|
Project Summary
Our Central Coast streams face many threats and continuous impacts, including introduction of non-native species, water diversion, agriculture, inappropriate grazing regimes, gravel extraction and other mining operations and flood control projects that have included dams, channelization, and the clearing of riparian vegetation.
Some bird species once known to breed locally have been extirpated from the region. Other species, such as the Yellow Warbler, are believed to be declining and experiencing reductions in their former breeding range. Identifying why populations decline or increase requires an understanding of how demographic and physiological processes—survival, reproductive success, dispersal, and recruitment—vary with habitat, landscape, and management practice.
With this project we are attempting to examine the health of our central coast bird populations, determine habitat variables and management regimes that influence local populations, contribute to larger-scale studies of which species are declining and why, and develop strategies to help arrest and reverse these declines in our region.
|
|
VOLUNTEERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE
2003 Call for Volunteers
The early morning light spurs a flurry of activity along Moore Creek. A Song Sparrow breaks into his bold song amidst a chattering chorus. With a bill full of insects, an American Robin flies to her nest to feed her begging young. These are some of the sights and sounds experienced by a group of energetic volunteers who brave the early morning hours with clipboards in hand, exploring streams of the central coast and recording birds they encountered.
In the springs of 1999-2002, volunteers participated in the Central Coast Riparian Bird Conservation Project. This project was started by PRBO Conservation Science and the Coastal Watershed Council (CWC) with the help and cooperation of a large network of agencies and individuals including the Sequioa Audubon Society in San Mateo County and Ventana Wilderness Society’s Big Sur Ornithology Lab.
Volunteers have played an important role in this project. Over 50 volunteers have attended training workshops offered by biologists from PRBO Conservation Science. Many of these volunteers are conducting bird censuses on streams spreading from San Pedro Creek in northern San Mateo County, south throughout Santa Cruz County, down to the Salinas River in Monterey County. Onevolunteer from the National Park Service is monitoring streams in Pinnacles National Monument. Two student volunteers from the UC Santa Cruz spent time mapping the territories of breeding songbirdsalong the San Lorenzo River. UCSC’s GIS Lab provided help increating maps of the study sites. Sequioa Audubon Society in San Mateo County joined this effort in 2000 and have played a lead role in establishing and surveying study sites and coordinating volunteers along the San Mateo Coast. In addition, members of the California Native Plant Society have volunteered their time to help with vegetation assessments. With this effort, we hope to provide expansive coverage of the bird and plant life in the central coast's riparian corridors.
Local efforts are part of broad-scale programs The Central Coast Riparian Bird Conservation Project is one thread within a web of national and state programs designed to arrest and reverse the declines of non-game landbird populations. Visit The California Partners in Flight and National Partners in Flight web pages for more information.
Contact: Tom Gardali
