Bird community monitoring at New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River, 1997 - 2018

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew DeSaix
Keyword(s):  
West Virginia ◽  
National Park ◽  
National Park Service ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Biotic Integrity ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Recreation Area ◽  
Term Monitoring

Birds are prominent features of National Park Service lands and are effective indicators for monitoring ecosystem health. Assessing the temporal change of avian species abundance depends on long-term monitoring of bird communities and trends, however long-term monitoring programs are generally uncommon. In this report, we summarize 22 years (1997-2018) of point count data across five sites on West Virginia National Park Service lands (three in New River Gorge National River, one in Gauley River National Recreation Area, and one in Bluestone National Scenic River) and compare these results to our analysis of Breeding Bird Survey data for the same time period across all of West Virginia. The objectives of this analysis are two-fold: 1) describe the biotic integrity of the National Park Service lands in West Virginia and 2) Quantify trends in guilds and species abundance. During the 20-year period of this survey, 85 breeding resident species were detected. The West Virginia National Park Service lands are home to stable populations of Wood Thrush and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, both species of continental concern by Partners in Flight. Seven species have declined precipitously on NPS lands during this time period. Three of these species are also experiencing declines across the rest of West Virginia (Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Carolina Chickadee, Kentucky Warbler), but the other 4 species are stable across West Virginia (Acadian Flycatcher, Black-throated Green Warbler, Northern Parula, Swainson’s Warbler). Four species that are declining across West Virginia (Great Crested Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Red-eyed Vireo, and Worm-eating Warbler) are stable on southern West Virginia NPS lands. Additionally, the upper-canopy foraging guild of species has decreased significantly on NPS lands in southern West Virginia. An analysis of community biotic integrity revealed that the southern West Virginia NPS lands have been stable at a rating of high biotic integrity every year for the duration of this survey. Future research should delve into the underlying factors that may be driving the trends in abundance at different scales.

Biscayne National Park colonial nesting birds monitoring protocol—Version 1.1

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Muxo ◽  
Kevin Whelan ◽  
Raul Urgelles ◽  
Joaquin Alonso ◽  
Judd Patterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
National Park Service ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Colonial Nesting ◽  
Wading Bird ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Biscayne National Park ◽  
Bird Colonies

Breeding colonies of wading birds (orders Ciconiiformes, Pelecaniformes) and seabirds (orders Suliformes, Pelecaniformes) serve as important indicators of aquatic ecosystem health, as they respond to changes in food abundance and quality, contaminants, invasive species, and disturbance. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Restoration Coordination & Verification program (CERP-RECOVER) has identified wading-bird colonies as an important ecosystem restoration indicator. The National Park Service South Florida/Caribbean Inventory & Monitoring Network (SFCN) ranked colonial nesting birds eighth out of 44 vital signs of park natural resource conditions for ecological significance and feasibility. However, while large-scale monitoring efforts are occurring in the rest of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, only minimal historic data collection and no extensive ongoing monitoring of wading bird and seabird nesting have occurred in Biscayne National Park. Consequently, due to their high importance as biological indicators and because they are a gap occurring in regional monitoring efforts, the network has initiated a monitoring program of colonial nesting birds in Biscayne National Park. This protocol provides the rationale, approach, and detailed Standard Operating Procedures for annual colonial bird monitoring within and close to Biscayne National Park and conforms to the Oakley et al. (2003) guidelines for National Park Service long-term monitoring protocols. The specific objectives of this monitoring program are to determine status and long-term trends in: Numbers and locations of active colonies of colonial nesting birds with a special focus on Double-crested Cormorants, Great Egrets, Great White Herons, Great Blue Herons, White Ibises, and Roseate Spoonbills. Annual peak active nest counts of colonial nesting birds in Biscayne National Park with a special focus on the species mentioned above. An annual nesting index (i.e., sum of monthly nest counts) with a special focus on the species mentioned above. Timing of peak nest counts for the focal species.

scholarly journals SUMMARY OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AREAS COOPERATING WITH THE U.W.-N.P.S. RESEARCH CENTER, 1986.

1986 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 243-274
Author(s):  
University of Wyoming National Park Service Research Center
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
National Park Service ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Historic Site ◽  
National Monument ◽  
Zion National Park ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Service Areas ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Recreation Area

This section contains a summary of research activities within the National Park Service areas cooperating with the U.W.-N.P.S. Research Center in 1986, including Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Custer Battlefield National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Glacier National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Teton National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Zion National Park.

scholarly journals Summary of Research Activities within the National Park Service Areas Cooperating with the U.W.-N.P.S. Research Center, 1987.

1987 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 243-278
Author(s):  
University of Wyoming National Park Service Research Center
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
National Park Service ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Historic Site ◽  
National Monument ◽  
Zion National Park ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Service Areas ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Recreation Area

This section contains a summary of research activities within the National Park Service areas cooperating with the U.S.-N.P.S Research Center, 1987, including Big Hole National Battlefield, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Custer Battlefield National Monument, Dinosaur National Park, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Glacier National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Teton National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Zion National Park.

scholarly journals Summary of Research Activities within the National Park Service Areas Cooperating with the U.W.-N.P.S. Research Center, 1985

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 193-229
Author(s):  
University of Wyoming National Park Service Research Center
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
National Park Service ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Historic Site ◽  
National Monument ◽  
Zion National Park ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Service Areas ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Recreation Area

This section contains a summary of Research Activities within the National Park Service areas cooperating with the U.W.-N.P.S. Research Center in 1985, including Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Custer Battlefield National Monument, Devils Tower National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Glacier National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Golden Spike National Historic Site, Grand Teton National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Wine Cave National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Zion National Park.

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