Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monitoring and Evaluation of Sensitive Wildlife: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending June 30, 2007

• Main Author: Rees, Margaret N.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Digital Scholarship@UNLV 2007
• Subjects: Desert Ecology; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Sciences; Life Sciences; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; Black Canyon; Blue Point; Southern Lake; Tadpole; peregrine falcon
• Online Access: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/pli_lake_mead_wildlife/7; https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=pli_lake_mead_wildlife

Project 1. Relict Leopard Frog Monitoring, Management, and Research Nocturnal surveys completed at all natural and translocation sites – the most striking finding was the lack of frogs observed at Rogers Springs and lower Blue Point despite repeated survey efforts. Relict leopard frog annual translocation effort completed – a total of 1957 tadpoles and juvenile frogs released at six translocation sites. Potential translocation sites within Gold Butte assessed during site visits in late March. Coordination and assistance provided to UNLV research efforts on habitat improvements at Blue Point and Rogers Springs, and with proposed FWS actions to construct a tadpole rearing facility and artificial habitat at the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery. Relict Leopard Frog Conservation Team meeting held. Project 2. Bald Eagle Winter Monitoring and Evaluation No action required this quarter. Project 3. Peregrine Falcon Monitoring and Evaluation Peregrine falcon spring monitoring activities ongoing – all known territories visited at least once for a total of 27 passive surveys. An additional 11 passive surveys conducted in undocumented areas; 44 active surveys conducted at known peregrine falcon sites. Two new territories identified in Black Canyon and at the Overton Arm in addition to the territory documented on southern Lake Mohave the previous quarter. Successful breeding documented at the Overton Arm site and late-stage nestling observed at the southern Lake Mohave site. Project 4. Assessment of Six Covered and Three Evaluation Bird Species Pilot study initiated to evaluate point-count survey methods. 16 point-count surveys performed this quarter using methods compatible with Great Basin Bird Observatory (GBBO) protocol. 18 call-broadcast surveys for the thrasher species preformed. Field effort for regional assessment of thrasher distribution and habitat selection completed this quarter. Emphasis is now being placed on assessment, analysis, and modeling of these data. Annual surveys for Southwestern Willow Flycatchers ...