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Tule Lake, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge

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Grebe Survey Summary

  • Max Adults: 1330
  • Year: 2003
  • Most Recent Adults: presence?
  • Year: 2013
  • Survey Type: Shore; Boat; Air
  • Most Common Threats Reported: Water level too low; lack of/poor nesting habitat; water quality/contaminants/oil spills; drought/lack of precipitation/water; poaching/deliberate killing by humans
Lake name:
Tule Lake, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Location:
California
HydroLAKE ID:
9165
GRanD ID:
125
Latitude:
41.934448
Longitude:
-121.517934
Surface area (km2):
10.1
Basin type:
reservoir
Dam completion date:
1904
Primary emergent vegetation:
Tule (Typhus sp.) hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus)
Primary vegetation for nesting:
Tule (Typhus sp.) bulrush sago pondweed
Management agency:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Reclamation; Tulelake Irrigation District
Lake use:
irrigation
Region associations:
Tule Lake Basin; Klamath Basin; Great Basin; Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge; Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge
Designations:
National Wildlife Refuge
Comments:
Tule Lake and Tule Lake NWR (in general without specific location in the refuge) data compiled together because Tule Lake comprises most of the refuge. Finley (1907) observed large numbers of breeding grebes at Tule Lake and noted as colony site but hunters decimated this population. No year in this report but probably late 1800s or early 1900s. Ivey (2004) refers to Tule Lake as the second highest number of grebes of the selected sites at 17.3%, and 7.8% of the breeding grebe population of the Intermountain West (Ivey and Herziger in prep.). In summer of 2020, Ducks Unlimited partnered with various managing agencies to drawdown water from Sump 1B to expose mudflats for wetland vegetation seed germination. These efforts were taken in hopes of providing nesting habitat for grebes. Tule Lake is considered highly productive and an important stopover site for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway.

Surveys (11)

Survey Citation:
Ackerman, J. T., C. A. Hartman, C. A. Eagles-Smith, M. P. Herzog, J. Davis, G. Ichikawa, and A. Bonnema. 2015. Estimating mercury exposure of piscivorous birds and sport fish using prey fish monitoring. Environmental Science & Technology 49:13596–13604.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    April 2012, October 2013
  • Source
    Peer-reviewed
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N/A
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 presence? 2013
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 presence? 2013
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:

Not a survey but grebes were sampled at 25 lakes in CA from April to October of 2012 (13 lakes) and 2013 (12 lakes). An average of 14 grebes per lake (from 2 to 38 grebes) were captured at night with night-lights. No breakdown of actual numbers captured per lake was provided. Morphometry and molt data, along with blood was collected from each bird for mercury analysis, and sex determination via genetic analysis. From 7 out of the 25 lakes, an average of 14 grebe eggs (from 6 to 23 eggs) were collected. An egg from each randomly sampled nest was collected either from an active nest (random egg) or from an abandoned nest (abandoned egg). Prey fish and sport fish were also sampled an average of 11 days after grebe sampling. At Tule Lake, no sport fish was collected in 2013 (Figure SI). 354 grebes were captured total from the 25 lakes, 71% were Western grebes, 29% were Clark's, 48% were female, 52% were male. 101 grebe eggs were collected from 7 lakes, of which 62% were Western grebes, 15% were Clark's grebes, 23% were unidentified which. Grebe blood, eggs, and sport fish mercury concentrations were strongly correlated to mercury concentrations in prey fish at the lakes. Grebe mercury concentrations were also strongly correlated with sport fish mercury concentrations. This study showed that prey fish monitoring can estimate mercury exposure of grebes and other piscivorous birds if these birds can't be sampled directly.

Survey Citation:
Elbert, R. A., and D. W. Anderson. 1998. Mercury levels, reproduction, and hematology in Western Grebes from three California lakes, USA. Environ- mental Toxicology and Chemistry 17: 210-213.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    June 1992, September 1994
  • Source
    Peer-reviewed
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1000 1994
Most Recent Adults 501 to 1000 1000 1994
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks 101 to 500 480 1993
Most Recent Chicks 101 to 500 340 1994

Comments:

