D5_2024_LPNF_BreedingBirdAssessmentProtocol.pdf

Los Padres National Forest- Breeding Bird Assessment

Introduction

Following years of surveys conducted by Forest Biologists (Kevin Cooper and Patrick Lieske) for one of Los Padres National Forest's (LPNF) on-going fuels management projects (Figueroa

Mountain, SLRD) a survey methodology was developed for mitigating effects to bird species covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This assessment strategy is discussed in the

LPNF MBTA Programmatic Fuels Report as a methodology for supporting the decision-making process on whether to extend the Forest's existing March 15- July 31 migratory bird limited operating period (LOP), which is the primary mitigation for avoiding impacts to resident and migratory bird species due to a variety of on-going projects.

Breeding bird assessments follow a strategy established for purposes of breeding bird atlasing, which is applied with minor modifications internationally. While different states, provinces or countries make minor changes to the protocol, they all follow the basic field protocols set out in The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland by Sharrock (1976). Sharrock (1976) established the breeding and behavior codes which are still used by birders and ornithologists for determining what species are confirmed or probable breeders within select units.

The LPNF breeding bird assessment utilizes the breeding and behavior codes to determine species that are either reproducing or probable breeders on National Forest System lands. These species are of concern, as they are potentially affected by on-going vegetation management projects that may occur during the breeding season. As per current U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service guidance, Director's Order #225 (USDI- FWS 2021) action agencies are responsible to mitigate effects of projects which may cause "take" on species covered by the MBTA.

Equipment

Binoculars, field guide and/or biding apps, notebook or tablet (as preferred), pen.

Training Required: Breeding bird assessments should be completed by observers or biologists with specialized knowledge regarding avian wildlife identification (visual and audial), avian behavior/ physiology and habitat use.

Methodology

1) Identify representative habitat types within the project area. You need to visit a representative sample of habitats which are present in the project area across the relevant elevational gradient.

2) Identify species present within the project area. For each species, document whether it is exhibiting breeding or non-breeding behaviors.

(a) Non-Breeding behaviors: Group foraging in mixed flocks, especially common in wintering sparrows. Lack of territorial behavior by males. Males have not molted to breeding plumage.

(b) Pre-breeding behaviors: Pair bonding activities (segregation from mixed flocks, territorial singing by males, courtship behaviors). Note: Pre-breeding behaviors are indicators that breeding will be initiated shortly, usually in a matter of days.

(c) Breeding Behaviors: Territorial singing/ territorial defense, nest site selection, nest construction, egg laying, incubation, brooding, foraging/ feeding nestlings, presence of recently fledged birds that are not fully mobile.

3) For purposes of tracking information, you can use breeding and behavior codes (Appendix A)

(Sharrock 1976) which are available through eBird and/or other bird atlasing efforts. The described behaviors are indications that breeding has either been confirmed or is probable within the project area.

4) Construct a species list of birds observed in the project area with their relevant breeding/ behavior codes.

5) Summarize breeding behavior across the project area, encompassing all permanent resident and summer resident species which breed in the area. Evaluate the potential for effects based on habitat use and proximity to activities. It is helpful to summarize according to commonalities in how species utilize resources (e.g., avian resource-use guilds) (Ehrlich et. al. 1988).

Effects Decision Matrix Species Not Present Species Present

Species Not Affected by

Treatment Actions

No Effect Species may be present, but effects from treatment actions are negligible2

Species Is/ May be Affected by Treatment Actions1

No Effect Species Is/ May be Affected

(Severity is dependent on frequency and intensity)

1 Treatment actions are known to impact a species/ guild, either directly, indirectly or cumulatively.

2 While a species/guild may be present, there is no causal linkage for them being impacted by treatment activities.

6) Draft an assessment report, summarizing the findings of your survey. Report should document your determination on whether activities that are being conducted will potentially impact breeding birds, including recommended mitigations, if any, for minimizing impacts.

Reports should include a species list, maps, and photos of the project area.

7) Completed breeding bird assessment reports are submitted to the relevant Line Officer

(District Ranger or Acting District Ranger) to support their Decision on whether to extend fuels treatments within the established LOP or not. Decisions on whether to extend activities are ultimately the decision of the Line Officer, however assessments should accurately reflect the biological circumstances, regardless of other non-biological concerns.

