Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge

Kenmare, North Dakota

Annual Narrative Report

Calendar Year 1995-1996 REVIEW AND APPROVALS

LOSTWOOD NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Kenmare, North Dakota

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Years 1995-1996

Refuge Operations Date Project Leader Date Specialist

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

A. HIGHLIGHTS 2

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 3

C. LAND ACQUISITION Nothing to Report

D. PLANNING 4

1. Master Plan 4 2. Management Plan 4 3. Public Participation 4 4- Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates 5 5. Research and Investigations 5

E. ADMINISTRATION 6 1. Personnel 6 2. Youth Program 10 3. Other Manpower Programs Nothing to Report 4- Volunteer Program 10 5. Funding 11 6. Safety 13 7. Technical Assistance 13 8. Other 14 a. Training and Meetings 14

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 16 1. General 16 2. Wetlands 17 3. Forests Nothing to Report 4. Croplands 18 5. Grasslands 21 7. Grazing 21 8. Having 27 9. Fire Management 28 a. 1995 and 1996 Prescribed burns 28 b. Research & Monitoring Results on Prescribed Burn Areas 30 10. Pest Control 39 11. Water Rights Nothing to Report

ii G. WILDLIFE 44 1. Wildlife Diversity 44 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 44 a. Piping Plover 44 b. Whooping Cranes 52 3. Waterfowl 52 a. Ducks 52 b. Geese 55 4- Marsh and Water Birds Nothing to Report 5. Shorehirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species Nothing to Report 6. Raptors 55 7. Other Migratory Birds Nothing to Report 8. Game Mammals ; Nothing to Report 10. Other Resident Wildlife 55 a. Sharp-tailed Grouse 55 b. Other Resident Wildlife 59 16. Marking and Banding Nothing to Report 17. Disease Prevention and Control Nothing to Report

H. PUBLIC USE 59 1. General 59 2. Outdoor Classroom 59 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations Nothing to Report 8. Hunting 59 10. Trapping Nothing to Report 11. Wildlife Observation 60 12. Other Wildlife-Oriented Recreation 60 14- Picnicking Nothing to Report 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation Nothing to Report 17. Law Enforcement Nothing to Report

L EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 61 1. New Construction 61 2. Rehabilitation 61 3. Major Maintenance Nothing to Report 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement Nothing to Report 5. Communication Systems Nothing to Report 6. Computer Systems Nothing to Report

J. OTHER ITEMS 62 1. Cooperative Programs 62 3. Items of Interest 62 4. Credits 63

iii INTRODUCTION

The 26,900--acre Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge (Lostwood NWR) lies in northwestern North Dakota, 23 miles south of Canada and 70 miles east of Montana. It was established in 1935 by Executive Order 7171 as a "...refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife..." within Burke and Mountrail Counties on the Coteau du Missouri, a dead ice moraine feature left by the Wisconsin glacier about 10,000 years ago. Refuge topography is rolling to steep hills covered with native (70%) and tame (30%) grasslands, small clumps of quaking aspen (about 2% of the refuge), and numerous wetlands. This is the largest contiguous block of native grassland under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ownership in the pothole region of Minnesota, Montana, and North and South Dakota. The hills are mostly covered with western snowberry, needle-and-thread, green needlegrass, western wheatgrass, blue grama, plains muhly, small-flowered aster, northern bedstraw, goldenrod, wild licorice, meadow anemone, white sage and others. Native resident fauna include sharp-tailed grouse, white-tailed deer, badger, coyote, and white-tailed jackrabbit. Native migratory fauna include waterfowl (mallard, wigeon, gadwall, blue-winged teal, giant Canada goose and others), shorebirds (upland sandpiper, marbled godwit, avocet, piping plover, and others), passerines (clay-colored sparrow, Sprague's pipit, grasshopper sparrow, Baird's sparrow and others), and raptors (red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, northern harrier, great horned owl, short-eared owl and others). The mixed grass prairie community is currently being renovated and maintained mainly by prescribed burning.

Public use facilities on the refuge include a self-guided auto route, hiking trail, and a photo blind on a sharp-tailed grouse lek. Birding, photography, and hunting for grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant and deer are the main public use activities. In 1975, the 5577-acre Lostwood Wilderness Area was established by P.L. 93-632, 12, Section 1 (d) (12).

On 1 July 1973, Lostwood NWR, staffed with a resident manager and one maintenance personnel, was placed under the administration of the Des Lacs Complex, headquartered at Des Lacs NWR in Kenmare, North Dakota.

I A.. HIGHLIGHTS

The Comprehensive Conservation Plan process began in April of 1995.

A Compatibility Determination for horseback riding was completed in 1995, and found compatible on Lower Lostwood (south of State Highway #50) from 1 August to the day before sharp-tailed grouse hunting season begins (middle of September).

On September 18-21, 1995, a Region 6 National Wildlife Refuge workshop was held in Minot North Dakota entitled "Grassland Ecology and Ecosystem Management Workshop Series, Part II: Interactions with Fire." On Tuesday, September 19, the Lostwood NWR staff presented how Lostwood has used the Adaptive Resource Management approach in the prescribed bum program.

Piping plover management continues to intensify by using new, innovative techniques to improve reproductive success.

Whooping cranes visit Lostwood NWR, at refuge headquarters, just like any visitor should when they first arrive.

Duck pair numbers are finally returning to normal after several years of drought.

Upland nesting passerines and shorebirds continue to increase on areas with several prescribed bums.

2 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Tables 1 and 2 present the temperature and precipitation averages throughout years 1995 and 1996, and compared to 45- and Sd-year averages.

Table 1. Monthly temperatures during 1995, and dO-year monthly average (1931-60). Monthly precipitation during 1995, and 45-year and 54-year average precipitation, Lostwood NWR. Temperature (T) 1995a Precipitation (in.)

Ave. Ave. Ram 45-yr 54-yr Month Max. max. Min. min. and melt ave.b ave.c

Jan 4 15 -19 -4 2.55* 0.43 0.55 Feb 43 20 -17 0 2.12* 0.52 0.51 Mar 58 39 -21 18 1.14* 0.58 0.63 Apr* 74 56 18 27 0.87 1.32 1.28 May 83 69 31 40 2.44 2.04 2.02 Jun 95 70 33 46 2.38 3.55 3.32 Jul 92 73 42 50 ' 2.81 2.29 2.36 Aug 99 75 44 52 ' 0.84 2.05 1.94 Sep 91 65 20 40 2.07 1.90 1.87 Oct 79 54 16 28 1.15 0.91 1.01 Nov 48 32 -4 15 0.83* 0.51 0.53 Dec 39 26 -27 9 1.96* 0.50 0.48

Totals 21.16 16.60 16.50

a Temperatures and precipitation from Des Lacs NWR weather station identified with an averages are from Lostwood NWR. b Precipitation average from 1936-80. c Precipitation average from 1936-89 (includes drought years).

On May 13, 1995, a snow storm hit, dumping 4 inches of very wet, slippery snow, making spring driving winter driving.

3 Table 2. Monthly temperatures during 1996, and 30--year monthly average (1931-60). Monthly precipitation during 1996, and 45-year and 54-year average precipitation, Lostwood NWR. Temperature (0F) 1996a Precipitation (in.)

Ave. Ave. Rain 45-yr 54-yr Month Max. max. Min. min. and melt ave.b ave.c

Jan 43 8 -39 -9 2.00* 0.43 0.55 Feb 45 12 -39 -7 1.00* 0.52 0.51 Mar 55 41 -22 22 2.07* 0.58 0.63 Apr* 70 55 -1 29 0.89 1.32 1.28 May 71 71 27 43 0.92 2.04 2.02 ]un 96 73 38 50 2.19 3.55 3.32 Jul 89 79 42 52 4.18 2.29 2.36 Aug 91 80 43 51 0.80 2.05 1.94 Sep 88 76 29 45 1.78 1.90 1.87 Oct 75 57 8 36 0.56 0.91 . 1.01 Nov 53 32 -20 15 1.30* 0.51 0.53 Dec 34 27 -31 8 0.87* 0.50 0.48

Totals 18.56 16.60 16.50 a Temperatures and precipitation from Des Lacs NWR weather station identified with an averages are from Lostwood NWR records. b Precipitation average from 1936-80. c Precipitation average rom 1936-89 (includes drought years).

On October 20-21, a 10-inch snowfall occurred, leaving behind snowdrifts deep enough to last all winter. In early November, another 15 inches fell. The 1996-97 winter proved to be a cold one, but more information on that will be forthcoming in the 1997-1998 narrative.

D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan

Comprehensive Conservation Planning began in April of 1995 by means of discussions with the Regional Office (RO), but writing did not begin until October of 1996, with the first draft submitted to the Des Lacs Complex Project Leader in December of 1996.

2. Management Plan

A five-year Pesticide Plan was completed in March of 1995.

4 The Complex Fire Management Plan was completed by Assist. Project Leader, Severson, at the end of 1995 and approved by the Regional Office in 1996.

4- Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates

A Compatibility Determination for horseback riding was completed in 1995, and found compatible on Lower Lostwood (south of State Highway #50) from August 1 to the day before sharp-tailed grouse hunting season begins (middle of September).

5. Research and Investigations

Dr. Ron Royer, under contract with the National Biological Service (NBS) and Minot State University, surveyed butterflies in 1995 and 1996 on areas with 3-4 prescribed burns. Complex Biologist, Murphy, and Lostwood Refuge Manager, Smith, tried desperately to have areas without prescribed burning included in the study but Dr. Royer felt there would be no Dakota skippers on these areas and declined adding these to his study.

In 1995, Biologist Murphy designed a study for the Dakota skipper on Lostwood NWR entitled "Dakota Skipper Habitat Associations in Relation to Prescribed Burning Regimes on Mixed Grass Prairie." Debbie Guenther, intern from University of Wisconsin/Stevens Point, completed the first year of the study, and Andi Rogers, intern from University of Montana, completed the second year in 1996. Study objectives were to "Quantitatively determine relationships among (1) prescribed burning history, (2) frequency of occurrence of native forbs and grasses important to Dakota skippers, and (3) presence of Dakota skippers in contiguous native, northern mixed grass prairie." A draft Abstract for the 1995 summary report (no summary report was completed for 1996) stated the following:

"Potential habitat for the Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae) was evaluated in northwestern North Dakota during summer 1995 to better understand effects of prescribed burning on Dakota skipper habitat. Percent canopy coverage of plant life form, litter depth, visual obstruction, frequency of occurrence of important plant species, and soil range site were recorded on 180 plots. I found that smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and litter depth were significantly decreased after 3-5 burns, and purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) and little bluestem (Schyzachyrium scoparius) significantly increased after 3-5 bums. This supports the use of prescribed burning to encourage the growth of plant species important to the Dakota skipper."

Dr. Mark Bobbins from the Kansas State University Museum is writing the Sprague's pipit account for the Birds of North America series. Little basic biological data has been collected on the Sprague's pipit, so Dr. Bobbins came to Lostwood NWR to gather such basics as weight, plumage, time spent sky-larking, etc. to include in the BNA account.

The potential of acid deposition into fresh water wetlands in northwestern North Dakota is a major concern of the Service. Water quality data collected from 1986-89 at Lostwood was

5 analyzed by NBS using $10,000 obtained from the Air Quality Division in the RO. Terry Shaffer and Chip Euliss from NBS visited in 1996 to discuss air, rain water, snowcore, and wetland water quality sampling data.

Arnold D. Kruse and Bonnie S. Bowen published a manuscript in The Journal of Wildlife Management (Vol. 60, p233'246) entitled "Effects of grazing and burning on densities and habitats of breeding ducks in North DakotaT This is data from a 9'year study from 1980- 1988 on Lostwood NWR. The study period covered extremely wet years in the early 1980s to extremely dry years from 1987--1989 when fewer than a dozen of the 4100 wetlands/lakes on Lostwood NWR held water.

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel

Staff at Lostwood NWR in 1995, from left to right: Jennifer Anderson, Karen Smith, Ellen Heilhecker, Ken Maruskie, Debbie Guenther, and Lark Osborne. It is nice having a staff with many female employees.

Pes Lacs NWR Complex Staff. 1995

1. Mike Blenden, Project Leader, GS-IT Complex H.Q. PL 1 2. Dan Severson, Supv. Ref. Oper. Spec., GS-ll Complex H.Q. PPT 3. Edith Goettle, Admin. Support Asst., GS'06 Complex H.Q. PET 4. Janet Leet, Office Automation Asst., GS'04 Complex H.Q. PPT 5. Robert Murphy, Biologist, GS'09 Complex H.Q. TLl 6. David Gins, Maintenance Worker, WG-IO Des Lacs NWR PPT

6 7. Duane Dockter, Maintenance Worker, WG-OS Des Lacs NWR Pkl 8. Karen A. Smith, Refuge Manager, GS-l 1 Lostwood NWR PF1 9. Lark Osborne, Biological Technician, GS-5 Lostwood NWR Pkl (EOD 4/2/95) 10. Ken Maruskie, Maintenance Worker, WG--4 Lostwood NWR PPT 11. Tim Kessler, Refuge Operations Spec., GST 1 Crosby WMD Pkl 12. Toby Placek, Biological Technician, GS-O? Crosby WMD Pkl 13. Monte Ellingson, Biological Tech., GS-05 (Private Lands) Crosby WMD TBI 14- Bob L. Barrett, Refuge Oper. Spec., GS'09 Lostwood WMD Pkl 15. Gary Summerfield, Range Tech.(Fire),GS'05 Complex TkT (4/2/95-9/31/95) 16. Tim Topitzhofer, Range Tech, (Fire), GS-05 Complex Tkl (4/2/95-9/31/95) 17. Manuel DeLeon, Biol. Tech., Coop-Ed, GS-05, Complex Tkl (4/09/95-9/13/95) 18. Natalie Fabler, Range Tech., GS-05 Complex TFT (4/2/95-9/30/95) 19. Amy Buckmeier, Range Tech., GS-05 Complex Tkl (5/30/95-9/30/95) 20. Cory Nielson, YCC Lostwood WMD (6/12/95-8/11/95) 21. Carrie Carlson, YCC Des Lacs NWR (6/11/95-8/4/95) 22. Jennifer Anderson, YCC Lostwood NWR (6/1/95-8/4/95) 23. Stephen Schaar, YCC Crosby WMD (6/5/95-8/5/95) 24. Tonea Willhite, SYETP Des Lacs NWR (6/5/95-7/13/95) 25. Debbie Guenther, Intern, UW/Stevens Point Lostwood NWR 26. Mel Nenneman, Intern, UW/Stevens Point Complex 27. Ellen Heilhecker,

Mike Blenden received a promotion to GS-l3 Project Leader in January. Mike later accepted a lateral transfer to Project Leader at Alamosa-Monte Vista NWR Complex on November 26.

Gary Summerfield was rehired as Range Tech (firefighter) for the season beginning April 2. Our second Range Tech (Firefighter) was filled by Tim Topitzhofer from Minnesota also on April 2. Both worked their entire appointments until September 30.

A Biological Technician position description was written for Lostwood NWR in early January, with the position filled by Lark Osborne in March, 1995.

