Evaluation of Pinyon Removal Effects

Evaluation of Pinyon Removal Effects Typical of a Wildland-Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Project, Mono County, California: Avian Monitoring Component at Rancheria Gulch, 2008.

Colin Woolley

Stella S. Moss

November 2008

PRBO Conservation Science 3820 Cypress Drive #11 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-781-2555 www.prbo.org

PRBO Contribution # 1653 TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ……...…………….…………………………………………………………………… 1

INTRODUCTION ……..……………….………………….……………………………………………………… 2

METHODS ……...……..……………………………..………………………………………………………… 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ……..…………...………………………………………………………………… 10

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……...………………………………………………………………………………… 19

LITERATURE CITED ………………..…………………………………………………………………………… 22

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Nest searching plot names, codes, number of census days ..…...………………………..……………... 6

Table 2. Point count cluster names… number of points, and dates of censuses ….………..……..……..……... 7

Table 3. Species categories used in species richness, diversity and abundance analysis ..……………………... 8

Table 4. Listed species detected at Rancheria Gulch, 2005 ‐ 2008 ……………………….…………………… 10

Table 5. California Partners In Flight …Bird Conservation Plan focal species detected .....…………………… 12

Table 6. Number of territories per hectare for territorial birds, by plot ……………...... ……………………… 13

Table 7. Total number of detections within 100m … at …point count stations ..………………………………… 14

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Rancheria Gulch study area, 2008 ..…..……………………………………………………..………… 3

Figure 2. Study Plots at Rancheria Gulch, 2005 ‐ 20078 ..………………………………………..………..……… 5

Figure 3. Breeding bird species richness… ……………………………………………….……………………… 16 Figure 4. Breeding bird species abundance… ………………………………………….………………………… 16

Figure 5. Breeding bird diversity … …………………………………….……………………………………. 17

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A. Point Count Locations, UTM Nad83, Zone 11, Rancheria Gulch, 2008 ……….……………… 22

Appendix C. Breeding status for all species detected on study plots at Rancheria Gulch, 2005 ‐ 2008 ………. 23

Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2008, PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) completed the fourth field season of avian studies associated with the Joint Fire Sciences Program funded study “Evaluation of Pinyon Removal Effects Typical of a Wildland‐Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Project, Mono County, CA.” 2008 was the second post treatment season.

We determined avian use of the study plots during surveys conducted from May 5th through July 14th, 2008. We ranked breeding status for 83 species encountered in the study area. 13 of these are listed on one or more species of concern lists.

In 2008, 11 and 8 species held territories on the treatment and control plots respectively. Treatment plot density more than doubled from the first year after treatment (2007) to the second year after treatment (2008). In 2008 Green‐tailed Towhees, Chipping Sparrow and Brewer’s Sparrow were the highest density breeders on the treatment plot. New species holding territories on the treatment plot in 2008 were Mountain Bluebird and Black‐headed Grossbeak. Green‐tailed Towhee density almost doubled in 2008 on the treatment plot but decreased slightly on the control plot. Blue‐ gray Gnatcatchers were the densest breeding species on the control plots, density stayed the same on the treatment plot. Brewer’s Sparrow density increased significantly in 2008 on the treatment plots, but is still lower than post treatment levels.

Green‐tailed Towhee, Spotted Towhee and Brewer’s Sparrow were the most abundant species detected by point counts from 2005‐2008. Green‐tailed Towhee detections on the treatment plots in 2008 were the highest (40). Spotted Towhee had the next highest detections with an average of 13 individuals on the control plots and 7 on the treatment plots. Mountain Chickadee detections dropped drastically in 2008 on the treatment plots.

There was no change in species richness for pinyon, sage or generalist nesting species between pre treatment (2005 – 2006) and post treatment (2007 and 2008) years. Species richness was highest for pinyon‐breeding species throughout all four years of the study. In all years there were at least twice as many pinyon‐associated species as there were sage‐associated species. Detections of sage‐associated species were highest in 2008.

