay. There have been no outbreaks since then. Large rafts of coots could be seen on the bay in years past, but are no longer seen. The total population of coots on the refuge this year have been utilizing the impoundments. The peak population occurred in April, with 45 birds. The fall ended with a peak of 35 birds in December.
4. Marsh and Water Birds
Marsh and water bird populations on the refuge vary greatly during the year, being most abundant during the migrations. A peak of over 1,700 birds, representing 18 different species and over 52,000 use-days were recorded on the refuge in the last quarter of FY 1984. As of the first quarter of FY 1985, new forms (Wildlife Information Reports) will be used to combine all previous quarterly reports. As a result, only those species (of marsh and water birds) that occur in large numbers, or are significant are now being recorded.
It is known that a few species of marsh and water birds nest on the refuge, but no nests were discovered during routine operations. No specific nest searches were conducted. 22
5. Shorebirdsy Gullsf Terns and Allied Species
DAD 84
Sanderlings are the most abundant of the numerous shorebird species
Peak refuge use was recorded during the summer months, July through August, with a peak community population of 3,471 individuals of 29 different species. Sanderlings were the most abundant, followed by semipalmated sandpipers, ruddy turnstones, herring gulls and great black-backed gulls. Unusual species observed on the refuge included Forster's terns, sand wich terns, and spotted sandpipers. Continuous disturbance dis couraged any colonial nesting on the beach.
6. Raptors
Fifteen species of raptors were observed on and over the refuge during the year. These consisted of the Cooper's, sharp-shinned, red-tailed, broad-winged and red-shouldered hawks, the northern harrier, merlin, kestrel, osprey, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, turkey vulture, great horned owl, barn owl, and screech owl. The largest number of use-days occurred in the July through September quarter of the year.
Endangered species listed above are discussed in Section G-2.
Great horned owls are known to nest on the refuge, but no nests were located this year. One pair of screech owls nesting in wood duck boxes produced three young. 23
Osprey made six nesting attempts with five successful nests producing seven fiedgings. Ail nesting attempts occurred on artificial nesting platforms of which twelve had been erected during previous years.
JB 84 Andy Orsargos, Ma intenanceman, checks the contents of one of five successsful osprey nests on the refuge.
7. Other Migratory Birds
The annual Christmas Bird Count was conducted on December 29, with results compiled by Paul Sykes, USFWS-Bndangered Species Division, Thirty-eight volunteers and three refuge personnel counted wintering birds during the sunny, 58 to 76 degree weather. A total of 127 species were sighted, with many of the counts being unusually low, likely due to the abnormally warm temperatures. However, numbers were recorded in the thousands for yellow-rumped warblers and the ubiquitous European starlings, common grackle^s and red-winged blackbirds. 24
8. Game Mammals
The abomasal parasite count (APC) on white-tailed deer is the accepted method in the southeastern United States for evaluating carrying capacity related to available food supply. Eve, J. H. and F. E. Kellogg (1977 J. W. M. 41:169-177) suggested that deer population increases should be curtailed when the APC is greater than 1,000. The likelihood of significant mortality due to other causes (i.e. disease) increases directly with the APC. With APC1s averaging 3,247 (2,273 on the mainland and 4,220 on Long Island) on September 9, 1983, it is obvious that pop ulation reduction is needed in order to avoid an imminent population crash.
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A small portion of the deer herd exhibits "pied bald" traits.
Dead deer found on the refuge are consistantly showing femur bone marrow fat compositions of around 15%. Kistner, Trainer, and Hartman (Wildlife Society Bulletin 8(1) 1980 11-16) state that "most emaciated animals can recover if the factors causing emaciation are corrected. However, some emaciated animals - particularly t;hose with serious atrophy of femur marrow (15% is serious) - will die, regardless." Those deer collected on September 9, 1983, had femur fat percents hovering around 25%, not far from "the point of no return".
Although the deer on the Long Island portion of the refuge and the mainland are considered to be one herd (deer have been 25
observed crossing the bay), over utilization of habitat is more obvious on Long Island. Varied habitats show heavy feeding by deer. The bayberry/wax myrtle (Myrica) has a predominate browse line at 3-4 feet above the surface and the greenbriar (Smilax) has been browsed until the individual plants are "bush like" (indicating a long period of heavy feeding). The bayberry community, as in the pine stand, shows a browse line at the 3-4 foot level. No poison ivy (Rhus) and very little honeysuckle was noted below 4 feet in any of the areas examined. Some sedges show signs of feeding, but appear not to be heavily utilized at present.
In our continuing efforts to evaluate/document the overpopulated deer situation on the refuge, seven personnel from USFWS and the Virginia Game Commission toured Long Island on April 6, 1984. By the end of the day, 36 deer carcasses were documented, all of which died during the winter of 1983-1984.
36 deer carcasses were found on Long Island in March,
Spotlight deer counts were conducted in order to monitor pop ulation trends, however, no population estimates were derived from these counts alone. By using general habitat conditions, deer carrying .capacities of various habitats (as described in "White-Tailed Deer Ecology and Management", 1984, Wildlife Management Institute), abomasal parasite counts, femur bone marrow fat, and spotlight censuses, it has been estimated that there are between 200-300 deer currently inhabiting the refuge. Based on the carrying capacities of the various habitat types present on the refuge, a healthy deer herd would consist of between 120 to 150 animals. 26
Based on the above data, a decision was made to draft a public hunting plan for the refuge. Assistant Manager Brandwein submitted the first draft of the plan and EA to the RO on December 6th and 11th (respectively). After two more drafts of the plan, and one more draft of the EA, both were signed by the Regional Director on January 31, 1985. If all goes well during the 30 day public comment period, Back Bay will have its first public hunt in the fall of 1985.
15. Animal Control
On June 15, a bison owned by Ernest Bowden was shot and killed by Assistant Manager Brandwein while trespassing on the refuge. Although the animal was dispatched in the interest of public safety, the incident created local controversy. Despite the negative headlines, unwavering support was received from all levels of the Service, and bison biologists throughout the country. Refuge Manager Keel met with Mr. Bowden at his ranch on June 22 to observe his livestock operations and express the Service's concern about future bison incidents.
JB 06/15/84
Trespass bison dispatched in the interest of public safety. 27
Feral swine range freely on the refuge, rooting up marsh and occassionally dikes, creating a series of small deep holes. The animals are decendents of once domesticated stock in North Carolina. In accordance with an approved control plan, they are eliminated by refuge personnel whenever a discrete oppor tunity presents itself. When numbers grow to a point that damage becomes totally unacceptable, concentrated efforts are made to reduce the population. Eradication is impossible due to dense habitat and a continuous supply migrating from the bordering False Cape State Park, where no controls are under taken. An approximate total of 30 hogs were eliminated this year and there are plenty more to be had.
Feral hog hunting will also be enjoyed by the public in 1985, during the Back Bay deer hunt (see Section G-8).