7 Pes Lacs NWR Complex Staff, 1996

L Fred G. Giese, Project Leader, GS--13 Complex FLQ. PF1 (ROD 8/5/96) 2. Dan Severson, Supv. Ref. Oper. Spec., GS-l 1 Complex H.Q. PF1 3. Edith Goettle, Admin. Support Asst., GS'06 Complex H.Q. PF1 4- Janet Leet, Office Automation Asst., GS-CH Complex H.Q. PFl 5. Robert Murphy, Biologist, GS'09 Complex H.Q. TFT 6. David Walker, Fire Mgmt Officer, GS--09 Complex H.Q. PFl (EOD 7/21/96) • 7. David Gins, Maintenance Worker, WG-IO Des Lacs NWR PFl 8. Duane Dockter, Maintenance Worker, WG-OS Des Lacs NWR PFT 9. Karen A. Smith, Refuge Manager, GS-l 1 Lostwood NWR PFl 10. Lark Osborne, Biological Technician, GS'5 Lostwood NWR PFl 11. Ken Maruskie, Maintenance Worker, WG'4 Lostwood NWR PPT 12. Tim Kessler, Refuge Operations Spec., GS-ll Crosby WMD PFl 13. Toby Placek, Biological Technician, GS'07 Crosby WMD PFl 14- Monte Ellingson, Biological Tech., GS--05 (Private Lands) Crosby WMD TFT 15. Bob L. Barrett, Refuge Oper. Spec., GS'09 Lostwood WMD PFl (Transferred 9/15/96) 16. Gary Summerfield, Range Tech.(Fire),GS'05 Complex TFT (3/2/96-11/27/96) 17. Greg Ryberg, Range Tech.(Fire),GS'05 Complex TFT (4/2/96-11/8/96) 18. Gregg Lau, Range Tech.(Fire),GS-04 Complex TFT (4/22/96-9/27/96) 19, Darrick Ystaas, Range Tech.(Fire),GS-02 Complex TFT (5/28/96-8/9/96) 20. Tom Olenicki, Range Tech.(Fire),GS-05 Complex TFT (5/23/96-9/30/96) 21. Jennifer Anderson, Range Tech.(Fire),GS-02 Complex TFT (7/28/96-8/23/96) 22. Chad Lystad, YCC Lostwood WMD (6/12/95-8/11/95) 23. Cory Bartuska, YCC Des Lacs NWR (6/11/95-8/4/95) 24. Craig Gjovik, YCC Lostwood NWR (6/1/95-8/4/95) 25. Freeman Peterson, SYETP and YCC Des Lacs NWR (6/9/96-7/16/96) 26. Andi Rogers, Intern, University of Montana Lostwood NWR

Additional Range Technicians were hired in 1996 due to increases in the fire program

8 budget. Gary Summerfield was rehired beginning March 3. Greg Ryberg started on April 15 and Gregg Lau began on April 22. Two more Range Technician firefighters were hired in May. Tom Olenicki started on May 23 and Darrick Ystaas began on May 28. Jennifer Anderson was hired on July 28 for four weeks.

Two permanent vacancies were filled in 1996 in the Complex. The Project Leader position was filled hy Fred Giese beginning August 4. Fred had previously been Project Leader at Tewaukon NWR. A new position for the Complex, Fire Management Officer, was filled by Dave Walker on July 21. Dave previously was the FMO at Northern Cheyenne Agency with BIA at Lamedeer MT.

Range Technician firefighter Gregg Lau was detailed to Fiavasu NWR, Arizona for emergency presuppression for 21 days. Detail was from July 27'August 18.

Range Technicians Darrick Ystaas and Jennifer Anderson were terminated on August 9 and August 23 to return to school. We hope to have both of them return to work next summer. Range Technicians Gregg Lau and Tom Oleniki completed their assignments on September 27 and 30.

Range Technician Greg Ryberg was kept on until November 8. He helped finalize the close-up and return of SCA fire equipment to NIFC in Boise, and also completed engine academy training in S.D. his last week. We expect Greg to return in future seasons in the fire program.

Range Technician Gary Summerfield went on Workman's Comp beginning September 9 when his jaw was seriously broken while on fire detail in Montana. Gary spent over 1 week in the hospital and then continued recovery at home with his jaw wired shut. His appointment was originally scheduled to end on November 9 but his appointment could not be terminated while he was on Workmen's Compensation. We again expect Gary to return to this position again in 1997.

Bev Anderson, hired by The Nature Conservancy with funds from a grant received from American Birding Association and matched by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, worked on Lostwood NWR's piping plover program.

New Performance Plans were completed for all employees. Accretion of duties was submitted to Personnel for Ken Maruskie in late July. But the irony of this whole process was when Ken Maurskie, Lostwood's one and only maintenance staff, got a decrease in pay because he is a WG-4. Ken is one of two permanent FWS staff in North Dakota that got a decrease in pay, and is also one of the lowest paid in the state. This outcome is bureauGracy in its prime.

On February 24, a retirement party was held for Lowell Vaage, Maintenance Worker who worked at Lostwood NWR and Lostwood WMD since 1962. He took the VSIP buyout in

9 December of 1994, retiring after 25 years of service.

Lostwood NWR's and WMD's staff began the process of moving into a remodeled office on the refuge, including the Complex Biologist, Murphy.

Tom Olcnicki, Range Techician, was hired to assist with the fire program and develop a process to incorporate Lostwood NWR data into Eppl 7 CIS program. Only partial success was obtained due to limitations of the software. Olenicki also examined the GPS potentials here and demonstrated GPS systems, and help us determine what type of equipment we will need. An outline and guide for setting up a database in Eppl 7 was completed. Oleniki also wrote a research proposal to evaluate vegetation treatments on different refuge Management Blocks (MB) using a radiometer, 1-meter high resolution imagery, and 30-meter satellite imagery.

2. Youth Program

One YCC was hired in 1995, Jennifer Anderson, and another in 1996, Craig Gjovik. In 1996, Aaron barman, an employee from Job Training Partnership Act Program, Job Service of North Dakota, was employed on the refuge. All were involved in various biological activities on the refuge the year employed.

4. Volunteer Program

In 1995, the National Civilian Community Corps team of 10 people worked in the Complex for 6 weeks.

Ellen Heilhecker spent three months entering and cataloging publications into the refuge library program, and biologist Dr. Bob Murphy also volunteered hundreds of hours while he was laid off during the winter. It is hard to tell with Murphy when he is hired or laid off, he works just as hard either way.

In 1996, Andi Rogers, a college student from University of Montana, worked with the Complex Biologist monitoring the Threatened piping plover in northwestern North Dakota, and studying the Dakota skipper on Lostwood NWR.

A four person Student Conservation Association (SCA) prescribed burn crew arrived on July 15, 1996 from Boise, ID. The volunteer program was an experiment by FWS through the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise. The goal was to get volunteers through the SCA that would work 12 months as a team on several different refuges in the nation, depending on burn season and need. Des Lacs Complex was chosen to initially host the crew because of the large prescribed burning program during the summer, lack of fire personnel, and a willingness to try the program. There were difficulties in getting the program approved, and then more difficulties in finding acceptable candidates to accept the positions, so the program got a late start. Lofton Wiley, Cameron Barry, John Comer and

10 Edgar Kanapathy were the original crew. They received basic fire training and chainsaw safety training at Boise prior to coming to North Dakota. The crew gained some valuable experience and we were able to integrate them into the prescribed burning program easily. It proved to be difficult to keep a crew together for such a long period of time when you hire college age students. Edgar ended his 12 week commitment and left to return to school on August 31. John decided the fire program wasn't for him and returned home to Ohio at the end of his work period at the end of October. Lisa Gaunt was brought on to replace Edgar and the remaining crew of Lofton, Cameron and Lisa left to work for Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR on October 4. Additional information regarding the SCA work in the fire program is found under F. 9 Fire Management.

Jerry and Connie Lisiecki from Charlotte, Michigan volunteered to assist in the spring annual sharp-tailed grouse dancing ground counts.

5. Funding.

All funding is administered through the Des Lacs NWR Complex. The budget for the Complex is shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Funding levels for Des Lacs NWR Complex for 1992-1996.

FY BASE 0&.M MMS FIRE MISC1 EXPENSE YCC QTRS2 TOTAL FOR SALES

96 530 75.9 201.9 87.9 12 5.4 5.3 918.4

95 558 77 60.3 107.4 12 6.4 3.5 764-3

94 570.5 114.8 4L1 56.5 12 7.8 4.8 766.4

93 578 83 44.1 36.1 12 4.2 4.8 718.1

92 595 340 11.1 48.3 12 4.2 5.4 1016

1 EXTENSION 1121-38.OK; COOP-ED 1261 4.5K; MIG BIRDS 1230-5.6K; ECOSYSTEM 1261-6.0K; OTHER 1261-33.8 'ESTIMATE

1995 Funds

1262-flex MMS funds were spent on the following: replaced rotary mower at Lostwood WMD, 5.OK; Lostwood NWR/WMD office, 10.0K; Lostwood NWR residence furnace, 1 .OK; Lostwood NWR Bunkhouse, 15.3K; Des Lacs NWR Bunkhouse, 11.4K. The Lostwood and Des Lacs NWR bunkhouse projects were funded 15.OK each but due to delays

11 on receiving title to houses we want to move from the Fortuna Air Force Station, via GSA, the project will be continued to FY95 or maybe FY96, since we're working with GSA, U.S. Air Force, asbestos abatement and CGS.

1995 was the third year that Des Lacs Complex received temporary fire personnel. We received one PTE and 22.OK funding for hiring GS-5 Range Techs. We opted to hire two Range Techs for 6 months each from April 1 through September 30.

We received funds for two graduate Cooperative Education students. Beth Madden was funded with 12.OK for her third and final year of research at Lostwood NWR and Manuel DeLeon was funded with 12.5K for his second year of research in the Crosby and Lostwood WMD's.

1996 Funds

1262--flex MMS funds were spent on the following: 46.2K for safety, 17.5K Des Lacs bunkhouse rehab, and 12.2K for Lostwood NWR bunkhouse rehab. We received 4.5K in Coop Ed funds to pay 2 Coop students benefits, Madden and DeLeon, until they were picked up at their new permanent stations. Madden was hired at J. Clark Salyer NWR as a Refuge Manager/Biologist trainee, and DeLeon was picked up at Aransas NWR as a Biologist. We received 5.3K in Environmental Education funding, 5.OK to complete a fire curriculum educator's guide for the Northern Great Plains, and .3K for EE equipment at Lostwood NWR to help in presenting school programs. Four ecosystems projects were funded by the Ecoteam: .5K for Crosby/Lostwood WMD's piping plover management; .5K for Lostwood NWR piping plover management; 3.8K for Lostwood NWR native grass seed program; and 1.2K for reprinting Lostwood NWR vertebrate list. Two challenge cost share grants were received totalling 8.OK. One project was for 2.5K with Univ.of Wisconsin, Stevens Point to cost share hiring of an intern to work on ecological monitoring on Des Lacs NWR and another to cost share with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to hire a Biological Technician to monitor piping plovers in the Crosby/Lostwood WMD's and Medicine Lake WMD in Montana. We also entered into a cooperative agreement with TNC where they provided 18.0K for plover monitoring and studying nest protection methods in the Complex. Another Cooperative Agreement received 5.6K for monitoring of Northern Coteau Project grazing systems in the Crosby and Lostwood WMD's through Ducks Unlimited.

1996 was the fourth year that Des Lacs Complex received temporary fire personnel and the first year to have a permanent FMO. We increased PTE's from 0.5 to 1.2. Since we were not able to hire Walker as FMO until late July we utilized the remaining FTE by hiring additional temporary Range Technicians. Six temporary Range Technicians were hired from 4 weeks to 9 months during the year.

We sought funding from the Wetland Trust Funds in February for piping plover work but were unsuccessful. Undeterred, we tried with the American Birding Association and were

12 successful with matching funds coming from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

6. Safety

1995 Safety

Safety meetings were held in conjunction with staff meetings, with responsibility being given to the Asst. Project Leader. Severson rewrote and updated the Station Safety Plan in October to reflect the current situation. Safety meeting topics covered during the year included: equipment operation, prevention of back and neck injuries, wildfire fighting safety and fire shelter use, watercraft safety, and flammable liquids.

All fire extinguishers on the Complex were checked in October and either recharged or replaced by Dakota Fire Extinguisher, Minot. Total cost for this annual required service and certification is $1000.

1996 Safety

Safety meetings were held in conjunction with staff meetings, with responsibility being given to the Asst. Project Leader. Safety meeting topics covered during the year included: eye protection, equipment operation, machine guarding, wildfire fighting safety and fire shelter use, watercraft safety, and flammable liquids. Severson rewrote and updated the Station Safety Plan in October to reflect the current situation. Job hazard analyses were rewritten and updated for YCC.

A "Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures Plan" was completed for Lostwood NWR in 1996. In conjunction with this, a lot of time was spent in procuring and setting up spill containment and safety cabinets, and numerous other safety items including carpentry shop dust collection system, portable eye wash station, and welding fume exhaust system. All items were identified in 1995 safety inspection and funded through MMS in FY 96.

A Hazardous Chemical List was compiled in 1996 by Osborn. Several requests from Kevin Jenson on the safety issues involving the oil house were completed.

7. Technical Assistance

On September 18-21, 1995, a Region 6 National Wildlife Refuge workshop was held in Minot North Dakota entitled "Grassland Ecology and Ecosystem Management Workshop Series, Part II: Interactions with Fire." On Tuesday, September 19, the Lostwood NWR staff presented how Lostwood has used the Adaptive Resource Management process in the prescribed burn program. Smith, Murphy, Blenden, and Madden all gave presentations. A field trip of Lostwood NWR occurred in the afternoon of the 19th.

13 On March 1, 1995, Smith gave a presentation entitled "Ecosystem Management of Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge" to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' "Field Ranger Conference on Ecosystem Management" in Mandan, North Dakota.

Powers Lake Rural Fire Department asked for a presentation on how to conduct "backfiring." On March 20, 1995, Project Leader Blenden and Refuge Manager Smith went to their monthly meeting to discuss backfiring and prescribed burning plans for 1995.

Mark Dryer, Biologist with Ecological Services in Bismarck, North Dakota, requested Murphy and Smith on Lostwood NWR to participate in filming of piping plovers for a Public Television broadcast. Photographer and writer, Betty Wills, a private contractor for Public Television, came on June 21, 1996 to discuss plover biology and management.

The Nature Conservancy of North Dakota requested a tour of Lostwood NWR for their annual meeting. In the morning of June 22, 1996, Murphy gave a birding tour, although there was such interest that Murphy, Bev Anderson, and Smith each lead a small group. In the afternoon, Murphy and Smith gave a three-hour tour of the refuge. Lunch was held at Taskers Coulee at Des Lacs NWR where the annual meeting took place. A copy of "The Nature Conservancy of the Dakotas" publication advertising the meeting is found in section "L. Information Packet," Appendix A, of this annual narrative.

On June 25, 1996 a tour was given to Saskatchewan's DU Canada coordinator, Lyle Saigeon, (with four additional professional wildlife managers) about upland management practices on Lostwood NWR. The group had a tremendous idea about chemical fallowing old fields (instead of cultivating), a method they have used in Saskatchewan for several years with great success in seeding native herbaceous plants. Hopefully, approval from RO can be obtained, and the method tried on the refuge.

On June 26, 1996 a tour was given to Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corp (seven professional wildlife managers) about upland management practices at Lostwood NWR.

On July 12, 1996 Soil Conservation Service requested a management tour of Lostwood NWR. Twenty people from the Burke County Soil Conservation District were on the tour.

8. Other

a. Training and Meetings

1995

A field visit for the Region 6 Fire Program Review was held at Des Lacs Complex on June 28-29. Roger Erb and Bill Leenhouts, from NIFC in Boise and Phil Street, Regional Fire Management Coordinator, conducted the review and site visit.

14 Pesticide Use Proposals were submitted. Proposals included Tordon/2,4-d and Hi- Dep for use on leafy spurge and Roundup for use in reseeding old cropland to native grassland on Lostwood NWR. Smith completed the required Pesticide training in March.

Barrett, Kessler, Placek, Severson, and Smith attended the annual law enforcement refresher training at Tucson, AZ at various sessions in January and February. Refuge Officers Barrett, Smith, Kessler, Severson and Placek all re-qualified and attended PPCT training at Upper Souris NWR on September 18.

Many different fire training courses were attended throughout the year by various Complex staff. Ken Maruskie attended S-290 fire training in Riverton, WY. Severson attended S-230 crew boss training in Rapid City in March. Tim Kessler attended "Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation" training for prescribed fire burn bosses. Interns Mel Nenneman and Deb Guenther, and volunteer/TNC employee Gary Wolf from Crosby WMD attended S-130/190 fire training in Carrington, June 20-22.

A training class on "Class A Foam and Foam Systems" was put on by David Abemathy of Texas Forest Service on April 25 at Des Lacs NWR. A total of 20 persons attended the training which was excellent and will really help us utilize our foam systems more efficiently.

Smith attended Media Relations training in Bismarck on April 18-19.

An Aviation Safety training course was held at Des Lacs NWR on April 18-19 with trainer Rolf Kraft. Ten persons completed the training from the Complex and Minot Realty Office.

Murphy attended a status and listing workshop for Baird's sparrow in Billings, MT on April 5-7.

Blenden and Murphy attended ECOTEAM meeting at Audubon NWR on August 30.

Severson and Murphy attended an informal grazing applications training session at Audubon refuge organized by refuge biologist Tlultberg. Good information was passed around in our battle against exotic grasses and over rest.

1996

Giese, Severson, Smith, Kessler and Murphy attended the Project Leaders meeting in Bismarck on September 9-10 to discuss funding, fire program, and use of

15 thunderstorm maps in the planning process.

