Bird Community Monitoring

A green jay perched on a branch. This species is seen at Palo Alto Battlefield NHP.

NPS/Billy Finney

The Gulf Coast is a major flyway, breeding area, and over-wintering area for many North American birds. This high avian diversity is an important attraction for visitors to the region's national parks.

The main reasons for monitoring landbirds in Gulf Coast Network parks are:

1. Many species found in the parks are protected by the Endangered Species Act (1973) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act .
2. Some landbird species are specifically identified in the management objectives of the parks.
3. Landbirds are considered to be indicators of broader change because they respond quickly to changes in natural resource conditions.
4. Similar regional and national datasets of landbird populations exist for areas adjacent to the parks.

The background, rationale and procedures for breeding landbird monitoring by the network are described in a protocol narrative and 7 standard operating procedure (SOP) documents. The protocol is titled "Monitoring Breeding Landbirds in National Parks of the Gulf Coast Network." It was published in the NPS Natural Resource Report Series in late 2018, and it is available to the public through the links posted further below.

A summary of the vital sign and monitoring approach can be found in the 2-page brief: Breeding Landbird Monitoring Program Summary.

The network's approach to monitoring breeding landbirds focuses on a subset of the bird species that use Gulf Coast Network parks. To learn about all of the bird species in network parks, see our park-specific inventory reports and species lists for birds.

Landbird Community Monitoring is conducted at:

• Big Thicket National Preserve (BITH)
• Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS)
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (JELA)
• Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (PAAL)
• San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (SAAN)
• Vicksburg National Military Park (VICK)

The Natchez Trace Parkway (NATR) is not monitored as part of this protocol but it is covered by a North American Breeding Bird Survey Route. Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) and the island units of GUIS are also not monitored as part of this protocol because they are barrier islands with relatively few breeding landbirds. 

Indicator Species

ˈindəˌkādər/
noun: indicator species; plural noun: indicator species
An animal or plant species that can be used to infer conditions in a particular habitat.

Landbird Monitoring Project Documents and Data

Source: Data Store Saved Search 3497. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Breeding Landbird Monitoring Pilot Study: 2010-2018

Source: Data Store Saved Search 1239. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

The red-winged blackbird is a common landbird species that breeds in several Gulf Coast Network parks

Photo by Chris Adams

An adult summer tanager (left) and an immature summer tanager (right). This species breeds in some Gulf Coast Network parks, including Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, and Vicksburg National Military Park

left photo credit: Billy Finney/NPS; right photo credit: Chris Adams

White-eyed vireos are known to occur and breed in most Gulf Coast Network parks.

Billy Finney/NPS