Results of the Friends of Desert NWR Complex
Visioning Meeting September 10 and 11

This one and half day session focused on establishing a collaborative partnership between the Friends organization and refuge staff. The workshop was facilitated by Joan Patterson of the DC based National Wildlife Refuge Association. Participants explored the roles and responsibilities of each organization. The joint planning sessions addressed the Friends vision and how it dovetails with the mission of the refuge complex. The Friends, refuge managers and refuge complex staff collaborated to discuss expectations, expressed concerns and applied strategic thinking principles to develop joint project plans.

Mark Petterson Writes an Article on Desert NWR

IF you haven't read it yet, author extraordinaire Mark Petterson has written a wonderfully descriptive article about the Desert NWR. It can be found in the July/August edition of Nevada magazine on pages 22 - 23. Mark has made many trips to the refuge back country and he's always happy to take his friends along. He always takes many photos and unusually shaped Joshua trees hold a special place in his heart. If you know Mark Petterson, then you know he often relays his impression that traveling on the Mormon Well Road through the pass between the Sheep Range and Fossil Ridge is like entering a whole different world. There is also a little blurb about Mark on page 5 of the magazine. Read his article and comment on it here. We'd love to know what you think.

You can read Mark Petterson's article if you click here http://nevadamagazine.com/Nevada_Magazine_turning_book

Tarantula Hawk wasp at Ash Meadows

Ecological technician, April Bradshaw, photographed this Tarantula Hawk in a wash along the North Road (towards Longstreet) on June 30. The 2.5 inch wasp was crawling all over a Desert Milkweed plant, eating its nectar and pollen. If you don't know anything about Tarantula Hawks, they are a huge wasp nearly 3 inches in... length that are spider hunters. They feed primarily on tarantulas and trap-door spiders, luring them out of their burrows by probing the spider's silk entrances. The wasp then stings the spider, injecting paralizing venom. Next the wasp drags the victim into a burrow, lays a single egg on it, then seals the entrance. The larva will hatch and feed on the still-live prey and emerge next spring.

Ash Meadows NWR

Some animals just don't mind the heat... Spiny Lizard parading his mating colors
Photo by Cyndi Souza

Pahranagat NWR

A new species for the state? Observed by Mike Swink on June 6 was a fork-tailed flycatcher at the middle marsh dike on Pahranagat NWR.

Region 8 Friends Conference

The Spring Wings, Friends of Stillwater NWR, hosted the Region 8 Friends conference in Fallon this year. Attendees Donna Crail-Rugotzke and Jennifer Vincent were joined by Complex staff Angelina Yost and Harry Konwin. The four enjoyed each other’s company as they drove the entire way! While at the conference, the group networked with folks from the DC based National Wildlife Refuge Association, other Friends groups members and some of the regional NWR personnel. One of the highlights of the conference was a presentation by Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) Manager, Jimmy Fox. The group also toured the Stillwater Refuge where they spent some time amidst the cliff swallows pictured above. Donna will have a short presentation about information and ideas gleaned at the conference during our next Friends meeting on June 17th.

Ash Meadows NWR

Here's a gopher snake taking a swim...

... under the watchful gazes of a Pahrump 4H club and Refuge employee, Alyson Mack.

Recently sited at Devil's Hole was this Chuckwalla lizard.

Desert NWR

May 20-22, John Hiatt (L), Andy Sanchez and Kurt Kuznicki (taking photo) install post and cable along Alamo Rd. on Desert NWR. Work was performed in partnership with Friends of Nevada Wilderness.

Little Blue Butterfly

Photo by Alyson Mack

Recent Sitings by Carl Lundblad

Carl's notes from May 23, 2010 ----->
I birded Ash Meadows NWR this morning where the highlights were a RUDDY TURNSTONE and a female PURPLE MARTIN, both at Crystal Reservoir. Other shorebirds at Crystal Reservoir included 2 SANDERLINGS, one of which was in alternate plumage, and about 46 Spotted Sandpipers. There were several hundred other swallows present comprised of about 50% Cliff, 40% Violet-green, 7% Barn, and 3% Bank.

The Ash Grove below the reservoir had a few migrants including an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. This seems to be the best place on the refuge to find BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS this year. Driving around the Crystal Reservoir Loop road produced 2 additional OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATHERS, many Wood-pewees, and some common warrblers.

Point of Rocks and Bradford Spring were both good for common migrants and breeders including:

*POINT OF ROCKS 7:00-8:30*
W. Wood-pewee 6
"Western" Flycatcher 5
Dusky Flycatcher 3
Hammond's Flycatcher 1
Cassin's Vireo 1
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher 2
Warbling Vireo 3
Lucy's Warbler 6
Yellow Warbler 10
Wilson's Warbler 22
MacGillivray's Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Yellow-breasted Chat 5
Blue Grosbeak 5
Lazuli Bunting 1
Bullock's Oriole 2
SUMMER TANAGER 2
Western Tanager 2

*BRADFORD SPRING 8:35-9:20*
Virginia Rail-seen flying through the mesquite, about 8 feet off the
ground, towards the spring pool!
White-throated Swift 1
W. Wood-pewee 3
"Western" Flycatcher 2
"Solitary" Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Lucy's Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 6
Wilson's Warbler 12
MacGillivray's Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Western Tanager 1
SUMMER TANAGER 1
Blue Grosbeak 5
Black-headed Grosbeak 1

Carl Lundblad
Ash Meadows, NV