R8gional Director, Bonton, J.Iasc,, 02109 August 27 • 1968

Wildlif.a Invnnt01·y Plan - llisair.quoi

Reference is :matle to Mr . Hon1•a memo of 8/26/68 re the above subject. Furth.er r ferenoe is nae.a to llr . Uirms ' 8/2/67 memo rege.rdin& a:.-.ne.

Wo wore unable to i:teet the lkll"Ch 31, 1968 dea.dline as ltr. lfinns was hand.line oll r<-'tucr.1 o.:rt.a.irs b·om August 1967 to March 31,, 1968 whll e I \'JD.8 on FmmP. We h!ld plrumod to collabore.te on the Plan fol lawilJ.g nr:f ?BltUP essicmnrait o.t t;hc end or !!arch. HowPYer. from the first o1" April until his rotil'~# llr. lli.nns we.s on .Anm1al or Sick Ina:vo r..ost of th"' time. As r. consn<!Uence. the plan still. has not been completiod.

It is still in its Nll"ly stnr~na and it is planned to havA it in finalin>rm and submi ttoo to your ol'i'ioe by Dacember 1 , 1968 .

T'dwin H. Chandlor P.nfU[; e Managnr

TO

!-"ROM

0P110HA\ '011M HO. 10 M.4Y 196 2 fDlf!ON CSA Gf .... llC. HO. 21

so10-10•

UNITED ST ATES GOVERNMENT

M emorarzdum Refuge Managers Li~~ea Below

Regional Refuge Supervisor, Boston

DATE: Augu.st 26 > 1968

SUBJECT: Wildlife Inventory Plan

Reference is made to our memorandum of November 1, 1966, advising you to start work on your Wildlife Inventory Plan; memorandum of July 18, 1967, in regard to subject caption, which established a due date of March 31, 1968, for this Plan; and your reply indicating that you would meet this March 31 deadline.

To date, we have not received your plan. Please io~icate, by return mail, the current sta·'.us of this plan and when we r-.-...; expect to receive it.

Copies to: Brigantine Great Meadnws Great Swamp Missisquoi Montezuma Moose horn

Thomas C. Horn

. ·"".~,')\,I,

p

I OBJECTIVES

TIILDLIFP. IlWF:NTORY PIAN

llISSISQUOI N.ATIOlW. WILDLIFE R~GR SWANTOlJ, Vl':RMONT

WIP-I(l)

!Jissisquoi National Tlildli.fe Refuge is the only No.tionnl Wildlife

Rei'u{;e on that branch of 'the Atlantic Flyway E«tonding i'rom the

St. Lo.wrenoe River through the I.eke ChOZ?iplain - Hudson River Valley

to the northern coast of llew Jor&e'Y• It is importnnt to tho rlyw~

as n wnter.f'0\71 production area and stopover nrea during migration

sea.sons.

Tho primo.ry objective of the refU~a ia to maintnin and to increase

na.torfm7l production through de'V'elopment end mano.e;fJllent or wo.terf Oill

habitat. Secondarily, the ro.fuec provides feeding nnd reoting for

opring and fall migrants. other wildlife, indigenous to the o.reo.,

o.re "mnno.ged" o.s o. result or techniques q>loyod in mano.ging our

wo.tori'owl resource.

In order to carry out our refugo objectives, it is necessnry that

vie know tho sto.tus or our various uildl ife species . It is the purpose

of this Plan to dolin,,a.to the maa.ns by which this information is

go.thered for 1) wo.teri'awl, tm.d 2) other wildlii'e species . F.ach

group is furthor broken doun into spec1~s or groups or species . The

:following o.re tho primary objectives or this Plan :

A. To de::icribe methods nnd techniques used to inventory

wildl if'e populationn throughout the various oeo.sana

of the yecr .

11/6/68

B. To doscribo the reliability of these method.a

nnd tcclmiquea in order to apply results to

fulfill refuge :mano.gt'!lll.ent objectives .

ll/6/68

WIP-I I(l)

II INVEll'rORIF.S

A• W.ATF.RFalL

1. l7 eekly Waterf CJWl Cotm.ta

a . Spr ing (Rel iabi l1t7 Data Class : B)

Aa soon as spr ing break-up ccmmenoes in la.ta lla.roh or earl y

April. counts or all wnt~i'owl begin. This is relativ el y simple at the

outset. as l ittl e open water is available . As the spring season progress­

es. f l ooding occv.rs causing counts t o becane more di ttioul t aa bir ds in•

croase and spr ond into tiio lll.accesuibl e portions or the refuge. It is

not until l o.to Apr il that ioe is olellrod £rom tho interior portions 0£

the refuge and o.ccess by canoe is permitted.

Close watch is ma.de of tho spr ing migration and counts o.ro aade

s eirer a l times co.ch week for the firs1:i two to three weeks. After that.

weekl y counts suffice for popula.ticm estimates of all waterfowl specios •

llothods - Farly oounta o.re conducted on the

main r iver and al.ong Dead Creek by boat and

cnnoe . Onoe thoro is access to the main

water fcr.Tl o.reac - Big Ma.rah Sl ough. Goose

BS\Y' Pool . and f l ooded timber - canoes a.re

usod as the only means of trnvereing these

habitats . In addition. vehicles are used

to oheok adjacent use-aroas on llaquam end

llissisquoi Bays . Only the lo.keshore marsh-

es o.re part 0£ the refuse; these c.reas and

the open water portions or tho B~s ar e

checked o.s they are i.mporto.nt. not only in

helping determine spring usage of' the refuge.

ll/G/68

but in esti.I!lllting the trend o£ spring

migro.tion through this area . Limited

manpower cnn present a problem durini;

late spring due to the oxpanae and

character of.' the 1•e1.'uge that must be

covered. but generally most major

water.fonl use- areo.s can be covered

c.t lea.st once a. Tieck. Assistance is

of.'ten supplied by l ooo.l Stnte Gntle

Wardens and our United States Game

Mnno.gl'lD.mlt Agmt. The majority of

rmterfowl counts ro·e m.ruie by refuge

personnel, but nre often ta:lperod with

these other counts and observations .

WIP- II(2)

It should be emphasized that until impoundment development pro­

vides us with manageable unito, accoso to intorior waterfowl use- a.reaD -

at all seasons - will bo difficult o.nd wnterfcml oountn from late May

through September will be rough estimates only.

Normal weekly spring cotmta lVill requiro approximately ai.x to

eight man- hours each. UndPr diff'ioult access conditions. the tine re­

quired may bo increased to at;>proximatAly 10 to 12 hours .

ll/6/68

l7IP-ll(3)

b . Sumner (Relia.bili ty Dato. Cl ass i C)

Spring mi.grants noma.lly depnrt in nrly ~ lea.ving the sum:nor

populo:tion. This populc..tion io determined by l ) breedin{; pair cotm.ts.

2) nest box cm.cl nest .torn ocoupo.no~, am S) General observations tlu·ough­

out the period . Younc; birds nro not nddod to our wa.tcr£0t1l production

counts until they lul.vo rrochod i'licht o.c;o . Rozuinr ueekly tmtorf0'\71

counts during the tJll!:lner period aro not reliable duo to normnlly lowering

'Wt\ter l vols coupled uith incrannod grcmth or vogetntion. F::ccept i'or nest

boxes, our mitor!'or1l population ic too spread out - ond in tU"oos inncceas­

ible tm.der the procent otage of developmant - to mal:J9 it o. \7ortlmhilo

venture. r'.ducatod octiz:ultoo bnccd upon tho above methods nro moro relio.ble.

(~ Production). Ul.to cur:mier coun.to (mid- August to mid- Soptao.ber) ore

more rolio.blo th.on early nnd mid- ol.rmWlr counto, ns the birds begin to

congrego.to in Big 11arch Slough o.nd Goose Bn.y Pool o:nd are mor oo.sily

observed thnn during the prcvioun two to three nonths.

l l/G/68

TID? ... II(4)

o • !!!:!.!, (Reliability Data Claes 1 B)

Tlo.ter.fO'Rl counts during the f'all mi11;:ration are ustial.ly moro

reliablo than oither the spri:cg or sumnar ootmts for the reason that lesa

habitat is a.vailable, bird& are concentrated on a ff!W areas, and more

personnel, i . e ., Ste.ta Gome l7ardmm and our Gene l!ruJagemant Agent,, nre

availo.bl o more often for ".Va.terfa1l observations . Pricary use o.r the

refuge by wut13rfowl lo in Big Marsh Slough which currently receives 9o% or

our :toll water.fowl usage.

