Jerome J. Lorenz Robert E. Bennetts Unpublished Material http://sofia.usgs.gov/projects/spoonbill/ The primary objectives of our research are to (1) quantify the changes in spatial distribution and success of nesting spoonbills relative to hydrologic patterns, (2) test hypotheses about the causal mechanisms for observed changes, (3) establish a science-based criteria for nesting distribution and success to be used as a performance measure for hydrologic restoration, and (4) estimate demographic parameters. To meet these objectives, we will use a combined field/modeling approach. Based on previous and concurrent research, hypothesized relationships between hydrology, fish populations, and spoonbill nesting distribution and success will be expressed in a simple, but spatially explicit, conceptual model. Field data will be collected and compared with predicted responses to monitor changes in spoonbill nesting as hydrologic restoration is implemented, and to test the hypothesized mechanisms for observed changes. Variation of hydrologic conditions among years and locations is a virtual certainty; thus we will treat this variation in a quasi-experimental framework where the variation in wet and dry season conditions constitutes a series of "natural experiments". Our project is designed to evaluate the effect of hydrologic restoration on the nesting distribution and success of Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaia) in Florida Bay and surrounding mangrove estuarine habitats. This project is further designed to test hypotheses about the causal mechanisms of observed changes. The Everglades ecosystem has suffered extensive degradation over the past century, including an 85-90% decrease in the numbers of wading birds. Previous monitoring of Roseate Spoonbills in Florida Bay over the past 50 years has shown that this species responds markedly to changes in hydrology and corresponding changes in prey abundance and availability. Shifts in nesting distribution and declines in nest success have been attributed to declines in prey populations as a direct result of water management. Consequently, the re-establishment of spoonbill colonies in northeast Florida Bay is one change predicted under a conceptual model of the mangrove estuarine transition zone of Florida Bay. Changes in nesting distribution and success will further be used as a performance measure for success of restoration efforts and will be incorporated in a model linking mangrove fish populations and spoonbills to alternative hydrologic scenarios. 20021001 20050930 ground condition Complete None planned Greater Everglades -81.25 -80.375 25.375 24.875 none biology model monitoring ATLSS avian ecology ecology ISO 19115 Topic Category biota inlandWaters environment 002 007 012 Department of Commerce, 1995, Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 10-4, Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology United States US U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, D. C., NIST Florida FL Department of Commerce, 1990, Counties and Equivalent Entities of the United States, Its Possessions, and Associated Areas, FIPS 6-3, Washington, DC, National Institute of Standards and Technology Monroe County Miami-Dade County none Central Everglades USGS Geographic Names Information System Florida Bay Tampa Bay ITIS Roseate Spoonbills wading birds U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (ARS) U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Department of the Interior - U.S. Geological Survey Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smithsonian Institution - National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) 2000 Database Retrieved from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, http://www.itis.gov. http://www.itis.gov All islands previously reported to have spoonbill colonies will be surveyed at least twice during the nesting season and the number of spoonbill nests counted. Colonies will be grouped into five subregions based on proximal foraging location for each. The two largest colonies within each of five subregions will be used to estimate nesting success for each group. Kingdom Animalia animals Phylum Chordata chordates Subphylum Vertebrata vertebrates Class Aves birds Order Ciconiiformes ibises Family Threskiornithidae ibises spoonbills Genus Ajaia american spoonbills Species Ajaia ajaia roseate spoonbills none These data are subject to change and are not citeable until reviewed and approved for official publication. Jerome J. Lorenz National Audubon Society mailing and physical address

