National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Natural Resource Program Center 

Upper Columbia Basin Network 

Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedures Version 1.0 

Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2010//270 
ON THE COVER 

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) at Lake Roosevelt 

Photograph from Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, courtesy of Jeffrey Joh (SCA Intern) 
Upper Columbia Basin Network 

Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedures Version 1.0 

Natural Resource Report NPS/PWR/UCBN/NRR—2010/270 

Lisa K. Garrett 

National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 

105 East 2nd St. Suite #5 

Moscow, ID 83843 

Thomas J. Rodhouse 

National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 

20310 Empire Ave. Suite A100 

Bend, OR 97701 

Gordon H. Dicus 

National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 

105 East 2nd St. Suite #6 

Moscow, ID 83843 

Paulina F. Tobar-Starkey 

National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 

105 East 2nd St. Suite #7 

Moscow, ID 83843 

December 2010 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

Natural Resource Program Center 

Fort Collins, Colorado
The National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center publishes a range of reports that 

address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National 

Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and 

environmental constituencies, and the public. 

The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource 

management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse 

audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management 

applicability. 

All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the 

information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended 

audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received formal, 

high-level peer review based on the importance of its content, or its potentially controversial or 

precedent-setting nature. Peer review was conducted by highly qualified individuals with subject 

area technical expertise and was overseen by a peer review manager. 

Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not 

necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the 

Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or 

recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. 

This report is available from the Upper Columbia Basin Network website 

(http://www.nature.nps.gov/im/units/UCBN) and the Natural Resource Publications 

Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM). 

Please cite this publication as: 

Garrett, L. K., T. J. Rodhouse, G. H. Dicus, and P. F. Tobar-Starkey 2010. Upper Columbia 

Basin Network osprey monitoring protocol: Standard operating procedures version 1.0. Natural 

Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2010/270. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. 

NPS 963/106168, December 2010 

ii
iii

Change History 

1. Version numbers increase incrementally by tenths (e.g., version 1.1, version 1.2, ...etc) for 

minor changes. Major revisions should be designated with the next whole number (e.g., 

version 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 ...). Record the previous version number, date of revision, author of the 

revision, identify paragraphs and pages where changes are made, and the reason for making 

the changes along with the new version number. 

2. Notify the UCBN Data Manager of any changes to the Protocol Narrative or SOPs so that the 

new version number can be incorporated in the Metadata of the project database. 

3. Post new versions on the Internet and forward copies to all individuals with a previous 

version of the Protocol Narrative or SOPs. A list will be maintained in an appendix at the end 

of this document. 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

1.0 

Contents 

Page 

Figures....................................................................................................................................ix 

Tables.....................................................................................................................................x 

Appendixes ............................................................................................................................xi 

SOP 1: Preparation for the Field Season................................................................................1 

Annual Review...........................................................................................................2 

 

Scheduling and Organizing Field Work ....................................................................2 

Equipment List and Preparation.................................................................................2 

SOP 2: Training Observers and Osprey Identification ..........................................................5 

Introduction................................................................................................................6 

Procedures..................................................................................................................6 

Team Organization ........................................................................................6 

Equipment Operation.....................................................................................6 

Field Operations............................................................................................6 

Osprey Identification .....................................................................................8 

SOP 3: Finding GPS Waypoints............................................................................................9 

Introduction................................................................................................................10 

Before the Field..........................................................................................................10 

Using Trimble Pre-planning Software...........................................................11 

Setting GPS Specifications.............................................................................11 

In The Field................................................................................................................13 

Monitor Location Error.................................................................................13 

Selecting and Navigating to Waypoints.........................................................13 

v
Contents 

Page 

After the Field............................................................................................................14 

Delete Waypoints...........................................................................................14 

SOP 4: Nest Site Observations ..............................................................................................15 

Introduction................................................................................................................16 

Driving Directions .....................................................................................................16 

Procedures for Locating Nest Sites............................................................................17 

Procedures for Locating New Nest Sites ...................................................................17 

Data Entry Procedures ...............................................................................................18 

Activity Survey ...............................................................................................18 

Nest Site Characteristics................................................................................18 

Productivity Survey........................................................................................20 

SOP 5: Data Management......................................................................................................21 

Database Model .........................................................................................................22 

Database Dictionary...................................................................................................24 

Data Entry ..................................................................................................................28 

Assigning Nest Site ID ...................................................................................28 

Quality Review ..........................................................................................................29 

Metadata Procedures..................................................................................................29 

Sensitive Information.................................................................................................29 

Data Certification and Delivery.................................................................................30 

Data Certification Steps.................................................................................30 

Data Archiving...........................................................................................................31 

vi
Contents 

Page 

Directory Structure ........................................................................................31 

Schedule of Data Management Tasks........................................................................33 

SOP 6: Data Summary, Analysis, and Reporting ..................................................................37 

Introduction................................................................................................................39 

Analytical Procedures ................................................................................................39 

Power Analysis...............................................................................................39 

Annual Status Analysis...................................................................................41 

Trend Analysis ...............................................................................................41

Reporting....................................................................................................................43

Schedule for Osprey Monitoring Project Deliverables..............................................45 

SOP 7: Protocol Revision ......................................................................................................47 

Procedures..................................................................................................................48 

Development and Revision History Log....................................................................48 

Protocol Development Summary...............................................................................49 

SOP 8: Field Safety and Job Hazard Analysis.......................................................................55 

Field Safety Procedures .............................................................................................56 

Weather and Field Gear ................................................................................56 

Safety Precautions .........................................................................................56 

Emergency Contact Information....................................................................56 

DOI Watercraft Safety Manual......................................................................58 

Job Hazard Analysis ..................................................................................................65 

SOP 9: Helicopter Surveys ....................................................................................................69 

vii
viii

Contents 

Page 

Scheduling..................................................................................................................70 

Equipment Preparation...............................................................................................70 

Annual Timing...........................................................................................................70 

Observation Methods.................................................................................................71 

SOP 10: Osprey NestWatch Volunteer Program...................................................................75 

Introduction................................................................................................................76 

Volunteer Program Planning......................................................................................76 

Objectives.......................................................................................................76 

Mission Statement ..........................................................................................76 

Volunteer Job Description .............................................................................76

Park Involvement.......................................................................................................77 

Volunteer Recruitment...............................................................................................77 

Policies and Procedures for Participating in the Program .........................................77 

Volunteers ......................................................................................................77

UCBN Staff.....................................................................................................78 

Safety .........................................................................................................................79 

Recognition................................................................................................................79 

Evaluation ..................................................................................................................79 

Annual Outcomes Reports .........................................................................................79 
Figures

Page 

Figure 1. Photo of an adult osprey (Pandion haliaetus) .....................................................7 

Figure 2. Station Editor in Trimble’s preplanning software ...........................................11 

Figure 3. Screenshot from DNRGarmin ...........................................................................12 

Figure 4. Satellite main page of Garmin unit....................................................................13 

Figure 5. Compass page of Garmin unit ...........................................................................13 

Figure 6. Location of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Washington ...............16 

Figure 7. The UCBN osprey monitoring protocol database model ..................................23 

Figure 8. A simulated trend of osprey nest occupancy.....................................................43 

Figure 9. Osprey monitoring 2009 resource brief.............................................................46 

ix
Tables

Page 

Table 1. Important field definitions for monitoring osprey in the UCBN ..........................6 

Table 2. The yearly osprey monitoring data management task list...................................33 

Table 3. Example of annual summary information for the LARO osprey population......41 

Table 4. Example of summary information of nest site characteristics of occupied 

osprey nests in LARO........................................................................................................41 

Table 5. Breeding success of ospreys in the West Kootenay during 2006 .......................42 

Table 6. Schedule for osprey monitoring project deliverables..........................................45 

Table 7. Protocol development and revision history log...................................................48 

Table 8. Osprey survey method schedule from 2011 through 2018 .................................71

Table 9. Example helicopter activity survey form for osprey observation data ...............73 

Table 10. Example helicopter productivity survey form for osprey observation data......73 

Table 11. Example helicopter survey form for survey data ..............................................73 

Table 12. Example helicopter survey form for weather data ............................................74 

x
Appendixes

Page 

Appendix 1. Activity survey field data form ........................................................................81 

Appendix 2. Productivity survey field data form ..................................................................83 

Appendix 3. Volunteer Job Description.................................................................................85 

Appendix 4. Code of Conduct ...............................................................................................87 

Appendix 5. Osprey NestWatch field data form....................................................................89 

Appendix 6. Instructions for data entry on Osprey NestWatch website................................91 

xi

Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 1: 

Preparation for the Field Season

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Note: This SOP describes the step-by-step procedures for preparing for field work and for 

preparing and organizing field equipment prior to the initiation of personnel training and entry 

into the field. Field time is expensive, both in time and money. Adequate field and equipment 

preparation is crucial to a successful monitoring program. 

Suggested Reading 

Standardized Inventory Methodologies For Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity: 

Raptors. 1997. Version 1.1. Resources Inventory Committee, Victoria, BC. 

1
Annual Review 

Key network and park staff should conduct an annual review of the protocol and SOPs prior to 

spring preparations. This is a central element to season close-out procedures. Review should 

include training and field procedures, recruitment of participating field technicians, data 

management, analysis, and reporting, and fundamental design issues. Most importantly, careful 

consideration should be made of the resulting analyses and the overall confidence in results. The 

adequacy of sampling effort must be evaluated. Any necessary changes should be made to the 

protocol and SOPs with enough time to circulate updated material to key staff. 

Scheduling and Organizing Field Work 

The Upper Columbia Basin Network (UCBN) and Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area 

(LARO) are unable to maintain a large field staff for financial and logistical reasons. This, 

combined with the remote and widely dispersed nature of the network, and the demands from 

other vital signs monitoring efforts requires that the field portion of the osprey monitoring 

program be sustained with temporary student employees and/or student conservation association 

interns. The field work should be scheduled in early spring, and scheduling efforts should begin 

no later than the previous January/February. The Project Leader will coordinate this planning 

with LARO park resource and interpretive staff. A team of 2 people working for 2 weeks each 

sampling season must be available in order to complete the field data collection. The field crew 

will be provided with the following information:

• Paper maps for the occupied nest sites included in the years data collection efforts. 

• List of Easting and Northing coordinates for each nest site from previous year’s data. 

• GPS units and/or PDAs loaded with the nest site coordinates. 

• Field data collection sheets (see Appendix 1 and 2) 

Equipment List and Preparation 

The following equipment should be assembled each spring, and sufficient time allowance must 

be made to order replacement equipment. The amounts of individual items required are not 

included here, as they may change according to the number of field participants and teams 

available. 

Navigation and Recording Equipment

• GPS unit with pre-loaded nest site location waypoints (UCBN supplied, or comparable 

unit) 

• PDA with field forms (if used by this team) + cradle and AC/DC converter for charging 

batteries 

• Weatherized field data entry forms (Appendix 1-2 for ground-based surveys, SOP #9, 

Tables 7-11 for aerial surveys) 

• Maps of nest site locations from previous year 

• Backup copies of data entry forms 

• Mechanical pencils and clip boards 

• Rangefinder, clinometer, and DBH tape (to record nest site characteristics for new nest 

sites) 

• Hard copies of SOPs 

2 
Observation Equipment

• Digital camera (supplied with a case, spare battery, and digital storage card) 

• Identification sheet for the identification of ospreys (provided in SOP #2 and #10) 

• Binoculars (2 pair of image stabilization binoculars for helicopter surveys) 

Safety Equipment

• 2-way radios 

• First aid kit 

• Boat safety equipment (will be included onboard with LARO-maintained boats) 

Preparation of Navigation and Observation Equipment: 

1) Charge all GPS units, PDAs, digital cameras, and backup batteries, prior to departure 

for the field. Bring extra AA batteries during field work. 

2) Paper data sheets should be prepared and printed on Rite-in-the-Rain paper if rain is 

likely to occur. A copy of field data sheets are provided in Appendix 1-2. 

3) Analysis and reporting of previous year’s data are necessary before starting a new field 

effort. This is covered in SOP # 6, data management, and SOP # 7, data summary and 

analysis. 

4) Prepare a realistic schedule of events in advance of group arrival, and circulate to team 

leaders and organizers ahead of time to manage expectations and ensure timely arrival.

5) Apply for a research permit (http://science.nature.nps.gov/research/ac/ResearchIndex) 

well ahead of the field season, as early as February/March. 

6) Arrange with the staff at LARO for your arrival and stay during field season. Housing 

is generally not provided by LARO so UCBN crews should make arrangements with area 

motels. Arrange with LARO staff if a boat survey is planned. Any boat operator must be 

current with their National Park Service (NPS) Motorboat Operator Certification Course 

(MOCC). Project Leaders on the osprey protocol should always be current on their 

certification, but it is not necessary with temporary employees or students who will 

always be accompanied by a MOCC graduate. 

7) Safety is an important, but easily overlooked consideration. The safety plan (SOP # 8) 

should be reviewed before the field team heads into the park. Make sure all team leaders 

know where vehicle keys are to be stored during field operations, the location of the 

nearest pay phone and/or cellular phone coverage opportunity, and emergency contact 

and operation procedures for LARO staff. 

8) After the field season, clean and organize all non-electronic equipment and store in 

labeled plastic bins in the UCBN office in Moscow, Idaho. Remove batteries from GPS 

units requiring long-term winter storage. PDAs are typically stored by the UCBN under 

the direction of the data manager in the central office. 

3 
4 

9) Identification of osprey is relatively straightforward, however, during training of 

interns and student workers identification will be explained. An identification guide for 

identifying ospreys is part of the required equipment. An identification sheet is provided 

in SOP #2 and #10. 

10) Hard copies of all field-relevant SOPs and nest site location maps should be prepared 

and made available to the field team for the duration of the survey period. 
Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 2 

Training Observers and Osprey Identification

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Note: This SOP describes the step-by-step procedures for organizing and training field 

personnel. Note that none of these SOPs are meant to be stand-alone training manuals replacing 

the thorough documentation available for GPS and PDA hardware and software. Training 

personnel should refer to these SOPs as a guide, and seek out additional information in the 

suggested references and through hands-on training courses provided by NPS and outside 

vendors.

Suggested Reading 

Garmin. 2005. GPSMAP 76CSx owner’s manual. Garmin International, Olathe, KS. Available 

online at http://www.garmin.com/products/manual.jsp?product=010-00469-00. 

Raptor Research and Management Techniques. 2007. Edited by David M. Bird and Keith L. 

Bildstein. Hancock House Publishers Ltd., Surrey, British Columbia, Canada and 

Hancock House Publishers, Blaine, WA. 

Standardized Inventory Methodologies For Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity: 

Raptors. 1997. Version 1.1. Resources Inventory Committee, Victoria, BC. 

5
Introduction 

This SOP describes the training of the field crew prior to field sampling including overview of 

field data collection, data recording, and the importance of correct identification of osprey at 

Lake Roosevelt. 

Procedures 

Team Organization 

Once the number of participants is known, teams can be organized. Two persons per team is a 

minimum, 3-4 is acceptable. Larger team sizes are inefficient. Provide each team member with a 

complete set of observation equipment. Also provide each team with a hard copy of each of the 

relevant field SOPs for reference during training and field operations. Each team should also be 

provided with a hard copy map of the park and a larger scale map indicating the team’s 

individual nest site locations and their nest ID labels. These hard copy maps are crucial for field 

efficiency and to minimize errors associated with misidentified nest sites. Once the team is 

established, it should be maintained throughout the duration of training and sampling in order to 

maintain consistency. 

Equipment Operation 

Operation of GPS units is outlined in SOP # 3. 

Field Operations

1) Designate a lead trainer. This will typically be the Project Leader, if present, or a 

designated biotech. This person should be available to troubleshoot and reassign new 

equipment as needed. 

2) Definitions for key field terms are presented in Table 1 and should be reviewed during 

training. 

Table 1. Important field definitions for monitoring osprey in the UCBN. 

Term Definition 

Occupied Nest An occupied nest is a nest with evidence of actual pairs. Occupancy 

is best determined during the incubation period. 

Fledge 

Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing 

muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act 

of raising chicks to a fully grown state by the chick's parents. A young 

bird that has recently fledged but is still dependent upon parental 

care and feeding is called a fledgling. 

3) Personnel should already have basic GPS navigation and data entry skills, but 

additional training on those topics can be provided in the field. 

6
4) On-site training can be accomplished in half a day. The team should be assembled at 

the beginning for a review of concepts and techniques. Basic osprey identification should 

be reviewed. 

5) Following group introductory material, team members should practice locating 

existing nest sites with GPS and maps. The team should practice making observations 

and performing data entry. To facilitate this, extra field data entry sheets should be made 

available. Emphasize clear communication practices between team members during 

data entry. Once this portion of training is complete, reassemble into the full group and 

review questions and concerns. Each team leader must be comfortable and confident in 

the methods.

Figure 1. Photo of an adult osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Photo courtesy of NASA. 

7
Osprey Identification 

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i3640id.html

• Length: 22 inches; wingspan: 54 inches 

• Large, narrow-winged hawk 

• Flies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow 

• Wings taper to a rounded tip 

• Short hooked beak 

• White cap 

• Dark brown eyeline broadening behind eye 

• Dark brown nape, back, and upperwings 

• Wings from below: flight feathers white barred with dark brown, undersecondary coverts 

white and underprimary coverts dark brown producing rectangular dark brown mark at 

wrist 

• White chin, throat, breast, and belly 

• Brown tail has a number of white bands 

• Hovers and then plunges into water after fish 

Adult male: 

• Underparts entirely white 

• Yellow eyes 

Adult female: 

• Dark necklace of brown streaks on throat 

• Yellow eyes 

Immature: 

• White tips to dark back feathers 

• Reddish eyes 

Similar species: 

Unmarked white belly, wing shape, and flight style make the Osprey instantly recognizable even 

at a distance. However, many inexperienced observers oftern mistake the osprey for a bald eagle. 

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North 

America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc. 

8
Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 3 

Finding GPS Waypoints 

Version 1.0, March 2010

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Suggested Reading 

Garmin. 2005. GPSMAP 76CSx owner’s manual. Garmin International, Olathe, KS. Available 

online at http://www.garmin.com/products/manual.jsp?product=010-00469-00. 

9
Introduction 

The purpose of this SOP is to describe the procedures necessary to navigate to waypoints using 

GPS units, particularly Garmin Map 76CSx. Information on GPS specifications and settings are 

also included. This is not intended as a substitute user’s guide for GPS units. Please consult the 

appropriate user’s guide for more detailed information on unit functionality.

