Mayberry 2012

(Note: For those who are not familiar with Mayberry, that’s what we call our Sherman Island duck club. We owned it for years and sold it to the State (under threat of condemnation) in the ’90s. Since that time we’ve been in a lease agreement with management of the property our responsibility – until about four years ago. That’s when California decided to put a new program into place. We still have a hunting lease, but do not manage the property. This update may interest those who have followed my duck hunting and property management stories on this blog.)

The Mayberry transformation is complete. There is no longer any habitat that is prime for dabbling ducks and wading birds. The property has been changed from a shallow-water seasonal wetland to a deep-water marsh inhabited by tules (hardstem bulrush) and cattail, but very little wildlife. Yes there are a few river otters, fish and blackbirds, but a census of wildlife would show a fraction of  the inhabitants from just a few years ago. To be fair, it is  a fact that the bulk of migrating waterfowl have not reached the area yet, so things will get better.

I’m on the outside looking in, but the way I understand it, the primary purpose of the ongoing project at Mayberry is two fold – study the subsidence of delta islands and also evaluate carbon sequestration associated with the dense stands of tules and cattail. It is hoped that covering the land with water will stop the sinking of the islands by reducing oxidation of the highly organic soils. And, that a study of tules and cattail will provide insight into ways to improve air quality and reduce global warming trends.

These are lofty goals, but the losses associated with this study are by far more clear, to me, than the gains.

Mayberry looks like a lake.

During  my last three trips to Mayberry, I’ve not spotted a duck on the ponds, not even a coot. The closest I’ve seen to a duck has been a cormorant that landed on the water. The good news, I can take my fishing rod out with me on opening day of duck season.

There is still hope for some waterfowl activity, but it’s sketchy. I’ve been told that there are a couple pair of honkers using the property and the shallow seasonal ponds next door hold quite a few ducks that could possibly flyover Mayberry. Maybe ducks will begin to use the property as the waterfowl migration arrives, but there is very little food for them.

Here’s a photo of a shallow pond next door. This is what we used to see at Mayberry before the ponds were converted to permanent water.

The sad part of the story is that 300 acres of great duck and shorebird habitat has been destroyed. It’s too bad that at least some of the property wasn’t left as seasonal marsh. It would have been a nice compromise and it would have allowed for more use by migratory waterfowl – both game and non-game. Or better yet, they could have left the seasonal marsh in place and converted 300 acres of cow pasture to marsh. I guess the pasture was too valuable.

Thousands of waterfowl formerly used Mayberry as a significant winter feeding area.

The bottom line is that management of the property in is the control of others and I have been blessed with great opportunity to hunt there for many years, so no matter what happens, I will always be thankful that my partners and I have had such incredible good fortune.

The good old days with shallow marsh and seasonl wetland habitat.

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Finally, a Seed Mix for Western Deer

August 18, 2010

Contact: Miles Moretti
Tel.: 1-888-375-DEER
E-mail: president@muledeer.org

MDF and Granite Seed Company announce partnership to benefit members and habitat

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Mule Deer Foundation and Granite Seed Company have formed a unique partnership that will offer MDF members free consultations and the opportunity to acquire professional-grade native seed from Granite Seed. The goal is to help enhance and restore mule deer habitat on privately-owned land.

Habitat loss or degradation is one of the major causes for the decline of mule deer and black-tailed deer populations. These deer often spend a considerable amount of time on private lands throughout the year. In many cases, this land provides vital winter habitat and is crucial to survival.

Miles Moretti, MDF President/CEO said, “MDF’s working motto of ‘Saving Deer One Acre at a Time’ can only be accomplished by aggressive habitat improvement. We at MDF are excited about our partnership with Granite Seed. This truly is an added benefit for our members and will certainly further MDF objectives. Our members will be able to receive professional products and advice on what to plant to attract deer and improve their habitat.”

Granite Seed’s President Bill Agnew stated, “MDF’s goals align perfectly with ours. At Granite Seed our mission is to provide native seed and erosion control products for the conservation of land and preservation of wildlife. We look forward to working with MDF members and applying our vast range management experience to address landowners’ specific habitat goals.”

For more information about this program, call 801-768-4422 or e-mail muledeer@graniteseed.com.

