Browsing by Author "Grinde, Alexis R"

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Avian Response to Group Selection Harvest in Northern Hardwoods, Aitkin County, Minnesota
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2021-10) Bednar, Joshua D; Grinde, Alexis R
The breeding bird communities of the western Great Lakes region have among the richest diversity of breeding bird species in North America (Neimi et al. 2016). The importance of this diversity and past concerns about potential declines of some species has led to a strong interest in studying forest bird populations in relation to forest management in the region (Hanowski and Niemi 1995, Niemi et al. 2016). Northern hardwood forests provide habitat for a variety of breeding bird species, including many long-distance migrants. Before European settlement, northern hardwoods (e.g., sugar maple and black ash) comprised approximately 20% of Minnesota’s forest (5.3 million acres). Over the past century, almost 4 million acres of northern hardwood stands in Minnesota have converted to other forest types, primarily shade-intolerant species such as aspen, and today northern hardwoods account for approximately 12% of forestlands in the state. There has been a recent interest in limiting future loss of northern hardwoods in Minnesota by managing this forest type on an uneven-aged basis. The Aitkin County Forestry Department has recently started implementing an uneven-aged approach using a group or patch selection for managing northern hardwood forests across the landscape. The goal of this management approach is to retain mature northern hardwood species throughout each rotation while providing wood resources for local industry and promoting regeneration and growth of high-value hardwood trees. Because northern hardwood forests provide habitat for a variety of breeding bird species, it is important to document potential shifts in breeding bird communities associated with forest management practices. To do this, we implemented a BACI (Before, After, Control, Impact; Conquest 2000) monitoring framework to assess the effect of uneven-aged management on breeding bird communities in Minnesota’s northern hardwood forests. This assessment is important because although the response of breeding birds to successional forest stages—from clear-cut to mature stand ages—are relatively well known for northern Minnesota forests, breeding bird response to uneven-aged management, specifically group selection, in northern hardwoods has not been thoroughly studied in Minnesota. We hypothesized that mature forest breeding species abundance will decrease after harvest and that abundance of early-successional species would increase to correspond with the newly created habitat on the treatment plot. This report summarizes breeding bird surveys completed pre-harvest in two mature forest stands in Aitkin County, Minnesota, 2013–2015 and the two years of post-harvest surveys that occurred in 2020– 2021. Our overall objectives were to: 1) conduct breeding bird surveys in northern hardwood study plots, 2) document bird community composition and species abundances, and 3) determine whether there are differences between breeding bird communities in the control (not harvested) versus the treatment (harvested) areas.
Bayfield County Forest Breeding Bird Survey Modeling Report
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2019-02) Walton, Nicholas G; Kolbe, Stephen; Grinde, Alexis R
Breeding Birds of Deep Portage Learning Center - 2016 Hackensack, Minnesota 56452
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2016-12) Niemi, Gerald J; Peterson, Debbie; Grinde, Alexis R; Bednar, Joshua D; Schutte, Sara
The Avian Research program at the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) of the University of Minnesota, Duluth has developed a spatial technique to sample breeding birds over a large heterogeneous landscape in northern Minnesota’s forested regions. We currently have sampled 10 of these one square mile research plots among diverse ownership and areas that range from the Chippewa National Forest to Pine County to extreme northeastern Minnesota. Hence, Deep Portage represents the 11th such plot and the second in a nature, learning center environment; the other one being Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Isabella, MN. Many of these research plots were originally sampled in the mid-1990’s. They provide a solid baseline on the spatial distribution of breeding birds within forest stands, but more importantly the landscape context of those forest stands with respect to patch size and edges. The vast majority of research on breeding bird populations and distributions have focused on individual stands, but not on the entire landscape. Our overall goal is to increase understanding on how individual bird species use different forest cover types and landscapes in different ecological regions of the forested zone of Minnesota. Our specific objective here was to sample the distribution and abundance of breeding birds in a large landscape of the western, forested region in Minnesota, but also one under active forest management. Here we present the results of sampling in June 2016 and compare with a previous sampling of the Deep Portage area by Wieland over a four year period from 2004-2007.
