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powerpoint presentation 2022
2021 Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) Surveys Across Western San Diego County
Lead author: Loren Merrill
Presentation at the March 23, 2022 SDMMP Management and Monitoring Coordination Meeting.

protocol 2021
San Diego County 2021 Northern Harrier Surveys: Breeding Surveys and Habitat and Threat Assessments
Lead author: Loren Merrill
This survey protocol outlines the methods for conducting NOHA surveys across San Diego County between April and July, 2021. A team of two surveyors will collect data using two different software packages-Fulcrum and Collector. All point data will be collected in Fulcrum and all polygon data will be collected in Collector. Please remain on trails and roads when on conserved lands.

recording 2022
Recording - March 2022 SDMMP Management and Monitoring Coordination Meeting
Lead author: Andrew Fisher
Recording from the March 23, 2022 SDMMP Management and Monitoring Coordination Meeting. Presentations from Andrew Fisher (AECOM) and Loren Merrill (AECOM) on Tricolor Blackbird and Northern Harrier Surveys.

report 2017
California Least Tern Breeding Survey 2016 Survey
Lead author: Nancy Frost
Monitoring to document breeding success of California least terns (Sternula antillarum browni) continued in 2016, with observers at 42 nesting sites providing data. An estimated 3989-4661 California least tern breeding pairs established 4746 nests and produced 1612-2000 fledglings at 50 documented locations across California. The fledgling to breeding pair ratio was 0.35 to 0.50. Statewide, 7891 eggs were reported, with a Statewide clutch size of 1.37 eggs (St Dev = 0.64) for Type 1 sites where monitors walk within the colony. Numbers of nesting least terns were not uniformly distributed across all sites. Camp Pendleton, Naval Base Coronado, Batiquitos, Point Mugu, Huntington, and Alameda Point each had over 300 minimum breeding pairs, which represented 72% of the state total, and produced 63% of the state’s fledglings. Sites with greater than 35 fledglings each (the five aforementioned sites plus Hayward, LA Harbor, Huntingon, Bolsa Chica, and Oceano Dunes) contributed 88% of the state’s fledgling production. Least tern mortality due to non-predation factors was greater than mortality due to predation in 2016. Of non-predation egg mortality events, the highest cause of failure was attributed to abandonment prior to the expected hatching date and abandonment post-term. The 2016 statewide non-predation chick mortality rate was 29%, higher than that in 2015. The number of fledglings and adults that died in 2016 due to non-predation factors was similar to that in 2015. The predators known to be responsible for the greatest number of depredated least terns in 2016 were peregrine falcons, rats, common ravens, northern harriers, and coyotes. The monitoring effort of 2016 is scheduled to continue in 2017.

report 2005
Final Report - NCCP/MSCP Raptor Monitoring Project (January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2003)
Monitoring of raptors is a critical component of the MSCP. This project, specifically, addresses monitoring the raptor species identified as target species for MSCP monitoring with one exception--the Burrowing Owl (BO; Athene cunicularia hypugaea). In addition to the Burrowing Owl, the MSCP Biological Monitoring Plan (Ogden, 1996) identified the following raptor species (hereafter referred to as the “target” species) to be monitored: Golden Eagle (GE; Aquila chrysaetos), Bald Eagle (BE; Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Peregrine Falcon (PF; Falco peregrinus), Northern Harrier (NH; Circus cyaneus), Ferruginous Hawk (FH; Buteo regalis), Swainson’s Hawk (SH; Buteo swainsoni), and Cooper’s Hawk (CH; Accipiter cooperii). Prior to the subject work, no comprehensive study had been conducted for any of these species, within the geographical limits of the MSCP. The original project objectives (taken from the contract's scope of work) are as follows: -Determine where breeding and wintering individuals (of the target species) are located within the study areas. -Wherever possible, document the breeding success of active pairs. -Characterize situations of both successful and less successful or unsuccessful habitat. -Identify, modify, or create, if necessary, survey raptor monitoring methods, based on scientific principles that would be appropriate to meet the objectives of the MSCP Monitoring Plan. -Identify management, including research, needs and enhancement opportunities.

