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REVIEW AND APPROVALS

MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Swanton, Vermont

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1994

(7) c?l Robert A. Zelley Date Don Frickie Date Refuge Manager Associate Manager Review

MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Swanton, Vermont

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1994

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

The Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge includes most of the Missisquoi Delta where it enters Missisquoi Bay, a part of Lake Champlain. The Refuge is situated in the northwest corner of Vermont. Its' boundary is within a few hundred yards of the Canadian border.

The total Refuge area consists of 6,338 acres. Diverse habitat types break down as follows: woodland swamp, 1,769 acres; shrub swamp, 3,937 acres; hayfields and old fields undergoing succession, 520 acres; and about 108 acres of commercial forests. Administration lands for roads, buildings, etc. take up about 12 acres.

The floodplain and marshes of the Missisquoi Delta provide a major resting and feeding area for migrating waterfowl. Waterfowl production is also an important activity. Nest boxes supplement natural cavities for wood ducks, common goldeneyes and hooded mergansers. Nesting habitat for black ducks and other ground-nesting waterfowl is limited by high water during the spring.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

A. HIGHLIGHTS 1

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 2

C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title 3

2. Easements 3

3. Other Nothing To Report (NTR)

D. PLANNING '

1. Master Plan NTR

2. Management Plan 3

3. Public Participation NTR

4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates 4

5. Research and Investigations NTR

6. Other 4

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel 4

2. Youth Programs NTR

3. Other Manpower Programs 7

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4. Volunteer Programs 8

5. Funding 9

6. Safety 9

7. Technical Assistance NTR

8. Other 10

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General 13

2. Wetlands 14

3. Forests NTR

4. Croplands NTR

5. Grasslands 16

6. Other Habitats NTR

7. Grazing NTR

8. Haying 16

9. Fire Management 16

10. Pest Control 16

11. Water Rights NTR

12. Wilderness and Special Areas NTR

13. WPA Easement Monitoring Areas NTR

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity NTR *

2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 17

3. Waterfowl 18

4. Marsh and Water Birds 19

5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 20

6. Raptors 2 0

7. Other Migratory Birds 2 0

8. Game Mammals 21

9. Marine Mammals NTR

10. Other Resident Wildlife 21

11. Fisheries Resources NTR

12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking NTR

13. Surplus Animal Disposal NTR

14. Scientific Collections NTR

15. Animal Control 21 '

16. Marking and Banding 22

17. Disease Prevention and Control NTR

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General 2 3

2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 2 3

3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers NTR

4. Interpretive Foot Trails 25

5. Interpretive Tour Routes NTR

6. Interpretive Exhibits/ Demonstrations NTR

7. Other Interpretive Programs 25 *

8. Hunting 34

9. Fishing 36

10. Trapping 38

11. Wildlife Observation NTR

12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation NTR

13. Camping NTR

14. Picnicking NTR

15. Off-road Vehicling NTR

16. Other Nonwildlife Oriented Recreation NTR

17. Law Enforcement 38

18. Cooperating Associations NTR

19. Concessions NTR

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction 38

2 . Rehabilitation NTR

3. Major Maintenance 39

4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 40

5. Communications Systems NTR

6. Computer Systems NTR

7. Energy Conservation NTR

8. Other NTR

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs 41

2. Other Economic Uses NTR

3 .

4 .

Items of Interest

Credits

41

42

K. FEEDBACK NTR

L. INFORMATION PACKET

(See inside back cover)

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A. HIGHLIGHTS

Deep Freeze Settles In Vermont page 2

Achievement Awards page 6

Osprey Fledge From Refuge page 17

Vermont Junior Duck Stamp Contest page 27

Greenwing Festival page 29

Stephen J. Young Marsh Dedication page 31

National Fishing Week Celebration page 36

New Outhouse page 38

Ducks Unlimited Marsh Project page 39

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B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Weather conditions - temperature and precipitation - are monitored at the Refuge Headquarters in Swanton, Vermont.

The past year was below average in terms of temperature, average in rainfall and below average in snowfall, receiving 25.8" of rain and 106.3" of snow. The average 1994 temperature (Severity Index) was 42.35 F, slightly above the 10 year average (1983-1993) Severity Index of 41.36 F. The high temperature for the year occurred on July 21st when the mercury hit 92 F. Temperatures bottomed out for the year on January 2 6th when the mercury plummeted to -40 F with the coldest temperature on record for this area. The winter of 1994 will long be remembered as the temperature hit -20 F on January 6th, -40 F on the 26th, and -32 F on the 27th, all record breakers. February was not much better with -18 F on the 1st, -22 on the 9th, and -2 0 F on both the 10th and 11th. Spring was eagerly anticipated here at Missisquoi. '

1994 Weather Conditions at Refuge Headquarters

Temperature CF) Precipitation (inches) Month Hiah Low Ave. Rain Snow

January 38 -40 13.8 -0- 32 . 5 February 52 -22 -15.0 -0- 25.0 March 36 15 25.5 .02 23.1 April 84 30 57.0 3.02 21.4 May 84 30 57.0 3 . 69 -0-June 90 44 67.0 4.87 -0-July 96 54 75. 0 3.31 -0-August 90 45 67.5 3.97 -0-September 79 36 57.5 1.95 -0-October 71 27 49. 0 2.14 -0-November 65 19 42.0 1.36 -0-December 50 01 25. 5 1.05 4.5

TOTALS 25. 38 106.50

Table 1. 1994 temperature and precipitation conditions.

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C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title

The refuge acreage increased with the purchase of 264.5 acres of wetland formerly owned by Jocelyn Clark. Total acreage of the Refuge is presently 6338.5 acres.

2. Easements

The following is the status of easement property as of the

close of CY 1994. 1

Property in Franklin County, Vermont:

Former Roberge Farm: Current owner: Dennis Nolan; The easement has not been posted but this will be done in the spring of 1995.

Former Severy Farm: Current owner: Dr. Robinson; I have no information about the sale that occurred in 1994. An updated easement survey map will be needed to post th^ easements on this property in 1995.

Havreluk Farm: The current owner is the same. This is an easement to buy down the mortgage. No survey map has been provided to date.

Property in Franklin County, New York:

Former Pollack Farm: This farm was transferred to the Service in full fee title in 1993.

Former Covey Farm: There are several small easements on this property. This property has been sold but the sale was not concluded as of the end of 12/31/94. Information as to the new owner and a copy of the meets and bounds of the easement surveys has been requested so that these easements might be posted in 1995.

D. PLANNING

2. Management Plans

A draft Upland Management Plan was reviewed by the Zone Biologist. The plans needs further rewriting to provide for methods of evaluation the management objectives. A point count songbird survey was done under contract to better understand the trade offs that could occur with a change in current management strategy of the refuge uplands.

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4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates

The Regional Archaeologists, John Wilson and Rick Kanaski, examined the site where the handicap accessible vault toilet was to be installed in June. While here they also examined a proposed site for a handicap fishing pier at Louie's Landing. Following their examination of these two locations, the archaeologists travelled to the Westville Unit in New York State to inspect the buildings on this former farm for any historical or cultural significance.

6. Other

Ecosystem Approach to Fish and Wildlife Management

The Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge is located within the Lake Champlain Ecosystem. The Manager attended several team meetings during the year as the Service makes the transition to this management approach. Resource Priorities and Management Strategies were identified during the course of this planning process through the end of 1994.

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel

Three personnel changes occurred during the year. The Refuge Operations Specialist position remained unfilled from the beginning of the year until November 13th, when Deborah Poelker transferred in from Ruby Lake N.W.R. in Ruby Valley, Nevada. The Maintenance position was vacated on May 14th, when Engineering Equipment Operator Kevin Lamm transferred to San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Los Banos, California. On September 4th, Norbert Blaskowski, a longtime Refuge volunteer was hired to fill the position. Missisquoi welcomes our new staff members and we hope to havd a long relationship with these dedicated people.

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1. Robert A. Zelley - Refuge Manager, GS-12, PFT.

2. Deborah A. Poelker, Supervisory Refuge Operations Specialist, GS 9, PFT, EOD 11/13/94.

3. Brenda Mullen, Office Assistant, GS-5, PFT.

4. Juanita I. Blaskowski, Outdoor Recreation Planner, GS-9, PFT.

5. Norbert Blaskowski, Maintenance Worker, WG-7, PFT, EOD 09/04/94.

6. Kevin Lamm, Engineering Equipment Operator, WG-8, PFT. EOD 07/25/93, transferred to San Luis NWR May 14, 1994

7. Cory Brow, Jobs Training Partnership Act, Youth Program Vermont Department of Employment and Training.

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ORP Blaskowski is presented with a Special Achievement Award by RM Zelley NB

OA Mullen is presented with a Special Achievement Award by RM Zelley NB

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TABLE 2 REFUGE STAFFING 1990-94 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

Year Permanent Temporary Total FTEs Used

FY94 3.84 0 3.84

FY93 5 0 4.40

FY92 5 2 4.38

FY 91 5 2 5.26

FY90 4 2 4.20

3. Other Manpower Procframs

In order to accomplish some routine maintenance operations during the summer, we utilized a job training program funded through the Vermont Job Service Office. Rodney Therrian and Rick Benjamin were employed through this means and helped us accomplish the seasonal boundary posting, grounds maintenance, trail maintenance, other minor maintenance during the summer working a total of 477 hours.

Warren Vanslette, a Missisquoi Valley Union High School student enrolled in the work experience program worked a total of 260 hours during the 1994 school year. Warren helped keep the interior of the building clean and the grounds around the building spruced up.

In November, Cory Brow, came to us through the Jobs Training Partnership Act, Youth Program, Title II C, a federally funded program administered by the Vermont Job Service. This program is for young people ages 16 through 21, to help them gain work experience, learn job skills and employer expectations. Cory has been working with Maintenance Worker Blaskowski and has been a valuable asset here at Missisquoi.

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4. Volunteer Program

Volunteers are an integral part of Missisquoi, without the help of these dedicated people biological surveys such as waterfowl pair surveys, waterfowl brood surveys, banding and nest box checks could not be done. In addition our volunteers can always be counted on to help out at fishing derbies and Green-wing day. This year we depended on volunteers more than ever as the Refuge was short staffed for most of the year. Volunteer Marti Sterin became volunteer coordinator for the biological surveys. Marti stepped into the void left by the absence of a Refuge Operations Specialist, Thanks to Marti and her capable staff of volunteers the surveys were completed, data complied, and reported, all in all a job well done.

Volunteers also came forward to help with maintenance projects. Summers are short in Vermont, without a maintenance person, there was too much to do and too little time to get it done. To our rescue came our volunteers, Joe Bertrand helped with boundary posting, Dan & Lisa Swainbank helped with banding, Dan even t6ok over baiting so Refuge Manager Zelley could have some free time on weekends. Norbert Blaskowski was here at the Refuge almost daily, doing maintenance, trail maintenance, building maintenance, helping out at public use events, etc.

A total of thirty-two volunteers donated 275 hours, our volunteers led bird walks, canoe trips, woodcock walks and many, many more activities which are detailed in the Public Use section of this narrative.

