Browsing by Author "Lind, Jim"
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Item Breeding Bird Monitoring in Great Lakes National Forests : 1991-2003(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2003) Lind, Jim; Danz, Nicholas P; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald JA total of 132, 134, and 169 stands (1,271 survey points) were surveyed for breeding birds in the Chequamegon, Chippewa, and Superior National Forests, respectively in 2003. Annual surveys have been conducted since 1991 in the Chippewa and Superior National Forests, and since 1992 in the Chequamegon National Forest. Breeding bird surveys in the St. Croix region of Minnesota have been conducted since 1992 on 170 stands (170 points). • We examined trends in relative abundance for 68 bird species in at least one of the four study areas. Fifty-five species in the Chequamegon NF, 52 in the Chippewa NF, 44 in the Superior NF, and 41 in the St. Croix region were tested for population trends. Thirty-six species were also tested for regional trends by combining data from the three national forests. • A total of 192 species/study area trends were calculated (not including regional trends), 98 (51%) of which were significant (P < 0.05). Twenty-five species increased significantly (P < 0.05) in at least one study area and 31 species decreased. • Seven species had significant increasing regional trends and 14 had decreasing trends. Six species had highly significant (P < 0.01) increasing trends in multiple study areas, and nine species had highly significant decreasing trends in multiple study areas. • The percentage of increasing species in each study area ranged from 13% in the Chequamegon NF, to 29% in the St. Croix study area. The percentage of decreasing species ranged from 25% in the Chequamegon NF study area, to 35% in the Chippewa NF. • There were 12 instances where a species wasn’t increasing in a particular study area in 2002 results but is increasing in 2003, and ten instances where a species showed a significant increase in 2002, and isn?t in 2003. Conversely, there were 19 instances where a species wasn’t decreasing in 2002 but is decreasing in 2003, and one instance where a species showed a decrease in 2002 but isn’t in 2003. • Short-distance migrants showed highly significant declines in all study areas. Long-distance migrants showed mixed results, including declines in the Chequamegon and Superior NF’s，an increase in the St. Croix study area，and a stable trend in the Chippewa NF. Permanent residents increased on all study areas except the Chequamegon NF, where they were stable. • Ground nesting birds showed highly significant declines in all study areas, with shrub and sub-canopy nesters increasing in all study areas. Canopy and cavity nesters showed mostly stable trends. Of the five vegetation-type preference guilds tested, lowland coniferous forest birds, deciduous, and mixed forest bird species showed widespread declines on our study areas, and upland coniferous species increased on all study areas except the Chequamegon NF. The early-successional guild showed an increase in the Chippewa NF and declines in the Superior NF and the regional analysis. • Evidence from recent regional studies have demonstrated greater nest predation rates on ground nests near forest/clearcut edges, as well as a significant increase in the creation of forest edges in recent years. Landscape fragmentation and nest predation may be having negative effects on declining ground-nesters such as the Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, and White- throated Sparrow. • Of the 1445 survey sites in all four study areas, 13.4% have been at least partially harvested since the beginning of monitoring, which is about 1% a year. This harvest rate is comparable to the 4.8% change from mature forest to early- successional types on federally managed forest lands in northeastern Minnesota between 1990 and 1995 (i.e. -1% annual change). • Many of the declining trends that we have detected have been consistent across the years and are not likely due to annual variation. One of the main goals of this monitoring program is to identify species of conservation concern, and species such as the Eastern Wood-Pewee, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Mourning Warbler, Ovenbird, and White-throated Sparrow probably need special management consideration by agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and state Department of Natural Resources. Although most of these are common species, several are currently well below their estimated RNV values and they may not remain common if their declining trends continue.Item Breeding bird monitoring in Great Lakes National Forests: 1991-1999(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2000) Lind, Jim; Danz, Nicholas P; Jones, Malcolm T; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald JA total of 135, 168, and 133 stands (1,268 survey points) were surveyed for breeding birds in the Chippewa, Superior, and Chequamegon National Forests, respectively. Surveys have been