Chippewa National Forest Hunter Walking Trail Project 2020 – Pre-harvest Results
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2020-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Bednar, Joshua D; Kolbe, Stephen; Seibers, Reid
Minnesota’s managed forests provide critical habitat for hundreds of resident and migrant bird species. Forest management provides an important opportunity to conserve and cultivate critical habitat for species of management and conservation concern. Recent declines in upland game populations in the state have generated a renewed interest in using forest management to create habitats that not only support breeding adults but also those that maximize juvenile survival and increase recruitment into the populations. Conservation concerns regarding Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) have been extensively documented:  North American populations of American Woodcock have declined by over 30% in the last 50 years. In Minnesota, American Woodcock are a Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Approximately 10% of the global population breeds in Minnesota.  Ruffed Grouse populations in Minnesota are significantly declining. Recent declines in harvest numbers of Ruffed Grouse and potential issues with recruiting birds into the population have caused concern range-wide, including in Minnesota. American Woodcock and Ruffed Grouse require a matrix of forest size classes throughout the breeding season. Historically, periodic natural disturbances would create habitat for these species—wildfires or flooding from beaver dams produced a patchwork of shrubby openings amid a largely forested landscape. Currently, the major mechanism of disturbance is harvest; this provides an important opportunity for habitat management for these species. There is increasing interest from forest managers to promote heterogeneous forest matrices that can optimize wildlife occupancy and diversity over time. Chippewa National Forest is planning a long-term habitat improvement project by implementing small-scale, frequent harvests (<5 acres, 5-year intervals) adjacent to hunter walking trails. Currently, there are more than 600 miles of hunter walking trails in Minnesota, and maintaining and enhancing these areas as productive hunting grounds is a priority. The goal of this project is to create and maintain a long-term matrix of habitat in the region that is suitable for Ruffed Grouse while supporting additional game species such as American Woodcock and breeding forest birds. The primary objective of the Chippewa National Forest Hunter Walking Trail Project is to assess the effects of experimental harvesting on Ruffed Grouse and breeding bird species. The results from the pre-harvest study will establish baseline data for future reference. Here, we report the results from pre-harvest line transect and ARU (Autonomous Recording Unit) surveys conducted during the 2020 breeding bird season. These two survey methods are complementary to one another and provide a comprehensive assessment of Ruffed Grouse and breeding bird communities. Specific objectives include: 1. Assess Ruffed Grouse abundance and characterize breeding bird communities before harvest treatments planned for winter 2021-2022; and 2. Summarize preliminary results as a part of the National Forest Bird Monitoring Project annual report and provide data to Chippewa National Forest.
Chippewa National Forest Hunter Walking Trail Project 2021 – Pre-harvest Results
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2021-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Kolbe, Stephen; Bednar, Joshua D
Minnesota’s managed forests provide critical habitat for hundreds of resident and migrant bird species. Forest management provides an important opportunity to conserve and cultivate critical habitat for species of management and conservation concern. Recent declines in upland game populations in the state have generated a renewed interest in using forest management to create habitats that not only support breeding adults but also those that maximize juvenile survival and increase recruitment into the populations. Conservation concerns regarding Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) have been extensively documented: ● North American populations of American Woodcock have declined by over 30% in the last 50 years. In Minnesota, American Woodcock are a Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Approximately 10% of the global population breeds in Minnesota. ● Ruffed Grouse populations in Minnesota are significantly declining. Recent declines in harvest numbers of Ruffed Grouse and potential issues with recruiting birds into the population have caused concern range-wide, including in Minnesota. American Woodcock and Ruffed Grouse require a matrix of forest size classes throughout the breeding season. Historically, periodic natural disturbances would create habitat for these species—wildfires or flooding from beaver dams produced a patchwork of shrubby openings amid a largely forested landscape. Currently, the major mechanism of disturbance is harvest; this provides an important opportunity for habitat management for these species. There is increasing interest from forest managers to promote heterogeneous forest matrices that can optimize wildlife occupancy and diversity over time. Chippewa National Forest is planning a long-term habitat improvement project by implementing small-scale, frequent harvests (<5 acres, 5-year intervals) adjacent to hunter walking trails. Currently, there are more than 600 miles of hunter walking trails in Minnesota, and maintaining and enhancing these areas as productive hunting grounds is a priority. The goal of this project is to create and maintain a long-term matrix of habitat in the region that is suitable for Ruffed Grouse while supporting additional game species such as American Woodcock and breeding forest birds. The primary objective of the Chippewa National Forest Hunter Walking Trail Project is to assess the effects of experimental harvesting on Ruffed Grouse and breeding bird species. The results from the preharvest study will establish baseline data for future reference. Here, we report the results from preharvest line transect and ARU (Autonomous Recording Unit) surveys conducted during the 2021 breeding bird season. These two survey methods are complementary to one another and provide a comprehensive assessment of Ruffed Grouse and breeding bird communities. Specific objectives include: 1. Assess Ruffed Grouse abundance and characterize breeding bird communities before harvest treatments planned for 2021-2022; and 2. Summarize preliminary results as a part of the National Forest Bird Monitoring Project annual report and provide data to Chippewa National Forest.