Back Bay, for some years now, has hosted trespass ponies on an intermittent basis. Planned attempts to corral the ponies have been unsuccessful. Successful removals have been accidental when a few of the ponies have wandered into the fenced maintenance compound looking tor greener pasturage. A band of eight ponies, including two foals, utilized the refuge during most of 1984.
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IS • • i •:*: "k
.
DAD 84
Trespass ponies frequent the refuge to forage.
On April 16th, Doug Parr, Assistant Refuge Manager managed to corral one of the refuge's trespass ponies in the maintenance compound. On April 17th, a local veterinarian took the horse to a private stable. Impoundment notices were posted in the 28
Courthouse, and appeared in the newspaper on May 3rd and i3th. Unfortunately, the Association would not reimburse the Service for $1,000 in vet and boarding fees incurred. Only $1.00 was as high as they would go.
On May 31st, the American Horse Protection Association was the proud owner of the trespass pony that Assistant Manager Parr corralled in April. Unfortunately the Association would not reimburse the refuge tor any costs incurred prior to the 31st. No other bids for the pony were received.
16. Marking and Banding
Post-season duck banding efforts produced results lower than anticipated. This stations banding quota consisted of 100 black ducks and 100 mallards, with a 50/50 sex composition targeted for each species. Duck banding results included only 17 mallards, 20 black ducks, 5 mallard x black duck hybrids, and 1 pintail. The lack of any waterfowl concentrations con tributed to the small number of ducks trapped. Mackay Island and Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge contributed to the quota, raising the total combined results to 21 mallards, 98 black ducks, 5 hybrids, and 1 pintail. During banding, b banded black ducks and 4 banded mallards were recaptured; 5 were of local origin and 5 of unknown origin that were reported to the Patuxent band laboratory.
A Canada goose banding quota of 200 birds was assigned also to Back Bay this year. A total of 185 Canadas were banded with over 75% having been weighed and measured during banding. All were fitted with yellow neck collars. Four birds were caught at Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge and the rest were caught on a private farm, near Suffolk, VA, thanks to the efforts of Virginia Game Commission Wildlife Biologist Don Schwab.
H. PUBLIC USB
1. General
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located on the south eastern fringe of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area (a.k.a. "Tidewater"). About 1.3 million people reside within a two hour drive of the refuge, with the additional population centers of Richmond, VA and Washington, DC being two and one-half and four hours away from the city of Virginia Beach respectively. The fast growing city of Virginia Beach alone recently exceeded the 300,000 population mark with much of the new housing construc tion moving south and east toward the refuge.
The popularity of Virginia Beach as a resort area among warm weather, beach-oriented vacationers combined with the recrea tional demands of the resident population has pushed annual visitation to the refuge well above the 100,000 mark. However, public use at the refuge experienced a sharp decline in 1984 due to the construction of the Administrative Office/Visitor 29
Contact Station (VCS) building and adjoining parking lot.
Since the construction site occupied the only parking area on the refuge, no parking was available and therefore the single entrance road into the refuge was closed to entry by all motor ized vehicles. Parking was available just off the refuge at neighboring Little Island City Park.
Nevertheless, a surprising numbers of visitors walked or bicycled the extra distance onto the refuge, with an estimated total of 65,038 visits recorded for 1984, roughly half the estimated total visits recorded for 1983. ORV traffic by beach access permittees accounted for an estimated 23,371 visits, 36% of the total visits.
DRD 84
The refuge parking lot and paved access road were closed due to construction for most of 1984.
Even in such an "off" year, the capabilities of law enforcement personnel were severely taxed in providing 24 hour, 7 days/week coverage from April through July, especially during weekends when we had only one law enforcement officer on duty. When visiters outnumber staff 400 to 500 to one it becomes impossible to adequately provide visitor information and security, enforce regulations and monitor the sensitive vehicular beach access by permittees. Conditions such as this produce stress and "burn out" of a positive attitude toward public use. The opening of the new office/visitor contact station will alleviate these problems to a large degree. 30
The parking lot and vehicle access closure probably had the greatest impact in reducing warm weather, beach-oriented, non- wiidlife/wildiands type visitation.
Signing - related activites in 1984 included the approval of two signing "packages" involving the new building and related facilities and the closure of the paved refuge entrance road and parking lot due to construction. Due to the new facilities and related signing, a need to revise and update the station sign plan has developed and is scheduled for FY-85. Addi tionally, 127 obsolete boundary signs were refaced by Federal Prison Industries with the wording "Unauthorized Entry Pro hibited" replacing "Consult Manager...".
Public use and its management will enter a new era at Back Bay in 1985 with the completion of a variety of new visitor facilities in combination with moving the headquarters and all the refuge staff on-site. The reduced capacity of the new parking lot, which will hold about fifty vehicles compared to over twice that number for the old parking area, should help keep visitation at more manageable levels, especially during peak summer periods when Little Island City Park charges for parking ($1.00 per car weekdays, $2.00 weekends). The new VCS, Kiosk, trails, and related interpretive/informational facilities will provide a quantum leap in the availability and quality of visitor facilities at the refuge. Having the office and a full complement of staff on-site will greatly increase our presence on the refuge and our ability to manage both public use and natural resources.
2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students
The location of the refuge -on the fringe of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area creates a great potential for use of the refuge by school groups for educational purposes. The Virginia Beach school system alone contains 6U schools.
In 1984, 998 students from 36 class groups visited the refuge for a total of 2,208 outdoor classroom activity hours. Grade levels of the classes involved ranged from college, high school, and junior high to elementary grade levels, with the majority of students involved being third graders from the Virginia Beach school system. The third grade science curriculum includes habitat, populations, and migration - subjects which are well- suited to reinforcement at the refuge. 31
r
Nearly 1,000 students participated in Outdoor classroom sessions, learning about populations and habitats, including the blue crabs in Back Bay.
3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers
Thirty-six teachers brought their classes to the refuge for hands-on educational activities related to their academic curriculum in 1984. Most of the teachers involved had parti cipated in outdoor classroom sessions at the refuge in previous years.
Although some teachers organize and conduct their own on-site activities, the majority of class groups' activities are organ ized and conducted cooperatively between the ORP and the teachers involved. Normally, class groups are segmented into subgroups which are rotated between outdoor classroom sites where learning activities are lead by a teacher or the ORP. The ORP frequently visits schools to meet with the teachers involved prior to their visiting the refuge for an outdoor classroom session to review activities, sqheduling, and other subjects related to the out door classroom session.
The flexibility (especially in inclement weather) provided by the newly constructed headquarters/VCS building combined with the planned improvement of outdoor classroom activity sites and upgrading of written materials should go a long way toward improving the Environmental Education program at Back Bay in 32
1985 and beyond. In particular, the presence of an on-site, indoor facility in which to host teacher workshops will greatly enhance teachers' knowledge and confidence, enabling them to conduct more activities on their own and rely less on refuge staff.
