U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service May/June 2011 | Vol 8, No 3 RefugeUpdate National Wildlife Refuge System www.fws.gov/refuges

A male sage-grouse presents a mating display at Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern California, one of 11 western states in the species’ shrinking range. (Dave Menke/USFWS) National Conference: Enthusiasm in Madison Montana Refuge Saves Sage-Grouse And Beyond As Part of Broader Initiative our nationally acclaimed figures from divergent By Bill O’Brian F backgrounds will be among ast winter, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge played a vital role the major speakers at the Conserving in a tale of survival involving two countries, hundreds of sage-grouse and a the Future: Wildlife Refuges and larger lesson about the importance of partnerships and habitat connectivity the Next Generation conference in L mid-July in Madison, WI. There, 1,200 in the West. participants are expected to gather at The refuge—by its mere existence—saved an imperiled Canadian population of the Monona Terrace Community and sage-grouse from starvation after a once-in-a-century snowpack blanketed southern Convention Center—and thousands Saskatchewan and northeastern Montana, according to David Naugle, a University more will participate electronically— of Montana wildlife biology professor and science advisor to the Department of to ratify a new vision to guide the Agriculture-led Sage-grouse Initiative. growth and management of the National Wildlife Refuge System for Those 300 birds make up the only viable population of sage-grouse in Canada, the next decade. where the species is endangered. They are also unusual. Most sage-grouse in the American West stay within 10 miles of their lek. The Canadian sage-grouse migrate. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad After feeding on short silver sagebrush during spring and summer at their lek in Allen, hailed for his leadership as Grasslands National Park along the U.S. border in Saskatchewan, the Canadian the national incident commander birds travel 70 miles south each fall. for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will speak, as will Rice University They head to sagebrush flats near Montana’s Milk River. Much of that habitat, history professor and author Douglas owned by the Bureau of Land Management and private ranchers, has never been Brinkley, who recently wrote The tilled, and it is home to plentiful sagebrush tall enough to protrude through snow. Quiet World: Saving Alaska’s

FOCUS: Conserving the Future, People to Land, pages 10-19 continued on pg 26 continued on pg 10 Chief’s Corner For a Legacy to Endure RefugeUpdate By managing more Apparent in both the Refuge System Ken Salazar Address editorial than 671 million vision and the AGO Initiative action Secretary inquiries to: acres—roughly plan is the concept that the federal Department of the Refuge Update one-third of the government must be a better partner Interior USFWS-NWRS lands in the United and supporter of local conservation. 4401 North Fairfax Dr., Rowan Gould States—the federal We have to maximize the conservation Room 634C Acting Director Arlington, VA government is the benefits of every taxpayer dollar, bring U.S. Fish and Wildlife 22203-1610 nation’s biggest private landowners and a broad range Service Phone: 703-358-1858 land caretaker. of conservation partners into the picture Fax: 703-358-2517 Greg Siekaniec Greg Siekaniec E-mail: How well the and, ultimately, engage a new generation Assistant Director [email protected] National Wildlife of Americans. National Wildlife Refuge System manages the 150 million Refuge System This newsletter is Americans are seeking a 21st-century published on recycled acres we steward—including natural, Martha Nudel approach to conservation. The Refuge paper using soy-based cultural and historic resources—is Editor in Chief critical to the physical and social well- System stands ready to deliver. In ink. being of the nation. today’s economic climate, the Refuge Bill O’Brian Managing Editor C That’s why the Refuge System has worked so hard for the better part of a year to solicit Americans’ Inside opinions about our future direction and management. Tsunami at Midway Atoll Refuge Then-acting refuge manager John That’s also why Klavitter tells what it was like on the the America’s night of March 10-11 and in the days Great Outdoors that followed. Pages 4-5 (AGO) Initiative That the land we steward belongs to the American people is the principle at spent months last the heart of both the Refuge System’s Conserving the Future vision and the A Refuge Officer’s Best Friend year conducting America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. (Steve Hillebrand) 51 public listening Since the mid-1990s, law enforcement sessions across System and other government agencies dogs have been used in an the country. More than 10,000 people must be wise in how we spend taxpayer increasingly official capacity on participated live; more than 105,000 dollars. But the nation must also be wise refuges. There are now six such K-9s. comments were submitted. The national enough to understand that investment Page 7 conversation that President Obama in natural resources protection is an started through AGO will reinvigorate investment in the future. Whooping Crane Recovery America’s enjoyment, conservation and At Aransas Refuge in Texas, this was stewardship of the nation’s outdoors. Those who have commented via the a record season for whooping cranes. Conserving the Future Web site, At Necedah Refuge in Wisconsin, the The Refuge System’s Conserving the http://americaswildlife.org/, clearly focus is on raising cranes egg by egg. Future conversation is doing much the understand that. Government working in Pages 8-9 same thing for lands and waters that are partnership with state agencies, private visited annually by more than 44 million landowners, sportsmen and interested people and create tens of thousands of citizens can ensure that future FOCUS: Conserving the Future, private sector jobs. generations will have the benefits of the People to Land The land we steward belongs to the conservation legacy we inherited. That is Now more than ever, the National American people. That principle is at the the most important message we heard Wildlife Refuge System’s ability to heart of the Refuge System’s Conserving from both the Conserving the Future connect people to natural habitat is the Future vision and the AGO Initiative process and the America’s Great vital to the future of conservation in action plan, which is available at http:// Outdoors Initiative. America. Pages 10-19 americasgreatoutdoors.gov.

2 • Refuge Update eBird Trail Tracker Puts Millions of Eyes on the Sky

By Bill O’Brian ust inside the visitor center entrance at Great Swamp National JWildlife Refuge in northern New Jersey is a sleek computer kiosk that is hard to miss. That’s the point, says refuge Friend Laurel Gould. “It’s a magnet.” “People respond to it,” she says. “Once they start to use it, they are just blown away. Everything is there. The picture is there, the sounds are there, the information is there, the sightings are there, the map is there. It’s just everything in one.” “It” is the eBird Trail Tracker that the refuge installed last fall with the support of its Friends group. Great Swamp Refuge is one of 16 refuges using the tracker that is connected to The northern harrier is one of more than 200 bird species that have been documented at Great Swamp the eBird.org database managed by National Wildlife Refuge 26 miles west of Times Square. (Steve Byland) the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. The eBird and being citizen scientists helping is a real-time, online checklist program wildlife conservation in the greater that collects an average of 1.6 million sense,” says deputy refuge manager bird observations a month from around Steve Henry. the nation and the world. The tracker “It’s interactive,” says Randy Little, displays local observations at a given site. a retired electrical engineer who is a An eBird Trail Tracker kiosk is useful tech-savvy, bird-savvy volunteer at to refuge visitors before they go out Great Swamp Refuge. “It engages you into the field because it enables them to take part, and you realize all of a to learn what birds others have seen on sudden, ‘I’m a citizen scientist’ … Heaven the refuge in recent hours and days. It knows that, in ornithology at least, the is useful to visitors after they return reports of large numbers of lay people from the field, because it enables them make up for an impossible task for a to use photos or audio clips to identify few professionals. They make for a very which birds they saw or heard and then substantial, usable database.” enter into the database how many they “This is a modern, cool-looking thing saw, when and where. It is useful to that kids can relate to,” says the refuge’s birders and casual visitors alike because visitor services manager, Jonathan it contains a browsable photo- and fact- Rosenberg. “It’s real time … There’s no filled list of information about avian lag time.” species on a refuge. “People respond to it,” refuge Friend Laurel Great Swamp Refuge, a 7,768-acre oasis Gould says of the eBird Trail Tracker in the “A Modern, Cool-Looking Thing” in the exurbs 26 miles west of Times Great Swamp Refuge has enthusiastically visitor center. (Susan O’Brian) Square, is well-positioned to use the embraced the eBird Trail Tracker. tracker. It is a birdwatching hotspot that It allows visitors “to feel part of a attracts about 155,000 visitors a year. and paid for a customized version of larger community, to give something It has more than 180 volunteers who, the eBird Trail Tracker kiosk that cost back by recording their sightings, to according to Gould, contributed more $6,804 to install and incurs a yearly $650 have a personal sense of ownership in than 15,000 hours last year. And it has a maintenance fee that covers upgrades, contributing to the birding community robust Friends group that championed continued on pg 27

Refuge Update • 3 What the Tsunami Was Like at Midway Atoll Refuge

n March 10, at 11:36 p.m., a tsunami generated by the Omagnitude 9.0 earthquake off Japan struck Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge, part of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, consists of three low- lying islands 1,200 miles northwest of Honolulu. The tsunami overwashed Spit Island completely, and it covered about 60 percent of Eastern Island and 20 percent of Sand Island. Here are excerpts from a recent Refuge Update interview with then-acting refuge manager John Klavitter about what he The shaded portions of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge’s three islands were overwashed by the and his colleagues experienced that night March 10-11 tsunami. (USFWS) and in the following days. A. Most of the third floor of Charlie Q. What was it like in Charlie Hotel? Q. How many people were on Midway Hotel is occupied by permanent Midway Atoll as the tsunami approached? contractors. All of them opened their A. To be honest, we were very isolated doors for other residents and visitors to from the event; most of the windows A. 81 people, all on Sand Island. Six rest, watch news, and receive information were closed. It was a clear night without refuge staff, four volunteers, 53 refuge via e-mail and the Internet. So, it was any wind and very quiet outside. When contractors, one researcher, 17 visitors. a mix of people resting and waiting the waves started to roll in, you could hear a faint rumbling of the ocean 200 Q. What preparations were you and in rooms and the hallway. The airport to 400 meters away. The main way we other refuge staff able to make in the manager lives on the third floor, and observed the tsunami was from the four hours’ notice that you had before his room became the command and Internet. In cooperation with NOAA, the tsunami arrived? For instance, what communication center. I spent most of we have a tide gauge in the harbor at kind of infrastructure and equipment my time there with a project manager Midway that provides data in real time were secured? and airport manager. via satellite link. We watched the tide A. We switched to a backup generator on Q. How long after the tsunami passed gauge change, and that’s how we knew higher ground and moved the following did people stay on the third floor of the we had some significant waves reaching vehicles to the center of Sand Island hotel? Midway and when it was safe to return near the 40-foot highpoint at Midway: a to our own quarters. This is in addition A. We observed four main waves during 31-foot boat; 5,000- and 6,000-gallon jet to advisories from the NOAA Pacific the tsunami event. The first was at 11:36 fuel trucks; a trailer holding 2,000 gallons Tsunami Warning Center. p.m.; the largest, at 4.93 feet, was at of drinking water; airfield fire and rescue 11:48 p.m.; and the last large one was Q. Did you ever feel as if your life was truck; a front-end loader; a backhoe at 12:48 a.m. There were many smaller in danger? loader; an excavator; a bulldozer; an waves and extreme low tides between airport sweeper truck; a vacuum truck; and after the main waves. We stayed on A. No, I and everyone else felt calm. We and several smaller vehicles. All of the the third floor of Charlie for two hours were prepared with communications, equipment moved to high ground was after the last major wave. So, we went water, food, etc. well before the first deemed critical to clear the runway of back to our individual living areas about wave. Also, the Tsunami Warning Center debris after the tsunami, provide fuel for 2:45 a.m. with the understanding that no had predicted waves of a magnitude aircraft and generators, provide drinking one was to leave the center of the Sand less than or equal to those that struck water to residents and provide a boat for Island housing area as a precaution. The Midway in 1952 (4.3 feet), which flooded water rescue operations, if needed. exceptions were the airport manager and the island but caused no loss of life. Everyone was calm. People slept, played Q. I understand everyone was evacuated two firefighters to inspect the airfield. games, watched the news from Japan. to the third floor of the Charlie Barracks Q. Did water envelop the first floor of living quarters. Where on the third the hotel? Q. What damage did the tsunami inflict floor were staff, contractors and visitors on the refuge? during the tsunami? In their own rooms, A. No, the closest tsunami water was in hallways? about 100 meters away. A. Two boat piers were moderately damaged. The airfield had debris (coral

