Using bird populations to evaluate activities, promote ecological awareness, and prompt action on private lands
Date
2014-09
Authors
Ramsey, Philip, speaker
Stone, Kate, speaker
Mummey, Dan, speaker
Morgan, Ken, moderator
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Private landowners allocate significant resources towards restoration activities, yet have few ways to demonstrate the ecological effectiveness of their actions. As a group, birds are well suited to serve as response variables to management actions due to their abundance, relatively small territories, association with specific vegetative features, and our ability to passively monitor them. The MPG Ranch studies bird populations using a variety of methods, including: point counts, direct observations of target species, fine-scale mapping of bird occurrence, and tracking devices. The information gathered allows us to evaluate the success of restoration projects, including large-scale activities such as landscape conversion and small-scale activities such as building enclosures and shrubby draw enhancement. Our studies also allow us to document basic distribution and life history information on little-known species. We share data with local conservation groups, our state's Natural Heritage Program, and national bird monitoring efforts such as "eBird", "HawkCount", and "Hummingbirds at Home." Though our main goal is to apply data towards our own on-the-ground restoration activities, collaborative and community outreach efforts broaden its application to larger topics, including regional land-use planning efforts and setting management guidelines for species of concern. Our hope is that our research will prompt other private landowners to invest in formal and/or informal bird monitoring efforts on their properties.
Description
Moderator: Ken Morgan.
Presented at the 8th international congress for wildlife and livelihoods on private and communal lands: livestock, tourism, and spirit, that was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado.
Video presenter: Kate Stone.
Presented at the 8th international congress for wildlife and livelihoods on private and communal lands: livestock, tourism, and spirit, that was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado.
Video presenter: Kate Stone.
Rights Access
Subject
Wildlife management -- Congresses
Range management -- Congresses