Our volunteers are one of our greatest assets, a few hours a year, week, or day, we appreciate each and every one of you. Thanks to alii

On October 6, Refuge staff hosted the annual volunteer dinner. A garage bay was transformed into a dining area and the cooking began. The volunteers were thanked for their continued dedication to Missisquoi Refuge and tokens of appreciation were presented. Hats and tee shirts are always hot items and this year we found some digital clocks inscribed with "Our Volunteers are Special".

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5. Funding

Funding for fiscal years 1990 to 1994 is tabulated below.

Table 3 Missisquoi NWR Funding for FYs 1991-95

Fund FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 Type

Minimum Level 167,246 177,713 192,699 171,235 203,131

MMS & Base Maintenance

51,000 28,000 29,000 34,500 17,000

Supplemental Base Maintenance

5,700

Other O&M 1, 000

Ecosystem, Team Projects

20,800'

Watchable Wildlife Wetland Education

1, 500 1,500 1, 000

Wetland Restoration 10,000

Volunteers 500 500

Fire Mgt. 500 6,500 500

Other Offices 8,000

Totals 218,246 207,213 223,699 213,735 255,631

6. Safety

No accidents occurred during the year. The Refuge safety officer duties were assumed by Refuge Manager Zelley during most of the year while the Refuge Operations Specialist position was vacant.

Office Assistant Mullen and Engineering Equipment Operator Lamm attended a snowmobile safety class sponsored by the Vermont State Police at the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Swanton on January 31.

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Safety training on the ATV. NB

In compliance with bloodborne pathogens safety requirements, CPR microshields, latex gloves and disinfectant toweletts were placed in all vehicles, snowmobiles and boats, as well as in the first aid kit at headquarters.

The Refuge staff attended a stress management seminar on March 25th that was sponsored by the Vermont Federal Executive Association.

8. Other

Refuge revenue sharing checks were delivered to the towns of Highgate and Swanton in the amounts of $3,252.00 and $4,335.00 respectively on April 25, 1994.

Refuge Manager Zelley attended an Advocacy Training course in Amherst, MA the week of January 3-7.

On January 11, Outdoor Recreation Planner Blaskowski and Refuge Manager Zelley attended a planning meeting for the 1994 Watchable Wildlife Conference.

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Refuge Manager Zelley attended compatibility determination training at Northampton, MA. from January 24th to 27th.

On February 9th, Marti Sterin, refuge volunteer, attended a public meeting to hear comments on the new town municipal plan for the town and village of Swanton. Marti was there to bring back any concerns that might have involved the Refuge. Nothing concerning the Refuge came up. However, a letter was sent by the Refuge Manager to the planning commission to comment on parts of the town plan that addressed Refuge issues of public access, facilities and coyote populations.

On March 2, Refuge Manager Zelley attended a meeting in Waterbury, Vermont to discuss the status and the research needs for the Black Tern. The meeting was organized by Diane Pence, Regional Office Nongame Coordinator, and attended by Service personnel from areas in the region where this species occurs and by Vermont Natural Heritage Program staff.

On March 8, Outdoor Recreation Planner Blaskowski met with Skip Thomas, State Chairman of Ducks Unlimited and Eric Goodenough, Ducks Unlimited, to start making plans for a "Green-wing" Festival to be held at the Refuge on July 16.

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Refuge Manager Zelley attended Law Enforcement in-service training at the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR April 10 - 15.

Engineering Equipment Operator, Lamm attended the Fire Training Course: S-205 Urban Interface(Wildfire and Structural) April 11 -15 at Acadia National Park in Maine.

ORP, Juanita Blaskowski, attended Advocacy training at Northampton, MA April 27 - 29.

Refuge Manager Zelley met with Carl Melburg and New York State personnel to look at land on the Plattsburgh Air Force Base. Areas of possible Service interest were identified.

Refuge Manager Zelley attended an initial meeting of the Habitat Restoration Team for Vermont at the White River National Fish Hatchery, Bethel, VT in April.

Refuge Manager Zelley attended the Annual Conference of the Northeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies held in Burlington, VT on May 2.

Refuge Manager Zelley attended the ecosystem implementation training at Northampton, MA., May 11-12.

•

Refuge Manager Zelley attended a luncheon with the State Boy Scouts of America representative to learn about "Explorer" and to promote career awareness.

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On May 20, Refuge Manager Zelley attended a meeting of all law enforcement entities in the area from the U.S. and Canada to plan a joint surveillance and enforcement effort this summer.

John Wilson and Rick Kanaski, RO Archaeologists, visited on June 1 to check the headquarters site for the handicap accessible vault toilet to verify no significant archaeological resources were present. They also examined the proposed location for a handicap accessible fishing pier on the Missisquoi River at Louie's Landing. The following day, they traveled to the Westville Unit in New York and reviewed the buildings on this property as to whether they had any historical significance. Some time in the future, it will be necessary to dispose of these buildings consisting of a house, barn and other out buildings.

RM Zelley attended a mid-career retirement seminar at Burlington, VT. The course was presented by Office of Personnel Management and had been arranged through the Vermont Federal Executive Association.

Office Assistant, Brenda Mullen, attended the Administrative Workshop held at the Regional Office, June 13 - 16.

On June 17, Jan Taylor, Zone Biologist North and Charlie Peliz^a, Central Zone Biologist, and Wetlands experts visited the Refuge and were provided a tour of the wetlands of the Missisquoi Delta. The Cranberry Pool and lakeshore areas were visited. It appears that we may be doing the right thing by not having the impoundments completely enclosed from lake flooding in the spring.

Compatibility Determinations and related documents were submitted to the Regional Office at the end of July.

Refuge Manager Zelley, and wife, volunteer Marti Sterin, attended the Shorebird Management Workshop at Plum Island, Newburyport, MA. August 15 - 19.

Volunteer Biologist, Marti Sterin, attended the Regional Biological Workshop at Patuxent in September, Marti represented the Refuge, as our Refuge Operations Specialist position was still vacant at that time.

On the 13th of October, ORP Blaskowski met with administrators of the Tobin School, Roxbury, Massachusetts and Massachusetts State Representative Kevin Fitzpatrick to discuss recycling abandoned properties. A strategy for revitalizing urban conservation and outdoor recreation for people and wildlife was discussed.

*

On November 18, ORP Blaskowski and Hector Ruiz, RO, met with Massachusetts State Representative Kevin Fitzgerald, Legislative Aide Patricia McDermont, Tobin School Administrators and Mission

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Church Administrator Father John Hennessy to discuss a partnership between the National Urban Wildlife Institute, the Round Table Association, Saint Alphonsus Hall, The Tobin School and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Refuge Manager Zelley and ORP Blaskowski met with other members of the Lake Champlain Basin Ecosystem management team to discuss a strategy for outreach. Kathy Zeamer, Regional Office, PAO, assisted and presented a model for developing an outreach strategy.

Refuge Operations Specialist, Deborah Poelker, attended a Gull and Cormorant Management meeting on December 8 at Waterbury, VT. Gull and Cormorant issues on Lake Champlain, including planning for a lake-wide cormorant survey in 1995 and potential management strategies for the future was discussed.

NAWMP Activity Highlights

The Refuge used a matching challenge grant from Ducks Unlimited to construct a small dike on a drained area of the refuge. This marsh will be at least partially flooded all year now. The project construction was completed July 27.

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On September 10, this marsh was named the "Stephen J. Young Marsh" at a ceremony on the site on Tabor Road. Approximately 70 persons were in attendance to honor Steve, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee and a Swanton native, who died in an airplane crash in 1992, while conducting a moose survey in Alaska.

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General

Missisquoi NWR has a total of 6338 acres. This acreage is comprised of mostly palustrine wetlands (5697 acres), but grasslands, woodlands, brushlands, and croplands are also included.

Due to the extensive wetland habitat available and its importance to locally breeding and migrating waterfowl, management emphasis is placed on these habitats. Management of other habitats has been limited to haying, grazing, and prescribed burning in recent years.

Waterfowl use and production are the primary goals of habitat management on the Refuge. The extensive nest box program is one management effort used to increase production. Water level control in Cranberry Pool is aimed at providing increased feeding, breeding and resting areas for waterfowl.

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Areas such as the Maquam Bog are unique habitats on the Refuge used not only by waterfowl, but also by state endangered and threatened species and species of concern.

Refuge Manager Zelley clearing the jeep trail.

2. Wetlands

Wetlands on the Refuge include three incompletely diked impoundments that total about 1420 acres of marsh. In addition, a 3 acre pond was created in 1994 on Tabor Road. Some of these marshes are influenced by water levels in Lake Champlain and others by water levels in the Missisquoi River. The Maquam Bog is a 1358-acre bog on the southern end of the Refuge. No alterations have been made to this water area which is also influenced by Lake levels.

Water Management Unit #1 (WMU#1) consists of Goose Bay Pool and Big Marsh Slough. The Goose Bay Pool has 85 acres of open water edged with shrub swamp. The Slough is larger with 680 acres of open water/shrub swamp. Gut plugs hold water in these two areas. In Big Marsh Slough an 800' dike prevents drainage, and in Goose Bay Pool a 2000' dike separates the Pool from Goose Bay. The water control structure (WCS) in the Big Marsh Slough dike water control structure has been inoperable at least since 1979. The Pool and Slough are basically extensions of the Lake Champlain system until water levels drop to 96.25' MSL. Water is retained behind the dikes when outside levels continue to drop.

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A few pairs of black ducks and mallards nest in the Slough and Pool. Wood ducks use half of the available nest boxes and are usually successful in the boxes they do use. The area is primarily used by migrating waterfowl. Between late September and early November thousands of ring-necked ducks and hundreds of mallards, black ducks, green-winged teal, and Canada geese feed and molt in the Slough and Pool. Arrowhead tubers, pondweeds, and wild rice are three of the principal duck foods in these wetlands.

Water levels in WMU#1 are not presently measurable since no known benchmark elevation is located therein. It is assumed that the levels in Big Marsh Slough are similar to those of Lake Champlain, and that Goose Bay Pool levels are slightly higher than the Lake/Slough levels. Therefore water levels from Lake Champlain are used to measure events in WMU#1. The record lake level in the spring resulted in higher water levels in WMU#1 until mid July when the lake level dropped below the 96.25' MSL threshold for this unit. Levels in the unit remained at or about 96.25' MSL through the rest of the year.

Water Management Unit #2 is known as Cranberry Pool. About 660 acres of open water, shrub swamp, and wooded swamp make up this unit. The area is incompletely diked on the southwest end so Missisquoi River flood waters over 99.25' MSL fill the impoundment in the spring. A complicating problem is the fact that the WCS is deteriorating due to broken bands on the corrugated metal pipes. To ease erosion damage, the WCS is not used until Pool levels fall to their objective level of 97.20' MSL.

The Annual Water Management Program in 1994 called for keeping the Cranberry Pool level at about 97' MSL through the summer. The actual pool level was higher than this objective through the spring until about the first week of July. Due to the inoperable condition of the control structure, the water level objective was maintained by allowing a beaver to plug the structure at the objective level. Until this structure and the nearby collapsed sheet piling is repaired or replaced we will continue to enlist the assistance of the beaver population in our water level management program.

