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The Palomarin Field Station is a member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations
Objectives:
- Monitor long-term population demographics and migration patterns of 50 to 75 species of landbirds at the Palomarin Field Station. More specifically, to determine baseline indexes of productivity, density, survivorship, and migration of these species and relate observed changes to environmental and anthropogenic fluctuations.
- Assess habitat influences and management practices (i.e. grazed and ungrazed coastal scrub), on population density, nest success, and other demographic factors landbirds on the Pt Reyes area. Determine lifetime reproductive successes, and individual fitness of four co-existing landbird species (Scrub Jay, Wrentit, Song Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow) in coastal habitat.
- Provide validation of constant effort mist-netting and nest monitoring as techniques for long-term monitoring of bird populations and habitat assessment.
- Contribute to regional, national, and international databases (MAPS, BBIRD, California Partners in Flight) to determine regional and broad scale trends of bird populations.
- Provide informational and educational opportunities in ornithology and bird conservation for amateurs and professionals.
- Conduct training workshops, short courses, and field days in songbird monitoring techniques and conservation.
- Determine environmental and anthropogenic impacts on landbirds in a variety of terrestrial habitats.
Project Methods / Study Activities
At Palomarin, Pine Gulch (Bolinas Lagoon), and Muddy Hollow, a site within the burned zone of the 1995 Mt. Vision fire, arrays of mist nets are employed in standardized manner throughout the year. Point count and area search censuses are conducted in conjunction with the netting to determine density and relative abundance. All data are entered daily into computers, and monthly and yearly summaries are generated and reviewed.
All sites, including a self-guided nature trail at Palomarin are open to the public, with staff and interns acting as interpreters. Classes and groups are encouraged to visit. Donations, especially from groups, are requested. Palomarin is currently developing a docent program.
Contact: Tom Gardali , Palomarin Manager, or Geoff Geupel, Terrestrial Program Director
Research Articles from the Palomarin Study Site:
Ralph, C.J. & C.A. Pearson. 1971. Correlation of age, size of territory, plumage, and breeding success in white-crowned sparrows. The Condor 73:77-80.
Ralph, C.J. 1971. Age differential of migrants in coastal California. The Condor 73:243-246.
Stewart, R.M. 1973. Breeding behavior and life history of Wilson's Warbler. Wilson Bulletin 85:21-30.
Stewart, R.M. 1972. Reliability of aging some fall migrants by skull pneumatization. Bird-Banding 43:9-14.
Stewart, R.M. 1971. Netting success in relation to time of day and sunny versus overcast skies. Western Bird Bander 46:16-17.
Stewart, R.M. 1971. Application of an analysis of wing length in Swainson's thrushes. Western Bird Bander 46:52-53.
Stewart, R.M. 1972. Determining sex in western races of adult Wilson's warblers: a re-examination. Western Bird Bander 47:45-48.
Stewart, R.M. 1972. Age and crown types in the golden-crowned sparrow. Western Bird Bander 47:32-33.
Stewart, R.M. 1972. Species composition of common passerines at Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Western Bird Bander 47:58-59.
Stewart, R.M. 1972. Nestling mortality in swallows due to inclement weather. California Birds 3:69-70.
Stewart, R.M. 1972. Observations on the nest behavior of the California scrub jay. California Birds 3:93-95.
Stewart, R.M. 1972. Fall migration of common passerines at Bolinas, California. California Birds 3:9-12.
Stewart, R.M., L.R. Mewaldt & S. Kaiser. 1974. Age ratios of coastal and inland fall migrant passerines in central California. Bird-Banding 45:46-57.
Halliburton, R. & L.R. Mewaldt. 1976. Survival and mobility in a population of Pacific coast song sparrow (Melospiza melodia gouldii). The Condor 78:499-504.
Mewaldt, L.R. & J.R. King. 1977. The annual cycle of white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli) in coastal California. The Condor 79:445-455.
Baker, M.C. & L.R. Mewaldt. 1978. Song dialects as barriers to dispersal in white-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli. Evolution 32:712-722.
Baker, M.C. & L.R. Mewaldt. 1979. The use of space by white-crowned sparrows: juvenile and adult ranging patterns and home range versus body size comparisons in an avian granivore community. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 6:45-52.
