Purpose of award (summary of the goals and objectives of the project) the goal of this project is to complete a survey of waterfowl (ducks, geese, wading birds, shorebirds) along all the streams,…

Purpose of award (summary of the goals and objectives of the project) the goal of this project is to complete a survey of waterfowl (ducks, geese, wading birds, shorebirds) along all the streams, ponds and wetlands of valles caldera national preserve. To address the goal, hawks aloft staff will conduct extensive surveys to develop a list of waterfowl species inhabiting the preserve, adding to the all taxa biological inventory currently underway, identifying the particular habitats for each species, and determining whether or not the species is a breeding resident species on the preserve (e.g., presence of nests, nestlings, fledglings and immatures.summary of project specific activities hawks aloft staff will conduct waterfowl surveys during the breeding season (april through july) via ground level observations across the preserve in locations where suitable habitat exists for waterfowl and where breeding could occur. The preserve has numerous ponds and streams that could support waterfowl and potentially host breeding activities, depending on annual water availability. Additionally, riparian restoration efforts have occurred in multiple locations on the preserve, and waterfowl survey efforts will focus on those areas to assess their impact.performance goals including milestones and expected outcomes the field work will be conducted during spring summer fall of 2023, and a final report will be provided by the end of the year. The report will include GIS maps (including electronic GIS data illustrating monitoring locations and a detailed summary of the survey results. A comprehensive list of all bird and wildlife species observed also will be included as an appendix. Copies of field notes (scans) and digital photos taken during the surveys also will be provided to the preserve. No specimens will be collected.beneficiaries the primary beneficiaries will be NPS staff at valles caldera national preserve, who will receive information on waterfowl habitats and breeding areas to enhance wetland management activities. Secondary beneficiaries will be the general public, who are always interested in species diversity (especially public bird enthusiasts).