Conserving Birds & Their Habitats Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions: Design, Methods and Products Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory David Hanni, Science Director Tammy VerCauteren, Executive Director David Pavlacky, Jr., Biometrician Nick Van Lanen, Biologist

Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) Designed to meet partner needs at multiple scales One of the largest breeding bird monitoring programs in the nation Directly addresses NABCI’s “Opportunities for Improving Avian Monitoring” 2007

NABCI “Opportunities for Improving Avian Monitoring” Goal 1: Integrate monitoring into bird management and conservation practices. Goal 2: Coordinate monitoring programs among organizations and integrate them across spatial scales. Goal 3: Increase the value of monitoring information by improving statistical design. Goal 4: Maintain bird population monitoring data in modern data management systems.

Conservation applications Manage habitat at local scales Using habitat relationships from point counts Develop conservation plans at landscape scales Species distribution and abundance maps Develop decision support systems for bird conservation

IMBCR Survey Area

Program Growth (2008 – 2014)

IMBCR Funding Partners

IMBCR Implementation and Analyses Partners

IMBCR Funding – 2014 Collaboration increases the value through efficiencies of the IMBCR program Other implementers bring an additional ~$200K to program

Stratification in Colorado

Sampling Methods Sampling unit = 1km 2 cell 16 points per cell  250 m spacing  125 m from edge Spatially-balanced, random sample selection (GRTS)

Point Count Methods Visit 1 grid cell per day Attempt to survey all 16 points Ocular vegetation data collection 6 minute point count  1 minute intervals  Measure distances to each bird detected

Hierarchical design

Surveys on private land Acquiring permission Permission letter and phone calls Before the survey Technician calls Follow up Bird list and gift Conducted surveys on 516 different properties

Protecting landowner anonymity Reduced spatial precision on ADC Data sharing agreements Password protected raw data

Data Quality Offline data entry app designed for IMBCR Rigorous data quality assurance protocol Full proof Query proof Stored in secure database Accessible to partners Password protected

Rocky Mountain Avian Data Center ( For managers, researchers and the public Clearinghouse for avian data and info Meet partners needs

RMADC: Explore the Data Over 1.2 million bird records Data since 2008 Density and occupancy estimates for over 125 species Locations of surveys and detections Raw count information

IMBCR Locations in WY

Occupancy Estimates

Density Estimates

Raw Count Data

Application of the Data Sustainable livestock grazing Maximize forage production Multi-species bird conservation Maximize occupancy rates of sagebrush birds w/in GRSG management –Greater Sage-Grouse –Brewer’s Sparrow –Sagebrush Sparrow –Sage Thrasher

Inform what to do Brewer’s SparrowSage Thrasher Sagebrush Sparrow

Habitat Modeling: BRSP Modeling the probability of occupancy as a function of habitat covariates at the level of the sampling unit (1km 2 )

Inform where to work: A multi-species approach

Large Scale Small Scale Habitat Modeling: MCLO

Habitat Modeling: LOSH Modeling species density spatially Can estimate population in un-sampled areas Assess habitat changes in terms of effects on populations

Future Efforts – LEPC Habitat Enhancement Evaluation Objectives: 1) Evaluate LEPC conservation practices for grassland birds Model density and occupancy 2) Model habitat relationships (SGCN) 3)Evaluate impacts of LEPC conservation on SGCN populations Quantify population increases Aid strategic habitat conservation and enhancement 4) Evaluate umbrella species concept for LEPC

Area of inference ~ 467,000 km 2 (~180,000 mi 2 ) Grid samples 2015 NRCS projects = occupied range n = 40 Point counts 2015 NRCS projects = occupied range = 640 Data from IMBCR will be leveraged to improve precision Using IMBCR Design and Data

Future Efforts – DoD Legacy Objectives: 1)Sample 5 installations in BCR 18 2)Estimate density and occupancy 3)Compare local and regional estimates 4)Model priority species habitat needs 5)Guide wildlife management actions and habitat enhancement

Why Get Involved? Opportunity to collect data and develop tools in critical region for grassland birds Wintering Breeding

Flexibility of Program IMBCR and overlay projects can answer management questions within the PLJV (Adaptive monitoring): Investigate the importance of playas Stratification can answer specific questions Can alternate between evaluation of management and monitoring (funding flexibility)

Benefits of PLJV Involvement Expand sampling efforts w/in BCR18 and 19 Pooled data increases cost efficiency Distribution maps can inform landscape planning Info can feed into adaptive management Quantify conservation effort outcomes for bird populations IMBCR info can contribute to HABS database

Goals Short-term (2016) Monitor throughout PLJV region Evaluate LEPC habitat enhancement and CRP benefit to birds Long-term (2020) Evaluate management efforts of alternate habitat enhancement strategies (playa pit removal, etc.)

Partner % of PLJV Land Area Proportional Shared Cost Current Funds & Contributions Proposed Funding Short TermLong Term CPW18%$68,716$52,443 $34,358 TPWD30%$117,743$55,956$30,000$58,872 KDWPT23%$88,522$42,069$17,500$44,261 NGPC6%$22,697$10,786$7,500$11,348 NMDGF10%$40,823$19,401$5,000$20,412 ODWC13%$52,152$24,785$15,000$26,076 DOD$100,000 $0 PLJV$0 $10,000 USFS$20,000 NFWF (LEPC)$75,000 $0 NM (LEPC)$10,000 $0 BLM$7,500$20,000 TNC$5,000$10,000 DU$5,000 PF$7,500$10,000 NWTF$2,500$5,000 USFWS (R2)$15,000$50,000 USFWS (R6)$15,000$50,000 NRCS$10,000$20,000 FSA$5,000$10,000 TOTAL100%$390,654$410,440$404,943$405,327

Questions?