BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol
Thank you for participating in the WildResearch Nightjar Survey! Overview: Signing up for a BC Nightjar Survey route will require two to three hours of surveying and one hour of data entry: Each route is a series of six road-side stations Each route needs to be surveyed once per year between May 15 and June 30 Starting at 30 minutes before sunset, the six stations are surveyed in one direction Starting at 30 minutes after sunset, the six stations are resurveyed in the opposite direction At each station, you will listen quietly for nightjars for six minutes Anyone with a vehicle and good hearing is capable of conducting a BC Nightjar Survey! Objective: The data you are helping to collect will be used to expand our understanding of populations of Common Poorwills and Common Nighthawks in British Columbia. There is evidence that these two species may be declining, however, relatively little is known about their population trends. The goal of the BC Nightjar Survey is to fill these knowledge gaps, which can only be achieved with the help of dedicated volunteers such as yourself! Benefits: As a volunteer for the BC Nightjar Survey, you will: Learn how to conduct nocturnal road-side surveys Learn how to identify BC’s two species of nightjar Receive an annual newsletter about the results of the BC Nightjar Survey Contribute to the conservation of two unique species! IMPORTANT: WildResearch’s survey protocol has been designed to take the unique behaviour of each species into account. To facilitate this, we have two separate protocols: Two-Species Protocol: for the zone where both Common Poorwill and Common Nighthawks may occur. One-Species Protocol: for the zone where only Common Nighthawks are likely to occur. Please ensure you are following the correct protocol for your zone! This is the Two-Species Protocol. Visit www.wildresearch.ca/programs/bc-nightjar-surveys/ for more information.
BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol (2014)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. OBJECTIVES 1 1.1. Common Nighthawk 1 1.2. Common Poorwill 1
2. TWO-SPECIES PROTOCOL 1
3. SURVEY OVERVIEW 2 3.1. Date 2 3.2. Time 2 3.3. Route 3 3.3.1. Previously Surveyed Routes 3 3.3.2. New Routes 3 3.4. Station 3
4. DATA COLLECTION 4 4.1. Survey Info 4 4.2. New Route Info 4 4.3. Station Data 4 4.3.1. Wind 4 4.3.2. Cloud Cover 5 4.3.3. Moon 5 4.3.4. Noise 5 4.3.5. Cars 5 4.3.6. Birds Heard Before/After 5 4.4. Nightjar Detections 6
5. EQUIPMENT 8 5.1. Essential 8 5.2. Recommended 8
6. SAFETY 9
7. DATA SUBMISSION 9
8. SPECIES IDENTIFICATION 9
APPENDIX: BC NIGHTJAR SURVEY DATASHEET 11
BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol (2014)
1. OBJECTIVES 1.1. Common Nighthawk To contribute data towards the federal recovery strategy of the Common Nighthawk. The Common Nighthawk is currently listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act. The BC Nightjar Survey is designed to determine: The current and projected population trends of Common Nighthawks in BC The types of landscapes that are important for conserving Common Nighthawk populations in BC 1.2. Common Poorwill To contribute data towards assessment of the Common Poorwill by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Species In Canada (COSEWIC). The Common Poorwill is currently listed as Data Deficient because surveys to verify occurrences have not been undertaken. The BC Nightjar Survey is designed to determine: The current and projected population trends of Common Poorwills in BC The extent of the range of the Common Poorwill
2. TWO-SPECIES PROTOCOL In the zone of the province where both Common Nighthawks and Common Poorwills may be detected, we have developed a Two-Species Protocol that enables volunteers to survey for both species at the optimal time of day: Common Nighthawks are crepuscular (active at dusk) and best surveyed starting one half hour before sunset. Common Poorwills are nocturnal and best surveyed starting one half hour after sunset. The Two-Species Zone is a generous estimation of where Common Poorwill may be detected because one of the survey objectives is to identify the extent of their range. For areas outside the Two-Species Zone, we have developed a streamlined One-Species Protocol for Common Nighthawks only. Please ensure you are following the correct protocol for your zone! The map on the following page shows the Two-Species Zone. If you require further clarification, consult one of the following resources: Interactive zone map Email [email protected] for assistance
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BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Zone
3. SURVEY OVERVIEW 3.1. Date Surveys must be conducted during the nightjar breeding season between May 15 and June 30. If possible, please try to conduct your survey in early June because this is the time of year when both Common Poorwills and Common Nighthawks are most detectable. Each route only needs to be surveyed once per year. Previous protocols have required surveys to be conducted within one week of a full moon. There are no longer moon phase restrictions for the BC Nightjar Survey. Excessive wind and rain will diminish the quality of surveys. Do not complete surveys when winds are greater than ~10 km/h, or rain is stronger than a light drizzle. If you begin a survey route and conditions deteriorate for more than 3 survey stations, we advise you to abort the survey and attempt it on another night with better conditions. 3.2. Time Each survey route in the Two-Species Zone has been reduced to six survey stations (from ten in previous years) to allow you to target both species at the optimal time of day: Survey your route in one direction starting 30 minutes before sunset to target Common Nighthawks. Resurvey the same route in the opposite direction starting 30 minutes after sunset to target Common Poorwills (i.e. turn around and resurvey the same stations back). *Only one route may be surveyed per night due to the important timing requirements. This restriction is based on published data showing both species are substantially more active during the allotted time periods. Please adhere to these time periods so you can detect more birds and help us collect valuable data!
