03-21-16 Field Note

03-21-16 Field Note

March 21, 2016

Jeff Clarke's field note details spring seeding, duck tubes, willow cuttings, and aspen survival.

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Spring seeding, lay hay, duck tubes, willow cuttings, aspen March 13th, 2016

Eight “duck tubes” await mallards in the floodplains. The duck tubes provide predator-free nesting locations in the wetlands. We will see if the ducks prefer the tubes or boxes we installed previously

Several pairs of geese search the Clubhouse Floodplain for the perfect location to build their nests. They should lay eggs in the next month.

The Field Crew continues to spread seed and hay on bare soils all over the ranch (map next slide). The hay should retain moisture and prevent some soil desiccation.

We plan to spread seed and hay on any bare soil in the areas marked in yellow.

The elk herd continues to loaf as one large group. They should disperse into smaller groups before they calve.

Last year we planted basin wild rye in the spring (bottom photo) and fall (top photo). This year, we will only transplant basin in the spring.

Twenty to thirty percent of the aspens (600) we transplanted last spring budded out again this year. This population found a sufficient underground water source and should thrive.

Some aspens in the Clubhouse Floodplain have, what looks like, oystershell scale insects all over them. If infestations become too large, branches and trees may die.

Spurge makes an early appearance. We will attack it again this year.

We cut these willow stems along the pump slough. In the next few weeks, we will plant them in a matted reed canary grass monoculture. Once planted, the stems should root from all sides and grow into their own tree.

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