Type: report

Article abstract: During the 2020-2021 nonbreeding season, Vernadero Group Inc. (Vernadero) continued a multiyear study of the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica; CAGN). This study was initiated in 2016 by Hercules Joint Venture and continued by Vernadero in 2017 and 2019 (no study was conducted in 2018-2019) to determine the species’ winter home range and habitat use in and adjacent to areas of recently burned vegetation. The results of this study provide Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton with a better understanding of what habitats CAGN uses in the winter and how wintering CAGN respond to the mosaic of burned habitat on the Base. Information from this study will be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of management strategies for ecosystem recovery of burned habitats and the protection of CAGN habitats. This study had two main goals: • Determine the location and size of winter home ranges, corresponding vegetation associations, and habitat use across years. • Analyze home range and habitat use associated with burned and unburned areas.