The Oak Woodland Bird Conservation Plan A Strategy for Protecting and Managing Oak Woodland Habitats and Associated Birds in California A Project of California Partners In Flight and PRBO Conservation Science The Oak Woodland Bird Conservation Plan A Strategy for Protecting and Managing Oak Woodland Habitats and Associated Birds in California Version 2.0 2002 Oak Woodland Bird Conservation Plan California Partners in Flight - 2 - Conservation Plan Authors Lead author: Dr. Steve Zack Conservation Scientist North America Program Wildlife Conservation Society Correspondence: 1746 NW Hartwell Place Portland, OR 97229 E-mail: [email protected] Supporting Authors (Point Reyes Bird Observatory): Grant Ballard Mary Chase, Ph.D. Gregg Elliott Thomas Gardali Geoffrey R. Geupel Sacha Heath Diana Humple Mike Lynes Melissa Pitkin Sandy Scoggin Diana Stralberg Species Account Authors: Moe Flannery, PRBO Sue Guers, PRBO Diana Humple, PRBO Colin Lee, PRBO Corrina Lu, California PIF Mike Lynes, PRBO Mark Reynolds, Ph.D., The Nature Conservancy Financial Contributors: David and Lucile Packard Foundation California Oak Foundation Members and Friends For Further Information: California Oak Foundation - www.californiaoaks.org California Partners in Flight - www.prbo.org/calpif Wildlife Conservation Society - www.wcs.org Point Reyes Bird Observatory - www.prbo.org Oak Woodland Bird Conservation Plan California Partners in Flight - 3 - Data contributions: Point Reyes Bird Observatory Eastern Sierra Riparian Songbird Conservation Project Central Coast Riparian Bird Conservation Project Cosumnes Preserve Project Sacramento River Project Klamath Bird Observatory The Nature Conservancy – Cosumnes River Preserve California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife Habitat Relations California Interagency Wildlife Task Group US Bureau of Reclamation, East Park Reservoir Madrone Audubon Society – Mayacamas Preserve Hastings Natural History Reservation USDA Forest Service, Forestry Sciences Lab, Pacific Southwest Research Station. USDA Forest Service, Redwood Sciences Lab, Pacific Southwest Research Station. Placer County Planning Department Cover Photo: Steven Jenner, Local Color Cover Illustration: Adrienne Olmstead Acknowledgements: California Partners in Flight wishes to thank the Packard Foundation for funding this important project. Many thanks to everyone who helped write, edit, and publish this document, and also those who contributed data. Many individuals and organizations volunteered time to this project and continue to support the mission of Partners in Flight. Special thanks to those who reviewed part or all of the plan: The California Oak Foundation, Ron Cowan, Walter Koenig, Kathy Purcell, Rich Reiner, Mark Reynolds, and Bill Tietje. Thanks also to Keyt Fischer, Claire Kremen, Kerri Frangioso, Melissa Duncan, David McCauley, Kristin Bruce, Jonathan Richard, Jay Mann, Susan Frankel, Hilary Cooke, John Alexander, Bill Hogoboom, and Colin Lee. Finally, thank you to The Wildlife Society for logistic support in the writing of this document and to the Oak Foundation for funding the first printing of version 2.0. Recommended Citation: CalPIF (California Partners in Flight). 2002. Version 2.0. The oak woodland bird conservation plan: a strategy for protecting and managing oak woodland habitats and associated birds in California (S. Zack, lead author). Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Stinson Beach, CA. http://www.prbo.org/calpif/plans.html. Oak Woodland Bird Conservation Plan California Partners in Flight - 4 - Oak Woodland Bird Conservation Plan Table of Contents Table of Contents Executive Summary .........................................................................................................................8 Biological Need ..................................................................................................................................... 8 Mission and Objective........................................................................................................................10 Findings and Recommendations ......................................................................................................11 Chapter 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................. 14 Oaks in Peril ........................................................................................................................................14 Birds and Oaks ....................................................................................................................................15 Partners in Flight.................................................................................................................................15 Objective of the Oak Woodland Bird Conservation Plan ...........................................................16 Chapter 2. Oak Woodland Habitats in California ........................................................................ 17 Geologic History of Oak Woodlands..............................................................................................17 Classification of Oak Woodland Types...........................................................................................17 Chapter 3. Conservation Planning Process.................................................................................... 21 Importance of Oak Habitats for Wildlife .......................................................................................21 Focal Species........................................................................................................................................22 Ecological Relationships....................................................................................................................24 Chapter 4. Problems Affecting Oak Woodland Birds.................................................................... 35 Habitat Loss.........................................................................................................................................35 Lack of Oak Regeneration.................................................................................................................35 Fire and Oak Woodlands...................................................................................................................36 Over-grazing by Cattle .......................................................................................................................37 Sudden Oak Death .............................................................................................................................37 Oak Woodland Viability ....................................................................................................................40 Chapter 5. Species-Specific Recommendations and Population Targets ..................................... 43 Lark Sparrow .......................................................................................................................................44 Oak Titmouse......................................................................................................................................45 Acorn Woodpecker ...........................................................................................................................46 Western Bluebird ...............................................................................................................................48 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher .......................................................................................................................49 Population Targets..............................................................................................................................50 Chapter 6. Bioregional Conservation Objectives........................................................................... 54 Sacramento Valley...............................................................................................................................55 San Joaquin Valley ..............................................................................................................................56 Modoc...................................................................................................................................................57 Klamath ................................................................................................................................................57 Central Coast .......................................................................................................................................58 Bay-Delta..............................................................................................................................................60 South Coast..........................................................................................................................................61 Mojave and Colorado Desert............................................................................................................61 Sierra .....................................................................................................................................................61 Chapter 7. Implementation of Conservation Plan Recommendations.......................................... 63 The North American Bird Conservation Initiative .......................................................................63 Chapter 8. Conservation Action Recommendations.....................................................................