1 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

INTRODUCTION

The spring and summer of 2008 was the fourth field season of avian studies associated with the Joint Fire Sciences Program funded study “Evaluation of Pinyon Removal Effects Typical of a Wildland‐Urban Interface (WUI) Fuels Reduction Project Mono Basin, CA” (Removal Study; USDI 2005). Managers from the Bureau of Land Management, Bishop Field Office, California (BLM) and research scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center (USGS) collaborated with PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) to conduct the avian component of the Removal Study.

The Removal Study has undergone changes in design every year since its inception (see USDI, 2006). The bird monitoring component has adjusted accordingly (see Woolley and Heath 2005, Heath and Moss 2006).The primary objective of the bird monitoring component of the Removal Study is to investigate the effects of the mosaic of pinyon pine thinning treatments on sagebrush and pinyon woodland breeding birds. Pinyon thinning treatments were conducted in fall of 2006. Data collected in 2005 and 2006 describe bird use of the site during pre‐treatment years, while data collected in 2007 and 2008 describe post‐treatment bird use of the site. We used standardized survey methods to determine avian use of the study site, including bird species abundance, territorial density, nest survivorship and vegetation characteristics associated with nest sites and breeding bird abundance in 2005 ‐ 2006. In 2007 and 2008, due to changes in treatment design (e.g. treatment plot acreage was greatly reduced), we only implemented methods to determine territorial density, bird indices of richness, diversity and abundance and associated vegetation characteristics (see below).

2 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

METHODS

Study Area

The study area was located at Rancheria Gulch, Mono County, California (38° 04’ 03” N, ‐119° 06’ 37” W, Figure 1). Located ca. 6 km north of Mono Lake and on the southern slopes of the Bodie Hills, this site was characterized by pinyon pine woodland with a few sporadic Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma). The woodland merged into sagebrush as elevation decreased. Dominant shrub species included mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata). Herbaceous cover was primarily bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), needlegrass (Achnatherum spp.), and basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus). Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) was distributed in low abundance throughout the site, primarily located under the shade of pinyon trees or shrubs.

Figure 1. Rancheria Gulch study area, 2008.

3 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

Study Design

The Removal Study has undergone changes in design every year since its inception. The bird monitoring component has adjusted accordingly. See Wolley and Heath 2005 and Heath and Moss 2006 for history of study design changes. In 2008, we focused on comparing measures of bird density, abundance and richness between treated and untreated areas and between pre and post treatment years via territory mapping and point counts. We used the same methods as in 2007. These methods are described in detail below.

4 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

Figure 2. Study Plots at Rancheria Gulch, 2005 ‐2008. Detail of area delineated by red box in Figure 1. Treatment areas and nest searching plots represent initial study design. Of the three treatment clusters, only the north and central clusters were treated in fall 2006. The pale blue circle and polygon indicate plots where we continued territory mapping in 2007 and 2008. All point count locations were revisited in 2008.

5 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

Spot Mapping

In 2008 PRBO biologists conducted spot mapping at one treatment plot (RATB) and one control plot (RACA) (pale blue circle and polygon, Figure 2, Table 1). We only present spot mapping data derived from these two plots in this report. The same biologists mapped all territorial individuals during each visit to the plot, following guidelines discussed in Ralph et al. (1993) and International Bird Census Committee recommendations (Robbins 1970). At the end of the field season, daily spot maps were combined into single territory maps for each breeding species at each plot and number of territories per plot was determined. Locations of transient species were noted to document their presence on the plots.

Table 1. Spotmapping plot names, codes, size, number of census days, hours and range of census dates at Rancheria Gulch, 2008. Plot Number Number of Plot size of Census Plot Code (ha) Census Dates Censuses Hours Rancheria Gulch Treatment B RATB 25 May 5 – Jul. 14 10 32 Rancheria Gulch Control A RACA 25 May 7 – Jul. 6 9 29 Totals 19 61

Point Counts

PRBO biologists, familiar with songs and calls of birds in the area, conducted all point count censuses. We censused one or two clusters of 3 ‐4 points per morning. Points were spaced at least 250m from one another. We visited all points three times between June 2 and June 28 and spaced each visit at least 10 days apart (except for the last visit to RATU and RACU which are only 8 days apart, Table 2). Since treatments did not occur on RATA (as originally intended), it now represents a control; the code remains RATA.

