A BIOLOGICAL INVENTORY OF BREEDING BIRDS
AT THE SAINT-GAUDENS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
CORNISH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR—2005/006

Steven D. Faccio

Conservation Biology Department
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
27023 Church Hill Road
Woodstock, Vermont 05091

September 2003

U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Northeast Region
Inventory & Monitoring Program
Northeast Temperate Network
Woodstock, Vermont

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Abstract

The 148-acre Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site was established in 1964 to preserve the properties associated with the life and cultural achievements of American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. A biological inventory of the breeding birds within the park was conducted in 2001 and 2002. A variety of field techniques were used to document the composition and distribution of birds in the park. A total of 85 bird species were detected during the 2-year project, 62 of which were confirmed or suspected of breeding within the park, 21 were considered local breeders that may nest occasionally or in the future on park lands, while 2 species were strictly transients. Of the 91 species expected to be found breeding in the park 76 (83.5%) were observed. Nineteen of the detected species (22%) appear either on the Partners in Flight (PIF) priority list for the Northern New England Region, or on the New Hampshire list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.

During point count surveys, 59 species were detected, with an interpolated species richness of 64 (±3.16 SE). Nine species were detected at >50% of the survey points, including 3 (33%) listed by PIF as high conservation priorities for the Northern New England Region (Ovenbird, Blackburnian Warbler, and Veery). Additional PIF high priority species considered common within SAGA forests include Wood Thrush and Eastern Wood-Pewee. Chestnut-sided Warbler, another PIF high priority species, was a dominant passerine in the park’s alder shrub-wetland. Broods of both Hooded Merganser and Wood Duck were confirmed on Blow-me-down Pond, although it did not appear that they used the nest boxes placed there. Management recommendations for SAGA include maintaining and/or enhancing mid-aged to mature forest conditions, and continuing the invasive, exotic plant control program. These goals will benefit the suites of species that are among the most frequently encountered and abundant, and also contains the majority of conservation priority species for the region.

Recommendations for grassy areas include a delayed mowing regime to maintain the adjacent population of nesting Bobolink, and establishing Eastern Bluebird and American Kestrel nest boxes or appropriate snags to provide these species with potential nesting opportunities. Since the majority of conservation priority species breeding at SAGA are forest-breeding landbirds, a monitoring program for the park should target this group as a representative sample. However, since point count surveys limited to the park would have extremely low power to detect trends, developing a network of monitoring sites in the area is recommended.

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