Bird Monitoring at Devils Postpile National ... - Point Blue

Bird Monitoring at Devils Postpile National Monument

Results from the 2009 Field Season

Williamson’s Sapsucker (W.Willis) MacGillivray’s Warbler (T. Richardson) Pine Grosbeak (S. Heath)

T. Will Richardson and Stella S. Moss

March 2010

PRBO Conservation Science 3820 Cypress Dr. #11 Petaluma, CA 94954 www.prbo.org

PRBO Contribution #1729

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ……………………………………………………………………………… 1

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ……….……………………………………………………… 2

METHODS …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ……...………………………………………………………………… 8

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………………………………………… 20

LITERATURE CITED ……………………………………………………………………………… 20

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Listed species detected at DEPO and SORE ………………………………………….. 8

Table 2. California Partners in Flight focal species ….……………...……………………………… 11

Table 3. Summary statistics of relative breeding bird indices DEPO and SORE …….………...…. 13

Table 4. Summary of mist-netting effort ………………………………….……………………… 14

Table 5. Species and age class of all individuals banded ……...…………….……………………… 17

Table 6. Individuals captured previously ………………………………….…………...………. 18

Table 7. Number of visitors ………………………………………………………………..… 19

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Point count locations, DEPO and SORE ….………………………………………… 4

Figure 2. Mist-net locations …………………………………...…...…………………………… 5

Figure 3. Total abundance… of 10 most numerous species at SORE point count stations ……..….. 12

Figure 4. Total abundance… of 15 most numerous species at DEPO point count stations …...….. 12

Figure 5. Total captures per nethour versus max daily temperature ……..………………………….. 15

Figure 6. Species richness by date and standardized by nethour …..………………………………. 15

Figure 7. Second year male Indigo Bunting in supplemental plumage ……..………………….….. 16

Figure 8. relative proportion of eight most commonly captured species …..………………….….. 16

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A. Mist-net and point count locations ………………………………………………… 23

Appendix B. Mist-netting and point count census dates …………………………………………. 27

Appendix C. Breeding status of all bird species detected at DEPO and SORE …………………… 28

Bird Monitoring at Devils Postpile National Monument, 2009.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2009, PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) completed the sixth year of a bird monitoring and visitor education program in Devils Postpile National Monument (referred to hereafter as DEPO or the monument). As in past years (2002 – 2005), we conducted point counts at 15 stations along the San Joaquin River within monument boundaries. In 2009, we augmented this effort with an additional 35 point count stations in the monument and 12 stations at Sotcher Lake and along Reds Creek (SORE) in the adjacent Inyo National Forest for a total of 62 surveyed point count stations in 2009. We also conducted mist-netting and banding at Soda Springs meadow near the DEPO Ranger Station during August and September. In conjunction with the banding program, we provided interpretive and educational presentations to DEPO visitors and school groups. We detected 13 new species at DEPO in 2009 (Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, Eared Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Black Phoebe, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cedar Waxwing, Vesper Sparrow, and Indigo Bunting). In total, 112 bird species have been documented within and in close vicinity to DEPO. Seventeen of these are special status species, with ranking on one or more species of concern list. We also detected 9 riparian, 9 coniferous forest, 4 sagebrush, and 1 grassland California Partners In Flight (CalPIF) Bird Conservation Plan focal species and submitted breeding status of each to the online CalPIF focal species range map database. Oregon Juncos were the most widely distributed species: we detected juncos within 50 m of 42% of our DEPO point count stations and 92% of SORE point count stations. We detected Mountain Chickadees, Audubon’s Warblers, Western Wood-Pewees, Fox Sparrows, MacGillivray’s Warblers, Brown Creepers, and Warbling Vireos within 50 m of at least 22% of DEPO point count stations. Steller’s Jays, Wilson’s Warblers, American Robins, Mountain Chickadees, and Warbling Vireos were detected within 50 m of at least 50% of SORE point count stations. Bird indices varied between points as they have in other years. However, with so many new point count stations in 2009, comparisons to past years would be difficult to interpret. Indeed, variation among the 62 stations was considerably greater than that of the 15 stations from 2002-2005. Young (Hatch Year) to adult (After Hatch Year) capture ratios are impossible to interpret in terms of local breeding productivity during the post-breeding dispersal and migration of August and September. Nonetheless, we found a positive ratio overall, suggesting at the very least that Devils Postpile was being utilized as habitat by young birds. We also found anecdotal data to suggest that, on average, birds using Devils Postpile gained mass during this season. Audubon’s Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Oregon Junco, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Song Sparrow, Wilson’s Warbler, and Yellow Warbler were the most commonly captured species in 2009. In 2009, we recaptured eight birds from previous years, further suggesting that resources at the Soda Springs Meadow site help sustain pre-migratory, dispersing, and migrating birds. We tallied 275 visitors during seven days of mist netting demonstrations at the Soda Springs Meadow site. Of these visitors, we estimated 114 (41%) to be under the age of 18. Mist-netting demonstrations were either attended voluntarily by visitors, or were incorporated into ranger walks


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led by DEPO Park Rangers. In addition, the Mammoth Lakes Middle School Club was able to join us for one morning of banding demonstration. Avian ecology and identification, meadow restoration and management, bird and habitat conservation and avian monitoring methods were interpreted to visitors during the 5 hour mist-netting sessions. Visitors of all ages viewed live birds in the hand and witnessed the biological monitoring method first hand.

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) began a bird monitoring and visitor education program in Devils Postpile National Monument in 2002. In 2009, after three years of no surveys and two years of no banding, we revisited the point count transect along the San Joaquin river, established routes for the point count grid created by the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) in conjunction with the landbird vital sign project, set up a new point count transect along Reds Creek and Sotcher Lake in adjacent Inyo National Forest, and started a fall banding and outreach program. Specific project goals for 2009 were:

1. To document use of montane meadow and riparian habitat by post-fledgling, migrant, and molting songbirds.

2. To provide educational opportunities for Mammoth Lakes school groups and visitors on avian ecology, natural history, and conservation, and on the DEPO avian monitoring program.

3. To contribute data to regional and national avian monitoring efforts such as California Partners in Flight, The California Avian Data Center (http://www.prbo.org/cadc/

index.php), and other bird conservation efforts in riparian and coniferous forest habitats. 4. To document species richness, abundance and diversity of breeding birds at DEPO and

along Reds Creek and Sotcher Lake wetlands. 5. To document special status species that may occupy the Monument. 6. To monitor long term trends of landbirds at DEPO


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METHODS Research Permits All bird monitoring and education work in 2009 was performed under National Park Service Scientific and Collecting Research Permit # DEPO-2009-SCI-0003. All mist-netting and banding was conducted under U.S. Department of Interior, Bird Banding Lab permit # 09316-DZ. Study Area Description At 2,300 m in elevation, DEPO is located along the San Joaquin River, Madera County on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. The mist-netting study area is located in riparian habitat associated with the San Joaquin River, at Soda Springs meadow, adjacent to the monument Ranger Station (37º 37' N, 119º 05' W to 37º 52' N, 119º 05' W). The point count stations are located throughout the entire monument as well as on adjacent Inyo National Forest. Point Counts Study Design: We surveyed 50 point count stations within monument boundaries and 12 stations in adjacent Inyo National Forest (Figure 1). Fifteen point count stations named DEPO are located every 250 m along the entire length of the San Joaquin River within DEPO boundaries see Gates and Heath (2003) for more information. These 15 points have been previously surveyed by PRBO from 2002 – 2005. In addition, 42 points were placed throughout the entire monument in a nearly systematic grid established in the N-S and E-W directions with a random grid starting point; each grid point is 250 m apart (see Siegel et al. 2008). Five of the points are offset slightly from the grid so that they coincide with five of our San Joaquin riparian point count stations, and another two point count stations are inaccessible due to unsafe terrain, leaving 35 point count stations named DEPOIBP. The DEPO and DEPOIBP point count stations are not always 250 m from one another. In addition to these 50 point count stations in the monument, we established 12 points along Reds Creek and Sotcher Lake (SORE), all in riparian habitat. The starting point for this transect was selected to be 100 m from the confluence of Reds Creek and the San Joaquin River. This transect follows Reds Creek all the way up to where it disappears underground upstream of Reds Meadow Campground, and then follows an unnamed outlet stream of Sotcher Lake that flows into Reds Creek and goes along Sotcher Lakes North and East side. All of these 12 point count stations are spaced 250 m apart and are located in the Inyo National Forest. GPS coordinates for all point count locations and descriptions are presented in Appendix B.


