MMIINNNNEESSOOTTAA AARRMMYY NNAATTIIOONNAALL GGUUAARRDD CCAAMMPP RRIIPPLLEEYY TTRRAAIINNIINNGG CCEENNTTEERR AANNDD AARRDDEENN HHIILLLLSS AARRMMYY TTRRAAIINNIINNGG SSIITTEE 22001111 CCOONNSSEERRVVAATTIIOONN PPRROOGGRRAAMM RREEPPOORRTT 22001111 Cover Photography: Chimney swift artificial nesting tower, Arden Hills Army National Guard Training Site, 2011, with permission courtesy of Craig Mullenbach Minnesota Army National Guard Camp Ripley Training Center and Arden Hills Army Training Site 2011 Conservation Program Report January 1 – December 31, 2011 Division of Ecological and Water Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Minnesota Army National Guard Compiled by Brian J. Dirks, Animal Survey Coordinator Nancy J. Dietz, Animal Survey Assistant MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CAMP RIPLEY SERIES REPORT NO. 21 ©2012, State of Minnesota Contact Information: DNR Information Center 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 (651) 296-6157 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (651) 296-5484 1-800-657-3929 www.dnr.state.mn.us This report should be cited as follows: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Army National Guard. Minnesota Army National Guard, Camp Ripley Training Center and Arden Hills Army Training Site, 2011 Conservation Program Report, January 1- December 31, 2011. Compiled by Brian J. Dirks and Nancy J. Dietz, Camp Ripley Series Report No. 21, Little Falls, USA. 223 pp. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................................... I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. V INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 1 RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................................................................................................ 1 PARTNERSHIPS .................................................................................................................................................. 2 PROGRAM AREAS .............................................................................................................................................. 2 CAMP RIPLEY TRAINING CENTER .......................................................................................................... 2 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................... 4 Natural Resources ............................................................................................................................ 7 Forestry ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 Forest Inventory ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Forest Cover Types.................................................................................................................................. 7 Forest Inventory and Analysis – Northern Research Station ................................................................. 10 Timber Sales .......................................................................................................................................... 12 Fuelwood Permits .................................................................................................................................. 13 Tree Planting ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Insects and Diseases .............................................................................................................................. 16 Land Fund ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Vegetation Management ............................................................................................................................. 22 Prescribed Fire ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Invasive Plants ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Restoration Project for Spotted Knapweed and Common Tansy Areas ............................................ 26 Updating Distribution Maps for Common Tansy, Leafy Spurge, and Spotted Knapweed................ 26 Invasive Species Management Program Development ..................................................................... 27 2011-2012 Research ......................................................................................................................... 27 Water Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Surface Water Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 30 Wildlife ...................................................................................................................................................... 31 Species in Greatest Conservation Need ................................................................................................. 31 Birds ...................................................................................................................................................... 31 Christmas Bird Count ....................................................................................................................... 31 Songbirds .......................................................................................................................................... 31 Totals and Trends......................................................................................................................... 32 Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas ........................................................................................................ 36 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) ............................................................................................ 37 Bald Eagle Permits ....................................................................................................................... 39 Osprey (Pandion haleaetus) ............................................................................................................. 41 Owl Surveys ..................................................................................................................................... 41 Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) .................................................................................................... 44 Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) .............................................................................................. 48 Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) Nest Boxes ............................................................................................... 49 Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) .......................................................................................................... 49 Page i 2010 Conservation Program Report Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) ................................................................. 51 Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Nest Boxes ...................................................................................... 51 Mammals ............................................................................................................................................... 53 Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)................................................................................................................... 53 Federal Court Decision ................................................................................................................ 53 Wolf Monitoring Background ...................................................................................................... 55 Wolf Movements ......................................................................................................................... 55 Black Bear (Ursus americanus) ........................................................................................................ 61 Research ....................................................................................................................................... 61 Mortalities and Reproduction ....................................................................................................... 61 Cougar (Puma concolor) and Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) Detection Survey ........................... 62 Fisher (Martes pennanti) .................................................................................................................. 65 Carnivore Scent Station Survey ........................................................................................................ 70 Beaver (Castor canadensis) .............................................................................................................. 70 Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) ......................................................................................................