23 Western and Clark's grebes were collected by shotgun in July and August 1992 from Clear Lake, Eagle Lake, and Tule Lake. Mercury concentrations were analyzed from liver, kidney and breast muscle. No info on how many birds were taken from Eagle Lake and Tule Lake but thirteen birds taken from Clear Lake had higher (double) mercury concentrations in kidney, breast muscle and brain tissue than birds taken from the other lakes. However, mercury concentrations in livers were not statistically different. An abandoned mercury mine within the Clear Lake watershed caused elevated mercury levels in sediment and fish in the lake. Grebe productivity was much lower at Clear Lake than at the other two lakes but not clear why. For the duration of this study, the grebes at Eagle Lake and Tule Lake are thought to be reproducing normally. Eagle Lake has less boat use that is more concentrated at the center of the lake and Tule Lake lacks boating activity. Grebe productivity was also monitored for 3 years from the three lakes. Grebes were surveyed once in 1992, then once per month between June to September in 1993 and 1994. About 50 to 75% of the total population of grebe adults and young were counted by spotting scope (ground) and productivity was calculated. Table 2 shows just one summer population count of 1,000 for the 3 years and the productivity rate for each year from 1992 to 1994. No chick #s nor adults #s per year were provided so I solved for # of young given the productivity rate (young to adult ratio) and summer population of 1,000 to come up with chick #s for each year.

Survey Citation:
Feerer, J. L. and R. L. Garrett. 1977. Potential Western Grebe extiinction on California lakes. Cal-Neva Wildlife Transactions. 13(1):80-89.

  • Time period
    1976
  • Source
    Journal Article
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N/A
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Adults N/A N/A N/A
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:

This report presents survey data from spring 1976 of Clear Lake, Eagle Lake, Salton Sea NWR, Topaz Lake, Sacramento NWR, Lake Earl, and Tule Lake (also referred to as Klamath Basin NWR) and compares to historical data with focus on Clear Lake issues so not much data on Tule Lake. No info on how surveys were conducted. In 1976, spring population estimate is >1100 (Table 1) but I didn't enter this because it's not during breeding season. 1976 productivity (# hatchlings) is a "?", didn't enter this. Historical breeding reference is Bailey 1902. No other data provided nor description of lake. From Table 1, the colony is protected, it is a managed wildlife refuge that is an irrigation sump, there is no shoreline development, and spring water level stability is stable.

Survey Citation:
Finley, W. L. 1907. The grebes of southern Oregon. The Condor, 9(4), 97–101.

  • Time period
    late 1800s, early 1900s
  • Source
    Article
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N/A
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 presence late 1800s, early 1900s
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 presence early 1900s
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence late 1800s, early 1900s
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 presence early 1900s
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

This entry to capture historical record of large numbers of breeding grebes and noted as colony site but hunters decimated this population. No year but probably late 1800s or early 1900s.

Survey Citation:
Robison, K., R. Weems, D. Anderson, and F. Gress. 2010. Western and Clark's Grebe conservation and management in California. Annual report (2009). Report for California Institute of Environmental Studies, Davis, California.

  • Type
    shore
  • Time period
    2 August 2009, 23 October 2009
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 ~900 2009
Most Recent Adults 501 to 1000 ~900 2009
Max Nests 101 to 500 450 2009
Most Recent Nests 101 to 500 450 2009
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Data from Table 1. There is no chick # but somehow there is a productivity rate, not sure how. There were some Eared grebes nesting amongst the Western and Clark's grebes. This number of nests is high so adult number is estimated as nests X2 to note that is is greater than just "presence" of breeding adults.

Survey Citation:
Vradenburg, J., 2021. Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Email communication.

  • Time period
    N/A
  • Source
    Personal communication (email)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N/A
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Adults N/A N/A N/A
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:

Not a survey but just an entry of threats conveyed by John Vradenburg, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist for the Kilamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex. He responded to our outreach to him that Tule Lake was only at 16% of normal habitat availability which is problematic because it is such a major site for grebes. Of this 16%, poor water delivery over the summer was the probable cause of nearly total nest failure of both large and small grebe species.

Survey Citation:
Shuford, W.D., D.L. Thomson, D.M. Mauser, and J. Beckstrand. 2004. Abundance, distribution, and phenology of nongame waterbirds in the Klamath Basin of Oregon and California. PRBO Conservation Science. Final report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Tulelake, California, USA.

  • Type
    shore; air
  • Time period
    12 June 2003, 23 July 2003
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1330 2003
Most Recent Adults >1000 1330 2003
Max Nests 501 to 1000 636 2003
Most Recent Nests 501 to 1000 636 2003
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Surveyed for 3 periods: spring migration, mid-breeding, and fall migration in 2003. Numbers here are just during mid-breeding season (June 12 to 23). Nests were counted from 15 - 23 July.

Survey Citation:
Robison, K., R. Weems, and D. Anderson. 2008. Western and Clark's Grebe conservation and management in California. Annual report for year four (2008). Report for American Trader and Kure/ Stuyvesant Trustee Councils and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, California.

  • Type
    shore
  • Time period
    2008
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 500 2008
Most Recent Adults 101 to 500 500 2008
Max Nests 101 to 500 175 2008
Most Recent Nests 101 to 500 175 2008
Max Chicks 101 to 500 104 2008
Most Recent Chicks 101 to 500 104 2008

Comments:

Data from Table 3. Date of surveys not provided. Productivity rate comes from sample number of adults and young, not total counts of either it seems though estimated total # of adults is entered here. September nesting observed. Subsequent reports have their own entries.

