BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol Thank you for participating in the WildResearch Nightjar Survey! Overview: Signing up for a BC Nightjar Survey route will require two to three hours of surveying and one hour of data entry: Each route is a series of six road-side stations Each route needs to be surveyed once per year between May 15 and June 30 Starting at 30 minutes before sunset, the six stations are surveyed in one direction Starting at 30 minutes after sunset, the six stations are resurveyed in the opposite direction At each station, you will listen quietly for nightjars for six minutes Anyone with a vehicle and good hearing is capable of conducting a BC Nightjar Survey! Objective: The data you are helping to collect will be used to expand our understanding of populations of Common Poorwills and Common Nighthawks in British Columbia. There is evidence that these two species may be declining, however, relatively little is known about their population trends. The goal of the BC Nightjar Survey is to fill these knowledge gaps, which can only be achieved with the help of dedicated volunteers such as yourself! Benefits: As a volunteer for the BC Nightjar Survey, you will: Learn how to conduct nocturnal road-side surveys Learn how to identify BC’s two species of nightjar Receive an annual newsletter about the results of the BC Nightjar Survey Contribute to the conservation of two unique species! IMPORTANT: WildResearch’s survey protocol has been designed to take the unique behaviour of each species into account. To facilitate this, we have two separate protocols: Two-Species Protocol: for the zone where both Common Poorwill and Common Nighthawks may occur. One-Species Protocol: for the zone where only Common Nighthawks are likely to occur. Please ensure you are following the correct protocol for your zone! This is the Two-Species Protocol. Visit www.wildresearch.ca/programs/bc-nightjar-surveys/ for more information. BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol (2014) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OBJECTIVES 1 1.1. Common Nighthawk 1 1.2. Common Poorwill 1 2. TWO-SPECIES PROTOCOL 1 3. SURVEY OVERVIEW 2 3.1. Date 2 3.2. Time 2 3.3. Route 3 3.3.1. Previously Surveyed Routes 3 3.3.2. New Routes 3 3.4. Station 3 4. DATA COLLECTION 4 4.1. Survey Info 4 4.2. New Route Info 4 4.3. Station Data 4 4.3.1. Wind 4 4.3.2. Cloud Cover 5 4.3.3. Moon 5 4.3.4. Noise 5 4.3.5. Cars 5 4.3.6. Birds Heard Before/After 5 4.4. Nightjar Detections 6 5. EQUIPMENT 8 5.1. Essential 8 5.2. Recommended 8 6. SAFETY 9 7. DATA SUBMISSION 9 8. SPECIES IDENTIFICATION 9 APPENDIX: BC NIGHTJAR SURVEY DATASHEET 11 BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol (2014) 1. OBJECTIVES 1.1. Common Nighthawk To contribute data towards the federal recovery strategy of the Common Nighthawk. The Common Nighthawk is currently listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act. The BC Nightjar Survey is designed to determine: The current and projected population trends of Common Nighthawks in BC The types of landscapes that are important for conserving Common Nighthawk populations in BC 1.2. Common Poorwill To contribute data towards assessment of the Common Poorwill by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Species In Canada (COSEWIC). The Common Poorwill is currently listed as Data Deficient because surveys to verify occurrences have not been undertaken. The BC Nightjar Survey is designed to determine: The current and projected population trends of Common Poorwills in BC The extent of the range of the Common Poorwill 2. TWO-SPECIES PROTOCOL In the zone of the province where both Common Nighthawks and Common Poorwills may be detected, we have developed a Two-Species Protocol that enables volunteers to survey for both species at the optimal time of day: Common Nighthawks are crepuscular (active at dusk) and best surveyed starting one half hour before sunset. Common Poorwills are nocturnal and best surveyed starting one half hour after sunset. The Two-Species Zone is a generous estimation of where Common Poorwill may be detected because one of the survey objectives is to identify the extent of their range. For areas outside the Two-Species Zone, we have developed a streamlined One-Species Protocol for Common Nighthawks only. Please ensure you are following the correct protocol for your zone! The map on the following page shows the Two-Species Zone. If you require further clarification, consult one of the following resources: Interactive zone map Email [email protected] for assistance BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol (2014) 1 BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Zone 3. SURVEY