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Bird Monitoring Protocol for National Parks in the Sierra Nevada Network

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Bird Monitoring Protocol for National Parks in the Sierra Nevada Network National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Bird Monitoring Protocol for National Parks in the Sierra Nevada Network Natural Resource Report NPS/SIEN/NRR—2010/231 ON THE COVER Top left, Ash-throated Flycatcher; top right, Canyon Wren; middle left, California Quail; middle right, Band-tailed Pigeon; bottom left, Yellow-rumped Warbler; bottom right, Lazuli Bunting,. Photos by Gary Lindquist. Bird Monitoring Protocol for National Parks in the Sierra Nevada Network Natural Resource Report NPS/SIEN/NRR—2010/231 Rodney B. Siegel, Ph.D. Robert L. Wilkerson The Institute for Bird Populations P.O. Box 1346 Point Reyes Station, California 94956-1346 (415) 663-1436 www.birdpop.org Meryl Goldin Rose Sierra Nevada Network, Inventory & Monitoring Program Yosemite Field Station P.O. Box 700 El Portal, California 95318 (209) 379-3268 http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sien/index.cfm August 2010 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received formal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data, and whose background and expertise put them on par technically and scientifically with the authors of the information. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from the Sierra Nevada I&M Network website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sien) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM). Please cite this publication as: Siegel, R. B., R. L. Wilkerson, and M. Goldin Rose. 2010. Bird monitoring protocol for national parks in the Sierra Nevada Network. Natural Resource Report NPS/SIEN/NRR—2010/231. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 963/105361, August 2010 ii Revision History Log Revision Date Author Changes Made Reason for Change 09/19/2007 All authors. 1st draft Development of protocol 11/26/2007 All authors. 2nd draft. Development of protocol 12/19/2007 All authors. 3rd draft. Development of protocol 03/22/2010 Mutch, McKinney, Make changes per Revisions based on comments Siegel, & Chung- reviewer comments from Agee & anonymous MacCoubrey reviewers. 05/19/2010 Chung-MacCoubrey Formatting/spelling In response to comments in errors were fixed. Conditional Approval letter Missing citations added. from Jim Agee (dated 4/12/10) iii Contents Page Figures............................................................................................................................................ ix Tables ............................................................................................................................................. xi Appendixes .................................................................................................................................. xiii Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) .........................................................................................xv Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................... xvii Introduction ......................................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1: Background and Objectives .......................................................................................3 1.1. Background and History ............................................................................................... 3 1.2. Rationale for Monitoring Birds .................................................................................... 4 1.2.1. Importance and Value ........................................................................................... 4 1.2.2. Threats and Issues ................................................................................................. 4 1.3. Birds as Sensitive Indicators of Ecosystem Condition ............................................... 11 1.4. Relationship to Local, Regional, or National Monitoring Efforts .............................. 12 1.4.1. Sierra Nevada Bird Information and Other Vital Signs Monitoring ........................................................................................................................ 12 1.4.2. Regional and National Linkages ......................................................................... 12 1.5. Monitoring Questions and Measurable Objectives .................................................... 13 1.5.1. Bird Monitoring Protocol Objectives .................................................................. 13 1.5.2. Complementary Monitoring Programs ............................................................... 14 Chapter 2: Sampling Design ......................................................................................................17 2.1. Rationale for Selecting this Sampling Design over Others ........................................ 17 2.2. Large-park Sampling Scheme: Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.3. Site Selection in Large Parks ...................................................................................... 19 v 2.3.1. Procedures for Selecting Sampling Locations; Stratification, Spatial Design ................................................................................................................... 19 2.4. Sampling Frequency and Replication in Large Parks ................................................ 20 2.5. Recommended Number and Location of Sampling Units in Large Parks 22 2.6. Level of Detectable Change using Sample Design in Large Parks ............................ 24 2.7. Small-park Sampling Design: Devils Postpile National Monument .......................... 25 Chapter 3: Field Methods ..........................................................................................................27 3.1. Permitting and Compliance ........................................................................................ 27 3.2. Field season Preparations and Equipment Setup ........................................................ 27 3.3. Training and Sequence of Events during the Field Season ........................................ 27 3.4. Details of Taking Measurements in the Field ............................................................. 28 3.4.1. Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite ................................................................ 28 3.4.2. Devils Postpile ..................................................................................................... 30 3.5. End-of-season Procedures .......................................................................................... 31 Chapter 4: Data Handling, Analysis, and Reporting .................................................................33 4.1. Project Information Management Overview .............................................................. 33 4.1.1. The Data Life Cycle ............................................................................................. 35 4.2. Pre-season Preparations for Information Management .............................................. 38 4.2.1. Set up Project Workspace ................................................................................... 38 4.2.2. GPS Loading and Preparation ............................................................................ 38 4.2.3. Implement Working Database Copy ................................................................... 38 4.3. Overview of Database Design .................................................................................... 38 4.4. Data Entry, Verification, Processing, and Validation ................................................ 39 4.4.1. Regular Data Backups ........................................................................................ 40 4.4.2. Data Verification and Metadata Development ................................................... 40 vi 4.4.3. GPS Data Procedures ......................................................................................... 40 4.4.4. Final Verification, Processing, and Validation .................................................. 41 4.5. Data Documentation and Certification
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