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Figure 1. Point Count Locations, DEPO and SORE, 2009. Biologist Training: PRBO biologists trained in distance estimation and familiar with songs and calls of local birds conducted all point count censuses. We censused all stations 2 times during the songbird breeding season (see Appendix B for dates), and spaced each visits at least 10 days apart. We used the Variable Circular Plot (VCP) point count method and followed general guidelines outlined in Ralph et al. (1993) and Rosenstock et al. (2002). We used a LEICA LRF 800 range finder to assist in distances estimation and recorded detections in increments of 10 m out to 50 m, in 25 m increments out to 100 m, and combined all detections beyond 100 m. We recorded all birds and type of initial detection (visual, song or call). To minimize observer bias, we used 2 different observers for the two censuses. Additionally, whenever possible, we conducted points in one direction (e.g., 1 through 12) for one census and in the opposite direction (e.g., point 12 through 1) for the other census in order to minimize the effects of time of day on detection rates. We conducted censuses from within 30 minutes after local sunrise until approximately 4 hours later, and did not conduct counts in excessively windy or rainy conditions.


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Mist-netting The Soda Springs Meadow mist-netting station location (Figure 2) was chosen primarily for the purpose of documenting bird use of the meadow and for monitoring the response of birds to meadow rehabilit-ation and visitor management that occurred there. Nets 1 and 2 were located on the lodgepole (Pinus contorta) forest / meadow edge; Net 3 was located on the willow (Salix sp.) / meadow edge; Nets 4 – 7 were located within the thick willow patch on the east side of the San Joquin River; Nets 8 – 10 were located in the west meadow among smaller patches of willow stringers (see Appendix A for GPS locations of nets). The site was also chosen for its proximity to the Monument Ranger Station for the purpose of conducting visitor outreach and education. Visitor use was excluded from the meadow entirely during our banding sessions. Netting procedures conformed to the guidelines described in Ralph et al. (1993). In summary, 10 mist nets were operated once every seven-day period, weather permitting. Refer to Appendix B for 2009 census dates and Appendix A for GPS coordinates for net locations. Nets were unfurled approximately 30 minutes after local sunrise, checked at least every 30 minutes (more often in the coldest hours of the morning and during inclement weather) and were operated for five hours during each census period. Captured birds were carefully removed from the net and processed nearby at the amphitheater. All birds captured received a United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) band for permanent, individual identification to enable estimates of survival, dispersal, and site fidelity from subsequent recaptures. Age, sex, wing length (chord), breeding condition, weight, skull ossification, flight feather wear, molt, and fat score of each bird were recorded as described by Pyle (1997). Nets and poles were taken down immediately after 5 hours of netting were concluded. Mist-netting was conducted by PRBO biologists trained in banding techniques, and under the supervision of a PRBO biologist with U.S. Department of Interior Master Bander’s Permit. Statistical Analyses, Summary Methods, and Definitions Breeding Bird Abundance, Breeding Species Richness, and Breeding Species Diversity: We summarized indices of abundance, species richness, and species diversity for all breeding species detected during point counts. We excluded all non-breeding migrant or transient species. We further limited the species

Figure 2. Mist net locations at Soda Springs Meadow,

Devils Postpile National Monument, 2009.


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included in the summaries to those that we determined to be most reliably recorded with the point count protocol, thus we also removed species whose territories are typically so large that we could not assure independence of individual observations among points: quail (Odontophoridae), swallows (Hirundinidae), shorebirds (Scolopacidae and Charadriidae), waterfowl (Anatidae), hawks (Accipitridae), Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon), Clark’s Nutcrackers (Nucifraga Columbiana), Common Ravens (Corvus corax), and California Gulls (Larus californicus). We calculated by-point diversity, species richness, and total abundance for breeding species detected during point counts, summed over two visits in 2009. We used all detections within 50 m. Because no birds are 100% detectable at all times, detections underestimate true density. Unfortunately, we lacked sufficient data to estimate detection probabilities using the distance sampling methods employed, thus estimates represent relative indices, versus absolute diversity, richness, or abundance. Breeding Species Diversity: The transformation of Shannon’s diversity index (or 'H , Krebs 1989) denoted N1 (MacArthur 1965). The transformation expresses the data in terms of number of species and thus is more easily interpreted. Expressed mathematically:

N1 = e 'H and ∑=

=

=

S

1

ii )1)()(ln( 'Hi

i

-pp

Where S = total breeding species richness and pi is the proportion of the total numbers of individuals for each breeding species (Nur et al. 1999). High index scores indicate both high breeding species richness and more even distribution of individuals among species. Breeding Species Richness: Number of breeding bird species. Breeding Bird Abundance: Number of individual birds for all breeding species combined. Breeding Status We determined breeding status for all species encountered from our surveys between late May and mid-August 2002 – 2006 and between mid-June and September 2009, during censuses performed by Parker and Parker (2001), and during censuses performed by the Institute for Bird Populations (Siegel and Wilkerson 2004). We ranked species using the following four criteria of the Riparian Habitat Joint Venture breeding scale, modified from breeding bird atlas criteria (http://www.prbo.org/calpif/criteria.html): No evidence of breeding: Species not detected during breeding season, or species known to not breed within the general study area. Possible breeding: Species encountered singing or acting territorial only once during the breeding season (in suitable habitat). Probable breeding: Singing individual encountered on 2 or more different days of standardized censuses (at least one week apart); territorial behavior noted more than once at the same location; pair observed in courtship behavior; female with brood patch (males with cloacal protuberances not used as evidence of breeding locally).


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Confirmed breeding: distraction display; nest building (except woodpeckers and wrens); nesting material or fecal sack being carried by adult; captured female with eggs in oviduct; dependent juveniles with adults; active territory observed on at least three days (at least one week apart); active nest observed. Data Dictionary and Electronic Copies of Data A detailed explanation of all databases derived from this project (metadata) was provided to the National Park Service and DEPO along with the submission of this report. Electronic versions of all DEPO databases derived from this project also were submitted in Microsoft Excel format.

Raw data are also archived in the California Avian Data Center (www.prbo.org/cadc) under the project name “Devils Postpile National Monument”.