Tavernier Science Center 115 Indian Mound Trail

Tavernier FL 33070 USA 305 852-5092 305 852-8012 jlorenz@audubon.org not applicable not available Field Visits to all possible spoonbill colonies to get an accurate nest count for Florida Bay. Look for new nesting sites during traverses of Florida Bay. Estimation of nesting success using the two largest colonies of each colony group. Flight line counts will be made at the two largest colonies in each colony group. Nestlings will banded with both USFWS and individually-numbered PVC bands between 7 and 14 days of age. Resighting of banded nestlings in FY 2003 is planned to occur just prior to dispersal to enable estimation of survival. We conducted a pilot investigation to refine our methods and to establish protocols. Preliminary surveys were conducted at all colonies in Florida Bay. A sample of nests (n=116) were monitored, and we banded a total of 25 chicks. An additional 162 chicks were banded at Tampa Bay for: (1) comparison to Florida Bay, (2) to establish whether linkages exist between Florida and Tampa Bay populations, and (3) to refine our marking protocols. No funding was available for work on Limpkins in FY 2003. 2003 Estimate numbers, distribution, and success of nesting Roseate Spoonbills All islands previously reported to have spoonbill colonies will be surveyed at least twice during the nesting season and the number of spoonbill nests counted. Colonies will be grouped into five subregions based on proximal foraging location for each. The two largest colonies within each of five subregions will be used to estimate nesting success for each group. Work planned for FY2004-05 includes: 1. Spoonbill nests are generally located in dense red mangrove stands and are not generally visible from outside the colony. Therefore, all possible colonies locations must be visited by researchers in order to get an accurate nest count for Florida Bay. While traversing Florida Bay by boat, locations of Roseate Spoonbill activity will be investigated for new nesting sites. 2. The two largest colonies within each colony group will be used to estimate nesting success for each group. Survey transects will be established in each of these colonies so that representative samples of nests can be monitored. Each colony will be visited approximately every ten days and the contents of each nest were recorded. 2005 Assessment of foraging location In order to use nesting effort and nest success as criteria for ecosystem evaluation, the location of primary foraging grounds must be known for each colony group. This enables predictions about the response of mangrove fishes and nesting spoonbills to be directly evaluated in relation to hydrologic conditions relevant to a particular colony. Work planned for FY2004-05 includes: 1. Flight line counts will be made at the two largest colonies in each colony group. Initially, the colony island will be circumnavigated by boat in order to determine the least number of positions needed to observe birds arriving and leaving the colony from any direction. Once identified, the boat will be anchored at each position for a predetermined amount of time and the number and direction (compass heading) of Roseate Spoonbills arriving and leaving the colony counted. The results of these observation will indicate the direction of the primary foraging grounds for the colony groups. 2. Although the flight line count technique is widely accepted in the study of wading bird foraging pattern, supplemental data from following flights would greatly increase the credibility of these observations and enable specific foraging destinations to be determined. Individual birds will be followed using a fixed-wing aircraft from their nesting colonies to the first foraging location 2005 Estimation of demographic parameters Nesting activity for Roseate Spoonbills has been monitored since 1950; however, there has been no effort to date to directly relate demography and environmental conditions, with the exception of nesting success. Direct estimation of demographic parameters would enable us to better understand the demographic mechanisms of observed responses by spoonbills (e.g., to distinguish numerical from behavioral responses). Consequently, we will use capture-resighting to estimate (1) survival of nestlings from branching until fledging, (2) survival of juveniles and adults, (3) recruitment into the breeding population, and (4) breeding dispersal. Work planned for FY 2004-05 includes: 1.Nestlings would be banded with both USFWS and individually-numbered PVC bands between the ages of 7-14 days. This would be concurrent with nest checks used to determine nesting success. 2. Resighting of banded nestlings during FY2003 would occur just prior to dispersal to enable estimation of survival from the time of branching to the time of dispersal. In subsequent years, resightings of adults will also occur at the nest and during staging just prior to nest initiation. 2005 Conceptual model of spoonbill/fish/hydrology Based on previous research, an initial conceptual model will be developed that summarizes the relationship among the distribution and success of nesting spoonbills, the abundance and availability of mangrove fishes, and hydrology. This model should enable predictions about how nesting spoonbills and fishes should respond to a given set of hydrologic conditions. As such, the data collected during this study will constitutes a validation of the initial conceptual model. The validation process, then also serves as a mechanism by which this initial model can be refined. Work planned for FY 2003-04 includes: 1.Synthesis of existing research on the relationship between water levels, mangrove fishes, and the distribution and success of nesting spoonbills. Expression of these relationships in terms of hypotheses regarding wet and dry season water levels and the response by fishes and spoonbills. Establishment of preliminary quantitative relationship among relevant parameters which enable predictions of hypothesized relationships. 2. Collaboration with ATLSS modeling team to formalize the conceptual model into a preliminary working model that can be used to compare hypothesized and observed responses to hydrologic variation. 2005 Jerome J. Lorenz National Audubon Society mailing and physical address

Tavernier Science Center 115 Indian Mound Trail

Tavernier FL 33070 USA 305 852-5092 305 852-8012 jlorenz@audubon.org Florida Bay Jerome J. Lorenz National Audubon Society mailing and physical address

Tavernier Science Center 115 Indian Mound Trail

Tavernier FL 33070 USA 305 852-5092 305 852-8012 jlorenz@audubon.org Roseate Spoonbill nesting in Florida Bay No warrantees are implied or explicit for the data Contact Jerome Lorenz for information about data from this project. none 20061025 Heather Henkel U.S. Geological Survey mailing and physical address

600 Fourth Street South

St. Petersburg FL 33701 USA 727 803-8747 ext 3028 727 803-2030 sofia-metadata@usgs.gov Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Part 1:Biological Dta Profile FGDC-STD-001.1-1999