| Project Code: | WEYDV-02-079 |
| Program: | FRIP |
| Sponsor: | Weyerhaeuser |
| Region: | Edson |
| Project Status: | Completed |
Object & Deliverables
A long term monitoring program for breeding bird communities in the Edson FMA began on May 1, 2000. Permanent sampling stations were established thoughout the FMA which may be sampled periodically for an indefinite number of years. The first year that was funded by this study will be used for gaining knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of the majority of bird species in the area and to serve as a base year to compare bird abundance in future years. The survey was divided into a forest bird survey and a wetland bird survey. The forest bird survey consists of 18 randomly established sampling route in a variety of forested vegetation cover practices. Transects were sampled during a four and a half hour period beginning at sunrise throughout the month of June. 16 sampling areas were established for the wetland complexes which also represented what was within the FMA. These were sampled in the early afternoon after the dawn “point counts”.
Final Report
During the 2000 field season, 154 species were detected during surveys or by other incidental observations. These included 27 waterfowl species, 6 species of songbirds, 9 species of raptors, 4 species of owl, 6 species of woodpeckers, and 74 species of songbirds. During the spring forest breeding bird survey, thre were 77 species actively breeding in the area. Fourteen percent of all the birds detected were permanent residents. Thirty nine percent were short distant migrants. Neo-tropical migrants were the most common migrants. 100 species of birds were detected during the wetland survesy, of which 18 species could be classified as waterfowl. Analysis of community structure was compared among sites and the distribution of bird species was interpreted and described based on forest cover and site characteristices. The final report was submitted by Roger Brown of Aspen Ecological Consulting entitled, “Report of the 2000 Breeding Bird Survey for Weyerhaeuser’s Edson Forest Management Agreement Area” received on January 16, 2001.