Chippewa National Forest Hunter Walking Trail Project 2022 – Pre-harvest Results
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2022-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Kolbe, Stephen; Bednar, Joshua D
The primary objective of the Chippewa National Forest Hunter Walking Trail Project is to assess the effects of experimental harvesting on Ruffed Grouse and breeding bird species. The results from the pre-harvest study (2020-2021) established baseline data for future reference. Here, we report the results from pre- and post-harvest (depending on the study area) line transect and ARU (Autonomous Recording Unit) surveys conducted during the 2022 breeding bird season. These two survey methods are complementary to one another and provide a comprehensive assessment of Ruffed Grouse and breeding bird communities. Specific objectives include: 1. Assess Ruffed Grouse abundance and characterize breeding bird communities before and after harvest treatments that were or will be implemented in 2021-2022; and 2. Summarize preliminary results as a part of the National Forest Bird Monitoring Project annual report and provide data to Chippewa National Forest.
Chippewa National Forest Hunter Walking Trail Project 2023 Report
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2023-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Kolbe, Stephen; Bednar, Joshua D
The primary objective of the Chippewa National Forest Hunter Walking Trail Project is to assess the effects of experimental harvesting on Ruffed Grouse and breeding bird species. The results from the pre-harvest study (2020–2021) established baseline data for future reference. Here, we report the results from pre- and post-harvest (depending on the study area) line transect and ARU (Autonomous Recording Unit) surveys conducted during the 2023 breeding bird season. These two survey methods are complementary to one another and provide a comprehensive assessment of Ruffed Grouse and breeding bird communities. Specific objectives include: 1. Assess Ruffed Grouse abundance and characterize breeding bird communities before and after harvest treatments that were implemented in 2021–2023; and 2. Summarize preliminary results as a part of the National Forest Bird Monitoring Project annual report and provide data to Chippewa National Forest.
Implementing Conservation Plans for Avian Species of Concern: Submitted to Audubon Minnesota
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2020-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Bracey, Annie; Liljenquist, Alexis L
Audubon Minnesota is interested in establishing benchmark survey locations throughout Minnesota to guide restoration and enhance activities within designated Important Bird Areas (IBAs) for three species of conservation concern: common tern, black tern, and yellow rail. Data collected during the 2009–2013 Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas (MNBBA) project (Pfannmuller et al. 2017) were used to identify potential and confirmed breeding locations for black tern and common tern in the state. These data were then aligned with IBA boundaries and previously established survey locations from Audubon’s statewide marshbird monitoring program. Using this information, survey locations were identified within selected IBAs to document presence and abundance of tern species during the 2020 breeding season. Collectively, survey results can be used as a first step by Audubon Minnesota to formalize high-priority benchmark survey locations for long-term monitoring of these species in IBAs throughout the state.
