Transcript California Department of Fish and Game - CAL

California Department of Fish and Game
Black-backed
Woodpecker
Petition Evaluation
Petitioners:
John Muir Project of Earth Island
Institute & Center for Biological
Diversity
April 6, 2011
Placeholder
photo
Photo by permission:
L. A. Comrack
Petitioned Action:
List as Threatened or Endangered
The Department of Fish and Game has
determined the petition does not include
sufficient scientific information to indicate
that the petitioned action may be
warranted.
Life History: Key Findings
•Found only in North America:
Alaska to eastern Canada and NE
U.S., southernmost range is in
southern Sierra Nevada, California
•Elevational range: 4,000-10,200 ft
•Average life span unknown but
probably similar to closely related
species (6-8 years)
•Feeds primarily on wood-boring &
bark beetles
Life History: Key Findings,
continued
• Occurs in a variety of montane & boreal
coniferous forests
• Non-migratory but responsive to habitat
changes
• Burned coniferous forests provide habitat
necessary for survival
Habitat Necessary For Survival
• Found in live & dead
conifer forests
• Nesting & foraging
habitats similar
• Highest nesting &
foraging densities in
recently burned forests
(first 5-8 yrs)
nest
Photo by permission: L.A. Comrack
Habitat Necessary For Survival
• High snag densities
preferred
• High-intensity burns
preferred
• Insect-infested unburned
forests also used
• Found in green forest at
low densities
Photo by permission: Tom Grey
Black-backed Woodpecker Food
Unburned Habitat Questions
• Population density
• Nest density
• Relative importance
of forest types
• Importance of insectinfested forests
• Implications to
statewide population
Photo by permission: Kathryn Purcell
Genetic Sampling in Range of
Black-backed Woodpecker
Historic & Current Distribution
CA Abundance & Population Trend:
Key Findings
•Historical record: “scarce” “rare” “locally
common”
•Current status: no comprehensive
abundance data for CA; petition relied on
habitat modeling for population estimate
•Standard monitoring programs are
inadequate to detect Black-backed
Woodpeckers
•USFS currently monitoring woodpecker
as Management Indicator Species (burned
forest)
Photo by permission: L.A. Comrack
Threats
• Salvage logging (reduces snag density)
• Fire suppression (i.e. reduced availability of
burned forests)
• Pre-fire fuel reduction treatments / timber
harvest
• Climate change (i.e. reduced availability of burned
forests)
Suggestions for Future
Management
The Department generally agrees that the
Petitioners’ management suggestions would
benefit Black-backed Woodpecker. These are:
• Establishment of large protection zones in burned areas
free from salvage logging
• Retain nests in timber harvest areas
• Retain some patches of dense snags and conifer
mortality in green forests
• Limit fuel reduction projects only to areas near homes
and structures
• Prohibit insecticide use within woodpecker range and
habitat
Conclusions
• No change in CA range
• CA population trend unknown
• Burned conifer forest is an
important habitat to the
species in CA
• Importance of un-burned
forests to population size &
stability unknown
Photo by permission: L.A. Comrack
Final Considerations
Endangered Species: A native species which
is in serious danger of becoming extinct.
Threatened Species: A native species that,
although not presently threatened with
extinction, is likely to become an endangered
species in the foreseeable future in the absence
of special protection and management efforts.
The Department of Fish and Game has
determined the petition does not include
sufficient scientific information to indicate that
the petitioned action may be warranted.
Questions?
Direction to Department?