AT23-080 TPWD: GCWA Monitoring Surveys Training, Location Varies

Event Title: TPWD GCWA Monitoring Surveys

VMS-AT: AT: Texas Parks and Wildlife (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
Comments: AT23-080 TPWD: GCWA Monitoring Surveys Training, Indicate Location, Presenter: Heather Hannusch (AT=3h)

Event Date: 2/23/2023
Event Time: 9:00a-12:00p

This event repeats on 2/24, 2/25, 2/28 (dates subject to change depending on weather), 9:00a-12:00p.

Event Summary:
Field trainings are mandatory; there will be a review of the protocol, data collection, distance training, and skills test for GCWA monitoring surveys. Invited participants only.

Event Description:
The Golden-cheeked warbler (GCWA) (Setophaga chrysoparia) is an endangered bird species (listed 5/04/1990) which breeds and nests exclusively in the mature Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei)-oak (Quercus spp.) woodlands of the central Texas Edwards Plateau and Cross Timbers. It is the only bird species which has a Texas-exclusive breeding range. With the increasing urbanization of central Texas, GCWA habitat is declining. Population monitoring to understand abundance, trends, and distribution is a crucial component of aiding species recovery.

In order to assess population trends and abundance, TPWD sites conduct standardized GCWA point count surveys in the spring. This protocol ensures data uniformity across the project and ability to contribute to inter-agency, collaborative efforts for species recovery.

Objective
To monitor GCWA observation and distribution trends within TPWD properties and ultimately contribute this information to range-wide, collaborative efforts.

Surveys
TPWD GCWA monitoring surveys are radius point counts with distance sampling to assess audial detections of singing males. Sampling points are provided annually in both pdf map and GPS point form from regional NR staff. Points are located in a grid of 250 x 250 m. During each 3-minute survey, distances and times of each initial detection are recorded.

Cost: no charge

Register @: Invited participants only.

Event Location:
Guadalupe River State Park, Bulverde
Hill Country State Natural Area, Bandera
Pedernales Falls SP, Johnson City
Government Canyon State Natural Area, San Antonio

Instructor/Presenter:
Heather Hannusch

Contact Information:
(512) 426-8162
heather.hannusch@tpwd.texas.gov

Organization Website:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/

Sponsoring Organization:
TPWD