B08_Attachment_3_2012RevisedNSOprotocol_2_15_12.pdf

Northern Spotted Owl Survey Protocol (January 2012)

Enclosure 1. 2011 NSO Survey Protocol – 2012 Revision

PROTOCOL FOR SURVEYING

PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

THAT MAY IMPACT

NORTHERN SPOTTED OWLS

Endorsed by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

February 2, 2011

Revised January 9, 2012

Table of Contents

Content Page

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Coordination and Sharing of Information

3.0 Establishing the Area to be Surveyed

3.1 Identifying the Project Area

3.2 Delineating the Survey Area

3.3 Habitat to Survey

4.0 Survey Period

5.0 General Survey Design

5.1 Calling Routes

5.2 Known Site Centers

5.3 Survey Procedures

5.3.1 Nighttime Spot Calling

5.3.2 Continuous Walking Surveys

5.3.3 Leapfrog Surveys (Nighttime)

5.4 Survey Components

5.4.1 Qualifications of Crew Leaders and Surveyors

5.4.2 Digital Wildlife Callers

5.4.3 Spotted Owl Calling Procedures

5.5 Complete Visits

5.6 Additional Visits

6.0 Follow-up Outings

7.0 When Barred Owls or Strix Unknown Species are Detected

7.1 When Barred Owls Are Detected

7.2 When Strix Unknown Species Are Detected

8.0 Activity Center Searches Within Survey Area

9.0 Surveys for Disturbance-Only Projects

10.0 Spot Check Surveys

10.1 Design of Spot Check Surveys

10.2 Circumstances Establishing the Need For Spot Check Surveys

10.2.1 Circumstances Precluding the Need to Conduct Spot Checks

10.2.2 Situations Where Spot Checks Are Necessary

10.3 If Spotted Owls Are Detected in the Spot Check Area

10.4 If Spotted Owls Are Not Detected in the Spot Check Area

11.0 Complete Survey

12.0 Duration and Expiration of Surveys

13.0 Daytime Stand Searches (Optional)

14.0 Recording Data

15.0 Mousing

16.0 Determining Activity Center Status

16.1 Determining Resident/Territorial Spotted Owl Pairs or Singles

16.1.1 Territorial Pair Status

16.1.2 Two Birds/Pair Status Unknown

16.1.3 Resident Single Status

16.1.4 Status Unknown

17.0 Determining Nesting & Reproductive Status

17.1 Nesting Status Surveys

17.2 Determining Nesting Status

17.3 Non-Nesting Status

17.4 Nesting Status Unknown

17.5 Reproductive Success Surveys (Number of Young Fledged)

Literature Cited

Personal Communications

Appendix 1: Glossary of Terms

Appendix 2: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Field Office Contact Information

Appendix 3: Generalized Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Season Chronology

Appendix 4: Recommended Credentials and Qualifications for Crew Leaders and Surveyors. ..38

Appendix 5: Suggested but Necessary Equipment to Conduct Surveys

Appendix 6: Template data collection form

Appendix 7: Physiographic Provinces Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl

List of Tables

Table 1. Provincial survey radius to apply when determining the Survey Area around proposed projects that may impact northern spotted owls, by Physiographic Province

List of Figures

Figure 1. Hypothetical landscape with spotted owl habitat (darker color) and proposed project areas (project footprint) with the provincial median survey radius indicated by the three larger circular polygons

Figure2. Flow chart to determine when spot checks are needed

PROTOCOL FOR SURVEYING PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

THAT MAY IMPACT NORTHERN SPOTTED OWLS

(2011 Protocol)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) developed this 2011 NSO Survey Protocol (2011

Protocol) to promote consistent and scientifically rigorous procedures to survey for northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina; spotted owl) in areas where management activities may remove or modify spotted owl nesting, roosting or foraging habitat (excluding areas defined as dispersal habitat). This protocol should also be applied to activities that disrupt essential breeding activities and to activities that may injure or otherwise harm spotted owl other than through habitat modification (e.g., noise disturbance, smoke from prescribed fire). This 2011 version of the survey protocol builds upon the 1992 Protocol and incorporates changes made to the Draft 2010 Protocol.

In recent years, research on spotted owls provided insights that raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of surveys, particularly those which do not result in spotted owl detections.

Specifically, the invasion of the Pacific Northwest by the barred owl (Strix varia), an aggressive and potentially significant competitor of the spotted owl, has resulted in a suppression effect on spotted owl response rates (Olson et al. 2005, Crozier et al. 2006). Therefore, survey results that do not account for barred owl effects on spotted owl detection rates may provide false or insufficient information about spotted owl presence in the survey area, and lead to forest management activities that may impact spotted owls and be in conflict with the Endangered

Species Act.