4, Interpretive Foot Trails
The refuge offers over twelve miles of terrain open to walking by visitors. The dike system (7.4 miles), beach (4.2), Bay Trail (.3), and Dune Trail Boardwalk (.2) add up to a variety of wildlife/wildlands observation opportunities to visitors. (The dike system and beach are open to bicycling, the latter being used only on a good low tide by cyclists.) Refuge dikes interconnect with neighboring False Cape State Park's trail system. The refuge entrance road and East Dike is the route of the designated Hike/Bike Trail, established in a coopera tive effort between the Service and the Virginia Division of Parks in managing the Back Bay/False Cape Natural Area.
252 visitors received guided interpretive walks in 1984. The parking lot closure negatively impacted refuge interpretive activities to a significant degree, no "open to the public - all-comers activities" were scheduled due to the lack of parking. Groups receiving tours (i.e. wildlife/wildlands interpretive walks) included a party visiting in conjunction with the national convention of The Nature Conservancy and a tour scheduled by the local Maritime Historical Museum.
Two self-guided interpretive trails exist at Back Bay. The Bay Trail consists of a narrow foot trail with interpretive plaques mounted on wooden posts placed along the course of the ,3 mile trail. The Habitat Trail consists of a series of numbered posts placed along a short portion of the dike roads and the Dune Trail Boardwalk leading to the beach. A narrative hand out corresponds with the posts on the .5 mile trail route.
The new visitor facilities under construction at Back Bay in clude a new boardwalk/trail to be known as the Shorebird Trail. Partially completed by the 1984 YCC crew, the Shorebird Trail will provide a corridor for pedestrians between the new VCS and the beach. Formerly, visitors walking between the refuge parking lot and the beach had to share a single lane road with two-way vehicular traffic. The route of the new trail was also chosen, in addition to relieving pedestrian/vehicle conflicts, for its interpretive potential as a self-guided trail.
A set of four interpretive signs, produced by the Virginia Division of State Parks for placement on the refuge, were received in 1984. The high quality, silk screen on plexiglass signs were made by the York Brothers Company in Richmond, Virginia, and cost about $600 a piece. The state-funded signs are to be placed along the designated Hike/Bike Trail, in 33
cooperation between the Service and State Division of Parks in managing the Back Bay/False Cape Natural Area. The signs are scheduled for placement in the Spring of 1985 to coincide with the availability of the other new visitor facilities. Plans are to protect the expensive signs from vandals and the sun by setting them in a recessed position a couple of inches beneath a protec tive sheet of VF-3 plexiglass.
5. Interpretive Tour Routes - Motorized
No motorized tour routes exist on the refuge. However, some visitors who are afforded transportation through the refuge on the False Cape State Park bus do receive interpretive informa tion while transiting the refuge. Such groups would include conservation or educational groups (for a fee) or state hosted groups, most of which then stay overnight at the Wash Woods Environmental Education Center in False Cape State Park.
6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations
The on-site refuge kiosk was dismantled early in 1984 to make room for construction activities. The kiosk was reconstructed in late 1984 but will not become operational until construction is completed in 1985. The display area has been reduced from ten to six panels (four 3' x 4' and two 6' x41) since the new 20' x 35' VCS will offer additional display area inside. The plain 3/8" plexiglass panels were replaced with VF-3 plexiglass, which is specially treated to resist Ultra Violet light and associated sun bleaching. The piano hinges on the cases were also upgraded from brass coated to stainless steel to reduce weathering.
7. Other Interpretive Programs
Several off-site exhibits were set up at various locations in 1984. Topping the list was a combined Back Bay/Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge's display at the Mid-Atlantic Wildfowl Festival. Paid attendance exceeded 10,000 for the 1984 edition of the annual event held at the Virginia Beach Pavilion. The refuge expoframe modular display (surfaced with the same velcro- like Exhibiloop TM material as the Kiosk panels) set up with the Audio/Visual tower attachment allowed for the showing of slide/tape programs in addition to displaying narrative and graphic subjects. The Duck Stamp 50th Anniversary was featured at the exhibit.
* Other exhibits included another combined Back Bay/Mackay Island exhibit at the Currituck Wildfowl Festival held at Currituck High School in North Carolina, and a display set up at Indian Lakes Elementary School for their science fair.
Exhibit materials were augmented in 1984 with the addition of the Top Ten Entries display to the refuge collection and by 34
borrowing the Duck Stamp Panels for the System 70 from Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
A total of 18 personal appearances were made by refuge staff, primarily the ORP, in presenting informational/interpretive programs off-site to school and civic groups. Groups receiving presentations included the local chapter of The Sierra Club, Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club, Knotts Island Ruritans, Back Bay Wildfowl Guild, Old Dominion University (twice), several other school groups, and a Boy Scout meeting attended by well over 100 scouts and parents.
8. Hunt ing
No hunting is currently permitted on Back Bay Refuge, although the waters of Back Bay have traditionally been a popular and historically productive area among waterfowl hunters. However considerable staff time in 1984 was spent in developing a first- ever deer hunt plan for the refuge. If there aren't any snags that crop up in the meantime, the refuge should be implementing a management hunt to reduce the numbers of the refuge's over- populated white tail deer herd and the feral hog populations in the fall of 1985.
9. Fishing
Two types of fishing occur on and around the refuge - saltwater and warm, fresh water. Surf fishing for spot, croaker, blues, sea trout and flounder take place along the refuge beach. An estimated 970 visits were'recorded in this category in 1984.
A great deal of recreational fresh water fishing takes place on the waters of Back Bay for large mouth bass, crappie, white perch, and catfish and blue crabs; although most of the fishing is in the bay, not on the refuge. An estimated 1,145 visitors fished from the banks of the refuge or in the refuge impoundment system. Once again. Back Bay produced more citation bass (8 lbs. and up) in 1984 than any other body of water in Virginia with 43 fish in this category weighed in.
Additionally, fishing for blue crabs and fresh water eels is an important commercial use of the bay's resources.
10. Trapping
The furbearer ^trapping program experienced an "off" year in 1984, with only one of the refuge's four trapping units being bid on. One bid of $200.13 was received for Unit 1. Located along the barrier peninsula. Unit 1 is the most easily accessible of the four units, as the other three units are comprised of islands within the waters of the bay which are subject to wind tides and therefore are difficult to get to during low water. The lack of 35
an abundance of rats (muskrat and nutria) and raccoon in combi nation with generally depressed fur prices were thought to be responsible for the lack of interest from prospective trappers.
A recorded total of 344 activity hours of trapping during 61 visits by the trapper and his assistant) in 1984 resulted in a reported harvest of 206 nutria, 36 raccoon, and 31 muskrat. One wrinkle that developed during the trapping season involved missing traps. A total of 15 conibear traps were unaccounted for at the close of the trapping season, with no concrete evidence as to who was responsible. Two possibilities could involve either "antis", who removed the traps, or another trapper taking a "five finger discount" on the refuge permittee's traps. It was suggested that possibly having trappers use a less conspicuous flagging color than fluorescent orange could make the trap locations less con spicuous and therefore not as susceptible to theft.