4 • Refuge Update rubble, sand, trash, vegetation) on had more than 600 about 20 percent of it, which caused its dead albatross closure for about a day. All the debris chicks, 60 dead was cleared with heavy equipment within adult/subadults about 12 hours. There was some damage and 1,000 pounds to the seawalls. This will be the most of plastic and costly item to deal with. A small storage vegetation that shed and outhouse on Eastern Island needed to be were damaged, along with short-tailed removed by hand. albatross decoys and the cable for our It was important to remote camera. We are currently working clean the wetlands on a dollar figure for the damage. immediately so the bacteria that Q. What is the refuge doing to recover produce botulism, from the damage? which affects A. The first item was to remove endangered the debris from the runway. Next, Laysan ducks, we assessed all three islands for would be infrastructure damage and wildlife controlled. Staff, impacts. Many albatross chicks, volunteers, subadults and adults were trapped in contractors and vegetation and debris fields that had even visitors washed onto parts of Sand Island, but helped with the mostly Eastern. We spent much time clean-up. rescuing albatross from land. Bonin Q. What is the petrels were also buried alive in their latest information burrows part of Sand Island. We dug (as of early April) birds out. We used boats to rescue water- on the damage logged albatross from the lagoon. The to wildlife and This Laysan albatross chick survived the tsunami. More photographs of the birds were unable to fly because their habitat? feathers lost their waterproofing ability refuge in the tsunami’s aftermath are available at the Pacific Region’s Flickr Web site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific. (USFWS) after being tumbled in the waves. Five A. More than live green sea turtles were rescued from 110,000 Laysan land or the wetlands in the middle of and black-footed albatross chicks— subadult bonin petrels were buried alive Eastern Island. All three freshwater about 22 percent of this year’s albatross and died. We are unsure of the effects wetlands on Eastern Island were production—and at least 2,000 adults/ on Laysan ducks at this time. NOAA inundated with saltwater. One of them subadults were lost. Wisdom, the will be conducting an assessment on 60-year-old Hawaiian monk seals in the near future. albatross that Q. When you and your colleagues recently hatched compare what you went through to what a chick and parts of Japan are going through, what whose fate was thoughts to do you have? uncertain for days, survived the A. We have followed the events in Japan tsunami. The first very closely. We are all devastated by confirmed short- what happened in Japan. What happened tailed albatross at Midway was sad, unfortunate and chick in modern tragic, but it does not even begin to history to hatch compare to the losses experienced outside of Japan in Japan. We all think daily of those also survived. suffering in Japan and send as much Thousands of positive energy their way as possible. dead reef fish washed up Q. Can you put into context what you on Eastern. went through compared to what they are Hundreds or enduring? potentially several Five live green sea turtles were rescued from land or the wetlands in the A. No, their experience is beyond middle of Eastern Island. (USFWS) thousand adult/ comprehension.

Refuge Update • 5 Restoring Marsh, Accommodating Shorebirds

By Doug Cordell regulate water levels. They also irds are expanding their range saw features along across the bay… growing in the main levee “Bpopulation.” designed for public That was the good news trumpeted in access, including a recent front-page story in the San a walking trail, Jose Mercury-News, on the heels of viewing platforms scientific reports about the progress of and interpretive the five-year-old South Bay Salt Pond displays. Restoration Project. If the historic effort Now, biologists to turn 15,000 acres of former industrial are monitoring salt ponds back into wetlands is a Pond SF2 for bird success, thousands of marsh-dependent population counts, birds will be returning to the lands nesting success of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay and water quality. National Wildlife Refuge. “We’re already But what about the shorebirds and seeing great waterfowl that have come to inhabit the use of the pond levees and open waters of the man- by willets, least made salt ponds? What’s to become of sandpipers, the western snowy plovers, marbled dunlins and other godwits, ruddy ducks, scaups and shorebirds,” says gadwalls now that ponds are being Cheryl Strong, restored to tidal marsh? wildlife biologist The restoration project is designed for Don Edwards to provide habitat for them, too—but San Francisco on a smaller footprint, made possible Bay Refuge. “And by cutting-edge design, high-end we’re also seeing technology, and intensive monitoring and lots of waterfowl, management by refuge staff. like northern shovelers and Industrial salt ponds around San northern pintails.” Francisco Bay date to the 1850s; some A landscape of open water, man-made islands and dry pan—bordered by remain in operation. The production levees with weirs and gated culverts to regulate water levels—is designed to This fall, process is fairly passive: Water is let accommodate shorebirds and waterfowl that otherwise would be displaced construction is in from the bay and allowed to course by marsh restoration at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife scheduled to Refuge in California. (Cris Benton) through a series of evaporation ponds, begin on similarly progressively increasing in salinity until designed ponds it reaches a final, crystallizer pond, outside the where the salt is harvested. The result shorebirds and waterfowl. That meant refuge’s Environmental Education has been the creation of an extensive designing a mix of open water and Center in Alviso. dry habitat on smaller acreage and network of ponds and levees where “Managed ponds like these require a lot marsh once was. Over the decades, intensively managing the new ponds with sophisticated equipment. of work: adjusting weirs and culverts for shorebirds and waterfowl came to water levels and doing regular levee migrate and live on the open pond waters The first managed pond, known as maintenance,” says refuge manager Eric and dry levees. Many of them arrived SF2, near Palo Alto, was unveiled in Mruz. “But it’s worth the effort if we can from California’s Central Valley after September 2010, in a ceremony keynoted provide habitat for birds that don’t have land there was drained for agriculture. by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a champion of many other places to go.” the restoration project. What Feinstein When the plan was developed to Doug Cordell is a public affairs officer acquire the salt ponds as refuge land and others saw that day was a designed landscape of open water, man-made at San Francisco Bay National Wildlife and restore them to marsh, a portion of Refuge Complex. the land was set aside to accommodate islands and dry pan, bordered by levees with large weirs and gated culverts to

6 • Refuge Update A Dog Can Be a Refuge Officer’s Best Friend

By Mary Tillotson daughter, Emily. But Barto is ex started work at Alaska’s Kenai emphatic that National Wildlife Refuge in Rex is not a pet. RApril—the newest member of the “He’s a tool for refuge’s law enforcement team and also, law enforcement, at 18 months, undoubtedly the youngest to be used when employee of the entire U.S. Fish and needed.” Given Wildlife Service. the vastness of Rex is a highly trained yellow Labrador the nearly two- retriever. His primary job is to help million-acre Kenai protect other animals at Kenai Refuge. Refuge, Rex (with his extraordinary Since the mid-1990s, law enforcement senses of smell, dogs have been used in an increasingly hearing and sight) official capacity on refuges. There are will be quite a tool. now six such dogs. In addition to Rex in Alaska, there are K-9 teams at Wheeler Barto spent two Refuge in Alabama, Chincoteague weeks working Kenai National Wildlife Refuge law enforcement officer Rob Barto and his Refuge in Virginia, Upper Mississippi intensively with partner, Rex, are one of six U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation K-9 teams across the country. (USFWS) National Wildlife and Fish Refuge’s Rex at a North Savannah District, San Luis Refuge Carolina training Complex in California and at multiple facility before refuges in north/central Florida. Each taking him home to Alaska, both of Labs have that keen a nose. But, Barto team patrols throughout its region as them learning to work as a team: Rex says, Labs also have what dog trainers need arises. learning his commands from Barto, call “ball drive.” They’ll work themselves Barto learning the dog’s “subtle body to death to “get the ball,” the reward, Richard Johnston of the Refuge language” when on a tracking mission. which may be another way of saying the System’s Division of Law Enforcement approval of “their” human. says this professional K-9 corps Keen Sense of Smell represents a transition from an era That tracking can bear investigatory Johnston is so adamant about gaining when game wardens took their personal fruit, as Barto has often seen with the recognition for the canines that the dogs on patrol to help find poached two dogs that preceded Rex in Alaska. training branch now issues each dog game and illegal firearms. Johnston In one such case, a hunter killed a cow a Service law enforcement credential. hopes the dogs’ relatively new official moose—an illegal harvest in the state. He is also working with such groups as status will bring them the recognition Barto’s co-worker Sampson the Lab the National Wildlife Refuge Officers they deserve. went along to help execute a search Association to obtain protective vests warrant at the suspect’s property. Barto for the animals. Happily, no refuge dog “Because of their life span,” Johnston says Sampson sniffed out a saw, which has yet been killed in the line of duty. says, “they have a short window of bore “minute amounts of tissue” and a But several police dogs in other agencies effectiveness—like athletes. But what dime-size spot of blood, hidden under a have, and Johnston wants to prevent that we think of as ‘work,’ they think of as mattress. The tissue and blood samples from happening to any Service animal. ‘play,’ and they do it with such heart—no were genetically matched to the moose complaints, no parts breaking down.” that had been shot illegally. Evidence! Rex might welcome a bulletproof vest. But Rob Barto has given him a more The Kenai law enforcement officer A dog’s acute sense of smell is immediate gift. He has roofed Rex’s working with Rex is Rob Barto, who has incomprehensible to humans. Dogs kennel and run electricity to it for been interested in dog handling since he can smell cancer, illegal drugs, blood, heating. Plush digs for an Alaska dog. trained his first hunting dog. “To watch guns. They can track those smells to a dog work, find evidence that helps you the source: a missing person, a missing prosecute a lawbreaker, is a thing of felon, a missing car, a crime scene. Mary Tillotson is a frequent contributor beauty,” he says. Johnston says U.S. Customs and Border to Refuge Update. Rex lives in a kennel at Barto’s home, Protection officials have even started spends most working days with him using dogs to find cash being smuggled and gets some play time after hours, out of the United States. They can smell including with Barto’s seven-year-old the ink.