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Table 2. Point count cluster names, 4‐letter code, number of points, and dates of censuses at Rancheria Gulch, 2008. Point Count locations in Appendix A. Transect Code Number Visit 1 Visit 2 Visit 3 of Points Treatment A (Control Plot since 2007) RATA 4 2 –Jun 14 ‐Jun 26 ‐Jun Treatment B RATB 4 2 –Jun 14 ‐Jun 26 ‐Jun Treatment Upper RATU 3 8 –Jun 19 ‐Jun 27 ‐Jun Control A RACA 4 2 –Jun 15 ‐Jun 28 ‐Jun Control B RACB 4 2 –Jun 15 ‐Jun 28 ‐Jun Control Upper RACU 3 8 ‐Jun 19 ‐Jun 27 ‐Jun

We conducted censuses from within 30 minutes after local sunrise until approximately 3 hours later, and did not conduct counts in excessively windy or rainy conditions. We conducted 5‐minute Variable Circular Plot (VCP) point counts (See Ralph et al. 1993) and used a LEICA LRF 800 range finder to determine exact distances to each bird. We recorded exact distances to all birds detected and type of initial detection (visual, song or call); also recording when an individual was heard singing sometime during the 5‐ minute count. We recorded any breeding observations (e.g. nest material or food carries, fledglings). Point Count locations are presented in Appendix A.

Geographic Data

We collected location information at all nests and point count stations using a Garmin Global Positioning System (GPS II+) receiver. Positions were recorded in UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator), NAD83 datum. All coordinates and estimated accuracy (figure of merit; FOM) were recorded. FOM of these points ranges from 0 to 10 meters. All maps are represented in UTM coordinates, Zone 11, NAD83 datum.

Data Summary and Statistical Analysis

Breeding species richness and total abundance: Using PointCnt 2.79 (Ballard 2004), we summarized by‐point species richness and abundance for breeding species detected within 100m during point counts at treatment

7 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

plots (RATB, RATU) and control plots (RACA, RACB, RATA, RACU) summed over 3 visits. Note that we only analyzed RACA and RACU as controls.

We excluded all non‐breeding migrants. We further limited the breeding species to those that were best assessed with the point count protocol. Thus we removed non‐ territorial species, and species whose territories are typically so large that we could not assure independence of individual observations among points. Nocturnal species were also excluded. Excluded species included all Common Ravens, Clark’s Nutcrackers, nighthawks, swallows, swifts, ducks, and raptors.

To summarize bird numbers by habitat guilds, we categorized species as sagebrush, coniferous forest and generalist breeders (see Table 3). Categories were determined by site specific observations or published accounts specifying habitat use. We summarized mean bird species richness and abundance for each habitat grouping using all breeding individuals detected within 100m during point counts at treatment plots (RATB, RATU) and control plots (RACA and RACU) summed over 3 visits.

Table 3. Species categories used in habitat specific richness, diversity and abundance analysis.

Sagebrush Coniferous Forest Generalist Gray Flycatcher Mourning Dove Red‐breasted Nuthatch Rock Wren Blue‐gray Gnatcatcher* Northern Flicker White‐breasted Nuthatch Bewick’s Wren Loggerhead Shrike Solitary Vireo Mountain Bluebird American Robin Sage Thrasher Stellar’s Jay Black‐throated Warbler Brown‐headed Green‐tailed Towhee Western Scrub Jay Western Tananger Cowbird Spotted Towhee Pinyon Jay Chipping Sparrow House Finch Brewer’s Sparrow Mountain Chickadee Oregon Junco Vesper Sparrow Juniper Titmouse Black‐headed Grosbeak Sage Sparrow Bushtit Cassin’s Finch *we found Blue‐grey Gnatcatchers mostly using sagebrush in this study, therefore it is included as a sagebrush associated species

Breeding species richness: Number of breeding species.

Total abundance: Number of individuals of all breeding species combined.

All statistical calculations were performed using Stata 8.0 (Stata Corp. 2003). Significance was assumed at P < 0.05.

8 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

Breeding Status

We determined breeding status for all species encountered on the study site from 2005 to 2008. We used observations recorded during, and after project setup, all bird censuses and vegetation assessments. We ranked species by site following four criteria of the Riparian Habitat Joint Venture breeding scale, modified from breeding bird atlas criteria (see http://www.prbo.org/calpif/criteria.html.):

No evidence of breeding: Species not detected during breeding season, or species known not to breed within the general study area.

