California Spotted Owl Module: 2007
Overview
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John Keane, Sierra Nevada
Research Center, PSW.
Field Project Leaders &: GIS Analysis:
•Claire Gallagher, Paula Shaklee,
Gretchen Jehle, Ross Gerrard SNRC-PSW
Plumas-Lassen Study: Acknowledgments.
•National Forest Service Region 5.
•Plumas and Lassen National Forests.
•National Fire Plan.
•Peter Stine, Sierra Nevada Research
Center, PSW.
•QLG Members.
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Field Researchers: Brian
Gill, Rachel Kussow,
Dave Smith, Mason
Werner
2007 PLS Annual Report
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Monitor density, reproduction
& demographics of CSOs.
Address other potential stress
factors (Barred Owls, WNV).
Habitat association models.
Radio-telemetry work.
FY2008 Research Objectives.
CSO Density Across the PLS Area
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Surveyed 1,889 km2
(468,500 acres)
71 territorial sites –
62 confirmed pairs, 3
unconfirmed pairs, 6
t-singles.
2005 = 64 pair/11 t-s
2006 = 52 pair/9 t-s
Nesting Success 2004-2007
2004
2005
2006
2007
49.4%
18.3%
13.8%
55.4%
Monthly Precipitation (Quincy, CA)
14
12
1.61
1.53
1.50
1.81
P rec ipitation (inc hes )
Year
% Successful
Nests
Young
Fledged
/ Nest
10
2004
8
2005
2006
6
2007
4
2
0
January
February
March
April
May
Percent biomass of prey in CSO diet,
2003-2006.
60
50
40
2003
30
2004
20
2005
2006
10
Insects
Birds
Mammals
Other Large
Mammals
Other Small
Perymyscus
Flying Squirrel
Woodrat
0
All Years
Biomass By Site
100%
Insects
90%
Birds
80%
Other Sm.
Mammals
70%
Pocket Gopher
60%
Broad-footed
Mole
50%
Deer Mouse
40%
Sites by Elevation (m), Low to High
1679
1604
1572
1470
1469
1467
1461
1438
1427
1426
1401
1346
0%
1319
Woodrat
1262
10%
1230
Flying Squirrel
1136
20%
1097
Other Lg.
Mammals
1032
30%
Barred/Sparred Owl Status in the PLS
and Sierra Nevada
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Documented 4 Barreds and 4
Sparreds in PLS during 2007.
First record in 1989, first repro
in 1991.
Minimum of ~45 records for
Sierra Nevada 1989-2007.
17 records of pairing/repro
among barred/sparred/spotteds.
Data suggest Barred Owls
increasing in the Sierra Nevada
– population increase,
reproduction, long-distance
colonizers
West Nile Virus in the HFQLG Area
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Plumas & Lassen Co.
Collaboration with Dr.
Josh Hull & Dr. Holly
Ernest at UCD.
2004-2006: 120
samples from CSOs –
all tested negative.
2007: 38 CSO samples
– not screened to date.
* WNV detected in all counties in 2004.
Data: California Dept of Health Services, 2006
CSO Habitat Associations
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Home range scale: relate occupancy and
demographics to amounts and distribution
of habitat within CSO home ranges.
Landscape-scale: relate habitat to CSO
density, distribution and spacing.
Within home range scale:
-nest polygon & plot scales
-foraging area polygon & plot
scales
Radio-telemetry work in 2007.
2008 Plan of Work
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Continue density and demographic
monitoring for estimating population
trends.
Continue monitoring of barred owls and
WNV.
Develop habitat models at landscape,
home range, & nest-plot scales (occupancy,
demographics) – adaptive management
tools.
Continue/expand radio-telemetry study of
habitat use (use at stand-scale, plot-scale).
Initiate inventory surveys in Moonlight
and Antelope Complex fire areas.
Integrate with fire-fuels, small mammal
modules, etc.