PRBO has a long and diverse history of field research in the Eastern Sierra Nevada region, beginning with investigations of migrant passerines at Mono Lake in the early 1970's, and spanning multiple species and habitats since.
In 1998, we initiated a study to investigate patterns in riparian breeding bird indices and demographics across three watersheds and over 250 kilometers of the Eastern Sierra Nevada region. We engaged with private and public land managers, conservation groups and other researchers and educators in the region to ensure that our data would inform bird and habitat management, restoration and conservation efforts.
In 2002, we became year round residents and established PRBO’s Eastern Sierra Field Station in Lee Vining, California. We are currently engaged in a wide range of bird and habitat monitoring, research, restoration, conservation, education and private and public land management projects.
Click on the links below to explore our current work.
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Contact: Stella Moss
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| Quaking Aspen Stewardship Project |
| This project looks at the effects of conifer removal, controlled burns and livestock exclusion in aspen groves on breeding birds. The Bureau of Land Management is using these various methods to improve Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) regeneration. The sites are located in the Bodie Hills as well as in the Virginia Creek watershed. PRBO conducts Area Searches in all the groves to assess bird species richness, abundance and diversity before and after treatment and to assess breeding status for all species using the site. Through nest vegetation assessments PRBO is able to provide the Bureau of Land Management with valuable information to guide their restoration efforts in this area.
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All-bird monitoring of restoration sites at Adobe Valley, LLC Properties in Adobe Valley, California
PRBO is assessing bird responses to riparian and upland restoration and habitat enhancement projects on Adobe Valley LLC property managed by Greenbridges LLC in Adobe Valley, California.
A majority of Adobe Valley LLC lands have been placed under the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Wetland Reserve Program with the goal of restoring the riparian, wetland and upland habitats of the historic ranch site. A primary goal of Adobe Valley LLC and Greenbridges LLC is to protect and restore Adobe Valley lands while also generating an economic return for the land owners and investors (for example land swaps, Brown Trout fisheries, managed grazing leases).
PRBO has collected baseline data since 2004 and will continue monitoring after the restoration has occurred.
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Management of Piñon Woodlands in the Southwestern Great Basin: Evaluating the Effects of Thinning Treatments
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A new project in 2005, PRBO is working with the Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office (BLM) and United States Geological Service (USGS) to investigate the effects of piñon pine thinning treatments on songbirds that utilize both sagebrush and piñon pine habitats.
USGS and BLM will compare the effects of cut-chip-mulch, and cut-buck-scatter treatments on plant density, cover, and diversity, and seedbank density and diversity during baseline and post-treatment years. PRBO will investigate the effects of this mosaic of thinning treatments on breeding bird species diversity, richness, abundance and productivity during the baseline and post-treatment years.
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Long Valley Road Closure Project
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This study looks at the effects of OHVs on breeding songbirds in the Long Valley, California. PRBO has conducted point counts since 2007 on open, closed and roadess sites to monitor species richness, abundance and diversity over time. Vegetation assessments at all avian monitoring points help with establishing bird and habitat relationships. Characterizing found nest sites is the basis for vegetation targets for restoration of breeding habitat for California Bird Species of Special Concern. A few of the species of special concern that we have detected in this area include Greater Sage-Grouse (breeding), Horned Lark (breeding) and Burrowing Owl (breeding).
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Ecology of California Gulls at Mono Lake
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Started in 1983 this project aims to determine the effect of changing lake levels on the ecology and reproductive success of California Gulls (Larus californicus) at Mono Lake in response to water diversions of the lake's tributary streams by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
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In The News:
>>SF Chronicle and LA Times story (2008)
>>ABC News story (2007)
>> SF Chronicle story (2006)