The stop logs were left set at the 97' MSL objective level through the winter of 94-95. In the past, the level would have been lowered more to allow the possibility of achieving the planned pool level in May if we had a low water spring. This was not done in 1994 since the water control structure would not be likely to hold* back high water levels of even the 98' or 99' magnitudes. Water will freely enter the pool through the control structure when the Lake level is above 97' MSL to minimize any erosion around the structure.

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The river remained frozen through the winter from January to beginning of April. The peak lake level in 1994 was 101.42' MSL. This was only .38' below the record that was set the previous year.

Other wetlands on the Missisquoi Delta and elsewhere on the Refuge are more directly influenced by Lake Champlain water levels year round. In many of these areas, such as the sheltered sections of Goose and Gander Bays, Shad Island Bay, Metcalfe Bay and Pothole, and Saxe's Creek, the dominant plant is wild rice. In the lakeshore marshes, arrowhead, pickerelweed, pondweeds, wild celery, and hardstem bulrush experienced an excellent production year. Hardstem stands along the lakeshore are often used as cover by goldeneye and wood duck broods.

The extent of hardstem bulrush and especially wild rice has appeared to have increased over the past two or three years. This bay also supports beds of wild celery in the open water parts of the bay.

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5. Grasslands

The refuge grassland consists of old fields which are periodically burned or mowed and other fields which are hayed annually to maintain open herbaceous cover.

8. Having

A total of 173 acres of upland was hayed with one cutting taken after July 15 by local farmers. This has been the means of keeping these areas in a grassy herbaceous cover.

9. Fire Management

No prescribed burns were done in 1994 due to either unfavorable weather or lack of appropriate staff during the prescription time window.

10. Pest Control

No spraying of purple loosestrife was done in 1994 due to a lack of staff time available to devote to it.

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G. WILDLIFE

2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species

Federally-listed Species

Two Bald Eagles were seen at Saxes Pothole on August 16 by Vermont State Warden, Daniel Swainbank.

State-listed Species

Several state-listed species use the Refuge. Those with State endangered status are the osprey and common loon. Threatened status species observed on the Refuge are the common tern, upland sandpiper, Eastern spiny soft-shelled turtle and the Virginia chain-fern.

There were three pairs of osprey nesting on the Refuge this year. The three sites were the pole platform on Long Marsh, the former brood survey platform on Metcalfe Island, and the brood survey platform on the north side of the Cranberry Pool. A total of 8 young fledged from these nests in 1994. Three young fledged ftom the nests on Long Marsh and Metcalfe Island and two from the nest in the Cranberry Pool.

An alternative platform had been placed in Cranberry Pool for the Osprey to use instead of the brood counting platform. This was done to provide a more predator proof platform. However the bird held to tradition and used the brood counting platform where it had nested the previous year. The Refuge Manager installed some flashing around the base of the platform to reduce vulnerability to raccoons. It either worked or they were lucky since two young fledged this year.

The common loon is an occasional visitor during migration. The Refuge assisted Mr. Paul Spitzer in conducting a loon survey in the Inland Sea part of Lake Champlain with the loan of a boat during the fall.

Common terns use the Refuge lakeshore areas as staging areas during the fall migration, particularly snags at the mouths of the Missisquoi River's three branches and Dead Creek. During the breeding season, terns occasionally fish in those same areas, but breeding is not known to occur on the Refuge.

Spiny soft-shelled turtles are seen along the banks of the River and along the burrow ditches. Several sightings occurred near the mouth of the Missisquoi River during the summer.

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Two large stands (1/4 to 1/2 acre) of the Virginia chain-fern (Woodwardia virginica) exist within the Maquam Bog. Additional scattered populations of this species are sprinkled throughout the wooded swamp edges that surround the bog.

3. Waterfowl

Winter Use

Waterfowl populations are usually nonexistent during the winter months, since water areas are usually completely frozen. Once these areas have frozen, waterfowl are absent until ice-out begins in the spring.

Spring Migration

Snow Geese arrived at the Refuge on March 24. They usually stop only briefly at the Missisquoi Delta before continuing on northward in the spring.

The waterfowl breeding pair counts were completed in the first week of May by volunteers. Volunteer survey coordinator, Marti Sterin organized the survey and participated. A total of 134 pairs were counted. Mallards and wood ducks comprised 27 percent and 28 percent of the total respectively. A table of the 1994 breeding pair survey results follows:

BREEDING PAIR/HABITAT UNIT

SPECIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 TOTAL

MALLARD 16 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 6 1 4 36

BLACK 2 2 4 6

PINTAIL 0

GREEN WINGED

TEAL 4 4

BLUE WINGED

TEAL 6 6

j WOOD DUCK 6 3 1 3 1 5 1 7 2 5 1 2 37

|COMMON

GOLDENEYE 6 3 2 1 1 13 :

HOODED

MERGANSER 2 3 5 I |UNKNOWN 8 1 3 5 1 3 1 22 I —

i OTHER 1 2 3

I TOTAL 36 8 1 6 3 8 7 2 18 7 16 3 19 134

No nest box checks were made during the spring or summer in 1994 due to lack of time with a reduced staff. Nest box use was probably down because the record high level of 1993 was repeated in 1994. This flooded some boxes and lifted some off of their support pipes.

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The brood survey was conducted during the period from June July 10. Not all habitat units were covered due to lack of elevated platforms. The Longmarsh Bay and Channel area was left out. A total of 10 survey points were used. Using the Bennet formula for the areas that were covered production was conservatively estimated at 81 broods or 500 young.

The fall was mild and waterfowl were on the area as late as December.

4. Marsh and Water Birds

Black-crowned night herons continue to use Cranberry Pool, Big Marsh Slough, and Goose Bay Pool during the late summer and fall. At night they roost in these same locations in buttonbush stands and tall snags. Thirty-five to fifty of these birds have used these snags each year for the past 10 years.

The first Great Blue Heron observation was made on March 21. A nest count of the rookery was not done in the Spring of 94. The colony appeared to be about the same as in the previous year with some nests being built on neighboring Metcalfe Island. A sample of visible nests that were observed on June 29, showed an average of 1.42 young per nest.

In early May, there were about 100 Double-crested Cormorants nesting on the middle branch of the river, mostly on the Metcalfe Island side adjacent to the Great Blue Heron rookery. The cormorants soon abandoned their nesting activity. During the summer, they were observed roosting in the dead trees in the Cranberry Pool.

Two Sandhill Cranes were observed in a plowed field adjacent to the Refuge off of Tabor Road during the month of November. Refuge Staff fielded a number of guestions as to the identity of the pair as the Cranes were an unusual sight in Vermont.

Other marsh and water birds using the Refuge include green-backed herons, common gallinules, Virginia and sora rails, American and least bitterns, and pied-billed grebes. The sora and pied-billed grebe are confirmed nesters in the Cranberry Pool and the Big Marsh Slough/Goose Bay Pool areas. Young of these two species are sometimes seen during the waterfowl brood surveys. The Virginia rail has been observed in the Maguam Swamp with young during that time of year also. American bitterns are freguently heard calling during April and May in the Maquam Swamp and Big Marsh Slough Vicinities, where they probably breed. Least bitterns have been observed every 2-3 years in the same areas.

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5. Shorebirds. Gulls, Terns and Allied Species

Black Terns were first sighted by Nat Shambaugh in June due to high water levels. A total of 45 nests were counted for the Refuge. Of these, 31 were in the Charcoal Creek marsh north of route 78 and 13 were in the Cranberry Pool impoundment.

The trees and limbs that rest on the shallow mouth of Dead Creek provide a staging area for the black terns in mid-summer.

The most abundant shorebird use of the Refuge is by common snipe. Spotted sandpipers are frequently observed due to their use of the River's edge. Other species that are occasionally seen include greater yellowlegs and killdeer.

6. Raptors

The most common raptors using the Refuge are the northern harrier, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, and great horned owl. These are present most of the year. Kestrels are viewed frequently on the utility lines along the hayfields of Tabor Road and Route 78. Red-tailed hawks and harriers hunt the fields along the Missisquoi and around Cranberry Pool and Big Marsh Slough/Goose Bay Pool. '

Summer/fall residents that are not seen as often include barred, barn, and short-eared owls, and red-shouldered hawks. During the winter rough-legged hawks and screech and snowy owls move onto the Refuge from further north. Screech owls use duck nesting structures during the winter, as their pellets and small mammal carcasses testify to. During migration, Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, merlin, and turkey vultures are occasionally seen.

7. Other Migratory Birds

During the winter months songbird species such as brown creeper, white breasted nuthatch, black-capped chickadee, and downy, hairy, and pileated woodpeckers search for food in the wooded swamps. Songbird activity increases in mid-February and a few species return from their wintering grounds.

Blue bird nest boxes are located around the borders of Refuge fields. So far, no blue bird use has occurred. The boxes are mainly occupied by tree swallows.

The Refuge fields support a breeding population of Bobolinks. The fields are not mowed until after July 15th to allow time for any nestlings to fledge.

*

Point Counts were conducted on the Refuge by a local birding expert, Michele Patnaude and volunteer, Marti Sterin during the spring and early summer.

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8. Game Mammals

No Beaver Lodge surveys were accomplished in 1993. The Refuge supports an abundant beaver population.

The white-tailed deer is the only big-game mammal found regularly at Missisquoi NWR. The Refuge provides year-round habitat needs for deer. The old fields and wooded edges on the island part of the Refuge provide fawning areas. The Maquam Swamp and Bog serve as wintering areas, while most of the remaining parts of the Refuge serve as feeding, free-ranging and resting areas. A few deer (5 to 10) are taken each year during refuge big game hunts. Coyotes and local dogs occasionally contribute to deer mortality.

10. Other Resident Wildlife

The most common resident Amphibian is the Leopard Frog. The Missisquoi Delta is almost literally carpeted with frogs in the summer.

Other species, such as Spring Peepers and Chorus Frogs are only noticed during their mating season by their sounds.

Spiny Softshell Turtles and Map Turtles are commonly observed on logs along the banks of the Missisquoi River.

Snapping Turtles are frequently encountered in June when they are likely to be found laying eggs near gravel roads or parking lots.

15. Animal Control

Wildlife species for which control is currently necessary are muskrat, beaver, raccoon and woodchuck. Muskrats and beaver undermine impoundment dikes with their tunnel and bank dens. Their overpopulation can damage habitat and possibly lead to a population crash via disease. Raccoons are controlled to reduce their predation on nesting waterfowl and other avian wildlife, and to reduce the likelihood of overpopulation and the disease potential that results. Woodchucks are controlled to minimize their tunneling into dike crowns.

Public trapping of muskrat, beaver, and raccoon is currently allowed. Woodchucks are controlled through the use of gas cartridges in their burrows. No woodchuck control was accomplished in 1994. This is most effectively done when the dike has been either mowed or burned and the burrows are easily located.

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16. Marking and Banding

The following birds were banded in 1994.

Species TOTAL

Mallard 308 Black Ducks 40 Wood Ducks 71 Greenwing Teal 22 Black/Mallard cross 3 Pintail 3

Total Birds 447

With two vacant positions, only the cannon net was used. A total of 6 cannon net shots were taken from August 25th to September 21st.

f

Banding volunteers Marti Sterin, Lisa Swainbank RM Zelley, Jay Sweeney and in front our youngest volunteer Samuel Zelley. BJM

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H. PUBLIC USE

1. GENERAL

High water curtailed use of the nature trail until mid-May.