The following flowchart provides a general overview of steps addressed in this SOP: 

Pre-Field 

1. Using Trimble’s Preplanning Software 

2. Setting GPS Specifications 

3. Loading waypoints 

In the Field 

4. Monitor settings 

5. Selecting and navigating to a waypoint 

Post-Field 

6. Deleting unnecessary waypoints. 

Because nest sites are permanent in the 

osprey protocol, there is usually no need 

to delete waypoints – simply leave them 

for next sampling period. 

Before the Field 

Preparation is key to successful field work, particularly when that field work relies on GPS data 

collection or navigation. The baseline GPS constellation consists of 24 satellites that orbit the 

earth approximately every 12 hours. The position and time signals transmitted by these satellites 

are used by GPS receivers to triangulate a location on Earth. While this process is subject to 

various sources of error, pre-planning can minimize the impacts.

10
Using Trimble’s Preplanning Software 

Trimble offers a free stand-alone program that determines visibility for GPS, GLONASS, and 

WAAS satellites. The software can be downloaded from 

http://www.trimble.com/planningsoftware.html. Make sure to also download the Ephemeris file 

(current.ssf). 

1) Use the Station Editor to select the location, 

date, and time of data collection (Figure 2). 

2) Import current .ssf file and check the 

satellite information. Select those satellites 

of interest. Default is all. 

3) Create graphs. 

Figure 2. Station Editor in Trimble’s preplanning 

software highlighting position and time. 

As long as it doesn’t compromise the best times to determine productivity, look for the time of 

day when the most satellites are available and the PDOP (Position Dilution of Precision) is 

lowest. PDOP is the measurement of error introduced by satellite orientation or geometry and 

can be easily minimized through the timing of field data collection. 

Setting GPS Specifications 

Verify Time: Time synchronization of the GPS receiver and GPS satellites is critical for the 

most accurate data collection and navigation. With Garmin MAP76CSx, use the Time Setup 

Menu to set the time format, zone, and to conform to Daylight Savings Time. 

Verify Projection and Datum: All GPS positioning information is referenced to the North 

American Datum (NAD83). In the case of UCBN osprey sampling, select UTM Zone 11 NAD83 

for Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. With Garmin MAP76CSx, use the Units Setup 

Menu to select the position format and map datum.

Enable WAAS: Enabling WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) allows for real-time 

correction of GPS coordinates as long as the WAAS satellites are in view. Due to the fixed 

position of these satellites over the equator, signal reception is best in open areas with a clear 

view of the southern sky, and at times, sampling under a heavy conifer canopy can be 

problematic. With Garmin MAP76CSx, use the System Setup Menu to enable WAAS. 

11
12

Calibrate the Compass: The internal compass in the Garmin MAP76CSx should be calibrated 

prior to each use for increased accuracy in navigation. Use the Calibration Setup Menu to 

calibrate the compass. Follow the directions on screen. 

Batteries: Fully charge the batteries and remember to take spares! The Garmin Map76 units tend 

to fail on battery power quickly and without warning. 

Loading Waypoints: Following SOP # 1 in this monitoring protocol, random sample points are 

generated using ArcGIS 9.2 and exported to a shape or dBase file. Uploading these locations to 

the Garmin Map76CSx as waypoints is simplified by using DNRGarmin, a freeware program 

developed and maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The program can 

be downloaded from 

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/extensions/DNRGarmin/DNRGarmin.html. 

The site has information on the application, including installation guidelines and documentation. 

To upload waypoints to the Garmin Map76CSx, connect the GPS unit to the PC and open 

DNRGarmin. DNRGarmin should display your GPS unit and say connect. If it does not, go to 

GPS and open port. 

Use the File Menu to set the correct projection (i.e., Zone 11 for LARO with the datum as 

NAD83) (Figure 3, left). Next go to load data in the File Menu and select your shapefile or 

dBase file of interest. You can delete and or edit points, add comments, etc., if necessary (Figure 

3, right). Use the GPS Menu to open the port to the GPS unit. Then, use the Waypoint Menu to 

upload the points to the GPS unit. 

 

Figure 3. Screenshot from DNRGarmin used to set the correct map projection (left). Screenshot from 

DNRGarmin used to view and upload selected waypoints (right).
In the Field 

Monitor Location Error 

Ideally, you would be able to set thresholds for the maximum PDOP allowed and the minimum 

number of satellites. While you cannot set these values in the Garmin MAP76CSx, you can 

monitor the satellite strength and relative location error on the Satellite Main Page. 

Relative location error 

Visibility of satellites 

Number and strength of satellites 

Figure 4. Satellite Main Page of Garmin unit. 

These values should all be monitored frequently during data collection and navigation. The 

maximum relative location error allowed should be set prior to beginning field work. For the 

osprey monitoring protocol, the maximum location error allowed is 10 m (30 ft). If a GPS unit is 

used that allows for user-defined PDOP thresholds, the maximum should be set at 6. 

Selecting and Navigating to Waypoints 

With Garmin Map76CSx, use the Find Menu to search for a waypoint of interest. Select ‘Find by 

Name’ and scroll to the point ID of interest. Conversely, you can select the waypoints icon and 

scroll to the Point ID of interest. Paper maps will also be provided to aid in locating plots. 

Once selected, the items information page for the waypoint opens, 

allowing you to show the item on the map (by selecting Map) or 

create a route to the point (select GoTo). Select GoTo to navigate to 

the point. You can use the ‘Page’ button to switch through various 

pages, select the Compass page and, holding the GPS level, walk in 

the direction indicted by the compass until the ‘Dist to Dest’ 

window reads zero. 

 

Figure 5. Compass page of 

 Garmin unit. 

13
After the Field 

Delete Waypoints (if desired) 

In the case of osprey monitoring it is not necessary to delete waypoints that are stored on the 

GPS unit because nest site locations are permanent and will be re-visited during the next 

sampling season. If you need to delete temporary waypoints from the GPS unit, go to the Find 

Waypoints page, select Menu – Delete – All waypoints. Remove batteries from units before any 

long-term winter storage to prevent corrosion and leakage. 

14
Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 4 

Nest Site Observations and Characteristics 

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Note: This SOP describes the step-by-step procedures for locating and collecting nest site data 

on occupancy, productivity, and nest site characteristics for purposes of long-term monitoring of 

osprey at LARO. 

Suggested Reading 

Edwards, T. C. and M. W. Collopy. 1988. Nest tree preference of osprey in Northcentral Florida. 

J. Wildl. Manage. 52(1):109-107. 

Forestry Suppliers. Unpublished. How to use a clinometer. Technical Bulletin M-0003. available 

online at: http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/t01_pages/pdfs/M0003.pdf. 

Steenhof K., and I. Newton. 2007. Assessing nesting success and productivity. Pages 181-192 in 

Bird, D. M. and K. L. Bildstein. Raptor research and management techniques. Hancock 

House Publishers. Blaine, WA. 

15
Introduction 

This SOP provides detailed directions for how to find LARO and the nest site locations from 

Spokane, Washington. It also suggests daily routes that you might use for observing nest sites 

and gives step-by-step directions on how to collect nest site observation and characteristics data. 

Driving Directions 

From Coulee Dam, Lake Roosevelt stretches 130 miles north to Onion Creek. Bordered by 312 

miles of publicly owned shoreline, there are 22 NPS boat launches from which you can access 

the lake and 28 campgrounds. 

• To Kettle Falls in the northern district from Spokane: 90 miles northwest on Highway 

395; from Grand Forks, B.C. 49 miles southeast on Highway 395; from Rossland, B.C. 

49 miles southwest on State Road 25. 

• To Coulee Dam in the southern district from Spokane: 90 miles west on Highway 2. 

• State Road 25 follows along the eastern lakeshore connecting the north district to the 

south via Fort Spokane and Porcupine Bay. 

Figure 6. Location of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area in the NE corner of Washington State. 

The field crew should check in with the resource manager at the park headquarters in Coulee 

Dam, Washington, upon arrival. The crew will be given keys to the resource boat, gas pump, and 

any other necessary access keys. 

16
The majority of nest site locations at LARO are most easily accessed by boat. Some nests in 

lower Lake Roosevelt and all nests in upper Lake Roosevelt (Nests G-01, G-02 and K-01, K-09) 

can be reasonably accessed by foot (less than 600 m hike). 

The following nests are not visible from the water: 

K-07 and K-08 are located directly on the gated service road at the USBR China Bar Debris 

Facility. 

C-07 is located on the west side of State Hwy 21. 

K-03 is located near Kettle Falls Historical Center. 

C-01 is located near the Grand Coulee Dam Tour Office. 

Suggested Itinerary: 

Day 1: Drive to nest C-01, which is near the Grand Coulee Dam Tour office. Drive to nests C05, C-06, and C-07, which are within a 10 mile stretch of Hwy 21 between Keller and Keller 

Ferry. Drive to nests G-01 and G-02, which are near Inchelium and Gifford, respectively. 

Day 2: Drive to nests K-07, K-08, and K-09, which are at the China Bar/China Bend area. Drive 

to nests K-03 and K-04, which are near the Kettle Falls Historical Center. 

Day 3: Boat from Keller Ferry to Porcupine Bay and check nests C-02, C-03, C-05, C-06, C-08 

through C-14, and C-16. 

Day 4: Boat around Kettle Falls and check nests K-01 thru K-06. 

Procedures for Locating Nest Sites 

1) Prior to entry into the field, pre-determined nest site location points should be organized into 

routes for the field team. Follow SOP # 3 “Finding GPS Waypoints” for instructions on preloading sampling point coordinates for field navigation. 

2) To locate a nest site, go through the steps outlined in SOP #3 “Finding GPS Waypoints” to 

initiate navigation to a waypoint. Ensure that you are navigating to the correct point, according to 

the Nest ID. You should use the nest site photo to assist you in locating the nest site. 

3) Perform the data collection associated with the osprey observation form (Appendix 1-2). 

4) Move to the next nest site on the daily route, navigating with the GPS unit. Continue to record 

nest site observations. 

Procedures for Locating New Nest Sites 

An effort to locate new nests will be completed as a part of our spring activity survey work in 

mid-May each year. All nests from the previous year will be visited and new nests will be added 

to the database when encountered during the boat, auto, or foot surveys. Aerial surveys will be 

conducted every 3 years. Observers will scan the shoreline for evidence of any osprey activity 

around nests not already in the database. We will also rely on park staff to add new nests to the 

database, through our Osprey NestWatch Program.

Park staff will be recruited through the Osprey NestWatch Program in early April each year to 

watch for nesting activity in mid-May. Park staff and seasonal employees will be asked to report 

17
any nest sites, including those sites not already in the database, they observe to the UCBN 

volunteer coordinator. This information will then be forwarded to the Project Leader for followup data collection efforts that will obtain nest site characteristics and annual productivity data. 

Data Entry Procedures 

Activity Survey 

1) Annual timing of activity survey: An activity survey will be completed in mid-May each 

year. This survey is to determine the location of occupied nests and to add any new nest sites to 

the database. All nest locations from the previous year should be checked for evidence of 

occupation by an osprey pair and the study area should be surveyed for new nest sites. The data 

form to be used for this survey is located in Appendix 1. 

2) Daily survey schedule: Surveys should begin no earlier than 0700 PST and end no later than 

1700 PST to avoid low light and excessive shadows. 

3) Weather conditions: Do not conduct surveys during periods of high turbulence, when winds 

exceed > 20 mph, snow storms, or rain storms. These factors can reduce visibility and accuracy 

of survey results. 

4) Ground observations: Once each nest site has been located, team members will position 

themselves for efficiency, comfort, and the ability to observe the nest. If the nest site has been 

visited in previous years, the GPS coordinates may already be entered on the field sheet. GPS 

coordinates will be recorded for each new nest site added to the database. Nest site visits can 

normally be accomplished within 15 minutes. Use binoculars to determine if the nest is occupied 

and the species occupying the nest (most likely eagle or osprey). One crew-member should 

record the data while the other crew member observes the nest.Record the number of adults, 

weather conditions, and behavior of the birds. If this nest site is not already in the database, 

record the GPS coordinates, nest site characteristics, and take a photo of the nest site. The 

number of the photo taken should be recorded on the datasheet to later match up the photo with 

the Nest_ID assigned to the new nest. 

5) Avoid observer fatigue: This protocol requires that there is one recorder while all crew 

members make observations (jobs can change between nest sites). As is outlined in the training 

SOP # 2, clear communication between the data recorder and other team members is essential. It 

is recommended that results are announced out loud to the recorder, and that the recorder repeats 

the announced result, confirming successful transmission of information. 

6) Completing the survey: Check data entry at the conclusion including nest site ID, before 

moving on to the next nest site. Repeat osprey nest site observations as outlined in step 4 until all 

nest sites in the database are visited and data recorded in the field data sheet or PDA if used. 

Nest Site Characteristics 

Nest site characteristics, following methods from Edwards and Collopy 1988, for all occupied 

nests encountered during the spring activity survey will be recorded on the activity survey 

monitoring data form (Appendix 1). 

18
1) Nest structure - Record the type of nest structure in which the nest is located. The structure 

will most commonly be identified as a dead tree, live tree, power pole, bridge, or platform on a 

power pole. If the observer encounters a different type of structure they will write in a name for 

the structure. 

2) Tree species - Record the tree species in which the nest site is located. 

3) Tree height (m) and Nest height (m) - Tree height is measured using the principle of 

triangulation with a clinometer (Forestry Suppliers unpublished). Assuming that the tree grows at 

a right angle to the ground (even on a slope), we use the clinometer at 1 chain (66 feet or 19.8 

meters) away from the tree using the following steps: a) With both eyes open, aim the black 

crosshair of the clinometer level with the base of the tree at the soil. Using the right-hand scale 

(the left scale is for measuring percentage of slope) you will read a negative number if the tree is 

on level ground or down slope. You will read a positive number if the tree is up slope. b) With 

both eyes open, aim the black crosshair of the clinometer to the top of the tree. This is a tricky 

measurement because your view may be obscured by leaves or nearby tree branches. If the top of 

the tree were an open umbrella, you would want to be aiming at the point on the top of the 

umbrella. c) Add or subtract the numbers: If your eye is at a level between the base of the tree 

and the top, the two numbers are added together to determine total height. If your eye is below 

the level of the base of the tree or the tree is upslope from you, the base reading must be 

subtracted from the top reading to determine total height. 

4) Tree dbh (cm) - The diameter at breast height (dbh) is measured at 4.5 feet or 1.37 m above 

the ground. Use a “diameter tape” to measure dbh by attaching its end at the proper breastheight, then stretching the tape around the trunk at breast height. You read diameter from the 

point that the tape overlaps zero on the tape. A common mistake is using the wrong side of the 

tape. Remember, one side measures distance, just like any other tape. Don't use that side! Use the 

other side, which reads diameter when the tape is wrapped around a circular trunk. 

5) Distance to water (m) - The distance to water will be measured with a laser rangefinder. To 

measure the distance to the water, stand at the base of the tree and point the rangefinder at the 

closest point near the water’s edge and press the release button on the rangefinder once. Once the 

button is released the target mark remains illuminated for around another 4 seconds. While it is 

illuminated, lock onto the object and carry out the distance metering by pressing the release 

button again. The measured value is then displayed. If you are in a boat, you can reverse this 

process by measuring the distance from the water’s edge to the base of the tree. 

6) Broken top – Indicate “yes” or “no” on the data form whether the top of the nest tree is 

broken or not. 

7) Diameter of 4 nearest trees that reach heights of at least the lower canopy height of the nest 

tree. Lowest canopy height of the nest tree is at the live branch closest to the ground (lowest live 

branch) or at the first visible branch or broken staub on a dead snag. Nests that occur on pilings 

or other human-made structures will have no canopy and typically are not surrounded by any 

other trees within an influential distance, and therefore will have no measurements taken for this 

category. 

19
8) Height of 4 nearest trees that reach heights of at least the lower canopy height of the nest 

tree. 

Productivity Survey 

1) Annual timing of productivity survey: Conduct the productivity survey after most nestlings 

reach 80% of their fledging age but before many actually leave the nest (fledge). This survey is 

best conducted in mid-July each year.

2) Daily survey schedule: Surveys should begin no earlier than 0700 PST and end no later than 

1700 PST to avoid low light and excessive shadows. 

3) Weather conditions: Do not conduct surveys during periods of high turbulence, when winds 

exceed > 20 mph, snow storms, or rain storms. These factors can reduce visibility and accuracy 

of survey results. 

4) Ground observations: Once each nest site has been located, team members will position 

themselves for efficiency, comfort, and the ability to observe the nest.The productivity survey is 

conducted using two observers. Observers will use binoculars to determine the number of young 

in or near the nest. The main requirement is that the observers make their observations 

independently of one another. To ensure observer independence, no conversation is allowed 

between the observers during the actual surveys and observers may not compare notes until after 

the survey is completed. Using this approach, the observers will not announce the sighting of 

fledglings or the number of fledglings present, when they are first observed. Rather, both 

observers will wait until both observers have made their observations. Once the observations are 

complete, the observers will discuss their observations and verify the presence and number of 

nestlings. The Project Leader will then fill in the data sheet appropriately. Once the initial 

evaluation has been made, both observers look at the nest and jointly decide on the number of 

fledglings and their age and then record this information on the data form. 

Observers will record the number of adults present, number of young, approximate age of 

nestling based on feathers, behavior observed, and weather conditions. If you do not observe 

nestlings and the nest appears abandoned (no fresh white wash), define this nest as “occupied, 

breeding-failed, continue on to the next occupied nest. 

5) Avoid observer fatigue: This protocol requires that there is one recorder while all crew 

members make observations (jobs can change between nest sites). As is outlined in the training 

SOP # 2, clear communication between the data recorder and other team members is essential. It 

is recommended that results are announced out loud to the recorder, and that the recorder repeats 

the announced result, confirming successful transmission of information. 

6) Completing the survey: Check data entry at the conclusion including nest site ID, before 

moving on to the next nest site. Repeat osprey nest site observations as outlined in step 4 until all 

nest sites in the database are visited and data recorded in the field data sheet or PDA if used. 

20
21

Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 5 

Data Management 

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Note: This SOP provides documentation for the osprey monitoring project database 

UCBN_Osprey.mdb and provides instructions for the development, maintenance, archiving, and 

distribution of the database or datasets. 

Suggested Reading 

Dicus, G. H,. and L. K. Garrett. 2007. Upper Columbia Basin Network data management plan. 

