GRAND JUNCTION FIELD OFFICE
Need:
Sagebrush Steppe Habitat and Avian Population Dynamics
-Identify the minimum patch sizes needed by area-sensitive sagebrush bird species,
as measured by reproductive success.
-Investigate how other habitat factors may affect sensitivity (such as structural
stage, adjacent land cover types).
-Examine the negative consequences of habitat fragmentation that have been
documented in other habitat types, such as increases in nest predation or cowbird
parasitism rates.
-Test the effects on sagebrush birds of different management prescriptions,
including prescribed burns and different grazing regimes.
-Investigate reported efficacy of the herbicide Spike (Tebuthiuron) in thinning
sagebrush to 15-20% canopy cover while preserving forbs.
Issue:
Avian habitat loss and fragmentation in sagebrush ecosystems.
Application:
This type of research and monitoring would assist BLM in long-term management of
avian habitat in sagebrush steppe habitats, in order to assure sustainability of
habitat.
Category:
Research - vegetation, sagebrush, wildlife.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
Partners in Flight, NSTC, USGS.
Estimated cost:
> $100,000 but proposal can be broken into smaller discrete projects likely running
between $5,000 - 10,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Ron Lambeth, Wildlife Biologist - (970) 244-3000
2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506
Need:
Piñon-Juniper Woodland Habitat and Avian Population Dynamics
-Research the general natural history of the priority piñon-juniper bird species
including: breeding biology, foraging biology (is species important in limiting number
of devastating insects in piñon), and habitat requirements.
-Determine habitat selection parameters to assess how fuelwood harvest may affect
the Black-chinned Hummingbird.
-Based on the flower phrenology that sustains the Black-chinned Hummingbird
through its Nearctic season: could livestock grazing systems be designed to assure
adequate nectar sources through the summer season. Site rehabilitation mixes
should have the information that could help to bolster flower species that are
needed during the leanest nectar periods.
-Determine the effects of cowbird parasitism on Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Gray
Flycatchers, Gray Vireos, Juniper Titmice, and Black-throated Gray Warblers.
-Determine conditions that lead to excessive parasitism and predation failure in
nesting of piñon-juniper birds: vireos, including Gray and Plumbeous, are known to
not be able to raise their own young when there's a cowbird chick around, but how
likely is this to be threatening to a population? Are nest mites more common in
closed canopy than open canopy piñon-juniper, lightly grazed than heavily grazed
sites? What level of human presence brings in the jays and drives out the Cooper's
Hawks resulting in more nest predation? (This raises a lot of Watchable Wildlife
concerns that need studying.)
-Test the hypothesis that Gray Vireo habitat can be created by stand thinning.
-Research the general natural history of the Juniper Titmouse including: breeding
biology (Does the species form permanent pair bonds? Do they defend territories
throughout the year?) foraging biology (Is species important in limiting number of
devastating insects in piñon?), and habitat requirements.
-Determine habitat selection parameters to assess fuelwood harvest effect on
Juniper Titmouse.
Issue:
Piñon-juniper, avian population dynamics.
Application:
This type of research and monitoring would assist BLM in long-term management of
avian habitat in piñon-juniper woodland habitats, in order to assure sustainability of
habitat.
Category:
Research - vegetation, wildlife.
Monitoring - vegetation, wildlife.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
Partners in Flight, NSTC, USGS.
Estimated cost:
> $100,000 but proposal can be broken into smaller discrete projects likely running
between $5,000 - 10,000.
Status:
This issue and need have been incorporated into the BLM Colorado Plateau PiñonJuniper Strategy. NSTC is also providing assistance in bibliographic research.
Contact:
Ron Lambeth, Wildlife Biologist - (970) 244-3000
2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506
Need:
Desert Shrubland Habitat and Avian Population Dynamics
-Support the investigation of the herbicide OUST for cheatgrass control.
-Study the mortality of desert shrubland bird species in Colorado and on winter
ranges.
-Determine the feasibility of re-introducing priority species (Loggerhead Shrike,
Burrowing Owl) to habitats that appear to have recovered.