2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students

On May 12, Refuge Volunteer Greg Simard led a walk along Refuge fields for 11 people hoping to hear the peenting of woodcock. Four woodcock were heard. We were planning on using the nature trail for the walk to show off our new woodcock area and interpretive signing but high water detoured the route.

Listening for woodcock. NB

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On May 15, Refuge Volunteer Michele Patenaude conducted a binding walk along the nature trail. Forty-three people showed up for the walk.

What bird is that? JB

On May 22, 23 people enjoyed a wildflower identification walk conducted by naturalist Areah Tal.

On June 2, ORP Blaskowski led a plant ID walk along the nature trail for 17 students and 9 adults from the Marlboro Elementary School. This was the first time the Marlboro School used the Refuge for a class trip. They enjoyed the nature trail and want to come back for a longer visit.

On July 23, Refuge volunteers Michele Patenaude and Ron Frey led a birding by canoe tour of the Refuge. Thirty-eight birders took advantage of the tour opportunity and the expertise of the guides.

On July 24, six people took part in the "Close Encounters" photography workshop given by Refuge volunteer Jon Zurit. Jon is a great nature photographer and everyone enjoyed viewing his wonderful slide show. The six participants had a great opportunity to*get one-on-one tips from Jon.

On July 26, 20 students from the Fairfield summer school program toured the nature trail.

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On July 25-27 ORP Blaskowski conducted a Nature Workshop for eight students enrolled in the Swanton Elementary School's Learning and Fun Festival. The workshop consisted of viewing videos and discussing the topics covered and identifying plants growing on the school grounds.

On September 17, Greg Simard led a group of 20 Environmental Education students from the Community College of Vermont on a field trip along the nature trail and the jeep trail.

On September 18, 20 birders interested in the fall migration of songbirds joined Refuge Volunteer Michele Patenaude for a birding walk along the Mac's Bend Road.

On October 11, eight St. Albans Boy Scouts toured the nature trail. Before touring the trail, the Scouts met with ORP Blaskowski to get information on what mammals use the Refuge.

Fifty-four seventh grade students from the St. Albans Town Central School met with ORP Blaskowski on October 11 to discuss Refuge management practices and tour the nature trail.

On October 21, ten Swanton Girl Scouts working on their merit badges toured the nature trail. '

Volunteer Greg Simard presented a program on Missisquoi Refuge to 40 participants from the Watchable Wildlife Conference Tour on October 29.

4. Interpretive Foot Trails

The one and one-half mile Black and Maquam Creek Trail is one of only two self-guided wildlife interpretive trails in Vermont. The Mac's Bend Road is being considered for a self-guided, handicapped accessible trail. An estimated 2,153 visitors used the Black and Maquam Creek Trail in 1994.

7. Other Interpretive Programs

On January 5, ORP Blaskowski presented the videos "Bottom of the Barrel" and "Down the Drain" to 60 students at the Tobin School in Roxbury, MA.

On February 9, ORP Blaskowski presented a program on mammals of the Missisquoi Refuge to 18 students enrolled in the Agri/Ecology program at Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Swanton.

On February 10, the video, "The Rotten Truth" was presented to 10 residents of the Redstone Villa Nursing Home. After viewing the video, they were very concerned with the fact that the Redstone Villa does not have a recycling program and they want to change that policy.

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On February 15 and 16, ORP Blaskowski presented programs on plants of the Missisquoi Refuge and world-wide endangered species to 18 students in the Agri/Ecology program at Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Swanton.

Refuge Manager Zelley made a presentation on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Refuge Management to 30 students at Sterling College in Craftsbury, VT on February 18.

On March 12, eleven Boy Scouts from Alburg Troop 538 and Refuge volunteer Dawson Blaskowski constructed 180 blue bird houses to be distributed throughout Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. Altogether 700 blue bird houses have been constructed by Scout Troop 538 as part of their Blue Birds Across Vermont project.

Saturday morning woodworking. NB

On March 16, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "The Rotten Truth" to 20 fourth grade students at the Swanton Elementary school.

On March 17, 23 and 31 ORP Blaskowski presented the videos, "The Rotten Truth," "Pearl," and "Do Your Part" to 40 second grade students at the Highgate Elementary School.

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On April 5, the judging of the Vermont Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Competition took place at the Southern Vermont Art Museum. Four hundred twenty pieces of artwork were entered in the 1994 competition. The Best-of-Show winning entry was a watercolor of Canada geese in winter submitted by fifteen year old Paige Benham of Swanton. Paige won the 1993 Vermont Best-of-Show, also winning with a watercolor of Canada geese in winter. Judges in the 1994 competition were Nancy Howe (1991-92 Federal Duck Stamp Design winner), Billi Gosh (Vermont Institute of Natural Science), Tim Joseph (Orvis Corporation), Moe Harvey (Ducks Unlimited) and Allen Elser, Commissioner, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

1994 Best-of-Show JZ

At an award ceremony at Missisquoi Valley Union High School in June, Paige was awarded a framed, signed and numbered Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Edition of Richard Plasschaert's 1993 Vermont State Waterfowl print presented by Vermont Fish & Game Commissioner Allen Elser.

On April 6, ORP Blaskowski presented a program on "Earth Stewardship" to 40 second grade students at the Highgate Elementary School.

On April 13, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "The Bottom of the Barrel" to 22 fourth graders at the Swanton Elementary School.

*

On April 14, ORP Blaskowski presented a program on wildflowers of Missisquoi Refuge to 96 fifth grade students at the St. Albans Town Elementary School.

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The Birds of Vermont Museum hosted an Open House on May 1 and featured the artwork of the Best-of-Show, First and Second and Third place winners in the 1994 Vermont Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Competition. Approximately 150 persons attended the Open House and 60 of them were the young artists and their families.

On May 5, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "Down the Drain" to 20 second grade students at the Highgate Elementary School. After the video, the students discussed various ways they could conserve water and how they could spread the word about the importance of safeguarding our water resources.

On May 17, ORP Blaskowski presented the video, "The Lorax" to eight Swanton Brownies.

On May 21, ORP Blaskowski attended the season's opening of the Southern Vermont Art Center in Manchester, Vermont. Winning entries in the 1994 Vermont Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition were featured.

ORP Blaskowski visited Great Meadows NWR in Sudbury, MA on May 24 to take part in an environmental education program presented by ORP Janet Kennedy and Volunteer Bob Reed for 21 sixth gr^de students from the Tobin School in Roxbury, MA.

June 1, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "The Rotten Truth" to 55 first thru fourth grade students at the North Hero Elementary School. After the video the students discussed ways they could encourage their families to recycle, reuse, compost, and generally reduce the amount of materials going to the local landfills.

On June 16, ORP Blaskowski attended the graduation ceremony for the 20 Tobin School students she had been working with for the past three years in the "Ticket to Success Program." Donna Harris-Lewis, widow of Reggie Lewis and President of the Reggie Lewis Foundation, Inc. give a very inspiring speech and presented each student with a Day-Timer to help them get "organized" for their new adventure in high school. Valedictorian Ngu Tran and Class Historian Felicia Haynes both addressed the benefits the students received from the programs and class trips made available to them by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's environmental education outreach efforts and grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

On June 23, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "The Rotten Truth" to 22 students enrolled in the Highgate Summer Lunch Program.

On June 27, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "Down the Drain" to 20 students enrolled in the Missisquoi Summer Lunch Program.

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On July 7, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "The Lorax" to 11 youths in the Highgate Summer Lunch Program.

On July 13, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "The Rotten Truth" to 12 students enrolled in the Missisquoi Summer Lunch Program. After the video, many confessions were heard concerning lax recycling attempts.

On July 16, in cooperation with the Vermont Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the Refuge hosted a Green-Wings Festival. The objective of this festival was to recruit youngsters into the sport of waterfowling. It was a great day with approximately 125 persons in attendance. Events included art lessons, Project Wild educational activities, retriever demonstrations, duck calling lessons and displays of decoys, wildlife art and winning entries in the 1994 Vermont Junior Federal Duck Stamp Design Competition. The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Resources Office manned a display of wetlands and habitat restoration. Each youngster participating in the event got to build a waterfowl nest box and take it home. Fletcher Timberworks donated the lumber And students at Missisquoi Valley Union High School's woodworking class cut the boards.

Constructing nestboxes is fun. NB

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I did it - there is nothing to it! NB t

Paige Benham, two time winner of the Best-of-Show in the Vermont Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Competition was presented with an official Ducks Unlimited Watch by State Chairman Skip Thomas.

Congratulations Paige! NB

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Refuge volunteers and Ducks Unlimited members graciously helped set up and clean up after the event. Once again, with the help of community sponsors, Missisquoi Refuge hosted another very successful special event.

ORP Blaskowski presented the video, "The Lorax" to 20 students at Snoopy's Day Care in St. Albans. Even the little ones know the "Oncler" is a bad guy,

July 25-27 ORP Blaskowski conducted a Nature workshop for eight students enrolled in the Swanton Elementary School's Learning and Fun Festival. The students viewed videos such as "You Can't Grow Home Again," "Down the Drain," "The Rotten Truth," "America's Wetlands," and "Do Your Part." Discussions were held after the viewing of each video. Each student constructed a bluebird house to take home and participated in a flower identification walk along the school grounds.

July 30-31 ORP Blaskowski and Office Assistant Brenda Mullen manned a display of first place entries in the Vermont Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Competition at the Swanton Festival.

On August 9, ORP Blaskowski presented the video "The Rotten Truth" to four students enrolled in a summer learning program-at the Franklin Library. Each of the four students had compost piles at home and were delighted that their families were helping to cut down on materials going to the landfill.

The dedication of the Stephen J. Young Marsh took place on Tabor Road on September 10. We had a great turnout with 70 persons in attendance. Friends and co-workers of Steve's were given the opportunity to participate in the ceremony by submitting letters of remembrance to be read at the ceremony. Each letter received was beautifully penned with highlights from Steve's life and praise for his integrity, professionalism, dedication to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, concern for the earth natural resources,his love for his wife and children and shared memories of his beloved State of Vermont, particularly the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Steve grew up on land adjoining the Refuge and he spent many hours here, hunting, fishing and observing wildlife. Father Boucher, St. Amadeus Church in Alburg and Reverend Cindyellen Robinson, Memorial United Method Church, Swanton offered prayers and blessed the marshland and all its inhabitants. Eric Goodenough, Regional Director, Ducks Unlimited, spoke of Ducks Unlimited's MARSH Habitat Restoration Program and Robert Paquin, Aide to Senator Patrick Leahy read a letter of recognition from the Senator. It was a somber but beautiful dedication and a needed closure for Steve Young's family. Dedicating the marsh to Steve brought his spirit home for his family and they felt very peaceful knowing his memory will live on forever in one of his favorite places.

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STEPHEN J. YOUNG MARSH MISS1SQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Through the Ducks Unlimited MARSH Habitat Restoration Program, this two acre marsh, once an intermittent wetland, was restored to a permanent marsh by the construction of a small dike on the north

drainage.