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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Bird Species Composition, Distribution, and Breeding Status We detected 13 new species at DEPO in 2009 (Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, Eared Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Black Phoebe, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cedar Waxwing, Vesper Sparrow, and Indigo Bunting). New confirmed breeder for 2009 were Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch Hermit Thrush, Black-headed Grosbeak and Pine Grosbeak. Hermit Thrush and Pine Grosbeak were only confirmed at SORE. In total, 112 bird species have been documented within and in close vicinity to DEPO since 2001; two of those were detected only by Parker and Parker (2001), four only by the Institute for Bird Population (IBP) surveys (Siegel and Wilkerson 2004), and the remainder by PRBO (Appendix C). Sensitive Species From 2002-2006 and 2009, we detected 17 species that occur on one or more of the following lists (Table 1): California Bird Species of Special Concern (BSSC, Shuford and Gardali 2008), United States Fish and Wildlife Service Birds of Concern Region 9 and 15 (USFWS 2008), USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Sensitive Animal List for Inyo National Forest (2007), Audubon WatchList (Audubon 2007). The only State Endangered Species we detected was the Willow Flycatcher (CDFG 2009). We did not detect any federally endangered species.

Table 1. Listed species detected at Devils Postpile National Monument and adjacent Inyo National Forest 2002-2006 and 2009. Scientific names and detection site listed in Appendix C.

Common Name BSSC USFWS 2008 Inyo NF Audubon Watchlist 2007

Mountain Quail X

Eared Grebe X

Bald Eagle X X

Northern Goshawk X X

Golden Eagle X

Black Swift X X X

Calliope Hummingbird X X

Lewis’ Woodpecker X X

Williamson’s Sapsucker X X

White-headed Woodpecker X

Olive-sided Flycatcher X X

Willow Flycatcher X X X

Yellow Warbler X

Hermit Warbler X

Green-tailed Towhee X

Brewer's Sparrow X X

Cassin’s Finch X


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Mountain Quail: We detected Mountain Quail at DEPO on 18 June 2009 and during every visit at SORE. Eared Grebe: We detected a single individual at Sotcher Lake on 16 June 2009. Bald Eagle: We detected this species on 29 May 2002 circling high above Soda Springs Meadow and on 23 May 2009 soaring above Sotcher Lake. Northern Goshawk. We detected this conifer-dwelling hawk on 3 and 13 August 2005 in the forested area downstream of the Postpile and soaring downstream along the San Joaquin River near Soda Springs Meadow, respectively. The later observation was an adult male. In 2009, we saw an individual on 16 and 18 June, upstream of Rainbow Falls on the Westside of the San Joaquin. Golden Eagle: We observed Golden Eagles 2 June 2002, and 19 and 22 May 2004. The sighting on the 19th was an immature. In 2009, we observed an adult soaring high above the King Creek drainage on 16 June and another adult on 18 June high above Sotcher Lake. Black Swift. We detected a single Black Swift flying over DEPOIBP31 19 June 2009 and another on 16 June flying close to Rainbow Falls. We have confirmed this species to breed in the cliffs behind Rainbow Falls in previous years (Heath 2005). It is likely that they were also breeding in 2009. Calliope Hummingbird: We observed individual males on 16 June at Sotcher Lake as well as inside DEPO boundaries. Lewis’ Woodpecker: One individual observed by Parker and Parker on 8 September 2001 flying overhead near the Buttresses. Williamson's Sapsucker: We detected this species each year and captured a hatching year bird in our mist nets in 2004 and 2005, and two adults in 2006. We observed this species feeding young in Lodgepole Pine groves on at least one occasion. We detected this species at DEPOIBP25 on 30 June 2009 and regularly encountered the species while mist-netting during August and September. White-headed Woodpecker: We observed this species in forested and burned areas around Rainbow Falls in all years. We detected this species at DEPOIBP 6, 10, and 28. Olive-sided Flycatcher. We detected singing individuals of this species during all visits in all years. Willow Flycatcher. A Hatch-Year Willow Flycatcher was captured at Soda Springs Meadow on 25 August 2009. The only other observation of a Willow Flycatcher was an adult that we captured in our mist nets on 8 August 8 2002. The flycatcher was not in breeding condition. The timing of this capture coincides with captures of non-breeding Willow Flycatchers at other banding stations in the Mono Basin and Owens Valley alluvial fan (PRBO data). It is likely that the captures at the monument represent birds dispersing from another breeding location. Nearest known current breeding locations for this State Endangered species are at the Owens River near Chalk Bluffs north of Bishop, Inyo County and at Rush Creek in the Mono Basin, Mono County (McCreedy and Heath


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2004); nearby historic breeding sites include Mammoth Creek (Gaines 1992). The wet willow meadows found at and near DEPO are representative of typical Willow Flycatcher breeding habitats in the Sierra Nevada (Bombay et al. 2000) and the future occupation of DEPO’s meadows by breeding Willow Flycatchers is possible. Yellow Warbler. This warbler is at the edge of its high-elevational breeding limit at DEPO, as it typically nests below 1,981 m on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada (Gaines 1992). A total of 12 Yellow Warblers were captured during August and September 2009 banding, including four Hatch-Year birds. Adults could occasionally be heard singing in Soda Springs Meadow during the first banding periods in August. Whether these represent locally hatched birds, post-breeding dispersers, or a combination, remains unclear, but breeding at the site was confirmed in 2006 (Heath 2007). Additionally, a singing bird was observed near DEPOIBP34 on 1 July 2009. Hermit Warbler: We detected single individuals 16 June and 5 July 2004, and 11 August 2006. We captured a male without breeding characteristics 13 August 2006 and a female with a receeding brood patch on 5 July 2005. Siegel and Wilkerson (2004) detected them at one of their census points throughout the monument. We did not detect them in 2009. Green-tailed Towhee: We detected this species throughout June in 2009 in the burned area to the Westside of the San Joaquin. A Hatch-Year bird was captured at Soda Springs Meadow on 20 August of that same year.

Brewer’s Sparrow. We captured a Hatch-Year Brewer’s Sparrow on 20 August 2009, in Soda Springs Meadow. This was clearly a dispersing bird, as this represents atypical habitat for the species in the breeding season. The only other observations were on 5 June 2002, and 11 August 2004. Cassin’s Finch: This species was observed at every visit to DEPO and SORE and has been confirmed breeding. CalPIF Bird Conservation Plan focal species We detected 5 riparian, 8 coniferous forest, 1 sagebrush and 1 grassland CalPIF Bird Conservation Plan focal species within the study area (Table 2). Focal species are not necessarily sensitive or of concern, but are listed under the assumption that if a landscape is managed to meet the focal species’ needs, other species will benefit. Several of the focal species are also relatively common enough in California to provide adequate sample sizes for trend monitoring, determining habitat relationships or estimating demographic parameters – all factors that can assist in the management of healthy bird populations (RHJV 2004, Chase and Geupel 2005, CalPIF 2000, CalPIF 2002, CalPIF 2005).

Breeding status of the focal species was submitted for inclusion into the CalPIF statewide database to assist in documenting the most current California breeding distribution for these species. Distribution maps for the focal species are periodically updated by CalPIF in order to incorporate the most current data. See http://www.prbo.org/calpif/livemaps.html for the most current and interactive California distribution maps for all CalPIF riparian and coniferous focal species and http://cain.nbii.gov/prbo/calpifmap/ for the study site database in which DEPO has been included.


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Table 2. California Partners in Flight riparian, coniferous forest, sagebrush, or grassland Bird Conservation Plan focal species detected at Devils Postpile National Monument from 2002- 2006 and 2009. See Appendix C for Scientific names.