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3.3. Route Each survey route consists of six survey stations each spaced 1.6 km apart. The starting point of your route will be named Station 1. Subsequent stops are sequentially numbered (i.e. 2, 3, 4 etc.). In order to differentiate between the first and second survey at each station, please number your stations 1A – 6A when you are targeting Common Nighthawks (i.e., starting at ½ hour before sunset), and number your stations 6B – 1B when you resurvey for Common Poorwills in the opposite direction.
3.3.1. Previously Surveyed Routes You will be provided with a map of your route that includes satellite imagery with points indicating the established station locations. We will also provide you with the coordinates for each point. It is critical that surveys be conducted at these same stations each year so that data can be compared between years. Please contact [email protected] if you would like your station coordinate data in a specific format (e.g. .gpx, kml).
3.3.2. New Routes For surveyors completing routes that have never been surveyed before, the location of your stations is at your discretion. You will be provided with a map of your route including satellite imagery, but no station locations will be provided. Note that you will be required to collect information on station location, preferably using a GPS (details in Section 4.4). Please choose your station locations with the following in mind: Stations should ideally be 1.6 km apart. Use your car odometer to measure distance. Your safety is of first priority during nightjar surveys, so please ensure that your stations include a safe place to pull over and park. You may vary the exact distance up to 300 m between stopping points in order to find a safe place to park. It is better to add space between points rather than shortening this distance to avoid counting the same birds twice. Not all of your stopping points need to be on the same road. Turning onto different roads may be necessary to find a safe place to park. We recommend scouting your route during daylight to become familiar with the stops. 3.4. Station At each survey station, count all Common Nighthawks seen or heard for a period of SIX minutes. If you can identify any owls or other species heard, record your observations! Counting birds and recording data should be done from a stationary position outside of your vehicle. Record birds as you hear them, rather than waiting for the end of the six- minute period to avoid data omission errors. Most importantly, be consistent. Use the same technique at each stop including how you focus your listening between nearby and distant birds. To ensure data is comparable between surveys by different volunteers, please: DO NOT use whistles, audio calls, or any method that coaxes birds to call or come closer
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DO NOT use a flashlight to search for reflections of bird eyes
4. DATA COLLECTION A datasheet for data entry is available in the Appendix. Please fill in each section of the datasheet according to the instructions in this section. Please submit your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address for our records. 4.1. Survey Info Please fill in the route name, date, start time, and end time of the survey. Describe the general location and condition of the route including road condition and any safety concerns. Make sure to fill this out if you are completing a new route. 4.2. New Route Info In order for routes to be surveyed at the same stations in subsequent years, station coordinates must be recorded and submitted to WildResearch. Ideally, location coordinates should be submitted as latitude and longitude in decimal degrees to six digits (e.g., 49.884128 N, 119.496301 E). There are several ways to obtain the coordinates for your new station locations: 1. Use a handheld GPS and take waypoints at each of your stations. 2. There are many excellent GPS apps available for smartphones. If you have an iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry, you can turn it into a handheld GPS. Here are a few app options: MotionX-GPS for iPhone ($1.99) Free GPS for iPhone (Free) GPS Test for Android (Free) GPS Maps Location Finder for BlackBerry (Free) 3. Locate coordinates after survey completion in Google Earth. If you choose this option, we recommend marking stations on a printed map as you survey and using your car’s odometer to keep track of how far apart your stations are. 4.3. Station Data For each station surveyed, please record the time the survey began. We also ask that you record data on the conditions at each station:
4.3.1.Wind Please record the wind strength using the Beaufort scale below. Do not conduct surveys during strong winds (≥ 3). High winds diminish your ability to hear. Code Wind Speed Description 0 < 1 km/h Calm- Smoke rises vertically. 1 1-5 km/h Light air - Smoke drifts, leaves and wind vanes are stationary.
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Light breeze – Wind felt on exposed skin, leaves rustle, wind vanes 2 6-11 km/h begin to move. 3 12-19 km/h Gentle breeze - Leaves and small twigs constantly moving.