completed for nine years in the Chippewa and Superior, and for eight years in the Chequamegon NF. Breeding bird surveys in the St. Croix region of Minnesota have been conducted over the last eight years at 171 points. Surveys in Southeast Minnesota have been conducted over the last five years at 211 points. We were able to examine trends in abundance for 79 bird species in at least one of the five study areas. Fifty-two species in the Chequamegon NF, 48 species in the Superior NF, 53 species in the Chippewa NF, 33 species in the St. Croix region, and 35 species in Southeast Minnesota were tested. Sixteen species showed a significant increase in at least one of the five study areas, and 13 species showed a significant decrease. Of the 16 increasing species, the American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and American Redstart showed significant increases in more than one study area. Of the 13 decreasing species, six declined significantly in more than one study area. The Eastern Wood-Pewee, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Mourning Warbler, and Brown-headed Cowbird declined in two study areas and the White-throated Sparrow declined in three study areas.Item Breeding bird monitoring in Great Lakes National Forests: 1991-2000(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2001) Lind, Jim; Danz, Nicholas P; Jones, Malcolm T; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald J• A total of 135, 168, and 133 stands (1,268 survey points) were surveyed for breeding birds in the Chippewa, Superior, and Chequamegon National Forests, respectively. Surveys have been completed for ten years in the Chippewa and Superior, and for nine years in the Chequamegon NF.• Breeding bird surveys in the St. Croix region of Minnesota have been conducted over the last nine years at 171 points. Surveys in southeast Minnesota have been conducted over the last six years at 211 points.• We were able to examine trends in abundance for 72 bird species in at least one of the five study areas. Fifty species in the Chequamegon NF, 40 species in the Superior NF, 47 species in the Chippewa NF, 36 species in the St. Croix region, and 36 species in Southeast Minnesota were tested.• Twenty-nine species showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in at least one of the five study areas, and 23 species showed a significant decrease. The Least Flycatcher showed significant increases (P < 0.01) in two study areas and the American Robin increased in three study areas. The Eastern Wood-Pewee, Black-and-white Warbler, and Brown-headed Cowbird showed significant declines (P < 0.01) n two study areas and the Common Yellowthroat and White-throated Sparrow declined in three study areas.• Nine (18%) of the species tested in the Chequamegon NF had increasing trends and nine (18%) had decreasing trends. In the Chippewa NF, 12 (26%) of the species tested increased significantly and 10 (21%) decreased. Seven (18%) of the species tested in the Superior NF had significant increasing trends, and seven (18%) had decreasing trends. In the St. Croix study area, six (17%) of the species tested increased significantly, and seven (19%) decreased. In the Southeast, ten (28%) species increased significantly and three (8%) decreased.• The regional analysis of the three National Forests combined revealed five species (14%) with significant increases; Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Redbreasted Nuthatch, American Robin, and American Redstart. Six species (17%) had significant decreases: Eastern Wood-Pewee, Ovenbird, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager，Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow.• Over 70% of the decreasing species nest on the ground, which is significantly more than would be expected. Ground-nesting species that declined in multiple study areas, such as the White-throated Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Black-and-white Warbler, and Ovenbird, warrant closer attention in the future.• Neither increasing nor decreasing species showed a relationship with any particular migration strategy, although no permanent residents declined significantly.• The abundance of many species varied over the survey period but did not show significant increases or decreases. A common thread among many species was a decline in abundance between 1994 and 1996, with an increase from 1996 to 1998. The reason for this pattern is unclear, but it may be related to winter and spring weather.Item Breeding bird monitoring in Great Lakes National Forests: 1991-2001(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2001) Lind, Jim; Danz, Nicholas P; Jones, Malcolm T; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald J• A total of 135, 168, and 133 stands (1,268 survey points) were surveyed for breeding birds in the Chippewa, Superior, and Chequamegon National Forests, respectively. Eleven years of surveys have been completed in the Chippewa and Superior NF, and ten years in the Chequamegon NF. • Breeding bird surveys in the St. Croix region of Minnesota have