[mou] update on conditions at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

[Chu, Philip]

With apologies for the belated nature of this message (and, secondarily, =
with the hope that this topic is not too unexceptional for mou-net), =
some of you may be interested to know about the progression of the =
drawdown at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Presently, conditions at the refuge's East Pool - the pool bounded by =
the highway-75 dam - are excellent, with extensive mud/sand flats.  The =
East Pool held 174 shorebirds of 10 species last Saturday, 17 June - a =
respectable tally given the date, which is too late for most spring =
migrants but too early for most fall migrants; most notable among these =
was a single Piping Plover.

As for the refuge's West Pool - the pool along the Auto Tour - water =
levels are down, but not yet down far enough for flats to be exposed.

Also at the refuge, on 11 June there was a single Common Moorhen.  From =
refuge headquarters, on CR 15, head south.  On the east (left) side of =
the road, at the second gate south of the Yellow Bank River, park and =
walk past the gate; the moorhen was in the open channel immediately to =
your left, about 50 yards beyond the gate.

Phil Chu
Department of Biology
St. John's University
Collegeville, MN 56321