Nelson, B.C., C.A. Wolf & B.A. Sorrie. 1979. Natural introduction of Hectopsylla psittaci, a neotropical sticktight flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), on cliff swallows in California, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology 16(6):548-549
Baker, M.C., L.R. Mewaldt & R.M. Stewart. 1981. Demography of white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli). Ecology 62:636-644.
DeSante, D.F. 1981. A field test of the variable circular-plot censusing technique in a California coastal scrub breeding bird community. Studies in Avian Biology 6:177-185.
Isenhart, F.R. & D.F. DeSante. 1985. Observations of scrub jays cleaning ectoparasites from black-tailed deer. The Condor 87:145-147.
DeSante, D.F. & G.R. Geupel. 1987. Landbird productivity in central coastal California: the relationship to annual rainfall and a reproductive failure in 1986. The Condor 89(3):636-653.
Pyle, P., S.N.G. Howell, R.P. Yunick & D.F. DeSante. 1987. Identification guide to North American passerines. Slate Creek Press.
DeSante, D.F. & L.F. Baptista. 1989. Factors affecting the termination of breeding in Nuttall's white-crowned sparrow. Wilson Bulletin 101(1):120-124.
Geupel, G.R. & D.F. DeSante. 1990. Incidence and determinants of double brooding in Wrentits. The Condor 92:67-75.
Ralph, C.J., G.R. Geupel, P. Pyle, T.E. Martin & D.F. DeSante. 1993. Handbook of field methods for monitoring landbirds. U.S. Department of Agriculture General Technical Report PSW-GTR-144.
Taylor, D.M., D.F. DeSante, G.R. Geupel & K. Houghton. 1994. Autumn populations of landbirds along central coastal California 1976-1986. Journal of Field Ornithology 65(2):169-185.
Martin, T.E. & G.R. Geupel. 1993. Nest-monitoring plots: methods for locating nests and monitoring success. Journal of Field Ornithology 64(4):507-519.
Nur, N. & G. Geupel. 1993. Evaluating mist-netting, nest-searching and other methods of monitoring demographic processes in landbird populations. In: D.M. Finch & P.W. Stangel (eds.), Status and management of neotropical migratory birds:237-244 (USDA Forest Service Publication GTR RM-229).
Geupel, G.R. & N. Nur. 1993. Monitoring bird populations: the role of bird observatories and nongovernmental organizations. In: D.M. Finch & P.W. Stangel (eds.), Status and management of neotropical migratory birds:275-279 (USDA Forest Service Publication GTR RM-229).
Super, P.E. & C. van Riper III. 1995. A comparison of avian hematozoan epizootiology in two California coastal scrub communities. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 31(4):447-461.
Baker, M., N. Nur, and G. R. Geupel. 1995. Correcting biased estimates of dispersal and survival due to limited study area: Theory and an application using Wrentits. The Condor 97:663-674.
Pyle, P. & S.N.G. Howell. 1995. Flight-feather molt patterns and age in North American woodpeckers. Journal of Field Ornithology 66(4):564-581.
Johnson, M.D. & G.R. Geupel. 1996. The importance of productivity to the dynamics of a Swainson's thrush population. The Condor 98:133-141.
Chase, M.K., N. Nur & G.R. Geupel. 1997. Survival, productivity, and abundance in a Wilson's warbler population. The Auk 114(3):354-366.
Pyle, P., S.N.G. Howell & G. Yanega. 1997. Molt, retained flight feathers and age in North American hummingbirds. Festschrift for Allan R. Phillips. Albuquerque : Robert W. Dickerman, pp. 155-166.
Yanega, G., P. Pyle & G.R. Geupel. 1997. The timing and reliability of bill corrugations for ageing hummingbirds. Western Birds 28(1):13-18.
Pyle, P. Identification guide to North American birds. 1997. Part I. Bolinas : Slate Creek Press.
Silkey, M., N. Nur & G.R. Geupel. 1999. The use of mist-net capture rates to monitor annual variation in abundance: a validation study. Condor 101:288-298.