11. Wildlife Observation
DAD 84
The highlight of many visitors trip to the refuge is a chance encounter with wildlife like this otter ... 36
.,, and these king snakes caught in THE ACT
An estimated total of 28,250 visitors were recorded in this category in 1984, a figure which is probably somewhat depressed due to the parking lot closure. It is difficult to get a hard, objective figure for use in this category versus the non-wildlif type public use categories. It is difficult not to interject personal opinion and other subjective criteria when determining whether visitors are, for example, walking on the beach for wildlife/wildlands-oriented purposes, or not. Certainly, those visitors who swim or sunbathe are getting into non-wildlife activities, but, there is a lot of "grey area" between swimmers and hard-core birders, which makes the pursuit of accurately recording such visits in the proper category less than a science There is a continuing need to improve and standardize public use censusing techniques and to correlate census data with traffic counter records.
A factor that »did not favor the accurate recording of visitation was the lack of an operational traffic counter (in addition to a lack of traffic to count). The device, a pneumatic print-punch programmable machine, was removed to accommodate a road widening construction project which wound up being indefinitely postponed due to lack of funds. The counter is planned to be put back in service when the refuge reopens to vehicular traffic in April, 1985. 37
DAD 84
The Green Hills area offers diversity to visitors and wildlife alike.
12. Other Wildlife-Oriented Recreation
An estimated total of 265 visits were recorded for photography in 1984. Again additional surveys and improved techniques would be useful in generating more accurate figures for this and other public use categories.
13. Camping
No overnight use of any kind is permitted on the refuge. Over- night camping is permitted in neighboring False Cape State Park 38
MRP 84
The lack of vehicular access meant that visitors had to walk or bicycle to enter the refuge. This group appears headed for an overnight trek into False Cape State Park
14. Picnicking
An estimated total of 1,150 visitors were recorded in this cate gory. No facilities such as tables are provided so as not to attract additional use of this type.
Picnic tables, grills, volleyball courts, and lifeguards and food and beach equipment concessions are provided just off the refuge at neighboring Little Island City Park. 39
15. Off-Road Vehicling
A total of 23,371 estimated visits, representing about 36% of the total visitation at the refuge in 1984, involved beach access permittees and accompanying passengers transiting the portion of the refuge beach (the southernmost 3 of the 4.2 miles of refuge beach) designated for travel by permittees. The recorded total is a "soft" figure generated by proportionally increasing "hard" numbers, recorded during periods when beach vehicle traffic was monitored, to derive a representative figure for the 19 hour time frame (SAM to 12PM) during which vehicles are permitted to travel the beach. The accuracy of the figures for beach traffic for the year was substantially enhanced by the 24-hour round-the-clock monitoring of beach traffic implemented at the direction of the Regional Office for a four month period be tween April and July 1984.
Vehicular traffic on the refuge beach is a sensitive and con troversial subject which has required a substantial commitment of refuge staff and funding for over a decade, not to mention involvement at higher levels within the Service. The follow ing summary provides a background on ORV traffic at Back Bay.
Roughly one-half of the refuge's 4,600 acres comprises a segment of the narrow barrier peninsula which connects the population center of Hampton Roads with the sparsely populated Outer Banks, which has long been a Mecca to outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Geographically the refuge barrier beach is in line with what is the most direct route of travel between southeastern Hampton Roads and the northern part of the Outer Banks. This situa tion lead to the use of the barrier beach as an access corridor for vehicles traveling to and from the Outer Banks.
In 1961, public use at Back Bay was estimated at less than 10,000 visitors. During the late 1960's the development of lands on the Outer Banks for recreational purposes and the increased availablility and popularity of off-road vehicles resulted in a tremendous increase in public use at the refuge. Estimated visitation increased to 235,000 in 1970 and swelled to 348,000 in 1971. Nearly all of the increase in public use involved off-road vehicular use on the barrier beach portion of the refuge.
By 1969 public use on the refuge, especially that associated with ORV traffic on the beach, had grown to the point where a threat to pqblic safety was posed. Additionally, the degree of environmental degradation resulting from the large volume of vehicles traveling the beach seriously conflicted with the administration of the refuge as a whole for its intended purposes.
An environmental statement was prepared in 1972 to analyze 40
the impacts of controlling ORV use, as well as other alterna tives. Consequently, the Service adopted regulations in March 1973 requiring authorized users to obtain beach access permits.
Recreational ORV use of the beach was prohibited. Permits were issued to property owners in the proposed False Cape State Park, permanent full-time Outer Banks residents, commercial fishermen, school buses, and emergency and service vehicles.
But, implementation of the restrictive regulations was met with such strong public sentiment and legal actions that little pro tection of the resource was accomplished. When the matter came before the court, U. S. District Judge John Mackenzie issued an order on 04/27/73 which allowed access along the refuge beach to homeowners and provided for one monthly trip to all Outer Banks property owners. On 02/26/75 Judge Mackenzie dissolved the in junction pertaining to the 1973 regulations and ordered that the access restrictions be enforced. The order was appealed, but the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Mackenzie's order.
Since the initiation of restricting ORV travel, a variety of regulatory regimes has been in effect. Specifically, the criteria for qualifying for a beach access permit, the number of trips allowed within a time-frame (i.e. day, month, year), and the hours of the day during which travel was allowed has varied.
The most recent changes in the qualifying criteria have come about as a result of legislation introduced by Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina. In 1980 and 1983, Senator Helms introduced legislation, in the form of "rider" bills attached to other legislation, which relaxed the geographic and chrono logic criteria tor Outer Banks residents to qualify tor a beach access permit, resulting in increasing the number of permittees and thus vehicular traffic through the refuge.
Although the administrative procedures for dealing with the beach access system are well-established, the administrative demands and related law enforcement activities consistently drain a substantial portion of the refuge staffs' time. The electric barrier-arm gate/card key system scheduled to be installed in 1985 will significantly reduce staff time needed to properly monitor beach vehicle traffic for compliance.
16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation
Visitation in this category experienced a sharp decline in 1984 because of the^ loss of parking available on the refuge due to construction. However, heavy visitation still occurred on fair weather weekends, keeping law enforcement personnel quite busy in making visitor contacts. 41
The majority of public use in this category occurs during the warmer months and is beach-oriented in nature. Increas ing numbers of swimmers, sunbathers (mostly with their clothes on), surfers, etc., are visiting the refuge to recreate. A factor which adds to visitation in this category is that Little Island City Park, which is immediately north of the refuge and is primarily set up to cater to the beach going public with lifeguards, concessions, etc., charges $1.00 weekdays and $2.00 weekends per vehicle between Memorial and Labor Day weekends. With parking in the refuge lot being tree, many people have discovered that the refuge is the place to park.
