ruffed grouse surveys at hudson farm - new jersey · pdf fileruffed grouse surveys at hudson...

www.youngforest.org

Ruffed Grouse Surveys at Hudson Farm: Establishing Baseline Population Status and

Assessing Response to Forest Stewardship Activities

Kristin Mylecraine, John Parke, John Cecil and David Mizrahi

New Jersey Audubon

www.youngforest.org

Overview

• History & Status of forests and Ruffed Grouse in NJ

• Drumming surveys at Hudson Farm (2016-2020)

• Other bird observations

• Next steps

www.youngforest.org

• Fire & disturbance

history

The Young Forest Project: Growing Wildlife Habitat Together

Forest History

• Clearing for

agriculture

• Forest regrowth

Current conditions: Predominance of middle-

aged forests with little age class diversity

www.youngforest.org

Forest Health Issues in NJ

White-tailed deer

Insects and disease

Invasive species

Climate change

Fire suppression

Fragmentation and

development

Decline in native forest-

dependent species

Age class structure

www.youngforest.org

www.youngforest.org

Conserving New Jersey’s Forests

New Jersey Audubon’s Goal

Ensure that New Jersey's forests are managed sustainably and are providing habitat for rare, declining and common

native species.

www.youngforest.org

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

America’s most

widely distributed

game bird

Prefers deciduous

and mixed forests

with young forest

habitat

Most abundant in

early-successional

forests dominated

by aspen

www.youngforest.org


www.youngforest.org


Breeding Bird Survey Trend Estimates 1966-2015

www.youngforest.org

Ruffed Grouse in New Jersey

Breeding Bird Survey

Trend Estimate 1966-2015:

• **Data deficient species

• 11.37 decline

(95% C.I. -20.59, -1.43)

EBird distribution

2012-2017:

www.youngforest.org BBS EAST Region Species Group Summary Results, 1966-2011; *Significant Trend (P<0.05)

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Shrub/YF Woodland

Positive Trend Negative Trend

73 Species 143 Species

-1.15 Mean Trend -0.03 Mean Trend

Trends in Young Forest

and Woodland Songbirds

Cerulean Warbler (-2.9)

Wood Thrush (-2.3)

Canada Warbler (-2.1)

Least Flycatcher (-2.1)

Black-billed Cuckoo (-1.9)

Kristin Munafo

Field Sparrow (-2.8)

Golden-winged Warbler (-2.4)

Prairie Warbler (-2.0)

Eastern Towhee (-1.4)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (-1.4)

Kristin Munafo

Shrub/YF Species

Woodland Species

www.youngforest.org

Forest Birds Need Young Forest Too

www.youngforest.org

Overview




• Next steps

www.youngforest.org

Hudson Farm

The Hudson Farm Club manages

over 3,000 acres of largely

forested habitat in Sussex County,

New Jersey

Habitat management over the next

ten years will follow approved

Forest Stewardship Plans,

developed by Gracie and Harrigan

Consulting Foresters, in

collaboration with partners at:

New Jersey Audubon

Ruffed Grouse Society

National Wild Turkey Federation

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

www.youngforest.org

Hudson Farm

Plan objectives include habitat

management to enhance the quality

and value of wildlife habitat and

improve forest health.

Ultimate goal include:

Habitat management for early

successional species

Habitat improvement for game

species

Reestablishment of Ruffed

Grouse

www.youngforest.org

Ruffed Grouse Surveys: 2016-2020

Before-After-Control-Impact

(BACI) study

2016-2020 (Five years)

Reassess and determine

next steps

1. Pre-management surveys to establish baseline population status

of Ruffed Grouse

2. Initial post-management surveys as forest stewardship activities

3. Conduct surveys at control sites

www.youngforest.org


Hudson Farm – 54 pts

Sparta Mountain – 19 pts

Delaware Water Gap – 31 pts

www.youngforest.org


Ebird Ruffed Grouse observations 2012-2017

www.youngforest.org


Drumming surveys • 10-minute point count surveys

• Repeated 3 times (Occupancy)

• April 1st – May 15th

Habitat surveys • % cover – trees, shrubs (<1m;

1-2m; <2m), grasses, forbs

• Canopy cover (densiometer)

• Visual obstruction (Robel pole)

www.youngforest.org


Delaware Water Gap

3 survey points

4 incidental encounters

www.youngforest.org


Points with RUGR detections (2016) Delaware Water Gap – points DEWA_01, DEWA_04, DEWA_07)

• % Shrub cover – Shrubs <1m: 20-25%

– Shrubs 1-2m: 5-60%

– Shrubs 2-6: 10-25%

• % Tree cover – Trees >6m: 60-80%

• Dominant understory species – Mountain Laurel (winter food)

www.youngforest.org


Points with RUGR detections (2016) Delaware Water Gap – incidental encounter location 2017

www.youngforest.org


Hudson Farm – non-ROW points (2016):

• % Shrub cover

– Shrubs <1m: Mean 11% (0-30%)

– Shrubs 1-2m: Mean 8% (0-40%)

– Shrubs 2-6: Mean 10% (0-40%)

• % Tree cover – Trees >6m: Mean 63% (0-95%)

• Dominant understory species – Japanese Barberry

www.youngforest.org


Hudson Farm – non-ROW points:

www.youngforest.org

Overview




• Next steps

www.youngforest.org


Other species - Hudson Farm (2016):

• 80 species recorded April 1st through May 15th – 1 Target species: Wild Turkey – 1 State-endangered species: Red-shouldered Hawk – 2 State-threatened species: Osprey, Red-headed Woodpecker – 9 State species of Special Concern: Blackburnian Warbler Broad-winged Hawk Veery

Black-throated Green Warbler Great Blue Heron Wood Thrush Blue-headed Vireo Northern Parula Worm-eating Warbler

www.youngforest.org

Ruffed Grouse Surveys: 2016-2020 Other species – Delaware Water Gap (2016):

• 88 species recorded April 1st through May 15th – 3 Target species: Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, Wild Turkey – 2 State-endangered species: Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk – 1 State-threatened species: Barred Owl – 17 State species of Special Concern:

Black-billed Cuckoo Broad-winged Hawk Great Blue Heron Veery Blackburnian Warbler Brown Thrasher Hooded Warbler Winter Wren Black-throated Blue Warbler Cerulean Warbler Nashville Warbler Wood Thrush Black-throated Green Warbler Cooper’s Hawk Northern Parula Worm-eating Warbler Blue-headed Vireo

www.youngforest.org


Other species – Sparta Mountain (2016):

• 50 species recorded April 1st through May 15th – 2 Target species: Golden-winged Warbler, Wild Turkey – 1 State-endangered species: Golden-winged Warbler – 6 State species of Special Concern: Black-billed Cuckoo Least Flycatcher

Black-throated Blue Warbler Northern Parula Great Blue Heron Wood Thrush

www.youngforest.org

Overview




• Next steps

www.youngforest.org

Ruffed Grouse Surveys: 2016-2020 Next steps:

• Continue baseline surveys for 5 years

www.youngforest.org

Ruffed Grouse Surveys: 2016-2020 Next steps:

• Continue baseline surveys for 5 years

• Assess habitat conditions and species response following implementation of forest stewardship activities

www.youngforest.org

Special thanks to:

• Hudson Farm for financial support

• NJA field technicians Angela Duncan

Scott Stollery

Nikki Flood

ruffed grouse surveys at hudson farm - new jersey · pdf fileruffed grouse surveys at hudson...

Documents