The marsh provides food, cover and nesting habitat f o r a variety of wildlife including waterfowl, great blue heron, bittern, snipe, muskrat, raccoon and deer.

This area is dedicated to the memory of Stephen J. Young, a local resident who grew up around the marshes of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. He was the Assistant Refuge Manager of the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Fairbanks, Alaska. He died in an aircraft accident while conducting a moose census on the Refuge on November 12, 1992.

Funding for this project was provided by: THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. and

BEN AND JERRY'S HOMEMADE, INC.

DUCKS UNLIMITED

i rW 'M

Stephen J. Young Marsh dedicated 9/10/94. WT

This marshland, with its easy access for visitors, lends itself to being designated as a Watchable Wildlife site.

On September 29 and 30, ORP Blaskowski presented programs on endangered species to 22 third grade students at the Tobin School in Roxbury, MA.

On October 14, ORP Blaskowski joined ORP'S Kennedy and O'Donnell for an environmental education program for 22 third grade students from the Tobin School in Roxbury, MA. The students are creating a coloring book entitled "Endangered Species of Massachusetts". Bruce Young, a Missisquoi Refuge neighbor, sent a gift of 22 pumpkins, one for each student. The students had a great time exploring the pond and woods around the headquarters. They were particularly fascinated by the tent caterpillars. They were delighted with the pumpkins as only a few had ever had a pumpkin to carve.

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The great outdoors at GMNWR. JB i

ORP Blaskowski joined 22 third grade students from the Tobin School in Roxbury, MA at Walden Pond in Concord MA on November 3. The students are dedicating their publication, "Endangered Species of Massachusetts" to Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson and Teddy Roosevelt.

Love that pond! JB

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On November 9, ORP Blaskowski presented a program on plants of the Missisquoi Refuge to 60 fifth grade students at the Highgate Elementary School.

On November 9, ORP Blaskowski met with 44 fifth and sixth grade students at the Georgia Elementary School who are designing a ID poster of Vermont's waterfowl.

On November 16, 40 North Hero Cub Scouts viewed the video "The Rotten Truth".

8. Hunting

Waterfowl, other migratory game birds, upland game, small game and deer are hunted on the Refuge. Waterfowl hunting is the most popular hunting activity on-Refuge and accounted for 786 of the total visits to the Refuge. The split season for waterfowl hunting ran from October 15 to November 6 and from November 19 to December 5. Most of the hunting occurs during the months of October and November.

f

Waterfowl Hunting

Total waterfowl hunting visits on the Missisquoi Delta were estimated at 786. Actual bag checks of 268 hunters indicated that 167 birds were harvested by them. Hunter success averaged .62 bird per hunter visit for the season.

The primary species bagged this season were mallard, black and green-winged teal.

The $10.00 hunter permit fee for the controlled hunts at Patrick Marsh/Charcoal Creek, Long Marsh Creek and Saxe's Pothole and Creek and Shad Island Pothole generated $450.00 in revenue for the 1994 season.

Saxe's Pothole and Creek and Shad Island Pothole

Hunters surveyed using this area averaged one bird per hunter. The most frequently bagged bird being the mallard.

Patrick Marsh/Charcoal Creek Controlled Hunt

There were a total of 48 hunter visits for the season to this area. The sucdess averaged .85 bird per hunter visit. The most frequently bagged species were: wood duck, mallard and ringneck.

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Junior Waterfowl Program

The 1994 waterfowl hunting season marked the eighteenth year of Missisquoi's Junior Waterfowl Hunter Training Program. This program is designed for youths 12 to 15 years of age and has been a cooperative effort by the Refuge, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the Vermont Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and Refuge volunteers.

A one day training session was held on September 11. The training session is mandatory and consists of waterfowl identification techniques, hunter ethics, regulations, blind construction, use of decoys, duck calling, shot patterns and the use of retrievers. Eleven youths and eight sponsors participated this year. Enrollment in the program has been declining. We are attempting a new advertising strategy for the 1995 program.

Carl Pagel..Use of Decoys. NB

Deer Hunting

One hundred and forty-one people registered to deer hunt on the Refuge for the 1994 season.

The archery seasons were October 1-23 and December 3-11. The October season is for any deer. The December season is for deer with at least 6ne antler no less than three inches long. Six deer were taken during the archery season: one 95 pound two-pointer, three spikehorns - 105 pounds, 107 pounds, and one weight unknown, and two does - 70 pounds and 115 pounds.

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The firearms deer hunting season opened on November 12 and ended on November 27. Five deer were taken during the season. Three with rifle, a two-pointer weighing 125 pounds and two three-pointers weighing 95 and 125 pounds. Two deer were taken with shotgun, one two-pointer weighing 100 pounds and one spikehorn weighing 95 pounds.

Muzzleloader deer hunting ran from December 3-11. No deer were taken during this season.

Upland Small Game Hunting

Forty-five people registered for upland small game hunting. Three squirrels were reported taken.

9. Fishing

Fishing is a very popular activity along the Missisquoi River and surrounding waters. Fishing accounted for an estimated total of 6,672 visits and 26,688 activity hours of public use in 1994. Lake Champlain and the Missisquoi River provide fishing opportunities for perch, bass, northern pike, walleye, freshwater drum, crappie and bullhead.

f

On June 11, the Refuge hosted a National Fishing Week Derby with over 100 persons in attendance. Twelve year old Steve Roy from Georgia, VT caught the largest fish, a 2.8 lb muskie, which he released. It was a great family day and many of the parents in attendance expressed appreciation for the wonderful time, great lunch and prizes donated by local merchants.

Volunteer Alex DuBois weighing in the fish. NB

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A little fish ,.a big smile. JB

On July 8, eight clients from the Marshall Center enjoyed a day of fishing on the Refuge. Uncle Noel's Bait and Tackle Shop in St. Albans loaned the poles and provided the bait and summer work program enrollees Rod Therrian and Rick Benjamin helped bait the hooks.

I caught a 1.6 lb pike! NB

On July 23, 45 people attended a fishing derby paid for by the Lake Champlain* Basin Program. Several good sized fish were caught, a 1.6 pound pike by Brian Cota, a 1 3/4 pound small mouth bass by Mary Gagne and a 2.1 pound sheephead by Eddie Gagne. Bass Master member Randy Savage gave a filleting demonstration.

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10. Trapping

No trapping was done in 1994. A trapping program for that year was not prepared. Virtually no interest has been expressed in trapping recently due to very low fur prices.

17. Law Enforcement

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Special Agent, Ed Spoon and Vermont State Game Warden, Dan Swainbank helped out alot in the fall with hunting enforcement on or near the refuge. Several cases were made. Special Agents Ed Spoon and Robert Garabedian apprehended hunters in Goose Bay who were over bagging waterfowl on opening day. Alcoholic beverages were seized from several hunting parties by Warden Swainbank. In one instance, the hunter had a whole case of beer in his possession while hunting in Gander Bay. Another State Warden, Robert Lutz apprehended two hunters in a closed area. '

One person was prosecuted for leaving a boat unattended on the Refuge for over 72 hours.

Special Agent Spoon apprehended a hunter for hunting without federal and state waterfowl stamps in possession. The hunter was later arrested with the assistance of the Swanton Police Department when it was discovered that he was wanted in connection with an outstanding felony warrant.

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction

A new handicap accessible vault toilet was purchased and installed at the Refuge headguarters parking lot area. The unit is much more attractive and functional than the rental unit used previously. The toilet cost $11,000 total for the unit and the cost of having a contractor install it. The $7,000 unit comes with instructions and could be installed by Refuge personnel using equipment on stations that have that capability.

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Pretty Fancy Outhouse, huh? BJM

A Ducks Unlimited MARSH project was completed. A small pond was created by the construction of a short dike on a drained wetland on the refuge. This site is off of Tabor Road and is accessible to the public for wildlife observation and education. A beaver had moved into the location the season prior to the dike construction and had started a low dam. So we sort of have a 2 stage impoundment.

3. Major Maintenance

A total of 297 tons of #2 dirty peastone gravel was used to improve the northern end of the Mac's Bend road and to cover low areas of the boat access parking lot at Louis' Landing.

Vehicle maintenance in 1994 included the purchase of new tires for the two trucks and the 4x4 utility. The 1985 Dodge got a new radiator, and leaking power steering lines replaced. Brake repair and replacement of shocks was done on the 1988 S10 Blazer.

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4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement

In 1994 we were able to purchase the following equipment:

1994 Artie Cat Snowmachine, a "Bearcat" 440.

1994 Polaris ATV "Trail Boss" 400L, with winch.

Gateway 2000 P4D-66 computer.

Spectra-Physics Level System, L-750 Laserplane, with tripod.

Evinrude, E15RE0, 15HP, outboard motor.

Our New ATV KL

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J. OTHER ITEMS

1. COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS

Outdoor Recreation Planner, Juanita Blaskowski began working with a group of 22 third grade students at the Tobin School in Roxbury, MA with an environmental education outreach program. The students are working on a coloring book featuring endangered species of Massachusetts. The students are dedicating their book to Rachel Carson, Teddy Roosevelt and Henry David Thoreau. With a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation the students were able to visit Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in October and take part in a wonderful day of activities planned for them by Outdoor Recreation Planners Janet Kennedy and Deana O'Donnell. Volunteer Bob Reed continues to assist with the educational programs for the Tobin School children and they enjoy him as much as he enjoys them.

On November 3, ORP Blaskowski joined Mrs. Cohen and her 22 third grade students from the Tobin School for a day at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. The students loved the pond and w^re particularly fascinated by the replica of Thoreau's cabin. They got to go inside the cabin and check out his furnishings.

3. Items of Interest

On March 9, Blouin's IGA in Swanton donated $663.60 to Missisquoi Refuge's Environmental Education. This donation was matched by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This money will be used to purchase environmental education videos and to host a special event or two.

Outdoor Recreation Planner Blaskowski has been working with Hector Ruiz (Human Resources Office) on a program entitled "Recycling Abandoned Properties: A Strategy for Revitalizing Urban Conservation and Outdoor Recreation for People and Wildlife." The National Institute for Urban Wildlife and the Roundtable Associates' primary objectives in this program are: to help provide home and employment opportunities for youths of America; to instill environmental awareness in urban youths by offering training and experience in nature conservation, while helping them create something of beauty and value at abandoned industrial and commercial sites; and to enhance the quality of living, pride *and enjoyment of local residents in the park, conservation, urban, wildlife habitats and recreation areas that will be developed.

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St. Alphonsus Hall, located adjacent to the Tobin School on Smith Street in Roxbury, MA, has been abandoned for 15 years. This building would be a wonderful building to acquire under the Recycling Abandoned Properties program. The Tobin School is in need of additional space and the community is in need of a community center. Some ideas for use of the building are citywide environmental education resources center focusing on a multidisciplinary approach to environmental education, research labs, museum of confiscated endangered species artifacts, a natural resource library, herbarium, aquarium, GEO classes, parenting classes and the list goes on. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's role in this program would be to provide assistance with the environmental education piece.

4. Credits

Refuge Manager, Sections C, D, E, F, G, H.10, H.17, I.