To address this concern, the Service and cooperators (see list below) conducted analyses of historical survey data during 2009 and 2010, leading to estimates of detection rates for spotted owls that account for the effects of barred owl presence. Information utilized to generate the detection rates came from long-term spotted owl demography studies (Anthony et al. 2006, Olson et al 2005, Dugger et al. 2009, Bailey et al. 2009, Kroll et al. 2010) and spotted owl site and timber-harvest related surveys on private industrial forest lands in Oregon and California

(Kroll et al. 2009). These detection rates, along with data on spotted owl site colonization and extinction probabilities, and empirical analysis of spotted owl site occupancy (Olson et al. 2005, Dugger et al. 2009, Kroll et al. 2010a), were utilized in developing this protocol. These analyses provided strong evidence that the 2-year, 3-visits-per-year requirement, as described in the 1992 protocol, was no longer sufficient to provide a reasonable likelihood of detecting territorial spotted owls where barred owls occur. Lastly, to improve the efficiency and practicality of this protocol, the professional opinion of researchers, survey practitioners, and regulators were integrated into this product.

Use of the 2011 Protocol should serve two primary purposes: (1) provide a methodology that results in adequate coverage and assessment of an area for the presence of spotted owls, and (2) ensure a high probability of locating resident spotted owls and identifying owl territories that may be affected by a proposed management activity, thereby minimizing the potential for unauthorized incidental take. While this protocol utilizes the best available information for conducting project-level surveys, the protocol is not designed to monitor yearly trends of spotted owls or for many other research applications.

This protocol should be implemented across the northern spotted owl‟s range. However, in some areas local conditions, particularly when supported by appropriate data, may warrant deviations from this protocol. These deviations may occur through mutual cooperation between the landowner or their representative and the appropriate regulatory agency. Spotted owl surveys that are conducted as part of demographic long-term monitoring programs (see areas described in

Forsman et al. 2011) can be considered reasonable alternatives to implementation of this protocol.

This document describes the methodology for surveying for spotted owls. It is the Service‟s expectation that practitioners should read and fully understand the details of the 2011 Protocol as described herein. The development of the Protocol has benefitted from data analysis, input, and reviews by the interagency Barred Owl Work Group (organizations listed below), established pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1533(f)(2) to assist in implementing recovery plan actions.

Bureau of Land Management

California Department of Fish and Game

Green Diamond Resource Company

Hancock Forest Management

National Audubon Society, Seattle Chapter

National Council for Air and Stream Improvement

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Oregon Department of Forestry

Oregon State University

Plum Creek Timber Company

Raedeke Associates, Inc.

The Campbell Group

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Weyerhaeuser Company

2.0 COORDINATION AND SHARING OF INFORMATION

Spotted owl survey crews, consultants, and their clients are strongly encouraged to coordinate with others doing similar surveys in nearby areas, during all phases of the survey effort.

Appropriate coordination involves:

pre-season planning, including coordination of commitments by adjacent land managers on the areas to be surveyed by each party in the event that multiple parties are working in the same landscape; this limits unnecessary calling of owls and is a cost-savings for landowners;

immediate communication of results, positive or negative, that may affect other land managers or regulatory actions; and exchange of post-survey season information summaries.

Common inefficiencies, such as overlapping or excessive known spotted owl site visits by more than one survey group, can be avoided through coordinated pre-planning. It is also advisable to inform adjacent land managers of all surveys near their ownership because new survey results may affect their management activities.

To enhance coordination efforts, the Service, through its local field offices, will participate in and, if needed, initiate pre-survey coordination meetings. The purpose of the meetings will be to:

allow representatives from land management agencies and organizations conducting surveys to share information on the approximate extent of planned survey areas, look for ways to reduce potential survey overlap to avoid and minimize harassment of spotted owls, discuss opportunities for sharing information throughout the field season, provide discussion opportunities related to implementation of the survey protocol, and share information on techniques used in surveying spotted owls that will enhance the likelihood of obtaining responses.

The Service strongly recommends entities or their representatives conducting spotted owl surveys attend these coordination meetings. Local meeting coordinators should distribute information related to these meetings prior to the breeding season to federal, state, tribal and private landowner organizations. The Service also recommends that both federal and non-federal entities conducting spotted owl surveys provide frequent updates of new data to the state and federal agencies responsible for maintaining spotted owl databases as the information informs evaluation of potential impacts to spotted owls from forest management practices. In addition, the Service recommends that barred owl data also be reported to appropriate state and federal database managers.

3.0 ESTABLISHING THE AREA TO BE SURVEYED

Prior to doing any field survey, the appropriate area to be surveyed should be identified from maps, aerial photos, GIS, or other resources.

3.1 Identifying the Project Area

The first step in conducting surveys for spotted owls is to identify the PROJECT AREA . This area includes all lands delineated for the proposed project that may be subject to activities potentially impacting spotted owls through habitat modification, direct injury, noise disturbance, or any other means. For the purposes of this protocol, the project area is the polygon (or multiple polygons) that forms the footprint of the proposed project. Examples of project areas include timber harvest units, prescribed fire areas, disposal sites, road rights-of-way, etc. (Figure 1.).

3.2 Delineating the Survey Area

Once the project area is determined, the SURVEY AREA can be established and mapped. The survey area is defined as the area extending one provincial median annual home range radius from the perimeter of the project area for projects that will remove or modify nesting, roosting, or foraging habitat (see Section 9.0 for guidelines for disturbance-only projects).