Methods - GC'lloral i'al l v:n.terfov1l migrations into

the re!'ugo and vicinity determine when more

concantre.ted ei'f'orts are rnd.e to obtam water-

!'owl population data.. Cotmts are made waekly

or oftener,, depending upon migra.tian and/or

woo.th or . The ~pol.mdm.ent c.rce.s are visited

by boo.t or canoe and estimates ore ?nade !'ran.

ve.ntoge points at the so-onllod Big Mnrsh

Slour;..i. Dom o.oro11s the old channel a:itranoo•

Goose Day Dike, end i'rom the be.ndi.ng sites

in both impoundwsnts neru.· the "Jtmction."

Access into the marsh Vlll'ics according to

water lovels,, bUt is never good in the i'o.ll

because of \vo.ter nnd vegeta.tion condi tiona .

These grotmd ~ounts om:i sanetimes bo ve17

rouch es~tes if birds are in areas not so a.$ k

readily s een or water levols are high AB wgh t\ A.

to spread the oirds into d enss vegetation.

11/6/68

llcmevor. it is normally ca:mion for the

mo.jority of ducks to congrego.to in the

old chminel in Dig MD.rah Slough uher o

thoy can be observed fairly rendily.

Tho counto or esti.mD.tes obtained from

Big Marsh Slolll)h form the bo.oia of our

populo.tion figures. liot'lever. other

orros vis1 ted include the lokeahore

mnroh s of Gooac. Go.Dier, Blld Uo.quom

Bo.ya ond birds in theoe nren.n ore in­

cluded in the total. population stimate.

WIP-Il(5)

In addition to the .rei'uge g:t"Olmd counts, ue are often supplied

with supplcmontal d o.tn i'rom aerinl and ground obaorvationa mo.do by our

Game Unnngment Agent o.nd local Stat Uordens. Thaoe dn.to. o.re TJeighed.

along TJith our dn"tn to farm our :f'c.J.l population counts.

Ac with opring comits. .e nlao check tile loco.l mrev.s - W.csisquoi

end Maqunm Bays - to help &torm.ino tho myrational pnttarn or trend.

Also. counts and obsarvations of the entire Lako Chomploin or n ma.do by

our Gmno l:!ona.gane:nt Agnnt D.Di the Vernont Fich end Gome Deinrbnent o.ro

utilized in putting together the totnl fa.ll migra.tion picture, even though

these dD. to. ero not UDod in our ref'uge Tinteri"O\ll population :figures.

Non:i.t'U .f'oll w okly mi.tari'owl counts mll xpond e.n o.verago of six

to ten mnn•houra. depending upon nn.t r level oond1tiona, concentration n rene.

numbor of personnel involved. etc.

Dato. on counts. observntions, and o.nalyc n ot conditions, otc.

are rn.nintn.ined in n special notebook in the raf:uge oi'.f'ice.

lJ/6/68

~II(6)

2 . 170.teri'O"Jl Produotion

c.. Breeding Pair Count s

Populations of breeding speoieo nr deten::lined frOI:l counts of

po.ired ducks or broody end/or feigning f'emtl.1.es ar nttending J:lD.l. es observed

o.long n prc-dotomined route o.fter tJ10 tprizlc m:igrntion baa paosed north.

Thie route includes nll of tho W.ssi• quoi Rivei· between Dead Creole nnd

the mouth of tho Eact Branch, tho shoreline at Gmldor and Goose Bays to

Dead Creek, o.nd Dead Creek to the junction with the main r iver.

Those birdo on the river portion of the route are normnl l y

counted only when they a.ro a.lone i:he bank or the refuge property. Hcm­

evor, judcementa muat oft n b Jllll.do, espooiclly with Goldoneye, as to

whether or not certa.in birds should be inolud d in rci\lee figures . Golden-

eye t~d to utilize tho entir bro11dth ot tho riv r nm cotild uell E'J1d up

nestin{; on the rei'ug • Th~ rule of thumb ha.o been to include only thoae

bir ds near the re.f'ugo chore or at loo.st on thn.t side of the center of the

river .

Additionally, it should be n'7tod that a.t the timo brooding pair

oounta o.ro made, muoh at the raf'~e io .flooded. Therefore, the count is

conducted by opornting tho outboo.rd boat or oo.noe a.a cloco to the shor

line o.a posoiblo, thereby including birds just innido the flooded tiober

ns Trell El.fl those birds on open mi.ter .

rhis route is idcntiClU to the former brood count route and J

covera tt :to:t::lr-ef- 12 milos . The route is run at lecst twice and normn.lly

during the two evening hours baf1ore dm·k . If it io not pr.nctioal or

possible to conduct cvenin~ counts, early morning countc nra run. llormn.ll y ,

two men conduct tho count, lcavinc tram tho same point and op ratint; in

11/6/68

l7IP-I I(7)

opposite directions. This results in a m~oting or tho two in tho Gander -

Gooso Bey- oron -rlhsre notnc a.ro ccr::pn.red, etc . Ono mnn c nn conduct a sat­

iataotory count, li' nee es r,nry. En.ch count expend.a nppr oximatoly four man­

hours . R9oordo or oounta n.rn maintained in re!'uge i'ileo .

11/6/ 68

VTIP- II(S)

b . Brood Counts

Annunl brood col.mta hn.ve been oonnidered as a proper index of

ref'Ug produotian for many yesru and data correlated with o.nnuol breodizlG

pair counto on ropreaento.tive ar o. have been used in arriving o.t totn.1

re~o production.

Hocrever , attar having conducted o.n extensive n sting bcm program

sine 1957 - including two to four rumunl. box oheoko - for troo neoting

spaci s of ducks, our I:!.!lthods of dntorm1n1ng total production for those

species hnvo bnon r vised. Concluoians drmm from nno.lysis of results

from oavcrol yonra of neat box survcryo (Seo .2,•i belm), together with

o.vero.g s deriv d fro:a previous years of go.thering brood data., gnv us

aome fci.i.rly o.ccuro.te !'iguros concerning brood siz n lllld ourvivo.l to flying •

c.e;o . Also, it TJB.G d termined that Tro.ter.far1l populo.tions reto.ined on the

refUgo foll01'7ing disp real of eprmc; migro.nts consist :costly of bre ders .

This com.porml favorably T?i th kn.am mmbers of nests in our nest boxes for 11 ..

tree nosting apoci s . By r cord.inc the vo.rintian in popule.tion betWeen

the breeding flock nnd the totc.l cpecies tally follcming the period when

juveniles roe.ch f l ight stngo, cam o.rrive at o. ftl.irly o.cournte index of

production. iids autOtllltically eliminnten o.ey conjectur rego.rdiIJ.g mortal.­

ity end, it is beliov d, gives o. truer picture of production tluw. ho.tohing

success minw3 estil:ID.ted mortality loooes .

Du.a to the £net that th route for brood oo'\mts is so l one; and

tha.t it covers such o. smnl.l percento.ge of actual brood torritory, results

are inconclusive. llost of 1:he refuge' s brood habitat is located within

tho iJ:Jpolmdnents., but tho diffioul tiec or covering these nrens ue so

grant o.s to mnke brood col.mts worthless a.t this mto.go of impoundmont dev-

elopm.mit.

11/6/68

l1IP..I I (9)

lio.ter lovel fluctua.tions of LcJce Champlc1n tram. one y or to

another are often vnctly dif'fcr nt, thus crenting lnrge dif'.t'erences in

a.vo.ilo.blo habitat, ospeciolly in the Beys . Water depths determine just

h«7 much of tho choroline brood hnbito.t con b'l cov red am results trO?n.

one y r to on.other e.ro hardly COI:J;>nro.blo mid cannot be considered rel inble.

Ther efore, brood colmte, .P.!!. ~ were disoontinuad otter the 1963 seo.oan

until such time ns conditions ohnnse sufficiently to wnrrant tho rest.mtption

of brood counts. Tho pr a('!l].t rout along the shoreline or tho river,

Goose c.nd Gond r Bays, and Dead Croek covers npproximntc>ly 12 :miles .