Outdoor Recreation Planner, Sections E.4, H.l-9, H.11-16, L, and J.

Office Assistant compiled this report. '

Photo Credits

NB - Norbert Blaskowski, Maintenance Worker

JB - Juanita Blaskowski, Outdoor Recreation Planner

KL - Kevin Lamm, Engineering Equipment Operator

BJM- Brenda Mullen, Office Assistant

WT - Wayne Tarr, Photographer

JZ - Jon Zurit, Volunteer

K. FEEDBACK

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Missisquoi is one of over 300 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of lands and waters managed specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat and represents the most comprehensive wildlife management program in the world. Units of the system stretch across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Keys and include small islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific. The character of the refuges is as diverse as the nation itself.

The Service also manages National Fish Hatcheries, and provides Federal leadership in habitat protection, fish and wildlife research, technical assistance and the conservation and protection of migratory birds, certain marine mammals and threatened and endangered species.

For further information, contact:

Refuge Manager Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 163 Swanton, Vermont 05488-0163 Telephone: (802) 868-4781

Hard of hearing or deaf visitors may call the Vermont

Relay Center at 1-800-253-0191 TDD/1-800-253-0195

voice.

This brochure is also available upon request in a large print version.

r u.s. A FISH A WILDLIFE

SERVICK

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

CMissisquoi NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Swanton, Vermont

RL-53320 August 1994

Welcome

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1943, is located on the eastern shore of Lake

Champlain near the Canadian border in Franklin County, Vermont. The refuge headquarters is two miles northwest of Swanton, on Route 78.

The 6,338-acre refuge includes most of the Missisquoi River delta where it flows into Missisquoi Bay. The refuge consists of quiet waters and wetlands which attract large flocks of migratory birds.

Upland areas of the refuge are a hardwood mix of American elm, white ash, white oak, silver and red maple, and open fields. Both provide habitat for migratory songbirds, resident mammals, and other wildlife.

Black ducks

© Julien Beauregard

Wetlands Set Aside as a Migratory Stopover...

Missisquoi Refuge is one link in a chain of refuges for migratory birds that extends along the Atlantic

Flyway between northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas. The refuge provides important feeding, resting, and breeding habitat for migratory birds, especially waterfowl, in the northern Lake Champlain section of the Flyway. Refuge lands also protect the Shad Island great blue heron rookery, one of the largest such colonies in Vermont,

Here, the Missisquoi River meanders through beds of wild rice and stands of wetland plants such as arrowhead, bulrush and wild celery. In addition to 500 acres of natural marsh, the refuge includes 1,800 acres of managed wetlands formed by three diked impoundments. These pools are a mix of open water and rich stands of emergent plants, shrubs, and wooded swamps that offer food and cover for waterfowl. Although refuge waters attract waterfowl most of the year, peak use is in the fall, when thousands of ring-necked ducks settle in to feed with hundreds of green-winged teal, black ducks, and mallards.

Making the Most of Wildlife Habitat...

A I "'he management objectives of Missisquoi Refuge are J. consistent with the objectives of the North American

Waterfowl Management Plan, a new international agreement by federal agencies, states, Canada, and private groups to conserve, restore and enhance wetland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent migratory birds.

A variety of habitat management practices are used at Missisquoi Refuge to benefit wildlife. Examples are listed below.

Water levels in refuge impoundments are manipulated to encourage the growth of waterfowl food and cover plants such as wild rice and buttonbush, while also providing good ground-nesting habitat for mallards, black ducks, and teal.

Nearly 200 nesting structures are Iqcated throughout the Missisquoi delta. These nestboxes, cones, and cylinders are helping wood ducks, common goldeneyes, hooded mergansers, and black ducks increase their numbers

by supplementing natural nesting habitat.

Haying, mowing, and controlled burning are methods used by wildlife managers to keep open field areas from changing back to woodland over time. Many wildlife species benefit from these open field habitats. Waterfowl may nest in the grassy cover, while bobolinks, songbirds, and small mammals that use open fields provide a food source for birds of prey such as rough-legged hawks, American kestrels, and red-tailed hawks.


Mallard

Maintaining a healthy diversity of habitats at Missisquoi Refuge requires the control of exotic pest plants such as purple loosestrife and common reed grass. If left unchecked, these non-native plants would outcompete native plants and reduce the value of refuge wildlife habitat for migratory birds.

Limited raccoon trapping is used to control predation on waterfowl and other ground-nesting birds. Trapping also helps protect waterfowl impoundment dikes from muskrat and woodchuck burrowing, and from erosion due to beaver-induced flooding.

Enjoying the Refuge...

Recreational and educational activities consistent with the primary goals of protecting and managing wildlife habitat are available at Missisquoi Refuge throughout the year. The refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Wildlife observation, photography, and hiking

The Black Creek and Maquam Creek interpretive trails provide good opportunities for waterfowl and wading bird observation and photography as the trails pass through 1 1/2 miles of wooded lowland. Plan to take along the trail guide and wildlife checklists, available in refuge leaflet boxes or upon request. Insect repellent may be useful during the warmer months. Visitors may also observe wildlife by walking along Mac's Bend Road, next to the Missisquoi River.

AREA BEYOND,

THIS

SIGN

CLOSED All public entry prohibited

Boating

Boats and canoes may be launched from First Landing (Louie's Landing) all season. A second boat ramp, on Mac's Bend Road, js only open from September 1 until the end of the waterfowl hunting season in December. Boating is permitted along the Missisquoi River and in Lake Champlain where it borders the refuge. Portions of the refuge are closed to boaters, however, to protect wildlife habitat. Please watch for and respect "Closed Area" signs.

Fishing

Refuge visitors may fish for pike and bass from the banks of the Missisquoi River. Fishing is also permitted from a boat on the Missisquoi River and Lake Champlain in areas that are not posted as closed to public access. A leaflet on fishing at Missisquoi Refuge is available on request.


Whitetail deer

Hunting

Portions of the refuge are open to waterfowl, deer, and small game hunting in accordance with state and federal regulations. Current regulations are available from the

refuge office.

Cross-country skiing

Refuge nature trails are open for this activity.

Blueberry picking

Berry picking is permitted in the bog off Tabor Road during July and August. Plan to wear boots and carry a compass and insect repellent.

Frog picking

This activity is permitted from July 15 to September 30 in the mowed refuge fields along Route 78 and Mac's Bend Road. To avoid overharvesting, the limit has been set at 12 frogs per person per day. A valid Vermont hunting license or a combination hunting/fishing license is required.

Goldeneye

To protect wildlife and visitors, the following are

prohibited:

• Camping

• Open fires

• Cutting firewood

• Removing plants or animals

• Littering (State fine: $500)

• Snowmobiling

• Leaving vehicles overnight

• Abandoning wild or domestic animals on the refuge

Please note that dogs must be kept and controlled on a leash no longer than 10 feet.

We hope you enjoy your visit to Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. If you have further questions, please stop at the refuge office or write to:


Legend

Refuge Area

Refuge Headquarters

m Nature Trail

Q Boat Launching

j?® Rest Rooms

=== Dikes

—— Water Control Structure

Canoe Route

Parking

L ] Wetland Location Map

MISSISQUOI

/ v mtmn } v\ / * t

/ U? - w, 4 v/J Point

Private Campground

LAKE CHAMPLAIN

(\- i r ' r v *1-1: 7 pt'hW:

- J /. -- if . rT

MISISSQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

A great variety of fish abound in the waters in and surrounding the Missisquoi Refuge. Walleye, northern pike, bullhead, and yellow perch are the most sought after fish on the delta. Other species caught are: burbot, carp, catfish, bowfin, white and redhorse suckers, American eels, chain pickerel, muskellunge, sheep-shead, crappie, gar, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass and landlocked Atlantic salmon.

The use of firearms to take fish is prohibited. For current regulations, contact the Refuge Manager, Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Swanton, Vermont 05488, (802) 868-4781.

Vermont Annual Record and State Record Fish forms are available at Refuge Headquarters, local bait shops, and from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, I&E Section, Waterbury, Vermont 05676.

Consult the Vermont Fish and Wildlife regulations for seasons and limits.

While fishing in lakeshore areas you may notice numerous metal and wooden boxes. These boxes provide nesting sites on the refuge for waterfowl. Waterfowl require solitude and seclusion to successfully hatch their eggs. To minimize nest abandonment, sportsmen should try to maintain a distance of approximately 75 yards or more from nest boxes.


Missisquoi is one of more than 470 Refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of lands and waters managed specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat and represents the most comprehensive wildlife management program in the world. Units of the system stretch across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Keys and include small islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific. The character of the Refuges is as diverse as the nation itself.


For further information please contact:

Refuge Manager Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 163 Swanton, VT 05488-0163 (802) 868-4781

Cover illustration of largemouth bass © Julien Beauregard

Fishing Record

Date Time

Air Temperature

Water Temperature

Cloud Cover

Wind

Catch

r u.s. a FISH A WILDLIFE

SERVICE

m



RL-53520-5 July 1992

Fishing ON THE

MISSISQUOI DELTA

, ..

MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Vermont

Walleye Walleye

Walleye, while closely related to yellow perch, grow much larger and are much sought after by fishermen. Suggested baits are minnows, mayfly larvae, hellgrammites, bucktail jigs trailing a pork rind, plastic worms, or nightcrawlers. Work the jigs slow and deep. As a general rule, you'll find most walleye over sandy, rocky or gravel bottoms. In the Missisquoi River, try below the Swanton Dam, in rapids, and alongside eddies in the spring. The deep water along undercut banks and pools is also a good location. Walleye are active night feeders, often feeding in shallow water near shore; thus, evening ice fishing can be very productive.

Catfish Night fishing is more productive. Use earth

worms, minnows, leeches, bread balls, or chunks of beef or liver.

Bullhead The bullhead is mainly a bottom feeder, foraging

mostly at night. It is omnivorous and a notorious scavenger with crayfish the preferred food. Minnows, crayfish, corn kernels, hellgrammites, bread balls and nightcrawlers are good bait. Bullheads usually bite best at night or during the day when the water is muddy after a heavy rain. Because of its good eating qualities and lack of excessive bones, it is one of the prime targets of fishermen in the area.

Muskellunge Underwater vegetation beds, points of land, or

islands which extend into the water are good spots to fish for muskellunge. Spoons and plugs up to 7 or 8 inches will attract these big fish.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Pumpkinseed These panfish prefer quiet shallow waters. Bread

balls, worms, small lures, flies, and minnows are suggested baits.

Crappie Black Crappie

Northern Black Bullhead

Crappie are often found in weed beds and around sunken brush and trees. Preferred baits are minnows, flies, jigs or spinners.

Salmon An excellent place to fish for landlocked salmon

in the spring and fall is the Missisquoi River. Landlocked salmon strike more often on windy, cloudy days. Commonly used baits consist of salmon eggs, minnows, and flashy red lures. Bits of sponge can be substituted for salmon eggs.