Common name Riparian Coniferous Forest

Sagebrush Grassland

Vaux’s Swifta x

Black-backed Woodpecker x

Olive-sided Flycatcher x

Willow Flycatcher x

Gray Flycatcherb x

Warbling Vireo x

Tree Swallow x

Brown Creeper x

Golden-crowned Kinglet x

Swainson’s Thrush x

Yellow Warbler x

MacGillivray's Warbler x

Common Yellowthroat x

Wilson's Warbler x

Western Tanager x

Green-tailed Towhee x

Brewer’s Sparrow x

Vesper Sparrow x

Savannah Sparrow x

Fox Sparrow x

Song Sparrow x

Oregon Junco x

Black-headed Grosbeak x RHJV 2004, Chase and Geupel 2005, CalPIF 2000, CalPIF 2002, CalPIF 2005 a

only observed by IBP (Siegel and Wilkerson 2004) b

only observed by Parker and Parker (2001)

Breeding species abundance and frequency of occurrence As in other years, Oregon Juncos were the most widely distributed species: juncos were detected within 50 m of 42% of our DEPO point count stations and 92% of SORE point count stations. However, as can be seen in Heath (2005), relative distributions and encounter rates for all species have been highly variable across the years. We detected Mountain Chickadees, Audubon’s Warblers, Western Wood-Pewees, Fox Sparrows, MacGillivray’s Warblers, Brown Creepers, and Warbling Vireos within 50 m of at least 22% of DEPO point count stations. Steller’s Jays, Wilson’s Warblers, American Robins, Mountain Chickadees, and Warbling Vireos were detected within 50 m of at least 50% of SORE point count stations. Distributions and abundances for the most numerous species are summarized in Figures 3 and 4.


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Figure 3. Total abundance (bars) and number of count stations where detected < 50 m (diamonds) for 10 most numerous species, SORE point count stations, 2009.

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Figure 4. Total abundance (bars) and number of count stations where detected < 50 m (diamonds) for 15 most numerous species, DEPO point count stations, 2009.


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Breeding species abundance, richness and diversity Bird indices varied between points as they have in other years. However, with so many new point count stations in 2009, comparisons to past years would be difficult to interpret. Indeed, variation among the 62 stations was considerably greater than that of the 15 stations from 2002-2006. Bird indices for the DEPO and SORE stations are summarized in Table 3.

Table 3. Summary statistics of relative breeding bird indices, Devils Postpile National Monument, DEPO and SORE sites, 2009.

Breeding Bird Abundance Species Richness Diversity (N1)

DEPO Range 0-19 0-10 0.00-9.70

Mean 6.92 4.66 4.29

SE 0.66 0.35 0.30

SORE Range 2-19 2-11 2.00-9.61

Mean 10.5 6.42 5.73

SE 1.48 0.71 0.62

Mist-netting Results During fall banding in 2009, we captured 232 new birds, making 291 captures of 240 individual birds and 35 species. These results were fairly consistent with breeding season capture rates in recent years (Table 4). It is worth pointing out, however, that at DEPO’s elevation and latitude, the breeding season for any particular bird is relatively short, and the MAPS period overlaps considerable portions of both the spring and fall migration periods for the bird community as a whole. Please see DeSante et al. (2005) for a summary of MAPS protocol and results. Further, weather can be a significant factor on bird use and activity at DEPO; we tried our utmost to balance weather considerations with scheduling and outreach opportunities. As can be seen in Figure 5, capture rates roughly tracked maximum daily temperatures at the site. Precipitation and wind, and especially weather in the days immediately prior to mist-netting were also important factors. Over the season we captured an average of 32.33 (± 2.67 SE) total captures per netting day and 11 (± 0.67 SE) species per netting day. Standardized for net hours, this translates to 0.74 (± 0.06 SE) captures/nethour per netting day and 0.25 (± 0.02 SE) species/nethour per netting day. Notable during this season was the species turnover between the first and last banding periods: of the 17 species captured during the first and last banding date, on five (29%) were captured during both dates. Despite this turnover, there was little overall trend in species richness over time (Figure 6). Occasionally, this turnover was apparent at the subspecies level as well. For example, we captured no Mountain White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha), the subspecies that breeds locally and a commonly captured bird in previous years (Heath 2007), but rather only captured Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrows (Z. l. gambelli), a subspecies that had already migrated into the area by late September from Canada and Alaska. We also captured several species for which the vegetation at Soda Springs Meadow would represent atypical or somewhat atypical habitat during the breeding season (e.g. Marsh Wren, Green-tailed Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow). Our 2009 mist-netting efforts also managed to capture a vagrant Indigo Bunting, representing Madera County’s first record (Figure 7.)


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Table 4. Summary of mist-netting effort during the breeding season at Soda Springs Meadow, Devils Postpile National

Monument, 2002 – 2006, and Aug-Sept, 2009.

Number of birds 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2009

Captures total 251 236 309 181 188 291

Captures / 100 net hours 56.72 61.62 65.10 73.27 75.58 71.76

New captures 199 165 207 142 156 232

Between year recaptures -- 10 29 11 11 8

Captured but not banded 5 7 9 1 6 11

Total no. of species captured 30 23 37 29 24 35

Habitat Use by Migrants, Dispersers, and Pre-Migrants A few of our most commonly captured species were captured somewhat consistently across banding periods, but with minor trends detected across the entire season (Figure 8). These species represent an interesting mix of migrants and post-breeding dispersers, and birds breeding locally, either directly in Soda Springs Meadow or in adjacent but nearby vegetation types. We captured 33 birds on multiple dates within the season, and 29 of these captures had data sufficient to investigate possible gains or losses in mass during the birds’ stay at the Soda Springs Meadow site. This sample size is too small for investigating changes in mass with statistical rigor. Further, it includes all species and age-classes, and combines birds that may have been captured and weighed only a few days apart with those that were captured almost two months apart. Nonetheless, the 29 birds gained an average of 3% of their initial capture mass during their time at DEPO. Notable among recaptures were the many Red-breasted Sapsuckers, which were clearly foraging in family groups, the young still being tended to by their parents. Adult Red-breasted Sapsuckers actually lost an average 2.2 (± 0.9 SE) % of their initial mass, while Hatch-Year Red-breasted Sapsuckers gained a non-trivial 6.1 (± 2.6 SE) % of their initial mass. Excluding adult Red-breasted Sapsuckers, the overall average gain across all species increases to 4.1%. It must be noted however, that some of the other species did actually lose mass between captures; birds that lost weight tended to be adults, consistent with what was observed with sapsuckers. Two Orange-crowned Warblers and one Red-breasted Sapsucker gained in excess of 15% of their initial body mass during their stay at DEPO. While this sample size is small and the results should be considered anecdotal, they do suggest that the resources available at the site, on average, provide pre-migratory, dispersing, and migratory birds to increase their fat reserves, and thereby increase the likelihood of surviving until the next breeding season.


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Figure 6. Species richness by date, raw (bars) and standardized by nethour (line), for mist-netting captures at Soda Springs Meadow, Devils Postpile National Monument, 2009.


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Figure 7. Second-Year Male Indigo Bunting in supplemental plumage captured at Soda Springs Meadow 25 August 2009. Madera County’s first record. (Photos Len Warren)

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Figure 8. Relative proportions of the eight most commonly captured species at Soda Springs Meadows, Devils Postpile

National Monument, August – September 2009. AUWA - Audubon’s Warbler, MGWA - MacGillivray’s Warbler, OCWA - Orange-crowned Warbler, ORJU - Oregon Junco, RBSA - Red-breasted Sapsucker, SOSP - Song Sparrow, WIWA - Wilson’s Warbler, YWAR - Yellow Warbler


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Table 5. Species and age class of all individuals banded at Soda Springs meadow, Devils Postpile National Monument during constant effort mist-netting, 2009. Latin names provided in Appendix C.