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About MDF (www.muledeer.org)
The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with over 10,000 members. MDF’s mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. MDF is dedicated to restoring, improving and protecting mule deer habitat (including land and easement acquisitions) resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and huntable deer populations; encouraging and supporting responsible wildlife management with government agencies, private organizations and landowners; promoting public education and scientific research related to mule deer and wildlife management; supporting and encouraging responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer; and acknowledging regulated hunting as a viable component of mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation. For information about the Mule Deer Foundation or to join please call 1-888-375-DEER (3337).

About Granite Seed (www.graniteseed.com)
Granite Seed Company specializes in supplying seed and erosion control products for land reclamation and restoration, turf, beautification, pasture and range.

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Are Wildlife Management Programs Going Astray?

Traditional wildlife management is based upon an assumption of consumptive use. 

 

With consumptive use as a goal, habitat is managed to produce a healthy wildlife population with some species targeted for harvest. Healthy habitat produces a surplus of the targeted species, the ones desirable for human use. The surplus is available for consumption, with no net loss of the base population. 

This scenario is a win-win situation. More animals overall and also more available for harvest. Since consumption requires killing the animal being consumed, the sacrifice of the individual life of an animal is accepted, but the welfare of the target species, whether it be a herd, flock or family group, is enhanced. 

Tule elk were once on the verge of extinction, but hunters brought them back.

The Endangered Species Act has helped to promote the plight of numerous species which have been or are threatened and endangered to the point that the species could become extinct. But, the philosophy of the endangered species act tends to promote the welfare of each animal as an individual. This is appropriate if a species’ population dwindles to double digits. 

The killing of an individual animal listed as endangered is considered a “take” and it is illegal. That the killing of an individual animal undermines the welfare of a species seems intuitively obvious to any observer, educated in wildlife management or not. 

Unfortunately, there is a counter-intuitive component built into the issue of “take.” Management activities that promote the welfare of the species often require risking death or even  guaranteeing death of one or more individual animals. 

Therefore, the killing of a limited number of individual animals should be allowed when the action taking place ultimately enhances the survival of the species as a whole, but this is not the case. 

You can't rebuild a pond without making a mess.

Most recently, the issue of habitat improvement work related to enhancement of California tiger salamander breeding habitat has come into play. Land stewards who wish to rebuild dams and deepen stock ponds to enhance tiger salamander breeding opportunities are foreclosed from doing do as the issuance of a permit requires that there be no take. This type of conservation strategy is referred to as avoidance or minimization of take. In fact, this strategy can backfire. 

This CTS larvae, along with many others, was found in a recently rebuilt pond.

Brush that provides a sanctuary for Alameda whipsnake and many other species, should be thinned periodically to produce optimum habitat. Burning is often the prefered method, but mechanical clearing, crushing or pruning are other techniques that produces results. 

Alameda whipsnake

Unfortunately, none of these options can currently be used by land stewards for fear that an individual snake will be killed. Under current rules, there are few if any options that will allow a permit necessary to take one animal under these circumstances. 

If this type of thinking creeps into the minds of some traditional wildlife managers and the welfare of an individual animal is raised above the welfare of habitat supporting the species in general, we have a big problem. 

Habitat may not be warm and cuddly, but proper management of the critical habitat for a species must take priority over the welfare of individual animals.

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The Good Old Days – again.

Nothing makes me think of the good old days like pheasant hunting.

While looking through the archives – the days before digital photography – I found some old photos of our 90s pheasant harvest. A few of them have the date on them – 11-25-95.

That is fourteen years ago and it sure was different then. Take a look.

Cousin Wes and brother Rob with limits

Friends Fred, Steve, Gary and Ralph with limits

Rich and Terry with limits

Rich and Val with limit

In the 90s, we had years where every hunter went home with a limit through Thanksgiving. We’ve only had a couple limits taken so far this year and tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

What’s different? Weather patterns, a shift from farming to ranching on Sherman Island and older less productive habitat on our property.

Oh yes, we are also a little older and slower.

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Flooding Up at Mayberry 2009

The ten- inch siphon is running with three weeks to go until duck season. It takes a while to flood up about 150 acres of ducks ponds with a ten inch siphon pipe, maybe as much as two weeks. After a while, we may have to start up our second siphon, a twelve incher, but first we’ll check to see how it’s going with just the smaller of the two. We also have a four-in syphon that is generally used to maintain the water level once the ponds are flooded.