The reduced size of the new parking lot (which will hold about 50 cars, roughly half of the capacity of the old lot) will help limit visitation from people who are just looking for a tree place to park to go to the beach. But once the lot is full the situation will require close monitoring by refuge officers to ensure that compliance in "NO PARKING" areas is maintained.
17. Law Enforcement
The station law enforcement (LE) program experienced a transitional year in 1984, primarily due to personnel changes. From a high of seven LE personnel in 1983, the refuge's com pliment of LE staff decreased to only four by December 1984, with only two of the four remaining staff members with LE authority on station in a previous year.
The net effect of the decrease in LE staff was to cause many LE-oriented aspects of operations to go unattended and to negatively impact other areas of operations when staff were necessarily taken away from other duties to perform LE work, primarily that of monitoring beach access traffic.
A major, unprecedented effort to monitor beach access traffic on an uninterrupted, 24-hour-a-day basis was undertaken for a four month period between May and August 1984. The 24-hour coverage, implemented at the direction of the Regional Office, required that there be no gaps in monitoring traffic tor lunch, shift changes, breaks, etc., except in emergency situations. Because of the shortage of LE staff onboard, two refuge officers from Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge were required to round out the coverage.
Although a lot of information was collected on beach access permittees, th^e demands on the staff involved in shift changes, six day weeks, and no leave impacted morale and other areas of refuge operation at Back Bay and Mackay Island Refuges alike,
A summary of the violations occurring on Back Bay National Wild life Refuge in 1984 is listed on the following page. 42
REFUGE VIOLATIONS, 1984
Date Violation Officer Disposition 01/18/84 Arrest Warrant Service Parr,Panz $100 Dinkier 01/17/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Walizer $ 50 01/27/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Bat ie $ 50 02/19/84 Possession of weapons Panz Probation Revoked, 50 days in jail 02/20/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Panz $ 50 04/03/84 Vehicle Trespass on Dike Road Panz $ 50 04/05/84 Vehicle Trespass in Dunes Walizer $ 50 04/10/84 Expired License Plates Parr $ 50 04/29/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Panz $ 50 05/04/84 Vehicle Trespass on Dike Road Walizer $ 50 05/04/84 Careless Driving on North Road Panz $ 50 05/27/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Bat ie $ 50 05/27/84 Failure to Exhibit Driver's License Bat ie $ 25 05/29/84 Improper Registration Parr $ 50 05/29/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Dinkier $ 50 06/10/84 Public Nudity Panz $ 50 06/24/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Panz $ 50 07/14/84 Vehicle Trespass on North Road Walizer $ 50 07/14/84 Dog off leash Panz $ 25 07/15/84 Vehicle Trespass on Dike Road Wali zer $ 50 07/15/84 Vehicle Trespass in Dunes Bat ie $100 07/19/84 Public Nudity Panz $ 50 07/24/84 Assault - Rape - Sodomy Wali zer Pending 08/05/84 Speeding on North Road Panz $ 50 08/05/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Bat ie $150 08/06/84 Public Nudity Panz Pending 09/24/84 Pedestrian Trespass in Dunes Panz Pend ing 09/30/84 Vehicle Trespass on North Road Panz $ 50 09/30/84 Driving on a Revoked License Panz $150 & 10 days 10/06/84 Vehicle Trespass in Dunes Panz $ 50 10/06/84 Vehicle Trespass in Dunes Panz $ 50 10/07/84 Abusive Language Panz Pending 10/07/84 Disorderly Conduct Panz Pending 10/21/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Panz $ 50 10/23/84 Speeding on North Road Walizer Nolle Prose 10/29/84 Vehicle Trespass on North Road Panz Pend ing 11/10/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Panz $ 50 11/23/84 Vehicle Trespass on North Road Panz Pend ing 11/23/84 Driving on Suspended License Panz Pend ing 11/25/84 Vehicle Trespass on North Road Panz Pend ing 12/09/84 Vehicle Trespass on North Road Panz $ 75 12/09/84 Driving on an Expired License Panz $ 75 12/14/84 Vehicle Trespass on North Road Panz $ 75 12/14/84 Driving on Expired License Panz $ 75 43
12/29/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Panz Pending 12/29/84 Careless Driving Panz Pend ing 12/29/84 Vehicle Trespass on Beach Panz Pending 12/29/84 Reckless Driving Panz Pending 12/29/84 Disregard Signal to Stop Panz Pend ing 12/29/84 Trespass after Dark Panz Pend ing 12/29/84 Trespass after Dark Panz Pend ing 44
In addition to the listed violations, hundreds ot verbal warnings were issued to visitors tor dogs ott leash, entering closed areas (e.g. the dock or dunes), etc. The refuge "Daily Log", maintained by LE personnel on patrol, has been revised to record data on visitor contacts, warnings, and other public use/LE subjects. The data will provide a useful source ot information on the amount and kind of contacts that LE per sonnel have with visitors, in addition to supply information for the monthly Public Use Report and other reports.
18. Cooperating Associations
No cooperative associations currently exist. However, with the addition of the new Visitor Contact Station, the potential for developing a cooperative association at Back Bay in 1985 or later is good.
Due to difficulties experienced by other refuges with the Eastern Park and Monument Association, that parent associa tion is not considered the best choice in setting up an association at this station. Setting up a local or regional association involved solely with refuges may be the best route to take in establishing a cooperative association on a refuge. I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
New Construction
RP 01/84
The old refuge residence was burned for practice by firemen to make room for .. 46
DAD 84
... the new refuge Administrative Office and Visitor Contact Station building.
The proposed construction sites were readied during January by demolition of all existing structures and removal of remaining rubble and parking lot barriers. Concrete from the building foundations was removed by the U. S. Navy for use at Dam Neck. Holes left by removal of the foundations were filled to elimi nate a safety hazard. A reduced size parking lot was designated by temporary signing to permit vehicular use of the area until construction began.
Bids for the new office/visitor center complex were opened in the Regional Office on March 9th. The low bid of $469,035 was submitted by the Virginia Beach firm of J. B. Horton and Sons.
Preconstruction conference was held on June 12 at the field shop with refuge, CGS, Denver Engineering Center and contractor representatives for the new Headquarters/Visitor Contact Station. The contractor began driving pilings on June 26. All pilings were in by the end of the month. The concrete floor and walls of the two cellars and the chimney bases of the former Princess Anne Hunt Club caused some construction delays. The parking lot was paved on December 14th and 15th.
Construction on the Office/VCS proceeded ahead of schedule. External construction of the office was completed by December and the project was over 90% complete by December 31. 47
Construction on the Kiosk was near completion in December. Stainless steel hinges were used to replace the brass plated hinges as the latter tend to weather too quickly. Ultra Violet absorbing plexiglass was purchased from Norva Plastics in Norfolk, VA., and used on the Kiosk.
3. Major Maintenance
Continual sand movement over the vehicular access beach ramp necessitated periodic removal. The Navy again volunteered, as they had need of sand, and we do not. Removal of the encroaching dune areas was accomplished by Navy personnel and equipment. Due to the nature of sand dunes, clearing of the access ramp is a recurring maintenance duty.