2009

Common Name Unknown Hatch Year Adult

H/AHY ratio

Northern Pygmy-Owl 0 1 0 --

Anna’s Hummingbird 1 4 0 -- Calliope Hummingbird 0 1 0 --

Rufous Hummingbird 0 1 1 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 0 8 6 1.33 Willow Flycatcher 0 1 0 --

Hammond’s Flycatcher 0 0 2 0.00 Dusky Flycatcher 0 2 2 1.00

Cassin’s Vireo 1 0 0 -- Warbling Vireo 0 2 2 1.00

Steller's Jay 0 1 0 -- Mountain Chickadee 0 1 0 -- Red-breasted Nuthatch 0 0 1 0.00

Bewick’s Wren 0 1 0 -- House Wren 0 0 1 0.00

Marsh Wren 1 0 0 -- American Robin 0 0 3 0.00 Orange-crowned Warblera 22 18 14 1.29

Nashville Warbler 0 1 0 -- Yellow Warbler 1 4 5 0.80

Yellow-rumped Warblerb 0 19 4 4.75 MacGillivray's Warbler 0 7 4 1.75

Wilson's Warbler 0 4 6 0.67 Green-tailed Towhee 0 1 0 -- Spotted Towhee 0 0 1 0.00

Brewer’s Sparrow 0 1 0 -- Vesper Sparrow 0 1 0 --

Fox Sparrow 0 2 1 2.00 Song Sparrow 1 20 7 2.86 Lincoln’s Sparrow 0 1 1 1.0

Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow 0 0 4 0.00 Oregon Junco 0 25 16 1.56

Black-headed Grosbeak 0 1 0 -- Indigo Bunting 0 0 1 0.00

Purple Finch 0 2 1 2.00 Total 27 130 83 1.57

a Orange-crowned Warblers from this population can have completely ossified skulls as early as mid- August. Thus, age cannot be reliably determined for many of these birds captured during August and September. bAll but one were ascribable to Audubon’s Warbler (Dendroica coronata auduboni ). The unique individual may have been an intergrade between the two North American subspecies (D. c. coronata x D. c. auduboni).


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Age Ratios of Captures During the post-breeding dispersal and migration of August and September, young (Hatch-Year) to adult (After Hatch-Year) capture ratios are impossible to interpret in terms of local breeding productivity. Nonetheless, we found a positive ratio overall (Table 5.), suggesting at the very least that Devils Postpile was being utilized as habitat by young birds. Site Fidelity Unlike previous years, when mist-netting too place while birds were on territory, in 2009 we banded during August and September, a time when a majority of birds encountered are likely in post-breeding dispersal or early migration. Thus, it is significant that we recaptured several birds from previous years (Table 6), and perhaps indicative of the site’s value as reliable habitat for two reasons: 1) these birds have managed to survive for multiple years, ostensibly utilizing the resources provided by Devils Postpile, and 2) these birds have found these resources worth returning to and staying with, at a time when many birds are on the move. This latter point is particularly strong for the three Orange-crowned Warblers, a species that does not breed at Devils Postpile, but disperses upslope to the monument to put on fat and molt before migration. Combined with the mass gain data, these data are suggestive that the resources available at Devil’s Postpile are providing a consistent survival benefit to pre-migratory, dispersing, and migratory birds. However, it must be kept in mind that these few data are strictly anecdotal. Continued monitoring should allow for a more rigorous analysis in the future.

Table 6. Individuals captured previously at Devils Postpile National Monument, and recaptured in 2009. Individuals by species Band Number Year(s) of

previous captures

Minimum age in 2009

Song Sparrow 150101771 2003 6 Song Sparrow 186143295 2006 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 243069127 2005 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 243069135 2005 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 243069400 2006 3 Oregon Junco 245020135a 2003-2006 7

aOld band (#177003803) was completely worn out and was replaced with a new band

Visitor Education We tallied 275 visitors during seven days of mist netting demonstrations at the Soda Springs Meadow site (Table 7). We estimated 114 of these visitors be under the age of 18. Mist-netting demonstrations were either attended voluntarily by visitors, or were incorporated into ranger walks led by DEPO Park Rangers. In addition, the Mammoth Lakes Middle School Club was able to join us for one morning of banding demonstration. Avian ecology and identification, meadow restoration and management, bird and habitat conservation, and avian monitoring methods were


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interpreted to visitors during the 5 hour mist-netting sessions. Visitors of all ages viewed live birds in the hand and witnessed the biological monitoring method first-hand.

Table 7. Number of visitors attending PRBO’s mist-netting at Devils Postpile National Monument, 2002–2006, 2009.

Year Number of Visitors 2002 220 2003 362 2004 539 2005 176 2006 252 2009 275 Total 1824


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Funding for this project was provided Devils Postpile National Monument. Special thanks to Deanna Dulen. PRBO biologists Stella Moss, Will Richardson, Len Warren, Ben Winger and Wendy Willis banded or conducted point counts in 2009. Thanks to all the wonderful NPS personnel that assisted with all aspects of this project. In particular, mist-netting operations were aided by the assistance of NPS personnel, in particular Jonathan Winters. The assistance of all volunteers was greatly appreciated. This is PRBO contribution number 1729.

LITERATURE CITED

Audubon. 2007. “Audubon’s WatchList 2007 in taxonomic order by geographic region: Red Species List continental U.S. and Alaska.” Audubon Watchlist 2007. December 2007. Audubon. September 29, 2009. <http://web1.audubon.org/science/species/watchlist/ browsewatchlist.php>

Calder, W. A. 1993. Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). In The Birds of North America, No.

53 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.), Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union.

California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 2005. Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis

Branch, California Natural Diversity Database, Special Animals. CalPIF (California Partners in Flight). 2000. Version 1.0. The draft grassland bird conservation plan:

a strategy for protecting and managing grassland habitats and associated birds in California (B. Allen, lead author). Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Stinson Beach, CA. http://www.prbo.org/CPIF/Consplan.html

CalPIF (California Partners in Flight). 2002. Version 1.0. The draft coniferous forest bird

conservation plan: a strategy for protecting and managing coniferous forest habitats and associated birds in California (J. Robinson and J. Alexander, lead authors). Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Stinson Beach, CA. http://www.prbo.org/calpif/plans.html.

CalPIF (California Partners in Flight). 2005. Version 1.0. The sagebrush bird conservation plan: a

strategy for protecting and managing sagebrush habitats and associated birds in California. PRBO Conservation Science, Stinson Beach, CA. http://www.prbo.org/calpif/plans/

Chase, M. and G. R. Geupel. in press. The use of avian focal species for conservation planning in

California. in C.J. Ralph and T. D. Rich (eds). Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. U.S. For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA.

David F. DeSante, Kenneth M. Burton, Pilar Velez, and Dan Froehlich. 2005. MAPS Manual: 2005

Protocol. The Institute for Bird Populations, Point Reyes Station, CA. Gates, H. H. 2003. Bird Monitoring, Habitat Assessment and CVisitor Education in Montane

Meadow and Riparian Habitats of Devils Postpile National Monument, Results from the


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2002 and 2003 Field Season. PRBO Contribution #1064. PRBO Conservation Science. 4990 Shoreline Hwy., Stinson Beach, CA 94970.

