assessment of wood stork foraging opportunity for ......ecosystem studies initiative (cesi), via the...

Assessment of Wood Stork ForagingAssessment of Wood Stork ForagingOpportunity for Southwest FloridaOpportunity for Southwest FloridaOpportunity for Southwest FloridaOpportunity for Southwest Florida

GEER 2010 July 13 Jason Lauritsen – Asst. Director Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

STUDY OBJECTIVE:STUDY OBJECTIVE:

To improve our understanding of To improve our understanding of wood stork foraging in order to wood stork foraging in order to guide recovery efforts.guide recovery efforts.guide recovery efforts.guide recovery efforts.

What factors limit their recovery inWhat factors limit their recovery inWhat factors limit their recovery in What factors limit their recovery in SWFL? SWFL?

What does this mean for restoration What does this mean for restoration efforts?efforts?efforts?efforts?

OutlineOutline• Background –Background

• storks in SWFL• Land use changes• Land use changes

• Study Overview• Key findings• Relevance to ecosystem restorationy

Wood Stork Nesting at Corkscrewg

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Year

No. of Nesting Pairs No. of Birds Fledged

Historically initiation began in November or December. Historically initiation began in November or December. y gy gSince 1978 initiation is typically delayed until January Since 1978 initiation is typically delayed until January or Februaryor February

A key element of recovery is getting woodA key element of recovery is getting woodA key element of recovery is getting wood A key element of recovery is getting wood storks to nest earlier in the nesting seasonstorks to nest earlier in the nesting season

Nesting Season ComparisonNesting Season Comparison

20062006--0707 20082008--090920062006 0707BB--staff gage Sept 30, staff gage Sept 30, 39.12” (50yr ave. 37.4”)39.12” (50yr ave. 37.4”)

20082008 0909BB--staff gage Sept. 30, staff gage Sept. 30, 43.9243.92

No CSS nesting Nest initiation Dec 12th

1120 nests2570 fledgedEarly nesters 2.7ck/nest2.7ck/nestLate Nesters 2.1ck/nest2.1ck/nest

Wetland Losses within the CFA

Wetland Losses within the CFACFA

From pre-development to 2004CFA

From pre-development to 2004T t l 44%• Total -44%

• Short hydroperiod -62% (73-52%)*

•• Wet prairie (6430)Wet prairie (6430) --82.2%**82.2%**• Long hydroperiod -19% (34-7%)*Long hydroperiod 19% (34 7%)

• Tidal -10%

*not all wetland data from the 2004 Land Cover map had hydroperiod datahydroperiod data.

** PDVM 73.32sq.mi. down to 13.05sq.mi. 2004 LULC)

Study OverviewStudy OverviewStudy OverviewStudy Overview

• Funding awarded through the CriticalFunding awarded through the Critical Ecosystem Studies Initiative (CESI), via the National Park Servicethe National Park Service

• Identify & evaluate wood stork foraging habitat near CSSforaging habitat near CSS.

• Document the chronology of wetland il bili f i b d kavailability to foraging by wood storks

throughout the nesting season & its i fl iinfluence on nesting success.

Study Overview (cont.)Study Overview (cont.)Study Overview (cont.)Study Overview (cont.)

• Data collected over 2 nesting seasonsData collected over 2 nesting seasons•• 20062006--07 (did not nest),07 (did not nest), 20082008--09 09

(successful nesting)(successful nesting)( g)( g)

•• Foraging location dataForaging location data

•• Prey sampling (covered in Dr. Liston’sPrey sampling (covered in Dr. Liston’sPrey sampling (covered in Dr. Liston s Prey sampling (covered in Dr. Liston s talk)talk)

• Foraging events & habitat Mapped using ArcGIS 9.2g g pp g

• SFWMD 2004 Land Use Land Cover & USGS National Hydrography Dataset layers were used.

Study Overview (cont.)Study Overview (cont.)Study Overview (cont.)Study Overview (cont.)