Brood counts wero conducted about three times annunlly with on expenditure

of eir;ht :con- houra por count.

Average brood a:lzos for mallards, lio.ckc, md bl ue-winBod. teal

were obtainod tram nl.t:lber a in broods oeen over c. poriod of' 12 y ~s.

These wor e mostly Clnoc III broods, and oomo Tlere flying, DO ttle percentago

af' those brooda reaching f'lyi.ng og '\70.6 rather high. For the wood duck,

coldaneye, Cl.l:ld hooded merganser, the brood air: n were determined fram.

kncr.m hatching or clutohoo in our ~crnt boxes . To theso broodo we nssigned

high r nortality ro.tes b cnune of the OO!!lparativoly yoimgcr c.go.

11/6/68

m:P- II(l O)

The .following data have bean detomined .from actual. brood oounts

and nest box data:

Table 1 - Brood Sizes

llnll o.rd

Black Duok

Blue-winged Toal

Wood Duck

American Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

4. 5•

a.a•

s.1•

10.l

a.1

9.o

•Determined f'rom 12-yenr average

of brood co\Ults; others based on

nost box data.

Table 2 - Percem.to.ge of Brooda Reaching Flight Age

llallord e~

Black Duck 8~

Blu -wingod 'ronl 6o%

Wood Duck ~

American Goldem.eye 25%

Hooded Merganser 3a%

•Baoed on Class III broods which

are amaller than other s; there­

fore. high"'r percentages assigned .

11/6/ 68

JJI~II(ll)

o. Hosting Bax SurTeya

fhis rai'uee has operated. a nesting box program since 1957 in

order to J:J&iutain and increase prOduotion of treo neat:Lng ducks. prica.ril y

wood ducks . Prior to 1967. all ca:rity nflsters were subject to mammalian

prodation ond ccmpetition. Conversion to boxes haa greo.tly alleviated

the pr oblem ond we have h.o.tched an average of 467 birds annually since

1967. and an average of 681 from 1963-1968.

Methods - Fran the beginning ot tho

pro~,._fto the 1967 nosting yaar •

each box was checked e.t lenst four

times during the nesting sen.am.

1'he first check was a combined

maintenance - nesting check . i'be

second am third checks were nest-

ing trurVf!'YS to de~rmine species.

<t "'" clutch size. incubation stage. Ml

hatching auoceH . Tho le.st check

wns a check or thoao nests still

under incubation at the end of the

third check. Checking started in

early April after ice-out and sub­

sequently at interval.a not exceeding

incubation periods .

Hatching auccoas was determined tram clutch size preceeding the

hatch minus non-hatching eggs left :Ln the nest. Membrane and/or ogg cap

ootmts wore found to be inaccurate for our USA• but thia technique is

11/6/ GS

WIP- II(12)

being studied fUrther . gg counts e.ro made by .moving the down covering

to one side end obeervinc; through the box entrance hole. or in tho case

ot very largo clutches,, sane eggs aro removed temporarily tor ccnmting.

This does not aeem to in.fluence hatching success . Incubntin{; tanales con

likewise be handled without &'feet.

After having gather ed a largo volume of data. dlll"ing tho first

~ yenrs or the proc;rom. the nurnbor of checks has been reduced to two

nesting s\U"Veya 1 in md-~ e.nd mid-June . Sufficient data ore on hand

to provide o.ccuro.to osthlatcs of totol production. Tho following average

hatch per noSt by species has be i detemin d e.nd is used in mnld.nG pro­

jections to tho total ha.tcha

l7ood Duok • 9 .S

Goldeneye - 9.4

Hooded lier {;&n.ser - 9 .6

The annual JiULintenano e check can nm be done during the late

winter months through tho uso of n ancmmobile.

Data o.ro muintod.nod i'or aaoh box throughout the season,, includ1ng

apecies- use,, number of egga, hatch, other Ui.ldlif'e uso,, etc . At the ma

or tho bcxx: checks or surveys,, e.ll do.to. are ca:ipiled to give uae by specie••

hatch (by species and totnl.) . !'a::iAJ.es banded or present,, and othor pertin­

ent remarks. Th sc cumua.l compiltltione nre maintained in refuge f'ilea for

analysis o.nd o omparison with preVious r eoul ta .

11/6/68

lfIP-II(lS)

Be O'l'lmt 1'ARSH AJ(D WATm BDDS (Reliabilit)r Data Clues B)

In establishing numben ot birda talline 111 thin this oategoey,

no torml IRU"Vey is oonduoted. Counts are ll&de of these birda 1n ocmjun­

otian with 1'1.eld work including watertarl counts, bending operatiana,

patrol, IDd general ob9ervaticma . Aa birds of' this t)'pe are aeldca present

in large nl.l:lben, estimate• are oanaidered to be reasonably .oourate.

11/7/88

TIIP-II(l4)

C • UOODCOCK AUD O'l'1Iffi SHORY.Bm.DS

l. Woodcock (Reliability Dato. Clo.ss: C)

F_.nah cyring, during tho firGt nook ar May, rei'Ugo personnel

ccmduct c. Sf.ncinb Ground Survey cover~ three separo.t routea. These

i·outec lll'G run dUl"ing tho evenin{; "Singing" period end per instructiona

roccivod :from Patuxant. 'l.'rlo of thoco routoG o.re off the re.rur;o o.nd

o.pproxim:l.tely ono-ho.l!' of tho third route is off tho rei'uge. Thie :route

runs nlang Route 78, ea.ot from the P.ivarcide Ceneteey to t'he Public Bo::i.t

U:mding. rihile the results of thic curvey do not re!'leot r i'uge populo.ticms,

they aid in daterm:tnin~ a trem:I. Then resulto, plus ce.sw:U observations

ond judgcmont baaed on laloon available habitnt, form tho bnoio for our

esti.mo.tcd population during tho cpring mgro:t.."ion. Throughout the reaninder

of tho yco.r , ref'Uge uoodcook populo.tionc ru· e bo.sed solely upon generc.l

obccrvntiono nlld projocted esti.In.ntes .

2 . OthPr Shorebirdc (nolio.bili ty Data. Clo.so : C)

llo 1'01-mnl curveya nro mnde of othe1· sharebirds ruid no rely

nlmoot ontiroly upon ceneroJ. obGEll'vo.tiono for obtaining their populations.

Shorebird hnbito.t io relo.tively ocorco nnd~ therefor , only m:i.ol.l number n

or these birdc ere ever obnorvGd.

ll/7/68

WIP-II(l5)

D. UPLAND GAME BIRDS (Reliability Data Class : D)

Tho Ru!'red. Grouse is the only species of this -cype present on the

ref'uge. Hnbitnt for grouse, whilo rather expo.nm. ve, is gmera.lly of poor

quality. Therefore, tho population is r ather small and sca.tterod. Through

the years, preferred habitat has been nott'Xl as o. result of observations

and it io pocsible to obtuin :fairly accurate es·timates of their numbers

by noting birds utili~ing thttSe covers.

Rutted Grouse o.re regularly fotmd on tho Island in the general

vicinity or Mo.e's Bend ruld north to an area. gen..,rally across from Uud.gett

(or Jemery•s) Island. On the mninland, these birds can be round in the

area o.djnoent to and between Blnok and l!aquam Cre~ks, in the highAr \'foods

bolow the Tabor and Bushey i'nrm grasslands, Dnd along the old l!aquam Day.

ll/7/68

t

WIP-II(l 6)

t:: . cm!T!R BIBDS (Reliability Data. Cl.rum : C)

Birdo fulling into tilia oo.tegory would :1.nol udo OTilo,, hni;iks ,,

oagl s . crone. bl.eek birds, and scmcbirdi:i. GOllllral observations when on

routin~ rci'uge oparu.tionn, pl uc observation 'trips :ror wnt ... ri'cml ocnsus

purpooeo, c;ivo u.o enough chta ror tilis category.