Interstate Island Habitat Restoration: Phase III – Long-Term Monitoring and Maintenance Plan Common Tern Monitoring & Migratory Shorebird Assessment 2023 Final Report
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2023-12-01) Bracey, Annie; Kolbe, Stephen; Strand, Fred; Grinde, Alexis R
The goal of the Interstate Island avian habitat restoration project was to restore and enhance critical breeding habitat for the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) in the St. Louis River Estuary (SLRE). The primary objective of the habitat restoration was to maintain and increase the population of Common Terns breeding at the Interstate Island colony. To assess the effectiveness of the restoration, post-restoration field surveys were conducted to document the breeding status of Common Terns relative to pre-restoration averages. To document breeding population size and productivity, we followed the long-term monitoring protocol developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), to ensure comparability between pre- and post- restoration monitoring. There were no monitoring objectives related to Piping Plover since this species has not been documented on Interstate Island. A secondary objective of the project was to document shorebird use of the island during migration to determine if this species group was utilizing the restored habitat. To meet this objective, researchers developed a shorebird monitoring protocol, conducted in- person surveys, and utilized remote camera traps to observe and quantify shorebird species diversity, abundance, and spatial and temporal use of Interstate Island. Based on post-restoration surveys, population targets are not currently being met for Common Tern, with the number of nesting pairs currently at some of the lowest recorded since the island was colonized. However, post-restoration productivity is above the range deemed necessary to sustain a viable population and above pre-restoration averages. The overall quality of the nesting habitat for Common Terns was greatly improved. If habitat quality is the primary factor limiting the size of the breeding population, we anticipate the restoration actions will result in an increase in breeding numbers but there may be a lag in response time. We also documented 22 shorebird species and 38 other avian species using the island during our surveys. Our results indicate that shorebirds as well as many other species of birds will readily use the newly restored habitat at Interstate Island, habitat which is much needed in this important bird region. Continued monitoring and management will be necessary to determine long-term effects of restoration for both Common Terns and migratory shorebirds.
Interstate Island Habitat Restoration: Phase III – Long-Term Monitoring and Maintenance Plan Common Tern Monitoring & Migratory Shorebird Assessment Final Report
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2022-09-01) Bracey, Annie; Kolbe, Stephen; Nelson, Stephen; Strand, Fred; Grinde, Alexis R
The goal of the Interstate Island avian habitat restoration project was to restore and enhance critical breeding habitat for the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) in the St. Louis River Estuary. The primary objective of the habitat restoration was to maintain and increase the population of Common Terns breeding at the Interstate Island colony. To assess the effectiveness of the restoration, post-restoration field surveys were conducted to document the breeding status of Common Terns relative to pre-restoration averages. To document breeding population size and productivity, we followed the long-term monitoring protocol developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), to ensure comparability between pre- and post-restoration monitoring. A secondary objective of the project was to document shorebird use of the island during migration to determine if this species group was utilizing the restored habitat. To meet this objective, researchers developed a shorebird monitoring protocol, conducted in-person surveys, and utilized remote camera traps to observe and quantify shorebird species diversity, abundance, and spatial and temporal use of Interstate Island. Based on post-restoration surveys, population targets are not currently being met for Common Tern, with the number of nesting pairs being at their lowest since the island was colonized. However, productivity was within the average range compared to pre-restoration numbers and the quality of the nesting habitat was greatly improved. If habitat quality is the primary factor limiting the size of the breeding population, we anticipate the restoration actions will likely result in an increase in breeding numbers but there may be a lag in response time. We also documented 18 shorebird species and 35 other avian species using the island during our surveys. Our results indicate that shorebirds as well as many other species of birds will readily use the newly restored habitat at Interstate Island, which is much needed in this important bird region. Continued monitoring and management will be necessary to determine long-term effects of restoration.