Possible breeding: Species encountered singing or acting territorial only once during the breeding season (in suitable habitat).

Probable breeding: Singing individual encountered on 2 or more different days of standardized censuses (at least one week apart); territorial behavior noted more than once at the same location; pair observed in courtship behavior.

Confirmed breeding: nest building (except woodpeckers and wrens); nesting material or fecal sack being carried by adult; dependent juveniles with adults; active territory observed on at least three days (at least one week apart); active nest observed.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Bird species composition and breeding status We documented and determined breeding status for a total of 83 species on the treatment and control plots combined, with 77 species documented on the treatment plots and 65 species documented on the control plots (Appendix B).

Special status species From 2005‐2008 we detected 13 species that occur on one or more of the following lists: California Bird Species of Special Concern (BSSC) (Shuford and Gardali 2008), California Bird Species of Special Concern NatureServe Conservation Status (USFWS 2002), United States Fish and Wildlife Service Birds of Concern (USFWS 2002), Audubon WatchList (www.audubon.org/bird/watch/), The World Conservation Union Special Survival Commission Red List (IUCN 2006) and the California Bureau of Land Management Animal Sensitive Species List (2006). We did not detect any state or federal threatened or endangered species, or any California BLM sensitive species.

Table 4. Listed species detected at Rancheria Gulch 2005‐2008. Scientific names listed in Appendix B. TL = species listed specifically for this time or location (r = rookery, n = nesting, c = colony, w = wintering, u =unspecified), IUCN= near threatened (NT), vulnerable (VU), T&E = state endangered (SE), state threatened (ST)

2006

TL 2002 2002 BSSC Serve PRBO CDFG Nature USFWS Watchlist Audubon Common Name IUCN Mountain Quail u X Osprey u X Golden Eagle u X X X Prairie Falcon u X X California Gull nc X X Olive‐sided Flycatcher u X X X NT Loggerhead Shrike u X X VU Pinyon Jay n X VU Yellow Warbler X Chipping Sparrow X X Brewerʹs Sparrow X X X NT Black‐chinned Sparrow X X X Sage Sparrow X

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Golden Eagle: We detected two adults flying low over the treatment plots on July 4, 2005.

California Gull: Detected soaring high overhead on most days in all years coming from nearby nesting colonies on the islands of Mono Lake.

Olive‐sided Flycatcher: We detected a single individual on May 9, 2005, singing on the treatment plots and an individual June 15, 2005 on the control plots.

Loggerhead Shrike: Detected on several dates throughout the study period in sagebrush habitat adjacent to treatment plots, and within a treatment plot on July 15, 2005.

Yellow Warbler: We detected transient individuals May 23, 24 and June 3, 2005 on both the treatment and control plots. This species breeds in riparian habitat throughout the Mono Basin (Heath and Ballard 2003).

Chipping Sparrow: We found nests for Chipping Sparrow on both the treatment and control plots in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, we found one nest on the control plot. Seven nests were in Pinyon Pine, one in Utah Juniper and one in Big Sagebrush. Chipping Sparrows were seen regularly throughout the breeding season.

Brewer’s Sparrow: We found Brewer’s Sparrow nests on both the treatment and control plots in 2005, 2006 and 2008. All nests, except one nest, were placed in Big Sagebrush. Two nests also had Green Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) as part of their substrate. We detected this species throughout the breeding season in 2005‐2008.

Sage Sparrow: We detected Sage Sparrows just off the treatment and control plots throughout the 2005 and 2006 seasons, but they did not hold territories within the plot boundaries. In 2007, a single pair of Sage Sparrows held a territory within the treatment plot boundaries. During all seasons we observed adults with fledglings on the plots in July ‐ probably representing family groups that bred off plot but moved on plot after fledging occurred.

