Breeding Landbird Monitoring Northeast Temperate Network 2008 Annual Report

The Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) of the National Park Service is tasked with monitoring a suite of representative indicators, called vital signs, of natural resource condition for 12 parks in seven northeastern states and the Appalachian NST. This report summarizes data collected in 2007 and 2008.

This protocol has been developed for long-term monitoring of forest and grassland breeding landbird populations within the National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) as part of the Inventory & Monitoring Program (IM). NETN consists of 13 parks, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA). Excluding APPA, the parks total approximately 18,500 ha, with diverse cultural and natural resources. They range in size from just 4 ha at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (SAIR), located near densely populated Boston, Massachusetts, to over 15,800 ha at Maine's Acadia National Park (ACAD).

This protocol has been developed for long-term monitoring of forest breeding bird populations within the National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) as part of the Inventory & Monitoring Program (IM). NETN consists of 13 parks, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA). Excluding APPA, the parks total approximately 18,500 ha, with diverse cultural and natural resources. They range in size from just 4 ha at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (SAIR), located near densely populated Boston, Massachusetts, to over 15,800 ha at Maine's Acadia National Park (ACAD).

This protocol has been developed for long-term monitoring of forest breeding bird populations within the National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) as part of the Inventory & Monitoring Program (IM). NETN consists of 13 parks, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA). Excluding APPA, the parks total approximately 18,500 ha, with diverse cultural and natural resources. They range in size from just 4 ha at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (SAIR), located near densely populated Boston, Massachusetts, to over 15,800 ha at Maine's Acadia National Park (ACAD).

The National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) is tasked with monitoring a suite of representative natural resource indicators, called vital signs, for 12 parks in seven northeastern states plus the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA). Breeding birds were chosen as one of the NETN vital signs because they are a reliable indicator of ecological integrity and they are a high profile taxonomic group. Many bird species are easily detected and identified, and well-established survey methods are available. This report covers breeding landbird monitoring in 11 of the NETN parks. This report summarizes data collected from 2006 through 2011.

As part of the Natural Resource Challenge (NPS 1999), the Mid-Atlantic Network (MIDN) has been tasked with monitoring “vital signs,” a suit of physical, chemical, or biological elements or processes that represent the overall health or condition of the network parks' natural resources. Breeding birds have been selected as one of the Mid-Atlantic Network's vital signs because they are highly visible, are a reliable indicator of ecological integrity, and face numerous population threats in the region (Comiskey and Callahan 2008).