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Distribution, Abundance, and Ecology of Forest Owls in Southeast Alaska

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Distribution, Abundance, and Ecology of Forest Owls in Southeast Alaska DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND ECOLOGY OF FOREST OWLS IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA Final Report April 2009 Michelle L. Kissling and Stephen B. Lewis Suggested citation: Kissling, M. L, and S. B. Lewis. 2009. Distribution, abundance, and ecology of forest owls in Southeast Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Juneau Field Office, Alaska, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Douglas, Alaska. 215pp. AUTHOR CONTACT INFORMATION Michelle L. Kissling Stephen B. Lewis U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska Department of Fish and Game Fish and Ecological Services Division of Wildlife Conservation 3000 Vintage Blvd., Suite 201 PO Box 110024 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Juneau, AK 99811 Phone: 907-780-1168 Phone: 907-465-4348 Fax: 907-586-7099 Fax: 907-465-4272 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] PROJECT COLLABORATORS Irene Morris Grey Pendleton SEAKON Coordinator Alaska Department of Fish and Game Juneau Raptor Center Division of Wildlife Conservation P.O. Box 34713 PO Box 110024 Juneau, Alaska 99803 Juneau, AK 99811 Phone: 907-586-8393 Phone: 907-465-4634 Email: [email protected] Fax: 907-465-4272 Email: [email protected] Phil Schempf Lowell H. Suring U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northern Ecologic L.L.C. Migratory Bird Management 2590 South Georgetown Place 3000 Vintage Blvd., Suite 201 Boise, Idaho 83709 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Phone: 541-908-1346 Phone: 907-780-1171 Email: [email protected] Fax: 907-586-7154 Email: [email protected] David Tallmon University of Alaska Southeast 11120 Glacier Highway Anderson Building, Room 317 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Phone: 907-796-6330 Fax: 907-796-6447 Email: [email protected] 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………..... 7 List of Figures ……………………………………………………………………… 10 Overall Introduction …………………………………………………………...…... 13 Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………... 16 Owls in Native Cultures of Southeast Alaska ……………………………………... 19 Chapter 1: Factors influencing forest owl detectability in Southeast Alaska ……... 20 Introduction ………………………………………………………..... 21 Study area ………………………………………………………...… 22 Methods ………………………………….…………………………. 23 Sampling design. ...………………….………………... 23 Survey protocol ...…………………………………….. 23 Radio-marked birds ...…………………...……………. 24 Data analysis ………………………………………….. 25 Results ...……………………………………………………………. 27 Modeling occupancy and detection probability ..…….. 27 Sample size planning ...…..…………………………... 29 Discussion ..………………………………………………………… 29 Availability .………………………………………….. 29 Cue production………………………………………... 30 Detectability ………………………………………….. 32 Recommendations …………………………………………….….… 33 Literature cited ……………………………………………………… 33 Chapter 2: Decadal changes in occupancy of forest owls in Southeast Alaska, 1986-2008 …………………………………………………………………………. 51 Introduction ………………………………………………………… 52 Study area …………………………………………………………... 53 Methods …………………………………………………………….. 54 Field sampling ………………………………………… 54 Data analysis ………………………………………… 56 3 Results …………………………………………………………….. 57 Estimates of occupancy and detection probabilities … 58 Decadal changes in occupancy ……………………… 59 Discussion …………………………………………………………. 61 Management implications …………………………………………. 65 Literature cited …………………………………………………….. 65 Chapter 3: Habitat range, habitat use, and movements of Western Screech-Owls (Megascops kennicottii) in central Southeast Alaska …………………………….. 84 Introduction ……………………………………………………….. 84 Study area …………………………………………………………. 85 Methods …………………………………………………………… 86 Capture and marking ………………………………… 86 Owl telemetry and re-location ………………………. 87 Home range estimation ……………………………… 87 Owl site location …………………………………….. 88 Roost and nest measurements ……………………….. 88 Movements …………………………………………... 89 Results …………………………………………………………….. 90 Capture ………………………………………………. 90 Home range ………………………………………….. 90 Roosts ………………………………………………... 90 Nests …………………………………………………. 91 Movements …………………………………………... 92 Discussion …………………………………………………………. 93 Literature cited …………………………………………………….. 96 Chapter 4: Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii) capture in Southeast Alaska technique evolution and capture rates …………………………………..... 107 Introduction ……………………………………………………….. 107 Methods …………………………………………………………… 108 Study area …………………………………………… 108 Capture ……………………………………………… 109 4 Results …………………………………………………………….. 111 Discussion ………………………………………………………… 111 Literature cited ……………………………………………………. 113 Chapter 5: Diet of the Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii) in Southeast Alaska …………………………………………………………………. 119 Introduction ……………………………………………………….. 