CONTENTS

Current Research

Breeding bird distributions and terrestrial habitat patterns

The primary objective of this project is to examine and quantify the relationship between occurrences of breeding birds and landscape characteristics. The anticipated outcomes are (1) to have an improved understanding of correlations that exist between habitat variety (i.e., acreagesof habitat in different land cover types along breeding bird survey, BBS, routes or within a breeding bird survey atlas, BBA, block) and the variety of breeding birds associated with a BBS or a BBA, and (2) to clarify which metrics computed by Fragstats accurately reflects species richness or assemblages in different communities (i.e. counties). These data will provide us with insight concerning the scale at which it is most appropriate for land managers to focus their conservation efforts. In this manner, information about the kinds and proportions of land cover types that contribute to breeding bird species presence and diversity can provide guidance to managers of state lands in their efforts to maintain breeding bird species, or increase their numbers, in the context of adaptive resource management.

Using Conical Correspondence Analysis, we will examine the relationships between bird species richness and abundance and landscape patterns as described by metrics computed by Fragstats. These metrics will be generated from a detailed 30 meter minimum mapping unit land cover map of the HRV. Using BBS and BBA protocols, breeding bird information will be collected on the variety (species richness) and distributions of breeding birds in the Hudson River Valley study area (HRV). Units of assessment will be at two spatial scales, including corridors of one-half mile wide and 25 miles in length along BBS routes and BBA blocks that are approximately nine square miles in area.

This project is conducted in cooperation with the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and the New York State Department of Conservation, and is funded by the Hudson River Estuary Program.