Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Breeding Bird Survey 2015 Report

Smith, Emily; Burkman, Peggy

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, with its maritime forests, wetlands, and beaches, provides important habitat for many species of birds. The park is located on a migration flight path, furnishing a safe stopover location for spring and fall migrators. Many of these migrators are flying long distances over portions of Lake Superior and need to utilize the Apostle Islands. The park also has habitat for summer breeding birds that choose to stay and nest. Breeding Bird Surveys have been completed annually in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore since 1990. These surveys are completed in early summer with the objective of monitoring long-term trends of breeding bird populations, identifying important habitats and determining the regional role of the park. The surveys completed in 1995 were the first to use the current 10 minute count format; the long-term data analyses only uses data collected since then. Surveys have been completed and included in the long-term data analyses every year since 1995, except 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. This amounts to 16 breeding bird surveys completed between1995 and 2015. The surveys are carried out on the mainland unit and seven islands: Devil’s, Long, Oak, Outer, Raspberry, Sand and Stockton Islands. From 1995 to 2009, there were 106 survey points. In 2007, the points were revised with only 19 of the survey points altered. In 2014, the Breeding Bird Survey was reviewed and modified, decreasing the number of points to 76 across the mainland unit and same 7 islands. This revision included an increased focus on wetland habitats, which are very productive ecosystems with good habitat for birds. Wetlands are also highly sensitive ecosystems threatened by climate change. An increased focus on wetland habitats will help determine how birds use wetlands and any impacts of climate change on the wetlands and bird species. This information could potentially help understand the risks to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore ecosystems.