Progress 07/01/99 to 09/30/05
Outputs
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of the Stewardship Fund Habitat Restoration Area program of landscape management on habitats and key wildlife species. In the 2005 field season, pheasants were surveyed in 22 units within the GHRA (20% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas, using triangulation of crowing males along roadside transects. The high count of roosters/GHRA unit varied 20-fold among units. The overall average rooster count in 2005 (36.6) increased just less than 1% from that in 2004 (36.3), persisting at record levels. The average rooster count in treatment (36.5) units increased just slightly (0.2%) from that in 2004, whereas the average rooster count in control area units (33.4) decreased slightly (-2.5%). In addition, nongame grassland bird surveys were done in the CREP and control areas. All data were entered into a database for summary and analysis. Land cover data collected in each of the survey units in 1999 have been
summarized.
Impacts
Landscape scale restoration appears to have had some impact on the bird species in the area. This is the second year in a row that pheasants in the treatment units have shown some increase while pheasants in the control units have decreased.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of the Stewardship Fund Habitat Restoration Area program of landscape management on habitats and key wildlife species. In the 2004 field season, pheasants were surveyed in 22 units within the GHRA (20% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas, using triangulation of crowing males along roadside transects. The high count of roosters/GHRA unit varied 10-fold among units. The overall average rooster count in 2004 (36.3) increased 12% from that in 2003 (32.5). The average rooster count in treatment (36.4) and control area units (34.3) in 2004 increased 17% and declined 6%, respectively, from that in 2003. We are starting to analyze data about the distribution of pheasants in relation to game farms, land use, and climate conditions. The impact of GHRA management on nongame grassland birds is being assessed using roadside point counts. Breeding birds were surveyed along 30 roadside routes in the GHRA (29% of
the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas 30 May-5 July 2004. An overall average of 59 bird species/route was recorded in 1991-2004. An average of 94 individuals/route of 14 target nongame grassland species was recorded over the same period. In 2004 the mean number of grassland birds/route increased 20% from 2003, with a 21% increase on treatment and a 15% increase on control routes. The most abundant grassland bird species observed was Savannah sparrow, followed by sedge wren, vesper sparrow, bobolink, and eastern meadowlark (211). From 2003 to 2004, Savannah sparrow increased 9%, sedge wren 134%, and vesper sparrow 17%; bobolink and eastern meadowlarks declined about 15%. We will continue field work in 2005 as part of this long term project.
Impacts
Landscape scale restoration appears to have had some impact on the bird species in the area. The grasshopper sparrow population has remained stable on the HRA while declining on the control routes. Sedge wren has increased significantly overall. It is unclear if ring necked pheasant populations have changed between the two areas.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of the Stewardship Fund Habitat Restoration Area program of landscape management on habitats and key wildlife species. In the 2003 field season, pheasants were surveyed in 22 units within the GHRA (20% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas, using triangulation of crowing males along roadside transects. The high count of roosters/GHRA unit varied 10-fold among units. The overall average rooster count in 2003 (32.5) increased 61% from that in 2002 (20.3). The average rooster count in treatment (31.2) and control area units (36.6) in 2003 increased 51% and 82%, respectively, from that in 2002. We finished digitizing and proofed landcover data that were collected in each of the survey units in 1999. We completed basic land cover summaries for each pheasant unit, and reclassified land cover into nesting cover, winter cover, woody vegetation, cropland, and edge habitat. We continue to analyze data about
the distribution and acreage of game farms in the project area, as well as climate and survey conditions. The impact of GHRA management on nongame grassland birds is being assessed using roadside point counts. Breeding birds were surveyed along 30 roadside routes in the GHRA (29% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas 28 May-4 July 2003. An overall average of 58 bird species/route was recorded in 1991-2003. An average of 95 individuals/route of 14 target nongame grassland species was recorded over the same period. In 2003 the mean number of grassland birds/route increased 14% from 2002, with a 15% increase on treatment and a 10% increase on control routes. The most abundant grassland bird species observed was Savannah sparrow (961 birds), followed by bobolink (274), sedge wren (254), vesper sparrow, and eastern meadowlark (211). From 2002 to 2003, bobolink increased 38%, eastern meadowlark increased 19%, Savannah sparrow increased 16%, and vesper sparrow increased 8%,
while sedge wrens declined 16%. We will continue field work in 2004 as part of this long term project.
