10 Year Report for the Northwest Forest Plan
Related Information
Northern Spotted Owl
This site provides information on monitoring owl populations, assessing owl habitat and developing predictive models for federal lands under the Northern Spotted Owl Effectiveness Monitoring Plan. The purpose of the monitoring plan is to assess trends in spotted owl populations and their habitat under the Northwest Forest Plan (the Plan). The primary goal of owl monitoring is to evaluate the success of the Plan in arresting the downward trend in spotted owl populations and in maintaining and restoring the habitat conditions necessary to support viable populations of the northern spotted owl on federally-administered forest lands throughout the owl's range.
The primary objectives of the monitoring plan for these lands are to:
- Assess changes in population trend and demographic performance of spotted owls on federally-administered forest lands with the owl's range.
- Assess changes in the amount and distribution of nesting, roosting, foraging habitat, and dispersal habitat for spotted owls on federally-administered forest lands.
The cornerstones of the spotted owl effectiveness monitoring strategy are population and habitat assessment. Integrating data from population and habitat monitoring is being explored through research to develop models to predict owl population status from the state of the habitat.
Abstract
Lint, Joseph B. (technical coordinator). 2005. Northwest forest plan--the first ten years(1994-2003): Status and trend of northern spotted owl populations and habitat. Gen.Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-xxx. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,Pacific Northwest Research Station. This report presents results from monitoring spotted owl populations and habitat during the first ten years of implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan (the Plan). Analyses of population data from demographic study areas associated with lands managed under the Plan estimated a weighted average population decline of about 3.4 percent annually.However, estimated rates of decline varied from 0 to 10 percent among the study areas. The largest average rate of decline, 7.1 percent annually, occurred in the four demographic areas Washington. Presence of barred owls, weather, past and present harvest of habitat, wildfire and insect infestations that alter habitat are all possible contributors to the noted decline. Maps depicting the suitability of habitat-capable acres were produced by using habitat models. Range wide, about 74 percent of the federal land acres were habitat-capable. Fiftyseven percent of the habitat-capable acres were in a forest condition similar to the conditions where territorial owls were known to be present on the landscape. Fifty-one percent of the habitat-capable acres fell in large, reserved blocks intended, under the Plan, to support clusters of reproducing owls. About 62 percent of the habitat-capable acres inside the reserved blocks were in a forest condition similar to the conditions where owls were known to be present.Owl movement in relation to the Plan’s land-use allocations was assessed in selected provinces using data from banded owls. Movements with resighting locations inside reserved blocks accounted for 51 percent of juvenile movement records. Over 30 percent of the juvenile movements were into reserved blocks from outside points.
Predictive model development using demographic data showed a variety of a factors influence owl survival and productivity. Precipitation, owl age, and habitat were important in explaining the variation in survival and productivity. Review of selected papers on barred owls indicated the species has expanded its range in past decades and currently is present throughout the range of the spotted owl. The likelihood of competitive interaction between spotted owls and barred owls, with the possibility of the edge going to barred owls, raises concern on the future of spotted owl populations. Barred owls are high on the list of factors that may be contributing to spotted owl declines in northern portions of the spotted owl’s range. Barred owls, West Nile virus and management of owl habitat in high risk fire areas are topics for future management consideration.
Keywords: Northwest Forest Plan, effectiveness monitoring, northern spotted owl, GIS, owl habitat, habitat suitability, demographic study, remote sensing, predictive model, habitat model
Final Report
The Northwest Forest Plan status and trends for Northern Spotted Owl are available in final format as a general technical report (GTR) identified as PNW_GTR648 by the Pacific Northwest Research Station. The final report for the Northern Spotted Owl has received extensive technical reviews and external blind peer review. Copies of the reconciliation letter for external peer review comments are included. These comments have been considered and incorporated into the final report.
- Northwest Forest Plan The First Ten Years (1994-2003):
Status and Trends of Northern Spotted Owl - Reconciliation letter for External Peer Review Comments (PDF, 294 kb)
Bibliographic Citation
Lint, J., ed. [In press]. Northwest Forest Plan: the first ten years (1994-2003) -- status and tend of northern spotted owl populations and habitat. Gen. Tech. Rep. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Powerpoints
| Presenter | Powerpoint Presentation | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Lint - Bureau of Land Management Oregon | Overview of Findings from Monitoring the Status and Trend of Northern Spotted Owl Populations and Habitat for the Northwest Forest Plan | PDF, 4 MB |
| Raymond Davis - US Forest Service, Region 6 | Status and Trends in Habitat of Northern Spotted Owl on Federal Lands | PDF, 6.4 MB |
| Eric Forsman - US Forest Service, PNW Station | Barred Owls, Spotted Owls and the NWFP-Nobody Said it Was Going to be Easy | PDF, 2.4 MB |
| Alexandre Hirzel - University of Lausanne, Switzerland | BIOMAPPER:A Tool for Modelling Ecological Niche Mapping Habitat Suitability | PDF, 3.3 MB |
