June 26, 2014 Water Monitoring Report

Water clarity (secchi depth) is moderately good on the lake, and excellent on the Grand River where the disk was clearly visible on the bottom in 4.7 feet of water.  Water levels remain abnormally high, for this time of year with the nearby marshes holding standing water.  Although the water is high for this time of year on the long-term average, but it is has been like this for the last several years, minus a record drought in 2012.

Fourth of July is coming up, have a fun and safe time on the lake.

Endangered Common Terns Nesting on Lake Puckaway

The Common Tern is an endangered species in Wisconsin, nesting only off Lake Superior and a island in Lake Butte des Morts specifically made for them.  The birds are endangered in the state due to a scarcity of suitable beach nesting habitat.  Beaches are in high demand by both humans and nesting gulls.  The Lake Puckaway Protection and Rehabilitation District modified two pontoon boats last year for these terns.  The rafts attracted Common Terns, but none nested. This year we further modified the rafts to make them more attractive, and have been rewarded with one nest on each raft.  This marks the first time Common Terns have nested on rafts in Wisconsin, something of a big deal in a small circle bird biologists.  Nesting rafts are not a new concept though, and are used elsewhere in the US and Europe.   In any event this doubles the number of Common Tern colonies found inland in Wisconsin.

Please give this rafts plenty of space so as not to disturb the birds.  Many tern species are aggressive defenders of nests and will rise up to attack or harass intruders.  While away from their nests the eggs and chicks are in danger of become too cold, and predation by gulls.  You may also receive a nasty peck.  Many a bird biologist has come away from a tern colony bloodied at some point in their career, so far I've only been pooped on.

The long-term goal of this project is to build a permanent island for Common Terns on Lake Puckaway with secondary habitat benefits for fish and other wildlife.  For example an island could be constructed in such a way that would encourage the growth of aquatic plants by providing a wave barrier.  The plants would then be habitat for fish, ducks, geese etc.  With an island in place the rafts would be retired, or donated to another organization interested in helping the Common Tern.

Incubating Common Tern

Common Terns build simple nests and typically lay three eggs.

Emergent (Bulrush) Planting Update

Bulrush plantings from 2013 are by and large doing well.  Many were planted in more sheltered locations than 2012.  Those that were planted on the North Shore are not looking well from the high winds and their associated waves that we have had lately.  Below are images from what I call Site 5 which is located on the sandbar, on the north tip of the Eastern Dredgebank.  I protected this planting form waves with snow fence, which take just enough wave energy to allow the bulrushes to re-establish themselves in spring.  Plants will require further protection from geese later in the summer.  No new bulrushes are planned for this year, but we are planting native phragmites this year. I sound like a broken record, but planting such as these are rarely successful even in their first year.  On Puckaway The Lake District and partners are bucking trends and paving new ground in habitat restoration and endangered species management.

Site 5 on planting day June 30, 2014

Site 5 view form of opposite side October 2013

Site 5 Jun 16, 2014.  Although small portions of the bed appear to have been destroyed in the winter (perhaps by ice)  The remaining softstem and hardstem bulrushes appear to have 2-3 times the stems as the October 2013 photo! Small number of stems from 2012 plantings are now visible.  

June 10, 2014 Water Monitoring Report

A normal day on Lake Puckaway with a little chop, Bald Eagles in the sky, and fish in the water.  The amazingly clear water of two weeks was lost thanks to storms that brought runoff and waves that stirred up the bottom.  Unlike the lake and the Fox River the Grand River was clearer at 4.6 feet.