National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Upper Columbia Basin Network Osprey Monitoring Protocol Narrative Version 1.0 Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2010/269 ON THE COVER Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) landing on a nest at Lake Roosevelt NRA Photograph from Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, courtesy of Jeffrey Joh (SCA Intern) Upper Columbia Basin Network Osprey Monitoring Protocol Narrative Version 1.0 Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2010/269 Lisa K. Garrett National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 105 East 2nd St. Suite #5 Moscow, ID 83843 Thomas J. Rodhouse National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 20310 Empire Ave. Suite A100 Bend, OR 97701 Gordon H. Dicus National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 105 East 2nd St. Suite #6 Moscow, ID 83843 Paulina F. Tobar-Starkey National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 105 East 2nd St. Suite #7 Moscow, ID 83843 December 2010 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received formal, high-level peer review based on the importance of its content, or its potentially controversial or precedent-setting nature. Peer review was conducted by highly qualified individuals with subject area technical expertise and was overseen by a peer review manager. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from the Upper Columbia Basin Network website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/im/units/UCBN) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM). Please cite this publication as: Garrett, L. K., T. J. Rodhouse, G. H. Dicus, and P. F. Tobar-Starkey 2010. Upper Columbia Basin Network osprey monitoring protocol: Narrative version 1.0. Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2010/269. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 963/106166, December 2010 ii Change History Original Date of Revised By Changes Justification New Version # Version # Revision 1. Version numbers increase incrementally by tenths (e.g., version 1.1, version 1.2, …etc) for minor changes. Major revisions should be designated with the next whole number (e.g., version 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 …). Record the previous version number, date of revision, author of the revision, identify paragraphs and pages where changes are made, and the reason for making the changes along with the new version number. 2. Notify the UCBN Data Manager of any changes to the Protocol Narrative or SOPs so that the new version number can be incorporated in the Metadata of the project database. 3. Post new versions on the internet and forward copies to all individuals with a previous version of the Protocol Narrative or SOPs. A list will be maintained in an appendix at the end of this document. iii Contents Page Figures and Tables ........................................................................................................................ ix Appendixes ................................................................................................................................... xi Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... xiii Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................... xv Background and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 1 Rationale for Monitoring Osprey Populations at Lake Roosevelt NRA .......................... 1 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 6 Survey Design ............................................................................................................................... 9 Survey Design Rationale .................................................................................................. 9 Pilot Datasets .................................................................................................................... 9 Target Population ............................................................................................................ 10 Survey Frequency and Timing ........................................................................................ 10 Response Design ............................................................................................................. 12 Occupied Nests .................................................................................................... 12 Productivity........................................................................................................... 12 Nest Site Characteristics....................................................................................... 13 Change Detection ............................................................................................................. 13 Management Response Trigger ...................................................................................... 13 Summary of the Benefits of the Selected Design ........................................................... 14 Field Methods ............................................................................................................................. 15 Field Season Preparations and Field Schedule ............................................................... 15 Locating and Observing Nest Activity ........................................................................... 15 v Contents Page Helicopter Surveys .............................................................................................. 15 Ground-based Surveys.......................................................................................... 16 Osprey NestWatch Volunteer Program .......................................................................... 17 Data Entry and Management .......................................................................................... 19 After the Field Season .................................................................................................... 19 Data Handling, Analysis, and Reporting .................................................................................... 21 Overview of Database Design ........................................................................................ 21 Data Entry ....................................................................................................................... 22 Quality Review ............................................................................................................... 22 Metadata Procedures ....................................................................................................... 22 Sensitive Information ...................................................................................................... 23 Data Certification and Delivery ...................................................................................... 23 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................. 23 Annual Status Summary ....................................................................................... 23 Trend Analysis ..................................................................................................... 23 Reporting ........................................................................................................................ 27 Data Archival Procedures ............................................................................................... 27 Protocol Testing and Revisions ...................................................................................... 28 Personnel Requirements and Training ........................................................................................ 29 Personnel Requirements ................................................................................................. 29 Roles and Responsibilities .............................................................................................. 31 Training and Calibration ................................................................................................. 32 vi Contents Page Operational Requirements