119 Methods …………………………………………………………… 120 Study area …………………………………………… 120 Data collection ……………………………………… 120 Data analysis ………………………………………... 121 Results …………………………………………………………….. 122 Pellet analysis ……………………………………….. 122 Carcass analysis …………………………………….. 122 Discussion ………………………………………………………… 123 Literature cited ……………………………………………………. 125 Chapter 6: Genetic variation and sex identification of Western Screech-Owls (Megascops kennicottii) in Southeast Alaska …………………………………….. 132 Introduction ……………………………………………………….. 132 Methods …………………………………………………………… 134 Sample collection …………………………………… 134 DNA extraction ……………………………………... 134 Identification of sex ………………………………… 135 Mitochondrial DNA ………………………………… 136 Results …………………………………………………………….. 137 Extraction of DNA from feathers …………………... 137 Identification of sex ………………………………… 137 Mitochondrial DNA ………………………………… 138 Discussion ………………………………………………………… 139 Identification of sex ………………………………… 139 Mitochondrial DNA ………………………………… 139 Literature cited ……………………………………………………. 140 5 Overall Discussion ……………………………......……………………………… 151 Southeast Alaska Owl Network …………………………………... 151 Owl surveys ………………………………………………………. 152 Owl ecology ………………………………………………………. 155 Outreach …………………………………………………………... 155 Overall Recommendations ……………………...………………………………... 156 Long-term monitoring of forest owl populations in Southeast Alaska …………………………………………………………….. 156 Ecology and conservation of forest owls in Southeast Alaska …… 159 Literature cited (Overall Discussion and Recommendations) ...………..………… 162 Appendix I: Southeast Alaska Owl Network survey protocol and datasheet ……. 164 Appendix II: Monthly variation in owl occurrence in Southeast Alaska, 2005- 2008 ………………………………………………………………………………. 172 Appendix III: Notes on morphology of owls in Southeast Alaska ………………. 185 Appendix IV: Sources of mortality for owls in Southeast Alaska ………………. 200 Appendix V: Notes on Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) capture and monitoring …………………………………………………………………… 210 6 LIST OF TABLES Chapter 1 Table 1.1 Covariates used to model occupancy (ψ) and detection probabilities (p) for Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Western Screech- Owl, and Barred Owl in Southeast Alaska, 2005………………... 36 Table 1.2 Candidate models considered for estimating Barred Owl occupancy and detection probabilities…………………………... 37 Table 1.3 Candidate models considered for estimating Western Screech- Owl occupancy and detection probabilities……………………... 38 Table 1.4 Candidate models considered for estimating Northern Saw-Whet Owl occupancy and detection probabilities……………………... 39 Table 1.5 Final models predicting occupancy and detection probabilities for Barred Owl, Western Screech-Owl, and Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Southeast Alaska, 2005……………………………………. 40 Table 1.6 Estimates of occupancy and detection probability for Barred Owl, Western Screech-Owl, and Northern Saw-Whet Owl as a function of categorical predictor variables included in final models, Southeast Alaska, 2005…………………………………. 41 Table 1.7 Number of survey stations required in a single season to estimate occupancy and detection probabilities for northern saw-whet, Western Screech-Owl, and Barred Owls such that the estimates have CVs of 20-25%...................................................................... 42 Chapter 2 Table 2.1 Survey effort and number of owl detections by species during roadside surveys conducted in Southeast Alaska from 1 April-15 May during two time periods: historical (1986-1992) and current (2005-2008)……………………………………………… 69 Table 2.2 Mean and range of explanatory variables characterizing habitat surrounding stations within a 400-m radius and survey conditions, Southeast Alaska, 1 May-15 April, 2005-2008……... 70 7 Table 2.3 Final models predicting occupancy and detection probabilities for Barred Owl, Western Screech-Owl, and Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Southeast Alaska, 2005-2008……………………………… 71 Table 2.4 Candidate models considered for estimating Barred Owl occupancy and detection probabilities, 1 April-15 May, 2005- 2008……………………………………………………………… 72 Table 2.5 Candidate models considered for estimating Western Screech- Owl occupancy and detection probabilities, 1 April-15 May, 2005-2008………………………………………………………... 73 Table 2.6 Candidate models considered for estimating Northern Saw-Whet Owl occupancy and detection probabilities, 1 April-15 May, 2005-2008………………………………………………………... 74 Table 2.7 Candidate models considered for estimating occupancy of Barred Owl, Western Screech-Owl, and Northern Saw-Whet Owl across two time periods: historical (1986-1992) and current (2005- 2008)……………………………………………………… 75 Chapter 3 Table 3.1 Description of variables measured or calculated at Western Screech-Owl roosting and nesting areas in Southeast Alaska, 2005-2006………………………………………………………... 100 Table 3.2 Summary statistics of Western Screech-Owl home-in and telemetry relocations gathered on Mitkof Island, Alaska during 2005 and 2006…………………………………………………… 101 Table 3.3 Summary
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