Ranch Data – Birds
Birds offer an invaluable lens into the health and function of the landscape. Each species is unique in the set of habitat niches it fills, helping to tell the story that connects them to a network of plants and insects, predators and prey. In this way, bird populations can provide an early signal of changes at TomKat Ranch and the neighboring environment.
Photo Credit: Gabrielle Tigan
Each year, biologists conduct point count surveys for birds at a random sample of points chosen from a grid across the ranch, as well as at 12 points in riparian vegetation along Honsinger Creek. We analyzed this data to examine spatial patterns and trends in species richness and in grassland bird abundance across the ranch..
