February 2009

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Montane Forest Birds in the Santa Catalina Mountains: Monitoring Population Trends and Reproductive Success and Examining Potential Limiting Factors for Breeding Populations
By Chris Kirkpatrick and Courtney J. Conway

We studied reproductive success and habitat associations of montane forest birds within four study sites located in high-elevation (>2,000 m) forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona from 2004-2007. We focused our research on ground-nesting forest birds because they represent some of the most common bird species within our study system and provide high-quality data via easy access to nests during nest monitoring efforts. We also examined the effect of a recent wildfire on the montane forest bird community by determining population trends of montane forest birds following a wildfire that burned portions of our four study sites in 2003. The wildfire was a low- to moderate severity surface fire, so we concentrated our fire research on ground-nesting forest bird species, particularly Red-faced Warblers (Cardellina rubrifrons) and Yellow-eyed Juncos (Junco phaeonotus), because nests of these species were most likely to be affected.

We detected a total of 34 montane forest bird species during annual point-count bird surveys. Red-faced Warblers, Cordilleran Flycatchers (Empidonax occidentalis), Yellow-eyed Juncos, Warbling Vireos (Vireo gilvus), House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon), Western Tanagers (Prianga ludoviciana), Black-headed Grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus), Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata), American Robins (Turdus migratorius), and Mountain Chickadees (Poecile gambeli) were the ten most frequently detected species. Yellow-eyed Juncos, House Wrens, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Mountain Chickadees increased in relative abundance within our study area after the 2003 fire. A closer look at the ground-nesting bird species within our study area revealed that Yellow-eyed Juncos and Red-faced Warblers were the two most common ground-nesting birds and density of Yellow-eyed Juncos (1.2 males/ha) was twice as great as for Red-faced Warblers (0.6 males/ha). Compared to random sites, most Red-faced Warblers and Yellow-eyed Juncos selected nest-sites close (≤50 m) to drainage bottoms in stands of montane riparian forest characterized by more saplings and small trees (red-faced warblers), more shrubs and less canopy cover (Yellow-eyed Juncos), and more ferns, forbs, brush, and small woody debris (both species). Although Red-faced Warblers and Yellow-eyed Juncos nested in close association in montane riparian forest, the two species appear to coexist by selecting available nest-sites with different environmental features at both the macrohabitat and microhabitat scales. Both species avoided nesting in areas that were burned by a recent low-severity surface suggesting short-term negative effects of fire for breeding populations of Red-faced Warblers and Yellow-eyed Juncos. Moreover, daily nest survival declined substantially immediately following the Aspen wildfire for both species. Montane riparian forest in the southwestern U.S. appears to provide important breeding habitats for Red-faced Warblers, Yellow-eyed Juncos, and numerous other montane forest bird species. However, little research or conservation planning has been directed toward montane riparian forest in the region, even though this forest type is limited in its areal extent (<1% of the total land mass in the Sky Island region of Arizona) and increasingly threatened by disturbances such as fire.

Read the full report here.

Not Wanted in Arizona: Tamarisk Leaf Beetles
The tamarisk leaf beetle (Diorhabda spp.) was identified in the 1990s as a potential bio-control agent for invasive tamarisk (salt cedar). Through the 1990s, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), worked with local partners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide opportunities to research the beetle and its effectiveness against tamarisk. In 1999 the beetles were released into cages in several locations across the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains and were subsequently released at several sites in Utah. Since then, the beetles have moved down the Colorado River almost to the upper end of Lake Powell. Although the beetles were not expected to be able to survive below 38º north, they are thriving at release sites at 37º north (approximately the Arizona-Utah border) and are moving south toward 36º north (approximately the southern edge of Lake Mead).  If they successfully continue southward along the lower Colorado River, they may reach the rivers of central Arizona (Gila, Salt, San Pedro, and Verde) and the Colorado River delta and will affect southwestern willow flycatchers and other migratory birds that nest in tamarisk-dominated riparian habitats.

Why don’t we want the tamarisk leaf beetle in Arizona?
Tamarisk is a woody riparian tree species found along the Colorado and central Arizona rivers. Although it is an exotic species, tamarisk provides migratory and nesting habitat for southwestern willow flycatcher and other migratory birds, as well as habitat for other terrestrial wildlife. Loss of tamarisk would mean loss of important critically important habitat.
Tamarisk defoliation by the beetles occurs during the height of the migratory bird nesting season (May through July) and eliminates physical cover and affects habitat microclimates that reduces likelihood of nesting success. This significantly limits migratory bird reproduction, since they have only a narrow window available for reproduction.