California Partners In Flight Bird Conservation Plan focal species

We detected 9 sagebrush, 6 coniferous forest and 1 grassland California Partners In Flight (CalPIF) Bird Conservation Plan focal species within the study area (Table 4). Focal species are not necessarily sensitive or of concern, but are listed under the assumption that if a landscape is managed to meet the focal species’ needs, other species will benefit. Several of the focal species are also still relatively common enough in California to provide adequate sample sizes for trend monitoring, determining

11 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

habitat relationships or estimating demographic parameters – all factors that can assist in the management of healthy bird populations (Chase and Geupel 2005, CalPIF 2000, CalPIF 2002, CalPIF 2005).

Breeding status of the focal species was submitted for inclusion into the CalPIF statewide database and in the SBCN regional database to assist in documenting the most current breeding distribution for these species. Distribution maps for the focal species are periodically updated by CalPIF and SBCN in order to incorporate the most current data. See http://www.prbo.org/calpif/livemaps.html for the most current and interactive California distribution maps for all CalPIF grassland and coniferous forest focal species and http://cain.nbii.gov/prbo/sbcn/ for sagebrush focal species.

Table 5. California Partners In Flight sagebrush, coniferous forest or grassland Bird Conservation Plan focal species detected within the study area, 2005 ‐ 2008. Coniferous Common Name Sagebrush Forest Grassland Olive‐sided Flycatcher X Gray Flycatcher X Loggerhead Shrike X Juniper Titmouse X Red‐breasted Nuthatch X Sage Thrasher X Black‐throated Gray Warbler X MacGillivrayʹs Warbler X Western Tanager X Green‐tailed Towhee X Brewerʹs Sparrow X Vesper Sparrow X Sage Sparrow X Dark‐eyed Junco X Western Meadowlark X X CalPIF 2000, CalPIF 2002, CalPIF 2005

Breeding species territory density and relative abundance

In 2008, 11 and 8 species held territories on the treatment and control plots respectively (Table 6). Treatment plot density more than doubled from the first year after treatment to the second year after treatment. In 2008 Green‐tailed Towhees, Chipping Sparrow and Brewer’s Sparrow were the highest density breeders on the treatment plot. New

12 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

species holding territories on the treatment plot in 2008 were Mountain Bluebird and Black‐headed Grossbeak. No new species were found on the control plot. Green‐tailed Towhee density almost doubled in 2008 on the treatment plot but decreased slightly on the control plot. Blue‐ gray Gnatcatchers were the densest breeding species on the control plots, density stayed the same on the treatment plot. Brewer’s Sparrow density increased significantly in 2008 on the treatment plots, but is still lower than post treatment levels.

Table 6. Number of territories per hectare for territorial birds, for treatment plot (RATB) and control plot (RACA), densities rounded to nearest hundredth of a hectare, at Rancheria Gulch, 2005‐2008.

Species Number Territories/ha Treatment Control 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 Mourning Dove 0 0 * 0 0.02 0.07 * 0 Gray Flycatcher 0 0.02 0 0 0 0 0.02 0 Plumbeous Vireo 0 0 0.01 0 0 0 0 0.01 Pinyon Jay 0 0 * 0 0 0 * 0 Mountain Chickadee 0.04 0.05 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.08 0 Juniper Titmouse 0 0.02 0 0 0 0.02 0 0.04 Bushtit 0 0 0 0 0.02 0.02 0.04 0 Bewickʹs Wren 0 0 0 0 0 0.02 0.04 0 Blue‐gray Gnatcatcher 0.06 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.1 0.07 0.08 0.12 Mountain Bluebird 0 0 0 0.04 0 0 0 0 Black‐throated Gray Warbler 0.01 0 0 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.02 0.03 Western Tanager 0 0 0 0.04 0.02 0.03 0.04 0 Green‐tailed Towhee 0.11 0.13 0.18 0.35 0.07 0.07 0.12 0.09 Spotted Towhee 0.02 0.07 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.10 0.10 0.07 Chipping Sparrow 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.12 0.02 0.03 0.06 0.06 Brewerʹs Sparrow 0.08 0.20 0.02 0.12 0.04 0.07 0.02 0.06 Vesper Sparrow 0.02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sage Sparrow 0 0 0.02 0 0 0 0 0 Oregon Junco 0 0.03 0 0 0 0.02 0 0 Black‐headed Grossbeak 0 0 0 0.04 0 0 0 0 Cassinʹs Finch 0.02 0 0.02 0.12 0 0.04 * 0 Territorial density for all 0.38 0.59 0.40 0.96 0.36 0.62 0.62 0.48 species combined * Number of territories not determined (species was not territorial, held loose territories, or was colonial).