Refuge Officers Giese, Severson, Smith, Placek and Kessler all re-qualified with weapons at Upper Souris NWR on September 29.

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General

Lostwood NWR's mission, goals and objectives were approved by the Denver RO on 23 October 1991. The Mission Statement and the seven Goals are given below.

MISSION STATEMENT

To restore and preserve the indigenous biological communities of the mid to late 1800s on a representative sample of the physiographic region known as the Missouri Coteau of the Northern Great Plains' mixed grass prairie.

GOALS

1. Endangered Species To preserve, restore, and enhance indigenous flora and fauna that are endangered or imminently threatened with becoming endangered.

2. Other Wildlife To develop and maintain diversity and abundance of fauna indigenous to the northern Missouri Coteau.

3. Wildlands To restore and maintain the flora communities occurring prior to homesteading by people of European descent of the late 1800s.

4. Interpretation and Environmental Awareness To promote an understanding and appreciation of the area's ecology and provide the refuge visitor with high quality, safe, and enjoyable experiences compatible with wildlife and wildland objectives.

5. Archeological Resources Foster conditions under which archeological resources can exist in harmony with refuge management.

6. Environmental Quality

16 Preserve and enhance the pristine quality, wild character, and beauty of a representative sample of the northern Missouri Coteau.

7. Organizational Vitality Develop and maintain a well-trained and highly motivated work force.

In the "North Dakota Geological Survey Newsletter" (Vol. 22 No. 4 p26-27) a publication about bison trails across the landscape, by Bob Biek, reveals how these land features look from the air. A copy of this article is found in section "L. Information Packets," Appendix B, of this annual narrative.

2. Wetlands

Spring runoff into wetlands was sufficient for smaller wetlands to hold water into early fall. Water levels in wetlands are monitored by recording wetland water levels during duck pair counts in mid-May (Table 4).

1 able 4. Water levels on wetlands during duck pair counts on 17 quarters during mid-May, Lostwood NWR, 1986-96a. % Basins with Mean proportion of water basin filled (%)b

Wetland No. of Class Basins 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

I 118 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 12 0 0 0 0 0 3 2h 26 II 86 0 0 0 0 0 16 31 30 6 0 0 0 0 32 45 53 III 177 51 1 1 4 3 73 91 88 42 5 5 4 4 49 61 70 IV 35 67 9 9 18 3 89 97 97 35 5 4 8 20 45 65 79 V 3 100 100 100 100 33 100 100 100 77 60 62 58 70 47 82 93 VI 4 100 50 50 50 75 75 100 100 75 45 50 65 50 55 79 81

Total 417 a Data collected during duck pair census on same quarters as the census. b If basin is full to high water line, it's mean is 100%.

17 4. Croplands

Seeding natives into old fields dominated by exotic perennial plants takes a lot of time and commitment. It takes several years to prepare a seedbed, first by removing all litter and heavy humus layers on top of the topsoil so when seed is drilled into the soil, it will have good topsoil contact. Next it takes good preparation to kill perennial, aggressive exotic plants. Once the seed is in the ground, then the patience and hope for enough rain to keep the seedlings alive during their first growing season is nerve racking, but beyond control. After the seeding year, equally intensive management begins to keep the plants alive and developing into a prosperous native plant community. It take several years for the young plants to develop deep, well developed root systems, and appropriate plant density. Usually in the first few years of growth there is an "over-growth" of these young plants because there is insufficient competition for moisture and nutrients as compared to a very competitive native plant community. This can result in "over growth," resulting in a rapid accumulation of litter that can kill the young, undeveloped native plants. Our objective for the first 4-7 years following seeding is to get a well defined root system and good plant density by stimulating nutrient cycles. This is done by haying the field the first two weeks of July the first year after seeding, then hay it again the second year after seeding but earlier, during the last two weeks in June. Then to remove the amount of litter that still accumulates, bum it the fourth or fifth year after seeding. Following the bum, and after 1-2 years of idle, a grazing treatment is needed. Grazing in the northern mixed-grass prairie from early June untill about mid-July stimulates the Fast Nutrient Cycle, causing plants to spread rhizomatously. This whole scheme seems to spread the plants, filling in open spaces, and develops a well defined root system so this evolving plant community will survive. See Table 5 for history of treatments for each seeded field on Lostwood NWR from 1980, when the first field was seeded, to the current year.

In 1995, 80 acres were seeded to the mixture identified in Table 6. Prior to seeding, the field was sprayed with glyphosate on May 3 (southern portion) and May 11 and 15 (northern portion). The native seed was seeded into a flax seedbed (seeded to flax in August of 1994) on May 25, 26, 28, June 1, 4, and 5. The "flax stubble" was quite brittle and did not remain standing after seeding with the Tye drill. The seeding was a great catch but in mid June a massive hail/rain storm (1.5 inches of rain and hail in less than one hour) badly eroded the field, with most flax stubble ending up at the bottom of hills. Some plants struggled up through eroded soils as late as mid-July as a result of a very cool and wet spring/early summer.

18 Table 5. Sequence of treatments used on Lostwood NWR to establish native plants in fields cropped prior to refuge purchase or farmed by the refuge until the mid-1950s. "Seeded" means the year the field was seeded to native herbaceous plants. Fields are identified by legal description, e.g., S=Section, SE=southeast quarter, E=east half, etc.

Field S4SEE S4NE S4SENE S4NWSW S22NWW S14NW5 S21NEE S27N\VN S22SWE S4SEW S35SWNE

Year 1980 hayed hayed 1981 sprayed cultivated 1982 oats oats 1983 seeded seeded 1984 burn&cult idle 1985 sprayed idle 1986 seeded seeded hayed burned 1987 idle burned sprayed sprayed 1988 hayed idle cultivated cultivated 1989 grazed idle seeded seeded sprayed hayed hayed 1990 hayed hayed idle idle cultivated sprayed sprayed hayed 1991 idle idle burned hayed seeded oats oars sprayed 1992 burned idle hayed idle burned seeded seeded flax hayed 1993 idle burned idle idle sprayed idle idle seeded sprayed 1994 grazed idle idle hayed hayed hayed hayed hayed cultivated 1995 idle burned hayed burned idle grazed idle hayed seeded burned 1996 hayed hayed idle hayed grazed idle hayed hayed hayed sprayed burned

19 Table 6. Amount of each species seeded in 1995. % Sites Species of mixture Rate/acre PLS Purity Germ. Bulk wt. Mesic switchgrass 10 2.2 6.2 85 50 14.6 big bluestem 20 3.8 21.3 70 50 47 western wht. 15 7.9 30 94 92 35 thickspike wht. 10 5.7 16 94 green needle. 20 4.8 27 99 93 29 LNWR harvest seed North/east slope big bluestem 15 3.8 5.7 70 50 12.7 western wht. 15 7.9 11.85 89 91 14.8 thickspike 15 5.7 8.55 94 91 10.1 green needle 20 4.8 9.6 85 96 11.8 needle-dk-thr 15 5.0 7.5 97 59 13.6 LNWR harvested seed South/west slope western wht. 10 7.9 7.9 94 92 7.9 green needle. 15 4.8 7.2 85 96 7.8 prairie sand. 10 3.2 3.2 69 88 5.3 big bluestem 10 3.8 3.8 70 50 8.4 needle-&thr. 15 5.0 7.5 97 59 13.6 prairie June. 15 1.1 1.65 87 59 3.2 blue grama 10 1.1 1.1 94 63 1.9 LNWR harvest seed from TL and ULL. Xeric prairie June. 15 1.1 5.3 87 59 2.7 western wht. 10 7.9 25.3 94 92 31 green needle. 15 4.8 23 85 96 25 sideoats grm. 10 1.1 3.5 94 63 4 needL&-thr. 10 5.0 16 97 59 29(24 used) prairie sand. 10 3.2 10.2 69 88 10.2 LNWR harvested seed from TL and ULL, as previously described.

In 1995, native seed from Lostwood NWR was harvested using a borrowed, privately owned, seed harvester from Hebron, North Dakota.

In 1996, we began an experiment, approved by the RO, to chemical (allow a lb-acre field twice each year with glyphosate for two years. The field had previously received four prescribed burns so all litter and layers of humus were removed. The soil surface was still root bound with Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome, but was not cluttered on the soil surface. We began chemically fallowing this field on June 3 and treated again on August 14 at 1 quart/acre.

20 5. Grasslands

Management of grasslands on Lostwood NWR is to promote native grass and forb composition that will permit indigenous fauna to re-establish in numbers typical of the mid- to late 1800s. This involves long-term efforts using prescribed burning and grazing methods designed for improving grassland habitat for wildlife.

7. Grazing

Six special use permits for cattle grazing were issued in 1995 (Map 1 shows pasture locations with unit rotations shown in Table 8, Table 7 grazing procedures, and Table 8 livestock grazing dates), totaling 3177 acres. A third new? pasture was offered but the permittee dropped out in mid-May, too late to locate another livestock operator. Tower Slough Management Block (was called South Teal Slough) had cattle enter 11 days later than required because of a switch in livestock operators.

Seven special use permits for cattle grazing were issued in 1996 (Map 2 shows pasture locations with unit rotations shown in Table 10, Table 9 grazing procedures, and Table 10 livestock grazing dates), totaling 4498 acres.

Livestock operators in the surrounding area are not accustomed to rotating cattle on a "short" (14 days) rotation schedule. Consequently, we are trying to provide as much incentive as possible to participate in refuge grazing by reducing their grazing fees based on how much portable, electric fence they have to install, how much refuge barbed-ware fence in their pasture needs repair, how much rotation is required, and if they have to haul water (drought conditions). These incentives have helped.

21 Map 1

Pastures on Lostwood NWR 1995

Management Blocks ASP CNC ELN ELS FSC GNN GRA i HDQ n i HQE KRU NEL SEL , - ;• SLL SSK THL TLS TVVS WDM WLD WLL Wzli S WSU 1 WWH

22 Table 7. Grazing procedures used on Lostwood NWR in 1995. AU = Animal Units.

Pasture3 Total N Grazing Rotation N Grazing acreage units rate3 scheme AU years year FSC 864 4 2 twice-over 254 4 2nd (159'91-TO, 15, 22)

SSK-7&8 194 3 3 twice-over 32 3 1st (159'9M6)

WDM-NW 575 4 3 twice-over 101 4 1st (159-91-6)

TLS-SH 406 4 2 twice-over 107 4 2nd (160-91-22)

TWS 490 3 2 twice-over 168 3 1st (160-91-34)

WLL 648 3 2.5 twice-over 130 3 1st (158-91-5,6,7,8)

a Pasture names are abbreviation for the management block in which they are located: FSC=Fescue, SSK=School Section Lake-Knudson Slough, WDM=Windmill, TLS=Teal Slough, TWS=Tower Slough, and WLL=West Lower Lostwood Lake. b Acres/Animal Unit Per Month (Ac/AUM)

Cattle being turned into Tower Slough Management Block in early June, 1995.

23 Table 9. Grazing procedures used on Lostw'ood NWR in 1996, where AU = Animal Units.

Pasture3 Total N Grazing Rotation N Grazing acreage units rateb scheme AU years year FSC 864 4 2 twice-over 254 4 3rd (159-91-10, 15,22)

WDM-NW 575 4 3 twice-over 101 4 2nd (159-91-6)

TLS-SH 406 4 2 twice-over 107 4 3rd (160-91-22)

TWS 490 3 2 twice-over 168 3 2nd (160-91-34)

WLL 648 3 2.5 twice-over 130 3 2nd (158-91-5,6,7,8)

THL 602 3 2 twice-over 150 3 1st (160-91-22,23,26,27)

WDM 913 3 3 twice-over 160 3 1st (159-91-5,7,8)

a Pasture names are abbreviation for the management block in which they are located: FSC=Fescue, SSK=School Section Lake-Knudson Slough, WDM=Windmill, TLS=Teal Slough, TWS=Tower Slough, WLL=West Lower Lostwood Lake, and THL^Thompson Lake. 3 Acres/Animal Unit Per Month (Ac/AUM).

On Kruse Management Block, Kentucky bluegrass is avoided when grazed for the first time in early July, leaving behind, after cattle are moved to the next unit, the typical mat of Kentucky bluegrass.

25 Map 2

Pastures on Lostwood NWR 1996

\ o ^Middle

Management Blocks ASP

26 Table 10. Dates pastures were grazed, by unit, on Lostwood NWR, 1996.

Pasture Units ESC: units: Northwest Northeast Southeast Southwest Jun 30-Jul 12 Jul 13-26 Jun 15-29 Jun 1-14 [May 25-31 ]a Jul 27-Aug 9

WDM-NW; units: i 2 3 A Jul 13-26 Jun 30-Jul 12 Jun 1-14 Jun 15-29 Jul 27 - Aug 9

TLS-SH: units: Southwest-1 Northwest-2 Northeast-3 Southeast-4 Jun 30-Jul 12 Jul 13-26 Jun 1-14 Jun 15-29 Jul 27-Aug 9

TWS: units: Southwest Northwest East Jul 2-15 Jun 18 -Jul 1 Jun 4-17b Jul 16-29

WEE: units: North Middle Highway South Jun 15-28 Jun 29-Jul 12 Jun 1-14 May 18-31 Jul 13-26

THE: units: North Middle South Jun 1-14 Jun 29-Jul 12 Jun 15-28 July 13-26

WDM: units: J. 2 3 Jun 1-14 Jun 15-28 Jun 29-Jul 12 Jul 13-30

a It was grazed a week early due to the amount of smooth brome in fields. b The pasture rotation began 4 days late due one pennittee dropping and finding another to fill the pasture.

In 1996, a refuge friend and livestock permittee died of cancer. The pasture that he had, SSK--7&8 (159-91-16), was not filled.

8. Having

1995

Two haying permits were issued at no costs to permitee due to the annual growth in the fields: a 10-acre seeded native field (T159N R91W Section 4 SE 1/4 NE 1/4), and a 60-acre seeded native field (159N R91W Section 27 SE 1/4 NE 1/4). Both were hayed in early July

27 to stimulate the Fast Nutrient Cycle.

1996

Five haying permits were issued, four on seeded native fields and one on a DNC field. All were charged $5.00/acre accept for the field seeded to natives in 1995, Section 22 SW 1/4 E 14. The following seeded fields were hayed between June 29 and July 15 to stimulate the Fast Nutrient Cycle:

T159N R91W Section 4 NE1/4 70 acres (hayed with a swather, which left too much grass stubble/litter) T159N R91W Section 4 SE1/4 E 14 33 acres T159N R91W Section 27 NW 1/4 N 14 60 acres (hayed with conditioner) T159N R91W Section 22 SW 1/4 E 14 80 acres (hay conditioner, leaving a 4-6 inch grass stubble/litter) T159N R91W Section 22 NW 1/4 W 14 100 acres (4--6 inch grass stubble/litter) T159N R91W Section 22 NE 1/4 S 14 89 acres (DNC field)

Total acres hayed = 432 acres

9. Fire Management

Lostwood NWR's vegetation management goals are to reduce native low shrubs, eliminate exotic plants (unrealistic), and increase native grasses and forbs. Three phases in renovating Lostwood's native prairie back into native herbaceous plants are Renovation, Renovation-Maintenance, and Maintenance. The Renovation's primary goals are to reduce woody plants and increase native grasses and forbs. Renovation-Maintenance's primary goals are to reduce exotic perennial plants, e.g., smooth brome, and increase native grasses and forbs. Maintenance is to maintain or increase native grasses and forbs, and decrease exotic plants. Prescribed burning is one tool used in all three phases. Grazing is used in the latter two phases along with prescribed fire in non-grazed years.

In 1995 and again in 1996, a map and a burning schedule for planned prescribed burns on Lostwood NWR were sent to each local rural fire department prior to the each burning season (Powers Lake, Bowbells, Kenmare, and Stanley).

On April 19, 1995, there was a small wildfire just east of the refuge in Section 23, T160N R91W. Lostwood NWR fire crew responded to the call and put it out in about an hour.

a. 1995 and 1996 Prescribed Burns

Sixty five percent of Lostwood NWR is in the Renovation phase while 11% is nnthe Renovation-Maintenance phase using grazing and prescribe burning. None of the refuge is in the last phase, Maintenance (maintain desired native plant composition as described in

28 the Mission, Goals and Objectives) using fire and grazing with periods of no major defoliation event up to four years. Burning at different times of year generally produced different results, e.g., properly timed spring bums negatively affect exotic grasses (e.g., smooth brome), summer bums reduce woody plants and increase warm season grasses, and fall burns produce affects similar to spring burns.

