J David Wiens
Biography
Education
Ph.D., Wildlife Science, 2012, Oregon State University
M.S., Ecology, 2004, Colorado State University
B.S., Environmental Science, 1993, Northern Arizona University
Specialty
Avian ecology, conservation of threatened and endangered species, population dynamics of forest and rangeland raptor species
Science and Products
Effects of Experimental Removal of Barred Owls on Population Demography of Northern Spotted Owls in the Pacific Northwest
Barred owls (Strix varia) have expanded their geographic range from eastern to western North America, and their newly expanded range now completely overlaps that of the federally threatened northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina; Gutiérrez et al. 2007, Livezey 2009,...
Threat of Invasive Barred Owls to Northern Spotted Owls and their Habitats
As an apex predator and fiercely territorial invader, barred owls at high densities have the potential to affect a variety of native wildlife through competition, niche displacement, and predation. Such impacts may be especially problematic for conservation of the federally threatened northern spotted owl, whose populations have continued to decline despite widespread protection of old forest...
Golden Eagles and Renewable Energy Development in the Western U.S.
Development of wind-power and solar facilities is expected to increase dramatically in areas occupied by golden eagles in the western U.S. Renewable energy development in areas used by golden eagles poses a unique challenge to natural resource managers because of this species’ vulnerability to collisions with wind turbines and sensitivity to changes in human land-use.
Count and detection-nondetection survey data of Barred Owls (Strix varia) in historical breeding territories of Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in the Oregon Coast Ranges, 1995-2016
This dataset contains count and detection-nondetection data of Barred Owls from 106 historical breeding territories of Northern Spotted Owl territories (i.e. sites) in the Oregon Coast Ranges from 1995 to 2016.
Invader removal triggers competitive release in a threatened avian predator
Invasive species can cause extinctions of native species and widespread biodiversity loss. Invader removal is a common management response, but the use of long-term field experiments to characterize effectiveness of removals in benefitting impacted native species is rare. We used a large-scale removal experiment to investigate the demographic...
Wiens, David; Dugger, Catherine M.; Higley, J. Mark; Lesmeister, Damon B.; Franklin, Alan B.; Hamm, Keith A.; White, Gary C.; Dilione, Krista E.; Simon, David C.; Bown, Robin R.; Carlson, Peter C.; Yackulic, Charles; Nichols, James D.; Hines, James E.; Davis, Raymond J.; Lamphear, David W.; McCafferty, Christopher; McDonald, Trent L.; Sovern, Stan G. Conspecific and congeneric interactions shape increasing rates of breeding dispersal of northern spotted owls
Breeding dispersal, the movement from one breeding territory to another, is rare for philopatric species that evolved within relatively stable environments, such as the old-growth coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Although dispersal is not inherently maladaptive, the consequences of increased dispersal on population dynamics in...
Jenkins, Julianna M. A.; Lesmeister, Damon B.; Forsman, Eric D.; Dugger, Katie M.; Ackers, Steven H.; Andrews, Steven; Gremel, Scott A.; Hollen, Bruce A.; McCafferty, Chris E.; Pruett, Shane; Reid, Janice A.; Sovern, Stan A.; Wiens, David
Distribution and abundance of Aquila chrysaetos (golden eagles) in East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan area, California
The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP) Preserve System was designed to protect and enhance ecological diversity and function in eastern Contra Costa County, California. Aquila chrysaetos (golden eagle) is a special-status species expected to benefit from biological goals of the HCP/...
Wiens, J. David; Kolar, Patrick S.; Bell, Douglas A.
Effects of barred owl (Strix varia) removal on population demography of northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in Washington and Oregon—2019 annual report
Strix occidentalis caurina (northern spotted owl; hereinafter referred to as spotted owl) have rapidly declined throughout the subspecies’ geographic range. Competition with invading Strix varia (barred owl) has been identified as an immediate cause of those declines. A pilot study in California showed that removal of barred owls coupled with...
Wiens, J. David; Dugger, Katie M.; Lesmeister, Damon B.; Dilione, Krista E.; Simon, David C. Anticoagulant rodenticides in Strix owls indicate widespread exposure in west coast forests
Exposure of nontarget wildlife to anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) is a global conservation concern typically centered around urban or agricultural areas. Recently, however, the illegal use of ARs in remote forests of California, USA, has exposed sensitive predators, including the federally threatened northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis...
Wiens, David; Dilione, Krista E.; Eagles-Smith, Collin A.; Herring, Garth; Lesmeister, Damon B.; Gabriel, Mourad W.; Wengert, Greta; Simon, David C.
Effects of experimental removal of Barred Owls on population Demography of Northern Spotted Owls in Washington and Oregon—2018 Progress Report
Populations of Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina; herineafter referred to as Spotted Owl) have declined throughout the subspecies’ geographic range. Evidence indicates that competition with invading Barred Owls (S. varia) has contributed significantly to those declines. A pilot study in California showed that removal of Barred Owls...