• Data collection (Observation & SatData collection (Observation & Sat Tags)•• Location & use statisticsLocation & use statistics GPS aerialGPS aerial•• Location & use statistics Location & use statistics –– GPS aerial GPS aerial

photographyphotography• Fixed wing aircraft, w/ 70-300mm digitalFixed wing aircraft, w/ 70 300mm digital

camera w/ lens stabilizer

• Speculative flights & follow flights

•• Supplemented with ground observationsSupplemented with ground observations

•• Deployment of satellite transmitters on Deployment of satellite transmitters on nesting adult storksnesting adult storks

STUDY AREASTUDY AREA2759 Habitat use pts, GPS tags2759 Habitat use pts, GPS tags730 Foraging pts, direct observation730 Foraging pts, direct observationg g pg g p7297 Wood storks foraging7297 Wood storks foraging

CORE FORAGING AREACORE FORAGING AREA1540 Habitat use pts, GPS1540 Habitat use pts, GPS559 Foraging pts, direct observation559 Foraging pts, direct observationg g pg g p1865 Wood storks foraging1865 Wood storks foraging

Key FindingsKey Findings

• Ditches were selected for foraging throughout the nesting season in both the nesting and nonnesting season, in both the nesting and non-nesting year.

W i i l d f l i h i• Wet prairies were selected for early in the nesting season in both nesting and non-nesting years.

• Freshwater marshes were avoided during the early part of the nesting year, but selected late in both years.years.

• Closed canopy forests are used by foraging wood storks Intensity of use is difficult to assessstorks. Intensity of use is difficult to assess.

2008-09 Sat Tagged WOST habitat use distribution

Short hydroperiod wetlands5%

Agricultural 16%

other8%

Short hydroperiod wetlands

Long hydroperiod wetlands

Reservoir1%

16% Short hydroperiod wetlandsLong hydroperiod wetlandsHydroperiods undefined by FLUCCSTidalCanal Ditch

Long hydroperiod wetlands46%

Hydroperiods undefined by

Tidal7%

Canal Ditch2%

ReservoirAgricultural other

Hydroperiods undefined by FLUCCS

15%

Study YearData Type

Non Nesting Year Visual X2=490 9 Select:

Selection -Avoidance of Primary Habitat Types in the CFA

Value of photo Non‐Nesting Year(2006‐07)

Visual Observation

X2=490.9df=7N=318P<0.001

Select:Water, Wetlands

Avoid:Agriculture, Urban Built‐up, Upland Non‐forested, Upland

pcorrections of foraging points

p , pForests

Nesting Year(2008‐09)

Visual Observation

X2=387.4df=7N 240

Select:Water, Wetlands

N=240P<0.001

Avoid:Urban Built‐up, Agriculture, , Upland Non‐forested

Satellite Transmitter Observation

X2=1312.1df=7N=1540P<0.001

Select:

Wetlands, Water

Avoid:Urban Built‐up, Agriculture, Upland Non‐forested, , Transportation, Communications and Utilities

RAW FLUCCS without photo interp SA_obs CFA_obs SA_SAT CFA_SAT

no. of forage locations (non-wetland or water) 187 153 454 192

no. of storks foraging (non-wetland or water) 2162 1865

Total forage locations 730 559 2759 1540g

Total storks observed foraging 7297 5836

proportion of mis-categorized locations 25.62% 27.37% 16.46% 12.47%

proportion of mis-categorized storks 29.63% 31.96%

No. of Foraging Events Early 2006 (no nesting)

38

Row Crops 2140

Ditches 5120_X

Reservoirs 5300

No. of Foraging Storks Early 2006 (no nesting)