4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement
Two new 4-wheel drive vehicles were received during 1984 to replace two aging 1978 and 1979 Dodge Ram Chargers. A CJ-7 Jeep was received on April 26 and a Chevrolet S-10, 1/2 ton extended cab pickup truck was received on June 5.
MRP 85
The refuge vehicle fleet was upgraded with the addition of a Jeep CJ-7. MRP 85
and a 4x4 Chevy S-10 maxicab
Our 1984 CJ-7 Jeep received in April 1984 was out tor major repairs from October 9-12 after only 4,769 miles of service. Fortunately the warranty covered the replacement of the rear drive shaft and both spider U-joints. We were hoping the CJ-7 would give us much better service than other Jeep products this station has had in the past but we are having doubts.
Useful equipment and supplies were acquired of excess property from the Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Property Disposal Service in Norfolk, VA. Acquired items included pipe, sheet metal, U-beams, steel plating, and metal lockers.
6. Computer Systems
In January, a Digital Rainbow 100 computer was delivered to the refuge office. Kathy Murphy from the AWR shop in the Regional Office spent three days with various refuge employees on using the computer.
This station is using the DialCom system more as time goes on. It is a much better system than the "Electronic Mail" which required^ a long distance phone call for the receiving station to get their computer ready for transmittal and then several more calls would have to be made before the final product would be sent. What we hope to see is a software program for a station financial accounting and tracking system. 49
7. Energy Conservation
Station efforts at energy conservation resulted in savings of 6,37U KWH of electrical usage and 249 gallons of diesel fuel, for a cost savings of $871 over 1983 usage.
Gasoline consumption was up 3.6% from 3,981 gallons in 1983 to 4,123 gallons in 1984.
J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs
In cooperation with the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Beached Bird Survey Project, directed by Malcolm M. Simons, Jr., any dead birds found on the refuge beach are reported quarterly to them. Data such as species, age, sex, oiling, extent of decomposition, band number if present, and other observations are recorded.
This data is combined with data from hundreds of other reporters up and down the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. The cooperative program was discontinued in the later portion of 1984 but data on beached birds are still being recorded for refuge infor mation files.
3. Cred its
The narrative sections of this report were compiled as follows:
Keel - Introduction, A, C 2 & 3, D 2, 3 & 4, E 5 ana,
Feedback and editing. Brandwein - E 6, G 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, & 15 Dinkier - E 4, F 9, H & L Dewhurst- D5, E7 & 8, F2, 5, & 10, G5, 7, & 16, I 1, 7&8,J1, 2&3 Ford - B, E 1, J 4, typing and formatting on the computer. Cherry - Typing and consolidation of report and inserting pictures. 50
PAY/PERS System - Everyone has probably heard more than they cared to about the new payroll system, so I'll be brief. The new payroll system has done more than anything I can remember in the last twenty years to destroy employee morale. The new T/A card, when compared with the one used under DIPS, clearly provided more room for error. The new system is unforgiving. How about programming many MERCY lines into the payroll com puter, The "new system" so severly "screwed up" YCC enrollee pay that the parents of one youth contacted their local Con gressman. The check followed soon afterwards but not for the correct amount. The "war stories" could continue but the ques tion that keeps recurring is why did the other agencies such as BLM and NPS not have this magnitude of errors with PAY/PERS that FWS has experienced.
DINERS CLUB CARD - I finally decided to get one only when in formed that airline tickets could still be acquired with a GTR. To date I haven't travelled enough to use the card but that may have been the real purpose of the card in the first place.
Hunt Regulations - After seeing how our refuge hunt plan got "massaged" in DC, it appears that regulations pertaining to hunter safety are considered as useful as "teats on a boar hog" it the state in which the refuge is located does not require the same safety regulations. I understand why the "massage" happened but I don't agree with always deferring to the States in regulating hunter safety. Hunting is a privilege, not a right except perhaps in some parts of Alaska.
L. INFORMATION PACKET
REVIEW AND APPROVALS
FISHERMAN ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Northampton County, Virginia
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1984
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Refuge Supervisor Review Date FISHERMAN ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
>ORTHAMTO* COUNTY. VIRGINIA MlM.M
37*07- 37-o-r
37-0* 37-OW
N r A T L A LEGEND
Refuge Property
U. S. Navy Property
Private^ Property
VICINITY MAF 3 Q 20 SCAll IN •lill
T'A'O COMTtilO IM TMi OMKl O* ItAilT f*Om tUtVITJ IT VI.3.0.3. *mO w.3.3 3W.3. v il t\ z jkiix* rv*»»
l«3TOM. •JtllA Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in Northampton County,Virginia, and is situated at the southern tip of the Delraarva Peninsula at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The refuge is crossed by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Fisher man Island National Wildlife Refuge, which consists of approximately 1,000 acres, was a refuge from 1933 until the early 1940*3, when the U. S. Navy took charge and used the island as a submarine detection center during World War II. Many of the old Navy structures are still present. The refuge was reestablished in 1969 when the Navy officially relinquished jurisdiction of the island to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge was established primarily to serve as a breeding ground and nursery for shore and water birds that occur on the island in great numbers. Herons and egrets begin returning to the island by the end of March. The heronry is very active from then until September with black-crowned night herons being the most abundant species. Shorebirds, gulls, and terns nest on the island between May and mid-September in large numbers. Hundreds of royal and common terns, herring and laughing gulls, and black skimmers spend the summer on Fisherman Island. Fisherman Island, being strategically located off the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, provides a valuable sanctuary for migrating waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors. The island is an important stopping point in the fall for thousands of southbound migrants which stop to rest and/or feed. Raptors are common over the island in late September and early October, and may include such species as sharp- shinned, broad-winged, red-tailed, northern harrier. Cooper's and red-shouldered hawks, American kestrels, merlins, ospreys, and peregrine falcons. Since it is an endangered species, the peregrine falcon is of utmost concern to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, several ospreys find the old Navy towers suitable for nesting, and at least one peregrine falcon has been reported as wintering there. Due to the nest ing activities on Fisherman Island, public use of the Island is restricted to significant environmental education activities of organized groups. The refuge is closed to all public use from May 1 until September 1 to reduce disturbance of the the hundreds of nesting birds. Since Fisherman Island is administered through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge office in Virginia Beach, and any use of the refuge must be by permission from that office. Further information can be obtained by contacting that office, at the above address, or by phone (AC 804-490-0505). TABLE OF CONTENTS Page A. INTRODUCTION 1 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS NTR C. LAND ACQUISITION NTR 1. Fee