Table 11 presents a history, 1972-1996, of the prescribe burning progress to return Lostwood into a predominant native grass/forb community. Table 12 presents acreage and dates of prescribed burns completed in 1995 and 1996.

Table 11. Acres burned per year on Lostwood NWR, and total refuge acreage burned at least once from 1978-96. Cumulative No. of Acres area burned Year bums burned/year at least once (% of refuge) (% of refuge)

1972 3 426 (2%) 1978 1 12 (0%) 12 (0%) 1979 3 601 (2%) 613 (2%) 1980 2 932 (3%) 1533 (6%) 1981 4 601 (6%) 2753 (10%) 1982 7 2466 (9%) 4173 (16%) 1983 5 1880 (7%) 4252 (16%) 1984 4 445 (2%) 4252 (16%) 1985 5 2126 (8%) 4252 (16%) 1986a 6 9115 (34%) 12,713 (47%) 1987 3 2689 (10%) 13,872 (52%) 1988b 2 32 () 13,897 (52%) 1989c 2 1022 (4%) 14,743 (55%) 1990 3 3010 (11%) 16,023 (60%) 1991d 1 116 () 16,023 (60%) 1992 6 4447 (17%) 16,023 (60%) 1993 4 2309 (8%) 16,432 (61%) 1994e 2 284 (1%) 16,432 (61%) 1995 4 3135 (12%) 17,532 (65%) 1996 5 3985 (15%) 17,532 (65%)

a The first Lostwood Wilderness Bum was completed this year, totaling 5,577 acres. b Two wildfires burned 6135 acres c This acreage represents two wildfires (the wilderness and another of 535 acres), and one prescribed bum (burning peninsulas for improving piping plover habitat). d In 1991, FWS purchased 160 acres within Lostwood NWR's 1935 approved boundary. e A new national policy would not allow us to prescribe burn due to wildfires in the western states.

29 Table 12. Prescribed burns completed in 1995 and 1996 on Lostwood NWR.

Burn site Acres burned Burning date Green Ash (GRA) 33 May 1, 1995 Piping Plover-LLL-SW Point 1 May 1, 1995 Piping Plover-East Bay 3.2 May 1, 1995 SSL-Knudson (SSK-WH) 295 Jul 31,1995 North Central Core (CCN-NH) 950 Aug 1, 1995 South Central Core (CCN-SH) 1100 Aug 15, 1995 North Elbow Lake (NEE) 990 Sep 14, 1995

Total 2382.2

Piping Plover-(ELS)-SE Point 1 May 13, 1996 Piping Plover-ULLake-Island 1.6 May 13, 1996 Piping Plover-(SSK)-Island 0.4 May 13, 1996 Piping Plover-(SSK)-East & West Points 7.5 May 13, 1996 Piping Plover-(THL)-North Shore 10.7 Jun 3,1996 Western Wheat (WWH) 950 Aug 9 1996 Headquarter (HDQ) 136 Aug 15, 1996 Aspen (ASP) 1280 Aug 28, 1996 Kruse's (KRU) 1594 Aug 22, 1996 West Rock Slough Island 1 Aug 22, 1996

Total 3982.2

Three seeded native fields (Sec27NWN, Sec4SEE and Sec22SWE) were hayed and were in Management Blocks (MB) planned for prescribed burning. Burning these fields the year hayed was not desired. Two of the three (Sec4SEE and Sec22SWE) fields had only the littered windrows from the haying operations bum because there was more green vs. litter away from the windrows. However, the other field (Sec 27NWN) had a lot of litter left behind from the haying operation, so about half of the field did burn when the entire management block, Western Wheat, was burned on August 9, 1996.

b. Research and Monitoring Results on Prescribe-burned Areas

A main objective for many of the prescribed bums is to reduce woody plants, particularly western snowberry. Table 13 presents shrub (mostly snowberry) stem density averages in a 0.45 meter diameter circle at 17 permanent sites on the 12'acre area called Iverson Slough area within the Thompson Lake Management Block. Also presented are the maximum height and percent shade of shrubs within this same area. From the table, the number of green shrub stems has been reduced along with the height and percent shading but it has taken a long time. The data also illustrates snowberry stem density increasing after the first initial burns, but gradually decreasing over time with additional burns.

Photograph sequences on next page shows changes in vegetation over time with and without management efforts for smooth brome, western snowberry, and Kentucky bluegrass.

30 Smooth brome in virgin prairie around Smooth brome has spread slightly after four photo post, July 1979 (27-6). burns and two years of grazing, Sept. 1995.

Western snowberry in virgin prairie prior to Snowberry almost gone but replaced by any treatments (note smooth brome seed smooth brome in foreground but has nice heads in foreground), July 1979 (27--C). native warm seasons in background, 9-1995.

Western snowberry and Kentucky bluegrass Same site 17 years later without any in virgin prairie prior to any treatments, treatments, September, 1995 (note smooth August, 1979 (5-C). brome just behind photo sign).

31 Where snowberry dominated the landscape with little or no native herbaceous plants and had a heavy layer of undecomposed plant litter (snowberry leaves, dead stems and berries) underneath the canopy, native plants do not readily re-invade but instead, exotic plants, like smooth brome, find these conditions prime to quickly invade.

Table 13. Shrub density (number of green stems), maximum height and percent shade of shrubs on Iverson Slough, Thompson Lake Management Block, from 1978 to 1996, Lostwood NWR. Years prescribe burned are represented by a "B" and "sp" or "su" for spring or summer burns respectively. Years grazed are represented by a "G." Ave. no. of Year green stems Height % shade 1978 Bsp 11 27 47 1979 16 24 27 1980 Bsp 14 19 29 1981 19 12 23 1982 Bsp 15 13 28 1983 18 11 24 1984 16 8 21 1985 Bsu 14 8 22 1986 22 10 20 1987 16 10 23 1988 15 11 19 1989 9 11 18 1990 10 11 18 1991 No data collected 1992 Bsp 11 9 14 1993 8 10 12 1994 No data collected 1995 9 13 14 1996 G 8 13 16

Shmb species in Table 13, mostly western snowberry, altered from tall, dense stands with 50-70% canopy coverage to less than half the height and less than a third of the canopy coverage. Grasses and forbs filled in the open spaces where snowberry dominated. As shown in the photographs above, some areas once dominated by snowberry, were invaded rapidly and mostly by smooth brome, while other areas with no previous brome invasion prior to treatments, were more commonly, but slowly, re-invaded by native warm species, e.g., big bluestem.

In "Breeding Birds of North Dakota." by Robert E. Stewart (1975), Lostwood NWR is categorically placed in a faunistic element referred to as North-central Avifauna. Typical avian species within this northern prairie region on the central plains were identified by Stewart as of paramount importance throughout the state.

32 "The typical species occupy various upland and wetland habitats that represent natural successional stages leading to and including the climax mixed-grass prairie associations. A total of 56 species of birds are representative. These include seven species largely endemic within the northern mixed-grass prairie regions. . . and 49 pandemic species."

Endemic species: marbled godwit, Sprague's pipit, lark hunting, Baird's sparrow, LeConte's sparrow, clay-colored sparrow, and chestnut-collared longspur.

Pandemic species: eared grebe, western grebe, pied-billed grebe, white pelican, trumpeter swan, Canada goose, gadwal, mallard, pintail, blue-winged teal, northern shovelcr, canvasback, redhead, ruddy duck, Ferruginous hawk, marsh hawk, sharp- tailed grouse, whooping crane, sandhill crane, sora, American coot, piping plover, killdeer, upland sandpiper, willet, American avocet, Wislon's phalarope, Franklin's gull, double-crested cormorant, American bittern, black-crowned night heron, Forster's tern, black tern, burrowing owl, short-eared owl, common nighthawk, horned lark, bank swallow, long-billed marsh wren, common yellowthroat, bobolink, western meadowlark, red-winged blackbird, yellow-headed blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, savannah sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, sharp-tailed sparrow, and vesper sparrow.

This reference has been used as a guide in evaluating our progress to return endemic and return and/or maintain pandemic and other species on several prescribe-bumed areas. Avian transects are completed once per year from 1979-1996 in early to mid-June of each year to evaluate our progress. Table 14 presents data from three management units, Teal Slough/Tower Slough MB, Central Core MB-subunit North Dead Dog Slough, and Windmill MB; the former two were managed with prescribe burning and the latter idle accept for 1996 when it was grazed. These transects evaluated endemic and 20 pandemic species: Ferruginous hawk, marsh hawk, killdeer, upland sandpiper, willet, black tern, Forester's tern, burrowing owl, short-eared owl, common nighthawk, horned lark, bank swallow, common yellowthroat, bobolink, western meadowlark, brown-headed cowbird, savannah sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, sharp-tailed sparrow, and vesper sparrow. However, all other species, except water-dependent birds (e.g., red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds) were recorded in the "All spp" group, e.g., American goldfinch. Graphs 1-4 presents endemic species progress; marbled godwit, lark bunting, and chestnut-collared longspur are not shown in subunit North Dead Dog Slough and the latter two in Teal Slough/Tower Slough MBs because they were not present enough to show a trend.

More specific response of several grass- and shrub-dependent passerine species, and upland nesting shorebirds are presented in Tables 15 and 16 respectively, from 1979-1996. Both table's data are from a transect that crosses Teal Slough and Tower Slough MB. There are other MBs with the same type of transect data collected but not presented here.

33 Table 14- Number of species and total number of individuals for endemic birds and all birds on two burn areas and an area idle (> 10 years), Lostwood NWR, 1979-96. Excludes waterfowl, grebes, coots, raptors, sharp-tailed grouse, and red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds. Transects are walked in the center of the treatment block, and conducted only once each June. Treatments occurring were prescribed-bums (B) or grazed (G).

Endemic species All spp. Endemic species All spp. Endemic species All spp.

N indi- N indi­ N indi­ N indi­ N indi- N indi­ Year N spp., viduals0 N spp. viduals0 N spp. viduals0 N spp. viduals0 N spp. viduals N spp. viduals

Teal Slotiigh/Tower f Hough MB Central Core MB- subunit N. Dead Dog Slough Wind mi11 MB'1

1979 7 25 24 180 1979b B 4 45 23 176 6 47 19 162 1980 7 37 23 179 1980 7 27 22 158 1981a B 6 26 31 292 1981 10 50 30 211 1982b 1982 7 39 37 202 B - - - - 1983b B 7 30 35 203 1983b B 7 25 26 128 1984 8 24 32 143 1984 4 30 23 64 1985 11 50 .40 190 1985 8 29 29 181 1986 10 73 32 226 1986b B 8 54a 20 150 1987b B 8 58 34 192 1987 9 66 32 201 1988 10 56 32 168 1988 9 115 22 189 1989 10 118 27 215 1989 7 95 24 191 1990 10 124 31 236 1990 8 116 26 201 1991 11 127 25 199 1991 7 78 20 147 1992a B 8 45 20 129 1992 8 58 22 123 6 32 18 91 1993 10 137 20 182 1993 9 74 22 136 1994 G 10 124 31 236 1994 7 68 17 120 1995 G 10 80 28 184 1995b B 8 93 24 183 5 48 22 201 1996 G 9 61 22 125 1996 3 29 17 113 G 4 60 17 152 a Census was conducted before the burn. b Census was conducted after the burn. c There was only one observer in 1984-91 which may have affected numbers of individuals observed; in previous years Dr. Robert and Ann Gammell, local birding experts, completed the census. These figures reflect total heard or seen by two observers. In 1992 and 1995, R. Murphy accompanied the observer on N. Dead Dog Slough transect, and in 1995 the Windmill transect. This area's last defoliation treatment was in 1979 when it was grazed for two months; it has never been prescribe burned but grazed in 1996.

34 Table 15. Number of upland nesting grass- and shrub-dependent passerines on Teal Slough-Tower Slough Management Blocks, Lostwood NWR, 1979-1996.

Number of upland nesting passerines a Bsp Bsu Bsu Bsp 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Grass-dependent spp. Bobolink 0 1 1 1 2 1 17 8 2 0 21 25 22 1 18 20 10 12 Western meadowlark 1 0 1 1 1 5 6 12 3 11 17 12 11 15 19 16 17 8 Baird's sparrow 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 5 8 5 23 25 20 0 15 21 12 0 Sprague's pipit 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 3 2 4 4 0 1 2 2 6 Savannah sparrow 19 20 13 26 14 10 8 21 27 14 8 8 16 14 19 16 20 24 LeConte's sparrow 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 6 6 Grasshopper sparrow 0 8 0 0 2 0 1 0 4 6 38 40 45 0 15 23 6 3

Shrub-dependent spp. Clay-colored sparrow 48 42 69 44 46 24 26 36 32 23 25 25 19 10 27 22 24 18 Song sparrow 8 10 11 6 6 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 1 3 2 1 0 0 Yellow warbler 2 5 3 2 6 5 4 5 4 3 3 3 6 0 1 3 5 5 Common ye 11owthroat 18 17 26 15 12 7 10 16 10 6 8 11 8 5 5 8 2 1 Eastern kingbird 5 8 9 6 7 5 9 8 5 7 6 8 8 6 4 6 8 5 a Singing males are used for all but eastern kingbird and clay-colored sparrow; for these, total number observed/heard was used.

35 North Dead Dog Slough subunit was prescribe burned in the summer of 1979, 1982, 1983 (the half that did not burn in 1982), 1986, and 1995. The shrub-dependent clay-colored sparrow (CCSP) (Graph 1) was reduced hut remained very abundant, while grass-dependent species (Graph 2) increased significantly after the third burn in 1986. Note how the grass- dependent species declined after several years of idle.

Endemic Shrub-dependent Species North Dead Dog Slough

Endemic Grass-dependent Avian Species North Dead Dog Slough

30 -i p— 25- o |20 - c 15 - 'u) = 10 - to ^ 5 - 0 - ^ T6N TP nD9^ 9^ ^ Or5 ^ oh cT op oh KT pp K& KCP ^ KoP KTJ Kcp PJTP P-TP PJ TP KCP P-TP iSW

Abbreviation for avian species: Raird's sparrow (BAIS), sprague's pipit (SPP1), and LeConte's sparrow (LCSP).

36 Teal Slough/Tower Slough MBs were both prescribe burned on 10 June 1981, summers of 1983, 1987, and 04 May 1992. The shrub-dependent clay-colored sparrow (CCSP) (Graph 3) was reduced but remained abundant, while grass-dependent species (Graph 4) increased significantly after the third burn in 1987. Notice how the grass-dependent species declined after wet years in 1995 and 1996 with a build up of litter (marbled godwit = MAGO).

Endemic Shrub-dependent Species Teal Slough/Tower Slough MBs

^ CCSP

1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Brut hsiA Ciu p-.k,

Endemic Grass-dependent Species Teal Slough/Taver Slough MBs

30 " —E— 25 - o 120 - — .£ 15 - gj ~ 10 - z 5 - o - 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

BOHIML. tCu b^U. C 'Ila 1

37 Table 16. Number of upland nesting shorebirds on Teal Slough-Tower Slough Management Blocks, Lostwood NWR, 1979-1996. "B" means year burned and "sp" and "su" means spring or summer burns, respectively. Total number observed

Upland sandpiper Marbled godwit Willet 1979 0 0 1 1980 0 0 1 1981 Bsp 0 0 1 1982 1 0 3 1983 Bsu 0 0 0 1984 3 _ 0 0 1985 2 1 2 1986 5r- 0 0 1987 Bsu 5 0 0 1988 3 1 0 1989 3 1 2 1990 4 3 1 1991 1 1 0 1992 Bsp 4 0 0 1993 4 0 0 1994 0 1 1 1995 4 2 1 1996 0 0 2

To quantify vegetation composition changes occurring that influenced passerine and shorebird species use, Robel readings were taken on Teal Slough Management Block, Table 17, in the middle of the bird transect route. We also collected Robel transect data on two other MBs that show how the Robel readings changed by vegetation type over a similar time period with similar treatments.