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Green‐tailed Towhee was the most abundant species detected by point counts during all four years (Table 7). An average of 18 individuals on the control plots and an average of 27 on the treatment plots were detected. Green‐tailed Towhee detections on the treatment plots in 2008 were the highest (40). Spotted Towhee had the next highest detections with an average of 13 individuals on the control plots and 7 on the treatment plots. Mountain Chickadee had the third highest detection rate throughout the first three years but detections dropped drastically in 2008 on the treatment plots.

Brewer’s Sparrow detections during point counts decreased from 17 to 0 in the first year of post treatment (2007), but increase to 23 detections on the treatment plots in 2008, the second year after treatment. Detections also doubled from 2007 to 2008 on the control plot. These results indicate an immediate response to removal of vegetation due to treatment efforts. In 2008 the herbaceous cover had recovered greatly from the previous year’s disturbance which could be linked to the return of the Brewers Sparrows. It is worth noting that Green‐tailed Towhees, another sagebrush associated species, more than doubled from the first year of pre treatment (2006) to the second year of post treatment (2008). Finally, detections of Mountain Chickadee, a primarily pinyon‐nesting species on our plots, decreased from 11 to 1 between post treatment years. A newly detected species in 2008 on the treatment plots were Sage Thrashers. Future years of monitoring will allow us to determine long term effects of the treatments.

Table 7. Total number of detections within 100m and summed over three visits at 7 treatment and 7 control point count stations, at Rancheria Gulch, 2005‐2008. Control Treatment Species 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 American Kestrel 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Mourning Dove 0 5 0 5 0 1 0 0 Common Nighthawk 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Northern Flicker 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 Western Wood‐Pewee 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Grey Flycatcher 0 1 3 2 2 0 0 2 Dusky Flycatcher 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 Western Flycatcher 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Solitary Vireo 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 Warbling Vireo 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Steller’s Jay 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 Western Scrub‐Jay 0 2 0 1 1 6 1 0 Pinyon Jay 0 2 0 12 0 0 0 0 Clark’s Nutcracker 0 4 0 4 0 1 2 0 ‐Table continued on next page‐

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‐Table 7 continued‐ Control Treatment Species 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 Violet‐green Swallow 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 Mountain Chickadee 7 14 8 5 7 5 11 1 Juniper Titmouse 1 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 Bushtit 1 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 White‐breasted Nuthatch 2 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 Rock Wren 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bewick’s Wren 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 Blue‐gray Gnatcatcher 8 8 4 16 5 8 8 2 Mountain Bluebird 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 American Robin 3 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 Sage Thrasher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Yellow‐rumped Warbler 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Black‐throated Gray Warbler 4 1 5 5 1 0 2 2 Townsend’s Warbler 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Wilson’s Warbler 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 Western Tanager 0 7 3 4 0 0 1 5 Green‐tailed Towhee 6 26 18 24 19 23 27 40 Spotted Towhee 5 15 19 12 9 5 9 4 Chipping Sparrow 1 7 1 5 5 6 1 6 Brewer’s Sparrow 9 6 6 12 10 17 0 23 Vesper Sparrow 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Sage Sparrow 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 “Oregon” Dark‐eyed Junco 1 0 4 0 0 4 Black‐headed Grosbeak 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 Brewer’s Blackbird 0 8 0 0 0 0 Brown‐headed Cowbird 2 4 4 5 0 4 6 0 Cassin’s Finch 1 13 2 4 3 7 0 14 House Finch 9 3 0 4 1 0 0 0

Species richness, diversity and abundance for pinyon, sage and generalist nesting species 2005‐2008 There was no change in species richness for pinyon, sage or generalist nesting species between pre treatment (2005 – 2006) and post treatment (2007 and 2008) years. Species richness was highest for pinyon‐breeding species throughout all four years of the study (Figure 3). In all years there were at least twice as many pinyon‐associated species as there were sage‐associated species. Detections of sage‐associated species were highest in 2008.

