Long-term riparian bird monitoring on Mono Lake s tributary streams: summary graphs and tables (2000 2005) Prepared for the Bureau of Land Management, Bishop Field Office Sacha K. Heath and Leah A. Culp July 2006 PRBO Contribution # 1510 PRBO Conservation Science 4990 Shoreline Highway Stinson Beach, CA 94970 415-868-1221 www.prbo.org
Number of territories/hectare (non territorial, colonial and territorial enigmas not included): Wilson, Mill, Lee Vining and Rush Creeks, 2000 2005. Territories/hectare derived from spot mapping (see Heath et al. 2004 for methods). Wilson Creek 2000 American Kestrel 0.07 0 0.13 0.07 0.07 0.07 Red shafted Flicker 0.07 0.27 0.20 0.20 0.13 0.07 Bushtit 0.20 0 0.07 0 0 0 Bewick s Wren 0.53 0 0.13 0 0 0 House Wren 0 0 0 0 0 0.13 Yellow Warbler 0.27 0.67 0.47 0.73 0.93 1.27 Common Yellowthroat 0 0.07 0 0 0 0 Black headed Grosbeak 0 0 0 0 0.07 0.27 Spotted Towhee 0.60 1 1.40 1.13 0.87 0.80 Green tailed Towhee 0.40 0.53 0.47 0.73 0.47 0.80 Brewer s Sparrow 0.07 0.20 0.33 0.40 0.20 0.07 Vesper Sparrow 0 0 0.20 0.07 0.07 0.13 Savanna Sparrow 0 0.13 0.67 0.33 0.07 0.20 Song Sparrow 1.00 1.13 1 1.60 1.47 1.27 Bullock s Oriole 0 0 0 0 0.07 0.07 Total 4.67 5.13 6.00 7.00 5.20 5.60
Mill Creek 2000 American Kestrel 0.20 0.20 0.27 0.27 0.20 0.27 Killdeer 0.13 0 0.07 0.07 0.07 0 Belted Kingfisher 0.07 0 0.07 0.07 0.07 0 Harry Woodpecker 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.07 0.07 Red shafted Flicker 0.33 0.40 0.47 0.47 0.40 0.53 Western Wood Pewee 0.13 0.13 0.20 0.13 0.27 0.33 Warbling Vireo 0 0 0 0.13 0.07 0.27 Steller s Jay 0.07 0 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 Juniper Titmouse 0 0.07 0.27 0.13 0 0 Mountain Chickadee 0 0 0 0.07 0.07 0.07 Bushtit 0.13 0.07 0.40 0 0.20 0 Bewick s Wren 0.53 0.73 0.47 0.13 0.07 0.07 House Wren 0.27 0.33 0.40 0.67 0.47 1.27 Blue grey Gnatcatcher 0 0.07 0.07 0 0 0.13 Yellow Warbler 0.40 0.40 0.6 1.00 0.87 0.60 Lazuli Bunting 0 0.07 0.07 0.07 0 0 Spotted Towhee 0.73 1.60 1.47 1.53 0.87 0.93 Green tailed Towhee 0.07 0.60 0.67 0.60 0.60 0.60 Brewer s Sparrow 0 0.47 0.33 0.27 0.07 0.13 Song Sparrow 0.47 0.33 0.53 0.60 0.60 0.47 Bullock s Oriole 0.13 0.27 0.27 0.13 0.20 0.27 Cassin s Finch 0.27 0.13 0 0.20 0.07 0 Total 4.07 6.00 6.80 6.73 5.27 6.07
