MONITORING THE OF THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST : 2005 FIELD SEASON REPORT

Hairy ( villosus) *CNF Management Indicator Species

In 2005, on the MBCNF project we detected 51 Hairy in six habitats. Overall, we detected this species on all of the RMBO point-count transect monitoring projects and calculated density estimates in four habitats on the MBBH project and in three habitats on the MCB project.

Total number of independent detections, number of individuals, and habitat-specific density estimates for Hairy Woodpecker for the MBCNF monitoring project, 2005. Habitat D LCL UCL CV n N AS ID ------3 MC ID ------7 PJ ID ------21 27 PP ID ------9 SA ID ------4 SF ID ------1 D = Density (birds/square kilometer); LCL = lower 95% confidence interval of the density; UCL = upper 95% confidence interval of the density; CV(%) = coefficient of variation of the density; n = number of independent detections; N = number of individuals; ID = insufficient data.

12 10

8 6

4 2

km) (Birds/square Density 0 AS BU MC PN PS SF WS

MCB MBBH MCB MBBH MBBH MCB MBBH Habitat and Project Relative density of Hairy Woodpecker among habitats for all RMBO point-count transect monitoring projects, 2005.

Summary – Hairy Woodpecker is most commonly found nesting in aspen, but will nest in any forested area including pinyon-juniper. Populations of this species have shown dramatic increases after natural disasters, such as burns or major outbreaks, and in 2004 we detected sufficient numbers of this species to provide a density estimate in the beetle infested pinyon-juniper habitat. We should at least be able to pool detections from all habitats and loosely track the population of Hairy Woodpecker on the CNF.

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY Conserving Birds of the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Intermountain West 47 MONITORING THE BIRDS OF THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST : 2005 FIELD SEASON REPORT

Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) *PIF Species of Continental Concern *NM-PIF Highest Priority Management Species in Mixed Conifer *NM-PIF Priority management species in Ponderosa Pine *NM-PIF Priority management species in Spruce-Fir *NMDGF - Species of Greatest Conservation Need

In 2005, we detected seven Olive-sided Flycatchers in two habitats on the MBCNF project. Overall, we detected Olive-sided Flycatchers on all of the RMBO point-count transect monitoring projects except MBBH, however, we were unable to calculate a density estimate for any habitat on any project.

Total number of independent detections, number of individuals, and habitat-specific density estimates for Olive-sided Flycatcher for the MBCNF monitoring project, 2005. Habitat D LCL UCL CV n N MC ID ------3 PP ID ------4 D = Density (birds/square kilometer); LCL = lower 95% confidence interval of the density; UCL = upper 95% confidence interval of the density; CV(%) = coefficient of variation of the density; n = number of independent detections; N = number of individuals; ID = insufficient data.

Summary – Olive-sided Flycatcher breeds in a variety of forest types where snags and conifers are present, and often nest near forest clearings, bogs, stream and lake shores with dead trees, forest burns and logged areas (Kingery 1998). In this region, they are one of the most abundant species in young burned forests and clear-cuts, provided snags are available (Kingery 1998).

In 2005, we did not detect Olive-sided Flycatcher in sufficient numbers to effectively monitor it in any one habitat or across habitats under MBCNF. Given interest, however, with several years’ data, we may be able to pool data across years and habitats and weight observations by habitat area, to generate a global detection function for this species, thereby generating an annual forest-wide density estimate that may be robust enough for population-trend monitoring.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY Conserving Birds of the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Intermountain West 48 MONITORING THE BIRDS OF THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST : 2005 FIELD SEASON REPORT

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY Conserving Birds of the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Intermountain West 49 MONITORING THE BIRDS OF THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST : 2005 FIELD SEASON REPORT

Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) *NM-PIF Species of High Responsibility for Ponderosa Pine

In 2005, we detected 196 Western Wood-Pewees in five habitats on the MBCNF project. Overall, we detected this species on all RMBO point-count transect monitoring projects and calculated density estimates in eleven habitats across five projects.

Total number of independent detections, number of individuals, and habitat-specific density estimates for Western Wood-Pewee for the MBCNF monitoring project, 2005. Habitat D LCL UCL CV n N AS ID ------10 MC ID ------8 PJ ID ------21 PP 169.71 126.91 226.95 14.2% 153 162 SA ID ------4 D = Density (birds/square kilometer); LCL = lower 95% confidence interval of the density; UCL = upper 95% confidence interval of the density; CV(%) = coefficient of variation of the density; n = number of independent detections; N = number of individuals; ID = insufficient data.

