twenty years of bird monitoring and habitat management at springbrook prairie joe suchecki site...
TRANSCRIPT
Twenty Years of Bird Monitoring and Habitat
Management at Springbrook Prairie
Joe SucheckiJoe Suchecki
Site StewardSite Steward
Why Monitor BirdsWhy Monitor Birds
Obtain basic information on what birds are Obtain basic information on what birds are on a site on a site
Identify key areas or habitats for protectionIdentify key areas or habitats for protection Monitor population trendsMonitor population trends Determine habitat preferencesDetermine habitat preferences Observe changes in response to Observe changes in response to
managementmanagement
Why Monitor BirdsWhy Monitor Birds
Obtain basic information on what birds are Obtain basic information on what birds are on a site on a site
Identify key areas or habitats for protectionIdentify key areas or habitats for protection Monitor population trendsMonitor population trends Determine habitat preferencesDetermine habitat preferences Observe changes in response to Observe changes in response to
managementmanagement Evaluate Initial ConclusionsEvaluate Initial Conclusions
Springbrook Prairie
Grassland Birds
High Grassland Bird PopulationsHigh Grassland Bird Populations Nesting Short-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, Upland Nesting Short-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, Upland
Sandpiper, Henslow’s SparrowSandpiper, Henslow’s Sparrow Complete Suite of Grassland BirdsComplete Suite of Grassland Birds
– Sedge Wren, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrow, Dickcissel, Bobolink, Eastern MeadowlarkDickcissel, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark
– Ring-necked Pheasant, Song Sparrow, Common Ring-necked Pheasant, Song Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged BlackbirdYellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird
– Clay-colored SparrowClay-colored Sparrow
Bird Monitoring
21 Point Counts 1994-201421 Point Counts 1994-2014– Same LocationSame Location– Same ObserverSame Observer– Consistent Method/TimesConsistent Method/Times
4 Transects 1980’s-20144 Transects 1980’s-2014– Early scattered dataEarly scattered data– Different ObserversDifferent Observers
Walking Around – Weekly birdingWalking Around – Weekly birding
Three Topics TodayThree Topics Today
Changes in Grassland Bird Populations at Changes in Grassland Bird Populations at Springbrook Prairie over 20 yearsSpringbrook Prairie over 20 years
How has site management and restoration How has site management and restoration affected grassland birdsaffected grassland birds
Review validity of initial conclusions Review validity of initial conclusions regarding birds, habitats, and restorationregarding birds, habitats, and restoration
Grassland Birds
True Grassland True Grassland SpeciesSpecies
Sedge wrenSedge wren DickcisselDickcissel Savannah SparrowSavannah Sparrow Grasshopper SparrowGrasshopper Sparrow Henslow’s SparrowHenslow’s Sparrow BobolinkBobolink Eastern MeadowlarkEastern Meadowlark
Others Others Red-winged BlackbirdRed-winged Blackbird Common YellowthroatCommon Yellowthroat Song SparrowSong Sparrow Field SparrowField Sparrow Ring-necked PheasantRing-necked Pheasant
Overall Grassland Bird PopulationsOverall Grassland Bird Populations
Transects can supply an indication of overall Transects can supply an indication of overall population changes at Springbrookpopulation changes at Springbrook– Cover large areasCover large areas– Samples most habitatsSamples most habitats– Provides Information on most speciesProvides Information on most species
Combined data from all four transects from Combined data from all four transects from 1994-2014 used for the following results.1994-2014 used for the following results.