Literature Cited

Ehrlich, P.R., D.S. Dobkin and D. Wheye. 1988. The birder’s handbook: a field guide to the natural history of North American birds. Simon & Schuster. New York, NY. 785 p.

Sharrock, J. T. R. 1976. The atlas of breeding birds of Britain and Ireland. British Trust for

Ornithology and Irish Bird Conservancy. 477 p.

USDI- Fish and Wildlife Service. 2021. Director’s Order (No. 225). Director's Office, Washington D.C.

Appendix A

Breeding and Behavior Code Definitions

These are the definitions for our breeding codes and how they should be used. These codes generally describe behaviors that signify breeding. Specific projects (e.g., eBird Atlases) may suggest using codes only during certain times of year or situations. Please refer to specific project guidelines if you are participating in that project. If you are unsure which code to use, do not record a code but put notes in your species comments.

• NY Nest with Young (Confirmed) -- Nest with young seen or heard.

• NE Nest with Eggs (Confirmed) -- Nest with eggs.

• FS Carrying Fecal Sac (Confirmed) -- Adult carrying fecal sac.

• FY Feeding Young (Confirmed) -- Adult feeding young that have left the nest, but are not yet flying and independent (for some projects should not be used with raptors, terns, and other species that may move many miles from the nest site; often supersedes FL).

• CF Carrying Food (Confirmed) -- Adult carrying food for young (for some projects should not be used for corvids, raptors, terns, and certain other species that regularly carry food for courtship or other purposes).

• FL Recently Fledged Young (Confirmed) -- Recently fledged or downy young observed while still dependent upon adults.

• ON Occupied Nest (Confirmed) -- Occupied nest presumed by parent entering and remaining, exchanging incubation duties, etc.

• UN Used Nest (enter 0 if no birds seen) (Confirmed) -- Nest is present, but not active.

Use only if you are certain of the species that built the nest.

• DD Distraction Display (Confirmed) -- Distraction display, including feigning injury.

• NB Nest Building (Confirmed/Probable) -- Nest building at apparent nest site (should not be used for certain wrens, and other species that build dummy nests; see code "B" below for these species).

• CN Carrying Nesting Material (Confirmed/Probable) -- Adult carrying nesting material; nest site not seen.

• PE Physiological Evidence (Probable) -- Physiological evidence of nesting, usually a brood. Wren/Woodpecker Nest Building (Probable) -- Some species, including certain wrens (e.g., Marsh Wren), woodpeckers, and certain other cavity nesters (e.g., barbets) may build dummy nests and thus nest building activity cannot be considered confirmation. Use this category in those cases.

• A Agitated Behavior (Probable) -- Agitated behavior or anxiety calls from an adult.

This excludes responses elicited by "pishing", playing recordings, or mobbing behavior that species engage in year-round (for instance, mobbing an owl).

• N Visiting Probable Nest Site (Probable) -- Visiting repeatedly probable nest site

(primarily hole nesters).

• C Courtship, Display or Copulation (Probable) -- Courtship or copulation observed, including displays and courtship feeding.

• T Territorial Defense (Probable) -- Permanent territory presumed through defense of breeding territory by fighting or chasing individuals of same species.

• P Pair in Suitable Habitat (Probable) -- Pair observed in suitable breeding habitat (for some projects only during breeding season).

• M Multiple (7+) Singing Birds (Probable) -- At least 7 singing birds present in suitable nesting habitat (for some projects only during breeding season).

• S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ Days (Probable) -- Use only if you have observed a singing bird at the same spot (not elsewhere) one week or more earlier in the season.

• S Singing Bird (Possible) -- Singing bird present in suitable nesting habitat (for some projects only during breeding season).

• H In Appropriate Habitat (Possible) -- Adult in suitable nesting habitat during its breeding season.

• F Flyover (Observed) -- Flying over only -- Use it only when all individuals are seen as flyovers; do not use it if just one bird stops or is located feeding on the ground or in vegetation. Raptors, swallows, and swifts that are flying overhead and not obvious migrants are not flyovers, since these birds are often using the habitat in ways not obvious to observers on the ground. This restriction depends upon the judgment of the observer, so when in doubt, do not use this code.