1. References. Methods Results We conducted avian point counts at pre-established points (created by USFWS within the Whittlsey Creek Watershed in the 1998-2002 study) between June- August 2014 At each point, we recorded: date, survey point number, start and end time, noise level (0-4), the distance of each individual bird from the survey point ( 50m) and species of individual detected (using code established by the United States Bird Banding Laboratory We recorded main habitat type at each point as either: upland shrub, lowland shrub, agriculture,open wetland, upland forest, lowland forest We conducted marsh bird surveys at survey points located in wetland habitats. These were a modification of traditional point counts that consisted of: Playing vocalizations of marsh bird species most likely to elicit a response (played from the Audobon Bird Application on a phone connected to a portable speaker) Vocalizations were directed towards the middle of the marsh and unmoved from its position throughout the survey Pre-restoration point count data were combined and compared with post-restoration with respect to: Avian diversity and abundance by point, year, and habitat type Cassie Baumgarten 1, Dr. Katie Stumpf 1, Mike Mylnarek 2 Northland College, Ashland, WI 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2 Bled F., Sauer J., Pardieck K., Doherty P. and Royle J.A. 2013.Modeling trends from North American Breeding Bird Survey Data: a spatially explicit approach. PLOS ONE 8 (12) Dryer P., Gostomski T. and Fischer G. 2002. Breeding bird surveys within the whittlesey creek study area, 1998-2001 and Red Cliff Indian Reservation, 1999-2001 Bayfield County, Wisconsin. USFWS Report Virkkala R., Heikkinen R.K., Fronzek S. and Leikola N. 2013. Climate change, northern birds of conservation concern and matching the hotspots of habitat suitability with the reserve network. PLOS ONE 8 (5) Avian diversity and abundance on restored habitat at Whittlesey Creek Watershed Conclusions Figure 1. Total species abundance in pre- (orange bars) and post (blue bars) restoration years surveyed Figure 2. Total species diversity in pre- (orange bars) and post- (green bars) restoration years surveyed Trend of an increase in total species abundance from pre- to post-restoration surveys. This trend in abundance indicates a difference in abundance from pre- to post-restoration (X 2 = 132.32, p= 6.0*10 -27 ). There is a decrease in average species diversity across habitat types from pre- to post restoration. Trend of a decrease in total species diversity from pre- to post-restoration surveys. This trend indicates a difference in diversity from pre- to post-restoration (X 2 = 25.37, p=0.00001). There is an increase in average abundance in lowland shrub and open wetland habitat types. There is a decrease in average abundance in agriculture, upland forest and upland shrub habitat types. Habitat fragmentation and global climate change negatively affect avian populations, so many conservation efforts focus on measuring avian responses to particular environmental stressors. Understanding how avian species, which are often used as habitat quality indicators, respond to these conservation strategies will aid future conservation practices by allowing managers to predict the effects of land management on avian populations (Bled et al., 2013). The objectives of this study were to: Conduct point counts at locations surveyed between 1998-2002 (Dryer, et al., 2002) Establish new survey sites likely to undergo restoration in the future Compare pre- and post-restoration avian communities Introduction The increase in total species abundance from to pre- to post-restoration can be attributed to restoration efforts towards Whittlesey Creek and restoration of agricultural habitat type to open wetland habitat An increase in species abundance in open wetland habitat from pre- to post-restoration may be attributed to wetland restoration efforts on the refuge. Abundance and diversity figures exhibiting decreasing trends from pre- to post restoration may be an effect of having collected data one year post-restoration data and several years pre-restoration data Clear-cut areas, with unknown dates of logging may also attribute to species abundance and diversity. Early stages of restoration, with immature habitat structure would also attribute to decreases in abundance and diversity to specific habitat types. Further collection and analysis of post- restoration avian point count surveys is advised to establish a better understanding of the effects of restoration on avian populations 1. Year Comparison 2. Habitat Comparison Habitat Type: Upland ForestHabitat Type: Upland Shrub Whittlesey Creek Watershed Figure 3. Average species diversity in pre- (orange bars) and post (blue bars) restoration years habitats surveyed Figure 4. Average species abundance in pre- (orange bars) and post (blue bars) restoration habitats surveyed Habitat Type Pre-RestorationPost RestorationPre-RestorationPost Restoration Average Avian Abundance Standard Deviation Average Avian Abundance Standard Deviation Average Avian Abundance Standard Deviation Average Avian Abundance Standard Deviation Agriculture17.722.90617.322.2844.22.76240.056 Lowland Shrub12.91.91415.670.6347.640.6784.330.386 Open Wetland22.57.68624.29.16492.0384.60.656 Upland Forest9.954.8647.257.7866.250.71230.944 Upland Shrub113.81410.744.2967.720.7583.790.154 Table 1. Comparison of pre- to post-restoration average avian abundance and diversity in habitat types surveyed Habitat restoration at Whittlesey Creek Wildlife Refuge from habitat type, agriculture to open wetland in 2010.