Refuge Update • 7 In Wisconsin, Raising Whooping Cranes Egg by Egg

By Karen Leggett or the first time in a decade, there will be no ultralight-led class of F whooping cranes heading south from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin this year. But the refuge will remain an integral player in the effort to restore a migratory whooping crane population to eastern North America. The whooping crane is a critically imperiled species, with just a single wild population of 281 birds that winter at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. The goal of the multi-agency Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP), of which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a member, is to create a second self-sustaining flock of at least 120 birds and 30 breeding pairs—a population that can be maintained without the current need to add birds More whooping cranes will be able to raise their own chicks this year as part of the continuing effort to from captive flocks. expand a migratory population of cranes in eastern North America. (Richard Urbanek/USFWS)

For the past 10 years, whooping crane decided that no more cranes would be in crane costumes. “The challenge is chicks have followed an ultralight released for the ultralight project at to raise a healthy parent-reared chick aircraft from Necedah Refuge to Necedah until the nest abandonment by monitoring it from a distance,” says Chassahowitzka National Wildlife issue has been resolved. U.S. Geological Survey wildlife biologist Refuge in Florida. More recently, Glenn Olsen, rather than having humans some cranes have been led to St. Help From Many Directions dressed as cranes working closely with Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Biologists and researchers are trying the chick. Florida. After learning the migration several projects to help the cranes, route south in the fall, the young birds including research to determine if too The Whooping Crane Eastern migrate north on their own in the many black flies early in the season are Partnership has embarked on a new, spring. This 10-year effort, coupled causing the cranes to abandon their five-year strategic plan. Many questions with other captive breeding-and-release nests. Although high water prevented remain, but “we’re going in the right programs, has generated a population a full application of larvacide, a partial direction,” says Billy Brooks, a member of about 100 cranes. black fly treatment was completed of the Service’s WCEP Guidance Team. this spring, and its success is being “We’ve established a migratory flock of Although the introduction of migrating evaluated. At Necedah Refuge, wildlife whooping cranes, and we hope through birds has been a success, there have biologist Rich King will continue to continued releases of whooping cranes been problems with reproduction and watch the nests like, well, a hawk to see into Wisconsin that we will establish a nest abandonment. In the past three if and when they are abandoned. self-sustaining viable population of years, there have been 33 unsuccessful cranes.” nests at Necedah Refuge, with WCEP is also planning to lead an successful nests producing only two ultralight class of crane chicks to the Karen Leggett is a writer-editor chicks that fledged. The problem is Florida refuges this year from a non- in the Refuge System Branch of acute if the cranes nest early in April refuge site in eastern Wisconsin. Chicks Communications. rather than later in that month. Since may be released at Horicon National 2005, all early nests have failed at Wildlife Refuge, WI, soon, too. Necedah Refuge. Necedah Refuge will continue to Because male whooping cranes return receive crane chicks from Patuxent to their natal areas to breed, they must Research Refuge, MD, but for the be released directly into, or very near, first time these will be raised by their desirable nesting locations. So, WCEP crane parents rather than by humans

8 • Refuge Update In Texas, Safeguarding Habitat and Crabs for Cranes

By Bill O’Brian n a winter morning in Texas, as a pair of whooping cranes and their Ohalf-year-old juvenile are wading in a tidal marsh on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, a scene unfolds that is hard not to anthromorphize. One adult plucks a blue crab from the water, holds it in its bill, walks over to the juvenile, cracks the crab and appears to feed the crustacean to the juvenile. Blue crabs are a mainstay of the whooping crane diet. This winter was a banner one for cranes at Aransas Refuge, but refuge manager Dan Alonso is concerned about their future—in part because, he believes, blue crabs are being overharvested and in part because Gulf of Mexico coastal habitat is disappearing rapidly. So, the refuge is taking new steps to help North America’s tallest flying bird. A whooping crane pursues a blue crab at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. Despite a record 281 cranes on the refuge this past season, the refuge is taking new steps to protect North America’s The Aransas Refuge population, the only tallest bird. (Klaus Nigge) natural flock of endangered whooping cranes, nests at Wood Buffalo National That basically kills the estuary, rendering longstanding regulation in place, but that Park in Canada in spring and summer. the habitat unusable” for cranes. it was going to be enforced more strictly From early fall to late December, the than it had been in the past,” he says. cranes migrate in small groups to the Whooping cranes—which are five feet Texas refuge. In early spring, they rush tall, have a seven-foot wingspan and A consortium of government and 2,500 miles back to Canada in 15-16 days. can fly up to 45 mph—thrive on open nongovernmental entities that “They’re usually all gone by April 15,” says tidal marsh. They dislike thick cover includes the refuge is advocating Alonso. “They don’t want to be taxed.” (or densely wooded areas), Alonso blue crab conservation. The refuge says, “because it doesn’t afford them also participates—with nonprofits, Record-Breaking Season the opportunity to elude predators”— sportfishermen and volunteers—in an A record-breaking 281 cranes wintered primarily coyotes and bobcats. annual abandoned crab trap pickup. at Aransas Refuge this season. That’s For a nine-day period in February, any half of this continent’s whooping cranes. A team led by longtime U.S. Fish trap found in the water is considered Approximately 100 others occur in and Wildlife Service whooping crane abandoned and removed. This is the human-induced Wisconsin-Florida coordinator Tom Stehn is working with important because abandoned traps migration route, and about 167 are in various partners to estimate the amount continue to catch crabs—which then die, captivity (many at Patuxent Research of additional suitable habitat that is unharvested. In nine years, 27,052 “ghost Refuge, MD). needed in Texas to foster species recovery. fishing traps” have been removed. Alonso The Aransas Refuge crane numbers are Cranes are “voracious eaters” that forage wants to hold industry accountable for up from 15 in 1941, but the genetically in marsh for razor clams, minnows, such traps—for the cranes’ sake. homogeneous population remains prone lizards, snakes and, especially, blue crabs, “They’re just so majestic,” he says of the to catastrophic disease, and human Alonso says, but the commercial fishing birds that help attract an estimated 45,000 development is devouring the cranes’ industry is overharvesting crabs. visitors to Aransas Refuge each winter. habitat. “That is what has imperiled Alonso, who came to Aransas Refuge “They’re large, they’re awe-inspiring— the species to the degree it is today,” about two years ago, has placed renewed bright white with black wingtips. Being as says Alonso. “We’re constantly losing emphasis on enforcing and publicizing large as they are, they’re still very shoreline, either through outright regulations that prohibit commercial graceful … highly charismatic, enjoyed by development or bulkheading—putting up fishing for blue crabs in refuge waters many. And given their state of low a barrier that prevents the water from at all times. “We let the commercial numbers, it makes them that much more flowing into the marsh or the estuary. fishermen know that this was a appealing and sought after.”

Refuge Update • 9

Focus . . .Conserving. Conserving the Future, People to Land Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation

cores of U.S. Fish and Conserving the Future: Wildlife Wildlife Service employees Refuges and the Next Generation S have been working for months vision document will be presented with the National Wildlife Refuge for ratification at a conference July Association, Friends and partners 11-15 in Madison, WI. on a vision to guide the National Wildlife Refuge System for the next This is the third, and final, in a series decade. This renewed vision, titled of Refuge Update Focus sections Conserving the Future: Wildlife leading up to that conference. Refuges and the Next Generation, The section’s title—“Conserving the will be the successor to the Future, People to Land”—derives Fulfilling the Promise vision crafted from Wisconsin conservationist Aldo in the late 1990s. Leopold’s quotation, “There are two The process of developing the things that interest me: the relation vision has been transparent, with of people to each other, and the wide-ranging discussions online at relation of people to land.” www.AmericasWildlife.org. The

(Steve Hillebrand)

National Conference: Enthusiasm in Madison and Beyond — continued from page 1 Wilderness Kingdom. They will be joined their own neighborhoods for face-to- and participants. Photos will be posted by Sylvia Earle, a former chief scientist face talks that will energize people who regularly on Flickr. at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric never before thought of themselves as Administration, now a National conservationists.” About 20 students—brought to the Geographic explorer-in-residence conference through two programs that and author; and National Geographic The day-by-day conference schedule will provide employment to young people— photographer Dewitt Jones. be posted at the Conserving the Future will report on what they see and hear on Web site, www.AmericasWildlife.org, site. Youth engagement will be a hallmark Jane Goodall, the world’s foremost well before the event starts. During the of the conference. expert on chimpanzees, will send a video conference, live streaming video will be message. Others are also expected to aired on the site. During the plenary The July-August issue of Refuge Update send messages electronically. sessions, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be devoted entirely to the conference personnel, refuge Friends and individuals and will be available in early July at Cutting-edge technology will engage across the nation will be able to submit http://www.fws.gov/refuges/ to bring as participants thousands of miles away questions remotely as speakers also take much advance news as possible. from Madison, giving them ideas on questions from the floor. how to implement the vision in their “We’ve designed both the conference and communities and on national wildlife Online daily news feeds will be produced the vision process to be inclusive, refuges. “Ratification of the vision, which by teams of Service employees who whether people are in Madison or in their was open to public comment for about 60 will act as roaming journalists, writing homes and offices,” said Siekaniec. days, is a major goal of the conference,” stories from breakout sessions July “Planning will continue up to the last said Refuge System Chief Greg Siekaniec. 12-14. These teams also will interview minute to make sure we bring as much “But it is not the only objective. participants and create on-the-spot information to people in a way that will videos. Social media writers will bring minimize our carbon footprint and “We expect people up at the conference news from the conference to Facebook maximize their participation and and joining us from every corner of and Twitter sites via the Conserving the understanding.” the nation will be fired up to make the Future Web site. Blogs will be updated vision happen on the ground, to take from the conference by Service writers the conversations we started online into

10 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Conserving the Future, People to Land A Spring Break With Purpose at Desert Refuge

By Toby Marble ome might say that carrying cumbersome loads of fencing Smaterials on foot across the rugged terrain of Desert National Wildlife Refuge in southern Nevada two or three times a day for most of a week is not the ideal spring break. After doing just that this spring as a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno, I would disagree. Between the breathtakingly beautiful landscape and the kinship developed among the 13 volunteers who joined me, the week-long alternative spring break trip sponsored by the Friends of Nevada Wilderness was truly rewarding.

When I first learned about the trip from The author, flanked by fellow volunteers Anna Breen and Ian Smith, removes fencing material as part an academic advisor, I was apprehensive. of his alternative spring break at Desert National Wildlife Refuge in southern Nevada. (Kurt Kuznicki/ I worried about not knowing anyone else Friends of Nevada Wilderness) and not having enough work to keep me busy. In the end, I decided to go anyway. Because motor vehicles are not allowed of what we know best. The geologists The payoff was enormous. I can easily on Desert Refuge and the nearest road talked about how the mountains were rate this spring break as the best of my was a 2.3-mile hike away, all dismantled formed by tectonic activity, pointing college years. materials had to be hiked out. I was out layers of sediment in the ridgelines. one of three volunteers who worked as The biologists discussed the traits of The volunteers included pack mules while the rest of the team local wildlife, including road runners, undergraduate, graduate and even deconstructed the fence. Our team made horny toads, desert tortoise and, of doctoral students whose fields of study two or three trips a day, carrying the course, bighorn sheep, and how each ranged from psychology, English and heavy loads in the hot sun. The work has adapted to life in the desert. The engineering to geology and biology. was rigorous, yet we each found a niche, botanists pointed out the intricate Most were from Nevada, and two- worked as hard as we wanted, laughed web of vegetation such as the Indian thirds were male. The group also and joked along the way, and had time to paintbrush and bear paw cactus. We included two retired gentlemen. Almost enjoy the outdoors. It was a fantastic mix. were even treated to lectures back at immediately, we all became close camp by local experts. friends with a shared work ethic and a Passion for Nature common goal. In arranging the outing, the Friends of The Friends certainly accomplished Nevada Wilderness had two goals. Of their goal of sharing passion for nature Our job was to take apart and remove course, they wanted to get the fence with us. a fence that had been installed on the removed—and we pulled out more than refuge years ago for a long-concluded 2,900 feet, all the way up a valley until And I’m glad they did. While other study about the effects of nearby we reached more treacherous rocky students partied or worked on their Edwards Air Force Base, CA, on terrain. They also wanted to open our breaks, I got to get into the great bighorn sheep. The remaining fence eyes to the value of desert lands. While outdoors, meet amazing new friends, do segment, made of standard mesh and many people associate the desert with work that makes a difference, and still barbed wire, was about eight feet high. desolation and nothingness, that couldn’t came back feeling rejuvenated. What It stood between the bedding grounds be further from the truth. Desert more can you ask of a spring break? and water source for the sheep. Once Refuge is a stark landscape, but it is full Toby Marble is a May 2011 graduate of we dismantled the fencing and rolled it of life and beauty. As we trekked across the University of Nevada, Reno. into bales, removal was no easy task. the terrain, each of us shared knowledge

Refuge Update • 11

Focus . . .Conserving. Conserving the Future, People to Land What’s the Most Important Thing You’ve Done to Connect People to Land?

