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Elf Owls and Western Screech-Owls in the Sonoran Desert

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Elf Owls and Western Screech-Owls in the Sonoran Desert Habitat selection by elf owls and western screech-owls in the Sonoran Desert Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Hardy, Paul Christopher, 1969- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 02/10/2021 02:52:19 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/278633 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter &ce, \^Me others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and unproper alignment can adversely afifect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UME a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one eqjosure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Infonoation Company 300 North Zed) Road, Ann Aibor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 HABITAT SELECTION BY ELF OWLS AND WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS IN THE SONORAN DESERT by Paul Christopher Hardy Copyright © Paul Christopher Hardy 1997 A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the SCHOOL OF RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE WITH A MAJOR IN WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES SCIENCE In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 19 9 7 XJMI Niomber: 1387717 Copyright 1997 by- Hardy, Paul Christopher All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1387717 Copyright 1998, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 2 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright ^Ider. SIGNED: APPROVAL BY THESIS COMMITTEE This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: Dr. Michael L. Morrison Date Adjunct Professor of Wildlife and Fisheries Science Dr. R. William Mdhnan Professor of Wildlife and Fisheries Science ^ f Dr/ Stephen De^efano Date Associate Professor of Wildlife and Fisheries Science 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my field assistants Tiffany Abeloe and Giselle Downard for their outstanding work and patience during this study. I also thank them for their friendship during the many long, hot days on Barry M. Goldwater Range. I will always cherish the time we spent together and the discoveries we made about the wonderful and fascinating flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert; I'll also cherish the discoveries we made about ourselves. My committee members, Dr. Steven DeStephano and Dr. William Mannan, provided insight into issues of habitat selection and study design. My advisor. Dr. Michael Morrison, supported me throughout my graduate work at the University of Arizona, even after he had moved to California. I especially thank him for his insightful and always prompt editing of the many drafts of my thesis and other related work. The staff and other faculty in the School of Renewable Natural Resources helped make my graduate experience enjoyable and enriching. My family and my girlfriend, Rhonda Wayson, supported me throughout the study. Financial support was provided by the U.S. Department of the Air Force via their Environmental Program, Flight. I would like to particularly thank Air Force Biologist Robert X. Barry for his great interest and support throughout all stages of the study. 4 DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my parents, Richard and Becky, to my grandmother, Esther Ewing, to my brother, Mark, and to my partner, Rhonda Wayson. Your love and support have encouraged me to pursue what is important to me. Thank you for believing in me in both the hard times and the good times. I love you all. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES 8 LIST OF TABLES 9 ABSTRACT 11 CHAPTER 1: NEST SITE SELECTION BY ELF OWLS AND WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS IN THE SONORAN DESERT 12 INTRODUCTION 12 Species Studied 15 Elf owl 15 Western screech-owl 18 Study Area 2 0 METHODS 2 3 Nest Searches 2 3 Elf owl nests as an index of reproductive success 2 4 Vegetation Sampling 2 4 Definition of scale 24 Nest site selection within the study area.... 2 5 Nest site selection within the nesting area.. 2 6 Nest cavity selection within the nest saguaro 31 ANALYSES 3 2 Density of Nests 3 2 Spatial Distribution of Nests 3 2 Nest Site Selection Within the Study Area 3 3 Nest Site Selection Within the Nesting Area 3 3 Interspecific nest site selection 3 7 Spatial distribution of mature saguaros 3 7 Nest Cavity Selection Within the Nest Saguaro.... 38 RESULTS 3 9 Nest Searches 3 9 Density of Nests 4 0 Spatial Distribution of Nests and Mature Saguaros 41 Nest Site Selection Within the Study Area 4 2 Nest Site Selection Within the Nesting Area: Elf Owl 4 3 Features of vegetation surrounding nests 4 3 Features of nest saguaros 4 3 Features of nest cavities 4 4 CCLR model 4 4 Nest Site Selection Within the Nesting Area: Screech-owl 4 5 Features of vegetation surrounding nests 4 5 Features of nest saguaros and nest trees 4 5 Features of nest cavities 4 6 CCLR model 4 6 Interspecific Nest Site Selection 47 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS - continued Nest Cavity Selection Within the Nest Saguaro.... 47 Elf owl 47 Screech-owl 48 DISCUSSION 50 Nest Site Selection 50 Nest site selection within the study area.... 51 Selection within nesting areas and nest saguaros: elf owl 53 Selection within nesting areas and nest saguaros: screech-owl 60 Nest Reoccupancy 62 Density and Spatial Distribution of Nests 6 3 Spatial distribution of mature saguaros 6 5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH... 6 6 CHAPTER 2: ABUNDANCE AND HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF ELF OWLS AND WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS IN THE SONORAN DESERT 69 INTRODUCTION 69 Study Area 7 0 METHODS 72 Point Count Surveys 7 2 Vegetation Sampling 7 5 Abundance versus availability of vegetation.. 7 8 Estimation of Reproductive Success 79 Analyses 8 0 Vegetation of study area 8 0 Point count surveys 81 Multiple regression models 82 Potential predators and competitors 8 3 Physiographic interspersion 8 3 Relationship between density and reproductive success 84 RESULTS 8 6 Vegetation of Study Area 8 6 Owl Surveys 8 6 Intraspecific abundance 8 6 Interspecific abundance 8 6 Potential predators and competitors 8 6 Multiple Regression Models 87 Vegetation types 87 Physiographic types 88 Microhabitat variables 88 Physiographic Interspersion 89 Relationship Between Density and Reproductive Success 8 9 DISCUSSION 91 Owl Abundance 91 f 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS - continued Habitat Associations 94 Vegetation types and physiographic types 94 Microhabitat 95 Reproductive Success 98 LITERATURE CITED 131 8 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. The percentage cover of vegetation types and physiographic types in the study area and the percentage of elf owls nests (n = 68) found in each cover type, Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1995-1996 123 FIGURE 2. Structure categories of nest saguaros and unused but potential nest saguaros for elf owls (n = 68) and western screech-owls (n = 10), Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1995-1996 124 FIGURE 3. Diameter of nest cavities and unused but potential nest cavities for elf owls and western screech-owls, Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1995-1996 125 FIGURE 4. Orientations of elf owl nest cavities (n = 68) and those of unused but potential nest cavities in the vicinity of the nest, Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1995-1996 126 FIGURE 5 - Location of nest cavities and unused but potential nest cavities for elf owls and western screech-owls, Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1995-1996 127 FIGURE 6. Indices of abundance (no. owls detected visit' survey station') for elf owls and western screech-owls in the Sauceda and Sand Tank study sites, Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1994-1996 128 FIGURE 7. Physiographic types present at stations of high versus low abundance of elf owls and western screech- owls, Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1994-1996 129 FIGURE 8. Linear relationship between elf owl abundance (no. individuals detected visit' survey station') and number of elf owl nests per survey station, Barry M.
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