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Figure 3. Breeding bird species richness for pinyon, sagebrush and generalist nesting species. Based on 100m 5‐minute point counts, 2005 – 2008. Species Richness

14 Pinyon

12 Sage Generalist 10

4 breeding bird richness 2

0 2005 2006 2007 2008

Species abundance was highest for sagebrush nesters during all years (Figure 4). Over all, generalists were detected the least throughout all four years of the study. Sage‐ associated species abundance was highest in 2008.

Figure 4. Breeding bird species total abundance for pinyon, sagebrush and generalist nesting species. Based on 100m 5‐minute point counts, 2005 – 2008. Total Abundance

160

140

120

100 Pinyon 80 Sage Generalist 60

breeding bird abundance bird breeding 20

0 2005 2006 2007 2008

16 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

Species diversity was highest for pinyon‐associated species in all four years of the study, with a very slight increase every year (Figure 5). Sagebrush associated species diversity has stayed almost the same between pre and post treatment years.

Figure 5. Breeding bird species diversity for pinyon, sagebrush and

generalist nesting species. Based on 100m 5‐minute point counts, 2005 –2008.

Species Diversity

8 Pinyon 6 Sage Generalist

breeding bird diversity bird breeding 2

0 2005 2006 2007 2008

Use of the study area by sagebrush obligate and pinyon associated species

While many species use sagebrush to some degree, four species are considered sagebrush obligates (Sage Thrasher, Sage Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow, Greater Sage‐ grouse; Paige and Ritter 1999, CalPIF 2005). We confirmed breeding on the treatment plots for only the Brewer’s Sparrow. However, Sage Thrashers were observed on the plots with fledglings and bred nearby in the sagebrush habitat south of the plots. Greater Sage‐grouse were never detected on the plots. However, there was a female documented to be nesting ca. 1.5 km west of the treatment plots in 2005 (Barbaree (USGS), pers. comm.).

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Juniper Titmouse, Black‐throated Gray Warbler, Cassin’s Vireo and Pinyon Jay are closely associated with pinyon woodlands in the Mono Basin (Gaines 1992). We found nests for all species except for Cassin’s Vireo. We heard singing individuals upslope from our plots throughout all three seasons. Gaines (1992) reported that Black‐throated Gray Warblers “shun pure pinyon stands” and nest primarily in mixed pinyon and juniper groves. However our sites were almost pure pinyon stands.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Funding for this effort was provided by Bureau of Land Management. We would like to thank Joy Fatooh (BLM), Anne Halford (BLM) and Steve Nelson (BLM) in particular. PRBO field biologist Colin Woolley assisted with all aspects of field work. This is PRBO Contribution # 1653.

19 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

LITERATURE CITED

Brooks, M., A. Halford, and M. Kingsley. 2004. Management of pinyon juniper woodlands in the southwestern Great Basin: evaluating the effects of thinning treatments.

California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 2006. California Natural Diversity Database Special Animals (817 taxa). http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/pdfs/SPAnimals.pdf

California Partners in Flight (CalPIF). 2000. Version 1.0. The draft grassland bird conservation plan: a strategy for protecting and managing grassland habitats and associated birds in California (B. Allen, lead author). PRBO Conservation Science, Stinson Beach, CA. http://www.prbo.org/calpif/htmldocs/grassland.html

California Partners in Flight (CalPIF). 2002. Version 1.0. The draft coniferous forest bird conservation plan: a strategy for protecting and managing coniferous forest habitats and associated birds in California (J. Robinson and J. Alexander, lead authors). PRBO Conservation Science, Stinson Beach, CA. http://www.prbo.org/calpif/htmldocs/conifer.html

California Partners in Flight (CalPIF). 2005. The sagebrush bird conservation plan – a resource for protecting and managing sagebrush habitat and associated birds in California.

Chase, M. and G. R. Geupel. 2005. The use of avian focal species for conservation planning in California. in C.J. Ralph and T. D. Rich (eds). Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. U.S. For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW‐ GTR‐191. Albany, CA.

Gaines, D. 1992. Birds of Yosemite and the East Slope. Artemisia Press. Lee Vining, CA.