38 Table 17. Robel readings on Teal Slough Management Block for average visual obstruction of the Robel pole (dm) and percent of vegetation type (grass, shrub, forb, bare ground) that obscures the pole. Years burned are designated by "B" plus small letters sp or su for spring or summer burns respectively, and years grazed are designated by "G." Vegetation type Ave. Year obstruction Grass Shrub Forb Bare

1980 2.03 52 45 3 - 1981 Bsp No data collected 1982 0.25 49 8 30 12

1983 Bsu 1.00 67 16 17 - 1984 0.04 32 8 0.4 60 1985 0.36 68 11 6 15 1986 1.18 81 8 8 3 1987 Bsu 1.11 84 9 6 1 1988 0.05 20 3 1 ~ • 77 1989 0.18 80 3 3 14 1990 0.73 87 2 7 4 1991 1.10 92 3 5 - 1992 Bsp No data collected 1993 No data collected 1994 G 0.94 87 3 11 - 1995 G 0.44 91 4 4 1 1996 G 0.01 87 4 5 4

Average visual obstruction dropped in half from 1980 to 1994 but most of the obstruction on the pole is now coming from grasses instead of shrubs. This important change has allowed most of the native indigenous grassland passerines and shorebirds to re-invade back into the prairie on Lostwood NWR.

10. Pest Control

Leafy? spurge sites or "spots"(a location, regardless of size, where spurge grew or is growing) have been chemically treated during June and September since 1979. Some sites were also prescribe burned, mowed, or grazed in conjunction with management on an entire management block or were specifically treated because of spurge presence.

All spurge spots are marked in the field with steel posts painted with a red top and a white number (see photograph below) that corresponds with the same number marked on aerial photographs (8 inch/mile scale). Spots range in size from <1 yard in diameter to 20 acres. Spots of spurge on larger locations are composed of scattered, small numbers of plants that are very difficult to find among taller vegetation. These areas are usually broadcast-sprayed,

39 and usually grazed, burned, or mowed to remove the taller vegetation in order to "find" the spurge. The smaller spots, measured in diameter of area in yards, arc spot-sprayed only. It appears there is a lot of spurge on Lostwood, hut in reality, there is very little. Map 3 shows the locations 0f spots of spurge.

Leafy spurge spots are marked with a steel post, top painted red, and a white number painted on the red top that is specific to a "spot" of spurge and corresponds to the same number on 8 inch to the mile aerial photograph. Leafy spurge beetles (in white container) are hand carried to release sites. Release sites are marked with a white fiber pole, left in place until beetles are well established.

40 ; lU

Leafy Spurge Locations on Lostwood NWR

Leafy Spurge Spot L \ Lands Cropped Prior to 1935 | Land Cropped After 1935 Virgin Prairie ISMI Tall Shrubs and Trees Kiiil Wetlands and Lakes

3 'i 1995

In 1995, there were 283 "spots" of spurge, of which 212 (66 acres) were chemically treated with Tordon in June. Frost ended fall spraying with Krenite "S" on September 22nd with 2.4 acres or 49 spots sprayed. Nine spots were not sprayed in June because cattle were present but by fall, these spots had no spurge or fewer than 10 plants. Table 18 presents the change of spots over the years. Despite elimination of old spots, the total number of spots gradually increases as new spots are found.

Three species of leafy spurge flea beetles, totalling at least 50,000 (Aphthona lacertosa, A. czwalinae, A. nigriscutis) were introduced onto ten spots in July. Sites with leafy spurge range from wet basins to dry hilltops; beetles were placed according to habitat preferences as recommended.

There is a strong commitment to prevent spurge from increasing on Lostwood's native prairie. Chemical treatments will continue to dominate control strategy until such time when biological controls are integrated and the role of flea beetles spurge abatement is determined.

Table 18. The number of spots and number of leafy spurge plants per spot on Lostwood NWR in 1990-96. N % w/no % w/<31 % w/>30 Year spots plants plants plants 1990 241 31 43 26 1991 250 27 50 23 1992 259 34 48 18 1993 269 26 38 36 1994 274 18 31 50 1995 283 17 38 45 1996a 284 13 33 48 a In 1996, 6% of the spots were unchecked.

1996

There were 284 "spots" of spurge, of which 147 (40 acres) were wholly treated with Tordon in June while 5 spots (1.2 acres) had flea beetles released and only the perimeters sprayed. Frost ended fall spraying on October 3rd with 36 spots sprayed (16 acres).

Though chemical spraying continued this year, the number of leafy spurge flea beetles released on the refuge increased. Flea beetles (about 36,000 Aphthona nigriscutis, 68,000 combination of A. lacertosa. A. czwalinae, and A. flava, and 400 A. cyparrissae) were released to 65 new spots and reintroduced to four 1995 release spots. All species but A.

42 cvnarrissae were also released in 1995.

Examination of 1995 beetle release sites using a sweep net revealed very low adult emergence with fewer than 10 adults per site.

12. Wilderness and Special Areas

The air quality branch in Denver RO requested a list of plant species on the wilderness area. A list of all known plants on Lostwood NWR was sent to their office.

On July 21, all those who may potentially be involved in the wilderness prescribed burn completed a "test run," including a thorough briefing of the burn plan. The whole crew tried to burn the wilderness on September 11, including a contracted helicopter from Lewistown, MT., but the weather cancelled the bum.

43 G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity

A key objective of Lostwood NWR is to create conditions in wetlands and uplands for native/indigenous wildlife diversity. Management across the landscape of the refuge will require areas with rest (e.g., Baird's sparrow, peak in numbers after 2-3 years of rest but decline after too many years of rest), prescribed burning used as similar to historical frequencies as can be determined (upland sandpipers key into recently burned areas;), and rotational grazing based on plant physiology (chestnut-collared longspurs prefer areas grazed in short stature).

2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species

a. Pining Plover

Summary of piping plover populations on Lostwood NWR from 1984 to 1996 is shown in Table 19. The severe drought of 1987-1989 affected ground waters that feed wetlands/lakes used by plovers, but the drought had a one to a three year lag time as water lines continued to drop after 1989, increasing available shoreline for piping plovers. Their numbers remained high from 1990 to 1996.

Table 19. Summary of piping plover populations on Lostwood NWR, North Dakota, 1984-1996.

Year3 n pairs n adults 1984 9 21 1985 6 17 1986 8 22 1987 11 23 1988 18 45 1989 21 53 1990 36 103 1991 38 92 1992 33 75 1993 44 94 1994 52 107 1995 38 81 1996 34 71 a Data for 1984-86 is only from early June.

44 1995

A IZ-foot Jon boat was purchased to monitor plovers from open water and looking up, into the beach. Plovers have been found to continue routine activities as long as the boat does not get any closer than about 20 yards from the beach. Nesting adults and chicks are sometimes easier to count from open water at beaches difficult to count from an upland high point.

On May 31, a workshop was held to demonstrate techniques to count and monitor plovers.

Results for the 1995 breeding season for piping plovers, as written by Ellen Hcilhecker: We tallied 81 adult plovers on six of seven wetlands; plovers were not present on Salt wetland early in the breeding season when vegetation was present to the water line nor later when its beaches were expose (about 26 June). The first complete clutch was found on 17 May, and the last nest hatched on 11 July. The earliest and latest hatched chicks were of fledging age the last week of June and 28 July, respectively. Overall, there were five single territorial birds and 37 pairs; 32 pairs with nests, four pairs where nests were not found but young chicks discovered, and one pair where a nest was never found. Two pairs likely re-nested once, one pair successfully and one pair failing. In addition, three pairs failed on initial nest attempts and made no known re-nesting attempts. Pair and nest success were both 87% (33 of 38 pairs and 33 of 38 nests), with the 1995 fledging rate at 0.95 chicks per breeding pair (36 chicks and 38 pairs) (Tables 20 and 21). Nests checked with projected hatching dates were often found hatching when checked 0-3 days of the respective hatching dates. The majority of nests covered with circular fences hatched complete clutches, however three nest lost 1-2 eggs during incubation but hatched remaining clutch, and three pairs completely abandoned their covered nests when all eggs were punctured or completely broken open. One of the three pairs that lost the entire clutch did successfully hatch a uncovered re-nest, however the other two were not known to re-nest. Ground squirrels are suspected predator for all six nests. Beaches with mesh-electric fencing and circular fencing had 100% pair success (10 of 10 pairs) and a fledging rate of 1.88 chicks per breeding pair. Beaches with mesh- galvanized fencing and circular fencing had a pair success of 88% (14 of 16 pairs) and a fledging rate of 0.25 chicks per breeding pair (Table 21); severe weather likely adversely affected two major beaches protected with this combination. Sample sizes are too small for accurate conclusions on the remaining four categories (Tables 20 and 21).

45 Believe this or not. Two pairs of piping plovers initiated nests right after this island on Thompson Lake was prescribe burned, which is not surprising, but then the sweet clover grew. Both successfully hatched, bringing to flight stage, six chicks. D--e--93

Table 20. Summary of piping plover reproductive percentages and rates on Lostwood NWR, 1995, where predator exclosures were used over most pair's nests and on most pair territories. Fledging ratesb

% nest % pair pairs all Fence types success3 success w/nests pairs Protected sites Circular 100c 75° 2.00c 2.00c Electric soc 100c 4.00c 4.00c Galvanized 76c 67° 0.33c 0.33° Circular & elec. 100 100 1.88 1.88 Circular & galv. 88 88 0.25 0.25 Subtotal 86 88 1.03 1.03

Unprotected sites 100c 75c 0.33c 0.25c

Totals 87 87 0.97 0.95 3 Includes two renesters. b Fledging rate is number of chicks fledged per breeding pair. c There are insufficient sample sizes for comparisons or conclusions when the number of pairs is < 10.

46 Table 21. Summary of piping plover censuses and reproductive success on Lostwood NWR, 1995, where predator exclosures were used over most pair's nests and on most pair territories. Pairs Eggs

No. No. No. w/ No. No. No. young Fence types adults pairs No. nests hatched No. hatched fledged None1 13 4 3 3 3 12 12 1 Circular (nest only)1 8 4 5 4 3 17 12 8 Electric (beach only)1 2 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 Galvanized (" ")1 6 3 3 3 2 11 8 1 Circular & elec. 20 10 10 10 10 39 34 18 Circular & galv.2 32 16 16 16 14 63 51 4

Total 81 38 38 37 33 146 121 36 1 There are insufficient sample sizes for comparisons or conclusions when the number of pairs is < 10. 2 A severe thunderstorm on 22 June may have destroyed most chicks on East and West Bays, and an island on Upper Lostwood Lake. This category also includes a renester.

Piping plovers typically increase on recently prescribed burned beaches (Smith, et al. 1993). There were more pairs on Upper Lostwood Lake (ULL) East Bay than ever recorded before (six pairs). Two pairs successfully nested on the island of Thompson Lake, even when sweet clover grew to over four feet after nest initiation (see photograph on previous page); crows were removed which likely contributed to their success in raising seven young to fledging age. West and East Points of School Section Lake (SSL) did not fair as well after the 1995 spring burns, with only one known, unsuccessful nester, although a nesting pair on East Point may have been missed. This lake's plover production success was apparently affected by the pair of crows that nested somewhere nearby.

1996

On May 6, a "mini" workshop was given to 25 people of various agencies interested in management of piping plovers by the Complex Biologist on Lostwood NWR.

Results for the 1996 breeding season for piping plovers, as written by Bev Anderson: Management efforts on seven alkali lakes at Lostwood NWR have the potential to contribute to the recovery of the northern Great Plains population of piping plover (Charadrius melodus). To protect nesting beaches and improve piping plover reproductive success, we expanded our use of circular nest cages, portable mesh-electric fence and permanent, non-electrified fence as predator excluders. We monitored 71 adult plovers that included 34 breeding pairs on Lostwood NWR in 1996, higher than a 12-year average of 26.2 pairs. Their overall fledging rate was 0.88 chicks/pair, lower than the estimated 1.13 chicks/pair needed to maintain population stability. However, when data from 15 pairs directly or indirectly affected by predation from a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) are

47 excluded, the fledging rate increases to 1.20. Pairs protected by a combination of mesh- electric fence and circular wire cages bad the highest fledging rate, 2.10 chicks/pair.

Ponulation and Nesting We followed the reproductive success of 34 breeding pairs of piping plovers on Lostwood NWR in 1996 (Table 22). There were two single, territorial birds, one attracted a mate but not long enough to classify them as a breeding pair, for a total population of 71 adults. Plovers were observed on six of the seven wetlands, and nesting on four of the six. Two wetlands not used for nesting in 1996 were Thompson Lake (TL) where only one bird was seen 22 May (beaches were heavily vegetated), and Salt Wetland (SW) (high water levels left little exposed shoreline). Fewer piping plovers (71 adults) occurred in 1996 than in 1995 (79 adults) or in 1994 (107 adults) but this was still higher than the 12 year mean of 61.1 birds. Plovers were first observed at ULL-West Bay 29 April. Three nests with one egg were found 21 May (Lower Lostwood Lake (LLL)-South Bay and ULL-Point 3) and the first complete clutch of eggs was found 26 May (ULL-West Bay), >2 weeks later than in 1994 and 1995. Courtship behavior and nest initiation seemed delayed due to an unseasonably late spring when the maximum daytime temperature did not exceed 55° F until 11 May. Twenty nests (57%) were found with fewer than four eggs and an accurate hatch date could be predicted. Fourteen nests (40%) were found with four eggs (a complete clutch) and checked for hatching beginning 17 June, 3 days prior to the earliest projected hatching range of 20 ]une-23 June and rechecked every 2-3 days until hatched. Eggs in the last nest, hatched 20 July (ULL-Point 1). Earliest and latest hatched chicks reached fledging age on 6 July and 19 July respectively. One pair re-nested (ULL-Point 2) after abandoning an egg laid in a crevice between two rocks, hatched four chicks, but fledged no young. The fledging rate for 1996 was 0.88 chicks per breeding pair (Table 22). Apparent nest success was 51.4% and pair success was 54.5% (Table 22). Both of these rates were strongly influenced by the effects of predation by a great homed owl (see Predator Effects).

48 Table 22. Piping plover reproductive success on Lostwood NWR by protective fence category (for all known breeding pairs), 1996. n % hatch n % pair Fledge Protection type nests success pairs success rate Protected territories Circular cage only 3 (i r 2 ( 1 )a (0)a Galvanized fence only 2 ( 2 )a 2 ( 2 )a ( 3 )a Electric fence - cage 10 80 10 80 .2.10 Galvanized fence - cage 19 36.8 19 36.8 0.32

Subtotal, all protection 34 52.9 33 54.9 0.91

Unprotected territories 1 (0)a 1 (0)a (0)a

All territories 35 51.4 34 52.9 0.88 a Raw data totals are indicated parenthetically where n <10; actual number of pairs is expressed for nest success, pair success, and number of fledged young for the fledging rate.

Predator Effects Contour feathers from a great homed owl (Bubo virginianus) were found attached to cages at ULL-West Bay 23 June and a great horned owl was observed adjacent to SSL 23 June. Between 21 June and 24 June, piping plover primary, secondary and wing covert feathers (some bloody) were found along the outside of nine caged nests at ULL-East Bay, West Bay, Northwest Shoreline, and SSL-West Point. All plover feathers appeared plucked. We determined at least nine adult plovers from nine territories had been killed, probably while leaving the cage in a feigning behavior to deter the owl from their nest (Table 23). Six of these pairs were <2 days of hatching. Predicting that the owl had learned to use cages to locate plovers, on 24 June we removed wire cages from the unhatched nests of all six pairs at SSL and the north end of ULL (Table 23). These nests were re-caged within 48 hours, however while uncaged, five of these pairs lost some or all eggs (Table 23). On the evening of 24 June, the day we had removed nest cages, a bal-chatri trap was placed, at dark, 80 m from an active plover nest at ULL-West Bay; an adult male great homed owl was captured sometime in the night and removed from the trap at dawn. Three traps, deployed at SSL- West Shore, ULL-Northwest Shoreline and ULL-West Bay the evenings of 25 June and 26 June, caught nothing. No further adult plovers were killed at nest cages. A pair of crows, suspected to have nested on private property west of the refuge, were repeatedly observed hunting the shoreline of Piping Plover Wetland (PPW) and probably contributed to the failure of plovers. Other suspected avian predators include California gulls (Larus califomicus) and ring-billed gulls (Lams delawarensis). Between 2-7 gulls were seen regularly hunting beaches on PW. Large concentrations of gulls were also observed in July and August resting on ULL-Island and may have affected the reproductive success of pairs on ULL-Point 1, ULL-Point 2 and ULL-East Bay (where nests were temporarily uncaged). Two pairs, one at ULL-Point 1 and one at PW-Northeast Point, which were protected

49 by cage/fence combinations lost all four eggs prior to hatching and were not known to renest. Ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp.) were suspected predators of these nests. A small mammal, possibly a mink (Mustela visonh unsuccessfully attempted to dig under the cage covering the nest at LLL-South Bay, however, sometime after this disturbance, one egg was lost. This pair successfully fledged three chicks.