4.3.2. Cloud Cover Please rate the amount of cloud cover in the sky at the time of your survey using the following codes: Code Sky Description 0 0% cover Clear, cloudless sky; can see stars and moon clearly. 1 < 25% cover Mostly clear, with scattered clouds. 2 25-50% cover Up to half the sky covered with clouds. 3 50-90% cover Dense cloud cover, but some patches visible. 4 > 90% cover Entire sky clouded over.
4.3.3. Moon Enter “Y” for yes or “N” for no to indicate if the moon can be seen above the horizon while surveying. This is particularly important to record in deep valleys because the moon may be obstructed by the surrounding mountain ridges.
4.3.4. Noise Please record the level of background noise at each station using the following codes: Code Noise Description 0 None No effect of background noise on your ability to hear nightjars. 1 Slight Noise slightly affects your ability to hear nightjars (e.g. distant traffic) 2 Medium Noise moderately affects your ability to hear nightjars (e.g. airplane, moderate traffic). 3 Excessive Noise seriously affects your ability to hear nightjars (e.g. continuous traffic nearby, construction noise, frog chorus).
4.3.5. Cars Please count the number of cars that pass on the road during your survey so that the impacts of road traffic can be assessed.
4.3.6. Birds Heard Before/After If you hear any birds before or after your survey that were not detected during the six- minute survey period and recorded in the Nightjar Detections table, please record the species of the bird you heard (e.g. CONI).
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4.4. Nightjar Detections Each line on the data sheet represents an individual bird’s detection history (see example below). Use a new line for each new bird detected at a stop. Please ensure there is at least one line per survey station by entering “none” if no nightjars or owls were heard at any given station. If you detect any birds outside the survey period, enter them in the “Birds Heard Before/After” column of the Station Data table (see below). The survey period is broken into six one-minute listening periods on the data sheet. Record the detection history (detected or not detected) of each individual bird (of all species) for each minute of the survey. Large flocks of Common Nighthawks can be hard to count if there are more than three or four individuals flying around at the same time. If you cannot accurately count the number of individuals by sight or by concurrent calls, please make a note in the comment column of your data sheet. Enter the following abbreviations for each species on the data sheet: CONI = Common Nighthawk COPO = Common Poorwill none = No birds detected Please write the full common name for any other birds detected to avoid miscommunication For each bird, indicate the type of detection heard for each listening period: Call (C): if you heard the bird call (“poor-will” for Common Poorwill; “peent” for Common Nighthawk) Wing-boom (W): if you heard the sound of the territorial wing-boom display. It is particularly important to distinguish between calls and wing booms of Common Nighthawks because this information tells us a lot about the habitat associations of that individual bird. Wing-booms are often performed only near nesting sites, while vocalizations are made kilometers away from the nest site on foraging trips. Indicate whether you saw the bird by writing Y or N in the “Visual” column. See Section 7.1 for details on nightjar identification and detection type. OPTIONAL: If repeated wing-booming is observed in the same location, please try and estimate the distance and bearing to this location and enter this information in the “comments” column. Please only record this information if you are confident the individual is performing repeated displays over the exact same location. Nighthawk scientists in Ontario have observed that male Common Nighthawks will repeatedly wing-boom directly over the nesting site once the female has begun incubation. Prior to incubation, males will wing-boom in more varied locations to indicate territory borders. Recording the location of repeated wing-booms may help us learn more about the habitat that Common Nighthawks require specifically for nesting.
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Sample data entry for a BC Nightjar Survey route: The observer initially detected one Common Poorwill calling during each of the first three minutes of survey at Station 1. The observer also detected a second Common Poorwill at Station 1 during the third minute and fourth minute of the survey, so began a new row on the data sheet for this bird. This observer used the best judgment in deciding these were two individual Common Poorwills, and not the same bird that moved after initial detection. At station 2, the observer did not detect any birds until the survey ended, so “none” was entered for species. At Station 3, the observer detected one Common Nighthawk performing wing- booms and calling during each minute. A Great-horned Owl seen perched at station 3 upon arrival and heard during minute 2, 3, and 6 of the survey. Time Block Repeat Visual Comments (detail distance and bearing to repeat Station Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wing- (Y/N) wing-booms) C W C W C W C W C W C W Boom 1 COPO 1 1 1 1 COPO 1 1 2 none 3 CONI 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Y 200 m @ 110 degrees. Great- 3 horned 1 1 1 Y Perched at station upon arrival. Owl
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5. EQUIPMENT 5.1. Essential Vehicle Protocol Data form (blank) Flashlight (ideally headlamp type) Watch or other device with a timer (e.g., smart phone) Several pencils/pens GPS OR map of route to mark new stations on 5.2. Recommended An assistant/driver Map of route and stations Road map for getting to your route Compass (for determining bearing to calling birds) Clipboard Spare batteries (for flashlight or GPS) Insect repellent and/or mosquito-repellent clothing Safety vest or other reflective clothing.