Version 1.0, Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2007-020. National Park 

Service, Moscow, ID 

Garrett, L. K., T. J. Rodhouse, G. H. Dicus, C. C. Caudill, and M. R. Shardlow. 2007. Upper 

Columbia Basin Network vital signs monitoring plan. Natural Resource Report NPS/ 

UCBN/NRR—2007/002. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 

National Park Service. 2006. Natural resource database template. Version 3.1 

documentation. Natural Resource Program Center, Office of Inventory, 

Monitoring, and Evaluation, Fort Collins, CO. 
Database Model 

The UCBN Osprey database has been developed within Microsoft Access. The database 

structure conforms to the standards of version 3.2 of the Natural Resource Database Template 

(NRDT), and consists of a user interface front-end (holding user forms for data entry, review, 

and export) that is linked to a back-end database file (holding the core osprey protocol data 

tables), an integrated UCBN data dictionary database file (holding various lookup tables shared 

across all UCBN protocols), and an integrated UCBN species database file (holding UCBN 

species data, from the NPSpecies database, also shared across all UCBN protocols). The general 

data management strategy will employ both a “working copy” of the database (used to enter the 

current season’s data, then conduct error-checking and validation) and a “master version” of the 

database (used to store all validated data, to facilitate multi-year analyses, and to provide specific 

data report and export formats). A physical data model for the osprey monitoring protocol shows 

the relationships among the core data tables, lookup tables, and cross reference tables (Figure 7). 

The primary core tables in the UCBN Osprey database are the tbl_Sites, tbl_Locations and 

tbl_Events tables plus a nest observation data table (tbl_EvData_NestObs). The nest observation 

data table is supported by a lookup table holding osprey behavior codes and descriptions. The 

sites table stores basic information about the site (e. g., Park unit) where osprey monitoring takes 

place. The locations table stores the unique physical location information for each nest site. Two 

tables (tbl_LocDetail_Images and tbl_LocDetail_NestTreeInfo) are linked to the locations table 

for the purpose of storing details on nest site photos and nest tree measurements. The events 

table, storing information about each visit to a given nest site, links to all involved field 

observers (via the xref_Events_Contacts table) and to the nest observation data. The protocol 

version in use at the time of data collection is linked to tbl_Events through use of a 

tlu_Protocol_Ver lookup table, and revisions to the osprey monitoring database will be captured 

in 2 metadata tables, tbl_Db_Meta and tbl_Db_Revisions. 

The UCBN employs generic lookup tables that can be incorporated across all monitoring 

protocols. The osprey database makes use of tlu_Parks_UCBN, tlu_UCBN_Contacts, and 

tlu_LocalSppList_UCBN as generic lookup tables. These generic lookup tables are managed in 1 

or more separate MS Access files that are linked to protocol-specific databases, allowing for 

updates to generic lookup tables without disruption to the functionality and use of protocolspecific database applications. 

22
23

Figure 7. The UCBN osprey monitoring protocol database model. 
Data Dictionary 

The following data dictionary provides a table description for every table contained in the UCBN 

Osprey database back-end file, and, for each table, provides each field name, the field type, the 

field size, and the field description. 

Table: tbl_Sites 

Description: Table stores descriptive data for Sites. Sites are Park units in which osprey nest 

monitoring occurs. Linked 1:Many to tbl_Locations. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description 

Site_ID ReplicationID 16 Primary key, uniquely identifying each tbl_Sites record 

GIS_Location_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to GIS feature, if applicable 

Site_Name Text 50 Unique name for a site (Park Unit name) 

Unit_Code Text 12 Park unit code (Park or Park sub-unit) 

Site_Notes Text 255 General notes on the site, if applicable 

Table: tbl_Locations 

Description: Table stores sampling Location data. Locations are nest sites. Nest observation data 

are collected at Locations. Linked 1:Many to tbl_Events, and 1:Many to tbl_LocDetail_Images 

and tbl_LocDetail_NestTreeInfo. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description 

Location_ID ReplicationID 16 Primary key, uniquely identifying each tbl_Locations 

record 

Site_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tbl_Sites (foreign key) 

GIS_Location_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to GIS feature, if applicable 

Meta_MID ReplicationID 16 Link to Metadata record 

X_Coord Double 8 X coordinate of Nest Tree 

Y_Coord Double 8 Y coordinate of Nest Tree 

Coord_Units Text 10 Coordinate distance units (e.g., meters) 

Coord_System Text 50 Coordinate system 

UTM_Zone Text 50 UTM Zone 

Datum Text 50 Datum of mapping ellipsoid 

Est_H_Error_m Single 8 Estimated horizontal accuracy in meters 

Accuracy_Notes Text 255 Positional accuracy notes, if applicable 

GPS_Unit Text 80 GPS unit used to collect Location coordinates, if applic 

Loc_Name Text 80 Name of Location (NestSite ID -- e.g., Nest_C_07). 

[Note: C = Coulee Dam section; G = Gifford section; K 

= Kettle Falls section.] 

Loc_Number Long Integer 4 Location (Nest) number 

Lake_Zone Text 30 Lake Zone (South, Middle, or North) in which the 

Location (Nest) occurs 

LakeZone_Descript Text 50 Description of Lake Zone (Coulee Dam section for 

South; Gifford section for Middle; and Kettle Falls 

section for North) 

NestSite_Descript Text 255 Description of Nest Site 

24
NestSite_Details Text 255 Additional details about Nest Site 

Nest_Structure Text 50 Description of Nest Structure (Dead Tree, Live Tree, 

Platform on Pole, Powerline Pole, Other) 

NestVisible 

FromRoad 

Text 20 Indication of whether Nest is visible from a road (Yes, 

No, or Unknown) 

SpeciesUse_ 

LastKnown 

Text 50 Species using Nest, based on latest Nest Observation 

data (Osprey, Bald Eagle, or Unknown) 

NestActivity_ 

LastKnown 

Text 50 Year of last known Nest Activity, based on latest Nest 

Observation data (either the year, or Unknown) 

Updated_Date Date/Time 10 Date of entry or last change 

Loc_Notes Text 255 General notes on the location, if applicable 

Table: tbl_LocDetail_Images 

Description: Table stores data for photos of Locations (nest sites). Linked Many:1 to 

tbl_Locations. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description 

NestImg_ID ReplicationID 16 Primary key, uniquely identifying each 

tbl_LocDetail_Images record 

Location_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tbl_Locations (foreign key) 

NestImg_Number Text 150 Nest Photo Number, if applicable 

NestImg_File_Name Text 255 Name of Nest Photo file. Park_NestID_Date (where 

Date in yyyymmdd format). 

NestImg_File_Path Text 255 File location Path of Nest Photo file 

NestImg_Date Date/Time 10 Date on which Nest Photo taken 

NestImg_Notes Text 255 Notes regarding Nest Photo, if applicable 

Table: tbl_LocDetail_NestTreeInfo 

Description: Table stores nest tree measurement data for Locations (nest sites). Linked Many:1 

to tbl_Locations. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description 

NestTree_ID ReplicationID 16 Primary key, uniquely identifying each 

tbl_LocDetail_NestTreeInfo record 

Location_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tbl_Locations (foreign key) 

NestTree_Height Long Integer 4 Height of Nest Tree (meters), if applicable 

Nest_Height Long Integer 4 Height of Nest above ground (meters) 

NestTree_dbh Long Integer 4 Diameter-at-Breast-Height of Nest Tree (centimeters), 

if applicable 

Nest_Dist_ 

to_LakeWater 

Long Integer 4 Distance of Nest from nearest area of lake water 

(meters) 

NestTree_SppCode Text 50 Species code (from xref_Spp_Protocol table in linked 

UCBN_NPSpp_Module backend file) of the Nest Tree, 

if applicable 

NestTree_ 

BrokenTop_YN 

Text 10 Does nest tree have a broken top (Yes/No), if 

applicable 

25
NearTree1_Height Long Integer 4 Height of Near Tree #1 (meters), if applicable 

NearTree1_dbh Long Integer 4 Diameter-at-Breast-Height of Near Tree #1 

(centimeters), if applicable 

NearTree2_Height Long Integer 4 Height of Near Tree #2 (meters), if applicable 

NearTree2_dbh Long Integer 4 Diameter-at-Breast-Height of Near Tree #2 

(centimeters), if applicable 

NearTree3_Height Long Integer 4 Height of Near Tree #3 (meters), if applicable 

NearTree3_dbh Long Integer 4 Diameter-at-Breast-Height of Near Tree #3 

(centimeters), if applicable 

NearTree4_Height Long Integer 4 Height of Near Tree #4 (meters), if applicable 

NearTree4_dbh Long Integer 4 Diameter-at-Breast-Height of Near Tree #4 

(centimeters), if applicable 

NestTree_ 

MeasureDate 

Date/Time 10 Date on which Nest Tree measurements taken 

NestTree_Notes Text 255 Notes regarding Nest Tree measurements, if applicable 

Table: tbl_Events 

Description: Table stores sampling Event data. Linked Many:1 to tbl_Locations, and linked to 

the field data table (tbl_EvData_NestObs). 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description 

Event_ID ReplicationID 16 Primary key, uniquely identifying each tbl_Events 

record 

Location_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tbl_Locations (foreign key) 

ProtoVer_ID Text 10 Link to tlu_Protocol_Ver (indicates the Protocol 

version in use at time of Event) 

Start_Date Date/Time 10 Date of sampling Event 

Start_Time Date/Time 6 Start time (24 hour format) of sampling Event 

End_Time Date/Time 6 End time (24 hour format) of sampling Event 

Event_Notes Text 255 Event notes (Plot-specific notes recorded during Event) 

Table: xref_Event_Contacts 

Description: Cross-reference table between tbl_Events and tlu_Contacts (stored in 

UCBN_Data_Dictionary backend file), allowing 1 or more contact persons to be associated with 

a given sampling Event. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description 

Event_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tbl_Events 

Contact_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tlu_Contacts (in UCBN Data Dictionary file) 

Contact_Role Text 50 The contact's role in collection of field data 

Table: tbl_EvData_NestObs 

Description: Table stores nest observation data. Uses species codes from 

UCBN_NPSpp_Module linked back-end file, and behavior codes from 

tlu_BehaviorDescriptions. Linked Many:1 to tbl_Events. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description 

26
NestObs_ID ReplicationID 16 Primary key, uniquely identifying each 

tbl_EvData_NestObs record 

Event_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tbl_Events (foreign key) 

Obs_Method Text 50 Observation Method for Nest survey (ground/vehicle or 

boat) 

Weather 

Conditions 

Text 20 Weather Conditions at time of Observation (Clear, 

Cloudy, Foggy, Rain, or Snow) 

SppCode Text 50 Tree species code (from xref_Spp_Protocol table in linked 

UCBN_NPSpp_Module backend file) for species 

observed at Nest Site 

NumberAdults Text 10 Number of Adults observed at Nest (0, 1, 2, 3, or 4+) 

NumberNestlings Text 10 Number of Nestlings observed at Nest (0, 1, 2, 3, or 4+) 

NestlingAge Text 50 Age of Nestlings observed at Nest (Downy Nestling, or 

Feathered Nestling) 

Behavior 

Observed 

Text 150 Behavior observed during Nest survey (most applicable 

choice from tlu_BehaviorDescriptions) 

OtherBehavior 

Description 

Text 255 Description of Observed Behavior (only if 

BehaviorObserved = Other) 

Observe_Notes Text 255 Comments regarding the nest observation 

Table: tlu_BehaviorDescriptions 

Description: Lookup table storing behavior codes and descriptions for characterizing behavior 

observed at nest sites. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description

Behavior 

Descript_ID 

ReplicationID 16 Primary key, uniquely identifying each 

tlu_BehaviorDescriptions record 

Behavior_Code Text 15 Code used for Behavior Description 

Behavior_Descript Text 255 Description of Behavior 

Beh_SortOrder Long Integer 4 Sort Order for controlling the sort order in databsae 

forms 

Table: tlu_Proto_VSign 

Description: Lookup table of Vital Sign and Protocol. Linked 1:Many to tlu_Protocol_Ver. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description

Prototcol_Parent Text 10 Primary key. Four letter code to identify each vital sign 

protocol (i.e., OSPY for Osprey Vital Sign). 

Vital_Signl_Name Text 150 Full Name of associated Vital Sign 

Table: tlu_Protocol_Ver 

Description: Lookup table of Protocol versions, linked to tbl_Events in order to associate a 

Protocol version with each individual sampling Event. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description

Protocol_Ver_ID Text 10 Primary key. Four letter Protocol Parent code plus 

version (e.g., OSPY_1_0, ASPN_2_3, etc.). 

Prototcol_Parent Text 10 Link to tlu_Proto_VSign (foreign key). Protocol four 

27
letter abbreviation (e.g., OSPY for Osprey protocol). 

Description Memo NA Description of this Protocol Version 

Table: tbl_DB_Meta 

Description: Database description and links to I&M metadata tools. 

Field Name Field Type Size Field Description 

DB_Meta_ID ReplicationID 16 Local primary key 

Db_Desc Memo NA Description of database purpose 

Meta_MID ReplicationID 16 Link to Metadata record 

Meta_File_Name Text 255 Filename of Metadata record 

Table: tbl_DB_Revisions 

Description: Database revision history data. 

Field Nam Field Type Size Field Description 

Revision_ID Text 50 Database revision (version) number or code 

Revision_Contact_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tlu_Contacts 

DB_Meta_ID ReplicationID 16 Link to tbl_DB_Meta 

Revision_Date Date/Time 8 Database revision date 

Revision_Reason Memo NA Reason for the database revision 

Revision_Desc Memo NA Revision description 

Data Entry 

Field data collection will be accomplished using paper datasheets. Following concentrated data 

collection by UCBN staff and/or cooperators, data will be transferred from paper datasheets into 

the UCBN Osprey database as soon after data collection as is practical. Data entry forms in the 

Osprey database are patterned after the structure of the paper datasheet, and the database has 

built-in quality assurance components such as pick lists and validation rules to test for missing 

data or illogical combinations. Data entry will be viewed as an important step in the overall 

QA/QC process, and care will be taken to review all nest observation data while the observers 

are in the field. 

Additional nest observation data will be collected by volunteers and park staff involved in the 

“Lake Roosevelt Osprey NestWatch Program.” Volunteers and/or park staff will visit their 

chosen nest site(s) from May until August until ospreys migrate from their nest sites in late 

summer. A web-based database application will facilitate online data entry by these volunteers 

and/or park staff. These online data entry forms will be linked from the UCBN osprey vital sign 

webpage (http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ucbn/monitor/osprey/osprey.cfm), and will input 

data into a simple MS Access database stored on the web server. At the end of the field season, 

the UCBN Data Manager will perform quality control checks on the records in that Access 

database, then migrate valid records into the current UCBN Osprey working database 

application. The NestWatch Program will provide useful nest activity data to augment the UCBN 

nest surveys conducted during nest initiation/incubation and during the fledging period. 

28
Assigning Nest Site ID 

Nest site identifications are assigned based on three general geographic locations: the lower third 

of the lake (Coulee Dam section), the middle third of the lake (Gifford section), and the upper 

third of the lake (Kettle Falls section). Each nest site is assigned a four-character code or Nest 

ID. The first character indicates the lake section (C, G, or K), and the nest number is represented 

as a 2-digit number (e.g., 01, 02, 03, etc.) separated from the lake section character by an 

underscore. Following this nest site identification strategy, nest sites located between Coulee 

Dam and the upper reaches of the Spokane River arm are named C_01, C_02, C_03, etc. Nest 

sites located along the middle section (river mile 50 to river mile 95 [Bradbury Beach]) are 

named G_01, G_02, etc. and nest sites located between river mile 95 and the NPS boundary at 

Onion Creek are named K_01, K_02, etc. Nest site identification will not change if a nest falls 

completely apart and a new nest is built within the same tree several years later. Keeping the 

same Nest ID over time will enable us to track long-term history of use at individual nest trees.

Quality Review 

After the data have been entered and processed, they will be reviewed by the Project Leader for 

quality, completeness, and logical consistency. The working database application will facilitate 

this process by showing the results of pre-built queries that check for data integrity, data outliers 

and missing values, and illogical values. The user may then fix these problems and document the 

fixes. Not all errors and inconsistencies can be fixed, in which case the resulting errors are then 

documented and included in the metadata and certification report. 

Metadata Procedures 

Data documentation is a critical step toward ensuring that data sets are useable for their intended 

purposes well into the future. This involves the development of metadata, which can be defined 

as structured information about the content, quality, and condition of data. Additionally, 

metadata provide the means to catalog data sets within intranet and internet systems, making data 

available to a broad range of potential users. Metadata for all UCBN monitoring data will 

conform to Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and NPS guidelines and will contain 

all components of supporting information such that the data may be confidently manipulated, 

analyzed, and synthesized. For long-term projects such as this one, metadata creation is most 

time consuming the first time it is developed – after which most information remains static from 

one year to the next. Metadata records in subsequent years then only need to be updated to reflect 

current publications, references, taxonomic conventions, contact information, data disposition 

and quality, and to describe any changes in collection methods, analysis approaches or quality 

assurance for the project. 

Specific procedures for metadata development and posting are outlined in the UCBN Data 

Management Plan. In general, the Project Leader and the Data Manager (or Data Technician) 

will work together to create and update an FGDC- and NPS-compliant metadata record in XML 

format. The Project Leader will update the metadata content as changes to the protocol are made, 

and each year as additional data are accumulated. Edits within the document will be tracked so 

that any changes are obvious to those who will use it to update the XML metadata file. At the 

conclusion of the field season, the Project Leader will be responsible for providing a completed, 

up-to-date metadata questionnaire form to the Data Manager. The Data Manager will facilitate 

metadata development by creating and parsing metadata records, and by posting such records to 

national clearinghouses as described below (see Data Archiving section). 

29
Sensitive Information 

Part of metadata development includes determining whether or not the data include any sensitive 

information, which includes specific locations of rare, threatened, or endangered species. Prior to 

completing metadata, the Project Leader and Park Resource Manager will work together to 

identify any sensitive information in the data. Their findings will be documented and 

communicated to the Data Manager. We do not anticipate that sensitive information will be 

present in the osprey monitoring program at this time. 

Data Certification and Delivery 

Data certification is a benchmark in the project information management process that indicates 

1) the data are complete for the period of record; 2) they have undergone and passed the quality 

assurance checks; and 3) they are appropriately documented and in a condition for archiving, 

posting, and distribution. Certification is not intended to imply that the data are completely free 

of errors or inconsistencies, which may not have been detected during quality assurance reviews. 

To ensure that only data of the highest possible quality are included in reports and other project 

deliverables, the data certification step is an annual requirement for all tabular and spatial data. 

The Project Leader is primarily responsible for completing certification. The completed form, 

certified data, and updated metadata should be delivered to the Data Manager as outlined in the 

following steps and in Table 2. 

Data certification steps 

To package the certification materials for delivery, the Project Leader should follow these steps: 

1) After the quality review has been completed, open the back-end working database file 

and compact it (in Microsoft Access, Tools > Database Utilities > Compact and Repair 

Database). This will make the file size much smaller. 