Refuge Update recently asked National Wildlife Refuge Karl Stromayer, assistant refuge manager, San Luis System employees to share the most important thing they National Wildlife Refuge, CA: have done on a refuge so far in their careers to connect everyday people to the land. Staff members were hesitant to Working with others to conduct volunteer days on which reply. In characteristically humble U.S. Fish and Wildlife families plant native grasses and shrubs. Specifically, planting Service employee fashion, they did not want to be seen as saltgrass plugs (a native perennial grass) one day in January promoting themselves above the conservation mission. 2010—to restore an upland that had been converted to Nonetheless, we were able to arm-twist a handful of agriculture and had been lying fallow since acquisition by the colleagues to cooperate. What follows are condensed versions refuge. People got their feet wet and their hands dirty in the of their responses. soil. They were connected to nature in a primal way. The foggy cold day slowly warmed up, and many migratory birds flew over the planting site that day, including lesser Steve Kallin, project leader, National Elk Refuge, WY: sandhill cranes, Ross’s geese and white-faced ibis. Even though the site was next to agricultural land, the fog and birds In 2002, when I was district manager at Windom Wetland flying over and calling created for a short time an illusion of Management District, MN, we started Wings on the Prairie, wilderness. Children and adults alike stopped their work and a spring bird festival that continues today. The concept was to looked up to see the birds above. bring attention to efforts to reestablish trumpeter swans, which were extirpated from southwestern Minnesota early in the 20th Anne Morkill, refuge manager, Florida Keys National century. The festival expanded to include prairie ecology and Wildlife Refuges Complex: other migratory bird identification and research techniques, all with an emphasis on youth environmental education and hands- National Key Deer Refuge is a matrix of public and private on activities. lands. One of our biggest challenges and threats to our threatened and endangered species are feral and free-roaming Wings on the Prairie helps youth and adults visualize the cats. I initiated discussions in 2007 with local animal advocacy tallgrass prairie and wetlands of the pre-settlement landscape, groups to begin addressing this issue publicly and to implement which enables them to better appreciate the importance of a trap-and-remove program on refuge lands as part of our wetlands and the rich wildlife heritage of the area. This occurs recovery strategy for the endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit. not just through educational programs but also through simple hands-on projects where folks can make a small contribution to What started as a polarized debate transformed into a helping birds. proactive alliance called One Animal Family. It is a partnership that promotes the humane treatment of all animals, wild and domestic, while seeking to reduce human-induced pressures on endangered species through a variety of strategies including education, law enforcement, reducing wildlife’s access to human food and trash, and actively trapping and removing cats from refuge lands. We have not started the trapping program yet. It will start soon, and it’s still rather controversial, as might be expected. I see this as a means of connecting people to the land by educating them about the impacts of their cats on native wildlife and showing that responsible pet owners and conservationists alike can play a supporting role in accomplishing the compatible goals of conserving endangered species and reducing homeless cats on refuges. Ernesto Reyes, Ecological Services fish and wildlife biologist based at Santa Ana Refuge, TX: Since last year, I have been involved with the South Texas Ecological Services fish and wildlife biologist Ernesto Reyes, second from Environmental Education and Research group from the left, with pre-med students at Santa Ana Refuge in south Texas. (USFWS)

12 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Conserving the Future, People to Land Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen, TX. I have given presentations to pre-med students from across the country about the refuge and environmental issues that impact wildlife and people. I take the students to see the border fence/ wall, so they can get a perspective firsthand on the loss of land connectivity for terrestrial wildlife on nearby Lower Rio Grande Valley Refuge. I also talk about how water quality relates to human health issues such as cancer, deformities and disease. I discuss the importance of protecting the habitat in our watershed by minimizing chemical-filled storm-water runoff from urban areas and farmlands. I explain how sensitive species, such as amphibians and fish, are indicators of water quality and contamination. The students like that we connect the importance of protecting the environment with human health issues that they will deal with in the medical field. Jared Brandwein, refuge manager, Back Bay Refuge, VA: In the mid-1990s, when I was an Ecological Services project leader in Pennsylvania, I was a sideline person who shepherded through the beginnings of Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which was established last fall. I helped keep the process moving despite a lot of odds. That refuge was started in a conference room. There were four of us: Bud Cook, Tony Tur, me and, on the phone, now-retired realty specialist Walt Quist. The idea was spawned by The Nature Conservancy. Five different refuges had been roughed out on an area map. We eventually decided to aim for one refuge. Cherry Valley was the best location because it had the mother lode of bog turtles within its proposed boundary, it was near the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware River National Recreation Area, and it had connectivity to state game lands. It was like the missing link in the conservation puzzle of northeastern Pennsylvania. It was rewarding to see the project come to fruition after I left, to see how an original concept goes through when the public wants it and we communicate effectively. Deborah Holle, refuge manager, Balcones Canyonlands Refuge, TX: The most important things I have done in my career to connect people to the land are to hire great people and to agree to the great ideas people come up with. For instance, when I was A girl relishes her role in a native grass planting project at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge in central California. (Karl Stromayer/USFWS) manager at the Florida Keys refuges in the 1980s, we were experiencing high numbers of Key deer deaths on roads. We had a large volunteer group, and Bill Grimes, a retired New was simple, but, because of the lack of money and people, these York City fireman, suggested that we erect a sign on Big Pine were very real concerns. Key reporting how many deer were killed compared to the previous year. Luckily, I kept my concerns to myself, smiled and said: “That’s a great idea; who will take charge of this project?” Bill stepped The group liked the idea of raising awareness, but I cringed. up along with other volunteers. The sign created more public What kind of sign? Would it comply with Service, Florida awareness than we were prepared for. I visited the Keys two DOT and Monroe County regulations? Where would we get years ago, and the sign was still there, albeit a newer one. permission, what safety issues were involved, who would Often since then I have wondered what would have happened maintain and update it? How would it get built? The suggestion continued on pg 22

Refuge Update • 13

Focus . . .Conserving the Future, People to Land TitlePrivate Hunting Clubs Help Enhance Federal Lands

By Kendall Slee rivate landowners within Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area P in northern California are not only managing their own properties for the benefit of wildlife, a number of them also are contributing labor and equipment to help restore and enhance habitat on the federal land. Butte Sink WMA consists of 733 acres of government-owned lands (the Butte Sink Unit) and 10,311 acres of private land protected by conservation easements. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased the easements to protect wetlands from agricultural, commercial and residential development, says Craig Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area in northern California provides habitat for hundreds of Isola, conservation easement program thousands of waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway, especially in winter. (Mike Peters/USFWS) manager for the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. “The primary disks—equipment too heavy to cross a issues such as water rights and goal of the conservation easement bridge on the unit’s access road. As a wetland management. The association, program is to protect the Butte Sink result, Bermuda grass had taken over the Service and other partners wetlands in perpetuity.” much of the area. Neighboring hunt club established the Butte Sink Cooperative members recognized this and approached Management Plan to formalize how In the extensively farmed and developed Butte Sink Unit staff to offer assistance. water is managed. Most water control Sacramento Valley, Butte Sink’s wetlands structures have been replaced or are crucial to hundreds of thousands Over the past six years, the West Butte retrofitted to enhance flow through the of waterfowl for overwintering and Club, Butte Lodge Outing Club and wetlands and improve fish migration. migration. Some years, biologists have other clubs have donated work time estimated more than 750,000 birds on the and machinery to help control Bermuda The water control improvements benefit 650 acres of wetlands within the Butte grass and other invasive species. In 2009, waterfowl habitat as well as threatened Sink Unit and upwards of two million the unit received a Department of the Chinook salmon and Central Valley birds using the entire Butte Sink WMA. Interior grant to match the hunt clubs’ steelhead that pass through the Butte donation of $13,000 of in-kind services for Sink on their downstream and upstream “It’s one of the highest densities of vegetation control. The treatments have migrations of Butte Creek. wintering waterfowl in North America,” reduced Bermuda grass, and increased Isola says of the Butte Sink WMA, desirable wetland plants such as annual Butte Sink WMA’s public-private which is also an important stopover for smartweeds, watergrass, river bulrush partnership is a success because it also neotropical migrant songbirds that use and swamp timothy. runs two ways. its abundant riparian forest vegetation. The battle against invasive species rarely “While the Service has worked closely Many of the private lands within the ends with one effort, so the nearby clubs with private landowners to protect, WMA are hunting clubs that have an continue to assist. “We want to improve restore and enhance private and public obvious interest in enhancing habitat our hunting, but we also want to improve wetlands, private landowners have for waterfowl. As with many wetlands the whole habitat structure,” says Wally invested a tremendous amount of time, in the area, there is a constant battle to Emery, part owner of the Butte Lodge sweat and money in improving habitat on control invasive plants. Bermuda grass is Outing Club. their lands as well as contributing to particularly problematic. improvements at the Butte Sink Unit,” Private landowners and other hunting says refuge manager Mike Peters. Bermuda grass control requires clubs also formed the Butte Sink extensive herbicide treatment followed by Waterfowl Association, which addresses Kendall Slee is a Colorado-based disking using large tractors and stubble freelance writer.