Nightjar habitat in the southern Okanagan
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6. SAFETY Your safety is our number one consideration, so please ensure that you are conscious of your safety when conducting a survey. Please take the follow points into consideration: Consider conducting surveys in a team of two If surveying alone, make sure someone knows where your survey route is and what time you will return from surveying Park your vehicle off the road during survey stops Stand off the road surface when conducting surveys Leave parking lights on throughout the duration of a count Wear a reflective vest or use a headlamp so that other drivers are aware of your location Conduct the survey near the road to avoid trespassing on private property Check your clothing and skin for ticks when you get home to prevent the transmission of lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses
7. DATA SUBMISSION An excel template that corresponds to your datasheet will be provided to you. We appreciate your use of the excel spreadsheet because it allows us to upload your data directly into our database without manual entry. There are instructions on how to use the template on the first worksheet in the template. If you have any questions about data entry or if you would prefer to submit your data in a different format, please contact us at [email protected]. If you are interested in sharing photos taken while completing your nightjar surveys, we'd love to have more content for social media! Please send photos to [email protected] with your full name and the location where the photo was taken. Full acknowledgement will be given for any photos used in social media or reports.
8. SPECIES IDENTIFICATION To practice your nightjar and nocturnal bird species identification, we recommend the following: Dendroica: an interactive website designed to help learn bird identification. Listen to recordings and look at photos of potential species. Xeno-canto: an online database of recordings of birds from volunteers across the world. o Common Nighthawk (make sure to listen to some recordings with wing-booms) o Common Poorwill (Common Poorwill are not expected in the One-Species Zone but you should learn the call just in case!)
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Other species you may want to learn how to identify include: o Great-horned Owl o Long-eared Owl o Barred Owl o Northern Saw-whet Owl o Flammulated Owl o Western Screech Owl o Boreal Owl o Pygmy Owl o Northern Hawk Owl o Barn Owl o Great Grey Owl To read more about BC’s nightjar species, and check out what we’ve learned so far, visit our website at www.wildresearch.ca!
Common Poorwill
Thank you for your valuable contributions!
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APPENDIX: BC NIGHTJAR SURVEY DATASHEET TWO-SPECIES ZONE
BC Nightjar Survey Datasheet Two-Species Zone (2014) 11
Please refer to the protocols available at www.wildresearch.ca/programs/bc-nightjar-surveys/ for instructions on how to use this datasheet. Please enter your data in the excel template also available at www.wildresearch.ca/programs/bc- nightjar-surveys/ and submit it electronically to WildResearch at [email protected]. Thank you for all your valuable contributions!
Observer Name: Phone: Email: Address:
1. SURVEY INFO Route Name: Year: Date: Start Time: End Time:
General Route Description: ______
______
______
2. NEW ROUTE INFO Latitude Longitude Station Comments (Decimal Degrees) (Decimal Degrees) 1 2 3 4 5 6
BC Nightjar Survey Datasheet Two-Species Zone (2014) 12
3. STATION DATA Start Wind Cloud Moon Birds Heard Station Noise Cars Comments Time Speed Cover (Y/N) Before/After 1A 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 6B 5B 4B 3B 2B 1B
Code Description 1Wind Speed (Beaufort Scale) 0 < 1 km/h Calm- Smoke rises vertically. 1 1-5 km/h Light air - Smoke drifts, leaves and wind vanes are stationary. 2 6-11 km/h Light breeze – Wind felt on exposed skin, leaves rustle, wind vanes begin to move. 3 12-19 km/h Gentle breeze - Leaves and small twigs constantly moving. 2Cloud Cover 0 0% cover Clear, cloudless sky; can see stars and moon clearly. 1 < 25% cover Mostly clear, with scattered clouds. 2 25-50% cover Up to half the sky covered with clouds. 3 50-90% cover Dense cloud cover, but some patches visible. 4 > 90% cover Entire sky clouded over. 3Noise 0 None No effect of background noise on your ability to hear nightjars. 1 Slight Noise slightly affects your ability to hear nightjars (e.g. distant traffic) 2 Medium Noise moderately affects your ability to hear nightjars (e.g. airplane, moderate traffic). 3 Excessive Noise seriously affects your ability to hear nightjars (e.g. continuous traffic nearby, construction noise, frog chorus).
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4. NIGHTJAR DETECTIONS Time Block Repeat Visual Comments (detail distance and bearing to repeat Station Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wing- (Y/N) wing-booms) C W C W C W C W C W C W Boom
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Time Block Repeat Visual Comments (detail distance and bearing to repeat Station Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wing- (Y/N) wing-booms) C W C W C W C W C W C W Boom
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