Vermont Center for EcoStudies Unknown database http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/ Mountain Birdwatch is a long-term, citizen-science monitoring project for high-elevation songbirds in the Northeast. The focal species, Bicknell's Thrush, is identified as the top conservation priority among neotropical migratory species in the Northeast. Volunteers conduct ten-minute dawn point counts along trails and follow-up with playbacks for Bicknell's Thrush if none were heard during the point counts. The program was initiated in 2000 and about 120 routes are surveyed annually. Data are collected to maintain a history of Bicknell's Thrush distribution and to monitor population trends and abundance of high-elevation birds. Data are used by land managers for conservation decisions. Data may be useful to document impacts to high-elevation birds from climate change, pollution, and development. 2000 2007 ground condition In work Annually Mountains in the northeastern United States, including Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine (from the Catskills to just north of Baxter State Park in Maine). -74.6 -68.8 46.2 41.9 None monitor monitoring distribution population trends abundance high-elevation birds montane conservation climate change pollution development citizen science spruce-fir fir wave None United States U.S.A. US Massachusetts MA New York NY Vermont VT New Hampshire NH Maine ME Catskills Adirondacks Green Mountains White Mountains None summer breeding season June July None multiple species birds songbirds wrens thrushes warblers sparrows Bicknell's Thrush Blackpoll Warbler Winter Wren Swainson’s Thrush White-throated Sparrow American Ornithologists' Union 1998 Seventh book http://www.aou.org/checklist/index.php3 The check-list is revised and updated on an annual basis by the American Ornithologists' Union. Revisions are published in The Auk. Bicknell's Thrush was given species status in 1995, separate from Gray-cheeked Thrush. Observers have pre-existing knowledge of bird identification or they use published field guides. Birds (Bicknell's Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler, Winter Wren, Swainson's Thrush, and White-throated Sparrow). Kingdom Animalia animals Phylum Chordata chordates Subphylum Vertebrata vertebrates Class Aves birds Order Passeriformes passerine birds Family Troglodytidae wrens Genus Troglodytes Species troglodytes Winter Wren Family Turdidae thrushes Genus Catharus Species bicknelli Bicknell's Thrush Species ustulatus Swainson's Thrush Family Parulidae wood-warblers Genus Dendroica Species striata Blackpoll Warbler Family Emberizidae emberizids Genus Zonotrichia Species albicollis White-throated Sparrow None None, however we ask that those who use the data to observe the Vermont Center for EcoStudies Policy on the Release, Use, and Publication of Mountain Birdwatch Data by Outside Users (http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/datarelease.html). Vermont Center for EcoStudies Dan Lambert, Julie Hart, Chris Rimmer, or Kent McFarland Conservation Biologist mailing

