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