2) Create a compressed file (using WinZip® or similar software) and add the back-end 

database file to that file. Note: The front-end application does not contain project data 

and as such should not be included in the delivery file. 

3) Add the completed metadata to the compressed file. 

4) Add the completed certification report to the compressed file. 

5) Add any geospatial data files that aren’t already in the possession of the Data Manager. 

6) All file names – except for image files and geospatial data files – should include the 

assigned UCBN project code, in addition to the year or span of years for the data being 

certified. For example: OSPY_2009_certified.mdb, OSPY_2009_cert_report.doc. 

7) The compressed file may then be delivered to the UCBN Data Manager (typically via 

FTP site or CD/DVD disk). 

30
31

Upon receiving the certification materials, the Data Manager will check them in, store them in 

the central UCBN directory structure, upload the certified data to the master project database, 

and update the project GIS data sets with any geospatial data that are submitted. Upon 

notification that the year’s data have been uploaded and processed successfully, the Project 

Leader may then proceed with data summarization, analysis, and reporting. 
Data Archiving 

Paper data sheets will be archived for 3 years, which allow ample time to complete QA/QC and 

certification steps for digital data. The UCBN will maintain the master database as the official 

record of protocol data, following procedures established in the UCBN Data Management Plan 

(Dicus and Garrett 2007) to ensure the master database is properly archived and remains 

compatible with applicable software. 

Once the annual data certification has been completed, the UCBN Osprey database and related 

UCBN reports will be archived on the UCBN server, posted to the UCBN website, and posted to 

the national web-accessible secure Natural Resource Information Portal (NRInfo) application 

hosted by the NPS Washington Areas Support Office (WASO) or National I&M program. The 

NRInfo application incorporates functionality previously handled by separate databases into a 

single web interface that comprises: 

• The master database for natural resource bibliographic references 

• The master database for biodiversity information including species occurrences and 

physical or written evidence for the occurrence (i.e., references, vouchers, and 

observations) 

• A centralized data repository with a graphical search interface. 

A review of archive and expendable data products will be undertaken by the Project Lead and 

Data Manager during season close-out each year. An example of an expendable data product is 

an intermediate draft of an annual report that was saved during report preparation.

Directory Structure 

The following directory structure will be used to store and archive all information related to the 

osprey monitoring project on the UCBN file server. This is a generic structure that should 

provide a foundation and a minimum standard of organization and consistency. The goal is to 

organize all project materials in an efficient hierarchical structure that reflects the life cycle and 

workflow of the project. Toward this goal, all subfolders are organized into 4 primary project 

folders that reflect life cycle stages (initiate, plan, implement, and close). Additional subfolders 

may be added as needed, but a strong emphasis must be placed on keeping the structure as 

simple and logical as possible. The 4 primary project folders and their standard subfolders are 

presented below. 

\Initiate – Store information about the initiation of the project here, including proposals, contract 

agreements, relevant e-mails, etc. 

\Agreements_Contracts 

\Meetings_Correspondence 

\Proposals 

\Plan – Store information about the planning phase of the project here, including monitoring 

objectives, protocol development summaries, conceptual models, protocol and SOP drafts, study 

plans, and research permits. 

\Conceptual_Models 

 \Data_Mng_Models 

\Equipment 

32
\Meetings_Correspondence 

\Monitoring_Objectives 

\Protocol_Develop_Summary 

\Protocol_SOP_Drafts 

\Research_Permits 

\Study_Plans 

\Implement – Store information about the implementation phase of the project here, including 

data management documents and draft products, data analysis documents and draft products, 

project photos, and relevant correspondence.

\Data_Analysis 

\Data_Management 

\Data_Dictionary 

\PDA_Forms 

\Database_Working 

\Download_Files 

\GPS_Files 

\Datalogger_Files 

\GIS_Data_Working 

\Map_Products 

\Templates 

\Features 

\Geodatabases 

\Meetings_Coorespondence 

\Photos 

\Final 

\Originals 

\Working 

\Close – Store finalized documents and products from the close-out phase of the project (on 

either an annual basis or a final project close-out basis) here, including final reports, certified 

data and GIS products, and presentations.

\Certified_Data_GIS_Metadata 

\Final_Reports 

\Annual_Reports 

\Investigator_Annual_Reports 

\Protocol_SOP_Final 

\Other_Final_Deliverables 

\Presentations 

33
Schedule of Data Management Tasks 

Table 2. The yearly osprey monitoring data management task list. This table identifies tasks by project 

stage, indicates who is responsible for the task, and establishes the timing for its execution. 

Project Stage Task Description Responsibility Timing 

Notify Data Manager of needs (field 

maps, GPS support, training) 

Project Leader by Feb 1 

Ensure that project workspace is 

ready for use and GPS download 

software is loaded 

Data Manager by April 15 

Prepare and print field maps and data 

sheets 

Project Leader /Data 

Manager 

by April 15 

Update and load data dictionary and 

target coordinates into GPS units 

Project Leader/Data 

Manager 

by May 1 

Provide database/GPS training as 

needed 

Data 

Manager/Project 

Leader/Field Leader 

April 

Train field crew in nest observation 

protocols 

Project Leader 

and/or Field Leader 

May 15 

Preparation 

Examination and certification of field 

observer qualifications 

Project Leader 

and/or Field Leader 

May 1 

Collect field observations and position 

data during field trips 

Technicians/ 

Volunteers 

Data acquisition May-Aug 

Review data sheets after each day Field Leader daily 

Enter data into working copy of the 

database 

Technicians after each 

day 

Verification of accurate transcription 

as data are entered 

Technicians after each 

day 

Periodic review of database entries 

for completeness and accuracy 

Field Leader As needed 

Data entry & 

processing 

Upload processed and verified data to 

archive master database copy 

Data Manager 

and/or Technician 

Aug-Sept 

Product 

development 

Complete field season report Project Leader / 

Field Leader 

Oct 

Season close-out Meet to discuss the recent field 

season, and document any needed 

changes to field sampling protocols or 

the working database 

Project Leader, Park 

Resource Manager 

and Data Manager 

Nov-Dec 

Discuss and document needed 

changes to analysis and reporting 

procedures 

Project Leader, Park 

Resource Manager 

and Data Manager 

Nov-Dec 

Product delivery Send field season report to Data 

Manager 

Project Leader / 

Field Leader 

by Nov 15 

Quality review and data validation 

using database tools 

Project Leader/Data 

Manager 

Quality review Oct 

Prepare coordinate summaries and/or 

GIS layers and data sets as needed 

for spatial data review and reports 

Data Manager Oct 

Identify any sensitive information 

contained in the data set 

Project Leader and 

Park Resource 

Manager 

Metadata Nov-Dec 

Update project metadata records Project Leader Nov-Dec 

34
Table 2 (continued). The yearly osprey monitoring data management task list. This table identifies tasks 

by project stage, indicates who is responsible for the task, and establishes the timing for its execution. 

Project Stage Task Description Responsibility Timing 

Data certification Certify the season’s data and 

complete the certification report 

Project Leader Nov-Dec 

Deliver certification report, certified 

data, and updated metadata to Data 

Manager 

Data delivery Project Leader by Oct 31 

Upload certified data into master 

project database, store data files in 

UCBN Digital Library 1

Data Manager Nov 30 

Notify Project Leader of uploaded 

data ready for analysis and reporting 

Data Manager Nov 

Update project GIS data sets, layers 

and associated metadata records 

Data Manager Nov 

Finalize and parse metadata records, 

store in UCBN Digital Library 1

Data Manager Nov 

Power analyses and sample site 

selection for upcoming season 

Project Leader/Data 

Analyst 

Data analysis Nov-Dec 

Status and Trend Analyses Project Leader/Data 

Analyst 

Nov-Dec 

Export automated summary queries 

and reports from database 

Data Analyst Nov-Dec 

Produce park-wide map output for 

archives 

Data Manager / 

Data Analyst 

Nov-Dec 

Generate report-quality map output 

for reports 

Data Manager / 

Data Analyst 

Nov-Dec 

Acquire the proper report template 

from the NPS website, create annual 

report 

Data Analyst and 

Project Leader 

Nov-Dec 

Product 

development 

Screen all reports and data products 

for sensitive information 

Project Leader and 

Park Resource 

Manager 

Nov-Dec 

Submit draft report to Network 

Coordinator for review 

Project Leader by Dec 15 

Review report for formatting and 

completeness, notify Project Leader 

of approval or need for changes 

Network Coordinator by Dec 31 

Upload completed report to UCBN 

Digital Library 1

 submissions folder, 

notify Data Manager 

Project Leader 

by Dec 31 

Deliver other products according to 

the delivery schedule and instructions 

Project Leader upon 

completion 

Product delivery 

Product check-in Data Manager upon receipt 

Submit metadata to NRInfo 2 Data Manager by Dec 31 

Create NRInfo 3 record(s), and link 

digital reports 

Data Manager upon receipt 

Update NRInfo 4 species records 

according to data observations 

Data Manager Dec 

Posting & 

distribution 

(Section 4k) 

Submit certified data and GIS data 

sets to NRInfo 2

Data Manager Dec 

35
36

Table 2 (continued). The yearly osprey monitoring data management task list. This table identifies tasks 

by project stage, indicates who is responsible for the task, and establishes the timing for its execution. 

Project Stage Task Description Responsibility Timing 

Store finished products in UCBN 

Digital Library 1

Archival & Data Manager upon receipt 

records 

management Review, clean-up, and store and/or 

dispose of project files according to 

UCBN Data Management Plan 

guidelines 

Project Leader Dec 

1

 The UCBN Digital Library is a hierarchical digital filing system stored on the UCBN file server. Network 

users have read-only access to these files, except where information sensitivity may preclude general 

access. 

2

 Natural Resource Information Portal (NRInfo) is a clearinghouse for natural resource data and metadata 

(http://nrinfo.nps.gov). Only non-sensitive information will be publically viewable. Refer to the protocol 

section on sensitive information for details. 

3

 Bibliographic citations are managed within the national Natural Resource Information Portal (NRInfo) 

application, which facilitates user citation searches on author, title, keywords, etc. (http://nrinfo.nps.gov). 

Only non-sensitive information will be publically viewable. 

4

 Park-specific species lists and observation data are managed within the national Natural Resource 

Information Portal (NRInfo) application 
Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 6 

Data Summary, Analysis, and Reporting 

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Note: This SOP describes details of the recommended analytical approaches and reporting 

guidelines for the UCBN osprey monitoring program. 

Suggested Reading 

Agresti, A. 2007. An introduction to categorical data analysis. 2nd Edition. John Wiley and Sons, 

New York. 

Crawley, M. J. 2005. Statistics: an introduction using R. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. West Sussek, 

England. 

Garrett, L. K., T. J. Rodhouse, L. K. Svancara, and C. C. Caudill. 2006. Vital signs monitoring 

plan, Upper Columbia Basin Network. Natural Resource Report 

NPS/PWR/UCBN/NRR—2006/001. National Park Service, Seattle, WA. 

Gerrodette, T. 1987. A power analysis for detecting trends. Ecology 68:1364-1372. 

Helsel, D. R., and R. M. Hirsch. 1991. Statistical methods in water resources: Techniques of 

water-resources investigations of the United States. Geological Survey Book 4: 

Hydrologic analysis and interpretation Chapter A3, Reston, VA. 

Higgins, J. J. 2004. Introduction to modern nonparametric statistics. Brooks/Cole-Thomson 

Learning, Pacific Grove, CA. 

Maindonald, J., and W. J. Braun. 2007. Data analysis and graphics using R – an example-based 

approach. Cambridge University Press, UK. 

37
National Park Service. 2006. Instruction to authors—Natural Resource Report and Natural 

Resource Technical Report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/NRR—2006/001. 

National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 

38
Introduction

This SOP describes analytical procedures for developing summary information that will be 

reported to park managers in annual and 5 year trend reports. The first trend report will be 

produced in 2015. 

Analytical Procedures 

The statistical methods outlined below are described for implementation with the statistical 

freeware R, an open source version of S-Plus. R is a powerful system for statistical computations 

and graphics, which runs on Windows, Unix, and Mac computers. R is a combination of a 

statistics package and a programming language. It can be downloaded for free from 

http://www.r-project.org/ . The R Wiki provides an online forum 

http://wiki.rproject.org/rwiki/doku.php and documentation. R is one of the analytical 

environments of choice for the Upper Columbia Basin Network. Computational code for 

procedures outlined in this SOP written for R statistical language and environment 

(http://www.r-project.org/) are provided on the CD that accompanies this manual or by request 

from the UCBN. All analytical code is stored on the UCBN file server under 

Osprey/3_Implement/Data_Analysis/RCode. Direct references to R commands in the text are 

distinguished by Courier New Font rather than Times New Roman, with arguments for the 

commands noted by closed parentheses (). 

Power Analysis 

Given the history of osprey population declines world-wide in response to environmental 

contamination, and the level of contamination and human disturbance present in Lake Roosevelt 

currently, we have focused our analytical attention on detecting declines rather than increases, 

although our protocol will support change detection in both directions. Power to detect change is 

a function of sample size (occupied nests), magnitude of the minimum detectable change, and 

acceptable error (Type I and Type II error; Gerodette 1987). We have no ability to adjust the 

sample size and have chosen to accept a higher Type I (false-change) error in order to minimize 

the Type II (missed-change) error, reducing the “conservationist’s risk” (Irwin 2006; Morrison 

2007). 

Because we are observing most and potentially all members of the target population (mapped 

and accessible established nests), there will be little or no uncertainty in status estimates of 

occupancy or productivity, and therefore no requirement for power analysis or sample size 

calculations for status. Change detection will be restricted to the absolute increase or decrease in 

the number of occupied nests observed during the incubation period, and in the ratio of the total 

number of fledglings produced per year to the total number of occupied nests within the target 

population. We have taken a simulation approach to estimating power to detect declines for fixed 

sample sizes (occupied nests), and with Type I error (α or false-change error) fixed at 20%. In 

our case, year (time) is the variable that influences power, rather than sample size (number of 

nests) within years. Based on our simulations, power (1-β ) to detect 50% declines in the number 

of occupied nests over 20 years with non-parametric Mann-Kendall tests will be approximately 

95%. 

39
The following code was used to estimate power: 

***************************************************************************** 

#File: UCBN_OspreyPower_MannKendall_20100312.txt 

#Purpose: Simulate decline in annual occupied nest count data from a binomial 

distribution, 

#and estimate power with Mann-Kendall tests 

#Contact: Tom Rodhouse, UCBN Ecologist, Tom_Rodhouse@nps.gov 

#Date: March 12, 2010 

library(Kendall) 

#yrs is years 

yrs<-20 

#Number of nests 

n<-20 

decline=seq(from=.5,to=.25,length.out=20) #starting p based on pilot data 

approximately 50% 

#50% decline over 20 yrs ends at p=0.25 

#its is number of simulation iterations 

its<-10000 

#WYear is year index 

WYear<-rep(seq(0,(yrs-1),by=1)) 

#data and temp hold output 

data<-numeric(0) 

temp<-numeric(0) 

#begin loop 

for (i in 1:its) { 

 for (j in 1:yrs) { 

 temp[j]<-rbinom(1,n,decline[j])} 

 data[i]<-MannKendall(temp)$sl[1] 

 power<-sum(data<=0.2)/its 

} 

power 

#data 

plot(temp,type="l",xlab="Years",ylab="Nests Occupied", 

main="Osprey Occupited Nests - A Simulated Trend") 

lm<-glm(temp~WYear,family="poisson")#Poisson regression for counts 

lines(WYear,exp(predict(lm)),lty=2) 

***************************************************************************** 

40
41

Annual Status Summary 

Status results will be summarized after each year of data collection. Standard summary 

information will be presented for nesting ospreys at LARO with content similar to that shown in 

Tables 3 and 4, and will include the number of known nest sites, number of occupied nests, 

percentage of occupied nests, total number of young, and average number of young per occupied 

nest (productivity). 

Table 3. Example of annual summary information for the LARO osprey population. 

Results of Annual Osprey Surveys 2009 

Number of known nest sites 9 

Number of occupied nests 4 

Percentage of occupied nests 44% 

Total number of young 6 

Average number of young per occupied nest (productivity) 0.67 

Nest tree characteristics will be summarized and reported annually along with the activity and 

productivity survey information. Table 4 is an example of summary information that will be 

reported for characteristics of nest trees at LARO. 

Table 4. Example of summary information of nest site characteristics of occupied osprey nests in LARO. 

Parameter Mean or 

Percent 

Range n 

Nest height (m) 22.8 6-33 45 

Tree height (m) 23.1 10-33 45 

Tree dbh (cm) 58.9 28.2-136.4 45 

Distance to water (m) 121 2-1,430 45 

Species of tree 

 Ponderosa pine 

 Douglas-fir 

39% 

30% 

13 

10 

Manmade structures 30% 10 

Average height (m) of 4 nearest 

trees to occupied nest tree 

12 6-34 180 

Average diameter (dbh in cm) 

of 4 nearest trees to occupied 

nest tree 

18 1-140 180 

Trend Analysis 

After 5 years of data collection, evidence of change in the two key metrics, (number of nests 

occupied) and (number of fledglings per occupied nest) will be evaluated with the nonparametric Mann-Kendall test, which uses a simple rank-based correlation coefficient, Kendall’s 

tau, to determine if nest occupancy is correlated with time (Helsel and Hirsch 1991, Higgins 

2004). Simple summaries will be made with the multi-year averages, as shown in Table 5. A 

table similar to Table 5 will be generated for the LARO 5-year annual status and trend report. 
Table 5. Breeding success of Ospreys in the West Kootenay during 2006, compared to the nine-year 

average and range of values for 1997-2005 (Arndt 2007). 

Indicators of Breeding Success 2006 

1997-2005 

mean 

(range) 

Number of occupied nests 27 34 

(21-56) 

Number of young 29 44 

(15-96) 

No. young per occupied nest 1.07 1.23 

(0.71 – 1.71) 

Graphical tools will also be used to display biologically important changes in osprey numbers 

and productivity over time. For example, a simple line graph of a time series of occupied nest 

counts can be effective. Figure 8. displays a simulated 50% decline in osprey nest occupancy 

over 20 years, with a stochastic component introduced by drawing from a binomial error 

distribution, provides a realistic illustration of how osprey observation data may be presented 

over time. The dashed line represents a Poisson regression line (for count data) fitted to the nest 

counts over time. In this example, the estimated annual rate of decline was 3.4%. The estimated 

correlation coefficient τ between the number of occupied nests and year was -0.53 (p=0.002). 

