NANFA-- Oregon spotted frog egg survey announcement
Jay DeLong (thirdwind_at_att.net)
Wed, 28 Feb 2001 09:07:23 -0800
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To all interested:
As you may know, four or five known populations of the Oregon spotted frog
(Rana pretiosa) remain in Washington State, depending on precisely how one
counts populations. The largest of these is the population system at
Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the Glenwood Valley of western
Klickitat County. Conboy Lake is a spectacular, albeit altered, seasonal
marsh system in the shadow of Mt. Adams. Exhaustive egg mass counts on the
Conboy Lake NWR portion of this population system (ca. 40% of available
habitat for the species locally is on private lands) have revealed a sharp
decline in the number of egg masses laid: ca. 7,500 egg masses in 1998, ca.
5,400 egg masses in 1999, and ca. 2,700 egg masses in 2000. Funding is
unavailable to do the same exhaustive surveys that have been done over the
last three years.
Because of the marked apparent declining trend in this population's
reproductive effort, we think it critical to obtain an egg mass count in
2001, especially give the extreme drought conditions that have resulted in
highly protracted and limited filling of the lakebed. For this reason, we
are soliciting volunteers to help in a massive two-day egg mass count of
the refuge on the weekend of the 17-18 March 2001, a timing that should
capture most, if not all, of the 2001 oviposition.
If you are interested in helping count Oregon spotted frog egg masses on
either one of those two days, please contact Joe Engler (Ridgefield
National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Ridgefield Washington (360) 887-4106;
e-mail: Joe_Engler_at_r1.fws.gov) or Marc Hayes (Washington Department of Fish
and Wildlife in Olympia, Washington (360) 902-2567; e-mail:
hayesmph_at_dfw.wa.gov). We will begin in the field on each of the two days
at Conboy Lake NWR headquarters at 9:00 AM. Bring a lunch, footwear that
will keep you dry and allow you to walk in water up at least 1 foot deep
(waders preferably), and plan to spend a full field day (i.e., 9:00-5:00
PM). Everyone will get onsite training on where to count and how to
recognize egg masses. Limited space is available for the few folks that
may be interested in doing an overnight stay. Conboy Lake is about a 1.5
hour drive from Portland. Directions will be sent to those who request
them.
We hope you can help to monitor this state-level endangered species that is
currently a federal candidate for listing. Even if you cannot, please pass
this announcement on to someone who may have the opportunity to help.
Joseph D. Engler
Wildlife Biologist
USFWS, Ridgefield NWR Complex
Ridgefield, WA 98642
phone: 1-360-887-4106
--
Jay DeLong
Olympia, WA
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