Table 1 indicates appropriate home range radii to use for projects within each physiographic

Province. Figure 1 provides a hypothetical example of a survey area established around a multi-unit project area, based on a provincial home range radius area established surrounding the multiple project units.

Table 1. Provincial survey radius to apply when determining the survey area around proposed projects that may impact northern spotted owls, by Physiographic Province

Physiographic Province Provincial Survey Radius (mi.)

Olympic Peninsula 2.7

Washington Cascades 1.8

Oregon Coast Ranges 1.5

Oregon Klamath 1.3

Oregon Cascades 1.2

California Klamath 1.3

California Cascades 1.3

California Coast Range (Douglas-fir/mixed conifer zone 1.3

California Coast Range (redwood zone) 0.7

3.3 Habitat to Survey

For the purposes of this protocol, the HABITAT TO SURVEY includes any habitat within the survey area where protocol surveys may elicit a response from a resident owl or pair of owls

(i.e., nesting, roosting, or foraging habitat). The survey effort need not include stands typically characterized as spotted owl dispersal habitat that does not normally function as nesting, roosting, or foraging habitat for territorial spotted owls. Descriptions of spotted owl habitat specific to various regions may be available from state wildlife or forestry agencies, or

Terms specific to this document appear in ITALIC CAPITALS in their first use, and are defined in the Glossary of

Terms (Appendix 1). These terms appear in normal font in subsequent use in this document.

Appendix 7 provides a map of the Physiographic Provinces.

The Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office will provide further guidance delineating the “redwood zone” local Service Field Offices . Habitat descriptions can also be found in these references:

Thomas et al. 1990, Courtney et al. 2004, USDI Draft Revised 2010 Northern Spotted Owl

Recovery Plan. Regulatory definitions may be of use where appropriate (e.g., definitions within state forest practices regulations; however, recognize that in some areas the Service does not support definitions of habitat used in current state forest practice regulations.)

Surveyors should seek out this information from the appropriate regulatory agency prior to implementing surveys.

Figure 1. Hypothetical landscape with spotted owl habitat (darker color) and proposed project areas (project footprint) with the provincial median survey radius indicated by the three larger circular polygons.

4.0 SURVEY PERIOD

The SURVEY PERIOD is the time during which survey visits should occur to be counted toward meeting criteria for complete surveys (defined fully in section 11.0). For purposes of this protocol, the following survey periods are prescribed:

1. The general survey period throughout the range of the northern spotted owl is specified as March 15 through August 31. Forsman et al. (1984) indicate that courtship behavior

Appendix 2 provides contact information for Fish and Wildlife Service Field Offices within the range of the northern spotted owl.

SURVEY AREA perimeters based on median NSO provincial home range radius

Proposed PROJECT AREAs usually begins in February or March, with the timing of nesting and fledging varying upon elevation and latitude. April 1 coincides with incubation in most areas (exceptions addressed below). Appendix 3 provides a generalized spotted owl breeding chronology.

2. In the Oregon and California Coast Ranges, local information suggests that spotted owls defend established territories as early as March 1. Therefore, in the Oregon Coast Range

Province and California Coast Range Province, the survey period can be initiated on

March 1, and survey conducted at that time (and otherwise consistent with this protocol) may be counted toward a complete survey. Please recognize that determinations for nesting and non-nesting status are to be conducted during specific periods of the survey season (Section 17.0). To maximize efficiency, occupancy and nesting status surveys should coincide.

3. Specific to the western Washington Cascades, the fledgling period can extend to

September 15. Here, local information has shown that spotted owls return to their established territories later and defend their territory well into September (D. Herter pers.

comm. and unpublished data October 2009; R. Pearson pers. comm. and unpublished data, November 2009). Therefore, within the Western Washington Cascades Province, surveys may continue as late as September 15 and count toward meeting a complete survey.

There may be cases where positive responses occur outside the above survey periods. These responses may provide important information, but will require closer evaluation to determine if the responses represent core use areas. Surveys outside the above dates do not count towards the number of visits required for completing the year's survey without seeking concurrence from the

Service.

5.0 GENERAL SURVEY DESIGN

The intent of any survey is to obtain complete coverage of spotted owl habitat within the survey area, and in a manner in which spotted owls will be able to hear the surveyor and the surveyor will be able to hear responding owl vocalizations.

5.1 Calling Routes

Establish calling stations and survey routes to achieve complete coverage of all habitat within the survey area. Spacing of calling stations can be determined by the topography and acoustical characteristics (e.g., background noise such as creeks) of the area; stations are typically spaced between 0.25 and 0.5 mile apart. Surveyors should take advantage of prominent points within the survey area when establishing calling stations. Use of prominent points should not be at the cost of not being able to hear distant responding owls. Tips on placing call stations to maximize acoustical coverage can be found on the Service‟s website

(http://www.fws.gov/species/nso).

5.2 Known Spotted Owl Sites

Where KNOWN SPOTTED OWL SITES exist within the survey area, surveys should be initiated at the ACTIVITY CENTER (see section 8.0). Once the occupancy and/or http://www.fws.gov/species/nso reproductive status (per your management need) for the year is determined, spotted owl habitat within a 0.5 mile radius of the site center can be excluded from further surveying for the remainder of the season. Adjustments beyond the 0.5 mile area can be made to avoid unnecessary or excessive calling of spotted owls depending on topography. Rationale for this type of exception should be provided on field survey forms.

