Distribution, Abundance, and Breeding Activities of the Least Bell's Vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
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Distribution, Abundance, and Breeding Activities of the Least Bell's Vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California 2005 Annual Report Prepared for: Assistant Chief of Staff, Environmental Security U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WESTERN ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER Distribution, Abundance, and Breeding Activities of the Least Bell's Vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California By James W. Rourke and Barbara E. Kus U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WESTERN ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER 2005 Annual Report Prepared for: Assistant Chief of Staff, Environmental Security U.S. Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton Camp Pendleton, California 92055 San Diego Field Station USGS Western Ecological Research Center 4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92101 Sacramento, California 2006 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON, SECRETARY U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director The use of firm, trade, or brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information, contact: Center Director Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey 3020 State University Drive Sacramento, CA 95819 Cover photograph by Josephine Falcone Recommended citation: Rourke, J. W. and B. E. Kus. 2006. Distribution, abundance and breeding activities of the Least Bell's Vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. 2005 Annual Report. Prepared for Assistant Chief of Staff, Environmental Security, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................................iii LIST OF APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………..iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ v INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 STUDY AREAS AND METHODS ............................................................................................... 2 Field Surveys ............................................................................................................................... 2 Nest Monitoring......................................................................................................................... 11 Banding...................................................................................................................................... 11 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Population Size and Distribution............................................................................................... 13 Habitat Characteristics............................................................................................................... 33 Banded Birds ............................................................................................................................. 35 Nest Monitoring......................................................................................................................... 37 Productivity ............................................................................................................................ 43 Nest Characteristics................................................................................................................ 44 DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................... 45 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................. 47 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Number and distribution of least Bell's vireos at Camp Pendleton, 2005. .....................13 Table 2. Number of territorial males at Camp Pendleton by drainage in 2004 and 2005. ...........33 Table 3. Habitat types used by least Bell's vireos at Camp Pendleton, 2005. ..............................34 Table 4. Number and proportion of least Bell's vireo territories dominated or co- dominated by exotic vegetation, by drainage..........................................................................34 Table 5. Banded least Bell's vireos at Camp Pendleton, 2005......................................................35 Table 6. Number of least Bell's vireo territories and nests monitored, Camp Pendleton, 2005. ..37 Table 7. Cause of failure of least Bell's vireo nests, Camp Pendleton, 2005................................42 Table 8. Reproductive success and productivity of nesting least Bell's vireos at Reference and Giant Reed Removal sites, Camp Pendleton, 2005..........................................................43 Table 9 Least Bell's vireo nest characteristics and results of two-sample unequal variance t-tests of successful vs. unsuccessful nesting attempts at Reference and Giant Reed Removal sites, Camp Pendleton, 2005....................................................................................44 Table 10. Host plant species used by least Bell's vireos at Reference and Giant Reed Removal sites, Camp Pendleton, 2005....................................................................................45 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Least Bell's vireo survey areas at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Upper Santa Margarita River, Fallbrook Creek, De Luz Creek, Roblar Creek, and Basilone and Roblar Roads. ......................................................................................................6 Figure 2. Least Bell's vireo survey areas at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Lower Santa Margarita River, 22 Area, Pueblitos Canyon, Newton Canyon, Cockleburr Canyon, French Creek, and Aliso Creek................................................................7 Figure 3. Least Bell's vireo survey areas at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: San Onofre Creek South Fork, Horno Canyon, Piedra de Lumbre Canyon, Las Flores Creek, and Hidden Canyon. ......................................................................................................8 Figure 4. Least Bell's vireo survey areas at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Talega Canyon, Cristianitos Creek, San Mateo Creek, and San Onofre Creek. .......................9 Figure 5. Least Bell's vireo survey areas at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Windmill Canyon, Ysidora Basin to Windmill Canyon, Pilgrim Creek, and habitat adjacent to De Luz Homes. .....................................................................................................10 Figure 6. Location of least Bell's vireo nest monitoring areas on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005.......................................................................................................................12 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) LIST OF FIGURES (continued) Figure 7. Locations of least Bell's vireos at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Upper Santa Margarita River, De Luz Creek, and Roblar Creek............................................14 Figure 8. Locations of least Bell's vireos at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Upper Santa Margarita River. .................................................................................................15 Figure 9. Locations of least Bell's vireos at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Lake O’Neill, Fallbrook Creek, and Santa Margarita River. ..................................................16 Figure 10. Locations of least Bell's vireos at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Air Station, Santa Margarita River, and Area 22. ...................................................................17 Figure 11. Locations of least Bell's vireos at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Ysidora Basin, Santa Margarita River, Puebilitos Canyon, and Ysidora Basin to Windmill Canyons...................................................................................................................18 Figure 12. Locations of least Bell's vireos at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Lower Santa Margarita River and Newton Canyon................................................................19 Figure 13. Locations of least Bell’s vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Upper Pilgrim Creek, De Luz Homes Habitat, and Lake O'Neil. ...........................................20 Figure 14. Locations of least Bell’s vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Lower Pilgrim Creek...............................................................................................................21 Figure 15. Locations of least Bell’s vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Windmill Canyon and Ysidora Basin to Windmill Canyon....................................................22 Figure 16. Locations of least Bell’s vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Cockleburr Canyon, French Creek, Aliso Creek, and Hidden Canyon...................................23 Figure 17. Locations of least Bell’s vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 2005: Lower Las Flores Creek. .........................................................................................................24 Figure 18. Locations