7872 Fay Ranch Road
Weldon, California 93283
760.378.3345
ssrs@southernsierraresearch.org
Lower Colorado River Yellow-billed Cuckoo Project: 2008-2013
The Southern Sierra Research Station will be conducting comprehensive presence/absence surveys for Yellow-billed Cuckoos using call-playback (Halterman et al. 2007) on the Lower Colorado River in all potentially suitable habitat. Occupied and unoccupied habitat patches will be identified and characterized by measuring numerous vegetation and microclimate variables. We will locate nests, determine foraging habitat, monitor prey base, and test the current survey protocol. GIS and statistical modeling will be used to identify those microclimate and habitat elements necessary for cuckoo occupancy at both landscape and nest-site scales. These analyses may also help us identify key elements required for successful cuckoo reproduction and successful Yellow-billed Cuckoo habitat restoration projects. It will facilitate evaluating the success of current habitat restoration projects, selecting sites for future restoration efforts based on their probability of successfully attracting cuckoos, and provide guidelines to evaluate the success of future habitat restoration projects. This information will improve our capacity to manage this species.
