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Peregrine Falcon and Golden Eagle Studies in Nevada

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Peregrine Falcon and Golden Eagle Studies in Nevada Peregrine Falcon and Golden Eagle Studies in Nevada Report to the Legislative Committee on Public Lands Joseph G. Barnes Nevada Department of Wildlife AGENDA ITEM XI B-LANDS April 6, 2018 Meeting Date: 4-6-18 Wildlife Diversity Division . Pine Marten . Gila Monster . Mexican Free-tailed Bat . American Pika . Western Pond Turtle . Columbia Spotted Frog . Short-eared Owl Peregrine Falcons . Cliff-nesting territorial raptor . Primarily prey on birds . Extirpated from NV: 1950s–1985 . Estimated 83–88 breeding pairs in NV . Approximately 68% NV population found in Clark County (>50% in LMNRA) White et al. 2002 Regulatory Protection: Peregrine Falcon . Federal Endangered Species Act: Endangered 1970–1999 . Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918) . Nevada: State-listed Endangered (NAC 503.050.2.b) . Species of Conservation Priority (NV Wildlife Action Plan 2012) Conservation Challenges a) Vulnerable to loss of wetland habitat b) Food chain contamination c) Industrial-scale renewable energy projects NDOW Research: Peregrine Falcon . Estimate statewide breeding population . Monitor annual territory occupancy LMNRA vs. southern NV . Assess mercury contamination Exposure in adults and nestlings Determine diet and exposure through prey . Genetic analysis Population structure Territory turnover Relating to contamination exposure Known Peregrine Pyramid Distribution in Lake Ruby Mts. Nevada Reno Clark Historical County Territories: ca. 1950s Territory in LMNRA Territory outside LMNRA Derived from Alcorn 1988 Known Peregrine Pyramid Distribution in Lake Ruby Mts. Nevada Reno Clark Known County Territories: 2008 Territory in LMNRA Territory outside LMNRA Known Peregrine Pyramid Distribution in Lake Ruby Mts. Nevada Reno Clark Known County Territories: 2015 • 1999 = 12 known territories Territory in LMNRA (41) • 2015 = 82 known territories Territory outside LMNRA (41) Peregrine Territory Occupancy 1 0.9 0.8 0.7 Occupancy 0.6 0.5 Lake Mead NRA 0.4 0.3 Southern Nevada 0.2 Linear (Lake Mead 0.1 NRA) 0 Annual Territory AnnualTerritory . Includes NDOW and NPS survey efforts Mercury Contamination: Age Class & Study Area 25 A 20 15 10 a 5 B b Mean Hg Concentration (ppm) 0 Adult Adult SNV Nestling Nestling LMNRA LMNRA SNV Bars represent 95% confidence intervals . Sig. diff. in Hg between adults (U = 7.0, P = 0.014) and broods (U = 1.0, P = 0.048) Mercury Contamination: Prey Type & Study Area 8 a ) 7 ppm ( 6 5 4 3 2 b b 1 c Mean Hg Concentration 0 Aquatic Bird: Aquatic Bird: Terrestrial Terrestrial LMNRA SNV Bird: LMNRA Bird: SNV (72) (8) (162) (95) Bars represent 95% confidence intervals . Sig. diff. in Hg levels between groups (H3 = 96.4, n = 337, P < 0.001) . Group differences determined with stepwise comparisons Golden Eagles . Cliff-nesting territorial raptor . Breed primarily in arid mountains . NV population ~3,000 (GBBO 2010) . Prey primarily on lagomorphs (jackrabbit and cottontail) Kochert et al. 2002 Regulatory Protection: Golden Eagle . Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (added in 1962) . Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918) . Species of Conservation Priority (NV Wildlife Action Plan 2012) Conservation Challenges a) Vulnerable to prey reductions from habitat loss b) Wind turbine collisions c) Human disturbance d) Thought to be declining in Western U.S. NDOW Research: Golden Eagle . Monitor annual territory occupancy & breeding success Lincoln County . Track movements & habitat use Satellite transmitters on adults and nestlings Determine territory size & seasonal patterns . Estimate survival rates . Determine local diet Prey remains collection Nest cameras GIS Tracking Efforts . 2014: Assisted FWS & DoD deploy 10 transmitters on Spring Valley nestlings • 4 transmitters by partners Reno . 2015: Deployed 9 transmitters . 2016: Deploy 5 transmitters • Nest cameras . 2017: Deploy 2 transmitters • Nest cameras Dry Lake Valley Las Vegas Tracking: adults Tracking: juvenile dispersal Survival Years pooled . Survival by calendar year1: • Hatch Year2 (n = 20): 70% • Second Year (n = 13): 76.9% • Third Year (n = 9): 55.6% • After Third Year (n = 15): 86.7% 1 27 total eagles tracked 2 Calculated from time of fledging to end of first calendar year . Causes of Mortality Starvation: 4 Electrocution: 2 Poisoning: 1 Natural: 2 Unknown: 5 Acknowledgments Special Thanks . Jennifer Newmark . Cris Tomlinson . Kent Turner . Ross Haley . Dr. Jef Jaeger . Dr. Shawn Gerstenberger . Todd Trapp . Christy Klinger . Mitch Urban . Emily Barnes . Jeff Johnson Support . National Park Service . Bureau of Land Management: . Caliente Field Office . Great Basin Bird Observatory . Spring Valley Wind TAC .
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