WESTERN YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO NEST SITE SELECTION IN THE SOUTH FORK KERN RIVER VALLEY

Patti J Wohner; Southern Sierra Research ; pjwohner.ssrs@gmail.com; Jenna E Stanek, Jenna Stanek

The western distinct population segment of the yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus, YBCU) has shown steady declines resulting in listing as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Although a recovery plan has not yet been developed, the proposed listing decision states that the main threats to YBCU is habitat loss and degradation. The once thriving South Fork Kern River Valley (KRV) population of YBCU has recently seen dramatic declines, possibly due to forest maturation and concomitant lack of early successional stage nesting habitat and prolonged drought. We received funding to enhance maturing riparian forest in the KRV and expect to continue managing for high quality habitat in the future. To provide guidelines for enhancing riparian forest for YBCU, we compared 11 years of historical (1985-1996) YBCU nest site vegetation data in the KRV (n = 95) with available vegetation data using logistic regression in a Bayesian framework. Selection analyses based on high quality sites elsewhere in the western United States have determined that nest site selection is positively correlated with medium sized trees (8-inch diameter at breast height) and willow density. YBCU selected similar nest site characteristics in the KRV and we will use results of this analysis to plan future restoration.

Endangered Species Recovery