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The Monte Vista NWR is the site of one of the longest-running waterfowl data sets in the country. "Duck Nest Transects" have been conducted here for the last 42 years by biologists, managers, students, and volunteers who walk approximately 167 miles through marsh, ditch, and even greasewood at times, looking for duck nests. The purpose is to document the number of duck nests and combined with subsequent counts of ducklings (brood counts) get an estimate of number and species of ducks produced on the refuge.

In 1961 the refuge's first wildlife biologist, Robert Ballou, tested a variety of ways to search for duck nests. He determined that "transects" which are lines either marked or unmarked, across the landscape where a biologist systematically moves along and records information, were the most effective. In 1964, 142 transects, running due north-south, were established throughout the entire refuge. To walk all of these ~300 miles and look for nests took a tremendous amount of work and despite the best recruiting efforts, it became too burdensome. In the early 1970's every other transect was removed. Since then refuge staff and others have walked 71 transects, which is about 167 miles, each May and June.

Each transect is marked by a linear series of tall poles located every 0.5 mile that have yellow wooden signs with the transect number painted on them. Using binoculars, the poles can be lined up, marking the transect to walk. Biologists walk through everything that is "on line"; including waist deep water, tall and almost impermeable cattails, and sedge wetlands. Each walker looks for and records data on all duck nests within 2.5 meters on each side of the transect line. For each nest found duck species, number of eggs, age of eggs, and characteristics of the surrounding vegetation is recorded. Extreme care is taken to limit the disturbance to ducks and the surrounding habitat. Nest location is marked at some distance away, to allow relocation to determine the fate of eggs (hatched or destroyed). The transects are all re-walked in June to determine the fate of May nests and to locate nests of species that nest later in the season, such as gadwall. In July the refuge biologist relocates and checks the fate of all nests found in June.

From 1977 to 2000 the average number of nests located on transects was 109. Many nests go undetected, so the total number of nests found is just an indication or index of the number of nests actually present. During that same period the average number of ducks produced was about 15,000, quite a few ducklings! From 2000 to present the average number of duck nests dropped to 31, primarily due to the drought and its impact on wetland vegetation. Wetland conditions, however, are improving.

The wooden signs on the transect posts are weathering and many are falling apart. The Friends started painting new signs this summer; they will make about 250 of them which will then be available for volunteers and others to post. We are very grateful for this help and "walking the line" will be much easier next spring thanks to you!