This figure was drawn from one iteration of our power analysis simulation described previously, 

showing how nest counts may vary from year to year, but also show an overall trend. A 

generalized linear model using a log-linear transformation suitable for counts (i.e., a “Poisson” 

error structure), )()ln( j 10 Yearj y β += β , was plotted over this time series to illustrate one way 

of obtaining an overall estimate of mean trend over time. Code for plotting Figure 8 and for 

estimating the slope coefficient for trend with a Poisson model are included in the power analysis 

code presented previously. 

42
5 10 15 20

4 6 8 10 12

Osprey Occupied Nests - A Simulated Trend

Years

Nests Occupied

Figure 8. A simulated trend of osprey nest occupancy. 

Reporting

A summary will be produced annually, with a more detailed status and trend report produced 

every 5 years. The annual summary will: 

• List project personnel and their roles. 

• List nest site locations and observations recorded during the current year. 

• Provide a summary history of the number of occupied nests and number of young 

produced per occupied nest (productivity). 

• Provide status and trend (after 2014) estimates for the osprey population at LARO. 

• Provide a summary of additional nest tree characteristics, including mean nest height (m), 

tree height (m), tree DBH, distance to water (m), and species of tree. 

• Provide a summary of additional nest platform characteristics, type of structure (power 

pole, bridge, etc.), height of structure, and distance to water (m). 

43
• Provide map(s) of annual nest site locations. 

• Evaluate data quality and identify any data quality concerns and/or deviations from 

protocols that affect data quality and interpretability. 

• Evaluate and identify suggested or required changes to the protocol. 

In order to reduce the reporting burden of the I&M program on UCBN staff, the annual summary 

will be developed for internal Network distribution only. However, a 1-2 page resource brief will 

be prepared for public consumption, and provided to park interpretive staff for distribution to 

interested visitors (Figure 9). An NPS template for producing maps with ESRI ArcGIS or 

ArcView software is available at http://imgis.nps.gov/templates.html. 

Osprey nest site locations will be reported to the LARO resource managers as early in the nesting 

season as possible. Reported information will include GPS locations and location maps so that 

resource managers can direct boat vehicle traffic or visitors away from the nest site, if necessary. 

A more in-depth status and trend analysis and report will be produced approximately every five 

years, or as the importance of emerging information warrants. This report will provide greater 

analytical and interpretive detail, and will evaluate the relevance of findings to long-term 

management goals. The report should also evaluate operational aspects of the monitoring 

program, such as whether the observation period remains appropriate. The timing of the spring 

arrival of birds at the nest site could conceivably change over time in response to climate change. 

The 5-year status and trend report will use the NPS Natural Resource Publications Natural 

Resource Technical Report (NRTR) template, a pre-formatted Microsoft Word template 

document based on current NPS formatting standards. This template, guidelines for its use and 

documentation of the NPS publication standards are available at the following address: 

http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM/index.cfm. This osprey protocol is also an 

excellent example of the NPS Natural Resource Report formatting standard, which is very 

similar to the NRTR template. 

44
Schedule for Osprey Monitoring Project Deliverables 

Table 6. Schedule for osprey monitoring project deliverables. 

Deliverable Product 

Primary 

Responsibility Target Date Destination(s) 

Field season report Project Leader December 1 of the 

same year UCBN Digital Library 1

Raw data files Field Leader September 15 of the 

same year UCBN Digital Library 1

Photographs (select, quality 

images for long-term 

storage) 

Project Leader November 30 of the 

same year UCBN Digital Library 1

Certified working database 

and geospatial data with 

draft metadata 

Project Leader 

with Data 

Manager 

assistance 

delivered by November 

30 of the same year, 

not posted to public 

sites until June of the 

second year 

master project database 

and GIS data sets, copy 

to UCBN Digital Library 1

, 

and post to NRInfo 2

Data certification report Project Leader November 30 of the 

same year UCBN Digital Library 1

Full metadata (parsed XML) Data Manager March 15 of the 

following year 

NRInfo 2

, UCBN Digital 

Library 1

Annual report Project Leader April 30 of the following 

year 

NRInfo 3

, UCBN Digital 

Library 1

, printout to local 

park collections 

5-year analysis report Project Leader Every 5 years by April 

30 

NRInfo 3

, UCBN Digital 

Library 1

, printout to local 

park collections 

Other publications 

NPS Leader, 

Project Leader, 

Data Manager 

as completed 

NRInfo 3

, UCBN Digital 

Library 1

, printout to local 

park collections 

Other records NPS Leader and 

Project Leader 

review for retention 

every January 

retain according to UCBN 

Data Management Plan 

guidelines 

1

 The UCBN Digital Library is a hierarchical digital filing system stored on the UCBN file server. Network 

users have read-only access to these files, except where information sensitivity may preclude general 

access. 

2

 Natural Resource Information Portal (NRInfo) is a clearinghouse for natural resource data and metadata 

(http://nrinfo.nps.gov). Only non-sensitive information will be publically viewable. Refer to the protocol 

section on sensitive information for details. 

3

 Bibliographic citations are managed within the national Natural Resource Information Portal (NRInfo) 

application, which facilitates user citation searches on author, title, keywords, etc. (http://nrinfo.nps.gov). 

Only non-sensitive information will be publically viewable. 

45
46

Figure 9. Osprey monitoring 2009 resource brief. 
Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 7 

Protocol Revision

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Note: This SOP describes the recommended protocol revision practices and provides a history 

and documentation of the protocol development and revision process. 

47
Procedures

This monitoring protocol is an actively evaluated and updated document that reflects the latest 

procedures of the monitoring program. Revisions are expected, and can involve only minor 

changes with little overall impact or occasional major revisions and course corrections. 

Evaluation and revision of the protocol is directed by the Project Leader on an annual basis in 

association with season close-out. The narrative and SOP has a revision history log whereby 

changes can be recorded. Older versions of the narrative and SOPs should be archived to ensure 

proper legacy of past work is maintained. Each revision will require the updating of the version 

number. Minor changes are recorded as decimal numbers (e.g., 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, etc...). Major 

changes are recorded as a change in the primary number of the protocol version (e.g., 1.0, 2.0, 

3.0, etc...). In some cases, major revisions to the protocol may prompt the need for additional 

peer review. The Project Leader and Network Coordinator will coordinate this with the Regional 

I&M Program Coordinator. 

Development and Revision History Log 

The development, reporting and revisions will be recorded as part of the osprey monitoring. 

Table 7 summarizes the major events in protocol development and reporting up to this date. 

Table 7. Protocol development and revision history log. This table summarizes the major events 

leading to the development and revision of the UCBN osprey monitoring protocol (version 1.0, 

draft). 

Date Development Step Documentation 

August 

2007 

Pilot data collection from a fixed wing airplane with UCBN 

staff 

Excel 

Spreadsheet 

August – 

September 

2008 

LARO and SCAs collect data on 31 nest sites at LARO. Excel 

Spreadsheet 

July 

2009 

UCBN Project Leader and SCAs collect data on 31 nest sites 

at LARO. A resource brief is developed and the protocol 

development summary is updated. 

Access Database, 

Project 

Development 

Summary, 

Resource Brief 

September 

2009 

A complete draft of the osprey monitoring protocol narrative 

and SOPs are submitted to UCBN for internal and external 

review. 

Draft Osprey 

Monitoring 

Protocol Narrative 

and SOPs 

March 2010 Revised version 1.0 of the osprey protocol narrative and 

SOPs submitted for final approval 

Revise Osprey 

Monitoring 

Protocol Narrative 

and SOPs 

48
Upper Columbia Basin Network 

Osprey Protocol Development Summary 

(March 2010) 

Protocol: Osprey 

Parks Where Protocol will be Implemented: LARO 

Justification/Issues being addressed: 

Indicator species help researchers and resource managers by providing information on the overall 

condition of an ecosystem. For several reasons raptors can be extremely useful indicators of 

environmental change. Raptors occupy most ecosystems, cover large home ranges, and are often 

migratory, top predators in complex food webs, and sensitive to environmental contaminants and 

other human disturbances (Bildstein 2001). The osprey is an excellent example of one of these 

potential indicator species. 

North American osprey populations began to drastically decline in the early 1950s and declines 

continued through the early 1970s (Reese 1972; Poole 1989). Environmental pollutants such as 

Dieldrin, DDE, and PCB, have been listed as the primary cause of declines. These pollutants 

bioaccumulate in the aquatic flora and fauna and, because fish constitute 99% of an osprey’s 

diet, pollutants accumulate rapidly in osprey tissue. At high levels, these contaminants cause 

eggshell thinning and decreased egg viability (Ames 1966; Wiemeyer et al. 1978; Steidl et al. 

1991). With restrictions and bans on many of these pollutants in the 1980s, osprey numbers 

appear to have rebounded and are flourishing in many areas (Titus and Fuller 1990). However, 

the presence of contaminants still remains a concern in many areas, including LARO. 

The osprey is a common breeding resident in LARO, but is at risk of environmental 

contamination. Contaminants found in the sediments of the Upper Columbia River consist of 

heavy metals such as antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc, as well as 

organic contaminants such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins), polychlorinated 

dibenzofurans (furans) and PCBs (EPA 2006). Known and potential sources of contaminants in 

LARO include mining and milling operations, smelting operations, pulp and paper production, 

sewage treatment plants, and other industrial activities (EPA 2006). One of the largest sources of 

contamination in LARO is the TechCominco Smelter, located along the Columbia River 

approximately 16 km (10 mi) north of the US border. This smelter has been discharging 

pollutants for over 100 years, making it the single largest source of heavy metal contaminants in 

the Upper Columbia River (EPA 2006). 

Increased human recreational activity is an additional stressor on osprey populations in LARO. 

While reservoirs and man-made nesting structures, such as telephone poles and artificial 

platforms benefit osprey, high levels of human activity in the vicinity of active nests may be 

adversely affecting successful reproduction (D’Eon and Watt 1994). The effect of human 

disturbance on osprey is dependent on several factors including the timing, frequency, and 

intensity of disturbance and the degree of osprey habituation. Recreational activity at LARO has 

49
been steadily increasing over time, and in 2005, LARO attracted over 1 million visitors. Most of 

these are summertime watercraft users, and because ospreys typically nest on or near the 

lakeshore and forage exclusively over open water, an inherent conflict exists. 

Monitoring of osprey is a critical element in the suite of information needed by LARO managers 

to adequately understand and manage park ecological condition. Though there have been several 

studies over recent years examining the presence of contaminants within LARO, little 

information is available regarding osprey in the area, and few studies (if any) have researched the 

potential impacts of these contaminants on osprey and other avian wildlife (Henny 2005). 

The UCBN I&M Program seeks to support LARO staff by developing a simple and effective 

long-term monitoring protocol that will provide timely information on osprey nest occupancy 

and productivity. We will assist LARO in the identification of desired target values for 

occupancy and productivity, and conservative thresholds that, if crossed, might trigger 

management action. Because of the complexity of land ownership and management 

responsibilities in the Lake Roosevelt area, NPS management options are limited. However, 

osprey declines exceeding established thresholds may be used to garner support among other 

area stakeholders to support additional research or alternative management strategies. 

The overarching goal of the UCBN osprey vital signs monitoring program is to inform park 

resource managers about the status and trend of osprey populations at LARO. The primary 

objective of current osprey population management at LARO is to prevent a decline in current 

density levels. Knowledge of nest site characteristics and determining patterns in nesting area 

occupancy and reproductive success is important in the conservation and preservation of osprey 

populations. 

Given the lack of available ecological data on osprey nesting ecology in LARO, the following 

fundamental questions continue to drive much of the UCBN’s inquiry into osprey population 

ecology: 

• What is the number of nests occupied in LARO? What is the trend in nest occupancy? 

• What is the trend in productivity as measured by the number of young produced per 

occupied nest in LARO? 

• What are the habitat characteristics of osprey nest sites at LARO? 

• What volunteer programs can park managers implement to engage park staff and visitors 

in a greater appreciation for natural resources within LARO? 

In light of these questions and the broader goals outlined above, this protocol will address the 

following specific measurable monitoring objectives: 

1) Determine status and trend in the number of occupied osprey nests within 1500 m of Lake 

Roosevelt that are accessible to surveyors. Justification: Currently little information is available 

concerning osprey nesting activity in LARO. Osprey nests are relatively easy to locate and 

observe from the ground. Locating nests will provide information regarding nest structure and it 

will also help to identify critical areas for increased protection.

50
2) Determine status and trend in productivity (expressed as the number of young per occupied 

nest) for monitored osprey nests at LARO. Justification: Productivity is essential to maintaining 

a healthy population. Contaminants and human disturbance at LARO may be affecting osprey 

productivity. Knowing the level of productivity of this area will help managers better understand 

population condition and proceed to address issues of management concern. 

3) Determine status and trend in osprey nest site characteristics including nest tree metrics and 

habitat characteristics to evaluate changes in nesting habitat association for monitored osprey 

nests at LARO. Justification: Currently little information is available concerning habitat 

characteristics of osprey nest sites in LARO. Collecting data on nest site characteristics will 

provide information regarding nest trees and use of artificial nest structures at LARO. 

4) Increase appreciation and understanding of osprey breeding biology and nest site requirements 

at LARO through the recruitment of park staff, local birdwatchers, and school groups in 

collecting and reporting osprey nest site data. Justification: Currently one of the long-term goals 

of the resource staff is to increase public appreciation and understanding for the natural 

resources at LARO. The challenge is to help visitors understand that the national recreation 

area offers more than just fishing and boatingl opportunities. With a well-planned and welldelivered volunteer monitoring program for observation of osprey nests, visitors can collect and 

report data on osprey nest sites that will provide a means to increase public understanding and 

appreciation of osprey breeding biology. 

Basic Approach: 

Knowledge of nest site characteristics and nest success of ospreys is important in the 

conservation and preservation of these populations. We will annually locate occupied osprey 

nests by foot, car, and boat along the Lake Roosevelt study area. Classification of occupied (pair 

present) versus active nests (eggs laid or young present) will follow the criteria of Postupalsky 

(1974). Nests will be visited a minimum of 2 times during the breeding season to determine 

success (number of feathered advanced-age young of 40-45 days at each nest). 

Our terminology and data summary methods are based on Postupalsky (1974, 1983), who 

recommended standard terminology for describing status of nests and standard criteria for 

calculating reproductive success. Postupalsky (1983) recommended counting young when adults 

are no longer brooding consistently, and young are large and dark (partly feathered to feathered). 

Our goal is to determine the number of feathered nestlings, but occasionally downy nestlings 

may be present during the second visit to a site. When this happens, an additional visit will be 

made to the nest site several days later to determine if the chicks develop into fledglings. 

Information collected on nest site characteristics will assist park managers in determining the 

location and type of structure that osprey are using for their nests along the shoreline of LARO. 

Nest site covariates that are recorded at occupied nest sites include: nest height (m), tree height 

(m), tree dbh (cm), distance to water (m), species of tree, type of nesting structure (power pole, 

bridge, etc. ) and relationship of nest tree to surrounding trees. This comparison will be a height 

comparison, or if the trees are of a similar height then a comparison of dbh (larger, similar, and 

smaller). 

51
The focus of this protocol is the monitoring of osprey nests but we recognize that the importance 

of eagle nesting success is also of concern to park management. Information on occupied eagle 

nest sites encountered during field work will also be recorded and reported to park management 

as time allows. 

Principle Investigators and NPS Leader: 

NPS Leader: Lisa Garrett, Lisa_Garrett@nps.gov. 

Development Schedule, Budget, and Expected Interim Products: 

A draft protocol was revised and submitted for final approval in March 2010. 

Literature Cited: 

Ames, P. L. 1966. DDT residues in the eggs of the osprey in the North-eastern United States and 

their relation to nesting success. Supplement: pesticides in the environment and their 

effects on wildlife. The Journal of Applied Ecology 3:87-97. 

Bildstein, K. L. 2001. Why migratory birds of prey make great biological indicators. 

Hawkwatching in the Americas. 169-179. 

D’Eon, Robert G., and W. R. Watt. 1994. Osprey management guidelines in Northeastern 

Ontario: a review. MNR, Northeast Science and Technology. Timmins, Ont. TR-018. 

Environmental Protection Agency. 2006. Phase I sediment sampling data evaluation, Upper 

Columbia River site. CERCLA RI/FS. Prepared by Ecology and Environment, Inc. 

Henny, C. J. 2005. An assessment of the status of nesting Ospreys and waterbirds along Lake 

Roosevelt with special emphasis toward future contaminant studies. Research proposal. 

Poole, A. F. 1989. Ospreys: A natural and unnatural history. Cambridge University Press. 

Postupalsky S. 1974. Raptor reproductive success: some problems with methods, criteria, and 

terminology. In: Hamerstrom, Jr. F.N., B.E. Harrell, and R.R. Olendorff (eds.) 

Management of Raptors. Raptor Research Foundation, Vermillion, SD, pp. 21–31. 

Postupalsky S. 1983. Techniques and terminology for surveys of nesting bald eagles. In: J.W. 

Grier, J.B. Elder, F.J. Gramlich, N.F. Green, J.V. Kussman, J.E. Mathisen, and J.P. 

Mattson (eds.) Northern states bald eagle recovery plan. US Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Twin Cities, MN, Appendix D. 

Reese, J. G. 1972. Osprey Nesting success along the Choptank River, Maryland. Chesapeake 

Science. 13:233-235. 

Steidl, R. J., C. R. Griffin, and L. J. Niles. 1991. Contaminant levels of osprey eggs and prey 

reflect regional differences in reproductive success. Journal of Wildlife Management 

55:601-608. 

52
53

Titus, K., and M. R. Fuller. 1990. Recent trends in counts of migrant hawks from northeastern 

North America. Journal of Wildlife Management 54:463-470. 

US Geological Survey. 2005. Ospreys in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. USGS FS-153-02, 

US Department of Interior, Washington, DC. 

Wiemeyer, S. N., D. M. Swineford, P. R. Spitzer, and P. D. McLain. 1978. Organochlorine 

residues in New Jersey osprey eggs. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and 

Toxicology 19:56-63. 

Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 8 

Field Safety and Job Hazard Analysis 

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Note: This SOP describes recommended safety practices, emergency contact information, and a 

job hazard analysis for the osprey protocol. All motorboat operators must adhere to the 

Department of Interior Manual Chapter 22: Watercraft Safety included in this SOP. 

55
Field Safety Procedures 

Weather and Field Gear 

Field work in northeast Washington can bring with it challenging weather extremes. In spring and 

early summer cold rainy weather is common with possible frost at night. Later in summer the 

weather can be very hot approaching, 100 ̊ F. It is essential to the success of the program that all 

volunteers and staff are well prepared for weather extremes. Good rain gear, warm clothes, sunhats, 

sunscreen, plenty of water, and mosquito repellant are essential. Lightweight, long-sleeve clothing 

worn as protection from insects and sun is recommended. It is also important to always wear boots 

during field sampling: lighter shoes are acceptable in camp. 