Wiens, J. David; Dugger, Katie M.; Lesmeister, Damon B.; Dilione, Krista E.; Simon, David C. Geographic variation in natal dispersal of Northern Spotted Owls over 28 years
The most recent comprehensive estimates of Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) natal dispersal distances were reported in 2002. Since then, Northern Spotted Owl populations have experienced substantial demographic changes, with potential attendant changes in natal dispersal distances, including temporal or geographic trends. We...
Hollenbeck, Jeff; Haig, Susan M.; Forsman, Eric D.; Wiens, David Three-dimensional partitioning of resources by congeneric forest predators with recent sympatry
Coexistence of ecologically similar species can be maintained by partitioning along one or more niche axes. Three-dimensional structural complexity is central to facilitating resource partitioning between many forest species, but is underrepresented in field-based studies. We examined resource selection by sympatric northern spotted owls (Strix...
Jenkins, Julianna M; Lesmeister, Damon B.; Wiens, David; Kane, Jonathan T; Kane, Van R.; Verschuyl, Jake V Barred owl research needs and prioritization in California
Barred owls (Strix varia) have reached high densities within the range of the northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina) and are rapidly increasing in number within the range of the California spotted owl (S. o. occidentalis). Encroaching populations of barred owls pose a significant competitive threat to the viability of both spotted owl...
Peery, Zach; Wiens, David; Bown, Robin; Carlson, Peter C.; Dugger, Katie; Dumbacher, Jack; Franklin, Alan B.; Hamm, Keith A.; Higley, Mark; Keane, John J. Northern spotted owl habitat and populations: Status and threats
The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990 (USFWS 1990). Providing adequate amounts of suitable forest cover to sustain the subspecies was a major component of the first recovery plan for northern spotted owls (USFWS 1992) and a driver in the basic reserve design and old-...
Lesmeister, Damon B.; Davis, Ramond J; Singleton, Peter H; Wiens, David
Effects of experimental removal of Barred Owls on population demography of Northern Spotted Owls in Washington and Oregon—2017 progress report
Populations of Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina; hereinafter referred to as Spotted Owl) are declining throughout this subspecies’ geographic range. Evidence indicates that competition with invading populations of Barred Owls (S. varia) has contributed significantly to those declines. A pilot study in California showed that...
Wiens, J. David; Dugger, Katie M.; Lesmeister, Damon B.; Dilione, Krista E.; Simon, David C. Golden Eagle Monitoring Plan for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
This report describes options for monitoring the status and population trends of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) within the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) area of Southern California in maintaining stable or increasing population in the planning area. The report profiles the ecology of golden eagles in the region and...
Wiens, David; Kolar, Patrick; Katzner, Todd E.
Invader Removal Halts Long-term Population Declines of Northern Spotted Owls
Invasive species can cause extinctions of native species and widespread biodiversity loss. Invader removal is a common management response, but the use of long-term field experiments to test the effectiveness of removals in benefitting impacted native species is rare.
Species Interactions Shape Increasing Rates of Breeding Dispersal of Northern Spotted Owls
Recent evidence suggests that frequency of breeding dispersal – the movement from one breeding territory to another – may be increasing in northern spotted owl populations, which could have consequences on population dynamics of this declining species.
Anticoagulant Rodenticides in Pacific Northwest Forest Owls
Researchers evaluated tissues from barred owls collected in Washington and Oregon to assess potential exposure of the Northern spotted owl and other old-forest wildlife in the Pacific Northwest to anticoagulant rodenticides (AR). They used ecologically similar barred owls as a surrogate species for the northern spotted owl, as the two species compete for space, habitat, and small mammal prey...
Effects of Barred Owl Removal on Population Demography of Northern Spotted Owls in Washington and Oregon, 2015–2018
A new USGS report summarizes research accomplishments and results from the first 3.5 years, 2015-2018, of a study in Oregon and Washington to determine if removing barred owls can improve population trends of Northern spotted owls.
How Spotted and Barred Owls Share the Forest
Over the past century barred owls have been expanding their range westward, encroaching into the old-forest habitat of their sister species, the federally threatened northern spotted owl. Population declines of spotted owls were originally attributed to habitat loss.
Northwest Forest Plan Book Chapter: Northern Spotted Owl Habitat and Populations
Authors from the U.S. Forest Service and the USGS wrote a book chapter outlining how northern spotted owls shaped the Northwest Forest Plan.
Geographic Variation in Natal Dispersal of Northern Spotted Owls over 28 Years
USGS and U.S. Forest Service researchers analyzed northern spotted owl natal dispersal, or the distance from natal site to first breeding site, from 1985 – 2012 in Oregon and Washington to examine how barred owls affect northern spotted owls’ movement.
Progress Report - Effects of Experimental Removal of Barred Owls on Population Demography of Northern Spotted Owls
Evidence suggests that the long-term persistence of northern spotted owls may be in question without additional management intervention.
Golden Eagle Monitoring Plan for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Area
This report outlines options for monitoring the status and population trends of golden eagles, a species specifically targeted for conservation under the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) of southern California.
Effects of Drought on Golden Eagles: Spatial Patterns in Occupancy and Reproduction
USGS scientists and collaborators investigated spatial patterns in occupancy and breeding success of golden eagles in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, California and surrounding landscapes from 2014 – 2016, an exceptional drought period.