Mapping Avian Movement in Minnesota
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2021-09) Grinde, Alexis R; Bracey, Annie; Kolbe, Stephen
The western Great Lakes region is home to one of the most diverse breeding bird communities in North America and is a key migration pathway for a wide array of species, including neotropical migrants and birds that breed in boreal ecosystems. To better understand and document how birds move in this region, we focused on two applications of automated radio telemetry technology: 1) large- and small-scale (local) movements of birds during the non-breeding season (i.e., migration and winter), and 2) local movements of breeding Common Terns and dispersal behavior of both adult and juvenile birds. Our goal was to assess the utility of using Motus automated telemetry technology at various spatial scales and on a variety of species to study different ecological questions. First, to study timing and behavior of fall migration along the shores of Lake Superior, we focused on two species: Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus). Second, we focused on Rusty Blackbirds in the St. Louis River Estuary to document the temporal and geographic use during their fall migratory stopover. Rusty Blackbirds are among the most rapidly declining bird species in North America, but the reasons driving these declines are unknown; a lack of suitable habitat during the migratory and non-breeding seasons is likely a contributing factor. Thousands of Rusty Blackbirds use the north shore of Lake Superior and the SLRE as a migration corridor each spring and fall, yet habitat use and duration of stopover is poorly understood. For this reason, we used automated radio tracking technology to document stopover duration of individual birds in relation to minimum daily temperature and to assess potential differences between sex and age. Third, we focused on documenting winter movement patterns of Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in an urban-forested landscape: Hartley Park, Duluth MN, USA, to assess how detection rates related to minimum daily temperature and food availability at feeding stations. Black-capped Chickadees are an abundant resident species in our study area and have broad public appeal but are relatively understudied in the winter, particularly in urban settings. Finally, we assessed the utility of automated radio telemetry to study breeding behavior of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo). Common Tern are identified as one of the most vulnerable species at both a federal and state level in the region and as a high priority species for conservation in the state. Interstate Island, located in the SLRE, is one of only two breeding colonies of Common Terns in Lake Superior. Movement of juvenile birds is also a critical piece of the life-history of Common Terns that is not well understood due to previously existing limitations of tracking this age class. The ability to track individuals using the Motus network, which does not require re-encountering the individual to retrieve data, is a huge advancement in tracking of juvenile birds. Documenting breeding behavior and dispersal of adult and juvenile terns will help inform population dynamics, which is particularly important for at-risk and declining populations.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 2021 Minnesota Colonial Waterbird Surveys
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2021-12) Bracey, Annie; Kolbe, Stephen; Grinde, Alexis R; Cuthbert, Francesca J
The Minnesota colonial waterbird surveys began in 2004 in an effort to document the distribution and abundance of colonial nesting waterbirds in the state. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) partnered with researchers at the University of Minnesota to initiate monitoring efforts at colony sites of target waterbird species across the state (Table 1; Cuthbert and Hamilton 2016). The monitoring initially focused on documenting the number and distribution of two focal species, American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), due to public concerns about the potential impacts of perceived population increases on recreation activities (e.g., fishing; Wires and Cuthbert 2006). The goal of monitoring was to evaluate efficacy of Double-crested Cormorant control efforts and document the status of American White Pelicans, which are a state-listed Species of Special Concern and Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN; MN DNR 2016). Since the initial MN DNR waterbird surveys, conducted in 2004 and 2005, the intent was to conduct statewide surveys every five years. Surveys were conducted as planned in 2010 and 2015, but due to Covid-19 related work and travel restrictions, it was only possible to conduct a partial survey in 2020. Therefore, the primary objective of the 2021 survey was to complete the fourth census and provide a summary of the combined 2020–2021 survey results to MN DNR. The 2020 surveys were conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus and the 2021 surveys were conducted by researchers in the Avian Ecology Lab at the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), Duluth, MN. The broad aim of this report is to provide a description of how sites were selected in 2020/21, which species were included as targets, and to provide recommendations for future monitoring efforts in the state. We include site-specific estimates of abundance for primary and secondary (when possible) target species for the combined 2020–2021 surveys. We also provide abundance and distribution estimates for primary target species for the current (2020–2021) and past census efforts at priority monitoring locations and focus on how future monitoring objectives and survey methodologies can best be tailored to maximize efficiency while providing necessary detail to effectively document population status of waterbirds breeding in Minnesota. Several additional waterbird species listed as SGCN in Minnesota include: Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan), and Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). These species also require long-term monitoring to assess population status and associated habitat conditions, which are poorly monitored by other non-targeted surveys (MN DNR 2016; Cuthbert and Hamilton 2016). There are ongoing concerns for two additional colonial nesting species: Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and Great Egret (Ardea alba). Although they are not state-listed species, the number of Great Blue Heron nesting colonies appears to have declined by ~30% since 1985, and the number of Great Egret nesting colonies remains low throughout the state. Overall, little is known about colony persistence or changes in the distribution and abundance of these species throughout the state (Pfannmuller et al. 2017). For these reasons, in 2021 we implemented additional surveys at secondary sites in an attempt to obtain information about the status of these species in the state.