Issue:
Desert shrubland, avian population dynamics, cheatgrass, species re-introduction.
Application:
This type of research and monitoring would assist BLM in long-term management of
avian habitat in desert shrubland habitats, in order to assure sustainability of
habitat.
Category:
Research - vegetation, wildlife.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
Partners in Flight, NSTC, USGS.
Estimated cost:
> $50,000 but proposal can be broken into smaller discrete projects likely running
between. $5,000 - 10,000.
Status:
Contact:
NSTC has included this as a project for the Center which will study the effects of
herbicide control on cheatgrass, mortality rates of birds in winter range, and the
feasibility of re-introducing priority species to recovered habitat.
Ron Lambeth, Wildlife Biologist - (970) 244-3000
2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506
Need:
Effect of Percent Slope on Birds in Piñon-Juniper Woodlands
Issue:
Fuelwood sales and vegetation conversion projects occur most often on relatively
level ground. The effect of wildfire last longer on level ground. These events greatly
change habitat characteristics of the site for wildlife. The wildlife species that prefer
or require late seral piñon-juniper woodland are reduced or eliminated from sites
that experience those events. There is a question as to whether there will always be
plenty of good piñon-juniper habitat remaining for these species on the steeper
ground. Can the relatively level ground be sacrificed to habitat changing uses
without impacting populations on a landscape scale? Or are the relatively level,
more productive piñon-juniper sites critical to some piñon-juniper obligate species?
Currently there are demands to restore mule deer populations West-wide. Piñonjuniper woodland is a popular target for measures to restore deer populations, while
gaining livestock forage benefits too. Calls to let wildfires burn in piñon-juniper are
becoming stronger. As action on these demands accelerate, studies to determine
effects on other wildlife grow more urgent.
Application:
Environmental assessments on these habitat altering projects without this
information must speculate on cumulative effects. To our knowledge, no studies
have addressed this question, although some existing studies should help to fill
gaps in the information base of this study.
Category:
Research - vegetation, wildlife.
Monitoring - vegetation, wildlife.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
Partners in Flight, NSTC, USGS.
Estimated cost:
> $50,000 but proposal can be broken into smaller discrete projects likely running
between $5,000 - 10,000.
Status:
This issue and need have been incorporated into the BLM Colorado Plateau PiñonJuniper Strategy. NSTC is also providing assistance in bibliographic research.
Contact:
Ron Lambeth, Wildlife Biologist - (970) 244-3013
2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506
Need:
Effects of Common Fuelwood Harvest Practices on Piñon-Juniper Woodland Birds
Issue:
The dominant forestry exercised in piñon pines and/or juniper trees is fuelwood
sales and to lesser extent postwood sales. Fuelwood harvesting leaves areas in
conditions varying according to the sale stipulations and level of compliance.
However, several wildlife species are piñon-juniper obligates and other species
require a certain density of trees. Sales of wood materials should have advice on
stipulation designs. What is the maximum thinning that can occur and still maintain
piñon-juniper woodland species? Does this vary with the elevation or some other
factor? At what dimension does patch size matter? What is the effect on birds of
scattering slash versus piling it? How significant are ips beetle control measures
common to forestry practice to woodpeckers, cavity nesters, and other birds? There
are informative publications on piñon-juniper conversions on wildlife including birds
and there is a good bibliography on birds and forestry practices in other forest
types, but we know of no study closely paralleling this proposal in the piñon-juniper
zone.
Application:
Environmental assessments on these habitat altering projects without this
information are weak with speculation on the cumulative effects. To our knowledge,
no studies have addressed this question, although some studies should help to fill
gaps in the information base of this study.
Category:
Research - vegetation, wildlife.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
Partners in Flight, NSTC, USGS.
Estimated cost:
> $50,000 but proposal can be broken into smaller discrete projects likely running
between $5,000 - 10,000.
Status:
This issue and need have been incorporated into the BLM Colorado Plateau PiñonJuniper Strategy. NSTC is also providing assistance in bibliographic research.
Contact:
Ron Lambeth, Wildlife Biologist - (970) 244-3013
2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506