PRBO Conservation Science
PRBO Conservation Science    
  
PRBO Home::Science::Terrestrial Ecology::Eastern Sierra Program::Current Eastern Sierra Projects

Current Eastern Sierra Projects
 


Home
About
New at PRBO
Science
Conservation Planning
Conservation Education
Events and Membership
Support PRBO
Observer Online
Contact / Visit Us
Charity Navigator
4-Star Highest Rating


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.

 

Project Contact: Stella Moss  

 

Funding: Bureau of Land Management

 

[back to top]

 



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.


 

Project Contact: Stella Moss  

 

Funding: NRCS

 

[back to top]

 


 

Management of Piñon Woodlands in the Southwestern Great Basin: Evaluating the Effects of Thinning Treatments

 


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.

 

Project Contact: Stella Moss

 

Funding: BLM, USGS, Joint Fire Sciences

 

 

 [back to top]


 

  Long Valley Road Closure Project

 

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).

Contact: Stella Moss


Funding: BLM and OHV Commission

 

[back to top]

 

 


Ecology of California Gulls at Mono Lake



See Wetlands Ecology Divisions project 
description

Project Contact: Sacha Heath, Dave Shuford

Funding:
In 2006 – Mono Lake Committee,
Anonymous Donor, Dorothy Hunt

 

 

 

Recent publication on Mono Lake's California Gull colony:

Wrege, P. H., Shuford, W. D., Winkler, D. W., and Jellison, R. 2006. Annual variation in numbers of breeding California Gulls at Mono Lake, California: the importance of natal philopatry and local regional conditions. Condor 108:82–96.

 


 



[back to top] [Print Page]