11/7/68

P. FURBFJUmRs. PRmATORS. AlID OTimR t1AUtALS

l . Furbenrers (R linbility Dntn Clwuu B)

a. Muskrat

WIP-II(l 7)

Through year a of exp rienco o.t this r tuge, it has boon

found thnt the only relio.ble manna of obte.jning on aoourote count of

the muskrat population is to condu~t c. houno count in tho winter otter

there is sui'fioimt ioo ocwer to support n man' s weie;ht. At tho time

houso ooim.ts c.re co.de. ono man cheClks ea.oh or the five trapping units,

roproeenting the mnjor conocntraticn o.rene. by snomnob1l e in a grid

fo.shion> coim.ting ach houae nnd. noting their sbee . A normAl-sized

house is considered to contain tour m.u.skrnts and tho population is

,aoaled up or down, depending upon house size. 'l'ha i'ivo t rappin.& units

cnn b ooverod by one man in two do..VB (avETage 10 man- houro ), depending

upon veathor nnd DJ103 conditions. Samo indioa.ticm of winter survival can

be notod during the spnne high water by the presence of i'eedor beds end

tho ' rats th.emselv s, but the annual populn.ti on is bo.sf?d pril:lnrily on the

winter houne counts.

11/ 7/68

WIP- II(l 8)

b . Ben.vel" (Rolinbility Do.ta Clas1n D)

Bora a.gain, populo.tion catimfl.tes ore bnsed upon tho nuobor

of activo hous s and their sizes. No i'orml nurvoy ic no.de. ro.ther noting

the loco.tion of' houses durillg tho oours or normal fi ld work. These

houses nre scntt r od over much of the r f'uge. mo.inly a.long tho river and

atrem:is . Host colonies remain in one 1000.tion for trio to five years W'.ld

then IlOV •

11/7/68

WIP..II(l9)

o . othrr (Rolinbility Dnta Clo.88: D)

.Anil!ullo under thio catagory (w a.sol. raink, otter) n:ro

present, but re.roly observod.. Of theoa, tho otter io most kncmn to be

prooont by its signo . No fol"lmll. BUl"Vl'Y• or those "other furbenrers" o.re

mo.do; ostimateo aro baned \"/holly upon gmeral observationn, uounll y by

th.air Gi&l$ •

ll/7/ 68

UIP- ll(20)

2. L..a:C::".nl ?rodo.to~s (Relio.bllity Dato. Class s C)

Popul.c.tiCll6 of Red Fax tm.d Raccoon o.r bo.sed on gen rnl obser­

vations of 'tho en:hn:ils thcm:Jelvcs through the coura or operntionnl field

t=ork. Also. c.ctiv fox dc:is end raccoon den tr es located on the refuce

giv UG coma indication CD to their atntus. At the pre:.ant ~me these

~ bo conaidered ns burben.rers,, but no trc.pping of these spocitta is done

on the r~e for tho fur trade. ('1r 1nvolvcmont with thes species is

primarily no predntors .

ll/'1/68

WIP-II(2l)

3. ~or }f'r1rmn]s (Relinbility Do.tn Clasfl: C)

~ane would include euch cnimals as Gre.y Squirrel. Snowshoe Hare.

ond Cottontail Ro.bbit. Her G ngninJ no formnl Durveyo nre conducted;

population aotina.tea ere based upo21 (;t'llPral obaervn.tiona within v.vnilablo

hn.bitn.t .

Populations of a.l.l speoi within this co.tegory aro low and

habito.t lilllited; therefore. while 1·eliability is olasoed as c. it is felt

tha.t eatimo.tes nro reasonably acow"O.to.

11/7/68

G. BIG GAllE (Relic.bility Dato. Cle.ass D - Spring Ozily)

Whit - to.ilod doer range over moDt of the re!'uge. including wo.tor

nr c whan hoz , heavy bru.nh and timber nrOOD dur1ng d p snaw or storo

poriods, and higher land ar nn durin8 cpring f l ood periodo . en before

cprin.g brG!lk- up nnd aubs quant t l oodinc, tho herd concentro.teo in r .fugo

fieldn, lured by tho oucculent new elov r gr<mth which gr mw up firnt.

It io durinr; tho flooded poriod thnt nlmoat <JVery animnl onn. bo c01mted.

The bulk of thio high land uen is cro.nnlo.nd, e.nd no tilo root of tho refuge

io lo.rgely flood d mth one to four f ot of \Vllter for one to one mid o. half

montiic, tho d r nro oon!'ined to n oonpnro.tivcly ma.11 o ~mt of open !o.nd o..nd a.re sily tol.liod. All but o. dozen or so nnSmol G can bo found here

during April mid Hay.

Other thnn the spring herd cmiaue, fo.'\7l18 ar countccl in c{'l!lcrnl

oboorva.tion.G during eo.rly e\lml:ler, gon.ero.lly starting tho f'iret eek of' June .

Th so ere nd.dod to kncr.m herd numb r to givo e. fairly c.ccurc.te !'all count.

There io conGidorablo movanent off -t; o refuge during tho to.ll e ru:ion, estm­

o.ted o.t nbout 50ft to 00% Of the sprinc o.nd ISUIMlller herd. ?Jnny of these

onimnla filter back on to tho rof'ugo by early uinter. end this nuobor is

rei'l ct d in the noxt springs • count , Durinr; the ui.ntor. oupn of the

herd e.ro somtim c concentrntad by d ep oncr.r or food ouppl y . Satlotines o

havo up to 40 miinlolo in a group. nn<l th so range together a. good part of

th inter. No offort is %ml.de to count nll o£ the groups in tho m.nter •

un1 ns Tie hnppon upon ono or J:10re groups . Relio.bility of opring counts is

goods the ra=uiindcr of the yror is R lin.bi11ty De.ta. Cle.as a D.

llo DllD- hourc ore involved, ns all counts w.·e mn.d durin{; r gul.cr

patrol or routin ref'ut; operc.tionc.

11/7/68

r •

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ROUTI11' SURV".rS Alm C':'NSUSQ

DEC 1 2 i9G3

Mi••i•quoi Wational Wildlife R@fuge Swaui»n. v .. nnont

u.s. n .. pa:rtmii-nt ot th.- tnt .. rior Bur~au or Sport Piah•rf•a and Wildlit•

Piah and Wildlit• 2nTio8

- ...

• T.ABLV OF CONTINTS

Pagfll WAT~L

• 1 • Wfl!elcly Counta or 'r.stima ws l

a. SpriD& oount1 l

b . Summer oounta 1

o. Fall oounts 2

2 . Wa~rtowl Production 2

s. Neat Box Surve)'S 4

OTH?'R WAT?R g. D MAP.SU BrtmS fl

WOODCOCI AND O'l111'R SHORtmIRDS 5

i. ll'oodoklc b

2. Other Shor•birda b

OTH1"lt BIRDS fl

UPLArD GANT. BIRDS

PURB'fll.AR~, lWOlAL FR'llDATORS, AUD omTP.R

• SMALL lWOIALS

1. PurbMrera 6

a. lluakrat 6

b . ha•"r 6

o. Ctbf!I r f'urbMrer1 6

2. M11111111&l Predator• 6

s. oth1,1 r Small ~ammal • 7

• !!I!.

Dlrlla 7

BABITA'!' COIDITIO•S 7

• PUBLIC tJS?. 8

1. P'r-8 U•@ P•rmit. 8

1 . Sp@oial u • ., P11rm1 t. B

a. Otticial Vi•itor• 8

4i. OtMr• 8

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• ROUTIHF s1mvr.ys Am C-n:HSUS11:S

WAT1"JU'l'OWL

• 1. Wtt•kly Count. or 1.!etima~•

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•

In ord11tr to tt•t&blilh wat•rfowl utilisation ot th• r•fUG@, it ie nttoe1eary to count or ••ti.mat• waterfowl populationa on a w@•kly bade. Tb11tett oaunta are mad• from th4' time ot io,.-out in the spring until th@ :tall tr•11ta,...up, uaually tram th11t tirat part ot April until mid-or late llOT•b11trJ during tM rema1 ning montha the ar.,.. ia ice bound and snow cov1111r@d, and no wat•rtawl u• Jr"lent.

