Avian Use of Habitat Conservation Areas

This project’s objective is to obtain population estimates and long term trends of all landbird species breeding at the LCR MSCP habitat conservation areas.  This includes all non-covered landbird species and the following six LCR MSCP covered species:

• Sonoran yellow warbler
• Arizona Bell’s vireo
• Summer tanager
• Gila woodpecker
• Gilded flicker
• Vermilion flycatcher

This data will be utilized in determining LCR MSCP covered species habitat credit and making adaptive management decisions for each habitat conservation area.

Avian species have been monitored annually at habitat conservation areas since 2002 using a variety of avian survey methods. From 2008–2010 intensive area searches were conducted in each conservation area, covering 100% of the restored habitat, enabling Reclamation to obtain a complete census of birds breeding at the conservation areas. Due to the annual increase of acreage of restored habitat in the conservation areas, complete coverage is no longer feasible. Beginning in 2011, the same sampling plan used for the System Monitoring for Riparian Obligate Avian Species (non-restored habitat) will be used for the habitat conservation areas. This sampling plan will yield unbiased estimations of population density and long term trends by species and habitat conservation area. Surveys at the habitat conservation areas will be conducted annually.

A large number of LCR MSCP covered birds have been detected at the Beal Lake Conservation Area including a moderate population of the Arizona Bell’s vireo and yellow warbler. A small population of the summer tanager has also been detected at Beal Lake Conservation Area. The Sonoran yellow warbler and Arizona Bell’s vireo have been detected at the majority of the habitat conservation areas. The gilded flicker and Gila woodpecker have not colonized the habitat conservation areas yet.

Surveys were also conducted prior to development of the habitat conservation areas in the habitat type that previously existed. These surveys are conducted for each site, until enough data is gathered in that habitat type, that a habitat-bird association can be made. Currently, enough data has been gathered in agricultural habitat, and a habitat model is being developed.

For additional information on this project, please refer to Work Task F2: Avian Use of Habitat Conservation Areas (PDF). Find Technical Reports for this Work Task here.

Updated October 14, 2011