CLARENCE RHODE NWR - NARRATIVE REPORT 1968 CLARENCE RHODE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE Annual Report 1968 J * CLARENCE RHODE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE Annual Report J r/. CLARENCE RHODE NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANOE NARRATIVE REPORT January 1, to December 31, 1968 Bering Sea. NWR Cape Newenham NWR * Chamisso NWR * Hazen Bay NWR Nunivak NWR Staff Calvin J. Lens ink Refuge fianager Jerry L. Hout Assistant Refuge Manager James R. Geerdts Maintenanceman Virginia L. Cook Clerk to 1/13/68 Jimi Knight Clerk 1/29/68 - 10/15/68 Jackie Jones* Clerk 10/31/68 - 12/11/68 Edward F. Kootuck Laborer 5/15/68 - 9/6/68 Joe Panuyak Laborer 6/13/68 - 8/28/68 Pete Mickelson Biological Aid 6/10/68-8/9/68 Barbara Holden Biological Aid 7/8/6^-9/6/68 This report is prepared for administrative use within the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Because discussion is frequently based on fragmentary or preliminary data, conclusions should not be quoted without pemission of the Refuge Manager. Deoartment of the Interior Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Fish and Wildlife Service Bethel, Alaska 99559 Jackie Jones was appointed as Refuge Clerk on October 31, 1968, and served until his untimely death on December 11, 1968. Jackie was a graduate of the Dillingham High School in Dillingham, Alaska. He Joined the National Ouard In November I960, attended Officers School at Pt. Benning, Georgia in 1962, and was a 1st" Lieutenant and Company Commander in the 2nd Scout Battalion, Alaska National Guard, at the time of his death. I ill s TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 Sumnary of Activities 1 The Weather 2 Habitat Condition 3 WILDLIFE • 5 Birds 5 Winter Population 5 Spring Migration 5 Sumner Population . 6 Fall Population 6 Manmals 8 REFTrE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE 9 RESOURCE MAINTENANCE 10 FIELD LNVESTIG ATI CMS 12 Faunal Survey Wildlife Management Study No. 1 12 Family Bonds as a Factor in the Migration of Geese Wildlife Management Study No. 2 17 Waterfowl Population, Production and Habitat Ecology Wildlife Management Study No. 3 22 Census of Study Plots 22 Incidental Observations of Nests and Broods 27 Aerial Censuses of the Breeding Population 29 Black Brant ' 36 Nesting of Cackling Geese 40 Snow Geese 40 White-fronted Geese 40 Whistling Swan 46 Parasites and Disease 51 Survey of Waterfowl Populations and Habitats on Nelson Island Wildlife Management Study No. 4 55 BATOD^G 56 PUBLIC RELATIONS 58 VISITORS 59 ITEMS OF INTEREST 60 Miscellaneous 60 Money 60 • Iv Page tio, 1. Additions to the Clarence Rhode Range 4 2. The Cape Mewenham National Wildlife Refuge 4a 3. Locations where emperor geese have observed in the Pacific States 21 4. Aerial transect routes in the Kashunuk Area 30 5. Aerial transect routes on the north flats of Nelson Island . 31 6. Aerial transect routes on the south flats of Nelson Island . 3? 7. Average weights of white-fronted geese during molt ...... 4S 8. Distribution of swans on Plot 17 on June 25 & August 24 .... 49 9. Growth of cygnets 50 TABLES 1. Seasons and Bag Limits for Refuge Wildlife 11 2. Occurrence of Birds Other Than Waterfowl on Census Plots ... 14 3. Comparisons of Observations on Census Plots 1967 & 1968 .... 15 4. Observations of Ptarmigan on Census Plots 1967 & 1968 16 5. Observations of Cranes and Loons on Study Plots 16 6. Locations "Where Emperor Geese Have Been Observed Away From Traditional Winterly Habitats 19 7. Breeding Populations of Ducks(Drakes Only) in 1967 & 1968 ... 25 8. Breeding Populations of Geese on Study Plots 26 9. Average Size of Class I Broods of Brant and Geese 28 10. Breeding Population Indices for Waterfowl in Kashunuk Region . 33 11. Breeding Population Indices for Waterfowl, North Fiats, Nelson Island 34 12. Breeding Populations Index for Waterfowl, South Flats, Nelson Island 35 13. Number of Brant Nests and Average Size of Clutches on Kashunuk Plots, 1966 to 1968 37 14. Status of Vegetation on Kashunuk Plots 3B 15. Weights of Black Brant During Mbit 39 16. Snow Goose Age Composition: Aerial Surveys, 1968 41 17. Measurements of Pacific White-fronted Geese 42 18. Measurements of Adult Male White-fronted Geese fron Different Locations on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta 43 19. Weights of White-fronted Geese During Molt 44 20. Proportion of Swan Pairs with Broods During July and August . 