Several piping plover feathers can be seen just to the right of the cage (center of picture) and several just inside the cage from the same point. All indications pointed to a great horned owl as the culprit that killed several plovers associated with the cages right at or very near hatching dates, all within one mile of one another. (D-eGd)

Management Effects Plover pairs protected by a combination of mesh-electric fencing and circular cages had 80% pair success and fledged 2.10 chicks per pair (Table 22). Pairs protected by a combination of mesh-galvanized fencing and circular cages had only 36.8% pair success and fledged 0.32 chicks per pair. However, 30% of all pairs protected by mesh-electric fence and circular cages and 58% of all pairs protected by mesh-galvanized fence and circular cages were negatively impacted by a great horned owl (see Predator Effects). The sample size (n = 5) of the remaining protection combinations was too small for evaluation. After the removal of crows near SSL, the cast side of LIE, and the north half of ULL, crows were not observed hunting these beaches and were not believed to have an impact on plover productivity at these locations. Spring prescribed burns were not successful in 1996. LLL-Southeast Point was prescribe-burned 13 May but failed to attract plovers. TL-North Point and North Shore were prescribe-burned 3 June. This burn was unsuccessful due to rising water and moist conditions,

50 which hindered the removal of sufficient vegetation to enhance beaches and these sites also failed to attract plovers. SSL-West and East Points and ULL-Island, were prescribed-burned 3 June and attracted 3 breeding pairs which failed to fledge young, however, it was not possible to evaluate the success of this burn due to the effects of predation by a great horned owl.

Table 23. Fifteen piping plover pairs were negatively affected either directly by a great horned owl (killing at least one adult of a pair), or indirectly when nest cages were removed (owl preying on other caged nests was likely) on specific beaches of Upper Lostwood and School Section Lakes, 1996. Nest Days into Eggs Chicks location3 incubationb hatched fledged Dates

Remains of one adult found at cage (n = 9) discovered0 ULL West Bay - A 26 1 0 23 June ULL West Bay - C 18 0 0 23 June ULL West Bay - D (24) 0 0 23 June ULL West Bay - E (24) 0 0 23 June ULL West Bay - F (13) 0 0 24 June ULL NW Shoreline - Ad (24) 3 3 24 June ULL East Bay - C unk 0 0 24 June ULL East Bay - D (ID 0 0 21 June SSL West Point - C 23 0 0 24 June

cage nest Cages removed from nest for 2-3 davs (n = 6)e removed re-caged ULL East Bay - B 26 0 0 24 Junef ULL North Shore - A 26 4 2 24 June 25 June ULL North Shore - B 27 4 1 24 June 25 June SSL East Point - E 25 0 0 24 June 26 June8 SSL West Point - A 26 > 1 0 24 Juneh SSL West Shore - F ~ 20-28 0 0 24 June 26 June1 a All nest contained 4 eggs. b Number of days into incubation at the time of disturbance (either death of adult or caged removed); numbers without parenthesis are known number of days and those with parenthesis are approximate. 0 Dates when adult remains were found at cage, or when cages were removed. d Remaining adult incubated, hatched, and fledged 3 young. e The owl may have been using cages to locate plovers. To prevent further adult loss, all cages thought to be within this owl's territory were removed, and replaced only after the owl was caught on 25 June. 1 Eggs were already gone by 25 June and pair showed no territoriality. E One adult was missing at time of re-caging. h Nest hatched <24 hours prior to removing cage. 1 No adults were present at time of cage removal, re-caging, and thereafter.

51 b. Whooping Cranes

Two whooping cranes (unhanded) flew directly over refuge headquarters, landing on the south island of Thompson Lake (right next to refuge headquarters) on October 22, 1996. They remained there for a couple of hours then moved on. On this same day, with the prairie dusted in white, there were several groups of sandhill cranes, each with +100 birds, feeding on Tower Slough Management Block pastures grazed in a rotation from late June to early July, 1996 (see Grazing section). The groups were fly-hopping from area to area on these pastures, perhaps how they use to feed in the fall when the landscape was all native grassland and grazed by bison herds in the summer.

3. Waterfowl

a. Ducks

Lostwood NWR finally came out of the dry cycle and duck numbers finally increased in 1995 and 1996 (Table 24). Duck pair numbers on the refuge are determined from a 10% sample, composed of 17 quarters randomly selected in 1976 and completed twice each year, once in mid May and again in late May to early June. Counting methods followed the required survey techniques at the time. Pairs for the entire refuge are calculated by rating the 17 quarters as good and poor quarters based on the number and quality of wetlands in each quarter (13 classified as good and 4 as poor). Using the same criteria, all refuge quarters are determined good or poor (107.8 good and 58.8 poor) and then multiplied by the average number of pairs per species on the sample quarters to estimate the total pair populations on the refuge each year.

52 On the southern portion of the Kruse Management Block, good quality brood water was lacking. In 1989, a dam (extreme right of photograph) was built with Ducks Unlimited to create a brood water wetland. The flooding would combine three smaller wetlands and inundate mostly old cropland. Finally in April of 1995, the created wetland filled with water. Photograph was taken looking northwest. C-eUS.

53 Table 24. Estimated duck pairs on Lostwood NWR from 1979-1996, based on the same 10% random sample used eacb year. Abbreviation are: Mal= mallard, Gad=gadwall, Wig=American wigeon, GWT=Green-winged teal, BWT=blue-winged teal, Sho=northem shoveler, Pin=northern pintail, Red=redhead, Can-canvasback, Sca=lesser scaup, Rud=ruddy duck. (Ring-necked duck and bufflehead not shown.)

Year Mai Gad Wig GWT BWT Sho Pin Red Can Sea Rud Total 1978 2002 1669 1120 100 2916 551 331 42 83 680 83 7,575 1979 1716 1240 788 58 2829 550 402 58 75 1224 249 9,189 1980 2277 1429 916 166 1593 477 131 75 75 1111 0 8,250 1981 2349 1675 879 33 1094 564 348 42 0 1352 83 8,419 1982 1600 1286 392 108 1472 541 651 166 59 1238 182 7,695 1983 1416 804 528 116 2335 697 257 75 8 1103 207 7,546 1984 1087 1343 792 67 1655 621 166 83 74 995 398 7,364 1985 1136 1442 558 82 1778 476 240 74 25 929 141 6,947 1986 756 878 415 175 1430 307 74 50 9 514 50 4,658 1987 1363 1081 724 156 1489 382 157 141 50 730 50 6,332 19881 1269 1746 561 119 604 270 76 32 54 420 11 5,184 19892 735 611 255 76 615 309 129 54 32 291 32 3,139 19902 302 291 119 22 65 32 22 54 11 237 32 1,187 19912 356 517 172 11 43 22 32 43 11 453 0 1,660 19922 216 162 76 0 32 22 43 0 11 32 32 626 1993 334 205 194 21 0 32 32 21 0 248 0 1,087 19943 554 -- 139 - - 411 - 9 -- - 1995 998 914 211 157 1583 731 559 74 25 197 191 5,640 1996 941 555 251 175 1980 746 509 182 124 249 175 5,887 1 Duck pairs by wetlands in each quarter was given to Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center without keeping a copy. This raw data is missing but the number of pairs, by spp, per quarter is in refuge files. 2 A severe drought took place from 1987-1989, but did not dramatically affect pairs until later; see paragraph below. 3 Raw duck pair data for the second pair count was lost.

The severe drought of 1987-1989 took its toll on wetlands, and of course duck pairs and subsequent production. Water tables continued to drop following the three years of drought, a delay that affected duck pairs for several years. In years prior fo 1988 and after 1994, over half of the 422 wetlands in the pair-count-quarters held water. However, from 1988 to 1994, less than half of the wetlands held water: 1988-18, 1989-130, 1990-9, 1991-9, 1992-34, and 1993-11.

On May 7, a female black duck was observed paired witb a normal drake mallard on one of the duck pair count quarters.

A major migration of ducks, geese and sandhill cranes occurred on October 29, 1996, marking the end of fall in one day.

54 b. Geese

No census was completed for giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima)in 1993-96.

6. Raptors

No raptor census was completed. However a "critter map" is kept showing the location of every raptor observed (also includes species such as coyotes, fox, raccoon, skunk, badgers, etc.) mostly during the breeding season, except if there is an unusual siting, e.g. peregrine falcon.

A ferruginous hawk platform was built on a telephone pole placed on East Lower Lostwood Lake-South Half Management Block. No raptor used the platform in 1995 or 1996.

Several raptors were shot and brought to Lostwood NWR for help. One adult female golden eagle and immature gryfalcon were sent to the Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Wisconsin for care. The gryfalcon was too far gone and was destroyed, but the eagle was returned here and released along the Missouri River. One dark-phase red-tailed hawk, also shot, was fed here and recovered and released into the wild.

10. Other Resident Wildlife

a. Sharp-tailed Grouse

All known dancing grounds are counted and new grounds sought where the area between dancing grounds could possibly hold another dancing ground. Each ground is counted two to three times each spring between late March (or when weather permits access) to the first week in May. Table 25 presents the data from 1979-1996. The following maps (Maps ^ and 5) show the locations of the dancing ground in 1995 and 1996.

55 Sharp-tailed Grouse Dancing Grounds

1995

ۥ oarcws Orwvt I I umc Crcppwi rnorm KfJS I I WM>as Oacoea Afm ISiZ I I em i'v--i r-i I I Wcajnas ukcs

56 Sharp-tailed Grouse Dancing Grounds

1996

Dancing Grounds Lands Cropped Prior to 1935

Lands Cropped After 1935

Virgin Frame

Tail Shrubs

Trees

Wetlands and Lakes A

57 Table 25. Sharp-tailed grouse dancing ground counts were completed on entire refuge from 1979-1996. Ave. No. males Year No. leks No. males per lek 1979 32 325 10.2 1980 37 644 17.4 1981 40 764 19.1 1982 38 435 11.5 1983 37 528 14.3 1984 34 686 20.2 1985 36 510 14.2 1986 35 638 18.3 1987 36 736 20.4 1988 35 776 22.2 1989 34 421 12.4 1990 33 613 18.6 1991 34 780 22.9 1992 44 1185 26.9 1993 40 757 18.9 1994 33 410 12.4 1995 34 608 17.9 1996 33 635 19.2

58 b. Other Species

A map, "critter map," on file shows where coyotes, badgers, raccoons, skunks, etc. were observed throughout the 1995 and 1996 field season. Few fox, raccoon and skunks are observed.

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General

On July 29, 1995, the annual grassland management tour (morning by bus, afternoon by horseback) was held. The outing was publicized in local papers. Seven people came for the bus tour, but no one participated in the horseback tour.

The grouse blind was used on April 15, 16 and May 17, 21, and 22 in 1995.

On August 1, 1996, 12 Homemakers of Kenmare, North Dakota, visited Lostwood NWR for a native plant tour.

One general news articles was written about "this week's Hidden Treasure," written by a news writer, Patricia Stockdill, in The Bismarck Tribune. A copy of the news article is in "L. Information Packet," Appendix C.

2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students

In the spring of 1996, seven classrooms (totalling -140 students) ranging in grades from 2nd to 4th visited Lostwood NWR for environmental education classes conducted by Lark Osborne, Biological Technician. Students spent up to three hours on the refuge participating in a variety of activities designed to help them explore the wonders of the prairie.

V. Ames, a high school teacher from Grand Forks, visits Lostwood NWR every year to have his students experience finding their way with a compass. He gives them instructions on how to read a compass and drops them off. On April 26, 1995 and again on Aril 26, 1996, 25 and 26 students respectively, were turned loose. They always seem to have a great time.

A high school student from Divide County High School contacted Lostwood NWR for a science fair project. She was going to test the acidity of snow samples to study the effects of the Estevan Power Plant in Saskatchewan, Canada. Ideas were shared.

8. Hunting

Deer hunting continues to be the main hunting activity on Lostwood NWR. For both 1995

59 and 1996, a special refuge permit was required to hunt deer during Friday, the opener, and Saturday and Sunday. In 1995, taking any deer required a special permit, but in 1996 it was changed to any antlered deer for the first weekend of the season. After that, for the remainder of the state season, anyone with a legal, state deer license could hunt the refuge. The 1995 data for the opener has been lost, hut for 1996, at least 150 hunters hunted.

The 15--inch snow dropped in early November, 1995, intimidated deer hunters, with few going afield. One deer hunter got lost which took an evening search but all were found and ended happily ever after.

In mid-September of each year, a portion of the refuge (south of State Highway #50) is opened to hunting sharp-tailed grouse. In 1996, at least nine vehicles were along the boundary that was open to grouse hunting. After the opening weekend, maybe one car can be seen along the boundary where hunters accessed the refuge.

11. Wildlife Observation

Lostwood NWR continues to attract birders from throughout the United States and Canada from May through July. It is common to get notes back from birders from all over the United States expressing their enjoyment of the area and what birds they saw.

12. Other Wildlife-Oriented Recreation

Following a request for the refuge to be opened to horseback riding, a Compatibility Determination was completed in 1995. It was found compatible from August 1 to mid- September, closing the Friday before the opening of the sharp-tailed grouse hunting season; the area found compatible is the same area opened to sharp-tailed grouse hunting beginning in mid-September. To maintain control on the number of riders, a Special Use Permit was required. The Minot Daily News, August 2, 1996, printed an article about the opening ("L. Information Packet," Appendix D). In September 1996, five permits totalling 43 riders were issued for horseback riding. We received three different letters or phone calls and one visit, emphasizing their enjoyment of the opportunity and hoped it would continue in the future.

Doug Staller, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Education and Visitor Services in Bismarck, North Dakota visited in April, 1996. His response to the visit and development of a public use program expresses ". . . should be subdued and low-profile, so as not to distract from the magnificent landscape." A copy of his memo is attached in "L. Information Packet," Appendix E.

The Education and Visitor Services in Bismarck set up two statewide hot lines, one for birders and one for native flowers in bloom.

60 I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction

1995

A few days in July and August were used to install Lite-Form building foundation walls, a polystyrene product that forms the wall for the foundation concrete pour, and is the insulation for both inside and outside the wall. The cement was poured in early August and the foundation now awaits the arrival of a surplus house from the Fortuna Air Force Base in northwestern North Dakota.

Two garages from the Fortuna Air Force Base were moved, one to Lostwood NWR and one to Des Lacs NWR headquarters. They will both be remodelled into heated storage buildings for fire equipment.

A contractor completed a sidewalk and handicap accessable ramp with railing in front of the remodelled headquarters.

Signs were erected to direct refuge visitors to the refuge headquarters and away from the shop/maintenance area.

A platform in the cold storage portion of the shop was built to house piping plover equipment, e.g., electric mesh fences, fiber poles, solar panels.

1996

The Fortuna Air Force Base house arrived, the BUNKHOUSE, and placed on the foundation. New floor tile was laid throughout the house (asbestos had already been removed). The attached garage's windows were replaced and remodelling began to make it into another bedroom, a second bathroom, and storage. The building was completed enough for seasonal employees to move in.

Cabinets for the refuge office were begun. Landscaping was also completed for both the office and bunkhouse.

A section of the boundary fence along State Flighway #50 was redesigned to accomodate a horse back riding parking lot for the visiting public.

2. Rehabilitation

1995

61 The manager's bedroom was painted. Fiberglass beat ducts were replaced with tin ducts in the manager's residence. A shower was installed in the maintenance shop bathroom. Preparation for pouring concrete concrete chemical and upright gasoline tank pads was completed.

The refuge office remodelling was completed. It has current state of the art ground-source heat pump (forced air), electronic light ballasts, and T-8 lamps. Staff at Lostwood NWR and Lostwood WMD moved in this year; very nice indeed.

Harris Construction, Kenmare, gravelled a portion of the Public Use Auto Tour.

Lostwood NWR's recycling center was remodelled in the shop's cold storage.

1996

The fire equipment building was enhanced with metal siding that covered the worn wood siding.

Cabinets for the office were finished, and the Complex Biologist's bookshelves installed.

The boneyard is no longer home for refuge junk. Scrap metal was hauled to recycle centers, old fence posts and other junk hauled to approved land fills. Then the monumental effort to organize what remained was completed.

New telephone lines were installed that resolved many of the electronic mail problems, including two 6-pair systems for the refuge headquarters.

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs

Burke Central Career Days was held on December 1, 1995 in Lignite, North Dakota. Refuge Manager Smith gave a presentation on biology careers.

