Contacts - Northern Spotted Owl Module
Monitoring Module Lead
The module lead for northern spotted owl monitoring is Raymond Davis, biologist with the US Forest Service. His office is located in the Pacific Northwest Research Station's Forestry Sciences Lab in Corvallis, Oregon. Ray is the principal contact for the northern spotted owl monitoring program and may be reached via phone at 541-750-7179 or via e-mail at rjdavis@fs.fed.us.
Population Monitoring
Under the plan, the owl population is monitored by conducting annual surveys in eight federal demographic study areas. A meta-analysis of this data is conducted every five years to determine the occupancy, survival, and reproductive success of the marked owls inhabiting these study areas, with inference to federal lands within the owl's range. The population monitoring principle investigators are:
- Eric Forsman, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, OR
- Katie Dugger, Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Corvallis, OR
- Alan Franklin, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, CO
The demographic study area survey crew leaders are:
- Olympic Peninsula Study Area
- Brian Biswell, US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Olympia, WA
- Scott Gremel, National Park Service, Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, WA
- Cle Elum Study Area
- Stan Sovern, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
- H.J. Andrews Study Area
- Steve Ackers, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
- North Coast Study Area
- Jim Swingle, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
- Tyee Study Area
- Janice Reid, US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Roseburg, OR
- South Cascades Study Area
- Steve Andrews, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
- Klamath Study Area
- Rob Horn, Bureau of Land Management, Roseburg, OR
- Northwestern California Study Area
- Peter Carlson, Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Habitat Monitoring
The habitat monitoring co-leads are Raymond Davis and Katie Dugger. Habitat suitability models are used to assess habitat quality and quantity on that portion of the forested landscape that is classified as capable of producing spotted owl habitat. Change detection data for wildfires, timber harvest, and insect/disease are used to assess habitat change over time.
Predictive Model Development
The lead for predictive model development is Katie Dugger. The predictive model development element of the monitoring plan is a research effort designed to determine if landscape composition and patterns can be used to predict abundance and demographic performance of northern spotted owls. If landscape composition and pattern are shown to be reliable predictors of owl abundance and demographic performance, then monitoring spotted owl populations may shift, in some areas, to a habitat-based strategy.