Northern Pike Pike are one of the more popular sport fish in the

area. Prime fishing spots are coves with aquatic vegetation, edges of lily pads, shorelines with many fallen trees and driftwood, and sudden drop-offs from shallow weed beds. In the river, deep still pools, eddies, backwaters, and shorelines with cover such as weeds and overhanging branches are favorite haunts. Suggested baits are large minnows, weedless silver spoons with pork rind, red-eye wigglers, or red and white spoons.

Carp Soft-shelled crayfish, bread balls, and whole

kernel corn are good baits. It is best to fish for carp early in the morning or in the evening.

Northern Pike

Bass Smallmouth bass are frequently found in rocky

areas. Largemouth bass prefer weed beds, sunken trees, logs, and snags. Nightcrawlers, minnows, frogs, crayfish, surface poppers, and rubber or plastic worms are good baits.

Yellow Perch Many perch are caught in Lake Champlain and

in the slower moving sections of the Missisquoi River. Mayfly larvae or a small spinner with a strip of pork or a worm on the hook are good baits. Ice fishing for perch is usually better towards evening.


Missisquoi is one of more than 500 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of lands and waters managed specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat and represents the most comprehensive wildlife management program in the world. Units of the system stretch across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Keys and include small islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific. The character of the refuges is as diverse as the nation itself.




Hard of hearing or deaf visitors may call the Vermont Relay Center at 1-800-253-0191 TDD/1-800-253-0195 voice.

U.S. FISH A WILDLIFE

SERVICE

!SirorT»

^Black Creek & CMaquam Creek Trail

A Walk in a Wetland Habitat



MISSISQUOI National Wildlife Refuge

Swanton, Vermont


Welcome Points of Interest on the Trail

Established in 1943, pursuant to the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, Missisquoi Refuge occupies most of

the Missisquoi River delta's marshes, open water, old fields, and wooded swamps. The 6,338-acre refuge and the surrounding area provide an important feeding, resting and breeding area for migratory birds, particularly waterfowl.

These trails were constructed by the Missisquoi Youth Conservation Corps, an organization designed to give young people gainful employment while learning and doing some

thing about the environment. They are designed with an

emphasis upon the interaction of organisms within an ecosystem. They total approximately T/i miles in length and take about two hours to walk at a leisurely pace.

Helpful Hints

Walk on the established trail. This helps prevent accidents and lessens environmental damage.

Poison ivy occurs on most of the trail. It has three leaflets, is shiny, and is sometimes tinged red. It can be found as a woody vine covering the ground or clinging to trees. Although it is a nuisance to man, its berries are a valuable food source for many birds.

Much of the trail is wet from April through June so shin-height boots are recommended. During these wet periods, traces of deer, raccoon and fox are often very visible.

During the summer months, insect repellent may be

desirable.

There are exposed tree roots and holes made by tunnelling mammals on both trails, so WATCH YOUR STEP.

' I ^he fields leading to the nature trail provide JL nesting habitat for small mammals such as

mice and voles, and for birds such as the red-winged blackbird, field sparrow and bobolink. Hay is cut by local farmers after July 15 when most birds have completed nesting.

Brush piles along the fields and trail are used as shelters by chipmunks, rabbits and occasionally fox.

The "edge effect" or transition area where one plant community changes to another is extremely important to wildlife because of the increased diversity and density of important food and cover plants that occur there. These narrow borders are found between forests and pastures, croplands and grasslands, and brush and woodlands.

Vernal pools along the field and woods edges provide nesting areas for waterfowl and important habitat for amphibians, especially frogs.

Bluebird houses have been erected along the fence line but have not yet been used by bluebirds. Almost all houses are occupied by tree swallows.

The most common trees along the trails are alder, silver maple, elm, gray birch, ash and swamp white oak. The swamp white oak trees along the creeks have been protected with wire netting to keep beavers from cutting them down. When the bark is chewed completely around the tree, the tree becomes "girdled." This means the conducting tissue is ait and very little water will reach the leaves, causing the tree to die. The acorns from these trees are valuable food for many animals including the wood duck, white-tailed deer, squirrels and chipmunks. Beavers must occasionally be trapped in this area in order to protect these trees.

mT L\.

Maquam Creek Trail Black Creek Trail

' I ^here are two active beaver houses along Maquam

JL Creek. The first one is located near the beginning of the trail and a path has been brushed out to an observation point. The second one is located at the end of the trail at "Lookout Point." The marsh area on the left nearing the Point is good for waterfowl observation, particularly mallards, black ducks, wood ducks, and ringnecks. The last 50 yards or so of the trail are excellent for wildlife observation but are usually wet.

You may see piles of mud along both trails. These piles are constructed by beaver, and are called "scent mounds." Beavers erect these mounds in order to establish a territory for themselves.

The little pathways from the woods to the water are "beaver runs." Such runs are useful to beavers when they need to transport branches and small logs to the water. Beavers also use these for quick and direct access to the water to escape from danger.

Abandoned beaver lodges are sometimes used by other animals such as mink, otter and raccoons. Ducks also use the lodges as nesting and loafing sites.

Artificial nesting structures have been very successful along both Black and Maquam Creek, particularly for producing wood ducks.

Over 200 species of birds use the refuge for nesting, resting and feeding. The yellow warbler, song sparrow, great crested flycatcher, yellowthroated warbler and wood duck are a few you might see on the trail.

Sedges, moss, wildflowers and ferns carpet the trails. The moist,

shaded trails provide perfect habitat for the sensitive, royal, cinnamon and interrupted ferns thriving here. Ferns reproduce by spores rather than seeds. Spores appear on the underside of fern

fronds or sometimes along their

margins, on particular leaflets, as in the interrupted fern, or on separate or fertile fronds as in the sensitive fern and the cinnamon fern.

The seeds, tubers and root-stocks of some of the aquatic plants along the creeks such as arrowhead, water lily, burreed, cattails, and pickerelweed provide valuable food for waterfowl, songbirds and mammals. These plants also provide escape cover for broods of waterfowl. Pickerel and bass are two of the fish that use the weedy plants found underwater as a place to lay their eggs.

Some of the more common wild-flowers on the trail are the tall meadow rue, meadowsweet, Canada lily, bluets, blue flag, turtlehead and bellwort.

You may notice several large jellylike masses on submerged tree branches called bryozoan colonies. Bryo-zoan colonies are permanently massed together. The single units of this colony each have hairlike tentacles called "cilia." The cilia wave back and forth in the water, directing the food particles into the bryozoan's mouth. The foods eaten by these minute organisms are microscopic algae, and single-celled animals and plants.

During the summer months portions of the creeks appear to be a green floating mat. This mat consists of many tiny floating plants called duckweed and provides a valuable food source for waterfowl. These plants also provide anchorage for many insects and crustaceans that are important foods for ducks and other animals.

Dead trees serve as feeding stations for many woodpeckers. The larger woodpeckers create large holes in these snags and the cavities serve as natural sites for duck and song bird nests or homes for raccoons and squirrels. The value of a few dead trees to wildlife is often unrecognized by people, since most consider them eyesores and cut them down.

Black Creek & Maquam Creek Trails


Missisquoi is one of almost 500 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Ref

uge System is a network of lands and waters managed

specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat and represents the most comprehensive wildlife management program in the world. Units of the system stretch

across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Keys and include small islands in the Caribbean and

South Pacific. The character of the refuges is as diverse as

the nation itself.

The Service also manages National Fish Hatcheries,

and provides Federal leadership in habitat protection, fish

and wildlife research, technical assistance and the conservation and protection of migratory birds, certain marine

mammals and threatened and endangered species.

For further information, contact:

Refuge Manager

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 163

Swanton, VT 05488-0163

Telephone: (802) 868-4781

Illustrations © Julian Beauregard

^Birds MISSISQUOI National Wildlife Refuge

f uT \




Swanton, Vermont


*

Welcome to Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. This leaflet lists 200 species that have been identified on

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge since its establishment in 1943.

This list was prepared in cooperation with Judy Clair, Ruth Nissen of Swanton, Vermont and Dr. H. Shadowen, Biology Department, Western Kentucky University. This list is in accordance with the Sixth American Ornithologists Union Checklist.

©Julien Beauregard

Most birds are migratory, therefore, their seasonal occurrence is coded as follows:

SEASON

s Spring S Summer F Fall W Winter

March - May June - August September - November December - February

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE

a abundant a species which is very numerous c common likely to be seen or heard in suitable habitat u uncommon present, but not certain to be seen o occasional seen only a few times during a season r rare may be present but not every year

• Birds known to nest on or near the refuge Italics indicate threatened/endangered species

LOONS - GREBES - CORMORANTS

Common Loon

' Pied-billed Grebe

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

•American Bittern

• Least Bittern

• Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Green-backed Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Snow Goose