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Home Page	This article originally appeared in the February 2002 Avocet. New Walking Trail on Monte Vista NWR	This article appeared in the Summer 2006 Avocet. Duck Nest Transects: Monte Vista NWR By Kelli Stone, Refuge Biologist The Monte Vista NWR is the site of one of the longest-running waterfowl data sets in the country. "Duck Nest Transects" have been conducted here for the last 42 years by biologists, managers, students, and volunteers who walk approximately 167 miles through marsh, ditch, and even greasewood at times, looking for duck nests. The purpose is to document the number of duck nests and combined with subsequent counts of ducklings (brood counts) get an estimate of number and species of ducks produced on the refuge. In 1961 the refuge's first wildlife biologist, Robert Ballou, tested a variety of ways to search for duck nests. He determined that "transects" which are lines either marked or unmarked, across the landscape where a biologist systematically moves along and records information, were the most effective. In 1964, 142 transects, running due north-south, were established throughout the entire refuge. To walk all of these ~300 miles and look for nests took a tremendous amount of work and despite the best recruiting efforts, it became too burdensome. In the early 1970's every other transect was removed. Since then refuge staff and others have walked 71 transects, which is about 167 miles, each May and June. Each transect is marked by a linear series of tall poles located every 0.5 mile that have yellow wooden signs with the transect number painted on them. Using binoculars, the poles can be lined up, marking the transect to walk. Biologists walk through everything that is "on line"; including waist deep water, tall and almost impermeable cattails, and sedge wetlands. Each walker looks for and records data on all duck nests within 2.5 meters on each side of the transect line. For each nest found duck species, number of eggs, age of eggs, and characteristics of the surrounding vegetation is recorded. Extreme care is taken to limit the disturbance to ducks and the surrounding habitat. Nest location is marked at some distance away, to allow relocation to determine the fate of eggs (hatched or destroyed). The transects are all re-walked in June to determine the fate of May nests and to locate nests of species that nest later in the season, such as gadwall. In July the refuge biologist relocates and checks the fate of all nests found in June. From 1977 to 2000 the average number of nests located on transects was 109. Many nests go undetected, so the total number of nests found is just an indication or index of the number of nests actually present. During that same period the average number of ducks produced was about 15,000, quite a few ducklings! From 2000 to present the average number of duck nests dropped to 31, primarily due to the drought and its impact on wetland vegetation. Wetland conditions, however, are improving. The wooden signs on the transect posts are weathering and many are falling apart. The Friends started painting new signs this summer; they will make about 250 of them which will then be available for volunteers and others to post. We are very grateful for this help and "walking the line" will be much easier next spring thanks to you! If you would like to help with this on-going project please call Jenny Nehring 852-3619.
Home Page	After months of planning and many many hours of work from volunteers and the refuge staff, the walking trail at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is complete. This project started nearly two years ago with the discussion of possible locations for a walking trail that would provide good wildlife viewing opportunities for visitors with minimal disturbance to nesting birds and other wildlife. Among wildlife biologists there is growing concern about the impact of human recreation on wildlife. For this reason, the Friends group felt it was important to incorporate a study on visitor impact with the trail building project. Many studies attempt to measure the recreational impact of humans on wildlife but it is very rare to have baseline data about wildlife use of an area before a trail exists. For the newly constructed walking trail at the MVNWR,we have two years of data on the types of birds using the area and the nesting success of birds breeding there. Now that the trail is complete, the monitoring will continue. If it is determined that visitor activity negatively impacts birds, seasonal trail closures will be considered. Materials for the trail construction were purchased with grant money from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and matching funds from the USFWS. The trail monitoring study was funded by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and grant money from the Colorado Chapter of The Wildlife Society including $1000 awarded to the Friends in November 2001. We have many people to thank for volunteering their time to make this trail a reality. Trail workers on the weekend of October 27-28, 2001, included Ron Garcia, Mike, Ian and Robin Blenden, Tim and Ben Armstrong, Matt and Jenny Nehring, Lisa Rawinski, Lisa Clements, Elmer Olsen, Sonny Solell, Cathy McNeil and Tim Flowers. Lunch was provided by Amy Uhrich, Mary Metsker, Margery Herrington and Keitha Woodard. The trail is located near the beginning of the auto tour route and is approximately 1/4 mile in length. It meanders through rabbitbrush and greasewood around a wetland. Two sitting benches are located on the trail (see story on Page 2). A quiet walk along the trail is well worth getting out of your car! Please join us at the trailhead as we dedicate the trail during Crane Festival on Saturday, March 9th at 2 p.m. Visitors to the new walking trail at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge will undoubtedly notice an inviting bench situated under a small tree along the trail. The attractive metal bench set in granite is dedicated to the memory of Donald Lee Kehler (1933 - 2000) and is a gift from his wife and sons. A lifelong resident of Rio Grande County, Donald Kehler was a farm and ranch manager in the Sargent Community. He found inspiration in the outdoors and had a great love for wildlife. He supported the concepts of the National Wildlife Refuge system as a whole and was interested in the new Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge when it was established. The father of three sons, Donald Kehler encouraged the interest of boys in wildlife. As a leader of Webelo Cub Scouts, his widow Sally recalls, he enjoyed taking his troop to see "Canus", a young Whooping Crane that was being rehabilitated by Victor Olson, on present refuge land during the 1960's. In the closing years of his life, when he was incapacitated by illness, Donald Kehler found great pleasure in rides nearly every evening around the auto tour route at the Monte Vista NWR. Many refuge visitors will share his joy and interest in wildlife while they walk the new trail and pause for a moment at the memorial bench.

	Upcoming Projects Saturday, July 14 Work day at the Monte Vista refuge. Rebuilding a split rail fence. Saturday, August 11 Work day at Alamosa refuge. Working on an interpretive trail.