Lee Vining Creek 2000 American Kestrel 0.04 0.04 0.11 0.04 0.07 0.11 Killdeer 0.04 0.04 0.14 0.21 0.21 0.25 Belted Kingfisher 0 0 0 0.04 0.04 0 Downy Woodpecker 0 0 0 0.04 0.04 0 Red breasted Sapsucker 0 0 0.04 0.04 0 0 Red breasted/red naped Hybrid Sapsucker 0 0 0 0.04 0.04 0 Red shafted Flicker 0.08 0.04 0.11 0.14 0.04 0.07 Western Wood Pewee 0 0 0.14 0.07 0.14 0.11 Warbling Vireo 0 0 0.04 0.07 0.04 0.11 Steller s Jay 0.08 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.04 0.04 Mountain Chickadee 0 0 0 0.04 0.07 0.04 Bushtit 0 0 0.07 0.04 0.04 0 Bewick s Wren 0.04 0 0.07 0.04 0.04 0 House Wren 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.11 0.11 0.36 American Dipper 0 0 0.04 0.04 0 0 Blue grey Gnatcatcher 0 0 0 0 0.04 0 Orange crowned Warbler 0 0 0 0 0 0.04 Yellow Warbler 1.21 1.33 1.46 1.71 1.79 1.57 Western Tanager 0 0 0 0 0.04 0.04 Lazuli Bunting 0 0.08 0.21 0.21 0 0 Black headed Grosbeak 0 0 0 0 0 0.04 Spotted Towhee 0.83 0.67 0.82 0.86 0.82 0.71 Green tailed Towhee 0.54 0.38 0.54 0.36 0.39 0.46 Brewer s Sparrow 0.08 0.25 0.18 0.11 0 0.04 Song Sparrow 0.75 0.92 1.04 0.96 0.89 0.71 Bullock s Oriole 0.13 0.13 0.11 0.18 0.14 0.14 Cassin s Finch 0 0.04 0 0.04 0 0 Lesser Goldfinch 0 0 0 0.04 0.07 0.04 Total 3.88 4.00 5.21 5.46 5.07 4.86
Rush Creek 2000 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 0 0 0.03 American Kestrel 0 0 0.03 0.03 0.03 0 Killdeer 0.03 0 0.03 0 0 0 Belted Kingfisher 0 0 0 0.05 0.03 0.03 Red shafted Flicker 0 0.10 0.08 0.15 0.15 0.10 Willow Flycatcher 0.03 0.08 0.08 0.10 0.13 0.10 Dusky Flycatcher 0.10 0 0 0.03 0.03 0.03 Warbling Vireo 0 0 0.03 0.03 0 0 Western Scrub jay 0 0 0 0 0 0.03 Bushtit 0.10 0 0.10 0.21 0.13 0 Bewick s Wren 0.23 0.05 0.23 0.18 0.13 0.03 House Wren 0.03 0.05 0 0.05 0.08 0.18 American Dipper 0.03 0.03 0 0.03 0.03 0.03 Blue grey Gnatcatcher 0 0.03 0 0 0 0.05 Orange crowned Warbler 0 0 0 0 0 0.03 Yellow Warbler 2.05 2.28 2.44 2.74 2.67 2.15 MacGillivray s Warbler 0 0.08 0.08 0 0 0 Lazuli Bunting 0 0 0 0.03 0 0 Black headed Grosbeak 0.10 0.08 0.13 0.10 0.18 0.15 Spotted Towhee 0.67 0.77 0.54 0.59 0.51 0.51 Green tailed Towhee 0.18 0.23 0.21 0.36 0.13 0.03 Brewer s Sparrow 0.05 0.10 0.10 0.15 0 0 Savanna Sparrow 0 0.08 0.05 0.03 0.05 0.05 Song Sparrow 0.56 0.64 0.59 0.59 0.79 0.59 Bullock s Oriole 0.03 0 0 0 0.03 0.03 Total 4.18 4.59 4.69 5.44 5.08 4.13
Number of territories/hectare by guild groupings (cavity, canopy, shrub and ground nesters) for the North Mono Basin (Wilson and Mill Creek) and South Mono Basin (Lee Vining and Rush Creek), 2000 2005. Territories/hectare derived from spot mapping (see Heath et al. 2004 for methods). North Mono Basin Wilson Creek Cavity: AMKE, RSFL, BEWR, HOWR, EUST Canopy: BUOR Shrub: BUSH, YWAR, COYE, BHGR, BRSP Ground: SPTO, GTTO, VESP, SAVS, SOSP Mill Creek Cavity: AMKE, HAWO, RSFL, JUTI, MOCH, BEWR, HOWR, EUST (colonies) Canopy: WEWP, WAVI, STJA, BUOR, CAFI Shrub: BUSH, BGGN, YWAR, LAZB, BRSP Ground: KILL, SPTO, GTTO, SOSP