P.O. Box 420

Norwich VT 05055 USA physical

20 Palmer Court

White River Junction VT 05001 USA 802-649-1431 US Fish and Wildlife Service, Stone House Farm Fund of the Upper Valley Community Foundation, US Department of Defense, and Appalachian Mountain Club. MS Access 2003 database. Hart, Julie A., and J.D. Lambert 2006 document Quechee, VT Vermont Institute of Natural Science Unpublished report. http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/Mountain%20Birdwatch%202006%20final%20report.pdf Lambert, J.D. 2006 document Woodstock, VT Vermont Institute of Natural Science Unpublished report. http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/Mountain%20Birdwatch%202005%20final%20report.pdf Shriver, G., T. Maniero, K. Schwarzkopf, D. Lambert, F. Dieffenbach, D. Owen, Y.Q. Wang, J. Nugranad-Marzilli, G. Tierney, C. Reese, and T.T. Moore. 2005 document Boston, MA. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service Northeast Region http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/MBW%20website%20reports/ATvitals.pdf Lambert, J.D., K.P. McFarland, C.C. Rimmer, S.D. Faccio, and J.L. Atwood. 2005 journal article Wilson Bulletin 117:1-11. http://www.vtecostudies.org/PDF/BITHmodel.pdf Lambert, J.D. 2005 document Woodstock, VT. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Unpublished report. http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/Mountain%20Birdwatch%202004%20final%20report.pdf Lambert, J.D. 2004 document Woodstock, VT. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Unpublished report. http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/Mountain%20Birdwatch%202003%20final%20report.pdf Lambert, J.D. 2003 document Woodstock, VT. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Unpublished report. http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/Mountain%20Birdwatch%202002%20final%20report.pdf Lambert, J.D., S.D. Faccio, and B. Hanscom. 2002 document Woodstock, VT. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Unpublished report. http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/Mountain%20Birdwatch%202001%20report.pdf Lambert, J.D., K.P. McFarland, and C. Rimmer. 2001 document Woodstock, VT. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Unpublished report. http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/mbw2000report_3.pdf Rimmer, C.C., K.P. McFarland, and J.D. Lambert. 2001 document Woodstock, VT. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Unpublished report to Green Mountain National Forest. http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/MBW%20website%20reports/GMNFBITH%20CA.pdf Data have been used to create a habitat distribution model in GIS. The data are currently being analyzed with “Presence”. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/software/presence.html Available online. Observers are trained in bird identification skills. They are provided with a training recording that discusses the common bird songs in high-elevation forests and must score 100% on the provided audio test. Only highly-skilled observers are asked to survey for all species. Data entry is spot checked with random reviews by checking datasheets against the database. not applicable About 120 routes are surveyed annually. Some surveys include data for all birds detected, while some are limited to the five focal species. As part of piloting the program in 2000, the majority of the routes were conducted in Vermont. Coverage in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine was added in 2001. Some routes have been surveyed in consecutive years, whereas others are sporadically covered. Please note that routes are not consistently run, sites were not selected on a purely random basis, and a low percentage of sites are located outside of the Bicknell’s Thrush habitat distribution model. The most recent USGS topo quad maps at the 1:24,000 scale were used to verify route locations in GIS. Maps are in electronic format as high resolution TIF files. Spatial information was not specifically used in analyses, but rather primarily used to guide observers in the field. Field None point counts playback Design methodology: Site selection was based on a GIS model of potential Bicknell's Thrush habitat that incorporates elevation, latitude, and forest type. Routes, consisting of five points spaced 200-250 m apart, were located within this habitat model if possible. A few sites are below the threshold and some cross it. An attempt to randomly select sites was made; however, the choice of sites was constrained by the availability of volunteers and the location of existing trails. Survey methodology: Surveys are conducted under acceptable weather conditions (no precipitation, temperature >2 °C, wind speed <32 km/h) from 1 