Brant

Canada Goose

•Wood Duck

• Green-winged Teal

•American Black Duck

• Mallard

Northern Pintail

• Blue-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Canvasback

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck

Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Oldsquaw

Black Scoter

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

•Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead

• Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Ruddy Duck

Turkey Vulture

• Osprey

VULTURES - HAWKS - FALCONS

s S F W

Bald Eagle o o r

• Northern Harrier c c c o

Sharp-shinned Hawk o o o

Cooper's Hawk o o o

Northern Goshawk o o o o

• Red-shouldered Hawk o o o

Broad-winged Hawk r r

• Red-tailed Hawk coco

Rough-legged Hawk u r u u

• American Kestrel c c o

Merlin r r r

Peregrine Falcon r r r

• Gray Partridge u u u u

• Ruffed Grouse u u u u

•Wild Turkey u u u u

•Virginia Rail o c c

• Sora ooo

•Common Moorhen c c o

American Coot o r c

Black-bellied Plover o

Semipalmated Plover o o

'Killdeer c o c

Greater Yellowlegs c c

Lesser Yellowlegs o o

Solitary Sandpiper o o

• Spotted Sandpiper c c o

Sanderling o o

Semipalmcfted Sandpiper o

Least Sandpiper o

White-rumped Sandpiper o o

Pectoral Sandpiper o

Dunlin o

•Common Snipe c c c

1 American Woodcock c c c

llliJUJrlM •AfiHIAiiififli Bonaparte's Gull r r o

Ring-billed Gull c c c o

Herring Gull u u u

Common Tern c o c

'Black Tern c c o

W

DOVES - CUCKOOS - OWLS - SWIFTS - HUMMINGBIRDS

Snowy Owl

Northern Hawk Owl

c 0 0 0

u u u

u u u

0 0 0 0

c c c u

r r r

r r r

u u u u

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 r

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 u 0

c c 0

WOODPECKERS - FLYCATCHERS

1 Red-headed Woodpecker

' Yellow-bellied Sapsucker o

' Downy Woodpecker c

' Hairy Woodpecker c

' Northern Flicker o

' Pileated Woodpecker u

1 Olive-sided Flycatcher o

' Eastern Wood-Pewee o

Alder Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher u

' Eastern Phoebe o

• Great Crested Flycatcher c

• Eastern Kingbird c

r

o c 0

c c c

c c c

0 c 0

u u u

0 c 0

0 c

c 0

u 0 0

0 u 0

c c 0

c c

LARKS - SWALLOWS - JAYS - CROWS

Horned Lark o

• Purple Martin o

•Tree Swallow c

Northern Rough-winged Swallow o

• Bank Swallow c

Cliff Swallow o

• Barn Swallow c

• Blue Jay c

• American Crow c

TITMICE - NUTHATCHES - WRENS

• Black-capped Chickadee a

Boreal Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch r

c c a

r r

r r r

s S F W

• White-breasted Nuthatch c o c c

• Brown Creeper c u c c

• House Wren o o o

Winter Wren r r r

• Marsh Wren o c o

Golden-crowned Kinglet r r o

Ruby-crowned Kinglet u r o r

• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher u u

Eastern Bluebird r r r

• Veery c c o

Swainson's Thrush r r

• Hermit Thrush o o

• Wood Thrush c c

•American Robin c c c

•Gray Catbird o c o

Brown Thrasher o o o

American Pipit o

• Cedar Waxwing o u o

Northern Shrike u r u r

Loggerhead Shrike r

• European Starling a c a o

Solitary Vireo o o o

Yellow-throated Vireo o c o

Warbling Vireo o c o

Philadelphia Vireo o o r

• Red-eyed Vireo c c o

Tennessee Warbler r r

Orange-crowned Warbler r

Nashville Warbler o o o

•Yellow Warbler c c o

Chestnut-sided Warbler o o

Magnolia Warbler r r

Cape May Warbler o o

Black-throated Blue Warbler o o o

• Yellow-rumped Warbler c c o

Black-throated Green Warbler r r r

Blackburnian Warbler o o o

Palm Warbler r

Bay-breasted Warbler o o o

Blackpoll Warbler r

Black-and-white Warbler o o

s S F W

• American Redstart o c o

• Ovenbird o o

• Northern Waterthrush o u r

Louisiana Waterthrush o u

Mourning Warbler r

•Common Yellowthroat c c c

Canada Warbler o o o

Scarlet Tanager r r r

• Northern Cardinal u u u u

Indigo Bunting o o o

American Tree Sparrow c r c u

• Chipping Sparrow c c o

• Field Sparrow o c o

Vesper Sparrow o o o

• Savannah Sparrow c c

Fox Sparrow o o o

• Song Sparrow c c o o

Lincoln's Sparrow r

Swamp Sparrow o o o

•White-throated Sparrow c c o

White-crowned Sparrow o o o ' o

Dark-eyed Junco croc

Snow Bunting o r , o c

• Bobolink c c o

• Red-winged Blackbird a a c

• Eastern Meadowlark c c o

Rusty Blackbird u u o

• Common Grackle c c o

• Brown-headed Cowbird c o o

• Northern Oriole c c

Pine Grosbeak r r

Purple Finch o o o o

House Finch o o o o

White-winged Crossbill o r o

Common Redpoll o

Pine Siskin r r r o

•American Goldfinch c c c o

Evening Grosbeak c o o c

• Rose-breasted Grosbeak o o o

• House Sparrow c c c c


Missisquoi is one of more than 470 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of lands and waters managed specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat and represents the most comprehensive wildlife management program in the world. Units of the system stretch across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Keys and include small islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific. The character of the refuges is as diverse as the nation itself.



Mammals Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge

Refuge Manager Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge RFD #1 Swanton, Vermont 05488 Telephone: (802) 868-4781

Cover illustration ©Mary Friel O'Connor

( ~ > FISH A WILDLIFE

SERVICE



RL-53520-3 July 1992

Vermont

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge is approximately 50 miles north of Burlington in Franklin County, Vermont. It is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain near the Canadian border with the headquarters on Highway 78, two miles northwest of Swanton.

The Refuge encompasses 5,839 acres, a little over 95 percent of the 6,000-acre Missisquoi River delta. About one-third of the area is swamp dominated by silver maple. The woodlands also contain red maple, American elm, white ash, and white oak. Bulrush, wild rice, sedge, spikerush, burreed, and pickerel-weed are the most common marsh plants, but many shrubs, such as willow, alder, sweet gale, hardback, and buttonbush grow where the water is shallowest.

Although the Refuge was established primarily for waterfowl, many species of mammals are present. Among the most readily observed are white-tailed deer, muskrat, raccoon, and red and gray squirrels. Some, because of their size or habits, are less likely to be seen.

The following list of 34 mammals has been prepared by Refuge personnel from observations made over the years. The hypothetical listing of bats based on reported range was submitted by Dr. Robert Fuller, University of Vermont.

Shorttail Shrew (Blarina hrevicauda) Common over most of the Refuge. Digs tunnels and uses burrows of other species, especially voles. Feeds mainly on insects, plants, worms, snails, and small vertebrates.

Starnose Mole (Condylura cristata) Found throughout the area in damp meadows and woods with moist soils. An excellent swimmer, its diet consists of aquatic insects, earthworms, crusta

ceans, snails, small fish, and small amounts of vegetable material. Its eyesight is poor and the projections on its nose are sensitive feelers, helping it locate its prey.

Bats This list is based on reported ranges. The following probably occur on Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge.

Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus)

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicusfuscus)

Keen's Myotis (Myotis keenii)

Small-footed Myotis (Myotis leibii)

Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)

Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)

Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus)

New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) Present in small numbers in brushy and second growth hardwoods on the mainland portion of the Refuge. Their summer diet consists of grasses and herbs and their winter diet consists of seedlings, bark, twigs, and buds. Rabbits bear naked, blind young. *

Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) Present in small numbers in brush and second growth hardwood stands on the mainland portion of the Refuge. Feeds mainly at twilight and evenings; in summer on clover, grasses and ferns; in winter on twigs, buds, and the bark of small trees and seedlings. Young are born with dense fur and open eyes.

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) Present in small numbers in the drier woodlands that have dense undergrowth Feeds on seeds, nuts, fruits, bulbs, and insects.

Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) In small numbers where there is mast-producing timber. Tall trees are used for dens or leaf nests. Their diet consists of nuts, buds, seeds, grains, fungi, fruits, bird eggs, and inner bark of trees.

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Found throughout most wooded areas but not common. Prefers to nest in natural cavity or abandoned woodpecker hole. They may construct globular leaf nests near top of tree or use ground burrows. They prefer a conifer woodland because their diet is partially made up of seeds of conifer cones. They also eat nuts, buds, fruits, sap, flowers, fungi, bird eggs, and nestlings. They are an important food source for hawks and owls.

Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) Present throughout wooded portions. Favors cool, heavily wooded conifer and deciduous forests. Summer nest may be on a limb next to a tree trunk and winter nest is in a cavity. They often use old woodpecker holes. They eat nuts, seeds, catkins, fruits, buds, insects, mushrooms, bird eggs, and nestlings.

Woodchuck (Marmota monax) Very common in and around open fields and agricultural lands. Digs extensive systems of bur-

rows including hibernation and nest chambers. Prefers green vegetation such as herbs and grasses.

Beaver (Castor canadensis) Common along streams bordering and coursing through the Refuge. Beaver are most often observed during evening hours along the Missisquoi River, Dead Creek, and the Black and Maquam Creek Trail. Beaver build dams to flood areas where they feed and construct lodges. The water areas created by beaver dams benefit waterfowl, marsh birds, and other mammals. The den is enclosed in a large lodge made of mud and sticks and is used for raising young and providing winter shelter. Burrows dug in banks are also used as dens. The beaver consumes bark of deciduous trees and is particularly fond of swamp white oak and birch. Food is stored under the ice for winter use.

White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) Common over much of the Refuge. They feed on seeds, acorns, nuts, fruits, tender green plants, insects, and small amounts of carrion.

Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) Very common in the meadows and fields. Diet consists of grasses, bulbs, seeds, grains, and small amounts of carrion. Nests in sheltered areas under rocks and logs and builds extensive tunnel systems. Females are very prolific, capable of producing a hundred young within a year. They are an important food source for birds of prey and small carnivorous mammals.

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) Seen frequently in all water areas. The muskrat uses cattails, burreed, arrowhead, wild rice, cutgrass, bulrushes, pondweeds, water lilies, and other marsh plants for food and houses, creating openings in the dense marsh vegetation. The openings provide habitat for waterfowl. Ducks and geese use the muskrat houses for nesting sites. Muskrats are mainly nocturnal, but may be seen in daylight. They are active throughout the year.

Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) Presentl mainly along the Missisquoi River, but occasionally found in marshes. They are omnivorous and will consume fruits, grains, vegetables, carrion and fresh meats, and garbage.

Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) The few porcupines present are confined to an area in the West Swanton section of the Refuge where there are small, scattered hemlock stands. Den sites are in protect places such as rock ledges, trees, and abandoned fox or beaver dens. They eat herbaceous and woody vegetation, grasses, leaves, twigs, mast and bark.

Coyote (Canis latrans) A few present but seldom seen. Have been seen along Tabor Road. Den is usually an excavated burrow, well hidden by vegetation or rock. They are omnivorous and will consume carrion, small mammals, and vegetation.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Not numerous but may be seen occasionally over most of the Refuge except where limited by water. Prefers to use existing burrows for rearing young and escaping from predators, but will dig dens. Preys mainly on small mammals and birds, insects, carrion, and fruits.

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Common throughout the Refuge. Dens are usually located in trees but culverts, abandoned wood-chuck burrows, and other protected areas are also used. They are omnivorous and will consume fruits, insects, crayfish, buds, seeds, grass, and garbage. Primarily nocturnal but may be seen in daylight.

Fisher (Martes pennanti) An occasional visitor. Dens in hollow trees, logs, or abandoned porcupine dens. Fishers are one of the few predators that prey on porcupines. Shrews, mice, squirrels, toads, berries, nuts, and carrion are also included in their diet.

Shorttail Weasel (Mustek erminea) Present in small numbers in wooded areas. Eats mice, chipmunks, moles, shrews, and occasionally birds and insects. Molts to white in winter.

Longtail Weasel (Mustela frenata) Present in small numbers in drier sections. Dens in natural holes or crevices or excavated burrows. Feeds primarily on small mammals, ground nesting birds and insects.

Mink (Mustela vison) Present but not numerous. Favors forested wetlands. Dens inside hollow logs, natural cavities under tree roots or in burrows along streams. They are excellent swimmers and prey on both aquatic and terrestrial animals, including muskrats, fish, rabbits, and snakes.

Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Occasionally seen on drier areas of the Refuge. Dens may be in abandoned burrows, stone walls, rock crevices, and stumps. The diet of the skunk includes small rodents, bird eggs, fruits, grains, nuts, grasses, berries, insects, garbage and carrion.

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River Otter (Lutra canadensis) Frequently seen in the Missisquoi River, Maquam Creek, and Charcoal Creek. Den may be in an

abandoned beaver lodge or muskrat house, dense thickets bordering water, or under fallen trees. Diet consists of fish, frogs, turtles, snakes, and birds.

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) An occasional visitor. Prefers to den in rock crevices, under fallen trees, or in hollow logs. Most prey is taken by stalking. Diet consists of small mammals such as snowshoe hares, cottontails, squirrels, mice, voles, birds and their eggs, snakes, fish, insects, and some vegetation. Will also eat dead animals if the meat is fresh.

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Frequently seen over entire Refuge. Preferred habitat is forest edges, swamp borders, areas interspersed with fields, and woodland openings. Deer browse on woody deciduous plants, twigs, and young bark. They graze on grasses, herbs, berries, and mushrooms.

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