14 • RefugeRefuge Update

Focus . . . Conserving the Future, People to Land TitleAt Bear River Refuge, Education to Enhance Conservation

This is the second of two articles about collecting data Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge’s about the species. watershed conservation plan. The first The young woman article appeared in the March/April is now in high issue of Refuge Update. school with a strong interest in pursuing a By Karen Leggett career in science, nurtured at least in nvironmental education is a part by that early critical management tool at Bear experience on the E River Migratory Bird Refuge refuge. in Utah. “We can’t move forward with our landscape-level conservation plans There are if the public doesn’t understand why internships working on the watershed is important,” for high school says refuge manager Bob Barrett, who students to help is as enthusiastic about a student essay promote the Youth contest on the marbeled godwit as he is Conservation about critical resources for waterfowl in Corps, and Utah “All the research shows that if you don’t communicate the fundamentals the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. State University about the watershed by the time kids are 12, it’s difficult to get those ideas students earn understood and hard to get the ideas supported,” says Bear River Migratory The Friends of the Bear River Refuge has credits toward Bird Refuge manager Bob Barrett. (Brian Ferguson) created an Enduring Legacy Education a recreation Endowment to guarantee annual funding management for educational programs. The goal is to degree by volunteering on the refuge. “We consider these our birds,” he says, generate $1.5 million by December 2012 “but in fact it’s better to see that they are that would be held “outside the Service Linking Internationally birds from Mexico that spend a little time and invested privately, generating enough The Linking Communities, Wetlands and here at the refuge. By participating in funds to support education outside of Migratory Birds Initiative has generated these projects, we can have an impact on the refuge budget,” says Anne Truslow, a very productive relationship between the entire range of our species.” a facilitator with the National Wildlife the refuge and Weber State University in Refuge Association. Ogden, UT, says refuge visitor services Cavitt is developing an online ornithology manager Kathi Stopher. The initiative class in Spanish for students at the Catch ’em While They Are Young focuses on education, ecotourism and University of Nayarit, and this spring he Watershed and water quality protection avian conservation in the Canadian is taking a class of Weber State students are part of the state-approved province of Saskatchewan, the Great to Mexico for a six-week hands-on curriculum for Box Elder County fourth- Salt Lake in Utah and the Marismas experience in the Marismas complex. graders. Every child participates in Nacionales complex in Nayarit, Mexico— two field trips a year, first to the upper all stops on a migratory pathway for Back at Bear River Refuge, “my goal is watershed and later to the refuge, where many of the same species of shorebirds. to wear out the visitor center,” says the children test water and learn about Barrett, utilizing every square inch of the wetlands and watersheds. For instance, under the direction of expansive James V. Hansen Wildlife Weber State ornithologist John Cavitt, Education Center just off Interstate 15 “All the research shows that if you don’t University of Nayarit student Paulina near Salt Lake City. On a more communicate the fundamentals about Martinez documented habitat preferred philosophical level, the Linking Initiative the watershed by the time kids are 12, by snowy plovers during breeding season measures success when “we each, in our it’s difficult to get those ideas understood on the refuge. Later this spring, she will own place and time, see a migratory bird and hard to get the ideas supported,” submit a report to the refuge concluding and know our responsibility for its says Barrett. that snowy plovers are less likely to nest well-being.” on dikes with large rock sides. “That One year, the winner of a student essay Karen Leggett is a writer-editor could become a management tool to contest went on an airboat ride to help in the Refuge System Branch of discourage nesting on dikes,” says Cavitt. tag a marbeled godwit and assist in Communications.

Refuge Update • 15

Focus . . .Conserving the Future, People to Land Meandering Into History at “Ding” Darling Refuge

By Jeff Lysiak hen taking a couple of steps along the Calusa Shell Mound W Trail at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, some folks may not feel like they are stepping back in time. But they are. After more than six months and nearly $40,000 worth of renovations and improvements, the Calusa Shell Mound Trail reopened in February with a new, state-of-the-art interpretative exhibit and tri-panel kiosk featuring renderings of the Calusa Indians by local artist David Meo. “This site was never really excavated or studied before, but it had been protected,” says Toni Westland, supervisory ranger at “Ding” Darling The Calusa Shell Mound Trail at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, FL, has been reopened Refuge on Florida’s southwestern Gulf after extensive renovations and improvements. The interpretive trail includes a six-panel kiosk at the start and nine panels along the way. (Chelle Walton) Coast. “If we were to dig deep down into this site, you could tell a lot about the people who lived here.” Westland says. “If you look through The trail is a universally accessible, some of the transects, you can see the interpretive boardwalk that meanders Improvements to the Calusa Shell topography of the mounds themselves.” through a hardwood hammock that has Mound Trail were made possible by grown on top of ancient Calusa shell contributions to the “Ding” Darling The project prepared the area for the mounds. It is an excellent place to see Wildlife Society, a nonprofit organization erection of new interpretative signage migratory songbirds in spring and fall. that supports the refuge’s mission about the Calusa people, a highly through charitable donations and evolved tribe who inhabited southwest “This is a great spot for birders,” refuge nature shop proceeds. A $38,000 Florida for more than 2,000 years before says Westland. “You can see warblers, partnership with the City of Sanibel, FL, being displaced by European settlers Carolina wrens, indigo bunting and lots funded the removal of exotic plants from in the late 1700s. For sustenance, the of other species ... even rare ones.” Calusa Indians relied mostly on seafood the one-third-mile, boardwalk-covered Case-in-point: While driving out to the trail and other sites at the refuge. from Gulf Coast estuaries, rather than farming, and they discarded shells into site prior to a ribbon-cutting ceremony According to Westland, renovations large mounds. They used the shells for the revamped site, Westland—and at the site started in August 2010. In for tools, utensils, jewelry and hunting more than two dozen excited visitors— addition to site clearing and installation spears. The new signs along the trail spotted a mangrove cuckoo in the tree of nine information panels — including a are intended to teach visitors about the canopy. mini-biography of Jay Norwood “Ding” hammock environment as well as about “That is one of the top three species Darling — along the trail, robotic scans the tribe. birders who come here hope to find,” says of the heavily canopied parcel revealed Westland, who noted the other rare birds three individual shell mounds. The site “The artwork that David [Meo] produced for these panels is a rendering of what at the refuge are the grey kingbird and varies in height from sea level to nearly the black-whiskered vireo. nine feet. the site actually looked like, not just what it might have looked like,” says Westland. Jeff Lysiak is executive editor of “Here in Florida, even a gradual rise in “It shows three different perspectives ... Breeze Newspapers/Sanibel, which elevation can result in huge changes in It’s an homage to the people who used to originally published this article at www. the types of vegetation that is grown,” live here.” captivasanibel.com on Feb. 21, 2011.

16 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Conserving the Future, People to Land Diane Buell, Volunteer Extraordinaire

By Susan Morse Range Wildlife Refuges. “All the iane Buell didn’t set out to manufacturing break records. When she began plants are gone. Dvolunteering at what is now Refuge staff Rocky Mountain Arsenal National is restoring it Wildlife Refuge, she simply wanted to back to prairie. stay active in retirement. You wouldn’t That was in 1989. Since then, the Denver even know there resident has racked up almost 19,000 once was a volunteer hours—the equivalent of manufacturing nine years as a full-time employee—at complex out the refuge and the National Eagle and there.” Wildlife Property Repository, a U.S. Fish In describing and Wildlife Service facility on site. The Buell, supervisors sum surprises even her. use words like “You don’t really notice. [The count] just “dedicated,” gets there,” says the former computer “reliable,” “detail- programmer and Air Force master oriented” and Diane Buell has worked 19,000 volunteer hours at Rocky Mountain Arsenal sergeant. “energetic.” National Wildlife Refuge, the equivalent of nine years as a full-time employee. (Cassandra Bland/USFWS) Buell, 74, has become an indispensable “I see her work resource. circles around younger people,” says wildlife repository coming into that roost tree for the night. “She does everything,” says Rocky specialist Doni Sprague. “I think of her That is fantastic to see,” she says. Mountain Arsenal Refuge volunteer as part of the staff.” coordinator Cassandra Bland. “She Of all her refuge activities, does she roves trails and roads on the days we “I Can’t Keep Up With Her” have a favorite? Buell does pose one problem for Bland. do tours to let tour guides know what “Not really,” she says. “I like them all. “It’s been a challenge for me to figure wildlife is out there. She helps staff It’s just like the wildlife through the out what kind of award to give her. the visitor center … She helps with year: It changes. Now we’ve got bald I can’t keep up with her,” the refuge biology research projects … She drives eagles migrating back from the North. In volunteer coordinator says. “Our files a 14-passenger van for photo tours.” the fall, you see bucks in the rut. In the tell us: This is what a volunteer gets at At the repository, she inventories summer, you see burrowing owls. There’s 50 hours. This is what a volunteer gets contraband wildlife property seized by always something to see year-round. at 75 hours. Not that many volunteers law enforcement officers. That’s what makes it interesting.” are at 20,000 hours.” She is also an eyewitness to a Susan Morse is a writer-editor Back in 1989, Buell discovered the remarkable transformation. During her in the Refuge System Branch of refuge land through a photography 21-year tenure, Rocky Mountain Arsenal Communications. Refuge has gone from toxic waste site course, which offered an escape from to renascent prairie 10 miles from her desk job. “It was out in open air, downtown Denver. Before the refuge was and wildlife was what I enjoyed,” she established in 1992, the U.S. Army made says. “I always had a passion for the chemical weapons there for use in World out-of-doors. I grew up in a small town War II. Later, Shell Oil made pesticides in Iowa, so we were always outside until 1982. Last fall, after a $2 billion as kids.” cleanup, the Environmental Protection You can still hear her delight in nature Agency removed the refuge property when she talks about counting eagles in from its Superfund list. spring—a task she alternates with the “I feel good about it,” says Buell, a refuge biologist. “You sit out in the dark member of the Friends of the Front and cold and see all those bald eagles

Refuge Update • 17

Focus . . .Conserving. Conserving the Future, People to Land Drawing Kids In at Sacramento Refuge

By Todd R. Hansen ore than 150 second-graders at Mill Street School in Orland, MCA, turned a recent field trip to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and follow-up classroom activities into works of art. The trip was part of a program that teaches wide-eyed students about waterfowl, wetlands and migration, with the end result being the children submitting drawings to the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design contest. “They got to see a bald eagle out there,” said Diane Forrester, one of six teachers involved in the hands-on field trip that was funded through a local nonprofit organization, the Barceloux-Tibessart Foundation. “I think it is the most wonderful experience.” The excursion included an activity in the Geese, ducks, drawing and schoolchildren get along well at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. (Steve Emmons/USFWS) refuge discovery room, a nature walk, a bus trip on the refuge—and a chance for the children to track the migration of [off the coast of Russia] to the Klamath The students use a whiteboard to begin birds from as far away as Russia. Basin, and follow the migration of the their drawing lessons, and then are given Garrett Spaan, a visitor services snow geese.” paper for the final drawing. Students assistant at the refuge, said one of the who wish to can then submit the Students were given binoculars for use drawings for the contest. tools he and colleague Natalie Garver during the refuge tour. use is a migration game in which the In turn, for each drawing submitted, the students “travel” from place to place This year’s trip was a little different, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives the around the world just as the birds do. however, because the refuge also came program $1 for educational activities Spaan and Garver work for California to the school. Spaan and Garver spent through the California Junior Duck Waterfowl and provide environmental an hour in each classroom over two days, Stamp program. education for children at the refuge. refreshing the students on some of the lessons they learned, and showing them “The main goal is to promote the Junior “When they came to the refuge, we did a how to draw a duck. Duck Stamp program, and to educate program called Chompers and Stompers. these kids on waterfowl, wetlands and It talks about beaks and feet, and we “The kids are very, very excited. We go migration,” Spaan said. “And we educate have our discovery room activities, and in there and show them a lot of stuffed them on conservation.” they all have worksheets, and they go ducks and stuffed geese, and we get a lot around and discover the answers,” said of feedback from the kids,” Spaan said. Todd Hansen is managing editor of Spaan, noting that room is home to a Tri-County Newspapers in northern “Personally, I really enjoy it. I love number of stuffed birds. California. This article originally going into the classroom and educating appeared in the Orland Press-Register “And we have a program called these kids,” he said. “And I’ve been very on March 4, 2011. Migration Madness, which is a game all surprised. There are a lot of kids who go about snow geese,” Spaan said. “And through the program ... and they know a [the students] run from place to place lot about habitat and waterfowl.” where they go from Wrangel Island

18 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Conserving the Future, People to Land “Generation E Is in the House!”