Safety Precautions 

The terrain around the nest sites at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is varied with many 

nests located on relatively steep hillslopes and large elevation gains between the water and the nest. 

Osprey nest sites are also in rather remote locations and travel time to transport injured or sick 

personnel is considerable. Conservative decision-making is imperative. An injury, even a minor 

one, could cause a substantial interruption in field schedules and overall monitoring program 

progress. Cell phone coverage at both park sites is intermittent and should not be relied upon in case 

of an emergency. Use of two-way radios is strongly encouraged! First aid kits should be 

available in vehicles or boats during field work! 

Emergency Contact Information 

North District – Kettle Falls 

If you need an Officer, contact Stevens County Dispatch @ (509) 684-2555. If you have an 

emergency, please call 911. The closest hospital is located at 982 E Columbia, Colville, WA 

99114, (509) 684-2561

56
Headquarters – Coulee Dam 

Coulee Medical Center 

411 Fortuyn Blvd. - Grand Coulee, WA 99133 

Coulee Medical Center: 509.633.1753 

Coulee Family Medicine Clinic: 509.633.1911 

Coulee Medical Clinic: 509.632.5701 

FIRST RESPONDERS 

BE PREPARED TO STATE YOUR EXACT LOCATION 

EMERGENCIES - 911 

MARINE BAND NUMBER 

Marine 16 

STEVENS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 

(509) 684-2555 

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 

(509) 725-3501 

FERRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 

(509) 775-3132 

COLVILLE TRIBAL POLICE 

(800) 551-5800 

SPOKANE INDIAN TRIBAL PARK RANGERS 

(509) 722-4445 

57
Department of the Interior 

Departmental Manual 

Effective Date: 3/12/99 

Series: Safety Management 

Part 485: Safety and Occupational Health Program 

Chapter 22: Watercraft Safety 

Originating Office: Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety 

485 DM 22 

22.1 Purpose. To establish minimum requirements for the safe operation of Department of the 

Interior watercraft and other non-motorized boats, and for the training and certification of 

Departmental watercraft operators. 

22.2 References. 

A. 33 CFR, Navigation and Navigable Waters, Subchapter S, Boating Safety. 

B. 46 CFR 2, Shipping, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, Requirements. 

C. 410 DM, Department of the Interior Property Management Regulations. 

22.3 Definitions. 

A. Motorboat. Any watercraft 65 feet or less in length, that does not require a U.S. Coast Guard 

license or certification to operate. 

B. Operator. The individual in physical control of the watercraft. 

C. Motorboat Classifications: 

(1) Class A. Motorboat less than 16 feet in length. 

(2) Class 1. Motorboat 16 feet to less than 26 feet in length. 

(3) Class 2. Motorboat 26 feet to less than 40 feet in length. 

(4) Class 3. Motorboat 40 feet to 65 feet in length. 

58
D. Watercraft. Boats and ships, collectively, including air boats, sailboats, and every description 

of watercraft, except seaplanes, which are used or capable of being used, as a means of 

transportation on water; and are propelled by machinery whether or not such machinery is the 

principle source of propulsion. 

22.4 Requirements. Bureaus engaged in watercraft operations will establish a watercraft safety 

program that includes the following minimum requirements: 

A. Safe Watercraft Operation. 

(1) Departmental watercraft will be operated in a safe and prudent manner and in accordance 

with recognized Federal, State, and local laws and standards, in addition to the requirements of 

this Chapter. 

(2) Departmental watercraft will meet or exceed applicable U.S. Coast Guard design/equipment 

requirements. 

(3) In addition to basic safety devices required by local, State, or Federal regulations, 

Departmental watercraft will be outfitted, based on expected conditions, with other equipment 

necessary for safe operation. This may include communications gear, navigation aids, and 

Satnav. Special consideration should be given for the use of emergency location devices such as 

Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon or personal locator beacons. Use of these devices is 

highly recommended where situations may warrant. 

(4) Operators of Departmental watercraft shall be adequately trained, properly tested and 

certified, prior to official operation of any Departmental watercraft. Certification will be in 

accordance with Section 22.5 of this Chapter. Prior to certification, employees may practice 

motorboat operation under the supervision of a certified operator aboard the watercraft. 

Motorboat operation by non-certified employees will only be used to gain experience prior to 

completing the necessary training requirements and being certified. 

(5) On Class A or Class 1 vessels, all persons must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal 

flotation device (PFD) at all times while on board. On Class 2 or Class 3 vessels, all persons 

must wear U.S. Coast Guard approved PFDs at all times when on an open space such as the 

deck, and at the discretion of the vessel operator at other locations on the vessel. 

(6) PFDs will be international orange in color and equipped with retro reflective tape in 

accordance with 46 CFR 25.25-15. (See Appendix 3 of this Chapter.) 

(7) Deviation from the requirements of Section 22.4A(6) of this Chapter may be permitted if 

special mission requirements, such as may be involved in special law enforcement operations, 

cannot be otherwise satisfied. Deviations must be authorized in writing by the supervisor of the 

organizational unit conducting the operation prior to the conduct of the activity. The written 

authorization will identify alternate safety measures to be taken. Deviations will be authorized on 

a case-by-case basis except where they have the concurrence of a regional (or equivalent) safety 

59
manager. In those cases, the deviation may be authorized for a period not to exceed one year. 

Deviation from other requirements of this Chapter is not permitted. 

(8) Cold water protective equipment, such as exposure suits and/or immersion suits, will be 

provided where cold water conditions pose a hazard during watercraft operations. All personnel 

on board will be trained in the use of this equipment. 

(9) Periodic inspection and maintenance programs will be established for all Departmental 

watercraft, as required by reference identified in Section 22.2C of this Chapter. Records of 

inspections and maintenance will also be kept in accordance with Section 22.2C. 

(10) Departmental employees operating watercraft subject to U.S. Coast Guard licensing 

regulations will be licensed in accordance with the requirements of reference identified in 

Section 22.2B of this Chapter, notwithstanding the general exemption of Federal titled watercraft 

under that reference. Departmental watercraft will meet the applicable U.S. Coast Guard 

inspection and certification requirements. 

B. Operator Training and Certification. 

(1) Operators of Departmental watercraft will be trained in safe watercraft operation in 

accordance with the requirements of this Chapter. 

(a) Operators of all motorboats, other than those requiring U.S. Coast Guard licensed operators 

(see reference identified by Section 22.4B(1)(b) of this Chapter), will successfully complete the 

Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) training requirements specified in Section 

22.5C and Appendix 2 of this Chapter. All current operators will be trained and certified in 

accordance with these requirements. 

(b) Operators of watercraft covered by U.S. Coast Guard requirements identified in Section 

22.2A will complete all training and certification requisites for operation of those vessels. 

(2) Motorboat operator certification will be valid for a period of five years, except that operators 

certified before October 1, 1995, will remain certified until October 1, 1999. Prior to 

recertification, operators will complete an 8-hour refresher course that addresses the minimum 

subject areas described in Section 2.4 of Appendix 2 of this Chapter. 

(3) Operators of non-motorized boats are exempted from the requirements of Section 22.5 below. 

However, they must receive alternate appropriate training necessary for the safe operation of 

these boats, as determined by the bureau safety manager. 

22.5 Training and Certification. 

A. The Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety, in coordination with the bureaus, will 

develop and maintain standards for the Motorboat Operator Instructor Certification Course 

(MOICC), the MOCC, and the 8-hour refresher training. 

60
B. Appendix 1 outlines the MOICC standards. Employees successfully completing the MOICC 

will be authorized to present the MOCC and to certify individuals to operate Departmental 

watercraft. Completion of the MOICC satisfies the requirements of Section 22.4B(1)(a) of this 

Chapter. 

C. Appendix 2 outlines the authorized local MOCC standards. Appendix 2 details minimum 

requirements only; bureaus should add additional modules meeting specific bureau and local 

needs. Individuals successfully completing the MOCC will be certified for operation of 

Departmental watercraft. This course is to be instructed by persons trained in the MOICC as 

described in Appendix 1 of this Chapter. Training materials will be developed by the Department 

and distributed to bureaus as necessary for reproduction and use. 

D. Other watercraft training programs may be substituted for the Departmental MOCC. Requests 

for substitution must be submitted to the bureau safety manager or, at his or her discretion, the 

bureau designated responsible person identified in Section 22.5E. Substituted training must 

demonstrate that it will meet the MOCC objectives, including on-water proficiency. (See 

Appendix 2.) Examples of acceptable training are the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Boat 

Operators Training Course and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Marine 

Law Enforcement Training Program. 

E. (1) Each bureau with watercraft operations will designate an individual as the responsible 

person for all watercraft training and certification activities within the organization. This 

individual will help coordinate watercraft safety activities and operator certification functions, 

and serve as a program point of contact with other bureaus and the Department. That individual 

must have successfully completed the Departmental approved 40-hour MOICC as outlined in 

Appendix 1. For implementation of this Chapter, this individual must complete the training prior 

to October 1, 1996. Additional instructors will be designated, as necessary to assist in motorboat 

operator certification training. All instructors must complete the Departmental MOICC. 

(2) Watercraft Safety Work Group. A Departmental standing Watercraft Safety Working Group 

will be established to serve as a forum for peer group discussion of watercraft safety issues, and 

to provide policy and program recommendations and other input to the Department of the 

Interior Safety and Occupational Health Council. The work group membership will consist of the 

bureau coordinators identified in Section 22.5E(1) above, in addition to other designated 

individuals. The work group will meet as necessary, but generally at least once annually. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- 

485 DM 22 

APPENDIX 1 

MOTORBOAT OPERATOR INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION COURSE (MOICC) 

STANDARDS 

61
1.1 Course Description. The MOICC is a course targeted toward experienced motorboat 

operators. It stresses the learning of specific motorboat handling techniques and knowledge 

through extensive hands-on practical exercises and instruction, with a minimum of classroom 

presentation. Because 1 objective of this course is to qualify individuals to present MOCC 

training to other Departmental personnel, there is additional training in instructional techniques 

and presentation. 

1.2 Course Objectives. The MOICC objectives are to: 

A. Provide attendees with specific skills and knowledge needed to safely operate watercraft. 

B. Familiarize attendees with state-of-the-art watercraft safety equipment and other gear, through 

demonstration and actual use. 

C. Train and qualify personnel to serve as instructors of the MOCC. 

1.3 Course Length. The MOICC will include at least 36 instructional hours. Course 

instructional hours may be increased to address specific bureau operational needs. 

1.4 Minimum Subject Areas. The following mandatory subject areas will be presented in the 

MOICC: 

A. Bureau Watercraft Policies. 

B. Required Safety Equipment. 

C. Motorboats and Motorboat Maintenance. 

D. Trailers and Trailer Maintenance. 

E. Navigation Aids/Rules of the Road. 

F. Emergency Operations. 

G. Fire Suppression. 

H. Motorboat Orientation/Marlinspike. 

I. Motorboat At-Speed and Low-Speed Maneuvering. 

J. Alongside Maneuvering. 

K. Trailering 

L. Towing. 

62
M. Instructional Techniques. 

1.5 Other Standards. A maximum student/instructor ratio of 3:1 will be maintained. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

485 DM 22 

APPENDIX 2 

MOTORBOAT OPERATOR CERTIFICATION COURSE (MOCC) 

STANDARDS 

2.1 Course Description. The MOCC is a course targeted toward individuals whose jobs require 

them to operate watercraft for the Department. It stresses the learning of specific motorboat 

handling techniques and knowledge through extensive hands-on practical exercises and 

instruction, with a minimum of classroom presentation. 

2.2 Course Objectives. The MOCC objectives are to: 

A. Provide attendees with specific skills and knowledge needed to safely operate watercraft. 

B. Familiarize attendees with state-of-the-art watercraft safety equipment and other gear, through 

demonstration and actual use, 

C. Allow attendees to demonstrate, through written examination and physical demonstration, that 

they have adequate grasp of motorboat handling techniques and knowledge to safely operate a 

motorboat. 

2.3 Course Length. The MOCC will include at least 24 instructional hours. Course instructional 

hours may be increased to address specific bureau operational needs. 

2.4 Minimum Subject Areas. The following mandatory subject areas will be presented in the 

MOCC: 

A. Agency Watercraft Policies. 

B. Required Safety Equipment. 

C. Motorboats and Motorboat Maintenance. 

D. Trailers and Trailer Maintenance. 

E. Navigation Aids/Rules of the Road. 

63
64

F. Emergency Operations. 

G. Fire Suppression. 

H. Motorboat Orientation/Marlinspike. 

I. Motorboat At-Speed and Low-Speed Maneuvering. 

J. Alongside Maneuvering. 

K. Trailering. 

L. Towing. 

2.5 Other Standards. 

A. A maximum student/instructor ratio of 3:1 should be maintained to ensure that attendees 

obtain necessary operating techniques and knowledge. 

B. MOCC instructors will have successfully completed the MOICC. Instructors will participate 

in MOCC presentations at least once over any three year period to maintain proficiency. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

485 DM 22 

APPENDIX 3 

RETRO REFLECTIVE MATERIAL FOR PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES 

(REFERENCE 46 CFR 25.25-15) 

"(a) Each life preserver, each marine buoyant device intended to be worn, and each buoyant vest 

carried on a vessel must have Type I retro reflective material that is approved under Subpart 

164.018 of this chapter. 

(b) Each item required to have retro reflective material must have at least 200 sq. cm. (31 sq. in.) 

of material attached to its front side, at least 200 sq. cm. of material on its back side, and, if the 

item is reversible, at least 200 sq. cm. of material on each of its reversible sides. The material 

attached on each side of the item must be divided equally between the upper quadrants of the 

side, and the material in each quadrant must be attached as closely as possible to the shoulder 

area of the item." 

3/12/99 #3252 

Replaces 11/20/95 #485A-4 
Job Hazard Analysis 

Each field crew member is required to have a signed job hazard analysis on file with the Project Leader 

fieldwork. 

JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS Date: New: X Revised: Park Unit: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area 

Division: Branch: Location: C

Gifford____ 

Job Title: Osprey Nest Monitor 

JHA Number: Page _1_ of 

Job Performed By: Analysis By: Supervisor: 

Paulina Starkey / Mary Jay 

Approved B

Required Standards and General Notes Drive, boat and hike carefully. Bring all necessary equipment to the field. Required Personnel Protective Equipment 

Hiking boots, sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, personal water bottles, life first aid kit. 

Tools and Equipment Binoculars, field data sheets, clipboard, topographic maps of Lake Roosevelt 

available). 

Sequence of Job Steps Potential Hazards Safe Action or Procedure 

Accessing the nest site1. Access by car 1a. Car accidents 1a. WEAR SEATBELTS AT ALL TIMES WHEN V

MOVING. Drive only on established roads; follow park in a location that will not obstruct traffic. 

1b. Narrow roads with bumpy or “washboard” surfaces

1b. Maintain a safe speed (this if often below the lfor the road conditions; stay clear to the right, espedrive with headlights on at all times; when turning mountain roads always “face the danger” (versus cliff edge); the passenger should get out and spot backing up.

1c. Driving with limited visibility

1c. Maintain windshield cleaner fluid level and cleawindows regularly (remember back window); slow by sun or dust, proceed slowly or pullover and wapass; keep to the right hand side of the road and dlights on. 

1d. Sharp rocks on edge or in middle of road

1d. Get out and move sharp rocks out of the way, substantially in places with large amounts of rockfare properly inflated and check tread and walls regmake sure tire jack fits the vehicle and all parts are 

65
1e. Large animals 

crossing or standing in roads

1e. Slow down where animals might be present to time; do not swerve abruptly to avoid hitting an anit’s better to ride out the impact.

1f. Fatigue 1f. Be aware of signs of fatigue- pull over and rest

eat a snack or have a partner drive; do not take chcontinuing to drive; communicate with your field pa

1g. Storm conditions 1g. Avoid visiting nests during adverse weather. E

and rainy days can be stressful situations for birdson the current weather - check www.weather.com 

www.wrh.noaa.gov.

1h. Fallen trees on road 1h. For small trees, try and remove tree; for large 

support crew to remove tree. 

1i. Others driving on the road

1i. Drive slow and keep right!; if you encounter an contact your partner to inform and notify a park raconfrontational situations with other people- let the handle it!

2. Access by boat 2a. Boating accidents 2a. WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE/FLOATATION 

VESTS) AT ALL TIMES. Follow safe boating procpairs; stand up securely in your boat where you wadvisable for those conducting aquatic work to be swept away, point feet downstream (to avoid rocks debris), swim towards the bank. 

66

Once on site, the volunteer will monitor the nest 3. Hiking to access site 3a. Steep, rugged, 

and slippery terrain can cause falling, slipping, tripping

3a. Assess terrain conditions to find safe route. PrVERY important- wear boots with slip-resistant soabove the ankle. Preferably no tennis shoes. Walk trails only. If unavailable, avoid thick vegetation anCross fences safely. 

4. Encountering noxious plants, animals, and people

4a. Poison ivy 4a. Make sure you can identify poison ivy; wear lo

sitting with arms resting on knees; use Tecnu lotioprevent exposure; wash with soap immediately aftthe field. If possible, bring an extra set of clothes achange into after coming out of field; wash field clofrom other laundry. 
4b. Bees/Wasps/Hornets 4b. Determine if you are allergic to bee stings. If s

carry prescribed medication to prevent anaphylact

bee sting kit or Benadryl or other antihistamine; be ground where you step- some hornets build nests the base of trees or shrubs, or in rotten logs- watcin and out of holes or around ground level. 

4c. Ticks 4c. If bitten by a tick, remove it (grasp tick with twe

pull straight out); fill out an accident report in the e

symptoms of Lyme disease appear eventually.

4d. Mosquitoes 4d. Wear bug repellent and long sleeve shirt to pre

aware of West Nile Virus symptoms. 

4e. Rattlesnakes 4e. Avoid rattlesnakes by inspecting the ground ne

stepping over them; avoid placing hands on rock lnatural hoists without visually inspecting them firstevent you’re bitten by a rattlesnake, stay calm, sit wait for help.

4f. Moose 4f. If you encounter moose, keep your distance an

directions. Avoid going to monitor nests with your disturb the birds and other wildlife. 

4g. Encounters with strangers 

4g. Report uncomfortable encounters with strangesupervisor/park ranger as soon as possible; reporactivity to a park ranger, do not get into a confront

people in the park. If a nest is located on private pwish to monitor it, obtain permission from the land

5. Exposure to environmental variables

67

5a. Sunburn 5a. Monitoring nests takes place in full sunlight, To 

use 30+ or greater SFP sunscreen and lip balm; asunglasses, and shirt. 