Minnesota Land Trust Final Report - Let the Birds Guide You
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2019-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Walton, Nicholas G; Bracey, Annie; Liljenquist, Alexis L
Identifying environmental and habitat characteristics associated with specific bird communities can help guide conservation and habitat management efforts. The goal of this project was to quantify and characterize bird communities in the St. Louis River Estuary (SLRE) based on bird-habitat associations. Bird communities are commonly described with respect to their associated cover types (i.e., habitat). However, birds often respond to combinations of local cover types and larger-scale landscape features (e.g., forested wetlands in proximity to emergent wetlands), which are not adequately described by a single attribute such as dominant plant species or aquatic habitat type. Therefore, to understand bird species’ ecological needs and habitat preferences, we evaluated community assemblages without initially linking the locations sampled for birds with standard habitat categories. Bird assemblages were first identified using hierarchical cluster analysis, which revealed relationships among locations sampled within the SLRE based solely on bird species composition. This approach identified assemblages of species that tend to co-occur irrespective of traditionally defined habitat types. We used percent perfect indication (PPI) models to identify which species or groups of species were most strongly associated with specific landscape features. We also assessed habitat availability at the landscape-scale (i.e., within a 400m buffer from the shoreline) to identify specific features that are under-represented in the SLRE but likely important to a species or group of species. We also quantified species relative abundance, richness, and diversity throughout the SLRE to identify locations of high use and diversity. Once those locations were identified, we summarized local-scale habitat data define vegetation characteristics at locations with the highest and lowest species richness. Together, these analyses will provide a holistic assessment of the environmental and habitat requirements of migratory and breeding birds at multiple spatial scales. We quantitatively assessed which landscape and habitat characteristics are most likely to be beneficial for birds that use the SLRE and, ultimately, to assist in informing habitat management objectives for current and future projects in the area.
Minnesota National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program Annual Report 1995-2019
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2019) Grinde, Alexis R; Bednar, Joshua D; Liljenquist, Alexis L
Minnesota’s National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program has documented trends in forest bird abundances for 25 years. These data have provided insight into the impacts of forest management on breeding birds and helped inform the development of management policies and conservation initiatives. This report summarizes forest bird monitoring data gathered from 1995 through 2019. Here we summarize the current status of species trends and overall trends for migration, habitat, and nesting guilds. We focus our discussion on species of conservation importance in the state to provide an ecological context and discuss management implications of the observed patterns in the region for these species.
Minnesota National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program Annual Report 1995–2018
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2018-12-06) Grinde, Alexis R; Walton, Nicholas G; Bednar, Joshua D; Liljenquist, Alexis L; Kolbe, Stephen
Minnesota’s National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program has documented trends in forest bird abundances for 24 years. These data have provided insight into the impacts of forest management on breeding birds and helped inform the development of management policies and conservation initiatives. This report summarizes forest bird monitoring data gathered from 1995 through 2018. Here we summarize the current status of species trends and overall trends for migration, habitat, and nesting guilds. We focus our discussion on species of conservation importance in the state to provide an ecological context and discuss management implications of the observed patterns in the region for these species.
Minnesota National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program Annual Report 1995–2020
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2020-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Bednar, Joshua D; Kolbe, Stephen; Seibers, Reid
The Avian Ecology Lab at the Natural Resources Research Institute completed the 26th year of Minnesota's National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program in 2020. These data have provided insight into the impacts of forest management on breeding bird populations and informed the development of management policies and conservation initiatives. This report summarizes forest bird monitoring data gathered from 1995 through 2020. Here we summarize the current status of species trends and overall trends for migration, habitat, and nesting guilds. We focus our discussion on species of conservation importance in the state to provide an ecological context and discuss management implications of the observed patterns in the region for these species.