Gaines, D. 1992. Birds of Yosemite and the east slope. Artemisia Press. Lee Vining, CA. Heath, S. K. 2007. Avian Demography Monitoring and Visitor Education at Devils Postpile

National Monument. Ginal Report 2002 – 2006. PRBO Contribution #1552. PRBO Conservation Science. 3820 Cypress Dr #11, Petaluma, CA 94954.

Heath, S. K. 2005. Bird monitoring in montane meadow and riparian habitats of Devils Postpile

National Monument. Final report 2002 – 2004. PRBO Contribution # 1237. PRBO Conservation Science. 4990 Shoreline Hwy., Stinson Beach, CA 94970.

Heath, S.K., Culp, L. A., Gates, H. R., Latif, Q. S., and C. M. Tonra. 2004. Riparian songbird

monitoring in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Results from the 2003 field season and selected 1998 – 2003 summary results. PRBO contribution number 1171. Stinson Beach, CA.

Krebs, C.J. 1989. Ecological methodology. Harper and Row Publishers, New York, New York: 654

pp. MacArthur, R.H. 1965. Patterns of species diversity. Biological Reviews 40: 510 -533. Nur, N., S.L. Jones and G. R. Geupel. 1999. A statistical guide to data analysis of avian population

monitoring Programs. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, BTP-R6001-1999, Washington, D.C.

Pyle, P. 1997. The Identification to North American Passerines, Part 1. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas,

CA. 731 pp. Ralph, C.J., G.R. Geupel, P. Pyle, T.E. Martin, & D.F. DeSante. 1993. Field Methods for Monitoring

Landbirds. USDA Forest Service Publication, PSW-GTR 144. Albany, CA. RHJV (Riparian Habitat Joint Venture). 2004. Version 2.0. The riparian bird conservation plan: a

strategy for reversing the decline of riparian associated birds in California. California Partners in Flight. Available online at http://www.prbo.org/CPIF/Riparian/Riparian.html

Rosenstock, S.S, D.R. Anderson, K.M. Giesen, T. Leukering, M.F. Carter, M.F. 2002. Landbird

counting techniques: current practices and an alternative. Auk: 119(1): 46-53. Rothstein, S.R., J. Verner, and E. Stevens. 1980. Range expansion and diurnal changes in dispersion

of the Brown-headed Cowbird in the Sierra Nevada. The Auk 97:253-267. Sawyer, J. O. and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant

Society. Sacramento, CA. Shuford, W.D., and Gardali, T., editors. 2008. California Bird Species of Special Concern. Studies of

Western Birds 1. Western Field Ornithologists, Camarillo, CA, and California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.


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Siegel, R. B. and R. L. Wilkerson. 2004. Landbird inventory for Devil’s Postpile National

Monument. Final Report. Institute for Bird Populations. PO Box 1346, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956-1346.

Siegel, R. B., R. L. Wilkerson, and M. G. Rose. 2008. Bird Monitoring Protocol for National Parks in

the Sierra Nevada Network. Institute for Bird Populations. PO Box 1346, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956-1346.

United States Forest Service (USFS). 2008. Pacific Southwest Region Regional Forester’s Sensitive

Species List. http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/projects/sensitive-species/sensitive-animals.html USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Sensitive Animal Species by Forest. 2007.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/projects/sensitive-species/ USFWS (United States Fish and Wildlife Service). 2002. Birds of conservation concern 2002.

Division of Migratory Bird Management, Arlington, Virginia. 99 pp. [Online version available at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/reports/bcc2002.pdf]


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Appendix A. Mist-net and Point count locations, Devil’s Postpile National Monument. Data are UTM NAD83, Zone 11, 2009.

Station UTMe UTMn Station UTMe UTMn Station UTMe UTMn Nets DEPOIBP DEPO San Joaquin

DPN01 316047 4166741 DEPOIBP18 315831 4166783 DEPO08 316188 4165672

DPN02 316086 4166770 DEPOIBP19 315831 4166533 DEPO09 316117 4165423 DPN03 316049 4166710 DEPOIBP20 315831 4166283 DEPO10 316154 4165241

DPN04 315968 4166712 DEPOIBP21 315831 4166033 DEPO11 316136 4164992 DPN05 315957 4166723 DEPOIBP22 315831 4165783 DEPO12 316103 4164749 DPN06 315940 4166766 DEPOIBP23 315831 4165533 DEPO13 316097 4164502

DPN07 315972 4166754 DEPOIBP24 315831 4165283 DEPO14 315836 4163475 DPN08 316033 4166628 DEPOIBP25 315831 4165033 DEPO15 315759 4163243

DPN09 316029 4166678 DEPOIBP26 315831 4164783 SORE

DPN10 315992 4166667 DEPOIBP27 315831 4164533 SORE01 317002 4166669

DEPOIBP28 315831 4164283 SORE02 317142 4166467 DEPOIBP DEPOIBP29 315831 4164033 SORE03 317160 4166206

DEPOIBP01 315581 4167033 DEPOIBP30 315831 4163783 SORE04 317126 4165961

DEPOIBP02 315581 4166783 DEPOIBP31 315831 4163283 SORE05 316996 4165753 DEPOIBP05 315581 4166033 DEPOIBP32 316081 4167033 SORE06 316955 4165549

DEPOIBP06 315581 4165783 DEPOIBP34 316081 4166533 SORE07 317200 4165508 DEPOIBP07 315581 4165533 DEPOIBP35 316081 4166283 SORE08 317403 4165380 DEPOIBP08 315581 4165283 DEPOIBP36 316081 4166033 SORE09 316716 4165630

DEPOIBP09 315581 4165033 DEPOIBP37 316081 4165783 SORE10 316501 4165759 DEPOIBP10 315581 4164783 DEPOIBP42 316001 4163133 SORE11 316274 4165661

DEPOIBP10 315581 4164783 DEPO San Joaquin SORE12 316043 4165562 DEPOIBP11 315581 4164533 DEPO01 315911 4167148

DEPOIBP12 315581 4164283 DEPO02 315943 4166902 DEPOIBP13 315581 4164033 DEPO03 316089 4166696 DEPOIBP14 315581 4163783 DEPO04 315962 4166480

DEPOIBP15 315730 4163501 DEPO05 315925 4166236 DEPOIBP16 315581 4163283 DEPO06 315947 4165986

DEPOIBP17 315831 4167033 DEPO07 315946 4165736


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Appendix A cont. POINT COUNT DESCRIPTIONS DEPOIBP TRANSECTS Points not surveyed due to unsafe terrain: 3 and 4. Points 33, 38 – 41 are the same as points as in the PRBO San Joaquin Transect and were surveyed within that transect. INTERVALS BETWEEN POINTS: 250 m TOTAL # POINTS: 35 NUMBER OF TRANSECTS: 4

I. 32, 34- 37, 31, 42 Start at 32 which is just behind the campground, skip 33. 34 is just off the trail to Devils Postpile 35 Follow trail up to the postpile keep going past it at the top, point is about 30m from there, 5m off trail. 36 Stay on trail towards rainbow falls just off intersection where bottom postpile trail meets with top trail 37 Keep following trail down. Turn off trail just past “No Horses beyond this point” sign and go down wide gully past rock out cropping on west side of trail, you will see the ponds follow shore line, point is at the NW corner. 31 Get back to trail and walk all the way to the end of the Monument (this will take about 30min). Point is just off trail. 42 go straight there from 31 II. 23- 17, 1, 2 Start going South on JMT. Point 23 is 10m from trail, but conduct point count from trail, due to steep terrain! 22 go back the way you came (North on JMT). Point is 50m off trail on E side of major gully, just above cliff. 21 stay on JMT North, point just off trail 20 Might be better to stay on JMT not going down to Ranger Station, need to check it out again 19 Just off King Creek Trail North 18 Keep walking on King Creek Trail North point 5m off trail 17 Keep going on King Creek Trail North, turn off trail at little drainage that has a log across it before large creek comes in from W, about 20m off trail 1 At next intersection go South on JMT, cross over creek again and go up S side of gully for about 60m 2 Contour along and up, up, up (flagged) III. 5- 14 5 Go Southwest on King Creek Trail point will be on West side of trail. Stay on trail even when GPS numbers

are getting slightly higher again. Turn off trail after a set of waterbars, with big rock outcropping on the north side of trail and when you are about 130m from the point.

