Northern Region Landbird Monitoring Program: A Program Designed to Monitor More than Long-term Population Trends

The Northern Region Landbird Monitoring Program (NRLMP) has been in place for nearly a decade and is designed to allow us to track population trends of numerous landbird species, while at the same time allowing us to investigate the effects of various kinds of land use activity on the occurrence, abundance, or demographics of numerous landbird species. We conduct pointcount bird surveys biennially at about 350 permanently marked 10-point roadside transects that have been positioned in a geographically stratified fashion throughout USFS lands in northern Idaho and Montana. On alternate years we conduct more focused land-use effects studies entailing the use of replicated treatment and control plots. Habitat relationships derived from the combination of bird and vegetation information surrounding the permanently marked points and from the short-term, management-oriented monitoring protocol have generated the most support for the monitoring program within the USFS. Generating financial support from potential partners has been the most difficult obstacle to expansion beyond USFS lands, but many of those who were resistant early on are beginning to realize the power of birds as monitoring tools, and are starting to join forces to develop a more comprehensive statewide monitoring plan.