Minnesota National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program Annual Report 1995–2021
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2021-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Siebers, Reid; Bednar, Joshua D
The Avian Ecology Lab at the Natural Resources Research Institute completed the 27th year of Minnesota's National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program in 2021. These data have provided insight into the impacts of forest management on breeding bird populations and informed the development of management policies and conservation initiatives. This report summarizes forest bird monitoring data gathered from 1995 through 2021. Here we summarize the current status of species trends and overall trends for migration, habitat, and nesting guilds. We focus our discussion on species of conservation importance in the state to provide an ecological context and discuss management implications of the observed patterns in the region for these species.
Minnesota National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program Annual Report 1995–2022
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2022-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Siebers, Reid; Kolbe, Stephen; Bednar, Joshua D
The Avian Ecology Lab at the Natural Resources Research Institute completed the 28th year of Minnesota's National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program in 2022. These data have provided insight into the impacts of forest management on breeding bird populations and informed the development of management policies and conservation initiatives. This report summarizes forest bird monitoring data gathered from 1995 through 2022. Here we summarize the current status of species trends and overall trends for migration, habitat, and nesting guilds. We focus our discussion on species of conservation importance in the state to provide an ecological context and discuss management implications of the observed patterns in the region for these species.
Minnesota National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program Annual Report 1995–2023
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2023-12) Grinde, Alexis R; Siebers, Reid; Kolbe, Stephen; Bednar, Joshua D
The Avian Ecology Lab at the Natural Resources Research Institute completed the 29th year of Minnesota's National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program in 2023. These data have provided insights into the impacts of forest management on breeding bird populations and informed the development of management policies and conservation initiatives. This report summarizes forest bird monitoring data gathered from 1995 through 2023. Here we summarize the current status of species trends and overall trends for migration, habitat, and nesting guilds. We focus our discussion on species of conservation importance in the state to provide ecological context and to discuss management implications of the observed patterns for these species in the region.
Summary of Breeding Bird Trends in the Chippewa and Superior National Forests of Minnesota: 1995-2012
(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2012) Niemi, Gerald J; Grinde, Alexis R; Bednar, Joshua D; Zlonis, Edmund J
The breeding bird communities of the western Great Lakes region have among the richest diversity of breeding bird species in North America (Green 1995, Howe et al. 1997, Rich et al. 2004). The importance of this diversity and past concerns with potential declines of some species has led to a strong interest in monitoring forest bird populations in the region. The relatively heavily forested landscapes of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin are considered to be population 'sources' for many forest bird species and may be supplementing population 'sinks' in the agricultural landscapes of the lower Midwest (Robinson et al. 1995, Temple and Flaspohler 1998). Analysis of population trends is used as an 'early-warning system' of potential problems in a species population and serves as a measure of the ecological condition of the environment (Niemi and McDonald 2004a). Recently, a draft of a general technical report on a summary of the twenty-plus year data that have been gathered in the Chequamegon, Chippewa, Nicolet, and Superior NFs from the late 1980s through 2011 has been completed (Niemi et al. 2013). This report is due for publication during the spring of 2013. It summarizes a substantial amount of information that has been gathered on population trends, habitat relationships, bird community assemblages, factors potentially affecting population trends, management recommendations for bird species of concern, and a brief review of potential invasive species affecting bird species. Large-scale population monitoring programs such as the U.S. Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provide important information on trends at a continental scale. However, limited coverage in some areas can make it difficult to use BBS data to characterize population trends at smaller geographic scales (Peterjohn et al. 1995). Continental trends also have the potential to mask regional population trends (Holmes and Sherry 1988), thus there is a need for regional monitoring programs that can provide more localized information (Howe et al. 1997). In response to the need for regional population data, a long-term forest breeding bird monitoring program was established in 1991 in the Chippewa and Superior NFs. The Forest Service is mandated to monitor certain management indicator species (Manley et al. 1993), and our monitoring program expands beyond indicator species to include all forest songbird species that we can adequately sample. Currently, approximately 314 stands (942 points) within the two NFs are surveyed during the breeding season (June 1 to July 10). The primary objective of this report is to update U.S. Forest Service personnel on results of the forest bird monitoring program. Here we focus on relative abundance trends of individual species during the period from 1995-2012 (18 years) and summarize the most important recent results.

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