South Mono Basin Lee Vining Creek Cavity: AMKE, DOWO, RBSA, HYSA, RSFL, MOCH, BEWR, HOWR, VGSW, (colonies), EUST (colonies) Canopy: WEWP, WAVI, STJA, WETA, BUOR, CAFI Shrub: BUSH, BGGN, YWAR, LAZB, BHGR, BRSP, LEGO Ground: KILL, AMDI, OCWA, SPTO, GTTO, SOSP Rush Creek Cavity: AMKE, RSFL, BEWR, HOWR, VGSW (colonies) Canopy: WAVI, BUOR Shrub: WIFL, DUFL, WESJ, BUSH, BGGN, YWAR, LAZB, BHGR, BRSP Ground: NOHA, KILL, AMDI, OCWA, MGWA, SPTO, GTTO, SAVS, SOSP
Mayfield nest survival for select species: Wilson, Mill, Lee Vining and Rush Creeks, 2005. Derived from nest searching and monitoring (see Heath et al. 2004 for methods and analysis). 2005 Mayfield nest survival rates on Mill and Wilson Creeks No. of Nests Daily Nest Survival SE Total Nest Survival Western Wood Pewee Total North Basin 1 0.938 0.061 14% Warbling Vireo Total North Basin 1 0.900 0.095 4% House Wren Total North Basin 14 0.990 0.005 72% Yellow Warbler Mill 5 0.979 0.021 61% Wilson 16 0.957 0.015 36% Total North Basin 21 0.962 0.013 Black headed Grosbeak Total North Basin 2 1.000 ~ 10 Spotted Towhee Total North Basin 10 0.993 0.007 84% Song Sparrow Mill 3 0.957 0.030 34% Wilson 18 0.968 0.011 45% Total North Basin 21 0.966 0.011 43%
2005 Mayfield nest survival rates on Lee Vining and Rush Creeks No. of Nests Daily Nest Survival SE Total Nest Survival Spotted Sandpiper Total South Basin 36 0.944 0.012 24% Western Wood Pewee Total South Basin 5 0.957 0.021 27% Warbling Vireo Total South Basin 3 0.857 0.094 1% House Wren Total South Basin 13 0.991 0.005 74% Yellow Warbler Lee Vining 54 0.942 0.009 25% Rush 90 0.920 0.010 15% Total South Basin 144 0.930 0.007 19% Black headed Grosbeak Total South Basin 8 0.978 0.012 57% Spotted Towhee Total South Basin 14 0.956 0.017 31% Song Sparrow Lee Vining 37 0.923 0.014 14% Rush 24 0.930 0.017 17% Total South Basin 61 0.925 0.011 15% Red winged Blackbird Total South Basin 33 0.874 0.022 3%
Total Mayfield nest survival for Song Sparrows and Yellow Warblers on Wilson, Mill, Lee Vining and Rush Creeks, 2001 2005. Derived from nest searching and monitoring (see Heath et al. 2004 for methods and analysis). Italicized numbers are nest samples sizes for year, creek and species. Nest fates for all species nests combined, cowbird host nests and non cowbird host nests, for all nests with known outcomes at Mill, Wilson, Lee Vining and Rush Creeks, 2001 2005. Cowbird hosts = all species that PRBO s Eastern Sierra Program has documented as parasitized by the Brown headed Cowbird (including non Mono sites): BHGR, BGGN, BRBL, CAFI, GTTO, LAZB, OCWA, RWBL, SOSP, SPTO, WAVI, WEWP, WIFL, YWAR. Non hosts = all other species. See nest searching and analysis methods in Heath et al. 2004.