9937

Row Crops 2140

Ditches 5120_X

Reservoirs 5300

Row Crops 2140

Channelized Waterways, Canals 5120

3

29

8

8Mixed Wetland Hardw oods 6170

Mixed Shrubs 6172

Cypress 6210

C D H d 6215

99

142

6037

Mixed Wetland Hardw oods 6170

Mixed Shrubs 6172

Wet Melaleuca 6191

Ditches 5120_X

Lakes 5200

Reservoirs 5300

18

Cypress Domes Heads 6215

Cypress Pine Cabbage Palm 6240

Wet Pinelands Hydric Pine 6250

Freshw ater Marshes / GraminoidPrairie Marsh 6410

356

917

34

13

8

10 Cypress 6210


Cypress Mixed Hardw oods 6216


Mangrove Swamp 6120

Mixed Wetland Hardwoods 6170

Mixed Shrubs 61729234

1

1Prairie Marsh 6410

Wet Prairies 6430

OTHER HABITATS

10946

17 Cypress Pine Cabbage Palm 6240

Freshw ater Marshes / GraminoidPrairie Marsh 6410

W t P i i 6430No. of Foraging Events Early 2008 (nesting) Row Crops 2140

Ditches 5120 X

No. of Foraging Storks Early 2008 (nesting)Ditches 5120 X

Mixed Shrubs 6172

Wet Melaleuca 6191

Cypress 6210

134

Ditches 5120_X

Reservoirs 5300

Mixed Shrubs 6172

Cypress 6210 35033

37

42

6937

Ditches 5120_X

Reservoirs 5300

Mixed Shrubs 6172

Cypress 6210


Cypress Mixed Hardwoods 6216


58

1

4

11

yp


Wet Pinelands Hydric Pine6250Freshwater Marshes /

2

33 yp

Wet Pinelands Hydric Pine6250Wetland Forested Mixed 6300

Freshwater Marshes /


Wetland Forested Mixed 6300

Freshwater Marshes / Graminoid

74

1 Graminoid Prairie Marsh 6410Wet Prairies 6430

OTHER HABITATS

71312Graminoid Prairie Marsh 6410Wet Prairies 6430

OTHER HABITATS

Freshwater Marshes / Graminoid Prairie Marsh 6410

Wet Prairies 6430

OTHER HABITATS

No. of Foraging Events Late 2007 (no nesting)

86

No. of Foraging Storks Late 2007 (no nesting)

10117

Row Crops 2140

Channelized Waterways, Canals 5120

Di h 120 X8

7767

6

548650

Ditches 5120_X

Lakes 5200

Reservoirs 5300

1634

1

147

1891111411

17759

7

7

Mangrove Swamp 6120

Mixed Wetland Hardwoods 6170

Mixed Shrubs 61721116

34

4

1

No. of Foraging Events Late 2009 (nesting) No. of Foraging Storks Late 2009 (nesting)Ditches 5120_X

111141159 Mixed Shrubs 6172

Wet Melaleuca 6191

Cypress 6210

42

47

5

554372

67 Reservoirs 5300

Mixed Wetland Hardwoods6170Mixed Shrubs 6172


Cypress Mixed Hardwoods 6216


7

47

105

43

Cypress 6210


Cypress Mixed Hardwoods6216


Wetland Forested Mixed 6300

Freshwater Marshes / Graminoid 8

514

54 1137841

142

6 6Freshwater Marshes /Graminoid Prairie Marsh 6410OTHER HABITATS

Prairie Marsh 6410

Wet Prairies 6430

OTHER HABITATS

Results of foraging habitat analysis - CFA Non-nesting 06-07 Nesting 08-09

No. of foraging events No. of foraging storks No. of foraging events No. of foraging storks

LCCODE Early Late Early Late Early Late Early LateRow Crops 2140 N N N N N

Channelized Waterways, Canals 5120 N S

Ditches 5120_X S S S S S S S S

Lakes 5200 S

Reservoirs 5300 N N S S N N S SReservoirs 5300 Mangrove Swamp 6120 N A

Mixed Wetland Hardwoods 6170 N N A N N N

Mixed Shrubs 6172 N N A A N N S A

Wet Melaleuca 6191 N

Cypress 6210 N N A A N N A ACypress 6210 N N A A N N A A

Cypress Domes Heads 6215 N N N N N N S

Cypress Mixed Hardwoods 6216 N N N N

Cypress Pine Cabbage Palm 6240 N N N

Wet Pinelands Hydric Pine 6250 N A A N A A

W tl d F t d Mi d 6300 N N SWetland Forested Mixed 6300 N N S

Freshwater Marshes / Graminoid Prairie Marsh 6410 N S N S N S A S

Wet Prairies 6430 N N S S S

OTHER HABITATS N N A A N N A A

X2 93.97 244.92 1022.034526 2719.38 261.43 146.25 1686.76 1692.42

P 8.73E-16 3.23E-44 3.48E-212 0.00E+00 6.50E-52 5.26E-27 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

df 10.00 14.00 11 11.00 8.00 9.00 7.00 7.00

N 86.00 233.00 1430 1938.00 103.00 137.00 953.00 1515.00

S = selection, A = avoidance, N = neutral. N = very close to S, N = very close to A. S = strongly selected, A= strongly avoided. (blank) = these categories were grouped in the "OTHER HABITATS" category, along with: Marshy Lake 5250, wetland coniferous forests 6200, and saltwater marshes/halophytic herbaceous prairie 6420

