Lake Mead National Recreation Area Sensitive Wildlife Species Monitoring and Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending June 30, 2008

摘要

Project 1. Relict Leopard Frog Monitoring, Management, and Research Translocation program completed this quarter at current active translocation sites. Egg mass surveys at Blue Point Spring conducted approximately weekly; two additional egg massed collected from site for head-starting. Frogs released at Blue Point and Rogers from egg masses collected at Blue Point in March and April, further augmentations planned. Spring nocturnal surveys completed. 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 received frogs in April. All milestones and deliverables associated with the MSHCP project are on schedule. Project 2. Bald Eagle Winter Monitoring and Evaluation Work progressing on assessment to quantify habitat selection; associated literature reviews and preliminary statistical analyses underway. All MSHCP milestones and deliverables associated with this project are on schedule. Project 3. Peregrine Falcon Monitoring and Evaluation Peregrine falcon monitoring for this season is nearing completion with 137 surveys conducted at 34 different sites. The associated MSHCP projects are on schedule for all milestones and deliverables. Project 4. Assessment of Six Covered and Three Evaluation Bird Species Field surveys of four intensive area search plots to meet MSHCP project requirements completed; habitat assessments of sites underway. Surveys continuing at one intensive area site to better understand Le Contes’ thrasher breeding activity. Thrasher habitat modeling ongoing; meetings with UNLV biostatistician conducted. Data-mining to determine historical locations for targeted songbird species is progressing. Project on schedule for all associated MSHCP milestones and deliverables. 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 monitored sites on Lakes Mead and Mohave were conducted. Monitoring of snowy plover breeding sites initiated in May. Project 7. Desert Bighorn Sheep Habitat Use Monitoring in Relation to Highway Development. Efforts to retrieve GPS collars have been essentially completed. Technical assistance not required this quarter, but a meeting has been tentatively scheduled for this next quarter to determine final products.