5.3 Survey Procedures

Both nighttime and daytime surveys are recommended. Research data indicate that nighttime calling remains an efficient way of detecting spotted owls. In addition, some recent research data along with professional opinion by research personnel suggest that strategic daytime surveys are also an effective way for locating spotted owls. Thus, this protocol advises the use of both under certain situations, as described in “Daytime Stand Searches” (see section

13.0) below. Three types of surveys are accepted: spot calling, continuous walking and calling, and leapfrog surveys. Each is described below. Spot calling is the recommended method. Whatever method you use, be sure you cover all spotted owl habitat within the survey area.

5.3.1 Nighttime Spot Calling

Set up a series of fixed calling points approximately 0.25 to 0.5 mile apart or as needed to account for local acoustical conditions, along road, trails and/or transects. When possible, pick prominent points which allow coverage of large areas. Spend at least 10 minutes at each point. Topography with prominent features (e.g., high ridges, road landings situated above large drainages, etc.) may lend itself to more effective coverage. Whatever the topographic situation, be sure that you have sufficient overlap in calling coverage from point to point, whereby you are able to hear responding owls and that all spotted owl habitat within the entire survey area is adequately covered.

5.3.2 Continuous Walking Surveys

Continuous walking surveys occur during the night or day and are utilized when nighttime spot calling from roads or trails cannot be accomplished. Walk the designated route playing the electronic caller and pause at prominent points and at regular intervals throughout the area to conduct informal stations that are at least 3 minutes in duration.

5.3.3 Leapfrog Surveys (Nighttime)

If two people are involved, you may use a leapfrog method along roads (see Forsman

1983).

5.4 Survey Components

Regardless of the procedures used above, implementation of the following components will meet the objectives of the protocol.

5.4.1 Qualifications of Crew Leaders and Surveyors

Information regarding the qualifications, training, and experience of surveyors and crew leaders is presented in Appendix 4.

5.4.2 Digital Wildlife Callers

As of 2011, the Service advises use of high quality digital callers with well recorded spotted owl calls, and strongly discourages human mimicking of spotted owls calls.

Increasing evidence suggests that use of human mimicking calls has a lower response rate than do quality digital devices, resulting in territorial spotted owls not being detected despite a complete protocol survey. The use of the digital caller ensures more consistent and equitable calling methods. The amplified sound generally should be about as loud as a spotted owl, but must be audible to the distance of 0.25 – 0.5 mile depending on topography. While playing calls and listening for a response, surveyors must be stationed outside their vehicle. In areas of high densities of spotted owls (e.g., California coastal areas), over-amplification may confound survey results by eliciting simultaneous responses from spotted owls representing multiple territories.

1. Digital Callers. As policy, the Service cannot recommend or endorse a specific company or device for digital callers. Surveyors are encouraged to use digital callers with quality speakers and digital recordings of high fidelity, as these devices and recordings are more likely to elicit a spotted owl response. Quality devices may also prove to be cost-effective, by reducing the number of survey visits to detect spotted owls, as well as being more durable in typical field conditions. The

Service encourages surveyors to seek out others in the surveying business for suggested devices.

2. Bionic Ears. Hearing enabling devices such as “bionic ears” should not be used, as these devices generally only “listen” in one direction and may impeded determining response locations.

5.4.3 Spotted Owl Calling Procedures

1. Calling Methods and Sequencing. Start the caller and let it run for 3-4 complete calls, listen for 1 to 2 minutes, then play another set of calls. A recommended call sequence includes: standard 4-note hoot, barking calls, contact whistle both normal and agitated, and agitated call (also referred to as the monkey call). Use both male and female examples of all these calls as available but use of calls from both sexes is best. Recorded spotted owl calls can be downloaded from the following website:

www.fws.gov/species/nso. These same calls may come with commercial calling devices.

2. Call Variation. When conducting the daytime stand searches or activity center searches, use a variety of calls, with some emphasis on the female whistle. Do not broadcast loudly and do not use agitated or barking calls near a potentially active nest – this could agitate the female more than necessary or draw females off the nest.

3. Varying Call Patterns Between Visits. If several visits to the area have used the same set of spotted owl calls, the surveyor should consider switching to a different set of calls/recordings of a different individual that had not been used previously at the site or survey area (http://www.fws.gov/species/nso). This “new” spotted owl may elicit a stronger reaction (e.g., because it is considered a “stranger” rather than a known “neighbor”) from a resident but relatively non-vocal spotted owl. It is recommended that surveyors always hold in reserve such calls until late in the survey, as they may be more effective at eliciting a response if the owl has become habituated to the calls earlier in the season. Optional: If spotted owls have not been detected in visits 1-4, use barred owl calls for five minutes following the 10-minute calling period on visits 5 and 6. Please note these efforts on your field forms.