3. Items of Interest

National Geographic Society revised their guidebook to national parks and refuges. Lostwood NWR's passage was checked and returned. The passage, shown below, plus a photograph of a sharp-tailed grouse were included in the new guidebook. Ducks, marsh birds, grouse, hawks, Baird's sparrows, and Sprague's pipit inhabit this stretch of prairie dotted with shallow glacial lakes, attracting birdwatchers from near and far. 26,747 acres. Facilities include hiking, hunting, scenic drives. Open all year, dawn to dusk. Located off N. Dak. Hwy. 8, about 135 miles northeast of

62 Theodore Roosevelt NP's North Unit. (701) 848-2722.

Refuge Manager Smith completed a book review on "My Double Life: Memoirs of a Naturalist" by Frances Hamerstrom for The Prairie Naturalist (March 1996). See Attachment 1.

Refuge Manager Smith and Biologist Murphy were awarded 1996 Partners in Flight award in the category of Stewardship.

A very interesting article in the Audubon November-December 1995 issue on "What good is a prairie?" reveals the importance of our grassland resources and the need to restore and maintain as much native grassland as possible (Attachment 2).

4- Credits

Refuge Manager Smith wrote the annual narratives for 1995 and 1996 with help from Lark Osborne. Assistant Project Leader Severson graciously edited this narrative.

63 The Prairie Naturalist 28(1): March 1996 43 44 The Prairie Naturalist 28(1); March 1996

found in this book, behaviors and experiences that nurtured her into a tough, EVOLUTION OF A FIELD BIOLOGIST tenacious woman and destined her to be a successful and renowned field biologist. My Double Life: Memoirs of a Naturalist. Frances Hamerslrorn. 1994. This childhood prepared her for the life she cherished, with her University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 316 pages. $34.95 (cloth), $16.95 beloved, late husband, Frederick ("Hammy") in the wilds of central (paper). Wisconsin, and in particular with its prairie chickens, the study and In My Double Life, biologist Frances Hamerstrom reveals her conservation of which the Hamerstroms are famous for. The rest of the evolution from an affluent childhood in early 1900s Boston to a rugged and book mostly dwells on the Hamerstroms' lives as prairie chicken biologists. spirited field biologist. She writes in first person with short, easy-reading There is a touching chapter about how the Hamerstroms and a fellow chapters about her life, generally in chronological order from childhood to student at the University of Wisconsin secretly moved Professor Aldo present. The anecdotes are concise, witty, and spiced with humor in her Leopold from a cramped, dark office into a spacious, well-lit office that characteristic, blissful confidence. There are many unique black-and-white remained his. photographs reproduced, as well as pen-and-ink illustrations mostly by her Toward the end of the book, it becomes apparent that times were artist-daughter, Etva Hamerstrom Paulson. Half of the book's chapters are not easy in the mid-1900s for a female biologist, an era when society put a borrowed from earlier works, in particular her award-winning Strictly for the woman in a home with children and household chores. Fran not only took Chickens (1980). This new book complements several more-or-less care of a home, children, and household chores, but she also was a autobiographic works by presenting Hamerstrom's childhood adventures companion, assistant field biologist, active falconer, and wife to her and exploits Toward its closing, the book finds her in her mid-80s exploring husband, and a superb field biologist in her own right, publishing classic primitive worlds by travelling with Pygmies and Indians in Africa and South early works on raptor ecology. America. I could readily relate to some portions of this book because of my A third of this book details her early years and how they fortified her, own experiences as a public servant in resource conservation. Four which she admits was difficult to reveal. Her highly structured, Boston chapters stress how the public, at limes, will scrutinize its servants, such as childhood demanded stereotypic-female behavior that would prepare her as Hamerstroms experienced during the "Prairie Chicken War." The an international hostess. This conflicted with her inquisitive and creative Hamerstroms had developed a management plan to save the prairie outdoor mind, making her a very unhappy, lonely, and rebellious child. She chicken from extinction near Necedah, in central Wisconsin, and local attempted to communicate with her parents and other adults, but the old people were extremely upset about the plan. This section of the book gives attitude of "children should be seen and not heard" prevailed, so she strength to persons in analogous roles, even though we all"... must have developed a mistrust of adults, some of which persisted into her own periods of great strain ..." I also related to Hamerstroms' "Rule of thirds," a adulthood Her liberation was rebelling silently against most family rules, simple rule for those who immerse-themselves in field work but need to being truly self-reliant, and trusting only her own instincts. Tactics she used survive accompanying bureaucracy. Leopold, the Hamerstroms' graduate to navigate around her family standards were most unusual. For example, advisor, first stated this rule when he told them, "You can satisfy the her family did not approve of her visiting the Boston Museum of Natural requirements in one third of your time." Hamerstroms pondered this History, but one time her governess took her there after visiting a dentist's message and developed the following; spend one third of your time on office near the museum. She was so overwhelmed by the museum, bureaucratic red tape, another third doing what is wanted of you and what especially its insect collection, that she devised a gutsy scheme to return: you want to do, and the last third doing exactly what you please. she would use a pencil between two teeth close to the gum "... pushing The "adult world" once again disillusioned Fran later in life when she hard, I rolled the pencil Blood came! I kept rotating the pencil between my tried to publish her first scientific manuscript, a final, important step she fingers and looked again. More blood ..." She showed her father the needed to prove herself as a field biologist. Instead of getting full credit for "toothache" and he promptly ordered her governess to take her to the serving as principal investigator and senior author of The Great Horned Owl dentist. The stop after the dentist was the museum; she had succeeded in and its Prey in North Central United Stales, the classic monograph was her quest. Many examples of such youthful boldness and fortitude are coauthored by her and her husband, with Paul Errington as senior author.

The Prairie Naturalist 28(1); Mar ch 1996 45

She was once again disenchanted by "adults" in trying to prove herself, this Hr- time not as a maturing child, but as a professional, woman field biologist. Her concluding chapter will once again cause the reader to realize how incredibly strong this woman is, and of her concerns and solutions for this wonderful, but stressed, world. Anyone who knows or knows of Fran or is engaged in field biology would enjoy her memoirs, a very revealing book about how a most unique woman evolved from a child, schooled as an "international hostess," but who developed into a renowned field biologist ...a double life indeed.-Karen A. Smith, Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge. RR #2 Box 98, Kenmare, ND 58746.

i pra»Jana: oeionp?. ruthless. Given nature? pervasive me: ii»r\ hav. pom tn our onpins. in the daih hall war d il»« pioht. j>crhjp> 10 ol even- econonv. and in the irpan and Ainca o remoit Tionar. piaieau. the human spirit, tnis ? hear: The Then- provs mL' inirrcsi ir. savmp • mat we are somehow sepa­ ,»iopi: rhniini whai N 01 tin native prainr in rate and superior and thereJore entitled ienon; cu>i.. tJiia c< to judpr even other lu'e-forn) stands and the aod oi thi miiiinp clemrnu "let tnerr are out as our prandest delusion. that. deep, also those who wan: to knew whv anv- Bu: none ol this reallv chanprs the pa loan., heiwrrr. tiu- sialic pracn- one shouid boihei What's so impor- fact that most lolks wiio ask tiie what- Ca vcr*. uavclrnplh o* viaihlf Ijcht tant about havmp a natural rraine pood-is-it question consider it perfecth around? What pood i> a prainr to lair. Ob\"ioush. the pull between them bepm with! and those inclined to believe that each The question keeps cominp up in orpanism has inhrrcm value is im­ one torn-, o: another with even con­ mense. But it is not unbhdpcablr. nor servation issue, docsn; it" What fed car. conservation afford to let IT be. la: >om. 4^^ ir.iliior. acre; is that swamp over there, an.vwav? So rather than keep casnnp about ic.. Aincnc.. u-aa. iron: lh< Roc. This particular lorest! A enzzi1. bear" lor ways to demean the what-pood- • the Miaai>s:rr- and Sa-skai-rhrwai Or. tor heaven's sake, an Amarposa is-it question, we mav as well take Trxaa: Lcaxc? of praa An untamed toad" Tel! me the worth of it. Name it as a stimulus for cominp up with parden Hip animaK pr; more answers, bene; answers Pram- talists. the tcmpta- cal. commonscnse replies. There laryest d shake of the head are all kinds of them. Especially G.va SORT11 AMLRICA'S LARGEST COSTIXL OGS ECOSYSTEM, THE XATni PRAIRIJ IS SOU IX DAXCER OF IAX1SH1XC ALTOGETHER.

when the subject is prairies. First, though, let's drop the pan about /cod to ask simph. what it a prainr! Whereas savannas are grass­ lands interspersed with trees, prames are landscapes trub dominated bv grasses. They anse where the dimatc is loo dry to support forests vet too wet to favor deserts. The grasses' dominion is reinforced bv a dvnamic combination of pcnodic drought, grazing prrssurrs. and the other major consumer in the ccosysicm—wildfire, which the Native Americans called the red bufialo North America's prairie contains three mam subtypes, of rouphiv equal area. On the west, in the wmdy ram- VMg-. T J8 shadow of the Great Divide, is the ^ '-WiT ^ shonprass prainr of ankle-high buffalo grass and blue grama. The eastern side tir , rcosvsirm. and the one Vi«w if Laut and start in or. how the of the Great Plains, which receives more m characirrisiic of the eraiHa trlfStt la tion itself reveals v < wronp than twice as much rainfall as the west. U 1 State? Todat it is the ••risar. Ia.au with our socirtv j altitudes suppKsrts the taliprass prainc. characirr- ra and most tracmentcd. Akaaa; A fUH toward nature. Aldo Leopold, i/cd bv big bluestcm. Indian grass, and the one in gravest dancer of awallawtall Sal who tried eloquently tc forpc switchprass; in a pood vear thev reach vanishing alnvethri Imotar a? tartly .alli.atai an American conservation eth­ as high as a rider on horseback. In not a single patch contain'- us a ara.ria larS ic. once said that to ask of am between rolls the mixed-grass prairie, il mipraiorv tauna. i? already, lu mp thmp what pood it u represents w-uh shonprasses in tbr parched sites, to roubimp deprrc. fn tctionallv the las: word in ipnorancr about the taliprasscs in thr damp ones, and mid- c* 't. The siph: of sr worktnps ot creation It surrK rrpre- st/r species Midi as wheatgraxs and side hr 1 herd^ and thru hur sents anthTopocrninsm at it* most oats grama throughout. over its inanagrment to Please: No, dom give me liiat." "Habilal iragmeniaiionr" I asked. Kansas State Lniversitv The pothole lakes and -ither w.ners "Habitai elimination." '/immrrman and named the Hlidllowrrs at their KSU . m ihc nearby town ol the prainr region are good lor piu- edges. Purple ponpv mallow, or wme- of Manhattan. ducmg hall the waterfowl on this con­ popuianom right here in the Konza to cup. Dickcissel nest. Butlerllv milk­ he ail aiv The reserve's official title tinent. Thev also support thrungs of be holding up." weed. Catclaw sensitive brier, folding at is the Kon/a Prairie Re­ shoiebirds imgraiing along the Central i'anmg green stalks, we probed the our touch. Grasshopper sparrow nest search Natural Area, and it Flvway. The prairie itself is critical thatch .it old. dried grass underneath understand rlie prainr. don t look ut it: is an apt one. The place is a breeding habitat lor a number ol other lingercips rested cowbirds. which ongirullv evolved the learn to look into it. " sunlit laboratorv for KSU birds, including longspurs. bobolinks, CUPS BEARING EGG' i blu stratcgv of leaving their eggs in iither With the help of several Konza ecoJ- researchers and scientists lark buntings, upland sandpipers, and might been the seeds ol the skv. species nesis in onier to keep moving ogists. 1 did. Here is what 1 learned. from institutions near and mountain plovers. In recent decades, far. Since ll>81 Konza has however, grassland-dependent species served as one of 17 sues have declined between 25 and 65 per­ If Ync ll.l.VT TO l WDLKSTAXD THE PRAIRLf," SAYS BIOLOCIST JoH.X nationwide taking part in cent. the most dismal record lor anv the National Science Foun­ avian group in North America. ZlMMERMAS, "DO.VT LOOK AT IT. LEARS TO LOOK IXTO IT." dation's Long-Term Fcolog- ical Research program. "Bear in mind." cautioned Don Kaulmon. a KSU mam­ malian rcologist. "that no COMPLETE U.S. PRAIRIE ECOSYS­ TEM. AND WHEN ALL THE WAS STILL AROUND THE PRAINC So we have no wav of know­ ing lor sure how a tallgrass idcring what good J ft CIM praine is supposed to work." 1 iocu^rd on the call- *»•»• Lacking any natural exam­ ortiun. h is the most in h«»» i ple that they can sit back need of answers, having been tauta and document. Konza scien­ almost completclv converted to SMMI tists have opted for aggres­ nculturc. In Ohio. Indiana, and nawu sive investigation, burning iinois—still known as the i.-« portions ol the prairie at aine State —d9 .9 percent oi it is intervals, stocking some with mtssing. Overall, scarcrlv 1 percent of bison .r cattle, and leaving others the on^mai tailgrass realm persists. unKirncd or ungrazed or both. "We're The majonrv of that iies in the Flint not here just lor the sake of preserving ^ills. a 60-mile-w»de injige. of chert- this prainc." David Harrnctt. Konzas crcd limestone running Jroni north- director, told mc. "We're here to learn stern Kansas into northern Okla- how to better manage grasslands in .ma. Thcv mav he >olt to tread on. general and the best wavs to sustain but these hills bent even steel plow ranching and agriculture within the blade chat tried to bite deep enough to tallgrass region." Thai s part of the rurn over their sod. good of keeping intact pieces of prainc The northern segment ol the Flint ills is called the Konr-t Prairie. Like WALKING THROUGH A KONZA SUNRISE insas. it take:. it<. name from the THE NEXT DAV. I THOUGHT THAT ANOTHER insa Indians, who once dwelt here. At THING A PRAINC IS ALWAVS GOOD FOR IS 3.600 acres. Kon/.a used to be the FEELING EMBRACED BY SKV. THE SKY'S largest protected tract of tallgrass m SEAM WITH THE EARTH GLOWED WITH the United States. That honor has RIPENING SEED HEADS AND BERRIES AND ice passed to the ncarlv 40.000-acTc WAS LULL OF BIRDS. MY COMPANION, A Igtass-prainc preserve rcccmlv estah- KSU ORNITHOLOGIST NAMED JOHN ZIM­ hrd in the southern Flint Hiiis bv MERMAN. WAS TALKING BACK TO THE c Nature Conscrvanci. The conser- •MGRRS: "WELL. I'M GLAD VOU'RE HAVING vancv was instrumciitai in ac.iuinn^ MICH A NICE MORNING. NOW. WOULD VOU Kon.ta hack in the ll'"0s. then lurncd •NIND SHOWING MC WHERE VOUR NEST IS- hver proinmen: uligr c. uiT. 1 lung-, that 1 C' ">' rr; • gets nuai praim adapted to star and stalk* a, »CI( uds od is irmicak lha: :h as those Johx. Zim- others. Tliei. Bui mcrnun sm •d m« a xorb: konza iiackbern. and |un»pe! o: oai. trees 1 gr; duce vegctanven. uiti; new clumps of ami cer lurncd ou: have well over 300 •iudinc strcambanks an^i spreading up taliei and winch rmpioi a dn- ig. fin. and irost. branches — which, imil. iiki separati jusi ,-0rK 70 JI ir .sunfiouTr-aster lann- mois; miisides Anothei 10(1 species o? lercn; chemical patitwa'. lor the uptake »ugii, fibrous ri»oi> descend from plants to us—sprouting Irum rhr/omrs titan rr t. quite lew prairu J.. nr aiiC zen- m the nitToecn-ru- iants. Irorr. iichrns to li\- of carbon dioxide, so ihet can respire bo: the nrsi eicht inches. as the old clumps give out. Through iorhs ir pumr lamih. While other 10 Konza's pramr mix. even alier the ieai pores have closed to h. dcnnit: flowrnnp season. u>ualK Cicariv. i prairie is anvthmg hut conserve water during hot weather, ir. spring, the taligras- prame is more aoow some people beneath them are shade-tolerant grasses Dll TO ITS ROOT SYsJTM. A I'RAIRU.-CRASS 1'I.AM MAT LIU I Ok Crncrous. It is good lor otienng a new imagine i: to be As lor its fabric—the such as Scribncr's panicuni. able to grasses—vou'll find mi»re than 100 flourish oen as other plants monopo­ CLXTI RITS—AS I.OSC .45 TRTLS IS. AS OlD-CRi OTH TORLST. w--1 tVom April through September. species o: them in addition to the three lize nearit- all the suniighi. ! webs. Some those mat in turn cor an old-crow ih In grasses, raisin*: the que: Beit one organism end*, and ti rgir kvard i . 12 to 2i» Nov. imagine, wuhtn this subicr- tallcrass spreading through an are., the size and iarvai. earthworms, and microscopic, shape o! tepee li placed end to end. wormiikr nematodes. th« most ahun- thr\ would run for miles, with the dani mult iceliular animals ol the roots ol one taligrass plant developing prairie. 7'ogeihn. thev nearh match the as mam as 1-4 billion line root hairs. weight el whatrvrr large crraturcs are Where thev end. a secondare network gra/mg overhead on the same acreage ni still liner threads ol svmbiotic iunci and because the little beasts' metabolic

