Use of Data on Avian Demographics and Site Persistence during Overwintering to Assess Quality of Restored Riparian Habitat

Abstract

Monitoring responses by birds to restoration of riparian vegetation is relatively cost-effective, but in most assessments species-specific abundances, not demography, are monitored. Data on birds collected during the nonbreeding season are particularly lacking. We captured birds in mist nets and resighted banded birds to estimate species richness and diversity, abundance, demographic indexes, and site-level persistence of permanent-resident and overwintering migrants in remnant and restored riparian sites in California. Species richness in riparian remnants was significantly higher than in restored sites because abundances of uncommon permanent residents were greater in remnants. Species richness of overwintering migrants did not differ between remnants and restored sites. Responses among overwintering migrants (but not permanent residents) to remnant and restored riparian sites differed. Capture rates were higher in remnant or restored riparian sites for 7 of 10 overwintering migratory species. For Lincoln's Sparrows (Melospiza lincolnii) and White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) proportions of older birds were significantly higher in remnants, even though capture rates of these species were higher in restored sites. Overwinter persistence of 4 migrant species was significantly higher in remnant than in restored sites. A higher proportion of Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus, 56.3%), older Fox Sparrows (Passerella iliaca, 57.1%), Lincoln's Sparrows (59.7%), and White-crowned Sparrows (67.8%) persisted in remnants than restored sites. Our results suggest restored riparian sites provide habitat for a wide variety of species in comparable abundances and diversity as occurs in remnant riparian sites. Our demographic and persistence data showed that remnants supported some species and age classes to a greater extent than restored sites.

Depression is associated with CRP SNPs in patients with family history

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Multiscale habitat mediates pest reduction by birds in an intensive agricultural region

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Habitat‐dependent occupancy and movement in a migrant songbird highlights the importance of mangroves and forested lagoons in Panama and Colombia

“…Nonterritorial species (i.e., those that flock, maintain a nonexclusive home range, or are transient) represent an additional overwintering strategy that needs further study as they display more complex movement patterns than individuals maintaining an exclusive territory. Density (Johnson, 2007) and site persistence (Latta, Howell, Dettling, & Cormier, 2012) are likely to be indicators of habitat quality for nonterritorial species. For example, differences in age/sex ratios between habitats can be the result of despotic distributions of highly territorial species (Fretwell & Lucas, 1970), and not likely relevant for nonterritorial species.…”

“…For example, differences in age/sex ratios between habitats can be the result of despotic distributions of highly territorial species (Fretwell & Lucas, 1970), and not likely relevant for nonterritorial species. Density (Johnson, 2007) and site persistence (Latta, Howell, Dettling, & Cormier, 2012) are likely to be indicators of habitat quality for nonterritorial species. Density can be a cue for resource availability (Stamps, 1991) and nonterritorial birds are more likely to move out of (i.e., not persist in) habitats that decline in quality over time compared to species that have invested time in establishing a territory.…”