5b. Hyperthermia 5b. Hyperthermia may occur during high temperat

dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and hsymptoms include nausea, headache, and flushedBring and drink plenty of water (even when you arheat increases, take frequent breaks in cool locatishirt. 
Leaving the site 

6. Returning by car 6a. Car accidents 6a. WEAR SEATBELTS AT ALL TIMES WHEN V

MOVING. Drive only on established roads; follow park in a location that will not obstruct traffic. 

7. Returning by boat 7a. Boating accidents 7a. WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE/FLOATATION 

VESTS) AT ALL TIMES. Follow safe boating proc

pairs; stand up securely in your boat where you wadvisable for those conducting aquatic work to be swept away, point feet downstream (to avoid rocks debris), swim towards the bank. 

JHA Instructions

The JHA shall identify the location of the work project or activity, the name of Volunteer(s) involved in the process, the date(s) of acknowledgment, and the name of the appropriate supervisor approving the JHA. The supervisor acknowledges that volunteers have read and understand the contents, have received the required training, and are qualified to perform the work project or activity. Identify all tasks and procedures associated with the work project or activity that have potential to cause injury or illness to personnel and damage to property or material. Include emergency evacuation procedures (EEP). Identify all known or suspect hazards associated with each respective task/procedure listed. For example: a. Research past accidents/incidents. b. Research the Health and Safety Code, or other appropriate literature. c. Discuss the work project/activity with participants. d. Observe the work project/activity. e. A combination of the above. 

Emergency Evacuation Instructions

Work supervisors and volunteers are responsible for developing and discussing field emergency evacuation procedures (EEP) and alternatives in the event a volunteer(s) becomes seriously ill or injured at the worksite. Be prepared to provide the following information: a. Nature of the accident or injury (avoid using victim's name). b. Type of assistance needed, if any (ground, air, or water evacuation). c. Location of accident or injury, best access route into the worksite (road name/number), Identifiable ground/air landmarks. 

d. Radio frequencies. e. Contact person. f. Local hazards to ground vehicles or aviation. g. Weather conditions (wind speed & direction, visibility, th. Topography. i. Number of individuals to be transported. j. Estimated weight of individuals for air/water evacuation. The items listed above serve only as guidelines for the devemergency evacuation procedures. 

JHA and Emergency Evacuation Procedures Ack

I, the undersigned volunteer, acknowledge participation in this JHA (as applicable) and accompanying emergency evI have read them thoroughly and understand the provisiondocuments:  PRINT NAME SIGNATURE  _________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ______________________

68

_________________________ ______________________
Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 9 

Helicopter Surveys 

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Note: This SOP describes recommended procedures and safety practices for scheduling and 

conducting helicopter survey flights for determining osprey nesting occupancy and productivity. 

Suggested Reading 

Carrier, W. D. and W .E. Melquist. 1976. The use of a rotor-winged aircraft in conducting 

nesting surveys of ospreys in northern Idaho. Raptor Research 10(3):77-83. 

Ewins, P. J. and M. J. Miller. 1995. Measurement error in aerial surveys of osprey productivity. 

J. Wildl. Manage 59(2):333-338. 

69 
Scheduling 

The scheduling of all aviation resources for conducting Department of Interior (DOI) work are 

completed through the National Business Center (NBC) Western region office in Boise, Idaho. 

The contact information is below: 

 Richard L. Davis 

 Flight Coordination Specialist 

 US Department of the Interior 

 National Business Center 

 Aviation Management Directorate 

 Western Region Office – Boise 

 Phone: (208) 334-9315 

 Fax: (208) 334-9303 

Richard_Davis@amd.nbc.gov

The process for obtaining a helicopter rental is started by going to the website maintained by the 

NBC at http://amd.nbc.gov/. Click on “On Call Aircraft Contracts and Source List.” Click on 

“On Call Small Helicopters, May 2010” and download the PDF that contains information on 

contract aircraft and pricing. The Project Leader will decide on which helicopter is required for 

the survey based on location, passenger capacity, and pricing. In March 2010, the closest small 

contract helicopter rental companies to LARO were located in Coeur d’Alene, ID, Clarkston, 

WA, and Lewiston, ID. Most of of these companies rent MD 500 helicopters which have a 

passenger capacity of 3 and vary in price from $875.00 – 915.00/hour. The Project Leader will 

most likely want to choose the company that is closest to the survey area, in this case Panhandle 

Helicopter in Coeur d”Alene, to save on costs in flight time for getting to the survey area and 

back. 

After the Project Leader has researched the available choices and made a selection he/she should 

call Richard Davis, Flight Coordination Specialist, and Richard will provide the proper 

paperwork to secure a rental reservation. 

Equipment Preparation 

Before the aerial survey, print and review maps printed with the location of each nest from the 

previous years data and and print and review the field data observation forms. Several days 

before the helicopter survey, gather all survey equipment including maps, data forms, 

pencils/pens, binoculars, field note book, GPS units, GPS coordinates of nest sites, and any other 

necessary equipment so you are prepared on the day of the survey. You will also want to confirm 

with the helicopter rental company several days before the survey and double-check the time and 

place you are to meet the helicopter on the day of the survey.

Annual Timing 

A helicopter survey will be flown once every 3 years (Table 8). The entire study area will be 

flown twice during the nesting season. The first survey will be scheduled during the incubation 

period in mid-May when most pairs have completed their clutches (activity survey). The second 

survey will be completed in mid-July to determine nesting success and to count nestlings 

(productivity survey). Flights should begin in mid-morning and end before late afternoon to 

avoid low light and excessive shadows. Tentative flight plans will be laid out by the Project 

70 
Leader before each flight to reduce unnecessary flying but some in-flight adjustments may be 

necessary owing to refueling stops or unfavorable wind conditions. Surveys should not be 

conducted during periods of high turbulence, when winds exceed > 20 mph, or rainstorms that 

can reduce visibility and reduce accuracy of survey results. 

Table 8. Osprey survey method schedule from 2011 through 2018. 

YEAR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 

Survey 

Method Helicopter Ground Ground Helicopter Ground Ground Helicopter Ground 

Flight lines will be designated for the triennial helicopter survey so that all areas without 1500m 

of the reservoir are searched for new nest sites. The helicopter pilot will be instructed at the 

beginning of the survey that it is important to locate new nest sites as well as document nesting 

activity at nest sites occupied during previous data collection efforts. An effort will be made to 

detect as many new nest sites as possible by helicopter. 

Observation Methods 

Helicopters used for osprey surveys will seat a pilot and 2 passengers. Observation of nestlings is 

easier with the doors off the helicopter. In order to avoid observer fatigue the pilot should plan 

on landing and taking 15-20 minute breaks every 90 minutes or so during the course of the 

survey. The Project Leader must be aware of observer fatigue because a tired observer may not 

make accurate assessments of the occupancy of a nest or the number of young counted. 

To facilitate maneuverability and control of the helicopter it is advised to approach nests into the 

the wind when possible. During the productivity survey, one observer will keep watch on the 

location of adult birds while the other observer will record nestling numbers. Always approach a 

nest structure so you remain in full sight of the incubating bird. During all survey flights, 

approach known nests slowly (≤ 30 kilometers per hour) and maintain at least 300 m between the 

helicopter and the nest. Avoid hovering directly over the nest to minimize the potential of 

flushing the osprey from the nest. 

Observers should use low-power (less than 7X) binoculars to determine the contents of a nest. 

Image stabilizing binoculars are not necessary, but are helpful for some observers, to minimize 

the effects of vibration. 

Once an observer has visually located a nest structure, they should instruct the pilot to slowly fly 

toward the nest until the observer can determine if the nest is occupied. If you observe an 

incubating adult/subadult on the nest, ask the pilot to slowly turn the helicopter away from the 

nest and leave the area immediately to minimize disturbance to the incubating osprey. If you do 

not observe an incubating osprey, look for other signs of occupation including nest building or 

territorial behavior (undulating, copulating, and vocalizing). Once you determine the status 

(occupied, unoccupied, etc.) of the nest, proceed with the survey to the next known nesting site 

or continue to scan the survey route for any new nest sites. 

Record all information regarding the nest site on the field data forms (Tables 9-10) or the survey 

map immediately after making observations. Be sure to complete information on survey times, 

71 
landing locations, crew, pilot, aircraft (Table 11) and also record weather information for the day 

of the survey (Table 12). At the end of the day, summarize your survey results, and develop a 

strategy if additional helicopter time is needed to survey additional sections of the study area. 

The “activity” survey in mid-May is complete after determining the status of all observed nests. 

The “productivity” is complete in mid-July after determining the number of young per occupied 

nests, identified from the activity survey. 

72 
Table 9. Example helicopter activity survey form for osprey observation data. 

Nest 

ID Species Date Observer Occupied Evidence Comments UTM X UTM Y 

C_01 Osprey 5/15/2010 LKG Yes Incubation Both adults 

in air 

C_02 Osprey 5/15/2010 LKG Yes Incubation Incubation 

posture 

C_03 Osprey 5/15/2010 LKG Yes Pair 

C_04 Osprey 5/15/2010 LKG No 

New Osprey 5/15/2010 LKG Yes Evidence 435168 5412115

Table 10. Example helicopter productivity survey form for osprey observation data. 

Nest ID Species Date Observer No. Young Comments 

C_01 Osprey 7/15/2010 LKG 2 Fully feathered 

C_02 Osprey 7/15/2010 LKG 2 Adults nearby 

C_03 Osprey 7/15/2010 LKG 0 

C_04 Osprey 7/15/2010 LKG 1 

Table 11. Example helicopter survey form for survey data. 

Survey Times and Landing Locations 

Date Depart 

Location 

Depart 

Time 

Arrive 

Time Arrive Location 

Arrive 

UTM X 

Arrive 

UTM Y 

5/15/2010 CDA 0830 0930 Coulee Dam 352846 5313950 

5/15/2010 Coulee Dam 1015 1200 Fort Spokane 373026 5314534 

5/15/2010 Fort Spokane 1245 1330 Gifford 4145925 5350304 

5/15/2010` Gifford 1400 1400 Kettle Falls 431878 5409739 

5/15/2010 Kettle Falls 1430 1500 CDA 

Survey Crew, Survey Pilot, Survey Aircraft 

Date Primary 

Observer 

2nd

Observer Aircraft Type Aircraft ID # Aircraft Company Pilot 

5/15/2010 LKG ES HU369D N622PB Panhandle Helicopter, 

Coeur d’Alene, ID 

R. 

Swisher 

5/16/010 LKG GD HU369D N69PF Panhandle Helicopter, 

Coeur d’Alene, ID 

R. 

Swisher 

5/17/2010 LKG ES HU369D N622PB Panhandle Helicopter, 

Coeur d’Alene, ID 

R. 

Swisher 

73 
74 

Table 12. Example helicopter survey form for weather data. 

Date Time Temp 

(F) 

Wind 

Speed 

Wind 

Direction 

Sky 

Condition 

Precipitation Comments 

5/15/2010 0830 60 1 S 0 0 

5/15/2010 Noon 65 4 S 0 0 

5/15/2010 1400 63 5 S 2 2 

Weather Codes: 

Wind 

Speed 

Sky 

Conditions Precipitation 

0 Calm 0 < 10% cloud cover 0 None 

1 Slight 1 10 - 50 % cloud 

cover 

1 Fog/smoke 

2 Wind felt on face 2 50 – 90% cloud 

cover 

2 Drizzle 

3 Leaves in constant 

motion 

3 100% cloud cover 3 Showers 

4 Raises dust, small 

branches move 

4 Rain 

5 Small trees sway 5 Sleet 

6 > 15 mph 6 Snow 
Osprey Monitoring Protocol 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 10: 

Osprey NestWatch Volunteer Program 

Version 1.0, March 2010 

Change History 

 Version # Date Revised By Changes Justification 

Draft 1.0 

Note: This SOP consists of a detailed description of the development of the osprey NestWatch 

volunteer program. It includes step-by-step procedures to be taken by network staff and 

volunteers in order to maintain a successful volunteer program. 

Suggested reading: 

National Park Service Volunteer-In-Parks Program. 2009. How to Succeed with Volunteers-InParks Program. Volunteer Program Management Training. 

National Park Service. 1998. Director’s Order #7: Volunteer in Parks. Available from: 

http://www.nps.gov/policy/DOrders/DO-7.htm. Accessed 5 November 2009. 

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2008. NestWatch. Available from: 

http://www.nestwatch.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=577&srcid=265&auth=0. 

Accessed 10 November 2009. 

Bird Studies Canada. 2010. Project NestWatch. Available from: http://www.bsceoc.org/national/nestwatch.html. Accessed 10 November 2009. 

75 
Introduction

This SOP describes the components of the Osprey NestWatch volunteer program including, 

program planning, objectives, program materials and resources. The development of the Osprey 

NestWatch Volunteer Program followed guidelines established by the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) 

Program from the National Park Service. In addition, this program reflects similar initiatives 

already practiced by other organizations (e.g., Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies from 

Canada), which have successfully included volunteers in their data collection efforts. 

Volunteer Program Planning 

Starting in 2010, the Upper Columbia Basin Network Inventory and Monitoring Program 

(UCBN) will incorporate the Osprey NestWatch Volunteer Program as an additional component 

of the osprey monitoring protocol. Volunteers will conduct osprey nest surveys during the osprey 

breeding season each year. 

Objectives 

The main objectives of the Osprey NestWatch Volunteer Program are to: 

• Involve park staff, local birdwatchers and school groups in gathering natural resource data: 

This will help increase public understanding of osprey breeding biology and will keep park 

staff and the public informed about the status and trends of osprey reproduction in Lake 

Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO). 

• Increase cost-effectiveness of osprey monitoring: Volunteers will help keep track of known 

nests or discover new nests during the breeding season. Volunteers will supplement data 

collection efforts by UCBN field crews and will help make osprey monitoring more costeffective over time. 

• Collect long-term monitoring data on osprey nest and productivity: Long-term results in 

monitoring osprey nest success will assist park superintendents and natural resource 

managers with making informed management decisions at LARO. 

Mission statement 

The Osprey NestWatch Volunteer Program at Lake Roosevelt is committed to providing 

volunteers with the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to park science by collecting 

annual nest site data; thereby, contributing to the overall cost-effectiveness of the monitoring 

program. The collection of long-term monitoring data will help resource managers better 

understand the status and trends of osprey nest occupancy and reproductive success and this 

information will help guide park management decisions. 

Volunteer Job Description 

Given the technical nature of bird nest site monitoring, this program will primarily target people 

with bird identification/observational skills. Volunteers who sign up to monitor osprey nests with 

the UCBN NestWatch Program will only perform the activities detailed in their job description 

(Appendix 3) and will work for a defined period of time (breeding season) each year. To record 

monitoring data, volunteers are required to have their own transportation, equipment, internet 

access, and be able to enter data into an online data entry form. 

76 
Park Involvement 

The UCBN has continuously communicated the steps taken to develop the Osprey NestWatch 

Volunteer Program with Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO) staff. In December 

2009, the UCBN osprey Project Leader and Volunteer Coordinator gave a presentation about 

Osprey Monitoring and the NestWatch Volunteer Program at the annual LARO staff meeting. 

An osprey monitoring poster was provided to staff and is being displayed at the LARO visitor 

center. Additionally, the network’s winter newsletter included an article that described the 

volunteer program and was distributed to all LARO park staff. In the forthcoming years, UCBN 

staff plans to give a presentation to LARO staff about results obtained after each field season. 

The UCBN volunteer coordinator and the LARO Volunteer-In-Parks (VIP) coordinator are the 

primary individuals responsible for working with volunteers. They are in charge of recruiting, 

contacting and assisting volunteers throughout the duration of the program. Both coordinators 

have kept continuous communication, and will work closely to provide any assistance to 

volunteers. 

Volunteer recruitment 

During the first season of data collection (summer 2010) volunteers will only include interested 

staff from LARO. In subsequent years, local bird clubs and school groups will be recruited to 

participate in the NestWatch program. The UCBN wants to start with the dedicated park staff 

and make sure that all the details are worked out before inviting the public to participate. 

Each spring, starting in 2011, the UCBN volunteer coordinator will recruit volunteers from other 

organizations (e.g., Audubon Society in Spokane, WA) and local high schools. Presentations on 

Osprey Monitoring and the NestWatch Volunteer Program will be given to interested volunteer 

organizations, and all interested participants will receive resource briefs summarizing results 

from the previous year and copies of the volunteer job description. 

Policies and procedures for participating in the program 

Volunteers 

Interested volunteers will need to register with the UCBN volunteer coordinator in order to gain 

access to the UCBN Osprey NestWatch website, where they will find program information and 

guidance and be able to enter nest observation records. A registration form will be available from 

the UCBN website (http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ucbn/), allowing volunteers to submit 

their names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses to the UCBN volunteer coordinator 

for approval. This personal information will need to be provided but will be kept private. All 

personal information will be securely stored in a database on the Network server, where only 

UCBN staff will be able to access it. The UCBN volunteer coordinator and data manager will 

review the registration forms and approve selected participants. 

1. Once approved, the volunteer will receive a registration confirmation, the volunteer 

agreement form (Form 301A) and the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) form via e-mail. 

Volunteers will need to sign the agreement and JHA forms and return them to the UCBN 

volunteer coordinator. 

2. Instructions on how to record data, a code of conduct, identification guidelines and all 

necessary information on how to participate in the Osprey NestWatch program will be 

available on the UCBN Osprey NestWatch website. If there are interested volunteers who 

77 
78 

prefer a hard copy of materials, the UCBN volunteer coordinator will send packets of 

information to volunteers when requested. 

3. Volunteers and/or park staff who volunteer to monitor osprey during the breeding season will 

be asked, at minimum, to visit their adopted nest site(s) during the incubation period in midMay to determine occupancy, and again in mid-July to count the number of young produced. 

If volunteers want to make more frequent visits they can certainly do so, as long as they are 

following the code of conduct and not disturbing the nesting birds. Volunteers will observe 

their adopted nest(s) activity and record information on the field data sheet when relevant. 

4. Volunteers will take pictures only if they can do so without disturbing the birds, and will be 

asked to send quality pictures to the Osprey NestWatch program volunteer coordinator. 

Volunteers will be required to follow instructions carefully and follow the NestWatch 

Program code of conduct (Appendix 4) at all times, so that disturbance of the birds can be 

avoided. 

5. An example of a completed volunteer field data form (Appendix 5) will be available on the 

Osprey NestWatch website. For every adopted nest, a separate data sheet will be used. In 

case a new nest is found, volunteers will record the location of the nest, provide a general 

description of the nest site and include whether or not the nest is visible from a road. If 

volunteers own a global positioning system (GPS), they will be asked to record the 

coordinates for that specific nest site. 

