Bird monitoring at Pipestone National Monument: Status report 2009–2017

Peitz, David; Morrison, Lloyd; Mecke, Kristen

In 2009, the Heartland Inventory & Monitoring Network initiated breeding bird surveys on Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota, to address two objectives: (1) to monitor changes in bird community composition and abundance, and (2) to improve our understanding of relationships between breeding birds and habitat, and the effects of management actions on those relationships. This report evaluates trends in the park’s breeding bird populations in the context of trends observed within the North American Bird Conservation Initiative’s (NABCI) Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation Region, the bird conservation region in which the park is located. By doing so, we can assess the influence of habitat management by the park on bird populations with an understanding of regional population trends that are outside the influence of natural resource management activities at Pipestone National Monument. Ninetytwo species of birds were recorded during May and June site visits in the nine years since initiating monitoring. Eighty of the species are considered breeding species because they are permanent or summer residents. Six of the breeding species recorded on Pipestone National Monument are species of concern for the Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation Region. Twelve species were observed during the survey period in sufficient numbers to calculate annual abundances and trends with some degree of confidence. The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida), and Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) were the most abundant and widespread species on Pipestone National Monument. Six of the species with sufficient numbers to calculate trends on the park had increasing populations, and no species had a population in decline. Within the Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation Region, only three of the species with positive population trends on the park had positive trends. Only one species, Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), with an uncertain trend on the park had a positive trend region-wide. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) had a strong increasing population on the park, but its population is declining within the region. The remaining species had uncertain population trends region-wide. Our findings suggests that for most bird species, populations on the park are faring as good/or better than populations in the region. This report provides current regional and local breeding bird trends for future comparisons with bird data collected as part of the long-term monitoring efforts at Pipestone National Monument. This information will help park staff plan management objectives and assess the effectiveness of management alternatives. These monitoring data also provide park staff with additional information for interpreting natural resources.

Bird monitoring at Pipestone National Monument: Status report 2009–2017

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