a. Spring oounta - Th111111111 ar,. norm&lly •d• by oht1olc1ng ar•aa or gr•at•at waterfowl u1,, , i •"•• tlood•d oropfillllda and impounam--nt•, at in""'rTala of' onn •••k or l"'••• lloot or th,. ti•ld1 can b• ob­•-"-cl tram T"hiolna whilfll boata md/or cano•a muat b,. uaed tor ob••ning tlood•d martlh•• 1n th• int•rior ot ttu• r•tug... Flood•d timb•r ia aleo utiliafld by 1pring migrants, but du• to inaoc.-••1-bili ty, ••ti.mates must ba mad.9 tor this type ot u••• Beoauatit ot thfll d"'pth am ttxpana•11 of wa~r in th111 mareh•1, mo1t or th! apring waterfowl can b11t found in and n•ar th@ flood•d cropfb lda. It ii b•at to conduct count• on the croPP9d ar111aa during ~ @arly mo1•ning houra, particularly tor gefll1,., as th" birds tlm4 to t-d at that tia• end th11tn lr·av1t for sucb rfl!ating ar•ae ae th.. lalc• or flooded interior mar .rn .. s. Big L:arah Blough o1't--n hold a a spring population of Camda GAea•, but &oOfl!Hibility 1a ur:ually ditfioult until lat• April. Maint8nano@ oh8ok1 of duck n'let bone in mid-to lat" April 'Wlh8n most or the r tt.f'\Ji... ( fl!XC"Pt tor J.!aquam Swamp) i• trav@refHi, uaually giT•S us a taj.rly good indication or watforfowl ua• in the tlood•d timb@r and m&J'abfl!&. Du11t to high wat .. r aw ic" condi ti om in April, it ia aom•tim•t1 dit'ticult to g .. t aooura't!! tiglll'es a'ti a giv,.n tim•. Hown .. r, in suo\ inatano .. a, th .. &rf!al of uae muat ott•n be coT .. red at interTale c•f one to thr_. .. days in ord .. r to obtain ueabl8 flatimatea. During lat• April am •arly May, moat or tM ue111 ar .. aa ar• cov•red frequently by r•tuc~ p•r•onnnl, thtr4tby enabling ue to lce .. p track of numb@ra, JDOT~nta, and habit•• Ho a•rial oount8 are macht during t.hn 1pring migration. llan-houra exp,.nd .. d vary greatly tor 1tach count •• it d_p,.nda upon th• ar•a viait,.d, ice and ... t•r conclitiona, migration, ttto. ae to how much tim" 1a nefHl~d and how many m•n ar .. involTl!'d. COT•ring th"' impoundm,.nta will av•rag• up to night man-hour• p@r counts oth1tra may b• only 1-2 man-hours •

b. Swmll•r oounta - One• it ia dflt•nniMd that all migrant• l'aT• l .. rt -ueually by "arly May .. thtt euJmPr population oan b• d .. t'!rmin"'d by

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2

1) br11tedlng pair count•• 2) oocup&My ot m1t boz91, ne1t £orm1. am 11atural ne1t1, and. 3) by g•neral obaenationa ihroupout th8 l\Dll91' until looally-produo•d bird• attain n igbt &g• - at whiob timllJ their nmi>•r• arft add•d to th• adult population already pr••mt. In lddition. pr8-1,.a1on banUnr,, whioh ocma.-noe• by mid· Auguat. ott-m will indicate what proportion ot th• r•aid•nt duck population baa b••n aamphdJ hown"r• reeulta ot banding muat be w•ighltd M.Ch )"t&r in rttla ti on to th• a'bo9• taotora 1n order to dttWrmi.IMt th• Werth Of thfl!H bar.ding 1'98Ulta in d11ttft1'111.n1ng IW.fltl' populatiou.

o. Pall counta - Th• tall aigration into th• r11ttug .. and n-arby manhe• de&rmlDl!a th1t approdaat~ dat~ at whioh to ooamumo• more concentrated wat-rtowl count•. llonul a&ily oba•rvationa during the oo\a' as ot banding op-rationa and otht11r ti•ld work 1.:ndicat•a Wh•n migration ma atar~d. In addition. 1h• V•rmont Fish and G_. D•part.nt b•gi.na it1 annml tall a•rial wa't4r1'owl count• on S•ptfllJDb .. r 1, and •• an aupplit11d with a copy ot th•lr tabulat1on1, including a br-.kdmn tor th,. r11tug•. Thtt•• •rial oount• ar• oontinu•d on a bi-w•lll)cly bad1 until treestt-up which non.Uy occur• ha mid-llcn•"r• !'h• oounta -.d111 by thft State tona a good ba-11 for r •tug,. •tftrtowl population tlg\11'••• but a1nae th" oounta ar@ made only at t.o-w"1c int.tr .. all. it i• nt1tce11ary for u1 to 1upplttm•nt th• wl th witelcly counta • 1'h11a11t oounta 1.r• made by CMoking thtt m&in watftrtowl OOD011tntratlon arna • Big Marah Sloue;h am GooH Bq Pool - plm o'bee"ationa mad• cm oth•r retuge areu. Big llarah Slougti must be ohl!okftd bJ oanoe aa tbiiJre 11 no oth.,r a8an.I ot aoce••• Generally, a oount ot bird• in thfl Big llarllh Slough gi'V91 the b••t ind@z ot our tall population 1.1 thi• 11 the a.in waterfowl. con­o•ntration art1ta tor tall migrcita and up to 9°" ot our population can b9 tound in thi• marllh. Oounta hRr• oan g•n•rally be 111.dw at any tilll8 of dq bftO&UI• ot thtt birda' habit ot congr,.gating in tM SlOUfJl e

BOl'Ml wfteldy waterfowl oounta will expftlM! M a .. erage ot •ix to ten -.n-hour1. d•ptmding upon water l• .. N. conditiona. oono"lltration ant••• mmbttr ot ~raomittl imol .. 8d, eta.

1. Wawrtowl Produoti on

Annual irood oounta ha .... 'bft8n oonaid.-rftd ae a proper index ot r etug• production tor IUDY years.,; and data corr,.la~ with annual br~eding pair count• cm rttpre1Mtati .. • ~reaa h&v• b1tm ua~ in arri Ting at total ntug8 production •

..!,. BOlltlt'Y•r, lino• th• inc•ption or a progr• ot r•gul.- neat box 111tabli1h­D!nt md annual 1urv,.ya (s.., #S) tor tr•• n•ating 1p•oi•1 or clUolca, ow­a .. thoda ot arrivi~ at total production tor th•• .. and other 8J>90itt1 mTe tad to bn r"il-cl. Pacts arriv1td at through anal71i1 ot r•wlta tra llt'Yval y•ar• ot neat bcac 1urT1tye, tog•th•r with a .. •rag..S der1Tftd trca prniou• year• or gath~ing brood data. ga .. .- ua IQIDl!I tairl7 aoouraw tigur•• cono-rnb{; brood li•w• and •urvi .. al to tlying 111•• Aho, it wu 4et@rmin'!Cl 'that w.t4trt01rl population J'fltas.a.d on th4' r-.1'ug1t 1'ollow1ng 41aper•al or spring lllgranta 001111 at moatl7 ot brttftder• • Th11 o•parecl

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fawrably with known numbl!tra 01' D11ete in our neat bozea tor tree n-.ating ep(llOi8•. By noording th• Tar1at1on in population b11t~n th!! br-ttdilg flook and th• total Species tally tollowing thP 1>9J'io4 Whfm juvtmile• r8.ch fl~ stag•, w.- oan arriTf!I at a f'airly aoourate index or production. Thia automatioe.lly ttl1m1nat•a any oonjl!tcture regarding mortali'tr' ,and, it is belitTed, gives a truer pioturtt or production thm hatchil:lg 1uooeaa minus f!l&timated mortali't\Y loa99a .