Nur, N., S.L. Jones & G.R. Geupel. 1999. Statistical guide to data analysis of avian monitoring programs. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Biological Technical Publication BTP-R6001-1999.
Humple, D.L. House wren with 14 retrices. 1999. North American Bird Bander 24(4):143.
Nur, N., G. R. Geupel, and G. Ballard. 2000. The use of constant-effort mist-netting to monitor demographic processes in passerine birds: annual variation in survival, productivity, and floaters. Pages 185-194 in R. Bonney, D. N. Pashley, R. J. Cooper, and L. Niles, editors. Strategies for bird conservation: The partners in flight planning process; Proceedings of the 3rd Partners in Flight workshop; 1995 October 1-5; Proceedings RMRS-P-16. U.S.Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Center, Ogden,UT.
Gardali, T., G. Ballard, N. Nur & G.R. Geupel. 2000. Demography of a declining population of warbling vireos in coastal California. The Condor 102:601-609.
Gardali, T. & G. Ballard. 2000. Warbling vireo. The Birds of North America, no. 551.
Flannery, M., and T. Gardali. 2000. Incomplete first prebasic molt in the Wrentit. Western Birds 31:249-251.
Gardali, T. and A. Jaramillo. 2001. Further evidence for a population decline in the western Warbling Vireo. Western Birds 32:173-176.
Chase, M. K. 2002. Nest site selection and nest success in a Song Sparrow population: the significance of spatial variation. Condor 104:103-116.
Humple, D. L., N. Nur, G. R. Geupel, and M. P. Lynes. 2001. Female-biased sex ratio in a wintering population of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Wilson Bulletin 113:419-424.
Ballard, G., G. R. Geupel, N. Nur, and T. Gardali. 2003. Long term declines and decadal patterns in population trends of songbirds in Western North America, 1979 – 1999. Condor 105:737-755.
Cormier, R. L., T. Gardali, and S. Hudson. 2003. Tertial molt in first-year Chestnut-backed Chickadees. North American Bird Bander 28:80-81.
Gardali, T., D. C. Barton, J. D. White, and G. R. Geupel. 2003. Juvenile and adult survival of Swainson’s Thrush in coastal California: annual estimates using capture-recapture analyses. Auk 120.
Howell, S. N. G., and T. Gardali. 2003. Phenology, sex ratios, and population trends of Selasphorus hummingbirds in coastal California. Journal of Field Ornithology 74: 17-25.
Ballard, G., G.R. Geupel, & N. Nur. In press. The influence of mist-netting intensity on investigations of avian populations. In Ralph, C. J., and E. H. Dunn (editors). The use of mist nets in population monitoring. Studies in Avian Biology.
Nur, N., G.R. Geupel and G. Ballard. In press. Estimates of adult survival, capture probability and recapture probability: evaluating and validating constant effort mist netting. In Ralph, C. J., and E. H. Dunn (editors). The use of mist nets in population monitoring. Studies in Avian Biology.
Theses and Dissertations from the Palomarin Study Site
Vargas, D.J. 1971. Observations on winter ecology and morphology of the golden-crowned sparrow. M.A. thesis, San Jose State University.
Cowley, L.J. 1972. Locomotor activity and physiological cycles in captive hermit thrushes (Hylocichla guttata). M.A. thesis, San Jose State University.
Strout, D.A. 1972. Population studies of the brown towhee and rufous-sided towhee. M.A. thesis, San Jose State University.
Halliburton, R. 1973. Studies of the population ecology of the Marin song sparrow. M.A. thesis, San Jose State University.
Royce, O. 1973. Radio telemetry equipment and techniques applied to tracking studies of Zonotrichia and Aphelocoma. M.A. thesis, San Jose State University.
DeSante, D.F. 1973. Analysis of the fall occurrences and nocturnal orientation of vagrant wood warblers (Parulidae) in California. Ph.D. dissertation, Stanford University, 1973
Howell, C. A. 1999. Life history evolution in the Song Sparrow: An experimental approach. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Missouri - Columbia.
Chase, M. K. 2001. Reproductive Success, Natal Dispersal, and Recruitment in a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) Population Breeding in California Coastal Scrub. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California - Riverside.
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