Evening Grosbeak
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SPECIES: Scientific [common] Coccothraustes vespertinus [Evening grosbeak] Forest: Salmon–Challis National Forest Forest Reviewer: Mary Friberg Date of Review: 2/22/2018 Forest concurrence (or No recommendation if new) for inclusion of species on list of potential SCC: (Enter Yes or No) FOREST REVIEW RESULTS: 1. The Forest concurs or recommends the species for inclusion on the list of potential SCC: Yes___ No_X__ 2. Rationale for not concurring is based on (check all that apply): Species is not native to the plan area _______ Species is not known to occur in the plan area _______ Species persistence in the plan area is not of substantial concern ___X____ FOREST REVIEW INFORMATION: 1. Is the Species Native to the Plan Area? Yes_X__ No___ If no, provide explanation and stop assessment. 2. Is the Species Known to Occur within the Planning Area? Yes__X_ No___ If no, stop assessment. Table 1. All Known Occurrences, Years, and Frequency within the Planning Area Year Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Observed Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC, etc.) 2012 2 North Fork Ranger District Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System (January 2017) 2013 4 Leadore Ranger District Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System (January 2017) a. Are all Species Occurrences Only Accidental or Transient? Yes___ No_X__ If yes, document source for determination and stop assessment. b. For species with known occurrences on the Forest since 1990, based on the number of observations and/or year of last observation, can the species be presumed to be established or becoming established in the plan area? Yes_X__ No___ If no, provide explanation and stop assessment c. For species with known occurrences on the Forest predating 1990, does the weight of evidence suggest the species still occurs in the plan area? Yes___ No___ Provide explanation for determination NA – occurrences have been documented since 1990 If determination is no, stop assessment d. Map 1, Evening grosbeak range in Idaho (IDFG 2017a) IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish and Game). 2017a. Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus). Internet website: https://idfg.idaho.gov/species/taxa/17261. Accessed on August 30, 2017. e. Map 2, Evening grosbeak range in Montana (MNHP and MFWP 2017) MNHP and MFWP (Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks). 2017. Montana Field Guides – Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus). Internet website: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABPBY09020. Accessed on August 30, 2017. f. Map 3, Evening grosbeak range in North America (NatureServe 2017) NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Internet website: http://explorer.natureserve.org. Accessed on September 26, 2017. g. Map 4, Evening grosbeak occurrences on the Salmon–Challis National Forest (Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System [January 2017]) 3. Is There Substantial Concern for the Species’ Capability to persist Over the Long-term in the Plan Area Based on Best Available Scientific Information? Table 2. Status summary based on existing conservation assessments Entity Status/Rank (include definition if Other) NatureServe G5—Secure (Common; widespread and abundant) Global Rank State List S4—Apparently Secure (Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors) Status IDAPA: Protected nongame Not SGCN USDA Forest Not Region 1 or Region 4 Sensitive Service USDI FWS Not listed Other PIF: D (Species with population declines and moderate to high threats) Not BLM Type 2 Table 3. Status summary based on best available scientific information. Species (Scientific and Common Name): Coccothraustes vespertinus (Evening grosbeak) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 1 B2 Only a few occurrences of the evening grosbeak on the Forest have been eBird. 2017. eBird: An online Distribution on recorded in the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System and none in database of bird distribution and Salmon–Challis the U.S. Forest Service database (Map 4 and Table 1). However, eBird abundance [web application]. National Forest (eBird 2017), which provides an online database of unverified eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, observations submitted by the public, supports Map 1 above indicating Ithaca, New York. Available: the species is distributed across all Ranger Districts at least during the http://www.ebird.org. Accessed: breeding season. Based on this information and habitat distributions (see 2/23/2018. Criterion 6), the species is probably broadly distributed across the Forest with the exception of gaps where suitable habitat does not occur (Rank B2). Confidence is medium due to limited occurrence data on the Forest. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 2 C The evening grosbeak’s breeding range extends from British Columbia, Gillihan, S.W., and B. Byers. 2001. Distribution in northern Alberta, central Saskatchewan, across southern Canada to Nova Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes surrounding Scotia; south through the mountains to central California and Veracruz, vespertinus). In The birds of North geographic area Mexico; and east to Minnesota and the northeastern US (see Map 3). America, No. 599 (A. Poole and F. Wintering occurs throughout the breeding range and extends irregularly Gill, Eds.). Academy of Natural to the Gulf Coast and central Florida (Gillihan and Byers 2001; Sciences of Philadelphia and NatureServe 2017). Thus, the species is widely distributed outside the American Ornithologists’ Union. Forest (Rank C). NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Internet website: http://explorer.natureserve.org. Accessed on August 30, 2017. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Species (Scientific and Common Name): Coccothraustes vespertinus (Evening grosbeak) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 3 C The evening grosbeak is considered an irruptive migrant, meaning flocks Bekoff, M., A. Scott, and D. Conner. Dispersal may move irregularly eastward and southward, beyond their normal 1987. Nonrandom Nest-Site Capability range when populations are high, or seed food crop is low (NatureServe Selection in Evening Grosbeaks. 2017). Birds form feeding flocks from September to early May and may The Condor, 89(4), 819-829. move freely in and out of groups throughout the year (Bekoff et al. 1987). In mountainous regions of western Montana migration to higher MNHP and MFWP (Montana elevation breeding habitat may occur during mid- to late-May and fall Natural Heritage Program and migration begins in early September (MNHP and MFWP 2017). Thus, the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks). species can readily disperse across landscapes with few habitat-related 2017. Montana Field Guides – restrictions (Rank C). Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus). Internet website: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDe tail.aspx?elcode=ABPBY09020. Accessed on August 30, 2017. NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Internet website: http://explorer.natureserve.org. Accessed on August 30, 2017. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 4 B Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) and Christmas Bird Count (CBC) surveys are eBird. 2017. eBird: An online Abundance on the not adequate to determine abundance of the evening grosbeak on the database of bird distribution and Salmon–Challis Forest. Data from the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) indicate abundance [web application]. National Forest a density of 2.84 birds per km2 on the SCNF in 2016, corresponding to an eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, estimated population size of 38,563 individuals. However, the variability Ithaca, New York. Available: in this estimate is high (coefficient of variation is 103%) and only 1 http://www.ebird.org. Accessed: detection was used in the analysis (RMBO 2017). 2/23/2018. Species (Scientific and Common Name): Coccothraustes vespertinus (Evening grosbeak) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations Of the five BBS routes that intersect the Forest, the evening grosbeak has only been detected on one. This suggests the species may be uncommon RMBO (Rocky Mountain Bird (Rank B). While eBird (eBird 2017) observations are spread across the Observatory). Bird observations in Forest during the breeding season, the density is low also suggesting it is Salmon Challis National Forest. uncommon. Confidence is moderated by the cryptic nature of this Internet website: species during the breeding season, which makes it difficult to detect. http://www.rmbo.org/new_site/ad c/QueryWindow.aspx#N4IgzgLgTgh Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low hCuBbEAuEBJAIgWgEIGEAlARgAZsB lAQRQAIKYAbRAewDtt8ALJxgSzC0A cnD7smtAGIsoAU0ggAvkAA. Accessed on: November 13, 2017. 5 A Evening grosbeak populations have experienced range-wide declines in Bonter, D.N., and M.G. Harvey. Population Trend recent years (Bonter and Harvey 2008). Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data 2008. Winter survey data reveal on the Salmon– for Idaho show a decreasing trend over the past 50 years (NAS 2017). range wide decline in evening Challis National Data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) indicate a grosbeak populations. The Condor Forest significant long-term decrease (-5.08% per year) and a non-significant 110(2):376-381. short-term increase (0.89% per year) in populations throughout