U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grant for Integrating Alaskan Data into Boreal Avian Modelling

PURPOSE:

To include avian survey data collected throughout boreal Alaska into the databases and analyses of the University of Alberta’s Boreal Avian Modelling Project (BAM). North America’s boreal forest encompasses 25% of the world’s intact forests and is a vital nursery for 1.7 billon birds. This region is increasingly undergoing landscape changes from resource developments and climate warming, yet its avifauna remains poorly studied. The purpose of this agreement is to provide support and assistance to BAM to expand their project to include data from throughout boreal forest region of Alaska.

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this agreement are to provide support and assistance to the Alberta’s Boreal Avian Modelling Project from 2010–2012 to incorporate into their databases and analyses those survey data collection from throughout the boreal region of Alaska (1985–2010).

BACKGROUND

North America’s boreal forest encompasses 25% of the world’s intact forests and is a vital nursery for 1.7 billon birds. This region is increasingly undergoing landscape changes from resource developments and climate warming, yet its avifauna remains poorly studied. The University of Alberta’s Boreal Avian Modelling Project (BAM, http://www.borealbirds.ca/) has compiled point-count data from avian surveys conducted across boreal Canada and will be analyzing these to inform conservation throughout the region. The University has been collaborating with the Service on this project since 2007 and the database now includes. The boreal forest region of Alaska also contains a rich avifauna; however, data from Alaska are not currently included in BAM. In this cooperative agreement we will expand BAM by incorporating data from throughout boreal Alaska into the program’s continental databases and analyses.

Funding will be provided for salary, data management, analyses, and travel. The Service requested the assistance of the University of Alberta’s Boreal Avian Modelling Project to accomplish this work from 2010–2013.

REASON FOR SINGLE SOURCE:
(1) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity. The University of Alberta has been working in cooperation with the Service’s National Migratory Bird Management Office since 2007 to compile and analyze data on avian distribution, abundance, and habitat use across Canada’s boreal forest region. The database currently includes data from more than 100,000 survey points. This funding will allows the University to expand their database and analyses to include data from approximately 15,000 survey points in boreal Alaska.

(2) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors. The University of Alberta’s Boreal Avian Modelling Project (BAM, http://www.borealbirds.ca/) has compiled point-count data from avian surveys conducted across boreal Canada since 2006 and now has data from over 70,000 survey locations throughout the country. The University has also been developing new methods for analyzing these data which take into account differences in the timing and duration of surveys. Thus the University has a unique capability to quickly incorporate data from Alaska into their continental databases and landscape-level analyses.