been conducted over the past ten years at 171 points. Surveys in southeast Minnesota have been conducted over the past seven years at 211 points. • We were able to examine trends in abundance for 77 bird species in at least one of the five study areas. Fifty species in the Chequamegon NF, 49 species in the Chippewa NF, 41 species in the Superior NF, 39 species in the St. Croix region, and 40 species in Southeast Minnesota were tested for population trends. Thirty- five species were also tested for a regional trend (three national forests combined). • Twenty-six species increased significantly (P > 0.05) in at least one study area and 32 species decreased. Two species had highly significant (P < 0.01) increasing trends in multiple study areas, and seven species had highly significant decreasing trends in multiple study areas. Four species had significant increasing regional trends and 11 had decreasing trends. • The most convincing increasing trends were those of the Red-breasted Nuthatch and American Redstart regionally and in the Chippewa NF, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckcer and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in the Chequamegon NF, the Chestnutsided Warbler in the Chippewa NF, the Northern Parula in the Superior NF, and the Least Flycatcher in the St. Croix region. Eight other species had highly significant trends in southeastern Minnesota, albeit with a shorter time span than the northern sites. • The most convincing decreasing trends are those of the Eastern Wood-Pewee, Winter Wren, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager, and Song Sparrow regionally, the Eastern Wood-Pewee in the Chequamegon and Superior NF, the Winter Wren in the Chequamegon NF, the Song Sparrow in the Chippewa NF, the Hermit Thrush in the Chequamegon and Chippewa NF, and the Black-and-white Warbler in the Chequamegon NF, Superior NF and St. Croix region. The Brown-headed Cowbird decreased in southeastern Minnesota during the six years of monitoring there. • The percentage of increasing species in each study area ranged from 13% in St. Croix, MN study area to 28% in Southeast MN. The percentage of decreasing species ranged from 20% in Southeast MN to 31% in the Chippewa NF. Over half the species in each study area had a non-significant trend (P > 0.05). • There are 17 instances where a species showed a significant increase in a particular study area in results from 2000, with no increase noted in 2001, and 11 instances where a species was not increasing in 2000 and is increasing in 2001. Conversely, there are five instances where a decreasing species in a particular study area from 2000 is no longer showing a significant decrease, and 25 instances where a species was not decreasing in 2000 and is decreasing in 2001. • Ten of the 35 species that were tested for a regional trend had similar trends on Breeding Bird Survey routes. One species had an increasing regional trend and an increasing BBS trend, three species had decreasing trends on both, and six species had non-significant trends on both. • When compared to all species tested, ground nesters were more prevalent among decreasing species (33% vs. 48%) and less prevalent among increasing species (33% vs. 19%), however the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.069). Evidence from other regional studies have demonstrated greater nest predation rates on ground nests near forest edges, as well as a significant increase in the creation of forest edges in recent years. Landscape fragmentation and nest predation may be having negative effects on declining ground-nesters such as the Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, and Song Sparrow. • Averaged over all study areas, 10.6% of the points have been harvested since the beginning of monitoring, which is about 1% a year. This is comparable to the 4.8% change from mature forest to early-successional types on federally managed forest lands in northeastern Minnesota between 1990 and 1995.Item Breeding bird monitoring in Great Lakes National Forests: 1991-2006(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2007) Etterson, Matthew; Danz, Nicholas P; Lind, Jim; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Niemi, Gerald J• A total of 132, 133, and 164 stands (1,254 survey points) were surveyed for breeding birds in the Chequamegon, Chippewa, and Superior National Forests (NF), respectively in 2006. Annual surveys have been conducted since 1991 in the Chippewa and Superior NF, and since 1992 in the Chequamegon NF. • Comprehensive surveys of vegetation structure were carried out on 93, 74, and 63 points in the Chequamegon, Chippewa, and Superior NFs, respectively, on over 50 observer-days of sampling. Monitoring personnel on the Chippewa and Superior NFs provided excellent assistance in the coordination and completion of this effort. • Trends in relative abundance were calculated for 72 bird species, including 57 species in the Chequamegon NF, 57 in the Chippewa NF, and 49 in the Superior NF. Thirty-nine species were also tested for a pooled trend