to 21 June. Surveys are conducted between 04:30 and 08:00 EDT; most completed by 06:30 EDT. Observers listen quietly for ten minutes at each of the five stations Observers record the number of each focal species seen or heard during three time periods: 0-3 minutes, 3-5 minutes, and 5-10 minutes. If Bicknell's Thrush is not detected during or between point counts, surveyors return to each point and broadcast a one-minute recording of the bird's vocalizations, followed by a two-minute listening period. Playbacks are discontinued upon detection of one or more individuals. If no Bicknell's Thrush respond to the broadcasts, observers are asked to conduct follow-up playback surveys at dusk or dawn before 15 July. Unknown Unknown document Norwich, VT. Vermont Center for EcoStudies http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/MBWAssets/trainingmanual2007_5spp.pdf Analysis methodology: Frequency of occurrence and relative abundance are calculated for each of the focal species. For Bicknell's Thrush, we also calculated the proportion of survey routes on which the species was detected by any means (10-minute point count, chance, playback, or follow-up). For between-year comparisons, we calculated the average number of individuals per point on a route by route basis. For each focal species, we averaged per-point values across routes to produce an overall index of relative abundance. This is calculated for all routes and for only those routes that have been surveyed continuously. Unknown Spatial data were created either in the field using GPS units or identified on a USGS topo quad map in GIS. Data created from a topo map were plotted in GIS by zooming in on the appropriate topo map and matching up route locations or point locations according to descriptions made in the field by observers. Unknown Point 0.001 0.001 Decimal degrees All Species Mountain Birdwatch all species data variables. Mountain Birdwatch DistanceEstimate Bird detected within 50m of observer or at a greater distance. none 1 1 indicates less than 50 m Mountain Birdwatch 2 2 indicates greater than 50 m Mountain Birdwatch Five Species Mountain Birdwatch five species data variables. Mountain Birdwatch FirstName Observer first name. none First name of observer. LastName Observer last name. none Last name of observer. RouteName Name of route containing five survey points. Mountain Birdwatch Route name, usually the name of the mountain. Date Date of survey. none Month, day, and year. SurveyStartTime Survey start time. none 03:52 11:56 CountLength Length of point coint. none 5 15 Temperature Temperature during survey. none 0 100 Degrees F CloudCode Code for cloud cover or precipitation. Mountain Birdwatch 0 Clear or few clouds. Mountain Birdwatch 1 Partly cloudy/variable. Mountain Birdwatch 2 cloudy/overcast Mountain Birdwatch 3 Fog. Mountain Birdwatch 4 Drizzle Mountain Birdwatch 5 Showers. Mountain Birdwatch 6 Rain. Mountain Birdwatch WindCode Code for wind speed. Mountain Birdwatch Beaufort Wind Scale Unknown RoutePointNumber Number assigned to survey point (includes a unique RouteID number with a .01, .02, .03, .04, or .05 after it to signify which point along the route it is). Mountain Birdwatch 1 5 SpeciesCode Bird species. Mountain Birdwatch BITH Bicknell's Thrush Bird Banding Lab SWTH Swainson's Thrush Bird Banding Lab WIWR Winter Wren Bird Banding Lab BLPW Blackpoll Warbler Bird Banding Lab WTSP White-throated Sparrow Bird Banding Lab Time-Period Time period bird was detected. Mountain Birdwatch A 0 - 3 minutes. Mountain Birdwatch B 3 - 5 minutes. Mountain Birdwatch C 5 - 10 minutes. Mountain Birdwatch ObservationType Code for bird activity found. More than one code can be used. Mountain Birdwatch S Singing. Mountain Birdwatch C Calling. Mountain Birdwatch I Individual seen. Mountain Birdwatch D Drumming. Mountain Birdwatch F Family group. Mountain Birdwatch N Active nest. Mountain Birdwatch SurveyNotes Comments. none Text field. Occupancy Was a Bicknell's Thrush heard the night before the survey (visit 1), during the survey (visit 2), by playback (visit3), or on follow-up (visit 4)? Mountain Birdwatch Visit1Status BITH heard the night before the survey. Mountain Birdwatch 0 Surveyed and absent. Mountain Birdwatch 1 Surveyed and present. Mountain Birdwatch . (period) Not surveyed. Mountain Birdwatch Visit2Status BITH heard before or during the survey. Mountain Birdwatch 0 Surveyed and absent. Mountain Birdwatch 1 Surveyed and present. Mountain Birdwatch . (period) Not surveyed. Mountain Birdwatch Visit3Status BITH heard as a result of using playback. Mountain Birdwatch 0 Surveyed and absent. Mountain Birdwatch 1 Surveyed and present. Mountain Birdwatch . (period) Not surveyed. Mountain Birdwatch Visit4Status BITH heard during a follow-up