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Southwest Washington
Wildlife Reports
April
14, 2008
Region
5 Wildlife Areas
Klickitat Wildlife Area gates opened: Manager VanLeuven opened the three
gates on Anderson Rd., Old Headquarters Rd., and South Breaks Rd. the day before
turkey hunting season began. There were a few parties of hunters camping in
the area. VanLeuven reviewed the diversity of habitats on the Goldendale Hatchery
Unit. There are three wetlands, each of different character, and some undisturbed
uplands with plants in addition to the previously farmed fields.
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| Goldendale Hatchery Unit has a diversity of habitats which consists of three wetlands, each of different character, and some undisturbed uplands with plants in addition to the previously farmed fields. |
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| Lower
Columbia Goose Survey Participant examining a damaged nest, and goose egg floated in water to estimate lenght of time it has been incubating. |
Game
Management Division
Lower Columbia River Goose nest survey: The annual survey for nesting
geese in the Lower Columbia River began this week. Over 40 participants from
WDFW, ODFW, USFWS, and volunteers searched for goose nests on an index set of
islands in the Columbia River that have been surveyed since 1985. This survey
is part of a statewide effort to monitor resident nesting geese and to document
nesting of a group of geese in the lower Columbia that resemble the migratory
Dusky goose. Participants recorded information on nest location, status of eggs,
stage of incubation of dark geese, and GPS coordinates. Selected eggs from the
dark geese nests were floated in water to estimate length of time the egg has
been incubating. Follow-up surveys will help to identify the timing for banding
projects when geese are molting. Special thanks to Mikal Morre of the Waterfowl
Program who came to help coordinate the project since District Wildlife Biologist
Miller is still limited in his movement by a walking cast. Many thanks to all
participants who braved unsettled weather and rough river conditions to help
with our project, job well done !
Area 2 Canada Goose Management: Biologist Holman edited the annual report summarizing the special late Canada goose Advanced Hunter Education (AHE) damage hunt. The hunt uses graduates of the AHE program to hunt geese on specific farms experiencing crop depredation in the late winter-early spring. This year, 69 hunters harvested 211 geese over 10 days of hunting on 7 participating farms. The late hunt has been a successful means of hazing geese from agricultural areas while providing an extension of waterfowl hunting to AHE, southwest Washington goose hunters. Thanks to technicians Wills and Dexheimer for their hard work during the late goose season.
Wildlife
Diversity Division
Peregrine Falcon: Biologist Anderson has been working with local rock
climbers at Beacon Rock State Park to monitor peregrine falcon nesting. Peregrines
have been observed for the past two months frequently using Beacon Rock and
recent observations indicate that nesting is underway. Members of the local
rock climbing association are assisting with peregrine observations and have
become an important part of our monitoring program.
Oregon Spotted Frogs: Biologist Anderson completed Oregon Spotted Frog egg mass surveys for the primary wetlands at Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve (DNR). No additional egg masses were detected this week. Recent warm weather had increased water levels thus providing favorable conditions for spotted frog tadpole development. Although overall egg mass numbers are down from previous years, survival of this year’s tadpoles should benefit the overall population.
Western Pond Turtles: Biologist Slavens reports that they have caught 98 western pond turtles of which 15 are females. Of the 15 females, 10 were outfitted with new radio transmitters. These females will be monitored for nesting during the months of May and June.
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