Avian Monitoring in the National Capital Region Network: Summary report 2007–2011

Ladin, Zachary; Shriver, W.

This report presents the first five years of data from forest breeding bird monitoring by the National Capital Region Network Inventory and Monitoring (NCRN I&M) program. Forest breeding bird monitoring began in 2007 and was implemented annually at 385 sampling points within the 11 parks of the National Capital Region Network (Antietam National Battlefield, Catoctin Mountain Park, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Monocacy National Battlefield, National Capital Parks--East, Prince William Forest Park, Rock Creek Park, and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts). The objectives of this monitoring program are to: (1) document distributions of forest breeding bird species including mean abundance and density, (2) use bird community indices to asses habitat quality at both park and regional levels, (3) detect annual variation in species abundance with special attention paid to species of conservation concern, (4) provide data that will allow the assessment of the importance of habitat quality for long-term trends in bird abundance, density, and community dynamics. After five years of data collection in the NCRN, we are able to begin fulfilling the objectives listed above. Following the original standard operating procedures described in Dawson and Efford (2006), we document annual mean density and “relative” abundance along with associated variances for all species detected in the NCRN from 2007-2011 at regional and park unit scales. These data on bird species density and abundance are useful to determine (1) occurrence and distribution of species, including species of conservation concern within the NCRN and respective park units, (2) preliminary population estimates at the regional and park unit levels, and (3) the level of monitoring effort (i.e. number of plot locations and visits ) required to detect population trends at region and park unit levels for species detected. The parks within the NCRN boast a diversity of forest-breeding bird species, indicating they provide important habitat for species of both continental and regional conservation concern. For example, we estimated high mean densities and abundances for Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), eastern wood-pewee (Contopus virens), and wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), which are all birds of both regional and continental concern. These species should be given special consideration during planning and management within the NCRN.

Avian Monitoring in the National Capital Region Network: Summary report 2007–2011

Series

Collections