Spread the word!
Let your partners know not to bring beetles into Arizona or within 200 miles of southwestern willow flycatcher tamarisk habitats. There is no legal approval in place to bring beetles into Arizona. Beetles can spread by inadvertent human transport. If you are going into an area that may have beetles, examine all gear, clothing, or other equipment before returning from the field to avoid carrying beetles with you. If you are in an area not known to have beetles and you see insects that could be beetles or tamarisk trees that look defoliated, check the area and capture specimens for verification by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and ensure the specimens cannot escape while in transit.

For more information or to report beetles, contact:
Amy LaVoie, USFWS-Las Vegas: (702) 515-5240
Greg Beatty, USFWS-Arizona: (602) 242-0210
Nathan Darnall, USFWS-Utah: (801) 975-3330

Marshbird workshop in Yuma
A marshbird training workshop will be offered in Yuma, Arizona from 1-3 April 2009. The main objective of the workshop is to train participants to identify all common vocalizations of secretive marsh birds. Yuma is a good place for a training workshop because many of the secretive marsh bird species that occur in North America are common in the area: Black Rail, Sora, Virginia Rail, Clapper Rail, Least Bittern, Common Moorhen, Pied-billed Grebe, and American Coot. The field workshop will be useful for anyone participating in standardized marsh bird surveys and who has these species in their survey area.

This is the sixth year of the workshop and most participants feel comfortable identifying many of the calls by the end of the workshop. There are no registration costs for those participating in the national standardized marsh bird survey effort, although participants must pay their own travel and lodging costs.

For more information or to receive a registration form and agenda, contact Courtney Conway.

Upcoming grant deadlines
We have recently added information about a number of new funding opportunities for those doing work in the SJV region. Please take the time to browse through the complete list of funding opportunities.

• Musser Fund
  Deadline: 18 February 2009
  Description: Grants are available to promote collaborative process in environmental decision making. The Laura Jane Musser Fund proposes to assist public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects in rural areas to undertake consensus-based activities in environmental stewardship or dispute resolution. State and Federal agencies based in the U.S. are encouraged to apply. Grants maximum is $35,000.
• Captain Planet Foundation
  Deadline: 31 March 2009, 30 June 2009, 30 September 2009; 31 December 2009
  Description: The Captain Planet Foundation will fund projects that promote understanding of environmental issues, focus on hands-on involvement, involve children and young adults 6-18 (elementary through high school), promote interaction and cooperation within the group, help young people develop planning and problem solving skills, include adult supervision, commit to follow-up communications with the Foundation. The Foundation only funds projects to organizations or sponsoring agencies that are exempt from federal taxation under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501. Grants typically range from $250-$2500 USD. In an effort to conserve paper the Captain Planet Foundation requires grant applicants to apply for funding using the online application form. Should you have any questions regarding the grant application or the small grants program, please contact Taryn Murphy, CPF's program director.
• The Christensen Fund
  Deadline:31 March 2009; 31 August 2009
  Description: The Christensen Fund makes grants to organizations that work towards maintaining the rich diversity of the world—biological and cultural—over the long run, including the persistence and adaptation of indigenous systems for managing landscapes that sustain cultural and biological value and diversity.
• Acres for America
  Deadline: 1 April 2009 (preproposal); 1 June 2009 (full proposal)
  Description: Acres for America is a partnership between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Acres for America program was established to provide funding for projects that conserve important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants through acquisition of interest in real property. The goal of the Acres for America program is to offset the footprint of Wal-Mart's domestic facilities on at least an acre by acre basis through these acquisitions.

Upcoming meetings and workshops
See complete details about upcoming meetings and workshops.

THE SECOND NATIONAL GATHERING: BIRD CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION: 22-26 February 2009, Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Yaqui to Gila Watershed Alliance Working Group Meeting: 26-27 February 2009, Moctezuma, Sonora. Contact: Frank Zadroga.

California Burrowing Owl Consortium Winter Meeting: 26-28 February 2009, Escondido, CA. Contact: Dr. Jeff Lincer.

SONORAN JOINT VENTURE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING: 8 March 2009, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Contact: Carol Beardmore.

WESTERN HEMISPHERE SHOREBIRD GROUP MEETING: 9-13 March 2009, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Meeting Coordinator: Rick Lanctot; Local Organizers: Xico Vega and Guillermo Fernandez.