Springbrook BobolinksSpringbrook Bobolinks
Bobolink Transect Data 1994-2007
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21
Year
To
tal N
um
be
r O
bs
erv
ed
Bobolink
Linear (Bobolink)
Springbrook Sedge WrensSpringbrook Sedge WrensSedge Wren
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Year
To
tal
Nu
mb
er O
bse
rved
Sedge Wren
Linear (Sedge Wren)
Springbrook Henslow’s SparrowsSpringbrook Henslow’s SparrowsHenslow's Sparrow Transect Data 1994-2010
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Year
To
tal
Nu
mb
er O
bse
rved
Henslow's Sparrow
Linear (Henslow's Sparrow)
Springbrook Savannah SparrowsSpringbrook Savannah SparrowsSavannah Sparrow Transect Data 1994-2010
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Year
To
tal
Nu
mb
er O
bse
rved
Savannah Sparrrow
Linear (Savannah Sparrrow)
Springbrook Grasshopper SparrowsSpringbrook Grasshopper SparrowsGrasshopper Sparrow 1994-2014
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Year
To
tal
Nu
mb
er o
bse
rved
Grasshopper Sparrow
Linear (Grasshopper Sparrow)
Springbrook Red-winged BlackbirdsSpringbrook Red-winged BlackbirdsRed-winged Blackbird
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Year
To
tal
Nu
mb
er O
bse
rved
Red-winged Blackbird
Linear (Red-winged Blackbird)
Springbrook Common YellowthroatSpringbrook Common YellowthroatCommon Yellowthroat
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Year
To
tal
Nu
mb
er O
bse
rved
Common Yellowthroat
Linear (Common Yellowthroat)
Grassland Bird Trends 1994-2014Grassland Bird Trends 1994-2014
SPRINGBROOKSPRINGBROOK
Eastern MeadowlarkEastern Meadowlark +4% +4% Red-winged Blackbird +35%Red-winged Blackbird +35% BobolinkBobolink +57% +57% CommonYellowthroat +263%CommonYellowthroat +263% Sedge WrenSedge Wren
+333%+333% Henslow’s SparrowHenslow’s Sparrow
+1600%+1600% Savannah SparrowSavannah Sparrow -9% -9% Ring-necked Pheasant -63%Ring-necked Pheasant -63% Grasshopper Sparrow -96%Grasshopper Sparrow -96%
AUDUBON NATIONAL DATAAUDUBON NATIONAL DATA
-71%-71% -21%-21% -51%-51% -149%-149% +88%+88% -96%-96% +8%+8% -51%-51% -65%-65%
Point Count DataPoint Count Data
Point counts provide Information on bird Point counts provide Information on bird populations at certain areas or habitatspopulations at certain areas or habitats
At Springbrook, 21 points representing At Springbrook, 21 points representing different habitats and vegetation – 15 different habitats and vegetation – 15 sample grasslandsample grassland
Three replicates at each point in JuneThree replicates at each point in June Five-minute census timeFive-minute census time All completed between 0445 and 0700All completed between 0445 and 0700
Initial Conclusions 1997-2002Initial Conclusions 1997-2002 Bird Populations Show High Annual VariationBird Populations Show High Annual Variation Non-Native Grasslands Provide Good Nesting Habitat Non-Native Grasslands Provide Good Nesting Habitat Bird Densities Higher in Non-Native HabitatBird Densities Higher in Non-Native Habitat Tree and Brush Removal Improves Grassland Bird Tree and Brush Removal Improves Grassland Bird
HabitatHabitat Restorations Dominated by Native Tallgrass Do Not Restorations Dominated by Native Tallgrass Do Not
Provide Suitable HabitatProvide Suitable Habitat Grassland Birds Decrease as Sites RestoredGrassland Birds Decrease as Sites Restored Short Grass Restoration May be More SuccessfulShort Grass Restoration May be More Successful
Bird Monitoring ResultsBird Monitoring Results
Bird Populations Show High Annual Bird Populations Show High Annual VariationsVariations
ConfirmedConfirmed
Annual Variation in BobolinksBobolinks Transect 1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Years
Nu
mb
er o
f B
ird
s
Series1
Bird Monitoring ResultsBird Monitoring Results
Non-Native Grasslands Provide Good Non-Native Grasslands Provide Good Nesting HabitatNesting Habitat
ConfirmedConfirmed
