This research largely involves developing and applying survey methods to gather and analyze data to study raptor population biology and population status. Results also provide land and wildlife managers with information about the general distribution and local occurrence of birds of prey. Most raptor species occur in low densities compared to other birds. Raptors are widely dispersed during much of the year, and they often exhibit behavior that makes them difficult to observe. Our work has involved innovation with searching strategies and sampling designs to develop safe, practical methods for finding and counting raptors in diverse, sometimes remote locales. We also use existing records of observations and counts for learning where raptors occur in areas of interest to managers, and to synthesize information to be used to summarize the status of raptors.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 16
Assessment of frequency and duration of point counts when surveying for golden eagle presence
We assessed the utility of the recommended golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) survey methodology in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2013 Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance. We conducted 800-m radius, 1-hr point-count surveys broken into 20-min segments, during 2 sampling periods in 3 areas within the Intermountain West of the United States over 2 consecutive breeding seasons during 2012 and 2013. O
Authors
Ben R. Skipper, Clint W. Boal, Jo-Szu Tsai, Mark R. Fuller
Estimation of occupancy, breeding success, and predicted abundance of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Diablo Range, California, 2014
We used a multistate occupancy sampling design to estimate occupancy, breeding success, and abundance of territorial pairs of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Diablo Range, California, in 2014. This method uses the spatial pattern of detections and non-detections over repeated visits to survey sites to estimate probabilities of occupancy and successful reproduction while accounting for imp
Authors
J. David Wiens, Patrick S. Kolar, Mark R. Fuller, W. Grainger Hunt, Teresa Hunt
Use of large-scale, multi-species surveys to monitor gyrfalcon and ptarmigan populations
We evaluated the ability of three large-scale, multi-species surveys in the Arctic to provide information on abundance and habitat relationships of Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) and ptarmigan. The Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring (PRISM) has surveyed birds widely across the arctic regions of Canada and Alaska since 2001. The Arctic Coastal Plain survey has collected abun
Authors
Jonathan Bart, Mark Fuller, Paul Smith, Leah Dunn
Developing Gyrfalcon surveys and monitoring for Alaska
We developed methods to monitor the status of Gyrfalcons in Alaska. Results of surveys and monitoring will be informative for resource managers and will be useful for studying potential changes in ecological communities of the high latitudes. We estimated that the probability of detecting a Gyrfalcon at an occupied nest site was between 64% and 87% depending on observer experience and aircraft typ
Authors
Mark R. Fuller, Philip F. Schempf, Travis L. Booms
Detection probability of cliff-nesting raptors during helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft surveys in western Alaska
We conducted repeated aerial surveys for breeding cliff-nesting raptors on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR) in western Alaska to estimate detection probabilities of Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus), Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), Rough-legged Hawks (Buteo lagopus), and also Common Ravens (Corvus corax). Using the program PRESENCE, we modeled detection histories of each species bas
Authors
T.L. Booms, P.F. Schempf, B. J. McCaffery, M. S. Lindberg, M.R. Fuller
Surveying woodland hawks with broadcasts of great horned owl vocalization
Pre-recorded vocalizations of great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) broadcast into predominantly wooded habitat along roadside survey routes resulted in as many detections of resident red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) and Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) as broadcasts of each conspecific calls. Survey results for 3 species, expressed as average number of contacts/route, were directly related
Authors
James A. Mosher, Mark R. Fuller
Detecting trends in raptor counts: power and type I error rates of various statistical tests
We conducted simulations that estimated power and type I error rates of statistical tests for detecting trends in raptor population count data collected from a single monitoring site. Results of the simulations were used to help analyze count data of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) from 7 national forests in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin during 1980-1989. Seven statistical tests were
Authors
J. S. Hatfield, W.R. Gould, B.A. Hoover, M.R. Fuller, E. L. Lindquist
Assessing ground-based counts of nestling bald eagles in northeastern Minnesota
We present evidence that the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) productivity survey in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northeastern Minnesota may have underestimated the number of nestlings during 1986-1988. Recommendations are provided to achieve more accurate ground-based counts. By conducting ground-based observations for up to 1 hour/nest, an accurate count of the number of b
Authors
M.R. Fuller, J. S. Hatfield, E. L. Lindquist
Our living resources: A report to the nation on the distribution, abundance, and health of U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems
This report on the distribution, abundance, and health of our nation's biological resources is the first product of the National Biological Service’s Status and Trends Program. This information has many potential uses: it can document successful management efforts so resource managers will know what has worked well; it can identify problems so managers can take early action to restore the resource
Area-occupied survey technique for nesting woodland raptors
No abstract available.
Authors
G.C. Iverson, M.R. Fuller
An evaluation of the Christmas Bird Count for monitoring population trends of selected species
No abstract available.
Authors
G.S. Butcher, M.R. Fuller, L.S. McAllister, P.H. Geissler
Trend analyses for raptor nesting productivity: An example with peregrine falcon data
No abstract available.
