Bird Conservation and Research in the Colorado River Delta

SONORAN JOINT VENTUREBi-national Bird Conservation

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

70019

50

1953

1956

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

Year

Mm

3

Flows to the Colorado River Delta 1950-2000

Bird Projects in the Colorado River Delta

• Population trends and habitat affinities of marshbirds

• Migration patterns of Neotropical Migratory Landbirds

• Avian response to habitat regeneration and instream flows

Bird Projects in the Colorado River Delta

• Productivity and survivorship of riparian songbirds

• Abundance and habitat affinities of Burrowing Owls

• Effect of contaminants on the avifauna of the delta

Population Trends of Marshbirds

• Call-response surveys for Yuma Clapper Rails and California Black Rails

• 20 routes; 100 point counts

• Two times per year: March and May since 1999

Monitoring Rails

• Long-term project

• Assess changes in population abundance of Rails and provide information for their conservation

• Community involvement

• Guide management activities of the Biosphere Reserve

• Evaluate restoration projects

Training Workshop for Monitoring Marshbirds in NW Mexico – March 21-23, 2003

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Rails per station

Lineal (Rails perstation)

Population trend at the Ciénega 1999-2003

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Rails per station

Yuma Clapper Rails at Rio Hardy

4 0 4 8 Kilometers

StreamsLeveesMosqueda restoration siteProposed restoration site

Rio Hardy

Rio Colorado

Campo Mosqueda

"El Tapon"Proyecto de Restauracion

Arizona

San LuisRio Colorado

Sonora

Baja California

Cienega deSanta Clara

Upper Gulfof California

SonoraBaja

California

ArizonaCalifornia

La Mariana /MosquedaSitio de Restauracion

Area de Restauracion de este proyecto

Sitio de Restacion previo-La MarianaBordos de Contencion del Rio

Rios

Neotropical Migratory Landbirds

The delta as an important stopover and breeding site for migratory landbirds

Two banding protocols: migration and MAPS

Banding at El Doctor and the Colorado River

Stopover sites in Coastal Sonora

%

#

#

#

#

# #

Hermosillo

Puerto Penasco

El Doctor

Rio Sonora

Rio Yaqui

Guaymas

50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 Kilometers

N

EW

S

SONORA

Bahia Kino

#

#

Survey zones for willow flycatchers

Survey zones where willow flycatchers were detected

ARIZONA

SINALOA

CHIHUAHUA

BAJACALIFORNIA

Results

• Over 2.600 birds captured and processed in 2 years

• 58 species

• Average capture rate: 1.21 birds per net-hour

• Maximum birds in one day: 280 (May 8, 2003)

Results

• Data to understand patterns of migration through the Sonoran coast

• Document the importance of stopover sites along the desert and coastal areas

• Contribute to the understanding of migratory routes on western NA

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

April 1-10 April 11-20 April 21-30 May 1-10 May 11-20 May 21-31 June 1-10 June 11-20

Birds per net-hour at El Doctor

Species Fat = 0 Fat < 5% Fat < 30%

SWTH 8.21 42.31 81.34

WEFL 23.89 60.32 79.14

WIWA 16.25 56.45 75.00

WIFL 25.34 81.81 95.45

WETA 5.87 38.23 76.47

YWAR 20.68 63.11 79.56

WAVI 12.44 40.12 69.23

All 16.10 54.62 79.46

Fat levels

Avian response to habitat regeneration and instream flows

30 transects, 240 point counts along the Colorado River floodplain

From San Luis, downstream to confluence with Rio Hardy and Ayala Drain

Monthly surveys, since May 2002

Burrowing Owls in the Delta

• Estimate abundance (distance sampling) and determine habitat affinities (GIS and remote sensing)

• Results: very abundant!• 3,818 BUOW’s (95% C.I. 3351 – 4350)

• Strong preference for agricultural areas and agricultural drains

Lagunas

Humedales

Ciudades

Rios

Limite internacional

Carreteras

Bordo

Leyenda

0 - 0.005

0.005 - 0.066

0.066 - 0.127

0.127 - 0.189

0.189 - 0.25

0.25 - 0.306

Densidad de Tecolotes/ha

5 0 5 10 Kilometros

N

LagunaSalada

Cienega deSanta Clara

San LuisRio Colorado

Sonora

Mexicali

BajaCalifornia

California

Arizona

#Rio Hardy

#

RioColorado

Conservation and Restoration Projects

Restoration at Colorado and Hardy Rivers: Partnerships with tourist camps…

…partnerships with native tribes…

…partnerships with ejidos…

…and partnerships with agencies…

Bird Conservation in the Delta

• Bird Conservation Plan for the Colorado River Delta

• Workshop for Conservation Priorities in the Delta

• Management Guidelines for the Colorado Floodplain

• Master Restoration Plan for the Delta

Next steps

• Long term monitoring

• Binational management of the watershed; environmental considerations for water management

• Increase restoration and conservation efforts

• Purchase water rights to maintain a modest instream flow