Impacts
Landscape scale restoration appears to have had some impact on the bird species in the area. The grassland bird populations have started to increase in the HRA while grassland birds on the control routes have declined sharply. However, ring-necked pheasant populations do not appear to have changed between the two areas.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
This project provided support to an evaluation of the impact of the Department of Natural Resources' Glacial Habitat Restoration Area (GHRA) program of landscape management on habitats and key wildlife species. More specifically the project consisted of conducting and coordinating surveys of breeding birds in southern Wisconsin and providing and coordinating GIS support for the evaluation. The research specialist organized, coordinated, participated in, and summarized the annual HRA pheasant surveys. Pheasants were surveyed in 22 units (12.6-sq mi each) within the GHRA (20% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas, using triangulation of crowing males along roadside transects. Each transect was surveyed twice 15 April-15 May 2002. Coordination for this survey involved creation and distribution of survey maps and forms using Geographic Information System (GIS) databases, training surveyors, and monitoring of cooperating survey personnel. Survey data were
entered in EXCEL spreadsheets for summary and analysis. Wildlife survey data were provided to GHRA managers. The work also involved coordinating and participating in the digitizing of habitat maps of each pheasant survey unit in GIS; data entry is complete and analysis of these data will begin. The research specialist organized, coordinated, participated in, and summarized the annual HRA nongame grassland bird surveys. The nongame bird surveys consisted of roadside routes scattered throughout the GHRA and adjacent control areas. Breeding birds were surveyed along 30 roadside routes in the GHRA (29% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas 31 May-3 July 2002. The research specialist started data entry and proofing for the nongame grassland bird strip transects made 1992-2001. The research specialist continued to assist with GIS support and database development and management at the WDNR Research Center.
Impacts
This project will help evaluate the success of landscape scale management of birds in Wisconsin.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
This project is evaluating the impact of the WDNR Glacial Habitat Restoration Area (GHRA) program of landscape management on habitats and key wildlife species. Pheasants were surveyed in 20 units (12.6 mi2) within the GHRA (20% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas, using triangulation of crowing males along roadside transects. Each transect was surveyed twice 16 April - 14 May 2001. The impact of GHRA management on nongame grassland birds is being assessed using 2 surveys: (1) roadside routes scattered throughout the GHRA and adjacent control areas, (2) strip transects solely within managed fields. Breeding birds were surveyed along 30 roadside routes in the GHRA (29% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas 30 May - 2 July 2001. Grassland birds were surveyed in 11 strip transects within managed fields to detail bird response to habitat restoration from 1992 - 2001. Each transect was surveyed 3 times during the breeding season (14 June - 5
July in 2001). These data are currently being analyzed.