report 2022
Summary of 2021 SDMMP NOHA Surveys
Between April 25, 2021 and July 27, 2021 AECOM biologists conducted northern harrier visual surveys and habitat assessments at 27 survey areas in western San Diego County (see GIS data submitted under separate cover). This document summarizes the results from those surveys.

report 2015
California least Tern Breeding Survey 2014 Season
Lead author: Nancy Frost
Monitoring to document breeding success of California least terns (Sternula antillarum browni) continued in 2014, with observers at 41 nesting sites providing data. An estimated 4232-5786 California least tern breeding pairs established 6038 nests and produced 2136-2859 fledglings at 48 documented locations across California. The fledgling to breeding pair ratio was 0.37 to 0.68. Statewide, 10,827 eggs were reported, with a Site Mean clutch size of 1.7 eggs per nest (St Dev=0.29) and a Statewide clutch size of 1.8 eggs (St Dev = 0.45) for Type 1 sites where monitors walk within the colony. Numbers of nesting least terns were not uniformly distributed across all sites. Camp Pendleton, Naval Base Coronado, Huntington Beach, Point Mugu, and Batiquitos Lagoon represented 60% of the breeding pairs. Fledgling numbers were also unevenly distributed as the sites with at least 90 fledglings each (Camp Pendleton, Alameda, Batiquitos, Huntington Beach, Point Mugu, Naval Base Coronado, and Hayward), contributed 74% of the state’s production, and the sites with greater than 35 fledglings each (including the seven aforementioned sites plus Bolsa Chica, Venice Beach, Mariner’s Point, Napa Sonoma Marsh, and Oceano Dunes), contributed 90% of the state’s production. The 2014 statewide nonpredation chick mortality rate was 20%, similar to that in 2013 (22%). With the exceptions of Camp Pendleton and Naval Base Coronado, the larger nesting colonies experienced nonpredation chick mortality rates less than the average, similar to that documented in 2013. The predators known to be responsible for the greatest number of depredated least terns in 2014 were common ravens (Corvus corax), followed by American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), coyotes (Canis latrans), gull species, western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta), unknown species, corvid species, raptor species, great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), northern harriers (Circus cyaneus), opossums (Didelphis virginiana), unknown avian species, and American kestrels (Falco sparverius). The monitoring effort of 2014 is scheduled to continue in 2015.

report 2013
CALIFORNIA LEAST TERN BREEDING SURVEY 2012 Season
Lead author: Nancy Frost
Monitoring to document breeding success of California least terns (Sternula antillarum browni) continued in 2012, with observers at 41 nesting sites providing data. An estimated 4293-6421 California least tern breeding pairs established 6636 nests and produced 557-628 fledglings at 49 documented locations. The fledgling to breeding pair ratio was 0.09 to 0.15. Statewide, 11,036 eggs were reported, with a Site Mean clutch size of 1.66 eggs per nest (St Dev = 0.134) and a Statewide clutch size of 1.65 eggs (St Dev = 0.492) for Type 1 sites. Numbers of nesting least terns were not uniformly distributed across all sites. Naval Base Coronado, Point Mugu, Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve, Camp Pendleton, Huntington State Beach, and Alameda Point represented 74% of the breeding pairs. Fledgling numbers were also unevenly distributed as the two sites with at least 90 fledglings each (Hayward and Huntington State Beach) contributed 38% of the state’s production, and the five sites with greater than 35 fledglings each (Hayward, Huntington State Beach, Oceano Dunes, Seal Beach, and Lindbergh Field) contributed 59% of the state’s production. The 2012 chick mortality rate was 49%, continuing the upward trend observed in the previous four years. With the exception of Batiquitos Lagoon and Camp Pendleton, the larger nesting colonies experienced chick mortality rates less than the average, which is opposite that documented in 2011. The most commonly-reported possible, suspected, or documented predators were common ravens (Corvus corax), American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), peregrine falcon (Falco sparverius), great-blue herons (Ardea herodias), American kestrels (Falco sparverius), and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis). The predators known to be responsible for the greatest number of depredated least terns in 2012 were American kestrel, coyote (Canis latrans), common raven, American crow, unknown avian species, unknown gull species, gull-billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), red-tailed hawk, peregrine falcon, and northern harrier (Circus cyaneus). The monitoring effort of 2012 is scheduled to continue in 2013.