4. Duration of Calling Effort. Continue this process for at least 10 minutes at each calling station. Discontinue calling once a spotted owl responds. Allow the spotted owl to respond and listen for the remainder of the 10 minutes to determine if there is more than one spotted owl. See section 14.0 RECORDING DATA for recommendations on recording data and triangulation procedure. Prompt triangulation should occur soon after the first owl starts responding.

5. Daily Timing of Surveys. Conduct night surveys between official apparent sunset and sunrise (see the NOAA website for area and times:

http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/sunrise.html).

Be sure not to call the same section of a survey route at the same time on each survey effort, that is, vary the time you start and the section of the route from which you start.

6. Acceptable Weather Conditions. Do not survey under inclement weather conditions, such as high wind speed (e.g. > 15 mph), rain, heavy fog, or at high noise levels which would prevent hearing of responses (e.g., stream noise, continuous tree drip after a rain event, machine noise, etc.). If weather conditions or noise levels are in doubt, be conservative. Consider placing call stations away from streams to reduce noise interference. Surveys conducted under marginal conditions will reduce quality of the overall survey effort. Negative results collected under inclement weather conditions may not be adequate for evaluating spotted owl presence/absence. Generally, surveys should be conducted under conditions described as a gentle breeze (wind speed 8-11 mph, or less. Under such conditions, flags may extend, and leaves move. As wind levels reach >12mph

(small branches move, dust begins to blow) conditions are not acceptable as background sound level substantially reduces ability of the owl to hear the caller, and vice versa. For additional information, see:

http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/scales/beaufort.html.

7. Systematically survey all spotted owl habitat within each survey area until an owl responds or if no response is heard, until the recommended number of survey visits have been completed.

8. Characterize and document behavioral observations. Make note of agitated calls, continuous responses, movement (toward or away the calling stations), or situations such as when one response is received and the owl is quiet thereafter. Recording http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/sunrise.html this type of information may assist with the identification of activity centers.

5.5 Complete Visits

The objective of a complete visit is to conduct a thorough survey of the entire area in one field outing; however, in some cases this may not be possible. A complete visit may be a combination of day and night surveys and may include a daytime FOLLOW-UP OUTING. If reasonable effort was made to cover the survey area in one outing, but this was not accomplished, then the remaining unsurveyed area should be surveyed as soon as possible but within 7 days for the entire survey area. To reduce the chance of spotted owls moving between portions of the Survey Area and not being detected, complete the visit on consecutive days as much as possible. The entire area should be covered within 7 days to be considered one complete visit.

1. Subdividing Survey Areas. If the project area is too large to be surveyed in 7 days, it should be divided into smaller areas based on habitat distribution, topography, road networks, and/or drainages. Survey areas need to be small enough to be completely surveyed within the specified time period.

2. Daytime Follow-up to a Spotted Owl or Unidentified Strix. If a surveyor detects a spotted owl or unidentified Strix species (including owls that fly-in without calling) at night and conducts a daytime follow-up, the combination of the night outing and the daytime follow-up would be counted toward one complete visit. If a surveyor does not obtain a response during a survey, a daytime follow-up would not be necessary. In that case, the night outing alone would be considered as one complete visit provided all remaining spotted owl habitat within the Survey Area has been called (See section

6.0 for Follow-up visits).

3. Temporal Spacing of Visits. Complete visits must be spaced at least 7 calendar days apart. For example, assume a complete visit ends May 1. Using a proper 7 day spacing, the next possible visit date would be begun on May 8.

4. Three Visits by June 30. At least 3 of the complete visits should be conducted before

30 June; this includes at least one visit in April, one in May and one in June. Ideally, the survey effort should be spread out over the entire survey season. Concentrating surveys too early or late in the survey season may result in inaccurate conclusions for the survey area.

5. Documenting Unavoidable Operational Conditions. Where survey seasons or individual visits are restricted due to snow, landslides, mandatory road closure, or other unavoidable operational and access conditions, the survey period may be adjusted to accommodate such restrictions; documentation should be provided to explain the causes of the modified survey period.

6. Safety and Night Surveys. Surveys may be conducted during the day where there are no roads or foot trails to traverse at night, or where there are other safety concerns.

Documentation should be provided for specific safety concerns as to why night surveys could not be conducted. Note: while the protocol provides some flexibility to account for field conditions, it is recommended that adequacy of survey effort be discussed with the appropriate regulatory office.

7. Number of Complete Visits. To meet the objectives of this protocol, 2-year surveys with 6 complete visits per year are required to determine the presence or absence of spotted owls.

5.6 Additional Visits

If a single spotted owl responds, and after 6 complete visits resident status has not been determined, then up to 2 additional visits may be necessary in that year. Additional visits are visits conducted beyond six complete visits and are conducted only in the general area of the response (a 0.5-mile radius around the detection location). If resident status is determined at any point during the additional visits, no more visits to that particular site are required that year.

For additional visits, maintain the standards (timing, temporal spacing of visits, weather condition limitations, etc.) outlined elsewhere in this document. If additional visits cannot be completed prior to the end of the survey season (while still maintaining intervals required between visits), they may be conducted as soon as necessary to stay within the normal survey season, or up to as late as September 30.

