Avian Species Inventory -- Avian Species Inventory -- Manzanar National Historic Site Manzanar National Historic Site and Mojave National Preserve and Mojave National Preserve

Jan Hart, Matt Johnson, Charles DrostUSGS-Southwest Biological Science

CenterColorado Plateau Research Station

Northern Arizona University

Western Tanager Western Tanager (Piranga (Piranga ludoviciana)ludoviciana)

Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter (Accipiter striatus)striatus)

Study Sites – Manzanar NHS, Mojave Study Sites – Manzanar NHS, Mojave NPNP

Purpose of InventoriesPurpose of Inventories

Lack of verified information about Lack of verified information about biological resources, including biological resources, including avifaunaavifauna

Inventories needed to identify species Inventories needed to identify species of concern and provide biological data of concern and provide biological data to inform management decisionsto inform management decisions

Baseline information provides Baseline information provides foundation for long-term monitoring of foundation for long-term monitoring of biological resourcesbiological resources

Data Sources, Mojave NPData Sources, Mojave NP

Literature ReviewLiterature Review Museum SpecimensMuseum Specimens NPS Records (observation cards, NPS Records (observation cards,

etc.)etc.) Breeding Bird Surveys, Christmas Breeding Bird Surveys, Christmas

CountsCounts Other Unpublished InformationOther Unpublished Information

Mojave NP – Museum RecordsMojave NP – Museum Records

Results, Mojave NPResults, Mojave NP

300 Species Documented300 Species Documented 19 More “Probable”19 More “Probable” 1 Historic / Former Occurrence1 Historic / Former Occurrence 56 Species “Unconfirmed”56 Species “Unconfirmed”

Residency Status of Birds at Residency Status of Birds at Mojave Mojave

64 Confirmed Breeding64 Confirmed Breeding 42 Resident (Winter or Summer)42 Resident (Winter or Summer) 108 Migrant108 Migrant 27 Vagrant27 Vagrant 135 Unknown Status135 Unknown Status

Manzanar NHSManzanar NHS

Existing Records Existing Records Search Search

NPS RecordsNPS Records Museum specimensMuseum specimens Published AccountsPublished Accounts Local ResourcesLocal Resources

Field SamplingField Sampling Habitat StratificationHabitat Stratification

Yellow WarblerYellow WarblerDendroica petechiaDendroica petechia

Field MethodsField Methods

Point CountsPoint Counts Mist NettingMist Netting Nocturnal SurveysNocturnal Surveys Area SearchesArea Searches Nest SearchingNest Searching

Townsend’s WarblerTownsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendiDendroica townsendi

Timing of Avian Surveys at Timing of Avian Surveys at MANZMANZ

We conducted thirteen survey sessions We conducted thirteen survey sessions during:during:

Spring Migration:Spring Migration: April 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005April 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Breeding Season:Breeding Season: June 2002, 2003, July 2003June 2002, 2003, July 2003

Fall Migration:Fall Migration: August 2002, September 2003, August 2002, September 2003, 20042004

Wintering:Wintering: November 2002, February 2003, 2005November 2002, February 2003, 2005

Distribution of Counting PointsDistribution of Counting Points

ResultsResults (Literature and Museum)(Literature and Museum) No verifiable specimens or records No verifiable specimens or records

from Manzanarfrom Manzanar

Local Audubon Society records for Local Audubon Society records for nearby areasnearby areas

Habitat at Manzanar stratified into 4 Habitat at Manzanar stratified into 4 units: units: two desert shrub sections, a riparian two desert shrub sections, a riparian zone, and a mature woodland sectionzone, and a mature woodland section

Four point count transects - 33 count Four point count transects - 33 count stationsstations

Results Results (Survey Efforts)(Survey Efforts) 99 species were detected at point counting stations99 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 20 additional species were detected during nocturnal surveys and area searchessurveys and area searches

7 “ duplicate” species were captured in mist nets7 “ 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 detectedTotal of 2,639 individuals and 132 species detected

Species Accumulation by SurveySpecies Accumulation by Survey

After 13 survey sessions we still detected new After 13 survey sessions we still detected new speciesspecies

Species Accumulation

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Survey Session

species

Overall Species AbundanceOverall Species Abundance Species detected in Species detected in

the greatest the greatest numbers at numbers at Manzanar. Manzanar.

White-crowned SparrowEuropean StarlingCalifornia QuailSage SparrowAmerican RobinBrewer's BlackbirdCommon RavenBushtitHorned LarkDark-eyed JuncoMourning DoveYellow-rumped Warbler

(Audubon's)

Seasonal Species AbundanceSeasonal Species Abundance Most abundant species in each seasonMost abundant species in each season

Spring……….Spring………. White-crowned SparrowWhite-crowned Sparrow

Breeding……Breeding…… California QuailCalifornia Quail

Fall…………..Fall………….. Brewer’s SparrowBrewer’s Sparrow

Winter……Winter…… Horned LarkHorned Lark

White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys

Species by Habitat AssociationSpecies by Habitat Association

Species by Habitat Association

1812

16 17

7

17

25

4

3018

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Park Wide Desert Scrub Riparian Woodland Woodland Grove

SometimesOftenExclusively

DiscussionDiscussion

…..…..So What?So What?

Bullock’s OrioleBullock’s OrioleIcterus bullockiiIcterus bullockii

Some Key FindingsSome Key Findings No State or Federally-listed species detectedNo State or Federally-listed species detected Strong habitat affinities exhibited by many Strong habitat affinities exhibited by many

speciesspecies4 of 10 warblers confined to riparian 4 of 10 warblers confined to riparian woodland; 4 of 8 woodpeckers only woodland; 4 of 8 woodpeckers only detected in woodland grove detected in woodland grove

Species accumulation data suggests Species accumulation data suggests continued survey effort will yield additional continued survey effort will yield additional speciesspecies

Great Horned Owl activity affected nocturnal Great Horned Owl activity affected nocturnal surveyssurveys

Management ConsiderationsManagement Considerations

Habitat Protection IHabitat Protection I Largest number of species was Largest number of species was

detected along Bairs Creek and detected along Bairs Creek and 25% of those used that habitat 25% of those used that habitat exclusivelyexclusively

Remnant orchards provide unusual Remnant orchards provide unusual habitat and food sources for many habitat and food sources for many animal species at MANZanimal species at MANZ

Habitat Protection IIHabitat Protection II The large cottonwood (woodland) The large cottonwood (woodland)

grove is important to many species grove is important to many species but appears threatened by lack of but appears threatened by lack of regenerationregeneration

Increased visitation may lead to Increased visitation may lead to higher impacts from foot traffichigher impacts from foot traffic

What’s Next?What’s Next?

General Monitoring General Monitoring (as feasible)(as feasible)

“ “Bird-a-thons” with ESABird-a-thons” with ESA

Habitat ManagementHabitat Management Extended MonitoringExtended Monitoring

(e.g., during migration)(e.g., during migration)

Black-throated Gray Black-throated Gray WarblerWarblerDendroica nigrescensDendroica nigrescens

Thank YouThank You This project was funded by an This project was funded by an

NRPP small-parks grant.NRPP small-parks grant.

We’d like to thank Kristina We’d like to thank Kristina Heister and Frank Hays for Heister and Frank Hays for their vision and guidance in their vision and guidance in making this effort possible.making this effort possible.

We’d also like to thank the We’d also like to thank the staff at Manzanar NHS for their staff at Manzanar NHS for their interest and support, interest and support, especially Richard Potashin, especially Richard Potashin, and others in the network who and others in the network who reviewed our report. reviewed our report.