1. Conserving Birds & Their Habitats Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions: Design, Methods and Products Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory David Hanni, Science Director Tammy VerCauteren, Executive Director David Pavlacky, Jr., Biometrician Nick Van Lanen, Biologist

2. Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) Designed to meet partner needs at multiple scales One of the largest breeding bird monitoring programs in the nation Directly addresses NABCI’s “Opportunities for Improving Avian Monitoring” 2007

3. NABCI “Opportunities for Improving Avian Monitoring” Goal 1: Integrate monitoring into bird management and conservation practices. Goal 2: Coordinate monitoring programs among organizations and integrate them across spatial scales. Goal 3: Increase the value of monitoring information by improving statistical design. Goal 4: Maintain bird population monitoring data in modern data management systems. http://www.nabci-us.org/aboutnabci/monitoringreportfinal0307.pdf

4. Conservation applications Manage habitat at local scales Using habitat relationships from point counts Develop conservation plans at landscape scales Species distribution and abundance maps Develop decision support systems for bird conservation

5. IMBCR Survey Area

6. Program Growth (2008 – 2014)

7. IMBCR Funding Partners

8. IMBCR Implementation and Analyses Partners

9. IMBCR Funding – 2014 Collaboration increases the value through efficiencies of the IMBCR program Other implementers bring an additional ~$200K to program

10. Stratification in Colorado

11. Sampling Methods Sampling unit = 1km 2 cell 16 points per cell  250 m spacing  125 m from edge Spatially-balanced, random sample selection (GRTS)

12. Point Count Methods Visit 1 grid cell per day Attempt to survey all 16 points Ocular vegetation data collection 6 minute point count  1 minute intervals  Measure distances to each bird detected

13. Hierarchical design

17. Surveys on private land Acquiring permission Permission letter and phone calls Before the survey Technician calls Follow up Bird list and gift Conducted surveys on 516 different properties

18. Protecting landowner anonymity Reduced spatial precision on ADC Data sharing agreements Password protected raw data

19. Data Quality Offline data entry app designed for IMBCR Rigorous data quality assurance protocol Full proof Query proof Stored in secure database Accessible to partners Password protected

20. Rocky Mountain Avian Data Center (http://rmbo.org/v3/avian/Home.aspx) For managers, researchers and the public Clearinghouse for avian data and info Meet partners needs

21. RMADC: Explore the Data Over 1.2 million bird records Data since 2008 Density and occupancy estimates for over 125 species Locations of surveys and detections Raw count information

22. IMBCR Locations in WY

23. Occupancy Estimates

24. Density Estimates

25. Raw Count Data

26. Application of the Data Sustainable livestock grazing Maximize forage production Multi-species bird conservation Maximize occupancy rates of sagebrush birds w/in GRSG management –Greater Sage-Grouse –Brewer’s Sparrow –Sagebrush Sparrow –Sage Thrasher

27. Inform what to do Brewer’s SparrowSage Thrasher Sagebrush Sparrow

28. Habitat Modeling: BRSP Modeling the probability of occupancy as a function of habitat covariates at the level of the sampling unit (1km 2 )

29. Inform where to work: A multi-species approach

30. Large Scale Small Scale Habitat Modeling: MCLO

31. Habitat Modeling: LOSH Modeling species density spatially Can estimate population in un-sampled areas Assess habitat changes in terms of effects on populations

32. Future Efforts – LEPC Habitat Enhancement Evaluation Objectives: 1) Evaluate LEPC conservation practices for grassland birds Model density and occupancy 2) Model habitat relationships (SGCN) 3)Evaluate impacts of LEPC conservation on SGCN populations Quantify population increases Aid strategic habitat conservation and enhancement 4) Evaluate umbrella species concept for LEPC

33. Area of inference ~ 467,000 km 2 (~180,000 mi 2 ) Grid samples 2015 NRCS projects = 40 2015 occupied range n = 40 Point counts 2015 NRCS projects = 640 2015 occupied range = 640 Data from IMBCR will be leveraged to improve precision Using IMBCR Design and Data

34. Future Efforts – DoD Legacy Objectives: 1)Sample 5 installations in BCR 18 2)Estimate density and occupancy 3)Compare local and regional estimates 4)Model priority species habitat needs 5)Guide wildlife management actions and habitat enhancement

35. Why Get Involved? Opportunity to collect data and develop tools in critical region for grassland birds Wintering Breeding

36. Flexibility of Program IMBCR and overlay projects can answer management questions within the PLJV (Adaptive monitoring): Investigate the importance of playas Stratification can answer specific questions Can alternate between evaluation of management and monitoring (funding flexibility)

37. Benefits of PLJV Involvement Expand sampling efforts w/in BCR18 and 19 Pooled data increases cost efficiency Distribution maps can inform landscape planning Info can feed into adaptive management Quantify conservation effort outcomes for bird populations IMBCR info can contribute to HABS database

39. Goals Short-term (2016) Monitor throughout PLJV region Evaluate LEPC habitat enhancement and CRP benefit to birds Long-term (2020) Evaluate management efforts of alternate habitat enhancement strategies (playa pit removal, etc.)

40. Partner % of PLJV Land Area Proportional Shared Cost Current Funds & Contributions Proposed Funding Short TermLong Term CPW18%$68,716$52,443 $34,358 TPWD30%$117,743$55,956$30,000$58,872 KDWPT23%$88,522$42,069$17,500$44,261 NGPC6%$22,697$10,786$7,500$11,348 NMDGF10%$40,823$19,401$5,000$20,412 ODWC13%$52,152$24,785$15,000$26,076 DOD$100,000 $0 PLJV$0 $10,000 USFS$20,000 NFWF (LEPC)$75,000 $0 NM (LEPC)$10,000 $0 BLM$7,500$20,000 TNC$5,000$10,000 DU$5,000 PF$7,500$10,000 NWTF$2,500$5,000 USFWS (R2)$15,000$50,000 USFWS (R6)$15,000$50,000 NRCS$10,000$20,000 FSA$5,000$10,000 TOTAL100%$390,654$410,440$404,943$405,327

41. Questions?