A-1 Birds
Grassland Birds At Two Points
0123456789
10
Species
Bir
ds P
er
Po
int
Fescue A-1
Restored W-3
A-1 Birds 1997 and 2014A-1 Birds 1997 and 2014
Point A-1Point A-1
Bird Monitoring ResultsBird Monitoring Results
Bird Densities Higher on Non-Native Bird Densities Higher on Non-Native HabitatHabitat
BustedBusted
Non-Native and Restored SitesNon-Native and Restored SitesGrassland Birds At Two Points
0123456789
10
Species
Bir
ds P
er P
oin
t
Fescue A-1
Restored W-3
Springbrook Grassland BirdsDiversity and Density
2012 – 2014 Point Counts
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
5 10 15 20 25 30
E2
E3
SB2
W3
A2
W4
F1
E1
N1
A1SB1
W2 F2
W1
N2
Num
ber
of S
peci
es
Density (Birds/Point)
Non-Native
Restored
Bird Monitoring ResultsBird Monitoring Results
Short Grass Restoration May be More Short Grass Restoration May be More SuccessfulSuccessful
ConfirmedConfirmed
Fescue Field and Short Grass Fescue Field and Short Grass RestorationRestoration
2014 Grassland Birds at Two Points
Meadowlark
Henslows
SavannahBobolink
Sedge WrenGrasshopper
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Species
Bir
d/P
oin
t
Fescue A-1
Restored N-1
Birds Increasing at Short Grass Birds Increasing at Short Grass Restoration SiteRestoration Site
Point N-1Point N-1
Bird Monitoring ResultsBird Monitoring Results
Restorations Dominated by Native Restorations Dominated by Native Tallgrasses Do Not Provide Suitable Tallgrasses Do Not Provide Suitable HabitatHabitat
Grassland Birds Decrease as Sites Grassland Birds Decrease as Sites RestoredRestored
Partially BustedPartially Busted
Tallgrass Restoration Site Tallgrass Restoration Site
Springbrook Grassland BirdsChanges in Point Counts
1999 – 2014
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
5 10 15 20 25 30
W3W4
W4
N2
F1
F1
N1
W1
W3
W1
N2
N1
Num
ber
of S
peci
es
Density (Birds/Point)
1999 Restored
2014 Restored
Changes to Restored PointsChanges to Restored Points
Improved HabitatsImproved Habitats N1,W1 – Shrub Removal, N1,W1 – Shrub Removal,
Short-grass restorationShort-grass restoration N2 - Shrub, Tree N2 - Shrub, Tree
Removal, Stream Removal, Stream RestorationRestoration
F1- Shrub Removal, F1- Shrub Removal, Increased Plant DiversityIncreased Plant Diversity
Declining HabitatsDeclining Habitats W3,W4 – Increasingly W3,W4 – Increasingly
Forb Dominated, Grass Forb Dominated, Grass DeclineDecline
Springbrook Grassland BirdsChanges in Point Counts
1999 – 2014
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
5 10 15 20 25 30
E2 E2
SB2
W2
SB1
E3
SB2
A2
A2
E1
A1
A1
E1
E3
SB1
F2
W2 F2
Num
ber
of S
peci
es
Density (Birds/Point)
1999 Non-Native
2014 Non-Native
Changes to Non-native PointsChanges to Non-native Points
Improved HabitatsImproved Habitats E1 – Treelines RemovedE1 – Treelines Removed F2- Shrubs RemovedF2- Shrubs Removed SB1, SB2 – Trees SB1, SB2 – Trees
Removed, Stream Removed, Stream RestorationRestoration
W2 – Grasses More W2 – Grasses More Dominant NowDominant Now
Declining HabitatsDeclining Habitats A1- Chance ? 1 Species A1- Chance ? 1 Species
AbsentAbsent A2 – Main Trail, Dog A2 – Main Trail, Dog
Field, Human DisturbanceField, Human Disturbance E3 – Shrub/Tree InvasionE3 – Shrub/Tree Invasion
Bird Monitoring ResultsBird Monitoring Results
Tree and Brush Removal Improves Tree and Brush Removal Improves Grassland Bird HabitatGrassland Bird Habitat
ConfirmedConfirmed
How to Get More BobolinksHow to Get More Bobolinks
Bobolink Managed Plots
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Year
Bir
ds
Pe
r P
lot
Bobolink Unmanaged Plots
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Year
Bir
ds
Pe
r P
lot
Final Thoughts
Monitoring Provides Monitoring Provides Valuable Valuable InformationInformation
Let the Birds Tell Let the Birds Tell You What is BestYou What is Best
Create Treeless, Create Treeless, Grass-Dominated Grass-Dominated Fields of Short Fields of Short StatureStature
