2007 Annual Monitoring Report (pdf 16MB) - Bolsa Chica Lowlands ...

Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration Monitoring2007 Annual ReportIt is anticipated that with the future opening of tidal influence to the MTBs, there will be an increase inboth avian abundance and richness associated with habitat changes in these areas. The use of the largeflood bar at the entrance to the FTB, principally by gulls, will diminish with the first maintenancedredging event. This use as a loafing area will be recurrent as the shoal builds prior to each dredgingevent.RecommendationsContinue the general avian monitoring with no changes.Light-footed Clapper RailSurveys for the light-footed clapper rail (Rallus longirostris levipes) will not be initiated until 2010, bywhich time it is hoped that suitable cordgrass habitat will have developed to an extent and quality toattract clapper rails.Belding’s Savannah Sparrow MonitoringMethodologySurveys for the state endangered Belding's Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi)were performed on April 9 and 17, 2007. At this time the sparrows were well into their breedingseason and therefore displaying territorial and breeding behavior. All areas with potentially suitablebreeding habitat for the Belding's Savannah sparrow (pickleweed-dominated salt marsh) weresurveyed. There was very limited suitable habitat available in the Full Tidal Basin at the time of thesurvey (the majority of Rabbit Island was submerged). The Muted Pocket March was not included inthis survey, however it will be included in future surveys. The site was surveyed on foot by qualifiedbiologists using binoculars and spotting scopes. Surveys were performed between 0530 hours and1100 hours. Weather conditions including air temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, and approximatewind speed were recorded regularly throughout the survey.The survey program included a calibration training period with Dick Zembal prior to conducting thesurveys so that data collected would be consistent between individuals and in comparison to pastsurveys conducted at the site and statewide survey efforts (Zembal et al, 2006). Surveys will beconducted annually to document changes over time and space. The site was surveyed over a two-dayperiod by assigning each surveyor a series of zones. Each zone was surveyed only once; two dayswere needed to cover all of the zones. The surveys would have been discontinued for the day if wind,visibility, rain, or other factors were deemed to be unsuitable for accurate and effective data collection,including an absence of territorial behavior by the sparrows. No such problems were encounteredduring these surveys. All survey data were initially recorded in the field on hard copy maps of eachzone and then transferred in the office to GIS database files.Merkel & Associates, Inc. 48