Du&11 to thfl tact that tbf!I 1routP. tor 1'rood oounta ii ao long c.~ .. ~ map) am that it ooY8r• such a8D&ll peroentagn or actual brood territory. re­sult• ar• inoonolueh·• · oat of thn brood habitat 11 looat'"1 w11hin the impoundm!tnta, but th• dit.fioultins of OOT•ring th"'•" arl!l8a artt ao gr11at aa to malcfl brood c ounta worthl"H at th11 stag" ot 1mpoundm11111t d11tv11lop­m,.nt. Th• prea•nt rout- lilong th_. shor .. lin,. of ~'~;'t'•r. - Gooa• and Gandftr Bays, and o.-ad Crnl'k covnrs approximat-1y milee. Water 1-vel fluotla tions or Lalo• Cr.amplain from on"' y_.ar to anoth•r ar,. ott8n vaatly ditf•r8Dt, thua ornating larg"' ditfereDOf!l8 in availabl11 habitat, eap801ally in th@ Baye . \1a~r d8ptha det11trmiM just how much or the •horel~ brood habitat W]~ can b11t ocw•rftd md r48Ul~s rom on• year to another ar-. hardly oomparnblf!I 111d o~ot b"' oan•iderf!d r•liable . Th@rfttor•, brood counts, JUtr •• iffiID• diacontlnu•d tter thtt 198S attuon until auoh ti.me ae "Oci'niitiona ohange •)t;f'J"Joi•ntly to wal'rent t.)uit reaqnption of brood count11. Brood oounta M'f'" bt1t•n oonduoted a bout thrett time• annually with an •xt1enditure or eight nan-hour• per count •

AYeragtt brood aise• tor m1J.lards. black•. and blutt-winged tAal wertt obtained ~am numbers in brOOda •een OTM' a pttriod of 12 y..ara . 1'httae were ClaH III brood• moat ly, mid aom11 • f!ll"fl flying, •o th111 J>*roentagflt ot ibeatt brood• reaching flying ag" was rathftr high. For 'the wood duok. gold"'2.ttlf9, and hood•d mttrg&n•"r• the brood ai&ea were dewrmiud rrcm lcnGlrll hatching of clutch•• in our ne1t bo:D!ta . To th••"' brooda, we aelign~ higher mortality rates bAoau •" or the comparatively young-.r age •

Populations or breeding sp1tOi4'• ar• d•t-rmiDfld from oounta of pairt1d ducka or br~ md/or feigning tsalflla or attMiding mal.ea Bft@n along a pre­determimd routft at'ter thft 91>ring migration haa paaaed ncrth. Thia routft would oOYer approximat•ly 26" oft m. knGlrll brflt11ding labttat. Thia route 18 nm by oaxiot11 during th• two noning hours b•f'or • dark: and 11 shown on thft attach@d map. Approxi9t"lY tour man- hours ar• ~414 per br•ttdinc pair oount.

~ foll~ine; chart. bavn bttf!n ..,r~d up from th" tor•goi»g data arxl are conlid•red to b11t fairly accurate tor th• •J;lll*Oi1u r•pr11taPnt'"11 (next i-.g8)

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Mallard Blaok Wood Duok A. Goldf!~ B. w. Teal Hooded M"'l'gan•""r

Mallard Blaok Wood Daok A• Ooldeneye !. W. Tlll!al Hooded M•rg&n•flr

Brood Sise• (12 year average)

4.6• 6.8•

10.l e.1 B.l• 9.0

•Thean brood Bi&fl• de~rmined trcm brood count•. O'tners d~"rm1DAd f'rom n@at box data.

PWl°ofllntag• cl broods rwh1Dg tlying •tag@

P .. ro•ntagfll ot avaUabl~ habitat oooupi~d by mat boxtt•

8~ 8()% 60% 26" ~ 33%

, Higher peroftlltagfla tor Mallards aid Blacks wer8 baaed cm Claea III brood• (not" amaller brood a1ze•) •

For th" paat •"'Vlllll nfllat1ng anaeona, w• haVfl! be•n op@rat1ng a n8sting box progrem tor tre• neating duok• to prcrr1d@ an index tor u.e ln formulating produotion ourT•B on th• l'fttug•, aa well as fll&tabl18h1nc inor-.a•~ pro­ductivi ty or thee,. 1p90ie1. Prior to thia, all tr@• nt1at8ra were uaing natural tre• oav1 tifl!ll whfll'fl! tbtlty Wflr• ttxpoa•d to mamm•l ian prflldation. In 1967, w111 bad 87 bozft• awilabl" tor D"'ating with zt.3% box U11aga, end obta1Md a total hatoh ot 91 duclcl1nga. By 19~, w" had gradually tn­oreaa8d thtt nmLb"r ot box•• availabl,. t.o 129 and obtaiMd a total hat.oh ot 882 w1 th ea.1,C of thfll l>ox•a biting utilized. 'l"bie is produotivity in thfl propttr direction, but whiob probably cannot b4I! auhtantially increased until additional habitat i• d•T~lop•d or acquir~.

Thf9a,. n•at box•a arf!I oh.-c'lc•d tour tim111e annually during th8 mating 18aaon, th• tirat oh•ck b•!ns a combin•d maint•nano• oh•ok and n•atlng obi-ck. Sam- box•• hav• to ba cl•an41ld out, r-opail" •d, pol•• atraight4!Md, or havtt 11'98ting mat..rial add•d. Th• a"°ond and third chtoke are etriotly mating BUn~a wh~_n WA rf!cord a p•Oit'a, clutch aiae, etag~ ot incubation, or hatching suoc•••• Th• last crui.ck ia u.ually a oh~ck ot only tho•e n .. •t• •till und•r incubation during th• third om ck. Ch"'oking atarte in early April attftr tar-out and aib&ll!quently at int4itrvala not e.xoe~ing incubation p-.rioda. Th• hatching auco••• ia d8termin•d from olutch ~tt _ _pr""O•ding th .. hatch minus 1'.lon-hatohing ~· l,.tt in 'h met. llfllllbl'Ulf!f\ oo\Dita'Were found to b"' too inaocurat• :for 0\11' U8ft • ~gg counta artit :mad111 by mOTing th• down cO'f'•ring to on., aid" and oba,.rving thro~h tM entrano11 hol.-, or, in 'titut 0&•1111 ot v1try larg• olutohee, • .,. ot thf! eggs hav~ to be ~moftd t•porarily tor counting. This do111a not aeta to

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inf'lueno9 hatohing 8UD08H. Inoubating r-.1 ... oan llkftlatt be haniled w1 tbout etteot. Th@ looation ot the gmeral uea where neat baxes ar• looat111d. ie shawn on th,. attaohttd map. mid it ia poas1bl8 to check moat ot theH ai te11 by oanoe, exoept tor the final wok llben

............ c\..~ toot.work 18 nquireid. 1'h4 aTerage number ot man- houri required to oomplete all (4-8) oheck8 ot nHting box•a ia 125.

Data &1'8 maintain@d tor ~aoh box throughout thA a•aaon, including apeoiea-uaj!I, numb8J' ot er,g1, hatch, 8to. At th" end ot the box cheoJm all data are ooapiled ~o giv• U8fll by apitciaa, batch (total and by ap8ci1111), tana.l•s band•d ·or present, «to. Th•aP a'Dllual oompilationa are maintain .. d in retug111 fil.ies tor analyaia and oompari •on w1.1h pl'fltvioua re­aulte.

O'fB11';R Wil'll'R AND MARSH BmDS

In ~•tabliahing nt1nblllra or birds tailing 1111hin thia oatftgory, no formal aurvey is conduoted. Counts arA mad-- ot the1A birds in canjunotion •i1h field work inoluding waterfowl counts, banding op41rationa, ptt.Rol, and ga.eral oba9*ntiou. A1 birda of this typtt ar• seldom present in large numbers, eatSmates are oanaidered to be reasonably aocurattt •

1. lfoodooot - Poach apring, during 1h• tirst wnek or Kay. ret\lge p8raonml ooDduot a Singing Ground Surv ... y COVAring thr'"'' aeparat9 routeh Thttae routtts ue run during th.. eVttning •singing• period and 1Htr inatruo tiom reoeiTed it-ca Patuxent. f.110 or theae rout•• are ott the retuge ~ approxim.tely one-lw.lt or. the thud rout., is ott th~ retuga. Thi• route rune along Route 78, ft&at trOlll th .. R1Tttid.d111 Cemetery to th8 Public Boat Landing. While th4 results ot this aurv~y do not ren@ct r•tug1t popula­ticma. t.bey aid in dtttermlning a tr•nd. 'l'h•ae reaulta, plus oaaual obaervatiou and judg..-nt baHd on known anilable habitat, torm. the 'baei• tor our ••ti•tflld population during h apring migration. Through­out thft raaind91' or the :rear, r .. rug .. woodcook populations ar• ba•ed •ol8ly upon ~ral ob•~rvations and proj-otf!d ttats.mat•••

2 . Otlu~r lhor-.bil'de - Wo tor.al surv-ya _. .. adtt of othttr ehorebirda and we r•l:r ilmoat •nt!r11tly upon rn-ral oba11tnat1ona tor obtaiiiing their popula­tion1 . Shor•bird habitat 18 r-latii .. ly acvo• and, ~retor•, only small DUlllb"'l'a ot thestt bird• er• •T•r obe..r-.Ml.