by combining data from the three national forests. • A total of 163 species/national forest trends were calculated in 2006 (not including pooled trends), 68 (42%) of which were significant (P ≤ 0.05). Twenty three species increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in at least one national forest and 24 species decreased. Eleven species had significant increasing pooled trends and 11 had decreasing trends. Of the 158 species/national forest trends calculated in 2005, 19 (12%) changed in 2006. • The percent of increasing species on each national forest ranged from 9% in the Chequamegon NF, to 25% in the Chippewa NF. The percent of decreasing species ranged from 20% in the Superior NF, to 28% in the Chequamegon NF. • The short-distance migrant guild showed highly significant declines on all national forests. Long-distance migrants also declined on all national forests. Permanent residents increased on the Chippewa and Superior NF and in the pooled NFs, but were stable on the Chequamegon NF. • The ground nesting guild showed highly significant declines on all national forests. Shrub/sub-canopy nesters increased on Chippewa NF, but were stable in Chequamegon and Superior NFs. Canopy nesters increased in Chquamegon NF and cavity-nesters increased in Chippwa and Superior NFs. All nesting guilds showed significant trends in the pooled NFs with increases in shrub/subcanopy-nesters and cavity-nesters and decreases in ground- and canopy-nesters. • The deciduous and mixed forest bird guilds declined on the Chequamegon and Superior NFs and the pooled NFs. The lowland coniferous forest bird guild declined on the Chippewa NF and the pooled NFs. The early-successional bird guild increased on the Chippewa NF and the upland coniferous bird guild increased on the Chippewa and Superior NFs as well as in the pooled NFs. • Evidence from previous regional studies have demonstrated greater nest predation rates on ground nests near forest/clearcut edges, as well as a significant increase in the creation of forest edges in recent years. Increasing amounts of forest edge and nest predation may be having negative effects on declining ground-nesters such as the Winter Wren, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Ovenbird, and White-throated Sparrow. • Of the 1274 survey sites on the three national forests, 15.5% have been at least partially harvested since the beginning of monitoring, which is about 1% a year. This harvest rate is comparable to the documented 4.8% change from mature forest to early-successional types on federally managed forest lands in northeastern Minnesota between 1990 and 1995 (i.e., ~1% annual change). Thus, it appears that management activities on our sample sites are representative of the national forests as a whole, and that the trends we are documenting are probably occurring across the regional landscape. • Many of the declining trends that we have detected appear to be consistent across years instead of being due to a few years with very low or high abundance. One of the main goals of this monitoring program is to identify potential declines of forest bird species, especially for species of conservation concern such as the Eastern Wood-Pewee, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Ovenbird, and White-throated Sparrow. The declines observed over the past years for common species such as the Ovenbird and White-throated Sparrow are a continuing concern and special management consideration should be given to these species.Item Minnesota's Forest Bird Diversity Initiative FY02-03 Final Report(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2003) Niemi, Gerald J; Hanowski, JoAnn M; Danz, Nicholas P; Lind, Jim; Jones, Malcolm T; Sales, JamesThe Minnesota Forest Bird Diversity Initiative (MFBDI) was initiated in 1991 as a comprehensive monitoring, research, and education effort to maintain Minnesota’s rich diversity of forest birds. The Initiative was motivated by: 1) forest-related problems in the eastern US and emerging issues in the Pacific Northwest US, 2) a major study on the potential effects of increased forest harvesting and management in Minnesota (known as the GEIS) indicated that forest birds may exhibit substantial changes in the future unless several mitigation measures were implemented, and 3) little was known about many fundamental issues on the ecology of forest birds. These included limited information on a) population trends of forest birds, b) factors associated with nest success, c) how landscape level changes affect forest bird distribution and abundance, d) how forest management activities affected forest birds, and e) the ability to predict the effects of increased forest harvesting (three-fold increase from 1950 to 1990) on forest birds. Significant progress has been made during this 12-year effort towards improving our understanding of Minnesota’s forest birds. Major accomplishments include: 1) establishment of a comprehensive and effective monitoring program throughout the forested areas of Minnesota to identify habitats used by birds and to detect