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Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge

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Lake name:
Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge
Location:
Minnesota
HydroLAKE ID:
8346
GRanD ID:
734
Latitude:
48.315208
Longitude:
-96.006034
Surface area (km2):
21
Basin type:
reservoir
Dam completion date:
1938
Primary vegetation for nesting:
cattail
Management agency:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Lake use:
other
Region associations:
Red River Basin; Thief River Watershed
Comments:
A complex of marshes, open water, woods, and grasslands located in the transition zone between prairie and boreal forest. Has issues of being flooded by water in short amount of time.

Summary of Surveys (5)

Survey Citation:
Burger, J., and B. Eichhorst. 2005. Heavy metals and selenium in grebe eggs from Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in northern Minnesota. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 107:285–295.

  • Time period
    1997
  • Source
    Journal Article
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 presence 1997
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 presence 1997
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence 1997
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 presence 1997
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Not a survey. To test for heavy metal contaminants, eggs were collected from 4 species of grebes, including Western grebes. Only 2 Western grebe eggs were collected so sample size was too small for statistics. No other details provided but this is evidence of breeding at this site.

Survey Citation:
Burger, J., and B. Eichhorst. 2007. Heavy Metals and Selenium in Grebe Feathers from Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Minnesota. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 53:442–449.

  • Time period
    1998
  • Source
    Journal Article
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 presence 1998
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 presence 1998
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks 1 to 100 5 1998
Most Recent Chicks 1 to 100 5 1998

Comments:

Not a survey. To test for heavy metal contaminants, feathers were collected from 4 species of grebes, including Western grebes. Feathers of 5 young Western grebes were collected for contaminant testing. Sample size was too small for statistical analysis but contaminant levels were reported because that information is lacking for Western grebes. Pied-billed and Western grebes tested for the highest levels of lead in this study. No other details provided but this is evidence of breeding at this site.

Survey Citation:
Burger, Joanna. 1971. “The Western Grebe in Minnesota.” Loon 43: 4–9.

  • Time period
    1954, 1970
  • Source
    Notes
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 300 1969
Most Recent Adults 101 to 500 several 1970
Max Nests 1 to 100 48 1969
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 5 1970
Max Chicks 1 to 100 3 1969
Most Recent Chicks 1 to 100 1 1970

Comments:

Observations from 1954, 1969, and 1970. Water fluctuations described as a threat but not whether too low or too high.

Survey Citation:
Green, Janet C., and Robert B. Janssen. 1975. Minnesota Birds: Where, When and How Many. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

  • Time period
    ~1965, ~1975
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 100-150 ~1965-1975
Most Recent Adults 101 to 500 100-150 ~1975
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence ~1965-1975
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 presence ~1975
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

States that breeding and 100 to 150 birds were observed for the last 10 years on this lake. No specific years stated but I am approximating ~1965 to 1975 due to publication year.

Survey Citation:
Henderson, Carroll L. 1977. Minnesota Colonial Bird Nesting Site Inventory. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/projects/consgrant_reports/1977/1977_colonial_birds.pdf. AND Henderson, Carroll L. 1978. Minnesota Colonial Bird Nesting Site Inventory. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

  • Time period
    1977, August 1980?
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults see comments ? ?
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 ? 1978
Max Nests N/A ? ?
Most Recent Nests N/A ? 1978
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

The Minnesota Colonial Waterbird Nesting Inventory was conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources from 1977 to 1980. The reports include Western grebe colony counts of each year (except 1979) but only 1977 and 1978 have individual breeding lake survey numbers. The 1978 report does not report this lake's Western grebe numbers for the year so 1978 status is uncertain at this lake. The 1980 report summarizes colony status for 5 colonies but does not name them so is entered here as a statewide entry with no breeding lakes named.

Sources of Information

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