This year the pelicans are nesting on all three traditional sites at Chase Lake, according to Dave Azure, acting director of the USFWS Chase Lake Refuge Project. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Chase Lake Foundation, Azure said the pelicans were nesting at both the two islands in the southern part of Chase Lake as well as the nearby peninsula. Pelicans have avoided the peninsula for the past couple of years. As a result, U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff has erected predator barriers and traps for the peninsula. Predators were considered a possible reason for the abandonment of nests a few years ago.
Azure said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would be doing a pelican flyover count in early June to document the number of nests on the three locations, but early indications appear that there will be an increased number of nests this year. Azure said a new manager for the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge was expected to be on board in the near future and that the complex would be fully staffed this year, including a trainee position. He also reviewed the $10 million replacement facilities to be built at the Arrowwood refuge headquarters to replace flooded buildings.
Three board members were re-elected to the non-profit organization's board of directors for three-year terms, including Marvin Dockter of Medina, Brenda Guthmiller of Medina and Rick Bohn of Woodworth. The board reviewed possible projects and activities for the coming year, including a fundraising banquet, an annual photo contest and upgrades to the Medina-Chase Lake Birding Trail and the Visitors Center.
At the board's annual reorganizational meeting, Karl Limvere of Medina was elected president of the foundation, with Amy Igl of Jamestown to serve as vice president and Deb Hoffmann of Medina as secretary and Brenda Guthmiller of Medina as treasurer. The board's will meet for its monthly board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Zion United Church of Christ.
