Wertheim NWR Projects

 

 

Conservation Plan

 

October 2003.  Refuge Manager Patricia Martinkovic wants to let FOW members know that the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Wertheim is moving right along. “We have taken all the public input we received,” she said, “and, from that, we’ve developed alternative plans for our future conservation efforts. In November, we’ll present the alternatives to our Regional Office supervisors. Then, when we have their input, we’ll draw up a draft environmental impact statement for review by the public next spring.”

 

Another significant event for the Refuge is the appointment of a new Regional Director, Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Marvin Moriarty – who comes on board on November 30. Patricia looks forward to briefing Regional Director Moriarty and having the Complex benefit from his expertise. “Mr. Moriarty brings a wealth of experience with him as a result of his work at field stations, Regional Offices, and several top managerial positions in the Washington Office” she said. “We’re very fortunate toÊ have one of the Agency’s most respected leaders at the helm for Region 5 resources, employees, partners, and the public.”

 

Marvin Moriarty is originally from Vermont, where he has a farm. He will return to our Region after wrapping up his current duties as deputy regional director for Region 3, which covers eight Midwestern states.

 

 

With the Refuge’s Wildlife Biologists

 

October 2003.  Senior Biologist Mark Maghini explains how the management of the Big Fish Creek impoundment continues to bear fruit. Big Fish Creek is a tributary of the Carmans River.

 

“Since Refuge staff began manipulating water levels and controlling giant reed [Phragmites australis] with herbicide and prescribed fire three years ago, this 35- acre wetland has responded with a flush of native wetland plants that are highly desirable by waterfowl. The impoundment was initially constructed more than 30 years ago to provide enhanced habitat for waterfowl. Unfortunately, giant reed, a non-native and highly invasive plant, soon colonized the site, rendering its habitat value marginal. Since control efforts began, however, native rushes, sedges, smartweeds, and cattail have begun to reclaim the site. In response to this newly formed plant community, thousands of green winged teal, gadwall, mallard, and black duck have been using this abundant food resource.

 

“An additional benefit of impoundment management is the ability to raise and lower water levels, thereby providing up to 10 acres of mud flat or shallowly flooded areas for foraging shorebirds. Again, during spring and fall migration, flocks of least sandpipers numbering in the hundreds, as well as, lesser numbers of dowitchers, dunlins, and yellow legs have used this foraging habitat.” Mark also tells about a grant that the refuge has received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore upland habitats adjacent to Little Neck Run, another Carmans tributary, on Wertheim’s western boundary.

 

“The project will remove derelict buildings and treat invasive plants in what was the former Luskowitz
duck farm. This work will likely commence this winter and progress through the spring. In addition, staff have been working with Ducks Unlimited to also restore the shoreline of Little Neck Run, by controlling giant reed and planting native shrubs and trees that would typically occur in this riverine, aquatic environment. “This creek is one of the most attractive areas on the Refuge for waterfowl and these projects will only enhance that standing.”

 

Wildlife Biologist Florence James describes various surveys conducted at Wertheim: “For the third year in a row, Wertheim Refuge staff and volunteers have conducted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5 breeding bird surveys. Looking and listening for breeding birds in spring and early summer, these individuals went through various habitats within the Refuge, including grasslands, oak forest, oak/pine forest, and marshlands.

 

“Volunteer expert birders, Ernie Lewis and Sally Kiss, surveyed over 120 points on the Refuge this summer. Thanks totheir expertise, over 100 species of birds were noted as nesting on the Refuge, including the following species which are rare for Long Island: black-poll warbler, pine warbler, yellow-billed cuckoo, baybreasted warbler, indigo bunting, and eastern bluebird. “A special thanks to volunteer and FOW Board member Anne Meinhold, who escorted these birders to their survey points on the Refuge.”  Florence next discusses Wood Duck Box Surveys “This winter, Ducks Unlimited and the South Shore Waterfowlers assisted the Refuge in locating and cleaning 145 wood duck boxes at Wertheim. The data they collected showed that 253 eggs hatched this year and 123 eggs were unhatched. Wood ducks used approximately 60 of the 145 wood duck boxes located on the Refuge.”
 

A survey of Vernal Pools is Florence’s next topic: “This year, Linda Caridi, an intern from Southampton College conducted amphibian egg mass studies to determine amphibian production on the Refuge. Linda surveyed Woods Hole, Pine Pond, Southaven Pond, and Cemetery Pond looking for wood frog egg masses and salamander egg production.  Wood frog egg masses were found in Woods Hole and Pine Pond; however, due to the excessive rain this year, many of the vernal pools were too flooded to conduct proper surveys for salamander egg production.  She also conducted surveys at the ecological preserve that the Long Island NWR Complex oversees at Brookhaven National Laboratory.”

 
Lastly, Florence talks about the success the Long Island NWR Complex staff had with the Solar Electric Fence they installed at Morton NWR in Sag Harbor. “To discourage mammalian predators such as foxes, cats, and raccoons from interfering with the nests of two endangered bird species – the federal listed piping plover and the state-listed least terns – LINWR Complex personnel erected solar electric fencing at Morton National Wildlife Refuge. “The fence proved effective as, this year, 7 piping plover chicks and over 40 least tern chicks were fledged at Morton.”

 

Phragmites at Wertheim (Invasive Species)