By Jennifer Anderson Connecticut towns. In other words, o moved by the juxtaposition— Generation E is images of the immense, naturally in the house!” Swild Arctic National Wildlife (Revkin defines Refuge and the possibility of oil Generation E exploration there—high school students as young people in Connecticut took action. who are working From a continent away, 13 students on “the climate- spearheaded a project at Bruce Museum energy challenge.”) in Greenwich, CT, that achieved an Why did the impressive level of awareness for the students work Alaska refuge. so hard on the The whole experience “was better than project? “We felt I could have imagined,” says Mary Ann it was important Lendenmann, the museum’s volunteer to fund an exhibit program manager and coordinator of a relevant to what youth group called youth@bruce. was going on in the world,” says Dane The immense natural beauty of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in The crux of the project involved bringing Burge, a junior at Alaska inspired 13 high school students in Connecticut to take action. a traveling exhibit—Arctic Sanctuary: Greenwich High (USFWS) Images of the Arctic National Wildlife School. Describing Refuge by photographer Jeff Jones— the photos as to the museum. The 25-photograph “breathtaking,” he says, “the exhibit was “Due diligence and persistence paid off,” display, one of a handful of exhibits on perfect for illustrating the debate on oil Lendenmann says. The vastness of the the museum’s calendar that the students drilling in Alaska.” refuge impressed the students, she says, could have chosen to fund, coincides with and they were energized by the fact that the refuge’s 50th anniversary and runs “Even though the refuge is far away, it was an election issue. through May 29. preserving the environment is a big theme, global,” says Lisley DaSilva, Their efforts resulted in $4,200 in Rather than simply fund the exhibit, a classmate. “We should be funding contributions—enough to fund the the students also applied to TED.com alternative energy sources.” exhibit and put some money away for and obtained a license to host a TEDx future projects, says Robin Garr, the event. TEDx events are planned and “Persistence Paid Off” museum’s director of education. coordinated by independent groups Using the fundraising Web site and feature live presenters engaged in kickstarter.com, the students wrote “These students are inspiring,” Garr discussions on a range of issues. a 700-word statement explaining the says. “They picked the exhibit. The project and their passion about the TEDx event became a reality, the whole The speakers at the March 26 Arctic Refuge. They established prizes thing just snowballed, we couldn’t be TEDxYouth@Bruce event included for various funding levels. Anyone more proud of them.” Jones; former Arctic Refuge who pledged $25 or more, for example, biologist Fran Mauer; author and received two museum guest passes and In addition to landing each student a environmentalist Bill McKibben; Alaska an invitation to the opening reception. President’s Volunteer Service Award, the native Sarah James, a spokeswoman for work on the exhibit has longer-term the Neets’aii Gwich’in Indian tribe; and The students also produced a video on implications. Thinking about the future climate-change journalist and writer kickstarter.com that included images of and the pristine natural environment of Andrew Revkin. Jones’ photography and footage from the Arctic Refuge, Gillis Baxter, a junior America’s Wildest Refuge, a movie about at Greenwich High School, says: “I want Revkin featured the event on his New the Arctic Refuge. my kids to get to see this, not just me.” York Times Dot Earth blog: “The best part?” he wrote. “The event has been They then set about encouraging largely organized by high school students friends and acquaintances to visit the Jennifer Anderson is a frequent from Greenwich and neighboring Web site. contributor to Refuge Update.

Refuge Update • 19 Around the Refuge System

New Mexico fullest potential.” Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge The habitat and nearby Bottomless Lakes State Park benefits have been recognized as International shorebirds, Wetlands of Importance under the waterbirds and Ramsar Convention. Together, the two waterfowl at the distinct entities are recognized as the refuge in the Roswell Artesian Wetlands Site. It is south-central part the first Ramsar site in New Mexico of the state— and the 29th in the United States. The including northern Ramsar Convention is an international pintails, mallards, treaty signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 greater white- to encourage voluntary protection fronted geese, of wetlands. Countries that sign the snowy plovers, treaty demonstrate their commitment American avocets, to conserve wetlands as a contribution long-billed The desert whitetail dragonfly is one of more than 60 dragonfly species toward sustainable development documented at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge in dowitchers, throughout the world. Bitter Lake southeastern New Mexico was named an International Wetlands of whooping cranes, Refuge lies within an ecological meeting Importance under the Ramsar Convention. (Jerry K. Hatfield) sandhill cranes place where the Chihuahuan Desert, and American shortgrass prairie, Pecos River and the Kansas white pelicans. Quivira National Wildlife Refuge recently Roswell artesian basin come together Montana and create unusual biological situations. received a $25,000 Playa Lakes Joint Sonja Jahrsdoerfer and the Charles M. Numerous lakes, seeps, springs, oxbows, Venture/ConocoPhillips grant to help Russell Refuge staff sure know how to marshes, shallow waters and water-filled enhance wetland habitat. The grant, throw an impromptu party. Jahrsdoerfer, sinkholes provide habitat for a wide combined with about $65,000 from a local the Alaska Region endangered species array of species. At least 357 species of Ducks Unlimited chapter fund-raising coordinator who was on an Advanced birds have been observed on the refuge, effort and $25,000 from the George Leadership Development Program and more than 60 dragonfly species and Stumps Wildlife Trust, will provide a (ALDP) detail as project leader at the several invertebrates found nowhere else substantial portion of the money needed refuge, responded to an early March on Earth call the wetlands home. to transform narrow, deep, open water news release about the Refuge System’s sites near dikes/outlet structures and 108th birthday by, in less than a week, This spring, as part of an unpaved road cattail-choked sites into moist-soil arranging an open house at the refuge for training workshop Las Vegas National habitat. Such habitat can be more the big day, March 14. “We were able to Wildlife Refuge partnered with San efficiently drained and flooded to have this event on short notice because Miguel County and the New Mexico encourage annual plant and invertebrate refuge staff jumped in to help,” says Department of Game and Fish to production, and so increase forage Jahrsdoerfer. “People were available to rehabilitate a 1.3-mile stretch of county resources for shorebirds and waterfowl. answer questions, and we helped kids road and three wildlife viewing parking “We’re restoring wetlands areas that explore the collections of skulls, skins and lots. The stretch of road is part of the were created in the 1960s,” says refuge fossils. We ran a photo show of refuge eight-mile, self-guided auto tour route of manager Dan Severson. “We’re wildlife and set up a spotting scope on the refuge. Each year, more than 15,000 recontouring and filling in the borrow the deck, so people could check out the visitors view and photograph wildlife area.” Nine Quivira Refuge seasonally waterfowl on the nearby wetland and the along the auto tour route. Federal, state flooded freshwater wetland units, totaling bison in the field below the office.” The and county employees who participated 760 acres, are to be improved as part of birthday gathering—which included a in the workshop received specialized the two-year project. “We get so much cake, complete with a Blue Goose, and hands-on training while correcting better wildlife value when the wetlands drew about 30 people—attracted the drainage problems and surfacing the are managed as moist-soil habitat not attention of the Lewiston News-Argus road with gravel. choked by cattails,” Severson says. “It’s newspaper and a local radio station. crucial that we manage our habitat to its

20 • Refuge Update Louisiana refuge in the 1960s. Thousands of recycled Christmas trees His longtime mate collected after the holiday from homes was killed by a in the New Orleans area were airlifted coyote in 1988, but onto Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Solo kept returning Refuge in late February to help establish to the refuge each a breakwater in open ponds on the spring. In 2009, refuge. The recycled tree project, which he appeared with is the result of partnership among the a new mate, and refuge, the city of New Orleans and four cygnets were the Louisiana Air National Guard, is born; there was designed to help trap silt and encourage another brood last growth of marsh grasses. Many of the year. This January, ponds have enlarged in recent years refuge biologist as wave action has eaten away at the Mike Rule says, shoreline. “Every bit of marsh we can 10 swans were Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Nevada is completing seen together on a $1.2 million wetland enhancement project with help from Ducks Unlimited reclaim is very important,” refuge and other partners. (Mark Pelz/USFWS) manager Jack Bohannan told a local TV Cheever Lake at station. “We’re losing much more marsh the refuge—most than we can ever regain right now.” likely Solo, his mate, five cygnets from Alaska. More than 220 species of birds Bayou Sauvage Refuge is 25,000 acres 2010 and three from the 2009 brood. migrate through the refuge, 15 species of of fresh and brackish marshes, all within Four days later, refuge staff recorded waterfowl nest on it, and it is an important the New Orleans city limits. The brackish the first observation of only one adult sanctuary for the greater sage-grouse, with four cygnets. Examination of photos northern leopard frog, pygmy rabbit and marshes serve as estuarine nurseries for leaves biologists almost certain that pronghorn antelope. Non-native trout various fish species, crabs and shrimp. the remaining adult is Solo’s mate. “I and largemouth bass were introduced Freshwater lagoons, bayous and ponds am sure that we lost Solo and one of his to the marsh more than 30 years ago, serve as production areas for largemouth 2010 cygnets this winter,” Rule says. and the refuge has become a popular bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. He hopes all seven of Solo’s offspring fishing location. In February, a 39-year- “make it to breeding age, find mates and old state record for the largest rainbow Washington stay to nest at Turnbull Refuge. The trout caught in Nevada fell at Ruby Lake Solo, the trumpeter swan that lived at earliest this will happen is next winter. Refuge when Elko resident Mike Mott Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge for Trumpeter swan pairs are usually caught a 16-pound, 8-ounce fish. The decades, is believed to have died along formed where they winter.” trout, which broke the previous record by with one of his 2010 cygnets. Biologists four ounces, was 30.5 inches long. believe Solo may have been one of the Nevada Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, with New Jersey original cygnets reintroduced to the the support of Ducks Unlimited and other Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge partners, is in the final stages of a $1.2 and the Friends of Great Swamp are million wetland enhancement project. The partnering with local libraries to spread effort improves 1,755 acres of habitat in the message about the Refuge System. the refuge’s East Marsh by rebuilding a The Friends have developed an exhibit levee; replaces water control structures about the refuge and the System as a vital to another 4,245 acres of marsh whole. The exhibit moves from library to habitat; and improves 7,300 acres of library. Since the fall of 2008, displays waterfowl and waterbird nesting habitat have been placed in 15 local libraries. The in the South Marsh by increasing water exhibit includes a map of Great Swamp management capabilities and controlling Refuge, background information and overgrown vegetation. The remote books about its history. There are also 39,928-acre refuge is a vital waterfowl informational folders and pictures of the On the spur of the moment, Charles M. Russell nesting area that supports the largest wildlife that inhabit the refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge hosted a party to display also includes pamphlets from all celebrate the Refuge System’s 108th birthday. population of nesting canvasback ducks (USFWS) west of the Mississippi River outside five refuges in New Jersey.