Known as rnvcnrrbi/ar begins, a sarrsw inar rates are Mibsrantialiv higher. In return for some carbohv- OBnsmj c•s*fa). thri have hi lar the greater dratcs from the grass, mvcor- « ••it**. biological rflrct. rhiz.ar increase lite root svs- utt: tsiiri•»» In their mvnad roamings. k« lax tunnclings. and turnmcs. these times, probing soil crevices tix* ss invertebrates break apart n root hair*. to rracb.. clavs; pass enormous quant it irs of e minerals. not abb din through their guts: granulate tin traces of' w. net. m\- soil, enrich it with urea, ammo acids, r the gtas*. - giow ib. and other nitrogrnom wa*irs rradih v survival do ring hard ..1 In yh nrf . that • loiiim tiie Cneai 1 )eim*>Moi. . i.y • it on u Mir aiui P.u-i.ii u 'h b.u! lawn \'iii»ixer'^'.iCkr- tan uli x.u. thieaten serunn climatic changi lit- wiiil, i»Ic ;»w.t urui i-rioo: prima:ii". u . ih> lorn: tii. grass spiing- u; ay am pract.calix Ping up carinin dioxidt n den nnelx • ail- a ai.iniccrait' can'on. e\vi since met night. It anniung. ti it first lew cut - good. L>oing this while subsidizi:llg the wuh in>rci husk, and other nw «n|o\ at: unmatched (.tiatntg and Monng le: t IlllIX :h« tings acnuliv stunulair niew yrowih. l.'.b. cconomx is so good ut could • dcbrit. Lichimnj: — fia&hinp lenai good.* and iiave ih« potrnn..! lor rr.mth. , wh:n a Prami "Lirassland.- si on- iwici as much car- hardh ask lor more. I run-. it- liiuhirrhcad; thai siampcdt- •mg able ii» deban haw than virtualh ant ( ol lorest. ao. a hui of course we knr asked lor num. rrairiv sk,»r>—transiorm: aimi«- natuiul heritage we ought r awa\ .! rami ores:, 'is;, loin: Blan. pomud out to tlie pomi where the soil- o! Ameri­ .pi • mtropen into >olui»lr coni- And v ih barren, eroding gn well be an imtHinan. global ca's breadbasket are at last becoming noi thai an- earned i<. the ground those ; \vn\ we then pa; The phrs etops. hui •t>on dioxide.' In an era of exhausted. We find ourselves having to >n drop.. Cvanobac^ena. the an- metaphor cicn;. smglr-celied lilV-iorm. previously een argue thai over- MI. no: here. A full 75 to '! ISCJiLDini.) n ci WD I'RAim SOILS DIDX'l Jl'ST NAPPES TO BL labeicd biur-preen aigar. tronsie: more rartiand. siimuiau-d the prairie's biumass is T nitroper. iron; thr an to the soil Other the farm Credit Tin eloping arter the last X: TJ1LLL. TllLY WTRl LWLXTIOSS Of Till ECOSYSTEM. tvp' microbe, see tc» thr final stage, h'20s. led to the .me lii.OOC \Tar> ol impositiun. The*, might go, on throw on more and more fertilizers, to up mos! ol the nutrient, being pesticides, and herbicides to in- to keep rrle , bu: baciena-devounnp nrma- even. Without success. While the ioae> Keep then; in check, fungal vicids stav high, the costs in dultars. thread, wrap round and round soil par- , lossH furls, erosion, poliu- ticica, encapsulating carbon in a lorm i heahii. and the survival of tha; i sia-. stable fur centuries I un- small independent farms and ranches gi-c uring herd1- of nematode? keep inrvitablv mount. 1 call it learning whai the corrhizar in balance while good a prainr is the hard way. OCT > enc As vuu look from the sk\ down into humus. And or the process ge»es. gener­ the soil, a native prainr )iist keeps get­ ation upon generation. ting bigger—and more diverse. We Oncc. prainc soils grew about t»0 aiwavs think we know enough about mil 1 and a similar prolusion nature to rearrange n for out benefit, of r deer, and plams-dwrllmg 'te: the central argument for maintain­ eh razrrs — among them ing biological drvrrsny—the full, natu­ gr. els. pocket gophers, ral array of species and all thr processes prat. . grasshopper mice, and associated with them—is that we do several billion prainc dogs: a suite of • . ,v -XT. nci know which arc most vital to the predators tha: included Plains Indian functioning of the cornmumtv. much bun as wrll as plains wolves, plains less which might one dav PROVE vital to gna s. swift foxes, coyotes, black- us. Thr onh crrxaintv is thai it would foo ferrets, bobcats, ferruginous br dumb not to save all thr parts. Ot. haw nirrowmg owls, and prainc fal­ rather, all the DNA sequences cons: plus a spectrum of other crca- Why keep some plant that is so rurcs. from prainc chickens to prairie ohscurr only a handful of academic raitlrsnakes. Claimed by settlers and dwrcbazoids can even identif'x the moi ilized lor livestock and crops, thing' Hccausr in its genes may reside tho; me soils grew Canada and the the codr for synthesizing a compound Uni Slates into prosperous nations. that will revolutionizr thr paper indus- T... question of w hat good a prairie tn or thr success rate for organ trans­ is might not even be raised if people plants. What good is this slimiest of grasped one concept: Those soils didn't crrarurcs oozing along underfoot? Well, just hanpen to be Ivmg there. This maybe that's thr one that will show us was ome luck; quirk ol prolog v. how to del ox i fx a certain chlorinated Thr s and sands spread across the hydrocarbon in the water supply. plan ; nvrrs and winds through the You've heard such arguments before. eon- were ordmarv sediments. The Thrv might sound likr a stretch. Let's incrcdiblv fecund chocolate and Hack »!••• fraxiac go wuh the purple soils oi which thev became pan were iaor«a«*t »ia«i ronrDower. then, sci­ invr-' ~ns ot the ecosvsicm. hioprod- Oiarall). k\ Ian. entific name Lthutita ucts rntists call them prjin-rrth. atuyisliichu Ikxth Nativr N ; take anything awax from ban­ Americans and set tiers ket nuir. and drive, but our ctner- used thr plant as a cure for the common cold. After falling continues through a striking bouquet. many cases, the nematodes are para­ PRAIRIE CemmueJjrem ragr off in use during the hcvdav of our What wc need to remember is that, sites. Some rat fungi or bacteria that staples of humanity's diet—arc grasses King Rancn. locaiea infatuation with wonder dru^s. this as a rule, every plant has several insect they then bring with them when they themselves. Prairie products. Though day Oiramg touii ana r herbal cure has become common again, species linked to it. A little chemical invade an insect; the microbes quickly millennia have passed since we first Ferruginous Pygmy multiply, killing the insect host while Cresiefl Caracara. ar cspeciallv in Europe. The species con­ factory in its own right, each insect is tamed them, wc continue to need wild soma ol the 300» Dire tains substances with proven anti­ in turn essential to the survival of an providing the nematode with a food- strains with traits chat can be intro­ the King Ranch! inflammatory and painkilhng proper­ assortment of smaller life-forms, and rich environment in which to repro­ duced into domestic varieties in order ties. It appears to stimulate the im­ so on down the pyramid of creation. duce. This opens possibilities lor put­ to keep them vigorous and a step ahead mune svstem in general. Other com­ Tim Todd, one of several K.SL' ting nematodes to work on our behalf, of evolving crop diseases. pounds identified in Echinacea angusnjolia nematode specialists, gave me a new carrying out organic pest control. Researchers at the Land Institute, kill Insects bv disrupting their develop­ name to consider; "Rhabditids,".he "When it comes to figuring out based in Salina. Kansas, want to go a <51215 ment. Finallv, being as lovclv as it is said. "They're a grpup of tree-living nematode ecology, we've barely dented step farther and fashion new crops Fax: ,512 medicinal, the purple coneflowcr is nematodes, and the prairie is full of the surface." Todd told me. "Even so. I from prairie natives such as Illinois widely cultivated as an ornamental. them." CacnorhahJiles elegans also dwells can look at soil under the microscope bundlcflowcr and eastern gama grass. Boneset. another forb in the prairie in a lot of laboratories. Having isolated and tell you right away whether it Most grains grown at the moment arc pharmacy, has long-chain polysaccha­ the genes that cause nerve cells to die came from a prairie or a farm field. annuals, which require farmers to bust rides with immunostimulant properties in this animal, developmental and The field won't have nearly the variety up the soil structure every fall or spring of their own. Sometimes called fever- molecular biologists are racing to map of todes. . . . people have worked to for planting. The institute's idea is to wort. it, coo, is employed as a home out the sequences of chemical reactions restore prairies from scratch by seeding shift toward deep-rooted perennials. By remedy against flu. The prickly pop­ involved. CaenorhahJites and mammals most of the plants that belong there. selecting those with natural pest resis­ pies I saw blooming around me were both have programmed cell death and What you end up with is something tance and a high seed output and then used to treat warts at one time: the somewhat similar genes, so the hope that looks a lot like a prairie but is a planting them in a mixture, U.S. farm­ prairie larkspur repelled mites and lice. among researchers is that dicsc nema­ long way from functioning like one. ers could begin rebuilding prairverths Western ragweed was the choice tor todes will point the way toward This sackborr* Underground, the system still instead of flushing them downstream contending with colds, cramps, and the cures for Alzheimer's and other tr» la tha looks and acts like a cornfield." to the sea. It is a way out of the spiral pain of childbirth among some tribes. neurodegenerative diseases. toan raaanra For that matter, corn, wheat, of expensive chemical addiction. Ideal- The leaves and blossoms of prairie More than 3,000 associa- sai aniiiirBd oats. rvc. barley, millet, rice, ly, growing hardy native perennials goldcnrod treated sore throats, while tions between nematodes and parioaic firei sorghum — the cereal grains would also leave farmers less at the the roots cased toothaches. The list insects are known, to date. In and dmugiiu. that are the [Canltnued cn page Il-f: mercy of drought and slow the alarm­ ing pace at which many plains states have been drawing down the aquifer IRIAN JAVA, fWESTERN ?. beneath them for irrigation. NOW OPEN FOR NA" Ranchers arc crying our another CONSERVATION RESE native species these davs—the bison that our forefathers came so close to IRIAN ADVENTUB obliterating. Bison don't need to stick as dose to water as cattle and sheep do. You don't have to ferry hay to bison through the long winter months, either. These threc-quartcr-con-plus beasts with a top speed of 35 miles per hour r7i EDEN can paw through deep snow; doze it « covfERmn - aside with their great, shaggy heads; handle predators without the assistance of traps or poisons; and produce plenty of good, lean meat without constant infusions of hormones and antibiotics. The most efficient use of a prairie as .livestock range would probably be to reinstate all the original hoofed stock, DOWK as their foraging habitats naturally A Naiuralisi Explnre complement one another. Bison mow ihriniRh the Cirami t down grasses, paying little attention to Ann Havmoml torbs. Pronghorn favor forbs and the "A joltingly bt'iiuii resprouting grasses. Mule deer take' a thy canyon and mixture of grasses, lorbs. and woody A'niiifs plants within the prairie, while elk arc drawn to the brushier sites. At iiu al IxMtksiu Rural areas across almost two-thirds of the Great Plains have been losing research has revealed how integral a pe 5lc for the past half-century. Ncver- part of the tallgrass realm grazing ani­ th many ranchers remain terribly mals are, for they reinforce its ability to ^LEPPER s 'us of proposals for raising a support a variety of vegetation. For xn . . wildlife. And don't even men- example, David Hartnett found that FOLDING KAYAKS tic taking down fences to create what bison — which create microsites Best EnoineBreil, BBSI SElHng, some have called a buffalo commons. through their wallowing, rubbing, paw­ Folding Kayak in the World! Ranchers see this as a rejection of their ing, and patchy pattern of grazing— en re way of life. increased plant diversity m pastures by ockmcn in southern Africa viewed 19 to 54 percent; cattle stocked at things more or less the same way for a moderate densities increased plant 800*323*3525 lo ; time. But today game ranching is diversity by 2 to 24 percent. a pidly expanding industry through­ Smali disturbances leading to greater out the region. Idealism isn't the moti- diversity cause the overall system to vating factor; profit margins are. become more steady and, thus, more 66 ANTIQUE DECOYSb V\ dlife yields the most meat per acre productive over time. If you can get ON TWO COLOR POSTERS at die lowest cost. The fact that the FRAMEABLE COLLECTIBLE vour mind around that, you re onto a WORKS OF ART from underlying habitat gets conserved is school of ecological thought that tran­ award winning carver ic i on the cake. scends old ideas about what constitutes CALL FOR FREE COLOR POSTCARD SAMPLE lonocultures of any kind tend to be climax vegetation and how animals 1-800-272-0490 / unstable—vulnerable to disease, unfa­ affect plants. And while we may not yet vorable weather, and world markets. fully understand this, we should under­ A time you put all your eggs in one stand enough to see that all a commu- ba^Ket, or all your fields in, say, oats, nity's inhabitants can fit together with­ Walking Vacations that explore the most scenic vou take on a fair measure of risk. in this concept of dynamic stability— landscapes of the world. 18 years experience, unique itineraries, topnotch accommodations that he converse, that greater variety and chat there is room for us as well. typify a region and exceptional guides... ar complexity create greater stability In everv corner of the globe, people 8o o-4 a: 5 > over the long run, is broadly accepted seem at odds with their life-support Country Walkers, P.O. Box 160-A. W'aierbury. VT 05676 as Conservationists rely heavily on systems, cutting them down, squaring f nt when arguing for the protec- them off, draining them of species and Servce Proiens in U counlnes. ti A biological diversity. Even flexibility. Yet from the prairie — and Acanemic Programs. Reireats. Conierences. Rainioresl Preservation antienvironmental tvpes speak of diver- those who look into it—comes a clear, Camous Chaoters. Resources constant message: Saving nature in all 0' wrue si ng a local economy to make it less CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENTAL smject to boom-and-bust whiplash. its splendored variety is the only way to ASSOCIATION 1650 Zanner Roac Suite 15C Yet solid proof for the diversity-stabili­ go if vou plan on going the distance. Sar. JOSC. CA 95112 A0MAD1571 •tcss*'- ty elationship has been hard to pin Prairies open up horizons, hou can d< -n, if only because our knowledge of take that any way you like. I asked Tom ecosystems remains so incomplete. Van Slvke, Konza's field-station manag­ Ecnlogists themselves were beginning er, what good a prairie is, and he just tc uestion the theory. shrugged and answered, "Four words: WiMIiJk Safari -Goring up that theory is another good for the soul." "The Best Spots in Africa... * thing the prairie has been good for la ly. Studies in grasslands as far apart 1-800-221-8118 as fellowstone National Park, Min­ Comino in nesota, and Konza have demonstrated th- the more variety a prairie contains AUDUBON (t measured by the total number of species present), the better the commu­ Rick Bass Goes in Search nity withstands drought and the faster of the Bears of Japan it ebounds. For instance, during the 1( 7—88 drought, the most species- What Good Is a Desert? Where in the World? rich plots measured in an 11-year study Explore the planer with expert leaders in a small group setting — the ideal or a remnant Minnesota prairie lost Computer Mapping: combination for learning and discovery. h f their biomass; but the most The New Environmental Tool species-poor plots, the least diverse, NATURE EXPEDITIONS INTERNATIONAL h en-eighths of their biomass and What's Wrong With Leader in Educational Travel Since 1973 in't fully recovered several grow- the Endangered Species Act? 1•800*869*0639 in0 seasons later. P.O. Box 1 1496 Eueene, OR 97440 Meanwhile, Konza's long-term

A U D U B O N 116 NO VEMHER-DECEMBHK 1995 U b O N 115 NOVEMHHR-UECEMI'KF