6 Follow bearing , you will cross trail again. Stay on trail until crossing creek, point is on the rock outcropping to E of trail.

7 Back to trail for about 20m, the turn south cross country to this point. Go straight to 7 from 6, easy going cross country

8 Cross country to 8, follow bearing. Flagging on currant. 9 Follow bearing, stay in Wes gully, don’t go off small devils cliff, flagged. 10 Cross country to this point, straight forward, flagged 11 Follow ridge. Don’t go into either gully, flagged 12 Switch back down into W gully, go up on other side over ridge and back down to plateau due south just past

mini aspen grove. 13 Don’t even think about not going down there, you will have to for 14 as well!! Head into West gully (not all the

way down), and then follow W side of ridge. Will come to top of drainage running approx. ENE-WSW. Point is at the bottom of this deep drainage. Tough going.

14 This point is on top of dome to your east. To get there, follow drainage you are in up (east) until you see a gravelly flank going up, this is on the North-east side of dome. There is a postpile looking outcropping on the north side of drainage about 120m down from this flank. Follow this flank up until almost to the top, head slightly west. Point is on West side of dome, 100m from the top. Flagged around Pine. To get back to the campground you can make your way over to point 30 but unless you find the ledges to get down it is more like climbing down cliffs.


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IV. 24- 30, 15, 16 24 Go South on King Creek Trail for about 20min (this is a guess, check time again). Point is just off trail. 25 25m off trail at the top of Knoll at the edge of riparian 26 follow riparian off trail from 25. Flagging on Aspen South of rock outcropping 27 follow riparian down stream 28 Go up on E side of riparian up granite, it is on the E side of deep gully that creek is in that all the last points

were on. 29 Cross country, stay on E side of gully 30 Keep going cross country it is on river right of rainbow falls, below buttress. 15 follow gps 16 On top of the big plateau

DEPO San Joaquin Transect INTERVALS BETWEEN POINTS: 250 m TOTAL # POINTS: 15

NOTES: The transect runs from the upstream (North) boundary of Devils Postpile, along the San Joaquin River downstream to the Southern boundary. After point 13, the River turns east into USFS land, and for this portion of the River, you just walk along the Rainbow Falls trail for about 25 minutes until you then re-enter DEPO land and follow the instructions for point 14. All points on east side of the River. ACCESS: Drive to Devils Postpile. Park in the appropriate parking space and walk up River until you reach the Devils Postpile northern boundary (only about 300m from parking area).

Point # 1: From the Northern DEPO boundary, walk about 50m downstream. After passing a large root from a downed tree on the west side of the trail, go toward creek. Point is on a willow about 3m east of a 20 cm DBH lodgepole pine, and on the right (north) side of a small creek access trail. Point # 2: Continue downstream. Point is about 40m downstream from the base of a waterfall, on a lodgepole pine about 8m from the waters edge and next to the bear box for campsite B6. Point # 3: Walk passed the ranger station and follow gravel path. At small culvert under the trail that drains the eastern meadow, go toward the River along the willow edge. Point on willow 9m from the culvert. Point # 4: Continue downstream along trail. At the junction with the path that crosses the River, go toward the River on the downstream side of a large basalt outcrop. Point on lodgepole about 5m from river and next to a 3m high gnarled white fir which is about 4m from basalt outcropping. Point # 5: Fallow trail downstream to the Devils Postpile. About ¾ of the way down the postpile, take trail to the river marked “picnic”. Point on gooseberry downstream from picnic bench, about 8m from the water and slightly downstream from an old square fireplace monument. Point # 6: Continue down the trail until it begins to head up steep and away from the river. Go to River at downstream angle. Point is on the edge of the ravine and on the downstream end of a 10m snag that has fallen and parallels the rim. The snag is about 20m upstream from a 3m high, 1m DBH snag. Point # 7: Continue along river edge. Point is on Lodgepole 12m from the water. A snag has fallen on the ground and forms a 1m high arch and leans against the point tree. Also, 14m upstream from the point is a 3m diameter root wad with rocks and exposed roots. Point # 8: Continue downstream until you hit a side channel. Follow side channel east for 250m until you reach a small meadow with 1m high lodgepole pines. Point is on a 1.5m high lodgepole, 7m upstream from a snag that has fallen with a NPS boundary sign on it. Perpendicular to the snag is a severely charred snag that has fallen. Point # 9: Return to the main river channel. Point is on a 6m DBH lodgepole pine on a steep cliff at the eastern most end of a sharp east turn in the river. Just downstream from point is a steep moss covered basalt cliff, and the river takes another steep turn to the south. (point at corner of east and south bends). Point # 10: Only 200m from point 9. Following the river, you will come to a small dry drainage from the east. Follow this to the river and a small patch of cottonwoods. Point is on downstream end of a sandbar on a 3m cottonwood sapling next to a charred snag, and about 180 m upstream from large footbridge crossing river. Point # 11: Pass the footbridge and continue down east side of river. You will come to an area where the river flattens and quiets down and another small grove of cottonwoods in on east bank. Point on cottonwood on the edge of the grove that is facing the basalt wall, about 15m from the river and 35 m upstream from the alder shrub edge. Point # 12: Continue downstream until you come to an open sandy area with many fallen snags. In the middle of the river adjacent to the point is a rocky island with black cottonwoods. Point is in a group of 3 black charred snags about 7m from the river and 55m upstream from the grassy meadow.


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Point # 13: You will come to a sharp easterly flowing bend in the river with black cottonwoods on the east side of the bank Point is 30m upstream from the black cottonwoods and the bend. The point is on a lone lodgepole snag, about 12m from the river’s edge and just upstream from several fallen snags. END of DEPO land: head straight east up to the main trail (passing several small deer trail). Follow signs to rainbow falls. Do not go down to base of falls, but continue along trail another 250m downstream from falls. It will take you about 20 minutes to get to point 14. Point # 14: About 250m downstream from rainbow falls on a skinny Jeffrey Pine next to the river. Point is about 100m downstream from a steep cliff and about 100m upstream from an amazing smooth granite outcrop on the west side of the river. Point # 15: Head back to the trail. At 250m, look for a 25m long fallen snag (1m DBH) that runs parallel to the creek, but slightly upslope from the edge. Point is at the middle of this snag. At the end of the snag is a 1.2m DBH red fir.

