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1 December 2008 Population Trends of Breeding Birds on the Edwards Plateau, Texas: Local Versus Regional Patterns
Richard M. Kostecke
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Abstract

I compared population trends of 32 species of shrubland and woodland birds generated from 10 years (1995–2004) of point counts on Fort Hood Military Reservation, Texas, with trend data for the same species and time period generated by the Breeding Bird Survey for the entire Edwards Plateau region of Texas. Regardless of scale, most (>90%) species exhibited acceptable population trajectories (i.e., stable or increasing trends). Trend directions were the same at local and regional scales for the majority (62.5%) of species despite differences in land use and management at local and regional scales. Most trend differences were attributable to stable populations on Fort Hood while populations increased on the Edwards Plateau, or vice versa. Stable or increasing population trends for most of the species I examined likely are related to continued or increased availability of woody habitat. Only two species, ladder-backed woodpecker (Picoides scalaris) and field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), exhibited declines at the regional level, possibly due to afforestation or development, which may be cause for concern. Because the population status of many of the species that use woody habitats on the Edwards Plateau appear to be acceptable, greater research and management emphasis should be placed on grassland birds, a group that has experienced substantial declines on the Edwards Plateau and nationally.

Richard M. Kostecke "Population Trends of Breeding Birds on the Edwards Plateau, Texas: Local Versus Regional Patterns," The Southwestern Naturalist 53(4), 466-471, (1 December 2008). https://doi.org/10.1894/MH-26.1
Received: 24 July 2006; Accepted: 1 June 2008; Published: 1 December 2008
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