THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511180307
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 170 lines
MOTHER nature's timing couldn't have been better.
As most of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge closes to visitors in less than two weeks, migrating waterfowl are making an early and showy return to the food-rich impoundments this year.
To catch a glimpse of these magnificent birds close up, you'll need to hurry out before the Dec. 1 seasonal closure takes effect. Most of the refuge's dikes and trails will close for three months to protect migratory birds as they feed and rest during the winter months.
``They're coming in earlier this year than last, and they're coming in greater numbers,'' said John B. Gallegos, wildlife biologist, as he watched a diverse flock of birds feasting in the marsh, chortling between dips and dives for tasty morsels.
``I love that sound - quack, quack, quack, quack,'' said an almost giddy Gallegos. ``If a refuge doesn't have that sound this time of year, you're in trouble.''
Actually, more than twice the number of waterfowl were counted at the refuge earlier this month compared to the same time last year. On Nov. 8 last year, 1,932 birds were counted. This year, 4,748 were counted Nov. 9.
For instance, there were 1,188 mallards this year, as opposed to 571 last year; 235 Canada geese instead of none last year; 832 American coots opposed to 42; and 722 green-winged teals instead of 95.
Even more have flown in since then. Together, they provide a cornucopia of sights and sounds to delight even the most amateur of birders.
On a clear, crisp autumn morning last week, about 400 snow geese converged on a refuge dike, apparently enjoying a respite in the warm sun from feeding. As visitors approached, the flock flushed from the dike, filling the deep blue sky with their snowy-white bodies and black-tipped wings. The air was heavy with their distinguished, monotone honks.
In a marshy impoundment next to that dike, a diverse mixture of birds played and fed. The diversity in that pond was remarkable even to refuge officials.
There were divers (birds that submerge themselves in the water to eat) and dabblers (birds that dip only their heads and necks in the water). Species included swans, Canada geese, ruddy ducks, wigeons, gadwalls, pintails, scaups, ring-necked ducks, coots and green-winged teals.
``That's a nice mix, a mix I haven't seen before,'' said Gallegos, who was especially thrilled to see the number of coots. Only a few years back, coots virtually disappeared from the refuge.
Then Gallegos got an added treat. He spotted a few redhead ducks swimming around that melting pot - the first redheads he's ever spotted on the refuge in his 4 1/2-year tenure.
The diversity and the early arrivals likely can be attributed to two causes. A cold snap up north triggered an early migration. And more aggressive management of the refuge impoundments has resulted in more and better food for the wintering birds.
A $750,000 program to rehabilitate the refuge's impoundments, which began in the late 1980s, was completed last year. Dikes were elevated to make the impoundments deeper. Water control structures were installed to regulate water levels. The water pumping station was overhauled to operate more efficiently.
The rehabilitation was combined with new management techniques: manipulating water levels using the water control structures; burning off shrubs and other plants that encroach into the marsh; churning up the bottom of the pond to encourage plant growth with a technique called disking; chewing up trees and flooding areas to convert it to marsh, known as hydroaxing.
But from Dec. 1 to March 1, these areas will be off-limits to the general public. Only the northern mile and a half of the refuge and the refuge's five miles of beach will remain open for hiking, biking and wildlife observation.
The seasonal closure was first implemented last year after refuge studies showed that human activity, such as walking or biking, disturbed the birds. Human presence, the study concluded, prevented the birds from feeding and resting properly so they could return north in their best breeding condition.
The closure has been a contentious issue as Back Bay's dikes and trails are the main access to isolated False Cape State Park, which adjoins the refuge to the south. Because private vehicles are not permitted in the refuge except by permit, park visitors normally hike or bike on the refuge dikes to reach False Cape.
During the closure, the only way to reach the park is hiking on the beach. The beach route is more arduous because of sand, tides and weather conditions. The only other access is by boat.
Negotiations began last spring between state park and federal refuge officials over developing a long-term solution to the access problem. The two agencies are close to an agreement and are expected to release details soon.
``We have a document that's pretty close to final,'' said John P. Stasko, refuge manager. ``We had intended to have something available for public review by this time, but there has been some last-minute wording glitches.''
The targeted implementation date is March 1, 1996.
In the meantime, to compensate for the closure, a new offering this year is monthly bus tours through both facilities in December, January and February. The December tour is already booked.
Plus, the park will be allowed two round trips per day to transport visitors in state vehicles along the refuge beach during the closure. It's the first time the refuge has allowed the state to transport visitors who are not participating in scheduled environmental education activities through its property.
Also to compensate for the restricted access, the refuge is now constructing a public fishing area that will provide year-round freshwater fishing at the refuge. The scheduled opening is next fall.
It's part of a $500,000 plan to improve visitor facilities in the northern end of the refuge, including construction of an observation platform, a new entry booth and information kiosk and new trails.
Additionally, Stasko is wrestling with a related access issue. That is providing some way for bird enthusiasts, who are the greatest supporters of the refuge, to watch the wintering birds and observe the refuge's work without putting the birds at risk.
Allowing the public to see the birds builds support for protecting them. But, refuge officials say, this access is harmful to the birds they're trying to protect in the first place.
``It's a real dilemma,'' Stasko said. ``But I think there are ways to accomplish that and not risk the animals.''
Stasko said he is not ready to elaborate on details.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach, was established in 1938 to provide a habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds and other wetland dependent migratory birds. It consists of about 8,000 acres of barrier island beaches, dunes, marshes and forested uplands. About 3,100 of those acres were recently acquired through an ongoing expansion plan. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos, including color cover, by D. Kevin Elliott
Wildlife biologists John B. Gallegos attribute the early arrival of
birds in Back to a cold snap up north and the greater diversity of
birds to more agressive management of the refuge's impoundments.
About 400 snow geese recently converged on a refuge dike, while
swans glided along on the pool.
Swans, coots and several types if ducks - including ruddy, wigeons,
green-winged teals, pintails and ring necks - feed in the same
pool.
A family of tundra swan, above, swims through a pool at Back Bay,
while a pair of snow geese take to the air, filling it with their
distinctive monotone honks. More than twice the number of waterfowl
were counted at the refuge earlier this month compared to the same
time last year. On Nov. 8 last year, 1, 932 birds were counted. This
year, 4, 748 were counted Nov. 9.
Graphic
[map: area shown]
[Visitors are advised to call first and check on the status of the
refuge. phone number : 721-2412]
by CNB