6. Once data is collected in the field, volunteers will need to enter these data into an on-line data 

entry form. To access this form, volunteers will need to login to the NestWatch Volunteer 

Program website using their e-mail address as a Login ID. Instructions for online data entry 

are detailed in Appendix 6. 

7. Once they have finished entering this information, volunteers can save their observations and 

log out. 

UCBN Staff 

1. The UCBN volunteer coordinator will maintain contact with volunteers via e-mail when 

approving registrations, or answering questions. 

2. Every month, the UCBN data manager will perform quality control checks with the online 

nest observation records. Subsequently, he will merge valid records with the information 

obtained by UCBN survey crews. If volunteers provide records that are difficult to 

understand, they will be contacted via e-mail or phone to clarify their observations. If a 

volunteer consistently contributes erroneous or false records, the UCBN data manager will 

disable his/her Login ID; thus, restricting access to the NestWatch website. 

3. Each new nest site added to the database will be assigned a temporary label. This label will 

be kept until the nest and location are confirmed by UCBN survey crews. Once formally 

incorporated into the list of nests, all new nests will be assigned a permanent Nest ID. 

4. At the end of the field season, the number of hours that volunteers have contributed to this 

monitoring effort will be reported to the LARO VIP Coordinator and included in their annual 

reporting to the Regional VIP Coordinator. 
Safety 

All registered volunteers will receive a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) form that lists all the 

potential hazards inherent in field work activities (SOP #8). Volunteers will have to read and 

sign the JHA and submit this form to the UCBN volunteer coordinator prior to submitting 

records. All volunteers working for the National Park Service are covered under tort claims and 

the worker’s compensation program. The Osprey NestWatch Program requires volunteers to use 

their best judgment when conducting field activities due to the inherent risks present in them. If 

an accident happens, volunteers will need to contact Mary Jay, LARO VIP coordinator, to access 

Form CA-16 (to ensure medical billing), and to complete form CA-1 online (to ensure receipt of 

all benefits). If an accident happens to park staff working as volunteers, it will only be covered if 

the volunteer work is performed outside of official duty hours. Volunteers are fully responsible 

for any damage to personal vehicles or boats. 

It is essential that both volunteer coordinators (UCBN and LARO) ensure all procedures are 

followed and that adequate volunteer training is provided on safety issues and emergency 

procedures. If needed, training on data collection and safety issues will be provided to volunteers 

at the park immediately before data collection starts. Safety practices and emergency contact 

information are detailed in SOP #8. 

Recognition 

After volunteers have submitted their first observation, the UCBN volunteer coordinator will 

send a note thanking them for their participation and encouraging them to continue providing 

observation records. After volunteers have provided quality data on a regular basis for one 

monitoring season, they will receive an osprey monitoring coffee mug. For every year of data 

collection, returning volunteers will receive different forms of recognition (e.g., volunteer 

patches, t-shirts, vests). The UCBN volunteer coordinator will keep a database including all 

volunteer names and the types of recognition given to them. 

Evaluation 

At the end of the data collection period, a survey will be posted on the Osprey NestWatch 

Volunteer Program website. Volunteers will have the opportunity to share their experiences 

monitoring ospreys, evaluate the training materials provided, and give their overall input and 

comments on the volunteer NestWatch program. Annual evaluations from volunteers will be 

shared with UCBN and LARO staff. 

Annual outcomes reports 

The UCBN project lead will provide annual results in the form of a resource brief to all 

volunteers of the NestWatch Program in October each year. This resource brief will be posted on 

the website and/or mailed to volunteers. Additionally, the UCBN Project Leader will present 

results obtained during each breeding season to LARO staff at their annual meeting in 

December. 

At the end of the field season, the number of hours that volunteers have contributed to this 

monitoring effort will be reported to the LARO VIP Coordinator and included in their annual 

reporting to the Regional VIP Coordinator. 

79 

Appendix 1. Activity survey field data form.

Osprey Activity Survey Monitoring Data 

(Label all photos with the Site Name and Nest ID after you return to the office) 

Observer Name: Lisa Garrett Date: 

Description of Nest Site Location:________________________________________________ 

___________________________________________________________________________ 

Indicate if osprey nest is occupied: Yes 

Evidence of occupation: Incubating osprey 

Please check most appropriate statement: 

____Eggs present 

____Two adults are present on or near the nest 

_X__One adult on nest in incubation posture 

____Mating behavior is observed at or near the nest 

____Other (please describe behavior)_______________________ 

Weather Conditions: Clear Cloudy Foggy Rain Snow 

Was a photo of the nest site taken? YES NO Photo Number(s) from camera 01,02 

Is this nest site readily visible from a road? YES NO 

Nest ID: C_03 

UTM Coordinates Zone 11 NAD83 

UTM X N5313950 

UTM Y E352846 

UTM Coordinates Zone 11 

NAD83 

UTM X N 

Indicate if this is 

a new nest site 

and record GPS 

coordinates: 

Circle Lake Section: Coulee Dam, Gifford, Kettle Falls YES or NO 

Data for New Nest Sites (Please fill in all the data fields above in addition to the nest 

site characteristics listed below). 

Nest Structure_________________(power pole, dead tree, live tree, platform on pole) 

Tree Species__________________Relationship of height of nest tree to surrounding trees: 

Nest Height (m)________________ Taller or Similar or Shorter 

Tree dbh (cm)_________________Relationship of dbh of nest tree to surrounding trees: 

Distance to water (m)___________ Larger or similar or smaller 

Broken top? YES NO 

Additional Comments_______________________________________________________ 

81

Appendix 2. Productivity survey field data form.

Osprey Productivity Survey Monitoring Data 

Observer Name: Lisa Garrett Date: 

(Label all photos with the Site Name and Nest ID after you return to the office) 

Description of Nest Site Location:________________________________________________ 

___________________________________________________________________________ 

Was a photo of the nest site taken? YES NO Photo Number(s) from camera 01,02 

Is this nest site readily visible from a road? YES NO 

Nest ID: C_03 

UTM Coordinates Zone 11 NAD83 

UTM X N5313950 

UTM Y E352846 

UTM Coordinates Zone 11 

NAD83 

UTM X N 

Indicate if this is a 

new nest site and, 

if yes, record GPS 

coordinates: 

Circle Lake Section: Coulee Dam, Gifford, Kettle Falls YES or NO 

Observation of Osprey Nest 

Please CIRCLE correct choice: CHOICES

Number of ADULT osprey observed: 0 1 2 3 4+ 

Number of NESTLING osprey observed: 0 1 2 3 4+ 

Age of Nestling: Downy nestling Feathered nestling 

Weather Conditions: Clear Cloudy Foggy Rain Snow 

Behavior Observed: (Please check most appropriate statement) 

____Adult on nest 

____Adults observed in the area, but not at nest site 

____Adult on nest in incubation posture 

____Adult feeding young at nest 

____Adult carrying food 

____Other (please describe behavior)_______________________ 

83

Appendix 3. Volunteer Job Description 

Volunteer Job Description 

Job Title: Osprey NestWatch nest monitor 

Volunteer Name:

Location: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO) 

Supervisor: Paulina Starkey (UCBN) – Mary Jay (LARO) 

Project Duration: 4-6 months 

(May-September) 

Visits/Week: Minimum 1 visit 

every 2 weeks 

Visits/Month: Minimum 2 

visits 

Description of duties: 

The volunteer is responsible for adopting one or more osprey nest(s) that he/she can monitor 

regularly. The volunteer is required, at minimum, to visit the adopted nest(s) during the incubation 

period in mid-May to determine occupancy, and again in mid-July to count the number of young 

produced. If volunteers want to make more frequent visits they can certainly do so, as long as they 

are following the code of conduct and not disturbing the nesting birds. The osprey nesting cycle 

usually goes from early April to late September. 

All information that the volunteer will need, such as, instructions, code of conduct, field data sheets, 

safety information, etc., will be available on our website: 

(http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ucbn/monitor/osprey/osprey.cfm). 

The volunteer will be in charge of observing nest activity and recording the number of adults 

observed, number of nestlings observed and behavior observed (e.g., adult in incubation posture, 

adult feeding young, adult bringing food to nest, etc.). The volunteer is required to follow 

instructions carefully and follow the NestWatch Program code of conduct, so that any potential risks 

to birds can be avoided. In summary, the volunteer will monitor the success of nesting birds. Once 

data is collected in the field, the volunteer will need to enter these data in an online data entry form. 

Benefits to Volunteer: 

• Learn about osprey’s natural history and breeding biology. 

• Obtain experience collecting natural resource data. 

• Get the opportunity to spend time outdoors. 

• Provide valuable scientific information. 

Goal/Outcome of Job: 

• Involve park staff, local birdwatchers and school groups in gathering natural resource data: 

This will help increase public understanding of osprey breeding biology and will keep park staff 

and the public informed about the status and trends of osprey reproduction in Lake Roosevelt 

National Recreation Area. 

• Increase cost-effectiveness of osprey monitoring: Volunteers will help keep track of known nests 

or discover new nests during the summer months. By doing this, volunteers will help make 

osprey monitoring more cost-effective, as an on-site field crew is not needed to conduct nest 

surveys for the entire breeding season. 

• Collect long-term monitoring data on osprey nest and productivity: Long-term results in 

monitoring osprey nest success will assist park superintendents and natural resource managers 

with making informed management decisions at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. 

Knowledge/Skills/Experience Desired: 

• Have an interest in birds. Avid birdwatchers are ideal. 

• Have good observational skills. We need an eye for detail! 

85
• Be physically fit. 

• Have the ability to organize data. 

• Know how to use computers. 

• Have the ability to input data to an online website. 

Special Requirements: 

• Minimum age is 18 years. 

• Transportation to and from nest site is the responsibility of the volunteer. 

• Overall safety is the volunteer’s own responsibility. Volunteer is covered under Volunteer-InParks worker’s compensation; however, it is highly recommended that volunteer exercises 

his/her best judgment when conducting field activities to avoid any injuries. 

• Have a pair of binoculars. 

• Having access to a GPS to record nest site locations is desired, but not required. 

• Have an internet connection to access program website and to enter data into an online data entry 

form. 

86
87

Appendix 4. Code of Conduct 

Osprey NestWatch Code of Conduct 

Monitoring nests is a great opportunity to learn more about birds and their nesting cycle. Ospreys are 

common breeding residents in Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (NRA) and their nests are 

very large and conspicuous, allowing birdwatchers to witness their behavior during the breeding 

season. Ospreys are fun and easy to watch, but at the same time, nest monitors need to be very careful 

and follow this code of conduct so that potential risks to ospreys can be avoided. 

Plan your visit to monitor nests 

Prepare materials in advance. Materials that you should take to the field include: binoculars, field data 

sheets, a clipboard, a topographic map of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (NRA), and a GPS 

unit (if available). 

Choose an appropriate time to visit your adopted nest(s) 

Remember the following general rules: 

• Try to visit the nests in the late morning or early afternoon. Avoid early morning and close to dark. 

If parents leave the nest because they are disturbed, eggs and nestlings can get cold quickly during 

these times of the day. 

• Avoid visiting nests during adverse weather. Extreme heat, cold and rainy days can be stressful 

situations for birds. 

• Avoid visiting nests during the first days of incubation. If you see parents in incubation posture, 

observe the nest from a distance. 

• Do not approach nests when young are ready to fledge. You will know if young are close to 

fledging if they are fully, or close to fully, feathered. If fledglings feel disturbed, they may leave 

the nest prematurely. 

Approach nests with care: 

• Approach nests casually instead of directly walking towards them. Parents may get anxious or 

disturbed and can accidentally knock eggs or nestlings out of the nest. Additionally, parents may 

leave the nest and young can become susceptible to predation. 

• Hike through a route that disturbs as little vegetation as possible. Avoid noise of breaking branches 

or removing vegetation. 

• Always keep your distance. Avoid getting too close to the nest. The appropriate distance between a 

nest monitor and a tree (or man-made structure) that has a nest is about 330 ft (100 m). 

• Take pictures only if you can do so without disturbing the birds. Choose an appropriate time to take 

photos. 

Respect private land: 

If a nest is located on private property and you wish to monitor it, obtain permission from the 

landowner first. Explain your reason for needing access to the land – many landowners may be 

interested in what you are doing. Treat the owners and their property with respect and follow any 

special requests they make. 

Appendix 5. Osprey NestWatch Field Data Form 

Osprey NestWatch Field Data Form 

Print several copies. For field use ONLY – do not return. For complete instructions or to report 

your data online, go to: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ucbn/monitor/osprey/osprey.cfm

Species: Osprey _____ 

Observation Date: _____/_____/_____ 

Observation Method: From a boat _____ From a vehicle _____ By foot _____ 

Number of Adults: _____ 

Number of Nestlings: _____ 

Nestlings Age: Downy _____ Feathered ____ 

Nest Structure: Dead tree _____ 

Live tree _____ 

Platform on pole _____ 

Powerline pole _____ 

Other (explain) ______________________________________ 

Weather Conditions: Clear _____ 

Cloudy _____ 

Foggy _____ 

Rain _____ 

Snow _____ 

Behavior Observed: Adults in area but not on nest _____ 

Adults on nest _____ 

Adult on nest in incubation posture _____ 

Adult on nest feeding young _____ 

Adult bringing food to nest _____ 

Other (explain) ______________________________________ 

Amount of time spent monitoring Osprey: _____ min. 

Observer Notes:

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________ 

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Appendix 6. Instructions for data entry on Osprey NestWatch 

website 

Instructions for Data Entry 

Thank you for being an Osprey NestWatch monitor. Below you will find step by step instructions 

on how to enter your observations into the online data entry form. 

1. Registering to Osprey NestWatch 

In order to access the Osprey NestWatch website, you will need to register with the UCBN 

volunteer coordinator. A registration form will be available from the UCBN website. Complete the 

required information (your full name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address), and send it to 

the UCBN volunteer coordinator (pstarkey@partner.nps.gov). We need this information to send you 

pre-data collection materials or to contact you in case we have any questions about your records. 

We will keep complete confidentiality of your records, and will not provide your personal 

information to third parties. 

The UCBN volunteer coordinator will review the registration form and will approve participants for 

our NestWatch Program. We will send a confirmation of your registration to the e-mail you 

provided.

Every time you want to access the website you will simply need to enter your e-mail address as 

your Login ID. If you have any problems accessing the online data entry form, please contact us.

2. Entering your data 

To enter your records, follow these 

steps: 

Figure 1. List of all nests being monitored. 

a. Selecting your nest(s) 

Once you are logged in to the website, 

you will see the list of every nest that is 

being monitored, and a map of Lake 

Roosevelt National Recreation Area 

(NRA) with numbered “Tile” sections. 

You can select your nest(s) either: 

• By clicking the nest label from 

the list of all nests (Figure 1), or 

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• By clicking a numbered Tile 

section on the Lake Roosevelt 

NRA map (Figure 2). This will 

take you to a “zoomed-in” view 

of that section of the lake, where 

you’ll then be able to click on 

the appropriate nest label or nest 

photo (Figure 3). The legend on 

each map will inform you about 

nest types and land management 

in that specific area. 

Figure 2: Map of Lake Roosevelt NRA with numbered “Tile” sections that, when clicked, will 

display a “zoomed-in” map view. 

Figure 3. Example of a zoomed-in map showing detailed section of reservoir and nest labels. A 

photo of each nest tree is also displayed on each “zoomed-in” map.
Nest labels consist of a nest number and a letter designating the stretch of reservoir: 

· C for the southern (Coulee dam) stretch, 

· G for the middle (Gifford) stretch, and 

· K for the northern (Kettle Falls) stretch. 

After selecting a nest, you will be able to view past observations of that nest and enter a new 

observation. 

b. Entering data 

To enter your new observations, you will need to complete all the fields in the online data entry 

form (Figure 4). 

Figure 4: Online data entry form 

The information that you need to enter is the following: 

1. Select “Osprey” for the species field. 

2. The Name, Email, and Phone fields will populate automatically with your contact 

information. You may update the content in these fields as appropriate. 

3. Enter the amount of minutes you spent monitoring the nest. 

4. Enter the observation date. 

5. Enter the observation method (observed from a boat, from a vehicle, or by foot). 

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6. Enter the number of adults seen at or near the nest and the number of nestlings (if any) 

observed in the nest. 

a. If nestlings are observed, enter the age of those nestlings (downy or feathered). 

7. Next, use the set of selection lists to enter the following information: 

a. Nest structure (dead tree, live tree, platform on pole, powerline pole, or “other”) 

b. Weather conditions (clear, cloudy, foggy, rain, or snow), and 

c. Behavior of the osprey (adults in area but not on nest, adults on nest, adult on nest in 

incubation posture, adult on nest feeding young, adult bringing food to nest, or 

“other”). 

i. If you select “other,” then a brief description of behavior can be entered. 

8. Finally, you may enter any additional comments about your nest observation. 

9. Once all your data is accurately entered, click on “Save observation” and your record will be 

saved. One thing that you need to remember when entering data online is that your session 

will time out after one hour (meaning unsaved data will be lost). It is important to click the 

“Save observation” button so that your observation record is saved. You will be able to return 

to your observation record in order to make edits, if necessary. 

10. To finish, you may click on “Logout” to exit your session. 

c. New Nest records 

If you find a new nest that is not in the list, click on “enter a new nest” on the page showing the 

map of Lake Roosevelt NRA (Figure 5). 

Figure 5. Web page showing where to enter new nest information

You will be directed to a new page (Figure 6) where you will need to complete the required 

fields. 

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Figure 6. New nest entry form 

The information that you need to enter is the following: 

• Location of the nest: If you have a Global Positioning System (GPS) available, you can 

provide coordinates using UTM or degrees latitude/longitude. (If you don’t have GPS 

coordinates for the nest location, select “none” and please provide a detailed and accurate 

description of the nest location in the following field).

• Description of the nest site: Include a short description of the area where you found the nest. 

(Note – this is especially important if you cannot provide GPS coordinates.)

• Nest visibility: It will help us to know whether or not the nest is visible from a road.

Once you have entered this information, the new nest label will be visible only in the list of nests 

(it will not appear in the zoomed-in map “Tile” sections until the data is processed at the end of 

the observation season). This new nest label will have your initials and the date (e.g., 

NewNest_TW_20100613). Your new nest site will have this temporary label until the nest and 

location are confirmed by UCBN survey crews. Once formally incorporated into the list of nests, 

all new nests will be assigned a permanent Nest ID and will appear on the Nest Watch website in 

both the nest list and on the “zoomed-in” Tile maps.

The Department of the Interior protects and manages the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and 

other information about those resources; and honors its special responsibilities to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and 

affiliated Island Communities. 

NPS 963/106168, December2010
National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Resource Program Center 

1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 150 

Fort Collins, CO 80525 

www.nature.nps.gov 

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA TM