Refuge Update • 21 America’s WILD READ, an Online Book Club

ooking for a great read? The biographer Curt Meine, “The Once and the training center’s communications National Conservation Training Future Land Ethic,” will help inform the manager, also are on the team. LCenter has just the title: Anthill, online discussions. a novel by renowned biologist and conservationist E.O. Wilson. Scholars, retired National Wildlife Refuge System leaders, poets, The training center is heading a virtual environmental authors and educators will book club—called America’s WILD be the moderators. They will respond to READ—at www.AmericasWildlife.org/ readers’ insights and help explore deeper WildRead as a lead-up to the Conserving themes in the book and essays. the Future conference. Moderators began facilitating online discussions in May. “By reading epic stories about a sense of place in nature, Americans can discover Anthill is a magical tale about a boy deeper insights about themselves and the who grows up determined to save the world around them,” says Karene world from its most savage ecological Motivans, a course leader at the training predator: man. Aldo Leopold’s essay center who conceptualized the online book “Thinking Like a Mountain” and club. Anne Post, the training center’s E.O. Wilson’s novel is among the books to be a contemporary essay by Leopold chief librarian, and Sarah Gannon-Nagle, discussed by the virtual book club.

See “Flat Blue” Fly Nationwide o you love “Flat Stanley”—that Wildlife Refuge System’s decades-old fanciful, storybook, cut-out symbol of conservation. character who has traveled the D Print Flat Blue and take him on an nation and the world? Then take a look at Flat Blue—the traveling Blue Goose that adventure, including at hot spots on any Go to http://AmericasWildlife.org/flatblue/ to find will send you skyward and will be part of wildlife refuge. Introduce Flat Blue to your local schools, which can include Flat out how to take Flat Blue on an adventure you the Conserving the Future conference in can share with the world. mid-July in Madison, WI. Blue in their curricula and perhaps take their classes to wildlife refuges to see Upload photos to Flickr or your You can find Flat Blue online at nature up close, maybe even meet staff. Facebook page. Share stories online at http://AmericasWildlife.org/flatblue/. http://AmericasWildlife.org/flatblue/. There, you will see an easy-to-print Make sure to take a photo and tell the version of the Blue Goose, the National story of your adventure with Flat Blue.

What’s the Most Important Thing You’ve Done to Connect People to Land? — continued from page 13 had I dismissed Bill’s great idea and said salt marsh restoration. Most often that plants, fish and birds. Most people no because it probably wasn’t worth the involves undoing what people have done don’t see the almost spider-thread-thin effort. Sometimes it not what we say or in the distant or recent past. My work is connections between themselves, their do, but what we don’t say. full of mud, mosquitoes and data points. actions and the planet around them. But The results of my work are (hopefully) even though spider threads are small and Susan Adamowicz, Land Management expanses of healthy salt marsh with thin, they are incredibly strong. Research and Demonstration biologist, a mixture of lush grasses and forbs Rachel Carson Refuge, ME, and (flowering plants). So when I listen to people describe some Parker River Refuge, MA: bird they’ve seen on the marsh, I When I connect to everyday people, it’s understand their wonder at it, but the I work on salt marshes—places I usually on my private time. Talking to wonder is only increased as we discuss consider very beautiful—but places that people at the gym, in the supermarket, the life of that bird, how the salt marsh historically have been on the fringes of family, friends, strangers. I talk to them supports it, how the watershed supports human communities. Salt marshes are about the awesome beauty of these the salt marsh and how our actions and downstream of most human concerns, ecosystems, about the connections choices affect all of these. literally and figuratively. What I do is between the pulses of tide and time, 22 • Refuge Update “A More Holistic View of Wildlife Conservation”

By Bill O’Brian biodiversity. Conservation t’s hard to say we’re the biology takes leaders in wildlife and habitat “a more holistic “I conservation if we don’t keep view of wildlife pace with the latest understanding of conservation,” how the natural world works” says Noah Kahn says. Kahn, performance manager for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Michael Soule, a University of That is one reason a change was made California, Santa to include conservation biology in the Cruz, professor education requirements for U.S. Fish emeritus who and Wildlife Service employees entering is considered the 0485 wildlife refuge management job the father of series, according to Kahn. conservation The change—made by the Office of biology, recently Personnel Management (OPM) in compared his consultation with the Service—was field to cancer A recent change adds conservation biology to the education requirements biology. In for Service employees entering the 0485 wildlife refuge management announced in a late-January Director’s occupational series. The change does not apply to current refuge managers, memo to all employees. an interview such as Tom Jasikoff at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, NY. (Karen with Izilwane, Leggett/USFWS). “The previous requirement for nine a nonprofit semester hours of botany is now reduced organization and Workforce, acknowledges there to three semester hours of botany, and that focuses on how humans affect has been debate and confusion over the a new requirement for three semester biodiversity loss, Soule said: change. “A small minority of people saw hours of conservation biology has been this as lowering the bar on education added,” the memo stated. “This change “A physician or public health professional requirements for refuge managers” he has no effect on current 0485 employees will say that cancer biology is all of says, but that initial concern has been and does not require existing refuge the fields that might be relevant for worked through. managers to receive additional training.” curing cancer. It involves epidemiology, pharmacology, surgery, anesthesia, “We simply wanted to update the Approximately 600 employees are in molecular biology, biochemistry and requirements to include this modern the 0485 series, Kahn says—most of counseling. There are social sciences branch of biology that focuses on them refuge managers or wildlife refuge involved as well as biological and medical conserving species and populations in a specialists. sciences … The same thing applies to fragmented landscape. Knowing how to “Conservation biology as a discipline conservation biology—it comprises best deliver conservation in a fragmented really became mainstream and widely research and theories from many fields.” landscape is increasingly important to refuge managers.” accepted 15-20 years ago, but our The Service’s 0485 series education education requirements haven’t changed requirement change “will probably help There also has been confusion about in over 20 years,” Kahn says. “I think give an extra jolt to a movement that is what specific college courses fulfill the that this progressive change recognizes already underway in many areas, which conservation biology requirement. that if national wildlife refuges are going is a steady shift in refuge management The division is working with the regions to live up to their potential to conserve toward considerations of broader suites to agree on which courses meet the species across large landscapes, then it’s of critters, landscape-level conservation new requirement. important to have people trained in that and restoration of natural processes, sort of thinking.” where possible,” Kahn says. The intent over the long term, says Kahn, “is to shape our workforce in a The field of conservation biology “Rather than thinking at the patch more progressive direction.” integrates numerous individual academic size,” Kahn says, conservation biology disciplines: wildlife biology, population considers landscape-level habitat For answers to frequently asked genetics and ecology, natural resource connectivity “essential, not just as a nice questions about the education management and even economics. It thing to do but as essential, if we want to requirement change, go to: http://www. combines those subjects and brings keep our refuges healthy for the future.” fws.gov/refuges/about/careers.html. For their synthesis to bear when protecting information about Michael Soule and species, habitats, ecosystems and global Larry Williams, chief of the Refuge conservation biology in general, go to System Division of Budget, Performance http://www.michaelsoule.com/.

Refuge Update • 23 Dave Mauser, a wildlife biologist at Klamath Volunteer of the Year Denis Mudderman has Ken Litzenberger of the Southeast Louisiana Basin Refuge Complex in Oregon and California, contributed almost 10,000 hours since 2005 to National Wildlife Refuge Complex received is Employee of the Year. (John Beckstrand/ refuges in Minnesota and Texas. (Marty Cornell) the Paul Kroegel Refuge Manager of the Year USFWS) Award presented by the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. (Pon Dixson/USFWS) Litzenberger Named Refuge Manager of the Year

he National Wildlife Refuge Dave Mauser received the Employee Denis Mudderman received the Association and the National Fish of the Year Award. A wildlife biologist Volunteer of the Year Award for T and Wildlife Foundation have at Klamath Basin Refuge Complex in contributing almost 10,000 volunteer honored three individuals and a Friends southern Oregon and northern California, hours since 2005 at Tamarac Refuge group with 2011 National Wildlife Refuge Mauser spearheaded innovative in Minnesota and at Brazoria and San System Awards. approaches to wetlands conservation that Bernard Refuges in Texas. created more than 10,000 acres of new The annual awards recognize refuge wetlands. Mudderman has played an important conservation professionals, volunteers role in designing, launching and and Friends groups who exemplify “His strategies helped convert 15,000 maintaining the Friends of Tamarac’s outstanding dedication and passion for acres of conventional farmland to organic Web site and has brought a wide range wildlife conservation in advancement farmland and provide a model for of talents to all three refuges. At Texas of the mission and purposes of the successfully managing land for wildlife Mid-Coast Refuge Complex, among Refuge System. conservation while also benefiting rural other contributions, he facilitated the agricultural economies,” the groups said “Discovery Environmental Education Kenneth Litzenberger received the in announcing the award. Program” for elementary schoolchildren. Paul Kroegel Refuge Manager of the Year Award. The Friends of Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex on Litzenberger, project leader at the Florida’s Gulf Coast were recognized with Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife the Friends Group of the Year Award. The Refuge Complex, was cited for his group was honored for collaborating with leadership and his creative approach to local, state and national partners during a solving problems; for managing diverse multi-year effort to protect the important and urgently threatened habitats to West Indian manatee habitat at Three produce outstanding conservation results; Sisters Springs as part of Crystal River and for deploying limited staff and critical National Wildlife Refuge. resources at the most strategic places The Friends of Chassahowitzka National Wildlife and times to accomplish mission critical Refuge Complex on Florida’s Gulf Coast were The awards were presented at the U.S. work in response to the 2010 Deepwater honored for collaborating with partners on a Fish and Wildlife Service’s director’s Horizon oil spill and thus sparing refuge multi-year effort to protect important West Indian reception at the North American Wildlife lands many impacts suffered elsewhere. manatee habitat at Crystal River National Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Refuge. (Courtesy of Friends of Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex) Kansas City on March 17.