O~ BIRDS

Bird• talling into tbi1 oat .. gory would inolud8 owls, bawka, t1tagl••• craw.. black birda, and aongbird1. G-.neral observation• when on routiM r•tuge OEH'l"&tiona, plua obaerTation trip• tor wat•rtawl o.meua parpo•111a, gi•• U8 enough data for thia oategory.

LOCATION

0

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UNITE !:> STATES DEPARTMENT Of THE INTERIO,. "SH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

FRANKLIN COUNTY VER•AOtH

S.:-ole in Miles 2 J

LOCATION

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UNITE:> STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ,ISM AlllO WILDLIFE SERVICE

MAP

MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

FRANKLIN COUNTY \IER•AON7

S.:-o!~ in Miles 2 3

• l.

•

8

UPI.AND GAMF. BIRDS

!he Ruffed GrouH ia the only specie a of this typ .. prt1snnt on tlJ? rttfuge . Habitat for groua,., whil• rath~r expansivP, is genitrally or poor quality. Therflfore, th~ population ia rather small and •oa.tt,.red. Through ttie yea.re. pr@ferred habitat has been no1;Ad as a rf!sult or obst'lrvationa and it i• poesibl~ to obtain fairly aoourat~ ft&timates or their numbArs by noting birds utilizing these oov~re.

1 . Furbearn•

a. Muskrat - Through years of ~xpPri.,nctt at this r~tug@, it has be"'n found that the only rfll iabl• m•ana of obtaining en accurate count ot the mut1krat population is to conduct a houre• ocunt in the wintftr atter there is sufficient ic• c ov.ar to support a man's wei:jlt. At the tlm• house counts er,, made, on-. to two ~n CMok f!&Oh or the tive trapping unite, rttpr11ta1tnting tbP- major oonc .. ntration areas, on toot in a grid fashion, coi-.ntint A&ch hoU11• and noting thdr siaea. 'A nor.mal- aiz@d hous" is cons1d,.r11d to contain four muskrats and the population !a eeal,.d-up or dawn d1Dpaming upon hous,. si•"'• Th• tiTe trapping units can b@ cov-r~d by on,., man in two to thr,.e days (av~ragflt 16 IIllD•houre ), d,.p,.nd~;ng upon w"ath"'r and snow conditions• Santt in­dication of wintfl!r su1·vival can b1t not.,d d\D'ing th,. epring high water by thfll pr.-u~nc~ Of fttt•der bfltdS and th~ 'rate th~H1VP81 but the annual population is bat1rd prim~rily on thf' winter hous ... oount1 .

b . BP&Tfllr - Hflre, a.gain, population e•timates are bas.,d upon thl· numb_,r of aotiv1t houses and their ahee . No :fonnal 11Urwy is Dl!lde, ra~r noting th• location ot hous~s during thP oours,. of normal Nt11ld work. Thea~ houe"a are acatt@rflld OVPr much of th• rt"i'uge, mainly along thff riv,.r and atrl!laml.( Th"' main ooncentration areas are notnd on the accompanying map. Y/, •· "'/ eM-,d~)

o . Other Furbearer• - Animals under this oat-.gory (w,,.aa,.1., mink, otter) ar111 prea-nt, but rar1tly oba"r~d. Ot thee.,, th!' otter ia moat kne1rn to be pr•••nt by its eigna • No formal eurV"'Y• ot thttaP- "oth .. r turb.-arer•" ar11 madeJ estimates ar·n baafltd wholly upon general obstt­vations, usually by -tih .. 11' aigne .

2 . 1481111181 Predators

Population1 of' Red Fox 1md Raccoon ar1t baattd on gfm!tral ob•M"vation• ot tht! an1mal a t.heme•lv,.• i~hrough th@ oour•"' ot OJ>@rational field won:. Aleo, aotiv111 f'ox d•m and rioooon d,.n tr-•• looat•d on thft rtttu&" gift ua aom~ indication aa to thiir status •

3. Othf\r Small llammala

LOCATION

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MAP

UNITE:> STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR flSH ANO WILDLIFE SERVICE

MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDL IFE REFUGE

FRANKLIN COUNTY V[RIAON T

S.:- o!e in Miles 2 3

E 1~

.,

Th••- would includ• 1uoh animal 1 •• Gray Squirrflll and Snc.ahott Bal'fl. Herft. again. no tonul IUl"Y"'Y' ar• oonduct~J population ••tiate1 are baa..cl upon g•neral ob9.-rvation1 •1 tilin aW.ilabl"' habitat.

9mt -Wbit@•W.led dHr :rangt! OT"'I" mo1t Ot the r•tuge. including •Wr arttal

whttn tro1en. heaT)" bru1h &r:d timber areae during dtt1tp 1now or 1tora period•• and higher land arna1 during •pring tlood period•. PY.-n befori! 1pring br"9kup am aib1•quent tloodS.ng, the hf9rd conoftntrat4tts in r@t'ug• f'i•ld•• lurM by the 1uooulmt nn olOTer growth which greens up tirat. It 11 during the t.loodttd p!riod t.hnt almo1t •Y .. ry animal oan b• oountltd. The bulk or thi• hidt land ar@a 11 agricultural oropla4 mid graHland. and a1 the re1t ot th• r1tf'ugfl! 11 lrg"lY flood~ with on~ to tour f-.et ot wat,.r tor OM to OM and a halt months., th• d@ftr &1"11 conf'1n•d to a ocape.ratiY.,.ly aaall 1ttgm~t ot open land and tr• eadly talliftd. All but a dosen or 1 o ani•l • can bf! tound her,. mrlng April and May.

othttr than thfl 1pring h•rd onn.ua. t81f118 arf! oount8d in geMral ob1ervation1 during early IUllllL"r• cenerall.y •tarting th• tir1t W!llek ot JUM . Thtta• are add•d to lcnom herd nwab•r• to g1T• a fairly aoouratft tall oount. During th• wint@r, the hl!rd 11 a0Zll9timea conc@ntrat@d by dtt@p 1now or tood 1uppl7. 10 again we oan obtain a totnl o@nau1. So.ti•• we hay.- up to '° animal• ln a uoup, and th••• rang• fcog•t)ui1r a good part or th• •intflll"e

~ - -No man- houri ar• inwl'Tffld a• all oounte ar• mad• during r@gular patrol or routinffl retug• operation• •

HABITAT CORDITI OHS

Habitat quality am quantity dfllpMld• in larg• m!&IUJ"fll on wat-.r elevation and weather during and preceding h gr01r1Dg ••••on• Conaequ~ly, it l• i:aportant to kttfflp r9gular water leY~l and preolpliiation data and t.pera­tur• oh•~••• J'or this. md o'thftr purpoaea. wat9r guage1 are maintain•d in prinolpal iapoundPnte. plua a lak::e lev1tl gmge tlHa whioh r•ading• artt taken at t.o-weftk lntenala. Daily temp@l'at\lr• and prfflpltation data are talcMI &ca imtna.ntll maintai.D8d at M&d'iuarter1. Perlocllo N.eld cheoka &rft .cl• during the oour1• o~ other op8.J'ationa (watM"towl oounta. neat box ohttob, etc. ) and judg~•nt ii madf! •• to th• etatu1 ot thft habitat. TranHot liM• &r8 nm only AT-ry ffflw year• . Coaparlaon :may 'bft made w1 th preTlou1 year•' habitat concliti=-, but is buffld m&inl7 upon lmlrldual judggajll!nt rath•r than upon quant11iati'Tfll and qualitatiT@ 1apllng. Thia •am• prooedurtt hold• tor the ~uation or 1upplem~tal food crop• or millet, buckwh•at, andalOTfllr,

PD'B LIC USP.

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•

•

8

ThAa,. &r8 iHued on a numitrioal basil, ocm:m-nolng each ~ar on Janu•y 1, and include auoh usf"a as aoc"•• to thA boat launohhlg area at Mac'• Bend, b,.rrying, end picking froga . Th"H permlta total about 126 per par, but many or th.i 1.Dol\11~ " ••• and party. • Th~ref'ore, th"r~ would be an a-y111ragr• total or about 225 peraona p111r yfll&r using th8 r@!'uge um er th• Free Uar• P111rmi t 1yatt1111.