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.

  • Time period
    1997, 2003
  • Source
    Database
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1272 2003
Most Recent Adults >1000 1272 2003
Max Nests 101 to 500 375 1998
Most Recent Nests 101 to 500 185 2000
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Survey range from 1997 to 2003 but skips 1999, 2001, and 2002. 1998 estimated number of breeding adults is number of nests X2. Unknown survey type and unknown frequency of survey per year. 185 nests and 370 estimated adult breeders includes Clark's. Jim Hainline is observer for 1997, 1998 and 2000. John Beckstrand is observer for 2003. Source of data of 1997 to 2000 data is from Annual Narrative Report of Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge written by Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge staff. Source of 2003 data is Ivey (2004) and already entered form that source.

Survey Citation:
Ratti, J. T. 1985. A test of water depth niche partitioning by Western Grebe color morphs. Auk 102:635-637.

  • Type
    shore
  • Time period
    1981
  • Source
    Communications
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 460 1981
Most Recent Adults 101 to 500 460 1981
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:

Totals calculated from Table 1. This paper tested water-depth and distance from shore niches between light and dark phased Western grebes. Light-phased Western grebes fed farther from the shore than dark-phased Western grebes but were not found feed at greater water depths.

Survey Citation:
Shuford, W.D., D.L. Thomson, D.M. Mauser, and J. Beckstrand. 2006. Abundance and distribution of nongame waterbirds in the Klamath Basin of Oregon and California from comprehensive surveys in 2003 and 2004. PRBO Conservation Science. Final Report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex,Tulelake, California, USA.

  • Type
    shore
  • Time period
    9 June 2004, 16 June 2004
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1222 2004
Most Recent Adults >1000 1222 2004
Max Nests 101 to 500 125 2004
Most Recent Nests 101 to 500 125 2004
Max Chicks 1 to 100 10-30 2004
Most Recent Chicks 1 to 100 10-30 2004

Comments:

Surveyed for 3 periods: spring migration, mid-breeding, and fall migration in 2004. Numbers here are just during mid-breeding season (June 9 to 16). Tule Lake NWR is the second most important area for grebes with 20% and 12% of the Western and Clark's grebes respectively. Nests are most likely an undercount. A range of one to three chicks are estimated for each brood.

Sources of Information

  • Finley, W. L. 1907. The Grebes of Southern Oregon. The Condor, 9(4), 97–101. https://doi.org/10.2307/1361117; Ivey, G. L., 2004. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for Breeding Western and Clark’s Grebes in California. 89.; Feerer, J. L., and R. L. Garrett. 1977. Potential western grebe extiinction on California lakes. Cal-Neva Wildlife Transactions. 10.; Messager, M. L., B. Lehner, G. Grill, I. Nedeva, and O. Schmitt. 2016. Estimating the volume and age of water stored in global lakes using a geo-statistical approach. Nature Communications 7:13603. Data is available at www.hydrosheds.org.; Lehner, B., C. Reidy Liermann, C. Revenga, C. Vorosmarty, B. Fekete, P. Crouzet, P. Doll, M. Endejan, K. Frenken, J. Magome, C. Nilsson, J.C. Robertson, R. Rodel, N. Sindorf, and D. Wisser. 2011. Global Reservoir and Dam Database, Version 1 (GRanDv1): Dams, Revision 01. Palisades, New York: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC).
  • Ivey, G. L., 2004. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for Breeding Western and Clark’s Grebes in California. 89.
  • Feerer, J. L., and R. L. Garrett. 1977. Potential western grebe extiinction on California lakes. Cal-Neva Wildlife Transactions. 10.
  • Messager, M. L., B. Lehner, G. Grill, I. Nedeva, and O. Schmitt. 2016. Estimating the volume and age of water stored in global lakes using a geo-statistical approach. Nature Communications 7:13603. Data is available at www.hydrosheds.org.
  • Lehner, B., C. Reidy Liermann, C. Revenga, C. Vorosmarty, B. Fekete, P. Crouzet, P. Doll, M. Endejan, K. Frenken, J. Magome, C. Nilsson, J.C. Robertson, R. Rodel, N. Sindorf, and D. Wisser. 2011. Global Reservoir and Dam Database, Version 1 (GRanDv1): Dams, Revision 01. Palisades, New York: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC).
  • Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge Map
  • Tule Lake Lease Lands History
  • Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge Self-guided Tour
  • Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge Sump 1B Drawdown
  • Tule Lake National Monument
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