From 1999-2003, PRBO biologists and volunteers collected data on songbird use of central coast riparian streams. The goal was to better understand the health of the bird populations using a suite of streams in this region.
Data collected were used to update the California Riparian Bird Conservation Plan and are included in PRBO's statewide database of riparian songbirds.
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 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. One volunteer 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 songbirds along the San Lorenzo River. UCSC’s GIS Lab provided help in creating maps of the study sites. Sequoia 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
