United States Department of the Interior

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex

P.O. Box 457 - 301 N. Third Avenue

Ridgefield, Washington 98642

29 May 2002

MEMORANDOM

To:	files

From:	Joseph D. Engler, Wildlife Biologist

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Ridgefield, Washington 98642

Subject:	Conboy Lake Crane Survey Update, 23 May 2002

On 23 May, Refuge staff in conjunction with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted an aerial flight and ground survey to locate nesting sandhill cranes in Washington. Based on pre-2002 surveys, 23-25 pairs were anticipated to nest this year.

On the refuge, 13 pairs of cranes were documented to be breeding. Five pairs were observed with 6 chicks, 4 pairs were incubating (2 re-nesting), and 4 pairs were known to have failed (without re-nesting at this time). Five additional pairs were sighted but breeding status could not be confirmed (non-status).

Seven additional birds were observed after the flight and classified as sub-adults/non-breeders based on the presence of 3 banded birds in the group. It is possible that some or all of these birds may have attempted nesting but failed. Some of these may have been counted earlier on the flight as non-status pairs.

Off-refuge, 2 pairs were incubating nests on the Polo Fields (Yakama Indian Nation Lands); this is the first incident of 2 pairs utilizing this site. Neither the historic Camas Patch/Dry Creek site or the Two Lakes site were flown due to anticipated weather conditions. Cranes were not observed at the Deer Creek site or the Panakanic site, though non-status birds were known to be present prior to the flight. An additional pair was sited on the Kelley tract, a recent addition to the refuge, however, nesting status was unconfirmed.

For Washington, 15 nesting pairs were confirmed and 6 non-territorial or non-status pairs were observed. The presence of banded sub-adults suggest that the nesting population could have peaked at the anticipated 24-25 pairs had all cranes been documented at nest sites. This wet season, following last year's major drought, continued the trend of a major re-shuffling of crane pairs both locally and off-refuge.

Unlike the previous 7 years, ground surveys were significantly reduced to date. A re- prioritization of staff and work duties during the critical late nesting/first hatching period, resulted in only one survey being conducted during this 3 week period. Therefore, considerable pair and nest information was not collected; resulting in the significant gaps in the territory establishment, nest success and territory-specific data described above. Further, relatively simple nest and pair data which could have been resolved with ground surveys resulted in extended, expensive flying time. This additional flight time may have compromised the collective finances to conduct a second late season flight.

Preliminary Pair/Territory Data:

Refuge:

1.	Willard #1: 1 chick

2.	Willard #2: 1 chick

3.	Kelley Tract: 1 pair, status unknown

4.	North Oxbow: 1 pair, status unknown

5.	Arena: 1 pair, failed chick based on egg fragments

6.	Myer: incubating re-nest

7.	Troh: no adults on flight, observed previous day, failed nest or chicks

8.	Conboy Lake: incubating 2 eggs

9.	Dean Meadow: 1 chick

10.	Ziegler: 2 chicks

11.	Bird Creek: bird in area during flight, status unknown

12.	Camas West: incubating 2 eggs

13.	Frazier Meadow: adults in area, failed nest or chicks (male banded red/green)

14.	Aspen Grove: adult in area, status unknown

15.	Chapman Creek: incubating re-nest (male banded white/blue)

16.	Whitcomb Cabin: 1 chick

17.	NE Bird Creek: no birds in area, previous failed nest due to egg predation

18.	South Chapman Meadow: no birds seen

19.	Laurel: no birds seen

20.	C&H: no birds seen

Off-Refuge:

1.	Panakanic: no adults seen on flight but two banded birds had been present up to the previous day. (Female banded blue/red, male banded but unknown)

2.	Deer Creek: no adults seen on flight but birds reportedly in area during early season.

3.	Polo Fields #1: incubating 2 eggs

4.	Polo Fields #2: incubating 2 eggs

5.	Two Lakes: not flown

6.	Camas Patch: not flown

7.	Trout Lake: no adults seen

7 assumed non-breeding birds were observed including 3 banded individuals

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