Foraging in shallow ditchesForaging in shallow ditchesphotos taken on 11photos taken on 11--1919--0808

69 wood storks documented foraging in these ditches, in 1 event

Foraging in AgForaging in Ag

WOST foraging Assessment 2006-07

Use of forested wetlandsUse of forested wetlandsUse of forested wetlandsUse of forested wetlands• Corkscrew CFA – • SWFL Study Area –

direct observation2006-07

SWFL Study Area satellite tagged storks

2008-09•• 51% forested51% forested•• 49% non49% non--forestedforested

221 t

008 09Stork positions in wetlands•• 41% in forested41% in forested221 events

2008-09•• 50% forested50% forested

41% in forested41% in forested•• 59% in non59% in non--forestedforested

50% forested50% forested•• 50% non50% non--forestedforested

153 events

3030 positions

Forested habitat useForested habitat use

Relevance to Ecosystem Relevance to Ecosystem RestorationRestoration

Short hydroperiod wet prairiesShort hydroperiod wet prairies••Short hydroperiod wet prairies Short hydroperiod wet prairies provided significant foraging value provided significant foraging value in the 2008in the 2008 09 nesting season09 nesting seasonin the 2008in the 2008--09 nesting season. 09 nesting season.

••They play an important role in They play an important role in early nest initiation in SWFL . early nest initiation in SWFL .

These should be conservation &These should be conservation &••These should be conservation & These should be conservation & restoration priorities.restoration priorities.

Relevance to Ecosystem Relevance to Ecosystem R iR iRestorationRestoration

•• Though they are a cause of wetlandThough they are a cause of wetlandThough they are a cause of wetland Though they are a cause of wetland loss, shallow, short hydroperiod loss, shallow, short hydroperiod ditches are highly utilized & provideditches are highly utilized & provideditches are highly utilized & provide ditches are highly utilized & provide storks significant foraging value.storks significant foraging value.

•• Greater attention should be paid toGreater attention should be paid to•• Greater attention should be paid to Greater attention should be paid to tracking losses of shallow ditches via tracking losses of shallow ditches via developmentdevelopmentdevelopment. development.

•• Impacts to shallow ditches should be Impacts to shallow ditches should be i i d i i i h bii i d i i i h bimitigated in wet prairie habitat types.mitigated in wet prairie habitat types.

Special Thanks to:Special Thanks to:

CESICESISonny Bass (NPS)Sonny Bass (NPS)CESICESISonny Bass (NPS)Sonny Bass (NPS)Sonny Bass (NPS)Sonny Bass (NPS)Ed Carlson (Audubon)Ed Carlson (Audubon)Shawn Liston (Audubon)Shawn Liston (Audubon)

Sonny Bass (NPS)Sonny Bass (NPS)Ed Carlson (Audubon)Ed Carlson (Audubon)Shawn Liston (Audubon)Shawn Liston (Audubon)Shawn Liston (Audubon) Shawn Liston (Audubon) Mike Knight (Audubon)Mike Knight (Audubon)Mike Bush (Audubon)Mike Bush (Audubon)

Shawn Liston (Audubon) Shawn Liston (Audubon) Mike Knight (Audubon)Mike Knight (Audubon)Mike Bush (Audubon)Mike Bush (Audubon)( )( )Shawn Shawn HomokyHomoky (Beaver Aviation)(Beaver Aviation)Larry Bryan (SREL)Larry Bryan (SREL)

( )( )Shawn Shawn HomokyHomoky (Beaver Aviation)(Beaver Aviation)Larry Bryan (SREL)Larry Bryan (SREL)David David CeilleyCeilley (FGCU)(FGCU)Rena Rena BorkhatariaBorkhataria (SFWMD) (SFWMD) A M iA M i L iL i (USFWS)(USFWS)

David David CeilleyCeilley (FGCU)(FGCU)Rena Rena BorkhatariaBorkhataria (SFWMD) (SFWMD) A M iA M i L iL i (USFWS)(USFWS)Ann Marie Ann Marie LauritsenLauritsen (USFWS)(USFWS)Mike Mike DueverDuever (SFWMD)(SFWMD)Ann Marie Ann Marie LauritsenLauritsen (USFWS)(USFWS)Mike Mike DueverDuever (SFWMD)(SFWMD)

assessment of wood stork foraging opportunity for ......ecosystem studies initiative (cesi), via the...

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