If the last response occurs on:

Visits 1 through 4 - no additional visits are required

Visit 5 - conduct 1 additional visit

Visit 6 - conduct 2 additional visits

6.0 FOLLOW-UP OUTINGS

The objective of the daytime follow-up outing is to locate spotted owls by conducting an intensive daytime search of spotted owl habitat within the general vicinity (approximately a 0.5-mile radius) of the response location that prompted the follow-up. Daytime locations are very important in determining key nesting and roosting sites, which in turn provides more precise information for management. All spotted owl and barred owl detections should be recorded to the Township, Range, Section, 1/4 and 1/16, and appropriate UTM datum when possible.

Daytime follow-up surveys consist of both active calling with a digital device and visual searching.

A review of aerial photos is suggested to assist surveyors in identifying the available habitat in which to focus a search. Searches should start as close as possible to the owl’s mapped response. Surveys may begin from the road closest to the response area. If owls do not respond to vocalizations given from road survey stations nearest the detection, surveyors should conduct daytime stand searches throughout the 0.5 mile area around the detection. This may take several hours, depending on the terrain. Do not conduct your follow-up entirely from the road – spotted owls may be using a patch of habitat at a distance from the road and may not respond unless surveyors are close in proximity. Observers should watch for owls approaching without responding and other evidence of occupancy, such as pellets, whitewash, and molted feathers.

Pellets, whitewash, or feathers alone may not be sufficient to document spotted owl presence or residency. Mobbing jays and other birds may alert the observer to the presence of a spotted owl or other Strix species. The follow-up should be completed as soon as possible after presence was detected, as owls are more apt to be located near the previous night's location. A daytime follow-up is the second part of a complete visit if a spotted owl is detected. The follow-up route must be delineated on a map and accompanying outing form and should include the start, end, and total survey time.

Do not hoot any more than is necessary; hoot only as much as needed to identify Strix species and determine status. Excessive surveyor vocalization may modify spotted owl behavior and stimulate them to move around more than is typical and possibly increase their risk of predation.

Excessive calling near a nest site may cause harassment by bringing the female off the nest.

Limit the use of calling, in particular higher stress calls, when calling near a known nest site.

Soft contact whistles and “mouse squeaks” sometimes works to elicit responses near nests.

7.0 WHEN BARRED OWLS or STRIX UNKNOWN SPECIES ARE DETECTED

Because barred owls now completely overlap the distribution of northern spotted owls in Oregon and Washington and substantially overlap the species in California, and have reduced detection rates (response behavior) of spotted owls, it is important to properly ascertain the species of Strix owls detected, either visually or auditory, during the survey.

7.1 When Barred Owls Are Detected

If a barred owl is heard or seen:

1. Continue to call for spotted owls for the entire 10-minute period, or until a spotted owl responds,

2. If a spotted owl responds and the barred owl is in close proximity and/or acting aggressively toward the responding spotted owl, discontinue calling at that station immediately. Continue to listen at that station for at least the entire 10-minute period so that any spotted owl or additional barred owl responses will be heard and recorded.

Complete the rest of the survey beyond hearing distance to continue calling the route

(generally at least 0.5 mi.). This guidance applies to other owls and raptors that may be acting aggressively toward (or represent a capable predator of) spotted owls.

7.2 When Strix Unknown Species Are Detected

If a Strix Unknown Species is heard or seen:

1. Continue to call using spotted owl calls for the entire 10-minute duration, or until the spotted owl or barred owl identification is confirmed.

2. Wait silently for 5 additional minutes after the 10-minute calling period while listening and watching for owls.

3. If the unidentified Strix owl detections cannot be identified to species by spending extra time at the station where it was originally detected, a follow-up should be conducted to increase the probability of identifying which species is present.

4. If follow ups are unsuccessful in establishing the species identity of the owl, additional visits should be conducted. The same procedures as used to determine resident status should be used; up to two additional visits should be conducted (see section 5.6 Additional Visits).

5. If all parameters of the protocol are met and the Strix species detection is either attributed to a barred owl or remains uncertain, do not “guess” on the species determinations without reasonably confident visual or audio information; simply record the species as Strix unknown. All field observations need to be well documented so that all information associated with the survey can be taken into consideration during technical assistance or consultations with the state and federal regulatory agencies.

8.0 ACTIVITY CENTER SEARCHES WITHIN SURVEY AREA

Objective: To search habitat and locate spotted owls in known core areas used in previous years for nesting and roosting.

A minimum of one daytime stand search “Activity Center Search” is to be completed for each activity center within the survey area, each year, as a component of the 2-year survey. This is important because spotted owls commonly utilize the same, or nearby nest and roost stands year after year and searching the activity center and core use area during the day may increase the likelihood of detecting a spotted owl. Research has shown that this is still the case for some spotted owls even with barred owls present.

