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Southwest Washington
Wildlife Reports
July
14, 2008
Region
5 Wildlife Areas
Klickitat Wildlife Area: Wildlife Area Manager VanLeuven conducted a bluebird
nest box survey on the Wildlife Area. Of 25 nest boxes checked, 9 were occupied
by western bluebirds. Another box contained a dead juvenile bluebird. One box
was destroyed by vandals and two dead birds were found in the debris on the
ground. One box was occupied by swallows and one box was occupied by an unknown
species of songbird. One box contained an egg (not bluebird), but seemed to
be abandoned (the roof of the box was torn off). Eleven boxes were unoccupied.
Manager VanLeuven worked with WCC on the Sondino Unit on fence repairs and preparing wide fuel breaks in the grass along a property line. The crew was able to observe at least 7 western pond turtles during their visit.
Game
Management Division
Band-Tailed Pigeon Surveys: Surveys of band-tailed pigeons arriving at mineral
sites continue in Region 5. Band-tails use mineral sites extensively during
the summer months. Mineral springs are important for mineral intake by adult
pigeons, especially during the nesting season. Large concentrations of birds
congregate at these sites especially during the summer months. In the Pacific
Northwest, mineral sites most likely provide high sodium and to a lesser degree
calcium in the diet as a supplement to the birds food requirements. Long-term
trends in the use of such sites serve as indicators of overall population. These
surveys are part of a coordinated effort to monitor band-tailed pigeon populations
in the Northwest. The survey protocol for band-tail mineral sites prescribes
a single visit to each location during the period encompassing July 10-20. Surveyors
count all arriving and departing pigeons beginning 30 minutes prior to sunrise
and concluding at noon.
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Operation
Dark Goose |
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Biologists Holman and Prince completed the band-tailed pigeon mineral site survey at the Cedar Creek site. A total of 312 pigeons arrived at the mineral spring during the course of the survey. The result at the Cedar Creek site is somewhat higher than those of recent years. Pigeon surveys are scheduled for next week at additional mineral sites in Region 5.
Operation Dark Goose: Biologists from WDFW, ODFW, USFWS, Oregon State University, and volunteers combined to capture geese on Miller Sands Island this week. The object of the capture is to band and neck collar geese that resemble the Dusky goose, which is managed by harvest quota through Pacific Flyway regulations. These local birds nest on Miller Sands Island and do not migrate to the Copper River delta in AK.
A helicopter is used to coax the birds into the trap where they are banded and collared for future identification at hunter check stations and in field surveys. Young birds are released with adults to facilitate family groups getting together soon after release. Birds are handled carefully to avoid injuries due to the capture and processing.
A big thanks to all the volunteers and agency personnel that made this project a success.
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| Large oaks found on the Klickitat Wildlife Area. |
Wildlife
Diversity Division
Sandhill Cranes: Biologist Anderson and Stocking continue to survey sandhill
cranes in Klickitat County. This year sandhill crane colt (young) production
has been outstanding. To date we have banded six colts with significant assistance
from local volunteers in the community. This large number of early season nest
successes has not been documented in the Glenwood Valley for many years. We
typically rely on second nesting attempts for much of any particular years colt
productivity. There are at least three additional colts that will be targeted
for banding in upcoming weeks. This years early success has been attributed
to favorable wetland nesting conditions created by higher than normal spring
run-off. An aerial survey is scheduled for next week to further monitor other
nesting pairs that have been more elusive during our weekly ground surveys.
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