Heath, S. K. and S.S. Moss. 2007. Evaluation of Pinyon removal effects typical of a wildland‐urban interface fuels reduction project, Mono County, California: Avian Monitoring Component at Rancheria Gulch, 2006. Report to the BLM Bishop Field Office.

Paige, C., and S.A. Ritter. 1999. Birds in a sagebrush sea: managing sagebrush habitats for bird communities. Partners in Flight Western Working Group, Boise, Idaho, USA.

20 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

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United States Department of Interior (USDI). 2006. Interim Documentation of Land Use Plan Conformance and NEPA Adequacy (DNA) CA‐017‐06‐63. DNA for CER# CA‐170‐05‐35, Evaluation of Pinyon Removal Effects Typical of a Wildland‐Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Project, Mono Basin, CA. Bureau of Land Management, Bishop Field Office, California.

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21 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

Appendix A. Point Count Locations, UTM Nad83, Zone 11, Rancheria Gulch, 2005‐2008.

Garmin_ID UTMe UTMn RACA01 315571.8 4216666 RACA02 315700.5 4216403 RACA03 316012.8 4216367 RACA04 316036.1 4216107 RACU01 314290.2 4217900 RACU02 314148.1 4218108 RACU03 314355.1 4218248 RATB01 314100.8 4216306 RATB02 314175.5 4216587 RATB03 314526.1 4216663 RATB04 314634.7 4216430 RATU02 313715.3 4217677 RATU03 314009.2 4217413 RATU01 313448.6 4217811

22 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

Appendix B. Breeding status for all species detected on study plots at Rancheria Gulch, 2005‐ 2008. Confirmed Breeding‐ 1; Possible Breeding‐ 2; Probable Breeding‐ 3; No Evidence of Breeding / Transient / Migrant‐ 0; Not Detected‐ ~. Common Name Latin Name Breeding Evidence Canada Goose Branta canadensis 0 Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus 0 American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 0 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 0 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 0 Red‐tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 0 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 0 American Kestrel Falco sparverius 0 Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus 0 California Gull Larus californicus 0 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 0 Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 1 Barn Owl Tyto alba 0 Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 0 Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor 1 Common Poorwill Phalaenoptilus nuttallii 2 Annaʹs Hummingbird Calypte anna 0 Broad‐tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus 1 Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 0 Northern ʺRed‐shaftedʺ Flicker Colaptes auratus 1 Olive‐sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 0 Western Wood‐Pewee Contopus sordidulus 0 Hammondʹs Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 0 Gray Flycatcher Empidonax wrightii 1 Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri 0 Say’s Phoebe Sayornis saya 0 Ash‐throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens 0 Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus 2 Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus 1 Cassinʹs Vireo Vireo cassinii 3 Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 0 Stellerʹs Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 2 Western Scrub‐Jay Aphelocoma californica 2 ‐table continued next page‐

23 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.

Appendix B continued. Breeding status for all species detected on study plots at Rancheria Gulch, 2005‐ 2008. Confirmed Breeding‐ 1; Possible Breeding‐ 2; Probable Breeding‐ 3; No Evidence of Breeding / Transient / Migrant‐ 0; Not Detected‐ ~. Common Name Latin Name Breeding Evidence Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus 1 Clarkʹs Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana 0 American Magpie Pica hudsonia 0 Common Raven Corvus corax 0 Violet‐green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 0 Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 0 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 0 Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli 1 Juniper Titmouse Baeolophus ridgwayi 1 Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus 1 Red‐breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis 0 White‐breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis 1 Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus 1 Bewickʹs Wren Thryomanes bewickii 1 House Wren Troglodytes aedon 0 Ruby‐crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula 0 Blue‐gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 1 Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides 0 Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi 0 Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus 0 American Robin Turdus migratorius 0 Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus 0 Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 0 Yellow‐rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata 0 Black‐throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrecens 1 Townsendʹs Warbler Dendroica townsendi 0 MacGillivrayʹs Warbler Oporornis tolmiei 0 Wilsonʹs Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 0 Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 1 Green‐tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus 1 Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus 1 Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina 1 Brewerʹs Sparrow Spizella breweri 1 Black‐chinned Sparrow Spizella atrogularis 0 ‐table continued next page‐

24 Rancheria Gulch Pinyon Removal Effects Study: Avian Monitoring Component, 2008.