Status Report 2001-2003 Grassland Bird Monitoring at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas

Peitz, David; Rowell, Gareth

"During the breeding seasons of 2001 through 2003, a total of 517 variable circular plots were surveyed for birds and assessed for habitat composition at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas. Systematic 400 x 400 meter grids, originating from random start points, were used to locate 40 permanent variable circular plots in upland habitat at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument and 242 at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. An additional 14 permanent plots were established in the less common but important riparian habitat at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, and 18 plots were added in riparian areas at Tall grass Prairie National Preserve. Variable circular plots in riparian habitat were spaced at 250 meter intervals throughout each area. Surveys were conducted at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in 2001 (27 plots) and 2003 (54 plots) and at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in 2001 (176 plots) and 2002 (260 plots). A total of 46 species of birds were observed at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument and 82 at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The predominate species found at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument were: western meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, lark sparrow and red-winged blackbirds in the upland bird community and red-winged blackbird, western meadowlark, common yellowthroat, killdeer and common snipe in the riparian community. The predominate species found at Tall grass Prairie National Preserve were: grasshopper sparrows, dickcissel, western meadowlark and brown-headed cowbird in the upland bird community and eastern wood-pewee, great crested flycatcher, black-capped chickadee, northern cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, (eastern) tufted titmouse, and yellow-billed cuckoo in the riparian community. Permanent plot and subplot measures were recorded the first time a plot was visited but not in subsequent years. Semi-permanent plot features and habitat measures were assessed each time a plot was visited. Habitat conditions at each plot varied minimally between years. Therefore, data within each park and habitat type (upland or riparian) were combined across years and reported as such. The diversity of vertical structure within habitats at each NPS unit is low. Vertical structure provides both screening cover from predators and nesting cover as well as nesting sites. Low vertical structure diversity is to be expected in the mixed grass-shortgrass prairie of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. However, in the absence of fire and grazing, low vertical structure diversity at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve would be less expected. Therefore, as the park General Management Plan at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is implemented, greater structural diversity and improved bird habitat should be observed. Upland plots at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve are vegetated predominantly by warm-season grasses and to a lesser extent by forbs during the bird breeding season. Riparian plots at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and all plots at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument are vegetated predominantly by cool-season grasses and forbs." (from document's Executive Summary)

Status Report 2001-2003 Grassland Bird Monitoring at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas

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