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Malheur Lake, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

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Lake name:
Malheur Lake, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Location:
Oregon
HydroLAKE ID:
769
Latitude:
43.327083
Longitude:
-118.785417
Surface area (km2):
300.3
Basin type:
non-reservoir
Primary emergent vegetation:
tule
Primary vegetation for nesting:
tule
Management agency:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Region associations:
Harney Basin; Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Warm Springs Valley; Great Basin; Northern Basin and Range
Comments:
Malheur Lake is a Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) and part of Malheur National Wildlife Area. The lake and refuge is a major site for birds on the Pacific Flyway. Water issues include water quality degradation, water use that exceeds groundwater recharge, invasive carp, and decreased water level due to severe drought conditions. See individual entries for more details. Individual entries compiled for Malheur Lake area as a total for indexing purposes.

Summary of Surveys (5)

Survey Citation:
Gabrielson, I. N., Jewett, S. G., & Jewett, S. G. (Stanley G. (1970). Birds of the Pacific Northwest; with special reference to Oregon. Dover Publications.

  • Time period
    1960s
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 0 0 1960s?
Most Recent Adults 0 0 1960s?
Max Nests 0 0 1960s?
Most Recent Nests 0 0 1960s?
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Historical account that this lake dried up in "recent years". Estimating 1960s due to publication year of this book.

Survey Citation:
Ivey, G.. Grebe nest count and trend at Malheur 1980-1998 - email and excerpt of report. The numbers in the email don't match up to the graph in the report excerpt though.

  • Time period
    1980, 1998
  • Source
    Email
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 presumably >1000 1983
Most Recent Adults 101 to 500 presumably >100 1998
Max Nests >1000 4091 1983
Most Recent Nests 101 to 500 200 1998
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Significant declining trend, highest nest estimates in the early 1980s at a time of young aged fish due to carp control (with rotenone) and high water levels that increased fish habitat. Number of nests declined by 1985 due to limited nesting habitat and fish too large. In 1993, water levels increased post-drought and nesting increased, along with more small fish and more nesting substrate. Numbers avg 2.5 times higher in wet years than dry years, corresponding to increase in wetland habitats and annual precip but not with water levels or surface area.

Survey Citation:
Spencer, K. 2003. Western Grebe. Pp. 34-37 in Birds of Oregon: A General Reference. D.B.Marshall, M.G. Hunter, and A.L. Contreras, Eds. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR. (cites Littlefield 1990a) for nest # in 1983.

  • Type
    air
  • Time period
    1984, 1990
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 presumably >1000 1984
Most Recent Adults 0 0 1990
Max Nests >1000 1309 1984
Most Recent Nests 0 0 1990
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Didn't breed in highwater years of 1989 and 1990 because aquatic vegetation was inundated. However peak #s in 1984 due to flooding which supported abundant young fish to feed on. At Malheur NWR (not specified where), low water years is when carp control is carried out and is when carp is too large for grebes. Also at Malheur NWR (not specified where), in 1980-1998, populations averaged 2.5 higher in wet years versus dry years. At Malheur NWR (not specified where), in late 1950s, wave action destroyed Western grebe nest colonies.

Survey Citation:
Ivey, G. 2006. Atlases of waterbird nesting sites for California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Region 1 Non Game Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon.; Ivey, G. Harney Basin Oregon Colony and Nests data.

  • Type
    boat; air
  • Time period
    1 May 1978, 1 May 1983
  • Source
    Database
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 5816 1981
Most Recent Adults >1000 5782 1983
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Observer estimated number of breeding birds (and nests) was obtained by counting pairs on transects and X4.12 for area coverage and X2 for visibility index. Actual counts in 1980 (268 and 134), 1981 (794), and 1982 (424) were much lower but this database reports adjusted and estimated numbers for most of its surveys so for consistency within the site, entering the estimated number of birds. Counts estimated for Western grebes but most likely included Clark's grebes. Survey type is possibly aerial but not certain.

Survey Citation:
Ivey, G., Western grebe colony locations and nest estimates, Harney Basin, Oregon.

  • Time period
    1980, 1982
  • Source
    Database
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 presumably >1000 1980, 1981, 1982
Most Recent Adults >1000 presumably >1000 1982
Max Nests >1000 2908 1981
Most Recent Nests >1000 1775 1982
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Excel spreadsheet of Western grebe colony locations and nest estimates in Harney Basin during Ivey's time as a biologist at Malheur NWR. Adult count numbers not provided, entered as closest bin estimate for indexing.

Sources of Information

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