visit. Mountain Birdwatch 0 Surveyed and absent. Mountain Birdwatch 1 Surveyed and present. Mountain Birdwatch . (period) Not surveyed. Mountain Birdwatch PlaybackData Mountain Birdwatch playback data variables. Mountain Birdwatch FirstName Observer first name. none First name of observer. LastName Observer last name. none Last name of observer. RouteName Name of route containing five survey points. Mountain Birdwatch Route name, usually the name of the mountain. Date Date of survey. none Month, day, and year. RoutePointNumber Number assigned to survey point (includes a unique RouteID number with a .01, .02, .03, .04, or .05 after it to signify which point along the route it is). Mountain Birdwatch 1.01 1021.05 PlaybackStartTime Time playback was used. Mountain Birdwatch 04:00 22:00 BITHresponse Type of response to playback. Mountain Birdwatch S Bird responded with song. Mountain Birdwatch C Bird responded with calls. Mountain Birdwatch I Individual was seen after playback. Mountain Birdwatch N No response to playback. Mountain Birdwatch NumberBITH Number of Bicknell's Thrushes responding to playback. Mountain Birdwatch 0 99 SurveyNotes Comments. none Text field. FollowupData Mountain Birdwatch followup data variables. Mountain Birdwatch FirstName Observer first name. none First name of observer. LastName Observer last name. none Last name of observer. RouteName Name of route containing five survey points. Mountain Birdwatch Route name, usually the name of the mountain. Date Date of survey. none Month, day, and year. SurveyStartTime Survey start time. none 04:00 21:15 FollowupEndTime End time of followup survey. none 04:00 21:15 Temperature Temperature during survey. none 0 100 Degrees F CloudCode Code for cloud cover or precipitation. Mountain Birdwatch 0 Clear or few clouds. Mountain Birdwatch 1 Partly cloudy/variable. Mountain Birdwatch 2 cloudy/overcast Mountain Birdwatch 3 Fog. Mountain Birdwatch 4 Drizzle Mountain Birdwatch 5 Showers. Mountain Birdwatch 6 Rain. Mountain Birdwatch WindCode Code for wind speed. Mountain Birdwatch Beaufort Wind Scale Unknown TotalPlaybacks Number of playbacks conducted. Mountain Birdwatch 0 15 NumberBITH Number of Bicknell's Thrushes responding to playback. Mountain Birdwatch 0 99 Mountain Birdwatch five species data variables include: FirstName, LastName, RouteName, Date, SurveyStartTime, CountLength, Temperature, CloudCode, WindCode, Occupancy, RoutePointNumber, SpeciesCode, TimePeriod, ObservationType, and SurveyNotes. Mountain Birdwatch all species data variables include: FirstName, LastName, RouteName, Date, SurveyStartTime, CountLength, Temperature, CloudCode, WindCode, Occupancy, RoutePointNumber, SpeciesCode, TimePeriod, ObservationType, DistanceEstimate, and SurveyNotes. Mountain Birdwatch playback data variables include: FirstName, LastName, RouteName, Date, RoutePointNumber, PlabyackStartTime, BITHresponse, NumberBITH, and SurveyNotes. Mountain Birdwatch followup data variables include: FirstName, LastName, RouteName, Date, SurveyStartTime, FollowupEndTime, Temperature, CloudCode, WindCode, TotalPlaybacks, and NumberBITH. Please contact the distributor for details. Julie Hart Vermont Center for EcoStudies Mountain Birdwatch Coordinator mailing

P.O. Box 420

Norwich VT 05055 USA physical

20 Palmer Court

White River Junction VT 05001 USA 802-649-1431 jhart@vtecostudies.org Mountain Birdwatch No warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the accuracy or utility of these data. website http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/mapsgis.html None Some data sets are available online at the Vermont Center for EcoStudies website. Requests for data should be made to the Mountain Birdwatch Coordinator. Data are also uploaded to the Avian Knowledge Network. See http://www.avianknowledge.net/ Please also refer to our Disclaimer and Data Release Policy: http://www.vtecostudies.org/MBW/datarelease.html Avian Knowledge Network, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Database Administrator mailing and physical

159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.

Ithaca NY 14850 USA Mountain Birdwatch These data are made available through the Avian Knowledge Network, a National Science Foundation funded project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Computer Science at Cornell University. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the accuracy or utility of these data. website http://www.avianknowledge.net/content/ http://www.avianknowledge.net/content/datasets None 20080117 Jim Lowe Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology mailing and physical

159 Sapsucker Woods Road

Ithaca NY 14850 USA 607-254-2413 JDL6@cornell.edu E-Mail is preferred FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001.1-1999