Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. 2023. Breeding bird monitoring protocol for the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network: Narrative, version 3.0 (revised September 2023)

Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. 2023. Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. 2023. Breeding bird monitoring protocol for the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network: Narrative, version 3.0 (revised September 2023). Natural Resource Report. NPS/HTLN/NRR—2023/2609. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2301758

Birds are an important component of park ecosystems. They also have a tremendous following among the public, and many parks provide information on the status and long-term trends of bird populations through their interpretive programs. With habitat vanishing, ecosystems being altered, and bird populations declining, we proposed monitoring bird communities on National Park Service lands within the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. Monitoring breeding birds helps park managers protect birds by providing them with information about the current status and long-term trends in bird populations. This monitoring protocol consists of a protocol narrative (this document) and 10 standard operating procedures for monitoring breeding birds in Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network parks. The overall goals of the network breeding bird monitoring are (1) to identify significant temporal changes in the species composition and abundance of bird communities that occur on parks during the breeding season and (2) to improve our understanding of relationships between breeding birds and their habitat and the effects of management actions (such as prairie restoration or prescribed fire) on bird populations by examining potential correlations between changes in specific habitat variables (e.g., vegetation structure, ground cover) and changes in bird community composition and abundance. This protocol narrative describes the sampling design for breeding birds, including the response design (data collection methods), spatial design (the park and survey plots within a park), and revisit design (timing and frequency of park visits). It also outlines field methods for establishing survey plots, counting birds, and measuring habitat variables. Details can be found in the Standard Operating Procedures, which are listed in this report and available in the NPS DataStore (https://irma.nps.gov). This protocol narrative also summarizes procedures for data management and reporting, personnel and operating requirements, and instructions for how to revise the protocol.

Type
Published Report
Authors
Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network
Date of Issue
2023-12
Publisher
National Park Service
DOI
10.36967/2301758
Units
ARPO , BUFF , CUVA , EFMO , GWCA , HEHO , HOCU , HOME , HOSP , HTLN , LIBO , NRSS , OZAR , PERI , PIPE , TAPR , WICR
Keywords
bird communities, bird monitoring, bird monitoring protocol, birds, landbirds
Subjects
Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Grassland/Herbaceous Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Birds , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | At-risk Biota | T&E Species and Communities

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