2. Special Ua., Pennlt1

Thtus• permit• ar@ iasued for th8 1alft or r@tugf! product. {bay, oordwood, bett-k81!plng) and an &T111rng@ of t111n (10) ~rmlta a.re laaUl!d per ywtar.

s. Official Vlei tora

••

At the preaent time, rf9oorda ot ottioial visitors are maintab:led in the R•.f'ugP- Manag"r'• dally 1.,1n-.rary, W(lll@kly narrativ•. and in the Narratlvt' Report.

ot.hera

Public ua" undAr this cat•gory inc!ud•a fieb•rm~n ual12g thf!! public .t'llhlng ar"a and boft launching ar"aa and tranei"nt1 using th! two pionic ar·•as along Route 78. !'atimat@e of ua111 ia imtirPly by g•nttral obeervationa which ar" pr.oj .. ct8d according to thf! 1111ason and w111ather • It ia twlt that UI" ot the picnic ar@as 1s actually h1gb8r than we ha..-8 bf!mi f!Stimating as the sit•a may b• uatitd by asmay u 11.x part188 during the oouref!! or on"' days wn haYP no m"ans of g1ttting an actual count, but e1t1matea should bf' rPvinAd upward• trom now on.

Date 1 December 12, 1988

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• MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS WATERFOWL-1963

CANADA UNITED STATES

Area open for Waterfowl Shooting

Refuge Boundor y

.9

E.F. C. 630830

Moquom

SCALE

Martindale Point

Boy

e.&oiiil!!!!!!!!llOmiil!!!!!liiiiiiiiom· !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!9eoiii;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;i;i160 c HA 1 N s

.. U. s. DEPARJME3T OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FI·SHERIES AND WIIDIFE

MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WIIDL!FE REFUGE SWAm'ON 1 VERMONT

WATERFOWL AND COOTS - 1963

1. Waterfowl hunting is permitted on the .Public Hunting Area in strict conu>liance with all applicable Federal, State, and Refuge laws and regulations.

2. OPm AREA --The following two tracts are open to waterfowl and. coot hunting, as prescribed by the Vermont season:

1. All lands, waters, and marshes within the refuge boundaries north of a line from the Missisquoi River to Martindale Point / including Shad Island, as posted.

2. All of the lake shore marsh at Maquam Bay from the Brown property line on the west to a point opposite the junction of the old rail- • road bed and the shore road on the east / as posted.

Ducks and Coots Oct. ll-Oct. 27, 1963 and Nov. ll, 1963-Dec. 8, 1963 Geese Oct. ll-Oct. 271 1963 and Nov. ll, 1963-Jan. 2, 1964

3. USE OF DOGS ---No more than 2 dogs per hunter may be used for the purpose of retrieving A dead or wounded birds / but such dogs shall not be allowed to run at W large on the Public Hunting Area or elsewhere on the refuge.

4. HUNTERS' REPORTS

It is requested that all hunters hunting on the Public Hunting Area report their success to Refuge Headquarters periodic&~ throughout the hunting season. While this is not mandatory, such information will better enable us to evaluate the success of our Public Hunting Area, i.e., gunning pressure, hours hunted, numbers and species of waterfowl. taken, crippling loss / etc. Your cooperation will not on.l;y be appreciated, but it could help us to provide better hunting opportunity for YOU in the future.

5. DON'T forget your DUCK STAMP!

6. GOOD HUNTING!

•

Regi.am1 Di.reo1;Gr• Bo9tC111. ..... 02109 Jwr lT• U•

mr. - II.am (1'1U1Ue x...._,. Pl• - Jllreeclillg Pit.Sr~)

llel'• Ille Sa .... 1- Jlr. lkll'a1 a J.Zjzo/88 w W...W.C Ule oentimatd.• ~ .... ,,.,,. ,.s.r oounta.

BNed.bi& ,ail' oowt;a •" ib1a •ta11il• are _,_..,, .. ~ te 4etendaa wee ~ e1 breed4•c a.a. pe~ l1Mk DaDka ..._ ilil a l•Hr ...... Jf&lluda wl m....s.pa ~-.i. !be intaaatd.m oMldM4 la ..t na1d.81d.oalq •• •• ~. , .. clwa •'* ,. s.twtlm ar •.iw• w •n•al •••-' • a e!•cl• ............ tt-.

• broo4 oomte. ':L;~ OOllllblnW• 1lpCIR Dale ...._l.aml'• 114Y1.oe. • ...._ la ao t..W :bmt1Te4e Proclm1lle ~ -1-'f•l mpeoi• -tac nentng 'baxea o• 'be., __ ~ oCliipltie4 (Wood Duak. w...,.. ail Booded Jferpu•)· ~' ~ Go14•9P• t• ~ thM• apeoi• are we aean during 11reacU»c pair ocurta. The ban 1-11Mwc pllil' ...t oazmot 'be oClllillao'tal .W art.> '•• e\* __ , dft'd11 '- s. .... prM.n r°"'8 ia 1.he 12..Ue P9'tae1Hr or ... Ialaml ( ... nP).

llbile the renlu ~om- breecliJlg :pUr ccaat. haw g__...11.t 1- reliabll11r• 11; la.., f'eeling 1bat .. ahoal.4 o-'SW .r lire .. bag pld.r ...- kere• U ~ 1io -.1ata1il tread illtomaid.• 111111/• '° •• u a _..-' llllU.oaw ot the pradliD'td.• ot 1llLe po nd wtdag epeoi• ..nl•flll • ..,.,.,. Thi• u . perhapa. oar bee• pr•d ••=• or !Weou\1.Jac 11lelr ,..mns.. and u iatonaid.m - oMok -- -dm'1Jlg th• ., ... ... -.rl7 tan.

!h1a ata't!.•' a- 1IIP c1l"atit. ciatecl ll/8/68. U.a not ap•~ P'crri4e prooedm'• iv udJlc 1IMt brMC''nc ias.r 4a1a. BuwvWJ". • alluded. 1ID allwe. •• Uli9CllWf.ti.W obtei11tiel. ia \llfeCl to uaiat ia judgSng _. l'~ produnicm.. Un4s praenti omdiU...• th1a hrr.tGz7 i• •61 CIDl1' l'na thi• atandp«xlJR.

TO

FROM

SUBJECT:

9:>10·104

.~PTION/\L PDRM NO. 10 . MAY 19e2 £DITION

GSA l'l'MA ('1 CFR) 101•11.t

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

Memorandum All Refuge Mane.gers

Regional Supervisor, Boston, Mass.

Wildlife Inventory Plans - Breeding Pair Counts

DATE: December 20, 1968

The generally low reliability and limited application made of data gathered in periodic Breeding Pair Counts on most re:f'uges in the northeast have been discussed with Dale Sutherland. It was concluded that unless a refuge has a specific use for the data obtained frora these counts that they should be omitted. The fact that 3322b of the Refuge Manual indicates that breeding pair counts will be run is not sufficient criteria for continuation if there is no practical validity or use for the data collected.

Information for NR-lB could be gathered during a modified regular weekly wate~r'owl inventory at the appropriate time ..

The above would in no way relieve the project leader from obtaining . the necessary waterfowl production estimates but rather provides the

latitude for deletion of the breeding pair counts if they are not useful at a particular station.

The sections of several station's Wildlife Inventory Plans dealing with Waterfowl Brooi Counts and Breeding Pair Counts show no means of correlation other than a general state~ent that the pair counts are useful. Please review the application of .Breeding Pair Counts at your station and advise this office by January 20 your rationale of whether or not these counts should be continued at your station.

In your rationale please consider the utility of your pair counts in determining.

2.

3.

4.

The actual breeding populations vs . migrants, post-breeders, non-breeders, etc.

Species and total breeding populations.

Species nesting success by relating pair counts to brood counts.

The adjustments that may be required· to correct for relative species visibility in breeding pair and brood counts.

Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

•

5. Species and total waterfowl pro:luction in conjunction with brood. cowit data .

6. Correlation with. other routine data such as that for nesting devices, nesting success/predation, etc.

7. Whether or not your present plan specifically provides procedures for using the data gathered.

Bombay Hoo1t Brigantine Erio Great 1ileado·.v.:; Great Sr:3!!1p I roquois Missisqt~oi

Montezt:..:·~1 ¥oosehor~:. _ Parker Riv~r

· Prfr:e Hook 1Y)of'.',T0Yi

Thomas C. Horn