trends in populations; 2) examination of recent population trends (using data gathered during the past twelve years from the Initiative’s monitoring program) and long-term population trends (using data gathered during the past 37 years from the US Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey roadside routes) to identify forest birds with declining populations; 3) development of a detailed, state-of-the-art classification of Minnesota’s forested areas using satellite imagery (30 m pixel resolution); 4) development of many species-specific models relating bird distribution and abundance to forest cover, age, and landscape patterns; 5) completion of a variety of nesting studies on forest birds that have revealed low reproductive success in southeastern Minnesota and highly variable reproductive success in northern Minnesota; 6) a simulation analysis of the Nashwauk Uplands for four alternative management scenarios - an analysis that links a landscape, succession, and disturbance (LANDIS) model of forest change with the response by forest birds, 7) a prediction on the potential effects of forest plan alternatives that have been proposed for managing the Chippewa and Superior National Forests, and 8) production of a multitude of materials to transfer the knowledge gained from this effort to landowners, land managers, foresters, wildlife biologists, and others. The latter includes the delivery of more than 130 presentations; over 40 peer-reviewed publications and technical reports; training of ten graduate students and two post-doctoral associates; publication of a book, Birds and forests: a conservation and management guide, that reviews current research and management guidelines on birds and their relationships to forest habitats; organizing and participating in numerous workshops on forest bird management and conservation; and publication of a small booklet, Planning for the birds: things to consider when managing your forest, for distribution to private woodland owners through the Forest Stewardship Program. Most of this information is summarized in a web site on Minnesota’s forest birds - www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds.Item Wildlife species: responses to forest harvesting and management in riparian stands and landscapes(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2001) Hanowski, JoAnn M; Danz, Nicholas P; Lind, Jim; Niemi, Gerald J; Wolter, Peter T.Breeding birds were surveyed in five watersheds in northern Minnesota for four years. In three watersheds (Knife, Pokegama, Cloquet) 12, 6 to I 0 acre plots were established. In two watersheds (Knife, Gooseberry) one large(> 40 acre) plot was established. Plots were established to assess breeding bird response to harvest type and J:iarvest method in riparian forests. Treatments in the Pokegama watershed included removal of basal area to 25-35 ft within 100 ft of either side of the stream with two different harvest methods (grapple skidding and cut-to-length systems). Uplands adjacent to riparian buffers were clearcut and three total (no harvest) plots were maintained in the watershed as well as three uncut riparian control plots. Before harvest data were collected in 1997, harvest was completed in the fall of 1997, and after harvest data collected in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Treatments in the Knife watershed ranged from clearcut in the riparian area to 25-35 ft residual basal area within 100 feet on one side of the stream. Uplands adjacent to riparian buffers were clearcut and three total (no harvest) plots were maintained in the watershed as well as three uncut riparian control plots. Harvests were not completed on all sites because of poor winter harvest conditions in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Breeding bird data have been collected in all years and will be collected in 200 I if all sites are harvested within this time frame. Treatments on sites in the Cloquet watershed were designed to examine bird response to harvest in the riparian area by leaving residual basal area ( 40 ft2) in either a scattered or clumped pattern. Uplands adjacent to riparian buffers were clearcut and three total (no harvest) plots were maintained in the watershed as well as three uncut riparian control plots. Harvests were not completed on all sites because of poor winter harvest conditions in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Breeding bird data have been collected in all years and will be collected in 2001 if all sites are harvested within this time frame. Bird surveys were also completed on two large sites in Lake County. One site, the Gooseberry was harvested, but the Knife River site was not. No statistical analyses were completed on these data and no additional studies are planned. In addition to breeding bird surveys, two additional tasks were completed and results were presented in the previous biennial report (Louisiana Waterthrush and riparian landscape statistics for the forested regions of Minnesota. No new information is presented in this report on those tasks.