Impacts
This project will help evaluate the success of landscape-scale management of birds in Wisconsin.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
This position provided support to an evaluation of the impact of the Stewardship Fund's Habitat Restoration Area (HRA) program of landscape management on habitats and key wildlife species. More specifically the position participated in and coordinated several surveys of breeding birds in southern Wisconsin. The research specialist participated in the annual HRA duck surveys. Dabbling duck populations were censused from a helicopter on 21 quarter-mile wide strip transects (124 sq mi) in the GHRA and adjacent control areas (10% of the GHRA area covered) during 2-5 May 2000. The research specialist organized, coordinated, participated in, and summarized the annual HRA pheasant surveys. Pheasants were surveyed in 20 units (12.6-sq mi each) within the GHRA (20% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas, using triangulation of crowing males along roadside transects. Each transect was surveyed twice 18 April-23 May 2000. Personnel from the Bureau of Wildlife
Management and volunteers provided 40 of 88 person-count-days. Coordination for this survey involved creation and distribution of survey maps and forms using Geographic Information System (GIS) databases, and monitoring of cooperating survey personnel. Survey data were entered in EXCEL spreadsheets and SAS data files for summary and analysis. The research specialist organized, coordinated, participated in, and summarized the annual HRA nongame grassland bird surveys. The impact of GHRA management on nongame grassland birds is being assessed using 3 surveys: (1) roadside routes scattered throughout the GHRA and adjacent control areas, (2) point counts scattered more densely within the town of Oakfield where management is being completed, and (3) strip transects solely within managed fields. All bird survey data were entered in SAS data files for summary and analysis. Roadside routes. Breeding birds were surveyed along 30 roadside routes in the GHRA (29% of the GHRA area covered) and
adjacent control areas 3 June-5 July 2000. All bird and habitat data from 1999 were digitally entered into GIS files. Digital orthophotos were used as a background to accurately capture this data layer. Landcover within quarter mile of each roadside stop was mapped to test the correlation of habitat and bird abundance, the basic premise of our management; these data will be entered and summarize next year. Point counts. In 1998-2000, grassland birds were surveyed at 34 points within the town of Oakfield: 17 management points and 17 control points. This survey contrasts bird density on restored grassland with that on croplands. Strip transects. Grassland birds were surveyed in 11 strip transects within managed fields to detail bird response to habitat restoration from 1992-2000. Each transect was surveyed 2-3 times during the breeding season (8 June and 21 June-6 July in 2000). The research specialist participated in GIS database development and management at the WDNR Research Center.
The specialist maintained contact with GHRA management personnel through meetings and memos. Wildlife survey data were provided to GHRA managers.
Impacts
We are continuing to evaluate the Habitat Restoration Concept.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
The objectives of this project are to evaluate the impact of the Stewardship Fund's Habitat Restoration Area (HRA) program of landscape management on habitats and key wildlife species, document HRA program benefits for designing similar restoration efforts in the next century, and document the efficiency of using a Geographic Information System (GIS) for habitat management and evaluation. Breeding birds were surveyed along 30 roadside routes in the GHRA (29% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas 28 May-2 July 1999. All bird and habitat data from 1998 were digitally entered into GIS files. Digital orthophotos were used as a background to accurately capture this data layer. An overall average of 58 bird species/route was recorded in 1991-99. An average of 98 individuals/route of 11 target nongame grassland species was recorded over the same period. From 1991-99, 3 target species significantly declined: western meadowlark (-22%), eastern meadowlark (-17%),
and upland sandpiper (-26%). Henslow's sparrow showed a near significant increase (+29%). The other 7 target species did not show a significant trend from 1991-99. Roadside routes within the GHRA consistently averaged more bobolinks and savannah sparrows than control routes, while control routes consistently averaged more grasshopper sparrows, dickcissels, and field sparrows than managed routes during 1991-99. In 1998 and 1999, grassland birds were surveyed at 34 points within the town of Oakfield: 17 management points and 17 control points. In 1998, there was significantly more total birds (7x) and grassland birds (5x) on restored grassland habitat compared to the control habitat (generally cropland). Most species were more abundant on the grassland habitat, especially Red-winged Blackbirds (58x). Grassland birds were surveyed in 11 strip transects within managed fields to detail bird response to habitat restoration. Each transect was surveyed 3 times during the breeding season (23
May to 6 June, 7-21 June, 22 June to 6 July). Vegetative species coverage and height-density was estimated for all fields. Pheasants were surveyed in 20 units (12.6-square miles each) within the GHRA (20% of the GHRA area covered) and adjacent control areas, using triangulation of crowing males along roadside transects. Each transect was surveyed twice 19 April-15 May 1999. Personnel from the Bureau of Wildlife Management provided 15 person-count-days and other volunteers provided 5 of 80 person-count-days. The high count of roosters/GHRA unit varied 10-fold among units. The average in 1999 (21.9) increased 7% from that in 1998 (20.4). The average rooster density in control area units in 1999 (21.6) increased 26% from that in 1998 (17.1); however, there has been no trend in time related to management. Landcover within each of the 20 survey units was mapped to test the correlation of habitat and bird abundance, the basic premise of our management.
Impacts
We are continuing to evaluate the Habitat Restoration Concept.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|