Landbirds Vital Sign Monitoring Protocol - Pacific Island Network: Version 1.0

Camp, Richard; Pratt, Thane; Bailey, Cathleen; Hu, Darcy

As part of the partnership between the U. S. Geological Survey-Biological Resources Discipline (USGS-BRD) and the National Park Service, we developed this vital sign monitoring protocol to be followed for monitoring landbirds at Pacific Island Network (PACN) parks. The PACN Landbirds Monitoring Protocol is organized as follows: NARRATIVE of the protocol is intended to provide detail on the objectives of the monitoring protocol and to provide justification for the sampling program. Extensive incorporation of relevant literature and presentation of data collected by other federal, state and conservation agencies were used to justify a particular sampling design, sampling method, and data analysis technique. Included in the narrative is a description of the data management, reporting, personnel requirements and training, and operational requirements. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs) of the protocol is a step-by-step description of the field, data analysis, and data management aspects of the protocol. The SOPs provide details on researchers’ procedures and tasks, and guidelines for actions and work to be accomplished. Of highest priority is collecting data to determine species-specific estimates of bird numbers, densities with variance, and track trends by either Park or Park unit. Landbird monitoring will occur at Haleakala National Park (HALE), Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) and National Park of American Samoa (NPSA) units Tutuila and Tau. We prepared this protocol specific to PACN requirements, but kept it broad enough to be useful to other federal and state agencies, and other conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy). Thus, the park bird survey effort can be part of wider scaled monitoring programs (e.g., monitoring of broadly distributed populations or island-wide monitoring). We have also included brief descriptions of alternative sampling and monitoring methods that are important for PACN and Park units to consider if more detailed population pattern information is needed. Surveys of native and non-native forest landbird species will occur during peak vocalization periods using point-transect sampling methods. Point-transect counts with unlimited radius are to be placed every 150 m along fixed and random panel transects. Surveys are to be conducted between January and June for Hawaiian parks and between July and November for NPSA units. All birds seen or heard are to be recorded during an 8-minute sampling period between one half hour before sunrise and 1100 h when sampling conditions are favorable. In addition, habitat measurements will be taken both at the fixed and random panel sampling stations each time they are sampled. Annual reports of survey results will include species lists, maps of species distributions, and indices of bird status (i.e., birds per station and frequency of occurrence). Estimation of bird densities and trends are to be produced every 6 years, after completion of the sampling rotation. At the same time, there will be a protocol review to ensure that operating procedures and data gathered are adequate to address the monitoring objectives. Determining and detecting biologically meaningful changes over short periods is difficult, therefore, it may require numerous rotations (> 5 rotations; 25 years) before trends are detected. Collecting habitat measurements and co-locating surveys will tie bird status and trends into vegetation and landscape monitoring, and provide information needed for policy decisions by Park management. Furthermore, the second objective of the protocol fits into current management activities and allows an adaptive management approach to be applied.

Landbirds Vital Sign Monitoring Protocol - Pacific Island Network: Version 1.0

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