Use aerial photographs and delineate stands of spotted owl habitat with the likelihood of containing nesting and roosting owls within 0.5 mile of the activity center to focus a thorough visual and auditory search of the identified stands. Similar to follow-up surveys, these searches may take up to several hours to thoroughly search the habitat. In conducting these surveys, the broadcast calling will be at a lower volume than used for nighttime station calling

(approximating the volume of an actual spotted owl hoot). Avoid the heat of the day to increase the chances of finding spotted owls. During the daytime search, be sure to look for incidental signs of whitewash, pellets, and feathers indicating potential presence of spotted owls. Also, keep your eyes to the forest canopy because owls may fly in to the surveyor without responding.

Investigate jays or other birds giving scolding calls because they often mob roosting owls.

These daytime searches to known spotted owl sites (“Activity Center Search”) should be conducted as part of the initial visit to the survey area (generally late March or early

April), prior to the initiation of nighttime routes. If it is possible to locate resident spotted owls without doing station visits, time and effort may be saved because portions of the survey area within hearing distance of that known spotted owl site (generally 0.5-mile radius) can be omitted from surveys to avoid unnecessarily interacting with those owls. If the pair or resident single is located, record the location and go to Section 17, Determining Reproductive Success, if

Please see Glossary (Appendix 1) for definitions of “known/historical” sites.

this level of information is needed.

This search area may be included as part a complete visit if the daytime search is conducted during the seven days required for a complete visit (Ex: if daytime stand search occurs within the

0.5 mile area on visit one, nighttime calling of that same habitat will not be necessary for that visit). Please note that on subsequent visits, nighttime calling of this 0.5 mile circle should be included in the overall survey area for the remainder of the complete visits if owls were not detected during the Activity Center Search.

IF Activity Center Searches are being conducted to locate NSOs adjacent to project activities and determine nesting status for projects operating in the breeding season of years 3 and 4, follow methodology for determining nesting status (this may include more than one visit).

9.0 SURVEYS FOR DISTURBANCE-ONLY PROJECTS

Activities that do not modify spotted owl habitat but will result in disturbance to spotted owls usually represent short-term effects compared to the long-term effects of habitat modification, especially when such projects are limited to one season. Therefore, a one-year six visit survey can apply to smoke or noise-disturbance only actions. Six visits that cover all spotted owl habitat within 0.25 mile from the project area will be effective until the beginning of the following breeding season. If operations are not completed by year two, three spot check survey visits each year should occur in years two and three OR project proponents can choose to utilize the 2-year, six visit survey protocol. Field forms should indicate that these are disturbance-only projects.

10.0 SPOT CHECK SURVEYS

With the invasion of the barred owl, spotted owls have shown increasing tendency to move from established, activity centers and establish, or attempt to establish, alternate activity centers or core use areas to avoid agonistic encounters with barred owls. Spotted owls establish activity centers in stands that have not previously been documented more frequently than typically occurred prior to the barred owl invasion. Because of this movement, there is an increased risk that spotted owls may establish activity centers and core use areas within or near project areas subsequent to completion of protocol surveys. If gone undetected, spotted owls at these new site centers are at risk of direct harm, injury, or harassment from project activities that result in direct physical modification (e.g., tree felling, prescribed fire, cable yarding, helicopter downdraft, etc.)

or biological modification (e.g., noise exceeding ambient conditions).

The 2-year, 6-visits per year, surveys establish a reasonably high likelihood of detecting spotted owls in occupied activity centers within the survey area. However, the Service believes it prudent that project proponents to do SPOT CHECK SURVEYS of the project area and immediate vicinity (i.e., within 0.25 mile) prior to conducting activities in years 3 and 4. Spot checks are prescribed to detect spotted owls that may have moved into the project area subsequent to completion of general surveys. A new site center could be established in the project area by (a) known territorial individuals within the survey area; (b) undetected spotted owls from known sites within the survey area; or (c) dispersing juveniles, floaters, or territorial spotted owls displaced from outside the survey area. These factors, plus the history of barred owl detections in the survey area, are taken into account when determining the need for spot checks. Spot checks are intended to supplement the general project-level surveys and avoid the potential direct take of spotted owls from project implementation.

Adjustments to project timing or other project modifications may be required under some circumstances where spotted owls initiate breeding activities within or immediately adjacent to a project area (See 10.3 below).

10.1 Design of Spot Check Surveys

Spot check surveys include the following components:

1. Spot checks supplement the full 2-year, 6 visits-per-year protocol surveys and are conducted during years 3 and/or 4 of the survey cycle.

2. Spot check surveys will cover all spotted owl habitat within the project footprint and within 0.25 mile of the project footprint (hereafter referred to as the SPOT CHECK

AREA).

3. Spot check surveys consist of three nighttime surveys spaced a minimum of 7 days apart.

4. Spot checks may begin on the appropriate Survey Period date for the physiographic province (see section 4.0), and should be completed prior to or concurrent with project activities (see conditions described in10.2.2. below) on or before April 15, or as soon as feasible during the early portion of the breeding season (See Appendix 4) if there are conditions of limited accessibility, such as due to snow or seasonal road closures.

If spot checks cannot be completed by April 15, reasons for delayed completion should be documented in the survey record.

5. Should the project continue into the year 4 breeding season, spot checks should be repeated, with similar consideration of spotted owl nesting status and consideration of take avoidance measures.

