Avian Species Inventory -- Manzanar National Historic Site and Mojave National Preserve Jan Hart, Matt Johnson, Charles Drost USGS-Southwest Biological Science Center Colorado Plateau Research Station Northern Arizona University Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

Study Sites – Manzanar NHS, Mojave NP

Purpose of Inventories Lack of verified information about biological resources, including avifauna Lack of verified information about biological resources, including avifauna Inventories needed to identify species of concern and provide biological data to inform management decisions Inventories needed to identify species of concern and provide biological data to inform management decisions Baseline information provides foundation for long-term monitoring of biological resources Baseline information provides foundation for long-term monitoring of biological resources

Data Sources, Mojave NP Literature Review Literature Review Museum Specimens Museum Specimens NPS Records (observation cards, etc.) NPS Records (observation cards, etc.) Breeding Bird Surveys, Christmas Counts Breeding Bird Surveys, Christmas Counts Other Unpublished Information Other Unpublished Information

Mojave NP – Museum Records

Results, Mojave NP 300 Species Documented 300 Species Documented 19 More “Probable” 19 More “Probable” 1 Historic / Former Occurrence 1 Historic / Former Occurrence 56 Species “Unconfirmed” 56 Species “Unconfirmed”

Residency Status of Birds at Mojave 64 Confirmed Breeding 64 Confirmed Breeding 42 Resident (Winter or Summer) 42 Resident (Winter or Summer) 108 Migrant 108 Migrant 27 Vagrant 27 Vagrant 135 Unknown Status 135 Unknown Status

Manzanar NHS Existing Records Search Existing Records Search NPS Records NPS Records Museum specimens Museum specimens Published Accounts Published Accounts Local Resources Local Resources Field Sampling Field Sampling Habitat Stratification Habitat Stratification Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia

Field Methods Point Counts Point Counts Mist Netting Mist Netting Nocturnal Surveys Nocturnal Surveys Area Searches Area Searches Nest Searching Nest Searching Townsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendi

Timing of Avian Surveys at MANZ We conducted thirteen survey sessions during: Spring Migration: April 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Breeding Season: June 2002, 2003, July 2003 Fall Migration: August 2002, September 2003, 2004 Wintering: November 2002, February 2003, 2005

Distribution of Counting Points

Results (Literature and Museum) No verifiable specimens or records from Manzanar No verifiable specimens or records from Manzanar Local Audubon Society records for nearby areas Local Audubon Society records for nearby areas Habitat at Manzanar stratified into 4 units: two desert shrub sections, a riparian zone, and a mature woodland section Habitat at Manzanar stratified into 4 units: two desert shrub sections, a riparian zone, and a mature woodland section Four point count transects - 33 count stations Four point count transects - 33 count stations

Results (Survey Efforts) 99 species were detected at point counting stations 99 species were detected at point counting stations 13 additional species were noted as “flyovers” 13 additional species were noted as “flyovers” 20 additional species were detected during nocturnal surveys and area searches 20 additional species were detected during nocturnal surveys and area searches 7 “ duplicate” species were captured in mist nets 7 “ duplicate” species were captured in mist nets Breeding by 19 species verified; evidence for 8 others Breeding by 19 species verified; evidence for 8 others Total of 2,639 individuals and 132 species detected Total of 2,639 individuals and 132 species detected

Species Accumulation by Survey After 13 survey sessions we still detected new species

Overall Species Abundance Species detected in the greatest numbers at Manzanar. Species detected in the greatest numbers at Manzanar. White-crowned Sparrow European Starling California Quail Sage Sparrow American Robin Brewer's Blackbird Common Raven Bushtit Horned Lark Dark-eyed Junco Mourning Dove Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)

Seasonal Species Abundance Most abundant species in each season Most abundant species in each season Spring………. White-crowned Sparrow Breeding…… California Quail Fall………….. Brewer’s Sparrow Winter…… Horned Lark White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys

Species by Habitat Association

Discussion ….. So What? Bullock’s Oriole Icterus bullockii

Some Key Findings No State or Federally-listed species detected No State or Federally-listed species detected Strong habitat affinities exhibited by many species Strong habitat affinities exhibited by many species 4 of 10 warblers confined to riparian woodland; 4 of 8 woodpeckers only detected in woodland grove Species accumulation data suggests continued survey effort will yield additional species Species accumulation data suggests continued survey effort will yield additional species Great Horned Owl activity affected nocturnal surveys Great Horned Owl activity affected nocturnal surveys

Management Considerations

Habitat Protection I Largest number of species was detected along Bairs Creek and 25% of those used that habitat exclusively Largest number of species was detected along Bairs Creek and 25% of those used that habitat exclusively Remnant orchards provide unusual habitat and food sources for many animal species at MANZ Remnant orchards provide unusual habitat and food sources for many animal species at MANZ

Habitat Protection II The large cottonwood (woodland) grove is important to many species but appears threatened by lack of regeneration The large cottonwood (woodland) grove is important to many species but appears threatened by lack of regeneration Increased visitation may lead to higher impacts from foot traffic Increased visitation may lead to higher impacts from foot traffic

What’s Next? General Monitoring (as feasible) General Monitoring (as feasible) “Bird-a-thons” with ESA “Bird-a-thons” with ESA Habitat Management Habitat Management Extended Monitoring (e.g., during migration) Extended Monitoring (e.g., during migration) Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens

Thank You This project was funded by an NRPP small-parks grant. This project was funded by an NRPP small-parks grant. We’d like to thank Kristina Heister and Frank Hays for their vision and guidance in making this effort possible. We’d like to thank Kristina Heister and Frank Hays for their vision and guidance in making this effort possible. We’d also like to thank the staff at Manzanar NHS for their interest and support, especially Richard Potashin, and others in the network who reviewed our report. We’d also like to thank the staff at Manzanar NHS for their interest and support, especially Richard Potashin, and others in the network who reviewed our report.