A relatively high number of birds were counted along the BBS
routes at the INL in 2005. Species closely associated with
shrub-steppe/grassland habitats were detected in the greatest
numbers. Horned larks continue to be observed in record numbers,
boosting the overall total of birds considerably. Tractor flats
and MFC had the highest density of birds with 33.3 per km˛ and
101 per km˛ respectively. Numbers at MFC were inflated due to
the abundance of Franklin’s gulls frequenting the area. The
total number of species recorded during 2005 is the highest
number since the counts began in 1985. Although, three species
were recorded for the first time during the breeding bird survey
(American white pelican, rough-legged hawk, and canvasback), it
is doubtful that they were breeding individuals.
These annual surveys provide valuable long-term data for land
managers to allow them to determine impacts of activities
conducted at the INL and surrounding areas on breeding bird
populations. Factors that may affect a population range from
natural events, such as drought and wildfires, to non-natural
events such as the removal of resources through development or
chemical application. These data also contributes to a
nationwide database of bird population trends that is used by
state and federal agencies.
Anderson, J.E.,
K.T. Ruppel, J.M. Glennon, K.E. Holte, and R.C. Rope. 1996.
Plant communities, ethnoecology, and flora of the Idaho National
Engineering Laboratory. ESRF-005, Environmental Science and
Research Foundation, Idaho Falls.
Belthoff, J.R.,
and E.A. Ellsworth. 1996. 1996 Breeding bird surveys at the
Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Unpubl. Tech. Rept.,
Environmental Science and Research Foundation, Idaho Falls,
Idaho.
Belthoff, J.R.,
and E.A. Ellsworth. 1999. 1999 Breeding bird surveys at the
Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Unpubl. Tech. Rept.,
Environmental Science and Research Foundation, Idaho Falls,
Idaho.
Belthoff, J.R.,
and E.A. Ellsworth. 2000. 2000 Breeding bird surveys at the
Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Unpubl. Tech. Rept.,
Environmental Science and Research Foundation, Idaho Falls,
Idaho.
Belthoff, J.R.,
L.R. Powers, and T.D. Reynolds. 1998. Breeding birds at the
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, 1985 –
1991. Great Basin Naturalist. 58:167-183.
Ellsworth, E.A.
2001. 2001 Breeding bird surveys at the Idaho National
Engineering Laboratory. Unpubl. Tech. Rept., S.M. Stoller Corp.,
Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Sauer, J. R.,
J. E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2003. The North American Breeding
Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2002. Version 2003.1,
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD
Short, H.L.
1986. Rangelands. Pages 93-122 in A.Y. Cooperrider, R.J. Boyd,
and H.R. Stuart, eds., Inventory and monitoring of wildlife
habitat. U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management
Service Center, Denver, Colorado.
United States
Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Laurel, MD,
USA, 2001. BBS data. Accessed May 05, 2005
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/index.html
United States
Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 2001.
Instructions for Conducting the North American Breeding Bird
Survey. Rev. 990920.
