|
SD Colonial Water Bird Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why was this project created?
Colonial and semi-colonial waterbirds prefer to breed in high-density groups in
a relatively small number of locations, favoring predator-free habitats such as
flooded timber, islands, and marsh reedbeds. However, this ‘all eggs in one basket’
breeding strategy makes these species vulnerable to natural or manmade catastrophic
events that could wipe out a large portion of the breeding population. In addition,
populations have been reduced because of land-use changes leading to wetland loss,
bioaccumulation of toxins, and degradation of wintering habitat. Thus many of these
species are the focus of conservation efforts throughout North America.
Thirty-three species of colonial and semi-colonial waterbirds breed in South
Dakota, including herons, night-herons, egrets, grebes, gulls, terns,
White-faced Ibis, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, and eight
shorebird species. Identifying and monitoring breeding
|
photo: Travis O’Dell
|
colonies are the
primary tools for tracking populations.
Yet, no systematic inventories or monitoring of waterbird colonies had been conducted
in South Dakota, impeding the ability of conservationists to manage this vulnerable
group of birds. Monitoring populations guide waterbird conservation planning, help
establish management and research priorities, and serve as a basis for evaluating
management actions.
Objective 1: Compile an up-to-date list of colonial waterbird breeding sites in
South Dakota
1025 sites were surveyed for 46 species of breeding waterbirds during the summers
of 2005 - 2007. The inventory and associated population information produced from
this project will provide baseline data for future monitoring efforts, as well as
contribute to regional and national waterbird conservation efforts.
Major results:
- 405 sites had confirmed waterbird breeding during at least one year
- 26 sites were identified as very important breeding waterbird colony sites (>200
total pairs and/or >5 breeding species)
- Confirmed breeding by 32 of 46 waterbird species targeted during surveys
- American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants: most abundant nesting colonial
waterbirds in South Dakota
- Great Blue Herons: greatest number of colonies of any species and the most common
colonial waterbird in western portion of state
all photos: Nancy Drilling
Objective 2: Develop a plan for long-term statewide monitoring of South Dakota’s
breeding colonial waterbirds
Monitoring goal: To collect information, on a continuous basis and over a long period
of time, which managers and landowners can use to manage and conserve colonial waterbirds
and to aid in the prevention of future declines of colonial waterbird species that
breed in South Dakota.
Monitoring objectives:
- Improve information on conservation status of breeding colonial waterbirds in
South Dakota,
- Identify and track factors that could result in a decline of colonial
waterbird species that breed in South Dakota,
- Determine what and how management
actions impact breeding populations,
- Provide information to aid management of
waterbird-fisheries conflicts, and
- Ensure compatibility with regional and national
monitoring efforts.
Monitoring will have two components - monitoring known colonies and searching for
new colonies. The state is divided into eight regions, based on each area’s wetland
resources and demonstrated importance for breeding waterbirds; regions of higher
importance will be monitored more intensely than regions of lower importance. New
colonies will be identified by soliciting information from biologists and the public,
and conducting aerial surveys along transects across the region(s) of interest.
Ground visits to colonies will collect data on species presence and abundance, habitat,
threats, and other variables that address the objectives.
This monitoring plan will be coordinated by the Wildlife Diversity Program, Division
of Wildlife, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, with colony monitoring
being done by citizen-scientist volunteers, and staff from federal, tribal, and
state agencies, and other organizations.
all photos: Nancy Drilling
Download a copy of the final report (1.7 MB) (available at
http://www.rmbo.org/v2/web/Publications/Default.aspx#reports)
Download a copy of the appendices, including species accounts with maps (9.4 MB)
(available at
http://www.rmbo.org/v2/web/Publications/Default.aspx#reports)
Contact: Nancy Drilling, Science Division. 970-482-1707 ext. 22
|
|
|