OVERVIEW 3.1. Date Surveys must be conducted during the nightjar breeding season between May 15 and June 30. If possible, please try to conduct your survey in early June because this is the time of year when both Common Poorwills and Common Nighthawks are most detectable. Each route only needs to be surveyed once per year. Previous protocols have required surveys to be conducted within one week of a full moon. There are no longer moon phase restrictions for the BC Nightjar Survey. Excessive wind and rain will diminish the quality of surveys. Do not complete surveys when winds are greater than ~10 km/h, or rain is stronger than a light drizzle. If you begin a survey route and conditions deteriorate for more than 3 survey stations, we advise you to abort the survey and attempt it on another night with better conditions. 3.2. Time Each survey route in the Two-Species Zone has been reduced to six survey stations (from ten in previous years) to allow you to target both species at the optimal time of day: Survey your route in one direction starting 30 minutes before sunset to target Common Nighthawks. Resurvey the same route in the opposite direction starting 30 minutes after sunset to target Common Poorwills (i.e. turn around and resurvey the same stations back). *Only one route may be surveyed per night due to the important timing requirements. This restriction is based on published data showing both species are substantially more active during the allotted time periods. Please adhere to these time periods so you can detect more birds and help us collect valuable data! BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol (2014) 2 3.3. Route Each survey route consists of six survey stations each spaced 1.6 km apart. The starting point of your route will be named Station 1. Subsequent stops are sequentially numbered (i.e. 2, 3, 4 etc.). In order to differentiate between the first and second survey at each station, please number your stations 1A – 6A when you are targeting Common Nighthawks (i.e., starting at ½ hour before sunset), and number your stations 6B – 1B when you resurvey for Common Poorwills in the opposite direction. 3.3.1. Previously Surveyed Routes You will be provided with a map of your route that includes satellite imagery with points indicating the established station locations. We will also provide you with the coordinates for each point. It is critical that surveys be conducted at these same stations each year so that data can be compared between years. Please contact [email protected] if you would like your station coordinate data in a specific format (e.g. .gpx, kml). 3.3.2. New Routes For surveyors completing routes that have never been surveyed before, the location of your stations is at your discretion. You will be provided with a map of your route including satellite imagery, but no station locations will be provided. Note that you will be required to collect information on station location, preferably using a GPS (details in Section 4.4). Please choose your station locations with the following in mind: Stations should ideally be 1.6 km apart. Use your car odometer to measure distance. Your safety is of first priority during nightjar surveys, so please ensure that your stations include a safe place to pull over and park. You may vary the exact distance up to 300 m between stopping points in order to find a safe place to park. It is better to add space between points rather than shortening this distance to avoid counting the same birds twice. Not all of your stopping points need to be on the same road. Turning onto different roads may be necessary to find a safe place to park. We recommend scouting your route during daylight to become familiar with the stops. 3.4. Station At each survey station, count all Common Nighthawks seen or heard for a period of SIX minutes. If you can identify any owls or other species heard, record your observations! Counting birds and recording data should be done from a stationary position outside of your vehicle. Record birds as you hear them, rather than waiting for the end of the six- minute period to avoid data omission errors. Most importantly, be consistent. Use the same technique at each stop including how you focus your listening between nearby and distant birds. To ensure data is comparable between surveys by different volunteers, please: DO NOT use whistles, audio calls, or any method that coaxes birds to call or come closer BC Nightjar Survey Two-Species Protocol (2014) 3 DO NOT use a flashlight to search for reflections of bird eyes 4. DATA COLLECTION A datasheet for data entry is available in the Appendix. Please fill in each section of the datasheet according to the instructions in this section.