250

200

150

100

50 Densitykm) (Birds/square 0 AS AS BU FR HR LR MC MR MR MS PN PP PP PS

MCB MWB MBBHMBBH MCB NCPN MCB MBBHMWB MCB MBBH CNF MCB MBBH Habitat and Project

Relative density of Western Wood-Pewee among habitats for all RMBO point-count transect monitoring projects, 2005.

Summary – This species is found most frequently in deciduous habitats during the breeding season, but it will also nest in mid-elevation coniferous habitats. We are able to provide a density estimate in ponderosa pine habitat from data collected in 2005. The unusually high density estimate that we provide for this habitat is most likely the result of incorrect distance estimates. However, as this density estimate is not unbelievable, we decided to present it with caution. As long as we continue to conduct the current number of transects in ponderosa pine in the CNF this species should be well-monitored in that habitat.

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY Conserving Birds of the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Intermountain West 51 MONITORING THE BIRDS OF THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST : 2005 FIELD SEASON REPORT

Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) *NM-PIF Priority management species in Mixed Conifer

In 2005, we detected 14 Hammond’s Flycatchers in four habitats on the MBCNF project. We also recorded this species on the MBBH, MWB and MCB projects; however, we were only able to calculate a density estimate on the MWB project. Interestingly, Hammond’s Flycatcher is not previously known to breed in the region of the MBBH project and in 2005 we recorded six individuals in riparian habitat.

Total number of independent detections, number of individuals, and habitat-specific density estimates for Hammond’s Flycatcher for the MBCNF monitoring project, 2005. Habitat D LCL UCL CV n N AS ID ------1 MC ID ------7 PJ ID ------1 PP ID ------5 D = Density (birds/square kilometer); LCL = lower 95% confidence interval of the density; UCL = upper 95% confidence interval of the density; CV(%) = coefficient of variation of the density; n = number of independent detections; N = number of individuals; ID = insufficient data.

Summary – Hammond’s Flycatchers typically nest in high-elevation coniferous forests in the southern Rocky Mountain region. Although superficially similar to Dusky Flycatcher, the two species differ in habitat use, body structure and voice.

In 2005, we did not detect Hammond’s Flycatcher in sufficient numbers to effectively monitor it in any one habitat or across habitats under MBCNF. Given interest, however, with several years’ data, we may be able to pool data across years and habitats and weight observations by habitat area, to generate a global detection function for this species, thereby generating an annual density estimate that may be robust enough for population-trend monitoring.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY Conserving Birds of the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Intermountain West 52 MONITORING THE BIRDS OF THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST : 2005 FIELD SEASON REPORT

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY Conserving Birds of the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Intermountain West 53 MONITORING THE BIRDS OF THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST : 2005 FIELD SEASON REPORT

Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) *NM-PIF Highest Priority Management Species in Pinyon-Juniper

We recorded 273 Gray Flycatchers in three habitats on the MBCNF project in 2005. We also recorded Gray Flycatcher on the MCB, MWB and NCPN projects. We detected this species in sufficient numbers to calculate a density estimate on four projects in pinyon-juniper (juniper woodland) habitat.

Total number of independent detections, number of individuals, and habitat-specific density estimates for Gray Flycatcher for the MBCNF monitoring project, 2005. Habitat D LCL UCL CV n N PJ ID ------257 PP ID ------10 PP ID ------6 D = Density (birds/square kilometer); LCL = lower 95% confidence interval of the density; UCL = upper 95% confidence interval of the density; CV(%) = coefficient of variation of the density; n = number of independent detections; N = number of individuals; ID = insufficient data.

120

100

80

60

40

20

Density (Birds/square km) (Birds/square Density 0 JW PJ PJ PJ SA

MWB CNF MCB NCPN NCPN Habitat and Project

Relative density of Gray Flycatcher among habitats for all RMBO point-count transect monitoring projects, 2005.

Summary – In this region, Gray Flycatcher breeds almost exclusively in pinyon- juniper habitat and only occasionally in sagebrush and tall desert shrub (Kingery 1998). Gray Flycatcher should be effectively monitored through point transects in pinyon-juniper habitat under MBCNF.

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