Wilson Creek 10 8 Wilson --All Species Deserted Weather Parasitism Predation Fledged 2 10 Wilson --Non Cowbird Hosts Deserted 10 Wilson --Cowbird Hosts 8 Weather Parasitism 8 Predation Fledged 2 2 Nest sample sizes for Wilson Creek nests. Total nests 34 74 59 46 58 Cowbird host nests 17 39 40 36 42 Non host nests 17 35 19 10 16
Mill Creek 10 8 Mill --All Species Deserted Weather Parasitism Predation Fledged 2 10 Mill --Non Cowbird Hosts Deserted 10 Mill --Cowbird Hosts 8 Weather Parasitism 8 Predation Fledged 2 2 Nest sample sizes for Mill Creek nests. Total nests 84 82 60 54 75 Cowbird host nests 43 43 28 34 31 Non host nests 41 39 32 20 44
Lee Vining Creek 10 8 Lee Vining --All Species Deserted Weather Parasitism Predation Fledged 2 10 Lee Vining --Non Cowbird Hosts Deserted 10 Lee Vining --Cowbird Hosts 8 Weather Parasitism 8 Predation Fledged 2 2 Nest sample sizes for Lee Vining Creek nests. Total nests 94 228 169 203 215 Cowbird host nests 67 181 123 150 150 Non host nests 27 47 46 55 72
Rush Creek 10 8 Rush --All Species Deserted Weather Parasitism Predation Fledged 2 10 Rush --Non Cowbird Hosts Deserted 10 Rush --Cowbird Hosts 8 Weather Parasitism 8 Predation Fledged 2 2 Nest sample sizes for Rush Creek nests. Total nests 152 145 192 209 210 Cowbird host nests 133 118 149 178 176 Non host nests 19 27 43 31 34
Parasitism rates of known cowbird hosts in the eastern Sierra, at Wilson, Mill, Lee Vining and Rush Creeks, 2000 2005. % of nests parasitized by species (from the sample of nests observed with at least one host egg or young, see methods section of Heath et al. 2004). Wilson Creek 2000 Yellow Warbler ~ 67% 83% 45% 5 Black headed Grosbeak ~ ~ ~ ~ Spotted Towhee ~ ~ ~ Green tailed Towhee ~ 10 ~ 10 Song Sparrow 5 75% 63% 67% 53% 72% Red winged Blackbird 5 14% ~ Brewer s Blackbird ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Total Cowbird Host 38% 71% 58% 54% 44% 51% Mill Creek 2000 Western Wood Pewee ~ Warbling Vireo ~ ~ ~ ~ Blue grey Gnatcatcher ~ ~ ~ Yellow Warbler 46% 57% 56% 71% Lazuli Bunting ~ 10 ~ ~ ~ ~ Spotted Towhee 5 43% 29% 10 13% Green tailed Towhee ~ 5 ~ Song Sparrow 38% 5 88% 43% 75% 33% Brewer s Blackbird 11% Cassin s Finch ~ ~ ~ ~ Total Cowbird Host 35% 27% 33% 28% 53% 16%
Lee Vining Creek 2000 Western Wood Pewee ~ ~ 2 Warbling Vireo ~ ~ 5 10 ~ 67% Blue grey Gnatcatcher ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Orange crowned Warbler ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 10 Yellow Warbler 57% 32% 2 49% 58% 65% Lazuli Bunting ~ 5 10 ~ ~ Black headed Grosbeak ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Spotted Towhee 18% 9% 33% Green tailed Towhee 10 5 10 75% Song Sparrow 42% 36% 68% 79% 81% 78% Red winged Blackbird 11% 7% Brewer s Blackbird ~ ~ Cassin s Finch ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Total Cowbird Host 45% 21% 22% 43% 48% 52% Rush Creek 2000 Warbling Vireo ~ ~ 10 ~ ~ Blue grey Gnatcatcher ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Yellow Warbler 5 34% 51% 52% 56% 57% Black headed Grosbeak ~ Spotted Towhee 14% 17% Green tailed Towhee ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Song Sparrow 46% 88% 91% 64% 79% Red winged Blackbird 13% 5 Brewer s Blackbird ~ 11% 6% Total Cowbird Host 44% 37% 49% 47% 49% 46%
Nest initiation dates (date of first egg laid) for nesters representative of four different breeding phenologies (Spotted Towhees (resident), House Wrens (mid distant migrant / cavity nester), Yellow Warblers (Neotropical migrant / open cup nester) and Song Sparrows (resident / short distant migrant) at Wilson, Mill, Lee Vining and Rush Creeks, 2005. See methods section of Heath et al. 2004) 10 9 8 Nest Initiation 2005 YWAR No. of New Nests 7 6 5 4 HOWR SOSP 3 2 SPTO 1 0 4/16 4/22 4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20 5/27 6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 Acknowledgements We are grateful for the financial support provided by Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office and Mono Market for data collected in 2005. Quresh Latif and Chris Tonra financially supported and collected much of the 2005 data presented here while working on their PhD and MS projects respectively. Megan Kefauver and Stella Moss also assisted with data collected in 2005. Acknowledgements of 2000 2004 financial support and field crews can be found in acknowledgements for those years reports (see www.prbo.org/easternsierra). This is PRBO Contribution # 1510. Literature Cited Heath, S. K., Culp, L. A., Gates, H. R., Latif, Q. S., and Tonra, C. M. 2004. Riparian Songbird Monitoring in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Results of the 2003 field season and selected 1998 2003 summary results. PRBO Contribution # 1171. PRBO Conservation Science. 4990 Shoreline Hwy., Stinson Beach, CA 94970.