Lake Mead National Recreation Area Sensitive Wildlife Species Monitoring and Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2008

Margaret N. Rees, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Cooperative Agreement Number: H8R07060001

Task Agreement Number: J8R07060012

Signatures have been redacted for privacy and security measures.

Abstract

Prd Frog Monitoring, Management, and Research

  • Translocation program initiated this quarter, egg mass collections completed, tadpole rearing underway.
  • Egg mass surveys at Blue Point Spring conducted approximately weekly; one egg mass collected from site for headstarting.
  • Spring nocturnal surveys in progress.
  • Coordination for potential translocation sites on BLM lands ongoing.
  • Habitat improvements coordinated and conducted at one new translocation site on BLM lands in the Gold Butte; site scheduled to receive frogs in April.
  • All milestones and deliverables associated with the MSHCP project on schedule.

Project 2. Bald Eagle Winter Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Winter bald eagle count successfully completed, largest count ever (116 confirmed bald eagle sightings, not counting unidentified and golden eagles).
  • Annual Work Plan and Detailed Timelines for the associated MSHCP projects completed; all MSHCP milestones and deliverables on schedule.

Project 3. Peregrine Falcon Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Peregrine falcon monitoring activities initiated.
  • New call-broadcast methodology under evaluation, results promising.
  • Work plan and detailed timelines for the associated MSHCP projects completed ahead of schedule – on schedule for all MSHCP milestones and deliverables.

Project 4. Assessment of Six Covered and Three Evaluation Bird Species

  • Work on thrasher modeling ongoing.
  • Intensive area search plots identified for MSHCP projects.
  • Field protocols associated with MSHCP project completed; on schedule for all MSHCP milestones and deliverables.
  • Surveys initiated early at one intensive area site to evaluate thrasher-breeding activity.
  • Undergraduate student hired part-time this spring to assist with intensive area surveys.

Project 5. Desert Tortoise Monitoring and Management.

  • Efforts for this project have been completed under this task agreement (as modified).

Project 6. Shorebird Monitoring on Lakes Mead and Mohave

  • Twenty-one surveys of regularly monitored sites on Lakes Mead and Mohave conducted this quarter; five additional surveys conducted.
  • Surveys within Black Canyon to count all aquatic birds from Willow Beach to Hoover Dam initiated on a monthly basis.

Project 7. Desert Bighorn Sheep Habitat Use Monitoring in Relation to Highway Development.

  • Efforts to retrieve GPS collars released last quarter hampered by battery failures in both satellite and VHF units.
  • Technical assistance in the form of data summaries and maps provide.