Peregrine and Golden 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

Peregrine

. Cliff-nesting territorial raptor

. Primarily prey on

. 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 Act: Endangered 1970–1999

. Migratory 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 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

. 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: . 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 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 . . Bureau of Land Management: . Caliente Field Office . Great Basin Bird Observatory . Spring Valley Wind TAC