6. Any detection of spotted owls during a spot check survey should be followed up as soon as possible, but not later than 7 days after the nighttime detection, by a daytime follow-up visit to confirm the location and status of detected owls.

10.2 Circumstances Establishing the Need for Spot Checks.

Not all projects need spot check surveys. The surveyor should apply the circumstance that best describes actual history of known spotted owl sites and survey data for the project and survey area, as described below. Figure 2 provides a flow chart to assist in determining cases where spot checks are needed.

10.2.1 Circumstances Precluding the Need to Conduct Spot Check Surveys

For project areas meeting ALL of the following conditions, the likelihood of territorial spotted owls occupying the project area is discountable. The action may occur in years 3 and 4 without additional surveys.

1. No resident single owls, territorial owl pairs, or pairs/two owls of unknown status are detected during protocol survey visits, including any additional visits, in the survey area (i.e., survey area not occupied by a territorial pair or single detected during year 1 and/or year 2 surveys); and

2. No activity centers are known to occur in the survey area; and

3. No barred owls are detected in the survey area during protocol surveys or are otherwise known to occur in the survey area; and

4. All spotted owl habitat within the survey area has been completely covered during protocol surveys (i.e. there is no habitat that was omitted due to inaccessibility, landowner restrictions, incomplete surveys, or other constraints).

10.2.2 Situations Where Spot Checks Are Necessary

The following bullets describe situations when spot check surveys are necessary. The project proponent should complete spot checks and schedule/implement projects as appropriate:

1. If no resident single owls, territorial owl pairs, or pairs/two owls of unknown status are detected within the survey area (project footprint plus one home range for projects that will modify habitat; 0.25 mile footprint for disturbance-only surveys) during year 1 or 2 of protocol surveys, and no known spotted owl sites are known from the survey area, BUT barred owls are known to occur within the survey area

(through project surveys or other scientifically credible methods), spot checks are necessary. In this case, projects may be initiated during the breeding season (or continue if ongoing) concurrent with spot checks.

2. If no resident single owls, territorial owl pairs, or pairs/two owls of unknown status are detected within the survey area during year 1 or 2 protocol surveys, but known spotted owl sites are known to occur in the survey area, spot checks are necessary.

In this case, projects may be initiated during the breeding season (or continue if ongoing) concurrent with spot checks.

3. If no resident single owls, territorial owl pairs, or pairs/two owls of unknown status are detected within the survey area during year 1 or 2 protocol surveys, and no known spotted owl sites are known to occur in the survey area, BUT portions of spotted owl habitat within the survey area is unsurveyed during protocol surveys due to inaccessibility, landowner restrictions, or other constraints, spot checks are necessary. Under these circumstances, spot checks must be completed prior to operations occurring after February 1.

4. If resident single owls, territorial owl pairs, or pairs/two owls of unknown status are detected within the survey area during years 1 and/or 2 protocol surveys, spot checks are necessary. Under these circumstances, spot checks must be completed prior to operations occurring after February 1.

10.3 If Spotted Owls Are Detected in the Spot Check Area

If spotted owls are detected in the spot check area, ALL ongoing operations that have a likelihood of direct harm to a spotted owl and/or creating above-ambient noise shall be postponed. Conduct follow-up outings to determine location and pair/nesting status, as described in Section 16.0-17.0 of this document. Location data should be reviewed by the appropriate regulatory office to ensure that appropriate protection measures that avoid incidental take are implemented.

10.4 If Spotted Owls Are Not Detected in the Spot Check Area

If spotted owls are not detected, the project may continue through that breeding season.

Should the project continue into the following breeding season, spot checks should be repeated.

11.0 COMPLETE SURVEY

A COMPLETE SURVEY includes:

Two years of six visits per year, including activity center searches, and, if appropriate;

Spot Checks and activity center searches, as described in section 10.0 and 8.0 respectively.

12.0 DURATION AND EXPIRATION OF SURVEYS

Based on the data analyzed and professional opinion, 2-year surveys are expected to provide more accurate results for a survey area because of annual variation in occupancy and detection probabilities between years across most of the range of the spotted owl. As described above, two years of spot checks may be necessary in years 3 and 4 depending on the results of two years of survey. If spot checks have not been completed, full protocol surveys are recommended beginning in year 5. If spot checks have been completed in years 3 and 4, technical assistance with appropriate regulatory agency will be required to evaluate scope of remaining harvest and appropriate survey needs in year 5 for remaining harvest areas.

13.0 DAYTIME STAND SEARCHES (OPTIONAL)

Objective: To search habitats most likely to contain roosting or nesting spotted owls. Optional daytime stand searches are intended to provide an extra level of assurance that non-responsive spotted owls are not residing in a project area by searching nesting/roosting habitat within the project area using methodologies used for follow-up surveys. Examples of situations when daytime stands searches might be warranted include projects near known activity centers without recent verified owl use, projects near activity centers that have been taken over by barred owls, or project areas proposed in high-quality nesting or roosting habitat.

14.0 RECORDING DATA

For each visit, whether results are positive or negative, record the following information on the survey form:

Brief description…