Title NTR 2. Easements NTR 3. Other NTR D. PLANNING 1. Master Plan NTR 2. Management Plan NTR 3. Public Participation NTR 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates NTR 5. Research and Investigations 1 E. ADMINISTRATION 1. Personnel 1 2. Youth Programs NTR 3. Other Manpower Programs NTR 4. Volunteers Program NTR 5. Funding 1 6. Safety NTR 7. Technical Assistance NTR 8. Other Items 1 F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 1. General NTR 2. Wetlands NTR 3. Forests NTR 4. Croplands NTR 5. Grasslands NTR 6. Other Habitats NTR 7. Grazing NTR 8. Haying NTR 9. Fire Management NTR 10. Pest Control NTR 11. Water Rights NTR 12. Wilderness and Special Areas NTR 13. WPA Easement Monitoring NTR Page 1. Wildlife Diversity NTR 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 1 3. Waterfowl 3 4. Marsh and Water Birds 3 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 4 6. Raptors 4 7. Other Migratory Birds 6 8. Game Mammals NTR 9. Marine Mammals 7 10. Other Resident Wildlife NTR 11. Fisheries Resources NTR 12. Wildlife Propogation and Stocking NTR 13. Surplus Animal Disposal NTR 14. Scientific Collections NTR 15. Animal Control NTR 16. Marking and Banding 7 17. Disease Prevention and Control NTR H. PUBLIC USE 1. General 9 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 9 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers 9 4. Interpretive Foot Trails NTR 5. Interpretive Tour Routes NTR 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations NTR 7. Other Interpretive Programs NTR 8. Hunting NTR 9. Fishing NTR 10. Trapping NTR 11. Wildlife Observation NTR 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation NTR 13. Camping NTR 14. Picnicking NTR 15. Off-Road Vehicling NTR 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation NTR 17. Law Enforcement 9 18. Cooperating Associations NTR 19. Concessions NTR Page I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 1. New Construction NTR 2. Rehabilitation NTR 3. Major Maintenance NTR 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement NTR 5. Communications Systems NTR 6. Computer Systems NTR 7. Energy Conservation NTR 8. Other NTR J. OTHER ITEMS 1. Cooperative Programs NTR 2. Items of Interest 9 3. Credits 10 K. FEEDBACK INTRODUCTION Fisherman Island Refuge is located in Northampton County, Virginia, and is situated at the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula on the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The refuge con sists of approximately 1,UU0 acres which were declared excess by the U. S. Navy in 1969 and transferred to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was established primarily to serve as a breeding ground and nursery for shore and water birds that are found on the island in great numbers. D. PLANNING 5. Research and Investigations Special Use Reports were issued to the individuals named below for research and investigations as described: Thomas R. Nichols - Vehicular access privileges to band migratory peregrine falcons. Dr. Mitchell Byrd Erection of an observation structure College of to monitor nesting activities on the William & Mary peregrine hack tower, and vehicular access to band migratory peregrine falcons. E. ADMINISTRATION 1. Personnel Fisherman Island Refuge is unmanned and is administered by the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. 5. Fund ing The refuge is administered through the Back Bay Refuge office, and is not funded. 8, Other Items Project Leader Ralph Keel delivered the refuge revenue sharing check in the amount of $3,753.75 to Mr, Keith Bull, Northampton County Manager in Cape Charles, Virginia. G. WILDLIFE 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species Peregrine Falcon Once again, the peregrine falcons have failed to lay eggs. 2 According to Dr. Mitchell Byrd (College ot William and Mary), the birds were displaying normal courtship behavior, with the female hanging around the hack tower until April 26. She made a scrape but failed to lay eggs. Dr. Byrd called Cornell, and they suggested putting in artificial eggs to boost her hormonal levels, hopefully making her lay. So far it hasn't worked. On October 6, six peregrine falcons were observed migrating through the area corresponding with the peak of raptor tall migration. Brown Pelicans JB 6/B4 Brown pelican use continued to increase in 84, with possible prenesting behavior observed. Brown pelicans were observed on or near the refuge from May through October, with a peak of 300 birds sighted during late July. A majority of habitat use by the pelicans was observed to occur on the private portion of the island. Sea Turtles A total ot 16 dead Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles, one Atlantic leatherback, and one Atlantic Ridley were found stranded on the beach. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science performed necropses on all of the turtles. 3 3. Waterfowl Production Known waterfowl production consisted of three black duck broods and one Canada goose brood, all noted from aerial census. Wintering Activity Peak waterfowl numbers were recorded in November: tundra swan (500), brant (500), gadwall (25), American wigeon (50), bufflehead (25), and American coots (10). 4. Marsh and Water Birds DLP 07/19/84 An important function of Fisherman Island is supplying undisturbed nesting habitat for herons and allied species. In June, Bill Williams, Cooperator for the Colonial Bird Register, Ithaca, NY, inventoried the two colonial wading bird rookerie^. Assistant Manager Brandwein confirmed the inventory's accuracy with a follow-up survey in August. The following are estimates of the breeding populations: 4 Black-crowned night heron - 847 Yellow-crowned night heron - 82 Glossy Ibis 241 Tricolored heron 160 Snowy egret 212 Little blue heron 5 Cattle egret 41 Great egret 412 5. Shorebirdsy Gullsy Ternsy and Allied Species The colonial breeding shorebirds were also inventoried in June by Bill Williams, and the following estimates of breeding populations were recorded: Royal tern 3,300 Common tern 31 Herring gull 54 Great black-backed gull - 2 Sandwich tern 16 The results of banding young shorebirds are reported in the "Wildlife - Marking and Banding" section. 6. Raptors Osprey production was surveyed in April with 11 active nests recorded. One nest was checked and contained 3 eggs. Peak fall raptor migration - occurred in the beginning of Oc tober. Among the birds observed were; turkey vulture (50), kestrel (30), merlin (20), red-tailed hawk (10), red-shouldered hawk (15), and osprey (5). A source for good raptor migration data was located in the raptor-station at Kiptopeke Beach near Cape Charles, Virginia, * 6 7. Other Migratory Birds DAD 10/84 Thousands of tree swallows use Fisherman as a staging area before crossing the mouth of the Chesapeake on their southward journey. An unusual observation of a migration concentration was recorded in October when over 60,000 tree swallows were sighted moving as a flock on Fisherman Island. The annual Christmas Bird Count was conducted on December 30th, through the cooperative efforts of Henry Armistead of Philadelphia and 44 volunteers. Over 163 distinct species were recorded during the entire count, which included Myrtle, Mockhorn and Smith Islands, and Kiptopeke and Cape Charles. 7 Double-crested cormorants find the fishing to their liking in the waters around Fisherman, 9, Marine Mammals On May 17th, a dead bottle-nosed dolphin was found on the beach. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science performed a necropsy on the animal. 16. Marking and Banding On July 1st, Assistant Manager Brandwein, John Weske (Smithsonian Institution), and 15 volunteers banded approx imately 2,828 royal terns, and 43 sandwich terns. During a July 24 follow-up Messrs. Brandwein and Weske, along with four YCC enrollees from Back Bay Refuge, banded an additional 284 royal terns and 18 sandwich terns. One last banding trip was conducted in August to band the remaining young. All but one tern had fledged, so no additional terns were banded. Messrs. Brandwein and Weske recovered five bands from dead young. Tern colony is located on the privately owned, eastern portion of Fisherman Island, commonly referred to as the Isaacs. The owners, two local lawyers, are very cooperative by granting permission to tgo onto their property. 