Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

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Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

This is one of the most intensively developed waterfowl marshlands in the nation. Approximately 20% of the area is used for growing crops, while over two-thirds of the area is in ponds or marshes for at least a portion of the year. These are managed to encourage desirable natural aquatic plants, including Typha and Scirpus spp. There are also thin strips of riparian woodland along the drainage ditches, and some blue oak, Quercus douglasii.

This wildlife area supports one of the most significant migratory waterfowl wintering concentrations on the Pacific Flyway and is also an important stopover point. Over two million waterfowl have been observed in the area at the peak periods, between mid-November and mid-January. Pintail, Anas acuta, make up approximately 40% of the population, followed by mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, baldpate, Mareca americana, shoveler, Spatula clypeata, green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis, and gadwall, Anas strepera. Among the geese, the snow goose, Chen hyperborea, is the commonest, followed by white-fronted, Anser albifrons, Canada, Branta canadensis, and Ross', Chen rossii. The latter species makes this area its main wintering grounds. Wore than 200 species of birds have been observed in the Wildlife Area and 60 species are known to nest here.

Integrity: The area is managed for waterfowl and is diked. Predators are controlled.

Use: Educational, observational, hunting, fishing. Research projects are conducted here, including banding projects.

Ref: Cowan, J. B. 1973. Birds of Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. Dept. of Fish and Game, Mimeo., 8 pp.

March 1976