24 • Refuge Update Six Refuge System Employees Are Recovery Champions

ill Radke was an individual recipient and five National BWildlife Refuge System staff members were honored in a group when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced its 2010 Recovery Champions Awards this spring. Radke, refuge manager at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Arizona, was recognized for his work conserving the Yaqui chub on that refuge and nearby Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge. Additionally, Radke was cited for creating a climate that encourages partnerships such as the Leslie Canyon Watershed Safe Harbor Agreement, the Malpai Borderlands Group Safe Harbor Agreement and the El Coronado Ranch Habitat Conservation Plan. “Stewardship of the 200 Yaqui chub saved from the drought of 1969 established a population that became the recovery will not be crushed, Wetlands on private property along West Turkey Creek, above, near Leslie stock and met the downlisting criteria,” removes rock Canyon National Wildlife Refuge are ideal for Yaqui chub, below. Refuge the Service said in announcing the piles that house manager Bill Radke was honored as a 2010 Recovery Champion for his award. “Bill Radke has engaged private work in southeastern Arizona on behalf of the endangered species. predators, uproots (William R. Radke/USFWS) landowners in linking the health of their trees to remove ranches to the overall health of the raptor perches and ecosystem, increasing the security of replants prairies to aquatic habitats on the refuges for native reduce runoff and fish species and expanding their range.” sedimentation in Piping Plover Team Recognized the lakes.” As a group, Connie Mueller and Kirsten While some piping Brennan of Lostwood Refuge, Michael plovers nest on Rabenberg of Long Lake Refuge, refuge lands near Craig Hultberg of Audubon Refuge— or on the Missouri all in North Dakota—Brent Jamison River, most breed of Medicine Lake Refuge in Montana on the shorelines and Eric Rosenquist of The Nature of alkali lakes on Conservancy Center in North Dakota private and non- were cited as Recovery Champions for profit lands such their work on behalf of the federally as The Nature threatened piping plover. Conservancy’s Refuge. “I hope this recognition will “In Montana and North Dakota, the Williams Preserve—a 2,100-acre help a few more people understand the Alkali Lakes Piping Plover Team has property purchased primarily to protect diversity of America’s wildlife wonders.” nearly doubled the population of the piping plovers. In all, the 2010 Recovery Champions endangered species,” the Service said. “I am proud to be a small part of this Awards recognized 29 Service staff “Thanks to partnerships with 150 continual 28-year effort to nearly double members or partners-in-mission for landowners, piping plover team members this population. For this team, and the conserving endangered and threatened build cages to protect nests from people who have been a part of the team species. For more information on the predators … In the off-season, the team over the years, this isn’t just a job; it’s a 2010 honorees, go to http://www.fws.gov/ fences beaches, provides water sources labor of love for the piping plover,” said endangered/what-we-do/recovery- for cattle so that plover nests and chicks Mueller, a wildlife biologist at Lostwood champions/index.html.

Refuge Update • 25 Montana Refuge Saves Sage-Grouse as Part of Broader Initiative — continued from page 1

(“Sagebrush is SGI coordinator Tim Griffiths. “As a side the only thing benefit, we do tremendous things for sage-grouse eat sage-grouse.” in winter,” Naugle says.) This winter, The biggest thing the SGI does is target even that big conservation, rather than attempt to sagebrush was blanket the sage-grouse’s entire 186 buried, so the million-acre range. In cooperation Canadian sage- with state fish and game departments grouse made and using state-of-the-art tracking an emergency technology, SGI conservationists have migration 40 miles found that 25 percent of all grouse farther south to live on four percent of the land in Charles M. Russell the range and 75 percent of grouse Refuge. live on 27 percent of the range. So, the SGI focuses on those core areas. “CMR was an It emphasizes saving the best of the anchor in this huge best habitat and, out of practical landscape for that necessity, deemphasizes saving outlying 80-year winter,” There once were millions of sage-grouse across the West. Now there are a pockets. It does what benefits the says Naugle. “It couple hundred thousand. (Brett Billings/NCTC) greatest number of birds. “We call it was that refugia, conservation triage,” says Naugle. the last resort, that saved the couple hundred thousand” in Washington, population of Canadian sage-grouse.” Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, The SGI addresses different threats in California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, different ways in different parts of the That northeastern Montana habitat South Dakota, Wyoming and Canada. range. In Montana, primary concerns corridor received a major boost in are habitat fragmentation and “sod February when the Department of For differing reasons, almost nobody busting” of previously untilled grazing Agriculture’s Natural Resources wants to see the sage-grouse on the lands. In Wyoming, energy development Conservation Service (NRCS), its endangered species list. So, last year, as and subdivision are major concerns. In partners and a cooperative ranch owner the SGI was being launched, the NRCS southern Idaho and northern Nevada, agreed to $3 million worth of perpetual (which administers Farm Bill funds wildfires are worrisome. In Oregon, the easements to ensure that grazing—not affecting millions of acres) approached issue is encroachment of conifer trees (in development or tillage agriculture—will the Service (which determines if which grouse predators perch). remain the priority land use on a 32,500- sage-grouse will be listed) and said, in acre parcel. That funding, to be matched Naugle’s words, “before we do all of this Two conservation practices the SGI by The Nature Conservancy, came via great stuff, here’s our playbook; tell us encourages on the targeted lands the Sage-grouse Initiative (SGI). what you like and what you don’t like, are the removal of conifers—which and we’ll tweak it” to comply with the opens up habitat for sage-grouse The Montana corridor is a sliver of the Endangered Species Act. and increases forage available for 11-state range of the sage-grouse, which livestock—and marking or removing is a candidate for endangered species As a result, landowners and ranchers fences near leks, thus dramatically listing in the United States. The SGI’s across the West who enter into SGI reducing fatal fence strikes. objective is to keep the bird off the list. perpetual conservation easements now It is doing so by using targeted efforts know that the initiative and its land The beauty of the SGI, Naugle and to help private landowners voluntarily management practices are Service- Griffiths say, is that what is good for enhance ranch land sustainability while approved—even if the sage-grouse is rangeland is also good for grouse. conserving sage-grouse populations on listed someday. “If you have sage-grouse on your working lands. “Conservation Triage” property, be it a refuge or a private Sage-grouse are rounded-winged, The SGI is multi-layered and complex, working ranch, you are doing something ground-dwelling birds that weigh up but, essentially, through the initiative right,” says Naugle. “They’re an umbrella to seven pounds. Males are known for the NRCS helps landowners design and species. If you’re doing good things for an elaborate courtship display during implement grazing systems that improve sage-grouse, you’re doing good things for which they strut and inflate yellow air ranch sustainability. “Our number one all other species that the Fish and Wildlife sacks on their breasts. There “used to goal with this program is to maintain Service is mandated to care about.” be millions” of sage-grouse across the the viability and productivity of some “Ranchers are excited about this whole West, says Naugle. “Now, we’re down to a of the best ag land in the country,” says Sage-grouse Initiative because it achieves

26 • Refuge Update eBird Trail Tracker Puts Millions of Eyes on the Sky — continued from page 3

repairs and Web links. The refuge’s primary expense, says Henry, has been to provide infrastructure for “a fast, stable Internet connection.” The result is that visitors at Great Swamp and other refuges are contributing to a huge dataset that can help scientists monitor a range of conservation issues. “Birds are, because they fly, able to make choices about where they want to be a lot more freely than most amphibians, Attaching white plastic markers the size of playing cards to fences near sage-grouse leks (breeding reptiles and many mammals,” says Little. grounds) can reduce fence-strike fatalities by up to 1,000 birds per year. (Bryan Stevens) “So, in many ways, they are a more active and direct indicator of habitat. If something changes in the habitat, birds all this by improving the sustainability of “This is the beautiful story of our Refuge are able to move to take advantage of their ranch,” says Griffiths. System playing a major role in landscape things or to avoid detriments. So, conservation. An 80-year winter comes by, As for Charles M. Russell Refuge’s role observations on a repetitive basis over and the Fish and Wildlife Service steps in time become very valuable.” last winter as savior of the Canadian and says, ‘It’s okay; we’ve got it.’ ” sage-grouse, Naugle says:

Refuge Association Asks Congress to Address 10 Priorities he National Wildlife Refuge • Restore the Gulf of Mexico by • Expand wetlands conservation by Association in March pointed to 10 passing legislation to implement the passing legislation to increase the price T actions that Congress should take Presidential Oil Spill Commission’s of the Migratory Bird Hunting and to protect America’s wildlife heritage. recommendations to restore fish Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) and and wildlife habitat and repair Gulf authorize funding for a partner-driven “We have a moral obligation to future economies. marketing and promotion strategy. generations to protect our nation’s diverse natural world,” said Refuge • Promote conservation partnerships • Designate the Arctic National Wildlife Association president Evan Hirsche. among federal agencies, state Refuge’s coastal plain as wilderness. “And when we protect our natural world, governments, local governments, we improve the lives of people through private landowners and nonprofits • Protect wild cats and antelope by clean water, clean air, wide-open spaces as called for in the America’s Great releasing the remaining $43.2 million and stronger local economies that benefit Outdoors action plan. of the $50 million promised to the from higher property values and a better Department of the Interior by the quality of life.” • Conserve iconic landscapes, such as Department of Homeland Security for the Connecticut River, Everglades, border wall mitigation on the Mexico- The report, titled Top 10 for 2011: Flint Hills, Crown of the Continent, U.S. boundary. Priorities for Protecting America’s Dakota Grasslands and Bear River, Wildlife, urged Congress to: by fully funding the Land and Water • Conserve America’s songbirds Conservation Fund at $900 million. by reauthorizing the Neotropical • Fund the National Wildlife Refuge Migratory Bird Conservation Act System operations and maintenance • Promote farm, ranchland and and funding it at $6.5 million for fiscal accounts at $511 million in fiscal year forestland conservation through estate year 2012. 2012. That is about $8 million more than tax provisions. President Obama’s budget request. The 12-page report is available at http:// • Protect national wildlife refuges from www.refugeassociation.org/new-pdf- mining permanently through legislation. files/2011Priorities.pdf.

Refuge Update • 27 STANDARD PRESORT POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RefugeUpdate PERMIT G-77 USFWS-NWRS 4401 North Fairfax Dr. Room 634C Arlington, VA 22203-1610 www.fws.gov/refuges

A Look Back . . . The Blue Goose

he Blue Goose has been the shield was used symbol of the National Wildlife more widely, and T Refuge System since it first the Blue Goose did was drawn by Pulitzer Prize-winning not fly consistently cartoonist J.N. “Ding” Darling, one across refuge of the greatest proponents of wildlife lands until 1999, conservation in the 20th century. Darling when Fulfilling was the first chief of the U.S. Biological the Promise Survey, the forerunner of the U.S. Fish recommended that and Wildlife Service. it be a permanent element on refuge There is a real blue goose, once thought boundary and to be a separate species but now entrance signs. recognized as a dark form, or “morph,” Under Service of the snow goose. policy, such signs The first recorded use of Darling’s now include the goose on an official sign is at Upper Blue Goose. A living and breathing blue goose—a morphed snow goose, actually—at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, NY. (Gary Tyson) Souris National Wildlife Refuge, ND, in Examples of official about 1934. But “there is surprisingly signs can be found little documentation about exactly how at www.fws.gov/ Wherever you meet this sign, respect it. the Blue Goose became the icon of the policy/do120.pdf . It means that the land behind the sign Refuge System,” says Service historian The familiar image—which since has has been dedicated by the American Mark Madison. “All we can say for been fashioned into stuffed animals, lapel people to preserving, for themselves and sure is some of the earliest Blue Goose pins, full-size costumes and computer their children, as much of our native depictions are in fact black, making it flash drives—prompted Rachel Carson to wildlife as can be retained along with our look more like a Canada goose.” urge the public to watch for “the sign of modern civilization.” By the 1980s, entrance signs were being the flying goose—the emblem of the tailored to specific refuges. The Service National Wildlife Refuge System …

Follow the National Wildlife Refuge Send Us Your Comments System on Facebook at Letters to the Editor or suggestions about Refuge Update can be e-mailed to www.facebook.com/usfwsrefuges and Twitter@USFWSRefuges. [email protected] or mailed to Refuge Update, USFWS-NWRS, 4401 North Fairfax Dr., Room 634C, Arlington, VA 22203-1610.