SORE Transect INTERVALS BETWEEN POINTS: 250 m TOTAL # POINTS: 12 Access: From DEPO campground drive back to main road turn right (South) a few miles down the road you see a parking area for Sotcher Lake. Park there and start walking to the lake and toward the north end of the lake for the first point. SORE #1 Follow the trail that goes along lake. Point is at most northern tip of lake, just off trail, next to dead snags laying parallel to trail. Flagging on lake side of logs. SORE #2 Follow main trail until it comes to a sign “TRAIL”. Point is 10m from sign toward lake. SORE #3 On trail at south end of granite wall that is across lake. Point is in an opening in the forest, trail is slightly up on the hill away from shore at downed tree pointing from trail to lake. SORE #4 Follow trail. Point is where a tiny tributary comes in (might be dry later in the season). SORE #5 Stay on trail, just before a waterfall cross creek and keep going down stream Point is on granite slab just before campground. SORE #6 Walk through campground on the road, cross over the stream , past bathrooms until you come to an intersection with a road running East West, turn East toward Shower house. Point is just down stream from shower house at stream crossing to campground on the other side of Reds Creek. SORE #7 Don’t cross stream at point 6. Walk up to cabin, cross on log behind cabin and walk up river left. Go straight up. Point is at large snag with obvious owl/ raptor nest at the top. Just before break in the trees uphill. Flagging on gooseberry bush. SORE #8 Keep going straight uphill. Point at the top of two moss covered water cascades on the right braid. Looks like creek goes underground here. SORE #9 Go back down hill, past shower house, follow road until you are almost at a green gate. Point is about 10m from road. Turn off road at “SLOW DOWN DUST” sign. Flagging on tree behind large boulder. SORE #10 From 9 go to paved road, turn South walk past creek turn West onto trail marked for DEPO. Point is on trail at sign to DEPO and intersection with Resort/ Packstation and Campground/ Bathhouse (trail you are on). Go straight to water edge flagging on top of fallen log (1m DBH). Follow trail to road. SORE #11 Stay on trail. At trail intersection turn SW (opposite direction of DEPO). Point is on trail about 10m from creek, river left. Flagging on roots of fallen tree that is pointing to the creek. Point about 50m after trail crosses stream for second time since point 10. SORE #12 This point is about 100, from where Reds Creek comes into the East fork of the San Joaquin as a waterfall. Point is river left on the tallest snag before falls in relative open area about 10m from creek. Turn off trail at pt 2.


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Appendix B. Mist-netting and point count census dates at Devils Postpile National Monument, 2009. Mist-netting census dates at Devils Postpile National Monument, 2009. Period 1 was sampled twice, the first as a training exercise.

Census Periods 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2009 6, 7

August 12

August 20

August 25

August 4

September 10

September 18

September 22

September

Point count transect, transect code, year, number of count stations and census dates in 2009.

Site Code Year # of stations Visit 1 Visit 2

Devils Postpile National Monument DEPO 2009 15 18 June 30 June

Devils Postpile Nat. Monument, IBP Set 1 DEPOIBP 2009 18 17 June 29 June

Devils Postpile Nat. Monument, IBP Set 2 DEPOIBP 2009 17 18 June 30 June

Sotcher Lake/Red’s Creek SORE 2009 12 17 June 29 June


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Appendix C. Breeding status of all bird species observed at and within close vicinity to Devils Postpile National Monument 2002 – 2006 and 2009. Breeders highlighted in gray. Common name Latin name Breeding statusa

Gadwall Anas strepera 0 Mallard A. platyrhynchos 1

Bufflehead Bucephala albeola 2b

Common Merganser Mergus merganser 1 Ruddy Duck Oxyyura jamaicensis 0 Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus 2 Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 0 Great Blue Heron Areda herodias 0 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 0 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 0 Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 0

Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 0 c

Cooper's Hawk A. cooperii 2 Northern Goshawk A. gentilis 2

Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 0 c

Red-tailed Hawk B. jamaicensis 2 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 0

American Kestrel Falco sparverius 2 e

Virginia Rail Rallus limicola 2 e

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia 1 Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 2 Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata 2 California Gull Larus californicus 0 Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 2 Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 0

Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium californicum 0 c

Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor 0 Black Swift Cypseloides niger 1

Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 0 e

White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis 2 Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna 2 Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope 1 Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus 0 Rufous Hummingbird S. rufus 0 Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon 2

Lewis' Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis 0 f

Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker S. ruber 1 Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens 2 Hairy Woodpecker P. villosus 1 White-headed Woodpecker P. albolarvatus 2 Black-backed Woodpecker P. arcticus 3 Red-shafted Flicker Colaptes auratus 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 3 ~continued next page~


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Appendix C cont. Breeding status of all bird species observed at and within close vicinity to Devils Postpile National Monument 2002 – 2006 and 2009 Common name Latin name Breeding statusa

Western Wood-Pewee C. sordidulus 1 Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii 0 Hammond's Flycatcher E. hammondii 2 Gray Flycatcher E. wrightii 0 f Dusky Flycatcher E. oberholseri 3

Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 0 d

Cassin's Vireo Vireo cassinii 2 Warbling Vireo V. gilvus 1 Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 1 Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana 2 Common Raven Corvus corax 1 Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor 2 Violet-green Swallow T. thalassina 2 Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 2 Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta Canadensis 1 White-breasted Nuthatch S. carolinensis 1 Pygmy Nuthatch S. pygmaea 1 Brown Creeper Certhia Americana 1

Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus 2 e

Bewick’s Wren Thryomanes bewickii 2 House Wren Troglodytes aedon 1 Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris 0 American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa 3

Ruby-crowned Kinglet R. calendula 2 c

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 2 Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides 2 Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendii 1 Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus 0 Hermit Thrush C. guttatus 1 (confirmed at SORE) American Robin Turdus migratorius 1 Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla cedrorum 0 Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata 0 Nashville Warbler V. ruficapilla 3 Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 1 Audubon's Warbler D. coronata auduboni g 1 Hermit Warbler D. occidentalis 2 MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmei 1 Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 2 Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 1 Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 1 Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus 3 Spotted Towhee P. maculatus 3 Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina 2 ~continued next page~


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Appendix C cont. Breeding status of all bird species observed at and within close vicinity to Devils Postpile National Monument 2002 – 2006 and 2009 Common name Latin name Breeding statusa

Brewer's Sparrow S. breweri 2

Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus 0 d

Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata 0 Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis 0 Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca 3 Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 1 Lincoln’s Sparrow M. lincolnii 1 White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys h 1 Oregon Junco Junco hyemalis thurberi 1 Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus 1 Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena 1

Indigo Bunting P. cyanea 0 d,i

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 0

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta 2 c

Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus 1 Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater 3 Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator 1 (confirmed at SORE) Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus 0 Cassin's Finch C. cassinii 1 Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 2 Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus 3 Lesser Goldfinch C. psaltria 2 Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus 2 Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus 3 Lesser Goldfinch C. psaltria 2 Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus 2 a1 Confirmed Breeding, 3 Probable Breeding, 2 Possible Breeding, , 0 No Evidence of Breeding or known migrant/Transient/Disperser (see Methods for details) b observed only by Parker and Parker (2001) outside of DEPO boundaries c observed only at Sotcher Lake/Red’s Creek sites (in 2009) d observed only in fall (Aug-Sep) 2009 e observed only by IBP (Siegel and Wilkerson 2004) f observed only by Parker and Parker (2001) g one Yellow-rumped Warbler captured in 2009 was not assignable to subspecies, and may have been an intergrade (Dendroica coronata coronata x D. c. auduboni) h Breeding birds are Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha. All birds from Sep 2009 were Z. l. gambelli. i First Madera County record. Documentation submitted to Jeff Davis, County Compiler

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Bird Monitoring at Devils Postpile National ... - Point Blue