8 JB 07/01/84 Immature royal terns are herded into trap for banding. Former Chinco- teague NWR Manager and Special Agent John H. Buckalew assisted in tern band ing. 9 ti, PUBLIC USE 1. General Fisherman Island Refuge is closed to all access by the general public. The refuge is open by reservation between October 1 and March 31 to groups from schools and organizations that have a bona-fide interest in wildlife resources. Such groups are accompanied by a refuge staff member. The refuge is closed to groups between April 1 and September 30 to prevent disturbance to shorebirds, herons, and other birds during their nesting and brood rearing periods. 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students Thirteen Ornithology students from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond took a field trip to the refuge on February 11th, 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers Dr. Charles Blem of Virginia Commonwealth University brought his class of ornithology students to the refuge. Dr. Biem's class is a repeat visitor to Fisherman, which speaks well of the refuges avifauna. 4. Interpretive Foot Trails Several groups received conducted wildlife interpretive walks in 1984, including The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Friends of the Library, Peninsula Nature and Science Center, and tne Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel Authori ty. J. OTHER ITEMS 2. Items of Interest Manager Keel and Manager Stairs, Cape Charles NWR visited Fisherman Island with George Taylor and Aubrey Barnes from the Army COE on November 29 to investigate the DDT contamina tion site and towers and other military structures that pre sent a hazard. As in the past, a special use permit has been issued to Walkley E. Johnson, Jr. and Guilford D. Ware for ingress-egress to their property which makes up the eastern one-third of Fish erman Island. Travel is authorized by land vehicle from October 1, 1984 to March 15, 1985. A small misunderstanding occurred between Walkley Johnson and Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), regarding access to the Isaacs. Refuge staff mediated a resolution of the VIMS/private land owner conflict, resulting in weekly access for VIMS to look for turtles. 10 This will oe the last narrative on Fisherman Island Refuge by Back Bay personnel. Officially Cape Charles National Wildlife Refuge assumed administration on October 1, 1984. However, Back Bay staff will be available to assist as needed. 3. Credits This report was written by Dewhurst and Dinkier, typed by Ford, edited by Keel and consolidated by Cherry. REVIEW AND APPROVALS PLUM TREE ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Poquoson, Virginia ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1984 Refugfe Ma'hag^ Refuge Supervisor Review Date Regional Office Approval Date PLUM TREE ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE «n(T«o ****«». YOmt COUYTY. VIHGLYIA w»tr«o aT*Te» OOAWTMCNT 00 TH« INTEI»IO« FISH A HO VWIUSUFS SCF wrr 7W Ts-ir VICINITY MAI» SCAU IN Mill rs'ar COHNIteO IH rne 31V13ION OF *«Al.rv FNOM auNvavs sv u.a.«.s AHO F v» 9. WCAN 3 Fiiamatar* 0«CU NATION 1970 Fl A 9 Ml HOTON. O.c. ANNH. lars 5R VA. 842-404 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BACK BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE PEMBROKE OFFICE PARK PEMBROKE # 2 BUILDING, SUITE 218 VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA 23462 MACKAY ISLAND N.W.R. FISHERMAN ISLAND N.W.R PLUM TREE ISLAND N.W.R Plum Tree Island became a part of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Refuge System when it was transferred to that agency on April 24, 1972, by the General Services Administration. Prior to that time, it was known as Plum Tree Island Bombing Range. This former title explains most of the reasons why public entry is now pro hibited. Prior to the transfer, Plum Tree Island was used quite extensively as an Air Force bombing range. This use is evident today in the many craters that still exist as visual reminders of the previous uses. Because of the extensive use it is impossible to clear the refuge of unexploded ordnance. Even today the area remains designated as the external stores jettison area for Langley Air Force Base - possibly the busiest Air Force Base in America. For these reasons. Plum Tree Island will remain as the purists idea of a wildlife refuge - where the wildlife users are completely free from human intrusion on the 3,275 acres of salt marsh known as Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge. Major wildlife present includes marsh and wading birds, shorebirds and waterfowl. PLUM TREE ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE I^ Aerial view of habitat on Plum Tree including potholes blasted by practice bombing. The refuge is composed of 3,275 acres and is located in Poquoson, Virginia. The "island" is actually salt marsh located at the tip of a peninsula bordered by the Poquoson River to the north, the Chesapeake Bay to the east, and the Back River to the south. The City of Poquoson borders the refuge to the west, but a small area of salt marsh separates the refuge from any developable land. Due to the area's isolation, this area was to our knowledge never inhabited, and was primarily used for hunting and fish ing prior to acquisition by the government for an Aviation Experimental Station in 1917. Air Force records indicate that the area was used for a gunnery and bombing range until the latter part of the 1950,s. The island was transferred to the Department of the Interior on May 22, 1972. Langley Air Force Base, the busiest air base in America, reserved use of the island as an emergency jettison area and a restricted area for explosive ordnance disposal. NASA reserved the right to drop free-fall test models from a helicopter. The island is saturated with unexploded bombs and other ammu nition which has made public use virtually unfeasible. Attempts have been made to clear the island of unexploded ordnance, but only partial success was achieved. A certificate of clearance for surface ordnances was issued in 1959 but the island was never 2 certified safe by the Air Force since subsurface ordnances remain. The marsh interior contains the more dangerous hardware. The majority of the area is under tidal influence as tidal flooding occurs twice daily on an estimated 1,000 acres of low-lying salt marsh. During severe storms and high tides an additional 1,500 acres are flooded. Hundreds of potholes created by intensive bombing dot the marsh terrain. Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge is unfunded, isolated, and unusable by humans except for waterfowl hunting and shell- fishing in the numerous shallow tidal creeks and guts that feed the marsh. Several aerial surveys of Plum Tree Island were conducted by Back Bay Refuge staff during 1984. Although good habitat exists, virtually no waterfowl were observed wintering on the island. Lack of observed use may be due to the proximity of Langley Air Force Base, the time of our flights, or reasons unknown. Closer inspection (on-the-ground) is probably warranted. An inquiry was received from Nat Karns, city planner for the town of Poquoson, Virginia, regarding ordnance removal and subsequent possible public uses for Plum Tree Island NWR. Project Leader Keel responded by letter, pointing out the deed restrictions and liability questions that preclude the Service from allowing any public use of the area. These inquiries seem to occur annually, with pretty much the same type responses. On May 14, Project Leader Keel delivered the refuge revenue sharing check in the amount of $3,872 to Mrs. Francis Firth, City Treasurer of Poquoson. This report was written by Brandwein, typed by Ford, edited by Keel and consolidated by Cherry.