The ten- inch has several outlets to fields, but right now our main objective is to flood our main duck pond. We start up the siphon using  a rotary air pump that sucks the air out of the pipe. As the air pressure in the pipe drops, water rises in the river-side pipe and eventually it spills over to fill up the down flow side of the pipe. When all the air is out of the pipe, we open a flapper valve on the end of the pipe and the water flows in an attempt to equalize the pressure, which would never happen unless the entire island floods.

Nearly twenty years ago we installed the two siphons pipes and they run out into the fields about three hundred yards. The pipes are a more efficient way to move water than using a ditch (in the delta), but they must be set up properly with vents or they will shut themselves off. The twelve-inch siphon is the same as the ten-inch, but the extra two inches in diameter increase the volume of flow dramatically – you can do the math.

Rob (my brother who makes these decisions) has labored to make major habitat changes this summer. Mayberry is responding, but the full benefit of the manipulations will not be observed for a full year or more. Here are some of the methods he’s used to manage the plants – upland and wetland.

1.) Aerial spraying of herbicides. The purpose of the aerial spraying is to kill large dense patches of cattail and tules that are unmanageable. When we quit growing corn at Mayberry, the cornfields became our main duck ponds and there were no cattails or tules on the property. We worked hard to get some started, but now they have taken over.

2.) Ground spraying of herbicides. Using an ATV with a tank and sprayer on it, my cousin Wes has used a ground attack to finish off what the aerial spraying did not kill – mostly in the upland areas. His spraying has killed Bermuda, frag mites and black berry bushes.

This berry bush was killed by the ground attack.

3.) Chopping with a tractor and asparagus mower. Chopping is the best way to create pathways through the property to facilitate pheasant hunting in the upland and duck hunting in the ponds.  Chopping reduces the height of the wetland plants allowing the pond water to show better. This is especially important in the early season. It also is used to manipulate plants into doing what you want. For example, chopping smartweed and watergrass will cause it to grow shorter with more seed heads. Chopping cocklebur and then flooding will kill them. 

4.) Plowing with a large tractor and disk. Although plowing creates difficult walking, a limited amount of plowing creates pathways and habitat diversity. We expect that the plowed areas will produce plants that prefer soft soil for germination. One of these plants is Johnson grass which is prefered for pheasant cover. The birds like to hide in it, but the dogs have no trouble hunting in it. Sometimes it grows so tall that we can’t see the pheasants fly out while we are standing in it. In the duck ponds the plow knocked down the dead cattail and tules creating trails and giving us better access for finding downed birds. We also expect the plowing to impact the plants that will succeed next year as we drain the ponds, but we won’t know what that is until that time.

Here are some photos.

The half-inch metal pipe connects to a rubber hose leading to the air pump. Once the ten-inch pipe is void of air, the valve is shut and  the pump is disconnected.

 

The flapper valve rotates 90 degrees inside the pipe. The pipe was originally installed with a gate valve, but the flapper valve is an improvement.

The above photo shows Bermuda that’s been hit by the ground attack.

The pond bottom of our main pond is covered with fat hen and swamp timothy. Here’s the fat hen, a good duck food that has staying power.

Here’s an example of the swamp timothy. It’s a preferred food, but doesn’t last through the season.

The swamp timothy produces large quantities of seeds and grows best on open pond bottoms where there is no competition from tall plants. The aerial spraying eliminated all the competing plants and the swamp timothy came on strong. Later the fat hen flourished and grew over the top of much of the swamp timothy.

This next photo shows two generations of smart weed. On the left is the older generation that germinated before the aerial spraying. Although it was not hit by the aerial spraying, it suffered from the following flood up. It is ready to collapse to the ground. Before we knew what smartweed was, we used to call it red weed. On the right side of the photograph is the second generation of smart weed. It is in the process of maturing and producing seeds.

In this next photo you can see how the various manipulations are creating diversity in the wetland  habitat.

The aerial spraying has set back the dense cover, the chopping has reduced that height of the plants and plowing has softened the soil and opened it up. The water is rising and it will be exciting to see how the ducks respond.

In the upland, the various activities are creating a smorgasbord of feed and cover for pheasants. The dying Bermuda should give way to more broadleaf plants that provide a better place for pheasants to survive.

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