ABSTRACT
The importance of breeding bird surveys (BBS) has been illustrated by the longevity of the North American BBS program as well as the number of research projects that focus on declining neotropical migrant populations being conducted both in North America and abroad. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, established a formal breeding bird survey in 1994 to integrate island population data with other studies being conducted in the region. This program has continued from 1995 to 2000 with the objective of determining the relative abundance and composition of the neotropical migrant community on Isle Royale. This single objective approach represents a shift in focus from the 1994 survey.
Point counts were conducted at Isle Royale NP from 12 June to 28 June 2000, using eight park trails as transects. A total of 129 points were surveyed. Species diversity values were calculated for each transect.
A total of 60 species and 1442 individuals were recorded. The number of species is average for Isle Royale, and the number of individuals is above the five year average (1996-2000) of 1358. Four species were present at all eight transects, eight species were present at seven transects, while 16 species were recorded at only one transect. Diversity values, by transect, ranged from 0.76 to 0.95 during the five minute counts. Altogether, Isle Royale has encouragingly high diversity. Albeit a small set of data, comparisons from 1996-2000 are discussed (although data collection began in 1994, 1996 was chosen as a beginning due to standardization of point-count locations in that year). Recommendations are made for 2001.
Alexander Egan
Biological Technician
Isle Royale National Park
Jack G. Oelfke
Branch Chief, Natural Resource Management
Isle Royale National Park
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