47 21. Average Sizes of Clutches and Broods of Swans 48 22. Summary of Sneclnens Examined for Parasites 53 23. Acquisition of Helminths by Cygnets and Goslings 54 24. Waterfowl Captured for Banding in 1968 57 CLARENCE mOOE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE NARRATIVE REPORT January 1, to December 31, 1968 INTRODUCTION Sumnary of Activities The staff of the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range is respon­ sible also for the Nunlvak, Bering Sea, Chamisso and Hazen Bay National Wildlife Refuges. The Bering Sea Refuge was not visited by Bureau personnel in 1968, nor by any other person of whom we are aware. Chamisso Island was visited by Wilderness Biologist, Will Troyer, who prepared a report of his visit, which is appended. Nunivak Island was visited on numerous occasions. A separate narrative describes activi­ ties there. The primary item of interest of the year was a proposed withdrawal of public domain lands for the establishment of the Cape Newenham National Wildlife Refuge of 265,000 acres, and a 1,017,000 acre addi­ tion to the Clarence Rhode Range. The withdrawal order was confirmed and signed by Secretary Udall at 10:00 AM, January 20, 1969. (Fig. 1 and 2. Most credit for the establishment of the Cape Newenham National Wildlife Refuge is due to James G. King, who became interested in the area while serving as the first Refuge Manager on Clarence Rhode. The new refuge is one of the most spectacular in the entire system. Habi­ tats include shallow lagoons that during migration provide for more than 100,000 geese and as many ducks. Sandy shores of the lagoons are loafing areas for hundreds of harbor seals, and both seals and sea lions frequent off-shore islets. Marine escarpments that jut to 1500 feet above the sea provide nesting places for millions of murres, puffins, kittiwakes and other sea birds. Relict glaciers are found in mountain cirques. Clear-water streams flowing into lagoons are home for trout and salmon which provide a ready source of food for grizzly bears. work on the Clarence Rhode Range was far from routine. An early spring followed by a beautiful sunmer got biologist and birds off to a good start. Work continued on population and production studies of brant, geese, and ducks, but most progress was achieved on studies of whistling swans and small non-game birds. The pemanent staff of the refuge was augmented during the summer by temporary appointments. Edward Kootuk and Joe Panuyak have both worked for the refuge previously. Pete Mickelson, a first timer, is a graduate s of Montana State and will return in 1969 to start work on Cackling Geese as his thesis subject toward a PhD at the University of Michigan. Miss Barbara Holden, was employed primarily to work on narasites of Swans and other waterfowl, but entered into other phases of program as well. In addition to the refuge staff. Dr. Richard Holmes fron Dartmouth Univer-sity, and assistants, Craig Black and Matt Dick, continued a study of sandpipers on the Kolomak River. Matt later Joined the refuge crew at old Chevak as a volunteer assistant. Bill Qnison from Johns Hopkins University arrived in July to help with studies on growth and food habits of swans and later was Joined by Dr. William Sladen to help with banding of swans. Game Management Agents, Tremblay, Downs, Freeman, Coffer and Banning, wrestled bands on to more than 2,300 reluctant cackler and white-fronted geese. The sunmer field season came to a close on September 30, when Cessna N748 was returned to Anchorage. The Weather Just dandy. A mild winter was followed by an early spring, a , sunny summer and a pleasant fall. Temperatures as high as i450F were reached (temporarily) by raid-April and most of the ground was bare when waterfowl arrived in early May. Ice started moving in the Kuskokwlm River on May 14, and by May 2X$ the river was clear. Hangar Lake was clear of ice by May 22, and floatplane operations were started on May 25. Most small lakes on the refuge were open by May 26, and even the large lakes by June 1, but broken ice. still filled the Kashunuk River and many tidal sloughs. The sloughs were cleared by June 5, when the camp at Old Chevak was opened. Weather during the summer was hot and dry. An average July temp­ erature of 57.90F was 3.2° above normal. A temperature of 33°^ on July 25, tied the all time record for this month, although a temperature of 86°^ in June 1959, still reigns. Precipitation frcm June to September totaled only 5.03 inches; 4.97 Inches lower than normal, and 2.49 inches lower than in 1967. Lichens and mosses on the tundra became dry, brittle and abrasive on dogs feet. Thunder­ storms, usually a rare event, were conmon, and a lightning caused fire near the ME boundary of the refuge burned about 300 to 400 acres. Habitat Condition The warm, dry weather provided optimuin conditions for nesting and rearing of broods. Marked drawdown of many lakes was evident and a few became dry. The long term effects of such drawdown are beneficial, as nutrients are concentrated and formation of unproductive bog habitat is prevented. Berries were abundant frcm mid-July when cloudberries, Rubus Chaemenorus, ripened.