Authors
P.H. Geissler, M.R. Fuller, L.S. McAllister
- Overview
This research largely involves developing and applying survey methods to gather and analyze data to study raptor population biology and population status. Results also provide land and wildlife managers with information about the general distribution and local occurrence of birds of prey. Most raptor species occur in low densities compared to other birds. Raptors are widely dispersed during much of the year, and they often exhibit behavior that makes them difficult to observe. Our work has involved innovation with searching strategies and sampling designs to develop safe, practical methods for finding and counting raptors in diverse, sometimes remote locales. We also use existing records of observations and counts for learning where raptors occur in areas of interest to managers, and to synthesize information to be used to summarize the status of raptors.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 16Assessment of frequency and duration of point counts when surveying for golden eagle presence
We assessed the utility of the recommended golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) survey methodology in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2013 Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance. We conducted 800-m radius, 1-hr point-count surveys broken into 20-min segments, during 2 sampling periods in 3 areas within the Intermountain West of the United States over 2 consecutive breeding seasons during 2012 and 2013. OAuthorsBen R. Skipper, Clint W. Boal, Jo-Szu Tsai, Mark R. FullerEstimation of occupancy, breeding success, and predicted abundance of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Diablo Range, California, 2014
We used a multistate occupancy sampling design to estimate occupancy, breeding success, and abundance of territorial pairs of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Diablo Range, California, in 2014. This method uses the spatial pattern of detections and non-detections over repeated visits to survey sites to estimate probabilities of occupancy and successful reproduction while accounting for impAuthorsJ. David Wiens, Patrick S. Kolar, Mark R. Fuller, W. Grainger Hunt, Teresa HuntUse of large-scale, multi-species surveys to monitor gyrfalcon and ptarmigan populations
We evaluated the ability of three large-scale, multi-species surveys in the Arctic to provide information on abundance and habitat relationships of Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) and ptarmigan. The Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring (PRISM) has surveyed birds widely across the arctic regions of Canada and Alaska since 2001. The Arctic Coastal Plain survey has collected abunAuthorsJonathan Bart, Mark Fuller, Paul Smith, Leah DunnDeveloping Gyrfalcon surveys and monitoring for Alaska
We developed methods to monitor the status of Gyrfalcons in Alaska. Results of surveys and monitoring will be informative for resource managers and will be useful for studying potential changes in ecological communities of the high latitudes. We estimated that the probability of detecting a Gyrfalcon at an occupied nest site was between 64% and 87% depending on observer experience and aircraft typAuthorsMark R. Fuller, Philip F. Schempf, Travis L. BoomsDetection probability of cliff-nesting raptors during helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft surveys in western Alaska
We conducted repeated aerial surveys for breeding cliff-nesting raptors on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR) in western Alaska to estimate detection probabilities of Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus), Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), Rough-legged Hawks (Buteo lagopus), and also Common Ravens (Corvus corax). Using the program PRESENCE, we modeled detection histories of each species basAuthorsT.L. Booms, P.F. Schempf, B. J. McCaffery, M. S. Lindberg, M.R. FullerSurveying woodland hawks with broadcasts of great horned owl vocalization
Pre-recorded vocalizations of great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) broadcast into predominantly wooded habitat along roadside survey routes resulted in as many detections of resident red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) and Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) as broadcasts of each conspecific calls. Survey results for 3 species, expressed as average number of contacts/route, were directly relatedAuthorsJames A. Mosher, Mark R. FullerDetecting trends in raptor counts: power and type I error rates of various statistical tests
We conducted simulations that estimated power and type I error rates of statistical tests for detecting trends in raptor population count data collected from a single monitoring site. Results of the simulations were used to help analyze count data of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) from 7 national forests in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin during 1980-1989. Seven statistical tests wereAuthorsJ. S. Hatfield, W.R. Gould, B.A. Hoover, M.R. Fuller, E. L. LindquistAssessing ground-based counts of nestling bald eagles in northeastern Minnesota
We present evidence that the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) productivity survey in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northeastern Minnesota may have underestimated the number of nestlings during 1986-1988. Recommendations are provided to achieve more accurate ground-based counts. By conducting ground-based observations for up to 1 hour/nest, an accurate count of the number of bAuthorsM.R. Fuller, J. S. Hatfield, E. L. LindquistOur living resources: A report to the nation on the distribution, abundance, and health of U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems
This report on the distribution, abundance, and health of our nation's biological resources is the first product of the National Biological Service’s Status and Trends Program. This information has many potential uses: it can document successful management efforts so resource managers will know what has worked well; it can identify problems so managers can take early action to restore the resourceArea-occupied survey technique for nesting woodland raptors
No abstract available.AuthorsG.C. Iverson, M.R. FullerAn evaluation of the Christmas Bird Count for monitoring population trends of selected species
No abstract available.AuthorsG.S. Butcher, M.R. Fuller, L.S. McAllister, P.H. GeisslerTrend analyses for raptor nesting productivity: An example with peregrine falcon data
No abstract available.AuthorsP.H. Geissler, M.R. Fuller, L.S. McAllister